Error analysis of the thermal cell for soil thermal conductivity measurement

Soil thermal conductivity is an important factor in the design of energy foundations and other ground heat exchanger systems. Laboratory tests in a thermal cell are often used to determine the thermal conductivity of soil specimens. Two interpretation methods have been suggested. Analysis can be based on the assumption of one-directional heat flow and the thermal conductivity calculated using Fourier's law. Alternatively the lumped capacitance method can be employed, using results generated as a specimen cools. In this study, six samples of London Clay were tested using a thermal cell. A finite-element model of the tests was then used to determine the validity of the assumptions made in analysis. The model showed substantial heat loss through the sides of the specimens, which would have a significant impact on the calculated thermal conductivity. The conditions required for the lumped capacitance method to be valid were also found not to be met. Consequently neither analysis method is recommended. A better approach would be to pursue apparatus with fewer heat losses or transient testing techniques

T-cell responses in oiled guillemots and swans in a rehabilitation setting

This article has been accepted for publication in the Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. The final version can be accessed from the link below.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Aquatic birds are commonly affected by oil spills. Despite rehabilitation efforts, the majority of rehabilitated common guillemots (Uria aalge) do not survive, whereas mute swans (Cygnus olor) tend to have higher post-release survival. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in crude oil and diesel are immunotoxic in birds affecting cell-mediated responses to immunogens. Because it is a target of PAH toxicity, T-lymphocyte response to controlled mitogen administration (phytohemagglutinnin test) was investigated in a scoping study as a potentially useful minimally invasive in vivo test of cell-mediated immunity. The test was performed on 69 mute swans and 31 common guillemots stranded on the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coastline and inland waterways in England (UK)either due to injury or to contamination with crude or diesel oil. T-lymphocyte response was significantly decreased in swans with greater oil scores. T-lymphocyte responses were also decreased in guillemots, but this finding was not statistically significant

FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLOXAMER 407 (R): THERMOREVERSIBLE GEL CONTAINING POLYMERIC MICROPARTICLES AND HYALURONIC ACID

The influence of the composition and preparation method on the sol-gel transition temperature (Tsol-gel) and rheological response of poloxamer-based formulations was determined. Manual and more complex mechanical stirring were found to provide similar results. In addition, a linear dependence of Tsol-gel on the poloxamer content was observed in the range of concentrations analyzed, and a Poloxamer 407® concentration of 18% was selected. The addition of hyaluronic acid did not lead to significant changes in the Tsol-gel values. In contrast, the addition of microparticles caused a reduction in Tsol-gel without a significant reduction in gel strength, and pseudoplastic characteristics were observed, indicating that a thermoreversible gel was obtained with a rheology suitable for application in the treatment of burn wounds

Felix Alexandrovich Berezin and his work

This is a survey of Berezin's work focused on three topics: representation theory, general concept of quantization, and supermathematics.Comment: LaTeX, 27 page

Liver transplantation: Intraoperative changes in coagulation factors in 100 first transplants

Six intraoperative blood samples were obtained at intervals from each of 100 individuals undergoing their first liver transplants. The patients fell into the following diagnostic categories: postnecrotic cirrhosis 28, primary biliary cirrhosis 20, sclerosing cholangitis 19, miscellaneous diseases 14, carcinoma/neoplasia 12 and fulminant hepatitis 7. Coagulation factor values in the initial (baseline) blood samples varied by patient diagnosis. In general, all factor levels were reduced except factor VIII:C, which was increased to almost twice normal. The slight intraoperative changes in factors II, VII, IX, X, XI and XII suggested that a steady‐state relationship existed between depletion (consumption/bleeding) and repletion (transfusion, transit from extra‐ to intravascular space), even in the anhepatic state. In contrast, there were rapid and very significant falls in factor VIII and fibrinogen and a less pronounced decrease in factor V, all reaching their nadirs in early to mid‐Stage III. The cause of these coagulation changes appears to be activation of the fibrinolytic system. Copyright © 1989 American Association for the Study of Liver Disease

National land use specific reference values: a basis for maximum values in Dutch soil policy

