Reactive Melt Infiltration Of Silicon Into Porous Carbon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Behrendt, Donald R.; Singh, Mrityunjay

1994-01-01

Report describes study of synthesis of silicon carbide and related ceramics by reactive melt infiltration of silicon and silicon/molybdenum alloys into porous carbon preforms. Reactive melt infiltration has potential for making components in nearly net shape, performed in less time and at lower temperature. Object of study to determine effect of initial pore volume fraction, pore size, and infiltration material on quality of resultant product.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): A histopathology based analysis.

PubMed

Sasidharanpillai, Sarita; Govindan, Aparna; Riyaz, Najeeba; Binitha, Manikoth P; Muhammed, Kunnummal; Khader, Anza; Reena Mariyath, Olasseri K; Simin, Muhammedkutty; Subin, Kunnari

2016-01-01

The data on the histology of cutaneous lesions of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is limited. To study the histopathology of cutaneous lesions of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and to identify any features with diagnostic or prognostic significance. All patients admitted to the dermatology ward of government medical college, Kozhikode from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 with probable or definite DRESS as per the RegiSCAR scoring system and who were willing to undergo skin biopsy were included in this prospective study. The study population comprised of nine patients. The consistent histological finding documented was the predominantly lymphocytic dermal inflammatory infiltrate. Four of the five patients whose histology revealed focal interface dermatitis and keratinocyte vacuolation with or without apoptotic keratinocytes, had elevated liver transaminases. Tissue eosinophilia was associated with disease flares. The presence of atypical lymphocytes in peripheral smear and histological evidence of dense dermal inflammatory infiltrate showed an association with hepatic involvement. The main limitations of our study were the small sample size and our inability to carry out a detailed immunohistochemistry work-up. In the appropriate setting, varying combinations of epidermal hyperplasia, spongiosis, parakeratosis and individually necrotic keratinocytes in the background of lymphocyte predominant dermal infiltrate (with some atypia) favor a diagnosis of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. Female sex, the presence of atypical lymphocytes in peripheral smear, dense dermal inflammatory infiltrate, tissue eosinophilia and interface dermatitis with or without keratinocyte necrosis was associated with a poor prognosis.

Effect of resin infiltration on the thermal and mechanical properties of nano-sized silica-based thermal insulation.

PubMed

Lee, Jae Chun; Kim, Yun-Il; Lee, Dong-Hun; Kim, Won-Jun; Park, Sung; Lee, Dong Bok

2011-08-01

Several kinds of nano-sized silica-based thermal insulation were prepared by dry processing of mixtures consisting of fumed silica, ceramic fiber, and a SiC opacifier. Infiltration of phenolic resin solution into the insulation, followed by hot-pressing, was attempted to improve the mechanical strength of the insulation. More than 22% resin content was necessary to increase the strength of the insulation by a factor of two or more. The structural integrity of the resin-infiltrated samples could be maintained, even after resin burn-out, presumably due to reinforcement from ceramic fibers. For all temperature ranges and similar sample bulk density values, the thermal conductivities of the samples after resin burn-out were consistently higher than those of the samples obtained from the dry process. Mercury intrusion curves indicated that the median size of the nanopores formed by primary silica aggregates in the samples after resin burn-out is consistently larger than that of the sample without resin infiltration.

Does tumor size have its prognostic role in colorectal cancer? Re-evaluating its value in colorectal adenocarcinoma with different macroscopic growth pattern.

PubMed

Dai, Weixing; Li, Yaqi; Meng, Xianke; Cai, Sanjun; Li, Qingguo; Cai, Guoxiang

2017-09-01

Few previous studies have taken the growth pattern into consideration when analyzing the prognostic value of tumor size in colorectal cancer (CRC). We sought to reveal the prognostic role of tumor size in different macroscopic growth patterns of CRC. Using Cancer Center datasets, we identified 4057 cases with colorectal adenocarcinoma treated with curative resection. Macroscopic growth patterns of tumors were classified into three types: infiltrative, ulcerative and expansive types based on tumor gross appearance. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). In whole cohort, tumor size was an independent factor for OS (HR 1.10, 95%CI 1.04-1.16, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis based on macroscopic growth pattern suggested that tumor size was an independent factor for OS both in the infiltrative (HR 1.37, 95%CI 1.12-1.66, p = 0.002) group and ulcerative group (HR 1.08, 95%CI 1.00-1.16, p = 0.044) and tumor size (HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.06-1.40, p = 0.004) was found as an independent factor for DFS only in infiltrative group. Tumor size is an independent factor for OS and DFS in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma of infiltrative type, while only for OS in patients of ulcerative type. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Enhanced transport of materials into enamel nanopores via electrokinetic flow.

PubMed

Gan, H Y; Sousa, F B; Carlo, H L; Maciel, P P; Macena, M S; Han, J

2015-04-01

The ability to infiltrate various molecules and resins into dental enamel is highly desirable in dentistry, yet transporting materials into dental enamel is limited by the nanometric scale of their pores. Materials that cannot be infiltrated into enamel by diffusion/capillarity are often considered molecules with sizes above a critical threshold, which are often considered to be larger than the pores of enamel. We challenge this notion by reporting the use of electrokinetic flow to transport solutions with molecules with sizes above a critical threshold-namely, an aqueous solution with a high refractive index (Thoulet's solution) and a curable fluid resin infiltrant (without acid etching)-deep into the normal enamel layer. Volume infiltration by Thoulet's solution is increased by 5- to 6-fold, and resin infiltration depths as large as 600 to 2,000 µm were achieved, in contrast to ~10 µm resulting from diffusion/capillarity. Incubation with demineralization solution for 192 h resulted in significant demineralization at noninfiltrated histologic points but not at resin infiltrated. These results open new avenues for the transport of materials in dental enamel. © International & American Associations for Dental Research 2015.

Transport of suspended solids from a karstic to an alluvial aquifer: The role of the karst/alluvium interface

USGS Publications Warehouse

Massei, N.; Lacroix, M.; Wang, H.Q.; Mahler, B.J.; Dupont, J.P.

2002-01-01

This study focuses on the coupled transport of dissolved constituents and particulates, from their infiltration on a karst plateau to their discharge from a karst spring and their arrival at a well in an alluvial plain. Particulate markers were identified and the transport of solids was characterised in situ in porous and karstic media, based on particle size analyses, SEM, and traces. Transport from the sinkhole to the spring appeared to be dominated by flow through karst: particulate transport was apparently conservative between the two sites, and there was little difference in the overall character of the particle size distribution of the particulates infiltrating the sinkhole and of those discharging from the spring. Qualitatively, the mineralogy of the infiltrating and discharging material was similar, although at the spring an autochthonous contribution from the aquifer was noted (chalk particles eroded from the parent rock by weathering). In contrast, transport between the spring and the well appears to be affected by the overlying alluvium: particles in the water from the well, showed evidence of considerable size-sorting. Additionally, SEM images of the well samples showed the presence of particles originating from the overlying alluvial system; these particles were not found in samples from the sinkhole or the spring. The differences between the particulates discharging from the spring and the well indicate that the water pumped from the alluvial plain is coming from the karst aquifer via the very transmissive, complex geologic interface between the underlying chalk formation and the gravel at the base of the overlying alluvial system. ?? 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Accuracy of transthoracic ultrasound for the prediction of chest wall infiltration by lung cancer and of lung infiltration by chest wall tumours.

PubMed

Caroli, Guido; Dell'Amore, Andrea; Cassanelli, Nicola; Dolci, Giampiero; Pipitone, Emanuela; Asadi, Nizar; Stella, Franco; Bini, Alessandro

2015-10-01

We wanted to determine the accuracy of transthoracic ultrasound in the prediction of chest wall infiltration by lung cancer or lung infiltration by chest wall tumours. Patients having preoperative CT-scan suspect for lung/chest wall infiltration were prospectively enrolled. Inclusion criteria for lung cancer were: obliteration of extrapleural fat, obtuse angle between tumour and chest wall, associated pleural thickening. The criteria for chest wall tumours were: rib destruction and intercostal muscles infiltration with extrapleural fat obliteration and intrathoracic extension. Lung cancer patients with evident chest wall infiltration were excluded. Transthoracic ultrasound was preoperatively performed. Predictions were checked during surgical intervention. Twenty-three patients were preoperatively examined. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of transthoracic ultrasound were 88.89%, 100%, 100% and 93.3%, respectively. Youden index was used to determine the best cut-off for tumour size in predicting lung/chest wall infiltration: 4.5cm. At univariate logistic regression, tumour size (<4.5 vs ≥ 4.5cm) (p=0.0072) was significantly associated with infiltration. Transthoracic ultrasound is a useful instrument for predicting neoplastic lung or chest wall infiltration in cases of suspect CT-scans and could be used as part of the preoperative workup to assess tumour staging and to plan the best surgical approach. Copyright © 2015 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrical Imaging of Infiltration in Agricultural Soils on Long Island, New York

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampousis, A.; Kenyon, P. M.; Sanwald, K.; Steiner, N.

2007-12-01

High resolution electrical resistivity imaging of vadose zone infiltration experiments was conducted on agricultural soils by the City College and Graduate Center of CUNY, in cooperation with Cornell University's Agricultural Stewardship Program and Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) in Riverhead, New York. Measurements were made in active vineyards with a commercial resistivity imaging system, using a half- meter electrode spacing. Soils considered were Riverhead sandy loam (RdA), Haven loam (HaA), and Bridgehampton silty loam (BgA). The Riverhead and Haven soils are the most common types found on eastern Long Island. The Bridgehampton is considered the most fertile. Soil samples and measurements of soil compaction were collected at the same time as the geophysical measurements. In addition, remote sensing data were obtained for the three sites and processed to produce normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data to evaluate potential correlations between vegetation vigor, soil texture and water migration patterns. Applications of this study include continuous water content monitoring in high value cash crops (precision agriculture). Changes in electrical resistivity during infiltration are clearly visible at all three locations. Preliminary analysis of the results shows correlations of baseline resistivity with particle size distributions and correlations between changes in resistivity during infiltration and soil compaction data. Time-lapse electrical images of the three sites will also be compared with published properties for these soils, including particle size distribution, saturated hydraulic conductivity, available water capacity, and surface texture.

Reconstruction with latissimus dorsi, external abdominal oblique and cranial sartorius muscle flaps for a large defect of abdominal wall in a dog after surgical removal of infiltrative lipoma

PubMed Central

FENG, Yu-Ching; CHEN, Kuan-Sheng; CHANG, Shih-Chieh

2016-01-01

This animal was presented with a large-sized infiltrative lipoma in the abdominal wall that had been noted for 4 years. This lipoma was confirmed by histological examination from a previous biopsy, and the infiltrative features were identified by a computerized tomography scan. The surgical removal created a large-sized abdominal defect that was closed by a combination of latissimus dorsi and external abdominal oblique muscle flaps in a pedicle pattern. A small dehiscence at the most distal end of the muscle flap resulted in a small-sized abdominal hernia and was repaired with cranial sartorius muscle flap 14 days after surgery. The dog was in good general health with no signs of tumor recurrence after 18 months of follow-up. PMID:27476526

Infiltration characteristics of non-aqueous phase liquids in undisturbed loessal soil cores.

PubMed

Wang, Yunqiang; Shao, Ming'an

2009-01-01

The widespread contamination of soils and aquifers by non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL), such as crude oil, poses serious environmental and health hazards globally. Understanding the infiltration characteristics of NAPL in soil is crucial in mitigating or remediating soil contamination. The infiltration characteristics of crude and diesel oils into undisturbed loessal soil cores, collected in polymethyl methacrylate cylindrical columns, were investigated under a constant fluid head (3 cm) of either crude oil or diesel oil. The infiltration rate of both crude and diesel oils decreased exponentially as wetting depth increased with time. Soil core size and bulk density both had significant effects on NAPL infiltration through the undisturbed soil cores; a smaller core size or a greater bulk density could reduce oil penetration to depth. Compacting soil in areas susceptible to oil spills may be an effective stratage to reduce contamination. The infiltration of NAPL into soil cores was spatially anisotropic and heterogeneous, thus recording the data at four points on the soil core is a good stratage to improve the accuracy of experimental results. Our results revealed that crude and diesel oils, rather than their components, have a practical value for remediation of contaminated loessal soils.

Factors influencing the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to pass through a membrane filter by active infiltration.

PubMed

Nakazawa, Kentaro; Hasegawa, Hiroyuki; Nakagawa, Yoji; Terao, Michinori; Matsuyama, Tohey

2005-11-01

Listeria monocytogenes infiltrated the reticulate structure of a membrane filter and passed through a filter with pore sizes of 0.45 microm and 0.2 microm in 6 to 24 h and 5 to 6 days, respectively. Flagellar motility and expansive pressure generated by the growing bacterial population were indicated as the driving forces of infiltration.

Measurement and evaluation of percolation drainage systems capacity in real conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markovic, G.; Zelenakova, M.

2017-10-01

The drainage system must ensure a safe disposal of the surface water without endangering the buildings and safety of people. Despite the common use of rainwater infiltration facilities, there is still only limited data available evaluating the long-term capacity of such systems especially for underground infiltration facilities. This study presents experimental measurements and evaluation of long-term infiltration efficiency in real conditions and emphasizes the importance of hydrogeological survey. The measurements of infiltration efficiency were applied to an existing percolation drainage system - infiltration shafts. Infiltration shafts were made in year 2007 so that its drainage operation takes more than 8 years. This study was started in 2011 and still continues and presents 5 years measurements of infiltration efficiency for this infiltration facility.

Novel configuration of processing bulk textured YB 2Cu 3O 7-x superconductor by seeded infiltration growth method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Haitao; Moutalbi, Nahed; Harnois, Christelle; Hu, Rui; Li, Jinshan; Zhou, Lian; Noudem, Jacques G.

2010-01-01

Mono-domain YBa 2Cu 3O 7-x (Y123) bulk superconductors have been processed using seeded infiltration growth technique (SIG). The combination of melt infiltrated liquid source (Ba 3Cu 5O 8) into the Y 2BaCuO 5 (Y211) pre-form and the nucleation of Y123 domain from SmBa 2Cu 3O 7 crystal seed has been investigated. The different configurations of SIG process were compared in this study. In addition, the effect of the starting Y211 particles size has been studied. The results reveal that, the Y211 particle size and different configurations strongly influence the properties of the final bulk superconductor sample.

Hydrogeological investigations of river bed clogging at a river bank filtration site along the River Warta, Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Przybyłek, Jan; Dragon, Krzysztof; Kaczmarek, Piotr Michał Jan

2017-12-01

River bank filtration (RBF) is a system that enriches groundwater resources by induced infiltration of river water to an aquifer. Problematic during operation of RBF systems is the deterioration of infiltration effectiveness caused by river bed clogging. This situation was observed in the Krajkowo well field which supplies fresh water to the city of Poznań (Poland) during and after the long hydrological drought between the years 1989 and 1992. The present note discusses results of specific hydrogeological research which included drilling of a net of boreholes to a depth of 10 m below river bottom (for sediment sampling as well as for hydrogeological measurements), analyses of grain size distribution and relative density studies. The results obtained have allowed the recognition of the origin of the clogging processes, as well as the documentation of the clogged parts of the river bottom designated for unclogging activities.

Influence of caries infiltrant contamination on shear bond strength of different adhesives to dentin.

PubMed

Jia, Liuhe; Stawarczyk, Bogna; Schmidlin, Patrick R; Attin, Thomas; Wiegand, Annette

2013-03-01

To analyze whether the contamination with a caries infiltrant system impairs the adhesive performance of etch-and-rinse and self-etching adhesives on dentin. Dentin contamination with the caries infiltrant system (Icon, DMG) was simulated by applying either hydrochloric acid (15 % HCl, Icon Etch, 15 s), the resin infiltrant (Icon infiltrant, 4 min), or both prior to the application of the respective adhesives (each group n = 10). In the control groups, the etch-and-rinse adhesive (Optibond FL, Kerr) and the self-etching adhesive (iBOND Self Etch, Hereaus) were applied without former contamination with the infiltrant system. Additionally, the adhesive performance of the resin infiltrant alone was tested. Shear bond strength of a nano-hybrid composite was analyzed after thermocycling (5,000×, 5-55°C) of the specimens and analyzed by ANOVA/Scheffé post hoc tests (p < 0.05) and Weibull statistics. Failure mode was inspected under a stereomicroscope at × 25 magnification. Contamination with the resin infiltrant alone did not impair shear bond strength, while contamination with hydrochloric acid or with hydrochloric acid and the resin infiltrant reduced shear bond strength (MPa) of the adhesives (Optibond FL: 20.5 ± 3.6, iBOND Self Etch: 17.9 ± 2.6) significantly. Hydrochloric acid contamination increased the number of adhesive failures. The adhesive performance of the caries infiltrant system alone was insufficient. The contamination with the caries infiltrant system impaired the shear bond strength of conventional dental adhesives. Contamination of the caries infiltrant system on dentin should be avoided due to the detrimental effect of hydrochloric acid etching.

Lightweight Mg-based composites with thermodynamically stable interfaces by in-situ combustion synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Ilguk

Lightweight Mg-based composites have been produced by in-situ combustion synthesis of the Al-Ti-C reaction system. The characteristics of the in-situ composites were investigated in terms of phase evolution and interfacial stability using various analysis techniques. The structural analysis results showed that full conversion of the Al-Ti-C reactants into spherical TiC reinforcements with sizes around 1mum was achieved by the combustion reaction. In-situ formed TiC had less oxygen and higher Al contents at the interface than ex-situ formed TiC; these clean interfaces with an Al layer on the reinforcements were shown to yield interfacial stability. For these reasons, the in-situ composites exhibited higher theoretical densities and also good mechanical properties compared with ex-situ produced composites. The interfacial characteristics of molten Mg with the Al-Ti-C reactants and the commercial TiC+Al substrates were evaluated using an infiltration technique under an argon atmosphere. Infiltration length increased with time at temperature, yielding activation energies (Ea) for each system. The value of Ea for the Al-Ti-C system (307.31kJ/mol) is lower than that for the other system (350.84kJ/mol); the high Ea value indicates that the infiltration is not a simple viscosity-controlled phenomenon but involves a chemical reaction. Formation of the Al3Ti phase was observed from the crystal structural analysis of the infiltrated area; thus, existence of reaction promoting the wetting of Mg. The phase evolution, reaction mechanism and kinetics of the Al-Ti-C reaction were studied using DSC and HT-XRD. It was confirmed that, along with the melting of Al, there was formation of Al3Ti by reaction between Al and Ti. A detailed structural analysis indicates that, the reaction mechanism involves melting of Al followed by formation and growth of Al 3Ti, which then contacts the graphite powder and initiates the combustion reaction. The effect of important process parameters, such as the Al content and the reactant sizes, on the microstructure of the resulting in-situ composites is discussed. Feasibility and castability of the composites were investigated by high pressure die casting the composite preforms into automotive parts and durability tests were conducted on the cast parts.

A simple and cheap system to speed up and to control the tumescent technique procedure: the Tedde's system.

PubMed

Rubino, C; Marongiu, F; Manzo, M J; Tedde, G; Madonia, M; Campus, G V; Farace, F

2014-06-01

We have devised a low cost system to quickly infiltrate tumescent solution: we call it the "Tedde's system". This low-cost system offers an improvement in quality and quantity of the infiltration because all the procedure depends on the operators, reducing also the time of the infiltration and consequently of the whole surgical procedure. Moreover, this system can be applied to other surgical procedure that requires large infiltration volumes.

Aluminum-Alloy-Matrix/Alumina-Reinforcement Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kashalikar, Uday; Rozenoyer, Boris

2004-01-01

Isotropic composites of aluminum-alloy matrices reinforced with particulate alumina have been developed as lightweight, high-specific-strength, less-expensive alternatives to nickel-base and ferrous superalloys. These composites feature a specific gravity of about 3.45 grams per cubic centimeter and specific strengths of about 200 MPa/(grams per cubic centimeter). The room-temperature tensile strength is 100 ksi (689 MPa) and stiffness is 30 Msi (206 GPa). At 500 F (260 C), these composites have shown 80 percent retention in strength and 95 percent retention in stiffness. These materials also have excellent fatigue tolerance and tribological properties. They can be fabricated in net (or nearly net) sizes and shapes to make housings, pistons, valves, and ducts in turbomachinery, and to make structural components of such diverse systems as diesel engines, automotive brake systems, and power-generation, mining, and oil-drilling equipment. Separately, incorporation of these metal matrix composites within aluminum gravity castings for localized reinforcement has been demonstrated. A composite part of this type can be fabricated in a pressure infiltration casting process. The process begins with the placement of a mold with alumina particulate preform of net or nearly net size and shape in a crucible in a vacuum furnace. A charge of the alloy is placed in the crucible with the preform. The interior of the furnace is evacuated, then the furnace heaters are turned on to heat the alloy above its liquidus temperature. Next, the interior of the furnace is filled with argon gas at a pressure about 900 psi (approximately equal to 6.2 MPa) to force the molten alloy to infiltrate the preform. Once infiltrated, the entire contents of the crucible can be allowed to cool in place, and the composite part recovered from the mold.

Formation of nanometer-size wires using infiltration into latent nuclear tracks

DOEpatents

Musket, Ronald G.; Felter, Thomas E.

2002-01-01

Nanometer-size wires having a cross-sectional dimension of less than 8 nm with controllable lengths and diameters are produced by infiltrating latent nuclear or ion tracks formed in trackable materials with atomic species. The trackable materials and atomic species are essentially insoluble in each other, thus the wires are formed by thermally driven, self-assembly of the atomic species during annealing, or re-crystallization, of the damage in the latent tracks. Unlike conventional ion track lithography, the inventive method does not require etching of the latent tracks.

40 CFR 35.927 - Sewer system evaluation and rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... excessive infiltration/inflow. A determination of whether excessive infiltration/inflow exists may take into... excessive infiltration/inflow exists. It will consist of: (1) Certification by the State agency, as appropriate; and, when necessary, (2) An infiltration/inflow analysis; and, if appropriate, (3) A sewer system...

40 CFR 35.927 - Sewer system evaluation and rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... excessive infiltration/inflow. A determination of whether excessive infiltration/inflow exists may take into... excessive infiltration/inflow exists. It will consist of: (1) Certification by the State agency, as appropriate; and, when necessary, (2) An infiltration/inflow analysis; and, if appropriate, (3) A sewer system...

40 CFR 35.927 - Sewer system evaluation and rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... excessive infiltration/inflow. A determination of whether excessive infiltration/inflow exists may take into... excessive infiltration/inflow exists. It will consist of: (1) Certification by the State agency, as appropriate; and, when necessary, (2) An infiltration/inflow analysis; and, if appropriate, (3) A sewer system...

40 CFR 35.927 - Sewer system evaluation and rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... excessive infiltration/inflow. A determination of whether excessive infiltration/inflow exists may take into... excessive infiltration/inflow exists. It will consist of: (1) Certification by the State agency, as appropriate; and, when necessary, (2) An infiltration/inflow analysis; and, if appropriate, (3) A sewer system...

40 CFR 35.927 - Sewer system evaluation and rehabilitation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... excessive infiltration/inflow. A determination of whether excessive infiltration/inflow exists may take into... excessive infiltration/inflow exists. It will consist of: (1) Certification by the State agency, as appropriate; and, when necessary, (2) An infiltration/inflow analysis; and, if appropriate, (3) A sewer system...

Processing, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Interpenetrating Biomorphic Graphite/Copper Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Childers, Amanda Esther Sall

Composite properties can surpass those of the individual phases, allowing for the development of advanced, high-performance materials. Bio-inspired and naturally-derived materials have garnered attention as composite constituents due to their inherently efficient and complex structures. Wood-derived ceramics, produced by converting a wood precursor into a ceramic scaffold, can exhibit a wide range of microstructures depending on the wood species, including porosity, pore size and distribution, and connectivity. The focus of this work was to investigate the processing, microstructure, and properties of graphite/copper composites produced using wood-derived graphite scaffolds. Graphite/copper composites combine low specific gravity, high thermal conductivity, and tailorable thermal expansion properties, and due to the non-wetting behavior of copper to graphite, offer a unique system in which mechanically bonded interfaces in composites can be studied. Graphite scaffolds were produced from red oak, beech, and pine precursors using a catalytic pyrolyzation method, resulting in varying types of pore networks. Two infiltration methods were investigated to overcome challenges associated with non-wetting systems: copper electrodeposition and pressure-assisted melt infiltration. The phase distributions, constituent properties, interfacial characteristics, mechanical behavior, and load partitioning of these biomorphic graphite/copper composites were investigated, and were correlated to the wood species. The multi-domain feature sizes in the graphite scaffolds resulted in composites with copper relegated not only to the large, connected channels produced from the transport features in the wood, but also within the smaller, lower aspect ratio fibrous regions of the scaffold. Both features contributed to the mechanical behavior of the composites to varying degrees depending on the wood species. A multi-component predictive model also was developed and used to guide the additive-assisted electroplating of the graphitized scaffold, and helped illuminate the roles of plating additives in macro-sized channels. The model can be adapted for many material systems, sample geometries, and plating conditions to investigate the use of metal electrodeposition as a means of scaffold infiltration. Additionally, X-ray diffraction tomography was used to resolve position-dependent strain in a composite. The results of this nascent capability were discussed with respect to a two-component system under increasing uniaxial load, and compared to the results of conventional volume-averaged measurements.

Retrospective cohort study of prognostic factors in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Carrillo, José F; Carrillo, Liliana C; Cano, Ana; Ramirez-Ortega, Margarita C; Chanona, Jorge G; Avilés, Alejandro; Herrera-Goepfert, Roberto; Corona-Rivera, Jaime; Ochoa-Carrillo, Francisco J; Oñate-Ocaña, Luis F

2016-04-01

Prognostic factors in oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are debated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of prognostic factors with oncologic outcomes. Patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC treated from 1997 to 2012 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Associations of prognostic factors with locoregional recurrence (LRR) or overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the logistic regression and the Cox models. Six hundred thirty-four patients were included in this study; tumor size, surgical margins, and N classification were associated with LRR (p < .0001); considering histopathology: perineural invasion, lymphocytic infiltration, infiltrative borders, and N classification were significant determinants of LRR. Tumor size, N classification, alcoholism, and surgical margins were associated with OS (p < .0001); considering pathologic prognostic factors, perivascular invasion, islands borders, and surgical margins were independently associated with OS (p < .0001). Surgical margins, perineural and perivascular invasion, lymphocytic infiltration, and infiltrative patterns of tumor invasion are significant prognostic factors in oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The influences of ambient particle composition and size on particle infiltration in Los Angeles, CA, residences.

PubMed

Sarnat, Stefanie Ebelt; Coull, Brent A; Ruiz, Pablo A; Koutrakis, Petros; Suh, Helen H

2006-02-01

Particle infiltration is a key determinant of the indoor concentrations of ambient particles. Few studies have examined the influence of particle composition on infiltration, particularly in areas with high concentrations of volatile particles, such as ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). A comprehensive indoor monitoring study was conducted in 17 Los Angeles-area homes. As part of this study, indoor/outdoor concentration ratios during overnight (nonindoor source) periods were used to estimate the fraction of ambient particles remaining airborne indoors, or the particle infiltration factor (FINF), for fine particles (PM2.5), its nonvolatile (i.e., black carbon [BC]) and volatile (i.e., nitrate [NO3-]) components, and particle sizes ranging between 0.02 and 10 microm. FINF was highest for BC (median = 0.84) and lowest for NO3- (median = 0.18). The low FINF for NO3- was likely because of volatilization of NO3- particles once indoors, in addition to depositional losses upon building entry. The FINF for PM2.5 (median = 0.48) fell between those for BC and NO3-, reflecting the contributions of both particle components to PM25. FINF varied with particle size, air-exchange rate, and outdoor NO3- concentrations. The FINF for particles between 0.7 and 2 microm in size was considerably lower during periods of high as compared with low outdoor NO3- concentrations, suggesting that outdoor NO3- particles were of this size. This study demonstrates that infiltration of PM2.5 varies by particle component and is lowest for volatile species, such as NH4NO3. Our results suggest that volatile particle components may influence the ability for outdoor PM concentrations to represent indoor and, thus, personal exposures to particles of ambient origin, because volatilization of these particles causes the composition of PM2.5 to differ indoors and outdoors. Consequently, particle composition likely influences observed epidemiologic relationships based on outdoor PM concentrations, especially in areas with high concentrations of NH4NO3 and other volatile particles.

10 CFR 434.516 - Building exterior envelope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Prototype and Reference Buildings, the infiltration assumptions in subsection 516.2.1 shall be prescribed.... Infiltration shall impact perimeter zones only. 516.2.1When the HVAC system is switched “on,” no infiltration shall be assumed. When the HVAC system is switched “off,” the infiltration rate for buildings with or...

10 CFR 434.516 - Building exterior envelope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Prototype and Reference Buildings, the infiltration assumptions in subsection 516.2.1 shall be prescribed.... Infiltration shall impact perimeter zones only. 516.2.1When the HVAC system is switched “on,” no infiltration shall be assumed. When the HVAC system is switched “off,” the infiltration rate for buildings with or...

10 CFR 434.516 - Building exterior envelope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Prototype and Reference Buildings, the infiltration assumptions in subsection 516.2.1 shall be prescribed.... Infiltration shall impact perimeter zones only. 516.2.1When the HVAC system is switched “on,” no infiltration shall be assumed. When the HVAC system is switched “off,” the infiltration rate for buildings with or...

10 CFR 434.516 - Building exterior envelope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Prototype and Reference Buildings, the infiltration assumptions in subsection 516.2.1 shall be prescribed.... Infiltration shall impact perimeter zones only. 516.2.1When the HVAC system is switched “on,” no infiltration shall be assumed. When the HVAC system is switched “off,” the infiltration rate for buildings with or...

Thermal effect on the dynamic infiltration of water into single-walled carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Zhao, Jianbing; Liu, Ling; Culligan, Patricia J; Chen, Xi

2009-12-01

Thermally induced variation in wetting ability in a confined nanoenvironment, indicated by the change in infiltration pressure as water molecules enter a model single-walled carbon nanotube submerged in aqueous environment, is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The temperature-dependent infiltration behavior is impacted in part by the thermally excited radial oscillation of the carbon nanotube, and in part by the variations of fundamental physical properties at the molecular level, including the hydrogen bonding interaction. The thermal effect is also closely coupled with the nanotube size effect and loading rate effect. Manipulation of the thermally responsive infiltration properties could facilitate the development of a next-generation thermal energy converter based on nanoporous materials.

HLA class I loss and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer: impact on T-cell infiltration and immune escape

PubMed Central

Perea, Francisco; Sánchez-Palencia, Abel; Gómez-Morales, Mercedes; Bernal, Mónica; Concha, Ángel; García, Míguela Méndez; González-Ramírez, Amanda Rocío; Kerick, Martin; Martin, Javier; Garrido, Federico; Ruiz-Cabello, Francisco; Aptsiauri, Natalia

2018-01-01

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors show encouraging results in cancer treatment, but the clinical benefit is limited exclusively to a subset of patients. We analyzed the density and composition of tumor T-cell infiltration in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) in relation to PD-L1 and HLA class I (HLA-I) expression. We found that positive HLA-I expression, independently on PD-L1 status, is the key factor determining the increased density of the immune infiltrate. When both markers were analyzed simultaneously, we identified four phenotypes of HLA-I and PD-L1 co-expression. They demonstrated different patterns of tumor infiltration and clinicopathologic characteristics, including the tumor size and lymphatic spread. All HLA-I+/PD-L1+ tumors had a high degree of intratumoral infiltration with CD8+T-lymphocytes, whereas HLA-I loss was associated with a significantly reduced number of tumor infiltrating T-lymphocytes mostly restrained in the stroma surrounding the tumor nest. HLA-I-negative/PD-L1-positive tumors had bigger size (T) and lower grade of infiltration with CD8+T-cells. It represents a cancer immune escape phenotype that combines two independent mechanisms of immune evasion: loss of HLA-I and upregulation of PD-L1. Using GCH-array analysis of human lung cancer cell lines we found that the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with complete or partial deletion of HLA-I genes is the principal mechanism of HLA-I alterations. This irreversible defect, which could potentially decrease the clinical efficacy of lung cancer immunotherapy, appears to be underestimated. In conclusion, our results suggest that the analysis of HLA-I is very important for the selection of potential responders to cancer immunotherapy. PMID:29423109

Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China

PubMed Central

Wang, Lai; Zhong, Chonggao; Gao, Pengxiang; Xi, Weimin; Zhang, Shuoxin

2015-01-01

Many previous studies have shown that land use patterns are the main factors influencing soil infiltration. Thus, increasing soil infiltration and reducing runoff are crucial for soil and water conservation, especially in semi-arid environments. To explore the effects of agroforestry systems on soil infiltration and associated properties in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in China, we compared three plant systems: a walnut (Juglans regia) monoculture system (JRMS), a wheat (Triticum aestivum) monoculture system (TAMS), and a walnut-wheat alley cropping system (JTACS) over a period of 11 years. Our results showed that the JTACS facilitated infiltration, and its infiltration rate temporal distribution showed a stronger relationship coupled with the rainfall temporal distribution compared with the two monoculture systems during the growing season. However, the effect of JTACS on the infiltration capacity was only significant in shallow soil layer, i.e., the 0–40 cm soil depth. Within JTACS, the speed of the wetting front’s downward movement was significantly faster than that in the two monoculture systems when the amount of rainfall and its intensity were higher. The soil infiltration rate was improved, and the two peaks of soil infiltration rate temporal distribution and the rainfall temporal distribution coupled in rainy season in the alley cropping system, which has an important significance in soil and water conservation. The results of this empirical study provide new insights into the sustainability of agroforestry, which may help farmers select rational planting patterns in this region, as well as other regions with similar climatic and environmental characteristics throughout the world. PMID:25893832

Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China.

PubMed

Wang, Lai; Zhong, Chonggao; Gao, Pengxiang; Xi, Weimin; Zhang, Shuoxin

2015-01-01

Many previous studies have shown that land use patterns are the main factors influencing soil infiltration. Thus, increasing soil infiltration and reducing runoff are crucial for soil and water conservation, especially in semi-arid environments. To explore the effects of agroforestry systems on soil infiltration and associated properties in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in China, we compared three plant systems: a walnut (Juglans regia) monoculture system (JRMS), a wheat (Triticum aestivum) monoculture system (TAMS), and a walnut-wheat alley cropping system (JTACS) over a period of 11 years. Our results showed that the JTACS facilitated infiltration, and its infiltration rate temporal distribution showed a stronger relationship coupled with the rainfall temporal distribution compared with the two monoculture systems during the growing season. However, the effect of JTACS on the infiltration capacity was only significant in shallow soil layer, i.e., the 0-40 cm soil depth. Within JTACS, the speed of the wetting front's downward movement was significantly faster than that in the two monoculture systems when the amount of rainfall and its intensity were higher. The soil infiltration rate was improved, and the two peaks of soil infiltration rate temporal distribution and the rainfall temporal distribution coupled in rainy season in the alley cropping system, which has an important significance in soil and water conservation. The results of this empirical study provide new insights into the sustainability of agroforestry, which may help farmers select rational planting patterns in this region, as well as other regions with similar climatic and environmental characteristics throughout the world.

Studies on the reactive melt infiltration of silicon and silicon-molybdenum alloys in porous carbon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.; Behrendt, D. R.

1992-01-01

Investigations on the reactive melt infiltration of silicon and silicon-1.7 and 3.2 at percent molybdenum alloys into porous carbon preforms have been carried out by process modeling, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and melt infiltration experiments. These results indicate that the initial pore volume fraction of the porous carbon preform is a critical parameter in determining the final composition of the raction-formed silicon carbide and other residual phases. The pore size of the carbon preform is very detrimental to the exotherm temperatures due to liquid silicon-carbon reactions encountered during the reactive melt infiltration process. A possible mechanism for the liquid silicon-porous (glassy) carbon reaction has been proposed. The composition and microstructure of the reaction-formed silicon carbide has been discussed in terms of carbon preform microstructures, infiltration materials, and temperatures.

Stormwater infiltration and the 'urban karst' - A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonneau, Jeremie; Fletcher, Tim D.; Costelloe, Justin F.; Burns, Matthew J.

2017-09-01

The covering of native soils with impervious surfaces (e.g. roofs, roads, and pavement) prevents infiltration of rainfall into the ground, resulting in increased surface runoff and decreased groundwater recharge. When this excess water is managed using stormwater drainage systems, flow and water quality regimes of urban streams are severely altered, leading to the degradation of their ecosystems. Urban streams restoration requires alternative approaches towards stormwater management, which aim to restore the flow regime towards pre-development conditions. The practice of stormwater infiltration-achieved using a range of stormwater source-control measures (SCMs)-is central to restoring baseflow. Despite this, little is known about what happens to the infiltrated water. Current knowledge about the impact of stormwater infiltration on flow regimes was reviewed. Infiltration systems were found to be efficient at attenuating high-flow hydrology (reducing peak magnitudes and frequencies) at a range of scales (parcel, streetscape, catchment). Several modelling studies predict a positive impact of stormwater infiltration on baseflow, and empirical evidence is emerging, but the fate of infiltrated stormwater remains unclear. It is not known how infiltrated water travels along the subsurface pathways that characterise the urban environment, in particular the 'urban karst', which results from networks of human-made subsurface pathways, e.g. stormwater and sanitary sewer pipes and associated high permeability trenches. Seepage of groundwater into and around such pipes is possible, meaning some infiltrated stormwater could travel along artificial pathways. The catchment-scale ability of infiltration systems to restore groundwater recharge and baseflow is thus ambiguous. Further understanding of the fate of infiltrated stormwater is required to ensure infiltration systems deliver optimal outcomes for waterway flow regimes.

Modelling of percolation rate of stormwater from underground infiltration systems.

PubMed

Burszta-Adamiak, Ewa; Lomotowski, Janusz

2013-01-01

Underground or surface stormwater storage tank systems that enable the infiltration of water into the ground are basic elements used in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS). So far, the design methods for such facilities have not taken into account the phenomenon of ground clogging during stormwater infiltration. Top layer sealing of the filter bed influences the infiltration rate of water into the ground. This study presents an original mathematical model describing changes in the infiltration rate variability in the phases of filling and emptying the storage and infiltration tank systems, which enables the determination of the degree of top ground layer clogging. The input data for modelling were obtained from studies conducted on experimental sites on objects constructed on a semi-technological scale. The experiment conducted has proven that the application of the model developed for the phase of water infiltration enables us to estimate the degree of module clogging. However, this method is more suitable for reservoirs embedded in more permeable soils than for those located in cohesive soils.

Mechanisms of water infiltration into conical hydrophobic nanopores.

PubMed

Liu, Ling; Zhao, Jianbing; Yin, Chun-Yang; Culligan, Patricia J; Chen, Xi

2009-08-14

Fluid channels with inclined solid walls (e.g. cone- and slit-shaped pores) have wide and promising applications in micro- and nano-engineering and science. In this paper, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the mechanisms of water infiltration (adsorption) into cone-shaped nanopores made of a hydrophobic graphene sheet. When the apex angle is relatively small, an external pressure is required to initiate infiltration and the pressure should keep increasing in order to further advance the water front inside the nanopore. By enlarging the apex angle, the pressure required for sustaining infiltration can be effectively lowered. When the apex angle is sufficiently large, under ambient condition water can spontaneously infiltrate to a certain depth of the nanopore, after which an external pressure is still required to infiltrate more water molecules. The unusual involvement of both spontaneous and pressure-assisted infiltration mechanisms in the case of blunt nanocones, as well as other unique nanofluid characteristics, is explained by the Young's relation enriched with the size effects of surface tension and contact angle in the nanoscale confinement.

Experimental characterization of 3-dimensional gravity-driven fingering in a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalbe, Marie-Julie; Juanes, Ruben

2017-11-01

When water infiltrates a dry porous media, a gravity-driven instability can be observed. Water will penetrate the porous media along preferential paths, called fingers. This gravity-driven unstable multiphase flow has important implications for natural phenomena such as rainwater infiltration in soil and secondary oil migration in reservoir rocks. While several experimental and numerical studies have described the instability in 2-dimensional (2D) settings, fundamental questions remain on the morphodynamics of gravity fingering in 3D. We developed a 3D experimental set-up based on planar laser-induced fluorescence of index-matched fluids that allows us to image this phenomenon dynamically. We study the impact of some crucial parameters such as rainfall rate or grain size on the finger size and velocity. In addition, experiments in stratified media reveal interesting dynamics of finger flow across material interfaces, an essential aspect towards the understanding of water infiltration in soils.

Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Martin, D.A.; Moody, J.A.

2001-01-01

Steady-state infiltration measurements were made at mountainous sites in New Mexico and Colorado, USA, with volcanic and granitic soils after wildfires and at comparable unburned sites. We measured infiltration in the New Mexico volcanic soils under two vegetation types, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, and in the Colorado granitic soils under ponderosa pine vegetation. These measurements were made within high-severity burn areas using a portable infiltrometer with a 0.017 m2 infiltration area and artificial rainfall rates ranging from 97 to 440 mm h-1. Steady-state infiltration rates were less at all burned sites relative to unburned sites. The volcanic soil with ponderosa pine vegetation showed the greatest difference in infiltration rates with a ratio of steady-state infiltration rate in burned sites to unburned soils equal to 0.15. Volcanic soils with mixed conifer vegetation had a ratio (burned to unburned soils) of at most 0.38, and granitic soils with ponderosa pine vegetation had a ratio of 0.38. Steady-state infiltration rates on unburned volcanic and granitic soils with ponderosa pine vegetation are not statistically different. We present data on the particle-size distribution at all the study sites and examples of wetting patterns produced during the infiltration experiments. Published in 2001 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Hypothyroidism Reduces the Size of Ovarian Follicles and Promotes Hypertrophy of Periovarian Fat with Infiltration of Macrophages in Adult Rabbits.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Castelán, J; Méndez-Tepepa, M; Carrillo-Portillo, Y; Anaya-Hernández, A; Rodríguez-Antolín, J; Zambrano, E; Castelán, F; Cuevas-Romero, E

2017-01-01

Ovarian failure is related to dyslipidemias and inflammation, as well as to hypertrophy and dysfunction of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Although hypothyroidism has been associated with obesity, dyslipidemias, and inflammation in humans and animals, its influence on the characteristics of ovarian follicles in adulthood is scarcely known. Control and hypothyroid rabbits were used to analyze the ovarian follicles, expression of aromatase in the ovary, serum concentration of lipids, leptin, and uric acid, size of adipocytes, and infiltration of macrophages in the periovarian VAT. Hypothyroidism did not affect the percentage of functional or atretic follicles. However, it reduced the size of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles considered as large and the expression of aromatase in the ovary. This effect was associated with high serum concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In addition, hypothyroidism induced hypertrophy of adipocytes and a major infiltration of CD68+ macrophages into the periovarian VAT. Our results suggest that the reduced size of ovarian follicles promoted by hypothyroidism could be associated with dyslipidemias, hypertrophy, and inflammation of the periovarian VAT. Present findings may be useful to understand the influence of hypothyroidism in the ovary function in adulthood.

Hypothyroidism Reduces the Size of Ovarian Follicles and Promotes Hypertrophy of Periovarian Fat with Infiltration of Macrophages in Adult Rabbits

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Castelán, J.; Méndez-Tepepa, M.; Carrillo-Portillo, Y.; Anaya-Hernández, A.; Zambrano, E.

2017-01-01

Ovarian failure is related to dyslipidemias and inflammation, as well as to hypertrophy and dysfunction of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Although hypothyroidism has been associated with obesity, dyslipidemias, and inflammation in humans and animals, its influence on the characteristics of ovarian follicles in adulthood is scarcely known. Control and hypothyroid rabbits were used to analyze the ovarian follicles, expression of aromatase in the ovary, serum concentration of lipids, leptin, and uric acid, size of adipocytes, and infiltration of macrophages in the periovarian VAT. Hypothyroidism did not affect the percentage of functional or atretic follicles. However, it reduced the size of primary, secondary, and tertiary follicles considered as large and the expression of aromatase in the ovary. This effect was associated with high serum concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In addition, hypothyroidism induced hypertrophy of adipocytes and a major infiltration of CD68+ macrophages into the periovarian VAT. Our results suggest that the reduced size of ovarian follicles promoted by hypothyroidism could be associated with dyslipidemias, hypertrophy, and inflammation of the periovarian VAT. Present findings may be useful to understand the influence of hypothyroidism in the ovary function in adulthood. PMID:28133606

Evaluation of IgG4+ Plasma Cell Infiltration in Patients with Systemic Plasmacytosis and Other Plasma Cell-infiltrating Skin Diseases.

PubMed

Takeoka, Shintaro; Kamata, Masahiro; Hau, Carren Sy; Tateishi, Mihoko; Fukaya, Saki; Hayashi, Kotaro; Fukuyasu, Atsuko; Tanaka, Takamitsu; Ishikawa, Takeko; Ohnishi, Takamitsu; Sasajima, Yuko; Watanabe, Shinichi; Tada, Yayoi

2018-04-27

Systemic plasmacytosis is a rare skin disorder characterized by marked infiltration of plasma cells in the dermis. IgG4-related disease is pathologically characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration rich in IgG4+ plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis, accompanied by elevated levels of serum IgG4. Reports of cases of systemic plasmacytosis with abundant infiltration of IgG4+ plasma cells has led to discussion about the relationship between systemic plasmacytosis and IgG4-related disease. This study examined IgG4+/IgG+ plasma cell ratios in 4 patients with systemic plasmacytosis and 12 patients with other skin diseases that show marked infiltration of plasma cells. Furthermore, we examined whether these cases met one of the pathological diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease (i.e. IgG4+/IgG plasma cells ratio of over 40%). Only one out of 4 patients with systemic plasmacytosis met the criterion. These results suggest that systemic plasmacytosis and IgG4-related disease are distinct diseases.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS MEASURED IN SELECT HOMES IN THE RALEIGH-DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, NC AREA

EPA Science Inventory

Particle size distributions were measured indoors and outdoors of six residences in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area to characterize the factors affecting particle concentrations in the indoor environment, including infiltration of outdoor aerosols. Size resolved partic...

Multiple Channel Bridges for Spinal Cord Injury: Cellular Characterization of Host Response

PubMed Central

Yang, Yang; Laporte, Laura De; Zelivyanskaya, Marina L.; Whittlesey, Kevin J.; Anderson, Aileen J.; Cummings, Brian J.

2009-01-01

Bridges for treatment of the injured spinal cord must stabilize the injury site to prevent secondary damage and create a permissive environment that promotes regeneration. The host response to the bridge is central to creating a permissive environment, as the cell types that respond to the injury have the potential to secrete both stimulatory and inhibitory factors. We investigated multiple channel bridges for spinal cord regeneration and correlated the bridge structure to cell infiltration and axonal elongation. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) bridges were fabricated by a gas foaming/particulate leaching process. Channels within the bridge had diameters of 150 or 250 μm, and the main body of the bridge was highly porous with a controllable pore size. Upon implantation in a rat spinal cord hemisection site, cells infiltrated into the bridge pores and channels, with the pore size influencing the rate of infiltration. The pores had significant cell infiltration, including fibroblasts, macrophages, S-100β-positive cells, and endothelial cells. The channels of the bridge were completely infiltrated with cells, which had aligned axially, and consisted primarily of fibroblasts, S-100β-positive cells, and endothelial cells. Reactive astrocytes were observed primarily outside of the bridge, and staining for chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans was decreased in the region surrounding the bridge relative to studies without bridges. Neurofilament staining revealed a preferential growth of the neural fibers within the bridge channels relative to the pores. Multiple channel bridges capable of supporting cellular infiltration, creating a permissive environment, and directing the growth of neural fibers have potential for promoting and directing spinal cord regeneration. PMID:19382871

Time-lapse ERT interpretation methodology for leachate injection monitoring based on multiple inversions and a clustering strategy (MICS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audebert, M.; Clément, R.; Touze-Foltz, N.; Günther, T.; Moreau, S.; Duquennoi, C.

2014-12-01

Leachate recirculation is a key process in municipal waste landfills functioning as bioreactors. To quantify the water content and to assess the leachate injection system, in-situ methods are required to obtain spatially distributed information, usually electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). This geophysical method is based on the inversion process, which presents two major problems in terms of delimiting the infiltration area. First, it is difficult for ERT users to choose an appropriate inversion parameter set. Indeed, it might not be sufficient to interpret only the optimum model (i.e. the model with the chosen regularisation strength) because it is not necessarily the model which best represents the physical process studied. Second, it is difficult to delineate the infiltration front based on resistivity models because of the smoothness of the inversion results. This paper proposes a new methodology called MICS (multiple inversions and clustering strategy), which allows ERT users to improve the delimitation of the infiltration area in leachate injection monitoring. The MICS methodology is based on (i) a multiple inversion step by varying the inversion parameter values to take a wide range of resistivity models into account and (ii) a clustering strategy to improve the delineation of the infiltration front. In this paper, MICS was assessed on two types of data. First, a numerical assessment allows us to optimise and test MICS for different infiltration area sizes, contrasts and shapes. Second, MICS was applied to a field data set gathered during leachate recirculation on a bioreactor.

40 CFR 35.927-1 - Infiltration/inflow analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Infiltration/inflow analysis. 35.927-1... Infiltration/inflow analysis. (a) The infiltration/inflow analysis shall demonstrate the nonexistence or possible existence of excessive infiltration/inflow in the sewer system. The analysis should identify the...

40 CFR 35.927-1 - Infiltration/inflow analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Infiltration/inflow analysis. 35.927-1... Infiltration/inflow analysis. (a) The infiltration/inflow analysis shall demonstrate the nonexistence or possible existence of excessive infiltration/inflow in the sewer system. The analysis should identify the...

40 CFR 35.927-1 - Infiltration/inflow analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Infiltration/inflow analysis. 35.927-1... Infiltration/inflow analysis. (a) The infiltration/inflow analysis shall demonstrate the nonexistence or possible existence of excessive infiltration/inflow in the sewer system. The analysis should identify the...

40 CFR 35.927-1 - Infiltration/inflow analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Infiltration/inflow analysis. 35.927-1... Infiltration/inflow analysis. (a) The infiltration/inflow analysis shall demonstrate the nonexistence or possible existence of excessive infiltration/inflow in the sewer system. The analysis should identify the...

40 CFR 35.927-1 - Infiltration/inflow analysis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 1 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Infiltration/inflow analysis. 35.927-1... Infiltration/inflow analysis. (a) The infiltration/inflow analysis shall demonstrate the nonexistence or possible existence of excessive infiltration/inflow in the sewer system. The analysis should identify the...

Non-invasive, multi-modal sensing of skin stretch and bioimpedance for detecting infiltration during intravenous therapy.

PubMed

Jambulingam, Jambu A; McCrory, Russell; West, Leanne; Inan, Omer T

2016-08-01

Intravenous infiltration is a condition wherein an infused solution leaks inadvertently into soft tissue surrounding a hypodermic needle site. This occurrence affects approximately 6.5% of patients in hospitals worldwide, and can lead to severe tissue damage if not treated immediately. The methods currently used by medical staff to detect an infiltration are subjective and can potentially be prone to error. Infiltration is an even larger concern in pediatric patients, who have smaller veins than adults and have more difficulty in communicating pain or other discomfort associated with the infiltration with medical staff. For these reasons, automatic IV infiltration detection could potentially reduce the risk associated with this damaging condition. This paper proposes a novel proof-of-concept system that uses non-invasive sensing in conjunction with a low-power embedded computing platform to deliver continuous infiltration monitoring around the IV catheter site. This kind of system could be able to detect an infiltration by non-invasively monitoring for known symptoms: swelling of soft tissue and increased skin firmness; these symptoms can be sensed by measuring skin stretch and local bioimpedance. Moreover, the low-power design and wireless capabilities can potentially enable continuous wear. The proposed automatic IV infiltration detection system could significantly improve the number of infiltrations identified and treated on time.

Estimating the Limits of Infiltration in the Urban Appalachian Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lavin, S. M.; Bain, D.; Hopkins, K. G.; Pfeil-McCullough, E. K.; Copeland, E.

2014-12-01

Green infrastructure in urbanized areas commonly uses infiltration systems, such as rain gardens, swales and trenches, to convey surface runoff from impervious surfaces into surrounding soils. However, precipitation inputs can exceed soil infiltration rates, creating a limit to infiltration-based storm water management, particularly in urban areas covered by impervious surfaces. Given the limited availability and varied quality of soil infiltration rate data, we synthesized information from national databases, available field test data, and applicable literature to characterize soil infiltration rate distributions, focusing on Allegheny County, Pennsylvania as a case study. A range of impervious cover conditions was defined by sampling available GIS data (e.g., LiDAR and street edge lines) with analysis windows placed randomly across urbanization gradients. Changes in effective precipitation caused by impervious cover were calculated across these gradients and compared to infiltration rate distributions to identify thresholds in impervious coverage where these limits are exceeded. Many studies have demonstrated the effects of urbanization on infiltration, but the identification of these thresholds will clarify interactions between impervious cover and soil infiltration. These methods can help identify sections of urban areas that require augmentation of infiltration-based systems with additional infrastructural strategies, especially as green infrastructure moves beyond low impact development towards more frequent application during infilling of existing urban systems.

Kinetic analysis of MgB2 layer formation in advanced internal magnesium infiltration (AIMI) processed MgB2 wires

PubMed Central

Li, G. Z.; Sumption, M. D.; Collings, E. W.

2015-01-01

Significantly enhanced critical current density (Jc) for MgB2 superconducting wires can be obtained following the advanced internal Mg infiltration (AIMI) route. But unless suitable precautions are taken, the AIMI-processed MgB2 wires will exhibit incomplete MgB2 layer formation, i.e. reduced superconductor core size and hence suppressed current-carrying capability. Microstructural characterization of AIMI MgB2 wires before and after the heat treatment reveals that the reaction mechanism changes from a “Mg infiltration-reaction” at the beginning of the heat treatment to a “Mg diffusion-reaction” once a dense MgB2 layer is formed. A drastic drop in the Mg transport rate from infiltration to diffusion causes the termination of the MgB2 core growth. To quantify this process, a two-stage kinetic model is built to describe the MgB2 layer formation and growth. The derived kinetic model and the associated experimental observations indicate that fully reacted AIMI-processed MgB2 wires can be achieved following the optimization of B particle size, B powder packing density, MgB2 reaction activation energy and its response to the additions of dopants. PMID:26973431

[Xanthelasmoid mastocytosis: a rare form of cutaneous mastocytosis].

PubMed

Ramid, Hind; Hali, Fouzia

2017-01-01

Mastocytosis is a rare disease characterized by the abnormal accumulation of mast cells in the skin and possibly in other organs. It can occur in a variety of forms; xanthelasmoid mastocytosis(XM) is a very rare form classified as papulo-nodular. Clinically, it appears as buff-yellow soft papules or nodules of variable size. Triggerings are those of classic mastocytosis. Darier's sign is often absent. Histology shows dense infiltrate of mast cells in the deep dermis. This clinical form can be singled out because of the persistence of lesions beyond puberty without the additional risk of systemic involvement. We here report the case of a 18-month old female infant, with no previous medical history. Maculopapular, intensely pruritic, ovalaires, brownish lesions with a buff-yellow centre, with elastic consistency and different sizes first occurred at the age of 8 months. The initial interview of parents revealed that the infant had had episode of flush especially caused by warmth. Darrier's sign was negative. Skin biopsy showed dermal infiltrate of mast cells, allowing to retain the diagnosis of xanthelasmoid mastocytosis. Complementary examinations as well as trypsin dosage were normal. Treatment was based on the exclusion of drugs and of factors participating in mast cells degranulation and antihistamines.

Characterization of SrFe0.75Mo0.25O3-δ-La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ composite cathodes prepared by infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meng, Xie; Han, Da; Wu, Hao; Li, Junliang; Zhan, Zhongliang

2014-01-01

This paper describes the structure and electrochemical properties of composite cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells fabricated by infiltration of aqueous solutions corresponding to SrFe0.75Mo0.25O3-δ (SFMO) into porous La0.9Sr0.1Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) backbones. XRD measurement confirms the predominance of the perovskite SFMO oxides in the infiltrates together with some minor impurities of SrMoO4 after calcinations at 850-1100 °C. The cathode polarization resistance as obtained from impedance measurement on symmetric cathode fuel cells exhibits a pronounced increase as a function of calcinations temperature due to increased SFMO particle sizes, e.g., 0.04 Ω cm2 for 70 nm-sized catalysts calcinated at 850 °C versus 0.11 Ω cm2 for 400 nm-sized catalysts calcinated at 1100 °C. Oxygen partial pressure and temperature dependence of impedance data shows that oxygen reduction kinetics is largely determined by ionization of adsorbed oxygen atoms on the SFMO catalysts.

In vivo clinical and radiological effects of platelet-rich plasma on interstitial supraspinatus lesion: Case series.

PubMed

Lädermann, A; Zumstein, M A; Kolo, F C; Grosclaude, M; Koglin, L; Schwitzguebel, A J P

2016-12-01

Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is a frequent condition of clinical relevance that can be managed with a symptomatic conservative treatment, but surgery is often needed. Biological components like leukocytes and platelet rich plasma (L-PRP) could represent an alternative curative method for interstitial RCT. It has been hypothesized that an ultrasound guided L-PRP injection in supraspinatus interstitial RCT could induce radiological healing. A prospective case series including 25 patients was performed in order to assess the effect of L-PRP infiltration into supraspinatus interstitial RCTs. Primary outcome was tear size change determined by magnetic resonance imaging arthrogram (MRA) before and 6 months after L-PRP infiltration. Secondary outcomes were Constant score, SANE score, and pain visual analog scale (VAS) after L-PRP infiltration. Tear volume diminution was statistically significant (P=.007), and a >50% tear volume diminution was observed in 15 patients. A statistically significant improvement of Constant score (P<.001), SANE score (P=.001), and VAS (P<.001) was observed. In 21 patients, Constant score improvement reached the minimal clinical important difference of 10.4 points. We observed a statistically significant and clinically relevant effect on RCT size and clinical parameters after L-PRP infiltration. Such an important improvement of supraspinatus interstitial RCT with conservative management is uncommon, therefore intratendinous L-PRP infiltrations could have been beneficial. This encouraging result could pave the way for future randomized studies in order to formally determinate whether L-PRP infiltrations are a possible alternative to surgical treatment of interstitial RCT. Prospective observational study; Level of evidence II. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Mobilization of microspheres from a fractured soil during intermittent infiltration events

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mohanty, Sanjay; Bulicek, Mark; Metge, David W.; Harvey, Ronald W.; Ryan, Joseph N.; Boehm, Alexandria B.

2015-01-01

Pathogens or biocolloids mobilized in the vadose zone may consequently contaminate groundwater. We found that microspheres were mobilized from a fractured soil during intermittent rainfall and the mobilization was greater when the microsphere size was larger and when the soil had greater water permeability.The vadose zone filters pathogenic microbes from infiltrating water and consequently protects the groundwater from possible contamination. In some cases, however, the deposited microbes may be mobilized during rainfall and migrate into the groundwater. We examined the mobilization of microspheres, surrogates for microbes, in an intact core of a fractured soil by intermittent simulated rainfall. Fluorescent polystyrene microspheres of two sizes (0.5 and 1.8 mm) and Br− were first applied to the core to deposit the microspheres, and then the core was subjected to three intermittent infiltration events to mobilize the deposited microspheres. Collecting effluent samples through a 19-port sampler at the base of the core, we found that water flowed through only five ports, and the flow rates varied among the ports by a factor of 12. These results suggest that flow paths leading to the ports had different permeabilities, partly due to macropores. Although 40 to 69% of injected microspheres were retained in the core during their application, 12 to 30% of the retained microspheres were mobilized during three intermittent infiltration events. The extent of microsphere mobilization was greater in flow paths with greater permeability, which indicates that macropores could enhance colloid mobilization during intermittent infiltration events. In all ports, the 1.8-mm microspheres were mobilized to a greater extent than the 0.5-mm microspheres, suggesting that larger colloids are more likely to mobilize. These results are useful in assessing the potential of pathogen mobilization and colloid-facilitated transport of contaminants in the subsurface under natural infiltration events.

Long-term stormwater quantity and quality performance of permeable pavement systems.

PubMed

Brattebo, Benjamin O; Booth, Derek B

2003-11-01

This study examined the long-term effectiveness of permeable pavement as an alternative to traditional impervious asphalt pavement in a parking area. Four commercially available permeable pavement systems were evaluated after 6 years of daily parking usage for structural durability, ability to infiltrate precipitation, and impacts on infiltrate water quality. All four permeable pavement systems showed no major signs of wear. Virtually all rainwater infiltrated through the permeable pavements, with almost no surface runoff. The infiltrated water had significantly lower levels of copper and zinc than the direct surface runoff from the asphalt area. Motor oil was detected in 89% of samples from the asphalt runoff but not in any water sample infiltrated through the permeable pavement. Neither lead nor diesel fuel were detected in any sample. Infiltrate measured 5 years earlier displayed significantly higher concentrations of zinc and significantly lower concentrations of copper and lead.

40 CFR 264.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration... tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation...

40 CFR 264.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration... tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation...

40 CFR 264.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration... tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation...

75 FR 50930 - Final Determination To Approve Alternative Final Cover Request for the Lake County, Montana Landfill

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-18

... infiltration and erosion. The regulation requires final cover systems to be designed and constructed to: (1... infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum of 18 inches... that includes: (1) An infiltration layer that achieves an equivalent reduction in infiltration as the...

Enriched environment reduces glioma growth through immune and non-immune mechanisms in mice

PubMed Central

Garofalo, Stefano; D’Alessandro, Giuseppina; Chece, Giuseppina; Brau, Frederic; Maggi, Laura; Rosa, Alessandro; Porzia, Alessandra; Mainiero, Fabrizio; Esposito, Vincenzo; Lauro, Clotilde; Benigni, Giorgia; Bernardini, Giovanni; Santoni, Angela; Limatola, Cristina

2015-01-01

Mice exposed to standard (SE) or enriched environment (EE) were transplanted with murine or human glioma cells and differences in tumour development were evaluated. We report that EE exposure affects: (i) tumour size, increasing mice survival; (ii) glioma establishment, proliferation and invasion; (iii) microglia/macrophage (M/Mφ) activation; (iv) natural killer (NK) cell infiltration and activation; and (v) cerebral levels of IL-15 and BDNF. Direct infusion of IL-15 or BDNF in the brain of mice transplanted with glioma significantly reduces tumour growth. We demonstrate that brain infusion of IL-15 increases the frequency of NK cell infiltrating the tumour and that NK cell depletion reduces the efficacy of EE and IL-15 on tumour size and of EE on mice survival. BDNF infusion reduces M/Mφ infiltration and CD68 immunoreactivity in tumour mass and reduces glioma migration inhibiting the small G protein RhoA through the truncated TrkB.T1 receptor. These results suggest alternative approaches for glioma treatment. PMID:25818172

The effects of ethanol on the size-exclusion characteristics of type I dentin collagen to adhesive resin monomers.

PubMed

Chiba, A; Zhou, J; Nakajima, M; Tan, J; Tagami, J; Scheffel, D L S; Hebling, J; Agee, K A; Breschi, L; Grégoire, G; Jang, S S; Tay, F R; Pashley, D H

2016-03-01

During dentin bonding with etch-and-rinse adhesive systems, phosphoric acid etching of mineralized dentin solubilizes the mineral crystallites and replaces them with bound and unbound water. During the infiltration phase of dentin bonding, solvated adhesive resin comonomers are supposed to replace all of the unbound collagen water and polymerize into copolymers. A recently published review suggested that dental monomers are too large to enter and displace water from tightly-packed collagen molecules. Conversely, recent work from the authors' laboratory demonstrated that HEMA and TEGDMA freely equilibrate with water-saturated dentin matrices. However, because adhesive blends are solvated in organic solvents, those solvents may remove enough free water to allow collagen molecules to come close enough to exclude adhesive monomer permeation. The present study analyzed the size-exclusion characteristics of dentin collagen, using a gel permeation-like column chromatography technique, filled with dentin powder instead of Sephadex beads as the stationary phase. The elution volumes of different sized test molecules, including adhesive resin monomers, studied in both water-saturated dentin, and again in ethanol-dehydrated dentin powder, showed that adhesive resin monomers can freely diffuse into both hydrated and dehydrated collagen molecules. Under these in vitro conditions, all free and some of the loosely-bound water seems to have been removed by ethanol. These results validate the concept that adhesive resin monomers can permeate tightly-bound water in ethanol-saturated collagen molecules during infiltration by etch-and-rinse adhesives. It has been reported that collagen molecules in dentin matrices are packed too close together to allow permeation of adhesive monomers between them. Resin infiltration, in this view, would be limited to extrafibrillar spaces. Our work suggests that monomers equilibrate with collagen water in both water and ethanol-saturated dentin matrices. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methods to Use Surface Infiltration Tests in Permeable Pavement Systems to Determine Maintenance Frequency

EPA Science Inventory

Currently, there is limited guidance on selecting test sites to measure surface infiltration rates in permeable pavement systems to determine maintenance frequency. The ASTM method (ASTM C1701) for measuring infiltration rate of in-place pervious concrete suggest to either (1) p...

40 CFR 265.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... of the largest tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration... excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. Such additional capacity must be sufficient to contain... infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient...

18 CFR 430.13 - Protected area permits for new withdrawals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... approved by the Commission. (3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, metering...

18 CFR 430.13 - Protected area permits for new withdrawals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... approved by the Commission. (3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, metering...

18 CFR 430.13 - Protected area permits for new withdrawals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... approved by the Commission. (3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, metering...

18 CFR 430.13 - Protected area permits for new withdrawals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... approved by the Commission. (3) A program to monitor and control ground water infiltration to the receiving sewer system. The program must quantify ground water infiltration to the system and document reductions in infiltration. The program should include such measures as leakage surveys of sewer mains, metering...

40 CFR 265.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... of the largest tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration... excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. Such additional capacity must be sufficient to contain... infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient...

40 CFR 265.193 - Containment and detection of releases.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... of the largest tank within its boundary; (ii) Designed or operated to prevent run-on or infiltration... excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. Such additional capacity must be sufficient to contain... infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient...

Diagnostic value of inflammatory cell infiltrates, tumor stroma percentage and disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer

PubMed Central

Jakubowska, Katarzyna; Kisielewski, Wojciech; Kańczuga-Koda, Luiza; Koda, Mariusz; Famulski, Waldemar

2017-01-01

The anticancer immune defense mechanism involves humoral and cellular responses. The main effector mechanisms of antitumor responses involve the following: the activity of cytotoxic T cells; the activation of macrophages and neutrophils; the activity of cytokines secreted by T cells; and natural killer cell activity. Selected cell populations are responsible for the stimulation or suppression of the immune system against tumor cells. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the location, extent and composition of the cellular inflammatory infiltration of tumors in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In addition, the correlation between cellular inflammatory infiltration, and anatomoclinical and histopathological features of patients was evaluated. The study involved 160 patients diagnosed with primary operable CRC. The local inflammatory infiltrate was assessed in the invasive front and center of the tumor using light microscopy with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, according to the Klintrup-Makinen criteria, tumor stroma percentage, and Glasgow microenvironment score. The inflammatory infiltrate in the invasive front of the tumor was correlated with gender (P=0.018), the invasion of blood vessels (P=0.020) and lymph vessels (P=0.038), the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the invasive front (P=0.033) and center (P<0.001) of the tumor, fibrosis (P<0.001), and the degree of desmoplasmic stroma (P=0.004). In contrast, inflammatory infiltration in the center of the tumor was associated with the tumor node metastasis stage (P=0.012), Dukes' stage (P=0.009), primary tumor stage (P=0.036), lymph node status (P=0.005), number of lymph nodes (P=0.006), invasion of lymph node pouches (P=0.021), size of lymph node metastasis (P=0.025) and the degree of desmoplasmic stroma (P=0.002). The low-group, who demonstrated an absent or weak inflammatory cell infiltrate in the invasive front of the tumor, had a statistically significant shorter disease-free survival (DFS) time (P=0.004). Inflammatory cell infiltrate in the invasive front was identified as an independent predictive factor in CRC (P=0.041). In conclusion, the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the invasive front of the primary tumor significantly affects various variables that determine disease progression and DFS rates of patients with CRC. Furthermore, the routine histopathological assessment of this parameter in tissue stained with H&E may have potential prognostic value. PMID:28927159

Evaluation of Upland Disposal of Oakland Harbor, California, Sediment. Volume 2: Inner and Outer Harbor Sediments

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-08-01

the drop size and terminal velocities of natural rain- fall, factors which are critical in erosion and infiltration studies ( Westerdahl and Skogerboe... Westerdahl and Skogerboe 1982; Lee and Skogerboe 1984; Skogerboe et al. 1987). The WES Rainfall Simulator/ Lysimeter System proved to be an effective...Waters (Phase IIIA of -42-Foot Project); Volume 2: Appendixes," iNL-83-2, Vol 2, Battelle/Marine Science Laboratory, Sequim, WA. Westerdahl , H. E., and

The Upper Limit of Energy Density of Nanoporous Materials Functionalized Liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Aijie; Punyamurtula, Venkata K.; Kim, Taewan; Qiao, Yu

2008-06-01

In this article, we report the experimental result of energy dissipation of a mobil crystalline material (MCM) 41 in mercury. The MCM41 contains a large volume fraction of nanometer-sized pores. As the applied pressure is relatively high, the nanopore surfaces are exposed to mercury. Due to the large nanopore surface area and the large solid-liquid interfacial tension, the energy dissipation effectiveness of this system is ultrahigh, representing the upper limit that can be achieved by the pressure-induced infiltration technique.

Spatial variability of steady-state infiltration into a two-layer soil system on burned hillslopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kinner, D.A.; Moody, J.A.

2010-01-01

Rainfall-runoff simulations were conducted to estimate the characteristics of the steady-state infiltration rate into 1-m2 north- and south-facing hillslope plots burned by a wildfire in October 2003. Soil profiles in the plots consisted of a two-layer system composed of an ash on top of sandy mineral soil. Multiple rainfall rates (18.4-51.2 mm h-1) were used during 14 short-duration (30 min) and 2 long-duration simulations (2-4 h). Steady state was reached in 7-26 min. Observed spatially-averaged steady-state infiltration rates ranged from 18.2 to 23.8 mm h-1 for north-facing and from 17.9 to 36.0 mm h-1 for south-facing plots. Three different theoretical spatial distribution models of steady-state infiltration rate were fit to the measurements of rainfall rate and steady-state discharge to provided estimates of the spatial average (19.2-22.2 mm h-1) and the coefficient of variation (0.11-0.40) of infiltration rates, overland flow contributing area (74-90% of the plot area), and infiltration threshold (19.0-26 mm h-1). Tensiometer measurements indicated a downward moving pressure wave and suggest that infiltration-excess overland flow is the runoff process on these burned hillslope with a two-layer system. Moreover, the results indicate that the ash layer is wettable, may restrict water flow into the underlying layer, and increase the infiltration threshold; whereas, the underlying mineral soil, though coarser, limits the infiltration rate. These results of the spatial variability of steady-state infiltration can be used to develop physically-based rainfall-runoff models for burned areas with a two-layer soil system. ?? 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Combining Hard with Soft Materials in Nanoscale Under High-Pressure High-Temperature Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palosz, B.; Gierlotka, S.; Swiderska-Sroda, A.; Fietkiewicz, K.; Kalisz, G.; Grzanka, E.; Stel'makh, S.; Palosz, W.

2004-01-01

Nano-composites with a primary nanocrystalline ceramic matrix and a secondary nanocrystalline material (metal or semiconductor) were synthesized by infiltration of an appropriate liquid into ceramic compacts under pressures of up to 8 GPa and temperatures of up to 2000 K. The purpose of our work is to obtain nanocomposites which constitute homoger?ous mixtures of two phases, both forming nano- grains of about 10 nm in size. The high pressure is used to bring the porosity of the compacted powders down to the nano-scale and force a given liquid into the nano-sized pores. The advantage of the infiltration technique is that, in a single, continuous process, we start with a nanocrystalline powder, compress it to form the matrix of the composite, and crystallize and/or synthesize a second nanomaterial in the matrix pores. The key limitation of this technology is, that the pores in the matrix need to stay open during the entire process of infiltration. Thus the initial powder should form a rigid skeleton, otherwise the so-called self-stop process can limit cr block a further flow of the liquid phase and hinder the process of the composite formation. Therefore powders of only very hard ceramic materials like diamond, Sic, or Alz03, which can withstand a substantial external load without undesired deformation, can be used as the primary phase. With this technique, using diamond and S i c ceramic powders infiltrated by liquid metals (AI, Zn, Sn, Ag, Au) and semiconductors (Si, Ge, GaAs, CdTe), we obtained nano-composites with the grain size in the range of 10 - 30 nm. Our work addresses the key problem in manufacturing bulk nanocrystalline materials, i.e. preservation of nano-scale during the fabrication process. In this paper we discuss basic technical and methodological problems associated with nano-infiltration based on the results obtained for Zn-Sic composites.

Understanding Energy Absorption Behaviors of Nanoporous Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-23

induced liquid infiltration in nanopores. J. Appl. Phys. 100, 014308.1-3 (2006). 26. Surani, F. B. and Qiao, Y. Energy absorption of a polyacrylic ...that the infiltration pressure decreases as the cation size increases (Fig.K-2). The ionic radii of cesium, potassium , sodium and lithium are...REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB NO. 0704-0188 Public Reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour

Novel hydroxyapatite nanorods improve anti-caries efficacy of enamel infiltrants.

PubMed

Andrade Neto, D M; Carvalho, E V; Rodrigues, E A; Feitosa, V P; Sauro, S; Mele, G; Carbone, L; Mazzetto, S E; Rodrigues, L K; Fechine, P B A

2016-06-01

Enamel resin infiltrants are biomaterials able to treat enamel caries at early stages. Nevertheless, they cannot prevent further demineralization of mineral-depleted enamel. Therefore, the aim of this work was to synthesize and incorporate specific hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAps) into the resin infiltrant to overcome this issue. HAps were prepared using a hydrothermal method (0h, 2h and 5h). The crystallinity, crystallite size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized through XRD, FT-IR and TEM. HAps were then incorporated (10wt%) into a light-curing co-monomer resin blend (control) to create different resin-based enamel infiltrants (HAp-0h, HAp-2h and HAp-5h), whose degree of conversion (DC) was assessed by FT-IR. Enamel caries lesions were first artificially created in extracted human molars and infiltrated using the tested resin infiltrants. Specimens were submitted to pH-cycling to simulate recurrent caries. Knoop microhardness of resin-infiltrated underlying and surrounding enamel was analyzed before and after pH challenge. Whilst HAp-0h resulted amorphous, HAp-2h and HAp-5h presented nanorod morphology and higher crystallinity. Resin infiltration doped with HAp-2h and HAp-5h caused higher enamel resistance against demineralization compared to control HAp-free and HAp-0h infiltration. The inclusion of more crystalline HAp nanorods (HAp-2h and HAp-5h) increased significantly (p<0.05) the DC. Incorporation of more crystalline HAp nanorods into enamel resin infiltrants may be a feasible method to improve the overall performance in the prevention of recurrent demineralization (e.g. caries lesion) in resin-infiltrated enamel. Copyright © 2016 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Soil water infiltration affected by biofuel and grain crop production systems in claypan landscape

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of soil management systems on water infiltration is very crucial within claypan landscapes to maximize production as well as minimize environmental risks. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of topsoil thickness on water infiltration in claypan soils for grain and biofuel...

Infiltrated carbon foam composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lucas, Rick D. (Inventor); Danford, Harry E. (Inventor); Plucinski, Janusz W. (Inventor); Merriman, Douglas J. (Inventor); Blacker, Jesse M. (Inventor)

2012-01-01

An infiltrated carbon foam composite and method for making the composite is described. The infiltrated carbon foam composite may include a carbonized carbon aerogel in cells of a carbon foam body and a resin is infiltrated into the carbon foam body filling the cells of the carbon foam body and spaces around the carbonized carbon aerogel. The infiltrated carbon foam composites may be useful for mid-density ablative thermal protection systems.

10 CFR 434.516 - Building exterior envelope.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Proposed Design, the envelope characteristics of the Proposed Design shall be used. 516.2 Infiltration. For Prototype and Reference Buildings, the infiltration assumptions in subsection 516.2.1 shall be prescribed.... Infiltration shall impact perimeter zones only. 516.2.1 When the HVAC system is switched “on,” no infiltration...

Estimating the spatial distribution of artificial groundwater recharge using multiple tracers.

