... The following report, filed by the Labor Inspector of the local Employment Security Office, cites S3 me of "the harsh disciplinary methods used by the ...
How does complex social behavior evolve? What are the developmental building blocks of division of labor and specialization, the hallmarks of insect societies? Studies have revealed the developmental...Full Text Available
Spontaneous rupture of membranes (ROM) is a normal component of labor and delivery. Premature ROM (PROM) refers to rupture of the fetal membranes prior to the onset of labor irrespective of gestational...Full Text Available
BackgroundPregnancy is accompanied by several hemodynamic, biochemical and hematological changes which revert to normal values after labor. The mean values of these parameters have...Full Text Available
With more women entering the labor market, concern about adverse effects of occupational exposure on reproductive health has been increasing. Of special importance are those agents which might cause...Full Text Available
"La Universidad de Valencia tiene avanzado el diseno de un acelerador lineal de protones, cuya culminacion depende del compromiso del Consell en sufragar la plantilla que necesitaria el centro para estar operativo" (1 page).
A detailed definitive cost estimate is given for an ethanol/gasohol storage and blending terminal serving a planned distillery at a Louisiana sugar factory. Included are an analysis of the accuracy of the estimate, labor rates efficiency, materials and labor escalation, as well as detailed calculations for each account of the project. (LEW)
Endoreduplication represents a cell cycle variant during which multiple rounds of DNA replication occur without subsequent chromosome separation and cytokinesis, resulting into a cellular increase of the DNA content. Although the DNA ploidy level of cells is controlled by external stimuli such as light, currently limited knowledge is available on how environmental signals regulate the endoreduplication cycle at the molecular level. Previously, we have demonstrated that the conversion from the mitotic cell cycle into an endoreduplication cycle is mediated by the atypical E2F transcription factor DEL1 that operates as a repressor of endocycle onset. Here, we identified DEL1 as a transcriptional target of the classical E2Fb and E2Fc transcription factors that antagonistically control DEL1 transcript levels through competition for a single E2F cis-acting binding site. Correspondingly with the reported opposite effect of light ...
To evaluate the yield of SPIR sequences with fat suppression in the diagnosis of optic nerve lesions. T1 and T2 weighted fat suppressed SPIR imaging of the optic nerve improves anatomical definition, lesion detection and characterization in optic nerve conditions. [Italian] L'articolo analizza i vantaggi ricavabili dall'utilizzazione delle sequenze SPIR nella documentazione del decorso del nervo ottico e delle sue alterazioni nei pazienti con sospetto clinico e strumentale di malattia retrobulbare. L'utilizzo delle sequenze SPIR consente ottimale visualizzazione del nervo ottico e delle sue eventuali alterazioni senza gli artefatti che limitavano la qualita' delle immagini nelle prime sequenze RM con soppressione del segnale del grasso.
Throughout most of the 1980s, both private organizations and government agencies were concerned about the availability of an adequate supply of qualified nuclear engineers. This concern was primarily the result of a number of nuclear engineering academic programs being eliminated coupled with a continuous decline in graduate and undergraduate enrollments and degrees. By the early 1990s, the number of degrees and available supply had declined to new lows, but cutbacks in funding for the nuclear weapons program and nuclear energy R&D, and in hiring by the electric utility industry, offset in large measure the declining supply. Recently, concerns about environment and waste management and about nuclear safety have again generated questions about the adequacy of supply of qualified personnel for nuclear energy activities. This report briefly examines the nuclear engineering labor market. Trends in employment, new graduates, job openings, and salaries are reviewed ...
The actual cost of constructing the LNG facility was about $589 million, an increase of approximately 258% over the $164 million cost estimate approved by the Federal Power Commission (FPC) in 1977. According to reports submitted by Trunkline LNG, the reasons for the increases included extensive modifications to plant design to ensure safe and reliable construction and greater operating efficiency and compliance with state and federal regulations. Also, extension beyond the original estimated completion date, various labor problems, and general inflation resulted in increased labor and interest costs.
The UK's reserves of crude oil could last another 300 years. This is the result it is hoped to obtain from tests currently being carried out in British Coal's liquefaction project of which the objective is to produce a high quality liquid fuel from coal. 1 fig.
Sommario La patologia polmonare acuta rappresenta una sfida quotidiana per il Radiologo d'Urgenza, al quale e richiesto di porre una diagnosi sulla base di un radiogramma del torace, eseguito spesso in condizioni tecniche precarie. La Tomografia Computerizzata (TC), pur essendo uno strumento decisivo per ovviare alla scarsa accuratezza del radiogramma del torace, non sempre e eseguibile in questi pazienti che necessitano di assistenza continua. Recentemente e stato proposto l'impiego dell'ecografia toracica per lo studio della patologia acuta. L'esame e eseguito rapidamente al letto del paziente e non necessita di apparecchiature particolari. In 168 pazienti con patologia toracica acuta e stato eseguito uno studio ecografico del torace a completamento dell'esame radiologico. Sono stati val...
Active contrast material extravasation can be recognized with conventional CT scanners, though it has been considered a rare finding. Helical CT seems to increase the detection rate and especially to boost the radiologist's confidence in this diagnosis. Though active bleeding is defined in severely-injured subjects requiring urgent intervention and may be associated with findings of hypovolaemic shock, it should not be considered itself as a negative prognostic factor. Contrast extravasation is due to ongoing hemorrhage and its detection is critical for urged treatment. Accurate anatomical location permits to choose surgical management or transcatheter embolization and thus decreases time consumption for precis e bleeding site identification. [Italian] Lo stravaso attivo del mdc e' rilevabile anche con appropriate apparecchiature TC tradizionali, sebbene sia stato considerato raro. La TC sprirale sembra aumentare la frequanza ...
Available in abstract form only. Full text of publication follows: The uncertainties of decommissioning costs increase high due to several conditions. Decommissioning cost estimation depends on the complexity of nuclear installations, its site-specific physical and radiological inventories. Therefore, the decommissioning costs of nuclear research facilities must be estimated in accordance with the detailed sub-tasks and resources by the tasks of decommissioning activities. By selecting the classified activities and resources, costs are calculated by the items and then the total costs of all decommissioning activities are reshuffled to match with its usage and objectives. And the decommissioning cost of nuclear research facilities is calculated by applying a unit cost factor method on which classification of decommissioning works fitted with the features and specifications of decommissioning objects and establishment of composition factors are based. Decommissioning costs of nuclear ...
This paper describes construction procedures to be employed at the Kansk-Achinsk Fuel and Power Generation Complex, where over 8,000 people are employed, and particularly at the Beresovskii-1 surface mine with a planned annual output of 55 million t of coal. Roads are to be built of reinforced concrete slabs, reducing labor consumption by 1.5-2 times, while the use of pile foundations for buildings will reduce the consumption of monolithic reinforced concrete by 2.5 times and labor by 20,000 man days. Similar economies may be achieved by the use of light metal structures. Details are given of the erection of coal storage silos 68 m high using sliding forms. The 15 km transport gallery from the mine to the Beresovskii GREhS-1 power station will be constructed using a conveyor method with units weighing up to 50 t, saving up to 25% on labor. Total savings on metal for the Berezovskii-1 mine as a whole will be 2,200 t, ...
A systematic approach is followed in order to identify realistic D-brane models at toric del Pezzo singularities. Requiring quark and lepton spectrum and Yukawas from D3 branes and massless hypercharge, we are led to Pati-Salam extensions of the Standard Model. Hierarchies of masses, flavour mixings and control of couplings select higher order del Pezzo singularities, minimising the Higgs sector prefers toric del Pezzos with dP3 providing the most successful compromise. Then a supersymmetric local string model is presented with the following properties at low energies: (i) the MSSM spectrum plus a local B-L gauge field or additional Higgs fields depending on the breaking pattern, (ii) a realistic hierarchy of quark and lepton masses and (iii) realistic flavour mixing between quark and lepton families with computable CKM and PMNS matrices, and CP violation consistent with observations. In this construction, kinetic terms are ...
Table of Contents: Overview of Organization and Contents of Document; Analytical Data Collection Efforts and Definition of Options; Description of Data Conventions; Statistical Methodology: Modified Delta-Lognormal Model; Estimation Under the Modified Del...
In this chart review the authors describe 51 cases of PSOAS abscess treated at Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia in the last 10 years. It is not a rare condition and require high index of suspicion. epidemiology, bacteriology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
3 Ago 2004 ... Siguiendo las recomendaciones de la OSTP, una parte del nuevo sistema estar? disponible en la base general para asegurar que toda la ...
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Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide an explanation to why the degree of informal employment may vary substantially between different regions within a country. In Brazil, 45% of workers in the urban labor force are employed informally. The degree of informal employment, however, varies substantially across regions, with some cities having 20% and others having 80% or more of their labor force in the informal sector. The hypothesis assessed here is that the quality of local governance-or government effectiveness-affects the decisions of workers and businesses as to whether to participate in the formal or the informal sector. The empirical analysis, based on data from 5500 Brazilian municipalities, shows that informal employment is lower in regions with better governance, higher aver...
Using a sample of Uruguayan manufacturing establishments we analyze employment, capital, and productivity dynamics over a period of currency appreciation; changes in trade policy; and changes in the institutional setting of wage negotiations. As the relative capital-labor price ratio fell, capital intensity increased. At the same time, there was an increase in labor and total factor productivity. Creation and destruction rates were relatively high and pervasive over time, sectors, establishment size, and establishment age, with exits explaining a sizeable part of destruction rates. Most of the excess reallocation was due to movements -within- rather than -between- sectors. Thus, high reallocation rates were linked to establishment-level heterogeneity rather than aggregate shocks.
This guide is applied for the reload pattern's formation for mirror symmetry of a core room and in accordance with the Control Cell core technique (of the english Control Cell Core - CCC) for the PRESTO-B code. (Author)
The hospitals are important consumers of energy. At the General Hospital of Zone (HGZ) N of the IMSS in Aguscalientes (HGZ N . IMSS Ags.), the diesel oil is the main fuel that is used to satisfy the requirements of thermal energy of the hospital. According to the data collected by this author, this fuel represented in 2001, 75% of its total energy consumption and the 67.9% of its total costs in energy that ascended to $396.131 (December 2001 Dollars) Since this last amount represents an important percentage of the total expenses of the hospital (29.367 million dollars) it is important to determine the technical-economic possibilities of thermal energy saving of the hospital. The HGZ N 1 IMSS Ags. is located in a ampler conglomerate where the IMSS units are located, such as, the regional laundry, the sport unit, the center of social security, the familiar medicine unit N 1 and the hospital. Nevertheless departing from the installation of the electrical systems and the provision of steam ...
The paper brings forth the information related to the youth organizations acting at the factory, their policies, provisions of youth incentives, intake of employees to the company, labor motivation. There is also the information on the events, which take place on site, on the arrangements of the young employees' leisure, as well as on the creative and productive potential of the factory. (author)
Describes general trends in the quality of rural education: equivalent rural and urban performance on national standardized tests and high school graduation rates but continuing rural deficits in college attendance and teacher qualifications. Discusses the below-average performance of southern rural schools, factors affecting rural students' college attendance, and the influence of changing labor markets. (SV)
... (restricted)] 98-118 Oil prices and competitiveness: time series evidence from six oil-producing countries by Mohammad R. Jahan-Parvar & Hassan Mohammadi [Downloadable! (restricted)] 2008, Volume 35, Issue 6 444-485 The S-shaped labor supply schedule: evidence from industrialized countries by Maryke ...
Two separate studies address the major issues of deforestation in developing countries, namely, Does deforestation seriously impair the soil-plant system. and How can a steady supply of wood fuels be guaranteed with diminishing natural forest. In Chapter 1, twenty-six cross-sectional and time series studies of soil properties in the US and ten countries between the tropics were examined to determine the changes associated with deforestation in soil organic C, total N, exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K, cation exchange capacity, available P, bulk density, and pH. Deforestation was associated with significant changes in these soil properties. Only bulk density and avaiable P showed any tendency to return to pre-clearing levels. Differences in soil response to deforestation according to climate and age of parent material were related to temperature, rainfall, vegetation, soil acidity, and organic matter production and decomposition on each site. In Chapter 2, a multiobjective linear program ...
Abstract Der folgende Artikel setzt die Reihe unserer ChiuZ-Beitrge zur Chemi- und Biolumineszenz mit einer interessanten und neuen experimentellen Arbeit zum -kalten Licht- spezieller ungesttigter Verbindungen fort, deren Anwendung auch in der modernen Zeit der Nanotechnologie im biochemischen bzw. medizinisch-chemischen Labor vllig neue Akzente gesetzt hat.
The purpose of the invention is to simplify assembly and to reduce labor intensity. This is achieved by the fact that the assembly shaft is positioned in a hawser, while its wall which is turned towards the body of the installation is combined with the hawser wall, where a U shaped opening is made in the wall of the assembly shaft, along the edges of which there is a hermetically sealing device, while the bottom of the body of the offshore drilling rig is equipped with a rigid insert attached with the capability of adjoining it with the hermetically sealing device.
In Spiral CT, the pitch is the ratio of the distance to tabletop travels per 360 degrees rotation to nominal slice width, expressed in mm. Performing Spiral CT examination with pitch 2 allows to reduce examination time, exposure and contrast dose, and X-ray tube overload. The authors investigated the yield of pitch 2 in lung parenchyma studies, particular relative to diagnostic image quality. [Italian] Nella Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) spirale il rapporto tra la distanza percorsa dal lettino portapaziente in una rotazione e lo spessore nominale dello strato, entrambi espressi in millimetri, si definische pitch. Se i due valori del rapporto coincidono si avra' pitch uguale a 1, mentre raddoppiando la distanza percorsa dal lettino portapaziente, per il medesimo spessore nominale, conseguentemente raddoppia il pitch (pitch 2). Eseguire gli esami TC spirale utilizzando pitch 2, consente di ridurre la durata dell'esame, la dose di esposizione, il ...
The main purpose of this paper is to stress the importance of CT depiction of the mandibular incisive canal. This anatomical structure contains a major neurovascular bundle and is thus very important in the planning of mandibular implants in the canine-incisive area. The importance of careful assessment of the mandibular canal course before implantology is now widely recognized. The same holds true for the canine-incisive region in the jaw, to detect the incisive canal if present and prevent any complications from its accidental damage. CT with a dedicated software showed the incisive canal in a large number of patients, which calls for precise reporting of its presence, course, and relationships with teeth. [Italian] Scopo di questo lavoro e' sottolineare l'importanza di rilevare e segnalare la visibilita' con Tomografia Computerizzata del canale incisivo mandibolare, struttura anatomica al cui interno decorre un fascio vasculo nervoso e ...
The diagnostic imaging findings in hepatic amoebiasis and the capabilities of percutaneous drainage have already been described but some debate is open on both diagnosis and treatment. It is reported the experience with the ultrasound (US) and Computed Tomography (CT) studies of the hepatic amoebic abscess and its management. [Italian] I reperti con diagnostica per immagini nell'amebiasi epatica e le possibilita' del drenaggio percutaneo sono stati gia' illustrati; esistono tuttavia controversie sul piano sia diagnostico che terapeutico. Obiettivo di questo lavoro e' quello di riportare l'esperienza personale nella diagnostica con ecografia e tomografia computerizzata (TC) e nel trattamento degli ascessi amebici del fegato.
Red mud (Rm) is the main by-product of the Bayer process for alumina extraction from bauxite, and grey slurries (GS) are generated during the granite rocks transformation processes. the huge volume of those wastes generated every year suppose a serious environmental problem. Recent works by our group demonstrate the efficiency of both types of muds as corrosion inhibitors for iron and steel in alkaline media containing chlorides. The elemental analysis of these slurried shows that Al{sup 3}+ is the main common element. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study the effect of the soluble Al{sup 3}+ in the electrochemical behaviour of iron in alkaline media, in presence and absence of chlorides. The electrochemical study using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) together with surface analysis techniques allowed to conclude that Al{sup 3}+ blocks the surface of steel in alkaline media chloride increasing the steel resistance to chlorides attack. ...
