The importance of genetic counseling and screening for people with pathogenic SMARCE1 variants: A family study.

Clear cell meningioma (CCM) is a rare variant of meningioma. In recent years, an association between cranial and spinal CCMs and germline loss of function mutations in the SMARCE1 gene (SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex subunit gene) has been discovered. We report a family with an incidental large spinal clear cell meningioma in a young adult following reflex screening for a germline loss of function pathogenic variant (PV) in the SMARCE1 gene. The index patient's mother and maternal grandfather were both also tested positive presymptomatically for SMARCE1. His mother developed intracranial and spinal meningiomas and his maternal grandfather developed a spinal CCM 4 years following a clear spinal MRI scan which required surgical excision. In this report we particularly emphasize the importance of genetic counseling and screening in siblings, parents and offspring of patients who are diagnosed with intracranial or spinal CCM in the context of SMARCE1 PVs. We recommend brain and spine Imaging screening of asymptomatic SMARCE1 PV carriers at least every 3 years, even if the baseline scan did not show any tumors.

Soil legacy data rescue via GlobalSoilMap and other international and national initiatives.

Legacy soil data have been produced over 70 years in nearly all countries of the world. Unfortunately, data, information and knowledge are still currently fragmented and at risk of getting lost if they remain in a paper format. To process this legacy data into consistent, spatially explicit and continuous global soil information, data are being rescued and compiled into databases. Thousands of soil survey reports and maps have been scanned and made available online. The soil profile data reported by these data sources have been captured and compiled into databases. The total number of soil profiles rescued in the selected countries is about 800,000. Currently, data for 117, 000 profiles are compiled and harmonized according to GlobalSoilMap specifications in a world level database (WoSIS). The results presented at the country level are likely to be an underestimate. The majority of soil data is still not rescued and this effort should be pursued. The data have been used to produce soil property maps. We discuss the pro and cons of top-down and bottom-up approaches to produce such maps and we stress their complementarity. We give examples of success stories. The first global soil property maps using rescued data were produced by a top-down approach and were released at a limited resolution of 1km in 2014, followed by an update at a resolution of 250m in 2017. By the end of 2020, we aim to deliver the first worldwide product that fully meets the GlobalSoilMap specifications.

Solid-phase extraction using hierarchical organosilicates for enhanced detection of nitroenergetic targets.

A novel porous organosilicate material was evaluated for application as a solid phase extraction sorbent for preconcentration of nitroenergetic targets from aqueous solution prior to HPLC analysis. The performance of the sorbent in spiked deionized water, groundwater, and surface water was evaluated. Targets considered included 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, RDX, HMX, and nitroglycerin. The sorbent was shown to provide improved performance over Sep-Pak RDX. The impact of complex matrices on target preconcentration by the sorbent was also found to be less dramatic than that observed for LiChrolut EN. The impact of changes in pH on target preconcentration was considered. Aqueous soil extracts generated from samples collected at sites of ordnance testing were also used to evaluate the materials. The results presented here demonstrate the potential of this novel sorbent for application as a solid phase extraction material for the preconcentration of nitroenergetic targets from aqueous solutions.

Lignocaine gel in minimally invasive surgery - A pilot cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The administration of local anaesthetic at the conclusion of minimally invasive procedures has been shown to reduce postoperative pain. However, it is often not feasible to reach target surgical sites using a needle, making it difficult to administer injectable local anaesthetic. Formulations currently available for topical use are also not sterile, adhere poorly, and are not adjusted to neutral pH at the time of use. To address these limitations, a new sterile, aqueous 4.8% lignocaine gel was formulated for topical application on surgical wounds. AIMS: To determine the clinical feasibility, safety and tolerability of the topical lignocaine gel. METHODS: A total of 125 female patients underwent minimally invasive gynaecological procedures. The lignocaine gel was applied to any intra-abdominal, intra-uterine or intra-vaginal surgical wounds. The incidence of any intra- or postoperative complications was determined via retrospective review of surgical reports, hospital files and outpatient clinic files. RESULTS: In all cases, the surgeon was able to apply the gel successfully to the desired site. There were no intra-operative complications. There were no adverse events encountered during recovery or hospitalisation which are likely to be associated with the lignocaine gel. Eight patients experienced adverse events during the postoperative period which could be linked to the use of the gel. However, the incidence of these was within the known range of adverse events for these procedures. CONCLUSIONS: A sterile lignocaine gel can be safely used in minimally invasive surgery.

