Traceable measurements of the activity concentration in air

The nuclear reactions induced by high energetic protons in heavy targets such as UC/sub 2/ and ThC cause a particular, complex radiation protection task at facilities like ISOLDE: the measurement of a mixture of different isotopes of the radioactive noble gas radon and the radon progenies in air. The knowledge of their respective activity concentration is fundamental for exposure assessments. Due to the complex mixture of activity concentrations in air, its precise determination is quite difficult. Therefore, a new procedure for taking reference samples was developed and implemented for the traceable measurement of the activity concentration of radioactive ions (e.g., radon progenies) in air. This technique is combined by measuring alpha -particles with a multi-wire ionization chamber for the parallel on-line determination of the activity concentration of different radon isotopes. (10 refs)

IR Kuiper Belt Constraints

We compute the temperature and IR signal of particles of radius $a$ and albedo $\alpha$ at heliocentric distance $R$, taking into account the emissivity effect, and give an interpolating formula for the result. We compare with analyses of COBE DIRBE data by others (including recent detection of the cosmic IR background) for various values of heliocentric distance, $R$, particle radius, $a$, and particle albedo, $\alpha$. We then apply these results to a recently-developed picture of the Kuiper belt as a two-sector disk with a nearby, low-density sector (40<R<50-90 AU) and a more distant sector with a higher density. We consider the case in which passage through a molecular cloud essentially cleans the Solar System of dust. We apply a simple model of dust production by comet collisions and removal by the Poynting-Robertson effect to find limits on total and dust masses in the near and far sectors as a function of time since such a passage. Finally we compare Kuiper belt IR spectra for various parameter values.Comment: 34 pages, LaTeX, uses aasms4.sty, 11 PostScript figures not embedded. A number of substantive comments by a particularly thoughtful referee have been addresse

Functional assessments and histopathology of hepatorenal tissues of rats treated with raw and processed herbs

The present study ascertained the functional integrity of hepatic and renal tissues, concurrently with blood lipid patterns, of Wistar rats infused with CCl4 and treated with raw and hydrothermal processed herbs, namely, Monodora myristica, Chromolaena odorata, Buccholzia coriacea and Sphenostylis stenocarpa. Measurement of phytochemical contents of the herbs was according to standard methods. The rats were randomly designated on the bases of diets and treatments received for 28 consecutive days. Fibrosis was induced in the Wistar rats by single dose intra-peritoneal injection of CCl4 for 2 consecutive days. Liver and kidney function tests and serum lipid profile were measured using spectrophotometric methods. Renal and hepatic tissues were subjected to histopathological examinations. The concentrations of alkaloids in the four herbal extracts were within the range of 4.83±0.03 - 31.33±0.29 mg/100 g sample, whereas the concentrations of saponins varied within a relatively narrow range: 0.33±0.09 - 4.33±0.02 mg/100 g dry sample; p &gt; 0.05. The activity ratios of AST to ALT of the rat groups were generally less than 1.0 unit. Atherogenic indices of fibrotic rats were within the following ranges: TAG/HDL-C ratio (3.59±0.03 - 6.76±0.06), TC/HDL-C ratio (3.72±0.02 - 6.94±0.05) and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (2.00±0.01 - 4.59±0.02). Losses in phytochemical contents following hydrothermal processing of the herbs did not substantially affect their overall therapeutic scores against morpho-logical and functional impairments of hepatic and renal tissues following CCl4 intoxication of the rats. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.82322

The use of accounting information in bank lending decisions

This paper examines the impact of accounting information on the sequential judgements of experienced bank loan officers using realistic lending cases in an experimental setting. The findings suggest that loan officers reach a high level of confidence early in the lending process based on summarized accounting information and other general background data. When, later in the process, factors concerning the firm's financial plans and their underlying assumptions are varied, lenders adjust their confidence in whether or not to grant the loan in the expected directions, even when the subsequent evidence disconfirms their original positions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28159/1/0000611.pd

The Polycomb protein, Bmi1, regulates insulin sensitivity

Objective: The Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRC) 1 and 2 function to epigenetically repress target genes. The PRC1 component, Bmi1, plays a crucial role in maintenance of glucose homeostasis and beta cell mass through repression of the Ink4a/Arf locus. Here we have explored the role of Bmi1 in regulating glucose homeostasis in the adult animal, which had not been previously reported due to poor postnatal survival of Bmi1−/− mice. Methods: The metabolic phenotype of Bmi1+/− mice was characterized, both in vivo and ex vivo. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were performed. The insulin signaling pathway was assessed at the protein and transcript level. Results: Here we report a negative correlation between Bmi1 levels and insulin sensitivity in two models of insulin resistance, aging and liver-specific insulin receptor deficiency. Further, heterozygous loss of Bmi1 results in increased insulin sensitivity in adult mice, with no impact on body weight or composition. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp reveals increased suppression of hepatic glucose production and increased glucose disposal rate, indicating elevated glucose uptake to peripheral tissues, in Bmi1+/− mice. Enhancement of insulin signaling, specifically an increase in Akt phosphorylation, in liver and, to a lesser extent, in muscle appears to contribute to this phenotype. Conclusions: Together, these data define a new role for Bmi1 in regulating insulin sensitivity via enhancement of Akt phosphorylation

Television news and the symbolic criminalisation of young people

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Journalism Studies, 9(1), 75 - 90, 2008, copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14616700701768105.This essay combines quantitative and qualitative analysis of six UK television news programmes. It seeks to analyse the representation of young people within broadcast news provision at a time when media representations, political discourse and policy making generally appear to be invoking young people as something of a folk devil or a locus for moral panics. The quantitative analysis examines the frequency with which young people appear as main actors across a range of different subjects and analyses the role of young people as news sources. It finds a strong correlation between young people and violent crime. A qualitative analysis of four “special reports” or backgrounders on channel Five's Five News explores the representation of young people in more detail, paying attention to contradictions and tensions in the reports, the role of statistics in crime reporting, the role of victims of crime and the tensions between conflicting news frames.Arts and Humanities Research Counci