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Background In this study we investigated the contribution of high-fat diet-induced metabolic overload to osteoarthritis (OA) progression originally caused by mild mechanical trauma to the mouse knee joint. We hypothesized that metabolic stress would induce a proinflammatory environment by altering systemic lipid levels and immune cell populations. Methods Twelve-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=20) were given a low-fat diet (LFD, 10%kcal from fat) or high-fat diet (HFD, 45%kcal from fat) for 18 weeks. OA was initiated by transecting the medial meniscotibial ligament of the right knee joint at t=10 weeks. OA severity and changes in M1/M2 polarization of synovial macrophage populations were determined in serial coronal FFPE-mounted sections. Eicosanoid levels and monocyte populations were evaluated before and after ligament transection. Results Diet-induced metabolic stress assessed by body weight, systemic cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance index was significantly higher in HFD mice. This group also showed increased cartilage damage, synovitis, and osteophyte formation compared with LFD controls. High-fat feeding elevated systemic arachidonic acid levels, which mainly resulted in increased levels of its cytochrome P450-catalysed diol metabolites 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DHET) and 8,9-DHET. High-fat feeding also triggered an increase in pro-inflammatory intermediate CD43++Ly6Cint monocytes after ligament resection. Ligament resection in addition to high-fat feeding induced increased expression of the activation marker CD11c selectively on non-classical CD43++Ly6Clow monocytes. No significant changes in synovial macrophage polarization were observed. Conclusions Metabolic stress resulted in a proinflammatory environment and aggravated injury-induced OA progression. Our results suggest that a CYP450-focused eicosanoid metabolism and activated circulating monocytes may be drivers of this metabolic stress-induced OA progression, contributing to the mechanistic understanding and potentially serving as future diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for metabolic OA.

Four fluoride fuel salt samples (78LiF-22ThF4) in graphite crucibles were irradiated in the HFR Petten for a duration of 508 Full Power Days under the name SALIENT-01 (SALt Irradiation ExperimeNT). Goal of the experiment was to gain experience with the design of liquid salt experiments and the handling of the salts before and after irradiation. Specific research goals for SALIENT-01 are (i) to confirm claims of good fission product retention in the salt, (ii) to obtain size distributions for noble metal particles using Transmission Electron Microscopy and (iii) to assess possible interactions between fuel salt and fine-grained nuclear graphite, as well as possible uptake of fission products by the graphite. Here the design and irradiation history of the experiment are discussed together with plans for post-irradiation examinations. Limitations in representativeness of this experiment and capsule irradiations in general are discussed as well as follow-up actions to improve the quality of future irradiations.

Objective: C-reactive protein (CRP) levels can be elevated in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In addition to indicating systemic inflammation, it is suggested that CRP itself can play a role in OA development. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are important risk factors for OA and also induce elevated CRP levels. Here we evaluated in a human CRP (hCRP)-transgenic mouse model whether CRP itself contributes to the development of ‘metabolic’ OA. Design: Metabolic OA was induced by feeding 12-week-old hCRP-transgenic males (hCRP-tg, n = 30) and wild-type littermates (n = 15) a 45 kcal% high-fat diet (HFD) for 38 weeks. Cartilage degradation, osteophytes and synovitis were graded on Safranin O-stained histological knee joint sections. Inflammatory status was assessed by plasma lipid profiling, flow cytometric analyses of blood immune cell populations and immunohistochemical staining of synovial macrophage subsets. Results: Male hCRP-tg mice showed aggravated OA severity and increased osteophytosis compared with their wild-type littermates. Both classical and non-classical monocytes showed increased expression of CCR2 and CD86 in hCRP-tg males. HFD-induced effects were evident for nearly all lipids measured and indicated a similar low-grade systemic inflammation for both genotypes. Synovitis scores and synovial macrophage subsets were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: Human CRP expression in a background of HFD-induced metabolic dysfunction resulted in the aggravation of OA through increased cartilage degeneration and osteophytosis. Increased recruitment of classical and non-classical monocytes might be a mechanism of action through which CRP is involved in aggravating this process. These findings suggest interventions selectively directed against CRP activity could ameliorate metabolic OA development.

