Prostaglandin E(2) promotes colorectal adenoma growth via transactivation of the nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta.

Cyclooxygenase-derived prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is the predominant prostanoid found in most colorectal cancers (CRC) and is known to promote colon carcinoma growth and invasion. However, the key downstream signaling pathways necessary for PGE(2)-induced intestinal carcinogenesis are unclear. Here we report that PGE(2) indirectly transactivates PPARdelta through PI3K/Akt signaling, which promotes cell survival and intestinal adenoma formation. We also found that PGE(2) treatment of Apc(min) mice dramatically increased intestinal adenoma burden, which was negated in Apc(min) mice lacking PPARdelta. We demonstrate that PPARdelta is a focal point of crosstalk between the prostaglandin and Wnt signaling pathways which results in a shift from cell death to cell survival, leading to increased tumor growth.

Neutron skin thickness in the droplet model with surface width dependence: Indications of softness of the nuclear symmetry energy

We analyze the neutron skin thickness in finite nuclei with the droplet model and effective nuclear interactions. The ratio of the bulk symmetry energy J to the so-called surface stiffness coefficient Q has in the droplet model a prominent role in driving the size of neutron skins. We present a correlation between the density derivative of the nuclear symmetry energy at saturation and the J/Q ratio. We emphasize the role of the surface widths of the neutron and proton density profiles in the calculation of the neutron skin thickness when one uses realistic mean-field effective interactions. Next, taking as experimental baseline the neutron skin sizes measured in 26 antiprotonic atoms along the mass table, we explore constraints arising from neutron skins on the value of the J/Q ratio. The results favor a relatively soft symmetry energy at subsaturation densities. Our predictions are compared with the recent constraints derived from other experimental observables. Though the various extractions predict different ranges of values, one finds a narrow window L∼45-75 MeV for the coefficient L that characterizes the density derivative of the symmetry energy that is compatible with all the different empirical indications.

Characterization Method for Comminution Behavior of Limestone and Fuel Ash in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler

Työn tavoite oli kehittää karakterisointimenetelmät kalkkikiven ja polttoaineen tuhkan jauhautumisen ennustamiselle kiertoleijukattilan tulipesässä. Kiintoainekäyttäytymisen karakterisoinnilla ja mallintamisella voidaan tarkentaa tulipesän lämmönsiirron ja tuhkajaon ennustamista. Osittain kokeelliset karakterisointimenetelmät perustuvat kalkkikiven jauhautumiseen laboratoriokokoluokan leijutetussa kvartsiputkireaktorissa ja tuhkan jauhatumiseen rotaatiomyllyssä. Karakterisointimenetelmät ottavat huomioon eri-laiset toimintaolosuhteet kaupallisen kokoluokan kiertoleijukattiloissa. Menetelmät kelpoistettiin kaupallisen kokoluokan kiertoleijukattiloista mitattujen ja fraktioittaisella kiintoainemallilla mallinnettujen taseiden avulla. Kelpoistamistaseiden vähäisyydestä huolimatta karakterisointimenetelmät arvioitiin virhetarkastelujen perusteella järkeviksi. Karakterisointimenetelmien kehittämistä ja tarkentamista tullaan jatkamaan.

Neutron skin of 208Pb, nuclear symmetry energy, and the parity radius experiment

A precise determination of the neutron skin thickness of a heavy nucleus sets a basic constraint on the nuclear symmetry energy (the neutron skin thickness is the difference of the neutron and proton rms radii of the nucleus). The parity radius experiment (PREX) may achieve it by electroweak parity-violating electron scattering (PVES) on 208Pb. We investigate PVES in nuclear mean field approach to allow the accurate extraction of the neutron skin thickness of 208Pb from the parity-violating asymmetry probed in the experiment. We demonstrate a high linear correlation between the parity-violating asymmetry and the neutron skin thickness in successful mean field forces as the best means to constrain the neutron skin of 208Pb from PREX, without assumptions on the neutron density shape. Continuation of the experiment with higher precision in the parity-violating asymmetry is motivated since the present method can support it to constrain the density slope of the nuclear symmetry energy to new accuracy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) with or without hemithoracic radiotherapy: final results of the randomized multicenter phase II trial SAKK17/04.

