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An overview of climatic factors and impact relative to river ice engineering and science is presented. An explanation of the fundamentals of climatic change is followed by a review of direct and indirect climatic influences that govern river ice breakup and related trends. Known responses of river ice to climatic change and potential future changes to ice breakup processes are described along with the probable ecological and socio-economic consequences of these changes. Changes in engineering approaches to accommodate the present ice regime and predicted changes in climatic variables that affect river ice processes and reduce the vulnerability of infrastructure and ecosystems to climatic change are examined. Future research on the links between river ice and stream ecology is suggested to identify ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Climate variability greatly affects animals through direct and indirect effects. Animals with slow reproductive adaptation to ecological changes such as large mammals are likely to have evolved mechanisms to anticipate early such impacts of climate variability on the environment. One of the adaptive mechanisms between reproductive costs and benefits in mammals affects parental investment through biases in sex ratio. Deer might be likely to show an early detection of climate variability because conception takes place in early autumn, but the main raising cost in deer concerns lactation, which takes place at the end of the following spring. The aim of this paper is to assess whether there is a relationship between global indices of climate variability such as El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (EN...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs, known to play an important role in ecological processes. Conventional light microscopy is the most common method used to detect their presence...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A case study is presented where an integrated, ecologically relevant exposure assessment is presented for a polluted lowland river. Using partial least squares regression of latent structures (PLS), an analysis of the impact of two effluents on physico-chemical water quality measures, macroinvertebrate and diatom communities, and in situ bioassay responses with four different test species are combined into an integrative exposure assessment. Bioassays focussed on growth and condition related endpoints, because they are key functional processes of organisms and populations. Integrating these multiple lines of evidence, we were able to discriminate among the impact of both effluents, link changes in physico-chemical water quality with bioassay endpoints and ecological quality of the ecosystem, and address the importance of integrating all information into one exposure assessment framework. The bioassays under field conditions ...

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This paper indicates first that the base content in desert soil is by far much higher than that in soils in moist areas, that salts with the higher solubility to water have their deposition depth greater, and that the organic content is extremely low. The paper also describes the experiments to verify that the desert soil contains soil lumps with a diameter of about several millimeters, which function effectively to form the long term survival locations for microorganisms. Desert soil containing soil lumps and the one removed of lumps by pulverizing them into powder were prepared as test specimens, which were left submerged. It was confirmed that the velocity of decomposing the organics and the mechanical strength in the latter soil are obviously inferior to those in the former soil. Additional remarks are given that when the desert soil environment is changed the microorganisms get more active appreciably and that certain kinds of mold fungi and green algae were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It has been acknowledged that river morphology and hydrology have been intensively altered due to the anthropic demands in floodplain land use and management, flood protection, promotion of navigability or energy production. Rivers were transformed in water highways, having lost contact with their surrounding floodplain as well as the plethora of ecological processes and occupants once thriving in these ecotonal zones. The identification of this emerging threat of morphological and hydrological alteration on ecological integrity adds further complexity in the exploitation of hydrosystem resources. These resources are heavily coveted and guarded by different lobbies each having strategic views on future project development. Stakeholders may want to promote hydro-electricity, ecologists a natural reserve, communes may wish to have an increased flood protection and leisure promoters a nautical center. As a result, the proposition of a river ...

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Development and Creation of Model Samples of Ecologically Safe Luminescent Lamps

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Not all detectable differences between face images correspond to a change in identity. Here we measure both sensitivity to change and the criterion difference that is perceived as a change in identity....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

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Science.gov (United States)

This report describes our initial attempts at the molecular characterization of a maize controlling element. We have prepared a cDNA probe and used it to detect changes at a locus where Ds elements are found. Evidence of their presence are indicated by changes in the restriction patterns, but there is as yet no information on the physical nature of the controlling elements nor on the kinds of rearrangements they cause.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe commonest pathogenic DMD changes are intragenic deletions/duplications which make up to 78% of all cases and point mutations (roughly 20%) detectable...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A synthesis of papers based on the United Nations Environment Programme meeting on the ozone layer, Washington DC, this book contains valuable information on ongoing and planned activities concerned with stratospheric ozone problems, and presents the recommendations for further action resulting from the meeting. Possible changes in the characteristics of the ozone layer are discussed, together with the environmental, ecological, climatic, economic, and health implications of stratospheric ozone depletion. A comprehensive survey of current research in five European countries, the USA, Canada, and Australia is included and the volume is concluded by the UNEP report of the meeting and a world plan of action.

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Species interactions research and monitoring was initiated in 1989 to investigate ecological interactions among fish in response to proposed supplementation of salmon and steelhead in the upper Yakima River basin. This is the eighth of a series of progress reports that address species interactions research and pre-supplementation monitoring of fishes in the Yakima River basin. Data have been collected prior to supplementation to characterize the ecology and demographics of non-target taxa (NTT) and target taxon, and develop methods to monitor interactions and supplementation success. Major topics of this report are associated with implementing NTT monitoring prescriptions for detecting potential impacts of hatchery supplementation, hatchery fish interactions, and monitoring fish predation indices. This report is organized into four chapters, with a general introduction preceding the first chapter. This annual report ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Assessment of subtle changes in the primary macromolecular components of cartilage, proteoglycan (PG) and collagen, is critical for the diagnosis of early stages of osteoarthritis (OA), but...Full Text Available

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Density changes in amorphous Pd{sub 80}Si{sub 20} during ion irradiation below 100K were detected by in situ HVEM measurements of the changes in specimen length as a function of ion fluence. A decrease in mass density as a function of the ion fluence was observed. The saturation value of the change in mass density was determined to be approximately -1.2%.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The population of the hyporheic interstice and moss cushions by meso- and macroinvertebrates as found at the three measuring points along the Alte Riefensbeek and the Grosse Soese, respectively, in the period from March 1987 to May 1988 is studied and evaluated together with chemical measurements performed between 1987 and 1990. The six measuring points are positioned along an acidification gradient ranging from non-acid to severely acidified. Chemical and biological paramerters are studied with regard to their suitability as indicators of acidification. A model is presented which decribes the influence of abiotic anthropogenic and natural factors on invertebrate species diversity and populations and which can serve as a basis for the calculation of critical deposition burdens. (orig.).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The ecological approach to perception, as developed by James Gibson, is described and applied to how one knows, by means of the haptic perceptual system, various properties of hand-held objects. Four...Full Text Available

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Thermal neutron beam from the TNRF of JRR-3M was utilized for detection of mice lung cancer in vivo. Both the static and real-time neutron imaging were tried. Very strong thermal neutron beam is necessary to detect lung cancers because small changes are hidden by the very large attenuation of thermal neutron beam by the hydrogens in the tissues. The detection was successfully performed. Especially, the Super Eye of Hamamatsu Photonics contributed very effectively. Bone marrows and cartilages were also shown clearly. If an efficient and compact neutron source will become available in future, this method will grow up as a powerful tool for biomedical application. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fugitive dust emissions from stockpiles in the open storage yards of industrial zones and the subsequent atmospheric dust dispersion have brought about many ecological and economical problems. This paper introduces a new approach to reduce pollutant emissions by simply changing pile configuration and without affecting the operational activity on these parks. Flow around piles of different geometries and for various wind conditions was studied using previously validated Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations. Different pile height scenarios were investigated corresponding to a constant material volume and a fixed angle of repose under various wind magnitudes. The results obtained were integrated in order to evaluate the rate of dust emissions for the various configurations considered. It was found that, for the range of wind conditions and pile dimensions tested, an optimal geometry exists which corresponds to the lower emissions rate. 13 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The report presents an overview of A.I.D. efforts, which encompass a wide range of environmental issues and support environmental training, research, and institutional development. The report's opening section details A.I.D.'s efforts to enlist host-country support for environmental programs, with specific emphasis on improving natural resource management (especially in Africa), encouraging policy change, strengthening the private sector's environmental role, and preparing environmental profiles of host countries and helping them develop conservation strategies. The ensuing sections recount A.I.D. efforts in particular topics of environmental concern (biological diversity and environmental health and safety), critical ecological areas (coastal areas and forests and fragile lands), and specific country programs (reforestation in Haiti). A brief history of the evolution of the Agency's environmental strategy ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Future climate change will likely influence the frequency and intensity of weather extremes. As such events are by definition rare, long records are required to understand their characteristics, drivers, and consequences on ecology and society. Herein we provide a unique perspective on regional-scale temperature extremes over the past millennium, using three tree-ring maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies from higher elevations in the European Alps. We verify the tree-ring-based extremes using documentary evidences from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Central Europe that allowed the identification of 44 summer extremes over the 1550-2003 period. These events include cold temperatures in 1579, 1628, 1675, and 1816, as well as warm ones in 1811 and 2003. Prior to 1550, we provide ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ecosystems worldwide are experiencing unprecedented nitrogen enrichment through fertilization and pollution. While longterm ecological consequences are difficult to predict, it seems that plants and animals adapted to nitrogen-limited environments are at particular risk from these changes. This report summarizes the limited body of literature which addresses this important topic. From a herbivoreAes perspective, fertilization increases the nutritional quality of host plant tissues. In some cases fertilization has lead to decreased production of defensive compounds. How this affects populations of insects is unclear because fertilization affects not only herbivores but their natural enemies. This report outlines how fertilization affects tree processes such as growth, photosynthesis, and production of defensive compounds. The many factors that affect insect repsonse to fertilization and the difficulties in assessing how fertilization affects ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Climate change is one of the main global issues of modern time. Ever increasing demand for food/feed and the need for higher environmental standards require shaping of the agricultural activities toward ecological and more sustainable efficient systems. One of the principal ways of attaining higher productivity and environmental standards is identification and adoption of beneficial management practices (BMP) by reviewing the conventional agricultural activities. The BMP are agricultural practices that promote sustainable land stewardship and maintain/increase profitability of farms. The BMP are from both crop and animal production systems and tradeoffs between the two systems could provide several opportunities in reducing, removing and/or avoiding of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Des...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must account for legally protected and endangered species. Uncertainties relating to the validity and sensitivity of EIA arise from predictions and valuation of effects on these species. This paper presents a validity and sensitivity analysis of a model (BIO-SAFE) for assessment of impacts of land use changes and physical reconstruction measures on legally protected and endangered river species. The assessment is based on links between species (higher plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and dragon- and damselflies) and ecotopes (landscape ecological units, e.g., river dune, soft wood alluvial forests), and on value assignment to protected and endangered species using different valuation criteria (i.e., EU Habitats and Birds directive, Conventions of Bern and Bonn and Red Lists). The validity of BIO-SAFE has been tested by comparing predicted effects of landscape ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Creation of Meat and Fat Tail Breed Sheep and Production of Ecologically Pure Mutton and Lamb

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We report biological changes at several UK Acid Waters Monitoring Network lakes and streams that are spatially consistent with the recovery of water chemistry induced by reductions in acid deposition. These include trends toward more acid-sensitive epilithic diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages, an increasing proportional abundance of macroinvertebrate predators, an increasing occurrence of acid-sensitive aquatic macrophyte species, and the recent appearance of juvenile (<1 year old) brown trout in some of the more acidic flowing waters. Changes are often shown to be directly linked to annual variations in acidity. Although indicative of biological improvement in response to improving water chemistry, 'recovery' in most cases is modest and very gradual. While specific ecological recovery endpoints are uncertain, it is likely that physical and biotic interactions are influencing the rate of recovery of certain groups ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The model of `ecological forestry' has evolved as a part of the development of the concept of ecosystem management. `Ecological forestry' emphasises that manipulation of a forest ecosystem should consider, and as far as practicable work within the limits of, natural disturbance patterns prior to extensive human alteration of the landscape. This paper evaluates the extent to which forest management practices in jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forests of south-western Australia align with this view of the characteristics and appropriate silviculture of `ecological forestry'. Characteristics and appropriate silviculture of `ecological forestry' are evaluated in relation to (i) the stand level decisions of stand structure and harvest timing and (ii) the landsc...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

1. Proteolytic enzyme activities were examined in the pancreas of zinc-deficient and control rats. 2. No change was detected in trypsin-plus-chymotrypsin activity. 3. Carboxypeptidase activity was...Full Text Available

