Recovery and reanalysis of archived airborne gamma spectrometry data from the 1991 Dounreay survey

Archived Airborne Gamma Spectrometry (AGS) data from the 1991 NIREX characterisations of Caithness have been recovered. The separate gamma spectrometry and positional data streams for approximately 120000 measurements have been combined into a single data stream using the European Radiometrics and Spectrometry (ERS) data format. An analysis using working calibration coefficients and spectral stripping procedure has verified that the original survey recorded high quality data. The converted data stream is in a format more accessible to future research use, including evaluation of environmental change in the Caithness region

Adapting LPGP to plan with deadlines

This paper describes two approaches that enable the AI Planner LPGP to reason about domains with exogenous events and goals with duration: the first investigates how such domains may be encoded using the planning domain definition language PDDL2.1 level 3, while the second involves directly modifying LPGP. Both approaches have been tested in a number of domains and conclusions are drawn about the relative merits of the two approaches

Portable Gamma Spectrometry Surveys of Sites in Portugal in Support of the VADOSE Project

The VADOSE project involves the use of multiple techniques to evaluate dose rate variability on different spatial scales. Several sites in central northern Portugal, mostly in the vicinity of Aveiro, have been investigated. As part of this investigation, portable gamma spectrometry techniques were used to map areas of approximately 100x100m around each sampling location. The SUERC portable gamma spectrometry system used consists of a 3x3” NaI(Tl) spectrometer with integral GPS receiver. Measurements were conducted with 10s integration time. Maps of the dose rate variability in each area were generated in the field, and used to confirm data quality and coverage and identify any remaining locations that would benefit from further measurements prior to leaving the site. Maps of natural radionuclide distribution (40K, 214Bi from the 238U decay series, and 208Tl from the 232Th decay series) were produced after the conclusion of measurements each day. Natural radionuclide specific activities (Bq kg-1 ) were estimated using a spectral windows method with stripping1 , using a working calibration assuming planar geometry and uniform activity distribution. As agreed prior to the start of work, a working calibration derived from field measurements and photon fluence calculations conducted for similar detectors in the 1990s2 has been used here, with calibration parameters given in the appendix. This report presents the dose rate maps produced during the field work, with a very brief description of the data. Summary statistics for each data set are presented in Table 1. All data have been mapped using a UTM (zone 29T) grid, with the approximate location of ground features added by hand as a guide. Further work could be conducted to produce more accurate overlays of ground features. At each site in-situ gamma spectrometry measurements were also conducted by ITN, and the data collected by the two detector systems and the soil samples will be compared at a later date

Rediscovery of the Florida Scorpionfly, Panorpa floridana Byers (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

We describe the rediscovery of the Florida scorpionfly, Panorpa floridana Byers (Mecoptera: Panorpidae), at Gold Head Branch State Park, Clay County, Florida, based upon a single, living, adult specimen photographed on 4 November 2010. The hardcopy photographic prints and electronic digital images of this panorpid are the first vouchers for P. floridana in 28 years, the only observation of a living specimen, and the sixth individual known of this seemingly rare Florida endemic

Mobile Gamma Spectrometry Survey of the Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride, 17th-19th August 2009

<p>Environmental radioactivity arises from natural geological sources, the redistribution of natural activity through industrial processes, the nuclear industry including routine and accidental discharges into the environment, and various medical or industrial uses of radioisotopes. Mobile gamma spectrometry provides a powerful means of measuring the distribution of radioactivity in the environment. Data collected by such methods provide measures of environmental quality, references for public health assurance, means to assess environmental change, and other uses. Airborne Gamma Spectrometry (AGS) has been developed at SUERC for environmental purposes since 1988, and provides a capability for very rapid and cost effective surveys of large areas, and provides for visualisation and classification of enhanced features of radioactivity within the context of natural variations. Ground based approaches, with equipment mounted on vehicles or backpacks, provide more detailed spatial resolution for smaller areas at significantly reduced area coverage rates.</p> <p>A portable gamma spectrometry system has been developed at SUERC, consisting of a 3x3” NaI(Tl) detector with a digital spectrometer and GPS receiver using a netbook computer for data acquisition. This system can be carried as a backpack and used to conduct surveys of environmental radioactivity in urban areas, where people spend their time.</p> <p>Detector backgrounds and stripping matrices have been measured. A survey of approximately 50,000 m2 of the Scottish Enterprise Technology Park (SETP) has been conducted with two detector systems. The SETP is on the site of the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) established in East Kilbride in 1948, and acquired by Scottish Enterprise in 1994. In recent years there has been an ongoing programme of renovation on the site, including demolition of old buildings and new construction along with landscaping operations.</p> This report presents the results of initial detector characterisation and the survey of part of the SETP site. Detector stripping matrices were determined from measurements made on the 18th August 2009, with background measurements on Loch Lomond collected on the 28th. The site survey was conducted between 17th and 19th August 2009, with over 4600 spectra with 10s integration time collected. Maps of the distribution of 137Cs, 40K, 214Bi, 208Tl and gamma dose rate were produced. The 137Cs activity clearly shows areas undisturbed since 1986, with fallout from the Chernobyl accident still present on the grass. The footprint of the demolished research reactor at SUERC is evident as a negative feature in the 137Cs map. The natural series activities and gamma dose rate show the range of materials used for building and road construction, including one small area of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM), and the local geology and soils. This demonstrates the capability of the SUERC portable gamma spectrometry system to collect high quality data of an area with a complex history, land use and range of buildings. Further application of the technique to other urban areas, and the rest of the SETP site, would allow similar assessments of the radiation environments of a range of different locations

