Search

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being established to protect and rebuild coastal and marine ecosystems. However, while the high seas are increasingly subject to exploitation, globally few MPAs exist in areas beyond national jurisdiction. In 2010 a substantial step forward was made in the protection of high seas ecosystems with 286,200 km 2 of the North-East Atlantic established as six MPAs. Here a summary is presented of how the world's first network of high seas marine protected areas was created under the OSPAR Convention, the main challenges and a series of key lessons learned, aiming to highlight approaches that also may be effective for similar efforts in the future. It is concluded that the designation of these six MPAs is just the start of the process and to achieve ecological coherence and representativity in the North-East Atlantic, the network will have to be complemented over time by additional MPA sites.

The 2005 EPA greenhouse gas emissions inventory estimates that in 2003 total U.S. greenhouse gases were 6900.2 Tg CO 2 Eq. of which 486.4 Tg CO2 Eq. was from agriculture . The contribution of greenhouse gases from agriculture was estimated to be 7.0% of the total emissions. Using the same methodology, EPA estimated that 1990 contributions from agriculture were 418.4 Tg CO 2 Eq. In EPA estimates, contributors to the inventory include methane from enteric fermentation and manure management, and N 2 O from manure management and agricultural soils management. The category agricultural soils management includes N 2 O emissions from pasture, range and paddock distribution, synthetic fertilizer use, sewage sludge application, and some other cropping practices. Other contributors to the agriculture sector include livestock facility fuel and power associated emissions, as well as fuel-CO 2 and N 2 O from growth and processing of the crops consumed by livestock. To date, these other contributions are not separately identified by economic sector in any available U.S. inventory. Adding the categories currently unaccounted for into the agricultural inventory would be expected to increase the total from 486.4 to approximately 670 Tg CO 2 Eq. and the livestock sector contribution could reach approximately 380 Tg/year CO 2 Eq.

The authors' adaptive resampling approach surpasses previous decision-tree performance and validates the effectiveness of small, pooled local dictionaries. They demonstrate their approach using the Reuters-21578 benchmark data and a real-world customer E-mail routing system.

Summary The physiological effect on the equine respiratory tract of recycled phone book paper vs. sawdust bedding was investigated in 12 mares with no clinical signs of respiratory disease. Mares were housed in a 20-stall barn and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (Group 1=sawdust; Group 2=phone book paper) for 14 days. After a 14-day turnout, Group 1 was assigned to phone book paper and Group 2 was assigned to sawdust for 14 days using a crossover experimental design. Endoscopic examinations of the upper respiratory tract and trachea along with tracheal washes (TW) were performed on days 0 and 14 of each trial. Cytologic examinations were performed on TW samples. Cell type and laboratory interpretation of TW samples were noted. There was no difference (P>0.05) in cell type between treatment groups within or across trials. Laboratory interpretation indicated no abnormalities in 30 of 48 TW samples. Stall conditions were visually rated and graded daily for drinking water cleanliness, depth of bedding and absorbency, overall cleanliness, ammonia odor, and aerial ammonia levels. The phone book paper bedding was more absorbent (P

Agricultural crop and animal production systems are important sources and sinks for atmospheric methane (CH4). The major CH4 sources from this sector are ruminant animals, flooded rice fields, animal waste and biomass burning which total about one third of all global emissions. This paper discusses the factors that influence CH4 production and emission from these sources and the aerobic soil sink for atmospheric CH4 and assesses the magnitude of each source. Potential methods of mitigating CH4 emissions from the major sources could lead to improved crop and animal productivity. The global impact of using the mitigation options suggested could potentially decrease agricultural CH4 emissions by about 30%.

The River and Flood Program in the National Weather Service, in its mission to save lives and property, has the responsibility to gather hydrologic data from a variety of sources and to assemble the data to make timely and reliable hydrologic forecasts. The intent of this paper, the second in a series of three, is to present an overview of the operational responsibilities of the River and Flood Program: how data are collected, what models-systems are currently in operation to process the data, and how the application of these procedures and techniques are applied in different types of hydrologic forecasting.

