Search

Many of the commonly used analytical techniques for assessing the properties of fluvial suspended particulate matter (SPM) are neither cost effective nor time efficient, making them prohibitive to long-term high-resolution monitoring. We present an in-depth methodology utilizing two types of spectroscopy which, when combined with automatic water samplers, can generate accurate, high-temporal resolution SPM geochemistry data, inexpensively and semi-destructively, directly from sediment covered filter papers. A combined X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy approach is developed to estimate concentrations for a range of elements (Al, Ca, Ce, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Si, Ti) and compounds (organic carbon, Aldithionate, Aloxalate, Fedithionate, and Feoxalate) within SPM trapped on quartz fibre filters at masses as low as 3 mg. Calibration models with small prediction errors are derived, along with mass correction factor models to account for variations in retained SPM mass. Spectral pre-processing methods are shown to enhance the reproducibility of results for some compounds, and the importance of filter paper selection and homogeneous sample preparation in minimizing spectral interference is emphasized. The geochemical signal from sediment covered filter papers is demonstrated to be time stable enabling samples to be stored for several weeks prior to analysis. Example results obtained during a heavy precipitation event in October 2012 demonstrate the methodology presented here has considerable potential to be utilized for high-resolution monitoring of SPM geochemistry under a range of in-stream hydrological conditions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-energy structures of the radioactive nuclei 20, 21Na have been examined using Coulomb excitation at the TRIUMF-ISAC radioactive ion beam facility. Beams of ∼ 5×106 ions/s were accelerated to 1.7MeV/A and Coulomb excited in a 0.5mg/cm^2 natTi target. Two TIGRESS HPGe clover detectors perpendicular to the beam axis were used for $ \gamma$ -ray detection, while scattered nuclei were observed by the Si detector BAMBINO. For 21Na , Coulomb excitation from the 3/2+ ground state to the first excited 5/2+ state was observed, while for 20Na , Coulomb excitation was observed from the 2+ ground state to the first excited 3+ and 4+ states. For both beams, B ( $ \lambda$ L) values were determined using the 2+ $ \rightarrow$ 0+ de-excitation in 48Ti as a reference. The resulting B( E2) ↓ value for 21Na is 137±9 e^2fm^4, while the resulting B( $ \lambda$ L) ↓ values for 20Na are 55±6 e^2fm^4 for the 3+ $ \rightarrow$ 2+ , 35.7±5.7 e^2 fm^4 for the 4+ $ \rightarrow$ 2+ , and 0.154±0.030 μ_ N^2 for the 4+ $ \rightarrow$ 3+ transitions. This analysis significantly improves the measurement of the 21Na B( E2) value, and provides the first experimental determination of B( $ \lambda$ L) values for the proton dripline nucleus 20Na .-1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical ethics research is increasingly valued in offering insights into how ethical problems and decision-making occur in healthcare. In this article, the findings of a qualitative study of the ethical problems and decision-making of UK community pharmacists are presented, and it is argued that the identified themes of pharmacists' relative isolation from others and their subordination to doctors are ethically significant. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 community pharmacists in England, UK. Analysis of interviews revealed that isolation involved separation of pharmacists from their peers, other healthcare professionals, patients and customers. Such isolation is argued to be inimical to ethical practice - impeding ethical discourse as understood by Habermas, resulting in a form of anomie that inhibits the transmission of professional values, leading to a lack of proximity between pharmacist and patient or customer that may impede ethical relationships and resulting, psychologically, in less ethical concern for those who are less close. Pharmacists' subordination to doctors not only precipitated some ethical problems but also allowed some pharmacists to shift ethical responsibility to a prescribing doctor, as in the case of emergency hormonal contraception. The emergence of atrocity stories further supports a culture of subordination that may cause ethical problems. The study has implications for community pharmacy practice in terms of supervision issues, developments such as prescribing responsibilities and how ethical values can be taught and communicated. The potential for isolation and subordination in other healthcare professions, and resultant ethical problems, may also need to be addressed and researched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radioactive beam laboratory at TRIUMF is currently the highest power ISOL facility in the world. Taking advantage of the high-intensity beams, major programs in nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and weak interaction studies have begun. The low-energy area, ISAC-I, is capable of delivering beams up to mass 30 at ≈ 1.7MeV/u or 60 keV up to the mass of the primary target, whereas ISAC-II will ultimately provide beams up to mass 150 and ≈ 6.5MeV/u. Major γ-ray spectrometers for nuclear structure research consist of the 8π spectrometer at ISAC-I, and the TIGRESS spectrometer now being constructed for ISAC-II. Results from recent experiments investigating the β-decay of nuclei near N = 90 and Coulomb excitation of 20,21Na are presented that highlight the capabilities of the spectrometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece currently has no national forest certification standard. This paper explains how a draft forest management standard for Greece was developed to be compatible with both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes requirements. The draft standard was tested in two contrasting forest areas to investigate its ease of operation, to indicate necessary refinements to the standard and to reveal major areas of weakness in current forest management practices. Field testing showed that the standard was operationally efficient and that relatively few changes to the standard were necessary. Major weaknesses in current management practices were identified as breaches of health and safety, poor training of forest workers and inadequate consultation with stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific community has not established an adequate understanding of the uncertainty inherent in measured water quality data, which is introduced by four procedural categories: streamflow measurement, sample collection, sample preservation/storage, and laboratory analysis. Although previous research has produced valuable information on relative differences in procedures within these categories, little information is available that compares the procedural categories or presents the cumulative uncertainty in resulting water quality data. As a result, quality control emphasis is often misdirected, and data uncertainty is typically either ignored or accounted for with an arbitrary margin of safety. Faced with tile need for scientifically defensible estimates of data uncertainty to support water resource management, the objectives of this research were to: (1) compile selected published information on uncertainty related to measured stream, flow and water quality data for small watersheds, (2) use a root mean square error propagation method to compare the uncertainty introduced by each procedural category, and (3) use the error propagation method to determine the cumulative probable uncertainty in measured streamflow, sediment, and nutrient data. Best case, typical, and worst case "data quality" scenarios were examined. Averaged across all constituents, the calculated cumulative probable uncertainty (±%) contributed under typical scenarios ranged from 6% to 19% for streamflow measurement, from 4% to 48% for sample collection, from 2% to 16% for sample preservation/storage, and from 5% to 21% for laboratory analysis. Under typical conditions, errors in storm loads ranged from 8% to 104% for dissolved nutrients, from 8% to 110% for total N and P, and from 7% to 53% for TSS. Results indicated that uncertainty can increase substantially under poor measurement conditions and limited quality control effort. This research provides introductory scientific estimates of uncertainty in measured water quality data. The results and procedures presented should also assist modelers in quantifying tile "quality" of calibration and evaluation data sets, determining model accuracy goals, and evaluating model performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies forest crown area removed by selection cutting using linked regression-Geographic Information System approach based on stump diameters. Measurement of diameters of stumps from single tree-group selection timber harvest; Crown area removed by the selection cuts; Use of the model in combination with remote sensing applications to assist in forest inventory and management.