Aim: We have previously documented the feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and EPP in a multicenter trial of MPM (Weder, Ann Oncol 18: 1196, 2007). The objectives of the trimodality trial SAKK17/04 (NCT00334594) were to evaluate the time to loco-regional relapse with or without high dose hemithoracic radiotherapy in a prospective multicenter randomized phase II trial in patients with R0 and R1 resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and EPP. Methods: Eligible patients had pathologically confirmed MPM, surgically resectable TNM stage (T1-3 N0-2 M0), PS0-1, ages 18-70 years. Part 1 had a phase II design, and included neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 3 cycles of cisplatin and pemetrexed, followed by restaging and EPP. The primary endpoint of part 1 was complete macroscopic resection (R0-1). Part 2 randomized consenting patients with R0-1 resection into two parallel phase II arms (control arm A and radiotherapy arm B). The primary endpoint for part 2 was loco-regional relapse-free survival (RFS). To detect a 1 year increase with 80% power and 10% alpha, 37 patients were needed for arm B. Secondary endpoints included operability, tolerability of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, survival, and translational research Results: Because accrual of part 2 was slower than planned, the trial was stopped in 2013. Overall, 153 patients entered the trial, of whom 125 underwent surgery and 99 had a complete macroscopic resection (primary endpoint part 1). Of the later patients, 54 could be randomized 1:1 into each arm. Reasons for non-randomization included patient refusal in 24 and ineligibility or protocol deviations in 21. Of the 27 patients randomized to hemithoracic radiotherapy, 25 completed the treatment as planned. For part 1 the median RFS was 8.8 (95%CI: 7.3-10.7) and median OS was 15.0 (95% CI: 12.1-19.3) months. For part 2 the median local RFS for group A was 7.6 (95%CI: 5.5-10.7) and for group B 9.4 (95%CI: 6.5-11.9) months (primary endpoint part 2), while the overall RFS and OS for group A were 5.7 (95%CI: 3.5-8.8) and 16.9 (95%CI: 10.7-23.6) months and for group B 7.6 (95% CI:5.2-10.6) and 14.9 (95%CI: 7.0-17.6) months. Conclusions: This study did not reach the primary endpoint which was defined as one-year increase in loco-regional relapse-free survival and thus does not support the routine use of hemithoracic RT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and EPP. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Final results of the SAKK 16/00 trial: a randomized phase III trial comparing neoadjuvant chemoradiation to chemotherapy alone in stage IIIA/N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Aim: One standard option in the treatment of stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC is neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. We investigated in a randomized trial whether the addition of neoadjuvant radiotherapy would improve the outcome. Here we present the final results of this study. Methods: Patients (pts.) with pathologically proven, resectable stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC, performance status 0-1, and adequate organ function were randomized 1:1 to chemoradiation (CRT) with 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin 100 mg/m2 and docetaxel 85 mg/m2 d1, q3weeks) followed by accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy (RT) with 44 Gy in 22 fractions in 3 weeks, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone (CT), with subsequent surgery for all pts. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). Results: 232 pts. were randomized in 23 centers, the median follow-up was 53 months. Two thirds were men, median age was 60 years (range 37-76). Histology was squamous cell in 33%, adenocarcinoma in 43%. Response rate to CRT was 61% vs. 44% with CT. 85% of all pts. underwent surgery, 30-day postoperative mortality was 1%. The rate of complete resection was 91% (CRT) vs. 81% (CT) and the pathological complete remission (pCR) rate was 16% vs. 12%. The median EFS was 13.1 months (95% CI 9.9 - 23.5) for the CRT group vs. 11.8 months (95% CI 8.4 - 15.2) in the CT arm (p 0.665). The median overall survival (OS) with CRT was 37.1 months (95% CI 22.6 -50), with CT 26.1 months ( 95% CI 26.1 - 52.1, p 0.938). The local failure rate was 23% in both arms. In the CT arm 12 pts. were given postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for R1 resection, 6 pts. received PORT in violation of the protocol. Pts. with a pCR, mediastinal downstaging to ypN0/1 and complete resection had a better outcome. Toxicity of chemotherapy was substantial, especially febrile neutropenia was common, whereas RT was well tolerated. Conclusions: This is the first completed phase III trial to evaluate the role of induction chemoradiotherapy and surgery, in comparison to neoadjuvant CT alone followed by surgery. RT was active, it increased response, complete resection and pCR rates. However, this failed to translate into an improvement of local control, EFS or OS. Notably, surgery after induction treatment was safe, including pneumonectomy. The overall survival rates of our neoadjuvant regimen are very encouraging, especially for a multicenter setting. Disclosure: M. Pless: Advisory Board for Sanofi; R. Cathomas: Advisory Board Sanofi D.C. Betticher: Advisory Board Sanofi. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