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...because it had greatly contributed to the geospatial capability of coalition forces in the Global War on Terrorism by producing a system that provides high-resolution imagery for use in detecting ground changes, creating detailed maps and obtaining Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) information. ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We investigated the pathophysiological mechanism by proteomic approach as a possible tool to detect the marker proteins to develop lower urinary tract symptoms following bladder outlet obstruction (BOO)....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The fault detection and diagnosis system for gas engines was developed to improve the reliability of cogeneration systems (CGS). Most of existing fault detection systems monitor the trend of each part condition of engines and diagnose faults based on trend change, resulting in slow detection. Although early detection systems are available, those are complex, expensive and poor in flexibility and applicability. Since CGSs combined with gas engines increased to 1/3 of the whole CGS, engine troubles cause possible serious faults. The fault diagnosis system was thus developed to prevent serious faults which can early detect, in particular, abnormal conditions of parts around a combustion chamber such as ignition plug, intake valve and exhaust valve by monitoring exhaust pressure waveforms in an exhaust collector. Since this system can detect ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim is to provide accurate data on elevation change due to mining activity, via the application of interferometry with ERS SAR data. Ultimately, these elevation changes can then be fed into subsidence models. Interferometry results are presented showing initial evidence of subsidence occurring within the 35 day repeat orbit period of the ERS satellites. The result of extending the monitoring period beyond 35 days is also shown.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study highlights a methodology to detect the transplanting operation of wetland rice at a regional scale using SSM/I brightness temperature in frequencies like 19, 37 and 85 GHz with vertical polarization. A cloud removal algorithm was used to make weekly composites of the brightness temperature, which were used to estimate the soil wetness index (SWI). Flooding of rice fields with water for transplanting induces very high change in SWI due to contrasting dielectric constant of water (80) and soil (4). Different weather conditions and fractional wet area under the footprint of sensor affect SWI, hence absolute value of SWI was not adequate. Therefore, multi-year SWI anomaly was used to generate a threshold value of SWI change to detect when SWI change between two consecutive weeks was...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper elucidates morphological characteristics, reproduction forms and ecological characteristics of Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. which are most frequently detected nematodes separated from tap water. The paper also discussed experimentally establishment of cultivating conditions for these nematodes, and behavior and reproduction characteristics of nematodes under widely ranging conditions of temperatures, bacteria concentrations and pH. Plectus sp. grows in hermaphroditic individuals, while Rhabditis sp. grows only in female. An LE culture medium can cultivate nematodes that appear in tap water, and is suitable for subculture of nematodes. Conditions of temperatures from 20{degree}C to 25{degree}C, pH and inoculated concentration of bacteria at 10{sup 8} cell {center_dot} ml{sup -1} are suitable for reproduction of Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. Plectus sp. and Rhabditis sp. prefer mild temperatures for reproduction, cannot reproduce ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Some of most used indicators in marine ecology are nucleic acid-derived indices. They can be divided by target levels in three groups: 1) at the organism level as ecophysiologic indicators, indicators...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Herbivores and pathogens impact the species composition, ecosystem function, and socioeconomic value of forests. Herbivores and pathogens are an integral part of forests, but sometimes produce undesirable effects and a degradation of forest resources. In the United States, a few species of forest pests routinely have significant impacts on up to 20 million ha of forest with economic costs that probably exceed $1 billion/year. Climatic change could alter patterns of disturbance from herbivores and pathogens through: (1) direct effects on the development and survival of herbivores and pathogens; (2) physiological changes in tree defenses; and (3) indirect effects from changes in the abundance of natural enemies (e.g. parasitoids of insect herbivores), mutualists (e.g. insect vectors of tree pathogens), and competitors. Because of their short life cycles, mobility, reproductive potential, and physiological sensitivity to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A compartment model, including removal of organic matter in a forest ecosystem, is developed to describe matter cycling and net CO{sub 2} flux of the ecosystem especially of managed forests. The model consists of five carbon stocks: atmosphere, foliage, woody matter, underground matter, and dead organic matter in the soil. Employing appropriate values of ecophysiological parameters in the model and simulation of man-made sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantation forests shows that these forests have high growth potential with a maximum total phytomass of over 750 t ha{sup -1} in dry matter basis. When the typical pattern of thinning regime for sugi plantation forests in Japan is applied to the present model, the simulated forest biomass developments compare well with mensuration data from various forestry sites. The CO{sub 2} balance between the sugi forest ecosystem and the atmosphere reveals a net CO{sub 2} fixation of 49.38 million ton CO{sub 2} year{sup -1} by all sugi forests ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This description of work (DOW) details the field activities associated with the sampling of the vadose zone soils beneath the 1301-N and 1325-N cribs and trenches and will serve as a field guide for those performing the work. These activities are undertaken pursuant to the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Ecology et al., 1994a) Milestone M-16-94-01H-Tl and the June 30, 1994 Milestone Change Request M-16-94-02 (Ecology et al., 1994b). Three vadose zone borings, 1301-N-1, 1301-N-2, and 1325-N-1, will be constructed to investigate the vertical and horizontal distribution of radionuclide contamination in sediments beneath the cribs and trenches. The boreholes are also intended to intersect subsurface areas that may have been contaminated by dangerous wastes, i.e., metals, in effluent disposed during past operation of the facilities. This limited field investigation will provide data for the evaluation of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

... Safety Institute, GRS, Cologne (Germany) INIS-UA--089 456 p. APPLIED LIFE

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A typical form of change in runoff characteristics caused by the widespread use of hydroelectric power in Switzerland is the intermittent draining (torrent operation). It is the aim of the present work to help elucidate possible consequences of these changes in drain onto the benthobiocoenosis. The study was carried through on the Secklisbach at Oberrickenbach (in the semicanton of Nidwalden) and one of its side streamlets (800m above sea level). The macroinvertebrate coenosis was studied at four locations with similar conditions of drainage basin, population density and topography but varying in the degree of impairment to the draining. There were monthly benthos samples taken using a Surber sampling-device. Results show that the locations not only varied in drain, but also in temperature, this being a consequence of water storage by the power plant. The readings pointed out different values for the locations in daily average temperature, day ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

When a nuclear power station was installed on the Meuse in central Belgium, the impact of thermal, radioactive, and chemical waste on the water of the Neuse and on its biocenoses was studied. Three successive periods of development of the channel bed and the flood plain in Belgium have occurred, and their hydrological, physicochemical, and ecological consequences have been examined. Since the last century, the ecosystem of the Meuse has undergone, due to the increasing activity of man, modifications of increasing importance: marked reduction of the water flow, a drastic increase in the suspended material being transported, a degree of eutrophication of the water, and the disturbance of the original floral and faunal communities. The causes of this evolution of the Meuse can be itemized as different types of human interference in descending order of importance: (1) occupation of the catchment area; (2) encroachment on the flood plain; (3) encroachment on the channel ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The experiment was carried out on a short rotation coppice culture of poplars (POP-EUROFACE, Central Italy), growing in a free air carbon dioxide enriched atmosphere (FACE). The specific objective of this work was to study whether elevated CO{sub 2} and fertilization (two CO{sub 2} treatments, elevated CO{sub 2} and control, two N fertilization treatments, fertilized and unfertilized), as well as the interaction between treatments caused an unbalanced nutritional status of leaves in three poplar species (P. x euramericana, P. nigra and P. alba). Finally, we discuss the ecological implications of a possible change in foliar nutrients concentration. CO{sub 2} enrichment reduced foliar nitrogen and increased the concentration of magnesium; whereas nitrogen fertilization had opposite effects on leaf nitrogen and magnesium concentrations. Moreover, the interaction between elevated CO{sub 2} and N fertilization amplified some element unbalances such ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Purpose: To permit accurate detection of sodium leakage by distinguishing between variations in the overflow tank level due to changes in sodium temperature accompanying changes in the power level or operating state of a liquid metal sodium cooled fast breeder, and a reduction in power level due to duct leakage. Constitution: The volume of sodium in the primary cooling system is roughly estimated from the temperatures of hot and cold legs, and the duct leak preset level with respect to the sodium liquid level within an overflow tank when the plant is normal is varied according to the state of the plant. More particularly, the volume of sodium within the overflow tank is calculated on the basis of a signal representing the liquid level detected by a liquid level gauge in the overflow tank and a signal representing the temperature detected by hot leg and cold leg thermometers, thereby ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The electromagnetic properties of a prototype gravitational wave detector, based on two coupled superconducting microwave cavities, were tested. The radio-frequency (rf) detection system was carefully analysed. With the use of piezoelectric crystals small harmonic displacements of the cavity walls were induced and the parametric conversion of the electromagnetic field inside the cavities explored. Experimental results of bandwidth and sensitivity of the parametric converter versus stored energy and voltage applied to the piezoelectric crystal are reported. A rf control loop, developed to stabilize phase changes on signal paths, gave a 125 dBc rejection of the drive mode on a time scale of 1 h.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A study has been conducted on the statistics of detected neutrons that leaked from four subcritical reflected, enriched-uranium assemblies, to explore the feasibility of developing a criticality warning system based on neutron noise analysis. Studies were conducted on three possible discriminators, i.e., three signatures that might be used to discriminate among assemblies of various multiplications. The noise analysis techniques studied performed well enough in deeply subcritical situations to deserve testing in an applications environment. They have a good chance of detecting changes in reactivity that are potentially dangerous. One can expect sharpest results when doing comparisons, i.e., when comparing two records, one taken in the past under circumstances known to be normal and one taken now to search for change.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

With the aim to study and to improve LIBS capability for detecting residues of energetic compounds in air surrounding, nine types of explosives and some potential interferents, placed in small quantities on a metallic support, were interrogated by a laser. Shot-to-shot behavior of the line intensities relative to the sample constituents was studied. The detected plasma was not stoichiometric and the line intensities, as well as their ratios, were changing even for an order of magnitude from one sampling point to another, particularly in the case of aromatic compounds. We explained some sources of such LIBS signal's behavior and this allowed us to establish a data processing procedure, which leads to a good linearization among the data sets. In this way, it was possible to determine some re...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Many mines and processing facilities are in remote, difficult to access areas, or are in areas where access is limited or restricted for national reasons. In a joint project with Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, the Canadian Safeguards Support Program is investigating utility of multi- and hyperspectral remote sensing for remotely inspecting such site. With a view to eventually using the hyperspectral satellite data now coming available, airborne data over uranium and copper mine tailings and uranium processing facilities in northern Canada were acquired. The objective of this work is to demonstrate that multispectral and hyperspectral data can provide complementary and supplementary information to high-resolution panchromatic imagery for the following safeguards applications: Inspection aids (up-to-date maps of remote locations), change detection, evaluation of member state declarations, monitoring of reactor, mining and processing facility ...

Wastenet

... The relation between turbulence structure and a scalar detected using a new statistical test for the change in fractal dimension of a time-series, Department of Geography, University of Durham Workshop on Coherent Structures in Rivers Keylock C.J., Nishimura K., Nemoto M., Ito Y. 2006. The wake structure from fractal fences: implications for the control of turbulent suspensions, Warwick Turbulence ...

Science.gov (United States)

An IR spectroscopic study of the reduction of copper-exchanged Linde Na-Y zeolite with hydrogen or carbon monoxide and oxidation with oxygen or oxygen-18 showed that copper(I) and AlO(+1) are formed during reduction, and that oxidation generates copper(II) ions but does not change the aluminum species. Trigonally coordinated aluminum was not detected.

Science.gov (United States)

The non-invasiveness of autofluorescence technology may reduce sampling error and time delay for histopathology diagnosis. We establish biophotonic methods and guidelines to visualize and interpret early epithelial tissue changes that signify disease. Flexible and rigid fiber endomicroscopy instrumentation design parameters feasible for translation towards clinical use are in development.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Medicinal plants i.e. dried seeds of myristica argentea, myristica fragrans, coriandrum sativum and foeniculum vulgare were stored for 0 and 6 months, with and without gamma irradiation at 5 kGy. No detectable changes were seen in infrared and UV spectra, GLC chromatograms and refraction indices of steam distilled, essential oils from the irradiated medicinal plants. The same results were also obtained from irradiated samples stored for 6 months at ambient conditions. Storage for 6 months caused significant changes in the gas liquid chromatograms and UV spectra of all samples compared to non-stored samples. The moisture content of all samples packed in polyethylene bags seems to be constant after 6 months of storage. No measurable changes were found in the amount of essential oil content caused by irradiation.