PubMed

Moeck, Christian; Radny, Dirk; Auckenthaler, Adrian; Berg, Michael; Hollender, Juliane; Schirmer, Mario

2017-10-01

Stable isotopes of water, organic micropollutants and hydrochemistry data are powerful tools for identifying different water types in areas where knowledge of the spatial distribution of different groundwater is critical for water resource management. An important question is how the assessments change if only one or a subset of these tracers is used. In this study, we estimate spatial artificial infiltration along an infiltration system with stage-discharge relationships and classify different water types based on the mentioned hydrochemistry data for a drinking water production area in Switzerland. Managed aquifer recharge via surface water that feeds into the aquifer creates a hydraulic barrier between contaminated groundwater and drinking water wells. We systematically compare the information from the aforementioned tracers and illustrate differences in distribution and mixing ratios. Despite uncertainties in the mixing ratios, we found that the overall spatial distribution of artificial infiltration is very similar for all the tracers. The highest infiltration occurred in the eastern part of the infiltration system, whereas infiltration in the western part was the lowest. More balanced infiltration within the infiltration system could cause the elevated groundwater mound to be distributed more evenly, preventing the natural inflow of contaminated groundwater. Dedicated to Professor Peter Fritz on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Quantification of sewer system infiltration using delta(18)O hydrograph separation.

PubMed

Prigiobbe, V; Giulianelli, M

2009-01-01

The infiltration of parasitical water into two sewer systems in Rome (Italy) was quantified during a dry weather period. Infiltration was estimated using the hydrograph separation method with two water components and delta(18)O as a conservative tracer. The two water components were groundwater, the possible source of parasitical water within the sewer, and drinking water discharged into the sewer system. This method was applied at an urban catchment scale in order to test the effective water-tightness of two different sewer networks. The sampling strategy was based on an uncertainty analysis and the errors have been propagated using Monte Carlo random sampling. Our field applications showed that the method can be applied easily and quickly, but the error in the estimated infiltration rate can be up to 20%. The estimated infiltration into the recent sewer in Torraccia is 14% and can be considered negligible given the precision of the method, while the old sewer in Infernetto has an estimated infiltration of 50%.

Local infiltration of rabies immunoglobulins without systemic intramuscular administration: An alternative cost effective approach for passive immunization against rabies

PubMed Central

Bharti, Omesh Kumar; Madhusudana, Shampur Narayan; Gaunta, Pyare Lal; Belludi, Ashwin Yajaman

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Presently the dose of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) which is an integral part of rabies post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is calculated based on body weight though the recommendation is to infiltrate the wound(s). This practice demands large quantities of RIG which may be unaffordable to many patients. In this background, we conducted this study to know if the quantity and cost of RIG can be reduced by restricting passive immunization to local infiltration alone and avoiding systemic intramuscular administration based on the available scientific evidence. Two hundred and sixty nine category III patients bitten by suspect or confirmed rabid dogs/animals were infiltrated with equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIGs) in and around the wound. The quantity of ERIG used was proportionate to the size and number of wounds irrespective of their body weight. They were followed with a regular course of rabies vaccination by intra-dermal route. As against 363 vials of RIGs required for all these cases as per current recommendation based on body weight, they required only 42 vials of 5ml RIG. Minimum dose of RIGs given was 0.25 ml and maximum dose given was 8 ml. On an average 1.26 ml of RIGs was required per patient that costs Rs. 150 ($3). All the patients were followed for 9 months and they were healthy and normal at the end of observation period. With local infiltration, that required small quantities of RIG, the RIGs could be made available to all patients in times of short supply in the market. A total of 30 (11%) serum samples of patients were tested for rabies virus neutralizing antibodies by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) and all showed antibody titers >0.5 IU/mL by day 14. In no case the dose was higher than that required based on body weight and no immunosuppression resulted. To conclude, this pilot study shows that local infiltration of RIG need to be considered in times of non-availability in the market or unaffordability by poor patients. This preliminary study needs to be done on larger scale in other centers with long term follow up to substantiate the results of our study. PMID:26317441

Fluorescence intensity and bright spot analyses using a confocal microscope for photodynamic diagnosis of brain tumors.

PubMed

Yoneyama, Takeshi; Watanabe, Tetsuyo; Kagawa, Hiroyuki; Hayashi, Yutaka; Nakada, Mitsutoshi

2017-03-01

In photodynamic diagnosis using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), discrimination between the tumor and normal tissue is very important for a precise resection. However, it is difficult to distinguish between infiltrating tumor and normal regions in the boundary area. In this study, fluorescent intensity and bright spot analyses using a confocal microscope is proposed for the precise discrimination between infiltrating tumor and normal regions. From the 5-ALA-resected brain tumor tissue, the red fluorescent and marginal regions were sliced for observation under a confocal microscope. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were performed on serial slices of the same tissue. According to the pathological inspection of the H&E slides, the tumor and infiltrating and normal regions on confocal microscopy images were investigated. From the fluorescent intensity of the image pixels, a histogram of pixel number with the same fluorescent intensity was obtained. The fluorescent bright spot sizes and total number were compared between the marginal and normal regions. The fluorescence intensity distribution and average intensity in the tumor were different from those in the normal region. The probability of a difference from the dark enhanced the difference between the tumor and the normal region. The bright spot size and number in the infiltrating tumor were different from those in the normal region. Fluorescence intensity analysis is useful to distinguish a tumor region, and a bright spot analysis is useful to distinguish between infiltrating tumor and normal regions. These methods will be important for the precise resection or photodynamic therapy of brain tumors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Products Released from Enzymically Active Cell Wall Stimulate Ethylene Production and Ripening in Preclimacteric Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruit 1

PubMed Central

Brecht, Jeffrey K.; Huber, Donald J.

1988-01-01

Enzymically active cell wall from ripe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit pericarp release uronic acids through the action of wall-bound polygalacturonase. The potential involvement of products of wall hydrolysis in the induction of ethylene synthesis during tomato ripening was investigated by vacuum infiltrating preclimacteric (green) fruit with solutions containing pectin fragments enzymically released from cell wall from ripe fruit. Ripening initiation was accelerated in pectin-infiltrated fruit compared to control (buffer-infiltrated) fruit as measured by initiation of climacteric CO2 and ethylene production and appearance of red color. The response to infiltration was maximum at a concentration of 25 micrograms pectin per fruit; higher concentrations (up to 125 micrograms per fruit) had no additional effect. When products released from isolated cell wall from ripe pericarp were separated on Bio-Gel P-2 and specific size classes infiltrated into preclimacteric fruit, ripening-promotive activity was found only in the larger (degree of polymerization >8) fragments. Products released from pectin derived from preclimacteric pericarp upon treatment with polygalacturonase from ripe pericarp did not stimulate ripening when infiltrated into preclimacteric fruit. PMID:16666417

Association Between In Vitro Susceptibility to Natamycin and Voriconazole and Clinical Outcomes in Fungal Keratitis

PubMed Central

Sun, Catherine Q.; Lalitha, Prajna; Prajna, N. Venkatesh; Karpagam, Rajarathinam; Geetha, Manoharan; O’Brien, Kieran S.; Oldenburg, Catherine E.; Ray, Kathryn J.; McLeod, Stephen D.; Acharya, Nisha R.; Lietman, Thomas M.

2014-01-01

Purpose To assess the association between minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and clinical outcomes in a fungal keratitis clinical trial. Design Experimental study using data from a randomized comparative trial. Participants Of the 323 patients enrolled in the trial, we were able to obtain MIC values from 221 patients with monocular fungal keratitis. Methods The Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial I (MUTT I) was a randomized, double-masked clinical trial comparing clinical outcomes of monotherapy with topical natamycin versus voriconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Speciation and determination of MIC to natamycin and voriconazole were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The relationship between MIC and clinical outcome was assessed. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome was 3-month best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Secondary outcomes included 3-month infiltrate/scar size, corneal perforation and/or therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK), and time to re-epithelialization. Results A 2-fold increase in MIC was associated with a larger 3-month infiltrate/scar size (0.21 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.10–0.31, P <0.001) and increased odds of perforation (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% CI 1.04–1.69, P=0.02). No correlation was found between MIC and 3-month visual acuity. For natamycin-treated cases, an association was found between higher natamycin MIC with larger 3-month infiltrate/scar size (0.29 mm, 95% CI 0.15–0.43, P<0.001) and increased perforations (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.46–3.97, P<0.001). Among voriconazole-treated cases, the voriconazole MIC did not correlate with any of the measured outcomes in the study. Conclusion Decreased susceptibility to natamycin was associated with increased infiltrate/scar size and increased odds of perforation. There was no association between susceptibility to voriconazole and outcome. PMID:24746358

Association between in vitro susceptibility to natamycin and voriconazole and clinical outcomes in fungal keratitis.

PubMed

Sun, Catherine Q; Lalitha, Prajna; Prajna, N Venkatesh; Karpagam, Rajarathinam; Geetha, Manoharan; O'Brien, Kieran S; Oldenburg, Catherine E; Ray, Kathryn J; McLeod, Stephen D; Acharya, Nisha R; Lietman, Thomas M

2014-08-01

To assess the association between minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and clinical outcomes in a fungal keratitis clinical trial. Experimental study using data from a randomized comparative trial. Of the 323 patients enrolled in the trial, we were able to obtain MIC values from 221 patients with monocular fungal keratitis. The Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial I was a randomized, double-masked clinical trial comparing clinical outcomes of monotherapy with topical natamycin versus voriconazole for the treatment of fungal keratitis. Speciation and determination of MIC to natamycin and voriconazole were performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The relationship between MIC and clinical outcome was assessed. The primary outcome was 3-month best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Secondary outcomes included 3-month infiltrate or scar size; corneal perforation and/or therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty; and time to re-epithelialization. A 2-fold increase in MIC was associated with a larger 3-month infiltrate or scar size (0.21 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-0.31; P < 0.001) and increased odds of perforation (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.69; P = 0.02). No correlation was found between MIC and 3-month visual acuity. For natamycin-treated cases, an association was found between higher natamycin MIC with larger 3-month infiltrate or scar size (0.29 mm; 95% CI, 0.15-0.43; P < 0.001) and increased perforations (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.46-3.97; P < 0.001). Among voriconazole-treated cases, the voriconazole MIC did not correlate with any of the measured outcomes in the study. Decreased susceptibility to natamycin was associated with increased infiltrate or scar size and increased odds of perforation. There was no association between susceptibility to voriconazole and outcome. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Efficient infiltration of water in the subsurface by using point-wells: A field study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopik, J. V.; Schotting, R.; Raoof, A.

2017-12-01

The ability to infiltrate large volumes of water in the subsurface would have great value for battling flooding in urban regions. Moreover, efficient water infiltration is key to optimize underground aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES), as well as construction dewatering systems. Usually, variable infiltration rates of large water quantities could have a huge hydrogeological impact in the upper part of (phreatic) aquifer systems. In urban regions, minimizing excessive groundwater table fluctuations are necessary. A newly developed method, Fast, High Volume Infiltration (FHVI), by Dutch dewatering companies can be used to enable fast injection into the shallow subsurface. Conventional infiltration methods are using injection wells that screen large parts of the aquifer depth, whereas FHVI uses a specific infiltration point (1-m well screen) in the aquifer. These infiltration points are generally thin, high permeable layers in the aquifer of approximately 0.5-2 meter thick, and are embedded by less permeable layers. Currently, much higher infiltration pressures in shallow aquifers can be achieved with FHVI (up to 1 bar) compared to conventional infiltration methods ( 0.2 bar). Despite the high infiltration pressures and high discharge rate near the FHVI-filter, the stresses on shallow groundwater levels are significantly reduced with FHVI. In order to investigate the mechanisms that enable FHVI, a field experiment is conducted in a sandy aquifer to obtain insight in the 3-D hydraulic pressure distribution and flow patterns around a FHVI-filter during infiltration. A detailed characterization of the soil profile is obtained by using soil samples and cone pressure tests with a specific hydraulic profiling tool to track the vertical variation in aquifer permeability. A tracer test with bromide and heat is conducted to investigate preferential flow paths. The experimental data show that tracking small heterogeneities in aquifers and analysing the permeability difference ratio between the aimed infiltration layer and the surrounding layers in the aquifer are key to optimize the configuration of the FHVI-well. The results show that the use of point wells in thin, high permeable layers could drastically improve the efficiency of the infiltration system.

Peripheral corneal infiltrates associated with contact lens wear.

PubMed Central

Donshik, P C; Suchecki, J K; Ehlers, W H

1995-01-01

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was performed to review the clinical characteristics of peripheral corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers. METHODS: The charts of all contact lens patients with peripheral corneal infiltrates 1.5 mm or less in size who presented to the office from 1987 to 1994 were reviewed. RESULTS: The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of peripheral corneal infiltrates associated with contact lens wear were reviewed in 52 patients (64 infiltrates). Forty-four patients presented with a single infiltrate, while the remaining 8 patients had multiple infiltrates. While there was no predilection for a specific quadrant of the cornea, when a subgroup of patients who wore extended wear lenses was analyzed, 19 of the 40 infiltrates were located in the superior quadrant. Forty percent of the patients were wearing disposable extended wear contact lenses, 21% were wearing conventional extended wear lenses, 33% were wearing conventional or frequent replacement/disposable daily wear contact lenses and 6% were wearing rigid gas permeable lenses. The majority of patients had minimal conjunctival inflammation, an anterior stromal cellular reaction and minimal anterior chamber activity. A subgroup of 16 patients had corneal cultures of their infiltrates. In this group, 8 of the 16 had positive cultures. All patients had a resolution of the infiltrates without complications and the majority were refitted to daily wear soft or rigid contact lenses. CONCLUSION: Peripheral corneal infiltrates in contact lens wearers appears to be more common in patients wearing extended wear soft contact lenses. While often considered "sterile" in the literature, a significant number have been shown to be culture-positive. The organisms that have been associated with peripheral infiltrates appear to be less "pathogenic" than those that have been reported to be associated with central corneal ulcer. However, it is probably advisable that patients with peripheral corneal ulcers secondary to contact lens wear should be initially treated with topical antibiotics. PMID:8719670

Electrochemically influenced cation inter-diffusion and Co 3O 4 formation on La 0.6Sr 0.4CoO 3 infiltrated into SOFC cathodes

DOE PAGES

Song, Xueyan; Lee, Shiwoo; Chen, Yun; ...

2015-06-18

Nanosized LSC electrocatalyst was infiltrated into a porous scaffold cathode composed of Sm 2O 3-doped CeO 2 (SDC) and La 0.6Sr 0.4Co 0.2Fe 0.8O 3-δ (LSCF) in a commercial button solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). To understand the stability of cathodes infiltrated with LSC, the infiltrated composite cells were subjected to both electrochemical operating and thermal aging states at 750 °C for 1500 h. Nanostructure and local chemistry evolution of La 0.6Sr 0.4CoO 3 (LSC) infiltrated cathodes upon operation and aging were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. After operation, the LSC remained a cubic perovskite, and the crystal grains exhibitmore » comparable size to as-infiltrated LSC grains. Inter-diffusion of Fe from the LSCF to a Fe-incorporated LSC layer developed on the LSCF backbone. However, only sharp interfaces were observed between LSC and SDC backbone in the as-infiltrated cathode and such interfaces remain after operation. The infiltrated LSC on the SDC backbone also retains granular particle morphology. Furthermore, newly grown Co 3O 4 nanocrystals were found in the operated cathode. After thermal aging, on the other hand, cation inter-diffusion across the interfaces of the infiltrate particles and the cathode backbones is less than that from the operated cells. Lastly, the following hypothesis is proposed: Co 3O 4 forms on LSC arising from local charge balancing between cobalt and oxygen vacancies.« less

Enhancing 18F-FDG-PET/CT analysis in lung cancer patients. Is CT-CT image fusion helpful in predicting pleural involvement? A pilot study.

PubMed

Kapfhammer, A; Winkens, T; Lesser, T; Reissig, A; Steinert, M; Freesmeyer, M

2015-01-01

To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and value of CT-CT image fusion to assess the shift of peripheral lung cancers with/-out chest wall infiltration, comparing computed tomography acquisitions in shallow-breathing (SB-CT) and deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH-CT) in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT for lung cancer staging. Image fusion of SB-CT and DIBH-CT was performed with a multimodal workstation used for nuclear medicine fusion imaging. The distance of intrathoracic landmarks and the positional shift of tumours were measured using semi-transparent overlay of both CT series. Statistical analyses were adjusted for confounders of tumour infiltration. Cutoff levels were calculated for prediction of no-/infiltration. Lateral pleural recessus and diaphragm showed the largest respiratory excursions. Infiltrating lung cancers showed more limited respiratory shifts than non-infiltrating tumours. A large respiratory tumour-motility accurately predicted non-infiltration. However, the tumour shifts were limited and variable, limiting the accuracy of prediction. This pilot fusion study proved feasible and allowed a simple analysis of the respiratory shifts of peripheral lung tumours using CT-CT image fusion in a PET/CT setting. The calculated cutoffs were useful in predicting the exclusion of chest wall infiltration but did not accurately predict tumour infiltration. This method can provide additional qualitative information in patients with lung cancers with contact to the chest wall but unclear CT evidence of infiltration undergoing PET/CT without the need of additional investigations. Considering the small sample size investigated, further studies are necessary to verify the obtained results.

A study of metal-ceramic wettability in SiC-Al using dynamic melt infiltration of SiC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Asthana, R.; Rohatgi, P. K.

1993-01-01

Pressure-assisted infiltration with a 2014 Al alloy of plain and Cu-coated single crystal platelets of alpha silicon carbide was used to study particulate wettability under dynamic conditions relevant to pressure casting of metal-matrix composites. The total penetration length of infiltrant metal in porous compacts was measured at the conclusion of solidification as a function of pressure, infiltration time, and SiC size for both plain and Cu-coated SiC. The experimental data were analyzed to obtain a threshold pressure for the effect of melt intrusion through SiC compacts. The threshold pressure was taken either directly as a measure of wettability or converted to an effective wetting angle using the Young-Laplace capillary equation. Cu coating resulted in partial but beneficial improvements in wettability as a result of its dissolution in the melt, compared to uncoated SiC.

Groundwater infiltration, surface water inflow and sewerage exfiltration considering hydrodynamic conditions in sewer systems.

PubMed

Karpf, Christian; Hoeft, Stefan; Scheffer, Claudia; Fuchs, Lothar; Krebs, Peter

2011-01-01

Sewer systems are closely interlinked with groundwater and surface water. Due to leaks and regular openings in the sewer system (e.g. combined sewer overflow structures with sometimes reverse pressure conditions), groundwater infiltration and surface water inflow as well as exfiltration of sewage take place and cannot be avoided. In the paper a new hydrodynamic sewer network modelling approach will be presented, which includes--besides precipitation--hydrographs of groundwater and surface water as essential boundary conditions. The concept of the modelling approach and the models to describe the infiltration, inflow and exfiltration fluxes are described. The model application to the sewerage system of the City of Dresden during a flood event with complex conditions shows that the processes of infiltration, exfiltration and surface water inflows can be described with a higher reliability and accuracy, showing that surface water inflow causes a pronounced system reaction. Further, according to the simulation results, a high sensitivity of exfiltration rates on the in-sewer water levels and a relatively low influence of the dynamic conditions on the infiltration rates were found.

Tumour border configuration in colorectal cancer: proposal for an alternative scoring system based on the percentage of infiltrating margin.

PubMed

Karamitopoulou, Eva; Zlobec, Inti; Koelzer, Viktor Hendrik; Langer, Rupert; Dawson, Heather; Lugli, Alessandro

2015-10-01

Information on tumour border configuration (TBC) in colorectal cancer (CRC) is currently not included in most pathology reports, owing to lack of reproducibility and/or established evaluation systems. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an alternative scoring system based on the percentage of the infiltrating component may represent a reliable method for assessing TBC. Two hundred and fifteen CRCs with complete clinicopathological data were evaluated by two independent observers, both 'traditionally' by assigning the tumours into pushing/infiltrating/mixed categories, and alternatively by scoring the percentage of infiltrating margin. With the pushing/infiltrating/mixed pattern method, interobserver agreement (IOA) was moderate (κ = 0.58), whereas with the percentage of infiltrating margins method, IOA was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.86). A higher percentage of infiltrating margin correlated with adverse features such as higher grade (P = 0.0025), higher pT (P = 0.0007), pN (P = 0.0001) and pM classification (P = 0.0063), high-grade tumour budding (P < 0.0001), lymphatic invasion (P < 0.0001), vascular invasion (P = 0.0032), and shorter survival (P = 0.0008), and was significantly associated with an increased probability of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). Information on TBC gives additional prognostic value to pathology reports on CRC. The novel proposed scoring system, by using the percentage of infiltrating margin, outperforms the 'traditional' way of reporting TBC. Additionally, it is reproducible and simple to apply, and can therefore be easily integrated into daily diagnostic practice. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Simulation of brain tumors in MR images for evaluation of segmentation efficacy.

PubMed

Prastawa, Marcel; Bullitt, Elizabeth; Gerig, Guido

2009-04-01

Obtaining validation data and comparison metrics for segmentation of magnetic resonance images (MRI) are difficult tasks due to the lack of reliable ground truth. This problem is even more evident for images presenting pathology, which can both alter tissue appearance through infiltration and cause geometric distortions. Systems for generating synthetic images with user-defined degradation by noise and intensity inhomogeneity offer the possibility for testing and comparison of segmentation methods. Such systems do not yet offer simulation of sufficiently realistic looking pathology. This paper presents a system that combines physical and statistical modeling to generate synthetic multi-modal 3D brain MRI with tumor and edema, along with the underlying anatomical ground truth, Main emphasis is placed on simulation of the major effects known for tumor MRI, such as contrast enhancement, local distortion of healthy tissue, infiltrating edema adjacent to tumors, destruction and deformation of fiber tracts, and multi-modal MRI contrast of healthy tissue and pathology. The new method synthesizes pathology in multi-modal MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) by simulating mass effect, warping and destruction of white matter fibers, and infiltration of brain tissues by tumor cells. We generate synthetic contrast enhanced MR images by simulating the accumulation of contrast agent within the brain. The appearance of the the brain tissue and tumor in MRI is simulated by synthesizing texture images from real MR images. The proposed method is able to generate synthetic ground truth and synthesized MR images with tumor and edema that exhibit comparable segmentation challenges to real tumor MRI. Such image data sets will find use in segmentation reliability studies, comparison and validation of different segmentation methods, training and teaching, or even in evaluating standards for tumor size like the RECIST criteria (response evaluation criteria in solid tumors).

44 CFR 60.3 - Flood plain management criteria for flood-prone areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems; and (6) Require within flood-prone... infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharges from the systems into flood waters and (ii) onsite...

44 CFR 60.3 - Flood plain management criteria for flood-prone areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems; and (6) Require within flood-prone... infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharges from the systems into flood waters and (ii) onsite...

44 CFR 60.3 - Flood plain management criteria for flood-prone areas.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... minimize or eliminate infiltration of flood waters into the systems; and (6) Require within flood-prone... infiltration of flood waters into the systems and discharges from the systems into flood waters and (ii) onsite...

Experimental evaluation of four infiltration models for calcareous soil irrigated with treated untreated grey water and fresh water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gharaibeh, M. A.; Eltaif, N. I.; Alrababah, M. A.; Alhamad, M. N.

2009-04-01

Infiltration is vital for both irrigated and rainfed agriculture. The knowledge of infiltration characteristics of a soil is the basic information required for designing an efficient irrigation system. The objective of the present study was to model soil infiltration using four models: Green and Ampt, Horton, Kostaikov and modified Kostiakov. Infiltration tests were conducted on field plot irrigated with treated, untreated greywater and fresh water. The field water infiltration data used in these models were based on double ring infiltrometer tests conducted for 4 h. The algebraic parameters of the infiltration models and nonlinear least squares regression were fitted using measured infiltration time [I (t)] data. Among process-based infiltration models, the Horton model performed best and matched the measured I (t) data with lower sum of squares (SS).

Isolated (localized) idiopathic granulomatous (giant cell) vasculitis in an intramuscular lipoma.

PubMed

Fernando Val-Bernal, J; Val, Daniel; Calvo, Ignacio; Francisca Garijo, M

2006-01-01

Isolated (localized) idiopathic granulomatous vasculitis (IGV) is an uncommon, heterogeneous, and poorly defined group of disorders characterized by infiltration of the arterial wall caused by compactly grouped mononuclear phagocytes, with or without giant cells, in segmental distribution. We report on a 55-year-old woman with IGV limited to an intramuscular lipoma of the left thigh. The vasculitis was identified incidentally upon microscopic examination of the removed tumor. The IGV was centered on two medium-sized arteries, accompanied by narrowing of the lumens, and not associated with secondary changes such as infart or postinfart fibrosis. The inflammatory infiltrate was rich in T-lymphocytes and macrophages, with the presence of giant cells. The patient was asymptomatic and well in a follow-up period of 2 months, during which she was not treated. To our knowledge, this is the first report of lipoma involvement in localized IGV. It is important to distinguish cases of isolated intratumorous IGV from systemic disease, because the latter implies a poor prognosis and requires an aggressive treatment.

CXC chemokine KC fails to induce neutrophil infiltration and neoangiogenesis in a mouse model of myocardial infarction.

PubMed

Oral, Hasan; Kanzler, Isabella; Tuchscheerer, Nancy; Curaj, Adelina; Simsekyilmaz, Sakine; Sönmez, Tolga Taha; Radu, Eugen; Postea, Otilia; Weber, Christian; Schuh, Alexander; Liehn, Elisa A

2013-07-01

Chemokines and neutrophils, known as important players in the inflammatory cascade, also contribute to heart tissue recovery and scar formation after myocardial infarction (MI). The objective of this study was to determine the importance of ELR-containing CXC chemokine KC in neutrophil infiltration and neoangiogenesis, in a mouse model of chronic MI. MI was induced in mice divided in four groups: control (untreated), anti-KC "later" (anti-KC antibody injections started 4 days after MI and then delivered every 72 hours for 3 weeks, to inhibit angiogenesis), anti-KC "earlier" (anti-KC antibody injections 1 day before and 1 day after MI, to block neutrophil infiltration), anti-KC (anti-KC antibody injections 1 day before and 1 day after MI, and then every 72 hours for 3 weeks). The efficiency of the anti-KC treatment was determined by the measurement of KC serum concentration and immunofluorescence staining, in each of the four groups. Surprisingly, we did not find any difference in neutrophil infiltration in the infarcted area between untreated and treated animals. Moreover, the heart function, infarct size, and neoangiogenesis were not different between the four groups. As expected, a comparable anti-CXCR2 treatment of mice before and after MI was able to significantly reduce neutrophil infiltration into the infarcted area and angiogenesis, but also to reduce the infarction size after long or "later" treatment. The major finding of our study is that KC, a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and an established angiogenic factor, failed to interfere in the post-infarction inflammatory response, in wound healing and scar formation after MI. Therefore, these aspects need to be carefully taken into account when devising therapeutic strategies for myocardial infarction and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surface Runoff Threshold Responses to Rainfall Intensity, Scale, and Land Use Type, Change and Disturbance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhaskar, A.; Kampf, S. K.; Green, T. R.; Wilson, C.; Wagenbrenner, J.; Erksine, R. H.

2017-12-01

The dominance of infiltration-excess (Hortonian) overland flow can be determined by how well a rainfall intensity threshold predicts streamflow response. Areas in which we would expect infiltration-excess overland flow to dominate include urban, bedrock, desert pavement, and lands disturbed by vegetation removal (e.g., after a fire burn or fallow agricultural lands). Using a transferable method of identifying the existence of thresholds, we compare the following sites to investigate their hydrologic responses to 60-minute rainfall intensities: desert pavement sites in Arizona (Walnut Gulch and Yuma Proving Ground), post-fire sites in a forested, mountainous burn area in north-central Colorado (High Park Fire), an area of northeastern Colorado Plains that has transitioned from dryland agriculture to conservation reserve (Drake Farm), and watersheds in suburban Baltimore, Maryland which range from less than 5% to over 50% impervious surface cover. We observed that at desert sites, the necessary threshold of rainfall intensity to produce flow increased with watershed size. In burned watersheds, watershed size did not have a clear effect on rainfall thresholds, but thresholds increased with time after burning, with streamflow no longer exhibiting clear threshold responses after the third year post-fire. At the agricultural site, the frequency of runoff events decreased during the transition from cultivated crops to mixed perennial native grasses. In an area where the natural land cover (forested) would be not dominated by infiltration-excess overland flow, urbanization greatly lowered the rainfall thresholds needed for hydrologic response. This work contributes to building a predictive framework for identifying what naturally-occurring landscapes are dominated by infiltration-excess overland flow, and how land use change could shift the dominance of infiltration-excess overland flow. Characterizing the driving mechanism for streamflow generation will allow better prediction of hydrologic response to rainfall events.

Histologic Assessment of Intratumoral Lymphoplasmacytic Infiltration Is Useful in Predicting Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PubMed

Hayashi, Akimasa; Shibahara, Junji; Misumi, Kento; Arita, Junichi; Sakamoto, Yoshihiro; Hasegawa, Kiyoshi; Kokudo, Norihiro; Fukayama, Masashi

2016-01-01

In the present study, we investigated the clinicopathologic significance of intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in a large cohort of patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, significant infiltration was defined as dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, either multifocal or diffuse, in 2 or more fields under low-power magnification. Of 544 cases, 216 (39.7%) were positive for significant infiltration (HCC-LI group), while 328 (60.3%) were negative (HCC-NLI group). There were no significant between-group differences in patient age, sex, or background etiology. The lower incidence of Child-Pugh stage B (P = 0.001) and lower level of indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (P < 0.001) in the HCC-LI group indicated better liver function in this group. Histologically, tumors were significantly smaller in size in the HCC-LI group than in the HCC-NLI group (P < 0.001). In addition, prominent neutrophilic infiltration, interstitial fibrosis and tumor steatosis were significantly more frequent (P < 0.001) in the HCC-LI group, while tumor necrosis was significantly less frequent (P = 0.008). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that overall and recurrence-free survival were significantly better in the HCC-LI group (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was independently prognostic of both overall and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001), with absence of infiltration showing high Cox-hazard ratios for poor prognosis. In conclusion, intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, as determined by assessment of hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, was significantly associated with the clinical and pathologic features of HCC and has profound prognostic importance.

Histologic Assessment of Intratumoral Lymphoplasmacytic Infiltration Is Useful in Predicting Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PubMed Central

Hayashi, Akimasa; Shibahara, Junji; Misumi, Kento; Arita, Junichi; Sakamoto, Yoshihiro; Hasegawa, Kiyoshi; Kokudo, Norihiro; Fukayama, Masashi

2016-01-01

In the present study, we investigated the clinicopathologic significance of intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in a large cohort of patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, significant infiltration was defined as dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, either multifocal or diffuse, in 2 or more fields under low-power magnification. Of 544 cases, 216 (39.7%) were positive for significant infiltration (HCC-LI group), while 328 (60.3%) were negative (HCC-NLI group). There were no significant between-group differences in patient age, sex, or background etiology. The lower incidence of Child-Pugh stage B (P = 0.001) and lower level of indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes (P < 0.001) in the HCC-LI group indicated better liver function in this group. Histologically, tumors were significantly smaller in size in the HCC-LI group than in the HCC-NLI group (P < 0.001). In addition, prominent neutrophilic infiltration, interstitial fibrosis and tumor steatosis were significantly more frequent (P < 0.001) in the HCC-LI group, while tumor necrosis was significantly less frequent (P = 0.008). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that overall and recurrence-free survival were significantly better in the HCC-LI group (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was independently prognostic of both overall and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.001), with absence of infiltration showing high Cox-hazard ratios for poor prognosis. In conclusion, intratumoral lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, as determined by assessment of hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, was significantly associated with the clinical and pathologic features of HCC and has profound prognostic importance. PMID:27195977

Modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (MSPH) for the analysis of centrifugally assisted TiC-Fe-Al2O3 combustion synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, M. A.; Mahmoodian, Reza; Hamdi, M.

2014-01-01

A modified smoothed particle hydrodynamic (MSPH) computational technique was utilized to simulate molten particle motion and infiltration speed on multi-scale analysis levels. The radial velocity and velocity gradient of molten alumina, iron infiltration in the TiC product and solidification rate, were predicted during centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) simulation, which assisted the coating process by MSPH. The effects of particle size and temperature on infiltration and solidification of iron and alumina were mainly investigated. The obtained results were validated with experimental microstructure evidence. The simulation model successfully describes the magnitude of iron and alumina diffusion in a centrifugal thermite SHS and Ti + C hybrid reaction under centrifugal acceleration.

Modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (MSPH) for the analysis of centrifugally assisted TiC-Fe-Al2O3 combustion synthesis

PubMed Central

Hassan, M. A.; Mahmoodian, Reza; Hamdi, M.

2014-01-01

A modified smoothed particle hydrodynamic (MSPH) computational technique was utilized to simulate molten particle motion and infiltration speed on multi-scale analysis levels. The radial velocity and velocity gradient of molten alumina, iron infiltration in the TiC product and solidification rate, were predicted during centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) simulation, which assisted the coating process by MSPH. The effects of particle size and temperature on infiltration and solidification of iron and alumina were mainly investigated. The obtained results were validated with experimental microstructure evidence. The simulation model successfully describes the magnitude of iron and alumina diffusion in a centrifugal thermite SHS and Ti + C hybrid reaction under centrifugal acceleration. PMID:24430621

Modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (MSPH) for the analysis of centrifugally assisted TiC-Fe-Al2O3 combustion synthesis.

PubMed

Hassan, M A; Mahmoodian, Reza; Hamdi, M

2014-01-16

A modified smoothed particle hydrodynamic (MSPH) computational technique was utilized to simulate molten particle motion and infiltration speed on multi-scale analysis levels. The radial velocity and velocity gradient of molten alumina, iron infiltration in the TiC product and solidification rate, were predicted during centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) simulation, which assisted the coating process by MSPH. The effects of particle size and temperature on infiltration and solidification of iron and alumina were mainly investigated. The obtained results were validated with experimental microstructure evidence. The simulation model successfully describes the magnitude of iron and alumina diffusion in a centrifugal thermite SHS and Ti + C hybrid reaction under centrifugal acceleration.

Melt infiltration of silicon carbide compacts. II - Evaluation of solidification microstructures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Asthana, Rajiv; Rohatgi, Pradeep K.

1993-01-01

Microstructural aspects of alloy solidification within the interstices of porous compacts of platelet-shaped single crystals of alpha-SiC, when the latter are infiltrated with a hot metal under pressure, have been described. Microstructural evidence is presented of selective reorientation of platelets and nonhomogeneous solute distribution under shear of pressurized melt, of constrained growth of primary solid within finite width zones, and of the modulation of coring due to microsegregation as a result of variations in the pore size of compacts.

Measurement of surface water runoff from plots of two different sizes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joel, Abraham; Messing, Ingmar; Seguel, Oscar; Casanova, Manuel

2002-05-01

Intensities and amounts of water infiltration and runoff on sloping land are governed by the rainfall pattern and soil hydraulic conductivity, as well as by the microtopography and soil surface conditions. These components are closely interrelated and occur simultaneously, and their particular contribution may change during a rainfall event, or their effects may vary at different field scales. The scale effect on the process of infiltration/runoff was studied under natural field and rainfall conditions for two plot sizes: small plots of 0·25 m2 and large plots of 50 m2. The measurements were carried out in the central region of Chile in a piedmont most recently used as natural pastureland. Three blocks, each having one large plot and five small plots, were established. Cumulative rainfall and runoff quantities were sampled every 5 min. Significant variations in runoff responses to rainfall rates were found for the two plot sizes. On average, large plots yielded only 40% of runoff quantities produced on small plots per unit area. This difference between plot sizes was observed even during periods of continuous runoff.

Analysis of Rainfall Infiltration Law in Unsaturated Soil Slope

PubMed Central

Zhang, Gui-rong; Qian, Ya-jun; Wang, Zhang-chun; Zhao, Bo

2014-01-01

In the study of unsaturated soil slope stability under rainfall infiltration, it is worth continuing to explore how much rainfall infiltrates into the slope in a rain process, and the amount of rainfall infiltrating into slope is the important factor influencing the stability. Therefore, rainfall infiltration capacity is an important issue of unsaturated seepage analysis for slope. On the basis of previous studies, rainfall infiltration law of unsaturated soil slope is analyzed. Considering the characteristics of slope and rainfall, the key factors affecting rainfall infiltration of slope, including hydraulic properties, water storage capacity (θ s - θ r), soil types, rainfall intensities, and antecedent and subsequent infiltration rates on unsaturated soil slope, are discussed by using theory analysis and numerical simulation technology. Based on critical factors changing, this paper presents three calculation models of rainfall infiltrability for unsaturated slope, including (1) infiltration model considering rainfall intensity; (2) effective rainfall model considering antecedent rainfall; (3) infiltration model considering comprehensive factors. Based on the technology of system response, the relationship of rainfall and infiltration is described, and the prototype of regression model of rainfall infiltration is given, in order to determine the amount of rain penetration during a rain process. PMID:24672332

Analysis of rainfall infiltration law in unsaturated soil slope.

PubMed

Zhang, Gui-rong; Qian, Ya-jun; Wang, Zhang-chun; Zhao, Bo

2014-01-01

In the study of unsaturated soil slope stability under rainfall infiltration, it is worth continuing to explore how much rainfall infiltrates into the slope in a rain process, and the amount of rainfall infiltrating into slope is the important factor influencing the stability. Therefore, rainfall infiltration capacity is an important issue of unsaturated seepage analysis for slope. On the basis of previous studies, rainfall infiltration law of unsaturated soil slope is analyzed. Considering the characteristics of slope and rainfall, the key factors affecting rainfall infiltration of slope, including hydraulic properties, water storage capacity (θs - θr), soil types, rainfall intensities, and antecedent and subsequent infiltration rates on unsaturated soil slope, are discussed by using theory analysis and numerical simulation technology. Based on critical factors changing, this paper presents three calculation models of rainfall infiltrability for unsaturated slope, including (1) infiltration model considering rainfall intensity; (2) effective rainfall model considering antecedent rainfall; (3) infiltration model considering comprehensive factors. Based on the technology of system response, the relationship of rainfall and infiltration is described, and the prototype of regression model of rainfall infiltration is given, in order to determine the amount of rain penetration during a rain process.

Electrical resistivity imaging study of near-surface infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampousis, Angelos

High resolution electrical resistivity images (ERI method) were obtained during vadose zone infiltration experiments on agricultural soils in cooperation with Cornell University's Agricultural Stewardship Program, Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Extension Education Center, Riverhead, New York [ as well as Cornell University's Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center (LIHREC) in Riverhead, New York]. One natural soil was also studied. Infiltration was monitored by means of image analysis of two-dimensional array resistivity generated by a Syscal Kid Switch resistivity system (Griffiths et al., 1990). The data was inverted with the computer program RES2DINV (Loke, 2004). The agricultural soils considered were Riverhead sandy loam (RdA), Haven loam (HaA), and Bridgehampton silt loam (BgA). The natural site was located in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. The soils there are classified as Schoharie silty clay loam. The electrical images of the three sites were compared against established soil properties, including particle size distribution, available water capacity, and soluble salts (from the literature), as well as against site-specific soil samples and penetrometer data, which were collected along with the geophysical measurements. This research evaluates the potential of acquiring high resolution, non-destructive measurements of infiltration in the uppermost 1.5 meter of the vadose zone. The results demonstrate that resistivity differences can detect infiltration in soils typical of the north-eastern United States. Temporal and spatial variations of soil water content in the upper 1.5 meters (relevant to agriculture) of the subsurface can be monitored successfully and non-destructively with ERI. The sensitivity of the method is higher in subsurface environments that demonstrate high overall apparent resistivity values (e.g. high sand content). Under conditions of increased soil heterogeneity, instead of the formation of a continuous water plume as occurred in the homogeneous agricultural soils, the location of the infiltrated water seems to be highly influenced by the soil heterogeneity, and the water front is scattered into discontinuous layers and travels in additional directions. The geophysical results during infiltration correlate well with soil compaction data. It follows that the ERI method can be used as a proxy for soil compaction and water content variations in agricultural applications. In a natural environment, ERI successfully maps the tree root zone of mature trees. Applications include continuous water content monitoring in high value cash crops, such as viticulture (precision agriculture).

Determination of degradation rates of organic substances in the unsaturated soil zone depending on the grain size fractions of various soil types

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fichtner, Thomas; Stefan, Catalin; Goersmeyer, Nora

2015-04-01

Rate and extent of the biological degradation of organic substances during transport through the unsaturated soil zone is decisively influenced by the chemical and physical properties of the pollutants such as water solubility, toxicity and molecular structure. Furthermore microbial degradation processes are also influenced by soil-specific properties. An important parameter is the soil grain size distribution on which the pore volume and the pore size depends. Changes lead to changes in air and water circulation as well as preferred flow paths. Transport capacity of water inclusive nutrients is lower in existing bad-drainable fine pores in soils with small grain size fractions than in well-drainable coarse pores in a soil with bigger grain size fractions. Because fine pores are saturated with water for a longer time than the coarse pores and oxygen diffusion in water is ten thousand times slower than in air, oxygen is replenished much slower in soils with small grain size fractions. As a result life and growth conditions of the microorganisms are negatively affected. This leads to less biological activity, restricted degradation/mineralization of pollutants or altered microbial processes. The aim of conducted laboratory column experiments was to study the correlation between the grain size fractions respectively pore sizes, the oxygen content and the biodegradation rate of infiltrated organic substances. Therefore two columns (active + sterile control) were filled with different grain size fractions (0,063-0,125 mm, 0,2-0,63 mm and 1-2 mm) of soils. The sterile soil was inoculated with a defined amount of a special bacteria culture (sphingobium yanoikuae). A solution with organic substances glucose, oxalic acid, sinaphylic alcohol and nutrients was infiltrated from the top in intervals. The degradation of organic substances was controlled by the measurement of dissolved organic carbon in the in- and outflow of the column. The control of different pore volumes respectively pore sizes in the soil samples occurred by air pycnometer measurement and determination of soil moisture characteristic by evaporation method according to Wind/Schindler. The present study results can be useful to find a correlation between various soil types with different grain size distributions and the suitability of these soils for example for the infiltration of treated wastewater in the context of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) measures.

Comparison of planted soil infiltration systems for treatment of log yard runoff.

PubMed

Hedmark, Asa; Scholz, Miklas; Aronsson, Par; Elowson, Torbjorn

2010-07-01

Treatment of log yard runoff is required to avoid contamination of receiving watercourses. The research aim was to assess if infiltration of log yard runoff through planted soil systems is successful and if different plant species affect the treatment performance at a field-scale experimental site in Sweden (2005 to 2007). Contaminated runoff from the log yard of a sawmill was infiltrated through soil planted with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gärtner (common alder), Salix schwerinii X viminalis (willow variety "Gudrun"), Lolium perenne (L.) (rye grass), and Phalaris arundinacea (L.) (reed canary grass). The study concluded that there were no treatment differences when comparing the four different plants with each other, and there also were no differences between the tree and the grass species. Furthermore, the infiltration treatment was effective in reducing total organic carbon (55%) and total phosphorus (45%) concentrations in the runoff, even when the loads on the infiltration system increased from year to year.

The Third American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Practice Advisory on Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity: Executive Summary 2017.

PubMed

Neal, Joseph M; Barrington, Michael J; Fettiplace, Michael R; Gitman, Marina; Memtsoudis, Stavros G; Mörwald, Eva E; Rubin, Daniel S; Weinberg, Guy

2018-02-01

The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's Third Practice Advisory on local anesthetic systemic toxicity is an interim update from its 2010 advisory. The advisory focuses on new information regarding the mechanisms of lipid resuscitation, updated frequency estimates, the preventative role of ultrasound guidance, changes to case presentation patterns, and limited information related to local infiltration anesthesia and liposomal bupivacaine. In addition to emerging information, the advisory updates recommendations pertaining to prevention, recognition, and treatment of local anesthetic systemic toxicity. WHAT'S NEW IN THIS UPDATE?: This interim update summarizes recent scientific findings that have enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms that lead to lipid emulsion reversal of LAST, including rapid partitioning, direct inotropy, and post-conditioning. Since the previous practice advisory, epidemiological data have emerged that suggest a lower frequency of LAST as reported by single institutions and some registries, nevertheless a considerable number of events still occur within the general community. Contemporary case reports suggest a trend toward delayed presentation, which may mirror the increased use of ultrasound guidance (fewer intravascular injections), local infiltration techniques (slower systemic uptake), and continuous local anesthetic infusions. Small patient size and sarcopenia are additional factors that increase potential risk for LAST. An increasing number of reported events occur outside of the traditional hospital setting and involve non-anesthesiologists.

Primary Systemic Amyloidosis and High Levels of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme: Two Case Reports

PubMed Central

Praena-Segovia, J.; Sanchez-Gastaldo, A.; Bernabeu-Wittel, M.; Ocete-Pérez, R.; Ávila-Polo, R.; Martino, M. L.

2013-01-01

Infiltrative heart diseases are caused by a heterogeneous group of disorders; amyloidosis and sarcoidosis are two frequent causes of myocardial infiltration, which differ in clinical and biological outcome and treatment issues. The presence of high levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in a patient with infiltrative heart disease may increase suspicion of sarcoidosis. Nevertheless, no mention about increased ACE levels in extracerebral primary systemic amyloidosis is available. We present two cases of primary systemic amyloidosis, which are cardiac involvement and elevated ACE levels. PMID:24826302

Seasonal Drivers of Dissolved Metal Transport During Infiltration of Road Runoff in an Urban Roadside Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mullins, A.; Bain, D.

2017-12-01

Infiltration-based green infrastructure (GI) is being increasingly applied in urban areas, systems characterized by substantial legacy contamination and complicated hydrology. However, it is not clear how the application of green infrastructure changes the geochemistry of urban roadside environments. Most current research on GI focuses on small sets of chemical parameters (e.g. road salt, nitrogen and phosphorous species) over relatively short time periods, limiting comprehensive understanding of geochemical function. This work measures changes in groundwater infiltration rate and dissolved metal concentrations in two infiltration trenches in Pittsburgh, PA to evaluate function and measure dissolved metal transport from the system over time. Two distinct geochemical regimes seem to be driven by seasonality: road de-icer exchange and microbial driven summer reducing conditions. Interactions between these geochemical regimes and variability in infiltration rate control the flux of different metals, varying with metal chemistry. These findings suggest the adoption of infiltration based green infrastructure will likely create complicated patterns of legacy contamination transport to downstream receptors.

Evaluating the effects of variable water chemistry on bacterial transport during infiltration.

PubMed

Zhang, Haibo; Nordin, Nahjan Amer; Olson, Mira S

2013-07-01

Bacterial infiltration through the subsurface has been studied experimentally under different conditions of interest and is dependent on a variety of physical, chemical and biological factors. However, most bacterial transport studies fail to adequately represent the complex processes occurring in natural systems. Bacteria are frequently detected in stormwater runoff, and may present risk of microbial contamination during stormwater recharge into groundwater. Mixing of stormwater runoff with groundwater during infiltration results in changes in local solution chemistry, which may lead to changes in both bacterial and collector surface properties and subsequent bacterial attachment rates. This study focuses on quantifying changes in bacterial transport behavior under variable solution chemistry, and on comparing the influences of chemical variability and physical variability on bacterial attachment rates. Bacterial attachment rate at the soil-water interface was predicted analytically using a combined rate equation, which varies temporally and spatially with respect to changes in solution chemistry. Two-phase Monte Carlo analysis was conducted and an overall input-output correlation coefficient was calculated to quantitatively describe the importance of physiochemical variation on the estimates of attachment rate. Among physical variables, soil particle size has the highest correlation coefficient, followed by porosity of the soil media, bacterial size and flow velocity. Among chemical variables, ionic strength has the highest correlation coefficient. A semi-reactive microbial transport model was developed within HP1 (HYDRUS1D-PHREEQC) and applied to column transport experiments with constant and variable solution chemistries. Bacterial attachment rates varied from 9.10×10(-3)min(-1) to 3.71×10(-3)min(-1) due to mixing of synthetic stormwater (SSW) with artificial groundwater (AGW), while bacterial attachment remained constant at 9.10×10(-3)min(-1) in a constant solution chemistry (AGW only). The model matched observed bacterial breakthrough curves well. Although limitations exist in the application of a semi-reactive microbial transport model, this method represents one step towards a more realistic model of bacterial transport in complex microbial-water-soil systems. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Combined geophysical methods for mapping infiltration pathways at the Aurora Water Aquifer recharge and recovery site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jasper, Cameron A.

Although aquifer recharge and recovery systems are a sustainable, decentralized, low cost, and low energy approach for the reclamation, treatment, and storage of post- treatment wastewater, they can suffer from poor infiltration rates and the development of a near-surface clogging layer within infiltration ponds. One such aquifer recharge and recovery system, the Aurora Water site in Colorado, U.S.A, functions at about 25% of its predicted capacity to recharge floodplain deposits by flooding infiltration ponds with post-treatment wastewater extracted from river bank aquifers along the South Platte River. The underwater self-potential method was developed to survey self-potential signals at the ground surface in a flooded infiltration pond for mapping infiltration pathways. A method for using heat as a groundwater tracer within the infiltration pond used an array of in situ high-resolution temperature sensing probes. Both relatively positive and negative underwater self-potential anomalies are consistent with observed recovery well pumping rates and specific discharge estimates from temperature data. Results from electrical resistivity tomography and electromagnetics surveys provide consistent electrical conductivity distributions associated with sediment textures. A lab method was developed for resistivity tests of near-surface sediment samples. Forward numerical modeling synthesizes the geophysical information to best match observed self- potential anomalies and provide permeability distributions, which is important for effective aquifer recharge and recovery system design, and optimization strategy development.

The relationship between components of tumour inflammatory cell infiltrate and clinicopathological factors and survival in patients with primary operable invasive ductal breast cancer

PubMed Central

Mohammed, Z MA; Going, J J; Edwards, J; Elsberger, B; Doughty, J C; McMillan, D C

2012-01-01

Background: The importance of the components of host local inflammatory response in determining outcome in primary operable ductal invasive breast cancer is not clear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between components of the tumour inflammatory cell infiltrate and standard clinicopathological factors including hormone status (oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2), Ki-67 and survival in patients with primary operable invasive ductal breast cancer. Methods: Tumour inflammatory cell infiltrate, hormone status (ER, PR and HER-2), Ki-67 and standard clinicopathological factors were determined using routine pathological and immuno-histochemical techniques in 468 patients. Results: The large majority (94%) of ductal tumours had evidence of inflammatory cell infiltrate. The general inflammatory cell infiltrate was positively associated with high grade (P<0.001), the absence of ER (P<0.001), the absence of PR (P<0.01), the presence of vascular invasion (P<0.05) and high lymphocytic infiltrate, plasma cell infiltrate, other inflammatory cell infiltrate and macrophage infiltrate (all P<0.001). The median follow-up of the survivors was 165 months. During this period, 93 patients died of their cancer. On univariate analysis, stratified for ER status, tumour size (P<0.01), lymph node involvement (P<0.001), tumour plasma cell infiltrate (P<0.001), other inflammatory cell infiltrate (P<0.05) and treatment (P<0.05) were associated with poorer cancer-specific survival whereas lymphocyte infiltrate (P<0.001) was associated with improved cancer-specific survival. On multivariate analysis, stratified for ER status, lymph node involvement (P<0.05) was independently associated with poorer cancer-specific survival whereas increased tumour lymphocyte infiltrate (P<0.001) was independently associated with improved cancer-specific survival. Conclusion: The results of this study show that, using routine histology, the general inflammatory cell infiltrate was a common feature and was positively associated with high grade, the absence of ER, the absence of PR, the presence of vascular invasion and high-grade infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, other inflammatory cells and macrophages. Also, that within a mature cohort of patients, a high lymphocytic infiltrate was associated with improved survival, independent of clinicopathological characteristics including ER status, in primary operable ductal invasive breast cancer. These results rationalise previous work and provide a sound basis for future studies in this important area of breast cancer research. PMID:22878371

Performance and Structural Evolution of Nano-Scale Infiltrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Call, Ann Virginia

Nano-structured mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) materials have garnered intense interest in electrode development for solid oxide fuel cells due to their high surface areas which allow for effective catalytic activity and low polarization resistances. In particular, composite solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cathodes consisting of ionic conducting scaffolds infiltrated with MIEC nanoparticles have exhibited some of the lowest reported polarization resistances. In order for cells utilizing nanostructured moRPhologies to be viable for commercial implementation, more information on their initial performance and long term stability is necessary. In this study, symmetric cell cathodes were prepared via wet infiltration of Sr0.5Sm 0.5CoO3 (SSC) nano-particles via a nitrate process into porous Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) scaffolds to be used as a model system to investigate performance and structural evolution. Detailed analysis of the cells and cathodes was carried out using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Initial polarization resistances (RP) as low as 0.11 O cm2 at 600ºC were obtained for these SSC-GDC cathodes, making them an ideal candidate for studying high performance nano-structured electrodes. The present results show that the infiltrated cathode microstructure has a direct impact on the initial performance of the cell. Small initial particle sizes and high infiltration loadings (up to 30 vol% SSC) improved initial RP. A simple microstructure-based electrochemical model successfully explained these trends in RP. Further understanding of electrode performance was gleaned from fitting EIS data gathered under varying temperatures and oxygen partial pressures to equivalent circuit models. Both RQ and Gerischer impedance elements provided good fits to the main response in the EIS data, which was associated with the combination of oxygen surface exchange and oxygen diffusion in the electrode. A gas diffusion response was also observed at relatively low pO2. The cells were subjected to life testing at temperatures between 650°C and 800°C for as long as 1500 h. EIS measurements, carried out periodically during the life tests, were done in air at 600°C, a typical expected intermediate-temperature SOFC operating temperature. These were accelerated tests because the aging temperatures > 600ºC should accelerate most degradation processes such as nano-particle coarsening. Long-term RP versus time data was fitted to a combined surface resistance and coarsening kinetics model, and a t0.25 power law coarsening model was found to provide the best fits to the data, suggesting that surface diffusion is the dominant mass transport pathway in SSC-GDC infiltrated cathodes. That is, cathode degradation was due primarily to the coarsening-induced decrease in active SSC surface area. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) performed after electrochemical life testing confirmed the extent of coarsening of the SSC nanoparticles. The model is used to make predictions regarding long-term stability of infiltrated SSC electrodes, and is also compared with prior results on a similar perovskite MIEC electrode, LSCF. An important new finding is that increasing infiltration loadings yields a marked decrease in the long term degradation rate. Predictions based on accelerated life tests found the lowest possible operating temperature while achieving a degradation rate of 0.5% per kh is 595°C, corresponding to an initial particle size of 40 nm.

Multivariate Analyses of Rotator Cuff Pathologies in Shoulder Disability

PubMed Central

Henseler, Jan F.; Raz, Yotam; Nagels, Jochem; van Zwet, Erik W.; Raz, Vered; Nelissen, Rob G. H. H.

2015-01-01

Background Disability of the shoulder joint is often caused by a tear in the rotator cuff (RC) muscles. Four RC muscles coordinate shoulder movement and stability, among them the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle which are predominantly torn. The contribution of each RC muscle to tear pathology is not fully understood. We hypothesized that muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration, features of RC muscle degeneration, are predictive of superior humeral head translation and shoulder functional disability. Methods Shoulder features, including RC muscle surface area and fatty infiltration, superior humeral translation and RC tear size were obtained from a consecutive series of Magnetic Resonance Imaging with arthrography (MRA). We investigated patients with superior (supraspinatus, n = 39) and posterosuperior (supraspinatus and infraspinatus, n = 30) RC tears, and patients with an intact RC (n = 52) as controls. The individual or combinatorial contribution of RC measures to superior humeral translation, as a sign of RC dysfunction, was investigated with univariate or multivariate models, respectively. Results Using the univariate model the infraspinatus surface area and fatty infiltration in both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus had a significant contribution to RC dysfunction. With the multivariate model, however, the infraspinatus surface area only affected superior humeral translation (p<0.001) and discriminated between superior and posterosuperior tears. In contrast neither tear size nor fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus contributed to superior humeral translation. Conclusion Our study reveals that infraspinatus atrophy has the strongest contribution to RC tear pathologies. This suggests a pivotal role for the infraspinatus in preventing shoulder disability. PMID:25710703

Comparison of sprinkler droplet size and velocity measurements using a laser precipitation meter and photographic method

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Kinetic energy of water droplets has a substantial effect on development of a soil surface seal and infiltration rate of bare soil. Methods for measuring sprinkler droplet size and velocity needed to calculate droplet kinetic energy have been developed and tested over the past 50 years, each with ad...

Migration and transformation of different phosphorus forms in rainfall runoff in bioretention system.

PubMed

Song, Yujia; Song, Shoufa

2018-06-04

Artificial bioretention system consisting of Ophiopogon japonicus infiltration medium was used to simulate an infiltration experiment of rainfall runoff. Continuous extraction method was used to detect contents of inorganic phosphorus (P) under exchangeable state (Ex-P) and aluminium phosphate (Al-P) and iron phosphate (Fe-P) at different depths (0, 5, 15 and 35 cm) of soil infiltration medium in bioretention system. Effluent total P (TP) concentration of the system was also monitored. Results indicated that the adsorption of inorganic P, Al-P and Fe-P by soil infiltration medium was implemented layer by layer from top to bottom and gradually weakened. Moreover, Ex-P was gradually transformed into Al-P and Fe-P, whereas Al-P was gradually transformed into Fe-P; thus, Ex-P content reduced layer by layer, whereas Al-P and Fe-P gradually accumulated. The TP removal rate in runoff rainwater by the system was more than 90%, where the TP that was not used by plants was under dynamic equilibrium in water-soil-root system/biological system.

40 CFR 267.196 - What are the required devices for secondary containment and what are their design, operating and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. The additional...

40 CFR 267.196 - What are the required devices for secondary containment and what are their design, operating and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. The additional...

40 CFR 267.196 - What are the required devices for secondary containment and what are their design, operating and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. The additional...

40 CFR 267.196 - What are the required devices for secondary containment and what are their design, operating and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. The additional...

40 CFR 267.196 - What are the required devices for secondary containment and what are their design, operating and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... operated to prevent run-on or infiltration of precipitation into the secondary containment system unless the collection system has sufficient excess capacity to contain run-on or infiltration. The additional...

40 CFR 35.927-2 - Sewer system evaluation survey.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... FEDERAL ASSISTANCE STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Grants for Construction of Treatment Works-Clean Water Act... transportation and treatment for each defined source of infiltration/inflow. (b) A report shall summarize the... sewer system to eliminate all defined excessive infiltration/inflow. ...

Hyporheic zone as a bioreactor: sediment heterogeneity influencing biogeochemical processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perujo, Nuria; Romani, Anna M.; Sanchez-Vila, Xavier

2017-04-01

Mediterranean fluvial systems are characterized by frequent periods of low flow or even drought. During low flow periods, water from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is proportionally large in fluvial systems. River water might be vertically transported through the hyporheic zone, and then porous medium acts as a complementary treatment system since, as water infiltrates, a suite of biogeochemical processes occurs. Subsurface sediment heterogeneity plays an important role since it influences the interstitial fluxes of the medium and drives biomass growing, determining biogeochemical reactions. In this study, WWTP water was continuously infiltrated for 3 months through two porous medium tanks: one consisting of 40 cm of fine sediment (homogeneous); and another comprised of two layers of different grain size sediments (heterogeneous), 20 cm of coarse sediment in the upper part and 20 cm of fine one in the bottom. Several hydrological, physicochemical and biological parameters were measured periodically (weekly at the start of the experiment and biweekly at the end). Analysed parameters include dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and oxygen all measured at the surface, and at 5, 20 and 40 cm depth. Variations in hydraulic conductivity with time were evaluated. Sediment samples were also analysed at three depths (surface, 20 and 40 cm) to determine bacterial density, chlorophyll content, extracellular polymeric substances, and biofilm function (extracellular enzyme activities and carbon substrate utilization profiles). Preliminary results suggest hydraulic conductivity to be the main driver of the differences in the biogeochemical processes occurring in the subsurface. At the heterogeneous tank, a low nutrient reduction throughout the whole medium is measured. In this medium, high hydraulic conductivity allows for a large amount of infiltrating water, but with a small residence time. Since some biological processes are largely time-dependent, small water residence time results in low nutrient reduction. Moreover, high nitrification and low ammonium concentration in the interface of the two grain-size layers are measured, probably related to high dissolved oxygen concentration at the coarse-fine sediment interface, further promoting accumulation of bacteria and algae. In contrast, the homogeneous tank shows low dissolved oxygen values and high denitrification in depth which could be related to lower overall hydraulic conductivity, as compared to the heterogeneous tank. The preliminary analysis of our results indicates a key role of hydraulic conductivity on biogeochemical processes in the porous medium but, at the same time that it is strongly interacting with sediment grain-size distribution and the development of biofilm. The final scope of this study is to know the interactions between physicochemical and biological components in sediments in order to understand in detail the biogeochemical processes occurring.

Scenario Studies on Effects of Soil Infiltration Rates, Land Slope, and Furrow Irrigation Characteristics on Furrow Irrigation-Induced Erosion.

PubMed

Dibal, Jibrin M; Ramalan, A A; Mudiare, O J; Igbadun, H E

2014-01-01

Furrow irrigation proceeds under several soil-water-furrow hydraulics interaction dynamics. The soil erosion consequences from such interactions in furrow irrigation in Samaru had remained uncertain. A furrow irrigation-induced erosion (FIIE) model was used to simulate the potential severity of soil erosion in irrigated furrows due to interactive effects of infiltration rates, land slope, and some furrow irrigation characteristics under different scenarios. The furrow irrigation characteristics considered were furrow lengths, widths, and stream sizes. The model itself was developed using the dimensional analysis approach. The scenarios studied were the interactive effects of furrow lengths, furrow widths, and slopes steepness; infiltration rates and furrow lengths; and stream sizes, furrow lengths, and slopes steepness on potential furrow irrigation-induced erosion, respectively. The severity of FIIE was found to relate somewhat linearly with slope and stream size, and inversely with furrow lengths and furrow width. The worst soil erosion (378.05 t/ha/yr) was found as a result of the interactive effects of 0.65 m furrow width, 50 m furrow length, and 0.25% slope steepness; and the least soil erosion (0.013 t/ha/yr) was induced by the combined effects of 0.5 l/s, 200 m furrow length, and 0.05% slope steepness. Evidently considering longer furrows in furrow irrigation designs would be a better alternative of averting excessive FIIE.

Voriconazole for the treatment of refractory Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis

PubMed Central

Mehta, Hitendra B; Garg, Prashant; Kodial, Harish

2008-01-01

We report a case of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis in a 53-year-old, well-controlled diabetic female who did not respond to standard antifungal treatment. She was started on topical natamycin eye drops, but the infiltrate continued to progress. Topical amphotericin B and systemic ketoconazole was added, however, there was no response and the infiltrate increased further. She was then switched to topical and systemic voriconazole. Steady resolution of the infiltrate was noted within 2 weeks of therapy. PMID:18417831

[Soil infiltration characteristics under main vegetation types in Anji County of Zhejiang Province].

PubMed

Liu, Dao-Ping; Chen, San-Xiong; Zhang, Jin-Chi; Xie, Li; Jiang, Jiang

2007-03-01

The study on the soil infiltration under different main vegetation types in Anji County of Zhejiang Province showed that the characteristics of soil infiltration differed significantly with land use type, and the test eight vegetation types could be classified into four groups, based on soil infiltration capability. The first group, deciduous broadleaved forest, had the strongest soil infiltration capability, and the second group with a stronger soil infiltration capability was composed of grass, pine forest, shrub community and tea bush. Bamboo and evergreen broadleaved forest were classified into the third group with a relatively strong soil infiltration capability, while bare land belonged to the fourth group because of the bad soil structure and poorest soil infiltration capability. The comprehensive parameters of soil infiltration (alpha) and root (beta) were obtained by principal component analysis, and the regression model of alpha and beta could be described as alpha = 0. 1708ebeta -0. 3122. Soil infiltration capability was greatly affected by soil physical and chemical characteristics and root system. Fine roots (< or = 1 mm in diameter) played effective roles on the improvement of soil physical and chemical properties, and the increase of soil infiltration capability was closely related to the amount of the fine roots.

Endocytoscopic findings of lymphomas of the stomach.

PubMed

Isomoto, Hajime; Matsushima, Kayoko; Hayashi, Tomayoshi; Imaizumi, Yoshitaka; Shiota, Junya; Ishii, Hiroyuki; Minami, Hitomi; Ohnita, Ken; Takeshima, Fuminao; Shikuwa, Saburo; Miyazaki, Yasushi; Nakao, Kazuhiko

2013-12-26

The gastric lesions of various lymphomas were observed at the cellular level using endocytoscopy. Endocytoscopy and magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) were performed in 17 patients with lymphomas of the stomach. The lesions consisted of 7 with low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), 5 with gastric involvement by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 4 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 1 with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. On conventional endoscopy, 9 were classified as having superficial spreading type, 7 were mass-forming type, and 1 was diffuse infiltrating type. Anti-H. pylori treatment was given in the 7 MALT lymphoma cases. NBI magnification endoscopy invariably showed dilatation or ballooning and destruction of gastric pits and elongation and distortion in microvessels. Endocytoscopy showed mucosal aggregation of interstitial cellular elements in almost all gastric lymphoma cases. The nuclear diversity in size and configuration was exclusively seen in gastric lymphomas other than MALT lymphoma, whereas the nuclei of MALT lymphoma cells were regular and small to moderate in size. Inter-glandular infiltration by lymphomatous cell elements was frequently observed in MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, but it was uncommon in peripheral gastric T-cell malignancies. Endocytoscopy could identify the disease-specific histology, the lymphoepithelial origin, as inter-glandular infiltration of cellular components in MALT lymphoma and the possibly related DLBCL cases. Complete regression (CR) was observed in 2 of the 7 MALT lymphoma patients. In the 2 patients with CR who underwent repeat endocytoscopy, the ultra-high magnification abnormalities returned to normal, while they were unchanged in those without tumor regression. On endocytoscopy, intra-glandular aggregation of cellular components was invariably identified in lymphomas of the stomach. Nuclear regularity in size and configuration may indicate the cytological grade, differentiating the indolent low-grade from aggressive lymphoproliferative diseases. The inter-glandular infiltration seen on endocytoscopy can indicate the lymphoepithelial lesions seen in MALT lymphoma and related DLBCL. Endocytoscopy would be applicable for virtual histopathological diagnosis of different lymphoproliferative disorders and their clinical assessment during ongoing endoscopy.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of different techniques for intraoperative infiltration of antibiotics into alloplastic implants for use in facial reconstruction.

PubMed

Keefe, Morgan S; Keefe, Michael A

2009-01-01

Reconstruction in the head and neck can be difficult owing to the size of the defect or characteristics of the tissue that needs to be replaced. Facial wounds or reconstruction sites can be subject to contamination, thereby risking infection of any implanted material even under ideal circumstances. Particular areas of concern are sites where minimizing the bacterial contamination prior to placing an implant is difficult (eg, the oral cavity and internal nose). Reconstruction involves the facial subcutaneous soft tissue and/or bone, and the ideal implant provides support and natural feel, as well as a low risk of infection. The biocompatibility of alloplastic implants depends on the tissue inertness of the implant and the porosity, allowing connective tissue ingrowth, which in turn decreases the susceptibility to infection. Scalafani et al demonstrated that alloplastic implants contaminated prior to fibrovascular ingrowth had a much higher incidence of infection and rejection. To examine the effectiveness of several techniques for infiltrating antibiotics into alloplastic implants of different porosity using 2 commonly used alloplastic implants, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE, or GORE-TEX) and porous high-density polyethylene (Medpor). Using an in vitro bacterial growth inhibition model, we found that suction infiltration of the implant with antibiotics was the most effective technique, with a statistically significant advantage over other techniques used. The advantages of the suction impregnation were seen to be most effective using alloplasts with a smaller pore size (20-30 microm) (P < .001), but there was a statistically significant difference even with implants with a larger pore size (150-200 microm) (P < .001). Suction infiltration of antibiotics into porous implants seems to be the most effective method identified using an in vitro testing protocol. Further experiments will be needed to confirm the effectiveness in reducing the perioperative risk of infection in vivo.

Soil water infiltration affected by topsoil thickness in row crop and switchgrass production systems

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Conversion of annual grain crop systems to biofuel production systems can restore soil hydrologic function; however, information on these effects is limited. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of topsoil thickness on water infiltration in claypan soils for grain and swi...

Assessment of Clogging Dynamics in Permeable Pavement Systems with Time Domain Reflectometers

EPA Science Inventory

Infiltration is a primary functional mechanism in green infrastructure stormwater controls. This study used time domain reflectometers (TDRs) to measure spatial infiltration and assess clogging dynamics of permeable pavement systems in Edison, NJ, and Louisville, KY. In 2009, t...

Nimesulide, a COX-2 inhibitor, does not reduce lesion size or number in a nude mouse model of endometriosis.

PubMed

Hull, M L; Prentice, A; Wang, D Y; Butt, R P; Phillips, S C; Smith, S K; Charnock-Jones, D S

2005-02-01

Women with endometriosis have elevated levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in peritoneal macrophages and endometriotic tissue. Inhibition of COX-2 has been shown to reduce inflammation, angiogenesis and cellular proliferation. It may also downregulate aromatase activity in ectopic endometrial lesions. Ectopic endometrial establishment and growth are therefore likely to be suppressed in the presence of COX-2 inhibitors. We hypothesized that COX-2 inhibition would reduce the size and number of ectopic human endometrial lesions in a nude mouse model of endometriosis. The selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, was administered to estrogen-supplemented nude mice implanted with human endometrial tissue. Ten days after implantation, the number and size of ectopic endometrial lesions were evaluated and compared with lesions from a control group. Immunohistochemical assessment of vascular development and macrophage and myofibroblast infiltration in control and treated lesions was performed. There was no difference in the number or size of ectopic endometrial lesions in control and nimesulide-treated nude mice. Nimesulide did not induce a visually identifiable difference in blood vessel development or macrophage or myofibroblast infiltration in nude mouse explants. The hypothesized biological properties of COX-2 inhibition did not influence lesion number or size in the nude mouse model of endometriosis.

40 CFR 258.60 - Closure criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... operators of all MSWLF units must install a final cover system that is designed to minimize infiltration and... greater than 1×10−5 cm/sec, whichever is less, and (2) Minimize infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum 18-inches of earthen material, and (3...

40 CFR 258.60 - Closure criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... operators of all MSWLF units must install a final cover system that is designed to minimize infiltration and... greater than 1×10−5 cm/sec, whichever is less, and (2) Minimize infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum 18-inches of earthen material, and (3...

40 CFR 258.60 - Closure criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... operators of all MSWLF units must install a final cover system that is designed to minimize infiltration and... greater than 1×10−5 cm/sec, whichever is less, and (2) Minimize infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum 18-inches of earthen material, and (3...

40 CFR 258.60 - Closure criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... of all MSWLF units must install a final cover system that is designed to minimize infiltration and... greater than 1×10−5 cm/sec, whichever is less, and (2) Minimize infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum 18-inches of earthen material, and (3...

40 CFR 258.60 - Closure criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... operators of all MSWLF units must install a final cover system that is designed to minimize infiltration and... greater than 1×10−5 cm/sec, whichever is less, and (2) Minimize infiltration through the closed MSWLF by the use of an infiltration layer that contains a minimum 18-inches of earthen material, and (3...

Application of polyacrylamide (PAM) through lay-flat polyethylene 1 tubing: effects on infiltration, erosion, N and P transport, and corn yield

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Polyacrylamides (PAMs), when applied as a soil amendment, purportedly improve soil infiltration, decrease erosion, and reduce off-site agrochemical transport. The effect of PAM on infiltration, erosion, agrochemical transport, and crop yield when applied in-furrow to Mid-South production systems has...

Surgical Site Infiltration for Abdominal Surgery: A Novel Neuroanatomical-based Approach

PubMed Central

Janis, Jeffrey E.; Haas, Eric M.; Ramshaw, Bruce J.; Nihira, Mikio A.; Dunkin, Brian J.

2016-01-01

Background: Provision of optimal postoperative analgesia should facilitate postoperative ambulation and rehabilitation. An optimal multimodal analgesia technique would include the use of nonopioid analgesics, including local/regional analgesic techniques such as surgical site local anesthetic infiltration. This article presents a novel approach to surgical site infiltration techniques for abdominal surgery based upon neuroanatomy. Methods: Literature searches were conducted for studies reporting the neuroanatomical sources of pain after abdominal surgery. Also, studies identified by preceding search were reviewed for relevant publications and manually retrieved. Results: Based on neuroanatomy, an optimal surgical site infiltration technique would consist of systematic, extensive, meticulous administration of local anesthetic into the peritoneum (or preperitoneum), subfascial, and subdermal tissue planes. The volume of local anesthetic would depend on the size of the incision such that 1 to 1.5 mL is injected every 1 to 2 cm of surgical incision per layer. It is best to infiltrate with a 22-gauge, 1.5-inch needle. The needle is inserted approximately 0.5 to 1 cm into the tissue plane, and local anesthetic solution is injected while slowly withdrawing the needle, which should reduce the risk of intravascular injection. Conclusions: Meticulous, systematic, and extensive surgical site local anesthetic infiltration in the various tissue planes including the peritoneal, musculofascial, and subdermal tissues, where pain foci originate, provides excellent postoperative pain relief. This approach should be combined with use of other nonopioid analgesics with opioids reserved for rescue. Further well-designed studies are necessary to assess the analgesic efficacy of the proposed infiltration technique. PMID:28293525

Comparison of drop size and velocity measurements by a laser precipitation meter and low-speed photography for an agriculture sprinkler

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Kinetic energy of water droplets has a substantial effect on development of a soil surface seal and infiltration rate of bare soil. Methods for measuring sprinkler droplet size and velocity needed to calculate droplet kinetic energy have been developed and tested over the past 50 years, each with ad...

Anomalous behaviors during infiltration into heterogeneous porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aarão Reis, F. D. A.; Bolster, D.; Voller, V. R.

2018-03-01

Flow and transport in heterogeneous porous media often exhibit anomalous behavior. A physical analog example is the uni-directional infiltration of a viscous liquid into a horizontal oriented Hele-Shaw cell containing through thickness flow obstacles; a system designed to mimic a gravel/sand medium with impervious inclusions. When there are no obstacles present or the obstacles form a multi-repeating pattern, the change of the length of infiltration F with time t tends to follow a Fickian like scaling, F ∼t1/2 . In the presence of obstacle fields laid out as Sierpinski carpet fractals, infiltration is anomalous, i.e., F ∼ tn, n ≠ 1/2. Here, we study infiltration into such Hele-Shaw cells. First we investigate infiltration into a square cell containing one fractal carpet and make the observation that it is possible to generate both sub (n < 1/2) and super (n > 1/2) diffusive behaviors within identical heterogeneity configurations. We show that this can be explained in terms of a scaling analysis developed from results of random-walk simulations in fractal obstacles; a result indicating that the nature of the domain boundary controls the exponent n of the resulting anomalous transport. Further, we investigate infiltration into a rectangular cell containing several repeats of a given Sierpinski carpet. At very early times, before the liquid encounters any obstacles, the infiltration is Fickian. When the liquid encounters the first (smallest scale) obstacle the infiltration sharply transitions to sub-diffusive. Subsequently, around the time where the liquid has sampled all of the heterogeneity length scales in the system, there is a rapid transition back to Fickian behavior. An explanation for this second transition is obtained by developing a simplified infiltration model based on the definition of a representative averaged hydraulic conductivity.

The use of One-Dimensional Laboratory Experiments to Assess Hydraulic Processes in Wastewater Soil Absorption Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huntzinger, D. N.; McCray, J. E.; Siegrist, R.; Lowe, K.; VanCuyk, S.

2001-05-01

Sixteen, one-dimensional column lysimeters have been developed to evaluate the influence of loading regime and infiltrative surface character on hydraulic performance in wastewater soil absorption systems. A duplicate design was utilized to evaluate two infiltrative surface conditions (gravel-free vs. gravel-laden) under four hydraulic loading regimes representative of possible field conditions. By loading the columns at rates of 25 to 200 cm/day, the 17 weeks of column operation actually reflect up to approximately 13 yrs of field operation (at 5 cm/day). Therefore, the cumulative mass throughput and infiltrative rate loss for each loading regime can be examined to determine the viability of accelerated loading as a means to compress the time scale of observation, while still producing meaningfully results for the field scale. During operation, the columns were loaded with septic tank effluent at a prescribed rate and routinely monitoring for applied effluent composition, infiltration rate, time-dependant soil water content, water volume throughput, and percolate composition. Bromide tracer tests were completed prior to system startup and at weeks 2, 6, and 17 of system operation. Hydraulic characterization of the columns is based on measurements of the hydraulic loading rate, volumetric throughput, soil water content, and bromide breakthrough curves. Incipient ponding of wastewater developed during the 1st week of operation for columns loaded at the highest hydraulic rate (loading regimes 1 and 2), and during the 3rd and 6th week of operation for loading regimes 3 and 4, respectfully. The bromide breakthrough curves exhibit later breakthrough and tailing as system life increases, indicating the development of spatially variability in hydraulic conductivity within the column and the development of a clogging zone at the infiltrative surface. Throughput is assessed for each loading regime to determine the infiltration rate loss versus days of operation. Loading regimes 1 and 2 approach a comparable long-term throughput rate less than 20 cm/day, while loading regimes 3 and 4 reach a long-term throughput rate of less than 10 cm/day. These one-dimensional columns allow for the analysis of infiltrative rate loss and hydraulic behavior as a result of infiltrative surface character and loading regime.