In this work it is intended a methodology to validate a new version of the software used for monitoring the reactor core, which requires of the evaluation of the thermal limits settled down in the Operation Technical Specifications, for the Unit 2 of Laguna Verde with ARTS (improvements to the APRMs, Rod Block Monitor and Technical specifications). According to the proposed methodology, those are shown differences found in the thermal limits determined with the new versions and previous of the core monitoring software. Author)
One of ENEA's many activities consists in dealing with the analysis of information strategies. In this case the analysis concerns an environmental issue, the ozone hole which, in spite of the consideration given by the media, is not sufficiently highlighted, as well as in the case of climate changes issue. A survey of the coverage of four daily newspapers was realized; the time period covered by the analysis spans form January 1996 to December 1997, 77 articles in total. The newspapers involved are: La Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera, L'Unita' on a national scale, and Il Resto del Carlino on a regional scale. The number of articles analyzed is divided as follows: 26 for the Repubblica, 24 for the Corriere della Sera, 21 for the Unita', 6 for the Resto del Carlino. The purpose of the work was to detect quality and quantity indicators of the Italian press about the ozone hole issue and possible environmental ...
The paper reports the results of a preliminary experience with volume rendering technique of virtual computerized tomography colonoscopy and compares it with endoscopy and surgery showing its capability in detecting colon and rectal cancers. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' riportare l'esperienza personale preliminare nell'uso della colonscopia TC virtuale confrontando i risultati con quelli dell'endoscopia e dei riscontri operatori, dimostrandone l'efficacia nella diagnosi delle malattie tumorali del colon-retto.
Sommario I lipomi del collo e della testa in genere si verificano nel tessuto sottocutaneo superficiale. Quelli sottofasciali intramuscolari sono molto rari. Riportiamo di seguito il caso di una donna di 53 anni con un lipoma sottofasciale localizzato nello spazio antero-laterale del collo. La diagnosi della lesione e stata ottenuta con esame clinico e confermata con Ecografia (US) e Tomografia Computerizzata (TC). La lesione, caratterizzata da capsula e aspetto fibrolipomatoso, e stata escissa con intervento chirurgico.
Connective tissue in biopsy specimens taken from the lower part of the uterine cervix in 40 pregnant women at various gestational ages was compared to that in similar biopsy specimens from 15 nonpregnant women. The concentrations of collagen, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, and hyaluronic acid decreased during pregnancy. At the gestational age of 10 weeks, the collagen concentration was 70%, and at term 30%, of that in the nonpregnant cervix. After delivery, no further decrease was observed. The extractability of collagen increased during pregnancy, as well as during labor. Also, the water concentration increased. An increase in the collagenolytic activity was observed with advancing gestational age. The 2,4-dinitrophenyl-Pro-Gln-Gly-Ile-Ala-Gly-Gin-D-Arg hydrolytic activity (collagenase) and the concentration of leukocyte elastase increased gradually by a factor of 10. The physiologic importance of the collagen was also demonstrated, since the cervical dilatation ...
CT is a valuable tool in assessing thoracic gunshot wounds. CT is also the method of choice in emergency, because it permits rapid depiction of bullet damage to the chest and to other body districts. This in turn permits correct assessment of the main thoracic injuries, plus adequate and prompt planning of surgical treatment or support intensive care. It is reported on the role of CT in diagnosing the complex pleuropulmonary, cardiovascular and thoracic wall injuries caused by gunshot wounds, with their specific and acute signs which differ greatly fro those of other types of chest trauma. In the last 4 years, it was observed an amount of 76 cases of gunshot injury, twenty-six of them involved the chest. The patients, 25 men and 1 woman (mean age: 32 years, range: 17-48), were all submitted to emergency CT with iv contrast agent injection and the CT-angiography technique. The reanimator was always presented to monitor the patients' vital functions and shock state. CT of the ...
An analysis of the current state of track-laying operations in open-cut mines is given and their labor intensive nature is noted. The lag in the technological development of mechanization equipment for track laying and repair operations is noted. Results are given from developments by the Scientific Research Institute of Open-Pit Mining Operations in the field of mobile transportation technology and promising modular route design. Also examined are the problems of improving the routing bases in the industry. The absence of factories for manufacturing transportation technology and equipment is reflected most evidently in the technical and cost characteristics of coal production by an open-cut method and requires immediate solution.
The purpose of the invention is to reduce the labor intensity of assembly and disassembly of a drilling rig with a large unit transport method. To achieve the cited goal, in the base of the drilling rig unit, which contains uprights with hinges, installed between the frame and the foundation support, where each of the hinges is linked by a flexible element with the frame, the frame and the foundation support are equipped with encircling elements installed with the capability of interacting with the flexible element, where the uprights are linked with the frame by means of hinges with the capability of locking and the uprights by means of the encircling and flexible elements are connected in pairs.
The geological structure of Mesita del Buey at Technical Area 54 (TA-54) was examined using precise surveying of the contact between units 1v and 2 of the Tshirege Member of the Bandelier Tuff at 3.5 km along the north wall of Pajarito Canyon and 0.6 km along the north wall of a tributary to Canada del Buey. Estimated structure contours on this contact indicate typical strikes of N40E to N70E along this part of Mesita del Buey, although the apparent strike of the tuff is E-W at the western part of the survey. Typical dips are 1.0{degree} to 2.0{degree} to the east or southeast, with an estimated maximum dip of 3.2{degree} near the west end of Material Disposal Area G. Thirty seven faults with vertical displacements of 5 to 65 cm were observed in outcrop along the Pajarito Canyon traverse, and, due to the incomplete exposure of the unit 1v-unit 2 contact, many more faults of this magnitude undoubtedly exist. The faults have ...
The symposium had four areas in analytical methodology to study global environmental change: air; water, wastes and speciation, analytical methodology and environmental management. The symposium had 24 conferences and papers.
Aim of this retrospective study was to assess the capability of contrast-enhanced helical computerised tomography (CT) in sigmoid diverticulitis, especially relative to selection of the appropriate treatment. The findings of 41 patients were reviewed from 1998 to 1999 June. Contrast-enhanced helical CT is the imaging modality of choice in assessing mild or severe acute diverticulitis because it provides useful information for appropriate treatment planning in the emergency setting. This technique is most useful in questionable cases and in patients with suspected severe diverticulitis where a choice must be made between different treatment options. [Italian] Scopo di questo studio retrospettivo e' illustrare i molteplici aspetti radiologici della flogosi diverticolare sigmoidea con tomografia computerizzata (TC) spirale, con specifico riguardo alle implicazioni terapeutiche che scaturiscono dall'analisi e dal confronto dei reperti TC con i riscontri clinici e ...
Neutralizing an acidic fluid consists of adding a sodium hydroxide solution to neutralize the H group of acids, therefore increasing the pH. The injection of sodium hydroxide has to be continuous and at a proper depth inside the well to protect against the corrosion of casing and surface equipment. Neutralization is a common practice used in geothermal fields, such as at The Geysers in the US and Miravalles in Costa Rica-places where aggressive fluids cause problems for extracting and using geothermal fluids commercially. A zone surrounding wells H-4, H-16 and H-29 in the northern section of the Los Humeros, Pue., geothermal field, known as the Colapso Central, has shown evidence of aggressively acidic fluids. Several wells drilled in the area had to be repaired, thus plugging and isolating the deepest production zones. Well H-43 was drilled two years ago in the northern zone of the field, and even though it is not located in the aggressive-fluid zone, the well presents mineralogical ...
Some of well known F{sub 2} layer anomalies might have their origin in lower atmosphere and some have extra terrestrial sources. It has been suggested that the phenomena occurring below the ionosphere such as thunderstorms, lightning/sprites, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and above the phenomena like corona mass ejection, solar flares and extra terrestrial events may produce F{sub 2} layer signatures. In the present paper we have tried to summarize the effect of some phenomena occurring below the ionosphere like thunderstorms, lightning/sprites and seismic activity and the phenomena such as solar flares which occur above the ionosphere, on the ionospheric electron and ion temperatures. The paper also discusses possibilities. The ionospheric electron and ion temperatures were measured by the RrPAa payload aboard the Iindian SRrOSS-C2 satellite. The normal day's ion and electron temperatures have been compared to the temperatures recorded during the disturbed day. The ...
Purpose: Cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of {beta} thalassaemia major as a result of transfusion iron overload. The aim of our study is to evaluate with MR if there is any difference of iron deposition signal intensity (SI) or distribution between non-cardiopatic and cardiopatic thalassaemic patients in order to establish if there is a relationship between cardiopathy and iron deposition. Materials and methods: We studied 20 patients affected by {beta} thalassaemia major, of whom 10 cardiopatic and 10 non-cardiopatic, and 10 healthy volunteers as control group. Serum ferritin and left ventricular ejection fraction were calculated in thalassaemic patients. All patients were examinated using a 1.5 MR unit with ECG-gated GE cine-MR T2*-weighted, SE T1-weighted and GE T2*-weighted sequences. In all cases, using an adequate ROI, the myocardial and skeletal muscle signal intensity (SI), the myocardial/skeletal muscle signal intensity radio (SIR) and the SI average of the ...
This paper reports some technical contributes related to the Kyoto Protocol and its application in Italian decision making policy. [Italian] Il presente volume raccoglie una decina di contributi tecnici originariamente preparati o commissionati dall'ENEA, Ente Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente, in vista della Conferenza Nazionale Energia e Ambiente. Questa fotografia di una situazione in rapida evoluzione e' stata preparata da esperti del settore che contribuiscono a redigere il materiale tecnico di base utilizzato dai negoziatori nazionali durante le trattative internazionali e dai responsabili nazionali per avviare il processo di presa di decisioni in materia.
Purpose of this item is to report the CT patterns of pancreatic mesenchymal lesions and to investigate the capabilities and limitations of this technique in terms of characterization. In selected cases, CT can provide virtually diagnostic information (lipoma and teratoma), or at least highly suggestive findings (NHL, plexiform neurofibroma, lymphangioma). Moreover, knowledge of the variable morphostructural patterns of mesenchymal hisototypes (SCH, Sarcoma etc.) permits to include them in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. [Italian] Scopo di questo rapporto e' descrivere gli aspetti semeiologici dei tumori mesenchimali del pancreas con la TC verificandone le possibilita e i limiti per la caratterizzazione. Pur nella rarita' dei reperti considerati, la TC puo' consentire l'effettiva caratterizzazione in alcuni casi (lipoma, neurofibroma plessiforme, linfangioma) o includere anche istotipi meno comuni (Schwannoma, ...
The release of any potential radioactive pollutant to the environment during routine operation of a Nuclear Power Plant should be the subject of appropriate controls and assessments. It is impossible to monitor directly the dose contribution of normal releases because the environmental radioactivity levels are very small but source monitoring provides a means of assessing the radiation exposure of population groups, critical groups and individual members of the public. Derived emissions limits ( DELs ) are used to quantify the relationship between releases of radioactivity and doses to public - critical groups. CNE Cernavoda DELs are based on a pathway analysis conducted for Cernavoda site specific conditions and they were computed using a compartment transfer model. Annual air and water emissions for the most significant radionuclides between 1997 and 2008 are presented in terms of doses and can be observed that population doses are far below ...
Objetivo La generacion local de citocinas es un factor patogenico en el dano por isquemia-reperfusion en la disfuncion precoz del injerto. Este estudio analiza la expresion en tejido pulmonar de ARN mensajero de interleucina-8 (ARNm de IL-8) y su relacion con los cambios intersticiales pulmonares en un modelo experimental de isquemia-reperfusion pulmonar normotermica. MATERIAL Y METODOS Se estudiaron 16 conejos de la raza Nueva Zelanda en 3 grupos de estudio: a) basal; b) isquemia (lobulo inferior derecho tras isquemia de 1, 2 o 3 h), y c) reperfusion (lobulos superior y medio derechos tras 1 h de isquemia y 1, 2 o 3 h de reperfusion). Se deter- mino la expresion del ARNm de IL-8 mediante transcripcion inversa y reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa y estudio la infiltracion intersticial por...
The Water Frame work Directive (December 2000) proposes integrated water management in regard to both quality and quality. A mathematical model has therefore been produced at the CEIT and EPTISA research centre, in collaboration with the Ebro Hydrographic. Confederation (CHE), to predict water quality and thus begin integrated management of it in the river basins. A description is given of the characteristics of the simulation tool. The hydraulic model is based on the numerical (weighted, four-point implicit) resolution of the complete Saint Venant equations. The quality model is based on the IWA River Water Quality Model Number 1 which has clear advantages (consistency, mass balance and easy integration with the biological models of the waste water treatment plants and the collector networks compared to traditional models. The experimental validation, which includes calibration in wintertime of the hydraulic and quality models most representative coefficients was assessed on the basis ...
After a short review of the classical simplified expressions able to evaluate the seepage path in the core of a river levee, this paper first discusses the results obtained assuming the Dupuit approximation. Dimensionless nomographs are then showed, obtained by means of numerical integration of the seepage equations, These nomographs allow a quick levee design to be developed, after the definition of flood hydrography, seepage and embankment characteristics. [Italian] Dopo un sintetico richiamo di alcune classiche formulazioni semplificate per la determinazione dell'andamento della linea di infiltrazioner in un rilevato arginale, nell'articolo vengono presentati e discussi i risultati conseguiti prima assumendo la sola ipotesi di Dupuit e, successivamente, risolvendo l'equazione completa del moto di filtrazione. In particolare, vengono forniti abachi adimensionali che consentono, una volta fissate le caratteristiche ...
SommarioNei Paesi occidentali il rischio di malattie cardiovascolari e notevolmente aumentato negli ultimi decenni. Di pari passo, il miglioramento prognostico delle malattie cardiovascolari, l'invecchiamento e l'aumento della vita media della popolazione generale stanno rivelando un crescente numero di casi di malattia renale cronica d'origine vascolare. E del tutto plausibile pensare che nei prossimi anni il numero di pazienti anziani con malattia vascolare aterosclerotica, che sara inserito nei programmi di dialisi cronica, aumentera rapidamente. Questo fara lievitare in modo drammatico i costi sociali ed economici della dialisi configurando una vera emergenza clinica. In questo scenario epidemiologico, la diagnosi precoce della malattia ischemica cronica del rene e la definizione di nu...
Computed Tomography (CT) and, more recently, ultrasound (US), have proved excellent tools for quantifying adipose tissue distribution. Body fat distribution is an important factor in the treatment of obesity and its complications. In this work it is investigated the correlation between CT and US measurements in pediatric obesity. Forty obese children and adolescents aged 4.1-14.8 years were submitted to CT and US. Intra-abdominal, subcutaneous and total body fat were calculated (in cm{sup 2}), with the CT image analysis software. The rectus muscle-spine and rectus muscle-aorta distances, as indicative of visceral fat thickness, were measured on US images with(out) compression. The distance between skin fat and fat-rectus muscle interfaces was measured as subcutaneous fat thickness. US-CT findings have been compared with other morphometric variables-i.e., patient's (ideal) body weight and skin fold measures. A statistically significant correlation was found between the CT ...
In the United States, approximately 20% of all workers who died on the job in 2007 were foreign-born. The objective of this study was to describe trends in occupational fatalities among foreign-born workers. An analysis of fatal injuries among foreign-born workers in the US occurring from 1992 through 2007 was conducted using the Bureau of Labor Statistics? Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Individual characteristics, employment characteristics, injury events and industry employment were summarized and evaluated for trends. Both the number and proportion of foreign-born workers who died from a traumatic work-related injury increased substantially over the time period studied. The proportion who were men, aged 25?44?years, Hispanic, non self-employed, employed by business establishment...
Classical methods for the study of complex fluid phase behavior include static and dynamic equilibrium cells that usually require vapor and liquid recirculation. These are sophisticated, costly apparatus that require highly trained operators, usually months of labor-intensive work per mixture, and the data analysis is also rather complex. Simpler approaches to the fundamental study of azeotropes are highly desirable, even if they provide only selected cuts through the phase diagram. Recently, we introduced an advanced distillation curve measurement method featuring: (1) a composition explicit data channel for each distillate fraction (for both qualitative and quantitative analysis), (2) temperature measurements that are true thermodynamic state points that can be modeled with an equation o...
This article presents an unsupervised algorithm for semantic annotation of morphological descriptions of whole organisms. The algorithm is able to annotate plain text descriptions with high accuracy at the clause level by exploiting the corpus itself. In other words, the algorithm does not need lexicons, syntactic parsers, training examples, or annotation templates. The evaluation on two real-life description collections in botany and paleontology shows that the algorithm has the following desirable features: (a) reduces/eliminates manual labor required to compile dictionaries and prepare source documents; (b) improves annotation coverage: the algorithm annotates what appears in documents and is not limited by predefined and often incomplete templates; (c) learns clean and reusable concept...