A VLSI implementation of an artificial neural network using a single n-channel MOS (metal-oxide semiconductor) transistor per synapse is investigated. The simplicity of the design is achieved by using pulse width modulation to represent neural activity and by using a novel technique to manipulate negative weights. A simple multilayer perceptron (MLP) network was simulated using the SPICE circuit simulator and the performance of a hardware realization of the same MLP network was measured. Simulations and measurements are shown to agree well. >

Fundamentally, buildings are simple things. Its basic purpose is to provide shelter. Initially, caves, cow hides for tents, hay for roofs, and mud for walls fulfilled this function. As life became more complex, beyond looking for the next meal, buildings followed suit. Historically, humanity has evolved from utilizing natural materials and living with the inherent limitations of these materials to integrating manufactured products limited only by the imagination of the designer. But if form truly “follows function”1 there is possibly no more of a complex and critical function than that of our critical care medical facilities. These functions are so critical that, for the most part, a team of specialists is required to provide a fully operational facility. The realization of a building from a building program (written statement of need) into a three dimensional form is typically “chaired” by the architect who similarly employs the talents of various engineers and other specialists. All of this talent demands, and deserves, a fee structure higher than what is typically seen for office and other commercial buildings. Yet, even with the skill levels in place to bring such a complex environment together, flawed and defective buildings are designed and constructed. The ramifications of unsuccessful hospitals impact the very purpose of its mission and impose unnecessary burden on staff and management, but more significantly: Defective Buildings shorten the life of buildings and defective critical care medical buildings present serious health and safety risks to patients and staff.

Poor quality diets of ruminant farm animals in developing countries lead to relatively large emissions of methane (a gas implicated in global climate change) per unit of useful animal product. Production of high quality feed requires intensive agronomic practices that result in increased emission of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which also contribute to global climate change. Focusing on India, we estimate that improved diets could reduce by one-third greenhouse gas production (expressed as CO2 equivalents) per kg of milk. On the other hand, replacement of bullocks with tractors is projected to result in a greater than two-fold increase in CO2 equivalents.

A pulsed power supply is being designed to deliver 5 MJ at 1 MA at 1 shot per second to a railgun. The supply stores energy at low current in the primary of a hydrogen-cooled transformer. A switch opens the primary circuit to transfer energy to the secondary, stepping the current up to 1 MA. The relationship between the transformer and switch is being studied to determine how the total power supply mass can be minimized. Vacuum interrupters and gate-turn-off (GTO) thyristors are used in the switch. Switch mass dominates the system, accounting for 85% of the total mass. The switch must absorb the uncoupled energy of the transformer. Low transformer coupling requires large capacitors. Even with high coupling, capacitors account for 75 to 85% of the switch mass. If transformer coupling increases, the uncoupled energy decreases, resulting in lower capacitor mass. At high transformer coupling, switch mass also depends on the turns ratio of the transformer. At lower turns ratio, a lower voltage is placed across the switch capacitors. Lighter capacitors can be used, reducing system mass. The combined transformer and switch (system) mass is minimized when transformer coupling is 0.97 to 0.99 and the turns ratio is as low as possible. >

Two possible switches topologies used to switch the primary of an energy storage transformer are compared. A series-connected semiconductor/vacuum interrupter switch and an all-solid-state switch are sized for a 5 MJ energy storage transformer. Gate-turn-off (GTO) thyristors are used as the semiconductor switches. Total mass estimates, operating characteristics, and applicability to a space-based pulsed power system are discussed. Both designs store the commutation energy in capacitors. The communication energy is then dissipated in resistors after switching has occurred. The capacitor mass is shown to dominate the total switch mass. Therefore, the mass of both switches is approximately equal. The advantages of the all-solid-state switch include high reliability, no moving parts, proven design, and a high probability of future mass reduction with new semiconductor device developments. The all-solid-state switch has a higher on-state power dissipation than the vacuum interpreter switch. it is suggested that the advantages of the all-solid-state switch outweigh the disadvantages of the higher power dissipation. >

Results of modeling with the 3-D STRUCT and MARS 15 codes of beam loss localization and related radiation effects are presented for the slipstacking injection to the Fermilab Main Injector. Simulations of proton beam loss are done using multi-turn tracking with realistic accelerator apertures, nonlinear fields in the accelerator magnets and time function of the RF manipulations to explain the results of beam loss measurements. The collimation system consists of one primary and four secondary collimators. It intercepts a beam power of 1.6 kW at a scraping rate of 5% of 5.5E+13 ppp, with a beam loss rate in the ring outside the collimation region of 1 W/m or less. Based on thorough energy deposition and radiation modeling, a corresponding collimator design was developed that satisfies all the radiation and engineering constraints.

