Characterization of Settler Tank, KW Container and KE Container Sludge Simulants

The Sludge Treatment Project (STP), managed by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) has specified base formulations for non-radioactive sludge simulants for use in the development and testing of equipment for sludge sampling, retrieval, transport, and processing. In general, the simulant formulations are based on the average or design-basis physical and chemical properties obtained by characterizing sludge samples. The simulants include surrogates for uranium metal, uranium oxides (agglomerates and fine particulate), and the predominant chemical phases (iron and aluminum hydroxides, sand). Specific surrogate components were selected to match the nominal particle-size distribution and particle-density data obtained from sludge sample analysis. Under contract to CHPRC, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has performed physical and rheological characterization of simulants, and the results are reported here. Two base simulant types (dry) were prepared by STP staff at the Maintenance and Storage Facility and received by PNNL in February 2009: Settler Tank Simulant and KW Container Sludge Simulant. A third simulant, KE Container Sludge Simulant was received by PNNL in December 2010. The objectives of this simulant characterization effort were to provide baseline characterization data on simulants being used by STP for process development and equipment testing and provide a high-level comparison of the simulant characteristics to the targets used to formulate the simulants

[OP.7B.08] INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEW INDICES OF ADIPOSITY AND LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS AND HYPERTROPHY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: The unfavourable effects of the association of obesity with hypertension on cardiac structure and function have been extensively studied. However, controversy still exists about the influence of gender on the relationship between obesity and left ventricular mass (LVM) and hypertrophy (LVH). Even if body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are widely used as anthropometric predictors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), their validity has been questioned. Recently, Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) were proposed as alternative measures of adiposity that may better reflect health status (1-2).Our study was aimed to assess the ability of ABSI and BRI in identifying LVH and to determine whether they are superior to BMI and WC. Moreover, the influence of gender on the relationships between all these indices of adiposity and LVM was also evaluated. DESIGN AND METHOD: We enrolled 724 subjects with EH (mean age 45 ± 12 years, 63 % men) without cardiovascular complications.In all subjects the anthropometric indices (weight, height and waist circumference) and the routine biochemical parameters were determined. BMI, ABSI and BRI were calculated. Furthermore, all patients underwent a 24-h blood pressure monitoring and an echocardiogram. LVM was indexed for body surface area (LVMI) and for height2.7 (LVMH2.7). RESULTS: The univariate correlations of LVMI and LVMH2.7 with the measures of adiposity evaluated are shown in the table 1.ROC curves analysis revealed that in overall population (table 2) and in men BRI has a greater ability to identify LVH defined as LVMH2.7 > 51 g/m2.7.(Figure is included in full-text article.) CONCLUSIONS: : Our results seems to suggest that in men, but not in women, the BRI has a greater sensitivity to detect LVH than ABSI and the traditional measures of adiposity

Growth enhancement and drought tolerance of hybrid poplar upon inoculation with endophyte consortia

With increasing effects of global climate change, there is a strong interest in developing biofuels from trees such as poplar (Populus sp.) that have high C sequestration rates and relatively low chemical inputs. Using plant-microbe symbiosis to maximize plant growth and increase host stress tolerance may play an important role in improving the economic viability and environmental sustainability of poplar as a feedstock. Based on our previous research, a total of ten endophyte strains were selected as a consortium to investigate the effects of inoculation on commercial hardwood cuttings of Populus deltoides x P. nigra clone OP-367. After one and a half months of growth under non-stress conditions followed by one month under water stress, there was substantial growth promotion with improved leaf physiology of poplar plants in response to the endophyte inoculation. Furthermore, inoculated plants demonstrated reduced damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) indicating a possible mechanism for symbiosis-mediated drought tolerance. Production of important phytohormones by these endophytes and identification of microbial genes involved in conferring drought tolerance suggests their potential roles in the modulation of the plant host stress response.Fil: Khan, Zareen. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Rho, Hyungmin. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Firrincieli, Andrea. Università degli Studi della Tuscia; ItaliaFil: Hung, Shang Han. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Luna, Maria Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiotecnologicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Agrobiotecnologicas.; ArgentinaFil: Masciarelli, Oscar Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Kim, Soo-Hyung. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Doty, Sharon L.. University of Washington; Estados Unido

Delayed Corneal Epithelial Healing after Intravitreal Bevacizumab: A Clinical and Experimental Study

Purpose: To report corneal epithelial defects (CEDs) and delayed epithelial healing after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection and to describe delayed corneal epithelial healing with topical administration of bevacizumab in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 850 eyes of 850 patients with neovascular eye disease and diabetic macular edema who had received 1.25 to 2.5 mg IVB. In the experimental arm of the study, photorefractive keratectomy was used to create a 3 mm CED in the right eyes of 18 New Zealand rabbits which were then randomized to three equal groups. All rabbits received topical antibiotics, additionally those in group A received topical bevacizumab and animals in group B were treated with topical corticosteroids. The rate of epithelial healing was assessed at different time points using slitlamp photography. Results: In the clinical study, seven eyes of seven subjects developed CEDs the day after IVB injection. All of these eyes had preexisting corneal edema. The healing period ranged from 3 to 38 days (average 11 days) despite appropriate medical management. In the experimental study, topical bevacizumab and corticosteroids both significantly hindered corneal epithelial healing at 12 and 24 hours. Conclusion: Bevacizumab was demonstrated to cause CEDs in clinical settings. Moreover, corneal epithelial healing was delayed by topical application of bevacizumab, in the experimental model. These short-term results suggest that corneal edema may be considered as a risk factor for epithelial defects after IVB