Objective: Human cohort studies have demonstrated a role for systemic metabolic dysfunction in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis in obese patients. To explore the mechanisms underlying this metabolic phenotype of OA, we examined cartilage degradation in the knees of mice from different genetic backgrounds in which a metabolic phenotype was established by various dietary approaches.Design: Wild-type C57BL/6J mice and genetically modified mice (hCRP, LDLr-/-. Leiden and ApoE*3Leiden. CETP mice) based on C57BL/6J background were used to investigate the contribution of inflammation and altered lipoprotein handling on diet-induced cartilage degradation. High-caloric diets of different macronutrient composition (i.e., high-carbohydrate or high-fat) were given in regimens of varying duration to induce a metabolic phenotype with aggravated cartilage degradation relative to controls.Results: Metabolic phenotypes were confirmed in all studies as mice developed obesity, hypercholesteremia, glucose intolerance and/or insulin resistance. Aggravated cartilage degradation was only observed in two out of the twelve experimental setups, specifically in long-term studies in male hCRP and female ApoE*3Leiden. CETP mice. C57BL/6J and LDLr-/-. Leiden mice did not develop HFD-induced OA under the conditions studied. Osteophyte formation and synovitis scores showed variable results between studies, but also between strains and gender.Conclusions: Long-term feeding of high-caloric diets consistently induced a metabolic phenotype in various C57BL/6J (-based) mouse strains. In contrast, the induction of articular cartilage degradation proved variable, which suggests that an additional trigger might be necessary to accelerate diet-induced OA progression. Gender and genetic modifications that result in a humanized pro-inflammatory state (human CRP) or lipoprotein metabolism (human-E3L. CETP) were identified as important contributing factors. (c) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Osteoarthritis Research Society International.

Americium is a strong contributor to the long term radiotoxicity of high activity nuclear waste. Transmutation by irradiation in nuclear reactors of long-lived nuclides like 241 Am is therefore an option for the reduction of radiotoxicity of waste packages to be stored in a repository. The SPHERE irradiation experiment is the latest of a series of European experiments on americium transmutation (e.g. EFTTRA-T4, EFTTRA-T4bis, HELIOS, MARIOS) performed in the HFR (High Flux Reactor). The SPHERE experiment is carried out in the framework of the 4-year project FAIRFUELS of the EURATOM 7th Framework Programme (FP7). During the past years of experimental works in the field of transmutation and tests of innovative nuclear fuels, the release or trapping of helium as well as helium induced fuel swelling have been shown to be the key issues for the design of Am-bearing targets. The main objective of the SPHERE experiment is to study the in-pile behaviour of fuel containing 3% of americium and to compare the behaviour of sphere-pac fuel to pellet fuel, in particular the role of microstructure and temperature on fission gas release (mainly He) and on fuel swelling. The SPHERE experiment is being irradiated since September 2013 in the HFR in Petten (The Netherlands) and is expected to be terminated in spring 2015. The experiment has been designed to last up to 18 reactor cycles (corresponding to 18 months) but may reach its target earlier. This paper discusses the rationale and objective of the SPHERE experiment and provides a general description of its design.