To maximize the tune space due to momentum spread, an operating point close to the coupling resonance line is desirable. This requires a knowledge of all the coupling sources in the Recycler and a correction system capable of global decoupling to the desired level. We report on the efforts to identify major sources of coupling and verification of the integrity of the powered skew quad circuits used for global decoupling

Round-trip beam transfers between the Fermilab Main Injector and Recycler (antiproton accumulator) have been plagued by an emittance dilution of about a factor of 2 with corresponding beam loss. The source of the large dilution was traced to two Ti vacuum windows, one installed in each of the two transfer lines that connect the machines for beam injection/extraction. The dilution can be accounted for by calculating the increase in beam divergence due to multiple scattering in the windows followed by an amplitude mismatch that serves to further enhance the instantaneous dilution immediately downstream of the window. This work presents the analytical basis for the phase-space, or emittance, dilution due to the window, the subsequent optics mismatch, and then presents an analysis of beamline measurements that evidences the effect and validates the analytical argument. The data showed a strong skew quadrupole component in the transfer line optics that initially complicated the analysis, but was effectively eliminated in some of the data samples acquired under specific beam conditions.

The performance, in-system reprogrammability, flexibility, and reduced costs of SRAM-based FPGAs make them very interesting for high-speed, on-orbit data processing, but, because the current generation of radiation-tolerant SRAM-based FPGAs are derived directly from COTS versions of the chips, several issues must be dealt with for space, including SEU sensitivities, power consumption, thermal problems, and support logic. This paper will discuss Los Alamos National Laboratory's approach to using the Xilinx XQVR1000 FPGAs for on-orbit processing in the Cibola Flight Experiment (CFE) as well as the possibilities and challenges of using newer, system-on-a-reprogrammable-chip FPGAs, such as Virtex I1 Pro, in space-based reconfigurable computing. The reconfigurable computing payload for CFE includes three processing boards, each having three radiation-tolerant Xilinx XQVRl 000 FPGAs. The reconfigurable computing architecture for this project is intended for in-flight, real-time processing of two radio fi-equency channels, each producing 12-bit samples at 100 million samples/second. In this system, SEU disruptions in data path operations can be tolerated while disruptions in the control path are much less tolerable. With this system in mind, LANL has developed an SEU management scheme with strategies for handling upsets in all of the FPGA resources known to be sensitive to radiation-induced SEUs. While mitigation schemes for many resources will be discussed, the paper will concentrate on SEU management strategies and tools developed at LANL for the configuration bitstream and 'half latches'. To understand the behavior of specific designs under SEUs in the configuration bitstream, LANL and Brigham Young University have developed an SEU simulator using ISI's SLAACl-V reconfigurable computing board. The simulator can inject single-bit upsets into a design's configuration bitstream to simulate SEUs and observe how these simulated SEUs affect the design's operation. Using fast partial configuration, the simulator can cover the entire bitstream of a Xilinx XQVRl 000 FPGA, which has 6 million configuration bits, in about 30 minutes. Instead of using a combination of TMR and configuration scrubbing for bitstream SEU mitigation, the approach developed for CFE uses minimal logic redundancy along with an SEU detection and correction scheme to handle bitstream SEUs. Though this approach allows some SEUs to affect less critical user logic, it requires considerably fewer FPGA resources than TMR and allows bitstream SEU rates to be monitored. 'Half latches', another class of SEU sensitive FPGA state elements, are used to provide logic constants in user FPGA designs but are not explicitly controlled by the configuration bitstream. Upsets in half latches cannot be detected by readback nor corrected via configuration repair or scrubbing - only a full reconfiguration can reliably restore their state. We have created a tool, called RadDRC, which can replace all critical half latches with more visible and correctable constant sources. Lastly, in looking forward, this paper will briefly consider the possible benefits and risks of using reconfigurable system-on-a-chip FPGAs, such as the Virtex II Pro, for reconfigurable computing in space. The paper concludes with a summary of challenges for using reconfigurable computing in space and a summary of future research at LANL in this area.

