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The main aim of the project PEBS (Long-term Performance of the Engineered Barrier System) is to evaluate the sealing and barrier performance of the EBS with time, through development of a comprehensive approach involving experiments, model development and consideration of the potential impacts on long-term safety functions. The experiments and models cover the full range of conditions from initial emplacement of wastes (high heat generation and EBS resaturation) through to later stage establishment of near steady-state conditions, i.e. full resaturation and thermal equilibrium with the host rock. The intention is to integrate the knowledge obtained in the project in a manner that will lead to a more convincing connection between the initial transient state of the bentonite barrier and its long-term state that provides the required isolation of the wastes. The work within the project builds on existing knowledge and experience generated during recent years and supported by ongoing national and EC research programmes. The project intends to provide a more complete description of the THM and THM-C (thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical) evolution of the EBS system, a more quantitative basis for relating the evolutionary behaviour to the safety functions of the system and a further clarification of the significance of residual uncertainties for long-term performance assessment. It is noted that there are other phenomena relevant to the engineered barrier system that have not been dealt with in the PEBS project. Gas production and transport processes in bentonite barriers have been studied in some detail in the FORGE project (Shaw 2014). In addition, ongoing activities within the IGD-TP (Implementation of Geological Disposal Technology Platform) are examining microbial issues relevant to geological disposal.

The main aim of the project PEBS (Long-term Performance of the Engineered Barrier System) is to evaluate the sealing and barrier performance of the EBS with time, through development of a comprehensive approach involving experiments, model development and consideration of the potential impacts on long-term safety functions. The experiments and models cover the full range of conditions from initial emplacement of wastes (high heat generation and EBS resaturation) through to later stage establishment of near steady-state conditions, i.e. full resaturation and thermal equilibrium with the host rock. The intention is to integrate the knowledge obtained in the project in a manner that will lead to a more convincing connection between the initial transient state of the bentonite barrier and its long-term state that provides the required isolation of the wastes. The work within the project builds on existing knowledge and experience generated during recent years and supported by ongoing national and EC research programmes. The project intends to provide a more complete description of the THM and THM-C (thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical) evolution of the EBS system, a more quantitative basis for relating the evolutionary behaviour to the safety functions of the system and a further clarification of the significance of residual uncertainties for long-term performance assessment. It is noted that there are other phenomena relevant to the engineered barrier system that have not been dealt with in the PEBS project. Gas production and transport processes in bentonite barriers have been studied in some detail in the FORGE project (Shaw 2014). In addition, ongoing activities within the IGD-TP (Implementation of Geological Disposal Technology Platform) are examining microbial issues relevant to geological disposal. The present report focuses in particular on the importance of uncertainties arising from potential disagreement between the process models for THMC evolution and the relevant laboratory and in situ experiments performed both within and outside PEBS. The implications for extrapolation of results are treated, with particular emphasis on extrapolation of long-term performance. The report builds on the approach presented in PEBS Deliverable 1.1 (SKB et al. 2012), which described the treatment of the early evolution of the EBS in safety assessments from a number of European national programs based on their studies published in the period 2002 - 2010. Despite the differences in repository concepts, which include crystalline, and clay host rocks and copper and carbon steel canisters, the safety functions defined for the engineered clay barriers are similar. The key processes occurring in the EBS in the early evolution of the repository that may affect the long-term performance are similar in all concepts on a fundamental level. However, the significance of the processes for long-term safety as well as the treatment of the processes in the safety assessment can differ among the different concepts. In Deliverable 1.1, the safety assessment methodology was discussed with particular emphasis on safety functions, which are a tool that is used for the evaluation of the long-term performance of individual repository components. The safety function approach as applied to a bentonite barrier is reiterated here in Chapter 2 to provide a framework for the subsequent discussion, as the use of safety function indicators arises frequently throughout the report in the discussion of the significance of uncertainties for long-term performance. The main body of the present report describes the performance of the bentonite barrier in the context of four "cases" that were defined at the outset of the project in D1.1. These cases represent a method of examining the various THMC processes that occur during the evolution of the EBS, along with their impacts on long-term performance, in a manner that provides for each case a specifically different focus. The four cases are outlined in Chapter 3, including the reasons for their selection and the main work in the project that contributes to evaluating them. The four defined cases provide a good basis for discussing all aspects of evolution of the EBS, which forms the content of Chapter 4 and focuses on the best understanding of the processes and the associated uncertainties. Chapter 5 uses the safety function approach to elaborate the importance of the derived uncertainties in process understanding in terms of assessment of the long-term performance of the bentonite barrier, focusing in particular on the degree to which hydraulic and swelling properties are likely to be affected over the long term as a consequence of the early thermohydraulic evolution phase. However, because the significance of the uncertainties in terms of disposal system performance depends on other considerations as well, in particular the specific repository design concepts and the barrier functions of the host rock and canister, the consequences of the uncertainties are discussed Chapter 5 in the context of the national safety cases.