High angle conveyor (HAC) systems in open pit mining offer many advantages over the traditional, truck only, haulage systems, including: (1) superior energy efficiency, (2) less dependency on petroleum products, (3) less sensitivity to inflation, (4) less labor, (5) less excavation for the amount of ore recovered, and (6) less ramp construction and maintenance costs. Previous studies have revealed the technical and economic feasibility of high angle conveyors. The present paper introduces the Continental Conveyor sandwich belt HAC as the vital link to optimization of in-pit conveying systems. A test and demonstration unit, has been built and demonstrated. Discussion continues with the HAC systems to suit the various open pit mining operations and the corresponding characteristics of the system components, particularly the high angle conveyor. The range of HAC systems is discussed. (11 refs.)
Manual drilling in titanium structures is a tedious and labor-intensive work. To reduce man-hour requirements while concurrently improving hole quality, we developed a robotic drilling system for this application. The lean system contains the product holding fixture, the industrial robot, the end effector, the control and sensor system, and the offline programming. The system functions include locating workpiece with a calibration stick or the vision system, weld mark inspection, one-sided clamping, drilling and reaming hole in material stack combinations of titanium and aluminum, and real-time thrust force feedback. The positional accuracy and the repeatability of the system have successfully been placed within the specification?s 0.3?mm tolerance and 0.2?mm tolerance, respectively. The d...
Our study evaluates the impact of forecast errors on organizational cost by simulating a labor-intensive warehouse environment using realistic cost data from a case study. Unlike past studies that measure forecast error in terms of forecast standard deviation, our study also considers the impact of forecast bias, and the complex interaction between these variables. Two cases of organizational cost curves are considered, with differing and asymmetric structures. Results find forecast bias to have a considerably greater impact on organizational cost than forecast standard deviation. Particularly damaging is a high bias in the presence of high forecast standard deviation. Although biasing the forecast in the least costly direction is shown to yield lower costs, sensitivity analysis shows that...
Purpose - This paper aims to discuss the procedures and methods developed at Washington State University to digitize and make accessible historic moving images. Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes the selection and the use of low-cost technologies to transfer analog film to digital formats. Issues related to the conversion, description, and online hosting of digital films are also addressed. Findings - Though the steps involved in digitizing film are not trivial, the benefits of access both for the public and archives staff outweigh the expense and labor involved. The procedures described in this paper involve low upfront costs and are sustained through cost recovery fees. Research limitations/implications - The focus of this paper is on managing, describing, and providing on...
Implementing any new business software can be an intimidating prospect and this paper is intended to offer some insight in to how to approach this challenge with some fundamental rules for success. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) had undergone an original ERP implementation of HRMS, Oracle Advanced Benefits, Worker Self Service, Manager Self Service, Project Accounting, Financials and PO, and recently completed a project to implement Oracle Payroll, Time and Labor and Accrual Plans. This paper will describe some of the important lessons that can be applied to any implementation as a whole, and then specifically how this knowledge was applied to the design and deployment of Oracle Accrual Plans for LANL. Finally, detail on the functionality available in Oracle Accrual Plans will be described, as well as the detailed setups.that were utilized at LANL.
RHIC 8 cm aperture dipole magnets and quadrupole cold masses are being built for Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) by Northrop Grumman Corporation at a production rate of one dipole magnet and two quadrupole cold masses per day. This work was preceded by a lengthy Technology Transfer effort which is described elsewhere. This paper describes the tooling which is being used for the construction effort, the production operations at each workstation, and also the use of trend plots of critical construction parameters as a tool for monitoring performance in production. A report on the improvements to production labor since the start of the programs is also provided. The magnet and cold mass designs, and magnetic test results are described in more detail in a separate paper.
This paper discusses the link between R&D and productivity across the European industrial and service sectors. The empirical analysis is based on both the European sectoral OECD data and on a unique micro-longitudinal database consisting of 532 top European R&D investors. The main conclusions are as follows. First, the R&D stock has a significant positive impact on labor productivity; this general result is largely consistent with previous literature in terms of the sign, the significance, and the magnitude of the estimated coefficients. More interestingly, both at sectoral and firm levels the R&D coefficient increases monotonically (both in significance and magnitude) when we move from the low-tech to the medium- and high-tech sectors. This outcome means that corporate R&D investment is m...
Genetic mapping is approached using the techniques of high resolution fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This technology and the results of its application are designed to rapidly generate whole genome as tool box of expressed sequence to speed the identification of human disease genes. The results of this study are intended to dovetail with and to link the results of existing technologies for creating backbone YAC and genetic maps. In the first eight months, this approach generated 60--80% of the expressed sequence map, the remainder expected to be derived through more long-term, labor-intensive, regional chromosomal gene searches or sequencing. The laboratory has made significant progress in the set-up phase, in mapping fetal and adult brain and other cDNAs, in testing a model system for directly linking genetic and physical maps using FISH with small fragments, in setting up a database, and in establishing the validity and throughput of the system.
UO/sub 2/ definitely leaked past the O-ring in three of the tests confirming the major results of the previous work. Continuous leakage at these levels may require additional precautions under present regulatory policies. The mechanism and the time and particle size dependence for the leakage are not known, but there is some indication leakage is more likely at low temperatures. It is possible leakage is due to movement of the O-ring during temperature or pressure cycling at the beginning or end of a test. The radiotracer method involves less labor and is much less susceptible to contamination than the previous method. Future work will investigate leakage past lubricated O-rings and time dependence of leakage. 1 reference, 1 table.
The foundation of a drill unit for cluster drilling of wells is proposed, which includes support, intermediate, and primary girders, forward and rear carts attached to them, railways and traction units. In order to improve operating reliability of the device during unloading on the cart during drilling and placement of the elevator and movement of the foundation within the area of the cluster of boreholes, it is equipped with controllable rods for connecting the carts to one another with the power component. Each of the power components is attached by hinges to a cart and intermediate girder, while the railways with parts are located on supporting girders. The forward carts are connected to the traction units. In order to reduce labor in moving the foundation to a new borehole of the cluster the foundation has brackets and temporary support. The power components have braces which are connected by hinges to them in the intermediate girders.
Industrial effects have long been significant factors in wage inequality. Previous research indicates that wage differentials across industries were increasing through the mid 1980s. Using more recent data, however, we find that the level of inter-industry wage dispersion declined by 36% from 1986 to 2002 despite the continued trend towards increasing inequality in the labor force. This decline in inter-industry wage dispersion is evident across gender and educational groups. Using multilevel growth curve models, our multivariate results indicate that the decline is only weakly related to industrial changes in education, occupation or even productivity despite the fact that the latter variable had been a critical factor in the prior period. Indicators of globalization and downsizing also d...
As the number of devices is increasing in centralized monitoring and control rooms, Ashibetsu Mine of Mitsui Coal Mining Co. has carried out a study on the installation of a computer system for labor savings in the analysis and judgment of operators and for quick and accurate response for emergency in 1984. The target of the first stage was set to centralized monitoring of analog and on-off data using computers. The development plan included: the development of the first stage system of their mine based on the (A/D) 104 connected points and review of problems in 1985: and extension of equipment and revision of the entire system in 1986. The most favorable effect of the system installation is that effective monitoring is possible with display and that the data stored in the computer can be used later. (8 figs, 1 ref)
The paper investigates computerized tomography capabilities in showing vascular complications secondary to intestinal obstruction and for assessing the site and cause of obstruction. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' lo studio dell'uso della tomografia computerizzata nel riconoscimento di complicanze vascolari secondarie ad occlusione intestinale e della presenza, della natura e della sede dell'ostacolo alla canalizzazione intestinale.
The study reports ultrasonography and computerise tomography findings in 16 patients with amoebic abscesses, 12 of whom lived in a temperate peripheral area north-east of Naples (Italy). All patients have a clinical-diagnostic condition called sub-urban amoebiasis. The personal experience with the US guided therapeutic drainage of amoebic abscess with repeated cavity washing, which is important for positive parasitology. Combined US and CT assessment facilitated the diagnosis of amoebiasis and its differentiation from pyogenic abscess and hepatoma. [Italian] La colonizzazione epatica rappresenta la localizzazione piu' comune dell'amebiasi extraintestinale e gli ascessi epatici ne costituiscono la manifestazione piu' frequente sviluppandosi nel 3-9 % dei pazienti affetti da infezione parassitaria. Diversi studi confermano che la terapia medica dell'amebiasi risulta piu' efficace quando viene associato il drenaggio percutaneo degli ascessi ...
The paper investigates the yield and the role of the computerized tomography in diagnosing abdominal gunshot wounds, with their rich and varied radiological signs and associated injuries, and subsequently used in the diagnosis. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' riportare l'esperienza personale nell'uso della tomografia computerizzata per riconoscere le lesioni da arma da fuoco dell'addome e nelle fasi successive dell'approfondimento diagnostico.
Bone integrity and mineral status were studied with a noninvasive method in uremic patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. [Italian] Gli autori propongono un metodo non invasivo per studiare la densita' minerale e le caratteristiche geometriche e biomeccaniche dell'osso nei pazienti uremici affetti da iperparatiroidismo secondario grave.
In this work some examples of studies performed with the use of microzooplankton as biological indicator are reported. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' quello di dimostrare come lo studio della distribuzione del microzooplancton in ambienti aquatici, possa permettere la caratterizzazione trofica dell'ambiente oggetto di studio. Il microzooplancton, infatti, essendo un componente fondamentale della catena trofica di differenti ambienti acquatici, puo' essere considerato un buon {sup i}ndicatore biologico{sup .} E' quindi riportata un'ampia ed approfondita analisi sistematica, necessaria al fine di individuarne le diverse specie dalla cui presenza (oltreche' dal numero degli esemplari) e' possibile desumere lo stato chimico-fisico e trofico di un determinato ambiente acquatico. Sono poi indicati i diversi metodi per il campionamento, la conservazione, la concentrazione ed il conteggio ...
Nowadays, unlike in the past, companies have to operate in a context of sustainable development, in which the economic and social development, production and consumption have to take into account the medium and long term impact on environment. The article sets forth some considerations about these subjects, which are assuming a growing importance in the management of companies: the variable environment may for instance be a factor of discrimination between being competitive or not. In order to characterise the context within which the environmental management has to be applied, some basic concepts about environmental management systems, Life Cycle Assessment, and Eco labeling are illustrated. As an example of application of the methodology described, a brief reference to the Italgas Group Environmental Report is given. [Italian] Oggi, a differenza del passato, le imprese si trovano ad operare in un contesto di sviluppo sostenibile, nel quale l'evoluzione ...
Mutations in the FGD1 gene have been shown to cause Aarskog-Scott syndrome (AAS), or facio-digito-genital dysplasia (OMIM#305400), an X-linked disorder characterized by distinctive genital and skeletal developmental abnormalities with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes. To date, 20 distinct mutations have been reported, but little phenotypic data are available on patients with molecularly confirmed AAS. In the present study, we report on our experience of screening for mutations in the FGD1 gene in a cohort of 60 European patients with a clinically suspected diagnosis of AAS. We identified nine novel mutations in 11 patients (detection rate of 18.33%), including three missense mutations (p.R402Q; p.S558W; p.K748E), four truncating mutations (p.Y530X; p.R656X; c.806delC; c.1620delC), one in-frame deletion (c.2020_2022delGAG) and the first reported splice site mutation (c.1935+3A>C). A recurrent mutation (p.R656X) was ...
This paper builds upon previous work [Sprigg and Ehlen, 2004] by introducing a bond market into a model of production and employment. The previous paper described an economy in which households choose whether to enter the labor and product markets based on wages and prices. Firms experiment with prices and employment levels to maximize their profits. We developed agent-based simulations using Aspen, a powerful economic modeling tool developed at Sandia, to demonstrate that multiple-firm economies converge toward the competitive equilibria typified by lower prices and higher output and employment, but also suffer from market noise stemming from consumer churn. In this paper we introduce a bond market as a mechanism for household savings. We simulate an economy of continuous overlapping generations in which each household grows older in the course of the simulation and continually revises its target level of savings according to a life-cycle hypothesis. Households ...
Canadian railway traffic is delayed until lines are plowed of snow following heavy snowfalls. A modification that would permit higher plowing speeds and fewer delays could realize significant benefits in addition to direct fuel and labor savings. The objective of this project was to carry out a cost benefit analysis on a low-friction coating applied to a mainline railway snow plow. The assessment was carried out using old Canadian National Railway snow plows for test purposes. An analytical model was developed to estimate the importance of friction reduction to fuel consumption and power requirements. The sensitivity analysis revealed a bump or discontinuity in the power vs speed profile, corresponding to the minimum plow speed at which the snow will cease to flow over the plow. Reducing the coefficient of friction reduces this minimum plowing speed. This could mean the difference between success and failure in plowing some tight, heavily laden snow drifts. The ...
At the request of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Pacific Northwest Laboratory estimated the material, labor, and operating costs for ventilation equipment needed for compliance with HUD`s proposed revision to the ventilation standard for manufactured housing. This was intended to bound the financial impacts of the ventilation standard revision. Researchers evaluated five possible prototype ventilation systems that met the proposed ventilation requirements. Of those five, two systems were determined to be the most likely used by housing manufacturers: System 1 combines a fresh air duct with the existing central forced-air system to supply and circulate fresh air to conditioned spaces. System 2 uses a separate exhaust fan to remove air from the manufactured home. The estimated material and labor costs for these two systems range from $200 to $300 per home. Annual operating costs for the two ventilation systems were ...
The cost of liquid fuels from coal is a complex function of many factors, such as capital investment, cost of coal and labor cost. Furthermore, the cost will depend on geographical position, the size of the operation and the efficiency of the process. There is no single answer and case studies will have to be made to establish economics at different locations. In the following, the 1980 order-of-magnitude investment costs and operating costs for a coal liquefaction plant are estimated. For a Sasol II type of plant with the product output indicated earlier, the total capital cost is estimated at $4 billion in 1980 dollars. Capital cost accounts for approximately 50%, utilities and materials for 30%, and labor for 20% of the total cost. Given the market value of by-product ethylene ($175/t), tar products ($300/t), chemicals ($300/t), ammonia ($200/t) and sulfur ($25/t), the credit for by-products is $146 million per year. The cost of motor fuel ...
Purpose of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness and role of CT in blunt diaphragmatic injuries by reviewing our 8-year experience. It is reviewed the preoperative CT findings of 35 patients with surgically confirmed diaphragmatic rupture. Surgical repair was performed in the acute setting (within 12 hours of trauma) in 22 cases, and late (8 months-5 years) in 13 cases. Twenty-eight patients (80%) were examined with conventional CT and 7 (20%) with Helical CT. Of the 13 patients examined long after trauma, the left hemi diaphragm was ruptured in 12 cases (with visceral herniation in 4), and the right hemi diaphragm in 1, with no herniation. The diaphragmatic rent was found in the dome (15 cases, 43%), muscolotendinous junction (11 cases, 31%), muscular portion (8 cases, 23%), and at the muscular attachments on the ribs (1 case, 3%). As for the site of diaphragmatic injury, CT never depicted the diaphragmatic rent in the dome and at the muscolotendinous junction (74%), not even ...
Penetrating liver wounds are related to many causes and rank second after blunt abdominal and liver trauma. In this report are examined the clinical and radiological findings of personal series of patients with penetrating trauma, especially by firearms and stab and cut wounds. It will also tried to define the diagnostic workup of these traumas, which is especially based on CT signs of liver damage and associated changes and which is of basic importance for following treatment, both surgical or conservative. In the last seven years it was retrospectively reviewed 31 cases of penetrating liver trauma. The patients were 19 men and 12 women, ranging in age 18 to 73 (mean 42), with penetrating liver injuries from firearms (16 patients) and stab (9 cases) wounds; 6 patients had injuries from different cases. Abdominal CT was carried out in emergency with the CT Angiography (CTA) technique in all patients. In the patients with suspected chest and abdomen involvement CT was performed from the ...
The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive and consistent description of the complexity of laws regulating the field of biotechnology, mainly focusing on the definition of items to be patented, which is one of the most important and also controversial issues within the new 98/44/EC set of rules. As biotechnology is a specialist and multidisciplinary field, it has begun by giving a general description of the field, outlining the grounds for the new rules, and then thoroughly examined and evaluated previous national and international laws especially with regard to patenting. This was followed by an evaluation of what can be patented according to the new instructions by systematically assessing the section defining items to be patented in the field of biotechnology. It is used to be a matter of opinion whether biotechnological material was to be considered a discovery or an invention, the former being impatentable according to patenting laws. The new law pays particular attention ...