CERN Document Server

Particle Detection with drift Chambers

Science.gov (United States)

Cancer is a severe threat to human health. Early detection is considered the best way to increase the chance for survival. While the traditional cancer detection method, biopsy, is invasive, noninvasive optical diagnostic techniques are revolutionizing the way that cancer is diagnosed. Reflectance spectroscopy is one of these optical spectroscopy techniques showing promise as a diagnostic tool for pre-cancer detection. When a neoplasia occurs in tissue, morphologic and biochemical changes happen in the tissue, which in turn results in the change of optical properties and reflectance spectroscopy. Therefore, a pre-cancer can be detected by extracting optical properties from reflectance spectroscopy. This dissertation described the construction of a fiberoptic based reflectance system and the development of a series of modeling studies. This research is aimed at ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundSister species divergence and reproductive isolation commonly results from ecological adaptation. In mimetic Heliconius butterflies, shifts in colour pattern...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Jun 16, 2011 ... Description: Within the Deschutes River basin of central Oregon, the geology, hydrology, and physiography influence geomorphic and ecologic ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

An environmental study was done to examine the prevalence of Vibrio mimicus in some aquatic environments of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and of Okayama, Japan. Water samples from Dhaka environments and water...Full Text Available

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Development of New Methods and Means of Assessing of Consequences of Radionuclide and Heavy Metal Salt Effect, Criteria of Forecasting Physiological State and Productivity of the Farm Animals under Conditions of Ecological Pollution of Environment

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Due to the use of a limited number of species and subchronic exposures, current ecological hazard assessment processes can underestimate the chronic toxicity of environmental contaminants resulting...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We demonstrate detection of a single core-shell magnetite-silica nanoparticle (outer diameter #approx#120 nm, moment #approx#10"4#mu#_B) using an Nb dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) with the loop size of 350 nm operational at T < 10 K. The system noise was minimized down to 0.2 #mu##PHI#_0 Hz"-"1"/"2 using a cryogenic SQUID series array pre-amplifier. Initial measurements of an individual magnetic nanoparticle were performed and a clear change of the noise spectra of the nano-SQUID was detected at low frequencies in the presence of the nanoparticle. Similar behaviour was confirmed with an FePt nanoparticle with a larger magnetic moment (diameter #approx#150 nm, moment #approx#10"6#mu#_B). Thus, we demonstrate a magnetic sensor based on a dc nano-SQUID and enabling detection of small moments (potentially down to a few electron spins). Such a sensor is of considerable significance ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Radiation portal monitors used for interdiction of illicit materials at borders include highly sensitive neutron detection systems. The main reason for having neutron detection capability is to detect fission neutrons from plutonium. The currently deployed radiation portal monitors (RPMs) from Ludlum and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) use neutron detectors based upon 3He-filled gas proportional counters, which are the most common large neutron detector. There is a declining supply of 3He in the world, and thus, methods to reduce the use of this gas in RPMs with minimal changes to the current system designs and sensitivity to cargo-borne neutrons are being investigated. Four technologies have been identified as being currently commercially available, potential alternative neutron detectors to replace the use of 3He in RPMs. Reported here are the results of tests of a newly designed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The radiographic appearance of Ewing's sarcoma was studied retrospectively in 22 patients who survived 5 years or longer after diagnosis and treatment. Expected changes from treatment, including regression of the extraosseous soft tissue mass, periostitis, and reconstitution of the cortex, occurred in all patients. Local recurrence occurred in one patient 10 years after complete remission whereas secondary osteosarcoma occurred more than 5 years after complete remission in two other cases. Both recurrent and secondary tumors presented as new lytic foci at the site of the original primary lesion. Lytic changes from radiation (radiation osteitis) may develop more than 2 years after treatment and in this sample; such findings were widely distributed in the radiation port. The authors conclude that bone remodeling and postradiation changes occur slowly over 2 years after treatment, and that any localized lysis at the primary ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The retina consists of many kinds of central nervous cells, and some cells contain fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) has a possibility to detect kinds and quantity of materials in relation to the cell or tissue. We applied TOF-SIMS to detect the palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid in the visual cell of the rat retina. We used 4- and 18-month-old normal Wistar Kyoto rats. After pentobarbital anesthesia, the eyes were enucleated, and immediately put into liquid nitrogen without any fixation and then cut into semithin sections (10 {mu}m) with a cryo-ultramicrotome, and laid it on a silicon wafer plate and air-dried. Ion images were detected with TOF-SIMS. Positive ion images were examined with a Ga{sup +} source at an acceleration voltage of 15 keV. The secondary ion acceleration voltage was 4.5 keV. In the 4-month-old rat, palmitic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study presents results from Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations aimed at characterizing a novel methodology being developed to detect partial defects in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) spent fuel assemblies (SFAs). The methodology uses a combination of measured neutron and gamma fields inside a spent fuel assembly in an in-situ condition where no movement of the fuel assembly is required. Previous studies performed on single isolated assemblies resulted in a unique base signature that would change when some of the fuel in the assembly is replaced with dummy fuel. These studies indicate that this signature is still valid in the in-situ condition enhancing the prospect of building a practical tool, Partial Defect Detector (PDET), which can be used in the field for partial defect detection.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Antibodies directed against markers on cancer cells are gaining in importance for the purpose of targeting diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In the past, this approach has had very limited success principally because the classical methods for producing antibodies from blood serum of animals immunized with cancer cells or extracts were unsatisfactory. The situation has changed dramatically since 1975 following the design of procedures for 'immortalizing' antibody-producing cells (lymphocytes) by fusing them with cultured myeloma cells to form hybridomas which continuously secrete antibodies. Since these hybridomas produce antibodies coded for by a single antibody-producing cell, the antibodies are called monoclonal. Building on these advances in biomedical research, it is now possible to reproducibly manufacture monoclonal antibodies on a scale suitable for use in cancer detection and therapy.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The production method of the elastic composite containing ferrous particles and titanium barium particles dispersed in the porous silicone matrix is described in this article. Since it contains ferrous and titanium barium particles, this composite shows magnetorheological and also electrorheological properties. The electrostriction of composite samples in the electric field with maximal intensity 1.5x10{sup 6} V/m was investigated. The magnetostriction in the magnetic field with maximal induction 1 T was also investigated. It was found that samples elongate with increased electric field intensity, and the magnetic field induction was detected. By increasing the samples' elongation with increase of ferrous particles, titanium barium particles and pores number were also detected. In the investigated division of the electric and magnetic field the elongation changed in a linear way. The maximal elongation achieved was ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This article describes the utilization of plastic wastes in a blast furnace. The plastic waste is a substitution for petroleum and coal as a raw material for synthesis gas production. The synthesis gas is the reducing agent in the blast furnace for the reduction of iron ores. You can find here an ecological and economical analysis of this process in comparison to the utilization of petroleum and coal. (SR)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the discussion of environmental architecture, we are conjoining two disciplines, the subject of architecture and that of ecology. At their best, green buildings are examples of applied ecology, where designers understand the constitution, organization, and structure of ecosystems, and the impacts of architecture are considered from an environmental perspective. By utilizing the concepts, methods, and language of ecology, designers can create architecture that intentionally engages the natural systems of a site. The establishment of assessment criteria implies the definition of building design criteria. If we establish criteria that are based on our best scientific understanding of environmental capacity, we will begin to develop a building stock that is sustainable. To do this we must quantify the link between the resulting environmental impacts and their cause in building production and use. This is not done in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

General trends of developing hydrogen power engineering and technology in Ukraine are considered. Based on a general level of power consumption and real opportunities for hydrogen production, a conclusion is derived that there are possibilities in the near future to partially replace conventional hydrocarbon fuels by hydrogen. Besides, developed technologies for burning hydrogenous gases and hydrogen-fuel systems when applied to transport installations allow one to improve essentially their power and ecological characteristics. 5 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Research programs from the following sections and programs are summarized: aquatic ecology, environmental resources, earth sciences, terrestrial ecology, advanced fossil energy program, toxic substances program, environmental impacts program, biomass, low-level waste research and development program, US DOE low-level waste management program, and waste isolation program.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The application of fossil fuels and the simultaneous dependency on fuel imports can only be decreased through consequent utilisation of efficient hydro power which is the most efficient way to avoid CO{sub 2} emissions. Only some decades ago hydro power plants were buildings erected according to met technical demands. In the 1990s rethinking started and the new designs took into account ecology and architecture. Maintenance and/or improvement of ecological efficiency play a decisive role. Experts of ecology and environmental protection of different faculties are involved right from the beginning when planning starts in order to obtain a maximum of nature compatibility and to develop efficient ecological accompanying and compensating measures. Landscape is being recultivated sustainably during construction activities in order to offer biota optimum conditions of living. Devices supporting fish migration ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The phase transition behaviour of polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO) diblock copolymer with relatively short chain lengths has been studied on the basis of temperature dependent infrared and Raman spectral measurements and synchrotron WAXD/SAXS simultaneous measurements, from which the concrete structural changes were deduced successfully from the various levels of molecular chain conformation, chain packing mode and higher-order structure. The higher-order structure has been found to transform between lamella, perforated lamella, gyroid, cylinder and sphere structures. The inner structural changes occurring in the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) parts have been related with these morphological changes. The morphological transition from lamella to gyroid occurs with keeping the crystalline state of polyethylene parts. This apparently curious transition can be interpreted reasonably by assuming the ...

CERN Document Server

In the littlest Higgs model with T-parity (LHT) the mirror quarks induce the special flavor structures and some new flavor-changing (FC) couplings which could greatly enhance the production rates of the FC processes. We in this paper study some bottom and anti-strange production processes in the LHT model at the International Linear Collider (ILC), i.e., $e^+e^-\\rightarrow b\\bar{s}$ and $\\gamma\\gamma\\rightarrow b\\bar{s}$. The results show that the production rates of these processes are sizeable for the favorable values of the parameters. Therefore, it is quite possible to test the LHT model or make some constrains on the relevant parameters of the LHT through the detection of these processes at the ILC.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The paper-insulated low-pressure oil-filled cable invented in 1917 has been used throughout the world as the major cable system for voltages from 33kV to 525kV and experimentally to 1100kV. The proven reliability of the design is amply demonstrated by the cables installed in the early 1930s still currently in service. The inherent design of an oil-filled cable requires that the low viscosity oil is retained within a lead or aluminium sheath. Changes in oil volume due to changes in ambient temperature and load are accommodated by oil reservoirs which maintain the cable oil pressure within design limits. A microprocessor monitoring system that allows early detection and quick location of oil leaks from high voltage oil-filled cables is described.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the electrorefining step of the pyrochemical process, actinide ions dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt are recovered as pure actinide metals at a cathode for a re-use as a nuclear fuel from the aspect of its nonproliferation of the nuclear fuel cycles. The lanthanide species dissolved in the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt play an important role in an effective metal purification during the electrorefining step, so it is necessary to understand the chemical and physical behaviors of lanthanides in molten salt. The in situ spectroscopic measurement system and studies according to temperature changes are essential for better understandable information. To our knowledge, the absorption studies of lanthanides at high temperatures have been reported before, but the fluorescence studies of those at high temperature are not reported yet. We will discuss here the fluorescence behaviors of lanthanides in LiCl-KCl molten salt medium according to a ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Routinely used prognostic factors fail to predict clinical outcome in a significant proportion of breast cancer patients, implying that they can not detect some important biological characteristics. Chromosomal changes have been described in breast carcinomas for many years but their significance is not clear. We compared chromosomal changes with clinico-pathological characteristics and clinical outcome in 203 breast cancer patients with a follow-up of 9-18 years. Combining data from classical cytogenetics and flow cytometry revealed chromosomal abnormalities in 142 cases (70%). Of these, 51 (35.9%) contained two or more cytogenetically abnormal clones. Polyclonality was significantly associated with poor breast-cancer-specific survival (P = 0.03) within 5 years, independent of tu...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new method is being developed to quickly screen for the human exposure potential to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorines (OCs). The development involves two key elements: identifying suitable signals that represent intracellular changes that are specific to PAH and OC exposure, and constructing a device to guide the biological cell growth so that signals from individual cells are consistent and reproducible. We are completing the identification of suitable signals by using synchrotron radiation-based (SR) Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectromicroscopy in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm-1). Distinct changes have been observed in the IR spectra after treatment of human cells in culture medium with PAHs and OCs. The potential use of this method for detecting exposure to PAHs and OCs has been tested and compared to a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay that ...

