Thermal deflection in neutron scattering sample environments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The neutron sources at Oak Ridge National Laboratory use a wide suite of sample environment equipment to deliver extreme conditions for a number of experiments. Much of this instrumentation focuses on extremes of temperature, such as cryostats, closed-cycle refrigerators in both low and high temperature configurations, and radiant heating furnaces. When the temperature is controlled across a large range, thermal deflection effects can notably move the sample and affect its alignment in the beam. Here, we combine these sample environments with neutron imaging and machine vision to determine the motion of a representative sample with respect to the neutron beam. We find vertical sample displacement on the order of 1-2 mm and horizontal displacement that varies from near-negligible to 1.2 mm. While these deflections are not relevant for some of the beamlines at the first target station at the spallation neutron source and the high flux isotope reactor, they will become critical for upcoming instrumentation at the second target station, as well as any instruments targeting sub-mm samples, as neutron sources and optics evolve to smaller and more focused beams. We discuss mitigation protocols and potential modifications to the environment to minimize the effect of misalignment due to thermal deflection.

Abdominal adiposity assessed using CT angiography associates with acute kidney injury after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.

AIM: To determine if there is an association between area-based visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), and abdominal circumference measured on computed tomography (CT) angiography before trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and post-TAVR acute kidney injury (AKI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of 106 TAVR patients, SAT and VAT areas and abdominal circumference was measured on a single CT section at L4 vertebral level. Univariate comparisons between patients who did and did not develop AKI were undertaken for radiological measurements. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association between CT measurements and the development of post-TAVR AKI. RESULTS: Post-TAVR AKI occurred in 20 of 106 patients (19%). In univariate comparisons, body mass index (BMI) did not differ significantly between patients who did and did not develop AKI (p=0.14); however, VAT+SAT (443.2±163.7 versus 351±168.7 cm2; p=0.03), VAT (213.9±110.6 versus 153.9±96.1 cm2; p=0.03), and outer abdominal circumference (100.2±14.4 cm versus 91.8±13.3 cm; p=0.02) were significantly higher in the patients who did not develop post-TAVR AKI. These three measures on pre-TAVR CT angiogram remained significantly associated with reduced post-TAVR AKI with a lower incidence of post-TAVR AKI after multivariable adjustment for pre-TAVR estimated glomerular filtration rate and patient height (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that increased abdominal obesity as assessed by measures on pre-TAVR CT angiogram is associated with a significantly lower incidence of AKI.

Hydrothermal impacts on trace element and isotope ocean biogeochemistry.

Hydrothermal activity occurs in all ocean basins, releasing high concentrations of key trace elements and isotopes (TEIs) into the oceans. Importantly, the calculated rate of entrainment of the entire ocean volume through turbulently mixing buoyant hydrothermal plumes is so vigorous as to be comparable to that of deep-ocean thermohaline circulation. Consequently, biogeochemical processes active within deep-ocean hydrothermal plumes have long been known to have the potential to impact global-scale biogeochemical cycles. More recently, new results from GEOTRACES have revealed that plumes rich in dissolved Fe, an important micronutrient that is limiting to productivity in some areas, are widespread above mid-ocean ridges and extend out into the deep-ocean interior. While Fe is only one element among the full suite of TEIs of interest to GEOTRACES, these preliminary results are important because they illustrate how inputs from seafloor venting might impact the global biogeochemical budgets of many other TEIs. To determine the global impact of seafloor venting, however, requires two key questions to be addressed: (i) What processes are active close to vent sites that regulate the initial high-temperature hydrothermal fluxes for the full suite of TEIs that are dispersed through non-buoyant hydrothermal plumes? (ii) How do those processes vary, globally, in response to changing geologic settings at the seafloor and/or the geochemistry of the overlying ocean water? In this paper, we review key findings from recent work in this realm, highlight a series of key hypotheses arising from that research and propose a series of new GEOTRACES modelling, section and process studies that could be implemented, nationally and internationally, to address these issues.This article is part of the themed issue 'Biological and climatic impacts of ocean trace element chemistry'.

Biogeochemical controls on microbial diversity in seafloor sulphidic sediments.

The ultimate fate of hydrothermal sulphides on the seafloor depends on the nature and rate of abiotic and microbially catalysed reactions where sulphide minerals are exposed to oxic seawater. This study combines organic and inorganic geochemical with microbiological measurements across a suboxic transition zone of highly altered sulphidic sediments from the Trans-Atlantic Geotransverse hydrothermal field to characterize the reaction products and microbial communities present. There is distinct biogeochemical zonation apparent within the sediment sequence from oxic surface layers through a suboxic transition zone into the sulphide material. The microbial communities in the sediment differ significantly between the biogeochemical horizons sampled, with the identified microbes inferred to be associated with Fe and S redox cycling. In particular, Marinobacter species, organisms associated with circumneutral Fe oxidation, are dominant in a sulphide lens present in the lower core. The dominance of Marinobacter-related sequences within the relict sulphide lens implies that these organisms play an important role in the alteration of sulphides at the seafloor once active venting has ceased.

