Radionuclide and chemical concentrations in mineral waters at Saratoga Springs, New York

A project to characterize the radionuclide and chemical components in natural spring waters in the vicinity of Saratoga Springs, New York (USA) has been completed. As a result of the measured radionuclide and chemical content, eight springs were labeled as mineral waters, whereas three springs contained very low concentrations of these components. The mineral waters were highly enriched in alkaline and alkaline-earth elements, as well as chloride ions. Three isotopes of radium ((224)Ra, (226)Ra, (228)Ra) were detected in the mineral waters and reached concentrations of 1, 20, and 2 Bq/L, respectively. Overall, the (226)Ra isotope constituted about 80% of the total radioactivity measured in the water samples. Dissolved uranium concentrations in the mineral waters were very low (mean approximately 50 mBq/L).     

Prediction of potential areas of species distributions based on presence-only data

We introduce a methodology to infer zones of high potential for the habitat of a species, useful for management of biodiversity, conservation, biogeography, ecology, or sustainable use. Inference is based on a set of sites where the presence of the species has been reported. Each site is associated with covariate values, measured on discrete scales. We compute the predictive probability that the species is present at each node of a regular grid. Possible spatial bias for sites of presence is accounted for. Since the resulting posterior distribution does not have a closed form, a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is implemented. However, we also describe an approximation to the posterior distribution, which avoids MCMC. Relevant features of the approach are that specific notions of data acquisition such as sampling intensity and detectability are accounted for, and that available a priori information regarding areas of distribution of the species is incorporated in a clear-cut way. These concepts, arising in the presence-only context, are not addressed in alternative methods. We also consider an uncertainty map, which measures the variability for the predictive probability at each node on the grid. A simulation study is carried out to test and compare our approach with other standard methods. Two case studies are also presented.     

A Simple Value-Distinction Approach Aids Transparency in Farm Animal Welfare Debate

Public debate on acceptable farm animal husbandry suffers from a confusion of tongues. To clarify positions of various stakeholder groups in their joint search for acceptable solutions, the concept of animal welfare was split up into three notions: no suffering, respect for intrinsic value, and non-appalling appearance of animals. This strategy was based on the hypothesis that multi-stakeholder solutions should be based on shared values rather than on compromises. The usefulness of such an artificial value distinction strategy was tested in a small series of experiments. The results demonstrate that the chosen concept to distinguish between values is effective in a stakeholder context. Farmers’ views on doing good to animals appeared to be largely based on their value to prevent suffering and predominantly focused on the provision of regular care. Their priority for this value is clearly shared with other stakeholders, providing a basis for joint solutions. The concept of intrinsic value does not play a discernable role in farmers’ considerations. Based on the varying views on welfare, it can be inferred that there is a gradual rather than a principal difference between government legislation and farmers’ values, whereas public perception and acceptance of farm practices remains complicated. Distinction between value groups and focusing on a selected notion (such as no suffering) proved to be effective in bringing representatives of stakeholder groups together, but is unlikely to bridge the emotional gap between commercial farm practices and public ideals.     

Investigation of the Aerobic Biodegradability of Several Types of Cyclodextrins in a Laboratory-Controlled Composting Test

The biodegradation of several types of cyclodextrins (CDs) under laboratory-controlled composting conditions was investigated. CDs are used in a broad range of applications in food, pharmaceutical, medical, chemical, and textile industries because of their specific chemical characteristics related to their hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic exterior. The three naturally occurring cyclodextrins -CD, -CD, and -CD proved to be completely and readily biodegradable. Chemical modification of these basic compounds can have a major impact on the biodegradation rate and final biodegradation percentage. Fully acetylated -CD and -CD were found to be nonbiodegradable during 45 days of composting. Reducing the degree of acetylation had a positive effect on the biodegradation. Complete biodegradation was obtained for partially acetylated -CD with a degree of substitution (DS) of 7. The methylation (DS = 13) of -CD resulted in an undegradable compound during the 47 days composting, while (2-hydroxy)propyl--CD reached a plateau in biodegradation at a percentage of 20%. The incorporation of the antimicrobial agents imazalil and allyl-isothiocyanate into -CD had no negative impact on biodegradation, which makes these antimicrobial agents/CD complexes suitable for incorporation into biodegradable active packaging.     

In vivo distribution and speciation of [114mIn]InCl3 in the Wistar rat

Five Wistar rats were given an intraperitoneal injection of [114mIn]InCl3 during four consecutive days. One hour after the last injection the rats were sacrificed. The in vivo distribution of 114mIn was studied in the blood and in different organs. Differential centrifugation was used to study the distribution in liver, kidney and spleen homogenate. Rat serum, packed cell lysate, urine and the cytosol of liver, kidney and spleen homogenate were examined by size exclusion fast protein liquid chromatography. The results showed that serum accounts for 90% of the indium activity in whole blood. Indium is preferentially accumulated within the liver, spleen and kidney, the highest amount of 114mIn being localised in the cytosolic fraction followed by the mitochondria. Size exclusion experiments showed that, in rat serum, indium is exclusively bound to transferrin. These results differed from earlier in vitro incubation experiments of human serum with 114mIn. It was not possible, from the experiments described herein, to conclude unequivocally whether indium is bound to haemoglobin of packed cell lysate or to another high molecular mass compound. Indium is associated with the high molecular mass fraction in liver, kidney and spleen cytosol; only in kidney are small amounts of 114mIn found in the low molecular mass fraction. The in vivo inhibitory effect of indium on the delta-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) enzymatic activity in red blood cells and kidney tissue, well documented by other researchers, could not be attributed to direct binding of indium with this enzyme.     

管式炉煤气爆燃原因分析

对武钢一管式炉２０００年３月２４日发生煤气爆燃事故进行了分析,结合管式炉周围现场情况,提出了避免此类事故再发生的防范措施。     

压缩空气对井下热环境的降温效果研究

压缩空气是矿山井下常用动力,它具有膨胀吸热的特性,因而可用于改善井下作业环境与气候条件。通过对矿井压缩空气吸热量的计算,分析了压气对井下热工作面的降温影响,并获得了压气与工作面降温效果的数学关系。还对井下采用压气降温进行了经济评价,指出了压气降温仍为我国深井局部降温的一种可供选择的好方法。     

Managing relationship conflict and the effectiveness of organizational teams

Past research has revealed that team effectiveness and satisfaction suffer when teams experience relationship conflict—conflict related to interpersonal issues, political norms and values, and personal taste. This study examined how teams should respond to these conflicts. Three types of conflict responses were studied: collaborating responses, contending responses, and avoiding responses. A field study involving a heterogeneous sample of teams performing complex, non‐routine task showed that collaborating and contending responses to relationship conflict negatively relate to team functioning (i.e., voice, compliance, helping behavior) and overall team effectiveness, while avoiding responses were associated with high team functioning and effectiveness. It is suggested that collaborating and contending responses to relationship conflict distract team members from their tasks, while avoiding responses appear more functional in that they allow team members to pursue task performance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.