CERN Document Server

Radio, optical and X-rays telescopes are improving our knowledge of deep space. All these telescopes detect electromagnetic radiation at various frequencies. But a different kind of radiation is generated in the deeper space; it is the gravitational one. Gravitational waves change the space-time metric. As a consequence, GW telescopes should detect an extremely small strain (h < 10/sup -21/) of the geometry of a reference frame; if the frame has a reference dimension (L) of some kilometers, the deformation amplitude ( Delta L = h * L) is limited to 10/sup -16/ meters. Laser interferometers are the most suitable devices to make precise measurements of distances. Their resolution is limited by the laser wavelength ( lambda = 10/sup -6/ meters) and by the light wave-shift detection capability ( Delta Phi = 1 ppb). These theoretical limits are strongly degraded by different noise sources, which reduce ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Natural radioactivity found in rocks and its evaluation been frequently used for studies of environmental geochemistry, particularly those of detection and control of pollutants and the consequent changes in environment after antropic interferences. In this work natural radioactivity in forty nine soil samples in the basin of Buquira river, at the Northeast region of Sao Paulo State, has been analysed and measured with a Ge-HP gamma ray spectrometer. A table with the most relevant results found in rocks is shown and discussed. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The procedure followed by the Laboratorio de Metrologia Nuclear in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the standardization of {sup 242g} Am is described. The calibration system was composed of a 4 {pi} gas-flow proportional counter coupled to a pair of NaI(Tl) crystals operating in coincidence. The samples were produced by irradiating dried aliquots of {sup 241} Am with thermal and epithermal neutrons at the IEA-R1 research reactor. The efficiency tracer technique has been applied using {sup 60} Co as tracer. The beta detection efficiency was changed by external absorbers and extrapolated to unity by linear least square fitting applying covariance methodology. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A confocal microscopy imaging system was devised to selectively detect Second harmonic signals generated by biological tissues. Several types of biological tissues were examined using this imaging system, including human teeth, bovine blood vessels, and chicken skin. All these tissues generated strong second harmonic signals. There is considerable evidence that the source of these signals in tissue is collagen. Collagen, the predominant component of most tissues, is known to have second order nonlinear susceptibility. This technique may have diagnostic usefulness in pathophysiological conditions characterized by changes in collagen structure including malignant transformation of nevi, progression of diabetic complications, and abnormalities in wound healing.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Studies have shown that CCl_4 administration to rats inhibits endoplasmic reticulum calcium pump activity and reduces the amount of calcium associated with subsequently isolated microsomal subcellular fractions. This report confirms that exposure of isolated hepatocytes to CCl_4 rapidly produces these effects in isolated parenchymal cells and demonstrates that when isolated hepacytes are exposed to CCl_4 calcium is rapidly released from cells. This release can be detected with a calcium ion-selective electrode when cells are incubated in a medium with low extracellular calcium. Calcium released from an intracellular pool(s) may initiate hepatotoxic changes in liver. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The foils of various materials were irradiated with "6"0Co with an activity of 11,538 TBq. The minimum radiation dose was 25 kGy. Changes in chemico-physical properties were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and were not detected after irradiation with 25 kGy. Packing foils were subjected to the following tests: mechanical tests, tests of weld strength, tests of impact resistance, free fall tests, permeability tests for water vapour and microbiological tests. The results of all tests were tabulated. The tests showed that the foils are impermeable for microorganisms and provided the welds are airtight the packed products remain sterile. (J.P.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The aim of this work was to develop a method to distinguish between different ion formation processes and to determine the influence of these processes on the total number of detected monatomic ions of a certain element. A vector/matrix-formalism was developed, which describes the physical processes of sputtering, ion formation, mass separation and detection in laser-SNMS. In the framework of the method developed, based on this theoretic formalism, changes in the secondary flux contribution of the respective element were observed by comparing the detected monatomic ion yield obtained in specifically aligned (SIMS and) laser-SNMS experiments. The yields resulting from these experiments were used to calculate characteristic numbers to compare the flux composition from different surfaces. The potential of the method was demonstrated for the elements boron, iron and gadolinium by investigating the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Questions: How important is the choice of flow routing algorithm with respect to application of topographic wetness index (TWI) in vegetation ecology? Which flow routing algorithms are preferable for application in vegetation ecology? Location: Forests in three different regions of the Czech Republic. Methods: We used vegetation data from 521 georeferenced plots, recently sampled in a wide range of forest communities. From a digital elevation model, we calculated 11 variations of TWI for each plot with 11 different flow routing algorithms. We evaluated the performance of differently calculated TWI by (1) Spearman rank correlation with average Ellenberg indicator values for soil moisture, (2) Mantel correlation coefficient between dissimilarities of species composition and dissimil...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The Humane metropolis is a rubric to summarize and promote environmental and social quality in contemporary urban mosaics. Because cities, suburbs, and exurbs, as spatially extensive and connected socio-ecological systems, exhibit many negative features, the humane metropolis identifies a strategy to combat the ills and instill more positive and sustainable features and processes in urban systems. Because the humane metropolis as a program has arisen primarily from social motivations, there is the opportunity to articulate more explicitly the role that science can play in addressing the humane metropolis program and evaluating its success. A humane metropolis can be summarized as one that 1) protects and restores ecological services in cities and suburbs, 2) promotes physical and mental he...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The relative risk model (RRM) was applied in regional ecological risk assessments successfully. In this study, the RRM was developed through increasing the data of risk source and introducing the source?stressor?habitat exposure filter (SSH), the endpoint?habitat exposure filter (EH) and the stressor?endpoint effect filter (SE) to reflect the meaning of exposure and effect more explicit. Water environment which include water quality, water quantity and aquatic ecosystems was selected as the ecological risk assessment endpoints. The Luanhe River Basin located in the North China was selected as model case. The results showed that there were three low risk regions, one medium risk region and two high risk regions in the Luanhe River Basin. The results also indicated habitat destruction was th...

Science.gov (United States)

Autoreactive cytotoxic CD8 T-cells (CTLs) play a key pathogenic role in the destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells resulting in type 1 diabetes. However, knowledge regarding their targets is limited, restricting the ability to monitor the course of the disease and immune interventions. In a multi-step discovery process to identify novel CTL epitopes in human preproinsulin (PPI), PPI was digested with purified human proteasomes, and resulting COOH-fragments aligned with algorithm-predicted HLA-binding peptides to yield nine potential HLA-A1, -A2, -A3 or -B7-restricted candidates. An UV-exchange method allowed the generation of a repertoire of multimers including low-affinity HLA-binding peptides. These were labeled with quantum dot-fluorochromes and encoded in a combinatorial fashion, allowing parallel and sensitive detection of specific, low-avidity T-cells. Significantly increased frequencies of T-cells against four novel PPI epitopes (PPI(4-13)/B7, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During last decade, considerable interest has been focused to assess the influence of human activities on ecosystems. The increasing trend in the atmospheric concentration of CO{sub 2} has been predicted to continue till the next century and the amount of nitrogen deposition in the northern hemisphere has increased markedly. Substantial interest has been focused on predicting how these changes will affect on plants. Most boreal mire ecosystems are dominated by mosses of the genus Sphagnum, the litter of which constitutes the main component in the peat deposits and is an important CO{sub 2} sink via peat formation. Since virtually nothing was known about the growth response of peat mosses to elevated concentrations of CO{sub 2} and alerting changes in species composition were detected in the sensitive ombrotrophic mire vegetation under increased N deposition in central Europe, this study was established. Laboratory ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

GaN and Al_1_-_xGa_xN films were grown by the method of ECR-MBE. Absorption constants as a function of wavelength were determined from transmission measurements. Photoconducting detectors were fabricated from these films and characterized in terms of their spectral response and photoconductive gain. Mobility-lifetime products were determined from the measurement of photoconductive gain. The resistivity and mobility-lifetime products of the films were varied from 10--10"9 ohm-cm and 10"-"3--10"-"8 cm"2/V respectively by changing the microwave power in the ECR discharge from 20--60 watts. The change in the mobility-lifetime product is attributed to change in the lifetimes of the photogenerated carriers. This assumption is supported by direct measurement of detector response times. Finally, the authors report for the first time, the detection of alpha particles using GaN detectors.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report discusses the development of transition metal oxide semiconductors for photoelectrolysis of water. More specifically, it involves preparation of TiO/sub 2/ films by sputtering and evaluating their physicochemical characteristics primarily as they relate to the behaviour of the films as photoanodes. Impedance, photoelectrochemical, and photoconduction properties of TiO/sub 2/ films sputtered in pure O/sub 2/ onto heated substrates have been determined as a function of O/sub 2/ pressure during sputtering, film thickness, Pt overcoating, and cathodic treatment. The capacitance data before cathodic treatment are of the form expected. The capacitance is essentially independent of potential, while for potentials increasingly cathodic of this value, the capacitance increases very rapidly. Cathodic treatment alters the impedance characteristics of the films but leads to either no detectible change in their photoelectrochemical properties or ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lake Erie, the southernmost of the Laurentian Great Lakes, is narrow and relatively shallow in comparison to other Great Lakes. The lake experiences extreme water level fluctuations and storm energy restricts the development of wetlands to protected areas within embayments, lagoons, or behind barriers. However, coastal marshes of western Lake Erie fringe the shorelines of Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario and encompass an area of 268 km/sup 2/. This publication reviews the ecological data and information on the wetlands of Lake Erie, which are some of the more productive areas in the Great Lakes ecosystem. The geologic history of the Lake Erie leading to the development of wetlands, the present environment, and present wetland distribution are presented as background in the opening chapters. Biological information available for the Lake Erie wetlands is discussed in detail, and ecological processes contributing to the evolution of wetlands, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This final report for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) is one of a series of reports concerning municipal development in various cities in Switzerland. The four city districts involved include Basel (Gundeldinger Feld), Lausanne (Bellevaux), Lucerne (Basel-/Bernstrasse) and Zurich (Werdwies). This paper takes a look at aspects of building ecology. In the four areas, the following building types and projects were examined with respect to their ecology: Basel: conversion of commercial premises to a community centre, Lausanne and Lucerne: Enhancement of residential areas, Zurich: a new residential building. Criteria examined include general building ecology, building materials, raw materials, toxic substances, recycling, maintenance and deconstruction, energy for heating and hot water, grey energy, electricity, ground usage, water, wastes and public infrastructure. Knowledge gained along with questions and problems ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A previous report of high levels of members of the domain Archaea in Antarctic coastal waters prompted us to investigate the ecology of Antarctic planktonic prokaryotes. rRNA hybridization...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... verges of a two-lane highway in continuous Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata forest of south-western Australia. Midway during this ... Birds were recorded from the beginning of continuous Jarrah Eucalyptus marg...

Wastenet

... 12, 2007 | Rate It Distribution and Variety of Equatorial Rain Forest , The http://www.esd.ornl.gov/projects/qen/rainfo.html (3 votes) an in depth examination of ecological patterns in rainforests from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Added: Mar. 17, 2001 ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Enteropathogenic bacteria was isolated from 131 of 447 (29.4%) neotropical Panamanian lizards belonging to 34 species of seven families. Overall, 147 strains of bacteria were isolated comprising 26...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

By the time of primary 21st century, water hyacinth had become a serious environmental problem in China. Water hyacinth contributes to the major part of ecological hazards from the invasion of foreign...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Sauropod dinosaurs, the dominant herbivores throughout the Jurassic, challenge general rules of large vertebrate herbivory. With body weights surpassing those of any other megaherbivore, they relied...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