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment has derived Reference Values for maximum permissible soil pollution. The Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) used these values as a basis for the maximum values for soil pollution. The ministry set these values down according to a proposal for an update of soil policy and the Soil Protection Act in 2003. Reference values refer to allowed concentrations of pollutants in soil, depending on the land use. The soil concentrations of pollutants with values below these concentrations meet all the requirements. The risks for humans, the ecosystem and agriculture were analyzed as critical factors, with risk thresholds derived for different types of land use, such as playgrounds, gardens, and agricultural and nature areas. Furthermore, an accelerated procedure was used to compile a complete list of reference values in 2006. The RIVM used state-of-the-art knowledge to complete the 'old' knowledge for information on toxicity of substances; figures were used where knowledge gaps occurred. A recommendation for the coming years is to address resulting inconsistencies in the list of reference values.Het RIVM heeft de referentiewaarden afgeleid waarmee het ministerie van VROM de maximaal toelaatbare bodemverontreinigingen onderbouwt (maximale waarden). Het ministerie heeft deze normen ingesteld in lijn met zijn voorstel uit 2003 om het bodembeleid en de Wet bodembescherming te actualiseren. Referentiewaarden zijn concentraties van verontreinigende stoffen in de bodem die, afhankelijk van het bodemgebruik, zijn toegestaan. Onder deze concentraties voldoet de bodem aan alle eisen. Voor verschillende vormen van bodemgebruik, zoals landbouw, kinderspeelplaatsen of industrie, zijn grensgehalten voor risico's bepaald. Dat zijn bijvoorbeeld, afhankelijk van het gebruik, risico's voor de mens, voor het ecosysteem en voor de landbouw. Het RIVM heeft gebruikgemaakt van een versnelde procedure om in 2006 een compleet voorstel van referentiewaarden gereed te hebben. Die snelheid was ingegeven door de werkgroep NOBO (normstelling en bodemkwaliteitsbeoordeling). Deze werkgroep heeft tevens uitgangspunten en beslissingen geformuleerd op basis waarvan het RIVM de referentiewaarden heeft afgeleid. Het RIVM heeft voor zijn onderzoek zo veel mogelijk gebruikgemaakt van de nieuwste kennis en inzichten, voor zover die beschikbaar zijn. Deze informatie is aangevuld met 'oude' kennis over stoffen. Deze combinatie heeft evenwel tot inconsistenties geleid in de afleiding van referentiewaarden. Het RIVM beveelt daarom aan de komende jaren aandacht te besteden aan de inconsistenties en zwakke plekken van de referentiewaarden

Mexico City and the biogeochemistry of global urbanization

Mexico City is far advanced in its urban evolution, and cities in currently developing nations may soon follow a similar course. This paper investigates the strengths and weaknesses of infrastructures for the emerging megacities. The major driving force for infrastructure change in Mexico City is concern over air quality. Air chemistry data from recent field campaigns have been used to calculate fluxes in the atmosphere of the Valley of Mexico, for compounds that are important to biogeochemistry including methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), ammonia (NH3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx and NOy), soot, and dust. Leakage of liquified petroleum gas approached 10% during sampling periods, and automotive pollutant sources in Mexico City were found to match those in developed cities, despite a lower vehicle-to-person ratio of 0.1. Ammonia is released primarily from residential areas, at levels sufficient to titrate pollutant acids into particles across the entire basin. Enhancements of reduced nitrogen and hydrocarbons in the vapor phase skew the distribution of NOy species towards lower average deposition velocities. Partly as a result, downwind nutrient deposition occurs on a similar scale as nitrogen fixation across Central America, and augments marine nitrate upwelling. Dust suspension from unpaved roads and from the bed of Lake Texcoco was found to be comparable to that occurring on the periphery of the Sahara, Arabian, and Gobi deserts. In addition, sodium chloride (NaCl) in the dust may support heterogeneous chlorine oxide (ClOx) chemistry. The insights from our Mexico City analysis have been tentatively applied to the upcoming urbanization of Asia

Blood use in liver transplantation

During the first 5 years (1981–1985) of the liver transplantation program in Pittsburgh, a total (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) of 18,668 packed red cell units, 23,627 fresh‐frozen plasma units, 20,590 platelet units, and 4241 cryoprecipitate units was transfused for the procedures. This represents 3 to 9 percent of the total of blood products supplied by the Central Blood Bank to its 32 member hospitals. Six hundred thirty‐six (636) transplants were performed on 485 patients in two hospitals: the Presbyterian University Hospital (564 beds) and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (236 beds). All of the blood components used in the operations were procured and released by the Central Blood Bank. This report describes some of these findings. 1987 AAB

Analysis of antenal sensilla patterns of Rhodnius prolixus from Colombia and Venezuela

Antennal sensilla patterns were used to analyze population variation of domestic Rhodnius prolixus from six departments and states representing three biogeographical regions of Colombia and Venezuela. Discriminant analysis of the patterns of mechanoreceptors and of three types of chemoreceptors on the pedicel and flagellar segments showed clear differentiation between R. prolixus populations east and west of the Andean Cordillera. The distribution of thick and thin-walled trichoids on the second flagellar segment also showed correlation with latitude, but this was not seen in the patterns of other sensilla. The results of the sensilla patterns appear to be reflecting biogeographic features or population isolation rather than characters associated with different habitats and lend support to the idea that domestic R. prolixus originated in the eastern region of the Andes.Fil: Esteban, Lyda. Universidad Industrial de Santander; ColombiaFil: Angulo, Víctor Manuel. Universidad Industrial de Santander; ColombiaFil: Dora Feliciangeli, M.. Universidad de Carabobo; VenezuelaFil: Catala, Silvia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentin