Increased Transport Capacity Research Articles

Microplastic clouds in rivers: spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastic pollution in a fluvial system

BackgroundThe microplastic transport of rivers is a complex spatiotemporal process; however, only limited knowledge exists on it, making its monitoring complicated. The study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended sediments and microplastics based on measurements (1) every five days for 2 years at one site and (2) annual repetition at 29 sites along the 750-km-long Tisza River for 3 years. Water samples were taken by pumping (1 m3). Machine learning algorithms were applied to Sentinel images to analyze the spatiality of sediment transport.ResultsIn the Tisza River (Central Europe), the microplastic concentration (MPCmean: 35 ± 27 item/m3) and the suspended sediment concentration (SSCmean: 60 ± 57 g/m3) showed high temporal variations. During low stages, the concentrations dropped as most transported sediments were deposited on the bottom. These sediments, including microplastics, were remobilized during flood waves, thus, higher MPC and SSC were measured. The first flood wave after a low-stage period had the highest concentrations. The increased transport capacity of the river during floods created large-scale suspended sediment and microplastic waves with increased concentrations. The mean MPC gradually increased between 2021 (19 ± 13.6 item/m3) and 2022 (23.7 ± 15.8 item/m3), and then it more than doubled (2023: 57 ± 44.8 item/m3). The tributaries acted as suspended sediment and microplastic conveyors.On the Sentinel images, medium-scale clouds were identified, with the suspended sediment clouds being more pronounced than microplastic clouds. Fewer and longer clouds appeared during low stages, separated by clearer water bodies. During flood waves, shorter clouds were detected. The tributaries with increased suspended sediment and microplastic transport created well-distinguishable clouds in the main river.ConclusionsIdentifying suspended sediment and microplastic clouds in a river could support more precise monitoring. The hydrological background of the monitoring and the existence of these clouds should be considered, as sampling from clouds with increased SSC and MPC provides different data than sampling from the clearer water bodies between two clouds.Graphical

Fertilizer Logistics in Brazil: Application of a Mixed-Integer Programming Mathematical Model for Optimal Mixer Locations

Background: Brazil is one of the largest consumers of fertilizers and is highly dependent on the international market to meet its demand for agricultural production inputs. The complexity of the fertilizer supply chain motivated us to carry out this study on redesigning the fertilizer logistics chain and evaluate strategies for reducing logistics costs by redesigning the fertilizer mixing network in Brazil, a country that is heavily dependent on imported fertilizers for agriculture. Methods: We introduce a multi-product mixed-integer linear programming optimization model encompassing the logistics network, from import ports to mixing factories and agricultural fertilizer supply centers. This model includes logistics infrastructure and taxes, accounting for greenhouse gas emissions (specifically carbon dioxide) in fertilizer logistics. Results: The results indicate that expanding the port capacity for fertilizer importation can significantly reduce logistics costs and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 22.5%, decreasing by 23.9% compared to the baseline. We also observed that removing taxes on fertilizer importation can reduce logistics costs by approximately 11%, but it increases greenhouse gas emissions by 2.25% due to increased reliance on road transport. We identified 15 highly resilient regions for establishing mixing factories, evaluated various scenarios and determined the importance of these locations in optimizing the fertilizer supply network in the country. Moreover, the results suggest a significant potential to enhance the role of Brazil’s Northern Arc region in fertilizer import flows. Conclusions: Public policies and private initiatives could be directed toward encouraging the establishment of mixing factories in the identified regions and increasing transport capacity in the Northern Arc region. Improving the logistical conditions of the fertilizer network would contribute to food security by reducing the costs of essential inputs in food production and promoting sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СТІЙКОСТІ ДО УТВОРЕННЯ КОЛІЇ ТЕПЛИХ АСФАЛЬТОБЕТОННИХ СУМІШЕЙ НА ОСНОВІ БІТУМУ З ВИКОРИСТАННЯМ ЕНЕРГОЗБЕРІГАЮЧИХ ДОБАВОК ТА СПІНЕНОГО БІТУМУ З ДОДАВАННЯМ РЕГЕНЕРОВАНОГО АСФАЛЬТОБЕТОНУ

