STUDY REGARDING THE DETECTED LEAD RESIDUES IN HONEY IN CORELATION WITH THE SAMPLING AREA

It is well – known the fact that the honey is a very important product, obtained from the bees. In literature there are many publications that highlight the high level of lead contamination of the vegetation located in the close proximity of roads with intense car traffic, which sometimes reach several tens of mg/kg of product.The main sources of the honey`s contamination are the residuum resulted from non – ferrous industry, but also from the industry that uses or transforms lead and its derivatives.But the widest contamination is the result of the utilization of auto vehicles.In order to reduce the detonating effect into the explosion engine and to increase the efficiency of the combustible, it is used to add lead tetraethyl to gas. After such a "useful" action, this chemical compound of lead and exhaust gases are simultaneously eliminated, contaminating the entire area and, inherently, the honey

Direct-write electron-beam lithography of an IR antenna-coupled microbolometer onto the surface of a hemispherical lens

This article describes a method for performing direct-write lithography of an IR antenna-coupled microbolometer onto the surface of a hemispherical lens. Antennas on a dielectric half-space receive power more efficiently from the substrate side than from the air side. The use of a hemispherical lens facilitates reception through the substrate as well as elimination of trapped surface waves that would normally occur in the substrate. Using direct-write lithography onto the surface of the hemispherical lens eliminates the potential of an air gap between the antenna and lens. Additionally, the accuracy of alignment between the antenna and the center of the lens is controlled at the lithographic step. As a result, there is increased responsivity is observed in the antenna-coupled microbolometer when illuminated from the substrate-side compared to air-side illumination. (c) 2006 American Vacuum Society

Longitudinally and circumferentially directed movements of the left ventricle studied by cardiovascular magnetic resonance phase contrast velocity mapping

OBJECTIVE: Using high resolution cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), we aimed to detect new details of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, to explain the twisting and longitudinal movements of the left ventricle. METHODS: Using CMR phase contrast velocity mapping (also called Tissue Phase Mapping) regional wall motion patterns and longitudinally and circumferentially directed movements of the left ventricle were studied using a high temporal resolution technique in healthy male subjects (n = 14, age 23 +/- 3 years). RESULTS: Previously undescribed systolic and diastolic motion patterns were obtained for left ventricular segments (based on the AHA segmental) and for basal, mid and apical segments. The summation of segmental motion results in a complex pattern of ventricular twisting and longitudinal motion in the normal human heart which underlies systolic and diastolic function. As viewed from the apex, the entire LV initially rotates in a counter-clockwise direction at the beginning of ventricular systole, followed by opposing clockwise rotation of the base and counter-clockwise rotation at the apex, resulting in ventricular torsion. Simultaneously, as the entire LV moves in an apical direction during systole, the base and apex move towards each other, with little net apical displacement. The reverse of these motion patterns occur in diastole. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular function may be a consequence of the relative orientations and moments of torque of the sub-epicardial relative to the sub-endocardial myocyte layers, with influence from tethering of the heart to adjacent structures and the directional forces associated with blood flow. Understanding the complex mechanics of the left ventricle is vital to enable these techniques to be used for the evaluation of cardiac pathology

Comparison of different definitions to classify remission and sustained remission: 1 year TEMPO results

To assess methods to calculate achieving and sustaining remission in a double blind randomised trial in patients with RA who received etanercept, methotrexate, or an etanercept/methotrexate combination. Remission was defined as DAS <1.6, DAS28 <2.6, and ACR70 response. Sustaining remission was analysed in three ways: (a) analysis of sustained DAS remission, DAS28 remission, or ACR70 response continuously for 6 months; (b) analysis of sustained remission appraised through a continuity rewarded scoring system, which is the weighted sum of all intervals in the study in which patients are in DAS or DAS28 remission; or (c) longitudinal modelling of remission odds using generalised estimating equations. Significantly more patients treated with the etanercept/methotrexate combination reached DAS remission (37%) than those treated with either methotrexate (14%) or etanercept (18%) alone (p <0.01). Results for DAS28 and for the ACR70 response were similar. Agreement between DAS remission and DAS28 remission was good, but agreement between either of these and the ACR70 response was less. Patients in DAS or DAS28 remission had a lower level of disease activity (fewer active joints, lower ESR) than those achieving ACR70 response; the converse was seen using pain VAS. The three methods were comparable for sustainability of remission and showed significant advantage for combination therapy, which increased the number and durability of remission periods. DAS and DAS28 remission results were similar for assessing achieving and sustaining remission in RA, frequently differing from patients classified as ACR70 responders. The three methods of examining duration of remission produced comparable result

Vertical-via interconnection for infrared antennas

The authors present fabrication process details and test data for a vertical-via. interconnection suitable for low-frequency signal extraction from infrared antenna-coupled sensors. Electrical readout of the signal from an antenna-coupled bolometer was accomplished using two 300 nm diameter Au via structures that extended 300 nm in the vertical direction. These vertical vias passed through two isolation layers of SiO2 and through a 1500 X 600 nm(2) cutout in a ground plane. Electromagnetic, isolation of the antenna from its associated electrical-readout bondpads at 28.3 THz in the infrared was demonstrated by mapping the two-dimensional spatial response of the antenna and comparing it to spatial response data from a similar structure without the intervening ground plane. (c) 2006 American Vacuum Society

Risk assessment-led characterisation of the SiteChar UK North Sea site for the geological storage of CO2

Risk assessment-led characterisation of a site for the geological storage of CO2 in the UK northern North Sea was performed for the EU SiteChar research project as one of a portfolio of sites. Implementation and testing of the SiteChar project site characterisation workflow has produced a ‘dry-run’ storage permit application that is compliant with regulatory requirements. A site suitable for commercial-scale storage was characterised, compatible with current and future industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) sources in the northern UK. Pre-characterisation of the site, based on existing information acquired during hydrocarbon exploration and production, has been achieved from publicly available data. The project concept is to store captured CO2 at a rate of 5 Mt per year for 20 years in the Blake Oil Field and surrounding Captain Sandstone saline aquifer. This commercial-scale storage of 100 Mt CO2 can be achieved through a storage scenario combining injection of CO2 into the oil field and concurrent water production down-dip of the field. There would be no encroachment of supercritical phase CO2 for more than two kilometres beyond the field boundary and no adverse influence on operating hydrocarbon fields provided there is pressure management. Components of a storage permit application for the site are presented, developed as far as possible within a research project. Characterisation and technical investigations were guided by an initial assessment of perceived risks to the prospective site and a need to provide the information required for the storage permit application. The emphasis throughout was to reduce risks and uncertainty on the subsurface containment of stored CO2, particularly with respect to site technical performance, monitoring and regulatory issues, and effects on other resources. The results of selected risk assessment-led site characterisation investigations and the subsequent risk reassessments are described together with their implications for the understanding of the site. Additional investigations are identified that could further reduce risks and uncertainties, and enable progress toward a full storage permit application. Permit performance conditions are presented as SiteChar-recommended useful tools for discussion between the competent authority and operator