External and internal irradiation of a Rural Bryansk (Russia) population from 1990 to 2000, following high deposition of radioactive caesium from the chernobyl accident.

In 1990, a joint Nordic-Russian project was initiated in order to make independent estimations of the effective dose to selected groups of inhabitants in a highly contaminated area around the city of Novozybkov In the western Bryansk region of Russia. The inhabitants were living in six villages with initial contamination levels of Cs-137 between 0.9 and 2.7 MBq m(-2). Some villages had been decontaminated, others not. Both school children and adults participated in the study. The external irradiation of 100-130 inhabitants was determined during 1 month in September-October each year from 1990 to 2000 (except 1999), using individual thermoluminescent dosemeters. The body burden of (137,) (CS)-C-134 was determined by in vivo measurements in about 500 inhabitants annually from 1991 to 2000, and for a subgroup also with analysis of the (CS)-C-137 concentration in urine. The mean effective dose (E) from external and internal irradiation due to Cs-137,Cs- 134 deposition varied between 2.5 and 1.2 mSv per year between 1990 and 2000. The total mean E decreased, on average, by 9% per year, while the mean external dose decreased by 16% per year. The dose rate from internal radiation decreased more slowly than the dose rate from external radiation, and also showed an irregular time variation. The contribution from the internal dose to the total E was 30-50%, depending on the village. Predictions for the long-term changes in the effective dose to people living in the areas are presented. The cumulated E for the 70 years following the accident was estimated to be about 90 mSv with the assumption that both internal and external dose decrease by 2% per year after year 2000. The highest E during a life-time received by single individuals living in the area may amount to around 500 mSv considering the individual variations in E

Long-term external and internal irradiation of inhabitants in an area highly contaminated by the Chernobyl accident

From 1990 to 1998, estimations of the effective dose from external and internal irradiation due to 137Cs and 134Cs were carried out for inhabitants in rural villages in the Bryansk region, Russia, highly contaminated due to the Chernobyl accident in 1986. Yearly expeditions were conducted in autumn. The external effective dose was estimated from measurements with thermoluminescent (TL)- dosemeters worn by the participants during one month each year. The internal effective dose was estimated from measurements of the urinary concentration of caesium radionuclides, together with measurements of the body content using a portable detector. The mean effective dose from external and internal irradiation varied between 1.2 and 2.5 mSv per year between 1990 and 1998. The total mean effective dose decreased, on average, 7% per year, while the mean external dose decreased by 15% per year. The dose rate from internal irradiation decreased more slowly than the dose rate from external irradiation, showing large variations from year to year depending to a great extent on dietary habits. The contribution from the external dose to the total dose was between 50-70%, depending on the village. The cumulated effective dose for the 70-year period after the accident was calculated to be 100 mSv with the assumption that both internal and external dose will decrease by 2% per year

ICT-supported concept of dynamic energy monitoring on a neighbourhood level

Energy efficiency of buildings may be improved using information provided by smart meters. They enable new services aiming at making the end-user aware of its energy consumption. Our vision is a neighbourhood of independent but co-operating buildings, with common aim to maximise their energy efficiency. Smart meters are the link between the buildings and the Neighbourhood Management System (NMS) which will control the community. The NMS will analyse the measurements, loads and available power in buildings and use simulation to forecast their behaviour to provide e.g. failure detection and load management. In this context a new concept has been developed. The concept illustrates an intelligent use of building energy information through a contest between several office buildings within a company. The idea is to combine both energy awareness and energy information benchmarking to create an incentive scheme for energy reduction in a tertiary environment

A demonstration of the effectiveness of inter-program comparative testing for diagnosing and repairing solution and coding errors in building simulation programs

The validation of a building simulation program or model is a daunting task, and one that should receive as much attention as algorithm and code development. Previous research in this field has led to a well-accepted approach composed of analytical verification, empirical validation and inter-program comparative testing to diagnose model deficiencies, mathematical solution errors and coding errors. Through a case study using a model for predicting the thermal and electrical performance of fuel cell micro-cogeneration devices, this article demonstrates the utility of the inter-program comparative testing validation construct. It shows that by comparing program-to-program results, solution problems, coding errors and deficiencies in mathematical model descriptions can be efficiently identified, diagnosed and subsequently repaired

Effect of treating periodontitis on C-reactive protein levels: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Periodontitis is associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen and it may be a coronary heart disease risk factor. We wanted to study if treatment of periodontitis can decrease the levels of these inflammatory markers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were measured in 35 patients (21 M, 14 F, mean age 50 years) with adult periodontitis, before and after treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median baseline C-reactive protein level in the patients was 1.05 mg/l and it decreased to 0.7 mg/l (p = 0.05) after periodontal treatment. Of the 30 patients who could be included in the analyses, 24 patients had a baseline level below 2 mg/l (the 95^thpercentile limit in Finland); 6 patients had levels higher than this. Elevation of the baseline C-reactive protein level or the magnitude of its decrease were not associated with severe form of periodontitis. The decrease in C-reactive protein levels was at least 50 % in 4/6 of those with elevated baseline levels, as compared with 3/24 of the rest of the patients (p = 0.016). No corresponding effect was observed in fibrinogen levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Periodontitis seems to increase C-reactive protein only in some individuals, presumably the ones reacting to it with a systemic inflammatory reaction. Periodontal treatment decreases C-reactive protein levels in these individuals and it may thus decrease their risk of coronary heart disease.</p