Energetic residues from field disposal of gun propellants.

Military training with howitzers and mortars produces excess propellant that is burned on the training range and can result in point sources containing high concentrations of unreacted propellant constituents. Propellants contain energetic compounds such as nitroglycerin (NG) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), both of which are found at firing positions and propellant disposal areas. To quantify the mass of residue remaining from the field-expedient disposal of propellants, two mortar propellants and one howitzer propellant were burned under different field conditions. These conditions included burning on a snow pack, at the bottom of a snow pit, and in a pan surrounded by snow for the mortar propellants and on dry and wet sand for the howitzer propellant. For the mortar propellant, the energetics (NG) remaining after burning in the bowl, on frozen ground, and on snow were 0.21%, 5.2% and 18%, respectively. For the howitzer propellant, the difference in energetics (2,4-DNT) remaining after disposal on wet and dry sand was <0.1%, with the overall residue rate of around 1%, similar to that for the mortar propellant burned in an open container. These tests demonstrate that environmental factors, especially in winter, can play a significant role in the effectiveness of field-expedient disposal of propellants.

Field observations of the persistence of Comp B explosives residues in a salt marsh impact area.

Field observations of weathering Comp B (RDX/TNT 60/40) residue were made on a live-fire training range over four years. The Comp B residue was formed by low-order detonations of 120-mm mortar projectiles. Physical changes were the disaggregation of initially solid chunks into masses of smaller diameter pieces and formation of red phototransformation products that washed off with rain or tidal flooding. Disaggregation increased the surface area of the residue, thereby increasing the potential for dissolution. The bulk of the mass of Comp B was in the craters, but solid chunks were scattered asymmetrically up to 30m away.

Identity and distribution of residues of energetic compounds at army live-fire training ranges.

Environmental investigations have been conducted at 23 military firing ranges in the United States and Canada. The specific training facilities most frequently evaluated were hand grenade, antitank rocket, and artillery ranges. Energetic compounds (explosives and propellants) were determined and linked to the type of munition used and the major mechanisms of deposition.

RDX and TNT residues from live-fire and blow-in-place detonations.

Snow was used as a collection medium to examine 1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitrotriazine (RDX) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) residues post-detonation of 60-, 81-, and 120-mm mortar rounds, 105- and 155-mm howitzer rounds, M67 hand grenades, 40-mm rifle grenades, and blocks of C4. Residue-covered snow samples were collected, processed, and analyzed for explosives without cross-contamination from previous detonations and other potential matrix interferences. Detonation trials were performed following standard military live-fire and blow-in-place techniques. When possible, replicate munitions were detonated under similar conditions to provide a more reliable estimation of the mass of unconsumed high explosive residues. Overall the amount of energetic residues deposited from live-fire detonations were considerably less than the energetic residues deposited by blow-in-place detonations.

TNT particle size distributions from detonated 155-mm howitzer rounds.

To achieve sustainable range management and avoid or minimize environmental contamination, the Army needs to know the amount of explosives deposited on ranges from different munitions and how these are degraded and transported under different geological and climatic conditions. The physical form of the deposited explosives has a bearing on this problem, yet the shapes and size distributions of the explosive particles remaining after detonations are not known. We collected residues from 8 high-order and 6 low-order non-tactical detonations of TNT-filled 155-mm rounds. We found significant variation in the amount of TNT scattered from the high-order detonations, ranging from 0.00001 to 2% of the TNT in the original shell. All low-order detonations scattered percent-level amounts of TNT. We imaged thousands of TNT particles and determined the size, mass and surface-area distributions of particles collected from one high-order and one low-order detonation. For the high-order detonation, particles smaller than 1 mm contribute most of the mass and surface area of the TNT scattered. For the low-order detonation, most of the scattered TNT mass was in the form of un-heated, centimeter-sized pieces whereas most of the surface area was again from particles smaller than 1 mm. We also observed that the large pieces of TNT disintegrate readily, giving rise to many smaller particles that can quickly dissolve. We suggest picking up the large pieces of TNT before they disintegrate to become point sources of contamination.