Smart Fluids in Hydrology: Use of Non-Newtonian Fluids for Pore Structure Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abou Najm, M. R.; Atallah, N. M.; Selker, J. S.; Roques, C.; Stewart, R. D.; Rupp, D. E.; Saad, G.; El-Fadel, M.

2015-12-01

Classic porous media characterization relies on typical infiltration experiments with Newtonian fluids (i.e., water) to estimate hydraulic conductivity. However, such experiments are generally not able to discern important characteristics such as pore size distribution or pore structure. We show that introducing non-Newtonian fluids provides additional unique flow signatures that can be used for improved pore structure characterization while still representing the functional hydraulic behavior of real porous media. We present a new method for experimentally estimating the pore structure of porous media using a combination of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The proposed method transforms results of N infiltration experiments using water and N-1 non-Newtonian solutions into a system of equations that yields N representative radii (Ri) and their corresponding percent contribution to flow (wi). This method allows for estimating the soil retention curve using only saturated experiments. Experimental and numerical validation comparing the functional flow behavior of different soils to their modeled flow with N representative radii revealed the ability of the proposed method to represent the water retention and infiltration behavior of real soils. The experimental results showed the ability of such fluids to outsmart Newtonian fluids and infer pore size distribution and unsaturated behavior using simple saturated experiments. Specifically, we demonstrate using synthetic porous media that the use of different non-Newtonian fluids enables the definition of the radii and corresponding percent contribution to flow of multiple representative pores, thus improving the ability of pore-scale models to mimic the functional behavior of real porous media in terms of flow and porosity. The results advance the knowledge towards conceptualizing the complexity of porous media and can potentially impact applications in fields like irrigation efficiencies, vadose zone hydrology, soil-root-plant continuum, carbon sequestration into geologic formations, soil remediation, petroleum reservoir engineering, oil exploration and groundwater modeling.

Comparison of a New Auto-controlled Injection System with Traditional Syringe for Mandibular Infiltrations in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Deepak, Vemula; Challa, Ramasubba Reddy; Kamatham, Rekhalakshmi; Nuvvula, Sivakumar

2017-01-01

Background: Pain in the dental operatory can have a profound effect on the behavior of children. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pain perception while administering local infiltration, in children undergoing dental extractions, using a new auto-controlled injection system. Materials and Methods: Children in the age range of 6–10 years with teeth indicated for extraction were recruited and allocated to either Group I, computer-controlled injection system (auto system with special cartridge and compatible disposable 30-gauge, 10 mm needles), or Group II, traditional system (30-gauge, 10 mm needle and disposable traditional syringe). Local infiltration was administered and extraction performed after 3 min. The time of administration (TOA) of infiltrate was noted whereas anxiety and pain in both groups were assessed using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Faces Scale simplified (MCDAS(f)), pulse rate, Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), and Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Scale. Results: The TOA was high in computer group, compared to the traditional system (P < 0.001***); however, anxiety and pain were significantly less in computer group as reported in MCDAS(f), pulse rate, FPS-R, and FLACC (P < 0.001***). Conclusions: Computer system created a positive and comfortable experience for the child, as well as the practitioner. The possibility of using buccal infiltration instead of inferior alveolar nerve block in children below 10 years was also demonstrated. PMID:28663636

[Characterizing composition and transformation of dissolved organic matter in subsurface wastewater infiltration system].

PubMed

Wang, Li-Jun; Liu, Yu-Zhong; Zhang, Lie-Yu; Xi, Bei-Dou; Xia, Xun-Feng; Liu, Ya-Ru

2013-08-01

In the present study, the soil column with radius of 30 cm and height of 200 cm was used to simulate a subsurface wastewater infiltration system. Under the hydraulic loading of 4 cm x d(-1), composition and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different depths were analyzed in a subsurface wastewater infiltration system for treatment of septic tank effluent using three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) with regional integration analysis (FRI). The results indicate that: (1) from different depth, the composition of DOM was also different; influent with the depth of 0.5 m was mainly composed of protein-like substances, and that at other depths was mainly composed of humic- and fulvic-like substances. (2) DOM stability gradually increased and part of the nonbiodegradable organic matter can be removed during organic pollutants degradation process. (3) Not only the organic pollutants concentration was reduced effectively, but also the stability of the DOM improved in subsurface wastewater infiltration system.

A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing of Ceramic Composites. Part III; Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Ceramic Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halbig, Michael C.; Grady, Joseph E.; Singh, Mrityunjay; Ramsey, Jack; Patterson, Clark; Santelle, Tom

2015-01-01

This publication is the third part of a three part report of the project entitled "A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing" funded by NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI). The objective of this project was to conduct additive manufacturing to produce ceramic matrix composite materials and aircraft engine components by the binder jet process. Different SiC powders with median sizes ranging from 9.3 to 53.0 microns were investigated solely and in powder blends in order to maximize powder packing. Various infiltration approaches were investigated to include polycarbosilane (SMP-10), phenolic, and liquid silicon. Single infiltrations of SMP-10 and phenolic only slightly filled in the interior. When the SMP-10 was loaded with sub-micron sized SiC powders, the infiltrant gave a much better result of filling in the interior. Silicon carbide fibers were added to the powder bed to make ceramic matrix composite materials. Microscopy showed that the fibers were well distributed with no preferred orientation on the horizontal plane and fibers in the vertical plane were at angles as much as 45deg. Secondary infiltration steps were necessary to further densify the material. Two to three extra infiltration steps of SMP-10 increased the density by 0.20 to 0.55 g/cc. However, the highest densities achieved were 2.10 to 2.15 g/cc. Mechanical tests consisting of 4 point bend tests were conducted. Samples from the two CMC panels had higher strengths and strains to failure than the samples from the two nonfiber reinforced panels. The highest strengths were from Set N with 65 vol% fiber loading which had an average strength of 66 MPa. Analysis of the fracture surfaces did not reveal pullout of the reinforcing fibers. Blunt fiber failure suggested that there was not composite behavior. The binder jet additive manufacturing method was used to also demonstrate the fabrication of turbine engine vane components of two different designs and sizes. The binder jet method has benefits over the conventional manufacturing of CMCs in that prototype and production parts can be fabricated quickly and economically with no tooling and extensive hand layup.

Groundwater dynamics in a two-dimensional aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jules, Valentin; Devauchelle, Olivier; Lajeunesse, Eric

2017-11-01

During a rain event, water infiltrates into the ground where it flows slowly towards a river. The time scale and the geometry of this flow control the chemical composition and the discharge of the river. We use a tank filled with glass beads to simulate this process in a simplified laboratory experiment. A sprinkler pipe generates rain, which infiltrates into the porous material. Groundwater exits this laboratory aquifer through a side of the tank. Guérin et al. (2014) investigated the case of a quasi-horizontal flow. In nature, however, groundwater often follows non-horizontal flowlines. To create a vertical flow, we place the outlet of our experiment high above its bottom. We find that, during rainfall, the discharge Q increases as the rainfall rate R times the square root of time t (Q Rt 1 / 2). This laboratory aquifer thus responds linearly to the forcing. However, long after the rain has stopped, the discharge decreases as the inverse square of time (Q t-2), although linear systems of finite size typically relax exponentially. We investigate this surprising behavior using a combination of complex analysis and numerical methods.

Formation of a Crack-Free, Hybrid Skin Layer with Tunable Surface Topography and Improved Gas Permeation Selectivity on Elastomers Using Gel–Liquid Infiltration Polymerization

DOE PAGES

Wang, Mengyuan; Gorham, Justin M.; Killgore, Jason P.; ...

2017-07-31

Surface modifications of elastomers and gels are crucial for emerging applications such as soft robotics and flexible electronics, in large part because they provide a platform to control wettability, adhesion, and permeability. Current surface modification methods via ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) and/or O2 plasma, atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasmas deposition, and chemical treatment impart a dense polymer or inorganic layer on the surface that is brittle and easy to fracture at low strain levels. This paper presents a new method, based on gel–liquid infiltration polymerization, to form hybrid skin layers atop elastomers. The method is unique in that it allows for controlmore » of the skin layer topography, with tunable feature sizes and aspect ratios as high as 1.8 without fracture. Unlike previous techniques, the skin layer formed here dramatically improves the barrier properties of the elastomer, while preserving skin layer flexibility. Furthermore, the method is versatile and likely applicable to most interfacial polymerization systems and network polymers on flat and patterned surfaces.« less

Formation of a Crack-Free, Hybrid Skin Layer with Tunable Surface Topography and Improved Gas Permeation Selectivity on Elastomers Using Gel–Liquid Infiltration Polymerization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Mengyuan; Gorham, Justin M.; Killgore, Jason P.

Surface modifications of elastomers and gels are crucial for emerging applications such as soft robotics and flexible electronics, in large part because they provide a platform to control wettability, adhesion, and permeability. Current surface modification methods via ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) and/or O2 plasma, atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasmas deposition, and chemical treatment impart a dense polymer or inorganic layer on the surface that is brittle and easy to fracture at low strain levels. This paper presents a new method, based on gel–liquid infiltration polymerization, to form hybrid skin layers atop elastomers. The method is unique in that it allows for controlmore » of the skin layer topography, with tunable feature sizes and aspect ratios as high as 1.8 without fracture. Unlike previous techniques, the skin layer formed here dramatically improves the barrier properties of the elastomer, while preserving skin layer flexibility. Furthermore, the method is versatile and likely applicable to most interfacial polymerization systems and network polymers on flat and patterned surfaces.« less

A flexible 70 MHz phase-controlled double waveguide system for hyperthermia treatment of superficial tumours with deep infiltration.

PubMed

van Stam, Gerard; Kok, H Petra; Hulshof, Maarten C C M; Kolff, M Willemijn; van Tienhoven, Geertjan; Sijbrands, Jan; Bakker, Akke; Zum Vörde Sive Vörding, Paul J; Oldenborg, Sabine; de Greef, Martijn; Rasch, Coen R N; Crezee, Hans

2017-11-01

Superficial tumours with deep infiltration in the upper 15 cm of the trunk cannot be treated adequately with existing hyperthermia systems. The aim of this study was to develop, characterise and evaluate a new flexible two-channel hyperthermia system (AMC-2) for tumours in this region. The two-channel AMC-2 system has two horizontally revolving and height adjustable 70 MHz waveguides. Three different interchangeable antennas with sizes 20 × 34, 15 × 34 and 8.5 × 34 cm were developed and their electrical properties were determined. The performance of the AMC-2 system was tested by measurements of the electric field distribution in a saline water filled elliptical phantom, using an electric field vector probe. Clinical feasibility was demonstrated by treatment of a melanoma in the axillary region. Phantom measurements showed a good performance for all waveguides. The large reflection of the smallest antenna has to be compensated by increased forward power. Field patterns become asymmetrical when using smaller top antennas, necessitating phase corrections. The clinical application showed that tumours deeper than 4 cm can be heated adequately. A median tumour temperature of 42 °C can be reached up to 12 cm depth with adequate antenna positioning and phase-amplitude steering. This 70 MHz AMC-2 waveguide system is a useful addition to existing loco-regional hyperthermia equipment as it is capable of heating axillary tumours and other tumours deeper than 4 cm.

Analysis of Instrumentation Selection and Placement to Monitor the Hydrologic Performance of Permeable Pavement Systems and Bioinfiltration Areas at the Edison Environmental Center in New Jersey - proceedings paper

EPA Science Inventory

Infiltration is one of the primary functional mechanisms of green infrastructure stormwater controls, so this study explored selection and placement of embedded soil moisture, water level, and temperature sensors to monitor surface infiltration and infiltration into the underlyin...

Relevance of infiltration analgesia in pain relief after total knee arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Znojek-Tymborowska, Justyna; Kęska, Rafał; Paradowski, Przemysław T.; Witoński, Dariusz

2013-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of different types of anesthesia on pain intensity in early postoperative period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 87 patients (77 women, 10 men) scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were assigned to receive either subarachnoid anesthesia alone or in combination with local soft tissue anesthesia, local soft tissue anesthesia and femoral nerve block and pre-emptive infiltration together with local soft tissue anesthesia. We assessed the pain intensity, opioid consumption, knee joint mobility, and complications of surgery. RESULTS: Subjects with pre-emptive infiltration and local soft tissue anesthesia had lower pain intensity on the first postoperative day compared to those with soft tissue anesthesia and femoral nerve block (P=0.012, effect size 0.68). Subjects who received pre-emptive infiltration and local soft-tissue anesthesia had the greatest range of motion in the operated knee at discharge (mean 90 grades [SD 7], P=0.01 compared to those who received subarachnoid anesthesia alone, and P=0.001 compared to those with subarachnoid together with soft tissue anesthesia). CONCLUSION: Despite the differences in postoperative pain and knee mobility, the results obtained throughout the postoperative period do not enable us to favour neither local nor regional infiltration anesthesia in TKA. Level of Evidence II, Prospective Comparative Study. PMID:24453679

Biopsy variability of lymphocytic infiltration in breast cancer subtypes and the ImmunoSkew score

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Adnan Mujahid; Yuan, Yinyin

2016-11-01

The number of tumour biopsies required for a good representation of tumours has been controversial. An important factor to consider is intra-tumour heterogeneity, which can vary among cancer types and subtypes. Immune cells in particular often display complex infiltrative patterns, however, there is a lack of quantitative understanding of the spatial heterogeneity of immune cells and how this fundamental biological nature of human tumours influences biopsy variability and treatment resistance. We systematically investigate biopsy variability for the lymphocytic infiltrate in 998 breast tumours using a novel virtual biopsy method. Across all breast cancers, we observe a nonlinear increase in concordance between the biopsy and whole-tumour score of lymphocytic infiltrate with increasing number of biopsies, yet little improvement is gained with more than four biopsies. Interestingly, biopsy variability of lymphocytic infiltrate differs considerably among breast cancer subtypes, with the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) subtype having the highest variability. We subsequently identify a quantitative measure of spatial variability that predicts disease-specific survival in HER2+ subtype independent of standard clinical variables (node status, tumour size and grade). Our study demonstrates how systematic methods provide new insights that can influence future study design based on a quantitative knowledge of tumour heterogeneity.

Hypothyroidism Affects Vascularization and Promotes Immune Cells Infiltration into Pancreatic Islets of Female Rabbits

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Castelán, Julia; Martínez-Gómez, Margarita; Castelán, Francisco; Cuevas, Estela

2015-01-01

Thyroidectomy induces pancreatic edema and immune cells infiltration similarly to that observed in pancreatitis. In spite of the controverted effects of hypothyroidism on serum glucose and insulin concentrations, the number and proliferation of Langerhans islet cells as well as the presence of extracellular matrix are affected depending on the islet size. In this study, we evaluated the effect of methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on the vascularization and immune cells infiltration into islets. A general observation of pancreas was also done. Twelve Chinchilla-breed female adult rabbits were divided into control (n = 6) and hypothyroid groups (n = 6, methimazole, 0.02% in drinking water for 30 days). After the treatment, rabbits were sacrificed and their pancreas was excised, histologically processed, and stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) or Masson's Trichrome techniques. Islets were arbitrarily classified into large, medium, and small ones. The external and internal portions of each islet were also identified. Student-t-test and Mann-Whitney-U test or two-way ANOVAs were used to compare variables between groups. In comparison with control rabbits, hypothyroidism induced a strong infiltration of immune cells and a major presence of collagen and proteoglycans in the interlobular septa. Large islets showed a high vascularization and immune cells infiltration. The present results show that hypothyroidism induces pancreatitis and insulitis. PMID:26175757

Hypothyroidism Affects Vascularization and Promotes Immune Cells Infiltration into Pancreatic Islets of Female Rabbits.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Castelán, Julia; Martínez-Gómez, Margarita; Castelán, Francisco; Cuevas, Estela

2015-01-01

Thyroidectomy induces pancreatic edema and immune cells infiltration similarly to that observed in pancreatitis. In spite of the controverted effects of hypothyroidism on serum glucose and insulin concentrations, the number and proliferation of Langerhans islet cells as well as the presence of extracellular matrix are affected depending on the islet size. In this study, we evaluated the effect of methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on the vascularization and immune cells infiltration into islets. A general observation of pancreas was also done. Twelve Chinchilla-breed female adult rabbits were divided into control (n = 6) and hypothyroid groups (n = 6, methimazole, 0.02% in drinking water for 30 days). After the treatment, rabbits were sacrificed and their pancreas was excised, histologically processed, and stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) or Masson's Trichrome techniques. Islets were arbitrarily classified into large, medium, and small ones. The external and internal portions of each islet were also identified. Student-t-test and Mann-Whitney-U test or two-way ANOVAs were used to compare variables between groups. In comparison with control rabbits, hypothyroidism induced a strong infiltration of immune cells and a major presence of collagen and proteoglycans in the interlobular septa. Large islets showed a high vascularization and immune cells infiltration. The present results show that hypothyroidism induces pancreatitis and insulitis.

Leukemia kidney infiltration can cause secondary polycythemia by activating hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway.

PubMed

Osumi, Tomoo; Awazu, Midori; Fujimura, Eriko; Yamazaki, Fumito; Hashiguchi, Akinori; Shimada, Hiroyuki

2013-06-01

Secondary polycythemia with increased production of erythropoietin (EPO) is known to occur in kidney diseases such as hydronephrosis and cystic disease, but the mechanism remains unclear. We report an 18-year-old female with isolated renal relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia accompanied by polycythemia. At the relapse, she presented with bilateral nephromegaly, mild renal dysfunction, and erythrocytosis with increased serum EPO levels up to 52.1 mIU/mL (9.1-32.8). Renal biopsy demonstrated diffuse lymphoblastic infiltration. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which is undetectable in normal kidney, was observed in the renal tubule epithelium compressed by lymphoblastic cells. These findings suggest that erythrocytosis was caused by renal ischemia due to leukemic infiltration. Polycythemia probably became apparent because of the lack of leukemic involvement of the bone marrow. With chemotherapy, the serum EPO level rapidly decreased to normal range accompanied by the normalization of kidney size and function. Renal leukemic infiltration may enhance EPO production, although not recognized in the majority of cases because of bone marrow involvement. Our case has clarified the mechanism of previously reported polycythemia associated with renal diseases as renal ischemia. Furthermore, we have added renal ischemia resulting from tumor infiltration to the list of causes of secondary polycythemia.

Prominent mucoid degeneration of the parotid gland in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Ishida, Mitsuaki; Iwai, Muneo; Yoshida, Keiko; Kagotani, Akiko; Hodohara, Keiko; Okabe, Hidetoshi

2013-01-01

Lupus erythematosus (LE) can cause various cutaneous lesions including panniculitis (LE profundus), but salivary gland involvement has been extremely rare in patients with LE. Herein, we report the first documented case of systemic LE with prominent mucoid degeneration and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the parotid gland. A 38-year-old Japanese male with histories of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and systemic LE presented with a swelling of the bilateral cervical region. A physical examination revealed a swelling of the bilateral parotid gland and erythema of the right cheek. A biopsy specimen of the cheek demonstrated LE profundus with mucoid material deposition in the dermis. A biopsy specimen of the parotid gland showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and prominent mucoid material deposition within the parotid gland as well as mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and hyaline fat necrosis in the perisalivary tissue. Mucoid material deposition is one of the characteristic features of LE, however, this is the first case demonstrating mucoid material deposition in the salivary gland. Moreover, albeit extremely rare, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration within the lobules of the salivary gland has also been reported in patients with LE. Therefore, it is important that both lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and mucoid material deposition must be included in the differential diagnostic considerations for salivary gland tumors in patients who had been previously diagnosed as systemic or discoid LE.

Thickness limitations in carbon nanotube reinforced silicon nitride coatings synthesized by vapor infiltration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eres, Gyula

Chemical vapor infiltration is a convenient method for synthesizing carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced ceramic coatings. The thickness over which infiltration is relatively uniform is limited by gas phase diffusion in the pore structure. These effects were investigated in two types of silicon nitride matrix composites. With CNTs that were distributed uniformly on the substrate surface dense coatings were limited to thicknesses of several microns. With dual structured CNT arrays produced by photolithography coatings up to 400 gm thick were obtained with minimal residual porosity. Gas transport into these dual structured materials was facilitated by creating micron sized channels between "CNT pillars"more » (i.e. each pillar consisted of a large number of individual CNTs). The experimental results are consistent with basic comparisons between the rates of gas diffusion and silicon nitride growth in porous structures. This analysis also provides a general insight into optimizing infiltration conditions during the fabrication of thick CNT-reinforced composite coatings. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.« less

Metastasis Infiltration: An Investigation of the Postoperative Brain-Tumor Interface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raore, Bethwel; Schniederjan, Matthew; Prabhu, Roshan

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate brain infiltration of metastatic tumor cells past the main tumor resection margin to assess the biological basis for the use of stereotactic radiosurgery treatment of the tumor resection cavity and visualized resection edge or clinical target volume. Methods and Materials: Resection margin tissue was obtained after gross total resection of a small group of metastatic lesions from a variety of primary sources. The tissue at the border of the tumor and brain tissue was carefully oriented and processed to evaluate the presence of tumor cells within brain tissue and their distance from the resectionmore » margin. Results: Microscopic assessment of the radially oriented tissue samples showed no tumor cells infiltrating the surrounding brain tissue. Among the positive findings were reactive astrocytosis observed on the brain tissue immediately adjacent to the tumor resection bed margin. Conclusions: The lack of evidence of metastatic tumor cell infiltration into surrounding brain suggests the need to target only a narrow depth of the resection cavity margin to minimize normal tissue injury and prevent treatment size-dependent stereotactic radiosurgery complications.« less

An ancient example of fluvial cave sediment derived from dust (eolian silt) infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, J. E.

2011-12-01

Silt-rich grain size distributions are geologically rare and typically eolian. Such sediments (and lithified equivalents) are called dust/dustites in a general case, or loess/loessite in the special case of eolian silts derived from glacial deposits. In both cases, silt-rich deposits require a source area of silt-sized materials, transport mechanisms (prevailing winds of sufficient energy) and one or more depositional mechanisms (such as trapping in the lee of topographic obstacles or adhesion to surfaces with moisture or vegetation). This study evaluates a third type of silt-rich geological deposit, paleo-cave sediments derived from mixtures of dust (eolian silt) and karst breccias. Cave sediments can be autochthonous (speleothems), parautochthonous (karst breccias), and allochthonous (such as fluvial cave sediments). The provenance of fluvial cave sediments is the landscape overlying the cave-karst system, and they are introduced to the cave-karst system by flood events. The Mississippian Leadville Limestone (SW Colorado) was subject to karst processes following Late Mississippian eustatic sea-level fall. These processes included formation of phreatic tubes, tower karst (kegelkarst), solution valleys (poljes), sinkholes (dolines), solution-enhanced joints (grikes), surficial flutes (rillenkarren), solution pans (kamenitzas), and breakout domes containing mosaic and crackle breccias. Flowstone, dripstone, and cave pearls are interbedded with karst breccias and fluvial cave sediments in the Leadville Limestone. The overlying Pennsylvanian Molas Formation is an eolian siltstone (dustite) with sediment sources from the peri-Gondwanan and Grenville rocks of eastern North America. Evidence that the fluvial cave sediments in the Leadville Limestone are derived from this dustite include compositional and textural matches, especially grain size distribution trends vertically downward from the former landscape surface. These grain size trends indicate infiltration of the dustite into the underlying cave-karst system. There is a significant amount of evidence that the resedimentation process was episodic. Some individual phreatic tubes have complex infill history of up to eight events (successive debrites or inundites interbedded with speleothems). Some individual vertical grikes have complex infill histories of as many as six laminated or massive jointites with weakly developed paleosols superimposed on these individual deposits. Late Cenozoic cave sediments are increasingly utilized as archives of geologic change. The role of dust (eolian silt), including its inherited compositional and textural properties from a distant source area, land-atmosphere transfer processes, and resedimentation processes on the land surface overlying the cave-karst system, remain promising areas for research.

Adjunctive Oral Voriconazole Treatment of Fusarium Keratitis

PubMed Central

Prajna, N. Venkatesh; Krishnan, Tiruvengada; Rajaraman, Revathi; Patel, Sushila; Shah, Ranjeet; Srinivasan, Muthiah; Devi, Lumbini; Das, Manoranjan; Ray, Kathryn J.; O'Brien, Kieran S.; Oldenburg, Catherine E.; McLeod, Stephen D.; Zegans, Michael E.; Acharya, Nisha R; Lietman, Thomas M.

2017-01-01

Importance Fusarium keratitis is common and often results in poor outcomes. No new treatments since natamycin have become available. Objective To explore the role of adjuvant oral voriconazole on clinical outcomes in Fusarium keratitis. Design, Setting, and Participants In this prespecified subgroup analysis of a multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 240 patients from the Aravind Eye Care System in India, the Lumbini Eye Hospital and Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal, and the University of California, San Francisco, who had culture-positive fungal ulcer and baseline visual acuity of 20/400 or worse were randomized to receive oral voriconazole vs placebo. Enrollment started May 24, 2010, and the last patient study visit was November 23, 2015. All patients received topical voriconazole, 1%, and after the results of the Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial (MUTT) II became available, topical natamycin, 5%, was added for all patients. Data analysis was performed from September 2 to October 28, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome of the trial was the rate of corneal perforation or the need for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. Secondary outcomes included rate of reepithelialization, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and infiltrate or scar size at 3 months. Results Of the 240 study participants, 72 (30.4%) were culture positive for Fusarium species (41 [56.9%] male and 31 [43.1%] female; median [interquartile range] age, 50 [45-57] years). Of these, 33 (45.8%) were randomized to oral voriconazole and 39 (54.2%) to placebo. Fusarium ulcers randomized to oral voriconazole had a 0.43-fold decreased hazard of perforation or therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty compared with placebo after controlling for baseline infiltrate depth (95% CI, 0.22-fold to 0.84-fold; P = .01). Multiple linear regression revealed a 1.89-mm decreased infiltrate and/or scar size at 3 weeks (95% CI, −2.69 to −1.09 mm; P < .001) and a 0.83-mm decreased infiltrate and/or scar size at 3 months after correcting for baseline values (95% CI, −1.33 to −0.32 mm; P = .001) in eyes randomized to oral voriconazole vs placebo. Eyes treated with oral voriconazole also had a mean 0.29 decreased logMAR (improved) (Snellen equivalent 20/40) visual acuity at 3 months after controlling for baseline visual acuity, although this finding was not statistically significant (95% CI, −0.57 to 0.002; P = .052). Conclusions and Relevance Although MUTT II could not find a benefit for all corneal ulcers, Fusarium keratitis may benefit from the addition of oral voriconazole to topical natamycin, and physicians should consider prescribing oral voriconazole in these cases. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00996736 PMID:28426856

Adjunctive Oral Voriconazole Treatment of Fusarium Keratitis: A Secondary Analysis From the Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial II.

PubMed

Prajna, N Venkatesh; Krishnan, Tiruvengada; Rajaraman, Revathi; Patel, Sushila; Shah, Ranjeet; Srinivasan, Muthiah; Devi, Lumbini; Das, Manoranjan; Ray, Kathryn J; O'Brien, Kieran S; Oldenburg, Catherine E; McLeod, Stephen D; Zegans, Michael E; Acharya, Nisha R; Lietman, Thomas M; Rose-Nussbaumer, Jennifer

2017-06-01

Fusarium keratitis is common and often results in poor outcomes. No new treatments since natamycin have become available. To explore the role of adjuvant oral voriconazole on clinical outcomes in Fusarium keratitis. In this prespecified subgroup analysis of a multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 240 patients from the Aravind Eye Care System in India, the Lumbini Eye Hospital and Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal, and the University of California, San Francisco, who had culture-positive fungal ulcer and baseline visual acuity of 20/400 or worse were randomized to receive oral voriconazole vs placebo. Enrollment started May 24, 2010, and the last patient study visit was November 23, 2015. All patients received topical voriconazole, 1%, and after the results of the Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial (MUTT) II became available, topical natamycin, 5%, was added for all patients. Data analysis was performed from September 2 to October 28, 2016. The primary outcome of the trial was the rate of corneal perforation or the need for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. Secondary outcomes included rate of reepithelialization, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and infiltrate or scar size at 3 months. Of the 240 study participants, 72 (30.4%) were culture positive for Fusarium species (41 [56.9%] male and 31 [43.1%] female; median [interquartile range] age, 50 [45-57] years). Of these, 33 (45.8%) were randomized to oral voriconazole and 39 (54.2%) to placebo. Fusarium ulcers randomized to oral voriconazole had a 0.43-fold decreased hazard of perforation or therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty compared with placebo after controlling for baseline infiltrate depth (95% CI, 0.22-fold to 0.84-fold; P = .01). Multiple linear regression revealed a 1.89-mm decreased infiltrate and/or scar size at 3 weeks (95% CI, -2.69 to -1.09 mm; P < .001) and a 0.83-mm decreased infiltrate and/or scar size at 3 months after correcting for baseline values (95% CI, -1.33 to -0.32 mm; P = .001) in eyes randomized to oral voriconazole vs placebo. Eyes treated with oral voriconazole also had a mean 0.29 decreased logMAR (improved) (Snellen equivalent 20/40) visual acuity at 3 months after controlling for baseline visual acuity, although this finding was not statistically significant (95% CI, -0.57 to 0.002; P = .052). Although MUTT II could not find a benefit for all corneal ulcers, Fusarium keratitis may benefit from the addition of oral voriconazole to topical natamycin, and physicians should consider prescribing oral voriconazole in these cases. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00996736.

System dynamics modeling of nitrogen removal in a stormwater infiltration basin with biosorption-activated media.

PubMed

Xuan, Zhemin; Chang, Ni-Bin; Wanielista, Martin P; Williams, Evan Shane

2013-07-01

Stormwater infiltration basins, one of the typical stormwater best management practices, are commonly constructed for surface water pollution control, flood mitigation, and groundwater restoration in rural or residential areas. These basins have soils with better infiltration capacity than the native soil; however, the ever-increasing contribution of nutrients to groundwater from stormwater due to urban expansion makes existing infiltration basins unable to meet groundwater quality criteria related to environmental sustainability and public health. This issue requires retrofitting current infiltration basins for flood control as well as nutrient control before the stormwater enters the groundwater. An existing stormwater infiltration basin in north-central Florida was selected, retrofitted, and monitored to identify subsurface physiochemical and biological processes during 2007-2010 to investigate nutrient control processes. This implementation in the nexus of contaminant hydrology and ecological engineering adopted amended soil layers packed with biosorption activated media (BAM; tire crumb, silt, clay, and sand) to perform nutrient removal in a partitioned forebay using a berm. This study presents an infiltration basin-nitrogen removal (IBNR) model, a system dynamics model that simulates nitrogen cycling in this BAM-based stormwater infiltration basin with respect to changing hydrologic conditions and varying dissolved nitrogen concentrations. Modeling outputs of IBNR indicate that denitrification is the biogeochemical indicator in the BAM layer that accounted for a loss of about one third of the total dissolved nitrogen mass input. Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images

PubMed Central

Clarke, G. M.; Murray, M.; Holloway, C. M. B.; Liu, K.; Zubovits, J. T.; Yaffe, M. J.

2012-01-01

Tumour size, most commonly measured by maximum linear extent, remains a strong predictor of survival in breast cancer. Tumour volume, proportional to the number of tumour cells, may be a more accurate surrogate for size. We describe a novel “3D pathology volumetric technique” for lumpectomies and compare it with 2D measurements. Volume renderings and total tumour volume are computed from digitized whole-mount serial sections using custom software tools. Results are presented for two lumpectomy specimens selected for tumour features which may challenge accurate measurement of tumour burden with conventional, sampling-based pathology: (1) an infiltrative pattern admixed with normal breast elements; (2) a localized invasive mass separated from the in situ component by benign tissue. Spatial relationships between key features (tumour foci, close or involved margins) are clearly visualized in volume renderings. Invasive tumour burden can be underestimated using conventional pathology, compared to the volumetric technique (infiltrative pattern: 30% underestimation; localized mass: 3% underestimation for invasive tumour, 44% for in situ component). Tumour volume approximated from 2D measurements (i.e., maximum linear extent), assuming elliptical geometry, was seen to overestimate volume compared to the 3D volumetric calculation (by a factor of 7x for the infiltrative pattern; 1.5x for the localized invasive mass). PMID:23320179

Bottom-up Fabrication of Multilayer Stacks of 3D Photonic Crystals from Titanium Dioxide.

PubMed

Kubrin, Roman; Pasquarelli, Robert M; Waleczek, Martin; Lee, Hooi Sing; Zierold, Robert; do Rosário, Jefferson J; Dyachenko, Pavel N; Montero Moreno, Josep M; Petrov, Alexander Yu; Janssen, Rolf; Eich, Manfred; Nielsch, Kornelius; Schneider, Gerold A

2016-04-27

A strategy for stacking multiple ceramic 3D photonic crystals is developed. Periodically structured porous films are produced by vertical convective self-assembly of polystyrene (PS) microspheres. After infiltration of the opaline templates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of titania and thermal decomposition of the polystyrene matrix, a ceramic 3D photonic crystal is formed. Further layers with different sizes of pores are deposited subsequently by repetition of the process. The influence of process parameters on morphology and photonic properties of double and triple stacks is systematically studied. Prolonged contact of amorphous titania films with warm water during self-assembly of the successive templates is found to result in exaggerated roughness of the surfaces re-exposed to ALD. Random scattering on rough internal surfaces disrupts ballistic transport of incident photons into deeper layers of the multistacks. Substantially smoother interfaces are obtained by calcination of the structure after each infiltration, which converts amorphous titania into the crystalline anatase before resuming the ALD infiltration. High quality triple stacks consisting of anatase inverse opals with different pore sizes are demonstrated for the first time. The elaborated fabrication method shows promise for various applications demanding broadband dielectric reflectors or titania photonic crystals with a long mean free path of photons.

A flexible system for the estimation of infiltration and hydraulic resistance parameters in surface irrigation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Critical to the use of modeling tools for the hydraulic analysis of surface irrigation systems is characterizing the infiltration and hydraulic resistance process. Since those processes are still not well understood, various formulations are currently used to represent them. A software component h...

40 CFR 35.2015 - State priority system and project priority list.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... I); (B) Treatment more stringent than secondary (category II); (C) Infiltration/inflow correction... cost-effective alternative; (C) New interceptors and appurtenances; and (D) Infiltration/inflow...

40 CFR 35.2015 - State priority system and project priority list.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... I); (B) Treatment more stringent than secondary (category II); (C) Infiltration/inflow correction... cost-effective alternative; (C) New interceptors and appurtenances; and (D) Infiltration/inflow...

40 CFR 35.2015 - State priority system and project priority list.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... I); (B) Treatment more stringent than secondary (category II); (C) Infiltration/inflow correction... cost-effective alternative; (C) New interceptors and appurtenances; and (D) Infiltration/inflow...

40 CFR 35.2015 - State priority system and project priority list.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... I); (B) Treatment more stringent than secondary (category II); (C) Infiltration/inflow correction... cost-effective alternative; (C) New interceptors and appurtenances; and (D) Infiltration/inflow...

40 CFR 60.755 - Compliance provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

....753(b). If negative pressure cannot be achieved without excess air infiltration within 15 calendar... after gas collection system startup. (5) For the purpose of identifying whether excess air infiltration...

On-site infiltration of a copper roof runoff: role of clinoptilolite as an artificial barrier material.

PubMed

Athanasiadis, Konstantinos; Helmreich, Brigitte; Horn, Harald

2007-08-01

On-site infiltration may be considered as a promising way of managing rainwater runoffs in urban areas, provided the hydrological and ecological conditions allow infiltration, and provided there is adequate treatment of the contaminants to avoid a risk of soil and groundwater pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the application of a new technical infiltration system equipped with clinoptilolite as an artificial barrier material for the treatment of the copper roof runoff of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany. During the 2-yr sampling period, 30 rain events were examined. The cover material of the roof and the drainage system was responsible for the high copper concentrations in the roof runoff. The rain height and the rain intensity were of great significance regarding the establishment of the copper runoff rate. The technical infiltration system applied was able to reduce the copper from the roof runoff by a factor up to 96%. The mean measured copper concentration in percolation water was lower than the critical value of 50 microg/l set by the German Federal Soil Protection Act and Ordinance, indicating no risk for soil and groundwater contamination.

Update on Advection-Diffusion Purge Flow Model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brieda, Lubos

2015-01-01

Gaseous purge is commonly used in sensitive spacecraft optical or electronic instruments to prevent infiltration of contaminants and/or water vapor. Typically, purge is sized using simplistic zero-dimensional models that do not take into account instrument geometry, surface effects, and the dependence of diffusive flux on the concentration gradient. For this reason, an axisymmetric computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was recently developed to model contaminant infiltration and removal by purge. The solver uses a combined Navier-Stokes and Advection-Diffusion approach. In this talk, we report on updates in the model, namely inclusion of a particulate transport model.

Hydrology Model Formulation within the Training Range Environmental Evaluation and Characterization System (TREECS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

Potential evapotranspiration is computed using the Thornthwaite Method. Infiltration is computed from a water balance. DISCLAIMER: The contents of...precipitation, rainfall, runoff, evapotranspiration , infiltration, and number of days with rainfall. A hydrology model was developed to estimate...temperatures. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is computed using the Thornthwaite Method. Actual evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration are computed from a

Grinding damage assessment on four high-strength ceramics.

PubMed

Canneto, Jean-Jacques; Cattani-Lorente, Maria; Durual, Stéphane; Wiskott, Anselm H W; Scherrer, Susanne S

2016-02-01

The purpose of this study was to assess surface and subsurface damage on 4 CAD-CAM high-strength ceramics after grinding with diamond disks of 75 μm, 54 μm and 18 μm and to estimate strength losses based on damage crack sizes. The materials tested were: 3Y-TZP (Lava), dense Al2O3 (In-Ceram AL), alumina glass-infiltrated (In-Ceram ALUMINA) and alumina-zirconia glass-infiltrated (In-Ceram ZIRCONIA). Rectangular specimens with 2 mirror polished orthogonal sides were bonded pairwise together prior to degrading the top polished surface with diamond disks of either 75 μm, 54 μm or 18 μm. The induced chip damage was evaluated on the bonded interface using SEM for chip depth measurements. Fracture mechanics were used to estimate fracture stresses based on average and maximum chip depths considering these as critical flaws subjected to tension and to calculate possible losses in strength compared to manufacturer's data. 3Y-TZP was hardly affected by grinding chip damage viewed on the bonded interface. Average chip depths were of 12.7±5.2 μm when grinding with 75 μm diamond inducing an estimated loss of 12% in strength compared to manufacturer's reported flexural strength values of 1100 MPa. Dense alumina showed elongated chip cracks and was suffering damage of an average chip depth of 48.2±16.3 μm after 75 μm grinding, representing an estimated loss in strength of 49%. Grinding with 54 μm was creating chips of 32.2±9.1 μm in average, representing a loss in strength of 23%. Alumina glass-infiltrated ceramic was exposed to chipping after 75 μm (mean chip size=62.4±19.3 μm) and 54 μm grinding (mean chip size=42.8±16.6 μm), with respectively 38% and 25% estimated loss in strength. Alumina-zirconia glass-infiltrated ceramic was mainly affected by 75 μm grinding damage with a chip average size of 56.8±15.1 μm, representing an estimated loss in strength of 34%. All four ceramics were not exposed to critical chipping at 18 μm diamond grinding. Reshaping a ceramic framework post sintering should be avoided with final diamond grits of 75 μm as a general rule. For alumina and the glass-infiltrated alumina, using a 54 μm diamond still induces chip damage which may affect strength. Removal of such damage from a reshaped framework is mandatory by using sequentially finer diamonds prior to the application of veneering ceramics especially in critical areas such as margins, connectors and inner surfaces. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Histologic study of the effects of chemoembolization with preloaded doxorubicin beads in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

PubMed

Zurera, L J; Espejo, J J; Lombardo, S; Marchal, T; Muñoz, M C; Canis, M; Montero, J L

2015-01-01

To determine the degree of tumor necrosis in surgical specimens of hepatocellular carcinomas treated with microspheres preloaded with doxorubicin and to analyze the relationship between the degree of necrosis and a) morphologic factors and b) imaging biomarkers. We studied the livers of 21 patients who had undergone selective arterial chemoembolization with DC beads (Biocompatibles, UK) before receiving liver transplants. Imaging techniques detected 43 nodules (mean size, 25 mm). Angiography showed 25 hypervascularized nodules, 12 slightly vascularized nodules, and 6 avascular nodules. A total of 81 hepatocellular carcinomas (mean size, 15 mm) were detected in the specimens: two were capsular and two had vascular infiltration. The mean degree of necrosis after chemoembolization was 39%; necrosis was greater than 60% in 28 hepatocellular carcinomas and less than 60% in 52. The degree of necrosis correlated significantly with the time elapsed between the last chemoembolization treatment and liver transplantation (the degree of necrosis decreased as time increased), with the number of nodules in the specimen, and with capsular infiltration. When imaging techniques detected 1 or 2 nodules, there was a greater probability of achieving greater than 90% necrosis. No relation with the degree of necrosis achieved was found for the size of the nodules detected at imaging, the enhancement pattern, or the number of chemoembolization treatments. The degree of necrosis achieved depends on the time spent on the waiting list, on the number of nodules in the specimen, and on whether capsular infiltration is present. Copyright © 2014 SERAM. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

The role of contact angle on unstable flow formation during infiltration and drainage in wettable porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallach, Rony; Margolis, Michal; Graber, Ellen R.

2013-10-01

The impact of contact angle on 2-D spatial and temporal water-content distribution during infiltration and drainage was experimentally studied. The 0.3-0.5 mm fraction of a quartz dune sand was treated and turned subcritically repellent (contact angle of 33°, 48°, 56°, and 75° for S33, S48, S56, and S75, respectively). The media were packed uniformly in transparent flow chambers and water was supplied to the surface as a point source at different rates (1-20 ml/min). A sequence of gray-value images was taken by CCD camera during infiltration and subsequent drainage; gray values were converted to volumetric water content by water volume balance. Narrow and long plumes with water accumulation behind the downward moving wetting front (tip) and negative water gradient above it (tail) developed in the S56 and S75 media during infiltration at lower water application rates. The plumes became bulbous with spatially uniform water-content distribution as water application rates increased. All plumes in these media propagated downward at a constant rate during infiltration and did not change their shape during drainage. In contrast, regular plume shapes were observed in the S33 and S48 media at all flow rates, and drainage profiles were nonmonotonic with a transition plane at the depth that water reached during infiltration. Given that the studied media have similar pore-size distributions, the conclusion is that imbibition hindered by the nonzero contact angle induced pressure buildup at the wetting front (dynamic water-entry value) that controlled the plume shape and internal water-content distribution during infiltration and drainage.

30 CFR 816.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... minimizes acidic, toxic, or other harmful infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations... water by preventing erosion, the formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water...

30 CFR 816.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... minimizes acidic, toxic, or other harmful infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations... water by preventing erosion, the formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water...

30 CFR 816.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... minimizes acidic, toxic, or other harmful infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations... water by preventing erosion, the formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water...

Infiltration behaviour of elemental mercury DNAPL in fully and partially water saturated porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Aniello, Andrea; Hartog, Niels; Sweijen, Thomas; Pianese, Domenico

2018-02-01

Mercury is a contaminant of global concern due to its harmful effects on human health and for the detrimental consequences of its release in the environment. Sources of liquid elemental mercury are usually anthropogenic, such as chlor-alkali plants. To date insight into the infiltration behaviour of liquid elemental mercury in the subsurface is lacking, although this is critical for assessing both characterization and remediation approaches for mercury DNAPL contaminated sites. Therefore, in this study the infiltration behaviour of elemental mercury in fully and partially water saturated systems was investigated using column experiments. The properties affecting the constitutive relations governing the infiltration behaviour of liquid Hg0, and PCE for comparison, were determined using Pc(S) experiments with different granular porous media (glass beads and sands) for different two- and three-phase configurations. Results showed that, in water saturated porous media, elemental mercury, as PCE, acted as a non-wetting fluid. The required entry head for elemental mercury was higher (from about 5 to 7 times). However, due to the almost tenfold higher density of mercury, the required NAPL entry heads of 6.19 cm and 12.51 cm for mercury to infiltrate were 37.5% to 20.7% lower than for PCE for the same porous media. Although Leverett scaling was able to reproduce the natural tendency of Hg0 to be more prone than PCE to infiltrate in water saturated porous media, it considerably underestimated Hg0 infiltration capacity in comparison with the experimental results. In the partially water saturated system, in contrast with PCE, elemental mercury also acted as a nonwetting fluid, therefore having to overcome an entry head to infiltrate. The required Hg0 entry heads (10.45 and 15.74 cm) were considerably higher (68.9% and 25.8%) than for the water saturated porous systems. Furthermore, in the partially water saturated systems, experiments showed that elemental mercury displaced both air and water, depending on the initial water distribution within the pores. This indicates that the conventional wettability hierarchy, in which the NAPL has an intermediate wetting state between the air and the water phases, is not valid for liquid elemental mercury. Therefore, for future modelling of elemental mercury DNAPL infiltration behaviour in variably water saturated porous media, a different formulation of the governing constitutive relations will be required.

Ecological engineering to control bioclogging: an original field study coupling infiltration and biological measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gette-bouvarot, Morgane; Mermillod-Blondin, Florian; Lassabatere, Laurent; Lemoine, Damien; Delolme, Cécile; Volatier, Laurence

2014-05-01

Infiltration systems are increasingly used in urban areas for several purposes such as flood prevention and groundwater recharge. However, their functioning is often impacted by clogging that leads to decreases in hydraulic and water treatment performances. These systems are commonly built with sand as infiltration medium, a media subject to rapid clogging by the combined and overlapping processes of pore occlusion by fine particles and biofilm development. In a previous study, we pointed out that the phototrophic component of biofilms developed at the surface layer of infiltration systems (algae, cyanobacteria) could reduce by up to 60-fold the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Consequently, it appears crucial to control biofilm growth to maintain porous infiltration media performances. The present study aimed to test the influence of biotic (addition of animals or macrophytes) and abiotic (light reduction) treatments on biofilm development and associated hydraulic properties in an infiltration device dedicated to aquifer recharge with river water in Lyon Area (France). Twenty-five benthic enclosures were used to test 5 "treatments" on non-manipulated surface layer under field conditions. Three biotic treatments consisted in the introduction of: (i) an invertebrate acting as algae grazer (Viviparus viviparus), (ii) an invertebrate that digs galleries in sediments (Tubifex tubifex), and (iii) a macrophyte that could inhibit benthic biofilm by allelopathic activity (Vallisneria spiralis L). The fourth treatment was designed to simulate shading. The last "treatment" was a control which monitored the evolution of the system during the experiment without manipulation (addition of macro-organisms or shading). Each treatment was replicated five times. The experiment was conducted for 6 weeks, and sampling of the surface layer (0-1 cm) was carried out in each enclosure at the beginning (t0) and the end (tf). We coupled biological characterizations (organic matter, algal biomass, bacterial abundances, microbial enzymatic activities, EPS composition, and photosynthetic efficiency) with in situ hydraulic conductivity measurements (falling head method, five measures per enclosure at t0 and tf). Our results showed that some treatments could regulate benthic biofilm growth and improve infiltration rate. For instance, V. viviparus treatment resulted in a decrease in chlorophyll-a, EPS sugar and protein contents and an associated increase of infiltration rate, while it decreased in the control treatment. These results are very promising for the future development of ecological engineering solutions to prevent biological clogging in systems dedicated to infiltration. To our knowledge, this study is the first to highlight such potential role of macro-organisms under field conditions.

Effect of topsoil thickness on soil water infiltration in corn-soybean rotation and switchgrass production systems

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Switchgrass and corn are sometimes used as a resource for biofuel production. The effect of production management systems on water infiltration is very critical in claypan landscape to increase production as well as minimize economic and environmental risks. The objective of this study was to evalua...

Acoustic building infiltration measurement system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Muehleisen, Ralph T.; Raman, Ganesh

Systems and methods of detecting and identifying a leak from a container or building. Acoustic pressure and velocity are measured. Acoustic properties are acquired from the measured values. The acoustic properties are converted to infiltration/leakage information. Nearfield Acoustic Holography (NAH) may be one method to detect the leakages from a container by locating the noise sources.

Assessment of existing roadside swales with engineered filter soil: I. Characterization and lifetime expectancy.

PubMed

Ingvertsen, Simon T; Cederkvist, Karin; Régent, Yoann; Sommer, Harald; Magid, Jakob; Jensen, Marina B

2012-01-01

Roadside infiltration swales with well-defined soil mixtures (filter soil) for the enhancement of both infiltration and treatment of stormwater runoff from roads and parking areas have been common practice in Germany for approximately two decades. Although the systems have proven hydraulically effective, their treatment efficiency and thus lifetime expectancies are not sufficiently documented. The lack of documentation restricts the implementation of new such systems in Germany as well as other countries. This study provides an assessment of eight roadside infiltration swales with filter soil from different locations in Germany that have been operational for 6 to16 yr. The swales were assessed with respect to visual appearance, infiltration rate, soil pH, and soil texture, as well as soil concentration of organic matter, heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn), and phosphorus. Visually, the swales appeared highly variable with respect to soil color and textural layering as well as composition of plants and soil-dwelling organisms. Three swales still comply with the German design criteria for infiltration rate (10 m/s), while the remaining swales have lower, yet acceptable, infiltration rates around 10 m/s. Six of the eight studied soils have heavy metal concentrations exceeding the limit value for unpolluted soil. Provided that the systems are able to continuously retain existing and incoming pollutants, our analysis indicates that the soils can remain operational for another 13 to 136 yr if the German limit values for unrestricted usage in open construction works are applied. However, no official guidelines exist for acceptable soil quality in existing infiltration facilities. Copyright © by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Inc.

Measurement of infiltration rates in urban sewer systems by use of oxygen isotopes.

PubMed

De Bénédittis, J; Bertrand-Krajewski, J L

2005-01-01

The paper presents the principle of a method to measure infiltration rates in sewer systems based on the use of oxygen isotopes and its application in Lyon (France). In the urban area of Lyon, significant differences in delta 18O that can reach 3 per thousand are observed between the oxygen isotopic compositions of groundwater originating from Rhone, Saone and from their associated alluvial aquifers. Drinking water supplying Lyon results mainly from pumping in the Rhone alluvial aquifer. Therefore, in some areas, the difference of isotopic composition between wastewater resulting from the consumption of drinking water and local groundwater can be used to measure infiltration in sewer systems. The application in the catchment of Ecully shows that the infiltration flow rate presents strong fluctuations at an hourly scale: it varies between 15 and 40 m3/h. This variability could be explained by non-constant discharges of pumping and by variations of the water level in the sewer.

Rapid Chemical Vapor Infiltration of Silicon Carbide Minicomposites at Atmospheric Pressure.

PubMed

Petroski, Kenneth; Poges, Shannon; Monteleone, Chris; Grady, Joseph; Bhatt, Ram; Suib, Steven L

2018-02-07

The chemical vapor infiltration technique is one of the most popular for the fabrication of the matrix portion of a ceramic matrix composite. This work focuses on tailoring an atmospheric pressure deposition of silicon carbide onto carbon fiber tows using the methyltrichlorosilane (CH 3 SiCl 3 ) and H 2 deposition system at atmospheric pressure to create minicomposites faster than low pressure systems. Adjustment of the flow rate of H 2 bubbled through CH 3 SiCl 3 will improve the uniformity of the deposition as well as infiltrate the substrate more completely as the flow rate is decreased. Low pressure depositions conducted at 50 Torr deposit SiC at a rate of approximately 200 nm*h -1 , while the atmospheric pressure system presented has a deposition rate ranging from 750 nm*h -1 to 3.88 μm*h -1 . The minicomposites fabricated in this study had approximate total porosities of 3 and 6% for 10 and 25 SCCM infiltrations, respectively.

Pain Perception: Computerized versus Traditional Local Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients.

PubMed

Mittal, M; Kumar, A; Srivastava, D; Sharma, P; Sharma, S

2015-01-01

Local anesthetic injection is one of the most anxiety- provoking procedure for both children and adult patients in dentistry. A computerized system for slow delivery of local anesthetic has been developed as a possible solution to reduce the pain related to the local anesthetic injection. The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare pain perception rates in pediatric patients with computerized system and traditional methods, both objectively and subjectively. It was a randomized controlled study in one hundred children aged 8-12 years in healthy physical and mental state, assessed as being cooperative, requiring extraction of maxillary primary molars. Children were divided into two groups by random sampling - Group A received buccal and palatal infiltration injection using Wand, while Group B received buccal and palatal infiltration using traditional syringe. Visual Analog scale (VAS) was used for subjective evaluation of pain perception by patient. Sound, Eye, Motor (SEM) scale was used as an objective method where sound, eye and motor reactions of patient were observed and heart rate measurement using pulse oximeter was used as the physiological parameter for objective evaluation. Patients experienced significantly less pain of injection with the computerized method during palatal infiltration, while less pain was not statistically significant during buccal infiltration. Heart rate increased during both buccal and palatal infiltration in traditional and computerized local anesthesia, but difference between traditional and computerized method was not statistically significant. It was concluded that pain perception was significantly more during traditional palatal infiltration injection as compared to computerized palatal infiltration, while there was no difference in pain perception during buccal infiltration in both the groups.

High Myeloperoxidase Positive Cell Infiltration in Colorectal Cancer Is an Independent Favorable Prognostic Factor

PubMed Central

Eppenberger-Castori, Serenella; Zlobec, Inti; Viehl, Carsten T.; Frey, Daniel M.; Nebiker, Christian A.; Rosso, Raffaele; Zuber, Markus; Amicarella, Francesca; Iezzi, Giandomenica; Sconocchia, Giuseppe; Heberer, Michael; Lugli, Alessandro; Tornillo, Luigi; Oertli, Daniel

2013-01-01

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) infiltration by adaptive immune system cells correlates with favorable prognosis. The role of the innate immune system is still debated. Here we addressed the prognostic impact of CRC infiltration by neutrophil granulocytes (NG). Methods A TMA including healthy mucosa and clinically annotated CRC specimens (n = 1491) was stained with MPO and CD15 specific antibodies. MPO+ and CD15+ positive immune cells were counted by three independent observers. Phenotypic profiles of CRC infiltrating MPO+ and CD15+ cells were validated by flow cytometry on cell suspensions derived from enzymatically digested surgical specimens. Survival analysis was performed by splitting randomized data in training and validation subsets. Results MPO+ and CD15+ cell infiltration were significantly correlated (p<0.0001; r = 0.76). However, only high density of MPO+ cell infiltration was associated with significantly improved survival in training (P = 0.038) and validation (P = 0.002) sets. In multivariate analysis including T and N stage, vascular invasion, tumor border configuration and microsatellite instability status, MPO+ cell infiltration proved an independent prognostic marker overall (P = 0.004; HR = 0.65; CI:±0.15) and in both training (P = 0.048) and validation (P = 0.036) sets. Flow-cytometry analysis of CRC cell suspensions derived from clinical specimens showed that while MPO+ cells were largely CD15+/CD66b+, sizeable percentages of CD15+ and CD66b+ cells were MPO−. Conclusions High density MPO+ cell infiltration is a novel independent favorable prognostic factor in CRC. PMID:23734221

Multicriteria decision-aid method to evaluate the performance of stormwater infiltration systems over the time.

PubMed

Moura, P; Barraud, S; Baptista, M B; Malard, F

2011-01-01

Nowadays, stormwater infiltration systems are frequently used because of their ability to reduce flows and volumes in downstream sewers, decrease overflows in surface waters and make it possible to recharge groundwater. Moreover, they come in various forms with different uses. Despite these advantages the long term sustainability of these systems is questionable and their real performances have to be assessed taking into account various and sometimes conflicting aspects. To address this problem a decision support system is proposed. It is based on a multicriteria method built to help managers to evaluate the performance of an existing infiltration system at different stages of its lifespan and identify whether it performs correctly or not, according to environmental, socio-economic, technical and sanitary aspects. The paper presents successively: the performance indicators and the way they were built, the multicriteria method to identify if the system works properly and a case study.

An experimental investigation to characterise soil macroporosity under different land use and land covers of northeast India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shougrakpam, Sangeeta; Sarkar, Rupak; Dutta, Subashisa

2010-10-01

Saturated macropore flow is the dominant hydrological process in tropical and subtropical hilly watersheds of northeast India. The process of infiltration into saturated macroporous soils is primarily controlled by size, network, density, connectivity, saturation of surrounding soil matrix, and depthwise distribution of macropores. To understand the effects of local land use, land cover and management practices on soil macroporosity, colour dye infiltration experiments were conducted with ten soil columns (25 × 25 × 50 cm) collected from different watersheds of the region under similar soil and agro-climatic zones. The sampling sites included two undisturbed forested hillslopes, two conventionally cultivated paddy fields, two forest lands abandoned after Jhum cultivation, and two paddy fields, one pineapple plot and one banana plot presently under active cultivation stage of the Jhum cycle. Digital image analyses of the obtained dye patterns showed that the infiltration patterns differed significantly for different sites with varying land use, land cover, and cultivation practices. Undisturbed forest soils showed high degree of soil macroporosity throughout the soil profile, paddy fields revealed sealing of macropores at the topsoil due to hard pan formation, and Jhum cultivated plots showed disconnected subsoil macropores. The important parameters related to soil macropores such as maximum and average size of macropores, number of active macropores, and depthwise distribution of macropores were estimated to characterise the soil macroporosity for the sites. These experimentally derived quantitative data of soil macroporosity can have wide range of applications in the region such as water quality monitoring and groundwater pollution assessment due to preferential leaching of solutes and pesticides, study of soil structural properties and infiltration behaviour of soils, investigation of flash floods in rivers, and hydrological modelling of the watersheds.

Infiltration and Runoff Measurements on Steep Burned Hillslopes Using a Rainfall Simulator with Variable Rain Intensities

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kinner, David A.; Moody, John A.

2008-01-01

Multiple rainfall intensities were used in rainfall-simulation experiments designed to investigate the infiltration and runoff from 1-square-meter plots on burned hillslopes covered by an ash layer of varying thickness. The 1-square-meter plots were on north- and south-facing hillslopes in an area burned by the Overland fire northwest of Boulder near Jamestown on the Front Range of Colorado. A single-nozzle, wide-angle, multi-intensity rain simulator was developed to investigate the infiltration and runoff on steep (30- to 40-percent gradient) burned hillslopes covered with ash. The simulated rainfall was evaluated for spatial variability, drop size, and kinetic energy. Fourteen rainfall simulations, at three intensities (about 20 millimeters per hour [mm/h], 35 mm/h, and 50 mm/h), were conducted on four plots. Measurements during and after the simulations included runoff, rainfall, suspended-sediment concentrations, surface ash layer thickness, soil moisture, soil grain size, soil lost on ignition, and plot topography. Runoff discharge reached a steady state within 7 to 26 minutes. Steady infiltration rates with the 50-mm/h application rainfall intensity approached 20?35 mm/h. If these rates are projected to rainfall application intensities used in many studies of burned area runoff production (about 80 mm/h), the steady discharge rates are on the lower end of measurements from other studies. Experiments using multiple rainfall intensities (three) suggest that runoff begins at rainfall intensities around 20 mm/h at the 1-square-meter scale, an observation consistent with a 10-mm/h rainfall intensity threshold needed for runoff initiation that has been reported in the literature.

30 CFR 817.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations and other disturbances to prevent or control... formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water. Storage shall be limited to the period...

30 CFR 817.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations and other disturbances to prevent or control... formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water. Storage shall be limited to the period...

30 CFR 817.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations and other disturbances to prevent or control... formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water. Storage shall be limited to the period...

Development of graphite foam infiltrated with MgCl 2 for a latent heat based thermal energy storage (LHTES) system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Dileep; Kim, Taeil; Zhao, Weihuan

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems that are compatible with high temperature power cycles for concentrating solar power (CSP) require high temperature media for transporting and storing thermal energy. To that end, TES systems have been proposed based on the latent heat of fusion of the phase change materials (PCMs). However, PCMs have relatively low thermal conductivities. In this paper, use of high-thermal-conductivity graphite foam infiltrated with a PCM (MgCl2) has been investigated as a potential TES system. Graphite foams with two porosities were infiltrated with MgCl2. The infiltrated composites were evaluated for density, heat of fusion, melting/freezing temperatures, and thermalmore » diffusivities. Estimated thermal conductivities of MgCl2/graphite foam composites were significantly higher than those of MgCl2 alone over the measured temperature range. Furthermore, heat of fusion, melting/freezing temperatures, and densities showed comparable values to those of pure MgCl2. Results of this study indicate that MgCl2/graphite foam composites show promise as storage media for a latent heat thermal energy storage system for CSP applications.« less

Using portable particle sizing instrumentation to rapidly measure the penetration of fine and ultrafine particles in unoccupied residences.

PubMed

Zhao, H; Stephens, B

2017-01-01

Much of human exposure to particulate matter of outdoor origin occurs inside buildings, particularly in residences. The particle penetration factor through leaks in a building's exterior enclosure assembly is a key parameter that governs the infiltration of outdoor particles. However, experimental data for size-resolved particle penetration factors in real buildings, as well as penetration factors for fine particles less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) and ultrafine particles less than 100 nm (UFPs), remain limited, in part because of previous limitations in instrumentation and experimental methods. Here, we report on the development and application of a modified test method that utilizes portable particle sizing instrumentation to measure size-resolved infiltration factors and envelope penetration factors for 0.01-2.5 μm particles, which are then used to estimate penetration factors for integral measures of UFPs and PM 2.5 . Eleven replicate measurements were made in an unoccupied apartment unit in Chicago, IL to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of the test procedure and solution methods. Mean estimates of size-resolved penetration factors ranged from 0.41 ± 0.14 to 0.73 ± 0.05 across the range of measured particle sizes, while mean estimates of penetration factors for integral measures of UFPs and PM 2.5 were 0.67 ± 0.05 and 0.73 ± 0.05, respectively. Average relative uncertainties for all particle sizes/classes were less than 20%. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Preliminary estimates of spatially distributed net infiltration and recharge for the Death Valley region, Nevada-California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hevesi, J.A.; Flint, A.L.; Flint, L.E.

2002-01-01

A three-dimensional ground-water flow model has been developed to evaluate the Death Valley regional flow system, which includes ground water beneath the Nevada Test Site. Estimates of spatially distributed net infiltration and recharge are needed to define upper boundary conditions. This study presents a preliminary application of a conceptual and numerical model of net infiltration. The model was developed in studies at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, which is located in the approximate center of the Death Valley ground-water flow system. The conceptual model describes the effects of precipitation, runoff, evapotranspiration, and redistribution of water in the shallow unsaturated zone on predicted rates of net infiltration; precipitation and soil depth are the two most significant variables. The conceptual model was tested using a preliminary numerical model based on energy- and water-balance calculations. Daily precipitation for 1980 through 1995, averaging 202 millimeters per year over the 39,556 square kilometers area of the ground-water flow model, was input to the numerical model to simulate net infiltration ranging from zero for a soil thickness greater than 6 meters to over 350 millimeters per year for thin soils at high elevations in the Spring Mountains overlying permeable bedrock. Estimated average net infiltration over the entire ground-water flow model domain is 7.8 millimeters per year.To evaluate the application of the net-infiltration model developed on a local scale at Yucca Mountain, to net-infiltration estimates representing the magnitude and distribution of recharge on a regional scale, the net-infiltration results were compared with recharge estimates obtained using empirical methods. Comparison of model results with previous estimates of basinwide recharge suggests that the net-infiltration estimates obtained using this model may overestimate recharge because of uncertainty in modeled precipitation, bedrock permeability, and soil properties for locations such as the Spring Mountains. Although this model is preliminary and uncalibrated, it provides a first approximation of the spatial distribution of net infiltration for the Death Valley region under current climatic conditions.

Infiltration-driven metamorphism, New England, USA: Regional CO2 fluxes and implications for Devonian climate and extinctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, E. M.; Ague, Jay J.

2018-05-01

We undertake thermodynamic pseudosection modeling of metacarbonate rocks in the Wepawaug Schist, Connecticut, USA, and examine the implications for CO2 outgassing from collisional orogenic belts. Two broad types of pseudosections are calculated: (1) a fully closed-system model with no fluid infiltration and (2) a fluid-buffered model including an H2O-CO2 fluid of a fixed composition. This fluid-buffered model is used to approximate a system open to infiltration by a water-bearing fluid. In all cases the fully closed-system model fails to reproduce the observed major mineral zones, mineral compositions, reaction temperatures, and fluid compositions. The fluid-infiltrated models, on the other hand, successfully reproduce these observations when the XCO2 of the fluid is in the range ∼0.05 to ∼0.15. Fluid-infiltrated models predict significant progressive CO2 loss, peaking at ∼50% decarbonation at amphibolite facies. The closed-system models dramatically underestimate the degree of decarbonation, predicting only ∼15% CO2 loss at peak conditions, and, remarkably, <1% CO2 loss below ∼600 °C. We propagate the results of fluid-infiltrated pseudosections to determine an areal CO2 flux for the Wepawaug Schist. This yields ∼1012 mol CO2 km-2 Myr-1, consistent with multiple independent estimates of the metamorphic CO2 flux, and comparable in magnitude to fluxes from mid-ocean ridges and volcanic arcs. Extrapolating to the area of the Acadian orogenic belt, we suggest that metamorphic CO2 degassing is a plausible driver of global warming, sea level rise, and, perhaps, extinction in the mid- to late-Devonian.

Difference infiltrometer: a method to measure temporally variable infiltration rates during rainstorms

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moody, John A.; Ebel, Brian A.

2012-01-01

We developed a difference infiltrometer to measure time series of non-steady infiltration rates during rainstorms at the point scale. The infiltrometer uses two, tipping bucket rain gages. One gage measures rainfall onto, and the other measures runoff from, a small circular plot about 0.5-m in diameter. The small size allows the infiltration rate to be computed as the difference of the cumulative rainfall and cumulative runoff without having to route water through a large plot. Difference infiltrometers were deployed in an area burned by the 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire near Boulder, Colorado, USA, and data were collected during the summer of 2011. The difference infiltrometer demonstrated the capability to capture different magnitudes of infiltration rates and temporal variability associated with convective (high intensity, short duration) and cyclonic (low intensity, long duration) rainstorms. Data from the difference infiltrometer were used to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil affected by the heat from a wildfire. The difference infiltrometer is portable and can be deployed in rugged, steep terrain and does not require the transport of water, as many rainfall simulators require, because it uses natural rainfall. It can be used to assess infiltration models, determine runoff coefficients, identify rainfall depth or rainfall intensity thresholds to initiate runoff, estimate parameters for infiltration models, and compare remediation treatments on disturbed landscapes. The difference infiltrometer can be linked with other types of soil monitoring equipment in long-term studies for detecting temporal and spatial variability at multiple time scales and in nested designs where it can be linked to hillslope and basin-scale runoff responses.

[Evaluation of inflammatory cells (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes - TIL) in malignant melanoma].

PubMed

Dundr, Pavel; Němejcová, Kristýna; Bártů, Michaela; Tichá, Ivana; Jakša, Radek

2018-01-01

The evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes - TIL) should be a standard part of biopsy examination for malignant melanoma. Currently, the most commonly used assessment method according to Clark is not optimal and there have been attempts to find an alternative system. Here we present an overview of possible approaches involving five different evaluation methods based on hematoxylin-eosin staining, including the recent suggestion of unified TIL evaluation method for all solid tumors. The issue of methodology, prognostic and predictive significance of TIL determination as well as the importance of immunohistochemical subtyping of inflammatory infiltrate is discussed.

Endocytoscopic findings of lymphomas of the stomach

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The gastric lesions of various lymphomas were observed at the cellular level using endocytoscopy. Methods Endocytoscopy and magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging (NBI) were performed in 17 patients with lymphomas of the stomach. The lesions consisted of 7 with low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), 5 with gastric involvement by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 4 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 1 with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Results On conventional endoscopy, 9 were classified as having superficial spreading type, 7 were mass-forming type, and 1 was diffuse infiltrating type. Anti-H. pylori treatment was given in the 7 MALT lymphoma cases. NBI magnification endoscopy invariably showed dilatation or ballooning and destruction of gastric pits and elongation and distortion in microvessels. Endocytoscopy showed mucosal aggregation of interstitial cellular elements in almost all gastric lymphoma cases. The nuclear diversity in size and configuration was exclusively seen in gastric lymphomas other than MALT lymphoma, whereas the nuclei of MALT lymphoma cells were regular and small to moderate in size. Inter-glandular infiltration by lymphomatous cell elements was frequently observed in MALT lymphoma and DLBCL, but it was uncommon in peripheral gastric T-cell malignancies. Endocytoscopy could identify the disease-specific histology, the lymphoepithelial origin, as inter-glandular infiltration of cellular components in MALT lymphoma and the possibly related DLBCL cases. Complete regression (CR) was observed in 2 of the 7 MALT lymphoma patients. In the 2 patients with CR who underwent repeat endocytoscopy, the ultra-high magnification abnormalities returned to normal, while they were unchanged in those without tumor regression. Conclusions On endocytoscopy, intra-glandular aggregation of cellular components was invariably identified in lymphomas of the stomach. Nuclear regularity in size and configuration may indicate the cytological grade, differentiating the indolent low-grade from aggressive lymphoproliferative diseases. The inter-glandular infiltration seen on endocytoscopy can indicate the lymphoepithelial lesions seen in MALT lymphoma and related DLBCL. Endocytoscopy would be applicable for virtual histopathological diagnosis of different lymphoproliferative disorders and their clinical assessment during ongoing endoscopy. PMID:24369830

Fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composite fabrication by electrophoretic infiltration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kooner, S.; Campaniello, J.J.; Pickering, S.

Electrophoretic infiltration is a novel technique for the fabrication of fibre reinforced composites. The fibres are arranged as one of the electrodes such that deposition of the colloidal ceramic occurs in the fibre preform. This method has been investigated for the composite system of carbon fibre reinforced Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} and has produced green composite microstructures with good infiltration uniformity and fibre distribution and few macro defects.

Quantification of groundwater infiltration and surface water inflows in urban sewer networks based on a multiple model approach.

PubMed

Karpf, Christian; Krebs, Peter

2011-05-01

The management of sewer systems requires information about discharge and variability of typical wastewater sources in urban catchments. Especially the infiltration of groundwater and the inflow of surface water (I/I) are important for making decisions about the rehabilitation and operation of sewer networks. This paper presents a methodology to identify I/I and estimate its quantity. For each flow fraction in sewer networks, an individual model approach is formulated whose parameters are optimised by the method of least squares. This method was applied to estimate the contributions to the wastewater flow in the sewer system of the City of Dresden (Germany), where data availability is good. Absolute flows of I/I and their temporal variations are estimated. Further information on the characteristics of infiltration is gained by clustering and grouping sewer pipes according to the attributes construction year and groundwater influence and relating these resulting classes to infiltration behaviour. Further, it is shown that condition classes based on CCTV-data can be used to estimate the infiltration potential of sewer pipes. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinicopathological characteristics of four cases of EBV positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of childhood in China

PubMed Central

Huang, Wenting; Lv, Ning; Ying, Jianming; Qiu, Tian; Feng, Xiaoli

2014-01-01

A new category, “EBV positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) of childhood”, was proposed in the 2008 World Health Organization’s (WHO) classifications of lymphoma. This series of lymphoproliferative disorders is rare. There are two major types of this series of disorders: systemic EBV positive T-cell LPD of childhood and hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma (HVLL). In this study, we describe the distinct features of four cases of EBV positive T-cell LPD of childhood in China. Two were systemic EBV positive T-cell LPD of childhood, one was HVLL and one was chronic active EBV (CAEBV). The main manifestations were lymphadenopathy, fever, hepatosplenomegaly and skin rashes. The structure of the lymph nodes in the patients ranged from preserved to partially or totally destroyed. Small- to medium-sized, atypical T cells had infiltrated the lymph nodes. In HVLL, the neoplastic cells had infiltrated the dermis and subcutaneous region surrounding sweat glands and nerves. All of the cases tested positive for CD8, other T cells, cytotoxic markers and EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) without CD56 expression. Molecular analysis was performed in three cases. All of the three analyses showed a TCRγ rearrangement and one case also had an IGH rearrangement. One of the patients with systemic EBV positive T-cell LPD of childhood experienced rapid evolved and died within five months of onset. CAEBV, systemic EBV-positive T-cell LPD of childhood and HVLL are distinct but overlapping diseases within the category of EBV-positive T-cell LPD of childhood. They constitute a continuous spectrum of EBV-infected associated disorders. PMID:25197370

Raman molecular imaging of brain frozen tissue sections.

PubMed

Kast, Rachel E; Auner, Gregory W; Rosenblum, Mark L; Mikkelsen, Tom; Yurgelevic, Sally M; Raghunathan, Aditya; Poisson, Laila M; Kalkanis, Steven N

2014-10-01

Raman spectroscopy provides a molecular signature of the region being studied. It is ideal for neurosurgical applications because it is non-destructive, label-free, not impacted by water concentration, and can map an entire region of tissue. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the meaningful spatial molecular information provided by Raman spectroscopy for identification of regions of normal brain, necrosis, diffusely infiltrating glioma and solid glioblastoma (GBM). Five frozen section tissues (1 normal, 1 necrotic, 1 GBM, and 2 infiltrating glioma) were mapped in their entirety using a 300-µm-square step size. Smaller regions of interest were also mapped using a 25-µm step size. The relative concentrations of relevant biomolecules were mapped across all tissues and compared with adjacent hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, allowing identification of normal, GBM, and necrotic regions. Raman peaks and peak ratios mapped included 1003, 1313, 1431, 1585, and 1659 cm(-1). Tissue maps identified boundaries of grey and white matter, necrosis, GBM, and infiltrating tumor. Complementary information, including relative concentration of lipids, protein, nucleic acid, and hemoglobin, was presented in a manner which can be easily adapted for in vivo tissue mapping. Raman spectroscopy can successfully provide label-free imaging of tissue characteristics with high accuracy. It can be translated to a surgical or laboratory tool for rapid, non-destructive imaging of tumor margins.

Percutaneous foot joint needle placement using a C-arm flat-panel detector CT.

PubMed

Wiewiorski, Martin; Takes, Martin Thanh Long; Valderrabano, Victor; Jacob, Augustinus Ludwig

2012-03-01

Image guidance is valuable for diagnostic injections in foot orthopaedics. Flat-detector computed tomography (FD-CT) was implemented using a C-arm, and the system was tested for needle guidance in foot joint injections. FD-CT-guided joint infiltration was performed in 6 patients referred from the orthopaedic department for diagnostic foot injections. All interventions were performed utilising a flat-panel fluoroscopy system utilising specialised image guidance and planning software. Successful infiltration was defined by localisation of contrast media depot in the targeted joint. The pre- and post-interventional numeric analogue scale (NAS) pain score was assessed. All injections were technically successful. Contrast media deposit was documented in all targeted joints. Significant relief of symptoms was noted by all 6 participants. FD-CT-guided joint infiltration is a feasible method for diagnostic infiltration of midfoot and hindfoot joints. The FD-CT approach may become an alternative to commonly used 2D-fluoroscopically guidance.

Inter-event variability in urban stormwater runoff response associated with hydrologic connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hondula, K. L.

