The MICADO project and its possible upgrades

The radiologic characterization is a very important step in dealing with materials and waste streams generated during operational and decommissioning phases of nuclear installations. Its goal is to determine the waste package radiologic content differenting between materials that can be released from regulatory con- trol and those that require further treatment and conditioning to become a stable waste form suitable for future storage and final disposal, according to its classifica- tion. Characterization is also needed in the pre-disposal stages of radioactive waste management to demonstrate compliance with the waste acceptance criteria of the storage facilities. This work presents the strategies developed and implemented by the MICADO EU project for an in-depth and accurate waste characterization and investigation of the different radioactive waste packages considered. It presents its goals, the methods developed and the technologies used contributing to the improve- ment of the safety. Special emphasis will also be given to complementary approaches highlighting the usability of the technologies and the digitalization and accessibility of the data

Heavy metallic concentration in microbial mats found at hydrothermal systems, Kamchatka, Russia

Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa UniversityInstitute of Volcanology Far Eastern Division of Russian Academy of SciencesDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa UniversityGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa UniversityThis study described the investigation of microbial mats that are rich in iron, arsenic, and manganese in four hydrothermal systems of Kamchatka, Russia namely Vilyuchinskie, Mutnovskie, Nachikinskie, and Malkinskie. The hydrothermal systems (hot springs) are contributing to the metallic and non-metallic mineral resources of Russia such as oil, gas, coal, copper, nickel, cobalt, tin, mercury, lead, zinc, diamond, platinum, gold, and silver. We observed the biogeochemical activities of microorganisms originating from microbial mats. The structure and elemental composition of microbial mats in these hydrothermal systems were studied with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX), whereas the water quality of these springs was measured by using pack tests. Additionally, portable Y-ray analyzer was employed to determine the kind and quantity of Y-ray in the atmospheric condition of sampling areas. Optical and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that the microbial mats at these springs were mainly composed of a large number of microorganisms such as bacteria (coccus, bacillus, and filamentous), cyanobacteria, and algae in association with biominerals. Bacterial fluorometric enumeration of the thermal water informed that the total number of bacteria was relatively low, while the fraction of enzymatically active bacteria was high ranging from 27 % to 91 %. Besides that, ƒﾁ-ray observation showed that the predominantly ƒﾁ-ray range was between 320-380 keV dominating in green and black-colored microbial mats at Vilyuchinskie hot springs. Correspondingly, heavy metal and minerals deposits accumulated at all these springs indicating that microorganisms may contribute to binding and formation of the minerals. These activities and heavy mineral encrustation of cyanobacteria, bacteria, and algae may contribute to the growth of the heavy metal deposit (such as iron, manganese, and arsenic) at these springs. Obviously, Kamchatka hot springs provide a model for studying the potential role of prokaryotes and eukaryotes in the origin of heavy metal and minerals formation

A case of early Barrett's adenocarcinoma repeatedly developing multiple metachronous lesions shortly after endoscopic therapy: an analysis for genetic and epigenetic alterations

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2010.05.018 Autho