A reliable method for the determination of patulin in apple juice, apple puree and apples was developed using two clean-up steps and high performance liquid chromatography and diode array (HPLC-DAD) analysis. Baseline separation from hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) was obtained. The performance characteristics of the method were determined at four concentration levels in two matrices and fulfill the requirements of the European Commission (EC) for this type of samples. The level of quantification was set to 25 μg/l or 25 μg/kg, the RSD for repeatability at this level is 11% for apple juice and 17% for apples, the recovery is 87% for apple juice and 63% for apples. The reproducibility was determined in apples and is 11% (at a level of 200 μg/kg). The method was used for determination of patulin in 63 commercial apple products available on the Dutch market. With the exception of one sample, the level of patulin was lower than the detection limit in all the samples. No statistically significant difference was found between conventional and organic samples. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two novel water quality monitoring concepts were developed: the HPLC-fingerprint for the monitoring of yet unidentified pollutants and the HPLC-Toxprint® for the recognition of (unknown) toxic or genotoxic compounds. The paper describes applications of both concepts. The HPLC-fingerprint is used for the evaluation of the overall water quality in addition to the monitoring of individual pollutants. Based on their occurrence (frequency, concentration, location) a listing of unknown priority pollutants is set up. Participating waterworks monitor for these compounds using a dedicated HPLC-DAD library that contains the required compound data (UV-absorbance spectrum, retention time index). In five years of experience with this concept, the HPLC-fingerprint was also found very suitable for the retrieval of new priority pollutants in existing HPLC-fingerprint databases, providing historic data on these new compounds. The HPLC-fingerprint concept was also used as an Early Warning System for accidental spills or sabotage. The HPLC-Toxprint was successfully applied in identifying genotoxicity (in the umu-test) in various waste water samples. By the application of LC-MS/MS genotoxicity could be assigned to acridine-derivatives in one of these wastewaters. To enable the evaluation of drinking water resources, the sensitivity of the HPLC-Toxprint was improved, now allowing the detection of pollutants with a 10% genotoxic potential as compared to 2-aminoanthracene (the positive control compound) at concentrations as low as 0.1 mg/l.

In order to assess and maintain the quality of surface waters, target compound monitoring is often not sufficient. Many unknown micro-contaminants are present in water, originating in municipal, industrial or agricultural effluents. Some of these might pose a risk to drinking water production and consequently to human health. The possibilities of screening surface water and identification of these non-target water pollutants with modern data acquisition possibilities of hybrid quadrupole-orthogonal acceleration time of flight mass spectrometers (Q-TOF), such as data-dependent MS to MS/MS switching were investigated. Using model compounds, a procedure for the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) screening of water extracts was developed, enabling the detection and identification of compounds at levels ≤0.25 μg/l in surface water. Based on the accurate mass the elemental compositions for the precursor and product ions are calculated. The calculated chemical formulae are searched against the Merck index, the NIST library, an own database containing about 2500 water pollutants (pesticides and other contaminants) as well as a CI-CID library containing tandem MS spectra of about 100 water contaminants. The developed approach was applied for the identification of unknown compounds, present in native surface water extract. For three of these compounds, structures were proposed. Confirmation of the proposed structures with standards was beyond the scope of this study.

The reaction ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}(\ensuremath{\gamma},p)$ has been studied using tagged photons of mean energies ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=57.6$ and 72.9 MeV. Angular distributions and derived single-particle momentum distributions for protons leading to the ground state of ${}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ and higher excited states are compared to various calculations made using model parameters constrained by ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}{(e,e}^{\ensuremath{'}}{p)}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ and ${}^{9}\mathrm{Be}{(p,p}^{\ensuremath{'}}{)}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ measurements. The effects of varying final-state interactions (including channel couplings) and meson exchange currents are considered. A sizable discrepancy between direct-knockout calculations and the experimental results is observed. If meson exchange currents are included in an approximate fashion, a good description of the ${}^{10}\mathrm{B}(\ensuremath{\gamma}{,p}_{0}{)}^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ data is found.

A fully automated on-line solid-phase extraction–high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SPE-HPLC–ESI-MS–MS) method was developed for the determination of glyphosate and its degradation product aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in the concentration range of 0.05 to 3 μg/l in various types of water. Derivatisation of glyphosate and AMPA directly in the native aqueous sample with 9-fluorenyl methoxycarbonyl chloride allowed the preconcentration by SPE and HPLC separation. Identification and quantification based on the constant ratio of three selected ions for each compound (precursor ion and two product-ions) together with the retention time proved to be a very selective procedure for the reliable determination of these pesticides. Although developed for drinking water and surface water, the selectivity of this method also allows their determination in waste water. Moreover, the structurally similar herbicide glufosinate could also be determined using the same derivatisation procedure and analytical method. Validation of the HPLC–MS method for glyphosate and AMPA showed detection limits as low as 0.03 μg/l. Recoveries of 96% and relative standard deviations for repeatability