The analysis of oceanographic lidar systems measurements is often carried out with semi-empirical methods, since there is only a rough understanding of the effects of many environmental variables. The development of techniques for interpreting the accuracy of lidar measurements is needed to evaluate the effects of various environmental situations, as well as of different experimental geometric configurations and boundary conditions. A Monte Carlo simulation model represents a tool that is particularly well suited for answering these important questions. The PREMAR-2F Monte Carlo code has been developed taking into account the main molecular and non-molecular components of the marine environment. The laser radiation interaction processes of diffusion, re-emission, refraction and absorption are treated. In particular are considered: the Rayleigh elastic scattering, produced by atoms and molecules with small dimensions with respect to the laser emission wavelength (i.e. water molecules), ...
Mycobacterium xenopi is one of the most common agents responsible for nontubercolar mycobacterial pulmonary disease on AIDS patients. These lesions have been studied with conventional radiography while CT has been used in patients with aspecific mycobacterioses or non-AIDS pulmonary conditions from Mycobacterium xenopi. 12 AIDS patients were examined. They had pulmonary lesions from Mycobacterium xenopi, patients age ranged 30 to 46 years. All patients had CD4 blood levels lower than 250 cells/mL and Mycobacterium xenopi in the sputum. All patients underwent a standard chest radiograph and a CT examination. CT images were evaluated by three radiologists independently and the definitive diagnosis was made in the presence of a fourth radiologist. Chest CT showed parenchymal consolidation in 66% of cases, associated with bilateral basal bands in 16% of cases. Consolidation was unilateral in 41% of cases and most frequently involved the right lower lobe. Bilateral reticular interstitial ...
The reduced polluting emissions make natural gas a quite interesting alternative fuel for automotive applications. Therefore a car diesel engine has been transformed into a dual fuel engine with pilot injection via the common rail injection system used to ignite the methane-air charge. Standard injection pumps show a certain instability at low flow rates and high engine speed. On the opposite the new common rail system allows to ignite the fuel in all conditions with an amount of gas oil less than 8% of the entire energy required by the engine was enough to ignite the fuel. Furthermore, a power increase has been obtained, with an overall efficiency equal to or even higher than a conventional engine. The article deals with a series of test carried out on 1929 cm{sup 3} direct injection turbo-charged engine and presents the preliminary results. [Italian] La riduzione delle emissioni inquinanti rende il metano un combustibile alternativo piuttosto interessante per applicazioni ...
The new industrial political tools based on the sustainable development of productive activities, and originating at the Rio Conference in 1992, late introduced by the European Union, the Government and voluntary organizations (ISO, CEM, UNI) are gradually entering the market, thereby underling their effect in terms of industrial competitiveness. The main tools were examined in the report and mostly refer to the voluntary ones which, in surpassing the command and control logic, increasingly tend to get close to traditional fiscal, tariff and financial ones. Voluntary agreements, environmental management systems (EMAS, ISO14000), the risk prevention systems (UNI 10617), certification (Ecolabel, ISO 14040) and environment communications tools (environment balance sheet, environmental report, environmental statement) are synthetically described. Finally, the tools regarding the incentives still under Government concern an their diffusion are examined. [Italian] I nuovi strumenti di ...
Most waste water treatment plants have processes to remove nutrients in order to avoid eutrophication in water receiving bodies. Regarding phosphorus removal. the most common option is chemical precipitation with ferric or aluminical precipitation with ferric or aluminium salts. We show here the successful experience carried out by the WWTP of Blanes and the company Safloc. A method ato remove phosphorus from waste water was developed by adding sodium aluminate. The use of this compound has turned out to be a sustainable way for this purpose in terms of costs, reliability and minimization of sludge production. (Author)
A multi-technique approach was employed to study a decorated Egyptian wooden sarcophagus (XXV?XXVI dynasty, Third Intermediate Period), belonging to the Museo del Vicino Oriente of the Sapienza University of Rome. Portable non-invasive unilateral NMR was applied to evaluate the conservation state of the sarcophagus. Moreover, using unilateral NMR, a non-invasive analytical protocol was established to detect the presence of organic substances on the surface and/or embedded in the wooden matrix. This protocol allowed for an educated sampling campaign aimed at further investigating the state of degradation of the wood and the presence of organic substances by 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectroscopy. The composition of the painted layer was analysed by optical micr...
The pollution of the aquatic zones grows with the time, principally due to industrial and urban settlements, among others, in the surroundings of these sites. The sources of this pollution can be identified by the study of the characteristics of the sediment, this gives relevant information to evaluate any aquatic system. Once the sediment is obtained, a series of preliminary tests are carry out (loss of ignition, 210{sup P}b dating) to be sure that we have a sedimentary core that hans .t be mixed, once this has be done we determine radionuclides, heavy metals and organic compounds. (Author) 2 refs.
In this work it is made a study of the structure and electric properties of chlorate polyethylene (PE-CI) with double and simple bonds obtained by continuous plasma with resistive coupling to 13.5 MHz. The synthesis conditions are power between 10 and 14 W and pressure of (6-7) x 10{sup -2} Torr. The synthesized PE-Cl in that way is soluble in acetone what indicates that probably is formed of short chains and not it shows the generalized inter crossing that is presented in some syntheses by plasma and that it can degrade the electric properties of these polymers. The IR and XPS analysis show the vibration of the C-C, C=C and C-CI bonds. The morphology of the polymer after being dissolved shows a compact and flat configuration. The electric conductivity has an approximately lineal behavior in an interval of 35 to 90% of relative humidity. (Author)
A plan has been put forth to strategically thin northern California forests to reduce fire danger and improve forest health. The resulting biomass residue, instead of being open burned, can be converted into ethanol that can be used as a fuel oxygenate or an octane enhancer. Economic potential for a biomass-to-ethanol facility using this softwood biomass was evaluated for two cases: Stand-alone and co-located. The co-located case refers to a specific site with an existing biomass power facility owned by Wheelabrator Environmental Systems Inc. near Martell, California. A two-stage dilute acid hydrolysis process is used for the production of ethanol from softwoods, and the residual lignin is used to generate steam and electricity. For a plant processing 800 dry tonnes per day of feedstock, the co-located case is an economically attractive concept. Total estimated capital investment is approximately $ 70 million for the co-located case. The resulting internal rate of return is about 24% ...
DVR project concerns the creation of a virtual reality OpenGL system for desktop applications in archaeology. The main goal is the creation of a 3D information system using the real time interaction of OpenGL environments. The first case study implemented is the Vettii House, one of the most important and outstanding monuments in Pompei. The virtual reconstruction of these architectural models is based on very detailed photogrammetric surveys and it is connected with information layers and archaeometric data-bases regarding the state of conservation of walls, structures and any type of materials of the monument. A full 3D interface characterizes the system, comprising a high resolution texturing with detailed volumetric and geometric data. Finally, for the future, the project plans to fit the system for scientific and end users through the installation of stations on site.
Itaipu Binacional has taken a decision of executing a technological updating for the energy measurement system through the substitution of the current system by other one equipped with digital devices. The main reasons for that were the following: a) The equipment in operation were of an outdated generation b) The accuracy class of the existing equipment was of 0.5%, but the tendency for invoicing measurements was to install meters with accuracy class of 0.2% in the enterprises c) The requirements of ONS/MAE, in Brazil, which establishes the minimum requisites to be attended by invoicing measurement systems.
Lisy ME, Jarvis KB, DelBello MP, Mills NP, Weber WA, Fleck D, Strakowski SM, Adler CM. Progressive neurostructural changes in adolescent and adult patients with bipolar disorder.-Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 396-405. 2011 The Authors.-Journal compilation 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives:- Several lines of evidence suggest that bipolar disorder is associated with progressive changes in gray matter volume (GMV), particularly in brain structures involved in emotional regulation and expression. The majority of these studies however, have been cross-sectional in nature. In this study we compared baseline and follow-up scans in groups of bipolar disorder and healthy subjects. We hypothesized bipolar disorder subjects would demonstrate significant GMV changes over time. Methods:- A total of 58 ...
This article examines the successive reinterpretations of one of Cuba?s foundational texts, namely the Espejo de paciencia (?Model of Patience??, 1608) by Silvestre de Balboa, as a baroque poem. The revalorization of the baroque by twentieth-century Cuban authors and critics has been explained as a consequence of the erasure of indigenous cultures and the subsequent imposition of a metropolitan culture. In this sense, the baroque is supposed to be paradigmatic for ?roots thinking?? about nation-building and culture. The readings of Balboa?s poem by neo-baroque writers such as Jos? Lezama Lima, Cintio Vitier and Severo Sarduy, however, put forward a transhistorical vision of the baroque and Cubanhood as an eternal and immutable phenomenon or, alternatively, a reading that privileges the tec...
The kinetics of alkaline hydrolysis of methylparathion was studied at different temperatures (0-50 Centigrade) in the p H range of 8-12 by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Optimum p H and wavelength conditions were defined to carry out the simultaneous determination of methylparathion and one of its hydrolysis product, paranitrophenol, in buffered aqueous medium. Based on the experimental data and the mathematical equation of the kinetics, a rate constant (k) of first-order and an activation energy (Ea) of 9.2 Kcal/mol, were estimated. (Author) activation energy (Ea) of 9.2 Kcal/mol, were estimated. (Author)
The archaeological excavation of a rock shelter (Abrigo del Pozo) in one of the slopes of the Segura River (SE Spain) has revealed a exceptionally preserved sedimentary record spanning from the Paleolithic to the present-day, which includes an anomalous layer of stones (RFB) fallen from the roof. The sedimentary analysis of the stratigraphic sequence exhumed by the excavation indicates that human occupation of the rock shelter was controlled by fluvial environmental evolution. However, the RFB level resulted in a disturbance of human occupation and normal fluvial sedimentation. From the sedimentary and archaeological pieces of evidence, the RFB level has been interpreted as related to a palaeoearthquake responsible for the collapse of the roof and walls of the rock shelter. The palaeoearth...
The enzymatic activity characterization of the cellulolytic complex obtained from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 and the influence of the enzymatic hydrolysis conditions on the hydrolysis yield are studied. Pure cellulose and native or alkali pretreated biomass Onopordum nervosum have been used as substrates. The values of pH, temperature, substrate concentration and enzyme-substrate ratio for the optimum activity of that complex, evaluated as glucose and reducing sugars production, have been selected. Previous studies on enzymatic hydrolysis of 0. nervosum have shown a remarkable effect of the alkaline pretreatments on the final hydrolysis yield. (Author) 10 refs.
Aim of the work was to describe computerised tomography (CT) findings of calcified renal metastases focusing on differential diagnosis problems. Abdominal CT scans of 8000 patients with tumor, performed from 1984 to 1998, have been retrospectively reviewed. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' quello di descrivere gli aspetti con tomografia computerizzata delle metastasi renali calcificate enfatizzando le problematiche diagnostico differenziali. Sono state valutate retrospettivamente le indagini TC addominali di 8000 pazienti affetti da tumore nel periodo 1984-1998, analizzando le lesioni calcificate riscontrate.
The overall goal of this work is to design and optimize a biodiesel production process from soybean oil. To achieve this goal, several inter-connected activities were undertaken. First, an initial flowsheet for the process was synthesized. The performance of this flowsheet along with the key design and operating criteria were identified by conducting computer-aided simulation using ASPEN Plus. Various scenarios were simulated to provide sufficient understanding and insights and to select a base-case flowsheet. Next, mass and energy integration studies were performed to reduce the consumption of material and energy utilities, improve environmental impact, and enhance profitability. Capital cost estimation was carried out using the ICARUS Process Evaluator computer-aided tool linked to the results of the ASPEN Plus simulation. The operating cost of the process was estimated using the key information on process operation such as raw materials, utilities, and labor. A ...
Government agencies responsible for protecting the public from the adverse effects of toxic chemicals must set priorities for research, regulatory action, protocol testing, and monitoring due to the vast number of toxic chemicals and the limited resources available to these agencies. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must set priorities for research on hazards encountered in the workplace. Priorities are also utilized by NIOSH in preparing criteria for recommended occupational standards which are forwarded to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, for possible promulgation. For various reasons, including rapidly changing conditions in the American workplace, NIOSH has instituted a revised priorities program. In the future, NIOSH research and recommended standards activities will focus not only on individual chemicals, but also on industries, occupations, chemical classes, and general ...
Fact sheet on an analysis system for dyebath processes in the carpet manufacturing industry written for the NICE3 Program. The Georgia Institute of Technology (G.I.T.) has developed an effective automated dyebath analysis and reuse system that improves the energy, environmental, and economic performance of dyehouse batch operations. The new system enables dyeing solutions to be accurately monitored and adjusted for reuse. According to industry estimates, 160 pounds of water are used to produce each pound of textile product. The current wasteful batch dyeing process requires all water and residual chemicals, as well as the energy required to heat the mixture for dyeing, to be dumped after one application. Spent dyebaths can only be reused after they are sampled, analyzed, and reconstituted, a process requiring labor and expertise that are unavailable in the dyehouses. Therefore, successful commercial reuse depends on an automated analysis system that precisely ...
The effect of fetal distress on the neonatal brain was investigated by neonatal CT brain scan, FHR monitoring and mode of delivery. This study involved 11 cases of full term vertex delivery in which FHR was recorded by fetal direct ECG during the second stage labor. All infants weighed 2,500 g or more. FHR monitoring was evaluated by Hon's classification. Neonatal brain edema was evaluated by cranial CT histgraphic analysis (Nakada's method). 1) Subdural hemorrhage was noted in 6 of 7 infants delivered by vacuum extraction or fundal pressure (Kristeller's method). 2) Intracranial hemorrhage was demonstrated in all of 3 infants with 5-min. Apgar score 7 or less. 3) Two cases with prolonged bradycardia and no variability had intraventricular or intracerebral hemorrhage which resulted in severe central nervous system damage. 4) The degree of neonatal brain edema correlated with 5-min. Apgar score. 5) One case with prolonged bradycardia and ...
The effect of fetal distress on the neonatal brain was investigated by neonatal CT brain scan, FHR monitoring and mode of delivery. This study involved 11 cases of full term vertex delivery in which FHR was recorded by fetal direct ECG during the second stage labor. All infants weighed 2,500 g or more. FHR monitoring was evaluated by Hon's classification. Neonatal brain edema was evaluated by cranial CT histgraphic analysis (Nakada's method). 1) Subdural hemorrhage was noted in 6 of 7 infants delivered by vacuum extraction or fundal pressure (Kristeller's method). 2) Intracranial hemorrhage was demonstrated in all of 3 infants with 5-min. Apgar score 7 or less. 3) Two cases with prolonged bradycardia and no variability had intraventricular or intracerebral hemorrhage which resulted in severe central nervous system damage. 4) The degree of neonatal brain edema correlated with 5-min. Apgar score. 5) One case with prolonged bradycardia and no variability resulted in ...
The U.S. Department of Energy`s (DOE) Environmental Management Office of Science and Technology (EM-50) authorized studies on alternative systems for treating contact-handled DOE mixed low-level radioactive waste (MLLW). The on-going Integrated Thermal Treatment Systems` (ITTS) and the Integrated Nonthermal Treatment Systems` (INTS) studies satisfy this request. EM-50 further authorized supporting studies including this technology and subsystem cost sensitivity analysis. This analysis identifies areas where technology development could have the greatest impact on total life cycle system costs. These areas are determined by evaluating the sensitivity of system life cycle costs relative to changes in life cycle component or phase costs, subsystem costs, contingency allowance, facility capacity, operating life, and disposal costs. For all treatment systems, the most cost sensitive life cycle phase is the operations and maintenance phase and the most cost sensitive subsystem is the ...
Genetic mapping is approached using the techniques of high resolution fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This technology and the results of its application are designed to rapidly generate whole genome as tool box of expressed sequence to speed the identification of human disease genes. The results of this study are intended to dovetail with and to link the results of existing technologies for creating backbone YAC and genetic maps. In the first eight months, this approach generated 60--80% of the expressed sequence map, the remainder expected to be derived through more long-term, labor-intensive, regional chromosomal gene searches or sequencing. The laboratory has made significant progress in the set-up phase, in mapping fetal and adult brain and other cDNAs, in testing a model system for directly linking genetic and physical maps using FISH with small fragments, in setting up a database, and in establishing the validity and throughput of the system.