ESTRO-HERO survey: Guidelines for equipment and staffing of radiotherapy facilities in the European countries: Final results of the ESTRO-HERO survey

Background and purpose: In planning to meet evidence based needs for radiotherapy, guidelines for the provision of capital and human resources are central if access, quality and safety are not to be compromised. A component of the ESTRO-HERO (Health Economics in Radiation Oncology) project is to document the current availability and content of guidelines for radiotherapy in Europe. Materials and methods: An 84 part questionnaire was distributed to the European countries through their national scientific and professional radiotherapy societies with 30 items relating to the availability of guidelines for equipment and staffing and selected operational issues. Twenty-nine countries provided full or partial evaluable responses. Results: The availability of guidelines across Europe is far from uniform. The metrics used for capital and human resources are variable. There seem to have been no major changes in the availability or specifics of guidelines over the ten-year period since the QUARTS study with the exception of the recent expansion of RTT staffing models. Where comparison is possible it appears that staffing for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and particularly RTTs tend to exceed guidelines suggesting developments in clinical radiotherapy are moving faster than guideline updating. Conclusion: The efficient provision of safe, high quality radiotherapy services would benefit from the availability of well-structured guidelines for capital and human resources, based on agreed upon metrics, which could be linked to detailed estimates of need

The importance of pre-treatment of spent hydrotreating catalysts on metals recovery

This work describes a three-step pre-treatment route for processing spent commercial NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts. Extraction of soluble coke with n-hexane and/or leaching of foulant elements with oxalic acid were performed before burning insoluble coke under air. Oxidized catalysts were leached with 9 mol L-1 sulfuric acid. Iron was the only foulant element partially leached by oxalic acid. The amount of insoluble matter in sulfuric acid was drastically reduced when iron and/or soluble coke were previously removed. Losses of active phase metals (Ni, Mo) during leaching with oxalic acid were compensated by the increase of their recovery in the sulfuric acid leachate.

New strategies for treatment and reuse of spent sulfidic caustic stream from petroleum industry

This work examines traditional and new routes for removal of H2S and other sulfur compounds from spent sufidic caustic (SSC). SH- (hydrogenosulfide) and S2- (sulfide) ions were quantitatively oxidized at 25 ºC using H2O2, NaOCl or a spent sulfochromic mixture. SH-/S2- ions were also removed via reaction with freshly prepared iron or manganese hydroxides, or after passing the SSC through strong basic anion exchange resins (OH- form). The treated caustic solution, as well as iron/manganese hydroxides, removed H2S from diesel samples at 25 ºC. SSC treatment via strong basic anion-exchange resins produced the treated caustic solution with the highest free alkalinity.

Processing of spent NiW/Al2O3 catalysts

Spent oxidized (500 ºC, 5 h) commercial NiW/Al2O3 catalysts were processed using two different routes: a) fusion with NaOH (650 ºC, 1 h), the roasted mass was leached in water; b) leaching with HCl or H2SO4 (70 ºC, 1-3 h). HCl was the best leachant. In both routes, soluble tungsten was extracted at pH 1 with Alamine 336 (10 vol.% in kerosene) and stripped with 2 mol L-1 NH4OH (25 ºC, one stage, aqueous/organic ratio = 1 v/v). Tungsten was isolated as ammonium paratungstate at very high yield (> 97.5%). The elements were better separated using the acidic route.

