Management of Impacts of Longwall Mining under Urban Areas

Current and proposed expansions to existing underground coal mines are occurring in closer proximity to and directly beneath urban areas. The density of built infrastructure potentially impacted by longwall mining is substantially increased in urban areas when compared with mining beneath rural areas. Management of the impacts of longwall mining in such areas requires extensive consultation with the affected community, including education and management of communities’ expectations regarding what could be expected during and after the mining period. Approaches undertaken by Tahmoor Colliery to manage the potential impacts of mining under the township of Tahmoor are discussed. A summary of impacts that have occurred as a result of mining the first two longwalls are outlined, which are part of a series of eight longwalls that the Colliery plans to mine beneath this town. The experience gained at Tahmoor illustrates that longwall mining beneath urban areas is sustainable and can be successfully managed to mitigate the impacts on surface developments

Esmethadone (REL-1017) and Other Uncompetitive NMDAR Channel Blockers May Improve Mood Disorders via Modulation of Synaptic Kinase-Mediated Signaling

This article presents a mechanism of action hypothesis to explain the rapid antidepressant effects of esmethadone (REL-1017) and other uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists and presents a corresponding mechanism of disease hypothesis for major depressive disorder (MDD). Esmethadone and other uncompetitive NMDAR antagonists may restore physiological neural plasticity in animal models of depressive-like behavior and in patients with MDD via preferential tonic block of pathologically hyperactive GluN2D subtypes. Tonic Ca2+ currents via GluN2D subtypes regulate the homeostatic availability of synaptic proteins. MDD and depressive behaviors may be determined by reduced homeostatic availability of synaptic proteins, due to upregulated tonic Ca2+ currents through GluN2D subtypes. The preferential activity of low-potency NMDAR antagonists for GluN2D subtypes may explain their rapid antidepressant effects in the absence of dissociative side effects

Cama de frango como substrato para a produção de biogás após diferentes períodos de estocagem.

RESUMO: Na avicultura a cama de frango é produzida sazonalmente, em função do modo de produção. Para obter energia do biogás por meio da biodigestão da cama de frango, de forma contínua, o armazenamento do resíduo pode ser uma solução. Ensaios de Potencial Bioquímico de Metano (BMP) foram utilizados neste trabalho para estimar a capacidade de produção de biogás e metano da cama de frango removida após o sexto lote de reutilização e a diferentes tempos de armazenamento após a coleta, assim, verificar a viabilidade de utilização da cama de frango como um substrato em unidade produtora de biogás. A produção de biogás e metano, nas amostras em diferentes períodos de armazenamento, foi comparada: antes de armazenar 245 LN biogas.kgSV adic-1 e 159 LN CH4.kgSV adic-11, seis meses com 252 LN biogas.kgSV adic-1 e 160 LN CH4.kgSV adic-1 e um ano 209 LN biogas.kgSV adic-1 e 117 LNCH4.kgSV adic-1, demonstrando que o período de armazenamento é caracterizado por uma relativa perda do conteúdo de matéria orgânica após um ano, contudo, não há diferença significativa entre a produção de biogás e metano após seis meses armazenada e antes de armazenar. Verificou-se a viabilidade da estocagem de cama de frango do sexto lote de reutilização, no período de seis meses, sem perda significativa de matéria orgânica para a conversão em biogás e metano. ABSTRACT: In poultry litter is produced seasonally due to production mode. To get energy from biogas through the bio digestion of poultry litter, continuously, the storage of the residue can be a solution. Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays were used in this study to estimate the production of biogas and methane poultry litter removed after the sixth lot of reuse and in different storage times after collect, so check the feasibility of use poultry litter as a feedstock in biogas producer unit. The production of biogas and methane in the samples in different periods of storage was compared: before storage 245 LN biogas.kgVS add-1 E 159 LN C H4 kg SV add-1, six months with 252 LN biogas.kgVS add-1 e 160 LN C H4 kg SV add-1 and a year 209 LN biogas.kgVS add-1 and one year 117 LN C H4 kg SV add-1, demonstrating that the storage period is characterized by a relative loss of content of organic matter after a year, however there's no significant difference between the production of biogas and methane in six months storaged and before storage . It was verified the viability of storage of poultry litter of the sixth lot of reuse, in the six-month period, without significant loss of organic matter for conversion to biogas and methane

Yes, we should! EU priorities for 2019-2024. EPC Challenge Europe Issue 24, April 2019

The European Union (EU) is not alone in its struggle to grapple with the major headaches of our times. The Western world as a whole is affected. Inside the Union, the crises in and of its national societies and democracies have radiated to the EU level. Half of the member states have minority governments. If they are politically weak in their own countries, how can the Union be strong? The EU is, after all, also the sum of its member states

Spondyloenchondrodysplasia Due to Mutations in ACP5: A Comprehensive Survey

Purpose: Spondyloenchondrodysplasia is a rare immuno-osseous dysplasia caused by biallelic mutations in ACP5. We aimed to provide a survey of the skeletal, neurological and immune manifestations of this disease in a cohort of molecularly confirmed cases. Methods: We compiled clinical, genetic and serological data from a total of 26 patients from 18 pedigrees, all with biallelic ACP5 mutations. Results: We observed a variability in skeletal, neurological and immune phenotypes, which was sometimes marked even between affected siblings. In total, 22 of 26 patients manifested autoimmune disease, most frequently autoimmune thrombocytopenia and systemic lupus erythematosus. Four patients were considered to demonstrate no clinical autoimmune disease, although two were positive for autoantibodies. In the majority of patients tested we detected upregulated expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), in keeping with the autoimmune phenotype and the likely immune-regulatory function of the deficient protein tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Two mutation positive patients did not demonstrate an upregulation of ISGs, including one patient with significant autoimmune disease controlled by immunosuppressive therapy. Conclusions: Our data expand the known phenotype of SPENCD. We propose that the OMIM differentiation between spondyloenchondrodysplasia and spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation is no longer appropriate, since the molecular evidence that we provide suggests that these phenotypes represent a continuum of the same disorder. In addition, the absence of an interferon signature following immunomodulatory treatments in a patient with significant autoimmune disease may indicate a therapeutic response important for the immune manifestations of spondyloenchondrodysplasia

MR imaging of therapy-induced changes of bone marrow

MR imaging of bone marrow infiltration by hematologic malignancies provides non-invasive assays of bone marrow cellularity and vascularity to supplement the information provided by bone marrow biopsies. This article will review the MR imaging findings of bone marrow infiltration by hematologic malignancies with special focus on treatment effects. MR imaging findings of the bone marrow after radiation therapy and chemotherapy will be described. In addition, changes in bone marrow microcirculation and metabolism after anti-angiogenesis treatment will be reviewed. Finally, new specific imaging techniques for the depiction of regulatory events that control blood vessel growth and cell proliferation will be discussed. Future developments are directed to yield comprehensive information about bone marrow structure, function and microenvironment