Behavioural models of penguins and krill in the Southern Ocean

The thesis applies state of the art ecological modelling methods to predict optimal behavioural patterns in two key Southern Ocean species, macaroni penguins, Eudyptes chrysolophus, and Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. The work is divided into three main parts. The first considers how female macaroni penguins allocate their time between searching, foraging and feeding their chick during the guard stage. The model is forced by the availability of their main prey, Antarctic krill, and the increasing demands of the chick. The second part focuses on the behaviour of Antarctic krill at South Georgia, a hotspot in the Southern Ocean. This model predicts the most likely distribution of krill between 3 main environments that relate to bathymetry, resulting from an individual's choice of depth, density of swarm and swimming behaviour, which has some influence on their advection. The model is forced by the availability of phytoplankton and by the prevailing advection regime. The third part takes a similar approach, determining the optimal behaviour of krill as they are transported from the Antarctic Peninsula to South Georgia, except in this model, krill do not have any influence on their horizontal location. The first main finding of the thesis is that macaroni penguins will travel further to obtain a more reliable meal of krill, even if the krill reward does not change with distance from nest. A second important finding is that krill are able to increase their overall concentration in favourable areas simply by altering their swimming speed and tum rate. The third major finding describes the likely existence of a threshold availability of krill to penguins, below which the chick dies and above which there is no change to chick growth. The thesis discusses the suitability of the modelling technique and proposes future fieldwork for better model parameterisation and validation. The models provide a framework for predicting the responses of these organisms to future changes in their environment

Review of Past Nuclear Accidents: Source Terms and Recorded Gamma-Ray Spectra

Airborne gamma ray spectrometry using high volume scintillation detectors, optionally in conjunction with Ge detectors, has potential for making rapid environmental measurements in response to nuclear accidents. A literature search on past nuclear accidents has been conducted to define the source terms which have been experienced so far. Selected gamma ray spectra recorded after past accidents have also been collated to examine the complexity of observed behaviour

Investigating and learning lessons from early experiences of implementing ePrescribing systems into NHS hospitals:a questionnaire study

Background: ePrescribing systems have significant potential to improve the safety and efficiency of healthcare, but they need to be carefully selected and implemented to maximise benefits. Implementations in English hospitals are in the early stages and there is a lack of standards guiding the procurement, functional specifications, and expected benefits. We sought to provide an updated overview of the current picture in relation to implementation of ePrescribing systems, explore existing strategies, and identify early lessons learned.Methods: a descriptive questionnaire-based study, which included closed and free text questions and involved both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data generated.Results: we obtained responses from 85 of 108 NHS staff (78.7% response rate). At least 6% (n = 10) of the 168 English NHS Trusts have already implemented ePrescribing systems, 2% (n = 4) have no plans of implementing, and 34% (n = 55) are planning to implement with intended rapid implementation timelines driven by high expectations surrounding improved safety and efficiency of care. The majority are unclear as to which system to choose, but integration with existing systems and sophisticated decision support functionality are important decisive factors. Participants highlighted the need for increased guidance in relation to implementation strategy, system choice and standards, as well as the need for top-level management support to adequately resource the project. Although some early benefits were reported by hospitals that had already implemented, the hoped for benefits relating to improved efficiency and cost-savings remain elusive due to a lack of system maturity.Conclusions: whilst few have begun implementation, there is considerable interest in ePrescribing systems with ambitious timelines amongst those hospitals that are planning implementations. In order to ensure maximum chances of realising benefits, there is a need for increased guidance in relation to implementation strategy, system choice and standards, as well as increased financial resources to fund local activitie

DYNAMIC BALANCE IN ALPINE SKIERS

There are more than 200 million alpine skiers worldwide (Hunter, 1999) but currently ski equipment does not protect the knee as it does the rest of the lower leg and there has been a dramatic rise in knee ligament and meniscus injuries associated with alpine skiing in recent years (Pecina, 2002). Pujol et al. (2007) stated that 45-60% of knee injuries during alpine skiing involve the ACL. Balance is an important component of performance in skiing (Laskowski, 1999) and Natri et al. (1999) found that many skiers sustaining an injury believed they were only temporarily off balance and capable of regaining control. The three most common mechanisms of injury to the knee in skiing are linked to a loss of dynamic balance (Rossi et al., 2003)