Heat transport in dilute mixtures of3He in superfluid4He

We report new measurements of the effective thermal conductivity K_eff and relaxation time τ in dilute mixtures of³He in superfluid⁴He, with molar concentrationsX≤10⁻³. The temperature range extended fromT≈1.4 K toT _λ. Both K_cff and τ are found to agree with theoretical predictions, in contrast to previous experiments where significant differences were observed. A new thermal conductivity cell design was used which almost completely eliminates extraneous volumes and surfaces, and the earlier results are explained in relation to these design changes.     

Biodegradation of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in aquifer columns amended with hydrogen peroxide and nitrate

The ability of indigenous microorganisms to degrade benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in laboratory scale flow-through aquifer columns was tested separately with hydrogen peroxide (110 mg/l) and nitrate (330 mg/l as NO₃⁻) amendments to air-saturated influent nutrient solution. The continuous removal of individual components from all columns relative to the sterile controls provided evidence for biodegradation. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the indigeneous microorganisms degraded benzene and toluene (> 95%), meta- plus para-xylene (80%) and ortho-xylene (70%). Nitrate addition resulted in 90% removal of toluene and 25% removal of ortho-xylene. However, benzene, ethylbenzene, meta- and para-xylene concentrations were not significantly reduced after 42 days of operation. Following this experiment, low dissolved oxygen (< 1 mg/l) conditions were initiated with the nitrate-amended column influent in order to mimic contaminated groundwater conditions distal from a nutrient injection well. Toluene continued to be effectively degraded (> 90%), and more than 25% of the benzene, 40% of the ethylbenzene, 50% of the meta- plus para-xylenes and 60% of the ortho-xylene were removed after several months of operation.     

Acute and chronic fetal hypoxia in monochorionic and dichorionic twins

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk for acute and chronic fetal hypoxia in twin pregnancies. METHODS: We investigated 50 sets of twins (24-38 weeks' gestation, 660-3200 g birth weight) admitted consecutively to our neonatal intensive care unit. Seventy-six infants were appropriate for gestational age (AGA; tenth to 90th percentile), 20 were small for gestational age (SGA; below the tenth percentile), and four were large for gestational age (above the 90th percentile). Twenty-six singleton AGA term newborns served as controls. Umbilical arterial pH was used as a marker for acute and umbilical venous erythropoietin concentration for chronic fetal hypoxia. The results are given as median followed by quartiles. RESULTS: We identified 40 sets of diamniotic-dichorionic twins and ten sets of diamniotic-monochorionic twins with transplacental vascular shunts. In the second-born twin, umbilical arterial pH was lower (7.29, 7.23-7.33) than in the firstborn (7.31, 7.25-7.34) (P = .03), and the incidence of a low pH (less than 7.20) was higher (19 versus 11%). Two second-born twins and none of the firstborn twins had an umbilical arterial pH less than 7.05. In SGA twins, the erythropoietin concentration was elevated (34.8, 22.8-325 mU/mL) compared with that in AGA twins (16.2, 8.2-26.6 mU/mL) (P < .01). In AGA twins, erythropoietin concentration did not differ from that in AGA singleton newborns (19.6, 14.7-31.6 mU/mL). In 12 of 17 twin sets with weight discordancy greater than 15% and in all five twin sets with weight difference greater than 25%, erythropoietin concentration was higher in the smaller twin. The proportion of infants and of complete sets with elevated erythropoietin levels was higher (P < .01) in monochorionic than in dichorionic pregnancies. CONCLUSION: The second-born twin is at increased risk for acute birth asphyxia. Fetal growth restriction in twin pregnancies is associated with chronic fetal hypoxia. Monochorionic twins are at higher risk for chronic fetal hypoxia than are dichorionic twins.     

The on-line texture analysis of steel strips

A new on-line texture-analyzing system and its application to nondestructive r value determination is discussed. In addition to providing a brief theoretical background and describing the instrumental set-up, the article presents off-line measurements with this equipment and demonstrates the high accuracy of the determined r-values. A special feature of the unit is the possibility to simultaneously measure the most important r values—r₀, r₄₅, r₉₀, and r_m.