Cross sections have been measured for the reactions 208Pb(γ,p) and 12C(γ,p) leading to the low-lying and continuum states in 207Tl and 11B using a high energy-resolution tagged photon beam of 41 to 57 MeV. The data are compared with results obtained with the (e,e′p) reaction in the same recoil-momentum range and with various theoretical calculations. A comparison of the (e,e′p) and (γ,p) data in terms of a reduced cross section versus momentum does not show a systematic overlap of the (e,e′p) and (γ,p) results, i.e. no scaling is observed. Distorted-wave impulse-approximation (DWIA) calculations, of which the input is constrained by the (e,e′p) data, and random-phase approximation calculations (RPA) underestimate the 12C(γ,p) data by typically a factor five depending on angle and missing energy. For 208Pb the difference between the calculations and the data for the low-lying states is much less, but an increasing discrepancy between the data and the calculations is found in the continuum. The inclusion of meson-exchange currents (MEC) brings the calculations for both nuclei on average closer to the data, but MEC effects are considerably less important for 208Pb as compared to 12C. Finally, a remarkable similarity is observed between the continuum response of the (γ,p) and (e,e′p) reactions on 208Pb despite the difference in the electromagnetic couplings involved.

The double-differential coincidence cross section for the reaction 1 H(e,e′π 0 )p has been measured at Q 2 = 0.1 (GeV/ c ) 2 for a range in the invariant energy W of 1 to 14 MeV above threshold in order to determine the s-wave multipoles E 0+ and L 0+ . The experiment was performed with a 525 MeV electron beam of the Amsterdam Pulse Stretcher and a cryogenic hydrogen target. The scattered electron and the recoiling proton were detected in two high-resolution magnetic spectrometers. By using a recent LET prediction for the relevant combinations of p-wave multipoles, values for E 0+ and L 0+ were extracted from the cos ϑ π ∗ and cos φ π ∗ dependent terms in the cross section. The data are compared to calculations from Chiral Perturbation Theory and from several Lagrangian models. All models give a fair to good description of L 0+ . ChPT gives also a good description of E 0+ , but the Lagrangian models tend to underestimate its value. The data for the angle-independent part of the cross section indicate that the value for the 2 M 1+ + M 1− combination of p-wave multipoles is overestimated by a recent ChPT prediction.

A systematic study of the mass dependence of meson-exchange currents in the reaction (γ,p) has been carried out. This study became possible with the availability of new high resolution (γ,p) data from 12C to 208Pb. In order to determine the relative importance of meson-exchange currents the direct knockout part of the (γ,p) cross section has been constrained by results obtained with the (e,e′p) reaction in similar momentum ranges. It is found that the enhancement of the (γ,p) cross section due to meson-exchange currents reduces by a factor three in going from 12C to 208Pb. This effect is tentatively attributed to the increased importance of higher multipolarities in the description of the coupling to meson exchange currents in heavy nuclei.

Analysis of metabolites in biofluids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after oximation and silylation is a key method in metabolomics. The GC-MS method was modified by a modified vial design and sample work-up procedure in order to make the method applicable to small volumes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), i. e. 10 μL, with similar coverage compared to the standard procedure using ≥100 μL of CSF. The data quality of the modified GC-MS method was assessed by analyzing a study sample set in an animal model for multiple sclerosis, including repetitively analysed quality control rat CSF samples. Automated normalization and intra- and inter-batch correction significantly improved the data quality with the majority of metabolites showing a relative standard deviation

The double-differential coincidence cross section for the reaction {sup 1}H({ital e},{ital e}{prime}{ital p}){pi}{sup 0} has been measured at {ital Q}{sup 2}=0.1(GeV/{ital c}){sup 2} in a range in the invariant mass of 2--14 MeV above threshold. From the angular dependence of the data values of the pion {ital s}-wave multipoles {ital E}{sub 0+} and {ital L}{sub 0+} have been extracted. The results are compared to predictions from chiral perturbation theory and models based on an effective Lagrangian. None of the models is able to describe both the {ital E}{sub 0+} and the {ital L}{sub 0+} multipoles.