2015-12-01

Urbanization alters the magnitude and composition of hydrologic and biogeochemical fluxes from watersheds, with subsequent deleterious consequences for receiving waters. Projected changes in storm characteristics such as rainfall intensity and event size are predicted to amplify these impacts and render current regulations inadequate for protecting surface water quality. As stormwater management practices (BMPs) are increasingly being relied upon to reduce excess nutrient pollution in runoff from residential development, empirical investigation of their performance across a range of conditions is warranted. Despite substantial investment in urban and suburban BMPs, significant knowledge gaps exist in understanding how landscape structure and precipitation event characteristics influence the amount of stormwater runoff and associated nutrient loads from these complex catchments. Increasing infiltration of stormwater before it enters the sewer network (source control) is hypothesized to better mimic natural hydrologic and biogeochemical fluxes compared to more centralized BMPs at sewer outlets such as wet and dry ponds. Rainfall and runoff quality and quantity were monitored in four small (1-5 ha) residential catchments in Maryland to test the efficacy of infiltration-based stormwater management practices in comparison to end-of-pipe BMPs. Results indicated that reduced hydrologic connectivity associated with infiltration-based practices affected the relationship between the magnitude of rainfall events and water yield , but only for small precipitation events: compared to end-of-pipe BMPs, source control was associated with both lower runoff ratios and lower nutrient export per area for a given rainfall event size. We found variability in stormwater runoff responses (water yield, quality, and nutrient loads) was associated with precipitation event size, antecedent rainfall, and hydrologic connectivity as quantified by a modified directional connectivity index. Accounting for the interactive effects of landscape structure and precipitation event characteristics can reduce the uncertainty surrounding stormwater runoff responses in complex urban watersheds.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Embedded in a Silicon Matrix

PubMed Central

Granitzer, Petra; Rumpf, Klemens

2011-01-01

This paper represents a short overview of nanocomposites consisting of magnetic nanoparticles incorporated into the pores of a porous silicon matrix by two different methods. On the one hand, nickel is electrochemically deposited whereas the nanoparticles are precipitated on the pore walls. The size of these particles is between 2 and 6 nm. These particles cover the pore walls and form a tube-like arrangement. On the other hand, rather well monodispersed iron oxide nanoparticles, of 5 and 8 nm respectively, are infiltrated into the pores. From their size the particles would be superparamagnetic if isolated but due to magnetic interactions between them, ordering of magnetic moments occurs below a blocking temperature and thus the composite system displays a ferromagnetic behavior. This transition temperature of the nanocomposite can be varied by changing the filling factor of the particles within the pores. Thus samples with magnetic properties which are variable in a broad range can be achieved, which renders this composite system interesting not only for basic research but also for applications, especially because of the silicon base material which makes it possible for today’s process technology. PMID:28879957

Cermets from molten metal infiltration processing

DOEpatents

Landingham, Richard Lee

2012-09-18

New cermets with improved properties and applications are provided. These new cermets have lower density and/or higher hardness than B4C cermet. By incorporating other new ceramics into B4C powders or as a substitute for B4C, lower densities and/or higher hardness cermets result. The ceramic powders have much finer particle size than those previously used which significantly reduces grain size of the cermet microstructure and improves the cermet properties.

Cermets from molten metal infiltration processing

DOEpatents

Landingham, Richard L.

2013-09-10

New cermets with improved properties and applications are provided. These new cermets have lower density and/or higher hardness than B4C cermet. By incorporating other new ceramics into B4C powders or as a substitute for B4C, lower densities and/or higher hardness cermets result. The ceramic powders have much finer particle size than those previously used which significantly reduces grain size of the cermet microstructure and improves the cermet properties.

IL-21 promotes myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury through the modulation of neutrophil infiltration.

PubMed

Wang, Kejing; Wen, Shuang; Jiao, Jiao; Tang, Tingting; Zhao, Xin; Zhang, Min; Lv, Bingjie; Lu, Yuzhi; Zhou, Xingdi; Li, Jingyong; Nie, Shaofang; Liao, Yuhua; Wang, Qing; Tu, Xin; Mallat, Ziad; Xia, Ni; Cheng, Xiang

2018-04-01

The immune system plays an important role in driving the acute inflammatory response following myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI). IL-21 is a pleiotropic cytokine with multiple immunomodulatory effects, but its role in MIRI is not known. Myocardial injury, neutrophil infiltration and the expression of neutrophil chemokines KC (CXCL1) and MIP-2 (CXCL2) were studied in a mouse model of MIRI. Effects of IL-21 on the expression of KC and MIP-2 in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (CMs) and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA. The signalling mechanisms underlying these effects were explored by western blot analysis. IL-21 was elevated within the acute phase of murine MIRI. Neutralization of IL-21 attenuated myocardial injury, as illustrated by reduced infarct size, decreased cardiac troponin T levels and improved cardiac function, whereas exogenous IL-21 administration exerted opposite effects. IL-21 increased the infiltration of neutrophils and increased the expression of KC and MIP-2 in myocardial tissue following MIRI. Moreover, neutrophil depletion attenuated the IL-21-induced myocardial injury. Mechanistically, IL-21 increased the production of KC and MIP-2 in neonatal CMs and CFs, and enhanced neutrophil migration, as revealed by the migration assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this IL-21-mediated increase in chemokine expression involved the activation of Akt/NF-κB signalling in CMs and p38 MAPK/NF-κB signalling in CFs. Our data provide novel evidence that IL-21 plays a pathogenic role in MIRI, most likely by promoting cardiac neutrophil infiltration. Therefore, targeting IL-21 may have therapeutic potential as a treatment for MIRI. This article is part of a themed section on Spotlight on Small Molecules in Cardiovascular Diseases. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.8/issuetoc. © 2017 The British Pharmacological Society.

Analysis of physical parameters related with water infiltration in tropical soils located in edges forest in urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Márcia Longo, Regina; Cunha, Jessica C. M.; Lammoglia, Rafaella; Mendes, Deborah R.; Mungilioli, Sarah S.; Damame, Desiree B.; Demamboro, Antônio C.; Bettine, Sueli C.; Ribeiro, Admilson I.; Fengler, Felipe H.

2015-04-01

A very important factor for water infiltration into the soil in urban forest systems and suffering constant anthropogenic pressures is the analysis of soil compaction where these forests are or will be established. In this context, this work aimed to promote studies on physical parameters related to distribution of pores, compaction and soil biological activity in forest remnants border areas located in urban watersheds in Campinas / SP - Brazil. The Forest of Santa Genebra (22°49'45 "S and 47°06'33" W) has an average altitude of 680m and tropical climate of altitude, has an area of 251 ha and a nine kilometer perimeter. It constitutes 85% of Semideciduos forests and 15% swamp forest. Due to its location close to urban centers, roads and agricultural areas under direct influence of the anthropic means. For the present study analyzes were performed: particle size, soil density, porosity, matters organic, of biopores, and root distribution (primary, secondary and tertiary) and seedlings in 40 points on the perimeter of the forest equidistant 200m remaining edge. The analysis of the results allowed us to observe that areas suffer direct influence of human activities surrounding. With the results set correlations between the different parameters in order to allow a better understanding of the dynamics of water infiltration into the soil under these conditions and the quantity of tertiary roots, biopores and soil density were the best indicator of environmental quality as suffer direct influence of the surrounding areas, especially those near the most urbanized regions. In general, it can be observed that human activities such as deforestation and vehicle traffic, animals and people, promoted soil compaction and consequent changes in water infiltration into the soil in areas of edges of this remnant of these consequences affect direct numerous parameters that directly influence the dynamics of an ecosystem restoration that is now significantly affected by the occupation of their surroundings.

Infiltration behaviour of elemental mercury DNAPL in fully and partially water saturated porous media.

PubMed

D'Aniello, Andrea; Hartog, Niels; Sweijen, Thomas; Pianese, Domenico

2018-02-01

Mercury is a contaminant of global concern due to its harmful effects on human health and for the detrimental consequences of its release in the environment. Sources of liquid elemental mercury are usually anthropogenic, such as chlor-alkali plants. To date insight into the infiltration behaviour of liquid elemental mercury in the subsurface is lacking, although this is critical for assessing both characterization and remediation approaches for mercury DNAPL contaminated sites. Therefore, in this study the infiltration behaviour of elemental mercury in fully and partially water saturated systems was investigated using column experiments. The properties affecting the constitutive relations governing the infiltration behaviour of liquid Hg 0 , and PCE for comparison, were determined using P c (S) experiments with different granular porous media (glass beads and sands) for different two- and three-phase configurations. Results showed that, in water saturated porous media, elemental mercury, as PCE, acted as a non-wetting fluid. The required entry head for elemental mercury was higher (from about 5 to 7 times). However, due to the almost tenfold higher density of mercury, the required NAPL entry heads of 6.19cm and 12.51cm for mercury to infiltrate were 37.5% to 20.7% lower than for PCE for the same porous media. Although Leverett scaling was able to reproduce the natural tendency of Hg 0 to be more prone than PCE to infiltrate in water saturated porous media, it considerably underestimated Hg 0 infiltration capacity in comparison with the experimental results. In the partially water saturated system, in contrast with PCE, elemental mercury also acted as a nonwetting fluid, therefore having to overcome an entry head to infiltrate. The required Hg 0 entry heads (10.45 and 15.74cm) were considerably higher (68.9% and 25.8%) than for the water saturated porous systems. Furthermore, in the partially water saturated systems, experiments showed that elemental mercury displaced both air and water, depending on the initial water distribution within the pores. This indicates that the conventional wettability hierarchy, in which the NAPL has an intermediate wetting state between the air and the water phases, is not valid for liquid elemental mercury. Therefore, for future modelling of elemental mercury DNAPL infiltration behaviour in variably water saturated porous media, a different formulation of the governing constitutive relations will be required. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advanced Standoff Interdiction Weapon and Sensor System. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1972-06-15

interdiction system to counter enemy infiltration along the water - ways and roads of Southeast Asia. The sensors were selected to give the helicopter a...was con- ceived as an interdiction system to counter enemy infiltration along the water - ways ard roads of Southeast Asia. The sensors were selected...controller enabled him to fly the helicopter to intercept the moving target. Mount camera film was exposed while the target was being fracked by the

IMPACT OF HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OPERATION AND LEAKAGE ON VENTILATION AND INTERCOMPARTMENT TRANSPORT: STUDIES IN UNOCCUPIED AND OCCUPIED TENNESSEE VALLEY HOMES

EPA Science Inventory

Forced-air heating and air conditioning (HAC) systems caused an average and maximum increase in air infiltration rates of 1.8- and 4.3-fold, respectively, during brief whole-house studies of tracer gas decay In 39 occupied houses. An average Increase in air infiltration rate of 0...

[Cervical cancer : Update on morphology].

PubMed

Horn, L-C; Brambs, C E; Handzel, R; Lax, S; Sändig, I; Schmidt, D; Schierle, K

2016-11-01

The World Health Organization (WHO) classification from 2014 differentiates between different subtypes of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. A gastric subtype was recently described that showed no association with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, has a poor prognosis, is mainly diagnosed in women of Asian origin and can occur in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Although no clear grading system has been recommended in the WHO classification, it is likely that grading of adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix will partly be based on the different patterns of invasion. Deep stromal infiltration of macroinvasive carcinomas is defined as an infiltration of >66 % of the cervical stroma. In the near future a maximum tumor size of 2 cm could act as a discriminator for planning of less radical surgery. Parameters of the histopathological report that are relevant for the prognostic assessment as well as the choice of adjuvant treatment and function as quality indicators during certification are described. The histological type of an adenocarcinoma alone is of no predictive or prognostic relevance for patients undergoing primary surgical treatment, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, combined chemo-radiotherapy or treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors. Currently, molecular parameters and biomarkers are of no relevance.

The Influence of Shuttle-Shape Emodin Nanoparticles on the Streptococcus suis Biofilm.

PubMed

Ding, Wenya; Sun, Jin; Lian, He; Xu, Changgeng; Liu, Xin; Zheng, Sidi; Zhang, Dong; Han, Xiaopeng; Liu, Yanyan; Chen, Xueying; God Spower, Bello O; Li, Yanhua

2018-01-01

Biofilm is one of the most important physiological protective barriers of the Streptococcus suis ( S. suis ), and it is also one of the primary causes of hindrance to drug infiltration, reduction of bactericidal effects, and the development of antibiotic resistance. In order to intervene or eliminate S. suis biofilm, shuttle-shape emodin-loaded nanoparticles were developed in our study. The emodin nanoparticles were prepared by emodin and gelatin-cyclodextrin which was synthesized as drug carrier, and the nanoparticles were 174 nm in size, -4.64 mv in zeta potential, and exhibited a sustained emodin release. Moreover, the delivery kinetics of nanoparticles were also explored in our study. The confocal laser scanning microscopy and colony forming unit enumeration experiment indicated that nanoparticles could increase drug infiltration and uptake by biofilm. The flow cytometry system analysis showed that nanoparticles could be up taken by 99% of the bacteria cells. TCP assay and scanning electron microscopy showed that the nanoparticles had better effect on biofilm inhibition and elimination when compared with emodin solution. These results revealed that the emodin nanoparticles had a better therapeutic effect on the S. suis biofilm in vitro .

Severe localised granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) manifesting with extensive cranial nerve palsies and cranial diabetes insipidus: a case report and literature review.

PubMed

Peters, James E; Gupta, Vivek; Saeed, Ibtisam T; Offiah, Curtis; Jawad, Ali S M

2018-05-01

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, formerly Wegener's granulomatosis) is a multisystem vasculitis of small- to medium-sized blood vessels. Cranial involvement can result in cranial nerve palsies and, rarely, pituitary infiltration. We describe the case of a 32 year-old woman with limited but severe GPA manifesting as progressive cranial nerve palsies and pituitary dysfunction. Our patient initially presented with localised ENT involvement, but despite treatment with methotrexate, she deteriorated. Granulomatous inflammatory tissue around the skull base resulted in cavernous sinus syndrome, facial nerve palsy, palsies of cranial nerves IX-XII (Collet-Sicard syndrome), and the rare complication of cranial diabetes insipidus due to pituitary infiltration. The glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerve palsies resulted in severe dysphagia and she required nasogastric tube feeding. Her neurological deficits substantially improved with treatment including high dose corticosteroid, cyclophosphamide and rituximab. This case emphasises that serious morbidity can arise from localised cranial Wegener's granulomatosis in the absence of systemic disease. In such cases intensive induction immunosuppression is required. Analysis of previously reported cases of pituitary involvement in GPA reveals that this rare complication predominantly affects female patients.

Study on titanium-magnesium composites with bicontinuous structure fabricated by powder metallurgy and ultrasonic infiltration.

PubMed

Jiang, S; Huang, L J; An, Q; Geng, L; Wang, X J; Wang, S

2018-05-01

Titanium-magnesium (Ti-Mg) composites with bicontinuous structure have been successfully fabricated by powder metallurgy and ultrasonic infiltration for biomaterial potential. In the composites, Ti phase is distributed continuously by sintering necks, while Mg phase is also continuous, distributing at the interconnected pores surrounding the Ti phase. The results showed that the fabricated Ti-Mg composites exhibited low modulus and high strength, which are very suitable for load bearing biomedical materials. The composites with 100 µm and 230 µm particle sizes exhibited Young's modulus of 37.6 GPa and 23.4 GPa, 500.7 MPa and 340 MPa of compressive strength and 631.5 MPa and 375.2 MPa of bending strength, respectively. Moreover, both of the modulus and strength of the composites increase with decreasing of Ti particle sizes. In vitro study has been done for the preliminary evaluation of the Ti-Mg composites. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Infiltration characteristics and influencing factors of retroperitoneal liposarcoma: Novel evidence for extended surgery and a tumor grading system.

PubMed

Wang, Zhen; Wu, Jianhui; Lv, Ang; Li, Chengpeng; Li, Zhongwu; Zhao, Min; Hao, Chunyi

2018-05-13

This study sought to evaluate the infiltration tendency of retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) from a new pathological angle by exploring the infiltration characteristics, which could provide helpful information to facilitate surgical decision-making and prognosis prediction. Concurrently, we aim to identify significant indicators of infiltration. A total of 61 consecutive patients with RPLS at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received extended surgery. The tumor infiltration characteristics and influencing factors were studied based on the pathological diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses of organ infiltration (OI) and surrounding fat infiltration (SFI) were performed. OI was found in 95 (28.5%) resected organs from 39 (60.7%) patients, and SFI was found in 119 (35.7%) resected organs from 47 (77%) patients. The tumor infiltrated the serosal layer of 13 organs (13/37, 35.1%), the muscularis layer of 18 organs (18/37, 48.6%) and the submucosa of 6 organs (6/37, 16.2%). The percentage of lipoblasts and the rates of necrosis and mitosis were all significantly higher in high-grade tumors (dedifferentiated, round cell, and pleomorphic). A high lipoblast percentage (≥ 20%) was the only independent risk factor for OI. A recurrent tumor and a high-grade tumor were independent risk factors for SFI. In conclusion, RPLS has a high infiltration tendency, such that it frequently infiltrates organs and surrounding fat tissue. Therefore, extended resection of the tumor and the adjacent organs is recommended. The percentage of lipoblasts was associated with the tumor grade and infiltration characteristics; thus, lipoblast percentage may become a new grading factor for RPLS.

Characterizing Heterogeneity in Infiltration Rates During Managed Aquifer Recharge.

PubMed

Mawer, Chloe; Parsekian, Andrew; Pidlisecky, Adam; Knight, Rosemary

2016-11-01

Infiltration rate is the key parameter that describes how water moves from the surface into a groundwater aquifer during managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Characterization of infiltration rate heterogeneity in space and time is valuable information for MAR system operation. In this study, we utilized fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) observations and the phase shift of the diurnal temperature signal between two vertically co-located fiber optic cables to characterize infiltration rate spatially and temporally in a MAR basin. The FO-DTS measurements revealed spatial heterogeneity of infiltration rate: approximately 78% of the recharge water infiltrated through 50% of the pond bottom on average. We also introduced a metric for quantifying how the infiltration rate in a recharge pond changes over time, which enables FO-DTS to be used as a method for monitoring MAR and informing maintenance decisions. By monitoring this metric, we found high-spatial variability in how rapidly infiltration rate changed during the test period. We attributed this variability to biological pore clogging and found a relationship between high initial infiltration rate and the most rapid pore clogging. We found a strong relationship (R 2  = 0.8) between observed maximum infiltration rates and electrical resistivity measurements from electrical resistivity tomography data taken in the same basin when dry. This result shows that the combined acquisition of DTS and ERT data can improve the design and operation of a MAR pond significantly by providing the critical information needed about spatial variability in parameters controlling infiltration rates. © 2016, National Ground Water Association.

Renal cell carcinoma: the influence of new diagnostic imaging techniques on the size and stage of tumors diagnosed over the past 26 years.

PubMed

Touloupidis, Stavros; Papathanasiou, Athanasios; Kalaitzis, Christos; Fatles, Georgios; Manavis, Ioannis; Rombis, Vassilios

2006-01-01

We have analyzed data collected over a 26-year period for influences of new diagnostic imaging techniques (ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) on the size, stage, and other parameters of renal cell carcinomas at the time of first diagnosis. We reviewed retrospectively the records of 203 patients who underwent operations at our institutions from 1973 to 1999. All the patients suffered from renal cell carcinoma. With this study we attempted to answer four questions regarding changes over this time span: (1) have new imaging techniques lead to a reduction in the median diameter of the tumor upon first diagnosis, (2) has the tumor stage decreased due to earlier diagnosis, (3) is there any correlation between tumor size and tumor stage, and (4) are the patient's early diagnoses at a younger age? Other parameters such as infiltration of the renal pelvis and the cell type were also examined. The tumor size and stage at the time of diagnosis and treatment are positively correlated, and both decrease significantly over the time span examined. There is also a strong association between tumor size and infiltration of the renal pelvis. The median age of the patients did not significantly change over time. The wider use of improved imaging techniques has significantly changed the clinical appearance of the renal cell carcinoma. The question is whether these techniques have also affected the prognosis of the disease.

Effect of particle size on droplet infiltration into hydrophobic porous media as a model of water repellent soil.

PubMed

Hamlett, Christopher A E; Shirtcliffe, Neil J; McHale, Glen; Ahn, Sujung; Bryant, Robert; Doerr, Stefan H; Newton, Michael I

2011-11-15

The wettability of soil is of great importance for plants and soil biota, and in determining the risk for preferential flow, surface runoff, flooding,and soil erosion. The molarity of ethanol droplet (MED) test is widely used for quantifying the severity of water repellency in soils that show reduced wettability and is assumed to be independent of soil particle size. The minimum ethanol concentration at which droplet penetration occurs within a short time (≤ 10 s) provides an estimate of the initial advancing contact angle at which spontaneous wetting is expected. In this study, we test the assumption of particle size independence using a simple model of soil, represented by layers of small (~0.2-2 mm) diameter beads that predict the effect of changing bead radius in the top layer on capillary driven imbibition. Experimental results using a three-layer bead system show broad agreement with the model and demonstrate a dependence of the MED test on particle size. The results show that the critical initial advancing contact angle for penetration can be considerably less than 90° and varies with particle size, demonstrating that a key assumption currently used in the MED testing of soil is not necessarily valid.

Churg-Strauss syndrome from an orthopaedic perspective.

PubMed

Kung, K L; Yee, P K

2015-12-01

Churg-Strauss syndrome, which has been frequently described by physicians in the literature, is a small and medium-sized vessel systemic vasculitis typically associated with asthma, lung infiltrates, and hypereosinophilia. We report a case of Churg-Strauss syndrome with presenting symptoms of bilateral lower limb weakness and numbness only. The patient was admitted to an orthopaedic ward for management and a final diagnosis was reached following sural nerve biopsy. The patient's symptoms responded promptly to steroid treatment and she was able to walk with a stick 3 weeks following admission. This report emphasises the need to be aware of this syndrome when managing patients with neurological deficit in order to achieve prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The metastatic infiltration at the metastasis/brain parenchyma-interface is very heterogeneous and has a significant impact on survival in a prospective study

PubMed Central

Siam, Laila; Bleckmann, Annalen; Chaung, Han-Ning; Mohr, Alexander; Klemm, Florian; Barrantes-Freer, Alonso; Blazquez, Raquel; Wolff, Hendrik A.; Lüke, Florian; Rohde, Veit; Stadelmann, Christine; Pukrop, Tobias

2015-01-01

The current approach to brain metastases resection is macroscopic removal of metastasis until reaching the glial pseudo-capsule (gross total resection (GTR)). However, autopsy studies demonstrated infiltrating metastatic cells into the parenchyma at the metastasis/brain parenchyma (M/BP)-interface. Aims/Methods: To analyze the astrocyte reaction and metastatic infiltration pattern at the M/BP-interface with an organotypic brain slice coculture system. Secondly, to evaluate the significance of infiltrating metastatic tumor cells in a prospective biopsy study. Therefore, after GTR, biopsies were obtained from the brain parenchyma beyond the glial pseudo-capsule and analyzed histomorphologically. Results: The coculture revealed three types of cancer cell infiltration. Interestingly, the astrocyte reaction was significantly different in the coculture with a benign, neuroectodermal-derived cell line. In the prospective biopsy study 58/167 (34.7%) samples revealed infiltrating metastatic cells. Altogether, 25/39 patients (64.1%) had proven to exhibit infiltration in at least one biopsy specimen with significant impact on survival (OS) (3.4 HR; p = 0.009; 2-year OS was 6.6% versus 43.5%). Exceptionally, in the non-infiltrating cohort three patients were long-term survivors. Conclusions: Metastatic infiltration has a significant impact on prognosis. Secondly, the astrocyte reaction at the M/BP-interface is heterogeneous and supports our previous concept of the organ-specific defense against metastatic (organ-foreign) cells. PMID:26299612

Integrated modelling for the evaluation of infiltration effects.

PubMed

Schulz, N; Baur, R; Krebs, P

2005-01-01

The objective of the present study is the estimation of the potential benefits of sewer pipe rehabilitation for the performance of the drainage system and the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as well as for the receiving water quality. The relation of sewer system status and the infiltration rate is assessed based on statistical analysis of 470 km of CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) inspected sewers of the city of Dresden. The potential reduction of infiltration rates and the consequent performance improvements of the urban wastewater system are simulated as a function of rehabilitation activities in the network. The integrated model is applied to an artificial system with input from a real sewer network. In this paper, the general design of the integrated model and its data requirements are presented. For an exemplary study, the consequences of the simulations are discussed with respect to the prioritisation of rehabilitation activities in the network.

Efficiencies of multilayer infiltration systems for the removal of urban runoff pollutants.

PubMed

Hou, Lizhu; Liu, Fang; Feng, Chuanping; Wan, Li

2013-01-01

Current rates of urban development will result in water runoff becoming a major complication of urban water pollution. To address the worsening situation regarding water resource shortage and pollution, novel multilayer infiltration systems were designed and their effectiveness for removing pollutants in urban runoff tested experimentally. The multilayer infiltration systems effectively removed most pollutants, including organic matter (chemical oxygen demand (CODCr)), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) and total phosphorus (TP). CODCr, TN, NH4(+)-N, and TP were reduced by 68.67, 23.98, 82.66 and 92.11%, respectively. The main mechanism for nitrogen removal was biological nitrogen removal through nitrification and denitrification. Phosphorus in the urban runoff was removed mainly by fixation processes in the soil, such as adsorption and chemical precipitation. The results indicate that the proposed novel system has potential for removal of pollutants from urban runoff and subsequent reuse of the treated water.

Identification of immune cell infiltration in hematoxylin-eosin stained breast cancer samples: texture-based classification of tissue morphologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turkki, Riku; Linder, Nina; Kovanen, Panu E.; Pellinen, Teijo; Lundin, Johan

2016-03-01

The characteristics of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer capture clinically important information. Despite the heterogeneity of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, it has been shown that the degree of infiltration assessed by visual evaluation of hematoxylin-eosin (H and E) stained samples has prognostic and possibly predictive value. However, quantification of the infiltration in H and E-stained tissue samples is currently dependent on visual scoring by an expert. Computer vision enables automated characterization of the components of the tumor microenvironment, and texture-based methods have successfully been used to discriminate between different tissue morphologies and cell phenotypes. In this study, we evaluate whether local binary pattern texture features with superpixel segmentation and classification with support vector machine can be utilized to identify immune cell infiltration in H and E-stained breast cancer samples. Guided with the pan-leukocyte CD45 marker, we annotated training and test sets from 20 primary breast cancer samples. In the training set of arbitrary sized image regions (n=1,116) a 3-fold cross-validation resulted in 98% accuracy and an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.98 to discriminate between immune cell -rich and - poor areas. In the test set (n=204), we achieved an accuracy of 96% and AUC of 0.99 to label cropped tissue regions correctly into immune cell -rich and -poor categories. The obtained results demonstrate strong discrimination between immune cell -rich and -poor tissue morphologies. The proposed method can provide a quantitative measurement of the degree of immune cell infiltration and applied to digitally scanned H and E-stained breast cancer samples for diagnostic purposes.

Targeting early PKCθ-dependent T-cell infiltration of dystrophic muscle reduces disease severity in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy.

PubMed

Lozanoska-Ochser, Biliana; Benedetti, Anna; Rizzo, Giuseppe; Marrocco, Valeria; Di Maggio, Rosanna; Fiore, Piera; Bouche, Marina

2018-03-01

Chronic muscle inflammation is a critical feature of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and contributes to muscle fibre injury and disease progression. Although previous studies have implicated T cells in the development of muscle fibrosis, little is known about their role during the early stages of muscular dystrophy. Here, we show that T cells are among the first cells to infiltrate mdx mouse dystrophic muscle, prior to the onset of necrosis, suggesting an important role in early disease pathogenesis. Based on our comprehensive analysis of the kinetics of the immune response, we further identify the early pre-necrotic stage of muscular dystrophy as the relevant time frame for T-cell-based interventions. We focused on protein kinase C θ (PKCθ, encoded by Prkcq), a critical regulator of effector T-cell activation, as a potential target to inhibit T-cell activity in dystrophic muscle. Lack of PKCθ not only reduced the frequency and number of infiltrating T cells but also led to quantitative and qualitative changes in the innate immune cell infiltrate in mdx/Prkcq -/- muscle. These changes were due to the inhibition of T cells, since PKCθ was necessary for T-cell but not for myeloid cell infiltration of acutely injured muscle. Targeting T cells with a PKCθ inhibitor early in the disease process markedly diminished the size of the inflammatory cell infiltrate and resulted in reduced muscle damage. Moreover, diaphragm necrosis and fibrosis were also reduced following treatment. Overall, our findings identify the early T-cell infiltrate as a therapeutic target and highlight the potential of PKCθ inhibition as a therapeutic approach to muscular dystrophy. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental investigation of infiltration in soil with occurrence of preferential flow and air trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snehota, Michal; Jelinkova, Vladimira; Sacha, Jan; Cislerova, Milena

2015-04-01

Recently, a number of infiltration experiments have not proved the validity of standard Richards' theory of the flow in soils with wide pore size distribution. Water flow in such soils under near-saturated conditions often exhibits preferential flow and temporal instability of the saturated hydraulic conductivity. An intact sample of coarse sandy loam from Cambisol series containing naturally developed vertically connected macropore was investigated during recurrent ponding infiltration (RPI) experiments conducted during period of 30 hours. RPI experiment consisted of two ponded infiltration runs, each followed by free gravitational draining of the sample. Three-dimensional neutron tomography (NT) image of the dry sample was acquired before the infiltration begun. The dynamics of the wetting front advancement was investigated by a sequence of neutron radiography (NR) images. Analysis of NR showed that water front moved preferentially through the macropore at the approximate speed of 2 mm/sec, which was significantly faster pace than the 0.3 mm/sec wetting advancement in the surrounding soil matrix. After the water started to flow out of the sample, changes in the local water content distribution were evaluated quantitatively by subtracting the NT image of the dry sample from subsequent tomography images. As a next stage, the experiment was repeated on a composed sample packed of ceramic and coarse sand. Series of infiltration runs was conducted in the sample with different initial water contents. The neutron tomography data quantitatively showed that both in natural soil sample containing the macropore and in the composed sample air was gradually transported from the region of fine soil matrix to the macropores or to the coarser material. The accumulation of the air bubbles in the large pores affected the hydraulic conductivity of the sample reducing it up to 50% of the initial value. This supports the hypothesis on strong influence of entrapped air amount and spatial distribution on infiltration into heterogeneous soils. The research was supported by the Czech Science Foundation Project No. 14-03691S.

Feedbacks Between Bioclogging and Infiltration in Losing River Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Newcomer, M. E.; Hubbard, S. S.; Fleckenstein, J. H.; Schmidt, C.; Maier, U.; Thullner, M.; Ulrich, C.; Rubin, Y.

2014-12-01

Reduction in riverbed permeability due to biomass growth is a well-recognized yet poorly understood process associated with losing connected and disconnected rivers. Although several studies have focused on riverbed bioclogging processes at the pore-scale, few studies have quantified bioclogging feedback cycles at the scale relevant for water resources management, or at the meander-scale. At this scale, often competing hydrological-biological processes influence biomass dynamics and infiltration. Disconnection begins when declines in the water table form an unsaturated zone beneath the river maximizing seepage. Simultaneously, bioclogging reduces the point-scale infiltration flux and can either limit the nutrient flux and reduce bioclogging, or preferentially focus infiltration elsewhere and enhance bioclogging. These feedbacks are highly dependent on geomorphology and seasonal patterns of discharge and water temperature. To assess the mutual influences of disconnection, biomass growth, and temperature changes on infiltration in a geomorphologically complex river system, we built a 3D numerical model, conditioned on field data, using the reactive-transport simulator MIN3P. Results show that in disconnected regions of the river, biomass growth reduced vertical seepage downward and extended the unsaturated zone length; however these changes were contingent upon disconnection. Mid-way through the seasonal cycle, biomass declined in these same regions due to limited nutrient flux. Seepage and biomass continued to oscillate with a lag correlation of 1 month. Connected regions, however, showed the largest infiltration rates, nutrient fluxes, and concentrations of biomass. Despite the reduction in conductivity from biomass, flow remains high in connected regions because the feedback between bioclogging and infiltration is not as pronounced due to the sharpening hydraulic gradient. Bioclogging ultimately shapes the pattern of flow, however geomorphology dominates the strength of connection. Recognition of the feedbacks between geomorphological patterns and heterogeneous biomass on meander scale hydrological processes can lead to better estimates of local water volumes and capacities, especially when these systems are used as municipal and public water supply sources.

Consumable core for manufacture of composite articles and related method

DOEpatents

Taxacher, Glenn Curtis; de Diego, Peter; Gray, Paul Edward; Monaghan, Philip Harold

2017-09-05

Systems, methods and devices adapted to ease manufacture of composite articles (e.g., ceramic composite articles), particularly composite articles which include a hollow feature are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a consumable core formed to be disposed within an inner portion of a composite precursor, the consumable core adapted to convert into an infiltrant during a manufacturing process and infiltrate the composite precursor.

Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Endogenous Fungal Chorioretinitis, Retinitis, and Endophthalmitis.

PubMed

Stephens, John D; Adam, Murtaza K; Todorich, Bohzo; Faia, Lisa J; Garg, Sunir; Dunn, James P; Mehta, Sonia

2017-11-01

To describe spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in eyes with endogenous fungal chorioretinitis and endophthalmitis. Retrospective, observational case series of subjects at Wills Eye Hospital and William Beaumont Hospital were identified by screening OCT billing data and cross-referencing with patient charts. Clinical and imaging data were collected for each patient and reviewed. Twelve eyes of seven consecutive patients were identified, demonstrating two patterns of posterior ocular involvement: chorioretinal infiltration and superficial retinal/retinal vascular infiltration without choroidal involvement. Six of 12 eyes had follow-up imaging performed after antifungal treatment, which demonstrated decreased size of choroidal and/or retinal infiltrates. All patients with follow-up imaging had anatomic improvement by OCT of the lesions with treatment. In the future, OCT imaging may provide a method to assess therapeutic response and prognosis for visual recovery in patients with endogenous fungal ocular disease. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:894-901.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.

Moving spray-plate center-pivot sprinkler rating index for assessing runoff potential

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Numerous moving spray-plate center-pivot sprinklers are commercially available providing a range of drop size distributions and wetted diameters. A means to quantitatively compare sprinkler choices in regards to maximizing infiltration and minimizing runoff is currently lacking. The objective of thi...

Seasonal Variation of Infiltration Rates in a Managed Aquifer Recharge System: A Belgian Example

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samanta, S.; Sheng, Z.; Munster, C. L.; Houtte, E. V.

2017-12-01

Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a powerful tool in addressing water resources management issues. The Torreele water reuse facility is using MAR to address the problem of water sustainability in a coastal aquifer of Belgium. The Torreele MAR facility uses infiltration ponds to maintain the groundwater level and to prevent saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. The source of recharge is treated wastewater from the Torreele wastewater treatment plant (TWWTP) located 1.2 km inland. The TWWTP uses a state-of-the-art filtration mechanism with a combination of ultrafiltration (UF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) techniques to assure that recharge water is of very high quality. Data collected at the Torreele MAR facility indicates reduced infiltration rates during the winter season when pond water temperatures vary from 1 to 10ºC. The proposed hypothesis for these lower infiltration rates may be a reduction in hydraulic conductivity due to changes in water viscosity. This study involves the determination of relationship between water temperature, infiltration rates, and hydraulic conductivity at the Torreele MAR facility. The results of this study will lead to an effective administration of the facility and provide an extensive understanding of the system.

Effects of Residual Solvent Molecules Facilitating the Infiltration Synthesis of ZnO in a Nonreactive Polymer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ye, Xinyi; Kestell, John; Kisslinger, Kim

Infiltration synthesis, the atomic-layer-deposition-based organic–inorganic material hybridization technique that enables unique hybrid composites with improved material properties and inorganic nanostructures replicated from polymer templates, is shown to be driven by the binding reaction between reactive chemical groups of polymers and perfusing vapor-phase material precursors. Here in this paper, we discover that residual solvent molecules from polymer processing can react with infiltrating material precursors to enable the infiltration synthesis of metal oxides in a nonreactive polymer. The systematic study, which combines in situ quartz crystal microgravimetry, polarization-modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, shows that the ZnOmore » infiltration synthesis in nominally nonreactive SU-8 polymer is mediated by residual processing solvent cyclopentanone, a cyclic ketone whose Lewis-basic terminal carbonyl group can react with the infiltrating Lewis-acidic Zn precursor diethylzinc (DEZ). In addition, we find favorable roles of residual epoxy rings in the SU-8 film in further assisting the infiltration synthesis of ZnO. Lastly, the discovered rationale not only improves the understanding of infiltration synthesis mechanism, but also potentially expands its application to more diverse polymer systems for the generation of unique functional organic–inorganic hybrids and inorganic nanostructures.« less

Correlation effects during liquid infiltration into hydrophobic nanoporous media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Borman, V. D., E-mail: vdborman@mephi.ru; Belogorlov, A. A.; Byrkin, V. A.

To explain the thermal effects observed during the infiltration of a nonwetting liquid into a disordered nanoporous medium, we have constructed a model that includes correlation effects in a disordered medium. It is based on analytical methods of the percolation theory. The infiltration of a porous medium is considered as the infiltration of pores in an infinite cluster of interconnected pores. Using the model of randomly situated spheres (RSS), we have been able to take into account the correlation effect of the spatial arrangement and connectivity of pores in the medium. The other correlation effect of the mutual arrangement ofmore » filled and empty pores on the shell of an infinite percolation cluster of filled pores determines the infiltration fluctuation probability. This probability has been calculated analytically. Allowance for these correlation effects during infiltration and defiltration makes it possible to suggest a physical mechanism of the contact angle hysteresis and to calculate the dependences of the contact angles on the degree of infiltration, porosity of the medium, and temperature. Based on the suggested model, we have managed to describe the temperature dependences of the infiltration and defiltration pressures and the thermal effects that accompany the absorption of energy by disordered porous medium-nonwetting liquid systems with various porosities in a unified way.« less

Effects of Residual Solvent Molecules Facilitating the Infiltration Synthesis of ZnO in a Nonreactive Polymer

DOE PAGES

Ye, Xinyi; Kestell, John; Kisslinger, Kim; ...

2017-05-04

Infiltration synthesis, the atomic-layer-deposition-based organic–inorganic material hybridization technique that enables unique hybrid composites with improved material properties and inorganic nanostructures replicated from polymer templates, is shown to be driven by the binding reaction between reactive chemical groups of polymers and perfusing vapor-phase material precursors. Here in this paper, we discover that residual solvent molecules from polymer processing can react with infiltrating material precursors to enable the infiltration synthesis of metal oxides in a nonreactive polymer. The systematic study, which combines in situ quartz crystal microgravimetry, polarization-modulated infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, shows that the ZnOmore » infiltration synthesis in nominally nonreactive SU-8 polymer is mediated by residual processing solvent cyclopentanone, a cyclic ketone whose Lewis-basic terminal carbonyl group can react with the infiltrating Lewis-acidic Zn precursor diethylzinc (DEZ). In addition, we find favorable roles of residual epoxy rings in the SU-8 film in further assisting the infiltration synthesis of ZnO. Lastly, the discovered rationale not only improves the understanding of infiltration synthesis mechanism, but also potentially expands its application to more diverse polymer systems for the generation of unique functional organic–inorganic hybrids and inorganic nanostructures.« less

Higher Numbers of T-Bet+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Associate with Better Survival in Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

PubMed

Xu, Yun; Chen, Lujun; Xu, Bin; Xiong, Yuqi; Yang, Min; Rui, Xiaohui; Shi, Liangrong; Wu, Changping; Jiang, Jingting; Lu, Binfeng

2017-01-01

T-bet, a member of the T-box family of transcription factors, is a key marker of type I immune response within the tumor microenvironment, and has been previously reported by us to serve as an important prognostic indicator for human gastric cancer patients and a potential biomarker for immunotherapy. In the present study, we aimed to assess the clinical significance and prognostic value of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human epithelial ovarian cancer. The immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the infiltration density of T-bet+ lymphoid cells in human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues, and the flow cytometry analysis was used to further analyze the presence of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes subgroups in cancer tissues. Our immunohistochemistry analysis showed increased number of T-bet+ lymphoid cells in the human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues, and the flow cytometry analysis further demonstrated the presence of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes subgroups including CD4+ , CD8+ T cells and NK cells. In addition, we also observed a significant association of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes density in the tumor nest of cancer with not only serum CA125 levels but also with distant metastasis. However no association was observed with other characteristics like patients' age, pathological type, FIGO stage, tumor site and tumor size. Furthermore, the survival analysis showed that higher density of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes both in tumor nest and tumor stroma of cancer tissues was significantly associated with better patient survival. In addition, the density of T-bet+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor nest appeared to be an independent risk factor for predicting patients' postoperative prognoses. Our data indicated that the key transcription factor T-bet might play an important role in the type I immune cells mediated antitumor response, and the density of T-bet+ lymphocytes in human epithelial ovarian cancer tissues could serve as a prognostic predictor for ovarian cancer patients. © 2017 The Author(s)Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Metastases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Misdiagnosed as Isolated Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Greco, Assunta; De Masi, Roberto; Orlando, Stefania; Metrangolo, Antonio; Zecca, Vittorio; Morciano, Giancarlo; De Donno, Antonella; Bagordo, Francesco; Piccinni, Giancarlo

At present, cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is rarely mentioned in the literature. We report a hepatocellular carcinoma patient with cardiac metastasis misdiagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2011. Two years later, on presentation of syncope, an abnormal ventricular septal size was recorded by ultrasound scan, and was subsequently shown by magnetic resonance imaging to be a tumour lesion. A myocardial biopsy confirmed infiltration of hepatocellular carcinoma. This observation underlines the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma cardiac metastasis, manifested in its infiltrative form as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In conclusion, we suggest that the ultrasound appearance of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients should be seen as a "red flag" and recommend the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging assessment of transplant candidates.

Giant cell phlebitis: a potentially lethal clinical entity.

PubMed

Kunieda, Takeshige; Murayama, Masanori; Ikeda, Tsuneko; Yamakita, Noriyoshi

2012-08-01

An 83-year-old woman presented to us with a 4-week history of general malaise, subjective fever and lower abdominal pain. Despite the intravenous infusion of antibiotics, her blood results and physical condition worsened, resulting in her sudden death. Autopsy study revealed that the medium-sized veins of the mesentery were infiltrated by eosinophil granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells; however, the arteries were not involved. Microscopically, venous giant cell infiltration was observed in the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, retroperitoneal tissues and myocardium. The final diagnosis was giant cell phlebitis, a rare disease of unknown aetiology. This case demonstrates for the first time that giant cell phlebitis involving extra-abdominal organs, including hearts, can cause serious morbidity.

Polyostotic Lymphoma in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

PubMed

Long, H; di Girolamo, N; Selleri, P; Palmieri, C

2016-05-01

An 8.5-year-old, neutered female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented with tachypnoea, polyuria, polydipsia, anorexia and depression. Radiographs revealed multiple osteolytic lesions of the bone, characterized cytologically by the infiltration of medium- to large-sized lymphocytes. The animal was humanely destroyed and post-mortem examination revealed multifocal masses obliterating the bone marrow of the mandible, right and left humeri and femur, and consisting of an infiltrative population of neoplastic lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical labelling for CD3 and CD79a revealed a CD3-positive neoplastic population. A diagnosis of polyostotic T-cell lymphoma was made, which is the first report of this condition in a ferret. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transpiration and root development of urban trees in structural soil stormwater reservoirs.

PubMed

Bartens, Julia; Day, Susan D; Harris, J Roger; Wynn, Theresa M; Dove, Joseph E

2009-10-01

Stormwater management that relies on ecosystem processes, such as tree canopy interception and rhizosphere biology, can be difficult to achieve in built environments because urban land is costly and urban soil inhospitable to vegetation. Yet such systems offer a potentially valuable tool for achieving both sustainable urban forests and stormwater management. We evaluated tree water uptake and root distribution in a novel stormwater mitigation facility that integrates trees directly into detention reservoirs under pavement. The system relies on structural soils: highly porous engineered mixes designed to support tree root growth and pavement. To evaluate tree performance under the peculiar conditions of such a stormwater detention reservoir (i.e., periodically inundated), we grew green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor Willd.) in either CUSoil or a Carolina Stalite-based mix subjected to three simulated below-system infiltration rates for two growing seasons. Infiltration rate affected both transpiration and rooting depth. In a factorial experiment with ash, rooting depth always increased with infiltration rate for Stalite, but this relation was less consistent for CUSoil. Slow-drainage rates reduced transpiration and restricted rooting depth for both species and soils, and trunk growth was restricted for oak, which grew the most in moderate infiltration. Transpiration rates under slow infiltration were 55% (oak) and 70% (ash) of the most rapidly transpiring treatment (moderate for oak and rapid for ash). We conclude this system is feasible and provides another tool to address runoff that integrates the function of urban green spaces with other urban needs.

Parametric Study of Reactive Melt Infiltration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nelson, Emily S.; Colella, Phillip

2000-01-01

Reactive melt infiltration is viewed as a promising means of achieving near-net shape manufacturing with quick processing time and at low cost. Since the reactants and products are, in general, of varying density, overall conservation of mass dictates that there is a force related to chemical conversion which can directly influence infiltration behavior. In effect, the driving pressure forces may compete with the forces from chemical conversion, affecting the advancement of the front. We have developed a two-dimensional numerical code to examine these effects, using reaction-formed silicon carbide as a model system for this process. We have examined a range of initial porosities, pore radii, and reaction rates in order to investigate their effects on infiltration dynamics.

Perfluorinated compounds in infiltrated river rhine water and infiltrated rainwater in coastal dunes.

PubMed

Eschauzier, Christian; Haftka, Joris; Stuyfzand, Pieter J; de Voogt, Pim

2010-10-01

Different studies have shown that surface waters contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the low ng/L range. Surface waters are used to produce drinking water and PFCs have been shown to travel through the purification system and form a potential threat to human health. The specific physicochemical properties of PFCs cause them to be persistent and some of them to be bioaccumulative and toxic in the environment. This study investigates the evolvement of PFC concentrations in Rhine water and rainwater during dune water infiltration processes over a transect in the dune area of the western part of The Netherlands. The difference between infiltrated river water and rainwater in terms of PFC composition was investigated. Furthermore, isomer profiles were investigated. The compound perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) was found at the highest concentrations of all PFCs investigated, up to 37 ng/L in infiltrated river water (71 ± 13% of ΣPFCs). This is in contrast with the predominant occurrence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) reported in literature. The concentrations of PFBS found in infiltrated river Rhine water were significantly higher than those in infiltrated rainwater. For perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) the opposite was found: infiltrated rainwater contained more than infiltrated river water. The concentrations of PFOA, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), PFBS, PFOS, and PFHxS in infiltrated river water showed an increasing trend with decreasing age of the water. The relative contribution of the branched PFOA and PFOS isomers to total concentrations of PFOA and PFOS showed a decreasing trend with decreasing age of the water.

Assesment of hydraulics properties of technosoil constructed with waste material using Beerkan infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yilmaz, Deniz; Peyneau, Pierre-Emmanuel; Beaudet, Laure; Cannavo, Patrice; Sere, Geoffroy

2017-04-01

For the characterization of hydraulics soils functions, in situ infiltration experiments are commonly used. The BEST method based on the infiltration through a single ring is well suited for soils containing coarse material. Technosols built from Civil engineering waste material such as brick waste, concrete waste, track ballast and demolition rubble wastes contain large part of coarse material. In this work, different materials made of civil engineering wastes mixed with organic wastes are tested for greening applications in an urban environment using in situ lysimeters. Beerkan infiltrations experiments were performed on these technosols. Experimental data are used to estimate hydraulics properties through the BEST method. The results shows from a hydraulic point of view that studied technosols can achieve the role of urban soil for greening application. Five combinations of artefacts were tested either as "growing material" (one combination) or "structural material" (4 combinations) - as support for traffic. Structural materials consisted in 27 wt.% earth material, 60 wt.% mineral coarse material and 3 wt.% organic material. These constructed technosols were studied in situ using lysimeters under two contrasted climatic conditions in two sites in France (Angers, in northwestern France and Homécourt, in northeastern France). Constructed technosols exhibited high porosities (31-48 vol% for structural materials, 70 vol% for the growing material). The dry bulk density of the growing material is estimated to 0.66 kg/m3 and 1.59 kg/m3 for structural material. The particle size distribution analysis, involving manual sieving (> 2 mm) and complemented by a grain size analysis (< 2 mm) were used as described in the BEST method (2006) for the estimation of the shape parameter n of hydraulics functions (Van-Genuchten -Mualem, 1980). This n parameter was estimated to 2.23 for growing materials and 2.29 for structural materials. Beerkan infiltrations experiments data were inversed using the BEST method, the results exhibited high saturated hydraulic conductivities 10.7 cm/h for structural materials and 14,8 cm/h for the growing material. Beerkan infiltration experiements are well suited for assesment of hydraulic properties of technosol constructed with civil engineering wastes. According to the estimated hydraulics functions, the studied technosols can be classified between a sand and a loam soil. It shows that these materials can achieve the role of alternative to the consumption of natural arable earth for urban greening applications such as gardens, parks and trees lines.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Delivery into Collagen Gels Using Chitosan Microspheres

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-02-17

Porous CSM of uniform size and composition were prepared and used as a stem cell carrier. ASC were allowed to attach to the microspheres and infiltrate...and viable, could be retrieved from the spheres, and maintained expression of stem - cell -specific markers. Electron microscopic evaluation of the cell

Evaluating the Accuracy of Common Runoff Estimation Methods for New Impervious Hot-Mix Asphalt

EPA Science Inventory

Accurately predicting runoff volume from impervious surfaces for water quality design events (e.g., 25.4 mm) is important for sizing green infrastructure stormwater control measures to meet water quality and infiltration design targets. The objective of this research was to quan...

Evaluation of Surface and Subsurface Processes in Permeable Pavement Infiltration Trenches

EPA Science Inventory

The hydrologic performance of permeable pavement systems can be affected by clogging of the pavement surface and/or clogging at the interface where the subsurface storage layer meets the underlying soil. As infiltration and exfiltration are the primary functional mechanisms for ...

Atrophying pityriasis versicolor as an idiosyncratic T cell-mediated response to Malassezia: A case series.

PubMed

Levy, Jonathan Michael Stephen; Magro, Cynthia

2017-04-01

Atrophying pityriasis versicolor (PV), first described in 1971, is a rare variant in which lesions appear atrophic. We sought to determine the pathophysiology of atrophying PV. A retrospective chart review identified 6 cases of atrophying PV. In all cases, routine light microscopy, an elastic tissue stain, and immunohistochemical assessment for the expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, GATA3 and CXCR3 was performed. All cases demonstrated hyperkeratosis with intracorneal infiltration by pathogenic hyphal forms as well as epidermal attenuation and papillary dermal elastolysis. A supervening, mild-to-moderate, superficial lymphocytic infiltrate was noted and characterized by a focal CD8 + T cell-mediated interface dermatitis along with a mixed T-cell infiltrate composed of GATA3 + and CXCR3 + T cells. Small sample size and the loss of some patients to follow-up. Atrophying PV represents the sequelae of a mixed helper T-cell (T H 1 and T H 2) idiosyncratic immune response to Malassezia and can present as a protracted dermatosis that may clinically mimic an atypical lymphocytic infiltrate. T H 1 cytokines can recruit histiocytes, a source of elastases, and upregulate matrix metalloproteinase activity, which may contribute to epidermal atrophy. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Twenty-Eight-Day Repeated Inhalation Toxicity Study of Nano-Sized Neodymium Oxide in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats

PubMed Central

Kim, Yong-Soon; Lim, Cheol-Hong; Shin, Seo-Ho; Kim, Jong-Choon

2017-01-01

Neodymium is a future-oriented material due to its unique properties, and its use is increasing in various industrial fields worldwide. However, the toxicity caused by repeated exposure to this metal has not been studied in detail thus far. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential inhalation toxicity of nano-sized neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) following a 28-day repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were exposed to nano-sized Nd2O3-containing aerosols via a nose-only inhalation system at doses of 0 mg/m3, 0.5 mg/m3, 2.5 mg/m3, and 10 mg/m3 for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week over a 28-day period, followed by a 28-day recovery period. During the experimental period, clinical signs, body weight, hematologic parameters, serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathological findings were examined; neodymium distribution in the major organs and blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and oxidative stress in lung tissues were analyzed. Most of the neodymium was found to be deposited in lung tissues, showing a dose-dependent relationship. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) were the main observations of lung histopathology. Infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in the 2.5 mg/m3 and higher dose treatment groups. PAP was observed in all treatment groups accompanied by an increase in lung weight, but was observed to a lesser extent in the 0.5 mg/m3 treatment group. In BALF analysis, total cell counts, including macrophages and neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased significantly in all treatment groups. After a 4-week recovery period, these changes were generally reversed in the 0.5 mg/m3 group, but were exacerbated in the 10 mg/m3 group. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect concentration of nano-sized Nd2O3 was determined to be 0.5 mg/m3, and the target organ was determined to be the lung, under the present experimental conditions in male rats. PMID:28744356

Misrepresentation of hydro-erosional processes in rainfall simulations using disturbed soil samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomaz, Edivaldo L.; Pereira, Adalberto A.

2017-06-01

Interrill erosion is a primary soil erosion process which consists of soil detachment by raindrop impact and particle transport by shallow flow. Interill erosion affects other soil erosion sub-processes, e.g., water infiltration, sealing, crusting, and rill initiation. Interrill erosion has been widely studied in laboratories, and the use of a sieved soil, i.e., disturbed soil, has become a standard method in laboratory experiments. The aims of our study are to evaluate the hydro-erosional response of undisturbed and disturbed soils in a laboratory experiment, and to quantify the extent to which hydraulic variables change during a rainstorm. We used a splash pan of 0.3 m width, 0.45 m length, and 0.1 m depth. A rainfall simulation of 58 mm h- 1 lasting for 30 min was conducted on seven replicates of undisturbed and disturbed soils. During the experiment, several hydro-physical parameters were measured, including splashed sediment, mean particle size, runoff, water infiltration, and soil moisture. We conclude that use of disturbed soil samples results in overestimation of interrill processes. Of the nine assessed parameters, four displayed greater responses in the undisturbed soil: infiltration, topsoil shear strength, mean particle size of eroded particles, and soil moisture. In the disturbed soil, five assessed parameters displayed greater responses: wash sediment, final runoff coefficient, runoff, splash, and sediment yield. Therefore, contextual soil properties are most suitable for understanding soil erosion, as well as for defining soil erodibility.

Impact of clinical and pathologic features on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte expansion from surgically excised melanoma metastases for adoptive T-cell therapy

PubMed Central

Joseph, Richard W.; Peddareddigari, Vijay R.; Liu, Ping; Miller, Priscilla W.; Overwijk, Willem W.; Bekele, Nebiyou B.; Ross, Merrick I.; Lee, Jeffrey E.; Gershenwald, Jeffrey E.; Lucci, Anthony; Prieto, Victor G.; McMannis, John D.; Papadopoulos, Nicholas; Kim, Kevin; Homsi, Jade; Bedikian, Agop; Hwu, Wen-Jen; Hwu, Patrick; Radvanyi, Laszlo G.

2011-01-01

Purpose Clinical trials on adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) using expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have shown response rates of over 50% in refractory melanoma. However, little is known how clinical and pathologic features impact TIL outgrowth isolated from metastatic melanoma tumors. Experimental Design We analyzed the impact of clinical and pathologic features on initial TIL outgrowth in 226 consecutive patients undergoing tumor resection. Successful initial TIL outgrowth was defined as ≥40 million viable lymphocytes harvested from all tumor fragments in a 5-week culture. To normalize for the different size of resected tumors and thus available tumor fragments, we divided the number of expanded TIL by the starting number of tumor fragments (TIL/fragment). Results Overall, initial TIL outgrowth was successful in 62% of patients, with patients ≤30 years of age (94%; p=0.01) and female patients (71% vs. 57% for males; p=0.04) having the highest rate of success. Systemic therapy 30 days prior to tumor harvest negatively impacted initial TIL outgrowth compared to patients who never received systemic therapy (47% versus 71%, p=0.02). Biochemotherapy within 0–60 days of tumor harvest negatively impacted the initial TIL outgrowth with a success rate of only 16% (p<0.0001). Conclusion Parameters such as age, sex, and the type and timing of prior systemic therapy significantly affect the success rate of the initial TIL outgrowth from tumor fragments for ACT; these parameters may be helpful in selecting patients for melanoma ACT. PMID:21632855

Hydraulic characteristics and nutrient transport and transformation beneath a rapid infiltration basin, Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange County, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sumner, D.M.; Bradner, L.A.

1996-01-01

The Reedy Creek Improvement District disposes of about 7.5 million gallons per day (1992) of reclaimed water through 85 1-acre rapid infiltration basins within a 1,000-acre area of sandy soils in Orange County, Florida. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted field experiments in 1992 at an individual basin to examine and better understand the hydraulic characteristics and nutrient transport and transformation of reclaimed water beneath a rapid infiltration basin. At the time, concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in reclaimed water were about 3 and 0.25 milligrams per liter, respectively. A two-dimensional, radial, unsaturated/saturated numerical flow model was applied to describe the flow system beneath a rapid infiltration basin under current and hypothetical basin loading scenarios and to estimate the hydraulic properties of the soil and sediment beneath a basin. The thicknesses of the unsaturated and saturated parts of the surficial aquifer system at the basin investigated were about 37 and 52 feet, respectively. The model successfully replicated the field-monitored infiltration rate (about 5.5 feet per day during the daily flooding periods of about 17 hours) and ground-water mounding response during basin operation. Horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity of the saturated part of the surficial aquifer system were estimated to be 150 and 45 feet per day, respectively. The field-saturated vertical hydraulic conductivity of the shallow soil, estimated to be about 5.1 feet per day, was considered to have been less than the full- saturation value because of the effects of air entrapment. Specific yield of the surficial aquifer was estimated to be 0.41. The upper 20 feet of the basin subsurface profile probably served as a system control on infiltration because of the relatively low field-saturated, vertical hydraulic conductivity of the sediments within this layer. The flow model indicates that, in the vicinity of the basin, flow in the deeper, saturated zone was relatively slow compared to the more vigorous flow in the shallow saturated zone. The large radial component of flow below the water table in the vicinity of the basin implies that reclaimed water moves preferentially in the shallow part of the saturated zone upon reaching the water table. Therefore, there may be some vertical stratification in the saturated zone, with recently infiltrated water overlying ambient water. The infiltration capacity at the basin would be unaffected by a small (less than 10 feet) increase in background water-table altitude, because the water table would remain below the system control on infiltration. However, water-table rises of 15 and 20 feet were estimated to reduce the infiltration capacity of the basin by 8 and 25 percent, respectively. Model simulations indicate that increasing ponded depth within the basin from 4 to 12 inches and from 4 to 24 inches would increase basin infiltration capacity by less than 6 and 11 percent, respectively. A loading strategy at the basin that relies on long, uninterrupted flooding was shown to offer the possibility of inducing a more anaerobic environment conducive to denitrification while maintaining reclaimed-water disposal capacity. Field measurements indicated that transient, elevated concentrations or "spikes" of nitrate (as high as 33 milligrams per liter as nitrogen) occurred at the leading edge of the infiltrating water and in the shallow saturated zone following a prolonged basin rest period. This phenomenon probably is the result of mineralization and nitrification of organic nitrogen retained with the subsurface during earlier basin loading events. The organic nitrogen was retained in the shallow soil (due to adsorption/straining) and the shallow saturated zone following a prolonged basin rest period. This phenomenon probably is the result of mineralization and nitrification of organic nitrogen retained within the subsurface during earlier basin loading event

On the physics of unstable infiltration, seepage, and gravity drainage in partially saturated tuffs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Faybishenko, B.; Bodvarsson, G.S.; Salve, R.

2002-04-01

To improve understanding of the physics of dynamic instabilities in unsaturated flow processes within the Paintbrush nonwelded unit (PTn) and the middle nonlithophysal portion of the Tonopah Spring welded tuff unit (TSw) of Yucca Mountain, we analyzed data from a series of infiltration tests carried out at two sites (Alcove 4 and Alcove 6) in the Exploratory Studies Facility, using analytical and empirical functions. The analysis of infiltration rates measured at both sites showed three temporal scales of infiltration rate: (1) a macro-scale trend of overall decreasing flow, (2) a meso-scale trend of fast and slow motion exhibiting three-stage variationsmore » of the flow rate (decreasing, increasing, and [again] decreasing flow rate, as observed in soils in the presence of entrapped air), and (3) micro-scale (high frequency) fluctuations. Infiltration tests in the nonwelded unit at Alcove 4 indicate that this unit may effectively dampen episodic fast infiltration events; however, well-known Kostyakov, Horton, and Philip equations do not satisfactorily describe the observed trends of the infiltration rate. Instead, a Weibull distribution model can most accurately describe experimentally determined time trends of the infiltration rate. Infiltration tests in highly permeable, fractured, welded tuff at Alcove 6 indicate that the infiltration rate exhibits pulsation, which may have been caused by multiple threshold effects and water-air redistribution between fractures and matrix. The empirical relationships between the extrinsic seepage from fractures, matrix imbibition, and gravity drainage versus the infiltration rate, as well as scaling and self-similarity for the leading edge of the water front are the hallmark of the nonlinear dynamic processes in water flow under episodic infiltration through fractured tuff. Based on the analysis of experimental data, we propose a conceptual model of a dynamic fracture flow and fracture-matrix interaction in fractured tuff, incorporating the time dependent processes of water redistribution in the fracture-matrix system.« less

Removal of nitrogen by a layered soil infiltration system during intermittent storm events.

PubMed

Cho, Kang Woo; Song, Kyung Guen; Cho, Jin Woo; Kim, Tae Gyun; Ahn, Kyu Hong

2009-07-01

The fates of various nitrogen species were investigated in a layered biological infiltration system under an intermittently wetting regime. The layered system consisted of a mulch layer, coarse soil layer (CSL), and fine soil layer (FSL). The effects of soil texture were assessed focusing on the infiltration rate and the removal of inorganic nitrogen species. The infiltration rate drastically decreased when the uniformity coefficient was larger than four. The ammonium in the synthetic runoff was shown to be removed via adsorption during the stormwater dosing and nitrification during subsequent dry days. Stable ammonium adsorption was observed when the silt and clay content of CSL was greater than 3%. This study revealed that the nitrate leaching was caused by nitrification during dry days. Various patterns of nitrate flushing were observed depending on the soil configuration. The washout of nitrate was more severe as the silt/clay content of the CSL was greater. However, proper layering of soil proved to enhance the nitrate removal. Consequently, a strictly sandy CSL over FSL with a silt and clay content of 10% was the best configuration for the removal of ammonium and nitrate.

Assessment on inflow and infiltration in sewerage systems of Kuantan, Pahang.

PubMed

Yap, Hiew Thong; Ngien, Su Kong

2017-12-01

Inflow and infiltration are important aspects of sewerage systems that need to be considered during the design stage and constantly monitored once the sewerage system is in operation. The aim of this research is to analyse the relationship of rainfall as well as inflow infiltration with sewage flow patterns through data collected from fieldwork. Three sewer pipelines were selected at the residential areas of Taman Lepar Hilir Saujana, Bandar Putra and Kota Sas for data collection. Sewage flow data were collected in terms of flowrate, velocity and depth of flow using flowmeters with ultrasonic sensors that utilize the continuous Doppler effect in the sewer pipelines, while rainfall intensity data were collected using rain gauges installed at the study locations. Based on the result, the average infiltration rates of Q peak and Q ave for the locations were 17% and 21%, which exceeded the respective values of 5% and 10% stated in Hammer and Hammer. The flowrate of wastewater in the sewer pipelines was found to be directly proportional to rainfall. These findings indicate that the sewer pipelines in the study areas may have been affected by capacity reduction, whereas the sewerage treatment plants receiving the wastewater influent may have been overloaded.

Dynamic fuzzy modeling of storm water infiltration in urban fractured aquifers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hong, Y.-S.; Rosen, Michael R.; Reeves, R.R.

2002-01-01

In an urban fractured-rock aquifer in the Mt. Eden area of Auckland, New Zealand, disposal of storm water is via "soakholes" drilled directly into the top of the fractured basalt rock. The dynamic response of the groundwater level due to the storm water infiltration shows characteristics of a strongly time-varying system. A dynamic fuzzy modeling approach, which is based on multiple local models that are weighted using fuzzy membership functions, has been developed to identify and predict groundwater level fluctuations caused by storm water infiltration. The dynamic fuzzy model is initialized by the fuzzy clustering algorithm and optimized by the gradient-descent algorithm in order to effectively derive the multiple local models-each of which is associated with a locally valid model that represents the groundwater level state as a response to different intensities of rainfall events. The results have shown that even if the number of fuzzy local models derived is small, the fuzzy modeling approach developed provides good prediction results despite the highly time-varying nature of this urban fractured-rock aquifer system. Further, it allows interpretable representations of the dynamic behavior of the groundwater system due to storm water infiltration.

Investigation of pathogen infiltration into produce using Xradia Bio MicroCT

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The internalization of human pathogens into plant tissues has received significant attention. Human pathogens can infiltrate plant tissue through stomata, cut edges, wounds on produce, or the plant vascular system. The nondestructive X-ray computed microtomography (MicroCT) technique is an X-ra...

Evaluation of Surface Infiltration Testing Procedures in Permeable Pavement Systems

EPA Science Inventory

The ASTM method (ASTM C1701) for measuring infiltration rate of in-place pervious concrete provides limited guidance on how to select testing locations, so research is needed to evaluate how testing sites should be selected and how results should be interpreted to assess surface ...

Estimating recharge at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA: Comparison of methods

USGS Publications Warehouse

Flint, A.L.; Flint, L.E.; Kwicklis, E.M.; Fabryka-Martin, J. T.; Bodvarsson, G.S.

2002-01-01

Obtaining values of net infiltration, groundwater travel time, and recharge is necessary at the Yucca Mountain site, Nevada, USA, in order to evaluate the expected performance of a potential repository as a containment system for high-level radioactive waste. However, the geologic complexities of this site, its low precipitation and net infiltration, with numerous mechanisms operating simultaneously to move water through the system, provide many challenges for the estimation of the spatial distribution of recharge. A variety of methods appropriate for arid environments has been applied, including water-balance techniques, calculations using Darcy's law in the unsaturated zone, a soil-physics method applied to neutron-hole water-content data, inverse modeling of thermal profiles in boreholes extending through the thick unsaturated zone, chloride mass balance, atmospheric radionuclides, and empirical approaches. These methods indicate that near-surface infiltration rates at Yucca Mountain are highly variable in time and space, with local (point) values ranging from zero to several hundred millimeters per year. Spatially distributed net-infiltration values average 5 mm/year, with the highest values approaching 20 mm/year near Yucca Crest. Site-scale recharge estimates range from less than 1 to about 12 mm/year. These results have been incorporated into a site-scale model that has been calibrated using these data sets that reflect infiltration processes acting on highly variable temporal and spatial scales. The modeling study predicts highly non-uniform recharge at the water table, distributed significantly differently from the non-uniform infiltration pattern at the surface.

Differentiation of etiologic agents of bacterial keratitis from presentation characteristics.

PubMed

Mascarenhas, Jeena; Srinivasan, Muthiah; Chen, Michael; Rajaraman, Revathi; Ravindran, Meenakshi; Lalitha, Prajna; Oldenburg, Catherine E; Ray, Kathryn J; Glidden, David V; Costanza, Stephanie; Lietman, Thomas M; Acharya, Nisha R

2012-12-01

Presenting characteristics of bacterial corneal ulcers may suggest particular causative organisms, helping to guide treatment decisions before cultures become available. In this study, we analyze the association between presentation demographic and clinical characteristics, using data collected as part of a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Data for this study were collected as part of the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial. All patients had a culture-proven bacterial corneal ulcer. Patient history, clinical examination, and photography were performed in a standardized fashion at enrollment. Analysis of variance or Fisher's exact test was used to compare characteristics by organism. Univariate logistic regression was used to analyze predictors of the most common organisms. Five hundred patients were enrolled in the trial, of whom 488 were included in this analysis. The most common organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (N = 248, 51 %) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N = 110, 23 %). Compared to other organisms, P. aeruginosa was significantly associated with a larger baseline infiltrate/scar size [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.4-1.8] and deeper infiltrate (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.5-3.8). S. pneumoniae was significantly associated with a smaller baseline infiltrate/scar size (OR 0.8, 95 % CI 0.7-0.9) and dacryocystitis (OR 7.3, 95 % CI 4.1-13.3). Nocardia spp. were significantly associated with longer duration of symptoms prior to presentation (OR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.2-1.6), more shallow infiltrate (OR 0.3, 95 % CI 0.2-0.5), and better baseline visual acuity (OR 0.4, 95 % CI 0.2-0.65). Staphylococcus spp. were less likely to be central in location (OR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.08-0.3). Baseline characteristics of bacterial ulcers may suggest the likely etiology and guide early management.

Differentiation of etiologic agents of bacterial keratitis from presentation characteristics

PubMed Central

Mascarenhas, Jeena; Srinivasan, Muthiah; Chen, Michael; Rajaraman, Revathi; Ravindran, Meenakshi; Lalitha, Prajna; Oldenburg, Catherine E.; Ray, Kathryn J.; Glidden, David V.; Costanza, Stephanie; Lietman, Thomas M.

2013-01-01

Presenting characteristics of bacterial corneal ulcers may suggest particular causative organisms, helping to guide treatment decisions before cultures become available. In this study, we analyze the association between presentation demographic and clinical characteristics, using data collected as part of a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Data for this study were collected as part of the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial. All patients had a culture-proven bacterial corneal ulcer. Patient history, clinical examination, and photography were performed in a standardized fashion at enrollment. Analysis of variance or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare characteristics by organism. Univariate logistic regression was used to analyze predictors of the most common organisms. Five hundred patients were enrolled in the trial, of whom 488 were included in this analysis. The most common organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae (N = 248, 51 %) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N = 110, 23 %). Compared to other organisms, P. aeruginosa was significantly associated with a larger baseline infiltrate/scar size [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.4–1.8] and deeper infiltrate (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.5–3.8). S. pneumoniae was significantly associated with a smaller baseline infiltrate/scar size (OR 0.8, 95 % CI 0.7–0.9) and dacryocystitis (OR 7.3, 95 % CI 4.1–13.3). Nocardia spp. were significantly associated with longer duration of symptoms prior to presentation (OR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.2–1.6), more shallow infiltrate (OR 0.3, 95 % CI 0.2–0.5), and better baseline visual acuity (OR 0.4, 95 % CI 0.2–0.65). Staphylococcus spp. were less likely to be central in location (OR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.08–0.3). Baseline characteristics of bacterial ulcers may suggest the likely etiology and guide early management. PMID:22752605

Scaffolds for whole organ tissue engineering: Construction and in vitro evaluation of a seamless, spherical and hollow collagen bladder construct with appendices.

PubMed

Hoogenkamp, Henk R; Pot, Michiel W; Hafmans, Theo G; Tiemessen, Dorien M; Sun, Yi; Oosterwijk, Egbert; Feitz, Wout F; Daamen, Willeke F; van Kuppevelt, Toin H

2016-10-01

The field of regenerative medicine has developed promising techniques to improve current neobladder strategies used for radical cystectomies or congenital anomalies. Scaffolds made from molecularly defined biomaterials are instrumental in the regeneration of tissues, but are generally confined to small flat patches and do not comprise the whole organ. We have developed a simple, one-step casting method to produce a seamless large hollow collagen-based scaffold, mimicking the shape of the whole bladder, and with integrated anastomotic sites for ureters and urethra. The hollow bladder scaffold is highly standardized, with uniform wall thickness and a unidirectional pore structure to facilitate cell infiltration in vivo. Human and porcine bladder urothelial and smooth muscle cells were able to attach to the scaffold and maintained their phenotype in vitro. The closed luminal side and the porous outside of the scaffold facilitated the formation of an urothelial lining and infiltration of smooth muscle cells, respectively. The cells aligned according to the provided scaffold template. The technology used is highly adjustable (shape, size, materials) and may be used as a starting point for research to an off-the-shelf medical device suitable for neobladders. In this study, we describe the development of a simple, one-step casting method to produce a seamless large hollow collagen-based scaffold mimicking the shape of the whole bladder with integrated anastomotic sites for ureters and urethra. The hollow bladder scaffold is highly standardized with uniform wall thickness and a unidirectional pore structure to facilitate cell infiltration in vivo. The closed luminal surface and the porous exterior of the scaffold facilitated the formation of a urothelial lining and infiltration of smooth muscle cells, respectively. The applied technology is highly adjustable (shape, size, materials) and can be the starting point for research to an off-the-shelf medical device suitable for neobladders. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effective range of chlorine transport in an aquifer during disinfection of wells: From laboratory experiments to field application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paufler, S.; Grischek, T.; Adomat, Y.; Herlitzius, J.; Hiller, K.; Metelica, Y.

2018-04-01

Microbiological contamination usually leads to erratic operation of drinking water wells and disinfection is required after disasters and sometimes to restore proper well performance for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and subsurface iron removal (SIR) wells. This study focused on estimating the fate of chlorine around an infiltration well and improving the knowledge about processes that control the physical extent of the disinfected/affected radius. Closed bottle batch tests revealed low chlorine consumption rates for filter gravel and sand (0.005 mg/g/d) and higher rates for clay (0.030 mg/g/d) as well as natural aquifer material (0.054 mg/g/d). Smaller grain sizes <1 mm showed 10- to 70-times higher initial chlorine consumption rates within the first hour after contact compared to the median consumption rates. Initial chlorine concentration most likely does not impact disinfection ability at grain sizes >1 mm, but results in more effective disinfection for very fine material <0.063 mm. Column studies focused on the adaptation of the lab results to an actual SIR waterworks in Khabarovsk, Russia. Results reinforced the previous lab results with low 1st-order decay constants of 16 d-1 for filter material and much higher values of 254 d-1 for natural aquifer material. Application of the chlorine consumption rates to an example well consistently indicated that the filter gravel pack consumes <1% of infiltrated chlorine. The disinfection zone at the example well seems to extend to maximum 3.5 m into the aquifer. Excessive chlorine dosage of >10 mg/l would not further extend the disinfected radius. A preferable way to increase the range of chlorine application is to increase the total infiltrated volume and time. Three approaches are proposed for adapting lab results to actual infiltration wells, that are in principle applicable to any other site.

[Study of relationship between powder-size gradation and mechanical properties of Zirconia toughened glass infiltrated nanometer-ceramic composite powder].

PubMed

Chai, Feng; Xu, Ling; Liao, Yun-mao; Chao, Yong-lie

2003-07-01

The fabrication of all-ceramic dental restorations is challenged by ceramics' relatively low flexural strength and intrinsic poor resistance to fracture. This paper aimed at investigating the relationships between powder-size gradation and mechanical properties of Zirconia toughened glass infiltrated nanometer-ceramic composite (Al(2)O(3)-nZrO(2)). Al(2)O(3)-nZrO(2) ceramics powder (W) was processed by combination methods of chemical co-precipitation and ball milling with addition of different powder-sized ZrO(2). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the particle size distribution and characterize the particle morphology of powders. The matrix compacts were made by slip-casting technique and sintered to 1,450 degrees C and flexural strength and the fracture toughness of them were measured. 1. The particle distribution of Al(2)O(3)-nZrO(2) ceramics powder ranges from 0.02 - 3.5 micro m and among them the superfine particles almost accounted for 20%. 2. The ceramic matrix samples with addition of nZrO(2) (W) showed much higher flexural strength (115.434 +/- 5.319) MPa and fracture toughness (2.04 +/- 0.10) MPa m(1/2) than those of pure Al(2)O(3) ceramics (62.763 +/- 7.220 MPa; 1.16 +/- 0.02 MPa m(1/2)). The particle size of additive ZrO(2) may impose influences on mechanical properties of Al(2)O(3)-nZrO(2) ceramics matrix. Good homogeneity and reasonable powder-size gradation of ceramic powder can improve the mechanical properties of material.

Decreasing IV Infiltrates in the Pediatric Patient--System-Based Improvement Project.

PubMed

Major, Tracie Wilt; Huey, Tricia K

2016-01-01

Intravenous infiltrates pose tremendous risk for the hospitalized pediatric patient. Infiltrate events increase hospital-acquired harm, the number of painful procedures, use of supplies, length of stay, and nursing time; it threatens relationships essential in patient- and family-centered care. The goal of this quality improvement project was to achieve a 10% decrease in the baseline infiltrate rate on two inpatient units and in the overall infiltrate rate across all of the pediatric units. A Lean Six Sigma methodology was used to guide project activities. Improvement strategies focused on evidence-based education, intravenous (IV) catheter securement, and family engagement. A comparative purposive sample was used to evaluate the pre- and post-implementation period to determine if desired project success measures were achieved. Data analysis revealed positive results across all units, with the number of events (n = 51 pre; n = 19 post) and the infiltration rates (13.5 pre; 7.1 post) decreasing over a three-month period. A decrease was also noted in the overall percent of IVs that infiltrated in the first 24 hours (45% pre; 42% post). A statistically significant increase (t = 15.16; p < 0.001) was noted in nurses' education pre- and post-assessment survey scores. The family engagement strategy revealed overall parental responses to be 88% positive. By decreasing infiltrates, quality of care improved, resulting in the delivery of safe, effective, and patient-centered IV therapy.

In vivo imaging of cytotoxic T cell infiltration and elimination of a solid tumor.