The colliding beams in the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider) must cross at a small angle, so that when the bunches pass each other away from the interaction point (IP), they are sufficiently separated to avoid disruptive beam beam forces. However, the crossing angle is so small that the adjacent quadrupoles must be common to both beams. Only after passing through four common quadrupoles on each side of the IP are the beams split by vertical dipoles into separate beamlines. In order to make the closed orbits of the two beams cross at a definite angle at the IP (within a range up to 150 mu rad), a series of correction dipoles is placed in the insertions. If these dipoles are excited in such a way as to control the closed orbits alone, the dispersion will be mismatched, reaching values of up to 50 cm in the arcs. This mismatch is due to the closed-orbit displacements in the interaction region quadrupoles, causing them to act as bending magnets. Therefore, the closed orbit and dispersion must be matched simultaneously. Solutions to this problem are presented. >

Results of a study made to evaluate the coil-winding aperture needed for the final booster in the injector chain for the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider) are presented. Lattice designs based on 5-cm and 7-cm dipole apertures are evaluated by looking at the long-term dynamic aperture, at injection and the good-field aperture requirement for resonant extraction of high-energy test beams. The 5-cm dipole is found to be marginal, while the 7-cm dipole satisfies field quality criteria for both injection and extraction. >

This paper describes the design of a compact electron synchrotron light source for producing X-rays for medical imaging, protein crystallography, nano-machining and other uses up to 35 keV. The source will provide synchrotron light from six 6.9 tesla superconducting 60/spl deg/ bending magnet stations. In addition the ring, contains conventional quadrupoles and sextupoles. The light source has a circumference of 26 meters, which permits it to be located in a variety of industrial and medical facilities.

To correct field and alignment errors, provide full aperture steering at injection, and control the horizontal orbit in the straight section, a 0.060 T-m and a 0.090 T-m correctors were designed. The two magnets were chosen to have identical lamination cross section and identical coil packages, however the normal low field corrector has no cooling while a water cooled plate is incorporated to the high field one. Diffusion of the heat through the copper conductor, insulations, and magnet steel, with and without plate cooling, was analyzed, and temperatures were estimated. We report in this presentation the calculations of the various magnet parameters, and in particular, the procedure to optimize the temperature of the steel and the temperature of the inner copper coil.

Among the technical difficulties encountered in designing an iron septum magnet, controlling the field quality at the longitudinal extremities of the field-free region is one of the most challenging. Without proper termination, flux jumping between the edge of the field-free region and the opposite pole piece results in a strong dipole kick and undesirable levels of higher order harmonics. The deleterious effects of the fringe field can be mitigated by reducing and channeling the leakage flux. We present 3D calculations and measurements performed on various end configurations for the Fermilab Main Injector iron septum magnets R&D program.

The Recycler Ring Gradient Magnets were designed with end shims which correct the field shape (harmonic components up to 10-pole). A standard correction was employed at one end to correct the average properties. A variable correction was used at the other end to correct individual magnet variations during the fabrication process. An initial Recycler operation revealed that the quadrupole fields did not produce the desired tune. In part, this was due to the sextupole of the end-shim interacting with the curved orbit through the straight magnet. The standard end-shim was replaced on all regular cell gradient magnets. Details of these end corrections and the resulting successful modification of the lattice are described.