Introduction. The article investigates asphalt mixtures produced by standard technology according to [1, 2] and the so-called warm asphalt mixtures produced at reduced process temperatures based on bitumen with the addition of energy-saving additives and foamed bitumen. Problems. The resistance of asphalt mixtures to rutting is a key parameter in the design of the mixture, as the load on the pavement structure is increasing under current conditions due to the increased transport capacity of new vehicles that can carry loads with higher than standard axle loads. Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate asphalt mixtures made using standard technology according to [1, 2] and the so-called warm asphalt mixtures made at reduced process temperatures based on bitumen with the addition of energy-saving additives and foamed bitumen. Materials and methods. Experimental comparative tests of traditional hot asphalt concrete ASG.Sh.N.I.A.BND 70/100, asphalt concrete using foamed and bitumen, and asphalt concrete based on bitumen with the addition of energy-saving additives were carried out. Results. Graphical dependences of rut formation after more than

Rescue of Misfolded Organic Cation Transporter 3 Variants.

Organic cation transporters (OCTs) are membrane proteins that take up monoamines, cationic drugs and xenobiotics. We previously reported novel missense mutations of organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3, SLC22A3), some with drastically impacted transport capabilities compared to wildtype. For some variants, this was due to ER retention and subsequent degradation of the misfolded transporter. For other transporter families, it was previously shown that treatment of misfolded variants with pharmacological and chemical chaperones could restore transport function to a certain degree. To investigate two potentially ER-bound, misfolded variants (D340G and R348W), we employed confocal and biochemical analyses. In addition, radiotracer uptake assays were conducted to assess whether pre-treatment with chaperones could restore transporter function. We show that pre-treatment of cells with the chemical chaperone 4-PBA (4-phenyl butyric acid) leads to increased membrane expression of misfolded variants and is associated with increased transport capacity of D340G (8-fold) and R348W (1.5 times) compared to untreated variants. We herein present proof of principle that folding-deficient SLC22 transporter variants, in particular those of OCT3, are amenable to rescue by chaperones. These findings need to be extended to other SLC22 members with corroborated disease associations.

Technology Adoption and Acceptance of Urban Air Mobility Systems: Identifying Public Perceptions and Integration Factors

ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to identify expectations and perceptions of Passenger Air Vehicles (PAVs). Specifically, (1) what are the initial perceptions of PAVs by the public, and (2) what are the differences between early and laggard adopters of PAVs. Background The emergence of Urban Air Mobility presents an opportunity to increase transportation capacity in densely populated metropolitan areas. However, successful integration is largely dependent on adoption and acceptance from communities. Method A survey of 407 respondents across the United States provides insights from potential users. The Technology Adoption Life Cycle and Technology Acceptance Model are used to characterize adopter profiles and rates of adoption. Results Respondents not only expect the same level of safety standards as conventional aircraft (i.e., seatbelts, air quality), but even more feedback (i.e., displays on current and projected flight operations). PAVs are not an immediate replacement for daily trips once available. In-cabin noise is not a crucial deterrent to ridership. Earlier PAV adopters are trusting of the technology, willing to pay more to ride, and exhibit overall riskier behaviors. Later PAV adopters need more feedback in-flight and a pilot on-board. Conclusion PAV manufacturers, operators, and policymakers can utilize these findings to incorporate crucial design elements needed for PAVs to satisfy user expectations. These findings identify priorities that should be targeted in relative timeframes to satisfy near-term and long-term PAV users appropriately.

Federalism and the politics of oil and gas pipelines in Canada (Alberta) and the United States (Texas)

AbstractIn recent years, pipeline policy has been a significant and controversial issue in Canadian politics. In the United States, pipeline projects to increase transportation capacity for Texas oil have also been high on the energy agenda, but they have not permeated national politics like in Canada. In fact, new pipelines to transport oil and gas out of Texas' Permian Basin have multiplied without generating serious national controversy or intergovernmental conflicts. This article develops an explanation for these distinct political outcomes in Canada and the United States. The article identifies three factors that have contributed to pipeline projects triggering serious intergovernmental conflicts in Canada around Alberta oil but not in the United States in relation to the transportation of Texas oil: (1) pipeline structures and the regulatory framework for oil and gas; (2) the ideological and political support for, or opposition to, oil and gas development; and (3) the level of Indigenous opposition to pipeline projects.Related ArticlesAsh, John S. 2011. “Radiation or Riots: Risk Perception in Nuclear Power Decision Making and Deliberative Approaches to Resolving Stakeholder Conflict.” Politics & Policy 39(2): 317–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00237.x.Mahafza, Zachary, Jonathan M. Fisk, and David P. Adams. 2021. “Crude Contempt: Examining Local Pushback to Oil and Gas Development in California.” Politics & Policy 49(2): 479–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12401.Neill, Katharine A., and John C. Morris. 2012. “A Tangled Web of Principals and Agents: Examining the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill through a Principal‐Agent Lens.” Politics & Policy 40(4): 629–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00371.x.