PubMed

Boissonnas, Alexandre; Fetler, Luc; Zeelenberg, Ingrid S; Hugues, Stéphanie; Amigorena, Sebastian

2007-02-19

Although the immune system evolved to fight infections, it may also attack and destroy solid tumors. In most cases, tumor rejection is initiated by CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which infiltrate solid tumors, recognize tumor antigens, and kill tumor cells. We use a combination of two-photon intravital microscopy and immunofluorescence on ordered sequential sections to analyze the infiltration and destruction of solid tumors by CTLs. We show that in the periphery of a thymoma growing subcutaneously, activated CTLs migrate with high instantaneous velocities. The CTLs arrest in close contact to tumor cells expressing their cognate antigen. In regions where most tumor cells are dead, CTLs resume migration, sometimes following collagen fibers or blood vessels. CTLs migrating along blood vessels preferentially adopt an elongated morphology. CTLs also infiltrate tumors in depth, but only when the tumor cells express the cognate CTL antigen. In tumors that do not express the cognate antigen, CTL infiltration is restricted to peripheral regions, and lymphocytes neither stop moving nor kill tumor cells. Antigen expression by tumor cells therefore determines both CTL motility within the tumor and profound tumor infiltration.

A soil infiltration system incorporated with sulfur-utilizing autotrophic denitrification (SISSAD) for domestic wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Kong, Zhe; Feng, Chuanping; Chen, Nan; Tong, Shuang; Zhang, Baogang; Hao, Chunbo; Chen, Kun

2014-05-01

To enhance the denitrification performance of soil infiltration, a soil infiltration system incorporated with sulfur-utilizing autotrophic denitrification (SISSAD) for domestic wastewater treatment was developed, and the SISSAD performance was evaluated using synthetic domestic wastewater in this study. The aerobic respiration and nitrification were mainly taken place in the upper aerobic stage (AES), removed 88.44% COD and 89.99% NH4(+)-N. Moreover, autotrophic denitrification occurred in the bottom anaerobic stage (ANS), using the CO2 produced from AES as inorganic carbon source. Results demonstrated that the SISSAD showed a remarkable performance on COD removal efficiency of 95.09%, 84.86% for NO3(-)-N, 95.25% for NH4(+)-N and 93.15% for TP. This research revealed the developed system exhibits a promising application prospect for domestic wastewater in the future. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Micro-X-Ray computed tomography of natural and experimental melt segregations and other geological materials with small absorption contrasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgartner, L.; Wohlers, A.; Müller, T.

2003-04-01

Micro X-ray tomography is rapidly advancing to an important tool for non-destructive 3-D imaging of geological and engineering materials. We have been using a Skyscan 1072 system (Skyscan, Belgium) to successfully image as diverse geological materials as sandstones, foraminifers, run products of hydrothermal partial melting experiments, and metamorphic rocks. The system has a conical x-ray source with a spot size of about 5µm. The X-ray source is powered by a 10W, 20--100kV, tunable supply. Images are acquired with a scintillator coupled by glass fiber optics to a 1024×1024 pixel, 12-bit CCD. The sample is rotated for 180^o (or 360^o) in steps as small as 0.24^o. Transmission image are back projected, using a Feldkamp algorithm, into a stack of up to 1000 1K×1K images, each of which represents a horizontal cross section of the sample. We have succeeded to image very low contrast systems (feldspar/quartz and olivine/calcite/dolomite), by using extended acquisition times (up to 24 hours), and low excitation voltages (30--40kV) in combination with aluminum filters to reduce beam hardening. Some quartzites collected in the Little Cottonwood contact aureole have been infiltrated by a pegmatitic liquid. These liquids are the products of partial melting in intercalated meta-pelites. 2-D images (thin sections) clearly show, that poly-crystalline interstitial feldspar and mica represent precipitates from the infiltrated pegmatitic liquid (acute quartz-feldspar junctions similar to melting experiments). The micro-CT images reveal a thin mica-feldspar network. It forms highly anastomosing, multiply interconnected networks surrounding quartz grains. They connect larger, up to 1mm sized ponds, located in triple junctions. These results have important consequences for porous melt transport in shallow crustal rocks. Micro-CT images of spinifex textured olivine in marbles from the Ubehebe Peak contact aureole (Death Valley, California) reveal two preferential growth orientations of olivine, and irregular distribution of calcite haloes. These volumetric images suggesting that the growth of olivine is related to mass transport, rather than to their inherent crystallographic growth preferences.

Comparative cardiopulmonary effects of size-fractionated airborne particulate matter.

PubMed

Amatullah, Hajera; North, Michelle L; Akhtar, Umme S; Rastogi, Neeraj; Urch, Bruce; Silverman, Frances S; Chow, Chung-Wai; Evans, Greg J; Scott, Jeremy A

2012-02-01

Strong epidemiological evidence exists linking particulate matter (PM) exposures with hospital admissions of individuals for cardiopulmonary symptoms. The PM size is important in influencing the extent of infiltration into the respiratory tract and systemic circulation and directs the differential physiological impacts. To investigate the differential effects of the quasi-ultrafine (PM(0.2)), fine (PM(0.15-2.5)), and coarse PM (PM(2.5-10)) size fractions on pulmonary and cardiac function. Female BALB/c mice were exposed to HEPA-filtered laboratory air or concentrated coarse, fine, or quasi-ultrafine PM using Harvard Ambient Particle Concentrators in conjunction with our nose-only exposure system. These exposures were conducted as part of the "Health Effects of Aerosols in Toronto (HEAT)" campaign. Following a 4 h exposure, mice underwent assessment of respiratory function and recording of electrocardiograms using the flexiVent® system. Exposure to coarse and fine PM resulted in a significant reduction in quasistatic compliance of the lung. Baseline total respiratory resistance and maximum responsiveness to methacholine were augmented after coarse PM exposures but were not affected by quasi-ultrafine PM exposures. In contrast, quasi-ultrafine PM alone had a significant effect on heart rate and in reducing heart rate variability. These findings indicate that coarse and fine PM influence lung function and airways responsiveness, while ultrafine PM can perturb cardiac function. This study supports the hypothesis that coarse and fine PM exerts its predominant physiologic effects at the site of deposition in the airways, whereas ultrafine PM likely crosses the alveolar epithelial barrier into the systemic circulation to affect cardiovascular function.

Anaesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine mandibular buccal infiltration compared to 2% lignocaine inferior alveolar nerve block in children with irreversible pulpitis.

PubMed

Arali, Veena; P, Mytri

2015-04-01

Lidocaine is the gold standard anaesthetic solution that has been used since its inception into dentistry till date. Around 80% of failures have been reported when lignocaine has been used for inferior alveolar nerve block in children and adults with irreversible pulpitis. There is a need to use newer drugs which are available which have been reported to be effective like lignocaine, such as articaine. Although articaine has been used in adults, literature supporting its use in children is sparse. The purpose of this study is to compare the anaesthetic efficacy of 4% articaine buccal infiltration and 2% lignocaine inferior alveolar nerve block in children with irreversible pulpitis. It also aims to assess the need for supplemental intrapulpal injections. This study was designed as a randomized double-blind cross over trial comparing the anaesthetic effectiveness of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine in buccal infiltration and 2% lignocaine IAN block anaesthesia. The study subject and the pediatric dentist performing the pulpectomy procedures were blinded to the study. A sample size of 40 subjects in the age group of 5-8 y was included in the study. The onset of anaesthesia with 4% articaine was faster as compared to 2% lignocaine. The duration of anaesthesia with articaine infiltration was shorter. The need for supplemental injection in the articaine group was less. Four percent articaine infiltration can be used in children with irreversible pulpitis. It can be used to replace the IAN block in children thereby reducing the post anaesthetic complications like lip biting.

Bronchoalveolar carcinoma: clinical, radiologic, and pathologic factors and survival.

PubMed

Okubo, K; Mark, E J; Flieder, D; Wain, J C; Wright, C D; Moncure, A C; Grillo, H C; Mathisen, D J

1999-10-01

The principal feature of bronchoalveolar carcinoma is that it spreads along airways or aerogenously with multifocality, but many issues are unresolved. We studied 119 patients with pathologically confirmed bronchoalveolar carcinoma. Symptoms, smoking status, radiologic findings, the size of tumor, operative procedures, and complications were reviewed. We studied the pathologic features: presence or absence of aerogenous spread, patterns of growth, cell type, nuclear grade, mitosis, rate of bronchoalveolar carcinoma in adenocarcinoma, and lymphocyte infiltration. The correlation among clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings was examined, and the factors affecting survival were analyzed. Symptomatic patients had more infiltrative radiographic features, and asymptomatic patients tended to have more mass-like features (P <.0001). Tumors with radiographically infiltrating lesions tended to have mucinous histologic features (P =.006). Tumors with mass lesions by radiograph tended to have nonmucinous and sclerosing histologic features (P =.003). Aerogenous spread was seen in 94% of specimens. The presence of a variety of cell types suggested multiple clonal origin. The overall survival in those patients undergoing resection was 69.1% at 5 years and 56.5% at 10 years. The significant factors affecting survival were radiologic presence of a mass or infiltrate, pathologic findings of the presence of sclerosis, association with a scar, the rate of bronchoalveolar carcinoma in adenocarcinoma, lymphocyte infiltration grade, nodal involvement, and status of complete resection. Mitosis or nuclear grade of tumor cells did not correlate with survival. Bronchoalveolar carcinoma showed good overall survival with appropriate surgical procedures. Certain radiologic or pathologic findings correlated with survival. These findings may enhance the ability to predict long-term survival.

Using an Electron Scanning Microscope to Assess the Penetrating Abilities of an Experimental Preparation with Features of a Dental Infiltrant: Preliminary Study.

PubMed

Skucha-Nowak, Małgorzata; Mertas, Anna; Tanasiewicz, Marta

2016-01-01

The resin infiltration technique is one of the micro-invasive methods whose aim is the penetration of demineralized enamel with a low viscosity resin. This technique allows the dentist to avoid the application of mechanical means of treatment. The objective of this preliminary study was to attempt to determine the possibilities of using an electron microscope to assess the penetrating abilities of an experimental preparation with features of a dental infiltrant and to compare the depth of infiltration of the designed experimental preparation with an infiltrant available on the market. A bioactive methacrylate monomer based on PMMAn with built-in metronidazole was synthesized. The commercially available Icon solution (with contrast agent YbF3) and the experimental solution were applied to the relevant parts of teeth. The dissected sections along the long tooth axis and polished surfaces were then examined with use of an electron scanning microscope. The backscattered electron technique gives much better results than the secondary electron method as it makes it possible to localize even very small YbF3 particles. The authors concluded that the backscattered electron technique gives much better results than the secondary electron method as it makes it possible to localize even very small particles of the contrast agent. In order to prevent blockage of decalcified enamel tissue by ytterbium trifluoride (YbF3) grains, a nanoparticle form of that compound should be used (that is, particles with sizes in the range of 10-9 m).

High-Performance Metal/Carbide Composites with Far-From-Equilibrium Compositions and Controlled Microstructures

PubMed Central

Hu, Liangfa; O’Neil, Morgan; Erturun, Veysel; Benitez, Rogelio; Proust, Gwénaëlle; Karaman, Ibrahim; Radovic, Miladin

2016-01-01

The prospect of extending existing metal-ceramic composites to those with the compositions that are far from thermodynamic equilibrium is examined. A current and pressure-assisted, rapid infiltration is proposed to fabricate composites, consisting of reactive metallic and ceramic phases with controlled microstructure and tunable properties. An aluminum (Al) alloy/Ti2AlC composite is selected as an example of the far-from-equilibrium systems to fabricate, because Ti2AlC exists only in a narrow region of the Ti-Al-C phase diagram and readily reacts with Al. This kind of reactive systems challenges conventional methods for successfully processing corresponding metal-ceramic composites. Al alloy/Ti2AlC composites with controlled microstructures, various volume ratios of constituents (40/60 and 27/73) and metallic phase sizes (42–83 μm, 77–276 μm, and 167–545 μm), are obtained using the Ti2AlC foams with different pore structures as preforms for molten metal (Al alloy) infiltration. The resulting composites are lightweight and display exceptional mechanical properties at both ambient and elevated temperatures. These structures achieve a compressive strength that is 10 times higher than the yield strength of the corresponding peak-aged Al alloy at ambient temperature and 14 times higher at 400 °C. Possible strengthening mechanisms are described, and further strategies for improving properties of those composites are proposed. PMID:27752106

Infiltration of diametrically polarized macrophages predicts overall survival of patients with gastric cancer after surgical resection.

PubMed

Zhang, Heng; Wang, Xuefei; Shen, Zhenbin; Xu, Jiejie; Qin, Jing; Sun, Yihong

2015-10-01

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most predominant tumor-infiltrating immune cells, are emerging prognostic factors and therapeutic targets for personalized therapy against malignant neoplasms. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of diametrically polarized TAMs in gastric cancer and generate a predictive nomogram to refine a risk stratification system. We evaluated polarized functional status of infiltrated TAMs by immunohistochemical staining of CD68, CD11c, and CD206 in 180 consecutive gastric cancer patients from Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China. Prognostic values were assessed in these patients. We created a predictive nomogram by integrating polarized TAMs with the TNM staging system for overall survival of gastric cancer patients. CD68(+) TAMs display polarized programs comprising CD11c(+) proinflammatory macrophages (M1) and CD206(+) immunosuppressive macrophages (M2) that configure versatile infiltration files in gastric cancer. CD11c(+) TAMs negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.012), whereas CD206(+) TAMs correlated with the Lauren classification (p = 0.031). No prognostic difference was observed for overall survival for CD68 density (high vs low, p = 0.1031), whereas high versus low CD11c density (p < 0.0001) and low vs high CD206 density (p = 0.0105) indicate better overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified CD11c and CD206 as independent prognostic factors (p < 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively), which could be integrated with the TNM staging system to generate a predictive nomogram for patient outcomes. Infiltration of polarized TAMs, a novel identified independent prognostic factor, could be combined with the TNM stage to refine a risk stratification system and better stratify patients with different prognosis. Tipping TAMs to an antitumoral phenotype might be a promising therapeutic target for postoperative treatment.

Damage Accumulation in SiC/SiC Composites with 3D Architectures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morscher, Gregory N.; Yun, Hee-Mann; DiCarlo, James A.

2003-01-01

The formation and propagation of multiple matrix cracks in relatively dense ceramic matrix composites when subjected to increasing tensile stress is necessary for high strength and tough composites. However, the occurrence of matrix cracks at low stresses may limit the usefulness of some non-oxide composite systems when subjected to oxidizing environments for long times at stresses sufficient to cause matrix cracking. For SiC fiber-reinforced composites with two-dimensional woven architectures and chemically vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC matrix and melt-infiltrated (MI) Si/SiC matrix composites, the matrix cracking behavior has been fairly well characterized for different fiber-types and woven architectures. It was found that the occurrence, degree, and growth of matrix cracks depends on the material properties of the composite constituents as well as other physical properties of the composite or architecture, e.g., matrix porosity and size of the fiber bundle. In this study, matrix cracking in SiC fiber reinforced, melt-infiltrated SiC composites with a 3D orthogonal architecture was determined for specimens tested in tension at room temperature. Acoustic emission (AE) was used to monitor the matrix cracking activity, which was later confirmed by microscopic examination of specimens that had failed. The determination of the exact location of AE demonstrated that initial cracking occurred in the matrix rich regions when a large z-direction fiber bundle was used. For specimens with large z-direction fiber tows, the earliest matrix cracking could occur at half the stress for standard 2D woven composites with similar constituents. Damage accumulation in 3D architecture composites will be compared to damage accumulation in 2D architecture composites and discussed with respect to modeling composite stress-strain behavior and use of these composites at elevated temperatures.

Magnetic properties of superparamagnetic nanoparticles loaded into silicon nanotubes.

PubMed

Granitzer, Petra; Rumpf, Klemens; Gonzalez, Roberto; Coffer, Jeffery; Reissner, Michael

2014-01-01

In this work, the magnetic properties of silicon nanotubes (SiNTs) filled with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are investigated. SiNTs with different wall thicknesses of 10 and 70 nm and an inner diameter of approximately 50 nm are prepared and filled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles of 4 and 10 nm in diameter. The infiltration process of the NPs into the tubes and dependence on the wall-thickness is described. Furthermore, data from magnetization measurements of the nanocomposite systems are analyzed in terms of iron oxide nanoparticle size dependence. Such biocompatible nanocomposites have potential merit in the field of magnetically guided drug delivery vehicles. 61.46.Fg; 62.23.Pq; 75.75.-c; 75.20.-g.

Layered Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-01

quality of the surface finish, eliminating residual stress , controlling local composition and microstructure, achieving fine feature size and...applications. Some methods have achieved commercial status, having graduated from the university level, others are in various stages of research. However...Road * Sintering * Co-firing * Shrinkage * Gas dimensions + Powder or + Resin * Residual stress precursors * Layer wire feeding infiltration * Distortion

Computational immune profiling in lung adenocarcinoma reveals reproducible prognostic associations with implications for immunotherapy

PubMed Central

Varn, Frederick S.; Tafe, Laura J.; Amos, Christopher I.; Cheng, Chao

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer, has been well characterized as having a dense lymphocytic infiltrate, suggesting that the immune system plays an active role in shaping this cancer's growth and development. Despite these findings, our understanding of how this infiltrate affects patient prognosis and its association with lung adenocarcinoma-specific clinical factors remains limited. To address these questions, we inferred the infiltration level of six distinct immune cell types from a series of four lung adenocarcinoma gene expression datasets. We found that naive B cell, CD8+ T cell, and myeloid cell-derived expression signals of immune infiltration were significantly predictive of patient survival in multiple independent datasets, with B cell and CD8+ T cell infiltration associated with prolonged prognosis and myeloid cell infiltration associated with shorter survival. These associations remained significant even after accounting for additional clinical variables. Patients stratified by smoking status exhibited decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration and altered prognostic associations, suggesting potential immunosuppressive mechanisms in smokers. Survival analyses accounting for immune checkpoint gene expression and cellular immune infiltrate indicated checkpoint protein-specific modulatory effects on CD8+ T cell and B cell function that may be associated with patient sensitivity to immunotherapy. Together, these analyses identified reproducible associations that can be used to better characterize the role of immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma and demonstrate the utility in using computational approaches to systematically characterize tissue-specific tumor-immune interactions. PMID:29872556

Factors predicting transformation of asymptomatic IgM monoclonal gammopathy.

PubMed

Greco, Antonino; Tedeschi, Alessandra; Varettoni, Marzia; Nichelatti, Michele; Paris, Laura; Ricci, Francesca; Vismara, Eleonora; Morra, Enrica

2011-02-01

We evaluated the risk of transformation of asymptomatic immunoglobulin (Ig) M monoclonal gammopathy (aIgM MG) into symptomatic lymphoproliferative disease in 287 patients all analyzed for bone marrow histopathology and immunophenotyping. This series included 201 patients with IgM MG of undetermined significance (IgM MGUS) and 86 with smoldering Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (sWM). After a median of 50 months (range, 12-322 months), 32 cases of aIgM-MG (11.1%) evolved into symptomatic malignant lymphoproliferative disease, as follows: symptomatic WM (n=26), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n=6). The cumulative transformation percentage at 5 and 10 years was 8% and 19.5%, respectively. The parameters significantly correlated with evolution were, at univariate analysis, BM lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum MC, serum IgM size, and serum IgA size. Among patients with aIgM-MG, those at high risk of evolution were patients with sWM, a distinct entity with serum IgM monoclonal protein≥3 g/dL and/or ≥10% bone marrow lymphoplasmacytic infiltration.

Giant cell phlebitis: a potentially lethal clinical entity

PubMed Central

Kunieda, Takeshige; Murayama, Masanori; Ikeda, Tsuneko; Yamakita, Noriyoshi

2012-01-01

An 83-year-old woman presented to us with a 4-week history of general malaise, subjective fever and lower abdominal pain. Despite the intravenous infusion of antibiotics, her blood results and physical condition worsened, resulting in her sudden death. Autopsy study revealed that the medium-sized veins of the mesentery were infiltrated by eosinophil granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells; however, the arteries were not involved. Microscopically, venous giant cell infiltration was observed in the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, retroperitoneal tissues and myocardium. The final diagnosis was giant cell phlebitis, a rare disease of unknown aetiology. This case demonstrates for the first time that giant cell phlebitis involving extra-abdominal organs, including hearts, can cause serious morbidity. PMID:22859384

Clinicopathologic correlations in Alibert-type mycosis fungoides.

PubMed

Eng, A M; Blekys, I; Worobec, S M

1981-06-01

Five cases of mycosis fungoides of the Alibert type were studied by taking multiple biopsy specimens at different stages of the disease. Large hyperchromatic, slightly irregular mononuclear cells are the most frequent cells. Ultrastructurally, the cells were only slightly convoluted, had prominent heterochromatin banding at the nuclear membrane, and unremarkable cytoplasmic organelles. Highly convoluted cerebriform nucleated cells were few. Large regular vesicular histiocytes were prominent in the early stages. Ultrastructurally, the cells showed evenly distributed euchromatin. Epidermotrophism was equally as important as Pautrier's abscess as a hallmark of the disease. Stereologic techniques comparing the infiltrate with regard to size and convolution of cells in all stages of mycosis fungoides with infiltrates seen in a variety of benign dermatoses showed no statistically significant differences.

Partial tolerance of subcutaneously transplanted xenogeneic tumour cell graft by Fas-mediated immunosuppression

PubMed Central

SAWADA, TAKAHIRO; KOJI, TAKEHIKO; HISHIKAWA, YOSHITAKA; KISHIMOTO, KOJI; NAGAYASU, TAKESHI; TAKAHASHI, TAKAO; OKA, TADAYUKI; AYABE, HIROYOSHI

2001-01-01

Certain anti-Fas antibodies, such as RMF2, induce apoptosis of Fas-expressing cells. We applied the Fas/anti-Fas system to induce killing of Fas-expressing immunocytes with resultant immunosuppression. W7TM-1 tumour cells, a rat T-cell line, were inoculated subcutaneously in BALB/c mice and tumour growth was monitored in untreated mice and in mice treated with RMF2. Prior to treatment with RMF2, we examined the expression of Fas in isolated splenocytes and in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. There was a remarkable increase in Fas-positive lymphocytes, including natural killer (NK) cells, among splenocytes at day 5 after tumour cell inoculation. The number of Fas-positive infiltrating lymphocytes also increased markedly, from day 5 to day 10. We then examined whether RMF2 could induce apoptosis of Fas-positive activated lymphocytes isolated from the spleen at day 5 in vitro. Terminal deoxy (d) -UTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and Annexin V staining methods showed apoptosis of isolated cells when incubated with RMF2, and typical apoptotic features were confirmed by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining. Furthermore, suppression of cellular and humoral immunity was noted in RMF2-treated mice by mixed lymphocyte reaction and assay of serum levels of immunoglobulin G, respectively. Finally, treatment of animals with RMF2 daily from day 5 to day 9 could maintain the tumour size, while the tumour mass began to diminish in untreated mice immediately after reaching a maximum size. We confirmed the enhancing effects of long-term treatment with RMF2, through the induction of immunosuppression, on the growth of unvascularized xenogeneic tumour cell grafts. PMID:11380695

Quantitative analysis of histopathological findings using image processing software.

PubMed

Horai, Yasushi; Kakimoto, Tetsuhiro; Takemoto, Kana; Tanaka, Masaharu

2017-10-01

In evaluating pathological changes in drug efficacy and toxicity studies, morphometric analysis can be quite robust. In this experiment, we examined whether morphometric changes of major pathological findings in various tissue specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin could be recognized and quantified using image processing software. Using Tissue Studio, hypertrophy of hepatocytes and adrenocortical cells could be quantified based on the method of a previous report, but the regions of red pulp, white pulp, and marginal zones in the spleen could not be recognized when using one setting condition. Using Image-Pro Plus, lipid-derived vacuoles in the liver and mucin-derived vacuoles in the intestinal mucosa could be quantified using two criteria (area and/or roundness). Vacuoles derived from phospholipid could not be quantified when small lipid deposition coexisted in the liver and adrenal cortex. Mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver could be quantified to some extent, except for specimens with many clustered infiltrating cells. Adipocyte size and the mean linear intercept could be quantified easily and efficiently using morphological processing and the macro tool equipped in Image-Pro Plus. These methodologies are expected to form a base system that can recognize morphometric features and analyze quantitatively pathological findings through the use of information technology.

Macro-to-micro porous special bioactive glass and ceftriaxone-sulbactam composite drug delivery system for treatment of chronic osteomyelitis: an investigation through in vitro and in vivo animal trial.

PubMed

Kundu, Biswanath; Nandi, Samit Kumar; Dasgupta, Sudip; Datta, Someswar; Mukherjee, Prasenjit; Roy, Subhasis; Singh, Aruna Kumari; Mandal, Tapan Kumar; Das, Partha; Bhattacharya, Rupnarayan; Basu, Debabrata

2011-03-01

A systematic and extensive approach incorporating in vitro and in vivo experimentation to treat chronic osteomyelitis in animal model were made using antibiotic loaded special bioactive glass porous scaffolds. After thorough characterization for porosity, distribution, surface charge, a novel drug composite were infiltrated by using vacuum infiltration and freeze-drying method which was subsequently analyzed by SEM-EDAX and studied for in vitro drug elution in PBS and SBF. Osteomyelitis in rabbit was induced by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus and optimum drug-scaffold were checked for its efficacy over control and parenteral treated animals in terms of histopathology, radiology, in vivo drug concentration in bone and serum and implant-bone interface by SEM. It was optimized that 60P samples with 60-65% porosity (bimodal distribution of macro- to micropore) with average pore size ~60 μm and higher interconnectivity, moderately high antibiotic adsorption efficiency (~49%) was ideal. Results after 42 days showed antibiotic released higher than MIC against S. aureus compared to parenteral treatment (2 injections a day for 6 weeks). In vivo drug pharmacokinetics and SEM on bone-defect interface proved superiority of CFS loaded porous bioactive glass implants over parenteral group based on infection eradication and new bone formation.

Infiltration processing of metal matrix composites using coated ceramic particulates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leon-Patino, Carlos Alberto

2001-07-01

A new process was developed to fabricate particulate metal matrix composites (MMCs). The process involves three steps: (1) modifying the particulate surface by metal coating, (2) forming a particulate porous compact; and (3) introducing metal into the channel network by vacuum infiltration. MMCs with different reinforcements, volume fractions, and sizes can be produced by this technique. Powders of alumina and silicon carbide were successfully coated with nickel and copper in preparation for infiltration with molten aluminum. Electroless Ni and Cu deposition was used since it enhances the wettability of the reinforcements for composite fabrication. While Cu deposits were polycrystalline, traces of phosphorous co-deposited from the electroless bath gave an amorphous Ni-P coating. The effect of metal coating on wetting behavior was evaluated at 800°C on plain and metal-coated ceramic plates using a sessile drop technique. The metallic films eliminated the non-wetting behavior of the uncoated ceramics, leading to equilibrium contact angles in the order of 12° and below 58° for Ni and Cu coated ceramics, respectively. The spreading data indicated that local diffusion at the triple junction was the governing mechanism of the wetting process. Precipitation of intermetallic phases in the drop/ceramic interface delayed the formation of Al4C3. Infiltration with molten Al showed that the coated-particulates are suitable as reinforcing materials for fabricating MMCs, giving porosity-free components with a homogeneously distributed reinforcing phase. The coating promoted easy metal flow through the preform, compared to the non-infiltration behavior of the uncoated counterparts. Liquid state diffusion kinetics due to temperature dependent viscosity forces controlled the infiltration process. Microstructural analysis indicated the formation of intermetallic phases such as CuAl 2, in the case of Cu coating, and Ni2Al3 and NiAl 3 when Ni-coated powders were infiltrated. The overall Ni and Cu content increased from bottom to top of the samples due to dissolution of the metal film by the stream of liquid Al during infiltration. The strengths of the Al/Ni-SiC composites, measured by four-point bending, were 205 and 225 MPa for samples reinforced with 78 mum and 49 mum Ni-SiC, respectively. The mode of fracture was mainly controlled by SiC particle fracture.

Trunk Muscle Size and Composition Assessment in Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: An Intra-Examiner and Inter-Examiner Reliability Study.

PubMed

Sions, Jaclyn Megan; Smith, Andrew Craig; Hicks, Gregory Evan; Elliott, James Matthew

2016-08-01

To evaluate intra- and inter-examiner reliability for the assessment of relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area, i.e., total cross-sectional area minus intramuscular fat, from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained in older adults with chronic low back pain. Reliability study. n = 13 (69.3 ± 8.2 years old) After lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, two examiners produced relative cross-sectional area measurements of multifidi, erector spinae, psoas, and quadratus lumborum by tracing regions of interest just inside fascial borders. Pixel-intensity summaries were used to determine muscle-to-fat infiltration indices; relative muscle cross-sectional area was calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to estimate intra- and inter-examiner reliability; standard error of measurement was calculated. Intra-examiner intraclass correlation coefficient point estimates for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area were excellent for multifidi and erector spinae across levels L2-L5 (ICC = 0.77-0.99). At L3, intra-examiner reliability was excellent for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area for both psoas and quadratus lumborum (ICC = 0.81-0.99). Inter-examiner intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from poor to excellent for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area. Assessment of relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area in older adults with chronic low back pain can be reliably determined by one examiner from T1-weighted images. Such assessments provide valuable information, as muscle-to-fat infiltration indices and relative muscle cross-sectional area indicate that a substantial amount of relative cross-sectional area may be magnetic resonance-visible intramuscular fat in older adults with chronic low back pain. © 2015 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Assessment of Parametrial Response by Growth Pattern in Patients With International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IIB and IIIB Cervical Cancer: Analysis of Patients From a Prospective, Multicenter Trial (EMBRACE)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoshida, Kenji; Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe; Jastaniyah, Noha

Purpose: To assess disease response along the parametrial space according to tumor morphology in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIB and IIIB cervical cancer at the time of image-guided adaptive brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: Patients with FIGO stage IIB and IIIB cervical cancer registered as of November 2013 in the EMBRACE study were evaluated. Tumors were stratified according to morphologic subtype on magnetic resonance imaging (expansive and infiltrative), and the characteristics of those subtypes were analyzed. Parametrial involvement at diagnosis and at brachytherapy was evaluated, and the response to chemo-radiotherapy was classified as good, moderate,more » or poor. The response grade was compared between the 2 groups and analyzed with regard to tumor volumes, and dosimetric parameters. Results: A total of 452 patients were evaluated, of whom 186 had expansive growth type and 266 had infiltrative morphology. Patients with infiltrative tumors had more extensive disease, as indicated by a higher rate of FIGO stage IIIB disease, as well as radiologic evidence of extension into the distal parametrial space and to the pelvic side wall on magnetic resonance imaging. Cervical necrosis was more common in the infiltrative group. Good response was more common in the expansive group (34% vs 24%; P=.02), and poor response was more common in the infiltrative group (11% and 19%; P=.02). Mean gross tumor volume at diagnosis was equal in both groups (51.7 cm{sup 3}). The high-risk clinical target volume was larger in infiltrative tumors (37.9 cm{sup 3} vs 33.3 cm{sup 3}, P=.005). The mean high-risk clinical target volume D{sub 90} was slightly higher in expansive tumors (92.7 Gy and 89.4 Gy, P<.001). Conclusion: Infiltrative tumors are more advanced at presentation and respond less favorably to chemo-radiotherapy when compared with expansive tumors that are more or less equivalent in size. The use of image-guided adaptive brachytherapy allows achieving reasonably high doses in both groups.« less

RUNON a hitherto little noticed factor - Field experiments comparing RUNOFF/RUNON processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohl, Bernhard; Achleitner, Stefan; Lumassegger, Simon

2017-04-01

When ponded water moves downslope as overland flow, an important process called runon manifests itself, but is often ignored in rainfall-runoff studies (Nahar et al. 2004) linking infiltration exclusively to rainfall. Runon effects on infiltration have not yet or only scarcely been evaluated (e.g. Zheng et al. 2000). Runoff-runon occurs when spatially variable infiltration capacities result in runoff generated in one location potentially infiltrating further downslope in an area with higher infiltration capacity (Jones et al. 2013). Numerous studies report inverse relationships between unit area volumes of overland flow and plot lengths (Jones et al. 2016). This is an indication that the effects of rainfall and runon often become blurred. We use a coupled hydrological/2D hydrodynamic model to simulate surface runoff and pluvial flooding including the associated infiltration process. In frame of the research project SAFFER-CC (sensitivity assessment of critical condition for local flash floods - evaluating the recurrence under climate change) the influence of land use and soil conservation on pluvial flash flood modeling is assessed. Field experiments are carried out with a portable irrigation spray installation at different locations with a plot size 5m width and 10m length. The test plots were subjected first to a rainfall with constant intensity of 100 mm/h for one hour. Consecutively a super intense, one hour mid accentuated rainfall hydrograph was applied after 30 minutes at the same plots, ranging from 50 mm/h to 200 mm/h for 1hour. Finally, runon was simulated by upstream feeding of the test plots using two different inflow intensities. The irrigation test showed expected differences of runoff coefficients depending on the various agricultural management. However, these runoff coefficients change with the applied process (rainfall or runon). While a decrease was observed on a plot with a closed litter layer, runoff coefficient from runon increases on poor covered plots. At the same time, a similar variety in the characteristics of the infiltration behavior between rainfall and runoff could be observed. This extension of artificial rainfall simulations with concurrent and successive runon tests will enhance our process understanding.

[Erectile function and ablative surgery of penile tumors].

PubMed

Pisani, E; Austoni, E; Trinchieri, A; Ceresoli, A; Mantovani, F; Colombo, F; Mastromarino, G; Vecchio, D; Canclini, L; Fenice, O

1994-02-01

The Authors try to show the possibility to combine radical excision with minimal invasiveness in the surgery of penile cancer. The focal point of every therapeutic decision is correct clinical staging. Unfortunately there's some confusion in the two international staging systems (TNM and Jackson's classification). In fact it's not clear the anatomical difference between epithelioma of the glans infiltrating corpus spongiosum and subcoronary epithelioma of the shaft infiltrating the corpora cavernosa. It's obvious that the infiltration of the corpora cavernosa is a far more aggressive oncological manifestation than that of tumour infiltrating the corpus spongiosum. So we consider Jackson's classification more congenial. In terms of surgery this anatomical independence makes it easy to consider the corpora cavernosa as a distinct entity, so they remain perfectly functional when separated from the glandulo-spongio-urethral unit with its vasculo-nervous bundle. This makes conservation of the erectile function, when clinical staging show us that the tumour is not infiltrating the corpora cavernosa. The Authors show their results, which seem to be rather good.

The Pathophysiology of Early Hypotension Following Epinephrine-containing Local Anesthetic Infiltration of the Nasal Mucosa in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy: A Prospective, Observational Study.

PubMed

Wiles, Matthew D; Sanders, Matthew I; Sinha, Saurabh; Mirza, Showkat; Andrzejowski, John C

2017-07-01

In patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, the nasal mucosa is often infiltrated with local anesthetic solutions that contain epinephrine to aid hemostasis. This may, however, result in hemodynamic changes, especially hypotension. We characterized the cardiovascular changes using a LiDCOrapid monitor in 13 patients after the infiltration of 4% articaine containing 1:200,000 epinephrine. Nine (69%) had a >20% decrease in mean arterial pressure at a median time of 116 seconds after the infiltration of articaine with epinephrine. Analysis of the cardiac output data revealed that this was caused by a sustained reduction in systemic vascular resistance. The arterial blood pressure normalized over a period of 60 to 90 seconds secondary to increases in stroke volume and heart rate producing an elevation in cardiac output. Transient hypotension following the infiltration of epinephrine-containing local anesthetics may be caused by epinephrine stimulation of β2-adrenoceptors producing vasodilation.

Net-infiltration map of the Navajo Sandstone outcrop area in western Washington County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Heilweil, Victor M.; McKinney, Tim S.

2007-01-01

As populations grow in the arid southwestern United States and desert bedrock aquifers are increasingly targeted for future development, understanding and quantifying the spatial variability of net infiltration and recharge becomes critically important for inventorying groundwater resources and mapping contamination vulnerability. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-based model utilizing readily available soils, topographic, precipitation, and outcrop data has been developed for predicting net infiltration to exposed and soil-covered areas of the Navajo Sandstone outcrop of southwestern Utah. The Navajo Sandstone is an important regional bedrock aquifer. The GIS model determines the net-infiltration percentage of precipitation by using an empirical equation. This relation is derived from least squares linear regression between three surficial parameters (soil coarseness, topographic slope, and downgradient distance from outcrop) and the percentage of estimated net infiltration based on environmental tracer data from excavations and boreholes at Sand Hollow Reservoir in the southeastern part of the study area.Processed GIS raster layers are applied as parameters in the empirical equation for determining net infiltration for soil-covered areas as a percentage of precipitation. This net-infiltration percentage is multiplied by average annual Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) precipitation data to obtain an infiltration rate for each model cell. Additionally, net infiltration on exposed outcrop areas is set to 10 percent of precipitation on the basis of borehole net-infiltration estimates. Soils and outcrop net-infiltration rates are merged to form a final map.Areas of low, medium, and high potential for ground-water recharge have been identified, and estimates of net infiltration range from 0.1 to 66 millimeters per year (mm/yr). Estimated net-infiltration rates of less than 10 mm/yr are considered low, rates of 10 to 50 mm/yr are considered medium, and rates of more than 50 mm/yr are considered high. A comparison of estimated net-infiltration rates (determined from tritium data) to predicted rates (determined from GIS methods) at 12 sites in Sand Hollow and at Anderson Junction indicates an average difference of about 50 percent. Two of the predicted values were lower, five were higher, and five were within the estimated range. While such uncertainty is relatively small compared with the three order-of-magnitude range in predicted net-infiltration rates, the net-infiltration map is best suited for evaluating relative spatial distribution rather than for precise quantification of recharge to the Navajo aquifer at specific locations. An important potential use for this map is land-use zoning for protecting high net-infiltration parts of the aquifer from potential surface contamination.

Identification of Cytological Features Distinguishing Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma from Reactive Lymphoid Proliferation Using Thyroid Liquid-Based Cytology

PubMed Central

Suzuki, Ayana; Hirokawa, Mitsuyoshi; Ito, Aki; Takada, Nami; Higuchi, Miyoko; Hayashi, Toshitetsu; Kuma, Seiji; Miyauchi, Akira

2018-01-01

Objective To identify cytological differences between mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT-L) and nonneoplastic lymphocytes using thyroid liquid-based cytology (LBC). Study Design We observed LBC and conventional specimens from 35 MALT-L cases, 3 diffuse large B-cell cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases, and 44 prominent nonneoplastic lymphocytic infiltration cases. Results In MALT-L cases, the incidence of lymphoglandular bodies in the LBC specimens was lower than that in the conventional specimens (p < 0.001). Moreover, the nuclear sizes in LBC specimens were larger than those in conventional specimens. In 62.9% of the MALT-L and all DLBCL specimens, large nuclei were present in > 10% of the lymphoid cells in LBC specimens. Two cases with prominent nonneoplastic lymphocytic infiltration also exhibited these findings. In LBC specimens, swollen naked nuclei with less punctate chromatin patterns and thin nuclear margins were observed in 92.1% of lymphoma and 20.5% of prominent nonneoplastic lymphocytic infiltration. Elongated nuclei were significantly more apparent in thyroid lymphoma than in prominent nonneoplastic lymphocytic infiltration (p < 0.001), with a significantly higher incidence in LBC specimens than in conventional specimens (p < 0.001). Conclusions Lymphoglandular bodies are not reliable markers for lymphoma diagnosis using LBC specimens. Large, swollen naked, and elongated nuclei are useful in distinguishing thyroid lymphoma from nonneoplastic lymphocytes in LBC specimens. PMID:29597203

Infiltration of Local Anesthesia at Wound Site after Single-Incision Laparoscopic Colectomy Reduces Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Usage.

PubMed

Lee, Ko-Chao; Lu, Chien-Chang; Lin, Shung-Eing; Chang, Chia-Lo; Chen, Hong-Hwa

2015-06-01

Minimally invasive laparoscopy provides faster recovery, less pain, fewer complications, and better cosmesis than laparotomy. We aimed to evaluate outcomes of postoperative local anesthesia infiltration at the single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) wound. This prospective, non-randomized controlled study evaluated outcomes of 58 colorectal cancer cases receiving SILS from May 2010 to December 2010. Twenty-nine patients received postoperative infiltration of local anesthesia at the wound site; another 29 patients did not. Demographic, intra- and postoperative data were compared. Postoperative pain was assessed by visual analogue scale and analgesic usage. Local anesthesia group included 16 males, 13 females (mean age, 62.0 ± 15.1 years); no local anesthesia group included 14 males, 15 females (mean age, 58.1 ± 12.7 years). There were no significant differences between groups at baseline (i.e., age, gender, disease stage, tumor location or size) except BMI (25.2 ± 2.8 vs. 23.5 ± 3.4, p = 0.041) was significantly higher. Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in local anesthesia group than in no local anesthesia group (median VAS score 2.0, IQR 2.0-3.0 vs. VAS score 3.0, IQR 3.0-4.0, respectively, P = 0.024). Our results provide further evidence of SILS safety. Local anesthesia infiltration at SILS wounds decreases postoperative wound pain and analgesic usage.

Dapagliflozin, a selective SGLT2 Inhibitor, attenuated cardiac fibrosis by regulating the macrophage polarization via STAT3 signaling in infarcted rat hearts.

PubMed

Lee, Tsung-Ming; Chang, Nen-Chung; Lin, Shinn-Zong

2017-03-01

During myocardial infarction, infiltrated macrophages have pivotal roles in cardiac remodeling and delayed M1 toward M2 macrophage phenotype transition is considered one of the major factors for adverse ventricular remodeling. We investigated whether dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, attenuates cardiac fibrosis via regulating macrophage phenotype by a reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS)/STAT3-dependent pathway in postinfarcted rats. Normoglycemic male Wistar rats were subjected to coronary ligation and then randomized to either saline, dapagliflozin (a specific SGLT2 inhibitor), phlorizin (a nonspecific SGLT1/2 inhibitor), dapagliflozin + S3I-201 (a STAT3 inhibitor), or phlorizin + S3I-201 for 4 weeks. There were similar infarct sizes among the infarcted groups at the acute and chronic stages of infarction. At day 3 after infarction, post-infarction was associated with increased levels of superoxide and nitrotyrosine, which can be inhibited by administering either dapagliflozin or phlorizin. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly increased STAT3 activity, STAT3 nuclear translocation, myocardial IL-10 levels and the percentage of M2 macrophage infiltration. At day 28 after infarction, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with attenuated myofibroblast infiltration and cardiac fibrosis. Although phlorizin decreased myofibroblast infiltration, the effect of dapagliflozin on attenuated myofibroblast infiltration was significantly higher than phlorizin. The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiac fibrosis were nullified by adding S3I-201. Furthermore, the effects of dapagliflozin on STAT3 activity and myocardial IL-10 levels can be reversed by 3-morpholinosydnonimine, a peroxynitrite generator. Taken together, these observations provide a novel mechanism of SGLT2 inhibitors-mediated M2 polarization through a RONS-dependent STAT3-mediated pathway and selective SGLT2 inhibitors are more effective in attenuating myofibroblast infiltration during postinfarction remodeling. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of Periarticular Liposomal Bupivacaine Infiltration in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty-A Meta-analysis of Comparative Trials.

PubMed

Singh, Preet Mohinder; Borle, Anuradha; Trikha, Anjan; Michos, Lia; Sinha, Ashish; Goudra, Basavana

2017-02-01

Over last 2 years, many trials have evaluated newly approved liposomal bupivacaine for periarticular infiltration in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with mixed results. Our meta-analysis attempts to consolidate the results and make evidence-based conclusions. Trails comparing periarticular infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine to conventional analgesic regimens for total knee arthroplasty published till June 2016 were searched in medical database. Comparisons were made for length of stay (LOS), postoperative pain scores, range of motion, and opioid consumption. Meta-regression was performed for LOS to evaluate various analgesic control subgroups. Sixteen trials were included in the final analysis. Liposomal bupivacaine group showed a shorter LOS (reported in 13 subgroups) than control group by 0.17 ± 0.04 days (random effects, P < .001, I 2  = 84.66%). Meta-regression for various types of control showed a predictability (R 2 ) of 73%, τ 2  = 0.013 (random effects, P < .001, I 2  = 45.16). Only femoral block subgroup attained statistically significant shorter LOS on splitting the control group. Numeric pain scores were lower for pooled control group and local anesthetic infiltration subgroup in immediate postoperative phase. Second postoperative day analgesia was statistically superior to overall clubbed controls and femoral block subgroup. Superiority and/or inferiority of liposomal bupivacaine could not be proven for opioid consumption and range of motion because of a small pooled sample size. Publication bias is likely for LOS (Egger test, X intercept = 2.42, P < .001). Liposomal bupivacaine infiltration has questionable clinical advantage, as it marginally shortens patient's hospital stay especially in comparison with patients receiving analgesic femoral nerve block. Compared with conventional regimens, it can provide slightly superior yet sustained (till second postoperative day) perioperative analgesia. High heterogeneity suggests need for standardization of infiltration techniques for better predictability of results. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigating controls on denitrification rates during managed aquifer recharge: Field studies of infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beganskas, S.; Gorski, G.; Fisher, A. T.; Weir, W. B.; Schmidt, C. M.; Saltikov, C.; Stoneburner, B.; Hernandez, J.; Harmon, R. E.; Weathers, T. S.

2016-12-01

We have designed field experiments to observe and quantify water quality improvement during infiltration in the shallow subsurface, as part of managed aquifer recharge (MAR). We are exploring how microbial diversity and denitrification rate respond to different infiltration rates and the presence or absence of carbon-rich reactive materials (woodchips or biochar). In 2015, we conducted a series of two-week-long field infiltration tests, and in 2016 we are running tests at a new site. For each test, nitrate-rich water (20-25 ppm NO3-N) was continuously applied to 1-m square plots instrumented to measure infiltration rates and sample subsurface water at multiple depths. Soil samples were collected before and after each test to assess microbial diversity. In 2015, we observed infiltration rates of 4-18 m/d, consistent with very sandy soils at our field site. All water samples had >20 ppm DOC, indicating that denitrification was unlikely carbon-limited. There was a net increase in DOC in fluids sampled below woodchips, but no change in DOC in samples from un-amended native soil. Up to 20% of NO3- was removed below woodchips on days with infiltration rates below 15 m/d. Nitrate removal was not observed in native soil, even though infiltration rates were considerably lower, 4 m/d. Isotopic analyses indicate that denitrification is likely the mechanism for nitrate removal. Genomic sequencing of soil microbes shows that microbial populations' relative abundance shifted significantly due to infiltration; further analyses are underway. Our results suggest that rapid infiltration can lead to oxic conditions unfavorable for denitrification, and that a carbon-rich reactive material (woodchips) may stimulate microbially-mediated denitrification. Our experimental design is a novel way to examine factors that impact water quality during infiltration. Nitrate, a pervasive groundwater contaminant, can be removed via denitrification during MAR under some conditions, depending on infiltration rate, available carbon, and substrate material. Our work has applications for designing MAR systems that effectively improve water supply and water quality.

Monitoring technologies for the evaluation of a Soil-Aquifer-Treatment system in coastal aquifer environments.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallioras, Andreas; Tsertou, Athanasia; Foglia, Laura; Bumberger, Jan; Vienken, Thomas; Dietrich, Peter; Schüth, Christoph

2014-05-01

Artificial recharge of groundwater has an important role to play in water reuse. Treated sewage effluent can be infiltrated into the ground for recharge of aquifers. As the effluent water moves through the soil and the aquifer, it undergoes significant quality improvements through physical, chemical, and biological processes in the underground environment. Collectively, these processes and the water quality improvement obtained are called soil-aquifer-treatment (SAT) or geopurification. Recharge systems for SAT can be designed as infiltration-recovery systems, where all effluent water is recovered as such from the aquifer, or after blending with native groundwater. SAT typically removes essentially all suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminthic eggs). Concentrations of synthetic organic carbon, phosphorous, and heavy metals are greatly reduced. The pilot site of LTCP will involve the employment of infiltration basins, which will be using waters of impaired quality as a recharge source, and hence acting as a Soil-Aquifer-Treatment, SAT, system. T he LTCP site will be employed as a pilot SAT system complemented by new technological developments, which will be providing continuous monitoring of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of infiltrating groundwater through all hydrologic zones (i.e. surface, unsaturated and saturated zone). This will be achieved through the development and installation of an integrated system of prototype sensors, installed on-site, and offering a continuous evaluation of the performance of the SAT system. An integrated approach of the performance evaluation of any operating SAT system should aim at parallel monitoring of all hydrologic zones, proving the sustainability of all involved water quality treatment processes within unsaturated and saturated zone. Hence a prototype system of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensors will be developed, in order to achieve continuous quantitative monitoring of the unsaturated zone through the entire soil column down to significant depths below the SAT basin. The above technique will offer continuous monitoring of infiltration rates and possible mechanical clogging effects. The qualitative monitoring of the unsaturated zone will be achieved through the installation of appropriate pore-water samplers within a multi-level basis, ensuring repeatability of sampling of infiltrating water of impaired quality. This study also involves the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the Lavrion multi-aquifer system through continuous monitoring of the performance of (i) the alluvial aquifer and its potential for additional water treatment as well as (ii) the effects of the SAT system for countermeasuring seawater intrusion in the area of Lavrion. Additionally, setup and calibration of numerical flow and transport models for evaluating and optimizing different operational modes of the SAT system within both saturated and unsaturated zones will be conducted. The monitoring system will be connected to an ad-hoc wireless network for continuous data transfer within the SAT facilities. It is envisaged that the development and combined application of all the above technologies will provide an integrated monitoring platform for the evaluation of SAT system performance.

Treating Sjögren's Syndrome: Insights for the Clinician

PubMed Central

Vitali, Claudio; Palombi, Gianluigi; Cataleta, Pierluigi

2010-01-01

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the exocrine glands, mainly the salivary and lachrymal glands, with consequent persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. In addition to the clinical manifestations related to the exocrine gland involvement, a consistent prevalence of patients may present systemic manifestations. Some of these can be ascribed to the periepithelial extension of lymphocytic infiltration whilst others are determined by an immunomediated process affecting small- or medium-size vessels. While the use of tear and saliva substitutes and local or systemic stimulation of residual secretions represent the mainstays of the therapy of sicca component, different immunomodulating or immunosuppressive agents are usually required to treat extraglandular features, similarly to what happens in other connective tissue diseases. In the last few years, the advancement in the understanding the pathogenetic mechanisms of this disorder and the availability of new biologic target therapies seem to offer completely new therapeutic options. The use of B cell depleting or modulating therapies has achieved promising results. PMID:22870445

High Temperature Aerogels for Thermal Protection Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurwitz, Frances I.; Mbah, Godfrey C.

2008-01-01

High temperature aerogels in the Al2O3-SiO2 system are being investigated as possible constituents for lightweight integrated thermal protection system (TPS) designs for use in supersonic and hypersonic applications. Gels are synthesized from ethoxysilanes and AlCl3.6H2O, using an epoxide catalyst. The influence of Al:Si ratio, solvent, water to metal and water to alcohol ratios on aerogel composition, morphology, surface area, and pore size distribution were examined, and phase transformation on heat treatment characterized. Aerogels have been fabricated which maintain porous, fractal structures after brief exposures to 1000 C. Incorporation of nanofibers, infiltration of aerogels into SiC foams, use of polymers for crosslinking the aerogels, or combinations of these, offer potential for toughening and integration of TPS with composite structure. Woven fabric composites having Al2O3-SiO2 aerogels as a matrix also have been fabricated. Continuing work is focused on reduction in shrinkage and optimization of thermal and physical properties.

Aeolian Sediment Trapping Efficiencies of Sparse Vegetation and its Ecohydrological Consequences in Drylands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzales, H. B.; Ravi, S.; Li, J. J.; Sankey, J. B.

2016-12-01

Hydrological and aeolian processes control the redistribution of soil and nutrients in arid and semi arid environments thereby contributing to the formation of heterogeneous patchy landscapes with nutrient-rich resource islands surrounded by nutrient depleted bare soil patches. The differential trapping of soil particles by vegetation canopies may result in textural changes beneath the vegetation, which, in turn, can alter the hydrological processes such as infiltration and runoff. We conducted infiltration experiments and soil grain size analysis of several shrub (Larrea tridentate) and grass (Bouteloua eriopoda) microsites and in a heterogeneous landscape in the Chihuahuan desert (New Mexico, USA). Our results indicate heterogeneity in soil texture and infiltration patterns under grass and shrub microsites. We assessed the trapping effectiveness of vegetation canopies using a novel computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. An open-source software (OpenFOAM) was used to validate the data gathered from particle size distribution (PSD) analysis of soil within the shrub and grass microsites and their porosities (91% for shrub and 68% for grass) determined using terrestrial LiDAR surveys. Three-dimensional architectures of the shrub and grass were created using an open-source computer-aided design (CAD) software (Blender). The readily available solvers within the OpenFOAM architecture were modified to test the validity and optimize input parameters in assessing trapping efficiencies of sparse vegetation against aeolian sediment flux. The results from the numerical simulations explained the observed textual changes under grass and shrub canopies and highlighted the role of sediment trapping by canopies in structuring patch-scale hydrological processes.

The Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial

PubMed Central

Srinivasan, Muthiah; Mascarenhas, Jeena; Rajaraman, Revathi; Ravindran, Meenakshi; Lalitha, Prajna; Glidden, David V.; Ray, Kathryn J.; Hong, Kevin C.; Oldenburg, Catherine E.; Lee, Salena M.; Zegans, Michael E.; McLeod, Stephen D.; Lietman, Thomas M.; Acharya, Nisha R.

2013-01-01

Objectives To provide comprehensive trial methods and baseline data for the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial and to present epidemiological characteristics such as risk factors, causative organisms, and ulcer severity. Methods Baseline data from a 1:1 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked clinical trial comparing prednisolone phosphate, 1%, with placebo as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers. Eligible patients had a culture-positive bacterial corneal ulcer and had been taking moxifloxacin for 48 hours. The primary outcome for the trial is best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 3 months from enrollment. This report provides comprehensive baseline data, including best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, infiltrate size, microbio-logical results, and patient demographics, for patients enrolled in the trial. Results Of 500 patients enrolled, 97% were in India. Two hundred twenty patients (44%) were agricultural workers. Median baseline visual acuity was 0.84 logMAR (Snellen, 20/125) (interquartile range, 0.36-1.7; Snellen, 20/50 to counting fingers). Baseline visual acuity was not significantly different between the United States and India. Ulcers in India had larger infiltrate/scar sizes (P=.04) and deeper infiltrates (P=.04) and were more likely to be localized centrally (P=.002) than ulcers enrolled in the United States. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common organisms isolated from the ulcers (n=366, 72%). Conclusions The Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial will compare the use of a topical corticosteroid with placebo as adjunctive therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. Patients enrolled in this trial had diverse ulcer severity and on average significantly reduced visual acuity at presentation. PMID:21987581

The steroids for corneal ulcers trial: study design and baseline characteristics.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Muthiah; Mascarenhas, Jeena; Rajaraman, Revathi; Ravindran, Meenakshi; Lalitha, Prajna; Glidden, David V; Ray, Kathryn J; Hong, Kevin C; Oldenburg, Catherine E; Lee, Salena M; Zegans, Michael E; McLeod, Stephen D; Lietman, Thomas M; Acharya, Nisha R

2012-02-01

To provide comprehensive trial methods and baseline data for the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial and to present epidemiological characteristics such as risk factors, causative organisms, and ulcer severity. Baseline data from a 1:1 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked clinical trial comparing prednisolone phosphate, 1%, with placebo as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers. Eligible patients had a culture-positive bacterial corneal ulcer and had been taking moxifloxacin for 48 hours. The primary outcome for the trial is best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 3 months from enrollment. This report provides comprehensive baseline data, including best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, infiltrate size, microbiological results, and patient demographics, for patients enrolled in the trial. Of 500 patients enrolled, 97% were in India. Two hundred twenty patients (44%) were agricultural workers. Median baseline visual acuity was 0.84 logMAR (Snellen, 20/125) (interquartile range, 0.36-1.7; Snellen, 20/50 to counting fingers). Baseline visual acuity was not significantly different between the United States and India. Ulcers in India had larger infiltrate/scar sizes (P = .04) and deeper infiltrates (P = .04) and were more likely to be localized centrally (P = .002) than ulcers enrolled in the United States. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common organisms isolated from the ulcers (n = 366, 72%). The Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial will compare the use of a topical corticosteroid with placebo as adjunctive therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. Patients enrolled in this trial had diverse ulcer severity and on average significantly reduced visual acuity at presentation. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00324168.

Correlation between obesity and fat-infiltrated axillary lymph nodes visualized on mammography.

PubMed

diFlorio Alexander, Roberta M; Haider, Steffen J; MacKenzie, Todd; Goodrich, Martha E; Weiss, Julie; Onega, Tracy

2018-01-05

Using screening mammography, this study investigated the association between obesity and axillary lymph node (LN) size and morphology. We conducted a retrospective review of 188 females who underwent screening mammography at an academic medical centre. Length and width of the LN and hilum were measured in the largest, mammographically visible axillary node. The hilo-cortical ratio (HCR) was calculated as the hilar width divided by the cortical width. Measurements were performed by a board certified breast radiologist and a resident radiology physician. Inter-rater agreement was assessed with Pearson correlation coefficient. We performed multivariable regression analysis for associations of LN measurements with body mass index (BMI), breast density and age. There was a strong association between BMI and LN dimensions, hilum dimensions and HCR (p < 0.001 for all metrics). There was no significant change in cortex width with increasing BMI (p = 0.15). Increases in LN length and width were found with increasing BMI [0.6 mm increase in length per unit BMI, 95% CI (0.4-0.8), p < 0.001 and0.3 mm increase in width per unit BMI, 95% CI(0.2-0.4), p < 0.001, respectively]. Inter-rater reliability for lymph node and hilum measurements was 0.57-0.72. We found a highly significant association between increasing BMI and axillary LN dimensions independent of age and breast density with strong interobserver agreement. The increase in LN size was driven by expansion of the LN hilum secondary to fat infiltration. Advances in knowledge: This preliminary work determined a relationship between fat infiltrated axillary lymph nodes and obesity.

Modelling spatial distribution of soil steady state infiltration rate in an urban park (Vingis Parkas, Vilnius, Lithuania)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, Paulo; Cerda, Artemi; Depellegrin, Daniel; Misiune, Ieva; Bogunovic, Igor; Menchov, Oleksandr

2016-04-01

Within the hydrological process, infiltration is a key component as control the partitioning of the rainfall into runoff or soil water (Cerdà, 1997). And the infiltration process is determining the fate of the soil development and the human impact in the soil system (Brevik et al., 2015). On forest soils, the infiltration use to be high due to the macropore flow, which drainages the surface runoff usually generated by the hydrophobic response of soil reach in organic matter (Hewelke et al., 2015) or as a consequence of forest fires (Jordán et al., 2010; Pereira et al., 2014) due to the development of water repellent substances (Mao et al., 2015), which are mainly associated to the ash (Pereira et al., 2014; Pereira et al., 2015). To understand the role the infiltration plays in the soil development and the runoff generation is important, and also is necessary to understand how some factors such as vegetation, crust, stones, litter, mulches… play in the hydrological, erosional and pedological system (Cerdà, 2001; Keesstra, 2007; Liu et al., 2014; Bisantino et al., 2015; Cassinari et al., 2015, Cerdà et al., 2015; Mohawesh et al., 2015; Terribile et al., 2015). The well-know importance of the infiltration process did not resulted in the research on the infiltration on urban areas, although there is where the infiltration is more altered. Water infiltration is extremely important in urbanized areas, since the majority of the surfaces are sealed by concrete, asphalt and other materials. Soil sealing increases exponentially the impacts of flash floods and reduces soil infiltration capacity. This decreases importantly one of the most important services provided by soil: water storage and infiltration. In this context, the existence of green areas and urban parks are of major importance to mitigate the impact of human settlements in soil water infiltration. The aim of this work is to assess the spatial distribution of steady-state soil water infiltration in the larger urban park in Vilnius, Vinguis Parkas. The studied area is located near the Neris River and occupies an area of approximately 162 hectares. Inside the park a total of 95 randomly points were selected to measure soil steady infiltration, between April and September of 2016. At each sampling point, 4 infiltration measurements were carried out using a cylinder infiltrometer with 15 cm higher and a diameter of 7 cm (Cerda, 1996). Each experiment has the duration of 1 hour and the measurements of the infiltrated water were carried out 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 minutes (Cerda, 1996). The steady state infiltration value of each sampling point corresponds to the average value of the 4 measurements. In each point, the 4 measurements were separated by 5 meters to take in account the spatial variability (Neris et al., 2013). In total 380 infiltration tests were carried out (95x4). Previous to data modelling, data normality was assessed using the shapiro wilk-test and homogeneity of the variances, using Levene test, respectively. The original data was not normally distributed and, only respected the Gaussian distribution and heteroscedasticity after a logarithmic transformation. Data modelling was carried out using transformed data. The accuracy of steady-state soil infiltration spatial distribution was carried out testing several interpolation methods, as Inverse Distance to a Weight (IDW) with the power of 1,2,3,4 and 5, Local Polynomial methods, with the power of 1 and 2 Radial Basis Functions - Spline With Tension (SPT), Completely Regularized Spline (CRS), Multiquadratic (MTQ), Inverse Multiquadratic (IMTQ) and Thin Plate Spline (TPS) - and Geostatistical methods as, Ordinary Kriging (OK), Simple Kriging (SK) and Universal Kriging (UK) (Pereira et al., 2015). Methods performance was assessed calculating the Root Square Mean Error (RMSE) from the errors obtained from cross-validation. The results showed that on average steady state infiltration rate was 69 mm h-1, with a minimum of 12.72 mm h-1 and a maximum of 692.31 mm h-1. The spatial variability was extremely high (coefficient of variation of 153.71). Among the methods tested the most accurate was SK (RMSE=0.542) and the least precise TPS (RMSE=0.695). With the exception of the IDW5, all the correlations between observed and estimated values were significant at a p<0.05. All the residuals followed the normal distribution. Steady state infiltration was high in the southern and central part of the plot (where the human impact is high) and low in the northern part of the park, where forests are denser. References Bisantino, T., Bingner, R., Chouaib, W., Gentile, F., Trisorio Liuzzi, G. (2015) Estimation of runoff, peak discharge and sediment load at the event scale in a medium-size mediterranean watershed using the annagnps model Land Degradation and Development, 26, 340-355. Brevik, E. C., Cerdà, A., Mataix-Solera, J., Pereg, L., Quinton, J. N., Six, J., Van Oost, K. (2015) The interdisciplinary nature of SOIL. SOIL, 1, 117-129. Cassinari, C., Manfredi, P., Giupponi, L., Trevisan, M., Piccini, C. (2015). Relationship between hydraulic properties and plant coverage of the closed-landfill soils in Piacenza (Po Valley, Italy). Solid Earth, 6, 929-943. Cerdà, A. (1996) Seasonal variability of infiltration rates under contrasting slope conditions in southeast Spain. Geoderma, 69, 217-232. Cerdà, A., González-Pelayo, O., Giménez-Morera, A., Jordán, A., Pereira, P., Novara, A., Brevik, E.C., Prosdocimi, M., Mahmoodabadi, M., Keesstra, S., García Orenes, F., Ritsema, C. (2015) The use of barley straw residues to avoid high erosion and runoff rates on persimmon plantations in Eastern Spain under low frequency - high magnitude simulated rainfall events. Soil Research (In press) Cerdà, A. (2001) Effects of rock fragment cover on soil infiltration, interrill runoff and erosion. European Journal of Soil Science, 52, 59-68. Cerdà, A. (1997) Seasonal changes of the infiltration rates in a mediterranean scrubland on limestone. Journal of Hydrology, 198, 209-225. Hewelke, E., Szatyłowicz, J., Gnatowski, T., Oleszczuk, R. (2015) Effects of soil water repellency on moisture patterns in a degraded sapric histosol, Land Degradation and Development, DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2305 Jordán, A., González, F.A., Zavala, L.M. (2010) Re-establishment of soil water repellency after destruction by intense burning in a Mediterranean heathland (SW Spain). Hydrological Processes, 24, 736-748. Keesstra, S.D. (2007) Impact of natural reforestation on floodplain sedimentation in the Dragonja basin, SW Slovenia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32, 49-65. Liu, Z., Yao, Z., Huang, H., Wu, S., Liu, G. (2014) Land use and climate changes and their impacts on runoff in the Yarlung Zangbo river basin, China. Land Degradation and Development, 25, 203-215. Mao, J., Nierop, K.G.J., Rietkerk, M., Dekker, S.C. (2015) Predicting soil water repellency using hydrophobic organic compounds and their vegetation origin. SOIL, 1, 411-425. Mohawesh, Y., Taimeh, A., Ziadat, F. (2015) Effects of land use changes and soil conservation intervention on soil properties as indicators for land degradation under a Mediterranean climate Solid Earth, 6, 857-868. Neris, J., Jimenez, C., Fuentes, J., Morillas, G., Tejedor, M. (2012) Vegetation and land-use effects on soil properties and water infiltration of Andisols in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Catena, 98, 55-62. Pereira, P., Cerda, A., Ubeda, X., Mataix-Solera, J., Arcenegui, V., Zavala, L. (2015) Modelling the impacts of wildfire on ash thickness in short-term period. Land Degradation and Development, 26, 180-192. Pereira, P., Úbeda, X., Martin, D., Mataix-Solera, J., Cerdà, A., Burguet, M. Wildfire effects on extractable elements in ash from a Pinus pinaster forest in Portugal (2014) Hydrological Processes, 28, 3681-3690. Pereira, P., Úbeda, X., Mataix-Solera, J., Oliva, M., Novara, A. (2014) Short-term changes in soil Munsell colour value, organic matter content and soil water repellency after a spring grassland fire in Lithuania. Solid Earth, 5, 209-225. Terribile, F., Agrillo, A., Bonfante, A., Buscemi, G., Colandrea, M., D'Antonio, A., De Mascellis, R., De Michele, C., Langella, G., Manna, P., Marotta, L., Mileti, F.A., Minieri, L., Orefice, N., Valentini, S., Vingiani, S., Basile, A. A (2015) Web-based spatial decision supporting system for land management and soil conservation. Solid Earth, 6, 903-928.

In vivo imaging of cytotoxic T cell infiltration and elimination of a solid tumor

PubMed Central

Boissonnas, Alexandre; Fetler, Luc; Zeelenberg, Ingrid S.; Hugues, Stéphanie; Amigorena, Sebastian

2007-01-01

Although the immune system evolved to fight infections, it may also attack and destroy solid tumors. In most cases, tumor rejection is initiated by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which infiltrate solid tumors, recognize tumor antigens, and kill tumor cells. We use a combination of two-photon intravital microscopy and immunofluorescence on ordered sequential sections to analyze the infiltration and destruction of solid tumors by CTLs. We show that in the periphery of a thymoma growing subcutaneously, activated CTLs migrate with high instantaneous velocities. The CTLs arrest in close contact to tumor cells expressing their cognate antigen. In regions where most tumor cells are dead, CTLs resume migration, sometimes following collagen fibers or blood vessels. CTLs migrating along blood vessels preferentially adopt an elongated morphology. CTLs also infiltrate tumors in depth, but only when the tumor cells express the cognate CTL antigen. In tumors that do not express the cognate antigen, CTL infiltration is restricted to peripheral regions, and lymphocytes neither stop moving nor kill tumor cells. Antigen expression by tumor cells therefore determines both CTL motility within the tumor and profound tumor infiltration. PMID:17261634

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Fatty Infiltration in the Shoulder Musculature.

PubMed

Dow, David F; Mehta, Kaushal; Xu, Yuanfang; England, Eric

Fatty infiltration in the rotator cuff muscles has been well studied in the setting of rotator cuff tendon tears to help predict outcomes of surgical repair. Fatty infiltration in the rotator cuff has also been independently correlated to the variables of age and sex. The purpose of our study was to determine if there is a relationship between body mass index and fatty infiltration in patients with no imaging evidence of rotator cuff tendinosis or tear. Radiology reports of all magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the shoulder were searched over a 2-year period. Studies with imaging findings of rotator cuff tendinosis, partial tear, or full thickness tear were excluded from the study, resulting in a total of 143 patients with normal rotator cuffs who were included in the study. These studies were reviewed by consensus by 2 fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists who used the Goutallier 5-stage scoring system to grade the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, teres major, and deltoid muscles. Sex was shown not to be significantly associated with fatty infiltration with the exception of the deltoid muscle, which showed a statistically significant increase in fatty infiltration associated with female sex (P = 0.038). Age was shown to be a statistically significant predictor of fatty infiltration for all 6 muscles (P < 0.05). Body mass index was shown to be a statistically significant predictor of fatty infiltration for all of the evaluated shoulder musculature (P < 0.05) with the exception of the teres minor. Our results suggest that increased body mass index is associated with increased fatty infiltration in the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, teres major, and deltoid muscles. This relationship could help guide the decisions of orthopedic surgeons when considering rotator cuff repair.

Toward Non-Invasive and Automatic Intravenous Infiltration Detection: Evaluation of Bioimpedance and Skin Strain in a Pig Model.

PubMed

Bicen, A Ozan; West, Leanne L; Cesar, Liliana; Inan, Omer T

2018-01-01

Intravenous (IV) therapy is prevalent in hospital settings, where fluids are typically delivered with an IV into a peripheral vein of the patient. IV infiltration is the inadvertent delivery of fluids into the extravascular space rather than into the vein (and requires urgent treatment to avoid scarring and severe tissue damage), for which medical staff currently needs to check patients periodically. In this paper, the performance of two non-invasive sensing modalities, electrical bioimpedance (EBI), and skin strain sensing, for the automatic detection of IV infiltration was investigated in an animal model. Infiltrations were physically simulated on the hind limb of anesthetized pigs, where the sensors for EBI and skin strain sensing were co-located. The obtained data were used to examine the ability to distinguish between infusion into the vein and an infiltration event using bioresistance and bioreactance (derived from EBI), as well as skin strain. Skin strain and bioresistance sensing could achieve detection rates greater than 0.9 for infiltration fluid volumes of 2 and 10 mL, respectively, for a given false positive, i.e., false alarm rate of 0.05. Furthermore, the fusion of multiple sensing modalities could achieve a detection rate of 0.97 with a false alarm rate of 0.096 for 5mL fluid volume of infiltration. EBI and skin strain sensing can enable non-invasive and real-time IV infiltration detection systems. Fusion of multiple sensing modalities can help to detect expanded range of leaking fluid volumes. The provided performance results and comparisons in this paper are an important step towards clinical translation of sensing technologies for detecting IV infiltration.

Toward Non-Invasive and Automatic Intravenous Infiltration Detection: Evaluation of Bioimpedance and Skin Strain in a Pig Model

PubMed Central

Bicen, A. Ozan; West, Leanne L.; Cesar, Liliana

2018-01-01

Intravenous (IV) therapy is prevalent in hospital settings, where fluids are typically delivered with an IV into a peripheral vein of the patient. IV infiltration is the inadvertent delivery of fluids into the extravascular space rather than into the vein (and requires urgent treatment to avoid scarring and severe tissue damage), for which medical staff currently needs to check patients periodically. In this paper, the performance of two non-invasive sensing modalities, electrical bioimpedance (EBI), and skin strain sensing, for the automatic detection of IV infiltration was investigated in an animal model. Infiltrations were physically simulated on the hind limb of anesthetized pigs, where the sensors for EBI and skin strain sensing were co-located. The obtained data were used to examine the ability to distinguish between infusion into the vein and an infiltration event using bioresistance and bioreactance (derived from EBI), as well as skin strain. Skin strain and bioresistance sensing could achieve detection rates greater than 0.9 for infiltration fluid volumes of 2 and 10 mL, respectively, for a given false positive, i.e., false alarm rate of 0.05. Furthermore, the fusion of multiple sensing modalities could achieve a detection rate of 0.97 with a false alarm rate of 0.096 for 5mL fluid volume of infiltration. EBI and skin strain sensing can enable non-invasive and real-time IV infiltration detection systems. Fusion of multiple sensing modalities can help to detect expanded range of leaking fluid volumes. The provided performance results and comparisons in this paper are an important step towards clinical translation of sensing technologies for detecting IV infiltration. PMID:29692956

Efficient production of human acidic fibroblast growth factor in pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants by agroinfection of germinated seeds

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background For efficient and large scale production of recombinant proteins in plants transient expression by agroinfection has a number of advantages over stable transformation. Simple manipulation, rapid analysis and high expression efficiency are possible. In pea, Pisum sativum, a Virus Induced Gene Silencing System using the pea early browning virus has been converted into an efficient agroinfection system by converting the two RNA genomes of the virus into binary expression vectors for Agrobacterium transformation. Results By vacuum infiltration (0.08 Mpa, 1 min) of germinating pea seeds with 2-3 cm roots with Agrobacteria carrying the binary vectors, expression of the gene for Green Fluorescent Protein as marker and the gene for the human acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) was obtained in 80% of the infiltrated developing seedlings. Maximal production of the recombinant proteins was achieved 12-15 days after infiltration. Conclusions Compared to the leaf injection method vacuum infiltration of germinated seeds is highly efficient allowing large scale production of plants transiently expressing recombinant proteins. The production cycle of plants for harvesting the recombinant protein was shortened from 30 days for leaf injection to 15 days by applying vacuum infiltration. The synthesized aFGF was purified by heparin-affinity chromatography and its mitogenic activity on NIH 3T3 cells confirmed to be similar to a commercial product. PMID:21548923

Local infiltration analgesia with ropivacaine in acute fracture of thoracolumbar junction surgery.

PubMed

Swennen, C; Bredin, S; Eap, C; Mensa, C; Ohl, X; Girard, V

2017-04-01

Retrospective study. Local infiltration analgesia is effective in many surgeries as knee arthroplasty, but the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration analgesia with ropivacaine in trauma spine surgery in T10 to L2 has not been clarified. We conducted a trial to assess the analgesic efficacy of intraoperative local infiltration analgesia (LIA) with ropivacaine. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of intraoperative local infiltration analgesia with ropivacaine on postoperative pain for patients undergoing thoracolumbar junction fracture surgery. In a retrospective study, in 76 patients undergoing spine surgery for thoracolumbar junction fracture, 20ml of ropivacaine 7.5% (n R group=38) was infiltrated using a systematic technique, or no infiltration was realized (n M group=38). We assessed postoperative pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and morphine consumption in the 24 first hours. VAS pain score upon awakening and at 2hours postoperatively were significantly lower in the ropivacaine group (P=0.01 and P=0.002). Rescue opioid requirement during the 24 first hours were about 50% lower in the ropivacaine group (P=0.01). No local or systemic side effects were observed. Intraoperative LIA with ropivacaine in thoracolumbar junction fracture surgery may have an analgesic effect in postoperative pain control (24hours) with a reduction of VAS and morphine consumption. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of preincision versus postincision infiltration with bupivacaine on postoperative pain.

PubMed

Victory, R A; Gajraj, N M; Van Elstraete, A; Pace, N A; Johnson, E R; White, P F

1995-05-01

To compare the efficacy of preincision wound infiltration with bupivacaine to wound infiltration at the end of the operation. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. University medical center. 56 ASA status I and II women scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Group 1 (control) received no local anesthetic infiltration. Group 2 received subcutaneous infiltration with 40 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% (pH 6.9) 15 minutes prior to incision. Group 3 received wound infiltration with a similar solution at the end of surgery. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 3.0 mg/kg i.v., droperidol 50 micrograms/kg i.v., and sufentanil 0.5 microgram/kg i.v. and maintained with nitrous oxide 67% in oxygen and sufentanil 0.1 microgram/kg IV boluses as required. Postoperative pain was treated with morphine via a patient-controlled analgesia delivery system for 24 hours, followed by oral hydrocodone for 3 days. The opioid consumption was recorded for 4 days postoperatively. Pain scores were measured at 4 to 8-hour intervals using 100 mm visual analog scales. There was no difference in either the opioid analgesic requirements or the pain scores between the three study groups. Wound infiltration, either preincision or postincision, had no clinically significant effect on the pain scores or analgesic requirements following abdominal hysterectomy.