We investigated the effects of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge on the ecology of bacterial communities in the sediment of a small, low-gradient stream in South Australia. The quantification...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Spatial abilities have been associated with many ecologically-relevant behaviors such as territoriality, mate choice, navigation and acquisition of food resources. Differential demands on spatial...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Despite their ecological and economical importance, fishes of the family Ariidae are still genetically and cytogenetically poorly studied. Among the 133 known species of ariids, only eight have been...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Background and AimsPlants from the family Lemnaceae are widely used in ecological engineering projects to purify wastewater and eutrophic water bodies. However, the biology of nutrient...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe order Tetraodontiformes consists of approximately 429 species of fishes in nine families. Members of the order exhibit striking morphological diversity and radiated...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The role of natural enemies in the regulation of populations is one of the major questions facing population ecologists. Simplification have led to two theoretical ways of incorporating the role of natural enemies in single ecological models: diffusion models and patch-type models. The predictions of the models are different because of the way variability is incorporated. Three equations are presented for diffusion models and one for patch models. Since the two types of models apply at different combinations of spatial and temporal scales, the right model(s) to choose for a particular study requires careful assessment. A continuing dialogue between experimentalists and theoreticians will lead to a better understanding of natural systems such as those that occur in biological control.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The importance of ecosystem restoration to land reclamation is discussed. If a plant community is to be self sustaining, natural diversity processes provide a useful model for restoration. Biodiversity is important for utilitarian, ecological, and ethical/aesthetic reasons. Issues that must be considered include sampling and management scales, the separate richness of the diverse array of species playing a role in ecosystem productivity and stability, and natural trends in diversity. Ecological restoration comprises two fundamental activities: management for some pre-disturbance level of biodiversity and the combination of species in a manner that is essentially experimental. Endeavours to restore biological diversity are a useful method of experimenting with the factors that control ecosystem structure and function. 21 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Eddy current testing (ECT) method is widely used as the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the various kinds of material degradation occurring in nuclear power plants (NPPs) components including steam generator (SG) tubes. Detection of any defects or flaws in the steam generator tubes in the early stage is very important in maintenance of NPP for its primary role as the pressure boundary with thin wall thickness. Although the ECT technique provides lots of information for a SG management, it has a generic problem in its reliability due to a low ability in detect of small defects and some difficulty in a signal analysis. For the improvement of these shortcomings in conventional ECT, profile-MRPC (motorized rotating pancake coil) ECT technology was developed in KAERI. The key of this new technology is the development of new eddy current probes, designated as a diagnostic probe (D-probe). The D-probe is furnished with a simultaneous dual function ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We have tested the suitability of a new single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol for estimating the equivalent dose (D_e) in polymineral fine grains extracted from colluvia from various sites in Germany. First, we report the behaviour of three OSL signals: (i) blue-stimulated, (ii) infrared-stimulated luminescence, and (iii) blue-stimulated luminescence following infrared (IR) stimulation, using a near-UV (290-380 nm) detection window in each case. For these three signals, there is a significant change in sensitivity with regeneration cycle; this change can be compensated for using the response to a fixed test dose after each natural or regenerated measurement. The source of the three luminescence signals is then investigated using pulse-anneal and elevated-temperature experiments. Fading tests on laboratory-induced signals show that although the IR signals fade by up to 23% in 15 days at 100 deg. C, the post-IR blue ...

J-STORE (Japan)

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CERN Document Server

Change management

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Radiation portal monitors used for interdiction of illicit materials at borders include highly sensitive neutron detection systems. The main reason for having neutron detection capability is to detect fission neutrons from plutonium. The currently deployed radiation portal monitors (RPMs) from Ludlum and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) use neutron detectors based upon 3He-filled gas proportional counters, which are the most common large neutron detector. There is a declining supply of 3He in the world, and thus, methods to reduce the use of this gas in RPMs with minimal changes to the current system designs and sensitivity to cargo-borne neutrons are being investigated. Four technologies have been identified as being currently commercially available, potential alternative neutron detectors to replace the use of 3He in RPMs. These technologies are: 1) Boron trifluoride (BF3)-filled ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The primary objective of this project is to investigate the effects of global change on the biodiversity of aphid communities in Western Europe. Biodiversity has been examined at 3 levels: total number of species, phenology and reproductive strategy. Data were provided by EXAMINE, the European suction traps network which has been now operating for 35 years. 392 different species have been identified. At each location, total number of species has been regularly increasing, one additional species being caught every 1 or 2 years depending on location. This is due to introduced species but also to warming which favours rare species. No general trend of increasing density has been detected, but phenological earliness of almost all species (annual date of first appearance in suction traps) is strongly correlated with temperature and especially with mean daily temperature (during more or less long periods of time lying principally in February and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Alexandria is the second largest urban governorate in Egypt and has seen significant urban growth in its modern and contemporary history. This study investigates the urban growth phenomenon in Alexandria, Egypt, using the integration of remote sensing and GIS. The urban physical expansion and change were detected using Landsat satellite images. The satellite images of years 1984 and 1993 were first geo referenced, achieving a very small RMSE that provided high accuracy data for satellite image analysis. Then, the images were classified using a tailored classification scheme with accuracy of 93.82% and 95.27% for 1984 and 1993 images respectively. This high accuracy enabled detecting land use/land cover changes with high confidence using a post-classification comparison method. One of the most important findings here is the loss of cultivated land in favour of urban expansion. If the current loss rates ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In principle four different methods (ultrasound, microwaves, {gamma}-radiation and x-rays) are available for the non-destructive testing of refractories. Three of these methods, i.e. ultrasound, microwaves and {gamma}-radiation, are in use by different producers of AZS materials to carry out the quality control of their products. This paper will compare the three methods on the basis of the physical properties, present the existing devices, and show the advantages as well as the limits of the different methods. {gamma}-radiography, the oldest method in use, has one main disadvantage, which is the requirement of protection against radioactive radiation. Furthermore, while cracks and cavities can be detected with this method, structural changes can not be monitored. Therefore, the ultrasonic method was developed that allows to detect variations of porosity and grain size as well as cracks and voids when the ultrasonic ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The video documents the results of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR-Phase II) project conducted for DARPA focusing on the use of all-source overhead remote sensor imagery for monitoring underground nuclear tests and related activities. The documentation includes: (1) the main unclassified body of the report; (2) a separate ground truth Annex; and (3) a separate classified Annex. Autometric's approach was to investigate the exploitation potential of the various sensors, especially the fusion of products from them in combination with each other and other available collateral data. This approach featured empirical analyses of multisensor/multispectral imagery and collateral data collected before, during, and after an actual underground nuclear test (named 'BEXAR'). Advanced softcopy digital image processing and hardcopy image interpretation techniques were investigated for the research. These included multispectral (Landsat, SPOT), hyperspectral, and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Purpose: To describe the pattern of expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) p16, p21 and p27, and the cell cycle in SRA 01/04 cells relative to contact inhibition. Methods: SRA 01/04 cells were grown to overconfluence under normal conditions. At various phases of the cell growth, cells were assayed by flow cytometry and Western blotting for the expression of CDKIs. Results: Expression of p16 was detected from early logarithmic growth to stationary phases, during which the number of cells in G0/G1 increased from 46 to 69%. Expression of p21 was detected only during the overgrowth phase, when 60% of the cells were in G0/G1. Expression of p27 was not observed in SRA 01/04 cells. Conclusions: p16 expression was likely mediated by G0/G1 arrest to induce contact inh...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

With an objective to discuss applicability of resistivity imaging using electromagnetic migration to detection of underground cavity, an applicability test was carried out on calculation of a numerical model and measurement data. By using the numerical model, a calculation was performed on a hypothetical case that a cubic cavity with sides each at 40 m exists in a homogenous medium of 200 ohm-m, with the cavity top located 20 m below the ground surface. As a result, it was possible to structure in a very short calculation time an image of the cavity which cannot be identified by one-dimensional inverse analysis. In the case of this cavity, a center of the image was structured on its lower face. It was shown that a location to indicate the image must be changed according to difference in the measurement locations. In a test on data measured in an underground cavity in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, it was found that the result may ...

CERN Document Server

In the littlest Higgs model with T-parity (LHT), the mirror quarks have flavor structures and will contribute to the top quark flavor changing neutral current. In this work, we perform an extensive investigation of the top quark rare three-body decays $t\\rightarrow cVV (V=\\gamma,Z,g)$ and $t\\rightarrow cf\\bar{f} (f=b,\\tau,\\mu,e)$ at one-loop level. Our results show that the branching ratios of $t\\rightarrow cgg$ and $t\\rightarrow cb\\bar{b}$ could reach $\\mathcal {O}(10^{-3})$ in the favorite parameter space of the littlest Higgs model with T-parity, which implies that these decays may be detectable at the LHC or ILC, while for the other decays, their rates are too small to be observable at the present or future colliders.

Science.gov (United States)

The spectrum, angular distribution, polarization and coherence properties of the radiation emitted by relativistic electrons undulating through a quasiperiodic tapered magnetic field are studied. Tapering the wavelength and/or field strength along the undulator's axis has the effect of spreading the spectral line to higher frequencies; interference over this broader spectral range results in a more complex line shape. The angular dependence, on the other hand, is not affected by the amount of taper. The polarization of the radiation in the forward direction is determined by the transverse polarization of the undulator, but the polarization changes off axis. The radiation patterns predicted here are distinct from those of untapered undulators, and their detection is now feasible. They will provide useful diagnostics of electron trajectories and threshold behavior in free-electron-laser oscillators using tapered undulators.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We quantified the impacts of hot summer air temperatures on tourism in the Swiss Alps by analysing the relationship between temperature and overnight stays in 40 Alpine resorts. Several temperature thresholds were tested to detect the relationship between them and summer tourism. Our results reveal significant correlations between the number of nights spent in mountain resorts and hot temperatures at lower elevations. The relationship between hot temperatures and overnight stays is more important in June and to a lesser extent in August than in July. This is probably because holidays and the peak of domestic tourist demand in summer usually take place between the beginning of July and mid-August so that long-term planned stays dominate more during these months compared to June. The alpine ...

CERN Document Server

Dusty primordial disks surrounding young low-mass stars are revealing tracers of stellar and planetary formation. The evolution and lifetime of these disks define the boundary conditions of the mechanisms of planet formation. Stellar companions, however, can significantly change this evolution through their tidal interactions. Stellar evolution and planet formation in binaries have to respond to an environment of truncated, quickly disappearing disks--very different compared to an isolated star environment. In order to investigate details of the influence of binarity on circumstellar disk evolution, we obtained adaptive optics supported near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy of the individual components of 22 low-mass binaries in the well-known Orion Nebula Cluster. Brackett gamma emission, which we detect in several systems, is used as a tracer for the presence of an active accretion disk around each binary component. We find a low fraction of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity. Objectives: ED is a common condition in psychiatric patients, which can modify their quality of life. Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and the severity of ED in psychiatric patients. Methods: This naturalistic, observational study was conducted during a six months period. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) 15-item questionnaire was used to assess 144 male inpatients with different psychiatric disorders. IIEF is a brief, cross-culturally valid, self-administered scale for detecting treatment-related changes in patients with erectile dysfunction and addresses the relevant domains of male sexual function: erectile functi...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A new on-line monitoring system has been developed for pitting corrosion monitoring of carbon steel tubes in cooling water systems. This monitoring system was found to be quite sensitive to the microbiological activity relating to pitting corrosion on a real-time basis. The value of galvanic current indicates the performance level of pitting corrosion inhibition even in biocide application. In addition, the changes in the galvanic current provide indicative information about the effectiveness in microbiological control program, even when the pressure drop measurement indicates no biofilm formation. It can be also useful in detecting a microbiological control upset. In this paper, an introduction of the new monitoring system as a microbiological control effectiveness monitor and the field test results are discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In an effort to explore Diffraction Enhanced Imaging of bone tissue, experiments were performed to determine if it was possible to use Diffraction Enhanced Imaging to detect microdamage in bovine cortical bone. Measurements were made at the National Synchrotron Light Source where pre- and post-fatigue rocking curve widths of the bone were studied. The rocking curve widths were then compared. Since no consistent pattern of narrowing or broadening of the rocking curve emerged, it is likely that the ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering present in the bone overshadowed any additional changes to rocking curve caused by microdamage of the bone. Larger bone structures were able to be visualized which suggests that microdamage may be visualized with a higher resolution detector.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Breath analysis could offer a non-invasive means of intravenous drug monitoring if robust correlations between drug concentrations in breath and blood can be established. In this study, propofol blood and breath concentrations were determined in an animal model under varying physiological conditions. Propofol concentrations in breath were determined by means of two independently calibrated analytical methods: continuous, real-time proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and discontinuous solid-phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Blood concentrations were determined by means of SPME-GC-MS. Effects of changes in pulmonary blood flow resulting in a decreased cardiac output (CO) and effects of dobutamine administration resulting in...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The examination of the high-temperature properties of the alloy Alloy 800HT has shown that both the creep performance and the microstructure of the material can be purposefully set by the initial heat treatment. At the high temperatures applied, (700-900 C), a rapid softening process sets in induced by carbide precipitation, stabilization, and coarsening. This softening process causes creep velocities strongly accelerating as a function of duration of the heat treatment prior to the creep test. The identified cause of the softening effect is a change in particle size that could be verified by SEM and TEM. It is shown that two different carbide precipitate size classes are responsible for the softening effect. While the precipitates dectable by TEM become effective primarily via interactions with dislocations, the carbide precipitates detectable only by SEM contribute to a hardening of the grain boundaries and the matrix.(orig./CB)

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In Niigata University Hospital, most of conventional radiography were changed to Fuji computed Radiography (FCR) from July 1988. To evaluate its clinical utility, questionnaires relating to FCR image were distributed to all physicians including non-radiologists in the hospital after three months. The ratio of the physicians evaluated FCR image to be better than conventional image was 75% in chest radiography, 64% in abdominal radiography. FCR tomography of bone, joint, cranium and chest was also evaluated to be better than conventional by most of the physicians. Reduced size of the film and difficulty in detecting interstitial shadows of the lung were mentioned to be the fault of FCR. (author).

