Uranium Fate and Mineral Transformations upon Remediation with Ammonia (NH3) Gas

The fission of uranium (U) for plutonium production was a major activity at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site in Washington State during World War II and Cold War. This endeavor resulted in the generation of over two million liters of high-level radioactive waste, most of which still remains in 177 underground storage tanks. Due to the improper storage and aging of these tanks in addition to other waste releases across the Site, approximately 200,000 kg of U have been released into the vadose zone. The objective of this study was to determine whether the application of the reactive gas, ammonia (NH3), could be effective for sequestration of U in vadose zone conditions such as those at the Hanford Site. The goal of this novel technique is to elevate the pH and induce mineral dissolution. As the NH3 dissipates and the pH returns to neutral conditions, adsorption and co-precipitation processes are expected to immobilize U. The targeted mineral dissolution and secondary precipitate formation processes are not well understood at these conditions including their impact on U behavior. The experimental results suggest that, as a result of pH manipulation with NH3, investigated minerals (illite, muscovite, and montmorillonite) undergo incongruent dissolution. In addition, several analytical techniques were applied to compare ammonia-treated and circumneutral pH-treated minerals. Characterization studies showed that physicochemical transformations occurred, such as recrystallization of mineral edges and particle size and surface area increase. These behaviors are indicative of secondary precipitate formation, which was confirmed by comparisons of Al:Si ratios in solution and the solid phase, suggesting U sequestration. Furthermore, U distribution calculations between the solid and liquid phases indicate a significant increase in solid phase U with treatment, while geochemical software modeling provided a way to predict U species and secondary mineral phases upon alkaline treatment. These findings show the scientific community that NH3 gas injection is an effective technology to decrease the mobility of the uranyl ion. This technology may be particularly valuable to unsaturated areas where contamination remedies are needed in situ without the addition of liquid amendments

Behaviour of poplar clones in Barreal : San Juan, Argentina

Con el objetivo de estudiar el comportamiento de diferentes clones de álamos en el valle cordillerano de Barreal, ubicado en la provincia de San Juan, Argentina, en 1995 se instaló un ensayo con los siguientes clones: 7 Populus x canadensis: Cima, Fogolino, Giorgione, Schiavone, Conti 12, I-214, Veronese y 7 Populus x deltoides: Harvard, Fierolo, I-72, 67/67, 71/67, Catfish 2 y Catfish 5. El sitio se encuentra a 31°36'55'' S, 69°27'30'' W y una altura de 1.628 msnm. El suelo es aluvial, de textura franca con cantos rodados de tamaño medio a partir de los 70 cm de la superficie. El marco de plantación fue de 5 x 2,5 m y el riego superficial por surcos. Se tomaron periódicamente datos dasométricos del diámetro altura de pecho (DAP) de todos los individuos, y altura total de árboles de diámetro promedio de cada clon. Además se observó cada una de las plantas a fin de determinar la presencia o ausencia de cancrosis del álamo y taladrillo de los forestales. Los resultados a la fecha muestran que los clones con mayor producción de madera, expresada en m3/ha son: Schiavone, I-214, Veronese, Conti 12 y Giorgione.Aiming to study different poplar clones behaviour in the Andinean Valley of Barreal, placed in the province of San Juan, Argentina, in 1995 was set a trial with the following clones: 7 Populus x canadensis: Cima, Fogolino, Giorgione, Schiavone, Conti 12, I-214, Veronese, and 7 Populus x deltoides: Harvard, Fierolo, I-72, 67/67, 71/67, Catfish 2 and Catfish 5. The site is placed at 31°36'55" S and 69°27'30" W and a height of 1.628 mosl. Soil is of alluvium sediment; medium texture with middle size rolling stones, beginning at 70 cm below the surface. Plantation order was settled at 5 x 2.5 m and irrigation by surface furrows. Periodically dasometric data was taken of brest height diameter (BDH) of all individuals and total height of trees which of the average diameter on each clon. It was also observed the health development of each plant mainly to establish the presence or absence of pests and diseases like Poplar Borer and Septoria Canker. Results up to date show that higher wood production expressed in m3/ha are: Schiavone, I-214, Veronese, Conti 12 and Giorgione.Fil: Bustamante, Juan A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Perez, Silvina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Agropecuari

Triggered star formation in a molecular shell created by a SNR?