Modeling Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Infiltration in Low-Income Multifamily Housing before and after Building Energy Retrofits

PubMed Central

Fabian, Maria Patricia; Lee, Sharon Kitman; Underhill, Lindsay Jean; Vermeer, Kimberly; Adamkiewicz, Gary; Levy, Jonathan Ian

2016-01-01

Secondhand exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in multifamily housing remains a health concern despite strong recommendations to implement non-smoking policies. Multiple studies have documented exposure to ETS in non-smoking units located in buildings with smoking units. However, characterizing the magnitude of ETS infiltration or measuring the impact of building interventions or resident behavior on ETS is challenging due to the complexities of multifamily buildings, which include variable resident behaviors and complex airflows between numerous shared compartments (e.g., adjacent apartments, common hallways, elevators, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, stack effect). In this study, building simulation models were used to characterize changes in ETS infiltration in a low income, multifamily apartment building in Boston which underwent extensive building renovations targeting energy savings. Results suggest that exterior wall air sealing can lead to increases in ETS infiltration across apartments, while compartmentalization can reduce infiltration. The magnitude and direction of ETS infiltration depends on apartment characteristics, including construction (i.e., level and number of exterior walls), resident behavior (e.g., window opening, operation of localized exhaust fans), and seasonality. Although overall ETS concentrations and infiltration were reduced post energy-related building retrofits, these trends were not generalizable to all building units. Whole building smoke-free policies are the best approach to eliminate exposure to ETS in multifamily housing. PMID:26999174

Modeling Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Infiltration in Low-Income Multifamily Housing before and after Building Energy Retrofits.

PubMed

Fabian, Maria Patricia; Lee, Sharon Kitman; Underhill, Lindsay Jean; Vermeer, Kimberly; Adamkiewicz, Gary; Levy, Jonathan Ian

2016-03-16

Secondhand exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in multifamily housing remains a health concern despite strong recommendations to implement non-smoking policies. Multiple studies have documented exposure to ETS in non-smoking units located in buildings with smoking units. However, characterizing the magnitude of ETS infiltration or measuring the impact of building interventions or resident behavior on ETS is challenging due to the complexities of multifamily buildings, which include variable resident behaviors and complex airflows between numerous shared compartments (e.g., adjacent apartments, common hallways, elevators, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, stack effect). In this study, building simulation models were used to characterize changes in ETS infiltration in a low income, multifamily apartment building in Boston which underwent extensive building renovations targeting energy savings. Results suggest that exterior wall air sealing can lead to increases in ETS infiltration across apartments, while compartmentalization can reduce infiltration. The magnitude and direction of ETS infiltration depends on apartment characteristics, including construction (i.e., level and number of exterior walls), resident behavior (e.g., window opening, operation of localized exhaust fans), and seasonality. Although overall ETS concentrations and infiltration were reduced post energy-related building retrofits, these trends were not generalizable to all building units. Whole building smoke-free policies are the best approach to eliminate exposure to ETS in multifamily housing.

Synthetic Coal Slag Infiltration into Varying Refractory Materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaneko, Tetsuya K; Thomas, Hugh; Bennett, James P

The infiltrations of synthetic coal slag into 99%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, 85%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–15%SiO{sub 2}, and 90%Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}–10%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} refractories with a temperature gradient induced along the penetration direction were compared to one another. The infiltrating slag was synthesized with a composition that is representative of an average of the ash contents from U S coal feedstock. Experiments were conducted with a hot-face temperature of 1450°C in a CO/CO{sub 2} atmosphere. Minimal penetration was observed in the 90%Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}–10%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} material because interactions between the refractory and the slag produced a protective layer of FeCr{sub 2}O{sub 4},more » which impeded slag flow into the bulk of the refractory. After 5 h, the 99%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} sample exhibited an average penetration of 12.7 mm whereas the 85%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–15%SiO{sub 2} sample showed 3.8 mm. Slag infiltrated into the 99%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and 85%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–15%SiO{sub 2} refractory systems by dissolving the respective refractories' matrix materials, which consist of fine Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles and an amorphous alumino-silicate phase. Due to enrichment in SiO{sub 2}, a network-former, infiltration into the 85%Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}–15%SiO{sub 2} system yielded a higher viscosity slag and hence, a shallower penetration depth. The results suggest that slag infiltration can be limited by interactions with the refractory through the formation of either a solid layer that physically impedes fluid flow or a more viscous slag that retards infiltration.« less

Analytical Analyses of Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Infiltrated Water for Managed Aquifer Recharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zlotnik, V. A.; Ledder, G.; Kacimov, A. R.

2014-12-01

Disposal of excessive runoff or treated sewage into wadis and ephemeral streams is a common practice and an important hydrological problem in many Middle Eastern countries. While chemical and biological properties of the injected treated wastewater may be different from those of the receiving aquifer, the density contrast between the two fluids can be small. Therefore, studies of the fluid interface for variable density fluids or water intrusion are not directly relevant in many Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) problems. Other factors, such as the transient nature of injection and lack of detailed aquifer information must be considered. The disposed water reaching the water table through the vadose zone creates groundwater mounds, deforms the original water table, and develops finite-size convex-concave lenses of treated water over receiving water. After cessation of infiltration, these mounds flatten, water levels become horizontal, and infiltrated water becomes fully embedded in the receiving aquifer. The shape of the treated water body is controlled by the aquifer parameters, the magnitude of ambient flow, and the duration, rate, and cyclicity of infiltration. In case of limited aquifer data, advective transport modeling offers the most appropriate tools for predicting plume shapes over time, but surprisingly little work has been done on this important 3D flow problem. We investigate the lateral and vertical spreading of infiltrated water combining techniques of spatial velocity analyses by Zlotnik and Ledder (1992, 1993) with particle tracking. This approach allows for evaluating the geometry of the plume and the protection zone, the flow development phases, and other temporal and spatial effects and results can be used in conditions of limited data availability and quality. (Funding was provided by the USAID, DAI Subcontract 1001624-12S-19745)

Estimation of representative elementary volume for DNAPL saturation and DNAPL-water interfacial areas in 2D heterogeneous porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ming; Cheng, Zhou; Wu, Jianfeng; Wu, Jichun

2017-06-01

Representative elementary volume (REV) is important to determine properties of porous media and those involved in migration of contaminants especially dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in subsurface environment. In this study, an experiment of long-term migration of the commonly used DNAPL, perchloroethylene (PCE), is performed in a two dimensional (2D) sandbox where several system variables including porosity, PCE saturation (Soil) and PCE-water interfacial area (AOW) are accurately quantified by light transmission techniques over the entire PCE migration process. Moreover, the REVs for these system variables are estimated by a criterion of relative gradient error (εgi) and results indicate that the frequency of minimum porosity-REV size closely follows a Gaussian distribution in the range of 2.0 mm and 8.0 mm. As experiment proceeds in PCE infiltration process, the frequency and cumulative frequency of both minimum Soil-REV and minimum AOW-REV sizes change their shapes from the irregular and random to the regular and smooth. When experiment comes into redistribution process, the cumulative frequency of minimum Soil-REV size reveals a linear positive correlation, while frequency of minimum AOW-REV size tends to a Gaussian distribution in the range of 2.0 mm-7.0 mm and appears a peak value in 13.0 mm-14.0 mm. Undoubtedly, this study will facilitate the quantification of REVs for materials and fluid properties in a rapid, handy and economical manner, which helps enhance our understanding of porous media and DNAPL properties at micro scale, as well as the accuracy of DNAPL contamination modeling at field-scale.

Case study: design, operation, maintenance and water quality management of sustainable storm water ponds for roof runoff.

PubMed

Scholz, Miklas

2004-12-01

The purpose of this case study was to optimise design, operation and maintenance guidelines, and to assess the water treatment potential of a storm water pond system after 15 months of operation. The system was based on a combined silt trap, attenuation pond and vegetated infiltration basin. This combination was used as the basis for construction of a roof water runoff system from a single domestic property. United Kingdom Building Research Establishment and Construction Industry Research and Information Association, and German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste design guidelines were tested. These design guidelines failed because they did not consider local conditions. The infiltration function for the infiltration basin was logarithmic. Algal control techniques were successfully applied, and treatment of rainwater runoff from roofs was found to be largely unnecessary for recycling (e.g., watering plants). However, seasonal and diurnal variations of biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen and pH were recorded.

Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of uterine adenocarcinoma in an Asian elephant (Elephas Maximus).

PubMed

Laricchiuta, Pietro; Russo, Valeria; Costagliola, Alessandro; Piegari, Giuseppe; Capasso, Michele; Silvestre, Pasquale; Martano, Manuela; Paciello, Orlando

2018-03-23

A 56 year old nulliparous female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) living at the zoological garden of Naples (Italy), with a clinical history of recurrent colic, was found in agonal state and humane euthanasia was elected. At necropsy the uterine body was moderately increased in size and the lumen was reduced due to a poorly demarcated and infiltrative neoplasm. Furthermore, multiple, whitish, firm nodules were present in both lungs. Histological examination of the uterine mass revealed epithelial cells arranged in tubular or solid pattern infiltrating the endometrium and the muscular layer. Immunohistochemical examination showed immunoreactivity of neoplastic cells to estrogen receptors antibody. Pulmonary lesions were histologically and immunohistochemically superimposable to the epithelial uterine neoplasm. A definitive diagnosis of uterine adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases was made.

Study on nitrogen removal enhanced by shunt distributing wastewater in a constructed subsurface infiltration system under intermittent operation mode.

PubMed

Li, Yinghua; Li, Haibo; Sun, Tieheng; Wang, Xin

2011-05-15

Subsurface wastewater infiltration system is an efficient and economic technology in treating small scattered sewage. The removal rates are generally satisfactory in terms of COD, BOD(5), TP and SS removal; while nitrogen removal is deficient in most of the present operating SWIS due to the different requirements for the presence of oxygen for nitrification and denitrification processes. To study the enhanced nitrogen removal technologies, two pilot subsurface wastewater infiltration systems were constructed in a village in Shenyang, China. The filled matrix was a mixture of 5% activated sludge, 65% brown soil and 30% coal slag in volume ratio for both systems. Intermittent operation mode was applied in to supply sufficient oxygen to accomplish the nitrification; meanwhile sewage was supplemented as the carbon source to the lower part in to denitrify. The constructed subsurface wastewater infiltration systems worked successfully under wetting-drying ratio of 1:1 with hydraulic loading of 0.081 m(3)/(m(2)d) for over 4 months. Carbon source was supplemented with shunt ratio of 1:1 and shunt position at the depth of 0.5m. The experimental results showed that intermittent operation mode and carbon source supplementation could significantly enhance the nitrogen removal efficiency with little influence on COD and TP removal. The average removal efficiencies for NH(3)-N and TN were 87.7 ± 1.4 and 70.1 ± 1.0%, increased by 12.5 ± 1.0 and 8.6 ± 0.7%, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Does drought alter hydrological functions in forest soils?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gimbel, Katharina F.; Puhlmann, Heike; Weiler, Markus

2016-04-01

Climate change is expected to impact the water cycle and severely affect precipitation patterns across central Europe and in other parts of the world, leading to more frequent and severe droughts. Usually when projecting drought impacts on hydrological systems, it is assumed that system properties, like soil properties, remain stable and will not be affected by drought events. To study if this assumption is appropriate, we address the effects of drought on the infiltration behavior of forest soils using dye tracer experiments on six sites in three regions across Germany, which were forced into drought conditions. The sites cover clayey-, loamy- and sandy-textured soils. In each region, we compared a deciduous and a coniferous forest stand to address differences between the main tree species. The results of the dye tracer experiments show clear evidence for changes in infiltration behavior at the sites. The infiltration changed at the clayey plots from regular and homogeneous flow to fast preferential flow. Similar behavior was observed at the loamy plots, where large areas in the upper layers remained dry, displaying signs of strong water repellency. This was confirmed by water drop penetration time (WDPT) tests, which revealed, in all except one plot, moderate to severe water repellency. Water repellency was also accountable for the change of regular infiltration to fingered flow in the sandy soils. The results of this study suggest that the drought history or, more generally, the climatic conditions of a soil in the past are more important than the actual antecedent soil moisture status regarding hydrophobicity and infiltration behavior; furthermore, drought effects on infiltration need to be considered in hydrological models to obtain realistic predictions concerning water quality and quantity in runoff and groundwater recharge.

Evaluation of a combined drug-delivery system for proteins assembled with polymeric nanoparticles and porous microspheres; characterization and protein integrity studies.

PubMed

Alcalá-Alcalá, Sergio; Benítez-Cardoza, Claudia G; Lima-Muñoz, Enrique J; Piñón-Segundo, Elizabeth; Quintanar-Guerrero, David

2015-07-15

This work presents an evaluation of the adsorption/infiltration process in relation to the loading of a model protein, α-amylase, into an assembled biodegradable polymeric system, free of organic solvents and made up of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid (PLGA). Systems were assembled in a friendly aqueous medium by adsorbing and infiltrating polymeric nanoparticles into porous microspheres. These assembled systems are able to load therapeutic amounts of the drug through adsorption of the protein onto the large surface area characteristic of polymeric nanoparticles. The subsequent infiltration of nanoparticles adsorbed with the protein into porous microspheres enabled the controlled release of the protein as a function of the amount of infiltrated nanoparticles, since the surface area available on the porous structure is saturated at different levels, thus modifying the protein release rate. Findings were confirmed by both the BET technique (N2 isotherms) and in vitro release studies. During the adsorption process, the pH of the medium plays an important role by creating an environment that favors adsorption between the surfaces of the micro- and nano-structures and the protein. Finally, assays of α-amylase activity using 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl-α-D-maltotrioside (CNP-G3) as the substrate and the circular dichroism technique confirmed that when this new approach was used no conformational changes were observed in the protein after release. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Orthopaedic wear particle-induced bone loss and exogenous macrophage infiltration is mitigated by local infusion of NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide.

PubMed

Lin, Tzuhua; Pajarinen, Jukka; Nabeshima, Akira; Córdova, Luis A; Loi, Florence; Gibon, Emmanuel; Lu, Laura; Nathan, Karthik; Jämsen, Eemeli; Yao, Zhenyu; Goodman, Stuart B

2017-11-01

Excessive production of wear particles from total joint replacements induces chronic inflammation, macrophage infiltration, and consequent bone loss (periprosthetic osteolysis). This inflammation and bone remodeling are critically regulated by the transcription factor NF-κB. We previously demonstrated that inhibition of NF-κB signaling by using the decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) mitigates polyethylene wear particle-induced bone loss using in vitro and in vivo models. However, the mechanisms of NF-κB decoy ODN action, and in particular its impact on systemic macrophage recruitment, remain unknown. In the current study, this systemic macrophage infiltration was examined in our established murine femoral continuous particle infusion model. RAW264.7 murine macrophages expressing a luciferase reporter gene were injected into the systemic circulation. Quantification of bioluminescence showed that NF-κB decoy ODN reduced the homing of these reporter macrophages into the distal femurs exposed to continuous particle delivery. Particle-induced reduction in bone mineral density at the distal diaphysis of the femur was also mitigated by infusion of decoy ODN. Histological staining showed that the decoy ODN infusion decreased osteoclast and macrophage numbers, but had no significant effects on osteoblasts. Local infusion of NF-κB decoy ODN reduced systemic macrophage infiltration and mitigated particle-induced bone loss, thus providing a potential strategy to treat periprosthetic osteolysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3169-3175, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Can Managed Grazing be Part of Healthy Agroecosystems? Impacts of Various Systems on Soil Water and other Ecosystem Services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeLonge, M. S.; Basche, A.; Gonzalez, J.

2016-12-01

Due to the vast extent of grazing lands, value of grassland ecosystems, and environmental impacts of the agricultural sector, it is becoming increasingly important to understand to what extent managed grazing can be part of healthy agroecosystems. For example, grazing systems can degrade soils, pollute water, and result in substantial direct and indirect animal emissions. On the other hand, well-managed grasslands can store more carbon, support more biodiversity, and require fewer inputs than croplands or other land uses. Systems analyses are needed to evaluate how much grazing management (e.g., altering stocking rate intensity or regime, integrating versus separating crops and livestock, adopting silvopasture techniques) can affect agroecosystem properties and farm viability. As a result of climate change and likely increases to rainfall variability, the effects of grazing systems on soil water properties are particularly important. The primary goal of this study is to use meta-analytic techniques to better understand how changes to grazing systems affect soil water properties, focusing on soil water infiltration rates. Another goal is to conduct a literature survey to assess how similar changes to grazing have influenced other ecosystem services (e.g., soil carbon, farm profitability) and to identify gaps in knowledge. To date, our meta-analysis includes over 100 paired comparisons (>30 studies) related to grazing. The analysis is a subset of a broader study of agroecological practices that to date includes >350 paired observations. Preliminary results point to significant variability, but suggest that integrating livestock into croplands decreases infiltration (12%), whereas other changings to grazing (decreasing stocking rates, moving from continuous to rotational grazing, or converting to a silvopasture system) can improve infiltration (by an average of 223% including all practices). Findings also suggest that removing livestock tends to increase infiltration rates over time. In cases where infiltration rates are negatively affected by grazing, soil conservation practices such as planting perennials or rotating crops) might mitigate those effects. However, the magnitude of these effects may depend on variables such as time since management change and rainfall regime.

Role of CXCR4-mediated bone marrow colonization in CNS infiltration by T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PubMed

Jost, Tanja Rezzonico; Borga, Chiara; Radaelli, Enrico; Romagnani, Andrea; Perruzza, Lisa; Omodho, Lorna; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Biondi, Andrea; Indraccolo, Stefano; Thelen, Marcus; Te Kronnie, Geertruy; Grassi, Fabio

2016-06-01

Infiltration of the central nervous system is a severe trait of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 significantly ameliorates T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in murine models of the disease; however, signaling by CXC chemokine receptor 4 is important in limiting the divagation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells out of the perivascular space into the central nervous system parenchyma. Therefore, Inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 potentially may untangle T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells from retention outside the brain. Here, we show that leukemic lymphoblasts massively infiltrate cranial bone marrow, with diffusion to the meninges without invasion of the brain parenchyma, in mice that underwent xenotransplantation with human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells or that developed leukemia from transformed hematopoietic progenitors. We tested the hypothesis that T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia neuropathology results from meningeal infiltration through CXC chemokine receptor 4-mediated bone marrow colonization. Inhibition of leukemia engraftment in the bone marrow by pharmacologic CXC chemokine receptor 4 antagonism significantly ameliorated neuropathologic aspects of the disease. Genetic deletion of CXCR4 in murine hematopoietic progenitors abrogated leukemogenesis induced by constitutively active Notch1, whereas lack of CCR6 and CCR7, which have been shown to be involved in T cell and leukemia extravasation into the central nervous system, respectively, did not influence T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia development. We hypothesize that lymphoblastic meningeal infiltration as a result of bone marrow colonization is responsible for the degenerative alterations of the neuroparenchyma as well as the alteration of cerebrospinal fluid drainage in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts. Therefore, CXC chemokine receptor 4 may constitute a pharmacologic target for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia neuropathology. © Society for Leukocyte Biology.

Estimating the proportion of groundwater recharge from flood events in relation to total annual recharge in a karst aquifer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dvory, N. Z.; Ronen, A.; Livshitz, Y.; Adar, E.; Kuznetsov, M.; Yakirevich, A.

2017-12-01

Sustainable groundwater production from karstic aquifers is primarily dictated by its recharge rate. Therefore, in order to limit over-exploitation, it is essential to accurately quantify groundwater recharge. Infiltration during erratic floods in karstic basins may contribute substantial amount to aquifer recharge. However, the complicated nature of karst systems, which are characterized in part by multiple springs, sinkholes, and losing/gaining streams, present a large obstacle to accurately assess the actual contribution of flood water to groundwater recharge. In this study, we aim to quantify the proportion of groundwater recharge during flood events in relation to the annual recharge for karst aquifers. The role of karst conduits on flash flood infiltration was examined during four flood and artificial runoff events in the Sorek creek near Jerusalem, Israel. The events were monitored in short time steps (four minutes). This high resolution analysis is essential to accurately estimating surface flow volumes, which are of particular importance in arid and semi-arid climate where ephemeral flows may provide a substantial contribution to the groundwater reservoirs. For the present investigation, we distinguished between direct infiltration, percolation through karst conduits and diffused infiltration, which is most affected by evapotranspiration. A water balance was then calculated for the 2014/15 hydrologic year using the Hydrologic Engineering Center - Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS). Simulations show that an additional 8% to 24% of the annual recharge volume is added from runoff losses along the creek that infiltrate through the karst system into the aquifer. The results improve the understanding of recharge processes and support the use of the proposed methodology for quantifying groundwater recharge.

Comparison of hemodynamic response to adrenaline infiltration in children undergoing cleft palate repair during general anesthesia with sevoflurane and isoflurane.

PubMed

Gunnam, Poojita Reddy; Durga, Padmaja; Gurajala, Indira; Kaluvala, Prasad Rao; Veerabathula, Prardhana; Ramachandran, Gopinath

2016-01-01

Systemic absorption of adrenaline often used for infiltration during cleft palate surgery leads to adverse hemodynamic responses. These hemodynamic responses may be attenuated by the volatile anesthetics. This study aims to compare the hemodynamic responses to adrenaline infiltration during isoflurane (ISO) and sevoflurane (SEVO) anesthesia. Sixty children aged between 9 months and 48 months, weighing between 8 kg and 20 kg, undergoing primary repair of cleft palate were randomly allocated into two groups: Group ISO - anesthesia maintained with ISO (2 minimum alveolar concentrations [MAC]) and nitrous oxide 50% and group SEVO - maintained on SEVO (2 MAC) and nitrous oxide 50%. Surgical site was infiltrated with 1 ml/kg of 1:200,000 solution of adrenaline with 0.5% lignocaine. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were noted at the end of infiltration and every 1 min for 5 min following infiltration. The percentage change of hemodynamic responses from baseline, following infiltration were compared between the two groups. There was no significant change in HR from baseline, and the response was comparable between the agents at all times. The blood pressure (BP) increased from baseline in both the groups but the increase was greater in SEVO than ISO group at 2 and 3 min after infiltration. The maximum change in HR from baseline (group ISO median 10.9% [interquartile range (IQR) 4.5-23.0] vs. group SEVO 26.5% [11.9-44.6]) was comparable in both the groups (P = 0.169). The maximum change in SBP was significantly greater in group SEVO than group ISO (42.8% [IQR 20.0-60.9] vs. 26.0 [11.3-44.5], P = 0.04). The incidence of significant change (>20%) of SBP, DBP, and MAP from baseline was significantly greater in group SEVO after infiltration and 1 min and 2 min after infiltration. There were no arrhythmias in any of the groups. Isoflurane results in greater attenuation of rise in BP during adrenaline infiltration compared to SEVO at similar MAC.

Removal of organic micropollutants in an artificial recharge system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valhondo, C.; Nödler, K.; Köck-Schulmeyer, M.; Hernandez, M.; Licha, T.; Ayora, C.; Carrera, J.

2012-04-01

Emerging contaminants including pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), personal care products (PCPs) and pesticides are increasingly being identified in the environment. Emerging pollutants and their transformation products show low concentration in the environment (ng/L), but the effects of the mixtures and lifelong exposure to humans are currently unknown. Many of these contaminants are removed under aerobic conditions in water treatment plants. However, several pharmaceuticals and metabolites present in wastewater are not eliminated by conventional treatment processes. Several lab studies, however, show that the behaviour of many of these micropollutants is affected by the dominant redox conditions. However, data from field experiments are limited and sometimes contradictory. Artificial recharge is a widespread technology to increase the groundwater resources. In this study we propose a design to enhance the natural remediation potential of the aquifer with the installation of a reactive layer at the bottom of the infiltration pond. This layer is a mixture of compost, aquifer material, clay and iron oxide. This layer is intended to provide an extra amount of DOC to the recharge water and to promote biodegradation by means of the development of different redox zones along the travel path through the unsaturated zone and within the aquifer. Moreover, compost, clay and iron oxide of the layer are assumed to increase sorption surfaces for neutral, cationic and anionic compounds, respectively. The infiltration system is sited in Sant Vicenç dels Horts (Barcelona, Spain). It consists of a decantation pond, receiving raw water from the Llobregat River (highly affected from treatment plant effluents), and an infiltration pond (5600 m2). The infiltration rate is around 1 m3/m2/day. The system is equipped with a network of piezometers, suction cups and tensiometers. Infiltration periods have been performed before and after the installation of the reactive layer. Water from the Infiltration pond, the unsaturated zone and groundwater have been sampled and analyzed in order to elucidate the effect of the reactive layer. First results of micropollutants under natural conditions show significant removal rates of atenolol and Ibuprofen as well as the recalcitrant behaviour of carbamazepine. Once the layer was installed, carbamazepine concentration in groundwater samples was lower than the concentration in the infiltration water. These preliminary results are promising but, however, they need to be confirmed by further analysis, which will be conducted during the next weeks.

Calcium-Magnesium-Aluminosilicate (CMAS) Infiltration and Cyclic Degradations of Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings in Thermal Gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, Dongming; Harder, Bryan; Smialek, Jim; Miller, Robert A.

2014-01-01

In a continuing effort to develop higher temperature capable turbine thermal barrier and environmental barrier coating systems, Calcium-Magnesium-Aluminosilicate (CMAS) resistance of the advanced coating systems needs to be evaluated and improved. This paper highlights some of NASA past high heat flux testing approaches for turbine thermal and environmental barrier coatings assessments in CMAS environments. One of our current emphases has been focused on the thermal barrier - environmental barrier coating composition and testing developments. The effort has included the CMAS infiltrations in high temperature and high heat flux turbine engine like conditions using advanced laser high heat flux rigs, and subsequently degradation studies in laser heat flux thermal gradient cyclic and isothermal furnace cyclic testing conditions. These heat flux CMAS infiltration and related coating durability testing are essential where appropriate CMAS melting, infiltration and coating-substrate temperature exposure temperature controls can be achieved, thus helping quantify the CMAS-coating interaction and degradation mechanisms. The CMAS work is also playing a critical role in advanced coating developments, by developing laboratory coating durability assessment methodologies in simulated turbine engine conditions and helping establish CMAS test standards in laboratory environments.

Immature myeloid cells are critical for enhancing bone fracture healing through angiogenic cascade

PubMed Central

Levy, Seth; Feduska, Joseph M.; Sawant, Anandi; Gilbert, Shawn; Hensel, Jonathan A.; Ponnazhagan, Selvarangan

2016-01-01

Bone fractures heal with overlapping phases of inflammation, cell proliferation, and bone remodeling. Osteogenesis and angiogenesis work in concert to control many stages of this process, and when one is impaired it leads to failure of bone healing, termed a nonunion. During fracture repair, there is an infiltration of immune cells at the fracture site that not only mediate the inflammatory responses, but we hypothesize they also exert influence on neovasculature. Thus, further understanding the effects of immune cell participation throughout fracture healing will reveal additional knowledge as to why some fractures heal while others form nonunions, and lead to development of novel therapeutics modulating immune cells, to increase fracture healing and prevent nonunions. Using novel femoral segmental and critical-size defect models in mice, we identified a systemic and significant increase in immature myeloid cell (IMC) infiltration during the initial phase of fracture healing until boney union is complete. Using gemcitabine to specifically ablate the IMC population, we confirmed delayed bone healing. Further, adoptive transfer of IMC increased bone growth in a nonunion model, signifying the role of this unique cell population in fracture healing. We also identified IMC post-fracture have the ability to increase endothelial cell migration, and tube formation, signaling the essential communication between the immune system and angiogenesis as a requirement for proper bone healing. Based on this data we propose that IMC may play a significant role in fracture healing and therapeutic targeting of IMC after fracture would minimize the chances of eventual nonunion pathology. PMID:27664567

Immature myeloid cells are critical for enhancing bone fracture healing through angiogenic cascade.

PubMed

Levy, Seth; Feduska, Joseph M; Sawant, Anandi; Gilbert, Shawn R; Hensel, Jonathan A; Ponnazhagan, Selvarangan

2016-12-01

Bone fractures heal with overlapping phases of inflammation, cell proliferation, and bone remodeling. Osteogenesis and angiogenesis work in concert to control many stages of this process, and when one is impaired it leads to failure of bone healing, termed a nonunion. During fracture repair, there is an infiltration of immune cells at the fracture site that not only mediate the inflammatory responses, but we hypothesize they also exert influence on neovasculature. Thus, further understanding the effects of immune cell participation throughout fracture healing will reveal additional knowledge as to why some fractures heal while others form nonunions, and lead to development of novel therapeutics modulating immune cells, to increase fracture healing and prevent nonunions. Using novel femoral segmental and critical-size defect models in mice, we identified a systemic and significant increase in immature myeloid cell (IMC) infiltration during the initial phase of fracture healing until boney union is complete. Using gemcitabine to specifically ablate the IMC population, we confirmed delayed bone healing. Further, adoptive transfer of IMC increased bone growth in a nonunion model, signifying the role of this unique cell population in fracture healing. We also identified IMC post-fracture have the ability to increase endothelial cell migration, and tube formation, signaling the essential communication between the immune system and angiogenesis as a requirement for proper bone healing. Based on this data we propose that IMC may play a significant role in fracture healing and therapeutic targeting of IMC after fracture would minimize the chances of eventual nonunion pathology. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Percolation Thresholds in Angular Grain media: Drude Directed Infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Priour, Donald

Pores in many realistic systems are not well delineated channels, but are void spaces among grains impermeable to charge or fluid flow which comprise the medium. Sparse grain concentrations lead to permeable systems, while concentrations in excess of a critical density block bulk fluid flow. We calculate percolation thresholds in porous materials made up of randomly placed (and oriented) disks, tetrahedrons, and cubes. To determine if randomly generated finite system samples are permeable, we deploy virtual tracer particles which are scattered (e.g. specularly) by collisions with impenetrable angular grains. We hasten the rate of exploration (which would otherwise scale as ncoll1 / 2 where ncoll is the number of collisions with grains if the tracers followed linear trajectories) by considering the tracer particles to be charged in conjunction with a randomly directed uniform electric field. As in the Drude treatment, where a succession of many scattering events leads to a constant drift velocity, tracer displacements on average grow linearly in ncoll. By averaging over many disorder realizations for a variety of systems sizes, we calculate the percolation threshold and critical exponent which characterize the phase transition.

Development and investigation of a pollution control pit for treatment of stormwater from metal roofs and traffic areas.

PubMed

Dierkes, C; Göbel, P; Lohmann, M; Coldewey, W G

2006-01-01

Source control by on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater is a sustainable and proven alternative to classical drainage methods. Unfortunately, sedimentary particles and pollutants from drained surfaces cause clogging and endanger soil and groundwater during long-term operation of infiltration devices. German water authorities recommend the use of infiltration devices, such as swales or swale-trench-systems. Direct infiltration by underground facilities, such as pipes, trenches or sinks, without pretreatment of runoff is generally not permitted. Problems occur with runoff from metal roofs, traffic areas and industrial sites. However, due to site limitations, underground systems are often the only feasible option. To overcome this situation, a pollution control pit was developed with a hydrodynamic separator and a multistage filter made of coated porous concrete. The system treats runoff at source and protects soil, groundwater and receiving waterways. Typically, more than 90% of the pollutants such as sedimentary particles, hydrocarbons and heavy metals can be removed. Filters have been developed to treat even higher polluted stormwater loads from metal roofs and industrial sites. The treatment process is based on sedimentation, filtration, adsorption and chemical precipitation. Sediments are trapped in a special chamber within the pit and can be removed easily. Other pollutants are captured in the concrete filter upstream of the sediment separator chamber. Filters can be easily replaced.

Infiltration of late Palaeozoic evaporative brines in the reelfoot rift: A possible salt source for Illinois Basin formation waters and MVT mineralizing fluids

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rowan, E.L.; De Marsily, G.

2001-01-01

Salinities and homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits provide important insights into the regional hydrology of the Illinois basin/Reelfoot rift system in late Palaeozoic time. Although the thermal regime of this basin system has been plausibly explained, the origin of high salinities in the basin fluids remains enigmatic. Topographically driven flow appears to have been essential in forming these MVT districts, as well as many other districts worldwide. However, this type of flow is recharged by fresh water making it difficult to account for the high salinities of the mineralizing fluids over extended time periods. Results of numerical experiments carried out in this study provide a possible solution to the salinity problem presented by the MVT zinc-lead and fluorite districts at the margins of the basin system. Evaporative concentration of surface water and subsequent infiltration into the subsurface are proposed to account for large volumes of brine that are ultimately responsible for mineralization of these districts. This study demonstrates that under a range of geologically reasonable conditions, brine infiltration into an aquifer in the deep subsurface can coexist with topographically driven flow. Infiltration combined with regional flow and local magmatic heat sources in the Reelfoot rift explain the brine concentrations as well as the temperatures observed in the Southern Illinois and Upper Mississippi Valley districts.

Infiltration performance of engineered surfaces commonly used for distributed stormwater management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valinski, Nicholas A.

Engineered porous media are commonly used in low impact development (LID) structures to mitigate excess stormwater in urban environments. Differences in infiltrability of these LID systems arise from the wide variety of materials used to create porous surfaces and subsequent maintenance, debris loading, and physical damage. In this study, infiltration capacity of six common materials was tested by multiple replicate experiments with automated mini-disk infiltrometers. The tested materials included porous asphalt, porous concrete, porous brick pavers, flexible porous pavement, engineered soils, and native soils. Porous asphalt, large porous brick pavers, and curb cutout rain gardens showed the greatest infiltration rates. Most engineered porous pavements and soils performed better than the native silt loam soils. Infiltration performance was found to be related more to site design and environmental factors than material choice. Sediment trap zones in both pavements and engineered soil rain gardens were found to be beneficial to the whole site performance. Winter chloride application had a large negative impact on poured in place concrete, making it a poor choice for heavily salted areas.

Infiltration performance of engineered surfaces commonly used for distributed stormwater management.

PubMed

Valinski, N A; Chandler, D G

2015-09-01

Engineered porous media are commonly used in low impact development (LID) structures to mitigate excess stormwater in urban environments. Differences in infiltrability of these LID systems arise from the wide variety of materials used to create porous surfaces and subsequent maintenance, debris loading, and physical damage. In this study, the infiltration capacity of six common materials was tested by multiple replicate experiments with automated mini-disk infiltrometers. The tested materials included porous asphalt, porous concrete, porous brick pavers, flexible porous pavement, engineered soils, and native soils. Porous asphalt, large porous brick pavers, and curb cutout rain gardens showed the greatest infiltration rates. Most engineered porous pavements and soils performed better than the native silt loam soils. Infiltration performance was found to be related more to site design and environmental factors than material choice. Sediment trap zones in both pavements and engineered soil rain gardens were found to be beneficial to the whole site performance. Winter chloride application had a large negative impact on poured in place concrete, making it a poor choice for heavily salted areas. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Methodology to assess water presence on speleothems during periods of low precipitation, with implications for recharge sources - Kartchner Caverns, Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Blasch, Kyle W.

2011-01-01

Beginning in January 2005, recharge processes and the presence of water on speleothems were monitored in Kartchner Caverns during a 44-month period when annual rainfall rates were 6 to 18 percent below the long-term mean. Electrical-resistance sensors designed to detect the presence of water were used to identify ephemeral streamflow in the channels overlying the cave as well as the movement of water within the cave system. Direct infiltration of precipitation through overhead rocks provided consistent inflow to the cave, but precipitation rates and subsequent infiltration rates were reduced during the comparatively dry years. Ephemeral stream-channel recharge through autogenic and allogenic processes, the predominant recharge mechanism during wetter periods, was limited to two low-volume events. From visual observations, it appeared that recharge from channel infiltration was equal to or less than recharge from overhead infiltration. Electrical-resistance sensors were able to detect thin films of water on speleothems, including stalactites, ribbons, and stalagmites. These films of water were directly attributed to overhead infiltration of precipitation. Periods of low precipitation resulted in decreased speleothem wetness.

Laboratory testing on infiltration in single synthetic fractures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherubini, Claudia; Pastore, Nicola; Li, Jiawei; Giasi, Concetta I.; Li, Ling

2017-04-01

An understanding of infiltration phenomena in unsaturated rock fractures is extremely important in many branches of engineering for numerous reasons. Sectors such as the oil, gas and water industries are regularly interacting with water seepage through rock fractures, yet the understanding of the mechanics and behaviour associated with this sort of flow is still incomplete. An apparatus has been set up to test infiltration in single synthetic fractures in both dry and wet conditions. To simulate the two fracture planes, concrete fractures have been moulded from 3D printed fractures with varying geometrical configurations, in order to analyse the influence of aperture and roughness on infiltration. Water flows through the single fractures by means of a hydraulic system composed by an upstream and a downstream reservoir, the latter being subdivided into five equal sections in order to measure the flow rate in each part to detect zones of preferential flow. The fractures have been set at various angles of inclination to investigate the effect of this parameter on infiltration dynamics. The results obtained identified that altering certain fracture parameters and conditions produces relevant effects on the infiltration process through the fractures. The main variables influencing the formation of preferential flow are: the inclination angle of the fracture, the saturation level of the fracture and the mismatch wavelength of the fracture.

Characterization by electrical and electromagnetic geophysical methods of the shallow hydrogeological system at Hebron (West Bank, Palestine) in a semi-arid zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sirhan, Asal; Hamidi, Mohammad O.

2012-09-01

Multi-electrode geo-electrical and transient electromagnetic surveys were carried out to characterize the nature of the subsurface infiltration zones (5 to 20 m) related to a series of groundwater outlets, and to reveal the geometry of the different aquifers at Bani-Naim, in the south-eastern foothills of the Hebron area, West Bank, Palestine. The purpose of the surveys was to understand the link between water storage/transfer and the characteristics of the geological formations. The strata in this semi-arid region are composed of alternate layers of chalky limestone, hard limestone, marl and chalk. A total of 30 ERT and 15 TDEM were conducted at Bani Naim-Jahir and Bani Naim-Birein. A correlation between the results indicates various infiltration pathways: fractures, feature heterogeneities, and porous chalk. The local heterogeneity on the eastern side were the major pathways for the water infiltration, whereas the thick marl layer underneath acts as a natural impermeable barrier preventing water from infiltrating deeper. A combination of the different geophysical results identified conductive features that correspond to the infiltration zones supplying the dug wells with water. Furthermore, it was established that the fractured chalk and porous chalky limestone act as an aquifer. A three-dimensional visualization of the resistivity allowed a useful reconstruction of the shallow hydrogeological system. Consequently, these studies contribute to regional sustainable development projects in this semi-arid region.

Immunohistochemical detection and correlation between MHC antigen and cell-mediated immune system in recurrent glioma by APAAP method.

PubMed

Miyagi, K; Ingram, M; Techy, G B; Jacques, D B; Freshwater, D B; Sheldon, H

1990-09-01

As part of an on-going clinical trial of immunotherapy for recurrent malignant gliomas, using alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase method with monoclonal antibodies, we investigated the correlation between expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the subpopulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 38 glioma specimens (20 grade IV, 11 grade III, and 7 grade II) from 33 patients. Thirty specimens (78.9%) were positive to class I MHC antigen and 20 (52.6%) were positive to class II MHC antigen. The correlations between class I MHC antigen expression and the number of infiltrating T8 (p less than 0.01), and also between class II MHC antigen expression and the number of infiltrating T4 (p less than 0.05) were significant. We conclude that TILs are the result of immunoreaction (host-defense mechanism). 31.6% of specimens had perivascular infiltration of T cells. The main infiltrating lymphocyte subset in moderate to marked perivascular cuffing was T4. Our results may indicate that lack of MHC antigen on the glioma cell surface has a share in the poor immunogenicity in glioma-bearing patients. In addition, considering the effector/target ratio, the number of infiltrating lymphocytes against glioma cells was too small, so the immunological intervention seems to be essential in glioma therapy. Previous radiation therapy and chemotherapy, including steroid therapy, did not influence lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration.

Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography: Comparison with Conventional Mammography and Histopathology in 152 Women

PubMed Central

Luczyńska, Elzbieta; Heinze-Paluchowska, Sylwia; Dyczek, Sonia; Rys, Janusz; Reinfuss, Marian

2014-01-01

Objective The goal of the study was to compare conventional mammography (MG) and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) in preoperative women. Materials and Methods The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and all participants provided informed consent. The study included 152 consecutive patients with 173 breast lesions diagnosed on MG or CESM. All MG examinations and consults were conducted in one oncology centre. Non-ionic contrast agent, at a total dose of 1.5 mL/kg body weight, was injected intravenous. Subsequently, CESM exams were performed with a mammography device, allowing dual-energy acquisitions. The entire procedure was done within the oncology centre. Images from low and high energy exposures were processed together and the combination provided an "iodine" image which outlined contrast up-take in the breast. Results MG detected 157 lesions in 150 patients, including 92 infiltrating cancers, 12 non-infiltrating cancers, and 53 benign lesions. CESM detected 149 lesions in 128 patients, including 101 infiltrating cancers, 13 non-infiltrating cancers, and 35 benign lesions. CESM sensitivity was 100% (vs. 91% for MG), specificity was 41% (vs. 15% for MG), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.86 (vs. 0.67 for MG), and accuracy was 80% (vs. 65% for MG) for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Both MG and CESM overestimated lesion sizes compared to histopathology (p < 0.001). Conclusion CESM may provide higher sensitivity for breast cancer detection and greater diagnostic accuracy than conventional mammography. PMID:25469079

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography: comparison with conventional mammography and histopathology in 152 women.

PubMed

Luczyńska, Elzbieta; Heinze-Paluchowska, Sylwia; Dyczek, Sonia; Blecharz, Pawel; Rys, Janusz; Reinfuss, Marian

2014-01-01

The goal of the study was to compare conventional mammography (MG) and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) in preoperative women. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and all participants provided informed consent. The study included 152 consecutive patients with 173 breast lesions diagnosed on MG or CESM. All MG examinations and consults were conducted in one oncology centre. Non-ionic contrast agent, at a total dose of 1.5 mL/kg body weight, was injected intravenous. Subsequently, CESM exams were performed with a mammography device, allowing dual-energy acquisitions. The entire procedure was done within the oncology centre. Images from low and high energy exposures were processed together and the combination provided an "iodine" image which outlined contrast up-take in the breast. MG detected 157 lesions in 150 patients, including 92 infiltrating cancers, 12 non-infiltrating cancers, and 53 benign lesions. CESM detected 149 lesions in 128 patients, including 101 infiltrating cancers, 13 non-infiltrating cancers, and 35 benign lesions. CESM sensitivity was 100% (vs. 91% for MG), specificity was 41% (vs. 15% for MG), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.86 (vs. 0.67 for MG), and accuracy was 80% (vs. 65% for MG) for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Both MG and CESM overestimated lesion sizes compared to histopathology (p < 0.001). CESM may provide higher sensitivity for breast cancer detection and greater diagnostic accuracy than conventional mammography.

Immune cell infiltration in malignant middle cerebral artery infarction: comparison with transient cerebral ischemia

PubMed Central

Chu, Hannah X; Kim, Hyun Ah; Lee, Seyoung; Moore, Jeffrey P; Chan, Christopher T; Vinh, Antony; Gelderblom, Mathias; Arumugam, Thiruma V; Broughton, Brad RS; Drummond, Grant R; Sobey, Christopher G

2014-01-01

We tested whether significant leukocyte infiltration occurs in a mouse model of permanent cerebral ischemia. C57BL6/J male mice underwent either permanent (3 or 24 hours) or transient (1 or 2 hours+22- to 23-hour reperfusion) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Using flow cytometry, we observed ∼15,000 leukocytes (CD45+high cells) in the ischemic hemisphere as early as 3 hours after permanent MCAO (pMCAO), comprising ∼40% lymphoid cells and ∼60% myeloid cells. Neutrophils were the predominant cell type entering the brain, and were increased to ∼5,000 as early as 3 hours after pMCAO. Several cell types (monocytes, macrophages, B lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells) were also increased at 3 hours to levels sustained for 24 hours, whereas others (CD4+ T cells, natural killer T cells, and dendritic cells) were unchanged at 3 hours, but were increased by 24 hours after pMCAO. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that leukocytes typically had entered and widely dispersed throughout the parenchyma of the infarct within 3 hours. Moreover, compared with pMCAO, there were ∼50% fewer infiltrating leukocytes at 24 hours after transient MCAO (tMCAO), independent of infarct size. Microglial cell numbers were bilaterally increased in both models. These findings indicate that a profound infiltration of inflammatory cells occurs in the brain early after focal ischemia, especially without reperfusion. PMID:24326388

Review of relationship between indoor and outdoor particles: I/O ratio, infiltration factor and penetration factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chun; Zhao, Bin

2011-01-01

Epidemiologic evidence indicates a relationship between outdoor particle exposure and adverse health effects, while most people spend 85-90% of their time indoors, thus understanding the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles is quite important. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date revision for both experiment and modeling on relationship between indoor and outdoor particles. The use of three different parameters: indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio, infiltration factor and penetration factor, to assess the relationship between indoor and outdoor particles were reviewed. The experimental data of the three parameters measured both in real houses and laboratories were summarized and analyzed. The I/O ratios vary considerably due to the difference in size-dependent indoor particle emission rates, the geometry of the cracks in building envelopes, and the air exchange rates. Thus, it is difficult to draw uniform conclusions as detailed information, which make I/O ratio hardly helpful for understanding the indoor/outdoor relationship. Infiltration factor represents the equilibrium fraction of ambient particles that penetrates indoors and remains suspended, which avoids the mixture with indoor particle sources. Penetration factor is the most relevant parameter for the particle penetration mechanism through cracks and leaks in the building envelope. We investigate the methods used in previously published studies to both measure and model the infiltration and penetration factors. We also discuss the application of the penetration factor models and provide recommendations for improvement.

Size distributions of manure particles released under simulated rainfall.

PubMed

Pachepsky, Yakov A; Guber, Andrey K; Shelton, Daniel R; McCarty, Gregory W

2009-03-01

Manure and animal waste deposited on cropland and grazing lands serve as a source of microorganisms, some of which may be pathogenic. These microorganisms are released along with particles of dissolved manure during rainfall events. Relatively little if anything is known about the amounts and sizes of manure particles released during rainfall, that subsequently may serve as carriers, abode, and nutritional source for microorganisms. The objective of this work was to obtain and present the first experimental data on sizes of bovine manure particles released to runoff during simulated rainfall and leached through soil during subsequent infiltration. Experiments were conducted using 200 cm long boxes containing turfgrass soil sod; the boxes were designed so that rates of manure dissolution and subsequent infiltration and runoff could be monitored independently. Dairy manure was applied on the upper portion of boxes. Simulated rainfall (ca. 32.4 mm h(-1)) was applied for 90 min on boxes with stands of either live or dead grass. Electrical conductivity, turbidity, and particle size distributions obtained from laser diffractometry were determined in manure runoff and soil leachate samples. Turbidity of leachates and manure runoff samples decreased exponentially. Turbidity of manure runoff samples was on average 20% less than turbidity of soil leachate samples. Turbidity of leachate samples from boxes with dead grass was on average 30% less than from boxes with live grass. Particle size distributions in manure runoff and leachate suspensions remained remarkably stable after 15 min of runoff initiation, although the turbidity continued to decrease. Particles had the median diameter of 3.8 microm, and 90% of particles were between 0.6 and 17.8 microm. The particle size distributions were not affected by the grass status. Because manure particles are known to affect transport and retention of microbial pathogens in soil, more information needs to be collected about the concurrent release of pathogens and manure particles during rainfall events.

[The early changes of respiratory system resistance and γδT lymphocytes infiltrated in graft after lung transplantation of mouse].

PubMed

Chen, Q R; Wang, L F; Zhang, Y M; Xu, J N; Li, H; Ding, Y Z

2016-12-01

Objectives: To generate an orthotopic left lung transplantation model in mice, and to observe the early changes of respiratory system resistance and γδT lymphocytes infiltrated in grafts. Methods: The research time was from March 2014 to May 2015. The male C57BL/6 mice ( n =35) and BALB/c mice (syngenic group, n =10) were randomly divided into five groups. Control group ( n =5): wild C57BL/6 mice; syngenic transplant group ( n =10): C57BL/6→C57BL/6; allogenic transplant group(allogenic group, n =10): BALB/c→C57BL/6; each transplant group was randomly divided into 3-day and 7-day subgroups ( n =5). Respiratory system resistance and histological features of grafts were assessed, and differences in graft infiltrating γδT lymphocytes and mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-17A were quantified on 3 and 7 days after transplantation. Multiple comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference analysis. Results: (1) The respiratory system resistance of syngenic group and allogenic group were (2.61±0.59) cmH 2 O·s/ml and (2.84±0.31) cmH 2 O·s/ml 3 days post-operation, both of them increased compared to control group (1.39±0.17) cmH 2 O·s/ml (1 cmH 2 O=0.098 kPa) ( P =0.001, 0.000). The respiratory system resistance of allogenic group were (4.33±0.67) cmH 2 O·s/ml 7 days post-operation, which was significantly higher than that of syngenic 7-day subgroup (1.87±0.27) cmH 2 O·s/ml and control group (1.39±0.17) cmH 2 O·s/ml ( P =0.000, 0.000). (2) The isografts of syngenic group showed a relatively normal histological appearance with minimal infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the allografts of allogenic group infiltrated apparently by inflammatory cells, especially 7-day subgroup showed acute cellular rejection. (3) The percentage of γδT lymphocytes infiltrated in isografts and allografts were 3.90%±0.86% and 4.40%±0.57%, respectively, which were significantly increased compared to that of control lungs 2.00%±0.23% 3 days post-operation( P =0.000, 0.000); The percentage of γδT lymphocytes infiltrated in 7 days allografts was 5.40%±0.98% , which was higher compared to that of 7 days isografts 2.60%±0.54% and control lungs 2.00%±0.23% ( P =0.000, 0.000). (4) IL-17A mRNA expression levels were 3.37±0.55 and 5.23±1.50 in isografts and 6.77±0.93 and 27.32±4.20 in allografts, on postoperative day 3 and 7 respectively. All of them were significantly upregulated compared to that of control lungs 0.99±0.08 ( P =0.000, 0.000), and allografts exhibited significantly greater IL-17A transcript levels compared to isografts on postoperative day 3 and 7 ( P =0.000, 0.000). Conclusion: The rise of respiratory system resistance of lung grafts after transplantation may relate to the increased IL-17A-producing γδT lymphocytes infiltrated in the grafts.

Estimating harvested rainwater at greenhouses in south Portugal aquifer Campina de Faro for potential infiltration in Managed Aquifer Recharge.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costa, Luís; Monteiro, José Paulo; Leitão, Teresa; Lobo-Ferreira, João Paulo; Oliveira, Manuel; Martins de Carvalho, José; Martins de Carvalho, Tiago; Agostinho, Rui

2015-04-01

The Campina de Faro (CF) aquifer system, located on the south coast of Portugal, is an important source of groundwater, mostly used for agriculture purposes. In some areas, this multi-layered aquifer is contaminated with high concentration of nitrates, possibly arising from excessive usage of fertilizers, reaching to values as high as 300 mg/L. In order to tackle this problem, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques are being applied at demonstration scale to improve groundwater quality through aquifer recharge, in both infiltration basins at the river bed of ephemeral river Rio Seco and existing traditional large diameter wells located in this aquifer. In order to assess the infiltration capacity of the existing infrastructures, in particular infiltration basins and large diameter wells at CF aquifer, infiltration tests were performed, indicating a high infiltration capacity of the existing infrastructures. Concerning the sources of water for recharge, harvested rainwater at greenhouses was identified in CF aquifer area as one of the main potential sources for aquifer recharge, once there is a large surface area occupied by these infrastructures at the demo site. This potential source of water could, in some cases, be redirected to the large diameter wells or to the infiltration basins at the riverbed of Rio Seco. Estimates of rainwater harvested at greenhouses were calculated based on a 32 year average rainfall model and on the location of the greenhouses and their surface areas, the latter based on aerial photograph. Potential estimated annual rainwater intercepted by greenhouses at CF aquifer accounts an average of 1.63 hm3/year. Nonetheless it is unlikely that the totality of this amount can be harvested, collected and redirected to aquifer recharge infrastructures, for several reasons, such as the lack of appropriate greenhouse infrastructures, conduits or a close location between greenhouses and large diameter wells and infiltration basins. Anyway, this value is a good indication of the total amount of the harvested rainfall that could be considered for future MAR solutions. Given the estimates on the greenhouse harvested rainwater and the infiltration capacity of the infiltration basins and large diameter wells, it is intended to develop groundwater flow models in order to assess the nitrate washing rate in the CF aquifer. This work is being developed under the scope of MARSOL Project (MARSOL-GA-2013-619120), in which Campina de Faro aquifer system is one of the several case studies. This project aims to demonstrate that MAR is a sound, safe and sustainable strategy that can be applied with great confidence in finding solutions to water scarcity in Southern Europe.

Qualitative comparison of soil erosion, runoff and infiltration coefficients using small portable rainfall simulators in Germany, Spain and France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigo Comino, Jesús; Iserloh, Thomas; Morvan, Xavier; Malam Issa, Oumarou; Naisse, Christophe; Keesstra, Saskia; Cerdà, Artemi; Prosdocimi, Massimo; Arnáez, José; Lasanta, Teodoro; Concepción Ramos, María; José Marqués, María; Ruiz Colmenero, Marta; Bienes, Ramón; Damián Ruiz Sinoga, José; Seeger, Manuel; Ries, Johannes B.

2016-04-01

Small portable rainfall simulators are considered as a useful tool to analyze soil erosion processes in cultivated lands. European research groups of Spain (Valencia, Málaga, Lleida, Madrid and La Rioja), France (Reims) or Germany (Trier) have used different rainfall simulators (varying in drop size distribution and fall velocities, kinetic energy, plot forms and sizes, and field of application)to study soil loss, surface flow, runoff and infiltration coefficients in different experimental plots (Valencia, Montes de Málaga, Penedès, Campo Real and La Rioja in Spain, Champagne in France and Mosel-Ruwer valley in Germany). The measurements and experiments developed by these research teams give an overview of the variety in the methodologies with rainfall simulations in studying the problem of soil erosion and describing the erosion features in different climatic environments, management practices and soil types. The aim of this study is: i) to investigate where, how and why researchers from different wine-growing regions applied rainfall simulations with successful results as a tool to measure soil erosion processes; ii) to make a qualitative comparison about the general soil erosion processes in European terroirs; iii) to demonstrate the importance of the development a standard method for soil erosion processes in vineyards, using rainfall simulators; iv) and to analyze the key factors that should be taken into account to carry out rainfall simulations. The rainfall simulations in all cases allowed knowing the infiltration capacity and the susceptibility of the soil to be detached and to generate sediment loads to runoff. Despite using small plots, the experiments were useful to analyze the influence of soil cover to reduce soil erosion and to make comparison between different locations or the influence of different soil characteristics.

Bone marrow in pediatric patients with Hodgkin's disease.

PubMed

Khan, Fauzia Shafi; Hasan, Rabiya Fayyaz

2012-01-01

Hodgkin's disease is a malignant process of lymphoreticular system that constitutes 6% of childhood cancers Accurate staging of lymphoma is the basis for rational therapeutic planning and assessment of the presence or absence of marrow involvement is a basic part of the staging evaluation. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of marrow infiltration in paediatric patients with Hodgkin's disease and to ascertain its morphological spectrum in the marrow. The study included 85 paediatric patients with diagnosed Hodgkin's disease seen at The Children's Hospital/Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from January 2010 to December 2011, referred to haematology department for bone marrow biopsies. Ages ranged between two years to fourteen years with an average age of seven years, the male female ratio being 13:1. Mixed cellularity was the commonest histological type present in 66 (78%) cases. The presenting feature common in all cases was superficial lymphadenopathy followed by hepatomegaly in 17 (20%) cases and splenomegaly in 16 (19%). All the marrow aspirates were negative for infiltration. Trephine biopsies revealed marrow infiltration in 9 (10.5%). Five (56%) cases had bilateral while 4 (44%) had unilateral involvement. Pattern of infiltration was diffuse in 8 (89%) and focal in one (11%) trephines. Increased marrow fibrosis was present in eight (89%) cases. Diagnostic Reed Sternberg cells were identified in only one case and the mononuclear variants were present in six cases and atypical cells were present in two cases in these immunohistochemistry for CD15 and CD30 was performed which was positive. Granulomas in one and lymphoid aggregates were present in two trephine biopsies otherwise negative for Hodgkin's infiltration. Bone marrow infiltration was present in 10.5% cases, immunohistochemistry was used to confirm infiltration in two cases, the pattern of infiltration being diffuse in majority (89%).

New markers of pancreatic cancer identified through differential gene expression analyses: claudin 18 and annexin A8.

PubMed

Karanjawala, Zarir E; Illei, Peter B; Ashfaq, Raheela; Infante, Jeffrey R; Murphy, Kathleen; Pandey, Akhilesh; Schulick, Richard; Winter, Jordan; Sharma, Rajni; Maitra, Anirban; Goggins, Michael; Hruban, Ralph H

2008-02-01

New markers to distinguish benign reactive glands from infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas are needed. The gene expression patterns of 24 surgically resected primary infiltrating ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were compared with 18 non-neoplastic samples using the Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays and the Gene Logic GeneExpress Software System. Gene fragments from 4 genes (annexin A8, claudin 18, CXCL5, and S100 A2) were selected from the fragments found to be highly expressed in infiltrating adenocarcinomas when compared with normal tissues. The protein expression of these genes was examined using immunohistochemical labeling of tissue microarrays. Claudin 18 labeled infiltrating carcinomas in a membranous pattern. When compared with normal and reactive ducts, claudin 18 was overexpressed, at least focally, in 159 of 166 evaluable carcinomas (96%). Strong and diffuse claudin 18 overexpression was most often seen in well-differentiated carcinomas (P=0.02). Claudin 18 was overexpressed in 51 of 52 cases (98%) of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Annexin A8 was at least focally overexpressed in 149 of 154 evaluable infiltrating carcinomas (97%). S100 A2 was at least focally overexpressed in 118 of 154 evaluable infiltrating carcinomas (77%). Non-neoplastic glands also frequently expressed S100 A2 diminishing its potential diagnostic utility. Immunolabeling with antibodies directed against CXCL5 did not reveal any significant differences in protein expression between infiltrating adenocarcinomas and normal pancreatic ducts. Claudin 18 and annexin A8 are frequently highly overexpressed in infiltrating ductal adenocarcinomas when compared with normal reactive ducts, suggesting a role for these molecules in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Furthermore, these may serve as diagnostic markers, as screening tests and as therapeutic targets.

Local anesthesia for abdominoplasty, liposuction, and combined operations.

PubMed

Mottura, A A

1993-01-01

This article describes a procedure to perform abdominoplasty, liposuction, and combined operations under local anesthesia. With an anesthetic solution composed of 25 cc of 2% lidocaine, 25 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine, 1 cc of epinephrine or ornipresine, and 350 cc of saline solution, a satisfactory dilution with low concentration and lasting effects was obtained. After infiltration a large amount was lost in the incision, the dissection, and the resected dermofatty tissue. A small amount of anesthetic remained in the operated area to be metabolized by the liver. Low lidocaine levels were found in venous blood samples during surgery. This type of anesthesia is advised in minor, limited, and normal abdominoplasties in normal-sized patients, or major abdominoplasties in small patients. In liposuction procedures, it is possible to anesthetize the patient using the same procedure and operate in an equivalent area. As a high proportion of the infiltrated anesthesia was lost during the operation, a similar amount could be used to infiltrate and operate other areas so that an abdominoplasty might be combined with liposuction or mastoplasty. We have experience with 25 abdominoplasties and 21 liposuctions performed under local anesthesia. There were no complications related to local anesthesia and no one had unpleasant memories of intraoperative events.

Polypyrrole/poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) composite fibers: Morphology, mechanics, and electrical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rector, L.P.

1991-01-01

Polypyrrole/poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) composite fibers were fabricated by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole within the gel structure of never-dried, dry-jet, wet-spun PPTA fibers. The composites were formed by infiltration of the swollen PPTA fibers with the chemical oxidant FeCl{sub 3}, followed by exposure of the infiltrated fibers to pyrrole vapor at elevated temperatures (100C). The conductive phase volume fraction was controlled by variations in the FeCl{sub 3} infiltration concentration. The temperature dependencies of the composite fiber d.c. conductivities is reasonably well described by the predictions of the three-dimensional variable-range hoping (3DVRH) charge transport model. The composite morphology was examinedmore » with SEM results demonstrating the existence of micron-sized polypyrrole inclusions in the fiber interior, as well as a polypyrrole skin on the fiber surface. The tensile modulii of the composite fibers exhibited a rule-of-mixtures dependence upon PPTA content. The compressive properties of several composite-fiber compositions were evaluated by the elastica loop method. The compressive strengths were found to be 82-151% of the corresponding ultimate tensile strengths.« less

Polypedilum nubifer, a Chironomid Midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) new to Florida that has nuisance potential

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jacobsen, R.E.; Perry, S.A.

2007-03-15

We document the first record of Polypedilum nubifer in Pan-America. This eurytopic species often reaches severe nuisance population sizes in Australia, Asia, and Hawaii in warm, shallow, eutrophic waters subject to drying. A large population was discovered in newly-constructed infiltration basins and neighboring marshes along the eastern boundary of Everglades National Park. Presently, this population appears minimally invasive to Park marshes and is far removed from urban areas. However, we anticipate this species could disperse and attain nuisance population sizes in suitable urban and agricultural habitats in south Florida. (author)

Seasonal variation in pans in relation to limno-chemistry, size, hydroperiod, and river connectivity in a semi-arid subtropical region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nhiwatiwa, Tamuka; Dalu, Tatenda

2017-02-01

Seasonal pans are hydrologically dynamic, with significant changes in water volume and depth in response to high evaporation, infiltration rates and inundation events. Intra-seasonal and inter-seasonal changes in endorheic and floodplain pans in relation to limnology, size, hydroperiod, and river connectivity were studied over two rainfall seasons across 36 pans at the Save Valley Conservancy. In the study region, floodplain pans were identified as pans that had connectivity with the Save River, while the endorheic pans (large and small) were hydrologically isolated basins. Seasonal trends for physico-chemical variables were initial low and gradual increased for both rainfall seasons. Significant inter-seasonal differences for several physico-chemical variables were observed. No significant differences in physico-chemical variables were observed between large and small endorheic pans, with the except for vegetation cover, which was higher in large pans. Floodplain pans differed from the endorheic systems in pH, conductivity, nutrients and suspended solids. Connectivity was found to be insignificant, as connections between these systems were probably too infrequent. Seasonal pans were uniquely distinguished by their morphometric, physico-chemical and hydrological characteristics. Inevitably, they are vulnerable to climate change with the extent of their resilience currently unknown.

Using artificial sweeteners to identify contamination sources and infiltration zones in a coupled river-aquifer system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bichler, Andrea; Muellegger, Christian; Hofmann, Thilo

2014-05-01

In shallow or unconfined aquifers the infiltration of contaminated river water might be a major threat to groundwater quality. Thus, the identification of possible contamination sources in coupled surface- and groundwater systems is of paramount importance to ensure water quality. Micropollutants like artificial sweeteners are promising markers for domestic waste water in natural water bodies. Compounds, such as artificial sweeteners, might enter the aquatic environment via discharge of waste water treatment plants, leaky sewer systems or septic tanks and are ubiquitously found in waste water receiving waters. The hereby presented field study aims at the (1) identification of contamination sources and (2) delineation of infiltration zones in a connected river-aquifer system. River bank filtrate in the groundwater body was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively using a combined approach of hydrochemical analysis and artificial sweeteners (acesulfame ACE) as waste water markers. The investigated aquifer lies within a mesoscale alpine head water catchment and is used for drinking water production. It is hypothesized that a large proportion of the groundwater flux originates from bank filtrate of a nearby losing stream. Water sampling campaigns in March and July 2012 confirmed the occurrence of artificial sweeteners at the investigated site. The municipal waste water treatment plant was identified as point-source for ACE in the river network. In the aquifer ACE was present in more than 80% of the monitoring wells. In addition, water samples were classified according to their hydrochemical composition, identifying two predominant types of water in the aquifer: (1) groundwater influenced by bank filtrate and (2) groundwater originating from local recharge. In combination with ACE concentrations a third type of water could be discriminated: (3) groundwater influence by bank filtrate but infiltrated prior to the waste water treatment plant. Moreover, the presence of ACE at elevated concentrations in aquifer zones dominated by local recharge indicated another point-source of domestic waste water. The combined analysis of ACE and conventional hydrochemical data proved to be useful to identify different sources of waste water. It is shown that the combination of physicochemical parameters and artificial sweeteners allow for a clear delineation of infiltration areas in the investigated aquifer system.

Numerical demonstration of surfactant concentration-dependent capillarity and viscosity effects on infiltration from a constant flux line source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henry, Eric J.; Smith, James E.

2006-09-01

SummarySurface infiltration line sources can deliver surfactant solutions for agricultural purposes or for use in subsurface remediation. Though the prediction of water distribution below a line source has received considerable attention in the scientific literature, little has been has been reported on how infiltration of surfactant solution from a line source differs from water infiltration. Few numerical models are capable of simulating surfactant-induced changes in moisture characteristic and hydraulic conductivity properties of unsaturated soil, so it is difficult to assess the importance of these effects when designing surfactant application schemes. We investigated surfactant infiltration behavior by using the variably-saturated flow and transport model HYDRUS-2D [Simunek, J., Sejna, M., van Genuchten, M.Th., 1999. The HYDRUS-2D software package for simulating the two-dimensional movement of water, heat, and multiple solutes in variably-saturated media, Version 2.0. IGWMC-TPS-53C. International Ground Water Modeling Center, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO] which was modified by [Henry, E.J., Smith, J.E., Warrick, A.W., 2002. Two-dimensional modeling of flow and transport in the vadose zone with surfactant-induced flow. Water Resour. Res. 38. DOI: doi:10.1029/2001WR000674] to incorporate surfactant effects on unsaturated flow. Significant differences were found between pure water and surfactant solution infiltration into a fine sand that was initially at residual moisture content. The surfactant solution wetted a larger area, both horizontally and vertically, relative to water, while the distribution of water within the wetted zone was more uniform than in the surfactant system. The surfactant system exhibited transient localized drainage and rewetting caused by surfactant-induced capillary pressure gradients within the wetting front. A standard unsaturated flow model (i.e., one that does not include surfactant effects on flow) is not capable of capturing the transient flow behavior. However, our results show that by using an effective scaled media (ESM) approach a standard model can be used to simulate later-time hydraulic conditions in a surfactant system.

Use of a three-dimensional model for the analysis of the ground-water flow system in Parker Valley, Arizona and California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tucci, Patrick

1982-01-01

A three-dimensional, finite-difference model was used to simulate ground-water flow conditions in Parker Valley. The study evaluated present knowledge and concepts of the ground-water system and the ability of the model to represent the system. Modeling assumptions and generalized physical parameters that were used may have transfer value in the construction and calibration of models of other basins along the lower Colorado River. The aquifer was simulated in two layers to represent the three-dimensional system. Ground-water conditions were simulated for 1940-41, the mid-1960's, and 1980. Overall model results generally compared favorably with available field information. The model results showed that for 1940-41 the Colorado River was a losing stream through out Parker Valley. Infiltration of surface water from the river was the major source of recharge. The dominant mechanism of discharge was evapotranspiration by phreatophytes. Agricultural development between 1941 and the mid-1960 's resulted in significant changes to the ground-water system. Model results for conditions in the mid-1960 's showed that the Colorado River had become a gaining stream in the northern part of the valley as a result of higher water levels. The rise in water levels was caused by infiltration of applied irrigation water. Diminished water-level gradients from the river in the rest of the valley reduced the amount of infiltration of surface water from the river. Models results for conditions in 1980 showed that ground-water level rises of several feet caused further reduction in the amount of surface-water infiltration from the river. (USGS)

Estimating biozone hydraulic conductivity in wastewater soil-infiltration systems using inverse numerical modeling.

PubMed

Bumgarner, Johnathan R; McCray, John E

2007-06-01

During operation of an onsite wastewater treatment system, a low-permeability biozone develops at the infiltrative surface (IS) during application of wastewater to soil. Inverse numerical-model simulations were used to estimate the biozone saturated hydraulic conductivity (K(biozone)) under variably saturated conditions for 29 wastewater infiltration test cells installed in a sandy loam field soil. Test cells employed two loading rates (4 and 8cm/day) and 3 IS designs: open chamber, gravel, and synthetic bundles. The ratio of K(biozone) to the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the natural soil (K(s)) was used to quantify the reductions in the IS hydraulic conductivity. A smaller value of K(biozone)/K(s,) reflects a greater reduction in hydraulic conductivity. The IS hydraulic conductivity was reduced by 1-3 orders of magnitude. The reduction in IS hydraulic conductivity was primarily influenced by wastewater loading rate and IS type and not by the K(s) of the native soil. The higher loading rate yielded greater reductions in IS hydraulic conductivity than the lower loading rate for bundle and gravel cells, but the difference was not statistically significant for chamber cells. Bundle and gravel cells exhibited a greater reduction in IS hydraulic conductivity than chamber cells at the higher loading rates, while the difference between gravel and bundle systems was not statistically significant. At the lower rate, bundle cells exhibited generally lower K(biozone)/K(s) values, but not at a statistically significant level, while gravel and chamber cells were statistically similar. Gravel cells exhibited the greatest variability in measured values, which may complicate design efforts based on K(biozone) evaluations for these systems. These results suggest that chamber systems may provide for a more robust design, particularly for high or variable wastewater infiltration rates.

Anal carcinoma and HIV infection: is it time for screening?

PubMed

Herranz-Pinto, P; Sendagorta-Cudós, E; Bernardino-de la Serna, J I; Peña-Sánchez de Rivera, J M

2014-03-01

A 38-year-old white man had a 10-year history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (A3), with no episodes of opportunistic diseases and in good immunologic recovery (CD4 cell count: 450 and indetectable HIV viral load) while on HAART. He presented with a two-month history of mild anal symptoms, including pruritus and episodic bleeding. He referred past episodes of anal warts, self-treated with several topical compounds, all proven unsuccessful. Perianal examination showed erythema and scratching. A 0.5cm sized tumor, with infiltration at the base was detected on digital exam, located at 15mm from the anal margin. Local biopsy driven by high-resolution anuscopy (AAR) yielded a final diagnosis of infiltrative epidermoid carcinoma. Might that neoplasia have been prevented? Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Reaction-Formed Silicon Carbide (RFSC) Ceramics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.; Behrendt, D. R.

1994-01-01

The microstructure and mechanical properties of reaction-formed silicon carbide (RFSC) ceramics fabricated by silicon infiltration of porous carbon preforms are discussed. The morphological characterization of the carbon preforms indicates a very narrow pore size distribution. Measurements of the preform density by physical methods and by mercury porosimetry agree very well and indicate that virtually all of the porosity in the preforms is open to infiltrating liquids. The average room temperature flexural strength of the RFSC material with approximately 8 at.% free silicon is 369 +/- 28 MPa (53.5 +/- 4 ksi). The Weibull strength distribution data give a characteristic strength value of 381 MPa (55 ksi) and a Weibull modulus of 14.3. The residual silicon content is lower and the strengths are superior to those of most commercially available reaction-bonded silicon carbide materials.

Influence of macroporosity on preferential solute and colloid transport in unsaturated field soils.

PubMed

Cey, Edwin E; Rudolph, David L; Passmore, Joanna

2009-06-26

Transport of solutes and colloids in soils, particularly those subject to preferential flow along macropores, is important for assessing the vulnerability of shallow groundwater to contamination. The objective of this study was to investigate flow and transport phenomena for dissolved and colloid tracers during large infiltration events in partially saturated, macroporous soils. Controlled tracer infiltration tests were completed at two field sites in southern Ontario. A tension infiltrometer (TI) was used to infiltrate water with dissolved Brilliant Blue FCF dye simultaneously with 3.7 microm and 0.53 microm diameter fluorescent microspheres. Infiltration was conducted under maximum infiltration pressure heads ranging from -5.2 to -0.4 cm. All infiltration test sites were excavated to examine and photograph dye-stained flow patterns, map soil features, and collect samples for microsphere enumeration. Results indicated that preferential transport of dye and microspheres via macropores occurred when maximum pressure heads were greater than -3.0 cm, and the corresponding infiltration rates exceeded 2.0 cm h(-1). Dye and microspheres were detected at depths greater than 70 cm under the highest infiltration rates from both sites. Microsphere concentrations in the top 5-10 cm of soil decreased by more than two orders of magnitude relative to input concentrations, yet remained relatively constant with depth thereafter. There was some evidence for increased retention of the 3.7 microm microspheres relative to the 0.53 microm microspheres, particularly at lower infiltration pressures where straining and attachment mechanisms are most prevalent. Microspheres were observed within dye stained soil matrix surrounding individual macropores, illustrating the significance of capillary pressures in controlling the vertical migration of both tracers in the vicinity of the macropores. Overall, microsphere distributions closely followed the dye patterns, with microsphere concentrations at all depths directly related to the intensity (or concentration) of dye staining. It is concluded that the flow system influenced transport to a much greater degree than differences between dissolved and colloidal species, and hence a dye tracer could serve as a reasonable surrogate for colloid distributions in the vadose zone following individual infiltration events.

Evaluation of an Infiltration Model with Microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Serrana, M.; Gulliver, J. S.; Nieber, J. L.

2015-12-01

This research goal is to develop and demonstrate the means by which roadside drainage ditches and filter strips can be assigned the appropriate volume reduction credits by infiltration. These vegetated surfaces convey stormwater, infiltrate runoff, and filter and/or settle solids, and are often placed along roads and other impermeable surfaces. Infiltration rates are typically calculated by assuming that water flows as sheet flow over the slope. However, for most intensities water flow occurs in narrow and shallow micro-channels and concentrates in depressions. This channelization reduces the fraction of the soil surface covered with the water coming from the road. The non-uniform distribution of water along a hillslope directly affects infiltration. First, laboratory and field experiments have been conducted to characterize the spatial pattern of flow for stormwater runoff entering onto the surface of a sloped surface in a drainage ditch. In the laboratory experiments different micro-topographies were tested over bare sandy loam soil: a smooth surface, and three and five parallel rills. All the surfaces experienced erosion; the initially smooth surface developed a system of channels over time that increased runoff generation. On average, the initially smooth surfaces infiltrated 10% more volume than the initially rilled surfaces. The field experiments were performed in the side slope of established roadside drainage ditches. Three rates of runoff from a road surface into the swale slope were tested, representing runoff from 1, 2, and 10-year storm events. The average percentage of input runoff water infiltrated in the 32 experiments was 67%, with a 21% standard deviation. Multiple measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity were conducted to account for its spatial variability. Second, a rate-based coupled infiltration and overland model has been designed that calculates stormwater infiltration efficiency of swales. The Green-Ampt-Mein-Larson assumptions were implemented to calculate infiltration along with a kinematic wave model for overland flow that accounts for short-circuiting of flow. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis on the parameters implemented in the model has been performed. Finally, the field experiments results have been used to quantify the validity of the coupled model.

Monitoring induced denitrification during managed aquifer recharge in an infiltration pond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grau-Martínez, Alba; Folch, Albert; Torrentó, Clara; Valhondo, Cristina; Barba, Carme; Domènech, Cristina; Soler, Albert; Otero, Neus

2018-06-01

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is a well-known technique for improving water quality and increasing groundwater resources. Denitrification (i.e. removal of nitrate) can be enhanced during MAR by coupling an artificial recharge pond with a permeable reactive layer (PRL). In this study, we examined the suitability of a multi-isotope approach for assessing the long-term effectiveness of enhancing denitrification in a PRL containing vegetal compost. Batch laboratory experiments confirmed that the PRL was still able to enhance denitrification two years after its installation in the infiltration pond. At the field scale, changes in redox indicators along a flow path and below the MAR-PRL system were monitored over 21 months during recharge and non-recharge periods. Results showed that the PRL was still releasing non-purgeable dissolved organic carbon five years after its installation. Nitrate concentration coupled with isotopic data collected from the piezometer network at the MAR system indicated that denitrification was occurring in the saturated zone immediately beneath the infiltration pond, where recharged water and native groundwater mix. Furthermore, longer operational periods of the MAR-PRL system increased denitrification extent. Multi-isotope analyses are therefore proved to be useful tools in identifying and quantifying denitrification in MAR-PRL systems.

Related B cell clones populate the meninges and parenchyma of patients with multiple sclerosis

PubMed Central

Lovato, Laura; Willis, Simon N.; Rodig, Scott J.; Caron, Tyler; Almendinger, Stefany E.; Howell, Owain W.; Reynolds, Richard; Hafler, David A.