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In many species social behaviors are dependent on integration of chemosensory and hormonal cues. Many chemosensory stimuli are detected by the vomeronasal organ, which projects to many regions that contain steroid receptors, including the medial amygdala. In male hamsters, testosterone is known to acutely increase in response to chemosensory stimulation, and can facilitate sexual behavior by direct action within the medial amygdala. Conspecific stimuli activate the anterior (MeA) and posterior (MeP) medial amygdala, while heterospecific stimuli activate only MeA. Chemosensory stimuli with different social significance differentially activate the dorsal and ventral subdivisions of MeA and MeP. Therefore, it is likely that steroids differentially facilitate stimulation of the medial amygdala...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

New technologies are needed to reduce the current high rate of well abandonment. Improved sweep efficiency, reservoir conformance, and permeability modification can have a significant impact on oil recovery processes. Microorganisms can be used to selectively plug high-permeability zones to improve sweep efficiency and impart conformance control. Studies of a promising microbial system for polymer production were conducted to evaluate reservoir conditions in which this system would be effective. Factors which can affect microbial growth and polymer production include salinity, pH, temperature, divalent ions, presence of residual oil, and rock matrix. Flask tests and coreflooding experiments were conducted to optimize and evaluate the effectiveness of this system. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) was used to visualize microbial polymer production in porous media. Changes in fluid distribution within the pore system of the core were ...

Science.gov (United States)

The feasibility of this procedure was investigated using minerals and ore specimens. The substances were ground then fused using LiBO/sub 2/, quenched with 3% HNO/sub 3/ or mixtures of the acid with 2.5% tartaric acid or 30% H/sub 2/O/sub 2/. The quenched melt was usually completely dissolved within 20 min by placing the beakers in an ultrasonic bath. If any residue was detected, appropriate changes were made in the procedure. Once the procedure has been optimized, any remaining black particles were filtered. If these particles disappeared upon subsequent ignition, they were presumed to have been graphite. Most of the refractory minerals investigated should be expected to be converted to soluble form by this process. 1 table.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The objective of this study was to explore the role of three-dimensional (3-D) rotational angiography (RA) of the inferior vena cava (IVC; 3-D CV) before filter retrieval and its impact on treatment planning compared with standard anteroposterior cavography (sCV). Thirty patients underwent sCV and 3-D CV before IVC filter retrieval. Parameters assessed were: projection of filter arms or legs beyond the caval lumen, thrombus burden within the filter and IVC, and orientation of the filter within IVC. Skin and effective radiation doses were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using paired Student t test and nonparametric McNemar's test. Standard anteroposterior cavography detected 49 filter arms or legs projecting beyond the caval lumen in 25 patients. Three-dimensional CV demonstrated 89 filter arms or legs projecting beyond the caval lumen in 28 patients. Twenty-two patients had additional filter arms or legs projecting beyond the caval lumen ...

Science.gov (United States)

The influence of low-frequency electromagnetic field irradiating by high-voltage transmission lines on signal transduction of cell in spleen cells of the rates have been studied by molecular-biology techniques. The spleen cells are extracted from skilled rates, which are exposed in the electromagnetic field of high-voltage transmission lines with 4000 V/m and 0.09-0.1 G about 400 days. The quantity or level of phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) in JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway of spleen cells, which are stimulated and unstimulated by IL-2, respectively, are detected by the immunoblotting and immunobiochemistry. The results show that the expression of phospho-STAT3 in spleen cell stimulated by IL-2 differ not from that in the unstimulated cell. The former is significantly large than the latter. This shows that signal transduction of cell is affected by this electromagnetic field. The spectra of infrared absorption for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The demonstration test of a power system stabilizer, employing a fuzzy theory, in the two hydroelectric power stations of Kyusyu Electric Power Co., Inc. is described. The PSS inputs auxiliary signals to the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) of a generator and generates an electric torque in the direction opposite to the operating direction of a generator to enhance the damping effect and improve the system stability. Usually, the change in the slide information of a generator is detected, and the phase adjustment is performed so that the damping is the optimum value. However, since the damping is optimized in the specific system state, no complete damping may be obtained when the system state is changed. A fuzzy theory was thus applied for the control operation part. In a secondary fuzzy PSS, the velocity and acceleration were calculated from the slide information of a generator to produce a control signal. In the third ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Our purpose in this work was to develop an automatic boundary detection method for mammographic masses and to rigorously test this method via statistical analysis. The segmentation method utilized a steepest change analysis technique for determining the mass boundaries based on a composed probability density cost function. Previous investigators have shown that this function can be utilized to determine the border of the mass body. We have further analyzed this method and have discovered that the steepest changes in this function can produce mass delineations that include extended projections. The method was tested on 124 digitized mammograms selected from the University of South Florida's Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM). The segmentation results were validated using overlap, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity statistics, where the gold standards were manual traces provided by two expert radiologists. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Objective: To assess dynamic MRI with Gd-DTPA enhancement for evaluating inflammatory changes in the subacromial bursa. Design and patients: We detected the signal intensity changes in dynamic MRI of the subacromial bursa, and confirmed these macroscopically by arthroscopy and histologically. The signal intensity was measured using built-in software, and the enhancement ratio (E ratio) was calculated from dynamic MR images. In addition, as a parameter of the rate of the increase in the signal intensity from 0 to 80 s, the mean increase per second in the E ratio was obtained as the coefficient of enhancement (CE). The correlation was studied of the E ratio and CE with the arthroscopic findings (redness, villous formation, thickening and adhesion), and of the E ratio and CE with the histological findings (capillary proliferation, papillary hyperplasia, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration) of the subacromial bursa. Of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure on regional cerebral blood flow (r-CBF) in rat brain was studied using autoradiography and "1"2"5I-IMP. Fuji computed radiography (FCR) was used to obtain improved autoradiograms in this study. R-CBF was determined in a relative measure by calculating hippocampus/cortex and putamen/cortex ratios of RI accumulation from the autoradiogram using a densitometer. Comparison of autoradiograms with pathological findings in the area of the hippocampus and putamen yield the following results. In the animals that were exposed to 6400 ppm or 10000 ppm of CO for 30 minutes, and then were followed up for 2 weeks without further exposure, r-CBF was decreased but no pathological changes occurred. In the animals that were exposed to 6400 ppm or 10000 ppm of CO, and then were followed up for 4 weeks without further exposure, pathological changes appeared. In animals exposed to 3200 ppm of CO, the r-CBF tended to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to predict thermal hazards of high-energy materials, accurate kinetics constants must be determined. Predictions of thermal hazards for mixtures of high-energy materials require measurements on the mixtures, because interactions among components are common. A differential-scanning calorimeter (DSC) can be used to observe rate processes directly, and isothermal methods enable detection of mechanism changes. Rate-controlling processes will change as components of a mixture are depleted, and the correct depletion function must be identified for each specific stage of a complex process. A method for kinetics measurements on mixed explosives can be demonstrated with Composition B is an approximately 60/40 mixture of RDX and TNT, and is an important military explosive. Kinetics results indicate that the mator process is the decomposition of RDX in solution in TNT with a perturbation caused by interaction between the two ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The process of implementing a damage detection strategy for aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering infrastructure is referred to as structural health monitoring (SHM). Here damage is defined as changes to the material and/or geometric properties of these systems, including changes to the boundary conditions and system connectivity, which adversely affect the system's current or future performance. Our approach is to address the SHM problem in the context of a statistical pattern recognition paradigm (Farrar, Nix and Doebling, 2001). In this paradigm, the process can be broken down into four parts: (1) Operational Evaluation, (2) Data Acquisition, (3) Feature Extraction, and (4) Statistical Model Development for Feature Discrimination. When one attempts to apply this paradigm to data from 'real-world' structures, it quickly becomes apparent that data cleansing, normalization, fusion and ...

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In attempting to detect and map out underground facilities, whether they be large-scale hardened deeply-buried targets (HDBT's) or small-scale tunnels for clandestine border or perimeter crossing, seismic imaging using reflections from the tunnel interface has been seen as one of the better ways to both detect and delineate tunnels from the surface. The large seismic impedance contrast at the tunnel/rock boundary should provide a strong, distinguishable seismic response, but in practice, such strong indicators are often lacking. One explanation for the lack of a good seismic reflection at such a strong contrast boundary is that the damage caused by the tunneling itself creates a zone of altered seismic properties that significantly changes the nature of this boundary. This report examines existing geomechanical data that define the extent of an excavation damage zone around underground tunnels, and the potential ...

Science.gov (United States)

Twenty autopsy cases with 2009 pandemic influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus infection, performed between August 2009 and February 2010, were histopathologically analyzed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry for type A influenza nucleoprotein antigen, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay for viral RNA were performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. In addition, the D222G amino acid substitution in influenza virus hemagglutinin, which binds to specific cell receptors, was analyzed in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded trachea and lung sections by direct sequencing of PCR-amplified products. There were several histopathological patterns in the lung according to the most remarkable findings in each case: acute diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) with a hyaline membrane (four cases), organized DAD (one case), acute massive intra-alveolar edema with variable degrees of hemorrhage (three cases), neutrophilic bronchopneumonia (five cases) and tracheobronchitis ...

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A study was carried out to determine optimum decontamination dose for a locally manufactured coconut cream powder. Samples were gamma irradiated (0-15 kGy) and ageing process was achieved using GEER oven at 60 deg. C for 7 days, which is equivalent to one-year storage at room temperature. Iodine value (IV), ranging from 4.8 to 6.4, was not affected by radiation doses and storage, however peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) generally increased with radiation doses. In most samples, peroxide value (meq/kg) reduced after storage, whilst the TBA (mg malonaldehyde/kg), indicator for product quality, slightly increased. The sensory evaluation conducted using 25 taste panellists indicated that scores on odour, creamy taste and overall acceptance for all irradiated samples at more than 5 kGy were significantly lower (P<0.05) than the control. However, the panellists could not detect any significant differences among the irradiation doses (P>0.05). ...

Science.gov (United States)

PMID:12722515

Science.gov (United States)

Lecturo on Firewalls, VPNs, Intrusion Detection, and filters

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADD330829. Title : NOZZLE WEAR DETECTION IN ABRASIVE WATERJET CUTTING SYSTEMS,. Corporate Author : ...

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We consider the possibility of detecting a heavy Higgs boson ([ital m][sub [ital H

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The Spratly Islands constitute one of the earth's most ecologically significant areas, hosting a high diversity of marine species, providing critical habitats for endangered species, and providing marine larvae to reestablish depleted stocks among the heavily overfished and degraded coastal ecosystems of the South China Sea. Territorial disputes have led to the establishment of environmentally destructive, socially and economically costly military outposts on many of the islands. Given the rapid proliferation of international peace parks around the world, it is time to take positive steps toward the establishment of a Spratly Islands Marine Peace Park. Its purpose would be to manage the area's natural resources and alleviate regional tensions via a freeze on claims and claim supportive act...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Krsko NPP plant life extension was analysed and evaluated with respect to system, economy and ecology viewpoints. From the system perspective it was established that also in the extended lifetime the plant will remain in operation as a base load electricity supplier. The systematic review was performed to determine its overall competitiveness against advanced coal, gas and new nuclear units. The analysis considered also hydro and renewable sources. Analysis and evaluations resulted in the conclusion that the Krsko NPP lifetime extension is the most effective alternative for base load production due to small additional capital investments, low fuel costs, no new siting requirements, lowest climate and environmental impact, and reliable and safe operation. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary 1.-Plant-plant interactions fluctuate between competition and facilitation depending upon ecological conditions and species traits. Facilitative interactions are expected to increase in frequency via associational defences with increasing consumer pressure. The ability of species to cope with competition and/or ecological stressors may alter the outcome of plant-plant interactions. 2.-We conducted a transplant experiment to determine if native and non-native grasses and forbs respond similarly to interactions with Juncus effusus L., an unpalatable benefactor species, along a grazing intensity gradient in two contrasting pasture types: intensively managed and semi-natural. We expected competitive taller, erect species (grasses) and non-natives to obtain stronger facilitative effects...

