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The current Canadian and Romanian model predictions for tritium dose following an atmospheric tritiated hydrogen gas (HT) release is based on a default Canadian Standards Association (CSA) conversion factor of HT to tritiated water (HTO) of 4.3%. The determination of an empirical site specific value for the conversion factor was essential for the CANDU Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Romania to verify if the CSA value is appropriate for use at this site. Given the role of soil characteristics on the conversion of HT to HTO, on-site experiments would provide the best evaluation of the conversion factor. The objective of the study was to define the soil HT to HTO conversion parameters specific to the Cernavoda NPP site. In June 2016, a series of experiments were conducted to meet this objective. First, the in situ deposition velocity of D 2 gas, as a surrogate for HT gas, was obtained using an exposure chamber. Diffusion of D 2 into the soil was then evaluated based on the measurements of DHO concentrations in the exposed soil. As soil microbes play a role in the conversion of HT to HTO, this work included a microbiological characterization of the soil, which targeted total soil bacteria (cultivable and gene-based) and hydrogen oxidizing bacteria (cultivable and gene-based). The fraction of hydrogen oxidizing cultivable soil bacteria represented 14–20% of the total cultivable bacteria population estimated as 2.8–29.2 × 105 cfu/g of soil. The empirically derived HT to HTO conversion factor was lower than the default value (4.3%). It fell between 0.9% and 2.0%. The default value is therefore more conservative than the Cernavoda site-specific derived value obtained from the study. • The objective of the study was to define the soil HT to HTO conversion parameters specific to the Cernavoda NPP site. • Measure hydrogen oxidizing bacteria in soil near the Cernavoda NPP. • The empirically derived HT to HTO conversion factor is lower than the default value of 4.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the process of Neolithization for the genetic make-up of European populations has been hotly debated, with shifting hypotheses from a demic diffusion (DD) to a cultural diffusion (CD) model. In this regard, ancient DNA data from the Balkan Peninsula, which is an important source of information to assess the process of Neolithization in Europe, is however missing. In the present study we show genetic information on ancient populations of the South-East of Europe. We assessed mtDNA from ten sites from the current territory of Romania, spanning a time-period from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. mtDNA data from Early Neolithic farmers of the Starčevo Criş culture in Romania (Cârcea, Gura Baciului and Negrileşti sites), confirm their genetic relationship with those of the LBK culture (Linienbandkeramik Kultur) in Central Europe, and they show little genetic continuity with modern European populations. On the other hand, populations of the Middle-Late Neolithic (Boian, Zau and Gumelniţa cultures), supposedly a second wave of Neolithic migration from Anatolia, had a much stronger effect on the genetic heritage of the European populations. In contrast, we find a smaller contribution of Late Bronze Age migrations to the genetic composition of Europeans. Based on these findings, we propose that permeation of mtDNA lineages from a second wave of Middle-Late Neolithic migration from North-West Anatolia into the Balkan Peninsula and Central Europe represent an important contribution to the genetic shift between Early and Late Neolithic populations in Europe, and consequently to the genetic make-up of modern European populations.

The sexing of human skeletal remains based on visual scoring of descriptive traits on the skull is useful for both forensic and bioarchaeological studies, given that many such features preserve well in the field and can be assessed quickly. The goal of our work is to evaluate the accuracy of this method on an age-balanced, known sex, random sample of 360 modern adult crania in the Rainer Osteological Collection. Consistent with Walker (2008), we scored glabella area (G), the mastoid process (Ma), the mental eminence (M), the orbital edge (O) and the nuchal crest (N), on a five-point scale. We generated sex discriminant functions (logistic), selected the most accurate of them, and subsequently applied them to archaeological samples from Romania. Each skull feature showed significant score differences by sex. Eight out of 31 discriminant functions passed criteria of high accuracy (∼90%), sex bias (±2%), and ease of use (direct calculation of sex). The best estimates were obtained for the 30-60 age groups. Further testing these functions on six archaeological samples showed high percentages of agreement with the sex assessed on the coxal bone. The study also indicated that, although easy to learn by novices, the method of visually scoring the skull traits depends on prior experience with human osteology. The accuracy of the method may be influenced by geographical and historical differences which are bound to exist between populations., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

After a short presentation of the etiopathogenesis of this parasitosis, the authors report their observations on 35 cases of strongyloidiasis followed in the recent years. On the basis of the epidemiologic and clinical analyses of these cases, the authors show that some data, i.e. those on the environment to which the patients belong, or their occupation, and also some clinical manifestations (clinical polymorphism) may suggest the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in the immunosuppressed in about 30% of the cases. An associated blood eosinophilia may be a more possible for the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis. The positive diagnosis has to take into consideration, beside the repeated diet exam, the method of cultures and also jejunal biopsies, which may also verify the efficiency of the treatment recommended. The authors recommend the treatment with Mintezol and, with lower results, Vermigal and Mebendazol.

The present paper reports on a Q fever episode, including 45 subjects (caretakers, technicians, workers building stables) in a zootechnical cooperative in the district of Argeş. In the new unit milch and reproduction cows were brought from various parts of the district. None of the animals showed visible signs of the disease. No cases of Q fever had been reported in man or animals in the locality until then. The episode had an explosive character, the outbreak occurring during the calving season. The diagnosis was established clinically, epidemiologically, radiologically and serologically.