The design of the newly installed medium-/spl beta/ insert of the Fermilab Recycler Ring is presented. The design philosophy is outlined. The stringent optical and physical constraints, as well as their influence on the design, are discussed. The impact of the medium-/spl beta/ insert on the Recycler Ring is shown. The engineering design and installation of the new insert is presented.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents mouse models of ascending urinary tract infections (UTI) involving short- and long-term indwelling catheters. This model uses the mouse CBA/J inbred (F200) substrain originating in a cross of a Bagg albino female and a DBA male. Female mice 6–8 weeks of age, 20–22 g, are used. Prior to experimental use, a urine sample is obtained for culture to assure the absence of bacteriuria. During handling of animals, spontaneously voided urine can be obtained. In case of short-term indwelling catheter model, the mice are anesthetized with either methoxyflurane inhalation using an open-drop nose cone or with 50 mg/kg pentobarbital intraperitoneally. A scavenging fume hood is used while anesthetizing mice with methoxyflurane. Animals respond to anesthetic within five minutes and remain anesthetized for 20–30 minutes. The anesthetized mouse is placed in a supine position and the periurethral area is swabbed with povidone iodine solution, which is rinsed off with sterile water. The 25-mm-long catheter is advanced along the stylet to push the 4-mm-long segments off the stylet and into the bladder. In the long-term model, a single 4-mm-long catheter is secured by a single suture within the bladder lumen. While the mice are still anesthetized, the mouse abdomen is disinfected with povidone iodine and alcohol scrub and the bladder is exposed by a midline abdominal incision. The UTI is then documented by using quantitative cultures of bladder and kidney homogenates and light-microscopic examination of sections of bladder and kidney to assess histologic changes. The models are useful in assessing the effect of an indwelling bladder catheter on microorganism uropathogenicity; efficacy of antimicrobial therapy; attachment patterns of uropathogens to uroepithelial cells; and host response to infection including changes in antibacterial leukocyte function, host inflammatory response, and specific antibody responses.

Abstract This paper demonstrates our methodology and capabilities for effective on-site real-time analysis, re-design and execution of hydraulic fracturing treatments. This unique technology has been developed over many years of research and development, sponsored primarily by the Gas Research Institute (GRI). Ten years of field implementation in the stimulation of gas- and oilwell production have led to conclusions and recommendations which involve major changes from conventional concepts about hydraulic fracturing. Most of our recommendations are relatively simple, low-cost procedures for adequate data collection, such as the use of flow-rate changes and/or multiple injection/shut-in cycles for stringent model evaluation of recorded data. Proper implementation of our recommendations is demonstrated by a case study in a commercial field situation, where the fracture treatment was drastically redesigned as a result of on-site analysis, and executed on the same day. This job showed that treatment cost/benefit optimization can be achieved by careful on-site analysis and more flexible field execution schedules. Introduction Many man-years have been invested in theoretical and laboratory investigations of hydraulic fracturing, as well as in R and D and commercial field efforts aimed toward advancing the technology. These efforts have led to a number of conclusions and recommendations, and they have also produced a unique technology (i.e., the Gas Research Institute fracture simulator, a true 3-D, real-data, real-time hydraulic-fracture simulator for design and analysis) that has made significant benefits and cost savings possible for many users on both oil and gas applications, even without on-site implementation. R and D efforts have included the analysis of many fracturing jobs, including those pumped as part of experimental investigations, and also many "routine" commercial fracture treatments. Our conclusions from such data analysis have included: shorter, wider fractures than those predicted by other simulators, which do not consistently match measured pressures; frequent occurrence of a significant level of near-wellbore friction, due to near-wellbore fracture tortuosity, which must be subtracted from measured (downhole) pressure data for correct interpretation; relative insensitivity of fracture width to frac-fluid rheology; and dangerously fast convection (versus settlement) of proppant in imperfectly-contained fractures. We have recommended that many of the existing approaches to fracture design and execution be reconsidered. We have also demonstrated, with numerous case studies, that a higher degree of treatment optimization can be achieved by more careful on-site analysis; our approach is to arrive at the optimum fracture-treatment design by making use of flexible field operations, and real-time, real-data analyses of suitably-designed tests with an appropriate engineering-oriented software package, incorporating at least a realistic reservoir/fracture simulator interfaced to data-acquisition. Our normal requirement is to match measured net fracture pressure (on-site, real-time), on carefully designed minifracs with the GRI simulator, then continuously redesign the main frac as needed, e.g. to achieve pack-off, understanding that details may change as larger injection volumes experience new reservoir conditions. The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple description and a unique case study illustrating our approach to on-site fracture redesign, and to document some primary conclusions and recommendations (App. 1), as well as benefits and cost-savings (App. 2) which our GRI/industry co-operative efforts have generated. P. 725^