Joint Optimization of Ticket Pricing Strategy and Train Stop Plan for High-Speed Railway: A Case Study

In this study, we examined ticket pricing and train stop planning for the high-speed railway (HSR), which integrates two key aspects of railway operation and organization. We considered that passenger demand is sensitive to the generalized travel cost (depending on the ticket price and the travel time) and that the train stop plan can affect the travel time and passenger distribution. Then, a mixed-integer non-linear optimization model was proposed for the joint problem of ticket pricing and train stop planning to maximize HSR’s transport revenue and minimize passengers’ travel time. Based on the high similarity between combinatorial optimization problems and the solid annealing principle, we designed a combined simulated annealing (CSA) algorithm to solve practical problems. The results of a numerical example in the real HSR network showed that the proposed method can improve transport revenue by 5.1% and reduce passengers’ travel time loss by 11.15% without increasing transport capacity.

Enhanced Efficiency in Pediatric Interfacility Transport Through a Centralized Hospital System Communication Center.

Assess the implementation of a new centralized communication center and the effect on our institution's interfacility transport team's ability to respond to requests for patient transport. Retrospective review of data over 12 months prior to opening compared with 12 months after implementation of our centralized communication center. Quaternary academic pediatric hospital system with three campuses, a specialized transport team with expertise in pediatric, neonatal, and maternal-fetal critical care, and a new centralized hospital system communication center. All patients for whom transport to our hospital system was requested within the review period. Our hospital developed a multidisciplinary, centralized hub incorporating technology and integrated electronic tracking systems to coordinate real-time patient flow including intra- and interhospital transfers. One function of this center is to provide a communication center for critical care transports. Multiple new protocols and processes for transport were implemented upon opening. After implementation, total transports increased 60% (from 1,200 to >1,900 transports/yr). Team dispatch time decreased 40% from 57-34 minutes. Time from initiation of call to physician acceptance decreased 15% (median, 27-23 min). Over the same interval, there were 59% fewer lost transport opportunities. With this growth, our program was able to expand our transport program in scope and numbers. A centralized communication center for pediatric hospital patient flow that included specialized critical care patient transport has increased transport capacity and enhanced efficiency throughout our multicampus hospital system.

New running gear for improving the lateral dynamic characteristics of rubber-tired light rail vehicles

Rubber-tired light rail vehicles are generally operated on lines which include a number of small curves, steep slopes, or track switching sections to reduce construction costs or to place multiple stations in densely populated areas. Recently, the tendency is to increase acceleration, deceleration, and operation speed to shorten travel time and to increase transportation capacity. These track characteristics and operation patterns may result in deteriorating lateral dynamic characteristics in rubber-tired light rail vehicles. Therefore, running gear in rubber-tired light rail vehicles needs to play a role in effectively damping lateral vibrations and shock transmitted from the guidance rails through the guidance wheels. In this paper, new running gear was proposed to improve the lateral vibration and ride comfort in rubber-tired light rail vehicles. The new running gear has been newly installed with lateral rubber shock absorbers that can dampen lateral vibration on curved routes. In addition, it has been installed with a bi-directional return spring in place of the existing restoring coil spring and hydraulic damper to improve lateral vibration on straight routes. The effect of improving the lateral dynamic characteristics of the new running gear was verified through dynamic analysis and actual vehicle driving tests (field tests).

Cellular Uptake of Psychostimulants – Are High- and Low-Affinity Organic Cation Transporters Drug Traffickers?

