Developments in high-resolution positron emission tomography at MGH

The development of high resolution PET systems is important for the wider application of this techniques. The resolution of PET is limited by a number of physical factors such as positron range, small angle deviation, and sampling frequency. The design of the detector array and its sensitivity remain critical factors; designs incorporating analog coding have proven to be useful. PCR-I, a single plane PET system, has demonstrated the concept and has produced useful images in animal studies. PCR-II will extend the concept to a two dimensional detector array resulting in a system with high resolution and high sensitivity.     

Analysis of a centered-inclined waveguide slot coupler

Integral equations are developed for a centered-inclined coupling slot (including the effect of finite wall-thickness of the common broad-wall) and the slot-aperture electric intensity field is found using the method of moments. Numerical results for resonant length, backscattered wave amplitude, and phase variation off-resonance are presented over a range of values of the waveguide b dimension, wall thickness, slot width, and frequency. It is shown that the resonant length is relatively insensitive to slot tilt, &thetas;, for a standard-height X-band waveguide, whereas its dependence on &thetas; is significant for reduced-height waveguides. The phase variation of scattered TE₁₀ waves in both waveguides off-resonance is less for wider slots and smaller b dimensions. Shunt-series coupling slots exhibit greater phase variation off resonance when compared to a centred-inclined coupling slot. Also, the former has a longer resonant length for a smaller b dimension and for a wider slot. Thus the centred-inclined slot coupler possesses superior characteristics. The higher-order mode coupling between a centred-inclined slot coupler and a pair of straddling radiating slots in the branch waveguide is significant     

Excited state absorption of pump radiation as a loss mechanism insolid-state lasers

The characteristics of optical pumping dynamics in laser-pumped, rare-earth-doped, solid-state laser materials are investigated by using a tunable alexandrite laser to pump Y₃Al₅O₁₂ :Nd³⁺ in an optical cavity. It is found that the slope efficiency of the Nd laser operation depends strongly on the wavelength of the pump laser. For pump wavelengths resulting in low slope efficiencies, intense fluorescence emission is observed from the sample in the blue-green spectral region. This is attributed to the excited-state absorption of pump photons which occurs during radiationless relaxation from the pump band to the metastable state. This type of process is an important loss mechanism for monochromatic pumping of laser systems at specific pump wavelengths     

The amylose and lipid contents,dimensions, and gelatinisation characteristics of some wheat starches and their A- and B-granule fractions

Starches isolated from 23 bread wheats (Triticum aestivum) and 26 durum wheats (T. durum) contained 26.3-30.6% (mean 29.1%) total amylose, 19.3–25.1% (mean 22.9%) apparent amylose and 783–1144mg 100g^?1 (mean 977 mg 100g^?1) lysophos-pholipids. Gelatinisation temperatures were 57.3–64.9°C (mean 61.8°C) and enthalpies 6.4–11.8 Jg^?1 (mean 9.7Jg^?1) in excess water, measured by differential scanning calorimetry. There were no correlations between any of these parameters. Starch granule size distributions were determined with a Coulter Counter and 100–channel analyser. A-granule mean volumes were 1235–2585μm³ (av. 1778), modal volumes 863–1804μm³ (av. 1264), mean diameters 13.9–16.0μm (av. 13.99), and specific surface areas 0.236–0.302m²g^?1. B-granule mean volumes were 35.4–100.4μm³ (av. 55.9), modal volumes 16.5–54.5μm³ (av. 27.7), mean diameters 3.66–5.07μm (av. 4.09), and specific surface areas 0.684–0.920m²g^?1. The B-granule contents of the starches were 12.8–34.6% (av. 27.3) by weight (sedimentation method) and 13.0–37.3% (av. 24.0) by volume (Coulter method), the latter being the more accurate method.     

Evaluation of a system of wind tunnels for field studies of ammonia loss from grassland through volatilisation

Rates of ammonia (NH₃) loss from a ryegrass sward measured using a system of small wind tunnels were compared with concurrent measurements made using a micrometeorological mass balance method. Measurements were made during two experiments within a circular plot (radius 10m) treated with urea at a rate of 200kgNha^?1. In the first experiment, air speed through the tunnels was adjusted as necessary to maintain a value of approximately 1ms^?1. This value differed on most occasions from the mean ambient wind speed which was measured at a height of 250mm and which ranged from 0.61 to 2.95ms^?1. Rates of loss measured using the wind tunnels differed by a factor of between two and five from those measured using the mass balance method; there was no consistent pattern in the differences between the rates of loss. The total losses of NH₃ measured during 15 days were equivalent to 49.1 and 30.2kg Nha^?1 for the mass balance and wind tunnel methods, respectively. In the second experiment, air speed through the tunnels was adjusted as necessary to maintain a value as close as possible to the mean ambient wind speed measured at a height of 250mm. Rates of NH₃ loss measured using the two methods did not differ significantly; total losses of NH₃ during 17 days were equivalent to 96.9 and 101kg Nha^?1 for the mass balance and wind tunnel methods, respectively. The difference between the findings of the two experiments could be attributed to the direct effect of air speed through the tunnels rather than to differences between ambient temperatures and those inside the tunnels. During and following periods of rain the rates of loss measured using the tunnels were up to six times greater than those observed with the mass balance method. Rates of loss measured by the two methods became similar again when the tunnels were moved following rain. The study demonstrates that enclosures can be designed and operated to provide reliable measurements of the rate of NH₃ loss from grassland. Potential applications of the two methods are discussed.     

Biocides used in building materials and their leaching behavior to sewer systems.

There is increasing concern about diffuse pollution of aquatic systems by biocides used in urban areas. We investigated sources and pathways of biocides significant for the pollution of storm water runoff. Main sources seem to be building envelopes, i.e. facades (paints, plasters) and roof sealing membranes. First results from a defined urban catchment drained by a separated sewer system without any agricultural activities reveal a substantial occurrence. Even after the first flush, concentrations of terbutryn, carbendazim, mecoprop as well as Irgarol 1051 and its metabolite exceeded the Swiss water quality standard of 0.1 microg/L. In laboratory experiments, leaching of mecoprop used as a root protection agent in bitumen sheets for roof waterproofing was determined. The concentrations differed in 16 different sheets two orders of magnitude, depending on the product composition. Using optimized products, it is expected to be the most efficient and sustainable way to reduce the environmental impact. To understand transport dynamics and environmental risk, further storm water events will be analyzed. Based on the ongoing project URBIC, first measures will be proposed to limit the release to surface and ground water.