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Nanodiamond is poised to become an attractive material for hyperpolarized ¹³C magnetic resonance imaging if large nuclear polarizations can be achieved without the accompanying rapid spin-relaxation driven by paramagnetic species. Here we report enhanced and long-lived ¹³C polarization in synthetic nanodiamonds tailored by acid-cleaning and air-oxidation protocols. Our results separate the contributions of different paramagnetic species on the polarization behavior, identifying the importance of substitutional nitrogen defect centers in the nanodiamond core. These results are likely of use in the development of nanodiamond-based imaging agents with size distributions of relevance for examining biological processes.

Genomic maps of ordered markers and expressed sequences are basic tools for the identification and positional cloning of QTLs and genes involved in economic traits in farm animals. The analysis of donor/hamster Radiation Hybrid (RH) panels represent a powerful method to map genes ESTs and markers. RH maps are generally characterised and anchored to linkage maps using SSR markers employing a quite large experimental effort. In addition, the number of available SSRs may in some case be insufficient to assemble complete RH maps, particularly in high-resolution panels. We have adapted the high-throughput AFLP® technology (Vos et al., 1995) to the typing of RH cell lines, and have used it to increase the number of anchor points in the bovine RH map.

The European Union funded project: CargoVibes involving ten partners from eight nations has aimed to examine ground-borne vibration affecting residents close to freight railway lines. The paper presents an overview of the work package investigating human response to vibration, with particular focus on physiological and psychological impact on sleep, community annoyance and the development of guidance in evaluating response. Existing field studies of community response were supplemented with further field work in the Netherlands and Poland, and a meta-analysis conducted to determine dose-response relationships for railway vibration. The effects of vibration on sleep were measured in a series of laboratory trials at the University of Gothenburg. Numerous outcomes of vibration exposure were found, with physiological markers such as greater heart rate response and cortical reactions during sleep, and annoyance and sleep disturbance increasing with higher vibration amplitudes. A guidance document considering current state of the art regarding vibration measurement and assessment was produced pertaining to human perception, evaluation methods, annoyance, sleep impacts, and non-exposure factors. The outcomes of this work represent a significant advance in the understanding of the human response to railway vibration and a step towards a much needed harmonization of assessment methods. The findings presented in this paper highlight the importance of considering environmental vibration in the planning, construction, and maintenance of railways in residential environments