Psychostimulants are used therapeutically and for illegal recreational purposes. Many of these are inhibitors of the presynaptic noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin transporters (NET, DAT, and SERT). According to their physicochemical properties, some might also be substrates of polyspecific organic cation transporters (OCTs) that mediate uptake in liver and kidneys for metabolism and excretion. OCT1 is genetically highly polymorphic, with strong effects on transporter activity and expression. To study potential interindividual differences in their pharmacokinetics, 18 psychostimulants and hallucinogens were assessed in vitro for transport by different OCTs as well as by the high-affinity monoamine transporters NET, DAT, and SERT. The hallucinogenic natural compound mescaline was found to be strongly transported by wild-type OCT1 with a K m of 24.3 µM and a v max of 642 pmol × mg protein−1 × min−1. Transport was modestly reduced in variants *2 and *7, more strongly reduced in *3 and *4, and lowest in *5 and *6, while *8 showed a moderately increased transport capacity. The other phenylethylamine derivatives methamphetamine, para-methoxymethamphetamine, (-)-ephedrine, and cathine ((+)-norpseudoephedrine), as well as dimethyltryptamine, were substrates of OCT2 with K m values in the range of 7.9–46.0 µM and v max values between 70.7 and 570 pmol × mg protein−1 × min−1. Affinities were similar or modestly reduced and the transport capacities were reduced down to half in the naturally occurring variant A270S. Cathine was found to be a substrate for NET and DAT, with the Km being 21-fold and the v max 10-fold higher for DAT but still significantly lower compared to OCT2. This study has shown that several psychostimulants and hallucinogens are substrates for OCTs. Given the extensive cellular uptake of mescaline by the genetically highly polymorphic OCT1, strong interindividual variation in the pharmacokinetics of mescaline might be possible, which could be a reason for highly variable adverse reactions. The involvement of the polymorphic OCT2 in the renal excretion of several psychostimulants could be one reason for individual differences in toxicity.

Benefits from energy policy synchronisation of Brazil’s North-Northeast interconnection

During the last 10 years Brazil has accelerated the incorporation of new wind capacity into its power matrix. This situation has generated the need for increased transport capacity. However, there have been delays in the planning process for new transmission line construction, thus inducing trapped electricity in the system; in other words, electricity that cannot be dispatched to the interconnected system. Using system dynamics modelling, this paper assesses energy policy alternatives for improving the synchronisation between the construction of both power generation and transmission capacities. Simulation results show that policy synchronisation within the wind industry may provide important opportunities regarding security of supply. This paper concludes that in Brazil’s case it is possible to attain a balance between wind power expansion and interconnection capacity through synchronised and systemic interventions.

Water-level based discrete integrated dynamic control to regulate the flow for sewer-WWTP operation

This study aims to propose a multi-point integrated real-time control method based on discrete dynamic water level variations, which can be realized only based on the programmable logic controller (PLC) system without using a complex mathematical model. A discretized water level control model was developed to conduct the real-time control based on data-automation. It combines the upstream pumping stations and the downstream influent pumping systems of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The discretized water level control method can regulate dynamic wastewater pumping flow of pumps following the dynamic water level variation in the sewer system. This control method has been successfully applied in practical integrated operations of sewer-WWTP following the sensitive flow disturbances of the sewer system. The operational results showed that the control method could provide a more stabilized regulate pumping flow for treatment process; it can also reduce the occurrence risk of combined sewer overflow (CSO) during heavy rainfall events by increasing transport capacity of pumping station and influent flow in WWTP, which takes full advantage of storage space in the sewer system.

Traffic demand Forecast of online car-hailing based on BP Neural Network

To accurately predict passengers’ demand for ride-hailing, increase transport capacity in some areas directionally, make it easier for passengers to book ride-hailing, and thus enhance passengers’ travel experience, based on BP neural network model, combined with 2015-Mak-2019 ride-hailing demand change data, and based on MATLAB platform, the demand trend of 20202024 is forecasted. The results show that the demand for shared cars and rides will increase rapidly. Demand for shared bikes and taxis is rising slowly.

Evidence of adaptation of maternofetal transport of glutamine relative to placental size in normal mice, and in those with fetal growth restriction.

