Preliminary deployment of Grid-assisted oceanographic applications

Abstract. Grid integration of OGS oceanographic remote instruments and coupled physical-biogeochemical model has been explored in the framework of the EC-FP7 DORII project. We discuss here the first preliminary results achieved, describing the different tools developed with the support of the project consortium. A general background of the Grid technology for the e-Science is also provided.</p

Correlation between the Results of Sequential Extraction and Effectiveness of Immobilization Treatment of Lead- and Cadmium-Contaminated Sediment

The assessment of the quality of sediment from the Great Backi Canal (Serbia), based on the pseudo-total lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) content according to the corresponding Dutch standards and Canadian guidelines, showed its severe contamination with these two metals. A microwave-assisted BCR (Community Bureau of Reference of the Commission of the European Union) sequential extraction procedure was employed to assess their potential mobility and risk to the aquatic environment. Comparison of the results of sequential extraction and different criteria for sediment quality assessment has led to somewhat contradictory conclusions. Namely, while the results of sequential extraction showed that Cd comes under the high-risk category, Pb shows low risk to the environment, despite its high pseudo-total content. The contaminated sediment, irrespective of the different speciation of Pb and Cd, was subjected to the same immobilization, stabilization/solidification (S/S) treatments using kaolinite, montmorillonite, kaolinite-quicklime, montmorillonite-quicklime, fly ash, zeolite, or zeolite-fly ash combination. Semi-dynamic leaching tests were conducted for Pb- and Cd-contaminated sediment in order to assess the long-term leaching behavior of these metals. In order to simulate “worst case” leaching conditions, the semi-dynamic leaching test was modified using 0.014 M acetic acid (pH = 3.25) and humic acid solutions (20 mg TOC l-1) as leachants instead of deionized water. The effectiveness of S/S treatment was evaluated by determining diffusion coefficients (De) and leachability indices (LX). The standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was applied to evaluate the extraction potential of Pb and Cd. A diffusion-based model was used to elucidate the controlling leaching mechanisms. Generally, the test results indicated that all applied S/S treatments were effective in immobilizing Pb and Cd, and the treated sediments may be considered acceptable for “controlled utilization” based on LX values, irrespective of their different availability in the untreated samples. In the majority of samples, the controlling leaching mechanism appeared to be diffusion, which indicates that a slow leaching of Cd and Pb could be expected when the above S/S agents were applied. The TCLP results showed that all S/S samples were nonhazardous

Organic pollution in sediment-water systems on the Ratno Ostrvo location in Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro

ABSTRACT: Two-year (2001Two-year ( -2002 monitoring was conducted to determine residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides in sediment-water systems of three types of watercourses on the location of Ratno Ostrvo in Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro). Types of watercourses were established on the basis of the flow regime: drainage ditches with 1-2 m 3 /s (four sampling points), the DTD Canal with up to 10 m 3 /s (three sampling points) and the Danube River with 1500-3000 m 3 /s (five sampling points). Water quality was compared with the requirements given by the national and Dutch regulations, and the quality of sediment with the Dutch and Canadian quality guidelines, due to the lack of national legislaton. Based on the concentrations of organic pollutants in the samples of sediments and water from selected sampling points, average annual values were computed for the three types of watercourses. Great differences regarding the level of pollution between two years of monitoring were in smaller watercourses -drainage ditches and the DTD Canal, which might be a consequence of water flow, increased anthropogenic activity, decrease of self-purification potential. Concentrations of both PAHs and pesticides were below national maximum permissible levels in water and below Dutch intervention levels in sediment. Standard deviations of average annual concentrations were very high (up to 30-300%), probably because of the increased anthropogenic effect

The grid as a software application provider in a synchrotron radiation facility

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Numerical simulation of dynamic loads at the steam pipe line of the thermal power plant 'Nikola Tesla B”