2011-01-01

In the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis, B cell aggregates populate the meninges, raising the central question as to whether these structures relate to the B cell infiltrates found in parenchymal lesions or instead, represent a separate central nervous system immune compartment. We characterized the repertoires derived from meningeal B cell aggregates and the corresponding parenchymal infiltrates from brain tissue derived primarily from patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The majority of expanded antigen-experienced B cell clones derived from meningeal aggregates were also present in the parenchyma. We extended this investigation to include 20 grey matter specimens containing meninges, 26 inflammatory plaques, 19 areas of normal appearing white matter and cerebral spinal fluid. Analysis of 1833 B cell receptor heavy chain variable region sequences demonstrated that antigen-experienced clones were consistently shared among these distinct compartments. This study establishes a relationship between extraparenchymal lymphoid tissue and parenchymal infiltrates and defines the arrangement of B cell clones that populate the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis. PMID:21216828

Related B cell clones populate the meninges and parenchyma of patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Lovato, Laura; Willis, Simon N; Rodig, Scott J; Caron, Tyler; Almendinger, Stefany E; Howell, Owain W; Reynolds, Richard; O'Connor, Kevin C; Hafler, David A

2011-02-01

In the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis, B cell aggregates populate the meninges, raising the central question as to whether these structures relate to the B cell infiltrates found in parenchymal lesions or instead, represent a separate central nervous system immune compartment. We characterized the repertoires derived from meningeal B cell aggregates and the corresponding parenchymal infiltrates from brain tissue derived primarily from patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. The majority of expanded antigen-experienced B cell clones derived from meningeal aggregates were also present in the parenchyma. We extended this investigation to include 20 grey matter specimens containing meninges, 26 inflammatory plaques, 19 areas of normal appearing white matter and cerebral spinal fluid. Analysis of 1833 B cell receptor heavy chain variable region sequences demonstrated that antigen-experienced clones were consistently shared among these distinct compartments. This study establishes a relationship between extraparenchymal lymphoid tissue and parenchymal infiltrates and defines the arrangement of B cell clones that populate the central nervous system of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Artificial groundwater recharge as integral part of a water resources system in a humid environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kupfersberger, Hans; Stadler, Hermann

2010-05-01

In Graz, Austria, artificial groundwater recharge has been operated as an integral part of the drinking water supply system for more than thirty years. About 180 l/s of high quality water from pristine creeks (i.e. no pre-treatment necessary) are infiltrated via sand and lawn basins and infiltration trenches into two phreatic aquifers to sustain the extraction of approximately 400 l/s. The remaining third of drinking water for roughly 300.000 people is provided by a remote supply line from the East alpine karst region Hochschwab. By this threefold model the water supply system is less vulnerable to external conditions. In the early 1980's the infiltration devices were also designed as a hydraulic barrier against riverbank infiltration from the river Mur, which at that time showed seriously impaired water quality due to upstream paper mills. This resulted into high iron and manganese groundwater concentrations which lead to clogging of the pumping wells. These problems have been eliminated in the meantime due to the onsite purification of paper mill effluents and the construction of many waste water treatment plants. The recharge system has recently been thoroughly examined to optimize the operation of groundwater recharge and to provide a basis for further extension. The investigations included (i) field experiments and laboratory analyses to improve the trade off between infiltration rate and elimination capacities of the sand filter basins' top layer, (ii) numerical groundwater modelling to compute the recovery rate of the recharged water, the composition of the origin of the pumped water, emergency scenarios due to the failure of system parts, the transient capture zones of the withdrawal wells and the coordination of recharge and withdrawal and (iii) development of an online monitoring setup combined with a decision support system to guarantee reliable functioning of the entire structure. Additionally, the depreciation, maintenance and operation costs of the managed aquifer recharge system have been evaluated. Among numerous results it could be shown that replacing the lawn by sand basins and operating them constantly during winter holds the largest potential to increase the infiltration volume. However, this is only an option for new to build structures since the current basin positions would lead to large direct losses of recharged groundwater into the river Mur. Adjusting the timing of infiltration and withdrawal based on subsurface travel time yields an increase of the pumped amount of about 11% given about the same extension the wells' capture zones. The overall costs of artificial groundwater recharge amount to 0,15 €/m³ excluding pumping and distribution costs compared to a water price of about 1,5 €/m³ charged to consumers. Currently, the implications of building a hydro power plant adjacent to the recharge site are evaluated emphasizing the need for innovative solutions given only limited land resources. On the basis of the projected impacts of climate change on the availability of surface water and groundwater in the South-Eastern alpine regions, the aquifers can act as a buffer system to help overcome the timely shift between supply and demand. Thus, also in predominantly humid regions artificial groundwater recharge represents a viable and sustainable solution to safeguard the supply of drinking water in the long term.

The Effect Of Digital Unsharp Masking On The Detectability Of Interstitial Infiltrates And Pneumothoraces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacMahon, Heber; Vyborny, Carl; Sabeti, Victoria; Metz, Charles; Doi, Kunio

1985-09-01

A potential advantage of digital radiographic systems is their ability to enhance images by various types of processing. Digital unsharp masking is one of the simplest and potentially most useful forms of enhancement. The efficacy of unsharp masking in clinical radiologic diagnosis has not been investigated systematically, however. The effect of digital unsharp masking on the detectability of two types of subtle abnormalities, pneumothorax and interstitial infiltrate, was studied in an observer performance test. An ROC analysis of this preliminary data suggests that unsharp masking may improve diagnostic accuracy for pneumothorax. Radiologists' performance in identifying interstitial infiltrates was degraded by the image processing, however, and false positive diagnoses tended to be more frequent.

Investigating skin penetration depth and shape following needle-free injection at different pressures: A cadaveric study.

PubMed

Seok, Joon; Oh, Chang Taek; Kwon, Hyun Jung; Kwon, Tae Rin; Choi, Eun Ja; Choi, Sun Young; Mun, Seog Kyun; Han, Seung-Ho; Kim, Beom Joon; Kim, Myeung Nam

2016-08-01

The effectiveness of needle-free injection devices in neocollagenesis for treating extended skin planes is an area of active research. It is anticipated that needle-free injection systems will not only be used to inject vaccines or insulin, but will also greatly aid skin rejuvenation when used to inject aesthetic materials such as hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, and placental extracts. There has not been any specific research to date examining how materials penetrate the skin when a needle-free injection device is used. In this study, we investigated how material infiltrates the skin when it is injected into a cadaver using a needle-free device. Using a needle-free injector (INNOJECTOR™; Amore Pacific, Seoul, Korea), 0.2 ml of 5% methylene blue (MB) or latex was injected into cheeks of human cadavers. The device has a nozzle diameter of 100 µm and produces a jet with velocity of 180 m/s. This jet penetrates the skin and delivers medicine intradermally via liquid propelled by compressed gasses. Materials were injected at pressures of 6 or 8.5 bars, and the injection areas were excised after the procedure. The excised areas were observed visually and with a phototrichogram to investigate the size, infiltration depth, and shape of the hole created on the skin. A small part of the area that was excised was magnified and stained with H&E (×40) for histological examination. We characterized the shape, size, and depth of skin infiltration following injection of 5% MB or latex into cadaver cheeks using a needle-free injection device at various pressure settings. Under visual inspection, the injection at 6 bars created semi-circle-shaped hole that penetrated half the depth of the excised tissue, while injection at 8.5 bars created a cylinder-shaped hole that spanned the entire depth of the excised tissue. More specific measurements were collected using phototrichogram imaging. The shape of the injection entry point was consistently spherical regardless of the amount of pressure used. When injecting 5% MB at 6 bars, the depth of infiltration reached 2.323 mm, while that at 8.5 bars reached 8.906 mm. The area of the hole created by the 5% MB injection was 0.797 mm(2) at 6 bars and 0.242 mm(2) at 8.5 bars. Latex injections reached a depth of 3.480 mm at 6 bars and 7.558 mm at 8.5 bars, and the areas were measured at 1.043 mm(2) (6 bars) and 0.355 mm(2) (8.5 bars). Histological examination showed that the injection penetrated as deep as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system at 6 bars and the masseter muscle at 8.5 bars. When injecting material into the skin using a pneumatic needle-free injector, higher-pressure injections result in a hole with smaller area than lower-pressure injections. The depth and shape of skin penetration vary according to the amount of pressure applied. For materials of low density and viscosity, there is a greater difference in penetration depth according to the degree of pressure. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:624-628, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The innate and adaptive infiltrating immune systems as targets for breast cancer immunotherapy

PubMed Central

Law, Andrew M K; Lim, Elgene; Ormandy, Christopher J

2017-01-01

A cancer cell-centric view has long dominated the field of cancer biology. Research efforts have focussed on aberrant cancer cell signalling pathways and on changes to cancer cell DNA. Mounting evidence demonstrates that many cancer-associated cell types within the tumour stroma co-evolve and support tumour growth and development, greatly modifying cancer cell behaviour, facilitating invasion and metastasis and controlling dormancy and sensitivity to drug therapy. Thus, these stromal cells represent potential targets for cancer therapy. Among these cell types, immune cells have emerged as a promising target for therapy. The adaptive and the innate immune system play an important role in normal mammary development and breast cancer. The number of infiltrating adaptive immune system cells with tumour-rejecting capacity, primarily, T lymphocytes, is lower in breast cancer compared with other cancer types, but infiltration occurs in a large proportion of cases. There is strong evidence demonstrating the importance of the immunosuppressive role of the innate immune system during breast cancer progression. A consideration of components of both the innate and the adaptive immune system is essential for the design and development of immunotherapies in breast cancer. In this review, we focus on the importance of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as potential targets for breast cancer therapy. PMID:28193698

The innate and adaptive infiltrating immune systems as targets for breast cancer immunotherapy.

PubMed

Law, Andrew M K; Lim, Elgene; Ormandy, Christopher J; Gallego-Ortega, David

2017-04-01

A cancer cell-centric view has long dominated the field of cancer biology. Research efforts have focussed on aberrant cancer cell signalling pathways and on changes to cancer cell DNA. Mounting evidence demonstrates that many cancer-associated cell types within the tumour stroma co-evolve and support tumour growth and development, greatly modifying cancer cell behaviour, facilitating invasion and metastasis and controlling dormancy and sensitivity to drug therapy. Thus, these stromal cells represent potential targets for cancer therapy. Among these cell types, immune cells have emerged as a promising target for therapy. The adaptive and the innate immune system play an important role in normal mammary development and breast cancer. The number of infiltrating adaptive immune system cells with tumour-rejecting capacity, primarily, T lymphocytes, is lower in breast cancer compared with other cancer types, but infiltration occurs in a large proportion of cases. There is strong evidence demonstrating the importance of the immunosuppressive role of the innate immune system during breast cancer progression. A consideration of components of both the innate and the adaptive immune system is essential for the design and development of immunotherapies in breast cancer. In this review, we focus on the importance of immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as potential targets for breast cancer therapy. © 2017 The authors.

Simulating bioclogging effects on dynamic riverbed permeability and infiltration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Newcomer, Michelle E.; Hubbard, Susan S.; Fleckenstein, Jan H.

Bioclogging in rivers can detrimentally impact aquifer recharge. This is particularly so in dry regions, where losing rivers are common, and where disconnection between surface water and groundwater (leading to the development of an unsaturated zone) can occur. Reduction in riverbed permeability due to biomass growth is a time-variable parameter that is often neglected, yet permeability reduction from bioclogging can introduce order of magnitude changes in seepage fluxes from rivers over short (i.e., monthly) timescales. To address the combined effects of bioclogging and disconnection on infiltration, we developed in this paper numerical representations of bioclogging processes within a one-dimensional, variablymore » saturated flow model representing losing-connected and losing-disconnected rivers. We tested these formulations using a synthetic case study informed with biological data obtained from the Russian River, California, USA. Our findings show that modeled biomass growth reduced seepage for losing-connected and losing-disconnected rivers. However, for rivers undergoing disconnection, infiltration declines occurred only after the system was fully disconnected. Before full disconnection, biologically induced permeability declines were not significant enough to offset the infiltration gains introduced by disconnection. The two effects combine to lead to a characteristic infiltration curve where peak infiltration magnitude and timing is controlled by permeability declines relative to hydraulic gradient gains. Biomass growth was found to hasten the onset of full disconnection; a condition we term ‘effective disconnection’. Finally, our results show that river infiltration can respond dynamically to bioclogging and subsequent permeability declines that are highly dependent on river connection status.« less

Simulating bioclogging effects on dynamic riverbed permeability and infiltration

DOE PAGES

Newcomer, Michelle E.; Hubbard, Susan S.; Fleckenstein, Jan H.; ...

2016-03-18

Bioclogging in rivers can detrimentally impact aquifer recharge. This is particularly so in dry regions, where losing rivers are common, and where disconnection between surface water and groundwater (leading to the development of an unsaturated zone) can occur. Reduction in riverbed permeability due to biomass growth is a time-variable parameter that is often neglected, yet permeability reduction from bioclogging can introduce order of magnitude changes in seepage fluxes from rivers over short (i.e., monthly) timescales. To address the combined effects of bioclogging and disconnection on infiltration, we developed in this paper numerical representations of bioclogging processes within a one-dimensional, variablymore » saturated flow model representing losing-connected and losing-disconnected rivers. We tested these formulations using a synthetic case study informed with biological data obtained from the Russian River, California, USA. Our findings show that modeled biomass growth reduced seepage for losing-connected and losing-disconnected rivers. However, for rivers undergoing disconnection, infiltration declines occurred only after the system was fully disconnected. Before full disconnection, biologically induced permeability declines were not significant enough to offset the infiltration gains introduced by disconnection. The two effects combine to lead to a characteristic infiltration curve where peak infiltration magnitude and timing is controlled by permeability declines relative to hydraulic gradient gains. Biomass growth was found to hasten the onset of full disconnection; a condition we term ‘effective disconnection’. Finally, our results show that river infiltration can respond dynamically to bioclogging and subsequent permeability declines that are highly dependent on river connection status.« less

In vivo two-photon imaging of macrophage activities in skeletal muscle regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Zhongya; Long, Yanyang; Sun, Qiqi; He, Sicong; Li, Xuesong; Chen, Congping; Wu, Zhenguo; Qu, Jianan Y.

2018-02-01

Macrophages are essential for the regeneration of skeletal muscle after injury. It has been demonstrated that depletion of macrophages results in delay of necrotic fiber phagocytosis and decreased size of regenerated myofibers. In this work, we developed a multi-modal two-photon microscope system for in vivo study of macrophage activities in the regenerative and fibrotic healing process of injured skeletal muscles. The system is capable to image the muscles based on the second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) signals simultaneously. The dynamic activities of macrophages and muscle satellite cells are recorded in different time windows post the muscle injury. Moreover, we found that infiltrating macrophages emitted strong autofluorescence in the injured skeletal muscle of mouse model, which has not been reported previously. The macrophage autofluorescence was characterized in both spectral and temporal domains. The information extracted from the autofluorescence signals may facilitate the understanding on the formation mechanisms and possible applications in biological research related to skeletal muscle regeneration.

Nevus comedonicus of the scalp.

PubMed

Kaliyadan, Feroze; Nambiar, Ajit; Al Ameer, Ali; Amri, Montassar

2014-01-01

A 10-year-old boy presented to us with a localized patch of hair loss on the scalp, first noticed by his mother a few months after birth. The lesion had shown very little increase in size since that time. There was a history of occasional redness and discharge from the lesion, which used to be controlled with topical applications. There was no history of any trauma to the site. There was no family history of any similar lesion or any associated systemic problems. On examination, grouped comedonal lesions were seen over a patch of partial alopecia located on the occipital area of the scalp (Figure 1). There was no evidence of inflammation. Systemic examination was normal. Biopsy specimen from the lesion on the scalp showed foci of wide and deep invaginations of the epidermis filled with keratin. There was no evidence of any significant perifollicular inflammatory infiltrate (Figure 2). A possibility of an atypical nevus comedonicus was considered. The patient was started on topical tretinoin 0.05% and is under follow-up.

Bilayered nanofibrous 3D hierarchy as skin rudiment by emulsion electrospinning for burn wound management.

PubMed

Pal, Pallabi; Dadhich, Prabhash; Srivas, Pavan Kumar; Das, Bodhisatwa; Maulik, Dhrubajyoti; Dhara, Santanu

2017-08-22

Mimicking skin extracellular matrix hierarchy, the present work aims to develop a bilayer skin graft comprising a porous cotton-wool-like 3D layer with membranous structure of PCL-chitosan nanofibers. Emulsion electrospinning with differential stirring periods of PCL-chitosan emulsion results in development of a bilayer 3D structure with varied morphology. The electrospun membrane has fiber diameter ∼274 nm and pore size ∼1.16 μm while fluffy 3D layer has fiber diameter ∼1.62 μm and pore size ∼62 μm. The 3D layer was further coated with collagen I isolated from Cirrhinus cirrhosus fish scales to improve biofunctionality. Surface coating with collagen I resulted in bundling the fibers together, thereby increasing their average diameter to 2.80 μm and decreasing pore size to ∼45 μm. The architecture and composition of the scaffold promotes efficient cellular activity where interconnected porosity with ECM resembling collagen I coating assists cellular adhesion, infiltration, and proliferation from initial days of fibroblast seeding, while keratinocytes migrate on the surface only without infiltrating in the membranous nanofiber layer. Anatomy of the scaffold arising due to variation in pore size distribution at different layers thereby facilitates compartmentalization and prevents initial cellular transmigration. The scaffold also assists in extracellular matrix protein synthesis and keratinocyte stratification in vitro. Further, the scaffold effectively integrates and attaches with third-degree burn wound margins created in rat models and accelerates healing in comparison to standard Tegaderm dressing™. The bilayer scaffold is thus a promising, readily available, cost-effective, off-the-shelf matrix as a skin substitute.

North Vietnam’s Military Logistics System: Its Contribution to the War, 1961-1969

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-06-10

51 Personnel Infiltration Proo 6egg....e.. 55 Transportation of Sup:li.esl... "....... 6.., Logistics Aocomplishments........... •.. . 68 III...embraced procurementg supply, and transportation . That this directorate was one of only three within the defense establish- meet illustrated the...the chapter dwells on techniques S/used to infiltrate personnel and to transport munitions, and concludes with a sumary of tho logistical

Final closure of a low level waste disposal facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Potier, J.M.

1995-12-31

The low-level radioactive waste disposal facility operated by the Agence Nationale pour la Gestion des Dechets Radioactifs near La Hague, France was opened in 1969 and is scheduled for final closure in 1996. The last waste package was received in June 1994. The total volume of disposed waste is approximately 525,000 m{sup 3}. The site closure consists of covering the disposal structures with a multi-layer impervious cap system to prevent rainwater from infiltrating the waste isolation system. A monitoring system has been set up to verify the compliance of infiltration rates with hydraulic performance objectives (less than 10 liters permore » square meter and per year).« less

Evaluation of gastric histology in children and adolescents with Helicobacter pylori gastritis using the Update Sydney System.

PubMed

Langner, Marini; Machado, Rodrigo Strehl; Patrício, Francy R S; Kawakami, Elisabete

2009-01-01

Although Helicobacter pylori infection is prevalent in our country, there are few studies evaluating the associated histological abnormalities in children. To evaluate the histological features of the gastric mucosa in children and adolescents with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. One hundred and thirty two gastric biopsies from 22 symptomatic patients infected with H. pylori (14F/8M, median age 10 y 5 mo, age range 2 y 11 mo to 16 y 9 mo) were evaluated. Evaluated gastric regions included: antrum (lesser and greater curvature), corpus (lesser and greater curvature), incisura angularis and fundus. Histological examination was performed according to the Updated Sydney System, and regional scores for polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cell infiltrate as well as bacterial density were generated. Fifteen (68.2%) patients presented H. pylori-chronic active gastritis, six (27.3%) presented antrum-predominant H. pylori-chronic active gastritis, and one (4.5%) presented corpus-predominant H. pylori-chronic active gastritis. Polymorphonuclear cell infiltrate and mononuclear cell infiltrate were observed in 93.9% and 98.5% of the biopsy specimens, respectively. Higher histological scores for polymorphonuclear infiltrate, mononuclear infiltrate, and bacterial density were observed in the gastric antrum. Intestinal metaplasia and gastric atrophy were not identified in any patient. Lymphoid aggregates and lymphoid follicles were observed in the gastric antrum of three (13.6%) and seven (31.8%) patients, respectively, but they were not related to antral nodularity. Chronic active gastritis was observed in all patients with H. pylori infection. However, antral or corporeal predominance was not observed in most patients.

Determination of near-saturated hydraulic conductivity by automated minidisk infiltrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klipa, Vladimir; Snehota, Michal; Dohnal, Michal; Zumr, David

2013-04-01

Numerical models in surface and subsurface hydrology require knowledge of infiltration properties of soils for their routine use in the field of water management, environmental protection or agriculture. A new automated tension infiltration module has been designed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague to facilitate the measurements of near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. In the proposed infiltration module the amount of infiltrated water is registered via changes of buoyant force of stationary float attached to the load cell. Presented setup consists of six mini-disk infiltrometer modules held in the light aluminum frame and two Mariotte's bottles. Three infiltrometer modules connected to each Mariotte's bottle allow performing six simultaneous measurements at two different pressure heads. Infiltration modules are connected to the automatic data logging system and consist of: plastic cover with the integrated load cell and the float, reservoir tube (external diameter of 50 mm), and sintered stainless steel plate (diameter of 44.5 mm). The newly developed device was used for determination of near-saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils in experimental catchments Uhlirska (Jizera Mountains, Northern Bohemia) and Kopaninsky creek (Bohemian-Moravian Highlands). The acquired data show a good agreement with the data obtained from previous measurements.

Seasonal changes of the infiltration rates in urban parks of Valencia City, Eastern Spain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerdà, Artemi; Keesstra, Saskia; Burguet, María; Pereira, Paulo; Esteban Lucas-Borja, Manuel; Martinez-Murillo, Juan F.

2016-04-01

Infiltration is a key process of the hydrological cycle. Infiltration also controls the soil water resources, and the development of the vegetation, and moreover, in the Mediterranean, determines the runoff generation (Cerdà, 1996; 1997; 2001). In the Mediterranean, the infiltration in forest soils shows high spatial variability and seasonal and temporal changes (Cerdà, 1999; Bodí and Cerdà, 2009) and is being affected by forest fires (Cerdà, 1998), which introduce a new temporal change in the seasonality of the infiltration rates. Although the forest soils are well assessed, there is no information about the infiltration in urban areas in Mediterranean cities. The Mediterranean dense urban systems use to be treated as impermeable areas. However, the cities show areas covered by vegetation and with soils that allow the rainfall to infiltrate. Those areas are mainly the parks. In order to shed some light on the infiltration capacity of the soils of the urban area of Valencia city 30 rainfall simulations experiments (Cerdà, 1996) and 90 ring infiltrometer (10 cm diameter) measurements were carried out in January 2011, and they were repeated in July 2011, to compare wet (19.4 % of soil moisture) and dry (5.98 % of soil moisture) soils. The infiltration curves where fitted to the Horton (1933) equation and they lasted for 1 hour. The results show that the infiltration is 11 times higher when measured with ring infiltrometer than with the simulated rainfall at 55 mmh-1, and that the infiltration rates where higher in summer than in winter: 2.01 higher for the ring infiltrometer, and 1.45 higher when measured with the rainfall simulator. In comparison to the soils from the forest areas, the infiltration rate in the gardens were lower, with values of 10.23 and 21.65 mm h-1 in average for winter and summer when measured with the rainfall simulator. Similar results were found with the ring infiltrometer. It was also found a clear relationship between the vegetation cover and the infiltration, with high infiltration rates with the grass covers. This is due to the higher infiltration rates of the soils with roots and due to the impact of plant stems on the runoff generation (Wang et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2015). The importance of the vegetation on the soil infiltration capacity in the gardens of Valencia is a key factor to reduce the runoff sediment concentration such as was found at different scales (Keesstra et al., 2007; Nanko et al., 2015; Pereira et al, 2015; Prosdocimi et al., 2016) Acknowledgements The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 603498 (RECARE project). References Cerdà, A. 1996. Seasonal variability of infiltration rates under contrasting slope conditions in southeast Spain. Geoderma, 69 (3-4), 217-232. Cerdà, A. 1997. Seasonal changes of the infiltration rates in a mediterranean scrubland on limestone. Journal of Hydrology, 198 (1-4), 209-225. DOI: 10.1016/S0022-1694(96)03295-7 Cerdà, A. 1998. Changes in overland flow and infiltration after a rangeland fire in a Mediterranean scrubland, Hydrological Processes, 12 (7), 1031-1042. Cerdà, A. 1999. Seasonal and spatial variations in infiltration rates in badland surfaces under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Water Resources Research, 35 (1), 319-328. DOI: 10.1029/98WR01659 Cerdà, A. 2001.Effects of rock fragment cover on soil infiltration, interrill runoff and erosion. European Journal of Soil Science, 52 (1), 59-68. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2389.2001.00354.x Cerdà, A., Bodì, M.B. 2009. Infiltration process in the badlands of the East in the Iberian Peninsula. Progress and challenges. Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica, 35 (1), 7-42. Keesstra, S.D. 2007. Impact of natural reforestation on floodplain sedimentation in the Dragonja basin, SW Slovenia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(1): 49-65. DOI: 10.1002/esp.1360 Nanko, K., Giambelluca, T.W., Sutherland, R.A., Mudd, R.G., Nullet, M.A., Ziegler, A.D. 2015.Erosion potential under miconia calvescens stands on the island of hawai'i. Land Degradation and Development, 26 (3), pp. 218-226. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2200 Pereira, P., Giménez-Morera, A., Novara, A., Keesstra, S., Jordán, A., Masto, R. E., Brevik, E., Azorin-Molina, C. Cerdà, A. 2015. The impact of road and railway embankments on runoff and soil erosion in eastern Spain. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 12, 12947-12985. Prosdocimi,M., Jordán, A., Tarolli, P., Keesstra, S., Novara, A., Cerdà, A. 2016. The immediate effectiveness of barley straw mulch in reducing soil erodibility and surface runoff generation in Mediterranean vineyards. Science of The Total Environment, 547, 15 ,323-330, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.076 Wang Y., Fan J., Cao L., Liang Y. 2015. Infiltration and Runoff Generation Under Various Cropping Patterns in the Red Soil Region of China. Land Degradation and Development. DOI: 10. 1002/ldr. 2460 Zhao, C., Gao, J., Huang, Y., Wang, G., Zhang, M. 2015. Effects of Vegetation Stems on Hydraulics of Overland Flow Under Varying Water Discharges. Land Degradation and Development, DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2423

The potential of desferrioxamine-gallium as an anti-Pseudomonas therapeutic agent

PubMed Central

Banin, Ehud; Lozinski, Alina; Brady, Keith M.; Berenshtein, Eduard; Butterfield, Phillip W.; Moshe, Maya; Chevion, Mordechai; Greenberg, Everett Peter; Banin, Eyal

2008-01-01

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes infections that are difficult to treat by antibiotic therapy. This bacterium can cause biofilm infections where it shows tolerance to antibiotics. Here we report the novel use of a metallo-complex, desferrioxamine-gallium (DFO-Ga) that targets P. aeruginosa iron metabolism. This complex kills free-living bacteria and blocks biofilm formation. A combination of DFO-Ga and the anti-Pseudomonas antibiotic gentamicin caused massive killing of P. aeruginosa cells in mature biofilms. In a P. aeruginosa rabbit corneal infection, topical administration of DFO-Ga together with gentamicin decreased both infiltrate and final scar size by about 50% compared to topical application of gentamicin alone. The use of DFO-Ga as a Trojan horse delivery system that interferes with iron metabolism shows promise as a treatment for P. aeruginosa infections. PMID:18931304

Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) through stormwater basins designed for groundwater recharge in urban area: Assessment of retention efficiency.

PubMed

Mermillod-Blondin, Florian; Simon, Laurent; Maazouzi, Chafik; Foulquier, Arnaud; Delolme, Cécile; Marmonier, Pierre

2015-09-15

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) has been developed in many countries to limit the risk of urban flooding and compensate for reduced groundwater recharge in urban areas. The environmental performances of MAR systems like infiltration basins depend on the efficiency of soil and vadose zone to retain stormwater-derived contaminants. However, these performances need to be finely evaluated for stormwater-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) that can affect groundwater quality. Therefore, this study examined the performance of MAR systems to process DOM during its transfer from infiltration basins to an urban aquifer. DOM characteristics (fluorescent spectroscopic properties, biodegradable and refractory fractions of dissolved organic carbon -DOC-, consumption by micro-organisms during incubation in slow filtration sediment columns) were measured in stormwater during its transfer through three infiltration basins during a stormwater event. DOC concentrations sharply decreased from surface to the aquifer for the three MAR sites. This pattern was largely due to the retention of biodegradable DOC which was more than 75% for the three MAR sites, whereas the retention of refractory DOC was more variable and globally less important (from 18% to 61% depending on MAR site). Slow filtration column experiments also showed that DOC retention during stormwater infiltration through soil and vadose zone was mainly due to aerobic microbial consumption of the biodegradable fraction of DOC. In parallel, measurements of DOM characteristics from groundwaters influenced or not by MAR demonstrated that stormwater infiltration increased DOC quantity without affecting its quality (% of biodegradable DOC and relative aromatic carbon content -estimated by SUVA254-). The present study demonstrated that processes occurring in soil and vadose zone of MAR sites were enough efficient to limit DOC fluxes to the aquifer. Nevertheless, the enrichments of DOC concentrations measured in groundwater below infiltration basins need to be considered in future studies to especially assess their impact on groundwater quality. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Participation of CD11b and F4/80 molecules in the conjunctival eosinophilia of experimental allergic conjunctivitis.

PubMed

Fukushima, Atsuki; Ishida, Waka; Ojima, Ayako; Kajisako, Mina; Sumi, Tamaki; Yamada, Jun; Tsuru, Emi; Miyazaki, Jun-ichi; Tominaga, Akira; Yagita, Hideo

2010-01-01

CD11b and F4/80 are macrophage surface markers. How these molecules participate in allergic eosinophil infiltration remains unclear. We examined the roles CD11b and F4/80 play in the conjunctival eosinophil infiltration associated with experimental allergic conjunctivitis. Ragweed-immunized BALB/c mice were challenged with ragweed in eye drops to induce conjunctival eosinophil infiltration. The effect of challenge on conjunctival CD11b+ and F4/80+ cell numbers was determined by immunohistochemistry. In the same model, blocking anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Abs were injected intraperitoneally during the induction or the effector phase, or subconjunctivally 2 h before challenge, to determine their effect on challenge-induced conjunctival eosinophilia. To examine whether eosinophils express CD11b and F4/80 molecules, splenocytes from IL-5 gene-electroporated mice were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. To clarify the involvement of CD11b and F4/80 in conjunctival eosinophil infiltration, mice were intraperitoneally injected with anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Abs and then subconjunctivally injected with eotaxin to induce conjunctival eosinophilia. Ragweed challenge elevated conjunctival CD11b+ and F4/80+ cell numbers. Systemic anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Ab treatments during the effector phase, but not in either the induction phase or the local injection of Ab, suppressed conjunctival eosinophil infiltration in ragweed-induced conjunctivitis. Most splenic eosinophils from IL-5 gene-introduced mice expressed CD11b and F4/80. Systemic anti-CD11b and anti-F4/80 Ab treatment suppressed conjunctival eosinophilia induced by subconjunctival eotaxin injection. CD11b and F4/80 appear to participate in conjunctival eosinophil infiltration in allergic conjunctivitis. Their involvement in conjunctival eosinophilia appears to be due to their expression on eosinophils rather than on macrophages. 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

IL-23 (Interleukin-23)-Producing Conventional Dendritic Cells Control the Detrimental IL-17 (Interleukin-17) Response in Stroke.

PubMed

Gelderblom, Mathias; Gallizioli, Mattia; Ludewig, Peter; Thom, Vivien; Arunachalam, Priyadharshini; Rissiek, Björn; Bernreuther, Christian; Glatzel, Markus; Korn, Thomas; Arumugam, Thiruma Valavan; Sedlacik, Jan; Gerloff, Christian; Tolosa, Eva; Planas, Anna M; Magnus, Tim

2018-01-01

Inflammatory mechanisms can exacerbate ischemic tissue damage and worsen clinical outcome in patients with stroke. Both αβ and γδ T cells are established mediators of tissue damage in stroke, and the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in inducing the early events of T cell activation and differentiation in stroke is not well understood. In a murine model of experimental stroke, we defined the immune phenotype of infiltrating DC subsets based on flow cytometry of surface markers, the expression of ontogenetic markers, and cytokine levels. We used conditional DC depletion, bone marrow chimeric mice, and IL-23 (interleukin-23) receptor-deficient mice to further explore the functional role of DCs. We show that the ischemic brain was rapidly infiltrated by IRF4 + /CD172a + conventional type 2 DCs and that conventional type 2 DCs were the most abundant subset in comparison with all other DC subsets. Twenty-four hours after ischemia onset, conventional type 2 DCs became the major source of IL-23, promoting neutrophil infiltration by induction of IL-17 (interleukin-17) in γδ T cells. Functionally, the depletion of CD11c + cells or the genetic disruption of the IL-23 signaling abrogated both IL-17 production in γδ T cells and neutrophil infiltration. Interruption of the IL-23/IL-17 cascade decreased infarct size and improved neurological outcome after stroke. Our results suggest a central role for interferon regulatory factor 4-positive IL-23-producing conventional DCs in the IL-17-dependent secondary tissue damage in stroke. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Synthesis and characterization of an injectable allograft bone/polymer composite bone void filler with tunable mechanical properties.

PubMed

Dumas, Jerald E; Zienkiewicz, Katarzyna; Tanner, Shaun A; Prieto, Edna M; Bhattacharyya, Subha; Guelcher, Scott A

2010-08-01

In recent years, considerable effort has been expended toward the development of synthetic bone graft materials. Injectable biomaterials offer several advantages relative to implants due to their ability to cure in situ, thus conforming to irregularly shaped defects. While Food and Drug Administration-approved injectable calcium phosphate cements have excellent osteoconductivity and compressive strengths, these materials have small pore sizes (e.g., 1 mum) and are thus relatively impermeable to cellular infiltration. To overcome this limitation, we aimed to develop injectable allograft bone/polyurethane (PUR) composite bone void fillers with tunable properties that support rapid cellular infiltration and remodeling. The materials comprised particulated (e.g., >100 microm) allograft bone particles and a biodegradable two-component PUR, and had variable (e.g., 30%-70%) porosities. The injectable void fillers exhibited an initial dynamic viscosity of 220 Pa.s at clinically relevant shear rates (40 s(-1)), wet compressive strengths ranging from < 1 to 13 MPa, working times from 3 to 8 min, and setting times from 10 to 20 min, which are comparable to the properties of calcium phosphate bone cements. When injected in femoral plug defects in athymic rats, the composites supported extensive cellular infiltration, allograft resorption, collagen deposition, and new bone formation at 3 weeks. The combination of both initial mechanical properties suitable for weight-bearing applications as well as the ability of the materials to undergo rapid cellular infiltration and remodeling may present potentially compelling opportunities for injectable allograft/PUR composites as biomedical devices for bone regeneration.

Female Sexual Function in Women with Suspected Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis.

PubMed

Lima, Ryane Vieira; Pereira, Ana Maria Gomes; Beraldo, Fernando Bray; Gazzo, Cláudia; Martins, João Alfredo; Lopes, Reginaldo Guedes Coelho

2018-03-01

 To evaluate the quality of the sexual function of women with suspected deep infiltrating endometriosis.  A cross-sectional, observational and prospective study was conducted between May 2015 and August 2016, in which 67 patients with deep infiltrating endometriosis, suspected or diagnosed, were assessed for epidemiological and clinical characteristics, such as pain level through a visual analog scale (VAS), features of deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions and score on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) before the onset of treatment. The statistical analysis was performed using the software STATA version 12.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA) to compare the variables through multiple regression analysis.  The average age of the patients was 39.2 years old; most patients were symptomatic (92.5%); and the predominant location of the deep infiltrating lesions was on the rectosigmoid colon (50%), closely followed by the retrocervical region (48.3%). The median overall score on the FSFI was 23.4; in 67.2% of the cases the score was ≤ 26.5 (cutoff point for sexual dysfunction). Deep dyspareunia ( p  = 0.000, confidence interval [CI]: 0.64-0.83) and rectosigmoid endometriosis lesions ( p  = 0.008, CI: 0.72-0.95) showed significant correlation with lower FSFI scores, adjusted by bladder lesion, patients' age and size of lesions. Deep dyspareunia ( p  = 0.003, CI: 0.49-0.86) also exhibited significant correlation with FSFI pain domain, adjusted by cyclic bowel pain, vaginal lesion and use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog. These results reflect the influence of deep dyspareunia on the sexual dysfunction of the analyzed population.  Most patients exhibited sexual dysfunction, and deep dyspareunia was the pelvic painful symptom that showed correlation with sexual dysfunction. Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Metal/ceramic composites via infiltration of an interconnected wood-derived ceramic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkes, Thomas E.

The use of composites is increasing as they afford scientists and engineers the ability to combine the advantageous properties of each constituent phase, e.g. metal ductility and ceramic stiffness. With respect to materials design, biomimetics is garnering increasing attention due to the complex, yet efficient, natural microstructures. One such biomimetic, or in this case 'bio-derived,' curiosity is wood-derived ceramic, which is made by either replicating or converting wood into a ceramic. The resulting porous and anisotropic material retains the precursor microstructure. The wide variety of precursors can yield materials with a range of pore sizes and distribution of pores. The purpose of this work was to study the processing, microstructure, and properties of aluminum/silicon carbide composites. The composites were made by infiltrating molten aluminum into porous wood-derived SIC, which was produced by the reactive melt-infiltration of silicon into pyrolyzed wood. The composite microstructure consisted of interconnected SiC surrounding Al-alloy 'fibers.' The strength, modulus, and toughness were measured in both longitudinal and transverse orientations. The Al → SiC load transfer was investigated with high-energy X-ray diffraction in combination with in-situ compressive loading. The properties in flexure were found to decrease with increasing temperature. Despite the complex microstructure, predictions of the composite flexural modulus and longitudinal fracture toughness were obtained using simple models: Halpin-Tsai bounds and the Ashby et al. model of the effect of ductile particle-reinforcements on the toughness of brittle materials (Ashby et al. 1989), respectively. In addition, the Al/SiC research inspired the investigation of carbon-reinforced copper composites. The goal was to explore the feasibility of making a high-thermal conductivity composite by infiltrating copper into wood-derived carbon. Results indicated that Cu/C composites could be made with pressurized infiltration, but the predicted thermal conductivity was low due to the amorphous wood-derived carbon.

Application of Modular Modeling System to Predict Evaporation, Infiltration, Air Temperature, and Soil Moisture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boggs, Johnny; Birgan, Latricia J.; Tsegaye, Teferi; Coleman, Tommy; Soman, Vishwas

1997-01-01

Models are used for numerous application including hydrology. The Modular Modeling System (MMS) is one of the few that can simulate a hydrology process. MMS was tested and used to compare infiltration, soil moisture, daily temperature, and potential and actual evaporation for the Elinsboro sandy loam soil and the Mattapex silty loam soil in the Microwave Radiometer Experiment of Soil Moisture Sensing at Beltsville Agriculture Research Test Site in Maryland. An input file for each location was created to nut the model. Graphs were plotted, and it was observed that the model gave a good representation for evaporation for both plots. In comparing the two plots, it was noted that infiltration and soil moisture tend to peak around the same time, temperature peaks in July and August and the peak evaporation was observed on September 15 and July 4 for the Elinsboro Mattapex plot respectively. MMS can be used successfully to predict hydrological processes as long as the proper input parameters are available.

Graphite fiber/copper composites prepared by spontaneous infiltration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hongbao; Tao, Zechao; Li, Xiangfen; Yan, Xi; Liu, Zhanjun; Guo, Quangui

2018-05-01

The major bottleneck in developing graphite fiber reinforced copper (GF/Cu) composites is the poor wettability of Cu/graphite system. Alloying element of chromium (Cr) is introduced to improve the wettability of liquid copper on graphite. Sessile drop method experiments illustrate that the contact angle of liquid Cu-Cr (1.0 wt.%) alloy on graphite substrate decreases to 43° at 1300 °C. The improvement of wettability is related to the formation of chromium carbide layer at interface zone. Based on the wetting experiment, a spontaneous infiltration method for preparing GF/Cu composites is proposed. Unidirectional GF preforms are infiltrated by Cu-Cr alloys without external pressure in a tubular furnace. Results reveal that the GF preform can be fully infiltrated by Cu-Cr alloy (8 wt.%) spontaneously when fiber volume fraction is 40%. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of GF/Cu-Cr (8.0 wt.%) composites is 4.68 × 10-6/K along the longitudinal direction.

Infiltrating mast cells enhance benign prostatic hyperplasia through IL-6/STAT3/Cyclin D1 signals

PubMed Central

Ou, Zhenyu; He, Yao; Qi, Lin; Zu, Xiongbin; Wu, Longxiang; Cao, Zhenzhen; Li, Yuan; Liu, Longfei; Dube, Daud Athanasius; Wang, Zhi; Wang, Long

2017-01-01

Early evidences have showed that mast cells could infiltrate into benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues, but the exact role of mast cells in BPH development remains unclear. In this study, we identified more mast cells existing in human BPH tissues compared with that in the normal prostate. In the in vitro co-culture system, BPH-1 prostate cells promoted activation and migration of mast cells, and mast cells conversely stimulated BPH-1 cells proliferation significantly. Molecular analysis demonstrated that mast cell-derived interleukin 6 (IL-6) could activate STAT3/Cyclin D1 signals in BPH-1 cells. Blocking IL-6 or STAT3 partially reverse the capacity of mast cells to enhance BPH-1 cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that infiltrating mast cells in BPH tissues could promote BPH development via IL-6/STAT3/Cyclin D1 signals. Therefore, targeting infiltrating mast cells may improve the therapeutic effect of BPH. PMID:28938626

Quantifying rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration in sanitary sewer systems based on conductivity monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Mingkai; Liu, Yanchen; Cheng, Xun; Zhu, David Z.; Shi, Hanchang; Yuan, Zhiguo

2018-03-01

Quantifying rainfall-derived inflow and infiltration (RDII) in a sanitary sewer is difficult when RDII and overflow occur simultaneously. This study proposes a novel conductivity-based method for estimating RDII. The method separately decomposes rainfall-derived inflow (RDI) and rainfall-induced infiltration (RII) on the basis of conductivity data. Fast Fourier transform was adopted to analyze variations in the flow and water quality during dry weather. Nonlinear curve fitting based on the least squares algorithm was used to optimize parameters in the proposed RDII model. The method was successfully applied to real-life case studies, in which inflow and infiltration were successfully estimated for three typical rainfall events with total rainfall volumes of 6.25 mm (light), 28.15 mm (medium), and 178 mm (heavy). Uncertainties of model parameters were estimated using the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method and were found to be acceptable. Compared with traditional flow-based methods, the proposed approach exhibits distinct advantages in estimating RDII and overflow, particularly when the two processes happen simultaneously.

The Local and Systemic Immune Response to Intrauterine LPS in the Prepartum Mouse1

PubMed Central

Edey, Lydia F.; O'Dea, Kieran P.; Herbert, Bronwen R.; Hua, Renyi; Waddington, Simon N.; MacIntyre, David A.; Bennett, Philip R.; Takata, Masao; Johnson, Mark R.

2016-01-01

Inflammation plays a key role in human term and preterm labor (PTL). Intrauterine LPS has been widely used to model inflammation-induced complications of pregnancy, including PTL. It has been shown to induce an intense myometrial inflammatory cell infiltration, but the role of LPS-induced inflammatory cell activation in labor onset and fetal demise is unclear. We investigated this using a mouse model of PTL, where an intrauterine injection of 10 μg of LPS (serotype 0111:B4) was given at E16 of CD1 mouse pregnancy. This dose induced PTL at an average of 12.7 h postinjection in association with 85% fetal demise. Flow cytometry showed that LPS induced a dramatic systemic inflammatory response provoking a rapid and marked leucocyte infiltration into the maternal lung and liver in association with increased cytokine levels. Although there was acute placental inflammatory gene expression, there was no corresponding increase in fetal brain inflammatory gene expression until after fetal demise. There was marked myometrial activation of NFκB and MAPK/AP-1 systems in association with increased chemokine and cytokine levels, both of which peaked with the onset of parturition. Myometrial macrophage and neutrophil numbers were greater in the LPS-injected mice with labor onset only; prior to labor, myometrial neutrophils and monocytes numbers were greater in PBS-injected mice, but this was not associated with an earlier onset of labor. These data suggest that intrauterine LPS induces parturition directly, independent of myometrial inflammatory cell infiltration, and that fetal demise occurs without fetal inflammation. Intrauterine LPS provokes a marked local and systemic inflammatory response but with limited inflammatory cell infiltration into the myometrium or placenta. PMID:27760748

Characterization of vascular lesions in pigs affected by porcine circovirus type 2-systemic disease.

PubMed

Resendes, A R; Segalés, J

2015-05-01

Vascular lesions and their association with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were evaluated in multiple organs from 10 pigs affected with PCV2-systemic disease (PCV2-SD). Animals had vascular lesions in multiple organs, consisting of lymphohistiocytic lymphangitis and/or phlebitis, mild to severe necrotizing arteritis, and thrombosis within splenic arterioles and choroid plexus capillaries. Variable amounts of PCV2 nucleic acid detected by in situ hybridization were present within endothelial cells, tunica media myocytes, and perivascular and/or intralesional inflammatory cell infiltrates. PCV2 nucleic acid was detected within endothelial cells of both lymphatic and blood vessels without lesions in the associated tissues. Necrotizing arteritis was principally present in lymph nodes and kidney and consisted of degeneration, necrosis, and pyknosis of myocytes, often with intracytoplasmic, brightly eosinophilic inclusion bodies that were strongly positive for PCV2 nucleic acid. Segmental or circumferential fibrinoid necrosis was mainly present in vessels of the lymph node, spleen, and choroid plexus and was variably associated with PCV2 nucleic acid. Severe lymphangitis associated with strong intralesional PCV2 labeling was frequently detected within the mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes and the lamina propria of the ileum. In most tissues, medium and large lymphatics and/or veins often had disruption of the intima and mild mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration that was variably associated with PCV2 nucleic acid. The present study indicates that vasculitis is a frequent finding in natural cases of PCV2-SD and that PCV2 may have a direct cytopathic effect on tunica media myocytes of small- and medium-sized arteries as well as endothelium. © The Author(s) 2014.

Electrochemotherapy treatment of a recalcitrant earlobe keloid scar with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia infiltration.

PubMed

Sainsbury, D C G; Allison, K P; Muir, T

2010-10-01

Electrochemotherapy, a tumour ablation modality, which facilitates intracellular delivery of poorly-permeable cytotoxic drugs, such as bleomycin, has shown promising results in the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous melanomatous and non-melanomatous metastases. We report the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian gentleman with a keloid scar to his left earlobe that developed following a piercing. Despite multiple intralesional steroidal injections, five intralesional excisions and a course of superficial radiotherapy the keloid scar remained over nine years later. For 15 years the patient had also suffered chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with no nodal disease or systemic involvement. However, histological analysis of the final surgical excision specimen showed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia infiltration of the keloid scar. Further surgical excision seemed unwise considering the recalcitrance of the keloid scar. Additionally, no systemic chemotherapy treatment options were feasible. Electrochemotherapy was performed under local anaesthesia with the aim of eradicating the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia deposit within the keloid lesion. Four sessions of electrochemotherapy using bleomycin were deployed over 11 months. A deep core biopsy of the treated keloid performed three months following the last electrochemotherapy session showed no evidence of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Serendipitously, following the initial electrochemotherapy treatment no further growth of the keloid scar was observed. Furthermore, subsequent electrochemotherapy led to a substantial reduction in size of the keloid sustained for 14 months at last follow-up. This report highlights the exciting potential of electrochemotherapy and bleomycin in the treatment of recalcitrant scars. Larger, well-designed clinical and in-vitro studies are required to further elucidate the exact role, mechanism and cost-effectiveness of electrochemotherapy in this area. Copyright 2010 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preventing Molecular and Particulate Infiltration in a Confined Volume

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scialdone, John J.

1999-01-01

Contaminants from an instrument's self-generated sources or from sources external to the instrument may degrade its critical surfaces and/or create an environment which limits the instrument's intended performance. Analyses have been carried out on a method to investigate the required purging flow of clean, dry gas to prevent the ingestion of external contaminants into the instrument container volume. The pressure to be maintained and the required flow are examined in terms of their effectiveness in preventing gaseous and particulate contaminant ingestion and abatement of self-generated contaminants in the volume. The required venting area or the existing volume venting area is correlated to the volume to be purged, the allowable pressure differential across the volume, the external contaminant partial pressure, and the sizes of the ambient particulates. The diffusion of external water vapor into the volume while it was being purged was experimentally obtained in terms of an infiltration time constant. That data and the acceptable fraction of the outside pressure into the volume indicate the required flow of purge gas expressed in terms of volume change per unit time. The exclusion of particulates is based on the incoming velocity of the particles and the exit flow speed and density of the purge gas. The purging flow pressures needed to maintain the required flows through the vent passages are indicated. The purge gas must prevent or limit the entrance of the external contaminants to the critical locations of the instrument. It should also prevent self- contamination from surfaces, reduce material outgassing, and sweep out the outgassed products. Systems and facilities that can benefit from purging may be optical equipment, clinical facilities, manufacturing facilities, clean rooms, and other systems requiring clean environments.

Expression of the IL-23/Th17 pathway in lesions of hidradenitis suppurativa.

PubMed

Schlapbach, Christoph; Hänni, Tanja; Yawalkar, Nikhil; Hunger, Robert E

2011-10-01

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a debilitating chronic disease primarily affecting intertriginous skin of the axillae, perineum, and inframammary regions. The pathogenesis of this inflammatory disease is still poorly understood. Recently, increased attention has been paid to the role of the immune system. Since the interleukin 12 (IL-12)/T helper 1 (Th1) and the IL-23/Th17 pathways are believed to be crucially involved in the pathogenesis of multiple chronic inflammatory diseases, we investigated the expression and cellular source of IL-12, IL-23, and IL-17 in hidradenitis suppurativa. Ten patients with hidradenitis suppurativa were included in the study. Tissue samples were obtained from lesional skin and compared with healthy skin as a control. Expression of IL-12, IL-23, and IL-17 was analyzed by semiquantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, and the cellular source of these cytokines was determined by double immunofluorescence. IL-12 and IL-23 were found to be abundantly expressed by macrophages infiltrating papillary and reticular dermis of lesional skin. In accordance with the high expression of IL-23 and its important role in the development of T helper 17 (Th17) cells, IL-17-producing T helper cells were found to distinctly infiltrate lesional dermis. The sample size was small. Our findings suggest that the IL-23/Th17 pathway is expressed in hidradenitis suppurativa and further support involvement of the immune system. Moreover, targeting the IL-12/IL-23-common subunit p40 with novel monoclonal antibodies may represent a new option for the treatment of this recalcitrant disease. Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the particle infiltration efficiency of three passive samplers and the PS-1 active air sampler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markovic, Milos Z.; Prokop, Sebastian; Staebler, Ralf M.; Liggio, John; Harner, Tom

2015-07-01

The particle infiltration efficiencies (PIE) of three passive and one active air samplers were evaluated under field conditions. A wide-range particle spectrometer operating in the 250-4140 nm range was used to acquire highly temporally resolved particle-number and size distributions for the different samplers compared to ambient air. Overall, three of the four evaluated samplers were able to acquire a representative sample of ambient particles with PIEs of 91.5 ± 13.7% for the GAPS Network sampler, 103 ± 15.5% for the Lancaster University sampler, and 89.6 ± 13.4% for a conventional PS-1 high-volume active air sampler (Hi-Vol). Significantly (p = 0.05) lower PIE of 54 ± 8.0% was acquired for the passive sampler used under the MONET program. These findings inform the comparability and use of passive and active samplers for measuring particle-associated priority chemicals in air.

Incidental synovial myxoma with extensive intermuscular infiltration in a dog.

PubMed

Izawa, Takeshi; Tanaka, Miyuu; Aoki, Mika; Ohashi, Fumihito; Yamate, Jyoji; Kuwamura, Mitsuru

2012-12-01

A 16-year-old male mixed-breed dog was euthanized due to progression of renal failure caused by renal adenocarcinoma in the left kidney. Apart from main symptomatic lesion, accumulation of transparent jelly-like fluid was observed between the right femoral muscles. Gross examination of the right hindlimb revealed multiple nodules in the articular surface and capsule of the stifle joints, which extended into the crural muscles. Histopathologically, the joint and intermuscular masses were characterized by variously-sized hypocellular nodules consisting of spindle to stellate cells suspended in an abundant myxoid matrix. There were cystic structures within the intermuscular masses, lined by synoviocyte-like cells. Based on the gross and histopathologic findings, the case was diagnosed as synovial myxoma with extensive intermuscular infiltration. Synovial myxoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dogs with myxomatous tumor between skeletal muscles, even in absence of joint or muscle symptoms.

Ultrafine and Fine Particulate Matter Inside and Outside of Mechanically Ventilated Buildings.

PubMed

Miller, Shelly L; Facciola, Nick A; Toohey, Darin; Zhai, John

2017-01-28

The objectives of this study were to measure levels of particulate matter (PM) in mechanically ventilated buildings and to improve understanding of filtration requirements to reduce exposure. With the use of an Ultra High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer and an Aerodyne Mass Spectrometer, ultrafine (0.055-0.1 μm) and fine (0.1-0.7 μm) indoor and outdoor PM was measured as a function of time in an office, a university building, and two elementary schools. Indoor particle levels were highly correlated with outdoor levels. Indoor and outdoor number concentrations in Denver were higher than those in Boulder, with the highest number concentrations occurring during summer and fall. The ratio of indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) PM was weakly but positively correlated with the amount of ventilation provided to the indoor environment, did not vary much with particle size (ranged between 0.48 and 0.63 for the entire size range), and was similar for each period of the week (weekend vs. weekday, night vs. day). Regression analyses showed that ultrafine indoor PM baseline concentrations were higher at night from nighttime infiltration. A lag time was observed between outdoor and indoor measurements. Weekday days had the shortest lag time of 11 min, and weekend nighttime lags when the HVAC was not in use were 50 to 148 min. Indoor-outdoor PM concentration plots showed ultrafine PM was more correlated compared to fine, and especially when the HVAC system was on. Finally, AMS data showed that most of the PM was organic, with occasional nitrate events occurring outdoors. During nitrate events, there were less indoor particles detected, indicating a loss of particulate phase nitrate. The results from this study show that improved filtration is warranted in mechanically ventilated buildings, particularly for ultrafine particles, and that nighttime infiltration is significant depending on the building design.

Ultrafine and Fine Particulate Matter Inside and Outside of Mechanically Ventilated Buildings

PubMed Central

Miller, Shelly L.; Facciola, Nick A.; Toohey, Darin; Zhai, John

2017-01-01

The objectives of this study were to measure levels of particulate matter (PM) in mechanically ventilated buildings and to improve understanding of filtration requirements to reduce exposure. With the use of an Ultra High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer and an Aerodyne Mass Spectrometer, ultrafine (0.055–0.1 μm) and fine (0.1–0.7 μm) indoor and outdoor PM was measured as a function of time in an office, a university building, and two elementary schools. Indoor particle levels were highly correlated with outdoor levels. Indoor and outdoor number concentrations in Denver were higher than those in Boulder, with the highest number concentrations occurring during summer and fall. The ratio of indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) PM was weakly but positively correlated with the amount of ventilation provided to the indoor environment, did not vary much with particle size (ranged between 0.48 and 0.63 for the entire size range), and was similar for each period of the week (weekend vs. weekday, night vs. day). Regression analyses showed that ultrafine indoor PM baseline concentrations were higher at night from nighttime infiltration. A lag time was observed between outdoor and indoor measurements. Weekday days had the shortest lag time of 11 min, and weekend nighttime lags when the HVAC was not in use were 50 to 148 min. Indoor-outdoor PM concentration plots showed ultrafine PM was more correlated compared to fine, and especially when the HVAC system was on. Finally, AMS data showed that most of the PM was organic, with occasional nitrate events occurring outdoors. During nitrate events, there were less indoor particles detected, indicating a loss of particulate phase nitrate. The results from this study show that improved filtration is warranted in mechanically ventilated buildings, particularly for ultrafine particles, and that nighttime infiltration is significant depending on the building design. PMID:28134841

Impact of Changes in Land Use in Hydro-physical Properties of Argiudolls of the Center of Santa Fe, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marano, R. P.; Imhoff, S.; Micheloud, H.; Carnevale, I.

2012-04-01

In Santa Fe province (Argentina) the substitution of agricultural-grass rotations for continuous crop under no-till has become very important because vegetal residues reduces soil degradation caused by rain-drop impact. However, in Santa Fe the sequence wheat-soya seems to produce insufficient quantity of straw to avoid that problem. The objective of this research was to evaluate some soil properties to verify the changes induced by the no-till system. Evaluations were carried out in four Argiudolls, each one under a special management condition and slope grade, i.e. Place 1: plane relief (0,08%), continuous agriculture of wheat-soya under no-till (CANT1) and traditional tillage (CAT1); Place 2 plane relief (0,08%), cattle production over natural grass (CNG2) and bare soil (CBS2); Place 3 smoothly wavy relief (0,55%), continuous agriculture of wheat-soya under no-till (CANT3); Place 4 wavy relief (1,2%), continuous agriculture of wheat-soya-corn under no-till (CANT4). Rain simulators of small (RSS) and medium (RSM) size were used to determine regional values of the curve number (CN), runoff (R) and infiltration (I) rates for steady state. Tension infiltrometers (TI) with four tensions (5, 3, 1.5 and 0 cm) and double-rings (DRI) were used to compare the infiltration. Soil samples were extracted with shovel to measure aggregates stability (AS) and with cylinders to determine the soil penetration resistance (PR) curve. Important deviations of the CN were found when they were corrected by the antecedent moisture (AMC) regarding to those indicated by the SCS; there was an overestimation of R when soil moisture was low and an underestimate with high water contents. The DRI does not represent the process of the rain infiltration for the central region of Santa Fe. On the contrary, with the use of RSM or RSS an appropriate characterization is achieved, especially with RSS that has as advantage its handling easiness and versatility of the intensities to apply. Alternatively the TI can also be used to characterize infiltration, linking I at steady state with conductivity hydraulic at tension 3 and 1, 5. Tillage decreased I in CAT1 and CBS2 regarding to no-till, although in small proportion in CBS2. The fitted curves of PR indicated the coefficient corresponding to the soil bulk density variable had the greater impact in PR in CNG2, probably due to animal trampling degrades soil structure. The AE values increased according to the order CANT1

[Relationship between the expression of beta-cat, cyclin D1 and c-myc and the occurance and biological behavior of pancreatic cancer].

PubMed

Li, Yu-jun; Ji, Xiang-rui

2003-06-01

To study the relationship between the abnormal expression of beta-catenin (beta-cat) and the high expressions of cyclin D1 and c-myc and the occurance, proliferation, infiltration, metastasis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer, and to provide rational basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment. Immunohistochemical PicTure trade mark was used to examine the expressions of beta-cat, cyclin D1 and c-myc in 47 cases of the cancerous tissue of pancreas, 12 cases of the pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and 10 cases of normal tissue of pancreas, respectively. Pancreatic cancer proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was also tested as the index of the extent of proliferation of the pancreatic cancer. beta-cat was expressed normally in the 10 cases of the normal pancreatic tissue, while cyclin D1 and c-myc were negative. The expression rates of beta-cat, cyclin D1 and c-myc in the tissues of the pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and the pancreatic cancer had no significant difference [6/12 and 68.1% (32/47), 6/12 and 74.5% (35/47), 5/12 and 70.2% (33/47) respectively;P values were all more than 0.05]. The abnormal expression rate of beta-cat was significantly correlated to the metastasis of the pancreatic cancer and the one-year survival rate (both P < 0.05), but had no relation with the size, the extent of differentiation, the activity of proliferation, or infiltration of the pancreatic cancer (both P > 0.05). The expression rate of cyclin D1 was correlated with the proliferation of the pancreatic cancer and the extent of differentiation (both P < 0.05), but not with the size, infiltration, metastasis, or one-year survival rate of the pancreatic cancer (both P > 0.05). The expression rate of c-myc was not correlated with the size, the extent of proliferation, infiltration, metastasis, or one-year survival rate (both P > 0.05), but closely with the proliferation activity of the cancerous tissue of pancreas (P < 0.05). The abnormal expression of beta-cat and the high expressions of cyclin D1 and c-myc had a parallel relationship with the pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia and pancreatic cancer (both P < 0.05, gamma = 1.000, 0.845, 0.437, 0.452). The abnormal expression of beta-cat activates cyclin D1 and c-myc, and results in the unchecked proliferation and differentiation, which may play an important role in the genesis of the pancreatic cancer. The abnormal expression of beta-cat is one of the mechanisms for the spread of pancreatic cancer and an index in the molecular biology to determine the metastasis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

Fate and Transport of Colloidal Energetic Residues

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

Vadose Zone J 3(1): 262-270. 8. Davis, A. P., M. Shokouhian, and S. Ni. 2001. Loading estimates of lead , copper, cadmium , and zinc in urban...received the mm-sized Comp B. This particulate transport increases the effective contact time between residues and infiltrating rainwater, leading ...that natural mineral colloids can enhance transport of RDX and TNT by up to 15% and 20%, respectively. RDX and TNT attachment to natural colloids

Fabrication and characterization of cerium-doped barium titanate inverse opal by sol-gel method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jin Yi; Zhu Yihua; Yang Xiaoling

Cerium-doped barium titanate inverted opal was synthesized from barium acetate contained cerous acetate and tetrabutyl titanate in the interstitial spaces of a polystyrene (PS) opal. This procedure involves infiltration of precursors into the interstices of the PS opal template followed by hydrolytic polycondensation of the precursors to amorphous barium titanate and removal of the PS opal by calcination. The morphologies of opal and inverse opal were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pores were characterized by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigation showed the doping structure of cerium, barium and titanium. And powder X-ray diffraction allowsmore » one to observe the influence of doping degree on the grain size. The lattice parameters, crystal size and lattice strain were calculated by the Rietveld refinement method. The synthesis of cerium-doped barium titanate inverted opals provides an opportunity to electrically and optically engineer the photonic band structure and the possibility of developing tunable three-dimensional photonic crystal devices. - Graphical abstract: Cerium-doped barium titanate inverted opal was synthesized from barium acetate acid contained cerous acetate and tetrabutyl titanate in the interstitial spaces of a PS opal, which involves infiltration of precursors into the interstices of the PS opal template and removal of the PS opal by calcination.« less

Shape Memory Silk Protein Sponges for Minimally Invasive Tissue Regeneration.

PubMed

Brown, Joseph E; Moreau, Jodie E; Berman, Alison M; McSherry, Heather J; Coburn, Jeannine M; Schmidt, Daniel F; Kaplan, David L

2017-01-01

Porous silk protein scaffolds are designed to display shape memory characteristics and volumetric recovery following compression. Two strategies are utilized to realize shape recovery: addition of hygroscopic plasticizers like glycerol, and tyrosine modifications with hydrophilic sulfonic acid chemistries. Silk sponges are evaluated for recovery following 80% compressive strain, total porosity, pore size distribution, secondary structure development, in vivo volume retention, cell infiltration, and inflammatory responses. Glycerol-modified sponges recover up to 98.3% of their original dimensions following compression, while sulfonic acid/glycerol modified sponges swell in water up to 71 times their compressed volume, well in excess of their original size. Longer silk extraction times (lower silk molecular weights) and higher glycerol concentrations yielded greater flexibility and shape fidelity, with no loss in modulus following compression. Sponges are over 95% porous, with secondary structure analysis indicating glycerol-induced β-sheet physical crosslinking. Tyrosine modifications with sulfonic acid interfere with β-sheet formation. Glycerol-modified sponges exhibit improved rates of cellular infiltration at subcutaneous implant sites with minimal immune response in mice. They also degrade more rapidly than unmodified sponges, a result posited to be cell-mediated. Overall, this work suggests that silk sponges may be useful for minimally invasive deployment in soft tissue augmentation procedures. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Indoor particle levels in small- and medium-sized commercial buildings in California.

PubMed

Wu, Xiangmei May; Apte, Michael G; Bennett, Deborah H

2012-11-20

This study monitored indoor and outdoor particle concentrations in 37 small and medium commercial buildings (SMCBs) in California with three buildings sampled on two occasions, resulting in 40 sampling days. Sampled buildings included offices, retail establishments, restaurants, dental offices, and hair salons, among others. Continuous measurements were made for both ultrafine and fine particulate matter as well as black carbon inside and outside of the building. Integrated PM(2.5), PM(2.5-10), and PM(10) samples were also collected inside and outside the building. The majority of the buildings had indoor/outdoor (I/O) particle concentration ratios less than 1.0, indicating that contributions from indoor sources are less than removal of outdoor particles. However, some of the buildings had I/O ratios greater than 1, indicating significant indoor particle sources. This was particularly true of restaurants, hair salons, and dental offices. The infiltration factor was estimated from a regression analysis of indoor and outdoor concentrations for each particle size fraction, finding lower values for ultrafine and coarse particles than for submicrometer particles, as expected. The I/O ratio of black carbon was used as a relative measure of the infiltration factor of particles among buildings, with a geometric mean of 0.62. The contribution of indoor sources to indoor particle levels was estimated for each building.

Sulfur-infiltrated porous carbon microspheres with controllable multi-modal pore size distribution for high energy lithium-sulfur batteries.

PubMed

Zhao, Cunyu; Liu, Lianjun; Zhao, Huilei; Krall, Andy; Wen, Zhenhai; Chen, Junhong; Hurley, Patrick; Jiang, Junwei; Li, Ying

2014-01-21

Sulfur has received increasing attention as a cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity. However, the commercialization of Li-S batteries is limited by the challenges of poor electrical conductivity of sulfur, dissolution of the polysulfide intermediates into the electrolyte, and volume expansion of sulfur during cycling. Herein, we report the fabrication of novel-structured porous carbon microspheres with a controllable multi-modal pore size distribution, i.e., a combination of interconnected micropores, mesopores and macropores. Cathodes made of sulfur infiltrated in such a hierarchical carbon framework provide several advantages: (1) a continuous and high surface area carbon network for enhanced electrical conductivity and high sulfur loading; (2) macropores and large mesopores bridged by small mesopores to provide good electrolyte accessibility and fast Li ion transport and to accommodate volume expansion of sulfur; and (3) small mesopores and micropores to improve carbon/sulfur interaction and to help trap polysulfides. An initial discharge capacity at 1278 mA h g(-1) and capacity retention at 70.7% (904 mA h g(-1)) after 100 cycles at a high rate (1 C) were achieved. The material fabrication process is relatively simple and easily scalable.

The flavonoid fisetin attenuates postischemic immune cell infiltration, activation and infarct size after transient cerebral middle artery occlusion in mice

PubMed Central

Gelderblom, Mathias; Leypoldt, Frank; Lewerenz, Jan; Birkenmayer, Gabriel; Orozco, Denise; Ludewig, Peter; Thundyil, John; Arumugam, Thiruma V; Gerloff, Christian; Tolosa, Eva; Maher, Pamela; Magnus, Tim

2012-01-01

The development of the brain tissue damage in ischemic stroke is composed of an immediate component followed by an inflammatory response with secondary tissue damage after reperfusion. Fisetin, a flavonoid, has multiple biological effects, including neuroprotective and antiinflammatory properties. We analyzed the effects of fisetin on infarct size and the inflammatory response in a mouse model of stroke, temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion, and on the activation of immune cells, murine primary and N9 microglial and Raw264.7 macrophage cells and human macrophages, in an in vitro model of inflammatory immune cell activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Fisetin not only protected brain tissue against ischemic reperfusion injury when given before ischemia but also when applied 3 hours after ischemia. Fisetin also prominently inhibited the infiltration of macrophages and dendritic cells into the ischemic hemisphere and suppressed the intracerebral immune cell activation as measured by intracellular tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) production. Fisetin also inhibited LPS-induced TNFα production and neurotoxicity of macrophages and microglia in vitro by suppressing nuclear factor κB activation and JNK/Jun phosphorylation. Our findings strongly suggest that the fisetin-mediated inhibition of the inflammatory response after stroke is part of the mechanism through which fisetin is neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia. PMID:22234339

[Accelerated partial breast irradiation with multicatheters during breast conserving surgery for cancer].

PubMed

Rodríguez-Spiteri Sagredo, Natalia; Martínez Regueira, Fernando; Olartecoechea Linaje, Begoña; Arredondo Chaves, Jorge; Cambeiro Vázquez, Mauricio; Pina Insausti, Luis Javier; Elizalde Pérez, Arlette; y García-Lallana, Amaya; Sola Gallego, Jose Javier

2013-10-01

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with multicatheters after lumpectomy for breast cancer (BC) may be an alternative to whole breast irradiation in selected patients. The aim is to show our 5 year experience. Between June 2007 and June 2012, 87 BC patients have been evaluated for APBI. Inclusion criteria were: age over 40 years, unifocal tumour, infiltrating ductal or intraductal carcinoma, tumour size smaller than 3 cm and no lymph node involvement. Complications, cosmetic results and local and distant recurrences were evaluated. Treatment was completed in 48 patients and contraindicated in 39. The average age of treated patients was 59 years. Operating time was 123 min with 9 implanted catheters in each patient. No complications were observed during surgery or radiotherapy. Patients were discharged from hospital after 4 days. Tumour size was 11 mm. Of these, 35 were infiltrating ductal and 13 intraductal carcinomas. A total of 44 patients received adjuvant treatment. Mean follow-up was 22 months with no evidence of local or distant recurrence. The cosmetic outcome was good or excellent in 66% of cases. APBI with multicatheter placed after lumpectomy for BC is feasible and safe but requires a strict selection of patients. Copyright © 2012 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Do sediment type and test durations affect results of laboratory-based, accelerated testing studies of permeable pavement clogging?

PubMed

Nichols, Peter W B; White, Richard; Lucke, Terry

2015-04-01

Previous studies have attempted to quantify the clogging processes of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers (PICPs) using accelerated testing methods. However, the results have been variable. This study investigated the effects that three different sediment types (natural and silica), and different simulated rainfall intensities, and testing durations had on the observed clogging processes (and measured surface infiltration rates) of laboratory-based, accelerated PICP testing studies. Results showed that accelerated simulated laboratory testing results are highly dependent on the type, and size of sediment used in the experiments. For example, when using real stormwater sediment up to 1.18 mm in size, the results showed that neither testing duration, nor stormwater application rate had any significant effect on PICP clogging. However, the study clearly showed that shorter testing durations generally increased clogging and reduced the surface infiltration rates of the models when artificial silica sediment was used. Longer testing durations also generally increased clogging of the models when using fine sediment (<300 μm). Results from this study will help researchers and designers better anticipate when and why PICPs are susceptible to clogging, reduce maintenance and extend the useful life of these increasingly common stormwater best management practices. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High pressure infiltration sintering behavior of WC-Co alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Xiaoqin; He, Duanwei; Wang, Pei; Li, Dong; Liu, Yinjuan; Ma, Dejiang; Du, Yanchun; Gao, Shangpan; Kou, Zili

2016-10-01

In this paper, two average tungsten carbide particle sizes of 2, 0.5 μm are placed respectively, in contact with a WC-16Co substrate, pressed at the pressure of 4.5-5.5 GPa, and heated to temperatures ranging from 1350°C to 1500°C in a large-volume cubic press. During the process Co was forced out of the WC-16Co substrate into the compressed powder. The resulting infiltrated samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Vickers hardness and cutting performance tests. The results of XRD confirmed that the sintered bulks have WC and Co phases. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals that the WC grains in well-sintered alloys are round in shape and cobalt with lower content is uniformly dispersed in the WC grain boundaries. The sintered sub-micron WC-Co alloy with a cobalt content of 3.8 wt% exhibits a prominent combination of high hardness value of 23.1 GPa and a large fracture toughness value of 8.6 MPa m½. The high-speed cutting tests indicating its cutting performance is significantly superior to the commercial YG6X (WC-6 wt%Co with WC grain size of 0.5 μm).

Hot Spot and Whole-Tumor Enumeration of CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Utilizing Digital Image Analysis Is Prognostic in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

PubMed

McIntire, Patrick J; Irshaid, Lina; Liu, Yifang; Chen, Zhengming; Menken, Faith; Nowak, Eugene; Shin, Sandra J; Ginter, Paula S

2018-05-07

CD8 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have emerged as a prognostic indicator in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). There is debate surrounding the prognostic value of hot spots for CD8 + TIL enumeration. We compared hot spot versus whole-tumor CD8 + TIL enumeration in prognosticating TNBC using immunohistochemistry on whole tissue sections and quantification by digital image analysis (Halo imaging analysis software; Indica Labs, Corrales, NM). A wide range of clinically relevant hot spot sizes was evaluated. CD8 + TIL enumeration was independently statistically significant for all hot spot sizes and whole-tumor annotations for disease-free survival by multivariate analysis. A 10× objective (2.2 mm diameter) hot spot was found to correlate significantly with overall survival (P = .04), while the remaining hot spots and whole-tumor CD8 + TIL enumeration did not (P > .05). Statistical significance was not demonstrated when comparing between hot spots and whole-tumor annotations, as the groups had overlapping confidence intervals. CD8 + TIL hot spot enumeration is equivalent to whole-tumor enumeration for prognostication in TNBC and may serve as a good alternative methodology in future studies and clinical practice. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the potential for artificial ground-water recharge in eastern San Joaquin County, California; Phase 3

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hamlin, S.N.

1987-01-01

Infiltration tests were used to evaluate the potential of basin spreading surface water as a means of artificially recharging the aquifer system in eastern San Joaquin County, California. Two infiltration sites near Lockeford and Linden were selected on the basis of information collected during the first two phases of the study. Data from the infiltration tests indicate that the two sites are acceptable for recharge by the basin-spreading method. Infiltration rates ranged between 6.7 and 10.5 ft/day near Lockeford and between 2.6 and 11.2 ft/day near Linden. Interpretation of these data is limited by lack of information on the response of the saturated zone during testing and by the inherent difficulty in extrapolating the results of small-scale tests to larger long-term operations. Lithology is a major factor that controls infiltration rates at the test sites. The unsaturated zone is characterized by heterogeneous layers of coarse- and fine- grained materials. Clay layers of low hydraulic conductivity commonly form discontinuous lenses that may cause a transient perched water table to develop during recharge. Water level measurements from wells screened in the unsaturated zone indicate that the perched water table could reach the land surface after 2 and 5 months of recharge near Lockeford and Linden, respectively. These figures probably represent the minimum time necessary for saturation of the land. Another major factor that affects infiltration rates is the quality of the recharge water, particularly the suspended sediment content. The clogging action of suspended sediment may be minimized by: (1) pretreatment of recharge water in a settling pond, (2) adherence to a routine program of monitoring and maintenance, and (3) proper design of the recharge facility. Other factors that affect infiltration rates include basin excavation technique, basin shape, and maintenance procedures. Efficient operation of the recharge facility requires careful attention to the relation between subsurface water levels and infiltration rates. (Author 's abstract)

Analysis of Factors that Influence Infiltration Rates using the HELP Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dyer, J.; Shipmon, J.

The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model is used by Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) in conjunction with PORFLOW groundwater flow simulation software to make longterm predictions of the fate and transport of radionuclides in the environment at radiological waste sites. The work summarized in this report supports preparation of the planned 2018 Performance Assessment for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility (LLWF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS). More specifically, this project focused on conducting a sensitivity analysis of infiltration (i.e., the rate at which water travels vertically in soil) through the proposed E-Area LLWF closure cap. A sensitivitymore » analysis was completed using HELP v3.95D to identify the cap design and material property parameters that most impact infiltration rates through the proposed closure cap for a 10,000-year simulation period. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) for select cap layers, precipitation rate, surface vegetation type, and geomembrane layer defect density are dominant factors limiting infiltration rate. Interestingly, calculated infiltration rates were substantially influenced by changes in the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the Upper Foundation and Lateral Drainage layers. For example, an order-of-magnitude decrease in Ksat for the Upper Foundation layer lowered the maximum infiltration rate from a base-case 11 inches per year to only two inches per year. Conversely, an order-of-magnitude increase in Ksat led to an increase in infiltration rate from 11 to 15 inches per year. This work and its results provide a framework for quantifying uncertainty in the radionuclide transport and dose models for the planned 2018 E-Area Performance Assessment. Future work will focus on the development of a nonlinear regression model for infiltration rate using Minitab 17® to facilitate execution of probabilistic simulations in the GoldSim® overall system model for the E-Area LLWF.« less

Dexamethasone-induced abolition of the inflammatory response in an experimental glioma model: a flow cytometry study.

