Brominated flame retardants in archived serum samples from Norway: a study on temporal trends and the role of age

The temporal trends and influence of age and gender on levels of selected brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in human serum have been assessed by analyzing archived samples from Norway. Serum from 40 to 50 year old men collected at six time periods during 1977 to 1999 and from eight groups of differing age and gender sampled in 1998 were pooled into six and eight samples, respectively. The BFRs were isolated using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and the serum lipids decomposed bytreatmentwith concentrated sulfuric acid directly on the polystyrene-divinylbenzene SPE column, prior to elution of the BFRs. Following diazomethane derivatization, the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron capture mass spectrometry. Eight BFRs were quantified in the serum samples: 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE-28), 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), 2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99), 2,2',4,4',6-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-100), 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153), 2,2',4,4',5,6'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-154), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TriBP), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A). The serum concentrations of all the BFRs, increased during the entire period with the exception of TriBP, and the sum of the six polybrominated diphenyl ethers increased from 0.44 ng/g lipids in 1977 to 3.3 ng/g lipids in 1999. The BFR concentrations in the serum from the different age groups were relatively similar, except for the age group 0-4 years, which had 1.6-3.5 times higher serum concentrations. Women older than 25 years had lower serum concentrations of BFRs compared to the corresponding group of men. No trend related to age or gender, nor time during the period 1977 to 1999 was observed for TriBP. The present study indicates an ongoing increase in human exposure to BFRs, and the current body burden appears to be independent of age, except for infants (0-4 years old), who seem to experience elevated exposure.     

Comparison of the wound-activated transformation of caulerpenyne by invasive and noninvasive Caulerpa species of the Mediterranean

The invasive green alga, Caulerpa taxifolia, that has spread rapidly after its introduction into the Mediterranean and the North American Pacific, reacts to wounding by transforming its major metabolite caulerpenyne (1). This wound-activated reaction involves the transformation of the bis-enol acetate moiety of 1, releasing reactive 1,4-dialdehydes. The ability to perform this transformation is found also in both the noninvasive Mediterranean C. prolifera and the invasive C. racemosa. Trapping experiments, as well as transformation of the model substrate geranyl acetate, suggest that all three investigated Caulerpa spp. rely on esterases that act upon wounding of the algae by subsequently removing the three acetate residues of caulerpenyne. The resulting reactive 1,4-dialdehyde oxytoxin 2 (9) can be identified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and is unstable in the wounded tissue. Caulerpenyne transformation occurs rapidly, and severe tissue damage caused degradation of more than 50% of the stored caulerpenyne within 1 min in all three algae. Prevention of the enzymatic reaction before extraction, by shock freezing the tissue with liquid nitrogen, was used for the determination of the caulerpenyne content in intact algae. It gives about twofold higher values compared to an established methanol extraction protocol. The speed and mechanism of the wound-activated transformation, as well as the caulerpenyne content in intact tissue of invasive and noninvasive Caulerpa spp., are comparable. Thus, this enzymatic , transformation, despite being fast and efficient, is likely not the key for the success of the investigated invasive species.     

Vector Image Segmentation by Piecewise Continuous Approximation

In this article we present an approach to the segmentation problem by a piecewise approximation of the given image with continuous functions. Unlike the common approach of Mumford and Shah in our formulation of the problem the number of segments is a parameter, which can be estimated. The problem can be stated as: Compute the optimal segmentation with a fixed number of segments, then reduce the number of segments until the segmentation result fulfills a given suitability. This merging algorithm results in a multi-objective optimization, which is not only resolved by a linear combination of the contradicting error functions. To constrain the problem we use a finite dimensional vector space of functions in our approximation and we restrict the shape of the segments. Our approach results in a multi-objective optimization: On the one hand the number of segments is to be minimized, on the other hand the approximation error should also be kept minimal. The approach is sound theoretically and practically: We show that for L ²-images a Pareto-optimal solution exists and can be computed for the discretization of the image efficiently.     