Ulocladium atrum keratitis.

We report a case of Ulocladium atrum keratitis in a 43-year-old man. No predisposing event was known. He received natamycin and fluconazole drops and the infection resolved. The isolate was identified by morphological and rRNA gene sequence analyses. U. atrum is a dematiaceous hyphomycete not hitherto reported to infect humans.

California's Task Force evaluation of issues confronting water reuse.

Water reclamation and reuse have been occurring in California for over a century. The state is arid and semi-arid in large regions and must rely on a variety of water supplies to meet its water demands. Reclaimed water is a potential source to meet a significant portion of new demands expected by 2030. However, there are issues of public health and water quality regulation, cost, public acceptance, institutional and other barriers that must be addressed. The California State Legislature adopted legislation in 2001 to convene the Recycled Water Task Force to advise the state on the opportunities for using reclaimed water in a broad spectrum of applications and in identifying impediments and constraints to increasing the use of reclaimed water. The processes for conducting the Task Force are described to illustrate the actions that were intended to increase the credibility of the Task Force. The recommendations of the Task Force are summarized.

A new model of orthotopic penetrating corneal transplantation in the sheep: graft survival, phenotypes of graft-infiltrating cells and local cytokine production.

BACKGROUND: Orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty in the sheep was developed as an outbred preclinical model to allow correlation of the cellular infiltrate during graft rejection with local production of cytokine mRNA. METHODS: Penetrating corneal autografts and allografts were performed in Merino sheep. Graft outcome was followed at the slit-lamp. Corneal infiltrates were examined by immunoperoxidase staining on postmortem specimens. Cytokine mRNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Corneal autografts survived indefinitely. Allografts became vascularized and underwent rejection at a median of 20 days postgraft. Both endothelial and epithelial rejection lines were observed. Immunohistochemical staining of rejecting grafts showed up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on corneal graft epithelium, damaged or absent graft endothelium and a marked, predominantly mononuclear cell infiltrate. CD4-positive T cells were observed in the graft within 2 days of the onset of rejection, followed several days later by CD8-positive T cells. Messenger RNA transcripts for interleukin (IL)-2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-10 (but not for interferon (IFN)-gamma or IL-4) were found in autografted corneas. Proportionately, more allografts than autografts contained transcripts for IL-2 and TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma was detected in three of four allografts. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal graft rejection in the sheep is macroscopically and histologically similar to human corneal graft rejection. Allografts become infiltrated by both CD4- and CD8-positive T cells and local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs during graft rejection.

Intraoral and intranasal photography using a retinal fundus camera.

Like other subspecialities in biomedical imaging, clinical ophthalmic photography requires specialized instrumentation to produce informative photographs. Photographic slit-lamps, external ocular cameras, and retinal fundus cameras each have optical and illumination components that are designed to yield optimal results within narrow subject contexts. A variety of ophthalmic pathologies are associated with lesions in other parts of the body. One disease, cicatricial pemphigoid, causes changes in the mucosal tissue of the nasal and oral passages in addition to conjunctival findings. Lacking endoscopic instrumentation, we capitalized on the design parameters of a retinal fundus camera to produce photographs of these remote lesions.

Topical FK-506 prevents experimental corneal allograft rejection.

We evaluated the efficacy of topical cyclodextrin-encapsulated FK-506 in the prevention of experimental corneal allograft rejection. Two weeks after inducing corneal inflammation and neovascularization with 8-0 silk sutures, 23 albino rabbits received a unilateral 8-mm diameter central penetrating corneal allograft from pigmented donors. Rabbits were randomly assigned to no treatment (eight eyes), topical cyclodextrin four times daily for 28 days (seven eyes), or topical FK-506 0.3 mg/ml in a cyclodextrin suspension (eight eyes) four times daily for 28 days. Grafts were examined daily for degree of inflammation, neovascularization, edema, and signs of rejection for up to 100 days. Seven of eight (88%) untreated grafts and five of seven (71%) cyclodextrin-treated grafts rejected at a median of 3 weeks after transplantation, whereas only two (25%) of eight FK-506-treated grafts rejected and did so at a significantly longer interval (p < 0.005). Topical FK-506 prevents or delays corneal allograft rejection after experimental corneal transplantation.