Designed primarily for Missouri vocational agricultural instructors participating in the Farm Business Management Analysis Program, this instructor's guide, consisting of 10 lessons, deals with adjusting a farm business to increase profits. The following topics are covered in the individual lessons: law and the farm family, planning income tax management, closing the record book and planning cash flow, evaluating family living expenses, determining the most profitable livestock enterprise, determining the most profitable cropping system, planning the farm marketing program, adjusting capital investments to increase net profit, planning for efficient labor use, and controlling costs. Included in each section are suggestions for a review of previous materials covered, an objective, motivational techniques, key points to be addressed in the lesson, information to be introduced during the lesson, guidelines for holding a group discussion, conclusions, end-of-class ...
This report documents a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the economy of Haiti, emphasizing energy use in agriculture. CGE models compare favorably with econometric models for developing countries in terms of their ability to take advantage of available data. The model of Haiti contains ten production sectors: manufacturing, services, transportation, electricity, rice, coffee, sugar cane, sugar refining, general agriculture, and fuelwood and charcoal. All production functions use functional forms which permit factor substitution. Consumption is specified for three income categories of consumers and a government sector with a linear expenditure system (LES) of demand equations. The economy exports four categories of products and imports six. Balanced trade and capital accounts are required for equilibrium. Total sectoral allocations of land, labor and capital are constrained to equal the quantities of these inputs in the Haitian economy as of the early ...
External inefficiency in education--inequity between the characteristics of graduates and the job market--is a problem in Indonesia and many other countries. Job markets at the junior secondary level are very tight in Indonesia with low levels of unemployment at all ages, short job-search times, and high real rates of return. Unemployment, however, among the senior secondary vocational and senior secondary general school graduates is high, even though the real rates of return are also high. The same is true for college and university graduates. Rates decrease, however, as years pass after graduation. There are several reasons for this external inefficiency: underinvestment in secondary education, increased use of market signals for planning and annual budgeting decisions, excess"social demand" for higher education and insufficient resource recovery, inaccurate selection criteria, and inadequate educational financing methods. Several policy options could be implemented. The importance ...
When postpartum cervical biopsy specimens were compared with biopsy specimens from nonpregnant women, they revealed a 12-fold decrease in mechanical strength, a 50% reduction in the concentrations of collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycans, a 35% reduction in hyaluronic acid, an increase in collagen extractability, and a fivefold increase in collagenolytic activity. Primiparas with relatively high concentrations of collagen and hyaluronic acid had relatively long cervical dilatation times during established labor, suggesting a physiologic importance to these variables. This correlation was not found in multiparas, even though the mean values of the biochemical parameters tested were similar to those in primiparas. Second-trimester biopsy specimens taken from patients with cervical incompetence contained normal collagen concentrations, but relatively high collagen extractabilities and collagenolytic activities, exceeding normal postpartum values. A biopsy specimen ...
Claims of property value loss are commonly raised by homeowners when noxious facilities are sited or when new information about the hazards of existing facilities is made public. While the capitalization of externalities into land values is consistent with economic theory, empirical measurement of impacts has not generated consistent results. This is true both for hedonic measurements as well as other types of econometric analyses. While it is well established that job and site risks have similar impacts on regional labor markets, there are no studies relating the presence of a broad range of noxious facilities to local wage premiums. In contrast, this study employs an interregional framework in a hedonic analysis of both wage and property markets and considers eight different facility classifications. This paper discusses the development of the hedonic model employed in this study. It develops more fully the theoretical advantages of the intercity model and ...
Claims of property value loss are commonly raised by homeowners when noxious facilities are sited or when new information about the hazards of existing facilities is made public. While the capitalization of externalities into land values is consistent with economic theory, empirical measurement of impacts has not generated consistent results. This is true both for hedonic measurements as well as other types of econometric analyses. While it is well established that job and site risks have similar impacts on regional labor markets, there are no studies relating the presence of a broad range of noxious facilities to local wage premiums. In contrast, this study employs an interregional framework in a hedonic analysis of both wage and property markets and considers eight different facility classifications. This paper discusses the development of the hedonic model employed in this study. It develops more fully the theoretical advantages of the intercity model and ...
Since 1977, precise leveling surveys have been carried out to determine whether there have been vertical terrain displacements and the subsidence speed rate in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal field area. The elevation contours for each leveling show since 1962 that there was a basin that involves the geothermal field. The differences in the last three levelings show a generalized subsidence between Cerro Prieto (BN 10049) and Imperial faults (BN CD-14). [Spanish] A partir de 1977 se realizan trabajos de nivelacion de precision, con el fin de conocer si existen desplazamientos verticales del terreno y cual es la velocidad de subsidencia que existe en el area del Campo Geotermico de Cerro Prieto. Las configuraciones de cotas para cada uno de los anos nivelados, muestran que desde 1962 existe una cuenca que incluye al campo geotermico; la diferencia de cotas obtenidas en las tres ultimas nivelaciones, indican una subsidencia generalizada entre la ...
This document presents the analysis of the simulation of the loss of coolant accident at uprate power conditions, that is 2027 MWt (105% of the current rated power of 1931MWt). This power was reached allowing an increase in the turbine steam flow rate without changing the steam dome pressure value at its rated conditions (1020 psiaJ. There are also presented the results of the simulation of the main steam isolation va/ve transient at overpressure conditions 1065 psia and 1067 MWt), for Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Station. Both simulations were performed with the best estimate computer code TRA C BF1. The results obtained in the loss of coolant accident show that the emergency core coolant systems can recover the water level in the core before fuel temperature increases excessively, and that the peak pressure reached in the drywell is always below its design pressure. Therefore it is concluded that the integrity of the containment is not challenged during a loss of coolant accident at ...
The new industrial political tools based on the sustainable development of productive activities, and originating at the Rio Conference in 1992, late introduced by the EU, the Government and voluntary organizations (ISO, CEM, UNI) are gradually entering the market, thereby underling their effect in terms of industrial competitiveness. The main tools were examined in the report and mostly refer to the voluntary ones which, in surpassing the 'command and control' logic, increasingly tend to get close to traditional fiscal, tariff and financial ones. Voluntary agreements, environmental management systems (EMAS, ISO 14001), the risk prevention systems (UNI 10617), certification (Eco label, ISO 14040) and environment communication tools (environment balance sheet, environmental report, environmental statement) are synthetically described. [Italian] I nuovi strumenti di politica industriale orientati allo sviluppo sostenibile delle attivita' produttive che traggono ...
The article provides a 1998 updated picture of Italy's and the world's photovoltaic market in terms of produced modules and total installed capacity, as well as market growth forecasts up to 2010. After a short description of the state-of-the-art of cell and module manufacturing, ana analysis of the cost of producing a photovoltaic kw is reported for different plant types: stand-alone plants with energy storage batteries, plants connected to low low voltage networks or intended for supporting medium voltage networks, hybrid plants with diesel sets. The article is concluded by illustrating ENEL's (Electric Power Production Company) engagement in the field of photovoltaic solar energy as regards theoretical studies, research and testing of new technologies, and installing plants; over nearly twenty years of activity, ENEL has designed and built a few hundreds of photovoltaic plants for a total capacity of about 4.000 kw, and is currently in the process of ...
The characteristics of fractures in unit 2 of the Tshirege Member of the Bandelier Tuff were documented in Pit 39, a newly excavated 13.7 m deep disposal pit at Material Disposal Area G on Mesita del Buey. The average spacing between fractures is about 1.0 to 1.3 m, the average fracture aperture is about 3 to 5 mm, and the average fracture dip is about 76o to 77o. Fracture spacing and dip in Pit 39 are generally consistent with that reported from other fracture studies on the Pajarito Plateau, although the fracture apertures in Pit 39 are less than reported elsewhere. Measured fracture orientations are strongly affected by biases imparted by the orientations of the pit walls, which, combined with a small data set, make identification of potential preferred orientations dlfflcult. The most prominent fracture orientations observed in Pit 39, about E-W and N20E, are often not well represented elsewhere on the Pajarito Plateau. Fracture fills contain smectite to about ...
It was generated the concentration curve of the Xe{sup 135} (t) during the TRIGA Mark III reactor operation cycle, for a continuous irradiation of 72 h to 1 MW of thermal power, as well as the accumulation curve of the isotope after the shutdown, for the fuel configuration No. 16 in the thermal column. The maximum negative reactivities generated by the Xe{sup 135} for operation times greater than 60 h to 1 MW and after the reactor shutdown its were of 1.968 {+-} 0.15 dollars and 2.30 {+-} 0.15 dollars respectively. When comparing these results with those theoretically calculated we find differences of the order of 3.6% and 5.34% which are understood inside the experimental error that on the average was of 7.6%. The results before mentioned have an important application during the start up process of the Reactor, when analyzing the value of the weekly reactivity excess of the core and when is choice the pattern of bars to use for experiments of but of 2 h, where is required to minimize ...
The new industrial political tools based on the Sustainable development of productive activities and originating at the Rio Conference in 1992, late introduced by the EU, the Government and voluntary organizations (ISO, CEM, UNI) are gradually entering the market, thereby underlying their effect in terms of industrial competitiveness. The main tools were examined in this report and mostly refer to the voluntary ones which, in surpassing the Command and Control logic, increasingly tend to get close to traditional fiscal, tariff and financial ones. [Italian] I nuovi strumenti di politica industriale orientali allo Sviluppo Sostenibile delle attivita' produttive che traggono origine dalla Conferenza di Rio del 1992 e sono stati introdotti successivamente da pare della Comunita' Europea, dal Governo e dagli Organismi di normazione volontaria (ISO, CEN, UNI), stanno gradualmente penetrando sul mercato facendo valere i loro effetti in termini di ...
The purpose of this work is to investigate the possible role of Helical CT defecography in pelvic floor disorders by comparing the results of the investigations with those of conventional defecography. The series analyzed consisted of 90 patients, namely 62 women and 28 men, ranging in age 24-82 years. They were all submitted to conventional defecography, and 18 questionable cases were also studied with Helical CT defecography. The conventional examination was performed during the 4 standard phases of resting, squeezing, Valsalva and straining; it is used a remote-control unit. The parameters for Helical CT defecography were: 5 mm beam collimation, pitch 2, 120 KV, 250 m As and 18-20 degrees gantry inclination to acquire coronal images of the pelvic floor. The rectal ampulla was distended with a bolus of 300 mL nonionic iodinated contrast agent (dilution: 3g/cc). The patient wore a napkin and was seated on the table, except for those who could not hold the position and were thus ...
Gastric stromal tumors are an ill-defined group of lesions arising from muscle wall cells and characterized by extremely variable biological patterns. Thanks to modern immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques, four main classes of these lesions have been identified, namely: (1) tumors with differentiation toward smooth muscle cells; (2) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with differentiation toward neural elements; (3) tumors with dual differentiation toward either cell type. It was investigated the yield of CT in diagnosing and characterizing gastric stromal tumors. It was retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of 38 patients (15 men and 23 women; mean age 51 years) with pathologically proven gastric stromal tumors, namely 31 of myoid origin, 4 of neural origin, 2 with both muscle and neural differentiation, 1 lacking differentiation with either cell type. The myoid tumors involved gastric fundus in 9/13 and 5/7 benign lesions and lesions with ...
The purpose of this paper is to report the personal experience with helical CT evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with various percutaneous interventional procedures. From December 1996 to September 1998 it were examined with helical CT 41 patients (73 nodules in all) with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous ablation therapies: conventional ethanol injection in 18 subjects (31 nodules), one-shot ethanol injection 3 (8 nodules), radiofrequency thermal ablation in 16 (25 nodules), and combined chemo embolization and ethanol injection in 4 (9 nodules). CT performed was 4-27 days after the last session, acquiring biphasic volumetric images in 14 patients and triphasic volumetric images in 27. A second treatment with subsequent CT study was performed for 28 lesions; 15 underwent 3 serial studies and 6 underwent 4 studies. Compared with pretreatment findings, the diameter was unchanged in 62% of the nodules and increased in 38%. Morphology was unchanged in 63% of ...
Acute thoracic aortic injuries account for up to 10-20% of fatalities in high-speed deceleration road accidents and have an estimated immediate fatality rate of 80-90%. Untreated survivors to acute trauma (10-20%) have a dismal prognosis: 30% of them die within 6 hours, 40-50% die within 24 hours, and 90% within 4 months. It was investigated the diagnostic accuracy of Helical Computed Tomography (Helical CT) in acute traumatic injuries of the thoracic aorta, and the role of this technique in the diagnostic management of trauma patients with a strong suspicion of aortic rupture. It was compared retrospectively the chest Helical CT findings of 256 trauma patients examined June 1995 through August 1999. Chest Helical CT examinations were performed according to trauma score, to associated traumatic lesions and to plain chest radiographic findings. All the examinations were performed with no intravenous contrast agent administration and the pitch 2 technique. After a previous baseline ...
In this thesis a study is made of the of voltage characteristics and reactive power control in the transmission network of the Electric Power Systems (EPS) with static compensators of VARs (SCVs). The necessity of voltage and reactive power control and the application of SCVs as a solution means for three representative operation stages of the EPS, considering balanced operation conditions and fundamental frequency is analyzed: Operation in the presence of incremental voltage changes, quasi-stationary operation or steady state and behavior at the occurrence of big disturbances. The application of SCVs to systems of integral transmission is in general a closed loop control system, reason why the analysis of the interaction of the system EPS-SCV is considered as an essential part of the voltage and reactive power control study. Firstly, the response analysis of the control loop is made for incremental voltage changes, representing the power system by means of its equivalent of Thevenin ...
Objetivo Estudiar la evolucion de un grupo de neumonias extrahospitalarias causadas por germenes atipicos (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella spp., Coxiella burnetii y Chlamydophila pneumoniae) en funcion del tratamiento empirico recibido. Pacientes y metodos Entre enero de 1996 y febrero de 2001 ingresaron en nuestra unidad 390 casos de neumonia, de los que 89 estaban causados por germenes atipicos. Los pacientes se dividieron retrospectivamente en 2 grupos segun el tratamiento empirico pautado: grupo A, al que se habia proporcionado cobertura frente a germenes atipicos (quinolonas o macrolidos), y grupo B, al que no se habia proporcionado dicha cobertura. Se estudio la evolucion segun las diferencias entre ambos grupos en la estancia hospitalaria, la resolucion radiologica, el reingreso e...
In this issue it has been investigated the yield of Helical CT in the study of lung vessels, the incidence of the angiogram sign and its actual value. July 1997 to December 1998, were studied 30 cases of pulmonary collapse of different origin. It was found 15 cases of passive collapse (10 from pleural effusion, 2 from diaphragmatic compression, 2 from traumatic pneumothorax, and 1 from isthmic aortic aneurysm), 12 cases of obstructive collapse (9 from bronchogenic carcinoma, 1 from mucoid obstruction, 1 from ilar lymphadenopathy, and 1 from mediastinal cancer), 2 cases of adhesive collapse and 1 case of round atelectasis. All the examinations were performed with the Helical technique during nonionic iodinated contrast agent injection (bolus, 300-350 mg/mL); it was used an automatic injector set at 2-3 mL/s. It was studied the images for the angiogram sign, that is hyperdense bands, usually longer than 2 cm, through the collapsed lung, which correspond to normal pulmonary vascular ...
The document describes the outcome of the CSN/CIEMAT-00 interlaboratory test comparison among environmental radioactivity laboratories. the exercise was organised according to the ISO-43 and the ISO/IUPAC/AOAC Harmonized Protocol for the proficiency testing of analytical laboratories. the test sample was a soil containing environmental levels of K-40, Ra-226, Ac-228, Sr-90, Cs-137, Cs-134, Pu (239-240) y Am-241. the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona prepared the material and reported adequate statistical studies of homogeneity. The results of the exercise were computed for 30 participating laboratories, and their analytical performance was assessed using the u-score approach. A raised percentage of satisfactory laboratory performance has been obtained for all the analysis, being the best performance in gamma measurements. The exercise has drawn that several laboratories have difficulties in the evaluation of combined uncertainty, mainly in analysis involving radiochemical steps. The ...
Before the implementation Water Framework directive, it was usual to forget that a good environment protection of the receiving waters needs a correct and coordinated operation of the subsystems of the water cycle, specially sewerage system, WWTP and receiving waters. This explains that most of the countries have focused their efforts in the treatment of dry weather flows forgetting the management of wet weather flows. Actually the idea that a sewerage system or a WWTP can not be planned or managed independently without considering the effects on the receiving waters is commonly accepted because not only each one of these systems must work correctly but also it is required a minimum impact in the receiving waters of the sewerage and WWTP overflows in dry and wet weather. All these links will affect the management strategy of the sewerage system (storm water detection tanks, gates, pumping stations, etc)., the interceptor, the WWTP and the receiving waters. Only an integral planning of ...