Investigation of the Effect of Inorganic Smart Fillers and Expanded Graphite on the Flame Retardancy of Polyisocyanurate Insulation Foam - Article (EENSULATE)

Highlights • We report on a rare case of metastasizing malignant triton tumor. • We report on the first case of a malignant triton tumor with concurrent atypical neurofibroma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. • The coexistence of atypical neurofibroma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and malignant triton tumor in the context of NF1 provides valuable information on the pathogenesis of malignant triton tumors., Background Malignant triton tumors (MTT) represent a rare subset of tumors with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation within the heterogeneous group of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Case presentation Here, we report on a case of a 25 year-old male with a history of neurofibromatosis type I and MTT of the mediastinal wall who presented in our clinic with a pelvic tumor and multiple hypervascular mesenteric masses and underwent resection. Upon resection, histological findings revealed an MTT of the omentum and an atypical neurofibroma of the pelvis with focal transitions to a low-grade MPNST. The patient relapsed just one month later and died 3 months after the surgery. Conclusion Clinically, MTTs are characterized as highly aggressive tumors that are fast-growing and prone to local recurrence and distant metastasis. To date, there is no treatment consensus available yet and many patients succumb to the disease shortly after diagnosis. This is because the pathogenesis of MTT remains unknown and patients with MTT are often diagnosed at a late stage of disease. Our case presents valuable teaching points in terms of providing a possible progression model based on the coexistence of a low-grade MPNST and MTT in the context of NF1 and an atypical neurofibroma in this patient. Close monitoring of patients with NF1 and atypical neurofibromas or MPNST might therefore help to diagnose MTT at an earlier stage.

Fragestellung: Die multiparametrische MRT (mpMRT) gewinnt zur Diagnostik von Prostatakarzinomen (PCa) zunehmend an Bedeutung und verbessert die Diagnose von signifikanten Prostatakarzinomen (SPCa) (Gleason-score ≥3+4). Zudem kann die Entscheidungsfindung zur Biopsie basierend auf European[zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL], 63. Kongress der Nordrhein-Westfälischen Gesellschaft für Urologie

Fragestellung: Die multiparametrische MRT (mpMRT) verbessert die Diagnostik signifikanter Prostatakarzinome (SPCa) und der extraprostatischen Tumorausdehnung (EPE). Wir kombinierten präoperative mpMRT-Daten und klinische Parameter zu einem Risikomodell (RM) um das individuelle seitenspezifische[zum vollständigen Text gelangen Sie über die oben angegebene URL], 63. Kongress der Nordrhein-Westfälischen Gesellschaft für Urologie

Objective: This study is a prospective evaluation of a volume-based, computer-assisted method for transperineal optimized prostate (TOP) biopsy. The TOP algorithm automates core planning for systematic prostate biopsies using the 3-dimensional organ contour and an alterable volume for tumors to be excluded. Subjects and Methods: MRI-transrectal ultrasound fusion biopsy with MRI-targeted biopsies (TBs) and systematic-TOP biopsies were performed on 172 men between October 2013 and March 2014. Systematic biopsies were placed according to TOP for detection of tumor volumes >0.5 mL with a minimum of 80% organ coverage in prostates up to 50 mL (70% in larger organs). Results: Median 24 TOP cores and 3 MRI-TBs have been placed. Prostate cancer (PCa) was detected in 112 of 172 (65%) of men; TOP detected 109 (97%) and TB 62 (55%). Significant cancer (Gleason score ≥7) was detected in 75 (44%) of men and of these TOP detected 73 of 75 (97%) and TB 51 of 75 (68%). Overall, systematic-TOP sampling significantly outperformed TB for the detection of both, all PCa as well as significant PCa (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0005). Conclusion: The TOP method is innovative by integrating the individual prostate volume and PCa volume detection thresholds. In the present cohort, it diagnosed more significant tumors than TB alone. However, at the same time, more low-risk tumors are detected.

This study presents on-farm risk factors for the colonization of broiler flocks with Campylobacter based on comparable data from six European countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the UK. The study includes explanatory variables from a large questionnaire concerning production, farm management procedures and farm conditions, climate data on mean temperature, sunshine hours, and precipitation, as well as data on Campylobacter status of broiler flocks. All together the study comprises data from more than 6000 flocks. The data were analysed using a generalized linear model. Due to a large number of parameters, some collinearity and relatively many missing values, the model was analysed by a method using all available cases at each step in the modelling process. The modelling process includes backwards elimination and forward selection. Several approaches were furthermore explored by applying different strategies for categorizing explanatory variables and for selecting and eliminating variables in the model. Despite national differences in broiler production, common risk factors for Campylobacter colonization of broiler flocks were identified across all six countries. These were generally related to inadequate biosecurity. Identified risk factors were: broiler houses older than 15 years, absence of anterooms and barriers in each house, shared tools between houses, long downtime, and drinker systems with bells or cups. Also, the risk of broiler flocks becoming colonized with Campylobacter was clearly affected by country. In descending order, broiler flocks were more likely to be colonized in Poland, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway due to country specific factors that could not be explained by the identified risk factors or any other variables from the questionnaire. The seasonality observed for prevalence values was described by the monthly mean temperature reported in the study, i.e. the higher the temperature, the higher the prevalence of positive flocks.