Kehittyneiden ydinpolttoainekiertojen ympäristövaikutusten ja taloudellisuuden arviointia

Kaikkein yleisin käytössä oleva ydinpolttoainekierto on nykyisin avoin, jossa käytetty ydinpolttoaine loppusijoitetaan suoraan ilman jälleenkäsittelyä. Nykyisin kehitteillä olevat uuden sukupolven ydinreaktorit ovat kuitenkin pääosin suunniteltu osittain tai kokonaan suljetuille ydinpolttoainekierroille, jossa käytetty polttoaine jälleenkäsitellään ja osa materiaaleista kierrätetään. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli arvioida näitä kehittyneitä ydinpolttoainekiertoja ympäristövaikutusten ja taloudellisuuden suhteen. Työn yleisluonteista vertailua varten valittiin neljä erilaista kehittynyttä polttoainekiertoskenaariota, joita verrattiin avoimeen polttoainekiertoon erilaisten parametrien avulla. Parametreinä käytettiin muun muassa uraanin kulutusta, loppusijoitettavan jätteen määrää, aktiivisuutta ja lämmöntuottoa sekä käytönaikaisten radioaktiivisten päästöjen määrää. Yleislounteisen arvioinnin lisäksi työssä tarkasteltiin polttoainekiertoa myös Suomen näkökulmasta. Nykyistä polttoainekiertoa verrattiin kahteen erilaiseen tulevaisuuden versioon. Kestävän kehityksen osalta kehittyneet polttoainekierrot vähensivät ympäristövaikutusten määrää avoimeen polttoainekiertoon verrattuna. Kehittyneiden polttoainekiertojen kustannukset olivat avoimen polttoainekierron kustannuksia suuremmat. Kokonaiskustannuksissa ero oli kaikilla vertailuskenaarioilla alle 20 %, mutta polttoainekiertokustannuksissa kustannusten kasvu oli välillä 27-45 % riippuen skenaariosta. Suomen tapauksessa tulokset olivat hyvin samankaltaisia. Uraanin kulutus ja loppusijoitettavan jätteen määrä väheni kehittyneempien polttoainekiertojen johdosta. Polttoainekiertokustannukset nousivat noin puolitoistakertaisiksi, mutta vaikutus kokonaiskustannuksiin oli vain noin 10 %. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, ettäydinpolttoainekierron ympäristövaikutuksia on mahdollista vähentää osittain tai kokonaan suljettujen polttoainekiertojen avulla. Vaikka polttoainekierron kustannukset kasvavat, niiden vaikutus ydinsähkön kokonaiskustannuksiin ei ole niin merkittävä.

KNOWLEDGE ON ADJUVANT PROPERTIES, DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDERESIDUES AND SPRAY DRIFT OCCURRENCE IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO

ABSTRACT This paper aimed at investigating the knowledge level of people working on pesticide spraying activities concerning spray adjuvant properties, as well as collecting information on disposal locations for residues from internal spray tank cleaning, and finally the understanding of pesticide spray drift occurrence in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The information was gathered through a questionnaire answered by participants of a rural extension program in application technology located in nineteen grain and fiber producing regions of Mato Grosso state. Among the mentioned adjuvants, 49.0% belonged to the mineral oil class and 17.9% of participants did not know the functions performed by such products. In addition, 58.5% of the participants discarded residues into the field. Among the participants who answered the question about spray drift occurrence causes, 54.1% indicated problems relating to inadequate weather conditions. In conclusion, there is a lack of knowledge on adjuvant functions, besides of inappropriate residue disposal in the state of Mato Grosso. Spray drift was referred as a problem; however, most of participants were not able to discuss the causes of these losses.