High-momentum components of proton momentum distributions in $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ have been studied from 300 to 500 MeV/c with the ($e,{e}^{\ensuremath{'}}p$) reaction. Cross sections were measured with 180 keV excitation-energy resolution for transitions to the low-lying ${\mathrm{\textonehalf{}}}^{+}$, ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$, ${\frac{11}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${\frac{5}{2}}^{+}$, and ${\frac{7}{2}}^{+}$ states in $^{207}\mathrm{Tl}$. The data are compared to distorted-wave impulse-approximation calculations with mean-field wave functions and with wave functions that include nucleon-nucleon correlations. The data are substantially larger than mean-field predictions. The observed excess strength at low excitation energy appears to be mainly due to long-range correlations and not to short-range and tensor correlations.

The contribution of two-step processes in the reaction 12C(e, e′ p) 11B has been studied under quasi-elastic conditions. Cross sections were measured for the transitions to the 5 2 − state at an excitation energy of 4.445 MeV and the ( 7 2 − , 1 2 + ) -doublet at 6.767 MeV in the missing momentum range between 140 MeV/c and 220 MeVc. The excitation of the 5 2 − states, which was never observed before in (e, e′ p) experiments on 12C, can be quantitatively described as being due to a two-step process. A good description of the excitation of the ( 7 2 − , 1 2 + ) doublet is obtained with a coupled-channels calculation includi both direct knock-out and two-step contributions.

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography and detection with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry was used for the determination of kava extracts in herbal mixtures. One percent of kava extract can be detected, corresponding to approximately 0.05-0.2 mg/g of the individual kava lactones kavain, dihydrokavain, yangonin, desmethoxyyangonin, methysticin and dihydromethysticin. Reliable quantification is obtained from concentrations of 0.25-1 mg/g, depending on the compound. At these concentration levels, the relative standard deviations were 10-14%. Validation showed good linearity and recoveries for all the kava lactones with the exception of yangonin. During method development, degradation of yangonin was observed. The degradation product was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as cis-yangonin. The method was applied to the analysis of commercial herbal products available in the Dutch market before and after market restrictions of kava-containing preparations. The results showed that even though 'old' products contained kava extract, the new formulations were negative on kava lactones. cis-Yangonin was also present in the herbal products. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of five cannabinoids, viz. cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiol acid (CBD-COOH), cannabinol (CBN), delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and 3'-carboxy-delta9-all-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in cannabis products. The cannabinoids were extracted from the grinded cannabis samples with a mixture of methanol-chloroform and analysed using liquid chromatography with ion-trap-mass-spectrometry (LC-IT-MSn). For quantification the two most abundant diagnostic MS-MS ions of the analyte in the sample and external standard were monitored. For confirmation purposes the EU criteria as described in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC were followed. Fully satisfactory results were obtained, that is, unequivocal confirmation according to the most stringent EU criteria was possible. The limits of quantification were 0.1 g/kg for CBD, 0.04 g/kg for CBD-COOH, 0.03 g/kg for CBN, 0.28 g/kg for THC and 9.9 g/kg for THC-COOH. The repeatabilities, defined by R.S.D., were 2% for CBN, THC and THC-COOH at the concentration levels of respectively 0.023, 3.3 and 113 g/kg and 5% for CBD-COOH at the level of 0.34 g/kg (n = 6).

