Gender differences in publication productivity in psychology in India

An analysis of gender differences in psychology in India provides quantitative and qualitative assessment of R&D output contributed by psychologists with the indication of the trend of growth, skewness, relatedness, co-authorship pattern of productivity.     

Metrology in Chemistry in Germany

The system for Metrology in Chemistry in Germany is described. At the national standards level, a network of high-level chemistry institutes coordinated by the national metrology institute, PTB, provides the primary references for chemical measurements. A dissemination mechanism employs chemical calibration laboratories accredited within the framework of the German Calibration Service (DKD). They act as “multipliers” between the national standards level and the user level by providing the user with calibration means which are traceable to the SI via national standards. Traceability structures in clinical chemistry, electrochemistry, elemental analysis and gas analysis are described     

Natural radioactivity in drinking water in private wells in Finland

Natural radioactivity in drinking water was determined in population-based random study of 472 private wells. The mean concentrations of (222)Rn, (226)Ra, (234)U, (238)U, (210)Pb and (210)Po in drilled wells were 460, 0.05, 0.35, 0.26, 0.04 and 0.05 Bq l(-1), and in wells dug in the soil were 50, 0.016, 0.02, 0.015, 0.013 and 0.007 Bq l(-1), respectively. Approximately 10% of the drilled wells exceeded a radon concentration of 1000 Bq l(-1) and 18% a uranium concentration of 15 microg l(-1). The mean annual effective dose from natural radionuclides for a drilled well user was 0.4 mSv and 0.05 mSv for a user of a well dug in the soil. The effective dose arising from (222)Rn was 75% of the total of all natural radionuclides for drilled well users. As regards long-lived radionuclides, (210)Po and (210)Pb caused the largest portion of the effective dose. The dose arising from (238)U, (234)U and (226)Ra was only 8% of the total of all natural radionuclides.     

Natural radioactivity in drinking water in private wells in Finland

Radiation Protection Dosimetry     

Radioactivity in building materials in Iraq

Activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in 45 samples of different building materials used in Iraq were measured using gamma-spectroscopy system based on high-purity germanium detector with an efficiency of 40 %. Radium equivalent activity, air-absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose, external and internal hazard indices and alpha index due to radon inhalation originating from building materials were measured to assess the potential radiological hazard associated with these building materials. The activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides (226)Ra, (232)Th and 40K were found to range from below detection limit (BDL) to 223.7 ± 9, BDL to 93.0 ± 3 and BDL to 343.1 ± 12, respectively. Values of average radium equivalent activity, air-absorbed dose rate, indoor and outdoor annual effective doses, external and internal hazard indices and alpha index ranged from 6.5 to 124.9, 16.2 to 89.5 (nGy h(-1)), 0.08 to 0.44 mSv, 0.02-0.11 mSv, 0.09 to 0.53, 0.13 to 0.69 and 0.03 to 0.62, respectively. These values indicate a low dose. Therefore, the building materials used in the current study are quite safe to be used as building materials.     

Optische in situ Schichtdickenmessung in Bedampfungsanlagen. Optical in situ film thickness monitoring in coating systems

Optical film thickness monitoring is more precise than crystal monitoring. The optical measurement makes use of the fact that the intensity of a monochromatic light beam which is reflected on a film will change periodically with increasing film thickness. The measurement is performed at an exchangeable test glass that is positioned beside the substrates and is therefore coated in the same way as the substrates. The accuracy of cut‐off is achieved by a “fit” of a theoretical curve shape to the measured values. Order filters are used to ensure that, at a certain wavelength, higher deflection orders do not influence the measurement when a monochromator grating is used.     

