Determining the fate and toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with coal-tar and other carbonaceous material particles in urban lakes

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Lignin and Lipid Impact on Sorption and Diffusion of Trichloroethylene in Tree Branches for Determining Contaminant Fate during Plant Sampling and Phytoremediation

Plants Draw All They Need from their Surrounding Environment and in Doing So Also Draw Anthropogenic Contaminants from their Surroundings. Several Natural Processes (E.g., Active Transport, Diffusion, Sorption, and Degradation) Occur within Trees and Affect Chemical Concentrations in Tree Samples. This Study Elucidates Tree Contaminant Chemical Interactions on Equilibrium Sorption and Diffusion into Branch Tissue (I.e., Wood Core and Bark), Specifically the Impacts of Lipid and Lignin Content. Five Tree Species Were Selected to Span a Range of Lignin and Lipid Contents. Linear Isotherms Were Obtained for All Sampled Species over a Limited Concentration Range (2 Μg/ ML \u3c C Gas \u3c 12 Μg/mL), and Equilibrium Distribution Coefficients (Kd) Were Linearly Correlated to Lipid (R2 \u3e 0.83) But Not Lignin (R2 \u3c 0.4) Content. Lipid Content Was Generally Higher in Bark Than in Wood Cores, So Mass Concentrated in This Tissue. Diffusion into Trees Was Modeled, Showing Mass Transfer Resistance in Bark Was Different from Wood Cores. Diffusion Coefficients for Bark Were 2-10 Times Less Than Those for Wood Cores for All Species, and Diffusion Was Linearly Related to Lipid Content (R2 \u3e 0.96) and Sorption Coefficients (R2 \u3e 0.83). Data from This Study and Previous Research Were Used to Develop the Following Correlation between the Diffusion Coefficient and Relevant Plant and Chemical Parameters for Branch Samples: D = (-7 X 10 -11) X [Flipid X 10 (1.48xlogKow+0.54)] + 4 X 10 -8. © 2009 American Chemical Society

Carbonaceous material fractions in sediments and their effect on the sorption and persistence of organic pollutants in small urban watersheds

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Towards predicting DNAPL source zone formation to improve plume assessment: Using robust laboratory and numerical experiments to evaluate the relevance of retention curve characteristics

© 2020 The Authors We conducted multiple laboratory trials in a robust and repeatable experimental layout to study dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zone formation. We extended an image processing and analysis framework to derive DNAPL saturation distributions from reflective optical imaging data, with volume balance deviations \u3c 5.07%. We used a multiphase flow model to simulate source zone formation in a Monte Carlo approach, where the parameter space was defined by the variation of retention curve parameters. Integral and geometric measures were used to characterize the source zones and implemented into a multi-criteria objective function. The latter showed good agreement between observation data and simulation results for effective DNAPL saturation values \u3e 0.04, especially for early stages of DNAPL migration. The common hypothesis that parameters defining the DNAPL-water retention curves are constant over time was not confirmed. Once DNAPL pooling started, the optimal fit in the parameter space was significantly different compared to the earlier DNAPL migration stages. We suspect more complex processes (e.g., capillary hysteresis, adsorption) to become relevant during pool formation. Our results reveal deficits in the grayscale-DNAPL saturation relationship definition and laboratory estimation of DNAPL-water retention curve parameters to overcome current limitations to describe DNAPL source zone formation

Reuse of Produced Water from CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery, Coal-Bed Methane, and Mine Pool Water by Coal-Based Power Plants

Department of Energy, DOE award number DE-NT0005343Ope

2016 ACR-EULAR adult dermatomyositis and polymyositis and juvenile dermatomyositis response criteria-methodological aspects

Objective. The objective was to describe the methodology used to develop new response criteria for adult DM/PM and JDM. Methods. Patient profiles from prospective natural history data and clinical trials were rated by myositis specialists to develop consensus gold-standard ratings of minimal, moderate and major improvement. Experts completed a survey regarding clinically meaningful improvement in the core set measures (CSM) and a conjoint-analysis survey (using 1000Minds software) to derive relative weights of CSM and candidate definitions. Six types of candidate definitions for response criteria were derived using survey results, logistic regression, conjoint analysis, application of conjoint-analysis weights to CSM and published definitions. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve were defined for candidate criteria using consensus patient profile data, and selected definitions were validated using clinical trial data. Results. Myositis specialists defined the degree of clinically meaningful improvement in CSM for minimal, moderate and major improvement. The conjoint-analysis survey established the relative weights of CSM, with muscle strength and Physician Global Activity as most important. Many candidate definitions showed excellent sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve in the consensus profiles. Trial validation showed that a number of candidate criteria differentiated between treatment groups. Top candidate criteria definitions were presented at the consensus conference. Conclusion. Consensus methodology, with definitions tested on patient profiles and validated using clinical trials, led to 18 definitions for adult PM/DM and 14 for JDM as excellent candidates for consideration in the final consensus on new response criteria for myositis

EMSL Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry and Subsurface Science-Science Theme Advisory Panel Meeting

This report covers the topics of discussion and the recommendations of the panel members. On December 8 and 9, 2010, the Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, and Subsurface Science (GBSS) Science Theme Advisory Panel (STAP) convened for a more in-depth exploration of the five Science Theme focus areas developed at a similar meeting held in 2009. The goal for the fiscal year (FY) 2011 meeting was to identify potential topical areas for science campaigns, necessary experimental development needs, and scientific members for potential research teams. After a review of the current science in each of the five focus areas, the 2010 STAP discussions successfully led to the identification of one well focused campaign idea in pore-scale modeling and five longer-term potential research campaign ideas that would likely require additional workshops to identify specific research thrusts. These five campaign areas can be grouped into two categories: (1) the application of advanced high-resolution, high mass accuracy experimental techniques to elucidate the interplay between geochemistry and microbial communities in terrestrial ecosystems and (2) coupled computation/experimental investigations of the electron transfer reactions either between mineral surfaces and outer membranes of microbial cells or between the outer and inner membranes of microbial cells

EMSL Pore Scale Modeling Challenge/Workshop

Report covers the background for the workshop, objectives, important research directions, necessary capabilities and overall recommendations

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)