Two novel water quality monitoring concepts were developed: the HPLC-fingerprint for the monitoring of yet unidentified pollutants and the HPLC-Toxprint for the recognition of (unknown) toxic or genotoxic compounds. The paper describes applications of both concepts. The HPLC-fingerprint is used for the evaluation of the overall water quality in addition to the monitoring of individual pollutants. Based on their occurrence (frequency, concentration, location) a listing of unknown priority pollutants is set up. Participating waterworks monitor for these compounds using a dedicated HPLC-DAD library that contains the required compound data (UV-absorbance spectrum, retention time index). In five years of experience with this concept, the HPLC-fingerprint was also found very suitable for the retrieval of new priority pollutants in existing HPLC-fingerprint databases, providing historic data on these new compounds. The HPLC-fingerprint concept was also used as an Early Warning System for accidental spills or sabotage. The HPLC-Toxprint was successfully applied in identifying genotoxicity (in the umu-test) in various waste water samples. By the application of LC-MS/MS genotoxicity could be assigned to acridine-derivatives in one of these wastewaters. To enable the evaluation of drinking water resources, the sensitivity of the HPLC-Toxprint was improved, now allowing the detection of pollutants with a 10% genotoxic potential as compared to 2-aminoanthracene (the positive control compound) at concentrations as low as 0.1 microg/l.

Identification of unknown water pollutants with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) is often more complex and time consuming than identification with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In order to focus the identification effort on relevant compounds, unknown peaks need to be selected carefully. Based on its frequency of occurrence in the LC-Diode Array Detection (LC-DAD) chromatograms of surface and infiltrated waters, an unknown peak was selected for identification with LC-MS-MS. This compound was identified as hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM), a chemical often used in the coating industry. This is the first time the presence of this chemical in surface waters has been reported. In addition to HMMM, two other structurally related compounds were found to be present in the investigated surface water. A standard mixture of HMMM and its by-products did not exhibit (geno)toxicity under the test conditions applied in this study. In another example, a genotoxic fraction of an industrial wastewater was isolated and examined by LC-MS-MS using a modern quadrupole-orthogonal acceleration-time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF). Four compounds were detected. The structures of two compounds present are proposed to be 9-amino-2-hydroxy-acridine and 9-hydroxy-acridine-N-oxide or its structural isomer dihydroxy-acridine. Confirmation with standards could not be carried out, as pure compounds are not available. The other two compounds (structural isomers) could not be identified based on the data available within this study.

Amitrole is a widely used polar herbicide, difficult to isolate from water. Due to its persistence, it can easily pollute ground and surface waters used in drinking water production. A fully automated on-line SPE-HPLC (solid-phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography) method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry detection is described for the determination of amitrole. A pre-column derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chloride directly in the native aqueous sample allows an enrichment step by SPE and HPLC separation. Due to the sensitivity of tandem mass spectrometric detection, a limit of detection and quantification as low as 0.025 microg/l was achieved in drinking water and ground and surface water. Based on the constant ratio of two selected product ions together with the retention time, the identification is very selective and quantitation is very reliable. The performance characteristics of the described method fully meet the requirements set by the EU Drinking Water Directive: recoveries of95% in drinking water and75% in surface water were achieved, as well as RSD values for repeatability of9% in drinking water and12% in surface water (determined at a spiking level of 0.1 microg/l). The method was successfully applied to real samples of ground and surface water with actual concentration up to 1.1 microg/l.

In order to aid the monitoring of the overall quality of (surface) waters a new analytical approach has been developed, combining on-line solid-phase extraction, HPLC separation and effect-related detection. Compounds present in surface water or wastewater samples are extracted on-line with Oasis [poly(divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone)] material and directly fractionated by reversed-phase HPLC. The eluent of the total chromatogram is collected on a microtitre plate in fractions of 1 min each. After evaporation and re-dissolvation in a suitable solvent, the (geno)toxicity of the individual fractions before and after enzymatic activation with S9, is determined with the umu test. In this way, harmful compounds can be detected and localized in the HPLC-diode array detection trace even without their identity and exact concentration being known at that moment. The method was developed using two test compounds, 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide and 2-aminoanthracene. Compounds with mutagenic properties comparable to those of the test compounds can be detected from 0.1 microg/l, which is a concentration relevant for surface waters. The new analytical approach was successfully applied to various types of model samples, as well as real wastewater.