E-PORT. Improving efficiency of Finnish port community by intelligent systems Final report of the Mobile Port project

The management of port-related supply chains is challenging due to the complex and heterogeneous operations of the ports with several actors and processes. That is why the importance of information sharing is emphasised in the ports. However, the information exchange between different port-related actors is often cumbersome and it still involves a lot of manual work and paper. Major ports and port-related actors usually have advanced information systems in daily use but these systems are seldom interoperable with each other, which prevents economies of scale to be reached. Smaller ports and companies might not be equipped with electronic data transmission at all. This is the final report of the Mobile port (MOPO) project, which has sought ways to improve the management and control of port-related sea and inland traffic with the aid of ICT technologies. The project has studied port community systems (PCS) used worldwide, evaluated the suitability of a PCS for the Finnish port operating environment and created a pilot solution of a Finnish PCS in the port of HaminaKotka. Further, the dry port concept and its influences on the transportation system have been explored. The Mobile Port project comprised of several literature reviews, interviews of over 50 port-related logistics and/or ICT professionals, two different kinds of simulation models as well as designing and implementing of the pilot solution of the Finnish PCS. The results of these multiple studies are summarised in this report. Furthermore, recommendations for future actions and the topics for further studies are addressed in the report. The study revealed that the information sharing in a typical Finnish port-related supply chain contains several bottlenecks that cause delays in shipments and waste resources. The study showed that many of these bottlenecks could be solved by building a port community system for the Finnish port community. Almost 30 different kinds of potential services or service entities of a Finnish PCS were found out during the study. The basic requirements, structure, interfaces and operation model of the Finnish PCS were also defined in the study. On the basis of the results of the study, a pilot solution of the Finnish PCS was implemented in the port of HaminaKotka. The pilot solution includes a Portconnect portal for the Finnish port community system (available at https://www.portconnect.fi) and two pilot applications, which are a service for handling the information flows concerning the movements of railway wagons and a service for handling the information flows between Finnish ports and Finland-Russian border. The study also showed that port community systems can be used to improve the environmental aspects of logistics in two different ways: 1) PCSs can bring direct environmental benefits and 2) PCSs can be used as an environmental tool in a port community. On the basis of the study, the development of the Finnish port community system should be continued by surveying other potential applications for the Finnish PCS. It is also important to study if there is need and resources to extend the Finnish PCS to operate in several ports or even on a national level. In the long run, it could be reasonable to clarify whether there would be possibilities to connect the Finnish PCS as a part of Baltic Sea wide, European-wide or even worldwide maritime and port-related network in order to get the best benefit from the system

Limestone Reactions in a Fluidized Bed Heat Exchanger of an Oxy-fuel Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler

Oxy-fuel combustion in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler appears to be a promising option for capturing CO2 in power plants. Oxy-fuel combustion is based on burning of fuel in the mixture of oxygen and re-circulated flue gas instead of air. Limestone (CaCO3) is typically used for capturing of SO2 in CFB boilers where limestone calcines to calcium oxide (CaO). Because of high CO2 concentration in oxy-fuel combustion, calcination reaction may be hindered or carbonation, the reverse reaction of calcination, may occur. Carbonation of CaO particles can cause problems especially in the circulation loop of a CFB boiler where temperature level is lower than in the furnace. The aim of the thesis was to examine carbonation of CaO in a fluidized bed heat exchanger of a CFB boiler featuring oxy-fuel combustion. The calculations and analyzing were based on measurement data from an oxy-fuel pilot plant and on 0-dimensional (0D) gas balance of a fluidized bed heat exchanger. Additionally, the objective was to develop a 1-dimensional (1D) model of a fluidized bed heat exchanger by searching a suitable pre-exponential factor for a carbonation rate constant. On the basis of gas measurement data and the 0D gas balance, it was found that the amount of fluidization gas decreased as it flew through the fluidized bed heat exchanger. Most likely the reason for this was carbonation of CaO. It was discovered that temperature has a promoting effect on the reaction rate of carbonation. With the 1D model, a suitable pre-exponential factor for the equation of carbonation rate constant was found. However, during measurements there were several uncertainties, and in the calculations plenty of assumptions were made. Besides, the temperature level in the fluidized bed heat exchanger was relatively low during the measurements. Carbonation should be considered when fluidized bed heat exchangers and the capacity of related fans are designed for a CFB boiler with oxy-fuel combustion.