Patterns of corneal graft rejection in the rabbit and reversal of rejection with monoclonal antibodies.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the local administration of monoclonal antibodies could reverse rabbit corneal graft rejection. To provide a rational basis for the choice of monoclonal antibodies as potential immunosuppressive agents, the phenotypes of cells infiltrating rejecting rabbit corneal allografts were examined by immunohistochemistry. About half the leukocytes accumulating in these grafts bore an immunodominant T cell marker, over two-thirds carried MHC class II antigens, and about one-fifth carried myeloid cell markers. A kinetic study of the cell population appearing in rabbit aqueous during corneal graft rejection was performed by examination of repetitive anterior chamber taps taken over a ten-day period; again, the major components were T cells, MHC class II antigen-positive cells and myeloid cells. Monoclonal antibodies L11/135 (directed against a peripheral T cell determinant), 2C4 (directed against a monomorphic MHC class II antigen), and LION 2 (directed against a myeloid antigen) were chosen for intracameral injection into rabbits with rejecting corneal grafts. Each animal received a total of 50-100 micrograms of antibody in two injections at 3-4-day intervals. L11/135 and LION 2 reversed rejection in 5/9 and 8/12 animals, respectively, in the absence of any other immunosuppression; 2C4 was without effect. We suggest that monoclonal antibody therapy in corneal transplantation deserves further attention.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody in uveitis and scleritis.

We report a case where the detection of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) at the time of diagnosis of a case of sclero-uveitis predicted the later development of systemic features and prompted an early and definitive diagnosis of systemic vasculitis.

Toxicity of 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabrominated biphenyl and 3,4,3',4'-tetrabrominated biphenyl.

Immature male rats were given a single equimolar dose (21.3 mumol/kg body wt) of 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) or 3,4,3',4'-tetrabromobiphenyl (TBB) and terminated at various times up to 14 days after treatment. Hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity for the TBB treatment group was maximal at Day 2 and then steadily decreased, whereas this activity was induced in 1 day and remained high for the HBB treatment group. Tissue concentrations of HBB appeared to be unchanged over time whereas tissue concentrations of TBB decreased in a biphasic manner. Rates of in vitro metabolism of TBB with hepatic microsomes from TBB-treated animals showed a similar time-course relationship to AHH induction. HBB caused moderate to severe hepatic changes while TBB-treated rats had only mild hepatic changes. The relative binding of TBB by the hepatic receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was about 10 times that of HBB. The results suggest that even though the receptor-binding affinities imply that TBB should be more toxic than HBB, it is less toxic than HBB because it is metabolized. Studies with the chlorinated analogs of TBB and HBB suggested that PCB behave similarly. These results also suggest that receptor binding and AHH induction do not accurately reflect toxicity for polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons which are metabolized, presumably because continued occupation of the receptor and persistent induction of some enzyme activity are required for toxicity.

Studies on the structure-activity relationships for the metabolism of polybrominated biphenyls by rat liver microsomes.

The in vitro metabolism of polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners by cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases was investigated using hepatic microsomes isolated from immature male rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) or phenobarbital (PB). MC pretreatment increased the NADPH-dependent microsomal metabolism of pure PBB congeners which possessed adjacent nonhalogenated ortho and meta carbons on at least one ring. 4,4'-Dibromobiphenyl (-DBB) was metabolized at the fastest rate, followed by 3,4,4'-tribromobiphenyl, 3,4,3',4'-tetrabromobiphenyl (-TBB), 2,3,3',4'-TBB, 2,5,3',4'-TBB, and 2,4,2',5'-TBB in decreasing order. It appeared that further bromination prevented metabolism since 2,4,5,3',4'-pentabromobiphenyl (-PBB), 2,3,4,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (-HBB), and 2,3,4,5,3'.4'-HBB were not metabolized although they possess adjacent nonhalogenated ortho and meta carbons. PB pretreatment increased in vitro rat hepatic microsomal metabolism of PBB congeners which possessed adjacent nonhalogenated meta and para carbons on at least one ring. 2,2'-DBB was metabolized at the fastest rate, followed by 2,4,2',5'-TBB, 2,5,2',5'-TBB, 2,3,3',4'-TBB, 2,5,3',4'-TBB, and 2,4,5,2',5'-PBB in decreasing order. The results suggest that the rates of metabolism of PBB congeners are dependent upon the positions of bromine and the form of cytochrome P-450 induced. In vitro rates of metabolism of 3,4,3',4'-TBB using hepatic microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with either 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HBB or 3,4,3',4'-TBB were also investigated. There was good correlation between the rates of 3,4,3',4'-TBB metabolism, induction of microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, and specific content of MC-inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450 beta NF-B). The results suggest that the isozyme P-450 beta NF-B is responsible for the metabolism of 3,4,3',4'-TBB.