Određivanje dinamičkih sila kojima nestacionarna struja fluida deluje na cevovod je neophodno u cilju sagledavanja maksimalnih naprezanja koja deluju na strukturu, spojeve i oslonce, odnosno u cilju dobijanja podloga za projektovanje ovih elemenata na maksimalna dinamička naprezanja. U radu su prikazani metodologija i rezultati računarske simulacije nestacionarnih gasodinamičkih sila koje deluju na parovod tople međupregrejane pare termoelektrane „Nikola Tesla B”. Nestacionarne gasodinamičke sile nastaju usled nestacionarnog strujanja radnog fluida pri delovanju sigurnosno-zaštitnih sistema. Zatvaranje pregradnih ventila ispred tur bine srednjeg pritiska zaustavlja protok pare i dovodi do porasta pritiska ispred pregradnih ventila, i prostiranja i superponiranja talasa pritiska duž parovoda, što izaziva dopunska dinamička opterećenja parovoda. Određivanje dinamičkih fluidnih sila se vrši zajedno sa simulacijom nestacionarnog strujanja pare. Simulacija strujanja i određivanje fluidnih dinamičkih sila su sprovedeni pomoću računarskog programa TEA razvijenog na Mašinskom fakultetu u Beogradu. Dobijeni rezultati su korišćeni u okviru revizije inostranog projekta rekonstrukcije (zamene) parovoda međupregrejane pare na termoelektrani „Nikola Tesla B”. Rezultati proračuna dobijeni programom TEA su upoređeni sa rezultatima inostranog računarskog programa SHOCK i dobijeno je prihvatljivo slaganje.Prediction of the transient fluid dynamic forces that act on the pipe line structure, junctions and supports are important in order to predict the maximum design loads. The paper presents the methodology and results of the fluid dynamic forces prediction for the reheated steam pipe line at the Thermal Power Plant ”Nikola Tesla B”. The dynamic forces are induced by fluid transient flow caused by the action of the plant safety system. Closure of the isolation valves in front of the intermediate pressure turbine stops the steam flow and leads to the in crease of pres sure in front of the isolation valves, pressure waves propagation and super position along the pipe line, which cause additional dynamic loading of the pipe line structure. Prediction of the fluid dynamic forces is performed simultaneously with the simulation of the transient fluid flow. Transient simulation of fluid flow and calculation of fluid-dynamic forces are performed with the computer code TEA (Transient Evaluation Analyses), which is developed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade. Obtained results are used for the review of a foreign project on the reconstruction (replacement) of steam pipeline in Thermal Power Plant ”Nikola Tesla B”. Results obtained with the computer code TEA are compared with results of foreign computer code SHOCK. Acceptably agreement is achieved

Numerical simulation of dynamic loads at the steam pipe line of the thermal power plant 'Nikola Tesla B”

Određivanje dinamičkih sila kojima nestacionarna struja fluida deluje na cevovod je neophodno u cilju sagledavanja maksimalnih naprezanja koja deluju na strukturu, spojeve i oslonce, odnosno u cilju dobijanja podloga za projektovanje ovih elemenata na maksimalna dinamička naprezanja. U radu su prikazani metodologija i rezultati računarske simulacije nestacionarnih gasodinamičkih sila koje deluju na parovod tople međupregrejane pare termoelektrane „Nikola Tesla B”. Nestacionarne gasodinamičke sile nastaju usled nestacionarnog strujanja radnog fluida pri delovanju sigurnosno-zaštitnih sistema. Zatvaranje pregradnih ventila ispred tur bine srednjeg pritiska zaustavlja protok pare i dovodi do porasta pritiska ispred pregradnih ventila, i prostiranja i superponiranja talasa pritiska duž parovoda, što izaziva dopunska dinamička opterećenja parovoda. Određivanje dinamičkih fluidnih sila se vrši zajedno sa simulacijom nestacionarnog strujanja pare. Simulacija strujanja i određivanje fluidnih dinamičkih sila su sprovedeni pomoću računarskog programa TEA razvijenog na Mašinskom fakultetu u Beogradu. Dobijeni rezultati su korišćeni u okviru revizije inostranog projekta rekonstrukcije (zamene) parovoda međupregrejane pare na termoelektrani „Nikola Tesla B”. Rezultati proračuna dobijeni programom TEA su upoređeni sa rezultatima inostranog računarskog programa SHOCK i dobijeno je prihvatljivo slaganje.Prediction of the transient fluid dynamic forces that act on the pipe line structure, junctions and supports are important in order to predict the maximum design loads. The paper presents the methodology and results of the fluid dynamic forces prediction for the reheated steam pipe line at the Thermal Power Plant ”Nikola Tesla B”. The dynamic forces are induced by fluid transient flow caused by the action of the plant safety system. Closure of the isolation valves in front of the intermediate pressure turbine stops the steam flow and leads to the in crease of pres sure in front of the isolation valves, pressure waves propagation and super position along the pipe line, which cause additional dynamic loading of the pipe line structure. Prediction of the fluid dynamic forces is performed simultaneously with the simulation of the transient fluid flow. Transient simulation of fluid flow and calculation of fluid-dynamic forces are performed with the computer code TEA (Transient Evaluation Analyses), which is developed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade. Obtained results are used for the review of a foreign project on the reconstruction (replacement) of steam pipeline in Thermal Power Plant ”Nikola Tesla B”. Results obtained with the computer code TEA are compared with results of foreign computer code SHOCK. Acceptably agreement is achieved