Differences in coagulation in clotting of vascular access in hemodialysis patients

Arteriovenous graft (AVG) thrombosis is a frequent cause of graft failure. We evaluated coagulation protein concentrations, platelet function, and viscoelasticity factors in 20 hemodialysis (HD) patients with AVGs. The goal was to determine whether significant differences in protein concentrations, platelet function, and viscoelasticity factors exist among dialysis patients requiring frequent AVG declot procedures vs. those who do not. Twenty HD patients were enrolled: 10 frequent clotters (>3 declots in the previous year) and 10 were nonclotters. Patients on antiplatelets or chronic anticoagulation were excluded. Laboratories were drawn pretreatment and heparinase was added to counteract any potential heparin effect. Coagulation protein concentrations including tissue factor (TF), thrombin/antithrombin III complex (TAT), and prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F₁₊₂) were assayed. The time to clot onset was measured by force onset time (FOT). Platelet contractile force (PCF) measured the force produced by platelets during clot retraction, whereas clot rigidity was measured as clot elastic modulus (CEM). FOT, CEM, and PCF were measured by Hemodyne. Both groups had upregulation of the TF pathway, as TF, TAT, and F₁₊₂ levels were similarly increased over baseline levels. Hemodialysis patients with frequent AVG clotting had higher levels of both PCF and CEM compared with nonclotters. Additionally, the frequent clotters had a lower FOT relative to nonclotters, although both were considered in the normal range. Our study suggests that HD patients with recurrent AVG thrombotic events form clots with higher tensile strength compared with HD patients without recurrent graft thrombosis.     

Spanish experience in education and training in radiation protection in medicine

In most of its publications, the International Commission on Radiological Protection has highlighted the importance of education and training in radiation protection (RP) for medical exposures. Spain, like other Member States of the European Union, has implemented the Directive and the Guidelines in the medical area. The purpose of this paper is to present the Spanish experience in RP education and training in medicine, the different objectives established according to professional levels, existing regulations and feedback obtained from various RP actions.     

Progress in standard classification in Russia

A revised classification is considered for standards and metrological terms. There is a brief survey of the history of terms.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 3–5, October, 1994.     

沈阳市采标工作经验谈

一、采标工作的主要经验做法和取得的成绩（一）领导重视，机构健全是采标工作的有力组织保证沈阳市在消灭无标生产工作中，先后成立了区、县人民政府消灭无标生产工作领导小组，消灭无标生产工作阶段性完成后，根据国家质检总局要求相继改为标准化工作领导小组，领导小组由主管区长挂帅，各职能部门主要领导参加，为采标工作的开展提供了坚实的组织保证，并纷纷出台了一些保障措施。围绕实施名牌产品战略，市政府明确要求，在评选名牌产品时，产品必须首先采标，然后方可有资格参加名牌产品的评选。我们坚持对申报评选的产品进行跟踪，能够…     

Flow-Induced Instabilities in Pump-Turbines in China

The stability of pump-turbines is of great importance to the operation of pumped storage power (PSP) stations. Both hydraulic instabilities and operational instabilities have been reported in PSP stations in China. In order to provide a reference to the engineers and scientists working on pump-turbines, this paper summarizes the hydraulic instabilities and performance characteristics that promote the operational instabilities encountered in pump-turbine operations in China. Definitions, analytical methods, numerical and experimental studies, and main results are clarified. Precautions and countermeasures are also provided based on a literature review. The gaps between present studies and the need for engineering practice are pointed out.     

Mass-transfer effect in vaporiztion in vacuum

The results of theoretical and experimental investigation of mass transfer in the case of vaporization in vacuum from a point source onto a substrate of arbitrary form are given.     

Occupational exposure in Portugal in 1999

This study reports the occupational radiation doses for external exposure received in 1999 by the radiation workers monitored by the Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety Department (DPRSN) in Portugal. Occupational exposures arise from conventional industry, research laboratories, the health or medical sector, and mining. There are no nuclear power plants in the country. There are two dosimetry systems running simultaneously at DPRSN, one based on film dosimetry and the other on thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD). In 1999, 8400 persons were monitored, 3100 with film and 5300 with TLD and the data presented in this report were obtained by using both technologies. The annual mean effective doses received from external radiation in the different fields of activity and the distribution of the annual effective dose by dose intervals are presented. The collective annual dose by field of activity is estimated and the contribution to the total annual collective dose is determined.