PubMed

Badie, B; Schartner, J M; Paul, J; Bartley, B A; Vorpahl, J; Preston, J K

2000-10-01

Commonly used for management of cerebral edema in patients with brain tumors, steroid medications also have immunosuppressive functions. To characterize the effects of steroids on the central nervous system's response to tumors more clearly, flow cytometry was used to quantify the extent of inflammatory cell infiltration in an immunogenic rat glioma model. Freshly prepared 11-day-old intracranial C6 tumors that had been excised from dexamethasone-treated and untreated rats were labeled ex vivo with monoclonal antibodies against CD 11b/c, CD45, and CD8a antigens. The extent of microglia (CD11b/c-highly positive, CD45-slightly positive cell), macrophage (CD11b/c-highly positive, CD45-highly positive cell), lymphocyte (CD11b/c-negative, CD45-highly positive cell), and cytotoxic T-cell (CD8a-positive cell) infiltration into each rat's tumor, tumor periphery, and contralateral tumor-free hemisphere was analyzed using flow cytometry. Microglia and lymphocytes constituted a significant component of infiltrating cells in this model, comprising 23 +/- 3% and 33 +/- 5% of viable cells, respectively. Macrophages, on the other hand, accounted for only 9 +/- 1% of infiltrating cells. Treatment of rats with a 7-day course of low-dose dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg/day) resulted in a greater than 50% inhibition of microglia (p = 0.03) and lymphocyte (p = 0.001) infiltration into tumors. Increasing the dexamethasone dose to 1 mg/kg/day further abolished lymphocyte infiltration (89% inhibition, p = 0.001) but had no additional inhibitory effect on microglia invasion. Macrophage infiltration of tumors was not inhibited at the dexamethasone doses used in this study (p = 0.42). Flow cytometry is a valuable technique for characterizing tumor-associated inflammatory cells in gliomas. Even at low doses, dexamethasone was found to inhibit significantly the infiltration of brain tumors by lymphocytes and microglia. These findings should be considered when experimental immunotherapeutic strategies are evaluated for clinical application.

Patterns of water infiltration and soil degradation over a 120-yr chronosequence from forest to agriculture in western Kenya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyberg, G.; Bargués Tobella, A.; Kinyangi, J.; Ilstedt, U.

2011-07-01

Soil degradation is commonly reported in the tropics where forest is converted to agriculture. Much of the native forest in the highlands of western Kenya has been converted to agricultural land in order to feed the growing population, and more land is being cleared. In tropical Africa, this land use change results in progressive soil degradation, as the period of cultivation increases. Sites that were converted to agriculture at different times can be evaluated as a chronosequence; this can aid in our understanding of the processes at work, particularly those in the soil. Both levels and variation of infiltration, soil carbon and other parameters are influenced by management within agricultural systems, but they have rarely been well documented in East Africa. We constructed a chronosequence for an area of western Kenya, using two native forest sites and six fields that had been converted to agriculture for varying lengths of time. We assessed changes in infiltrability (the steady-state infiltration rate), soil C and N, bulk density, δ13C, and the proportion of macro- and microaggregates in soil along a 119 yr chronosequence of conversion from natural forest to agriculture. Infiltration, soil C and N, decreased rapidly after conversion, while bulk density increased. Median infiltration rates fell to about 15 % of the initial values in the forest and C and N values dropped to around 60 %, whilst the bulk density increased by 50 %. Despite high spatial variability in infiltrability, these parameters correlated well with time since conversion and with each other. Our results indicate that landscape planners should include wooded elements in the landscape in sufficient quantity to ensure water infiltration at rates that prevent runoff and erosion. This should be the case for restoring degraded landscapes, as well as for the development of new agricultural areas.

Does drought alter hydrological functions in forest soils? An infiltration experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gimbel, K. F.; Puhlmann, H.; Weiler, M.

2015-08-01

The water cycle is expected to change in future and severely affect precipitation patterns across central Europe and in other parts of the world, leading to more frequent and severe droughts. Usually, it is assumed that system properties, like soil properties, remain stable and will not be affected by drought events. To study if this assumption is appropriate, we address the effects of drought on the infiltration behavior of forest soils using dye tracer experiments on six sites in three regions across Germany, which were forced into drought conditions. The sites cover clayey, loamy and sandy textured soils. In each region, we compared a deciduous and a coniferous forest stand to address differences between the main tree species. The results of the dye tracer experiments show clear evidence for changes in infiltration behavior at the sites. The infiltration changed at the clayey plots from regular and homogeneous flow to fast preferential flow. Similar behavior was observed at the loamy plots, where large areas in the upper layers remained dry, displaying signs of strong water repellency. This was confirmed by WDPT tests, which revealed, in all except one plot, moderate to severe water repellency. Water repellency was also accountable for the change of regular infiltration to fingered flow in the sandy soils. The results of this study suggest that the "drought-history" or generally the climatic conditions in the past of a soil are more important than the actual antecedent soil moisture status regarding hydrophobicity and infiltration behavior; and also, that drought effects on infiltration need to be considered in hydrological models to obtain realistic predictions concerning water quality and quantity in runoff and groundwater recharge.

Influence of sodalite zeolite infiltration on the coefficient of thermal expansion and bond strength of all-ceramic dental prostheses.

PubMed

Naji, Ghassan Abdul-Hamid; Omar, Ros Anita; Yahya, Rosiyah

2017-03-01

In all-ceramic systems, a high incidence of veneer chip-off has been reported in clinical studies. Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) behaviour is one of the factors that may increase residual stress in the interface and influence the veneer/core bond strength. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of sodalite zeolite-infiltration on the CTE behaviour and bond strength of different all-ceramic prostheses. The case-study groups were synthesized sodalite zeolite-infiltrated alumina (IA-SOD) and synthesized sodalite zeolite-infiltrated zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) (IZ-SOD), while the control groups were glass-infiltrated alumina (IA-glass) and glass-infiltrated ZTA (IZ-glass). Forty cylindrical-shaped samples measuring 5 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height were tested for CTE using a thermo-mechanical analyser machine, and forty disc-shaped ceramic samples measuring 12 mm in diameter and 1.2 ± 0.2 mm in thickness were prepared using specially designed stainless steel split mould and veneered by cylinder-shaped (2 mm high × 2 mm diameter) low-fusing porcelain (Vita VM7). The veneer/core samples were sintered and tested for shear bond strength using a high precision universal testing machine. Scanning electron microscope, stereo microscope, atomic force microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to investigate the structural characteristics of samples at the fracture surface. The collected data were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test (α=.05). IZ-SOD revealed highest CTE and shear bond strength values, while the IA-glass revealed the lowest values than the other groups. There was no significant difference in CTE and bond strength among IZ-SOD, IA-SOD and IZ-glass samples (p>0.05). The experimental SOD zeolite-infiltrated samples revealed higher CTE mismatch and bond strength along with a more favourable mode of failure than did the commercial glass-infiltrated samples. Sandblast technique is considered as effective conditioning procedure for enhancing the surface roughness of SOD zeolite-infiltrated frameworks which subsequently improving the bond strength. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metal Matrix Composite LOX Turbopump Housing Via Novel Tool-Less Net-Shape Pressure Infiltration Casting Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shah, Sandeep; Lee, Jonathan; Bhat, Biliyar; Wells, Doug; Gregg, Wayne; Marsh, Matthew; Genge, Gary; Forbes, John; Salvi, Alex; Cornie, James A.;

Metal Matrix Composite LOX Turbopump Housing Via Novel Tool-Less Net-Shape Pressure Infiltration Casting Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shah, Sandeep; Lee, Jonathan; Bhat, Biliyar; Wells, Doug; Gregg, Wayne; Marsh, Matthew; Genge, Gary; Forbes, John; Salvi, Alex; Cornie, James A.;

Ceramic impregnated superabrasives

DOEpatents

Radtke, Robert P.; Sherman, Andrew

2009-02-10

A superabrasive fracture resistant compact is formed by depositing successive layers of ceramic throughout the network of open pores in a thermally stable self-bonded polycrystalline diamond or cubic boron nitride preform. The void volume in the preform is from approximately 2 to 10 percent of the volume of the preform, and the average pore size is below approximately 3000 nanometers. The preform is evacuated and infiltrated under at least about 1500 pounds per square inch pressure with a liquid pre-ceramic polymerizable precursor. The precursor is infiltrated into the preform at or below the boiling point of the precursor. The precursor is polymerized into a solid phase material. The excess is removed from the outside of the preform, and the polymer is pyrolized to form a ceramic. The process is repeated at least once more so as to achieve upwards of 90 percent filling of the original void volume. When the remaining void volume drops below about 1 percent the physical properties of the compact, such as fracture resistance, improve substantially. Multiple infiltration cycles result in the deposition of sufficient ceramic to reduce the void volume to below 0.5 percent. The fracture resistance of the compacts in which the pores are lined with formed in situ ceramic is generally at least one and one-half times that of the starting preforms.

Metal Matrix Composite LOX Turbopump Housing Via Novel Tool-less Net-Shape Pressure Infiltration Casting Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shah, Sandeep; Lee, Jonathan; Bhat, Biliyar; Wells, Doug; Gregg, Wayne; Marsh, Matthew; Genge, Gary; Forbes, John; Salvi, Alex; Cornie, James A.;

Inflammasome is a central player in the induction of obesity and insulin resistance

PubMed Central

Stienstra, Rinke; van Diepen, Janna A.; Tack, Cees J.; Zaki, Md. Hasan; van de Veerdonk, Frank L.; Perera, Deshani; Neale, Geoffrey A.; Hooiveld, Guido J.; Hijmans, Anneke; Vroegrijk, Irene; van den Berg, Sjoerd; Romijn, Johannes; Rensen, Patrick C. N.; Joosten, Leo A. B.; Netea, Mihai G.; Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi

2011-01-01

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Chronic overfeeding leads to macrophage infiltration in the adipose tissue, resulting in proinflammatory cytokine production. Both microbial and endogenous danger signals trigger assembly of the intracellular innate immune sensor Nlrp3, resulting in caspase-1 activation and production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Here, we showed that mice deficient in Nlrp3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and caspase-1 were resistant to the development of high-fat diet-induced obesity, which correlated with protection from obesity-induced insulin resistance. Furthermore, hepatic triglyceride content, adipocyte size, and macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue were all reduced in mice deficient in inflammasome components. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is a key molecule that mediates macrophage infiltration. Indeed, defective inflammasome activation was associated with reduced MCP-1 production in adipose tissue. Furthermore, plasma leptin and resistin that affect energy use and insulin sensitivity were also changed by inflammasome-deficiency. Detailed metabolic and molecular phenotyping demonstrated that the inflammasome controls energy expenditure and adipogenic gene expression during chronic overfeeding. These findings reveal a critical function of the inflammasome in obesity and insulin resistance, and suggest inhibition of the inflammasome as a potential therapeutic strategy. PMID:21876127

Significant reduction of inflammation and sebaceous glands size in acne vulgaris lesions after intense pulsed light treatment.

PubMed

Barakat, Manal T; Moftah, Noha H; El Khayyat, Mohammad A M; Abdelhakim, Zainab A

2017-01-01

Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been used for years in treatment of acne vulgaris. However, quantitative evaluation of histopathological changes after its use as a sole therapy was poorly investigated. Accordingly, this study aims to objectively evaluate inflammatory infiltrate and sebaceous glands in acne vulgaris after IPL. Twenty-four patients of acne were treated with six IPL sessions. Clinical evaluation was done at 2 weeks after last session by counting acne lesions. Patient satisfaction using Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) was recorded at baseline, 2 weeks and 3 months after IPL. Using histopathological and computerized morphometric analysis, quantitative evaluation of inflammatory infiltrate and measurement of surface area of sebaceous glands were performed for skin biopsies at baseline and 2 weeks after last session. After IPL, there was significant reduction of all acne lesions especially inflammatory variety with significant decrease of CADI score at 2 weeks and 3 months after IPL (p < .05). Microscopically, there was significant decrease in density of inflammatory infiltrate and surface area of sebaceous glands (p < .05). So, IPL is fairly effective therapy in acne vulgaris especially inflammatory variety. The results suggest that IPL could improve acne lesions through targeting both inflammation and sebaceous glands. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia presenting with ipsilateral pleural effusion: a case report.

PubMed

Sriratanaviriyakul, Narin; La, Hanh H; Albertson, Timothy E

2016-08-12

Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia is a rare idiopathic interstitial lung disease. The nearly pathognomonic radiographic finding is the peripheral distribution of alveolar opacities. Pleural effusions are rarely seen. We report a case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia with transudative eosinophilic pleural effusion. A 57-year-old Hispanic woman, a nonsmoker with a history of controlled asthma, presented to the hospital with unresolving pneumonia despite three rounds of antibiotics over a 2-month period. She was later diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia based on the presence of peripheral blood eosinophilia, the peripheral distribution of alveolar infiltrates on chest radiograph, and a lung parenchymal biopsy with infiltrates of eosinophils. Upon presentation, our patient had a right-sided moderate-sized pleural effusion. The pleural fluid profile was consistent with a transudative effusion with eosinophil predominance. Our patient responded promptly to oral corticosteroid treatment in a few days. The pulmonary infiltrates and pleural effusion subsided on a 1-month follow-up chest radiograph after starting corticosteroid treatment. We report the first case of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia presenting with pneumonia with ipsilateral transudative eosinophilic pleural effusion. Like other cases of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, early recognition and diagnosis is essential and prompt treatment with corticosteroids is the mainstay of therapy. Pleural effusion resolved without the further need for therapeutic thoracentesis.

Dunye Guanxinning Improves Acute Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Neutrophil Infiltration and Caspase-1 Activity

PubMed Central

Zhang, Q. G.; Wang, S. R.; Chen, X. M.; Guo, H. N.

2018-01-01

Acute myocardial infarction is the most serious manifestation of cardiovascular disease, and it is a life-threatening condition. Dunye Guanxinning (DG) is a protective traditional Chinese patent herbal medicine with high clinical efficacy and suitable for the treatment of myocardial infarction. However, the mechanism through which it is beneficial is unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that DG improves acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and caspase-1 activity. We found that DG administration decreased infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improved left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, end-systolic volume index, end-systolic diameter, and carotid arterial blood flow output in rats. DG administration also improved hemorheological parameters, myocardial damage biomarkers, and oxidative stress indexes. The findings showed that DG administration inhibited neutrophil infiltration and reduced the serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) level and myocardial IL-1β maturation. Moreover, DG administration inhibited caspase-1 activity and activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in rat hearts. These results suggested that DG administration inhibits inflammasome activity and IL-1β release through the AMPK pathway. Our findings support the clinical efficacy of DG and partially reveal its mechanism, which is beneficial for understanding the therapeutic effects of this protective traditional Chinese patent drug. PMID:29674944

Molecular dynamics simulation of a nanofluidic energy absorption system: effects of the chiral vector of carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Ganjiani, Sayed Hossein; Hossein Nezhad, Alireza

2018-02-14

A Nanofluidic Energy Absorption System (NEAS) is a novel nanofluidic system with a small volume and weight. In this system, the input mechanical energy is converted to surface tension energy during liquid infiltration in the nanotube. The NEAS is made of a mixture of nanoporous material particles in a functional liquid. In this work, the effects of the chiral vector of a carbon nanotube (CNT) on the performance characteristics of the NEAS are investigated by using molecular dynamics simulation. For this purpose, six CNTs with different diameters for each type of armchair, zigzag and chiral, and several chiral CNTs with different chiral vectors (different values of indices (m,n)) are selected and studied. The results show that in the chiral CNTs, the contact angle shows the hydrophobicity of the CNT, and infiltration pressure is reduced by increasing the values of m and n (increasing the CNT diameter). Contact angle and infiltration pressure are decreased by almost 1.4% and 9% at all diameters, as the type of CNT is changed from chiral to zigzag and then to armchair. Absorbed energy density and efficiency are also decreased by increasing m and n and by changing the type of CNT from chiral to zigzag and then to armchair.

Integrated loessite-paleokarst depositional system, early Pennsylvanian Molas Formation, Paradox Basin, southwestern Colorado, U.S.A.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, James E.; Reed, Jason M.

2007-03-01

Mississippian paleokarst served as a dust trap for the oldest known Paleozoic loessite in North America. The early Pennsylvanian Molas Formation consists of loessite facies (sorted, angular, coarse-grained quartz siltstone), infiltration facies (loess redeposited as cave sediments within paleokarst features of the underlying Mississippian Leadville Limestone), colluvium facies (loess infiltrated into colluvium surrounding paleokarst towers) and fluvial facies (siltstone-rich, fluvial channel and floodplain deposits with paleosols). The depositional system evolved from an initial phase of infiltration and colluvium facies that were spatially and temporally related to the paleokarst surface, to loessite facies that mantled the paleotopography, and to fluvial facies that were intercalated with marine-deltaic rocks of the overlying Pennsylvanian Hermosa Formation. This sequence is interpreted as a response to the modification of the dust-trapping ability of the paleokarst surface. Loess was initially eroded from the surface, transported and redeposited in the subsurface by the karst paleohydrologic system, maintaining the dust-trapping ability of the paleotopographic surface. Later, the paleotopographic surface was buried when loess accumulation rates exceeded the transport capacity of the karst paleohydrologic system. These changes could have occurred because of (1) increased dust input rates in western Pangaea, (2) rising base levels and/or (3) porosity loss due to deposition within paleokarst passageways.

Understanding leachate flow in municipal solid waste landfills by combining time-lapse ERT and subsurface flow modelling - Part I: Analysis of infiltration shape on two different waste deposit cells.

PubMed

Audebert, M; Clément, R; Moreau, S; Duquennoi, C; Loisel, S; Touze-Foltz, N

2016-09-01

Landfill bioreactors are based on an acceleration of in-situ waste biodegradation by performing leachate recirculation. To quantify the water content and to evaluate the leachate injection system, in-situ methods are required to obtain spatially distributed information, usually electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). In a previous study, the MICS (multiple inversions and clustering strategy) methodology was proposed to improve the hydrodynamic interpretation of ERT results by a precise delimitation of the infiltration area. In this study, MICS was applied on two ERT time-lapse data sets recorded on different waste deposit cells in order to compare the hydrodynamic behaviour of leachate flow between the two cells. This comparison is based on an analysis of: (i) the volume of wetted waste assessed by MICS and the wetting rate, (ii) the infiltration shapes and (iii) the pore volume used by the leachate flow. This paper shows that leachate hydrodynamic behaviour is comparable from one waste deposit cell to another with: (i) a high leachate infiltration speed at the beginning of the infiltration, which decreases with time, (ii) a horizontal anisotropy of the leachate infiltration shape and (iii) a very small fraction of the pore volume used by the leachate flow. This hydrodynamic information derived from MICS results can be useful for subsurface flow modelling used to predict leachate flow at the landfill scale. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Science of Nanofluidics and Energy Conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Baoxing

The emerging subject of nanofluidics, where solids and fluids interact closely at the nanoscale, has exhibited radically different from their macroscopic counterparts (and sometimes counterintuitive), and yet relatively less explored. On the other hand, the resulting unique properties may contribute to a number of innovative functions with fascinating applications. Among various exciting potential applications, an important and ever expanding one is to provide alternative solutions to energy conversion with high efficiency, including energy absorption, actuation and harvesting. In this dissertation, we first report a novel protection mechanism of energy capture through which an intensive impact or blast energy can be effectively mitigated based on a nonwetting liquid-nanoporous material system. The captured energy is stored in nanopores in the form of potential energy of intercalated water molecules for a while, and not necessarily converted to other forms of energy (e.g. heat). At unloading stage, the captured energy will be released gradually due to the hydrophobic inner surfaces of nanopores through the diffusion of water molecules out of nanopores, thus making this system reusable. Several key controlling factors including impacting velocity, nanopore size, nanopore structure, and liquid phase have been investigated on the capacity of energy capture. The molecular mechanism is elucidated through the study of water molecular distributions inside nanpores. These molecular dynamic (MD) findings are quantitatively verified by a parallel blast experiment on a zeolite/water system. During the transport of confined liquid molecules, the friction resistance exerted by solid atoms of nanopores to liquid molecules will dissipate part of energy, and is highly dependent of temperature of liquid molecules and wall morphology of nanopores. Using MD simulations, the effects of temperature and wall roughness on the transport resistance of water molecules inside nanopores are investigated in Chapter 3. The effective shear stress and nominal viscosity that dominate the nanofluidic transport resistance are extracted and coupled with the nanopore size, transport rate, and liquid property. The molecular-level mechanisms are revealed through the study of the density profile and hydrogen bonding of confined liquid molecules. A parallel experiment on a nanoporous carbon-liquid system is carried out and qualitatively verifies MD findings. Motived by the well-known thermo- and electro-capillary effect, Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 present a conceptual design of thermal and electric actuation system by adjusting the relative hydrophobicity of a liquid-nanoporous system through a thermal and electric field, respectively. The thermally and electrically dependent infiltration behaviors of liquids into nanopores are analyzed by using MD simulations. The fundamental molecular characteristics, including the density profile, contact angle, and surface tension of the confined liquid molecules, are examined to reveal underlying mechanisms. The energy density, power density, and efficiency of both thermal and electric actuation systems are explored and their variations with pore size, solid phase, and liquid phase are evaluated. Thermally and electrically controlled infiltration experiments on a zeolite-water /electrolyte solution system are performed accordingly to qualitatively validate these findings. These energy actuation systems can also become high density thermal or electric storage devices with proper designs. Energy harvesting by the flow of a hydrochloric acid-water solution through a nanopore is explored using atomistic simulations in the last chapter. Through ion configurations near the pore wall, an averaged ion drifting velocity is determined, and the induced voltage along the axial direction is obtained as a function of key material parameters, including the applied flow rate, environmental temperature, solution concentration and nanopore size. The molecular mechanism of ion hopping and motion is revealed. This study shed light on harvesting wasted thermal and mechanical energy from ambient environmental sources such as wasted heat in power plants. Nanofluidics is a novel and thriving research area, whose couplings with other disciplines such as material, mechanical, physical, chemical, electrical engineering are open.

A case of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis successfully treated with mepolizumab.

PubMed

Terashima, Takeshi; Shinozaki, Taro; Iwami, Eri; Nakajima, Takahiro; Matsuzaki, Tatsu

2018-03-27

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic pulmonary disease comprising a complex hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus. Clinical features of ABPA are wheezing, mucoid impaction, and pulmonary infiltrates. Oral corticosteroids and anti-fungal agents are standard therapy for ABPA, but long-term use of systemic corticosteroids often causes serious side effects. A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with ABPA based on a history of bronchial asthma (from 40 years of age), elevated total IgE, the presence of serum precipitating antibodies and elevated specific IgE antibody to A. fumigatus, and pulmonary infiltration. Bronchoscopy showed eosinophilic mucoid impaction. Systemic corticosteroid therapy was initiated, and her symptoms disappeared. Peripheral eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltration recurred five months after cessation of corticosteroid treatment. Systemic corticosteroids were re-initiated and itraconazole was added as an anti-fungal agent. The patient was free of corticosteroids, aside from treatment with a short course of systemic corticosteroids for asthma exacerbation, and clinically stable with itraconazole and asthma treatments for 3 years. In 2017, she experienced significant deterioration. Laboratory examination revealed marked eosinophilia (3017/μL) and a chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated pulmonary infiltration in the left upper lobe and mucoid impaction in both lower lobes. The patient was treated with high-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, and theophylline; spirometry revealed a forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) of 1.01 L. An uncontrolled asthma state was indicated by an Asthma Control Test (ACT) score of 18. Mepolizumab, 100 mg every 4 weeks, was initiated for the treatment of severe bronchial asthma with ABPA exacerbation. Bronchial asthma symptoms dramatically improved, and ACT score increased to 24, by 4 weeks after mepolizumab treatment. Peripheral eosinophil count decreased to 174/μL. Spirometry revealed improvement of lung function (FEV 1 : 1.28 L). A chest CT scan demonstrated the disappearance of pulmonary infiltration and mucoid impaction. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ABPA to be treated with mepolizumab. Dramatic improvements were observed in symptoms, lung function, peripheral eosinophil counts, and chest images. Mepolizumab could serve as an alternative treatment with the potential to provide a systemic corticosteroid-sparing effect.

Optimization of Design of Aquifer Storage and Recovery System (ASTR) for Enhanced Infiltration Rate with Reduced Cost at the Coastal Aquifers of South-Western Bangladesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nawrin, N.; Ahmed, K. M.; Rahman, M. M.

2016-12-01

Increasing salinity of natural drinking water sources has been reported as one of the many problems that affect low-income countries. Safe potable water sources in coastal Bangladesh have become contaminated by varying degrees of salinity due to saltwater intrusion, cyclone and storm surges and increased shrimp and crab farming along the coastal areas. This crisis is also exacerbated owing to climate change. The problem of salinity can have serious implications to public health. Here Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) has been ascertained as a better solution to overcome the fresh water shortage in the coastal belt of Bangladesh in terms of groundwater quality improvement and supply fresh water even during the dry period. 19 MAR systems have been built and tested in the area for providing community water supply by way of creating freshwater buffer zone in the brackish aquifers through artificial recharge of pond or rooftop rainwater. These existing ASTR schemes consist of sand filtration tank with 4 to 6 large diameter infiltration wells filled with sorted gravel. These larger diameter recharge wells make the construction and maintenance expensive and little difficult for the rural communities. Therefore, modification of design is required for enhancing infiltration rates with reduced costs. As the design of the existing MAR system have confronted some problems, the details of design, construction and performance have been studied from previous investigations and a new modified ASTR scheme has been demonstrated to amplify the infiltration rate along with monitoring scheme. Smaller 4 inch diameter empty recharge wells and PVC screen have been used in the newly developed design. Daily infiltration rate has been increased to 8 to 10 m3/d compared to 4 to 6 m3/d in the old design. Three layered sand filtration tank has been prepared by modification of an abandoned PSF. Time needed for lowering EC to acceptable limits has been found to be significantly lower than the pre-existing systems. Moreover the abstracted water quality is acceptable for drinking in terms of As, Fe and bacteria. In modified ASTR system both injection and monitoring wells are closed with airtight caps, so the stored water in the underground will be protected from cyclonic storm surges as well as remain safe and can be used immediately after disaster.

Simulation of an urban ground-water-flow system in the Menomonee Valley, Milwaukee, Wisconsin using analytic element modeling

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dunning, C.P.; Feinstein, D.T.

2004-01-01

A single-layer, steady-state analytic element model was constructed to simulate shallow ground-water flow in the Menomonee Valley, an old industrial center southwest of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Project objectives were to develop an understanding of the shallow ground-water flow system and identify primary receptors of recharge to the valley. The analytic element model simulates flow in a 18.3 m (60 ft) thick layer of estuarine and alluvial sediments and man-made fill that comprises the shallow aquifer across the valley. The thin, laterally extensive nature of the shallow aquifer suggests horizontal-flow predominates, thus the system can appropriately be modeled with the Dupuit-Forchheimer approximation in an analytic element model. The model was calibrated to the measured baseflow increase between two USGS gages on the Menomonee River, 90 head measurements taken in and around the valley during December 1999, and vertical gradients measured at five locations under the river and estuary in the valley. Recent construction of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District Inline Storage System (ISS) in the Silurian dolomite under the Menomonee Valley has locally lowered heads in the dolomite appreciably, below levels caused by historic pumping. The ISS is a regional hydraulic sink which removes water from the bedrock even during dry weather. The potential effect on flow directions in the shallow aquifer of dry-weather infiltration to the ISS was evaluated by adjusting the resistance of the line-sink strings representing the ISS in the model to allow infiltration from 0 to 100% of the reported 9,500 m3/d. The best fit to calibration targets was found between 60% (5,700 m3/d) and 80% (7,600 m3/d) of the reported dry-weather infiltration. At 60% infiltration, 65% of the recharge falling on the valley terminates at the ISS and 35% at the Menomonee River and estuary. At 80% infiltration, 73% of the recharge terminates at the ISS, and 27% at the river and estuary. Model simulations suggest that the ISS has an greater influence on the shallow ground-water flow in the eastern half of valley as compared to the western half. Preliminary three-dimensional simulations using the numerical MODFLOW code show good agreement with the single-layer simulation and supports its use in evaluating the shallow system. Copyright ASCE 2004.

Hydrogeologic and geochemical characterization and evaluation of two arroyos for managed aquifer recharge by surface infiltration in the Pojoaque River Basin, Santa Fe County, New Mexico, 2014–15

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robertson, Andrew J.; Cordova, Jeffrey; Teeple, Andrew; Payne, Jason; Carruth, Rob

2017-02-22

In order to provide long-term storage of diverted surface water from the Rio Grande as part of the Aamodt water rights settlement, managed aquifer recharge by surface infiltration in Pojoaque River Basin arroyos was proposed as an option. The initial hydrogeologic and geochemical characterization of two arroyos located within the Pojoaque River Basin was performed in 2014 and 2015 in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation to evaluate the potential suitability of these two arroyos as sites for managed aquifer recharge through surface infiltration.The selected reaches were high-gradient (average 3.0–3.5 percent) braided channels filled with unconsolidated sand and gravel-sized deposits that were generally 30–50 feet thick. Saturation was not observed in the unconsolidated channel sands in four subsurface borings but was found at 7–60 feet below the contact between the unconsolidated channel sands and the bedrock. The poorly to well-cemented alluvial deposits that make up the bedrock underlying the unconsolidated channel material is the Tesuque Formation. The individual beds of the Tesuque Formation are reported to be highly heterogeneous and anisotropic, and the bedrock at the site was observed to have variable moisture and large changes in lithology. Surface electrical-resistivity geophysical survey methods showed a sharp contrast between the electrically resistive unconsolidated channel sands and the highly conductive bedrock; however, because of the high conductivity, the resistivity methods were not able to image the water table or preferential flow paths (if they existed) in the bedrock.Infiltration rates measured by double-ring and bulk infiltration tests on a variety of channel morphologies in the study reaches were extremely large (9.7–94.5 feet per day), indicating that the channels could potentially accommodate as much as 6.6 cubic feet per second of applied water without generating surface runoff out of the reach; however, the small volume available for storage in the unconsolidated channel sands (about 410 acre-feet in the east arroyo and about 190 acre-feet in the west arroyo) and the potential for the infiltrating water to preferentially flow over the bedrock contact and out of the reach present a challenge for storing water. Although a detailed assessment of the infiltration rate of the Tesuque Formation is beyond the scope of this investigation, one double-ring infiltrometer test was conducted on an outcrop, resulting in an estimated infiltration rate of about 4 feet per day.The shallow groundwater observed in this investigation was determined to be recharged locally on the basis of groundwater elevations and geochemical and isotopic signatures. The channel sands and shallow bedrock were observed to be weathered, indicating contact with oxic groundwater following deposition. This observation was supported by whole-rock elemental analysis and mineralogy of several core samples. The downward groundwater gradient between the shallow wells and those wells screened at greater depths suggests that the shallow groundwater is recharged by local precipitation and has the potential to migrate to the deeper aquifer units. The two age-dating tracers measured in this investigation, however, demonstrate that the shallow groundwater flow paths are very slow and that the deeper flow paths are likely part of a larger regional system.The composition of the shallow, native groundwater suggests that storing water diverted from the Rio Grande is not likely to leach constituents of concern that would cause the stored water to exceed health-based U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Levels.

Infiltration and hydraulic connections from the Niagara River to a fractured-dolomite aquifer in Niagara Falls, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yager, R.M.; Kappel, W.M.

1998-01-01

The spatial distribution of hydrogen and oxygen stable-isotope values in groundwater can be used to distinguish different sources of recharge and to trace groundwater flow directions from recharge boundaries. This method can be particularly useful in fractured-rock settings where multiple lines of evidence are required to delineate preferential flow paths that result from heterogeneity within fracture zones. Flow paths delineated with stable isotopes can be combined with hydraulic data to form a more complete picture of the groundwater flow system. In this study values of ??D and ??18O were used to delineate paths of river-water infiltration into the Lockport Group, a fractured dolomite aquifer, and to compute the percentage of fiver water in groundwater samples from shallow bedrock wells. Flow paths were correlated with areas of high hydraulic diffusivity in the shallow bedrock that were delineated from water-level fluctuations induced by diurnal stage fluctuations in man-made hydraulic structures. Flow paths delineated with the stable-isotope and hydraulic data suggest that fiver infiltration reaches an unlined storm sewer in the bedrock through a drainage system that surrounds aqueducts carrying river water to hydroelectric power plants. This finding is significant because the storm sewer is the discharge point for contaminated groundwater from several chemical waste-disposal sites and the cost of treating the storm sewer's discharge could be reduced if the volume of infiltration from the river were decreased.The spatial distribution of hydrogen and oxygen stable-isotope values in groundwater can be used to distinguish different sources of recharge and to trace groundwater flow directions from recharge boundaries. This method can be particularly useful in fractured-rock settings where multiple lines of evidence are required to delineate preferential flow paths that result from heterogeneity within fracture zones. Flow paths delineated with stable isotopes can be combined with hydraulic data to form a more complete picture of the groundwater flow system. In this study values of ??D and ??18O were used to delineate paths of river-water infiltration into the Lockport Group, a fractured dolomite aquifer, and to compute the percentage of river water in groundwater samples from shallow bedrock wells. Flow paths were correlated with areas of high hydraulic diffusivity in the shallow bedrock that were delineated from water-level fluctuations induced by diurnal stage fluctuations in man-made hydraulic structures. Flow paths delineated with the stable-isotope and hydraulic data suggest that river infiltration reaches an unlined storm sewer in the bedrock through a drainage system that surrounds aqueducts carrying river water to hydroelectric power plants. This finding is significant because the storm sewer is the discharge point for contaminated groundwater from several chemical waste-disposal sites and the cost of treating the storm sewer's discharge could be reduced if the volume of infiltration from the river were decreased.

Novel instruments for in situ continuous Rn-222 measurement in groundwater and the application to river bank infiltration.

PubMed

Gilfedder, B S; Hofmann, H; Cartwright, I

2013-01-15

There is little known about the short-term dynamics of groundwater-surface water exchange in losing rivers. This is partly due to the paucity of chemical techniques that can autonomously collect high-frequency data in groundwater bores. Here we present two new instruments for continuous in situ (222)Rn measurement in bores for quantifying the surface water infiltration rate into an underlying or adjacent aquifer. These instruments are based on (222)Rn diffusion through silicone tube membranes, either wrapped around a pole (MonoRad) or strung between two hollow end pieces (OctoRad). They are combined with novel, robust, low-cost Geiger counter (222)Rn detectors which are ideal for long-term autonomous measurement. The down-hole instruments have a quantitative response time of about a day during low flow, but this decreases to <12 h during high-flow events. The setup was able to trace river water bank infiltration during moderate to high river flow during two field experiments. Mass-balance calculations using the (222)Rn data gave a maximum infiltration rate of 2 m d(-1). These instruments offer the first easily constructible system for continuous (222)Rn analysis in groundwater, and could be used to trace surface water infiltration in many environments including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal settings.

Immunoglobulin G4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in a sarcoidal eyelid mass.

PubMed

Kang, Hyera; Takahashi, Yasuhiro; Takahashi, Emiko; Kakizaki, Hirohiko

2018-05-01

A 62-year-old woman presented with a one month history of a hard, nonmobile subcutaneous mass along the right nasojugal fold. Hematological studies showed elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 levels. Histopathological examination of the biopsy sample disclosed immunoglobulin G4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with a storiform fibrosis, vein occlusion, and epithelioid granulomas with necrosis. Systemic review corresponded to a sarcoidosis. Without treatment, the eyelid mass did not recur six months after the excisional biopsy.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages Associate with Cerebrospinal Fluid Interleukin-10 and Survival in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL).

PubMed

Sasayama, Takashi; Tanaka, Kazuhiro; Mizowaki, Takashi; Nagashima, Hiroaki; Nakamizo, Satoshi; Tanaka, Hirotomo; Nishihara, Masamitsu; Mizukawa, Katsu; Hirose, Takanori; Itoh, Tomoo; Kohmura, Eiji

2016-07-01

Increased tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in various tumors; however, the importance of TAMs in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has not been clarified. In 47 patients with PCNSL who were treated with high-dose methotrexate (MTX) and radiotherapy, the relationships between the infiltration levels of TAMs and the clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. Univariate analysis of the Cox proportional hazards model using continuous scales revealed that increased CD68 positive (+) TAMs was significantly associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.04), and trends were observed for the increased CD163(+)  TAMs and having shorter PFS (P = 0.05). However, increased TAMs were not associated with overall survival. Because TAMs are known to produce various cytokines, we examined the relationships between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines and TAMs. CSF interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor were not correlated with the infiltration rate of TAMs; however, CSF IL-10 level was correlated with infiltration levels of CD68 and CD163(+)  TAMs. We also confirmed the expression of IL-10 in CD68(+)  and CD163(+)  TAMs by double immunostaining analysis. Our results indicate that a high level of IL-10 in CSF may be positively associated with the infiltration level of TAMs in PCNSLs. © 2015 International Society of Neuropathology.

Long-term nitrogen behavior under treated wastewater infiltration basins in a soil-aquifer treatment (SAT) system.

PubMed

Mienis, Omer; Arye, Gilboa

2018-05-01

The long term behavior of total nitrogen and its components was investigated in a soil aquifer treatment system of the Dan Region Reclamation Project (Shafdan), Tel-Aviv, Israel. Use is made of the previous 40 years' secondary data for the main nitrogen components (ammonium, nitrate and organic nitrogen) in recharged effluent and observation wells located inside an infiltration basin. The wells were drilled to 106 and 67 m, both in a similar position within the basin. The transport characteristics of each nitrogen component were evaluated based on chloride travel-time, calculated by a cross-correlation between its concentration in the recharge effluent and the observation wells. Changes in the source of recharge effluent, wastewater treatment technology and recharge regime were found to be the main factors affecting turnover in total nitrogen and its components. During aerobic operation of the infiltration basins, most organic nitrogen and ammonium will be converted to nitrate. Total nitrogen removal in the upper part of the aquifer was found to be 47-63% by denitrification and absorption, and overall removal, including the lower part of the aquifer, was 49-83%. To maintain the aerobic operation of the infiltration fields, the total nitrogen load should remain below 10 mg/L. Above this limit, ammonium and organic nitrogen will be displaced into the aquifer. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser-tuned whispering gallery modes in a solid-core microstructured optical fibre integrated with magnetic fluids

PubMed Central

Lin, Wei; Zhang, Hao; Liu, Bo; Song, Binbin; Li, Yuetao; Yang, Chengkun; Liu, Yange

2015-01-01

A laser-assisted tuning method of whispering gallery modes (WGMs) in a cylindrical microresonator based on magnetic-fluids-infiltrated microstructured optical fibres (MFIMOFs, where MF and MOF respectively refer to magnetic fluid and microstructured optical fibre) is proposed, experimentally demonstrated and theoretically analysed in detail. The MFIMOF is prepared by infiltrating the air-hole array of the MOF using capillary action effect. A fibre-coupling system is set up for the proposed MFIMOF-based microresonator to acquire an extinction ratio up to 25 dB and a Q-factor as large as 4.0 × 104. For the MF-infiltrated MOF, the light propagating in the fibre core region would rapidly spread out and would be absorbed by the MF-rod array cladding to induce significant thermal effect. This has been exploited to achieve a WGM resonance wavelength sensitivity of 0.034 nm/mW, which is ~20 times higher than it counterpart without MF infiltration. The wavelength response of the resonance dips exhibit linear power dependence, and owing to such desirable merits as ease of fabrication, high sensitivity and laser-assisted tunability, the proposed optical tuning approach of WGMs in the MFIMOF would find promising applications in the areas of optical filtering, sensing, and signal processing, as well as future all-optical networking systems. PMID:26632445

40 CFR 35.2140 - User charge system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Grants for Construction of Treatment Works § 35.2140 User charge system. The... flow not directly attributable to users (i.e., infiltration/inflow) be distributed among all users...

40 CFR 35.2140 - User charge system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Grants for Construction of Treatment Works § 35.2140 User charge system. The... flow not directly attributable to users (i.e., infiltration/inflow) be distributed among all users...

40 CFR 35.2140 - User charge system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... STATE AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE Grants for Construction of Treatment Works § 35.2140 User charge system. The... flow not directly attributable to users (i.e., infiltration/inflow) be distributed among all users...

Residence time distributions of artificially infiltrated groundwater used for drinking water production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popp, A. L.; Marçais, J.; Moeck, C.; Brennwald, M. S.; Kipfer, R.

2017-12-01

Public drinking water supply in urban areas is often challenging due to exposure to potential contamination and high water demands. At our study site, a drinking water supply field in Switzerland, managed aquifer recharge (MAR) was implemented to overcome an increasing water demand and decreasing water quality. Water from the river Rhine is put on a system of channels and ponds to artificially infiltrate and hence, increase the natural groundwater availability. The groundwater system consists of two overlying aquifers, with hydraulic connections related to fractures and faults. The deeper aquifer contains contaminants, which possibly originate from nearby landfills and industrial areas. The operating water works aims to pump recently infiltrated water only. However, we suspect that the pumped water contains a fraction of old water due to the fractured zones which serve as hydraulic connection between the two aquifers. With this study, we aim to better understand the mixing patterns between recently infiltrated water and old groundwater to evaluate the risk for contamination of the system. To reach our objective, we used a set of gas tracers (222Rn, 3H/3He, 4He) from fifteen wells distributed throughout the area to estimate the residence time distribution (RTD) of each well. We calibrated the RTD with a Binary Mixing Model, where the fraction of young groundwater is assumed to follow a Piston Flow Model. The older groundwater fraction is calibrated with a Dispersion Model. Our results reflect the heterogeneity of the system with some abstraction wells containing young water only and others showing an admixture of old water which can only be explained by a connection to the deeper aquifer. We also show that our results on calibrated RTDs are in accordance with other geochemical data such as electrical conductivity, major ions and pH. Our results will contribute to a sound conceptual flow and transport understanding and will help to optimize the water supply system.

Numerical simulation of groundwater movement and managed aquifer recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir, Hurricane Bench area, Washington County, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Marston, Thomas M.; Heilweil, Victor M.

2012-01-01

The Hurricane Bench area of Washington County, Utah, is a 70 square-mile area extending south from the Virgin River and encompassing Sand Hollow basin. Sand Hollow Reservoir, located on Hurricane Bench, was completed in March 2002 and is operated primarily as a managed aquifer recharge project by the Washington County Water Conservancy District. The reservoir is situated on a thick sequence of the Navajo Sandstone and Kayenta Formation. Total recharge to the underlying Navajo aquifer from the reservoir was about 86,000 acre-feet from 2002 to 2009. Natural recharge as infiltration of precipitation was approximately 2,100 acre-feet per year for the same period. Discharge occurs as seepage to the Virgin River, municipal and irrigation well withdrawals, and seepage to drains at the base of reservoir dams. Within the Hurricane Bench area, unconfined groundwater-flow conditions generally exist throughout the Navajo Sandstone. Navajo Sandstone hydraulic-conductivity values from regional aquifer testing range from 0.8 to 32 feet per day. The large variability in hydraulic conductivity is attributed to bedrock fractures that trend north-northeast across the study area.A numerical groundwater-flow model was developed to simulate groundwater movement in the Hurricane Bench area and to simulate the movement of managed aquifer recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir through the groundwater system. The model was calibrated to combined steady- and transient-state conditions. The steady-state portion of the simulation was developed and calibrated by using hydrologic data that represented average conditions for 1975. The transient-state portion of the simulation was developed and calibrated by using hydrologic data collected from 1976 to 2009. Areally, the model grid was 98 rows by 76 columns with a variable cell size ranging from about 1.5 to 25 acres. Smaller cells were used to represent the reservoir to accurately simulate the reservoir bathymetry and nearby monitoring wells; larger cells were used in the northern and southern portions of the model where water-level data were limited. Vertically, the aquifer system was divided into 10 layers, which incorporated the Navajo Sandstone and Kayenta Formation. The model simulated recharge to the groundwater system as natural infiltration of precipitation and as infiltration of managed aquifer recharge from Sand Hollow Reservoir. Groundwater discharge was simulated as well withdrawals, shallow drains at the base of reservoir dams, and seepage to the Virgin River. During calibration, variables were adjusted within probable ranges to minimize differences among model-simulated and observed water levels, groundwater travel times, drain discharges, and monthly estimated reservoir recharge.

Impact of dose size in single fraction spatially fractionated (grid) radiotherapy for melanoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Hualin, E-mail: hualin.zhang@northwestern.edu, E-mail: hualinzhang@yahoo.com; Zhong, Hualiang; Barth, Rolf F.

2014-02-15

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of dose size in single fraction, spatially fractionated (grid) radiotherapy for selectively killing infiltrated melanoma cancer cells of different tumor sizes, using different radiobiological models. Methods: A Monte Carlo technique was employed to calculate the 3D dose distribution of a commercially available megavoltage grid collimator in a 6 MV beam. The linear-quadratic (LQ) and modified linear quadratic (MLQ) models were used separately to evaluate the therapeutic outcome of a series of single fraction regimens that employed grid therapy to treat both acute and late responding melanomas of varying sizes. The dose prescription point was atmore » the center of the tumor volume. Dose sizes ranging from 1 to 30 Gy at 100% dose line were modeled. Tumors were either touching the skin surface or having their centers at a depth of 3 cm. The equivalent uniform dose (EUD) to the melanoma cells and the therapeutic ratio (TR) were defined by comparing grid therapy with the traditional open debulking field. The clinical outcomes from recent reports were used to verify the authors’ model. Results: Dose profiles at different depths and 3D dose distributions in a series of 3D melanomas treated with grid therapy were obtained. The EUDs and TRs for all sizes of 3D tumors involved at different doses were derived through the LQ and MLQ models, and a practical equation was derived. The EUD was only one fifth of the prescribed dose. The TR was dependent on the prescribed dose and on the LQ parameters of both the interspersed cancer and normal tissue cells. The results from the LQ model were consistent with those of the MLQ model. At 20 Gy, the EUD and TR by the LQ model were 2.8% higher and 1% lower than by the MLQ, while at 10 Gy, the EUD and TR as defined by the LQ model were only 1.4% higher and 0.8% lower, respectively. The dose volume histograms of grid therapy for a 10 cm tumor showed different dosimetric characteristics from those of conventional radiotherapy. A significant portion of the tumor volume received a very large dose in grid therapy, which ensures significant tumor cell killing in these regions. Conversely, some areas received a relatively small dose, thereby sparing interspersed normal cells and increasing radiation tolerance. The radiobiology modeling results indicated that grid therapy could be useful for treating acutely responding melanomas infiltrating radiosensitive normal tissues. The theoretical model predictions were supported by the clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Grid therapy functions by selectively killing infiltrating tumor cells and concomitantly sparing interspersed normal cells. The TR depends on the radiosensitivity of the cell population, dose, tumor size, and location. Because the volumes of very high dose regions are small, the LQ model can be used safely to predict the clinical outcomes of grid therapy. When treating melanomas with a dose of 15 Gy or higher, single fraction grid therapy is clearly advantageous for sparing interspersed normal cells. The existence of a threshold fraction dose, which was found in the authors’ theoretical simulations, was confirmed by clinical observations.« less

Carbon nanotube scaffolds with controlled porosity as electromagnetic absorbing materials in the gigahertz range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, M.; Crespo, M.; Baselga, J.; Pozuelo, J.

2016-05-01

Control of the microscopic structure of CNT nanocomposites allows modulation of the electromagnetic shielding in the gigahertz range. The porosity of CNT scaffolds has been controlled by two freezing protocols and a subsequent lyophilization step: fast freezing in liquid nitrogen and slow freezing at -20 °C. Mercury porosimetry shows that slowly frozen specimens present a more open pore size (100-150 μm) with a narrow distribution whereas specimens frozen rapidly show a smaller pore size and a heterogeneous distribution. 3D-scaffolds containing 3, 4, 6 and 7% CNT were infiltrated with epoxy and specimens with 2, 5 and 8 mm thicknesses were characterized in the GHz range. Samples with the highest pore size and porosity presented the lowest reflected power (about 30%) and the highest absorbed power (about 70%), which allows considering them as electromagnetic radiation absorbing materials.Control of the microscopic structure of CNT nanocomposites allows modulation of the electromagnetic shielding in the gigahertz range. The porosity of CNT scaffolds has been controlled by two freezing protocols and a subsequent lyophilization step: fast freezing in liquid nitrogen and slow freezing at -20 °C. Mercury porosimetry shows that slowly frozen specimens present a more open pore size (100-150 μm) with a narrow distribution whereas specimens frozen rapidly show a smaller pore size and a heterogeneous distribution. 3D-scaffolds containing 3, 4, 6 and 7% CNT were infiltrated with epoxy and specimens with 2, 5 and 8 mm thicknesses were characterized in the GHz range. Samples with the highest pore size and porosity presented the lowest reflected power (about 30%) and the highest absorbed power (about 70%), which allows considering them as electromagnetic radiation absorbing materials. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Scheme of hydrogenated derivative of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (HDGEBA) and m-xylylenediamine; X-ray diffractograms of pristine CNT and oxidized CNT; glass transition temperatures of composites; electromagnetic shielding analysis in the 1-18 GHz frequency range. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr02133f

Is Local Infiltration Analgesia Superior to Peripheral Nerve Blockade for Pain Management After THA: A Network Meta-analysis.

PubMed

Jiménez-Almonte, José H; Wyles, Cody C; Wyles, Saranya P; Norambuena-Morales, German A; Báez, Pedro J; Murad, Mohammad H; Sierra, Rafael J

2016-02-01

Local infiltration analgesia and peripheral nerve blocks are common methods for pain management in patients after THA but direct head-to-head, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not been performed. A network meta-analysis allows indirect comparison of individual treatments relative to a common comparator; in this case placebo (or no intervention), epidural analgesia, and intrathecal morphine, yielding an estimate of comparative efficacy. We asked, when compared with a placebo, (1) does use of local infiltration analgesia reduce patient pain scores and opioid consumption, (2) does use of peripheral nerve blocks reduce patient pain scores and opioid consumption, and (3) is local infiltration analgesia favored over peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management after THA? We searched six databases, from inception through June 30, 2014, to identify RCTs comparing local infiltration analgesia or peripheral nerve block use in patients after THA. A total of 35 RCTs at low risk of bias based on the recommended Cochrane Collaboration risk assessment tool were included in the network meta-analysis (2296 patients). Primary outcomes for this review were patient pain scores at rest and cumulative opioid consumption, both assessed at 24 hours after THA. Because of substantial heterogeneity (variation of outcomes between studies) across included trials, a random effect model for meta-analysis was used to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI. The gray literature was searched with the same inclusion criteria as published trials. Only one unpublished trial (published abstract) fulfilled our criteria and was included in this review. All other studies included in this systematic review were full published articles. Bayesian network meta-analysis included all RCTs that compared local infiltration analgesia or peripheral nerve blocks with placebo (or no intervention), epidural analgesia, and intrathecal morphine. Compared with placebo, local infiltration analgesia reduced patient pain scores (WMD, -0.61; 95% CI, -0.97 to -0.24; p = 0.001) and opioid consumption (WMD, -7.16 mg; 95% CI, -11.98 to -2.35; p = 0.004). Peripheral nerve blocks did not result in lower pain scores or reduced opioid consumption compared with placebo (WMD, -0.43; 95% CI, -0.99 to 0.12; p = 0.12 and WMD, -3.14 mg, 95% CI, -11.30 to 5.02; p = 0.45). However, network meta-analysis comparing local infiltration analgesia with peripheral nerve blocks through common comparators showed no differences between postoperative pain scores (WMD, -0.36; 95% CI, -1.06 to 0.31) and opioid consumption (WMD, -4.59 mg; 95% CI, -9.35 to 0.17), although rank-order analysis found local infiltration analgesia to be ranked first in more simulations than peripheral nerve blocks, suggesting that it may be more effective. Using the novel statistical network meta-analysis approach, we found no differences between local infiltration analgesia and peripheral nerve blocks in terms of analgesia or opioid consumption 24 hours after THA; there was a suggestion of a slight advantage to peripheral nerve blocks based on rank-order analysis, but the effect size in question is likely not large. Given the slight difference between interventions, clinicians may choose to focus on other factors such as cost and intervention-related complications when debating which analgesic treatment to use after THA. Level I, therapeutic study.

Upregulated Glucose Metabolism Correlates Inversely with CD8+ T-cell Infiltration and Survival in Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PubMed

Ottensmeier, Christian H; Perry, Kate L; Harden, Elena L; Stasakova, Jana; Jenei, Veronika; Fleming, Jason; Wood, Oliver; Woo, Jeongmin; Woelk, Christopher H; Thomas, Gareth J; Thirdborough, Stephen M

2016-07-15

Antibodies that block T-cell-regulatory checkpoints have recently emerged as a transformative approach to cancer treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of checkpoint blockade depends upon inherent tumor immunogenicity, with variation in infiltrating T cells contributing to differences in objective response rates. Here, we sought to understand the molecular correlates of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), using a systems biologic approach to integrate publicly available omics datasets with histopathologic features. We provide evidence that links TIL abundance and therapeutic outcome to the regulation of tumor glycolysis by EGFR and HIF, both of which are attractive molecular targets for use in combination with immunotherapeutics. Cancer Res; 76(14); 4136-48. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

Modeling of chemical vapor infiltration for ceramic composites reinforced with layered, woven fabrics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Gui-Yung; Mccoy, Benjamin J.

1991-01-01

A homogeneous model is developed for the chemical vapor infiltration by one-dimensional diffusion into a system of layered plies consisting of woven tows containing bundles of filaments. The model predictions of the amount of deposition and the porosity of the sample as a function of time are compared with the predictions of a recent nonhomogeneous model with aligned holes formed by the weave. The nonhomogeneous model allows for diffusion through the aligned holes, into the spaces between plies, and into the gaps around filaments; i.e., three diffusion equations apply. Relative to the nonhomogeneous results, the homogeneous model underestimates the amount of deposition, since the absence of holes and spaces allows earlier occlusion of gaps around filaments and restricts the vapor infiltration.

[The relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and penile cancer].

PubMed

Yumura, Yasushi; Hattori, Yusuke; Noda, Hideyuki; Kondo, Kei-Ichi; Noguchi, Kazumi; Sasaki, Takeshi; Kasuga, Jun; Kubota, Yoshinobu

2009-11-01

Human papillomavirus (HPV) may be carcinogenic effectors in a variety of human lower genital tract malignancies. We evaluated HPV status with respect to clinical and pathological features and prognosis of penile carcinoma. We searched for HPV infected cells (Koilocytosis) within the primary lesion of cancer tissue from 78 patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma. The following variables were recorded : age, tumor size, clinical stage, lymphatic and venous invasion, histologic and nuclear grade, Broders grade, infiltration status, and lymph node and distant metastasis. Koilocytosis were detected 55.1% (43 of 78) of patients. Tumors with Koilocytosis had better differentiation (p=0.0443) and lower grade (better keratinized) in Broders grading system (p=0.0116) than HPV negative tumors. No difference was found in the 5-year survival rate (p=0.5693). Our data suggest that the presence of Koilocytosis does not influence prognosis in penile cancer.

Acute kidney injury and cholestasis associated with Kawasaki disease in a 9-year-old: Case report.

PubMed

Martínez Vázquez, José Allan; Sánchez García, Carlos; Rodríguez Muñoz, Lorena; Martínez Ramírez, Rogelio Osvaldo

2017-12-15

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis frequent in children younger than 5 years of age. It involves coronary arteries and other medium-sized vessels. There also exists evidence of inflammatory and proliferative changes affecting the biliary tract and lymphocyte infiltration of the renal interstitial. We describe the case of a 9-year-old girl who developed high-grade fever, bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis, «strawberry» tongue, desquamation of the fingers and toes, cholestatic syndrome, edema and elevated serum creatinine. KD is a diagnostic challenge for the pediatrician. In every patient with high-grade fever, cholestasis and acute kidney injury, KD should be included in the differential diagnosis, even though more research is necessary to evaluate this atypical association. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.

Alginate nanobeads interspersed fibrin network as in situ forming hydrogel for soft tissue engineering.

PubMed

Deepthi, S; Jayakumar, R

2018-06-01

Hydrogels are a class of materials that has the property of injectability and in situ gel formation. This property of hydrogels is manipulated in this study to develop a biomimetic bioresorbable injectable system of alginate nanobeads interspersed in fibrin network. Alginate nanobeads developed by calcium cross-linking yielded a size of 200-500 nm. The alginate nanobeads fibrin hydrogel was formed using dual syringe apparatus. Characterization of the in situ injectable hydrogel was done by SEM, FTIR and Rheometer. The developed hydrogel showed mechanical strength of 19 kPa which provides the suitable compliance for soft tissue engineering. Cytocompatibility studies using human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells showed good attachment, proliferation and infiltration within the hydrogel similar to fibrin gel. The developed in situ forming hydrogel could be a suitable delivery carrier of stem cells for soft tissue regeneration.

Integrated monitoring technologies for the management of a Soil-Aquifer-Treatment (SAT) system.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadopoulos, Alexandros; Kallioras, Andreas; Kofakis, Petros; Bumberger, Jan; Schmidt, Felix; Athanasiou, Georgios; Uzunoglou, Nikolaos; Amditis, Angelos; Dietrich, Peter

2016-04-01

Artificial recharge of groundwater has an important role to play in water reuse as treated wastewater effluent can be infiltrated into the ground for aquifer recharge. As the effluent moves through the soil and the aquifer, it undergoes significant quality improvements through physical, chemical, and biological processes in the underground environment. Collectively, these processes and the water quality improvement obtained are called soil-aquifer-treatment (SAT) or geopurification. The pilot site of Lavrion Technological & Cultural Park (LTCP) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), involves the employment of plot infiltration basins at experimental scale, which will be using waters of impaired quality as a recharge source, and hence acting as a Soil-Aquifer-Treatment, SAT, system. Τhe LTCP site will be employed as a pilot SAT system complemented by new technological developments, which will be providing continuous monitoring of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of infiltrating groundwater through all hydrologic zones (i.e. surface, unsaturated and saturated zone). This will be achieved by the development and installation of an integrated system of prototype sensing technologies, installed on-site, and offering a continuous evaluation of the performance of the SAT system. An integrated approach of the performance evaluation of any operating SAT system should aim at parallel monitoring of all hydrologic zones, proving the sustainability of all involved water quality treatment processes within unsaturated and saturated zone. Hence a prototype system of Time and Frequency Domain Reflectometry (TDR & FDR) sensors is developed and will be installed, in order to achieve continuous quantitative monitoring of the unsaturated zone through the entire soil column down to significant depths below the SAT basin. Additionally, the system contains two different radar-based sensing systems that will be offering (i) identification of preferential flow effects of the TDR/FDR sensors and (ii) monitoring of the water table within the shallow karst aquifer layer. The above technique will offer continuous monitoring of infiltration rates and identify possible mechanical or biological clogging effects. The monitoring system will be connected to an ad-hoc wireless network for continuous data transfer within the SAT facilities. It is envisaged that the development and combined application of all the above technologies will provide an integrated monitoring platform for the evaluation of SAT system performance.

Architectured Nanomembranes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sturgeon, Matthew R.; Hu, Michael Z.

2017-07-01

This paper has reviewed the frontier field of “architectured membranes” that contains anisotropic oriented porous nanostructures of inorganic materials. Three example types of architectured membranes were discussed with some relevant results from our own research: (1) anodized thin-layer titania membranes on porous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) substrates of different pore sizes, (2) porous glass membranes on alumina substrate, and (3) guest-host membranes based on infiltration of yttrium-stabilized zirconia inside the pore channels of AAO matrices.

EVALUATION OF CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS USING HYDRAULIC HEAD DATA

EPA Science Inventory

Subsurface vertical barriers have been used as components of containment systems to prevent or reduce the impact of containment sources on ground-water resources. Many containment systems also include a low permeability cover to prevent the infiltration-/recharge of precipitatio...

Lymphovascular infiltration in the tumor bed is a useful marker of biological behavior in breast cancer.

PubMed

Panagiotopoulos, Nikolaos; Lagoudianakis, Emmanouil; Pappas, Apostolos; Filis, Konstantinos; Salemis, Nikolaos; Manouras, Andreas; Kontzoglou, Konstantinos; Zografos, George

2016-01-01

Tumor cells can metastasize by entering existing vessels or new vessels actively recruited into the primary tumor. Invasion of the lymphatics and blood vessels in the periphery of the tumor seems to be a prerequisite step in the metastatic process. The aim of this study was to correlate peripheral lymphatic vessel infiltration (PLI) and peripheral blood vessel infiltration (PVI) in a cohort of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with various other prognostic parameters and outcome. The study population consisted of 236 female patients with invasive ductal breast carcinomas, who had been operated between 2011 and 2013. The registered data included age at diagnosis, histological subtype, tumor size, TNM stage, histological grade, estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), HER-2, p53, and PLI and PVI. Pathological examination revealed that 22.5% of the patients had PVI and 37.3% had PLI at the tumor front. PVI correlated with younger age (p<0.05), higher histologic grade (p<0.05), advanced TNM stage (p<0.05), higher T stage (p<0.05), higher N stage (p<0.05) and positive Ki67 expression (p<0.05). Similarly, PLI correlated with higher histologic grade (p<0.05), advanced TNM stage (p<0.05), higher T stage (p<0.05) and higher N stage (p<0.05). Statistical analysis did not reveal significant correlation between the presence of tumor blood and lymphatic vessels with infiltration in overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). PLI and PVI are important markers of worse clinical outcome as shown by their association with other established factors, but no association with recurrence and survival could be proven.

Development and Properties of Advanced Internal Magnesium Infiltration (AIMI) Processed MgB2 Wires

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collings, Prof Edward William; Sumption, Prof Michael D; Li, Guangze

The development, processing, properties, and formation mechanisms of Advanced Internal Magnesium Infiltration (AIMI) MgB2 wires are discussed against a background of the related and original processes, Internal-Magnesium-Diffusion (IMD) and Magnesium-Reactive-Liquid-Infiltration (Mg-RLI). First reviewed are the formation, properties and applications of Mg-RLI bulks as basis for discussions of Mg-RLI-processed and IMD-processed wires. The transition from Mg-RLI- and IMD- to AIMI wires is explained, and the relative performances of powder-in-tube (PIT), IMD and AIMI wires are summarized in the form of an iso-Je diagram of Jc,nb versus Anb/ATOT in which ATOT, Anb, Jc,nb, and Je are, respectively, the wire s cross-sectional area,more » the area inside the chemical barrier, the critical current (Ic) normalized to Anb, and Ic normalized to ATOT. After the details of AIMI wire fabrication selection of starting powders, dopants, and reaction heat treatments are introduced the report goes on to describe in detail the development of high performance AIMI wires: layer Jcs, fill factors, Jes, and the effects of wire size, multifilamentarization, doping with C, and co-doping with C and Dy2O3. The two-stage mechanism of layer formation in AIMI wires is discussed: first the reactive infiltration of liquid Mg into a porous B pack, a process that terminates with the formation of a dense MgB2 layer; second the slow diffusion of Mg into any remaining B through that MgB2 layer. The report concludes with a brief general discussion of anisotropy, current percolation, and the Jc field dependence of MgB2 wires.« less

Improvement of digestive complaints in women with severe colorectal endometriosis benefiting from continuous amenorrhoea triggered by triptorelin. A prospective pilot study.

PubMed

Roman, H; Saint Ghislain, M; Milles, M; Marty, N; Hennetier, C; Moatassim, S; Desnyder, E; Abo, C

2015-09-01

To assess the impact of therapeutic amenorrhoea triggered by triptorelin in the digestive complaints of women with deep endometriosis infiltrating the rectum. Prospective series of consecutive patients with deep endometriosis of the rectum enrolled over a period of 17 consecutive months. University tertiary referral center. Seventy patients. Medical therapy (triptorelin 11.25 mg and add-back therapy using estradiol) administered for 3.4±1.8months before surgery. Gastrointestinal standardised questionnaires before beginning medical treatment and the day before surgery. The most frequent digestive complaints at baseline were: defecation pain in 77.1% of patients, bloating in 60%, diarrhoea in 54.3% and constipation in 50%. The largest diameter of the rectal area infiltrated by the disease was <1cm in 12.2% of women, 1 to 2.9 cm in 34.3% and ≥3cm in 51.4%. Multiple colorectal nodules were found in 32.9%. Medical treatment led to disappearance of cyclic defecation pain in 78.6%, dyschesia in 58.3%, diarrhoea in 58.3% and bloating in 50%. Relieving digestive complaints was not significantly related to either length of triptorelin administration or size of rectal infiltration by deep endometriosis. Therapeutic amenorrhoea averaging 3 months allowed complete improvement of various cyclic digestive complaints in more than half of patients. In selected patients, continuous therapeutic amenorrhoea could compensate for the lack of complete resection of deep infiltrating endometriosis of the rectum, when this latter is likely to result in a high rate of postoperative morbidity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Ecohydrological implications of aeolian sediment trapping by sparse vegetation in drylands

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gonzales, Howell B.; Ravi, Sujith; Li, Junran; Sankey, Joel B.

2018-01-01

Aeolian processes are important drivers of ecosystem dynamics in drylands, and important feedbacks exist among aeolian – hydrological processes and vegetation. The trapping of wind-borne sediments by vegetation may result in changes in soil properties beneath the vegetation, which, in turn, can alter hydrological and biogeochemical processes. Despite the relevance of aeolian transport to ecosystem dynamics, the interactions between aeolian transport and vegetation in shaping dryland landscapes where sediment distribution is altered by relatively rapid changes in vegetation composition such as shrub encroachment, is not well understood. Here, we used a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling framework to investigate the sediment trapping efficiencies of vegetation canopies commonly found in a shrub-grass ecotone in the Chihuahuan Desert (New Mexico, USA) and related the results to spatial heterogeneity in soil texture and infiltration measured in the field. A CFD open-source software package was used to simulate aeolian sediment movement through three-dimensional architectural depictions of Creosote shrub (Larrea tridentata) and Black Grama grass (Bouteloua eriopoda) vegetation types. The vegetation structures were created using a computer-aided design software (Blender), with inherent canopy porosities, which were derived using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) measurements of plant canopies. Results show that considerable heterogeneity in infiltration and soil grain size distribution exist between the microsites, with higher infiltration and coarser soil texture under shrubs. Numerical simulations also indicate that the differential trapping of canopies might contribute to the observed heterogeneity in soil texture. In the early stages of encroachment, the shrub canopies, by trapping coarser particles more efficiently, might maintain higher infiltration rates leading to faster development of the microsites (among other factors) with enhanced ecological productivity, which might provide positive feedbacks to shrub encroachment.

Stable isotope hydrology in fractured and detritic aquifers at both sides of the South Atlantic Ocean: Mar del Plata (Argentina) and the Rawsonville and Sandspruit river catchment areas (South Africa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glok Galli, Melisa; Damons, Matthew E.; Siwawa, Sitembiso; Bocanegra, Emilia M.; Nel, Jacobus M.; Mazvimavi, Dominic; Martínez, Daniel E.

2017-01-01

The aim of this work is to characterize the isotope composition of water (2H and 18O) in order to establish the relationship between fractured and detritic aquifers in similar hydrological environments located at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The Mar del Plata zone, placed in the Argentine Buenos Aires province in South America, and the Rawsonville and Sandspruit river catchment areas, situated in the Western Cape province in South Africa were compared. Rainwater and groundwater samples from fractured and detritic aquifers were analyzed through laser spectroscopy. In both Argentina and South African study sites, stable isotopes data demonstrate an aquifers recharge source from rainfall. For the Mar del Plata region, two different groups of detritic aquifer's samples with distinct recharge processes can be identified due to the close relationship existing between the present hydrogeological environments, the aquifer's grain size sediments and the isotopes contents: one representing rapid infiltration in aquifer sediments of the creeks' palaeobeds and hills zones (sandy or silt sandy sediments) and the other with slow infiltration of evaporated water in plain zones with an aquitard behavior. In the last group, the evaporation process occurs previous infiltration or in the aquifer's non-saturated zone, because of the existence of very low topographic gradients and fine-grained sediments. The evaporation phenomenon is not evident in the Sandspruit river catchment site's detritic aquifer, because its sandy composition allows a faster infiltration rate than in the loess that compounds the Pampeano aquifer in the interfluves zones of the Argentinian study area.

Effect of fibroin sponge coating on in vivo performance of knitted silk small diameter vascular grafts

PubMed Central

Fukayama, Toshiharu; Ozai, Yusuke; Shimokawadoko, Haruka; Aytemiz, Derya; Tanaka, Ryou; Machida, Noboru; Asakura, Tetsuo

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Vascular grafts under 5 mm or less in diameter are not developed due to a problem caused by early thrombus formation, neointimal hyperplasia, etc. Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) which has biodegradability and tissue infiltration is focused as tube and coating material of vascular grafts. Coating is an important factor to maintain the strength of the anastomotic region of vascular grafts, and to prevent the blood leak from the vascular grafts after implantation. Therefore, in this research, we focused on the SF concentration of the coating solution, and tissue infiltration and remodeling were compared among each SF concentration. Silk poly (-ethylene) glycol diglycidyl ether (PGDE) coating with concentrations of 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% SF were applied for the double-raschel knitted small-sized vessel with 1.5 mm diameter and 1cm in length. The grafts were implanted in the rat abdominal aorta and removed after 3 weeks or 3 months. Vascular grafts patency was monitored by ultrasound, and morphological evaluation was performed by histopathological examination. SF concentration had no significant effects on the patency rate. However, tissue infiltration was significantly higher in the sample of 2.5% SF in 3 weeks, and 1.0% and 2.5% SF in 3 months. Also, in comparison of length inside of the graft, stenosis were not found in 3 weeks, however, found with 5.0% and 7.5% in 3 months. From these results, it is clear that 2.5% SF coating is the most suitable concentration, based on the characteristics of less stenosis, early tissue infiltration, and less neointimal hyperplasia. PMID:26496652

How does the wetting dynamics affect capillary trapping in heterogeneous soil: Neutron imaging study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sacha, Jan; Snehota, Michal; Trtik, Pavel; Vontobel, Peter

2017-04-01

The wetting dynamics of the water infiltration into a porous soil system has a strong influence on the amount of entrapped air inside the soil. Simultaneously, a higher volume of entrapped air obstructs a water flow in the medium. This effect is more noticeable in soils with preferential pathways because the soil matrix has a higher capillary forces and therefore the air is accumulated in preferential pathways. In the presented study, two experiments were conducted on the same sample. The first experiment was performed under the constant water level condition (CWL) and the second experiment was carried out under the constant water flux condition (CWF) at the top of the sample. The sample was composed of coarse and medium coarse fractions of sand and fine porous ceramics. Materials were packed into the quartz glass column of the inner diameter of 29 mm. The coarse sand represented a highly conductive region connected from the top to the bottom of the sample with the exception of three thin (2-3 mm) separation layers made up of the medium coarse sand. Three discs of fine ceramics formed slow flow regions. Infiltration experiments were monitored by neutron radiography at two different beamlines to produce two-dimensional (2D) projections. The CWL experiment was monitored at NEUTRA station with an acquisition time of 16 seconds per projection and the CWF experiment was visualized at BOA station with an acquisition time of 0.25 seconds per projection. Both stations are located at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland. The acquired radiograms of the dry sample were subtracted from all subsequent radiograms to determine the water thickness in projections. From series of corrected radiograms taken at the different angles three-dimensional (3D) image was reconstructed for steady state stage of the CWL experiment and for the entire CWF experiment. Then the series of 3D images mapped the wetting of the porous system over the corresponding phase of infiltration process. The results show a higher steady state infiltration rate during the CWL experiment. In this case, the air was mostly pushed out from the sample by the moving wetting front. The infiltration rate was continuously decreasing during the infiltration up to the value of steady state infiltration rate. When the wetting front has reached the bottom of the sample the air was moving from matrix domain to preferential domain. Infiltration rate was still higher than during CWF. On the contrary, during the CWF the water infiltrated into the fine ceramics first and then into the medium coarse sand attracted by forces that were stronger in comparison to the coarse sand. Due to this effect a significant amount of air was trapped in preferential pathways, and consequently blocked the water flow primarily due to the presence of medium coarse sand regions.

E-Area LLWF Vadose Zone Model: Probabilistic Model for Estimating Subsided-Area Infiltration Rates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dyer, J.; Flach, G.

A probabilistic model employing a Monte Carlo sampling technique was developed in Python to generate statistical distributions of the upslope-intact-area to subsided-area ratio (Area UAi/Area SAi) for closure cap subsidence scenarios that differ in assumed percent subsidence and the total number of intact plus subsided compartments. The plan is to use this model as a component in the probabilistic system model for the E-Area Performance Assessment (PA), contributing uncertainty in infiltration estimates.

A simple analytical infiltration model for short-duration rainfall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kaiwen; Yang, Xiaohua; Liu, Xiaomang; Liu, Changming

2017-12-01

Many infiltration models have been proposed to simulate infiltration process. Different initial soil conditions and non-uniform initial water content can lead to infiltration simulation errors, especially for short-duration rainfall (SHR). Few infiltration models are specifically derived to eliminate the errors caused by the complex initial soil conditions. We present a simple analytical infiltration model for SHR infiltration simulation, i.e., Short-duration Infiltration Process model (SHIP model). The infiltration simulated by 5 models (i.e., SHIP (high) model, SHIP (middle) model, SHIP (low) model, Philip model and Parlange model) were compared based on numerical experiments and soil column experiments. In numerical experiments, SHIP (middle) and Parlange models had robust solutions for SHR infiltration simulation of 12 typical soils under different initial soil conditions. The absolute values of percent bias were less than 12% and the values of Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency were greater than 0.83. Additionally, in soil column experiments, infiltration rate fluctuated in a range because of non-uniform initial water content. SHIP (high) and SHIP (low) models can simulate an infiltration range, which successfully covered the fluctuation range of the observed infiltration rate. According to the robustness of solutions and the coverage of fluctuation range of infiltration rate, SHIP model can be integrated into hydrologic models to simulate SHR infiltration process and benefit the flood forecast.

Variations in spatial patterns of soil-vegetation properties and the emergence of multiple resilience thresholds within different debris flow fan positions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohseni, Neda; Hosseinzadeh, Seyed Reza; Sepehr, Adel; Golzarian, Mahmood Reza; Shabani, Farzin

2017-08-01

Debris flow fans are non-equilibrium landforms resulting from the spatial variations of debris flows deposited on them. This geomorphic disturbance involving the asymmetric redistribution of water and sediment may create spatially heterogeneous patterns of soil-vegetation along landforms. In this research, founded on field-based observations, we characterized the spatial patterns of some soil (e.g., particle size distribution including fine and coarse covers, and infiltration capacity) and vegetation (e.g., plant distance, vegetation density, patch size, and average number of patches) properties within different debris flow fan positions (Upper, Middle, and Lower fan) located at the base of the Binaloud Mountain hillslope in northeastern Iran. Thereafter, using a mathematical model of dry land vegetation dynamics, we calculated response trends of the different positions to the same environmental harshness gradient. Field measurements of soil-vegetation properties and infiltration rates showed that the asymmetric redistribution of debris flow depositions can cause statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in the spatial patterns of soil and eco-hydrological characteristics along different landform positions. The results showed that mean plant distance, mean vegetation density, and the average number of patches decreased as the coarse covers increased toward the Lower fan plots. Conversely, an increase in infiltration rate was observed. The simulation results on the aerial images taken from different positions, illustrated that positions with a heterogeneous distribution of vegetation patterns were not desertified to the same degree of aridity. Thus, the Middle and Lower positions could survive under harsher aridity conditions, due to the emergence of more varied spatial vegetation patterns than at the Upper fan position. The findings, based on a combined field and modeling approach, highlighted that debris flow as a geomorphic process with the asymmetric distribution of depositions on the gentle slope of an alluvial fan, can incur multiple resilience thresholds with different degrees of self-organization under stressful conditions over the spatial heterogeneities of soil-dependent vegetation structures.

Runoff process in the Miyake-jima Island after Eruption in 2000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tagata, Satoshi; Itoh, Takahiro; Miyamoto, Kuniaki; Ishizuka, Tadanori

2014-05-01

Hydrological environment in a basin can be changed completely due to volcanic eruption. Huge volume of tephra was yielded due to eruptions in 2000 in the Miyake-jima Island, Japan. Hydrological monitoring was conducted at four observation sites with several hundred m2 in a basin. Those were decided by the distribution of thickness and the grain size of the tephra. Rainfall intensity was measured by a tipping bucket type raingauge and flow discharge was calculated by the over flow depth in a flow gauging weir in the monitoring. However, the runoff rate did not relate to the grain size of tephra and the thickness of tephra deposition, according to measured data of rainfall intensity and runoff discharge. Supposing that if total runoff in one rainfall event is equal to the summation of rainfall over a threshold, the value of the threshold must be the loss rainfall intensity, the value of the threshold corresponds to the infiltration for the rainfall intensity. The relationships between loss rainfall intensity and the antecedent precipitation are calculated using measured rainfall and runoff data in every rainfall event, focusing on that the antecedent precipitation before occurrence of surface runoff approximately corresponds to the water contents under the slope surface. In present study, the results obtained through data analyses are summarized as follows: (1) There are some values for the threshold values, and the loss rainfall intensity approaches to some constant value if the value of the antecedent precipitation increases. The constant value corresponds to the saturated infiltration. (2) The loss rainfall intensity must be vertical unsaturated infiltration, and observed data for water runoff can express that the runoff is given by the excess rainfall intensity more than the loss rainfall intensity. (3) There are two antecedent times for rainfall with several hours and several days, and the saturation ratio before antecedent time at four observation sites can be predicted in the range from sixty to ninety percentages by the water retention curve.