Mutation study of Spanish patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant and age-dependent vascular disorder characterised mainly by mutations in the Endoglin (ENG) or activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ALK1, ACVRL1) genes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here, we have identified 22 ALK1 mutations and 15 ENG mutations, many of which had not previously been reported, in independent Spanish families afflicted with HHT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified mutations in thirty-seven unrelated families. A detailed analysis of clinical symptoms was recorded for each patient analyzed, with a higher significant presence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) in HHT1 patients over HHT2. Twenty-two mutations in ALK1 and fifteen in ENG genes were identified. Many of them, almost half, represented new mutations in ALK1 and in ENG. Missense mutations in ENG and ALK1 were localized in a tridimensional protein structure model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overall, ALK1 mutations (HHT2) were predominant over ENG mutations (HHT1) in our Spanish population, in agreement with previous data from our country and other Mediterranean countries (France, Italy), but different to Northern Europe or North America. There was a significant increase of PAVM associated with HHT1 over HHT2 in these families.</p

Individual, spatial and inter-sex variation in somatic growth: A study of Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae), a long-distance freshwater Neotropical migratory fish

Growth is a fundamental biological process, driven by multiple endogenous (intra-individual) and exogenous (environmental) factors that maintain individual fitness and population stability. The current study aims to assess whether individual, spatial (headwaters and floodplains) and inter-sex variation occurs in the growth of Piaractus mesopotamicus in the Cuiabá River basin. Samples were collected monthly from July 2006 to July 2007, at two areas in the Cuiabá River basin (headwaters and floodplain). Three growth models (individuals; individuals and sex factors; individuals and areas factors) were developed and compared the fish growth parameters using Akaike information criterion (AIC). The best fit to the length-at-age data was obtained by a model that considered individual variation and sex. The theoretical maximum average length (L∞) was 64.99 cm for females, and 63.23 cm for males. Females showed a growth rate (k) of 0.230 yr-1and males of 0.196 yr-1. Thus, could be concluded that individual variability and sex were the main sources of variation in P. mesopotamicus somatic growth parameters. © 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia. All rights reserved

Characterization of Filtration Scale-Up Performance

The scale-up performance of sintered stainless steel crossflow filter elements planned for use at the Pretreatment Engineering Platform (PEP) and at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) were characterized in partial fulfillment (see Table S.1) of the requirements of Test Plan TP RPP WTP 509. This test report details the results of experimental activities related only to filter scale-up characterization. These tests were performed under the Simulant Testing Program supporting Phase 1 of the demonstration of the pretreatment leaching processes at PEP. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) conducted the tests discussed herein for Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) to address the data needs of Test Specification 24590-WTP-TSP-RT-07-004. Scale-up characterization tests employ high-level waste (HLW) simulants developed under the Test Plan TP-RPP-WTP-469. The experimental activities outlined in TP-RPP-WTP-509 examined specific processes from two broad areas of simulant behavior: 1) leaching performance of the boehmite simulant as a function of suspending phase chemistry and 2) filtration performance of the blended simulant with respect to filter scale-up and fouling. With regard to leaching behavior, the effect of anions on the kinetics of boehmite leaching was examined. Two experiments were conducted: 1) one examined the effect of the aluminate anion on the rate of boehmite dissolution and 2) another determined the effect of secondary anions typical of Hanford tank wastes on the rate of boehmite dissolution. Both experiments provide insight into how compositional variations in the suspending phase impact the effectiveness of the leaching processes. In addition, the aluminate anion studies provide information on the consequences of gibbsite in waste. The latter derives from the expected fast dissolution of gibbsite relative to boehmite. This test report concerns only results of the filtration performance with respect to scale-up. Test results for boehmite dissolution kinetics and filter fouling are reported elsewhere (see Table S.1). The primary goal of scale-up testing was to examine how filter length influenced permeate flux rates. To accomplish this, the existing cells unit filter system, which employs a 2-ft-long, 0.5-in. (inner) diameter sintered stainless steel filter element, was redesigned to accommodate an 8-ft. sintered stainless steel filter element of the same diameter. Testing was then performed to evaluate the filtration performance of waste simulant slurries. Scale-up testing consisted of two separate series of filtration tests: 1) scale-up axial velocity (AV)/transmembrane pressure (TMP) matrix tests and 2) scale-up temperature tests. The AV/TMP matrix tests examined filtration performance of two different waste simulant slurries in the 8-ft. cells unit filter system. Waste simulant slurry formulations for the 8-ft. scale-up test was selected to match simulant slurries for which filtration performance had been characterized on the 2-ft CUF. For the scale-up temperature tests, the filtration performance at three test temperatures (i.e., 25°C, 40°C, and 60°C) was determined to evaluate if filter flux versus temperature correlations developed using the 2-ft filters were also valid for the 8-ft filters