The role of nano-perovskite in the negligible thorium release in seawater from Greek bauxite residue (red mud)

We present new data about the chemical and structural characteristics of bauxite residue (BR) from Greek Al industry, using a combination of microscopic, analytical, and spectroscopic techniques. SEM-EDS indicated a homogeneous dominant “Al-Fe-Ca-Ti-Si-Na-Cr matrix”, appearing at the microscale. The bulk chemical analyses showed considerable levels of Th (111 μg g−1), along with minor U (15 μg g−1), which are responsible for radioactivity (355 and 133 Bq kg−1 for 232Th and 238U, respectively) with a total dose rate of 295 nGy h−1. Leaching experiments, in conjunction with SF-ICP-MS, using Mediterranean seawater from Greece, indicated significant release of V, depending on S/L ratio, and negligible release of Th at least after 12 months leaching. STEM-EDS/EELS & HR-STEM-HAADF study of the leached BR at the nanoscale revealed that the significant immobility of Th4+ is due to its incorporation into an insoluble perovskite-type phase with major composition of Ca0.8Na0.2TiO3 and crystallites observed in nanoscale. The Th LIII-edge EXAFS spectra demonstrated that Th4+ ions, which are hosted in this novel nano-perovskite of BR, occupy Ca2+ sites, rather than Ti4+ sites. That is most likely the reason of no Th release in Mediterranean seawater

Agronomic and Kernel Compositional Traits of Blue Maize Landraces from the Southwestern United States

Diverse landraces of maize have been cultivated for centuries in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico primarily for human food consumption. A striking feature of these landraces is the wide array of kernel colors displayed. Traditional cultivation is declining, but blue maize has received increasing commercial interest due to rising consumer demand for unique food products with health benefits and special culinary uses. We evaluated grain yield, agronomic and morphological traits, and analyzed the kernel biochemical composition of five blue and one purple landraces representative of diversity in the Southwest. These were compared with selected open-pollinated populations derived from Southwest and Corn Belt blue maize at several New Mexico locations in 2012 and 2013. Kernel amino acids, oil, protein, starch, fatty acids, crude fiber, ash and anthocyanin pigment contents were determined. Grain yield across all locations, years, and accessions averaged 2.11 Mg ha−1. Navajo Blue and Hopi Blue were the highest and lowest yielding accessions, respectively. The majority of southwestern landraces displayed higher oil content, and two displayed higher protein content, than the Corn Belt Dent variety. Little variation in total amino acid content was observed. Several southwestern floury accessions displayed ∼10% greater lysine and methionine than did dent or flint genotypes. Considerable variation for plant, ear, and kernel compositional traits within and across southwestern landraces was consistent with the presence of racial admixtures. The health-promoting properties of anthocyanin-rich landraces contribute to sound dietary nutrition and human health. This study further illustrates the diversity of southwestern maize and supports the rationale for their continued conservation through sustained cultivation and utilization. Directed selection to improve grain yield and uniformity will be necessary to enhance their potential for commercial production

The Canadian celiac health survey – the Ottawa chapter pilot

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease may manifest with a variety of symptoms which can result in delays in diagnosis. Celiac disease is associated with a number of other medical conditions. The last national survey of members of the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) was in 1989. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of surveying over 5,000 members of the CCA, in addition to obtaining more health related information about celiac disease. METHODS: The Professional Advisory Board of the CCA in collaboration with the University of Ottawa developed a comprehensive questionnaire on celiac disease. The questionnaire was pre-tested and then a pilot survey was conducted on members of the Ottawa Chapter of the CCA using a Modified Dillmans' Total Design method for mail surveys. RESULTS: We had a 76% response to the first mailout of the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 55.5 years and the mean age at diagnosis was 45 years. The majority of respondents presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue or weight loss. Prior to diagnosis, 30% of respondents consulted four or more family doctors. Thirty seven percent of individuals were told they had either osteoporosis or osteopenia. Regarding the impact of the gluten-free diet (GFD), 45% of individuals reported that they found following a GFD was very or moderately difficult. The quality of life of individuals with celiac disease was comparable to the mean quality of life of Canadians. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our results, we concluded that a nationwide survey is feasible and this is in progress. Important concerns included delays in the diagnosis of celiac disease and the awareness of associated medical conditions. Other issues include awareness of celiac disease by health professionals and the impact of the GFD on quality of life. These issues will be addressed further in the national survey

6li 28si reaction cross sections at sub barrier energies

Total reaction cross sections at near barrier energies (9-13 MeV) were measured for the system 6Li+28Si adopting a new technique. The results will be discussed in terms of the threshold anomaly at barrie

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose as a Novel Tool for Isothermal Solution Crystallization of Micronized Paracetamol

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Crystal Growth and Design, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cg4009637Pulmonary inhalation is increasingly being selected as a preferred route for the delivery of both small and large drug macromolecules for the treatment of a range of pathologies. The direct crystallization of micronized powders, in particular, paracetamol, remains difficult, as it requires the ability to work in high solution supersaturations where agglomeration, wall crusting, and heterogeneous nucleation hinder the control of crystal size and crystal size distribution. Polymer additives are recognized to help drive the production of a given polymorph or controlling crystal shape by means of adsorption on the crystal surface. With the aim of exploiting the polymer-control nucleation and growth of crystals for enhanced direct crystallization of micronized powders, batch cooling crystallization of paracetamol in water was carried out in the presence of 0.1-0.8% w/w hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). In the presence of polymer, the onset of nucleation was delayed and extended beyond the cooling time of the solution, resulting in an isothermal cooling crystallization and the production of micronized paracetamol with a mean crystal size D50, in the range of 15-20 μm and an improved crystal size distribution. Equally, the rate generation of solution cloudiness was reduced by over 3-fold for the highest HPMC concentration tested, with no detectable impact on final product yield. The mechanisms for nucleation delay and growth inhibition by HPMC is unknown; however, a modification of crystals shape observed upon the addition of HPMC to the solution suggested it might be related to mass transfer limitations and intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the large HPMC and the small drug molecules. This technique can potentially be used for direct crystallization of other micronized drugs. © 2014 American Chemical Society