Key points Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major risk factor for stillbirth and has significant impact upon lifelong health.A small, poorly functioning placenta, as evidenced by reduced transport of nutrients to the baby, underpins FGR. It remains unclear how a small but normal placenta differs from the small FGR placenta in terms of ability to transfer nutrients to the fetus.Placental transport of glutamine and glutamate, key amino acids for fetal growth, was assessed in normal mice and those with FGR.Glutamine and glutamate transport was greater in the lightest versus heaviest placenta in a litter of normally grown mice. Placentas of mice with FGR had increased transport capacity in mid‐pregnancy, but this adaptation was insufficient in late pregnancy.Placental adaptations, in terms of increased nutrient transport (per gram) to compensate for small size, appear to achieve appropriate fetal growth in normal pregnancy. Failure of this adaptation might contribute to FGR. Fetal growth restriction (FGR), a major risk factor for stillbirth, and neonatal and adulthood morbidity, is associated with reduced placental size and decreased placental nutrient transport. In mice, a small, normal placenta increases its nutrient transport, thus compensating for its reduced size and maintaining normal fetal growth. Whether this adaptation occurs for glutamine and glutamate, two key amino acids for placental metabolism and fetal growth, is unknown. Additionally, an assessment of placental transport of glutamine and glutamate between FGR and normal pregnancy is currently lacking. We thus tested the hypothesis that the transport of glutamine and glutamate would be increased (per gram of tissue) in a small normal placenta [C57BL6/J (wild‐type, WT) mice], but that this adaptation fails in the small dysfunctional placenta in FGR [insulin‐like growth factor 2 knockout (P0) mouse model of FGR]. In WT mice, comparing the lightest versus heaviest placenta in a litter, unidirectional maternofetal clearance (K mf) of 14C‐glutamine and 14C‐glutamate (glutamine K mf and glutamate K mf) was significantly higher at embryonic day (E) 18.5, in line with increased expression of LAT1, a glutamine transporter protein. In P0 mice, glutamine K mf and glutamate K mf were higher (P0 versus wild‐type littermates, WTL) at E15.5. At E18.5, glutamine K mf remained elevated whereas glutamate K mf was similar between groups. In summary, we provide evidence that glutamine K mf and glutamate K mf adapt according to placental size in WT mice. The placenta of the growth‐restricted P0 fetus also elevates transport capacity to compensate for size at E15.5, but this adaptation is insufficient at E18.5; this may contribute to decreased fetal growth.

Impacts of gravel-bed rivers transformation on fluvial ecosystems and human society: Examples from the Czech flysch Carpathians

In the last centuries, gravel-bed rivers in developed countries have undergone rapid changes in channel morphology. The most serious problems include channel transformation related to progressive channel narrowing, incision or bed sediment coarsening. The main reasons for transformations were connected to the human interventions, which affected water and sediment fluxes in the basins. This paper summarizes contemporary research activities focused on these negative effects of channel transformations in the Czech flysch Carpathian rivers (the Morávka, the Olše and the Ostravice draining the highest mountainous areas of the Beskydy Mts). As the result of channel transformations, progressive changes in fluvial ecosystem were observed. The initial phytosociological survey demonstrates a higher biodiversity in the floodplain along the preserved multi-thread river channel than along the deeply incised channel in the Morávka River basin. Our observations of aquatic communities demonstrated that the channel transformation connected with incision and coarsening of bed sediments negatively affected fish or lamprey populations in the studied rivers. Regulation, damming and incision of channels caused changes of hydrological regime linked with gradual drying of floodplain. Additionally, a large set of hydraulic structures, bridges or weirs were affected by undercutting and progressive destruction in the Ostravice, Olše and Morávka River basins, which is assigned to increased transport capacity of regulated channels together with decreased sediment supply from mountainous parts.

Power reduction strategies with differentiated quality of protection in IP-over-WDM networks