Rituximab in B-Cell Hematologic Malignancies: A Review of 20 Years of Clinical Experience

Rituximab is a human/murine, chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with established efficacy, and a favorable and well-defined safety profile in patients with various CD20-expressing lymphoid malignancies, including indolent and aggressive forms of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Since its first approval 20 years ago, intravenously administered rituximab has revolutionized the treatment of B-cell malignancies and has become a standard component of care for follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and mantle cell lymphoma. For all of these diseases, clinical trials have demonstrated that rituximab not only prolongs the time to disease progression but also extends overall survival. Efficacy benefits have also been shown in patients with marginal zone lymphoma and in more aggressive diseases such as Burkitt lymphoma. Although the proven clinical efficacy and success of rituximab has led to the development of other anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in recent years (e.g., obinutuzumab, ofatumumab, veltuzumab, and ocrelizumab), rituximab is likely to maintain a position within the therapeutic armamentarium because it is well established with a long history of successful clinical use. Furthermore, a subcutaneous formulation of the drug has been approved both in the EU and in the USA for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Using the wealth of data published on rituximab during the last two decades, we review the preclinical development of rituximab and the clinical experience gained in the treatment of hematologic B-cell malignancies, with a focus on the well-established intravenous route of administration. This article is a companion paper to A. Davies, et al., which is also published in this issue

Advanced care planning during the COVID-19 pandemic: ceiling of care decisions and their implications for observational data

Background Observational studies investigating risk factors in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not considered the confounding effects of advanced care planning, such that a valid picture of risk for elderly, frail and multi-morbid patients is unknown. We aimed to report ceiling of care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decisions and their association with demographic and clinical characteristics as well as outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Retrospective, observational study conducted between 5th March and 7th May 2020 of all hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Ceiling of care and CPR decisions were documented using the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) process. Unadjusted and multivariable regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with ceiling of care decisions and death during hospitalisation. Results A total of 485 patients were included, of whom 409 (84·3%) had a documented ceiling of care; level one for 208 (50·9%), level two for 75 (18·3%) and level three for 126 (30·8%). CPR decisions were documented for 451 (93·0%) of whom 336 (74·5%) were ‘not for resuscitation’. Advanced age, frailty, White-European ethnicity, a diagnosis of any co-morbidity and receipt of cardiovascular medications were associated with ceiling of care decisions. In a multivariable model only advanced age (odds 0·89, 0·86–0·93 p < 0·001), frailty (odds 0·48, 0·38–0·60, p < 0·001) and the cumulative number of co-morbidities (odds 0·72, 0·52–1·0, p = 0·048) were independently associated. Death during hospitalisation was independently associated with age, frailty and requirement for level two or three care. Conclusion Ceiling of care decisions were made for the majority of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, broadly in line with known predictors of poor outcomes in COVID-19, but with a focus on co-morbidities suggesting ICU admission might not be a reliable end-point for observational studies where advanced care planning is routine

In-depth characterization of intratumoral heterogeneity in refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma through the lens of a Research Autopsy Program

Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) provides the substrate for tumor evolution and treatment resistance, yet is remarkably understudied in lymphoma, due to the often limited amount of tissue that gets sampled during the routine diagnostic process, generally from a single nodal or extranodal site. Furthermore, the trajectory of how lymphoma, and especially non-Hodgkin lymphoma, spreads throughout the human body remains poorly understood. Here, we present a detailed characterization of ITH by applying whole-genome sequencing to spatially separated tumor samples harvested at the time of autopsy (n=24) and/or diagnosis (n=3) in three patients presenting with refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Through deconvolution of bulk samples into clonal mixtures and inference of phylogenetic trees, we found evidence that polyclonal seeding underlies tumor dissemination in lymphoma. We identify mutation signatures associated with ancestral and descendant clones. In our series of patients with highly refractory lymphoma, the determinants of resistance were often harbored by founding clones, although there was also evidence of positive selection of driver mutations, likely under the influence of therapy. Lastly, we show that circulating tumor DNA is suitable for the detection of ancestral mutations but may miss a significant proportion of private mutations that can be detected in tissue. Our study clearly shows the existence of intricate patterns of regional and anatomical evolution that can only be disentangled through multi-regional tumor tissue profiling