SommarioScopo In questo studio riportiamo i dati relativi all'ablazione percutanea con Radiofrequenza (RF) di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali. Pazienti e metodi Dieci pazienti (pz) cirrotici, 7 maschi e 3 femmine, eta media 68 anni, con 10 noduli di HCC e trombosi neoplastica dei vasi portali sono stati sottoposti ad ablazione percutanea con RF del trombo neoplastico e dell'HCC. La RF veniva ritenuta efficace quando alla TC con mdc si osservava la necrosi completa dell'HCC e al Color Doppler si osservava la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali. Risultati La necrosi completa dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione completa dei vasi portali si osservava in 7 (70%) dei 10 pazienti. Nei rimanenti 3 (30%) la necrosi dell'HCC e la ricanalizzazione dei vasi portali non risultavano comple...
The document reports the main issues discussed during the first course-debate on quality controls in radiotherapy, held in Rome in December 3-4, 1998 and May 3-5 1999 in collaboration between the Istituto Superiore di Sanita' and the Istituto Regina Elena. The points considered critical to the quality assurance in radiotherapy by the participants are presented in relation to the total radiotherapy procedure. [Italian] Questo documento e' dedicato al primo corso-dibattito sui controlli di qualita' in radioterapia svoltosi a Roma il 3-4 dicembre 1998 e il 3-5 maggio 1999 in collaborazione tra l'Istituto Superiore di Sanita' e l'Istituto Regina Elena. Esso presenta gli argomenti ritenuti critici per l'assicurazione di qualita' in radioterapia in relazione all'intera procedura radioterapica, in base alle esperienze dei partecipanti.
Introduccion y objetivos Aunque los bloqueos de rama (BR) se consideran hallazgos frecuentes, la informacion sobre su prevalencia real en la poblacion general es escasa, y es inexistente en los pacientes en dialisis. El objetivo es establecer la prevalencia del BR completo en la poblacion que inicia dialisis y los factores relacionados con su aparicion. Como analisis adicional, se explora su asociacion con la mortalidad y con la aparicion de un evento cardiovascular. Metodos Se incluyo a los pacientes que iniciaron dialisis en nuestro centro entre el 1 de noviembre de 2003 y el 31 de diciembre de 2006. Todos fueron sometidos a valoracion cardiologica al inicio de dialisis. Determinamos el BR y su relacion con factores clinicos y parametros ecocardiograficos y bioquimicos. Los pacientes fue...
It turns out of interest to Comision Federal de Electricidad and Petroleos Mexicanos to reduce costs of fuel oil, reducing the viscosity of the residues petroleum of high vacuum distillation emulsifying these with water. The parameters that define the characteristics of the emulsions are mainly the relation of their components, viscosity, size and drop distribution and its stability. The experimental work began producing emulsions in form of lots, using samples of approximately 500 milliliters of vacuum residue. In this first stage, at different concentrations, were examined eight different surfactants, as well as combinations among them, also seven different stabilizers were used. With these tests it has been managed to identify the concentrations, as well as the most adequate relations of surfactants and stabilizers for the production of emulsions of vacuum residues in water. The size and drop distribution has been determined by means of an optical LEICA microscope, model DMLS, that ...
The purpose of this work is to describe the radiological appearance of overlooked malignant pulmonary lesions at CT and to analyze the reasons of misdiagnosis. Ten patient with pulmonary lesion (PML) overlooked at forst CT examination were selected among patients with lung cancer. Endobronchial location of the tumors and their small size were the most frequent causes of misdiagnosis of PML at chest CT in the series. However, a systematic evaluation of CT scans can reduce the percentage of missed lesions. [Italian] Scopo del presente lavoro e' di descrivere le caratteristiche radiologiche delle lesioni polmonari maligne non identificate con la Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e definire le possibili cause di errore. Sono stati esaminato 10 pazienti con tumore polmonare. Le sedi endobronchiale e centrale nonche' le piccole dimensioni delle lesioni polmonari maligne rappresentano le cause piu' frequenti di errore diagnostico della TC. La ...
SommarioScopo Valutare limpatto clinico negli anni dellecografia intraoperatoria (IOUS) nella identificazione delle metastasi epatiche rispetto alle altre metodiche di imaging. Materiali e metodi risultati delle ecografie intraoperatorie effettuate per lidentificazione delle metastasi epatiche in un periodo compreso tra gli anni 2000 e 2006 sono stati retrospettivamente revisionati e comparati con le metodiche di imaging preoperatorio: Ecografia (US), Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e/o Risonanza Magnetica (RM). Tutti i casi sono stati patologicamente provati. Sono stati calcolati per anno i casi discordanti in termini di presenza/assenza di lesione focale epatica. Il confronto statistico e stato effettuato con il test di McNemar. Un valore del p<0,05 e stato considerato statisticamente sig...
Most of the information in this chapter is obtained from 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9 annexes. It is worthwhile to clarify that in most of the cases they are estimations of the available resources, such as: trash, geothermal, solar energy, wind energy, biomass and mini and micro-hydro-energy. In several cases punctual measurements have been made, which do not represent a generic value of a national reserve. [Spanish] La mayor parte de la informacion en este capitulo es obtenida de los anexos 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 y 9. Cabe aclarar que en la mayoria de los casos son estimaciones de los recursos disponibles, tales como: la basura, la geotermia, la energia solar, la energia eolica, la biomasa y, la mini y la micro-hidroenergia. En varios casos se han realizado mediciones puntuales, las cuales no representan un valor generico de una reserva nacional.
The possibility of oxidizing at a PbO{sub 2} anode the phenols and polyphenols, present in the olive oil mill wastewater, has been studied as a pre-treatment for the submission of such wastewater to the traditional biological treatments. The results obtained operating at current densities ranging 500 to 2000 A/m{sup 2} show that it is possible to reduce the concentration of the phenolic components, which interfere with the biological treatments, down to low values without decreasing too much the total organic content of the wastewater. [Italian] E' stata studiata la possibilita' di ossidare anodicamente i componenti fenolici delle acque reflue di frantoio, quale pretrattamento delle stesse prima del loro invio ai processi di trattamento biologico. I risultati ottenuti impiegando PbO{sub 2} quale materiale anodico e operando con densita' di corrente comprese tra 500 e 2000 A/m{sup 2} mostrano come sia possibile eliminare, o almeno ...
Water from small scale purification plants is a low cost alternative for consumers in comparison to the bottled commercial presentations. Because of its low cost per liter, the consumption of this product has increased in recent years, stimulating in turn the installation of purification systems for these small businesses. The purpose of this study was to estimate the efficiency of small scale purification systems located in the cities of Zacatecas and Guadalupe, Zacatecas, to reduce the radioactive content of water. It was measured the total alpha and beta activity in water samples of entry and exit to process, through the liquid scintillation technique. In general it was observed that the process is more efficient in removing alpha that beta activity. The fraction of total alpha activity removed varied between 27 and 100%, while between 0 and 77% of the total beta activity was removed by the analyzed plants. In all cases, the total radioactivity level was lower than the maximum ...
The effect of steam explosion treatment on the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of two different lignocellulosic substrates is studied. Raw materials have been pretreated in a pilot plant designed to work in batch and equipped with a reactor vessel of 2 1 working volume where biomass was heated at the desired temperature and then exploded and recovered in a cyclone. Temperatures from 190 to 230 degree celsius and reaction times from 2 to 8 min. have been assayed. The efficiency of the steam explosion treatment has been evaluated on the composition of the lignocellulosic materials as well as on their enzymatic hydrolysis yield using a cellulolytic complex from T. reesel. Results show a high solubilization rate of hemicelluloses and variable losses of cellulose and lignin depending on the conditions tested. Enzymatic hydrolysis yields of both substrates experimented remarkable increments, corresponding the highest values obtained to 210 degree celsius; 2 min. and 21O degree celsius; 4 min. for ...
The behaviour of bare aluminium is studied in atmospheric exposure at 11 natural testing stations with salinity levels ranging between 2.1 and 684 mg Cl''- m''-2 d''-1. In atmospheres of low or moderate aggressivity aluminium behaves as a passive material, though the insignificant corrosion that is produced is sufficient to spoil its appearance. In contrast, at salinity levels of 50 mg Cl''- m''-2 ''-1 or above, aluminium is susceptible to pitting corrosion even in the first year of atmospheric exposure, or in the second year at salinities of {<=} 10 mg Cl''- m''-2 d''-1. For comparative purposes, results are included for aluminium protected with an anodic film of 28 {mu}m thickness exposed at the same testing stations. A 28 {mu}m anodic film, correctly sealed, prevents the risk of localised corrosion even in the most ...
This work was made with the purpose to complete information about the hydrolysis constants of Europium (III) in high ion strength media. So it was determined at a ion forces media 4, 5 and 6 M of sodium perchlorate at 303 K. The method used was the potentiometric with the aid of the Super quad computer program. In high ion strength media, the measurements of p H do not correspond directly to negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions, by this it is necessary to calibrate the electrode in these conditions. The Europium was hydrolized at pC{sub H} values greater 6 in all cases. The potentiometric method used under the described experimental conditions is adequate to determine the hydrolysis constants of Europium (III). According to the results and diagrams of chemical species of Europium obtained we can conclude that the hydrolysis constants, differ by its distribution but not in its identity. (Author)
The photodegradation of two well known recalcitrant compounds was studied. At this aim, a photosystem constituted by titanium dioxide and polyaniline, both immobilised in a PVC membrane, and a sunlight simulating irradiation source was used. The optimisation of the experimental conditions, ph, ionic strength and, when operating on soils, humic acid concentration, allowed the photodegradation of Paraquat at a nearly 100% extent, while, an oxidation by hypochlorite was needed to degrade cyanuric acid. [Italian] E' stata studiata la fotodegradazione di due composti notoriamente recalcitranti a questo tipo di rimozione. Con un sistema fotocatalitico costituito da biossido di titanio e polianilina immobilizzati in una membrana di PVC ed operando con luce solare simulata e' possibile, ottimizzando le condizioni sperimentali di pH, forza ionica e - operando su terreno - concentrazione di acidi umici, ottenere la degradazione del paraquat fino a valori ...
Many social Web sites allow users to publish content and annotate with descriptive metadata. In addition to flat tags, some social Web sites have recently began to allow users to organize their content and metadata hierarchically. The social photosharing site Flickr, for example, allows users to group related photos in sets, and related sets in collections. The social bookmarking site Del.icio.us similarly lets users group related tags into bundles. Although the sites themselves don't impose any constraints on how these hierarchies are used, individuals generally use them to capture relationships between concepts, most commonly the broader/narrower relations. Collective annotation of content with hierarchical relations may lead to an emergent classification system, called a folksonomy. While some researchers have explored using tags as evidence for learning folksonomies, we believe that hierarchical relations described above offer a high-quality source of evidence ...
The paper investigates the functional endoscopic sinus surgery with the Messer-linger's technique which treats benign or inflammatory diseases of paranasal sinuses resistant to medical therapy. The goal of this type of surgery is to open the obstructed sinus ostia and restore normal aeration and mucociliary clearance. The computerized tomography permits an accurate assessment of extension and results of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. [Italian] L'articolo discute l'uso della tecnica di Messerklinger nella chirurgia funzionale endoscopica dei seni paranasali per il trattamento delle malattie benigne e delle infiammazioni croniche. Essa disostruisce gli osti sinusali ripristinando la normale areazione e la pulizia mucociliare. La tomografia computerizzata consente di valutare l'estensione e i risultati del trattamento chirurgico funzionale, soprattutto nel caso di insuccesso terapeutico, rilevando malattia nasosinusale ...
The paper studies subphrenic inflammatory abscesses and splenic fluid collections after splenectomy for trauma. These complications may appear early or late postoperatively; they are easily demonstrated with computerized tomography, which permits accurate spatial assessment of the lesions and appropriate treatment with percutaneous drainage. It has been also investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the CT in subphrenic inflammatory conditions after emergency splenectomy for traumatic spleen rupture and found that CT is a precious tool for rapid and easy diagnosis and follow-up of subphrenic abscesses treated with percutaneous drainage. [Italian] Scopo del lavoro e' di valutare il ruolo della tomografia computerizzata nelle flogrosi subfreniche secondarie a splenectomia d'urgenza per rottura traumatica della milza, documentando come tale metodica risulti accurata nel diagnosticare e monitorare in modo semplice e rapido l'evoluzione e il ...
The ruptured offshore oil well 80 miles from Mexican town of Ciudad del Carmen, which poured 8000 barrels of light oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico, provided marine scientists with the opportunity to monitor the spill and see what happens to petroleum hydrocarbons in sea water. Scientists followed changes in viscosity, surface tension, and buoyancy of individual oil globs as they moved through the water and interacted with the surface slick. Using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy, chemists are gaining an understanding of the unique characteristics of the oil. Computer-generated models projected the slick's movement in the Gulf in response to wind and wave pressures, but the sophisticated system did not give an accurate daily prediction. Immediate damage to fish, turtles, and sea birds was documented by tagging. Long-term effects will take longer to ascertain since 25 years is generally required to flush oil out of sediments. Fishermen do not agree ...
In order to gain a wider knowledge of corrosion phenomena in OFHC (oxygen free high conductivity) copper pipes of the stator cooling circuit of a power plant turboalternator, a research program was laid out which is based on the use of an experimental loop simulating real operating conditions as closely as possible. The samples examined were either copper foils or hollow conductors of the type that is normally used in the stator cooling system, and the circulating fluid was high purity water with controlled O/sub 2/, H/sub 2/ and C0/sub 2/ contents. Investigations were focused on the kinetics of O/sub 2/ removal through catalytic resins covered with metallic palladium (at different temperatures and pressures) and on the kinetics of CO/sub 2/ removal through mixed bed resins. Subsequently, attention was directed to the corrosion of copper (in the form of foils or hollow conductors) under different experimental conditions simulating either optimal or anomalous situations that can occur ...
The front-end electronics system for the anode signals of the CMS Endcap Muon cathode strip chambers has about 183000 channels. The purposes of the anode front-end electronics are to acquire precise muon timing information for bunch crossing number identification at the Level-1 muon trigger system and to provide a coarse radial position of the muon track. Each anode channel consists of an input protection network, amplifier, shaper, constant-fraction discriminator, and a programmable delay. The essential parts of the electronics include a 16-channel amplifier-shaper-discriminator ASIC CMP16 and a 16-channel ASIC D16G providing programmable time delay. The ASIC CMP16 was optimized for the large cathode chamber size (up to 3 x 2.5 m2) and for the large input capacitance (up to 200 pf). The ASIC combines low power consumption (30 mW/channel) with good time resolution (2 - 3 ns). The del ay ASIC D16G makes possible the alignment of signals with an accuracy of 2.2 ns. ...
Rectus sheath hematomas are a frequent but sometimes misdiagnosed disease in patients under anticoagulative drugs, hemodialysis, or simply in the elderly. The most frequent localization is in the lower part of the abdomen: the explanation lies in the anatomy of the abdominal wall, especially in the arcuate line of the rectus sheath. Aim of this work is to explain the reason of the almost constant location correlating the anatomy with the CT features. The rectus abdominis muscle lies between the aponeuroses of the transverse and oblique muscles which form the so called rectus sheath. This arrangement is found from the costal arch to a level approximately between the umbilicus and the pubic symphisis, where the rear layer of the rectus sheath ends with a curved edge, called the arcuate or semicircular line of Douglas. Beneath this line the aponeuroses of the three muscles pass in front of the rectus which is separated from the peritoneum only by the fascia trasversalis, a thin connective ...
The previous judgment of eutrophic state, once proposed for the Trasimeno Lake (Umbria region, Italy), has been revised. According to Vollenweider-OECD classification criterion, the lake waters are at present to be classified as mesotrophic waters, with phosphorus limitation. However this level of moderate productivity results to be conditioned by the hydrochemical characteristics of the lake waters, that control phosphorus concentrations independently from the loading coming from the basin, and prevent dangerous and massive algal blooms. Different processes of chemical nature, regulating the phosphorus amount in the lake waters, are then reviewed: adsorption of P/P0(4) onto suspended materials, particularly clay mineral particles, and direct precipitation as hydroxylapatite or co-precipitation with carbonates, are found to be the principal mechanisms that determine chemical removal of phosphorus from the water column. A preliminary mass balance of phosphorus subtracted from the system ...