We present a study of a new molecular shell, G126.1-0.8-14, using available multiwavelegth Galactic plane surveys and optical Gemini observations. A well defined shell-like structure is observed in the CO(1--0) line emission at (l,b) = (126.1, -0.8), in the velocity range --10.5 to --15.5 km/s. The HI, emission shows a region of low emissivity inside G126.1-0.8-14, while radio continuum observations reveal faint non-thermal emission possibly related to this shell. Optical spectra obtained with Gemini South show the existence of B-type stars likely to be associated with G126.1-0.8-14. An estimate of the stellar wind energy injected by these stars show that they alone can not be able to create such a structure. On the other hand, one supernova explosion would provide enough energy to generate the shell. Using the MSX, IRAS, and WISE Point Source Catalogues we have found about 30 young stellar objects candidates, whose birth could have been triggered by the expansion of G126.1-0.8-14. In this context, Sh2-187 could be a consequence of the action on its surroundings of the most massive (and thus most evolve) of the stars formed by the expanding molecular shell.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, accepted in MNRA

Nociones infantiles sobre desigualdad social: atravesamientos ideológicos y procesos de socialización política

En este estudio nos propusimos, primeramente, conocer las nociones asociadas al origen de la desigualdad social en niños y niñas de Córdoba (Argentina) de 10 y 11 años de edad, con énfasis en la identificación de construcciones valorativas e ideológicas subyacentes y en los procesos atribucionales involucrados. A su vez, y considerando que la construcción de nociones sociales se produce en el marco de procesos de socialización política, apuntamos a determinar el impacto de una experiencia de socialización política alternativa sobre las nociones sociales mencionadas. Efectuamos un estudio cuasi-experimental con pre y post-test, y con un grupo cuasicontrol. Realizamos entrevistas cualitativas para la indagación de la variable dependiente al inicio y al final del ciclo lectivo. En función de los resultados analizamos alcances y limitaicones de dicha experiencia.-1. Introducción. -2. Marco conceptual. -3. Metodología. -4. Resultados. -5. Conclusiones. -Lista de referencias

Substitution of the N-terminal segment of the plasma membrane Ca pump isoform 4 by that of isoform 1 results in a fully functional chimeric enzyme

AbstractThe N-terminal segment of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump (PMCA) is one of the most variable regions among the four isoforms of the enzyme and its functional importance is unknown. In the present work, the N-terminal segment of the highly active C-terminally truncated h4 mutant, h4(ct120) was modified either by substituting residues 18–43 by residues 43–75 or by replacing residues 1–75 by the homologous region from isoform h1 (residues 1–79). Immunoblot analysis of microsomal membranes from transfected COS-1 cells showed that the two N-terminally mutated proteins were correctly expressed at a level similar to that of h4(ct120). Measurements of the Ca2+ uptake by microsomal vesicles from transfected COS-1 cells indicated that mutant (18–43→43–75)h4(ct120) had only negligible Ca2+ transport activity while the chimeric (n1–79)h1h4(ct120) enzyme was fully capable of functioning as a calcium pump.Like h4(ct120), the chimeric mutant was not stimulated further by calmodulin, and was inhibited to a similar degree by the C28R2 peptide corresponding to the calmodulin binding autoinhibitory region of the pump. Moreover, the apparent affinity for Ca2+ and the ATP dependence of the chimeric enzyme were similar to those of the h4(ct120) pump suggesting that the variability of sequence between the N-terminal segment of PMCA isoforms h1 and h4 involves amino acid substitutions that do not substantially change the behavior of the h4 enzyme.Altogether, these results demonstrate that for activity the h4 Ca pump requires a specific amino acid sequence at its N-terminus, and the essential elements for a fully active enzyme can be provided by the N-terminal segment of isoform h1 despite the variability

Uji Pemberian Beberapa Konsentrasi Glisin pada Media Vacin And Went (Vw) terhadap Pertumbuhan Plantlet Anggrek (Dendrobium SP.) secara In Vitro

This research aim is to know the influence and get a glycine concentration on vacin and went (VW) medium that giving the best growth of Dendrobium orchid plantlet by in vitro. This research was conducted in Plant Biotechnological Laboratory of Farm Faculty, University of Riau, Pekanbaru from March till June 2014. This research is an experiment used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which arranged in six levels and three repetitions. The treatment is giving a several glycine concentration started with without glycine, 1 mg glycine/l, 2 mg glycine/l, 3 mg glycine/l, 4 mg glycine/l and 5 mg glycine/l. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance and Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at the level of 5%. The result showed that giving a several glycine concentration was not significant for all parameters, but giving glycine with concentration 4 mg/l showed the best result to the height of plant, leaf amount, root amount and visual view of the Dendrobium orchid plantlet

Family Dynamics and Personal Strengths among Dementia Caregivers in Argentina

This study examined whether healthier family dynamics were associated with higher personal strengths of resilience, sense of coherence, and optimism among dementia caregivers in Argentina. Caregivers are usually required to assist individuals with dementia, and family members have typically fulfilled that role. Personal strengths such as resilience, sense of coherence, and optimism have been shown to protect caregivers from some of the negative experiences of providing care, though the family-related variables associated with these personal strengths are largely unknown. Hierarchical multiple regressions investigated the extent to which family dynamics variables are associated with each of the caregiver personal strengths after controlling for demographic and caregiver characteristics. A sample of 105 caregivers from Argentina completed a set of questionnaires during a neurologist visit. Family dynamics explained 32% of the variance in resilience and 39% of the variance in sense of coherence. Greater family empathy and decreased family problems were uniquely associated with higher resilience. Greater communication and decreased family problems were uniquely associated with higher sense of coherence. Optimism was not found to be significantly associated with family dynamics. These results suggest that caregiver intervention research focused on the family may help improve caregiver personal strengths in Argentina and other Latin American countries