This work considers two important aspects of modern communication networks, network survivability, and energy efficiency. Survivability is a design requirement to provide failure recovery against network outages such as fiber cuts. To ensure survivability, traditionally, spare network (i.e., backup) resources are reserved in case of failures of primary (i.e., working) network resources. On the other hand, energy efficiency is required to cope with the continuous growth of the Internet traffic. Backup resources increase the energy consumption, especially if constantly powered-on. Hence, a trade-off between energy efficiency and network resiliency arises. To increase transport capacity and reduce energy consumption, wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks are adopted as the most practical solution for data transport in core networks, which are the focus of our work. In WDM networks, different levels of protection (i.e., dedicated, shared) can be implemented for different traffic demands, and different protection levels are characterized by different power consumptions. We consider a differentiated quality of protection (Diff-QoP) scheme where different levels of protection are provided. In this context, we investigate on two different power-reduction strategies to be used in protected WDM networks: (i) setting backup devices into low-power modes (sleep mode) and (ii) adapting the devices (i.e., transmitting/receiving equipment) usage to hourly traffic variations. We present exact modeling through Integer Linear Program (ILP) of the three scenarios and a provisioning algorithm to solve the problem of power minimized design of resilient optical core networks, under static and dynamic traffic conditions. We evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm under static traffic conditions by comparing the obtained results with the optimal solution, in absence of traffic grooming. We show that the proposed heuristic reduces the computational time by three orders of magnitude with an optimality gap ranging from 8.88 up to 23.88%. Furthermore, we include traffic grooming and solve the problem under dynamic traffic conditions. Our findings show that enabling sleep mode (SM) for backup devices can help reduce total power consumption up to 20 and up to 38% when considering with Diff-QoP. Finally, adapting the number of transmitting/receiving devices to actual traffic needs guarantees power savings up to 80%, especially during off-peak hours.

Reduction of epileptiform activity in ketogenic mice: The role of monocarboxylate transporters

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Ketogenic diet (KD) can be a very effective treatment for intractable epilepsy. Potential mechanisms of action for KD have been proposed, including the re-balance among excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission and decrease in the glycolytic rate in brain cells. KD has been shown to have an effect on the expression pattern of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT), however, it is unknown whether MCT transport activity is affected by KD and linked to the reduction of seizures during KD. Therefore, we studied the influence of KD on MCT transport activity and the role of MCTs during epileptiform activity. Our results showed a decrease in the epileptiform activity in cortical slices from mice fed on KD and in the presence of beta-hydroxybutyrate. KD increased transport capacity for ketone bodies and lactate in cortical astrocytes by raising the MCT1 expression level. Inhibition of MCT1 and MCT2 in control conditions decreases epileptiform activity, while in KD it induced an increase in epileptiform activity. Our results suggest that MCTs not only play an important role in the transport of ketone bodies, but also in the modulation of brain energy metabolism under normal and ketogenic conditions.

Abstract 1: Topical Tacrolimus for the Treatment of Lymphedema

PURPOSE: Lymphedema is a common, life-long complication of cancer treatment that currently has no cure. Patients with lymphedema have decreased quality of life and suffer recurrent infections, while current treatments are merely palliative and designed to prevent disease progression. Accumulating evidence indicates that T cells play a key role in the pathology of lymphedema by inhibiting lymphangiogenesis and promoting tissue fibrosis. Because the pathophysiology of lymphedema involves primarily the skin and subcutaneous tissues, it may be possible to target T cells locally using topical medications such as tacrolimus without inducing systemic immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was therefore to study the efficacy of topical tacrolimus for prevention and treatment of lymphedema using preclinical mouse models. METHODS: Topical tacrolimus (0.1%) was used to treat mice that underwent tail superficial/deep lymphatic ablation or popliteal lymph node dissection (PLND). To test the hypothesis that this therapy prevents development of lymphedema, mice were treated after a short delay following surgery (2 weeks). Other animals were treated once lymphedema was established (6 weeks postop) to test the hypothesis that topical tacrolimus can be used to treat established lymphedema. Outcomes including fibroadipose tissue deposition, limb volumes, inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, lymphatic transport and pumping capacity were then measured. RESULTS: Treatment with topical tacrolimus did not result in significant systemic absorption or immunosuppression. However, this treatment markedly decreased swelling, soft tissue thickness, and fibrosis in the tail model of lymphedema. In addition, topical tacrolimus treatment significantly decreased T cell infiltration. Preventative treatment eliminated more than 95% of lymphedema-associated swelling while late treatment reduced swelling by more than 70%. Technetium99 lymphoscintigraphy showed that preventative treatment resulted in a 5-fold increase in interstitial fluid transport to regional lymph nodes. This increased transport capacity corresponded to a more than 2 fold increase in collecting lymphatic pumping capacity as measured by near infra-red lymphangiography. Interestingly, tacrolimus application significantly increased formation of collateral superficial lymphatics and increased inflammatory lymphangiogenesis in 2 other in vivo lymphangiogenesis assays. We observed more collateral lymphatic vessels in both the tail and the PLND models. CONCLUSION: Treatment with topical tacrolimus markedly decreased chronic T cell inflammation, significantly improved formation of lymphatic collaterals, and decreased tissue fibrosis. These changes were associated with significant decreases in lymphedema and improved lymphatic function. These results have significant implications for the treatment of lymphedema because there is currently no effective pharmacologic treatment for this chronic disease.

