Forensic voices:Cultures of sonic detection and identification in the West (Introduction)

This introduction to the special issue "Forensic voices: Cultures of sonic detection and identification in the West" explains the notion of "forensic voices," positions this in scholarly literature on sound in forensic practices, and introduces the individual contributions

Semi-quantitative and quantitative studies on the gamma radiolysis of C5-BTBP

An industrial liquid liquid extraction process for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel will inevitably lead to radiolysis of the phases, since the process streams contain highly radioactive species. Solvents containing one of the BTBP (6,6'-bis(5,6-dialkyl-[1,2,4]-triazin-3-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine) molecules intended for the separation of trivalent actinides (An) from lanthanides (Ln), the so called C5-BTBP, have shown a dramatic decrease in both distribution ratios and An/Ln separation factor when irradiated; hence, the molecule is highly unstable towards radiolysis. HPLC-, APCI(+)-MS and LC-MS analyses were performed on irradiated solvents containing initially 0.005 M C5-BTBP dissolved in either hexanol or cyclohexanone. The decrease in concentration of starting molecule as well as the increase in concentration of various degradation products were studied with quantitative and semi-quantitative measurements. Structures were suggested for the degradation products produced in highest yields and these were compared to previously proposed structures for the same products

Si-29 NMR spectra of trimethylsilyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of purines and pyrimidines

Trimethylsilyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of naturally occurring purines and pyrimidines and also other closely related model compounds were prepared and their Si-29 NMR spectra measured. Only the chemical shifts of the Si-NH- moiety could be assigned experimentally (i.e. exactly); the chemical shifts of Si-O- and Si-N- fragments could be assigned only on the basis of chemical shift correlations. The Si-N- lines are surprisingly narrow in all derivatives of nucleic bases studied. The lines are narrow because of the 'self decoupling' of fast relaxing N-14 nuclei. The values of Si-29, N-15 coupling constants could not be reliably determined (by the HEED-INEPT method), nor could the Si-N lines be completely assigned in these compounds. Measurement of Si-29 NMR spectra is shown to be a sensitive and fast method for checking completeness of silylation of nucleobases or their analogues. Assignment difficulties limit other applications. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.status: publishe

A TBP/BTBP-based GANEX Separation ProcessPart 2: Ageing, Hydrolytic, and Radiolytic Stability

The waste from nuclear power plants worldwide has to be isolated from man and his environment for about 100,000 years to equal the levels of natural uranium. If, however, the long-lived actinides could be separated from the spent fuel and transmuted, then the isolation time could be shortened to about 1,000 years. This does, however, require the selective separation of the actinides from the rest of the waste. Several processes exist for such a separation, of which one is the Group ActiNide Extraction (GANEX) process. A novel GANEX process has been developed at the Chalmers University of Technology utilizing the properties of already well known extractants by combining BTBP and TBP into one solvent. The stability provided by this GANEX solvent towards ageing, hydrolysis, and radiolysis has been investigated. The results show that the actinide distribution ratios are maintained after a long duration of contact with strong nitric acid. The solvent has also been found to be stable towards radiolysis up to 200 kGy in contact with 4 M nitric acid

Systemische Mastozytose und Rhinitis

The ability to perceive geomagnetic fields (GMFs) represents a fascinating biological phenomenon. Studies on transgenic flies have provided evidence that photosensitive Cryptochromes (Cry) are involved in the response to magnetic fields (MFs). However, none of the studies tackled the problem of whether the Cry-dependent magnetosensitivity is coupled to the sole MF presence or to the direction of MF vector. In this study, we used gene silencing and a directional MF to show that mammalian-like Cry2 is necessary for a genuine directional response to periodic rotations of the GMF vector in two insect species. Longer wavelengths of light required higher photon fluxes for a detectable behavioral response, and a sharp detection border was present in the cyan/green spectral region. Both observations are consistent with involvement of the FADox, FAD(•)(−) and FADH(–) redox forms of flavin. The response was lost upon covering the eyes, demonstrating that the signal is perceived in the eye region. Immunohistochemical staining detected Cry2 in the hemispherical layer of laminal glia cells underneath the retina. Together, these findings identified the eye-localized Cry2 as an indispensable component and a likely photoreceptor of the directional GMF response. Our study is thus a clear step forward in deciphering the in vivo effects of GMF and supports the interaction of underlying mechanism with the visual system