Prior work has shown that PVDF shock sensors fabricated using the Bauer process have highly reproducible dynamic response. Studies conducted in different laboratories, under controlled impact loading, have shown reproducible responses to shock levels of 10 GPa. These PVDF shock sensors have been successfully utilized in pulsed laser and ion beam material response experiments to study material/radiation interactions adjacent to the energy deposition zone. Today large pulsed power accelerators are available that can produce intense (10s of kJ), short pulse (10-20 ns) line radiation (1-7 keV) from hot plasmas. The Bauer PVDF shock sensor has been used to diagnose material shock and impulse responses resulting from the hot plasma line radiation. Results for long (50 μs) time recording gauges are presented, with a discussion of instrumentation required to record in the intense radiation environment.

We have developed and demonstrated a novel method of commutating direct current out of a standard vacuum interrupter. The technique uses a high-current, gate-turn-off thyristor in series with the interrupter to extinguish the arc and allow the interrupter to clear. The commutation method has been used to design and fabricate a continuous duty switch that will switch off 1000 A in 100µs and develop 25 kV at a repetition rate of 5 Hz. We have completed preliminary tests and present the important design relationships and test data in this paper.

The MAPPS (MegAmpere Pulsed Power Supply) demonstration tests are described, and the results are reviewed. The observed limits to the switch performance and methods to improve performance are discussed. Testing of the 100 kA demonstrator was completed in July 1986. The measured transformer coupling during operation was 0.99. The switch successfully interrupted 460 A and developed 7.5 kV at five commutations per second. Leakage current through the gate-turn-off thyristor prevented the switch from reaching the 1000 A design goal. The switch performed well up to 460 A, commutating current 290 times during testing. Results indicate that energy storage transformers provide a method to store energy at low currents so that high-purity aluminium or superconducting conductors can be used. >

We have evaluated the serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen in patients with adenocarcinoma of the kidney, adenocarcinoma of the prostate, germ cell tumors of the testis, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and SCC of the penis, urethra, and bladder. Serum SCC antigen levels were elevated in 5 of 11 patients (45%) with metastatic SCC of the penis, and in the 3 patients for whom serial determinations were made, the serum levels correlated correctly with the progression of disease or response to treatment. The antigen was elevated in 1 of 3 patients with SCC of the urethra, and 1 apparent false-positive value was observed in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Otherwise, no SCC antigen elevations were noted among 10 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate, 8 with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the kidney, 11 with metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, 8 with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis, and 2 patients with metastatic SCC of the bladder

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has advanced engineering controls over administrative controls and protective equipment to reduce exposures to chemicals in the workplace. The application of employee training and motivation programs (such as job safety analysis) to reduce exposures to chemicals has not been emphasized. To determine the effectiveness of such programs, a pilot project in an alkyl lead production facility was conducted with 35 employees in an effort to reduce exposures to organic and inorganic lead. Results after 12 months show a 40% reduction in lead-in-urine and a 24% reduction in lead-in-blood, both indicators of total exposure to organic and inorganic lead.

Liberal development policies for rural areas, aimed at improving economic conditions and helping corporations find more profitable production sites, are found to fit the traditional role of intervention by government to encourage private investment in underdeveloped areas. Two strategies used in Wisconsin are analyzed to determine the level of community support and compare the social and intellectual support for growth centers of community elites with non-elites. Results indicate the general public does not support the concept of planned growth centers, with primary opposition coming from professional and farm groups rather than the ''traditionalism'' that is often used to characterize the area. Those favoring growth-center policies are primarily elites, who tend to limit their support to development of their own community. Elites also favor consolidating community and county delivery of services. Data for the study consisted of 231 personal interviews with leaders of 32 small- and mid-size communities. Their responses were then compared with a random sampling of non-elites. 27 references. (DCK)

An inexpensive, e8siiy constructed b8hnce ~8s mrdc to measure pi8nt phytom8ss from clipped qu8dnts. It c8n be f8brhted from m8terhls gener8Uy 8v8hbie in developing countries 8nd, within the designed rmge, it is 8ccunte enough to provide reli8bie estimites of standing crop. Since b8i8acee 8re easily md inexpensively constructed they c8n be m8de in qu8ntity urd distributed to ioc8i extension 8gents urd f8rmers.