Climatic and anthropogenic influences on sediment mixing in the Mississippi source-to-sink system using detrital zircons: Late Pleistocene to recent

U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircons (DZ) is a robust tool used to elucidate linkages between tectonics, climate, and drainage configurations. However, timescales of sedimentary system response to modulation of up-system boundary conditions are rarely investigated using detrital geochronology. Here we present results of mixture modeling using modern and Late Pleistocene DZ samples from each of the Mississippi system segments, and show that high-frequency changes in up-system boundary conditions—anthropogenic sediment impoundment and late Pleistocene ice sheet dynamics—have measurable effects on detrital compositions. Results of DZ mixing models show a high positive correlation to measured suspended sediment loads for each major tributary (ca. 1970s–2000s). Differences between model results and historical records are explained by recent anthropogenic sediment impoundment. Results of DZ mixing models using late Wisconsin deep-sea samples indicate major increases from the Missouri and Upper Mississippi rivers. Boundary conditions responsible for increased sediment loads from these catchments include ice stream activity, increased transport capacity during deglacial melt-water floods, and an increased gradient of a glacial lower Mississippi Valley. These results suggest sediment mixtures in large rivers respond to icehouse climate change at timescales of 103–4 yrs, in contrast to calculated equilibrium response times of ca. 250–25 ka for the Mississippi system, and indications that anthropogenic river modifications alter relative sediment loads instantaneously. Adjustments in detrital mixtures occur at timescales an order-of-magnitude less than Milankovitch-timescale climate change, indicating rapid environmental signal propagation and preservation within transcontinental source-to-sink systems influenced by continental ice sheets.

Sediment transport below a small alpine reservoir desilted by controlled flushing: field assessment and one-dimensional numerical simulation

Sediment transport and riverbed sedimentation were investigated in an alpine stream below a small hydropower reservoir desilted by a controlled sediment flushing (CSF) operation. The term “controlled” refers to the operational tasks implemented to mitigate the downstream environmental impact of the operation. The experimental dataset acquired before, during, and after the CSF was also used to carry out and calibrate a one-dimensional sediment transport model of the monitored event. The investigated reservoir is located in the central Italian Alps, and its original storage was 160,000 m3, about 30% filled by a mixture of sand and silt/clay before the CSF. Downstream sediment concentration was controlled by releasing clear water from upstream reservoirs and regulating the work of earth-moving equipment in the emptied reservoir. A 3.6-km-long reach with average slope of 0.015 was monitored: concentration and grain size of suspended sediment were measured during the CSF and the riverbed alteration was evaluated by volumetric sampling and measurements of the deposits’ thickness. Sedimentation and River Hydraulics—One Dimensional (SRH-1D) was used to simulate sediment transport during the monitored CSF. Model parameters were calibrated by comparing the computed and the observed amount of sediment deposited along the study reach. Sediment flushing was carried out in October 2010 for 3 days. Ca. 16,000 m3 of sediment were evacuated, representing approximately 30% silt/clay and 70% sand. 2.4 Mm3 of clear water was released to reduce sediment concentration and increase transport capacity downstream. About 3000 m3 of sand was deposited in the study reach after the CSF, with maximum height up to 0.2 m. Although the riverbed before the CSF was simply set as mono-granular, after calibrating the parameters, good agreement was achieved between the depositional pattern computed by SRH-1D and the one observed, both in terms of deposit thickness and grain size of deposited sediment. The sensitivity analysis revealed a major role of the parameters controlling bed mixing processes in affecting the simulated deposition after the CSF. Sediment below 0.1 mm in diameter was not detected in river deposits after the flushing: the effects on river biota associated with substrate clogging by very fine sediment were therefore minimized. After proper calibration, 1-D sediment transport modeling can effectively support the planning of CSF operations: to minimize the downstream environmental effects, concurrently achieving acceptable flushing efficiency, the analyzed scenarios as well as the model outputs need to be carefully evaluated from a multidisciplinary perspective.