Pemberian Npk Organik sebagai Larutan Nutrisi pada Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Tomat (LycopersicumesculentumMill.) dengan Sistem HidroponiK

The objective of the research was to determine the best dose of NPK organic nutrient solution on growth and yield of tomato plants with hydroponics systems. These experiments were prepared using completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 4 replications. The treatment in this study are: D1 = organic NPK with dose of 325 g / plant, D2 = organic NPK with dose of 650 g / plant, D3 = organic NPK with dose of 975 g / plant, D4 = organic NPK with dose of 1300 g / plant. Parameters measured were plant dry weight, number of flowers, number of fruits percentage of fruit formation, harvesting age and weight of fruits per plant. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by Duncan's test New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at the level of 5%. The results showed that treatment doses of 975 g / plant showed the highest results in each parameter were observed. Accompanied by an increase in organic NPK dose response primarily to the increase was not significantly different for all parameters were observed

Conifers behaviour under irrigation in the Yaucha dam : Mendoza, Argentina

La provincia de Mendoza, que se ubica en el Centro-Oeste de la República Argentina, posee una extensión de 150.830 km2. Prácticamente todas las actividades agropecuarias y forestales están concentradas en el 3% de su territorio que es posible irrigar. Al oeste, en el límite con la República de Chile, está la cadena montañosa que forma parte de la región fitogeográfica del Desierto Andino que se extiende por más de 500 km, con un ancho promedio de 100 km. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la supervivencia y el comportamiento de distintas especies de coníferas en zonas del piedemonte mendocino. Para ello se instaló una parcela experimental en el Dique Yaucha, ubicado en el Departamento de San Carlos a 34°00' S y 69°07' O, a una altura de 1213 msnm. Las especies del ensayo fueron: Pinus pinea L., Pinus halepensis Mill. y Cupressus arizonica Greene. Se llevaron plantas de aproximadamente 0,70 m de altura, que se instalaron a una distancia de plantación definitiva de 3 x 3 m y se regaron superficialmente por surcos. Se tomaron periódicamente datos dasométricos de diámetro altura de pecho (DAP) de todas las plantas, altura total de los árboles promedio de cada especie, registrándose además las fallas producidas y el estado sanitario. Los resultados obtenidos a la edad de 17 años son: Pinus pinea: diámetro promedio 17 cm, altura 6,60 m y 22,5% de fallas; Pinus halepensis: diámetro promedio 16 cm, altura 8,60 m y 12,2% de fallas; Cupressus arizonica: diámetro promedio 20 cm, altura 7,75 m y 18,1% de fallas. Es de destacar que P. pinea presenta el 6% de fustes bifurcados a baja altura. Todas las especies tienen un buen estado sanitario, no registrándose hasta la fecha plagas o enfermedades que hayan afectado el desarrollo del ensayo.The Province of Mendoza is ubicated in the Mid-Western part of República Argentina with an extention of 150.830 km2. There all agrarian and forestry activities are concentrated in a 3% of its territory which is able to be irrigated. On the West side part of the province by the border with Republic of Chile appears the mountain ridge (Cordillera de Los Andes) which is a part of the fitogeographical region called Andinian Desert. It extents for over 500 km with an average wide of 100 km. This work is aimed to evaluate survival and behaiviours of different species of conifers in the mountanious country side of Mendoza. To do so there was installed an experimental plots in Yaucha dam, placed in San Carlos department at 34°00' S and 69°07' W, at an altitude of 1213 mosl. Species on test were Pinus pinea L., Pinus halepensis Mill., and Cupressus arizonica Greene. For the experience were used plants of approximately 0.70 m height and were installed at a definite plantation distance of 3 x 3 m whit surface irrigation stream water by furrows. Periodically dasometric data is taken about diameter, chest height of every plant, total average height of trees of each specie, registering failures and sanitary situation. Results obtained at the age of 17 years are: Pinus pinea: average diameter 17 cm, height 6.60 m, failure 22.5%; Pinus halepensis: average diameter 16 cm, height 8.60 m, failure 12.2%; Cupressus arizonica: average diameter 20 cm, height 7.75 m, failure 18.1%. It is to be noted that Pinus pinea presents 6% of low height forked branches. All species are in good sanitary shape not registering any pests or diseases affecting the experiment up to date.Fil: Calderón, Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Bustamante, Juan A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Riu, Nuria. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Perez, Silvina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción Agropecuari