Algebras of modal operators and partial correctness

Modal Kleene algebras are Kleene algebras enriched by forward and backward box and diamond operators. We formalise the symmetries of these operators as Galois connections, complementarities and dualities. We study their properties in the associated operator algebras and show that the axioms of relation algebra are theorems at the operator level. Modal Kleene algebras provide a unifying semantics for various program calculi and enhance efficient cross-theory reasoning in this class, often in a very concise pointfree style. This claim is supported by novel algebraic soundness and completeness proofs for Hoare logic and by connecting this formalism with an algebraic decision procedure.     

Simulation of melt jet breakup and debris bed formation in water pools with IKEJET/IKEMIX

The objective of the development of the code system KESS is simulating the processes of core melting, relocation of core material to the lower head of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and its further heatup, modelling of fission product release and coolability of the core material. In the scope of the code development, IKEJET and IKEMIX were designed as key models for the breakup of a molten jet falling into a water pool, cooling of fragments and the formation of particulate debris beds. Calculations were performed with these codes, simulating FARO corium quenching experiments at saturated (L-28) and subcooled (L-31) conditions, as well as PREMIX experiments, e.g. PM-16. With the assumption of a reduced interfacial friction between water and steam as compared to usually applied laws, the melt breakup, energy release from the melt and pressurisation of the vessel observed in the experiments are reproduced with a reasonable accuracy. The model is further applied to reactor conditions, calculating the relocation of a mass of corium of 30 t into the lower plenum, its fragmentation and the formation of a particle bed.     

Abstract abstract reduction

We propose novel algebraic proof techniques for rewrite systems. Church–Rosser theorems and further fundamental statements that do not mention termination are proved in Kleene algebra. Certain reduction and transformation theorems for termination that depend on abstract commutation, cooperation or simulation properties are proved in an extension with infinite iteration. Benefits of the algebraic approach are simple concise calculational proofs by equational reasoning, connection with automata-based decision procedures and a natural formal semantics for rewriting diagrams. It is therefore especially suited for mechanization and automation.     

NQR on Gallium Single Crystals for Absolute Thermometry at Very Low Temperatures

It is shown that NMR/NQR-thermometry on Ga single crystals can serve the need of absolute thermometry in a temperature range from below 20 K to above 1 mK. Thus, the sensitive range includes all phase transition temperatures around 1 mK of solid and fluid ³ He, a necessity for an extension of the ³ He-melting-pressure temperature scale towards lower temperatures. The experiments were performed in magnetic fields of 50 to 200 mT and at temperatures down to 200 K using single rf-pulses. Special care was taken for the orientation of the magnetic field with respect to crystal orientation which was obtained by in-situ pulsed NMR-experiments. It has been shown that in the investigated parameter range nonlinear effects in NMR due to high spin alignment had no significant influence. In pulsed NMR as well as in specific heat experiments it could be shown that spin-spin interactions are only weak in Ga and do not influence nuclear paramagnetism, at least at temperatures above 100 K. The advantages of using Ga instead other elements for population difference thermometry are discussed.     

Identifying clinical syndromes in a community sample of elderly persons.

By a strategy suggested by E. H. Uhlenhuth et al (1983), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) referenced syndrome classifications were derived on the basis of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist—42 scores of 1,131 elderly community residents. Overall syndrome prevalence rates were consistent with other epidemiologic data: 3.9% for depression, 1.0% for agoraphobia-panic, 2.6% for other phobia, and 6.9% for anxiety. Prevalence rates reflected expected sex differences and showed an age trend for other phobias. Considerable comorbidity among syndromes was observed. The association of the syndromes with patterns of psychosocial risk factors, prior diagnoses, and medication suggests that some but not all of the identified syndromes reflect clinically relevant classifications. If further developed, syndrome classifications based on self-report scales can provide inexpensive and clinically relevant measures of caseness. Required refinements of this approach are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Combined cathodoluminescence and X-ray analysis of paint pigments

The suitability of cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements for differentiating between different paint pigments is demonstrated with an example of a combined energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and CL analysis of different zinc oxide (ZnO) pigments in a paint fragment where the EDX spectra are virtually identical, but where the CL spectra show significant differences. Consequently, it is possible to distinguish different pigments on the basis of CL spectra and monochromatic CL micrographs.