A method to select, among several commercial diameter options, the most economic combination of pipeline networks is presented. These networks comply with the discharge conditions in the pipes and pressure in the knots. It is applied a static method for the hydraulics analysis of the Engineering Institute of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and an optimization technique to reduce the number of calculations. [Spanish] Se presenta un metodo para seleccionar, de entre varias opciones de diametros comerciales, la combinacion que forma la red de tuberias mas economica que satisface las condiciones de gasto en los tubos y de presion en los nudos de la misma. Para el analisis hidraulico se emplea un metodo estatico del Instituto de Ingenieria de la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) y se aplica una tecnica de optimacion para reducir el numero de calculos y alcanzar la solucion.
Aim of the work was to describe the noninvasive assessment of bone mineral density, geometrical and biochemical properties in premenopausal women with dietary intake of phytoestrogens and comparison of these parameters with those of age-matched female subjects with Mediterranean dietary intake lacking in these substances. Volumetric cortical, trabecular and total mineral density and bone geometrical properties were evaluated with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the distal radius of the non dominant forearm. pQCT showed higher bone mineral density (total and trabecular) and SSI values in premenopausal with dietary intake of phytoestrogens. Despite the lack of statistical significance, these preliminary results, should further support the few literature findings about the potential role of phytoestrogens consumption in preventing trabecular bone loss. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate definitively postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Italian] Scopo ...
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of lung perfusions permits to map functioning lung parenchyma with higher sensitivity than CT. Delivering higher radiations doses it used to increase local control in lung carcinoma; this strategy is based on radiobiological and clinical studies. Lung parenchyma is a dose-limiting tissue in patients irradiated for lung cancer. Functional mapping based on SPECT and CT findings permits to design radiation beams such as to minimize irradiation of functioning lung. [Italian] L'integrazione delle immagini diagnostiche aventi diverso contenuto informativo anatomico-funzionale puo' essere utilizzata nella radioterapia per migliorare le procedure diagnostiche e ottimizzare la geometria dell'irraggiamento. I sistemi per l'elaborazione di piani di radioterapia oggi in uso sono direttamente interfacciati con gli apparecchi di Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) e l'impiego di immagini provenienti da altre ...
With the aim of demonstrating the usefulness of computerised tomography (CT) findings in the planning of brain neurosurgery in gunshot victims, for prompt and successful treatment, 30 patients with brain gunshot wounds were examined with CT over 5 years. The mortality rate of firearm wounds of the skull base was 34% higher than that of the hemisphere; this is due to carotid hemorrhage and midbrain damage. Such traumas require emergency radiological diagnosis and neurosurgical treatment because of their severity and early irreversible complications. Complex operations and skilled surgeons may prevent disabling postoperative sequels. CT findings are indispensable and must be correctly interpreted. The radiologist and the neurosurgeon must collaborate closely and both must consider several diagnostic factors affecting surgical planning. [Italian] Scopo dello studio e' stato quello di dimostrare l'utilita' della semeiologia della tomografia computerizzata in ...
The main purpose of this work is to report the personal experience with addition of contrast-enhanced multiphase helical CT to unenhanced CT (Lipiodol CT) in the evaluation of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with chemoembolization and to analyze the present role of oily agent CT. It has been retrospectively reviewed the examinations of 42 consecutive patients submitted to global chemoembolization over a 2-year period. CT was performed 18-30 days after the treatment. The Lipiodol CT study was carried out with volume acquisitions. It has been considered as nodules all well-defined areas with dense oily agent uptake; uptake itself was classified as: 0=absent, I=lower than 10% of the tumor volume; II=lower than 50%, III=50%, IV=homogeneous. Contrast-enhanced helical CT was performed with the 2-phase technique in 28 patients and with the 3-phase technique in 14; it has been considered as nodules all well-defined and relatively homogeneous areas with hyper attenuation in the ...
In this article is reviewed the role of Computed Tomography (CT) in thoracic complications following ortho topic liver transplantation (OLT). In a post-OLT population of 567 patients transplanted in the Italian institutions, 100 patients (17.6%) were examined with chest CT. It was reviewed data relative to the total number of examinations, clinical and/or radiographic indications, the CT technique-i.e., conventional (with (out) intravenous, i.v., contrast material) or high-resolution (HRCT). It also reviewed the radiologic patterns and their correlation with the other clinical, bronchoscopic and/or laboratory results. Of 152 chest CT examinations, 45 (29.6%) were performed because of clinical indications, 31 (20.4%) because of a radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic abnormality, 64 (42.1%) because of clinical and radiographic indications, while in 12 cases (7.9%) the reasons were unknown; 133/152 (87.5%) examinations had been performed with ...
Case studies were made of the following dislocated worker programs: Cummins Engine Company Dislocated Worker Project; GM-UAW Metropolitan Pontiac Retraining and Employment Program; Minnesota Iron Range Dislocated Worker Project; Missouri Dislocated Worker Program Job Search Assistance, Inc.; Hillsborough, North Carolina, Dislocated Worker Project; Cleveland, Ohio, United Labor Agency Dislocated Worker Project; Houston Community College-Texas Employment Commission Dislocated Worker Project; Tacoma, Washington, ASARCO Copper Smelter Dislocated Worker Project; and Dane County, Wisconsin, Dislocated Worker Project. All of these programs had placement rates higher than those of Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)-funded demonstrations, and only two of the programs for which a wage replacement ratio could be calculated had ratios below that of the CETA demonstrations. Persons in technical occupations appeared to have the least trouble finding new jobs or ...
A sodium-water reaction drove from the single tube break in steam generator of FBR might overheat labor tubes rapidly under internal pressure loadings. If the temperature of tube wall becomes too high, it has to be evaluated that the stress of tube does not exceed the material strength limit to prevent the propagation of tube rupture. This study clarified the tensile and creep properties of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel at ultra-high temperature which will be used in evaluation of the tube burst by sodium-water reaction. The strain rates for tensile test are from 10%/min to 10%/sec, and creep-rupture time is maximum 277sec. The range of test temperature is 700degC to 1300degC. The main results obtained were as follows; (1) The evaluation data on the relationship between tensile strength and strain rate and creep-rupture strength in shorter time on Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel were acquired. (2) Short-term mechanical properties of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel were evaluated based on the results of ...
The US DOE manages the safe storage of approximately 650,000 tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride remaining from the Cold War. This slightly radioactive, but chemically active, material is contained in more than 46,000 steel storage cylinders that are located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; and Portsmouth, Ohio. Some of the cylinders are more than 40 years old, and approximately 17,500 are considered problem cylinders because their physical integrity is questionable. These cylinders require an annual visual inspection. The remainder of the 46,000-plus cylinders must be visually inspected every four years. Currently, the cylinder inspection program is extremely labor intensive. Because these inspections are accomplished visually, they may not be effective in the early detection of leaking cylinders. The inspection program requires approximately 12--14 full-time-equivalent (FTE) employees. At the cost of approximately $125K per FTE, this translates to ...
Combinations of exposure concentrations, durations and frequencies were tested in four-week inhalation exposures followed by two weeks of recovery to define the interactive effects of these variables on biologic responses and to select the most-sensitive biologic response parameters for the subsequent subchronic studies. Response surface modeling was used for the experimental design and statistical analysis of the data. Results of preliminary testing suggested that exposure duration and frequency did not have major effects. Subsequently, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed in separate studies to RP/BR aerosols ranging from 0.40 to 1.20 mg/1 or to filtered air for 2.25 hr/day on four days/week for four weeks. Test-atmosphere monitoring data demonstrated that aerosol concentrations were consistently within 4% of the target values and mean particle size ranged from 0.44-0.64 ..mu..m with mean sigma g's of 1.66-1.97. During the exposure period, wheezing and ...
Analyses of process system properties were continued for important chemical materials involved in the several processes under consideration for semiconductor and solar cell grade silicon production. Major activities were devoted to physical, thermodynamic and transport property data for silicon. Property data are reported for vapor pressure heat of vaporization, heat of sublimation, liquid heat capacity and solid heat capacity as a function of temperature to permit rapid usage in engineering. Chemical engineering analysis of the HSC process (Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation) for production of silicon was initiated. The process is based on hydrogen reduction of dichlorosilane (DCS) to produce the polysilicon. The chemical vapor deposition reaction for DCS is faster in rate than the conventional process route which utilizes trichlorosilane (TCS) as the silicon raw material. Status and progress are reported for primary activities of base case conditions (30%), reaction chemistry (25%) ...
Full text.This study focuses on the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Lebanon. It addresses the current status of MSW management in Lebanon in terms of collection, transport and disposal, infers the associated impacts of such practices and discusses mitigation measures and finally proposes basic guidelines for a national strategy for solid waste management in the country. The study is based on available previous investigations and on a field survey of 113 villages in four different countries. The study revealed the absence of an effective environmental policy and poor collection and disposal methods throughout the country, except for the Greater Beirut Area (G A), where better solid waste management practices are employed. Although collection of MSW outside GBA was found to be acceptable by local authorities, resources (labor and equipment) were not used efficiently. Furthermore, treatment of collected waste is almost not available. Waste collected is ...
About ten years ago microbiologically influenced corrosion manifested on stainless steel pipes used with river water for cooling a chemical plant. The pipe material was similar to Type 316 L. After only six weeks of operation pinhole leaks occurred nearly simultaneously at several welded joints of the pipe. The material degradation was simulated in laboratory and field corrosion tests. Microbiologically influenced corrosion failures also appeared on the pipes of a tubular heat exchanger of duplex steel Type 31803 and on carbon and stainless steel pipes in industrial waste water purification plants after these plants had been modernized with a biological purification unit. The basics of microbiologically influenced corrosion phenomena and typical corrosion failures of pipes will be described. (orig.) [German] Vor etwa zehn Jahren sind in einer neu errichteten chemischen Produktionsanlage an einer mit Flusswasser beaufschlagten Kuehlwasserleitung aus hochlegiertem nichtrostendem Stahl ...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing to perform significant remediation activities of the sites for which it is responsible. To accomplish this, it is preparing a corporate global plan focused on activities over the next decade. Significant in these planned activities is the transportation of the waste arising from the remediation. The costs of this transportation are expected to be large. To support the initial assessment of the plan, a cost estimating model was developed, peer-reviewed against other available packaging and transportation cost data, and applied to a significant number of shipping campaigns of radioactive waste. This cost estimating model, known as the Ten-year Plan Transportation Cost Model (TEPTRAM), can be used to model radioactive material shipments between DOE sites or from DOE sites to non-DOE destinations. The model considers the costs for (a) recovering and processing of the wastes, (b)packaging the wastes for transport, and (c) the carriage of the ...
The composition of alkaline and neutral boric acid containing evaporator concentrates resulting from the treatment of radioactive waste water in nuclear power plants with WWER reactors is described as well as the processing of these concentrates to a product suitable for final disposal. Tests with mock solutions of these evaporator concentrates have been performed at the laboratory and teststand scale to produce a dry residue by continuous thickening, which can be processed into a highly leach resistant product, suitable for final disposal, by cementation. Ca-compounds must be added to the evaporator concentrates prior to the drying in an rotary thin-film evaporator (RTFE). The tests showed that neutral evaporator concentrates can be dried in a RTFE with addition of small amounts of Ca-compounds. The alkaline evaporator concentrates with high boric acid and total salt load require a multiple amount of Ca-compounds and diluting water to perform the drying process. A brief description of ...
The industrial application of anaerobic digestion is a relatively new, yet proven waste treatment technology. Anaerobic digestion reduces and upgrades organic waste, and is a good way to control air pollution as it reduces methane and nitrous gas emissions. For environmental and energy considerations, anaerobic digestion is a nearly perfect waste treatment process. However, its economic viability is still in question. A number of parameters - type of waste (solid or liquid), digester system, facility size, product quality and end use, environmental requirements, cost of alternative treatments (including labor), and interest rates - define the investment and operating costs of an anaerobic digestion facility. Therefore, identical facilities that treat the same amount and type of waste may, depending on location, legislation, and end product characteristics, reveal radically different costs. A good approach for evaluating the economics of anaerobic digestion is to ...
The Lincoln Public School District, in Lincoln, Nebraska, recently installed vertical-bore geothermal heat pump systems in four, new, elementary schools. Because the district has consistent maintenance records and procedures, it was possible to study repair, service and corrective maintenance requests for 20 schools in the district. Each school studied provides cooling to over 70% of its total floor area and uses one of the following heating and cooling systems: vertical-bore geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), air-cooled chiller with gas-fired hot water boiler (ACUGHWB), water-cooled chiller with gas-fired hot water boiler (WCCYGHWB), or water-cooled chiller with gas-fired steam boiler (WCUGSB). Preventative maintenance and capital renewal activities were not included in the available database. GHP schools reported average total costs at 2.13 cents/ft{sup 2}-yr, followed by ACC/GHWB schools at 2.88 cents/ft{sup 2}-yr, WCC/GSB schools at 3.73 cents/ft{sup 2}-yr, and WCC/GHWB schools at 6.07 ...
This award provided for an automated computer-controlled goniometer/diffractometer/manipulator with hot and cold stages and data acquisition system that was interfaced with the high resolution Scienta ESCA-300 X-ray photoelectron spectrometer at Lehigh University. The automation allows angular dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) data to be accurately and rapidly collected without the very time-consuming and labor-intensive manual method that was previously required. It also provides for automated multi-sample analyses, collecting both wide survey scans and selected binding energy range analyses, with complete computer control and data storage. This allows 24 hour data collection without requiring the continuous presence of operators. The overall result is a greater productivity for the XPS laboratory, approximately doubling the output of the laboratory. While the automated computer-controlled ...
Seven generic types of collectors, together with associated subsystems for electric power generation, were considered. The collectors can be classified into three categories: (1) two-axis tracking (with compound-curvature reflecting surfaces); (2) one-axis tracking (with single-curvature reflecting surfaces); and (3) nontracking (with low-concentration reflecting surfaces). All seven collectors were analyzed in conceptual system configurations with Rankine-cycle engines. In addition, two of the collectors were analyzed with Brayton-cycle engines, and one was analyzed with a Stirling-cycle engine. With these engine options, and the consideration of both thermal and electrical storage for the Brayton-cycle central receiver, 11 systems were formulated for analysis. Conceptual designs developed for the 11 systems were based on common assumptions of available technology in the 1990 to 2000 time frame. No attempt was made to perform a detailed optimization of each conceptual design. Rather, ...
Purpose: To assess the role of CT in the evaluation of traumatic and spontaneous oesophageal perforation. Materials and methods: From March 2001 to May 2003, we studied 12 patients (7 males and 5 females; age range: 25-66 years, mean age: 43.5 years) with suspected oesophageal perforation due to motor-vehicle accidents (4 cases), stab wound (one case), post-intubation (2 cases), foreign body ingestion (2 cases) and spontaneous (3 cases). Five patients underwent standard chest and cervical radiography; two patients with suspected foreign body ingestion also underwent a gastrografin swallow study; all of the 12 patients underwent CT of the neck, chest and abdomen before and after intravenous, and in four cases oral, administration of contrast material. Results: In 5 patients with cervical, thoracic and abdominal trauma, the CT examination showed the presence of pleuroparenchymal injury (pneumothorax, pleural effusion and subcutaneous emphysema) as well as findings suggestive of ...
The purpose of this work is to investigate whether any morphometric or densitometric are detectable in the kidneys of type 2 diabetic patients. 40 diabetic patients were examined and of 20 non-diabetics (the control group) were submitted to triphasic helical CT for different abdominal conditions. The type 2 diabetic patients were 23 men and 17 women, mean age 62 years, while the nondiabetic controls were 12 men and 8 women, mean age 58 years. All the CT images were analyzed using the Multiplanar Reconstruction (MPR) software. It was evaluated morphometric features, such as the presence of parenchymal or vascular calcifications, axial and coronal renal diameters, coronal renal area, and cortico medullary ratio, and densitometric and functional features, such as unenhanced renal density, cortical and medullary density in the arterial phase, parenchymal density in the nephrographic phase, and contrast elimination. It was also compared the results in the subgroups of patients with those in ...
Aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) in the identification of colorectal cancer and to define the limitations and the advantages of this imaging modality, as well as indications to the examination. It was examined prospectively 62 symptomatic patients aged 36 to 82 years (28 women and 34 men). All patients underwent both conventional and virtual colonoscopy on the same day; the conventional examination allowed exploration of the entire colon. Conventional colonoscopy identified 89 lesions 3-50 mm in diameter, namely 84 benign and 5 malignant lesions. No lesions were identified in 12 patients. CT colonography identified 52 of the 89 lesions, with 57.1% diagnostic accuracy. They were 11 false positives (82.5% positive predictive value and 52.2% specificity) and 37 false negatives (24.5% negative predictive value and 58.4% sensitivity). Sensitivity was significantly higher (85.7%) for polyps {>=} 1 cm. Virtual colonoscopy is an ...
The objective of this project is to eliminate three closely inter-related barriers to oil production in Alaska through the use of a geographic information system (GIS) and other information technology strategies. These barriers involve identification of oil development potential from existing wells, planning projects to efficiently avoid conflicts with other interests, and gaining state approvals for exploration and development projects. Each barrier is the result of either current labor-intensive methods or poorly accessible information. This project brings together three parts of the oil exploration, development, and permitting process to form the foundation for a more fully integrated information technology infrastructure for the State of Alaska. This web-based system will enable the public and other review participants to track permit status, submit and view comments, and obtain important project information online. By automating several functions of the ...
The twin-cities of El Paso and Juarez share the water resources of the Hueco Bolson aquifer and overlying Rio Grande aquifer. Both aquifers span the international border between Mexico and the United States. Salinity in the Rio Grande aquifer varies widely, some parts of the shallow aquifer containing less than 1,000 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS), other parts of the aquifer exceeding 5,000 mg/L TDS. One sizable part of the "Lower Valley" area, approximately 45 km below El Paso contains very dilute water near the outer edge of the floodplain. Historically it had been thought that the dilute waters in this location were derived from recharge from arroyos that drained proximal parts of the Hueco Bolson. Instead, our hydrogen and oxygen isotope data and carbon-14 data indicate that these dilute waters were derived from pre-dam infiltration of the Rio Grande. Relatively light and slightly evaporated pre-dam waters (-11.5 del O18) at the arroyos are also ...
Seafloor mapping and morphometric analysis of landslide scars can provide useful insights for marine geo-hazard assessment, as demonstrated by several studies performed on different geological settings. The availability of high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and long-range side scan sonar data on the submarine portions of Stromboli Volcano allow us to map and characterize the main mass-wasting features that affect, on the whole, about the 90% of its submarine extension. In particular, two main kinds of tsunamigenic landslides have been recognized and analyzed. Large-scale sector collapses (Fig. 1) are catastrophic events that mobilize 1-2 cubic kilometers of material, generating huge tsunami waves that may affect Stromboli and propagate in surrounding areas; related hazard is not very high, as they show recurrence periods of some (or more) thousand years. Conversely, medium-scale landslides are more hazardous, as they occur at higher frequency with respect to the previous events, i.e. ...
In this work some physicochemical properties and the thermal behavior and stability of sour sop or guanabana (Annona muricata) seed almond oil were studied by means of chemical, DSC and TG analysis. The results showed that the almond has 2.5% ash, 17.9% crude fiber, 15.7% protein, 26.0% de carbohydrates and 37.7% oil (dry base). The composition of almond oil showed 68.5% unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic and linoleic, and some palmitoleic acids, and 31.5% saturated, principally palmitic and stearic fatty acids; refraction index was 1.468 and saponification and iodine value were 168.2 and 87.0, respectively. DSC thermal analysis showed that oil crystallization initiates at -4.5 degree centigrade and ends at -79.0 degree centigrade with a crystallization enthalpy of 48.2 J/g; the oil melts in a temperature range from -42.4 to -16.9 degree centigrade, with a maximum peak at -15 degree centigrade and a fusion enthalpy of 80.5 J/g. The oil remained liquid at refrigeration temperatures ...
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a powerful technique that can be used in a wide range of applications, such as the structural characterization of high molecular weight molecules, conformational studies on enzymes in solution, enzyme-substrate or DNA-protein interactions, monitoring of cell metabolism in vivo, and for diagnostic purposes, employing spectroscopic and imaging techniques. This course was organized in order to introduce the participants to the fundamentals of NMR spectroscopy, and offer practical advice on performing NMR experiments on cell systems, cell and tissue extracts and animal models. The main implications regarding human experiments were also discussed. Finally the quantification of information and the interpretation of data were considered with regard to the main nuclei observed. [Italiano] La risonanza magnetica nucleare e` una delle tecniche spettroscopiche che meglio risponde all`ampio spettro di condizioni imposto dalla ricerca in biofisica e biomedicina. Il ...
Willow harvested in 2-to-3-year rotations has been touted as a reliable source of biomass. A newly designed harvester based on a round baler was developed in 2006. The third generation biobaler was evaluated in 2009 at 2 willow plantations in Quebec. The first site at Godmanchester was a three-year old regrowth with an estimated 52,000 stems/ha of large diameter willow. The biobaler with a flail cutter harvested three plots totalling 4,136 m{sup 2}. Total harvested biomass was 10.36 t DM in 42 bales. The harvest rate averaged 29 bale/h with an average bale size of 1.22 m wide by 1.30 m in diameter. Diesel fuel consumption averaged 0.81 L/bale. Measured losses averaged 11 per cent of the yield. The second site at Saint-Roch-del'Achigan was a two-year old growth with an estimated 49,000 stems/ha of large stem willow. The biobaler harvested seven plots totalling 15,740 m{sup 2}. Total harvest was 30.70 t DM in 148 bales. The first 14 bales were harvested with ...
This paper examines the technological, socio-economic and environmental feasibility of a proposal to strengthen the Italian commercial coastal shipping system as an alternative to bolstering existing road transport facilities in order to meet the requirements of increased trade in the new European free market. This prospect is of special importance to Italy due to its long coastlines. The principal elements taken into account are: investment capital, labour and energy requirements. The study first examines the supply and demand dynamics of the European transport system. Here, attention is given to energy consumption. This examination is followed by a review of the European situation with regard to normatives governing navigation and customs duties. Road, rail and maritime transport costs are compared, and an assessment is made of the economic feasibility of an integrated-means system of transport involving the coordinated use of special containers, tractor-trailers and interchangeable ...
Rice is a very important food staple that feeds more than half the world's population. Two major Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) subspecies, japonica and indica, show significant phenotypic variation in their stress responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotypic variation are still largely unknown. A common link among different stresses is that they produce an oxidative burst and result in an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, methyl viologen (MV) as a ROS agent was applied to investigate the rice oxidative stress response. We observed that 93-11 (indica) seedlings exhibited leaf senescence with severe lesions under MV treatment compared to Nipponbare (japonica). Whole-genome microarray experiments were conducted, and 1,062 probe sets were identified with gene expression level polymorphisms between the two rice cultivars in addition to differential expression under MV treatment, which were assigned as Core Intersectional Probesets ...
The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the role of CT in identifying other morphological signs of met static lymph node involvement from non small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. This is done to improve N staging, a critical step in this disease. In fact, since diameter is the only criterion used to distinguish normal form abnormal lymph nodes, mediastinal CT only has 80% diagnostic accuracy. 137 patients with known or suspected lung cancer were examined with Helical CT during early and late arterial phases (2 min. delay, 3 mm thickness, 5 mm inter slice gap) to depict node characteristics. Mediastinal lymph nodes, located according to the American Thoracic Society mapping, were considered normal when they were not visible or, if visible, less than 1 cm in diameter and of homogeneous density; lymph nodes over 1 cm in diameter and homogenous density were considered reactive. A lymph node was considered metastatic when, independent of size, the following signs were found: central hypo ...
In this work the development of a third order scheme of finite differences centered in mesh is presented and it is applied in the numerical solution of those diffusion equations in multi groups in stationary state and X Y geometry. Originally this scheme was developed by Hennart and del Valle for the monoenergetic diffusion equation with a well-known source and they show that the one scheme is of third order when comparing the numerical solution with the analytical solution of a model problem using several mesh refinements and boundary conditions. The scheme by them developed it also introduces the application of numeric quadratures to evaluate the rigidity matrices and of mass that its appear when making use of the finite elements method of Galerkin. One of the used quadratures is the open quadrature of 4 points, no-standard, of Newton-Cotes to evaluate in approximate form the elements of the rigidity matrices. The other quadrature is that of 3 points of Radau ...
The puborectalis syndrome is a defecation disorder supported by the nonrelaxation of puborectalis sling with consequent dyschezia. They report on a series of 98 patients submitted to clinical examination, defecography, anorectal manometry, electromyography and intestinal transit time studies. The main symptoms of puborectalis syndrome in their patients were incomplete defecation (89 %) and intermittent evacuation (63 %); 28 % of patients turned to finger defecation. In all patients, defecography showed an abnormal increase in puborectalis impression on the posterior anorectal wall, reduced anorectal angle opening under straining (mean value: 113 deg) and prolonged expulsion time with barium pooling in the ampulla (mean evacuation time: 38 seconds). Such anorectal abnormalities as rectal mucosal prolapse (47 cases) and anterior rectocele (36 cases) were also associated. In 33 of 98 patients (34 % of cases), sling assessment by bidigital palpation at preliminary clinical examination ...
Bowel infarction is a rare and typical condition of the elderly; despite improvements in diagnostic imaging and vascular surgery, bowel infarction remains a major cause of acute abdomen, with mortality rates ranging 70-80%. Diagnosis on often late because clinical signs, laboratory data and radiologic findings are a specific. The authors investigated radiographic and particular CT patterns of intestinal infraction in 56 patients submitted to surgery within 12 hours of admission. We also report the CT findings of 5 of these patients who had reversible mesenteric ischemia. CT is more sensitive than radiography and does not exhibit the limitations of angiography (i.e., invasiveness, radiation exposure and complex organization). Therefore CT can presently be considered the method of choice in patients with suspected bowel infarction. [Italian] L'infarto intestinale rappresenta una malattia rara e tipica del soggeto anziano; nonostante il notevole ...
This document contains the technical proceedings of the 19 national seminar on the rational use of energy and exposition of equipment and services, organized by the Asociacion de Tecnicos y Pofesionistas en Aplicacion Energetica (ATPAE) (Association of Technicians and Professionals on Energy Application) conducted in Mexico City on September 21-25, 1998. This seminar encompassed subjects such as: energy saving in the energy sector, energy efficiency in industrial processes and practical developments, practical cases of energy saving in industry, energy saving in buildings, transportation, non-renewable energy utilization and environmental impact and eco-energies. [Espanol] Este documento contiene la memoria tecnica del 19 seminario nacional sobre el uso racional de la energia y exposicion de equipos y servicios, organizado por la Asociacion de Tecnicos y Profesionistas en Aplicacion Energetica (ATPAE), en Mexico, D.F, los dias 21-25 de septiembre de 1998. Este ...
Historically the organizational models have followed an evolution that has underlined a parallel trend to the complexity of the market, introducing as different mechanisms of coordination. Up to yesterday the winning model it was that hierarchical that however it is not certainly immune from limits. Beginning from eight hundred and especially in the nine hundred experts of organization have studied an alternative or supplementary model to that hierarchical: the bureaucratic model. This last entrusts the organization of the firm to the norms and the procedures considering them like the best integrating mechanism of development of the organizations. Today it is not made that to speak of the model to net, but it would be a serious error if this had to a substitutive model thought of the precedents, that can work then without hierarchy and without alone procedures entirely thanks to the use of Internet. In the present job are individualized new models of management of the private firms and ...
In the geologic formation where the oil deposits are located, diverse types of rocks perform functions as structural elements, storage containers for hydrocarbon water and calorific energy, as well as impermeable barriers and transport means of the energy and the fluids. Among the most important properties that are used to describe these functions are the porosity, the permeability, the compressibility of the pores volume, the formation resistivity factor, the saturation exponent, the velocity of acoustic waves P and S, the relative permeability, the capillary pressures, the elastic constants and other mechanical properties, the thermal expansion, coefficient, the thermal conductivity, the thermal diffusivity and the specific heat. The execution of an ample variety of activities related to the stages of exploration, location, evaluation and development of the oil deposits, depends strongly on having a good knowledge of the magnitude and the spatial variability of these properties. The ...
At the end of 2005, Robert D. Felner was riding high. A well-paid dean at the University of Louisville, he had just secured a $694,000 earmarked grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create an elaborate research center to help Kentucky's public schools. The grant proposal, which Mr. Felner had labored over for months, made some impressive promises. On paper this all seemed plausible: From 1996 until 2003, Mr. Felner directed the University of Rhode Island's education school, where he helped create a well-regarded statewide research center. To put it gently, Mr. Felner did not duplicate that feat at Louisville. By the spring of 2008, all but $96,000 of the grant had been spent, but none of the tasks listed in Mr. Felner's proposal had been accomplished. Late in May 2008, he told his colleagues that he had been hired as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, effective August 1. During his final weeks at Louisville, Mr. Felner pressed his luck ...
Against the background of more severe limitation of particle emission in all application areas of Diesel engines, it is necessary to monitor the particle emission, but also the chemical composition of the particles. The basis of assessing particle emission is formed by gravimetric determination of the particle concentration from exhaust gas diluted with particle-free ambient air, with a maximum temperature of 52 degrees C at the sampling position. While it is already possible, using the part flow dilution system, to take samples locally, previously the subsequent particle determination and characterisation could only be done in a chemical laboratory. For this reason, the C/S particle measurement process was developed as an alternative to gravimetry, which can be used locally, eg: on ships and which makes it possible to determine the particle mass and composition. This process is based on a thermographic carbon and sulphate determination. Comparative investigations were done both on ...
Waveform correlation detectors compare a signal template with successive windows of a continuous data stream and report a detection when the correlation coefficient, or some comparable detection statistic, exceeds a specified threshold. Since correlation detectors exploit the fine structure of the full waveform, they are exquisitely sensitive when compared to power (STA/LTA) detectors. The drawback of correlation detectors is that they require complete knowledge of the signal to be detected, which limits such methods to instances of seismicity in which a very similar signal has already been observed by every station used. Such instances include earthquake swarms, aftershock sequences, repeating industrial seismicity, and many other forms of controlled explosions. The reduction in the detection threshold is even greater when the techniques are applied to arrays since stacking can be performed on the individual channel correlation traces to achieve significant array gain. In previous ...
The purpose of this work is to characterize the role of the financial institutions in achieving sustainable development meaning a process of development which leaves at least the same amount of capital, natural and man-made, to future generations as current generations have access to. This makes it clear that sustainable development is about capital allocation and thus should be at the core of financial markets activity. On a more practical level the different ways banks affect environment are analyzed: as investors - supplying the investments with environmental perspective; as lenders - developing new financial products to encourage sustainable development; as valuers - estimating risks and opportunities in project-financing; as powerful stake holders - as shareholders and lenders they can exercise considerable influence over companies; - as polluters - while not dirty industries, financial institutions do consume natural resources. By the study of these environmental aspects it comes ...
The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program intends to develop new designs for automobiles that will reduce fuel consumption by two thirds but otherwise have price, comfort, safety, and other measures of performance similar to the typical automobile now on the market. PNGV vehicle designs are expected to substitute lightweight materials, such as aluminum, magnesium, carbon-reinforced polymer composites, glass-reinforced polymer composites, and ultra- light steel, for heavier materials such as steel and iron in automobile components. The target mass of a PNGV vehicle is 1,960 pounds, as compared to the average current vehicle that weights 3,240 pounds. Other changes could include the use of different ferrous alloys, engineering changes, or incorporation of advanced ceramic components. Widespread adoption of these vehicle designs would affect materials markets and require concurrent development and adoption of supporting technologies to supply the materials and to use ...
Seismic monitoring at the Las Tres Virgenes, BCS, geothermal field started in 1992 with an analog station of vertical components detecting a large number of earthquakes of varying magnitudes. In February 1993, a seismic network was installed, composed of six digital stations DR-2000-with S-6000 and S-5000 sensors and three registration channels (N-S, E-W and vertical). This was the basis for the development of a program to correct arrival-time data for P and S waves due to instrument drift. From January to April 1994 and May to August 1995, based on the 170 seismic events recorded, a velocity model was proposed. From December 1995 to July 1996, seismic data were processed and interpreted, and zones of occurrence were determined for events according to magnitude and the predominant noise in the field. From September 2003 to December 2004, 10 seismic stations (permanent and temporary) were installed and monitored and it was concluded the most active fault system was El Volcan. From ...