The applicability of tandem mass spectrometric (MS–MS) scan modes such as constant neutral-loss and precursor-ion scanning to screen for unknown transformation products (TPs) of pesticides at environmentally relevant concentrations (low-μg/l level) is studied. The selection of the MS–MS scan modes is based on the product-ion scan of the parent pesticide, and TPs are detected which are unaltered in the part of the structure concerned. The screening approach is applied to a surface water sample spiked with atrazine and three known TPs at a level of 3 μg/l to study the possibility to extract the TPs from the total ion chromatogram. Next, the approach is used to identify unknown TPs formed after (bio)degradation of two test compounds, fenchlorazole-ethyl (FCE) and furathiocarb (FTC). By using the precursor-ion scan mode, two TPs were detected after biodegradation of FCE, fenchlorazole-methyl and fenchlorazole; in surface water only fenchlorazole was found. The constant neutral-loss scan mode was used to identify carbofuran as TP of FTC. The added value of the proposed procedure is the increased selectivity at the cost of sensitivity. Best results are, therefore, obtained for samples which contain large amounts of matrix constituents.

Cross sections have been measured for the reaction 208Pb(γ,p) leading to the low-lying ( 1 2 + , 3 2 + ) and ( 11 2 − , 5 2 + ) doublets and 7 2 + state in 207Tl using a high energy-resolution tagged photon beam of 41 to 57 MeV. The data are compared with results obtained with the reaction 208Pb(e,e′p) in the same recoil-momentum range. The recoil-momentum distributions derived from the (γ,p) data do not coincide with those obtained from the (e,e′p) data. Distorted-wave impulse-approximation (DWIA) calculations of which the input is constrained by the (e,e′p) data underestimate the (γ,p) data by typically one order of magnitude. An estimate of meson-exchange currents (MEC) effects using the Siegert theorem brings the DWIA-calculations close to the data. Random-phase approximation calculations also give a fair account of the data, but in this case MEC-effects are predicted to be less important.

Cross sections for the reaction 208Pb(e,e′p) have been measured with the continuous electron beam from the Amsterdam Pulse-Stretcher facility at NIKHEF-K. The spectral function has been extracted for protons with initial momenta of 300 to 500 MeV/c and binding energies up to 26 MeV. The data are compared to calculations with and without inclusion of nucleon-nucleon correlations. Mean-field predictions significantly underestimate the data and the discrepancy increases with binding energy. For transitions to the valence states the discrepancy is removed by introducing long-range correlations. Above the two-nucleon emission threshold long-range and short-range correlations reduce the discrepancy, but are insufficient to fully account for the measured strength.

NRG has performed a High Temperature Reactor fuel qualification test in the framework of the Chinese HTR development for INET – Tsinghua University, as a part of the qualification process of Chinese fuel for use in the HTR-PM (High Temperature Reactor-Pebble bed Module). Fuel qualification is an essential part of the licensing process of the HTR-PM, currently under construction in the Shandong province in the People’s Republic of China. The design of the INET irradiation setup for irradiation in the High Flux Reactor is performed by NRG. In the design of the irradiation rig, the pebbles are encased in graphite half shells to form a solid cylindrical stack. Within the graphite, thermocouples are located for temperature monitoring, and neutron fluence monitor sets for neutron fluence verification. Next to the temperature measurements, the online monitoring consisted of fission product release measurements. These measurements were performed with the Sweep Loop Facility, designed and built by JRC-IET. Post Irradiation Examinations are performed and consisted of gamma scanning, dimensional and weight measurements and visual inspection. In April 2016, the pebbles were transported from Petten to Karlsruhe, Germany where the second required step of fuel qualification will be performed, namely heating tests in the KUFA facility. This paper describes the global lay-out and functionality of the irradiation facility. The online data generated and irradiation parameters are reported, with focus on the measured fission product release behavior of the fuel. The paper also presents non-destructive post irradiation examinations.

As part of a project funded by the European Commission (EC) for the development and evaluation of multiresidue methods for analysis of drinking and related waters, 17 European laboratories evaluated a method using styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether the method meets the requirements of EC Drinking Water Directive 98/83 in terms of accuracy, precision, and detection limit for 21 pesticides according to the following requirements: limit of detection, ≤0.025 μg/L; accuracy expressed as recovery, between 75 and 125%; and precision expressed as repeatability relative standard deviation of the method