Study of uranium solubility in gallium-indium eutectic alloy by emf method

Activity, activity coefficients and solubility of uranium in Ga-In eutectic alloy as well as activity of uranium in U-Ga and U-In alloys were determined between 573 and 1073 K using electromotive force (emf) method. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Thermodynamics of reaction of praseodymium with gallium-indium eutectic alloy

Thermodynamic properties of Ga-In eutectic alloys saturated with praseodymium were determined for the first time employing the electromotive force method. The equilibrium potentials of the Pr-In alloys saturated with praseodymium (8.7-12.1 mol.% Pr) and Pr-Ga-In alloys (containing 0.0012-6.71 mol.% Pr) were measured between 573-1073 K. Pr-In alloy containing solid PrIn3 with known thermodynamic properties was used as the reference electrode when measuring the potentials of ternary Pr-In-Ga alloys. Activity, partial and excessive thermodynamic functions of praseodymium in alloys with indium and Ga-In eutectic were calculated. Activity (a), activity coefficients (γ) and solubility (X) of praseodymium in the studied temperature range can be expressed by the following equations: lgaα-Pr(In) = 4.425 - 11965/T ± 0.026. lgα-Pr(Ga-In) = 5.866 - 14766/T ± 0.190. lgγα-Pr(Ga-In) = 2.351 - 9996/T ± 0.39. lgPr(Ga-In) = 3.515 - 4770/T ± 0.20. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Thermodynamic properties of uranium in Ga-In based alloys

Activity of uranium was determined in gallium, indium and gallium-indium eutectic (21.8 wt.% In) based alloys between 573 and 1073 K employing the electromotive force method. In two-phase U-Ga-In alloys, uranium forms the intermetallic compound UGa3. Activity coefficients and solubility of uranium in Ga-In eutectic were also determined in the same temperature range. Partial thermodynamic functions of γ-U in saturated alloys with gallium, indium and Ga-In eutectic were calculated. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Excessive thermodynamic properties of praseodymium in a gallium-indium alloy

The equilibrium potentials of praseodymium-diluted homogeneous Pr-Ga-In alloys in a (Li-K-Cs)Cleut-based salt electrolyte were measured between 573-1073 K by the emf method. These potentials are used to calculate the activity coefficients of α-praseodymium in liquid Ga-In eutectic alloys. PrIn3 alloy with well-known thermodynamic characteristics and without phase transitions in the temperature range 428-1483 K was employed as the reference electrode. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Thermodynamic properties of lanthanum in gallium-indium eutectic based alloys

Activity and activity coefficients of lanthanum were determined for the first time in gallium-indium eutectic based alloys in a wide temperature range employing electromotive force method. Activity of β-La and super cooled liquid lanthanum in Ga-In eutectic based alloys between 573 and 1073 K linearly depends on the reciprocal temperature: lgaβ-La(Ga-In)=5.660-15, 352T±0.093 lgaLa(Ga-In)=6.074-15,839T±0.093 Activity coefficients of β-La and super cooled liquid lanthanum in this system at 617-1073 K are described by the following equations: lgγβ-La (Ga-In)=3.786-12,216T±0.171 lgγLa(Ga-In)=4. 199-12,703T±0.171 In addition activity of lanthanum in alloys with In was also determined in the same temperature range. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Uranium and neodymium partitioning in alkali chloride melts using low-melting gallium-based alloys

Partitioning of uranium and neodymium was studied in a ‘molten chloride salt – liquid Ga-X (X = In or Sn) alloy’ system. Chloride melts were based on the low-melting ternary LiCl-KCl-CsCl eutectic. Nd/U separation factors were calculated from the thermodynamic data as well as determined experimentally. Separation of uranium and neodymium was studied using reductive extraction with neodymium acting as a reducing agent. Efficient partitioning of lanthanides (Nd) and actinides (U), simulating fission products and fissile materials in irradiated nuclear fuels, was achieved in a single stage process. The experimentally observed Nd/U separation factor valued up to 106, depending on the conditions

Rhodococcus Bacteremia in Cancer Patients Is Mostly Catheter Related and Associated with Biofilm Formation

Rhodococcus is an emerging cause of opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients, most commonly causing cavitary pneumonia. It has rarely been reported as a cause of isolated bacteremia. However, the relationship between bacteremia and central venous catheter is unknown. Between 2002 and 2010, the characteristics and outcomes of seventeen cancer patients with Rhodococcus bacteremia and indwelling central venous catheters were evaluated. Rhodococcus bacteremias were for the most part (94%) central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Most of the bacteremia isolates were Rhodococcus equi (82%). Rhodococcus isolates formed heavy microbial biofilm on the surface of polyurethane catheters, which was reduced completely or partially by antimicrobial lock solution. All CLABSI patients had successful response to catheter removal and antimicrobial therapy. Rhodococcus species should be added to the list of biofilm forming organisms in immunocompromised hosts and most of the Rhodococcus bacteremias in cancer patients are central line associated

On the biological relevance of MHC class II and B7 expression by tumour cells in melanoma metastases

A large number of studies have indicated that specific immune reactivity plays a crucial role in the control of malignant melanoma. In this context, expression of MHC I, MHC II and B7 molecules by melanoma cells is seen as relevant for the immune response against the tumour. For a better understanding of the biological relevance of MHC II and B7 expression by tumour cells in metastatic melanoma, we studied the expression of these molecules in melanoma metastases in relation to the inflammatory response, regression of the tumour and survival from 27 patients treated with biochemotherapy (30 mg m−2 Cisplatin and 250 mg m−2 decarbazine (dimethyl-triazene-imidazole-carboxamide, DTIC) on days 1–3 i.v., and 107 IU IFN-α2b 3 days a week s.c., q. 28d). In 19 out of 27 lesions studied, we found expression of MHC II by the tumour cells, while only in one out of 11 tumour biopsies obtained from untreated metastatic melanoma patients, MHC II expression was detected. Expression of B7.1 and B7.2 by tumour cells was found in nine out of 24 and 19 out of 24 lesions, respectively. In all cases where B7.1 expression was found, expression of B7.2 by the tumour cells was also seen. In general, no or only few inflammatory cells positive for B7 were found. Expression of MHC II by tumour cells was positively correlated with the presence of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, regression of the lesion, and with time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of the patient. However, no significant correlation between B7.1 or B7.2 expression and regression of the tumour, TTP or OS was found. In light of other recent findings, these data altogether do support a role as biomarker for MHC II expression by tumour cells; however, its exact immunological pathomechanism(s) remain to be established