CERN Document Server

We present a thorough analysis of single atom detection using optical cavities. The large set of parameters that influence the signal-to-noise ratio for cavity detection is considered, with an emphasis on detunings, probe power, cavity finesse and photon detection schemes. Real device operating restrictions for single photon counting modules and standard photodiodes are included in our discussion, with heterodyne detection emerging as the clearly favourable technique, particularly for detuned detection at high power.

Science.gov (United States)

Dust detection and control in real time, represent one of the most challenging problem in all those environments where fine and ultrafine airborne particulate solids products are present. The presence of such products can be linked to several factors, often directly related and influenced by the working-production actions performed. Independently from the causes generating dust, airborne contaminants are an occupational problem of increasing interest as they are related to a wide number of diseases. In particular, airborne dusts are well known to be associated with several classical occupational lung diseases, such as the pneumoconiosis, especially at high levels of exposure. Nowadays there is also an increasing interest in other dust related diseases, from the most serious as cancer and asthma, to those related with allergies or irritation and other illnesses, also occurring at lower levels of exposure. Among the different critical factors influencing health risk ...

Wastenet

The structure of the creative industries is changing 15

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging was performed in 80 children with coronary arterial lesions due to Kawasaki disease in order to assess the value of serial and exercise myocardial imagings. In eight of these children, abnormalities of the image were noted. Twenty children had serial thallium studies with an interval of three to 18 months, and five of these showed changes in the image including appearance of a new perfusion defect in one patient and improvement of perfusion defects in four. These changes of the myocardial image were correlated well with coronary angiographic findings obtained within a few days of the isotope studies. It was noted that the changes of the myocardial image were more frequently observed at relatively recent period recovered from Kawasaki disease. Exercise myocardial imaging using a bicycle ergometer was performed in eight children with coronary arterial lesions. In three an evidence of ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Antisense- or RNAi-mediated suppression of the biosynthesis of nutritionally inferior storage proteins is a promising strategy for improving the amino acid profile of seeds. However, the potential pleiotropic effects of this on interconnected pathways and the agronomic quality traits need to be addressed. In the current study, a transcriptomic analysis of an antisense C-hordein line of barley was performed, using a grain-specific cDNA array. The C-hordein antisense line is characterized by marked changes in storage protein and amino acid profiles, while the seed weight is within the normal range and no external morphological irregularities were observed. The results of the transcriptome analysis showed excellent correlation with data on changes in the relative proportions of storage proteins and amino acid composition. The antisense line had a lower C-hordein level and down-regulated transcript encoding C-hordein. The production of the S-rich ...

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Aim: Changes within the brain detected by MRI after chronic manganese poisoning raised the question whether morphological changes of the basal ganglia, particularly of the globus pallidus, could be detected after chronic occupational exposure to manganese dioxide. Results: No cases of parkinsonism were detected in clinical examinations or by other means. The mean manganese concentration in blood was 12 {mu}g/l (range: 3.9-23.3 {mu}g/l). In comparison to the upper reference value of 10 {mu}g/l, 42 workers (56%) had a higher body burden. A significant positive correlation between manganese levels in blood and the PI (indicated by T{sub 1}-shortening) was observed as well as between the CBI and workplace-specific exposure. Brain atrophy was not detected in any of the observed cases. Conclusions: Long-term exposure to manganese dioxide dust correlates with the ...

Environmental Research Database

DescriptionThis cross-disciplinary project will combine chemical, ecological and modelling techniques to determine whether cabbages grown under an organic regime differ in terms of pest dynamics and plant chemistry. There is increasing pressure to de-intensify agricultural practice and organic approaches are becoming more popular and widely adopted. However, there are very few, if any, detailed scientific investigations into the claims made about improved pest control, reduced environmental impact and be [continued...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Highlights of the meeting are briefly summarized in this paper. Most of the papers presented at the meeting dealt with remediation and pollution prevention practices. A major focus of the technical sessions was on the identification of pollution sources. Identification of exposures to specific chemicals with disease outcomes was also discussed. Other papers focused on ecological exposures and their effects on wildlife to identify the presence of contaminants. 4 refs.

Wastenet

...Assemblages of plants and invertebrate animals of tumulus (organic mound) springs of the Swan Coastal Plain Assemblages of plants and invertebrate animals of tumulus ...organic mound) springs of the Swan Coastal Plain [Skip navigation links] About us | Contact us | Publications |...ecological communities Assemblages of plants and invertebrate animals of tumulus (organic mound) springs of the Swan Coastal Plain Advice to the Minister for the ...of the 'Assemblages of plants and invertebrate animals of tumulus (organic mound) springs of the Swan Coastal Plain' community sufficient to distinguish it from ...

Science.gov (United States)

Atrazine (ATR) has been widely applied in the US and Mid Western states. Recently, public health and ecological concerns have been raised about contamination of surface and ground water by ATR and its chlorinated metabolites, due to their toxicity and potential carcinogenic or endocrinology effects....

Environmental Research Database

DescriptionCEH - Quest CCMAP see http://quest.bris.ac.uk/research/themes/CCMAP.html CCMAP (Climate-carbon modelling, assimilation and prediction) Leader: Dr. Eleanor Blyth (CEH, Wallingford) Overview and Goals CCMAP is one of QUEST's Theme 1 projects and is about to be commissioned to the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Wallingford. The Principal Investigator will be Dr. Eleanor Blyth, with subcontracts to the Universities of Bristol (Dr. Wolfgang Knorr, Earth Sciences and QUEST; Andy Ridgw [continued...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Transport and deposition of atmospheric lead over the coastal zone of Northern Germany are investigated. It is shown that marked differences in the impact of the ecologically valuable wadden sea areas can occur between summer and winter time. Due to the formation of sea breeze systems in summer the coastal zone is likely to be less stressed than in winter when the pollutant is confined to a shallow layer above ground. (orig.) 10 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

Silicon carbide (SiC) based electronic devices are of great importance for applications under the condition of high temperature, high power and high radiation. Schottky diodes of Palladium/SiC are good candidates for hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas sensors at elevated temperature. The detection sensibility of the diodes has been found heavily temperature dependent. In this work, the electrical and chemical properties of Pd/SiC Schottky contacts were studied by XPS and AES at different annealing temperatures. Schottky diodes were made by depositing ultra-thin palladium films onto a silicon carbide substrate. No significant change in the Schottky barrier height of the Pd/SiC contact was found in the temperature range of 300-673K. Palladium diffusion into SiC and the formation of palladium silicides were observed at room temperature and became significant at 300^oC and higher temperature. The mechanism of diffusion and reaction at the Pd/SiC ...

CERN Document Server

Amperostatic coulometry was applied for the thickness measurement of Sn-Ag hot dip coatings, which comprise an extended Sn-Cu interdiffusion layer. Complementary measurements, notably weight loss, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopy were performed in order to obtain a better interpretation of the coulometry results. Based on the experimental results presented in this article, the three potential changes observed during coulometry measurements are ascribed to (i) the entire dissolution of pure Sn, (ii) the formation of a CuCl salt layer, and (iii) the surface passivation. The measurement of the pure Sn mass is well reproducible despite strong coating thickness variations detected by XRF. Several experimental problems, in particular, a coating undercutting, hamper the determination of the Sn mass in the intermetallic Sn-Cu layer. (19 refs).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of temperature (60-280{sup o}C) on the properties of the oxide films formed on Alloy 800 in 0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} aqueous solutions was studied by in situ AC impedance spectroscopy and polarization in the Fe(CN{sub 6}){sup -3}/Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup -4} redox system. The anodic behavior under the same experimental conditions was examined by potentiodynamic polarization techniques. In both solutions the passive film was found to become more porous, and hence less protective, with increasing temperature. However, at temperatures above 150{sup o}C, the loss of film protectiveness is more pronounced in chloride solutions, in which pitting occurs. Pitting morphology was found to be strongly temperature dependent: isolated and deep pits were found up to 200{sup o}C whereas at higher temperatures a broad, shallow and more generalized type of attack was detected. No effect of temperature on the defect structure of the semiconductor oxide film was ...

Science.gov (United States)

The ability to use an acoustic stethoscope to detect lung and/or heart sounds, and then to then communicate one's interpretation of those sounds is an essential skill for many medical professionals. Interpretation of lung and heart sounds, in the context of history and other examination findings, often aids the differential diagnosis. Bedside assessment of changing auscultation findings may also guide treatment. Learning lung and heart auscultation skills typically involves listening to pre-recorded normal and adventitious sounds, often followed by laboratory instruction to guide stethoscope placement, and finally correlating the sounds with the associated pathophysiology and pathology. Recently, medical simulation has become an important tool for teaching prior to clinical practice, and for evaluating bedside auscultation skills. When simulating cardiovascular or pulmonary problems, high-quality lung and heart sounds should be able to ...

CERN Document Server

For a long time, signal processing applications, and most particularly detection and parameter estimation methods, have relied on the limiting behaviour of test statistics and estimators, as the number n of observations of a population grows large comparatively to the population size N, i.e. n>>N. Modern technological and societal advances now demand the study of sometimes extremely large populations, while simultaneously requiring fast signal processing due to accelerated system dynamics; this results in not-so-large practical ratios n/N, sometimes even smaller than one. A disruptive change in classical signal processing methods has therefore been initiated in the past ten years, mostly spurred by the field of large dimensional random matrix theory. The early literature in random matrix theory for signal processing applications is however scarce and highly technical. This tutorial proposes an accessible methodological introduction to the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This work describes the theoretical basis for a new concept rotating magnetic tensor gradiometer. The rotating gradiometer consists of an approximately axial or transverse gradiometer which is made to rotate about a perpendicular axis so that the direction of sensitivity is continually changing. It is demonstrated for the first time that the rotation separates gradient components of progressively higher-order in the frequency domain and enables absolute-value measurements of all components of the first-order magnetic gradient tensor, even if the magnetic sensors comprising the gradiometer are intrinsically incapable of absolute-value detection. In addition, the rotating gradiometer concept has a number of other advantages: the gradiometer imbalance is no longer directly determined by the engineering precision, the DC and low-frequency performance of the instrument is not limited by the performance of the detectors in these respects, rotation at ...

Science.gov (United States)

We investigated possible mechanism(s) where honokiol induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells. MTT assay showed that honokiol has strong inhibition on SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. SMMC-7721 cells after honokiol treatment display morphological characteristics such as cell shrinkage, detachment from the culture plate, formation of apoptotic bodies, change to a round shape, and marked nuclear condensation and fragmentation after 32258 staining. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin-V/PI staining and alternatively, by the subG0/G1 percentage of the cell cycle analysis followed by FACS. An obvious loss of ??(m) and a quick burst of ROS was detected when honokiol reached 4?g/ml, which was coincident with the high apoptosis percentage in our previous research. Up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 were observed, suggesting that honokiol-induced apoptosis was associated with reactive oxygen species ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The measurement of physiological parameters in man is possible with the help of positron emission tomography (PET) and radiopharmaceuticals labeled with short lived positron emitters as C 11, N 13, O 15 and F 18. With the use of this substances it is possible to make a tomographic map defining regional metabolic parameters in normal and diseased brain. This technique has therefore also be named 'in vivo autoradiography'. The possibility of applying C 11 or F 18 labeled deoxyglucose with PET for detecting regional and local changes in cerebral metabolic rate of glucose in brain development in children of 5 days to 1 year of age is discussed. Beyond this a relationship between cerebral metabolic rate of glucose, cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen by use of this technique after inhalation of O 15 and C 11-labeled CO_2 is shown. Attention is drawn to the application of C 11-methyl-spiperone and PET to visualize dopamine ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eddy current inspection methods are widely used for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of tubular products. Specifically, the sensors and instrumentation are designed to detect and characterize changes in a material's electrical and magnetic properties produced by the presence of discontinuities. A recent major enhancement in eddy current inspection technology has been the development of computer interfacing for data collection, analysis, and display. This breakthrough has led to multiple-frequency testing, eddy current imaging, and automated data interpretation systems that significantly enhance both capabilities and reliability of the eddy current inspection. In addition to the clear advantages in data processing, computer interfacing also permits the design and creation of unique sensors that further enhance eddy current inspection capabilities. Perhaps the most promising area of computer interactive probe design is multiple ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effect of the #+-# 0.75 T external magnetic field on the K_#alpha#_1, K_#alpha#_2, K_#beta#_'_1 and K_#beta#_'_2 x-ray production cross sections and radiative vacancy transfer probabilities from K-shell to L2 and L3 subshells and M-shell for ferromagnetic Nd, Gd and Dy and paramagnetic Eu and Ho have been investigated, using the 59.5 keV incident photons. K-shell fluorescence yields and K x-ray intensity ratios for these elements have been determined in the external magnetic field also. The K x-rays from different targets were detected using a high-resolution Si(Li) semiconductor detector. For B = 0, the present experimental results were compared with the experimental and theoretical data in the literature. The results show that K-shell fluorescence parameters such as photoionization cross section, fluorescence yield, radiation rates, vacancy transfer probabilities and spectral linewidth can change owing to the applied magnetic field. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) along with surgical resection is the most appropriate therapeutic modality. For this purpose, there have been many reports concerning the diagnostic value of Lipiodol-CT scan. The authors selected 45 patients with hepatoma during the period of Feb.1986 to Jan. 1988 who received a conventional CT scan, hepatic angiography and a Lipiodol-CT scan. The results were as follows: 1. There was no statistical significant between serum AFP level and mass size, morphology and amount of necrosis. 2. Tumor necrosis was observed in a single massive and multinodular type when the tumor size exceeded 5 cm. 3. Pattern II on Lipiodol-CT, homogenous accumulation of Lipiodol except for the area of inner necrosis, was most frequently demonstrated, which means that a tumor mass with hypervascularity and increased blood flow will attract Lipiodol better. 4. Lipiodol-CT was superior to conventional CT in detecting small, daughter ...

Science.gov (United States)

In drug development, Caco-2 cells are often employed to study the influence of membrane transporters on drug permeability. The aim of the current study was to characterize permeability and kinetic parameters of selected organic anionic compounds in Caco-2 cells, and to investigate whether the Caco-2 cell line may be used as an overall model to predict interactions on multiple membrane transporters in the intestine. Taurocholic acid (TCA) and estrone-3-sulfate (E(1) S) were used as model substrates. Possible inhibitors studied were TCA, E(1) S, taurolithocholic acid, fluvastatin, and glipizide. The effects of these compounds on initial uptake, apparent permeability, and intracellular end-point accumulations of the probe substrates were studied. Both interactions on apical and basolateral influx transporters were observed. These interactions were proposed to be mediated mainly by the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter and the organic solute transporter ?/?, and to less extent ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Molecular imaging represents a modern research area that allows the in vivo study of molecular biological process kinetics using appropriate probes and visualization methods. This methodology may be defined- apart from the contrast media injection - as non-abrasive. In order to reach an in vivo molecular process imaging as accurate as possible the effects of the used probes on the biological should not be too large. The contrast media as important part of the molecular imaging can significantly contribute to the understanding of molecular processes and to the development of tailored diagnostics and therapy. Since more than 15 years PTB is developing optic imaging systems that may be used for fluorescence based visualization of tissue phantoms, small animal models and the localization of tumors and their predecessors, and for the early recognition of inflammatory processes in clinical trials. Cellular changes occur during many diseases, thus the molecular imaging ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Our studies have shown that endotoxin intratracheally instilled into the rat lung induces proliferation of alveolar type II cells. In that study, the alveolar type II cells. In that study, the alveolar type II cell hyperplasia occurred 2 d after instillation of endotoxin and persisted for a further 2 d. After hyperplasia, the lung remodeled and returned to a normal state within 24-48 h. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the remodeling process of this transient hyperplasia may be useful to identify molecular changes that are altered in neoplasia. The purpose of the present study was to corroborate induction of epithelial cell hyperplasia by endotoxin and to delineate mechanisms involved in tissue remodeling after endotoxin-induced alveolar type II cell hyperplasia. In conclusion, immonostaining with cyclin D1 and cytokeratin shows that endotoxin induced epithelial cell proliferation and resulted in hyperplasia in the lung which persisted through 4 d ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This patent describes an expert overseer for the operation and real-time management of a mass spectrometer and associated laboratory equipment. The overseer is a computer-based expert diagnostic system implemented on a computer separate from the dedicated computer used to control the mass spectrometer and produce the analysis results. An interface links the overseer to components of the mass spectrometer, components of the laboratory support system, and the dedicated control computer. Periodically, the overseer polls these devices and as well as itself. These data are fed into an expert portion of the system for real-time evaluation. A knowledge base used for the evaluation includes both heuristic rules and precise operation parameters. The overseer also compares current readings to a long-term database to detect any developing trends using a combination of statistical and heuristic rules to evaluate the results. The overseer has the capability to alert lab ...

Science.gov (United States)

The theory of a method of determination of reactivity from power spectral density measurements with /sup 252/Cf and the results of experiments with a critical assembly mockup of a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) and with uranium (93.2 wt % /sup 235/U) metal cylinders and a sphere are presented. This method of reactivity determination has an advantage over existing methods in that it determines the reactivity only from properties of the reactor at the subcritical state of interest and thus does not require a calibration near delayed criticality. In these experiments, the reactivity was varied by changing the fissile loading or the amount of neutron absorber inserted; for the LMFBR mockup, the reactivity varied to approximately 75 dollars subcritical, and for the uranium metal assemblies to approximately 30 dollars subcritical. These experiments verified for the first time the predictions of theory that could be tested in the measurements. This method has ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited disorder characterized by the presence of cortical tubers, the majority of which are solid and show high signal on FLAIR images. Low-signal tubers are less frequent. To evaluate cystic cortical tubers in patients with TSC on the basis of their appearance on FLAIR images. MR examinations of 73 patients were retrospectively reviewed and 17 children (aged 25 days to 12.3 years) with a typical cyst-like tubers were selected for further analysis. The age of the patients, the number of lesions, and the shape and MR intensity were analyzed. Cyst-like cortical tubers were detected in 82% of children below 7 years of age and in 18% of those older then 7 years (P=0.00086). Most of the cystic lesions were of the shrunken type (72%), the expansile type being less frequently seen (28%). FLAIR images confirm the cystic character of some of the cortical tubers in TSC patients although the pathogenesis of cystic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Modern digital radiographic 'flat panel' detectors can exhibit a progressive form of image degradation arising from non-functioning pixels. The effect of these 'dead pixels' on the quantitative image quality measures of modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) is investigated by a simulated degradation of images obtained from an Hologic EPEX system. The effects on the semi-quantitive measures obtained from contrast threshold test objects and resolution gratings are also investigated. Results suggest that the contrast-detail tests often employed in quality assurance measures are not sufficient to reveal the presence of dead pixels until well beyond the recommended replacement point for the flat panel detector. However, measurements of spatial resolution using a line pairs phantom were found to be more sensitive to pixel loss. Measurement of the MTF, NPS and DQE can reveal small changes ...

Science.gov (United States)

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The capacity to maintain internal ion homeostasis amidst changing conditions is particularly important for teleost fishes whose reproductive cycle is dependent upon movement from freshwater to seawater. Although the physiology of seawater osmoregulation in mitochondria-rich cells of fish gill epithelium is well understood, less is known about the underlying causes of inter- and intraspecific variation in salinity tolerance. We used a genome-scan approach in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) correlated with variation in four salinity tolerance performance traits and six body size traits. Comparative genomics approaches allowed us to infer whether allelic variation at candidate gene loci (e.g., ATP1alpha1b, NKCC1, CFTR, and cldn10e) could have underlain observed variation. RESULTS: Combined parental analyses yielded genome-wide significant QTL on linkage groups 8, 14 and 20 for salinity tolerance performance ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the treatment of prostatic cancer using a newly proposed intermittent multiportal therapy (DIMT), acute reactions, change in tumor marker levels, and complications more than 6 months after treatment were evaluated. From June 1989 to September 1990, 26 patients with prostatic cancer (stage A2, 3 patients; B, 9; C, 2; D, 10; recurrence, 2) were treated. Fifteen patients were followed up for more than one year, with a mean period of 11.6 months. The treatment schedule is 52.5 Gy in 16 fractions in 4 weeks for radical treatment, and 30.0 Gy in 8 fractions in 2 weeks for palliative treatment. The 360 degree rotation about the patient was divided into 16 fractions, and 2 opposing fractions were used in one day as parallel opposed portals to treat the target volume. The fractions were serially treated one per day, so that 8 treatment days produced a total dose of distribution similar to that for conventional conformational therapy. The size of the irradiation field ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The present investigation was aimed to assess the usefulness of biliary agents scintigraphy in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to ascertain the relationship between the uptake of these agents and the degree of HCC differentiation. Forty-four patients with this hepatic cancer were included in the study. Liver scans were performed 20 min and 3 hr after the administration of 99mTc diisopropyliminodiacetic acid (DISIDA). DISIDA scintigraphy could not be assessed in six cases. In 16 (42%) out of the remaining 38 patients, the tumor exhibited equal or greater radioactivity uptake than the surrounding liver. In six out of these 16 patients, tumor uptake was apparent in the early and delayed hepatic scans, while in the other ten subjects radioactivity uptake by the HCC could only be detected in the 3-hr delayed scans. In the remaining 22 patients, HCC appeared as a cold area. Tumor location by this technique did not differ from that observed by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Investigated here were the effects of microwave (MW) radiation (2450-MHz, continuous-wave, mean specific absorption rate of 103.5 + or - 4.2 W/kg) and convention heating on the nonphosphorylating oxidative metabolism of human peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (96% lymphocytes, 4% monocytes) at 37 C. Metabolic activity, determined by chemiluminescence (CL) of cells challenged with luminol (5-aminO-2, 3-dihydro-1, 4-phthalazinedione) linked to bovine serum albumin, was detected with a brightness photomer. A significant stimulation after after MW exposure (p < 0.005) over total CL of matched 37 C-incubator controls was observed. A similar degree of stimulation, compared to incubator controls, was also detected after sham treatment. No significant difference existed between changes in total CL or stimulation indices of the MW and sham-exposed groups. Exposure to MW radiation, under normothermic (37 + or - 0.03 C) conditions, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The relative sensitivity and combined value of myocardial technetium-99m stannous pyrophosphate imaging and determinations of serum MB creatine phosphokinase (the ''myocardial'' CPK isoenzyme) in detecting acute myocardial infarction were evaluated in 41 patients with suspected infarction and 23 patients recovering from cardiac surgery. In the patients with suspected infarction, myocardial infarction was confirmed in 25 and was consistently associated with increased serum MB CPK. Abnormal radionuclide images were obtained in 23 of 25 patients (92%)) with definite myocardial infarction and in 2 of 16 patients without confirmed infarction. Although the localization of infarction by imaging correlated well with the localization by electrocardiogram, infarct size estimated by imaging did not correlate well with estimates based on peak total serum CPK activity or serial changes in CPK activity. Serum MB CPK activity increased after cardiac surgery ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA) with deuteron ion beams has been used to probe for ion implanted nitrogen and carbon with high sensitivity in zinc oxide and silicon single crystals. The ion implanted N was measured using 1.4 MeV deuteron ion beams and was found to be in agreement with calculated values. The limit of detection for N in ZnO is 8x1014 ions cm-2. Raman measurements of the ion implanted samples showed three additional modes at 275, 504, and 644 cm-1 compared to the un-implanted ZnO crystals. The NRA and Raman results provided information on the N concentration, depth distribution, and structural changes that occur in dependence on the nitrogen ion fluences. The deuterium induced 12C(d,p)13C reaction was used to measure the carbon impurity/dose in ion implanted silicon. It was found that the use of a large cold shield (liquid nitrogen trap) in the ion implanter chamber greatly reduces the amount of carbon impurity on the surface of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Behavioral detection of a low-frequency (40 Hz) vibratory dipole at source distances of 1.5–24 cm was measured by classically conditioned respiratory suppression in goldfish (Carassius...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Since current microbiology methods are not suitable to detect Clostridium perfringens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, we developed a PCR assay to detect toxin-encoding...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

This investigation describes the technique for the detection of the X-ray fluorescent radiation

Science.gov (United States)

on this technology has beenproposedas a payload on SpaceStation Freedom to be launched in the near future [1]. Direct detection 4-ary pulse position modula- ...