New radon and gamma device using TLD and SSNTD to carry out monitoring in the environment

The research program, that we are leading, concerns and takes into consideration the potential risk of the natural and artificial radio-elements in the environment and particularly to consider their migration from environment to the people and with special respect to radon effects. To begin these investigations, we developed a new passive detectors using two solid nuclear track detector techniques: thermo-luminescent detectors (TLDs) (gamma measuring) and solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) (alpha measuring). The characteristics of the cell provide for alpha (SSNTD - LR115) and gamma-radioactivity (TLD-CaSO₄:Dy) measuring in different soil depths. The used technologies are with a low priced. The instrumentation has been first validated in laboratory to quality precisely its response and then, we have performed the survey for one site in Bulgaria.     

The effect of ACC vehicles to mixed traffic flow consisting of manual and ACC vehicles

This paper studies the effect of adaptive cruise control （ACC） system on traffic flow by using simulations. The multiple headway and velocity difference （MHVD） model is used to depict the motion of ACC vehicles, and the simulation results are compared with the optimal velocity （OV） model which is used to depict the motion of manual vehicles. Compared the cases between the manual and the ACC vehicle flow, the fundamental diagram can be classified into four regions： I, II, III, IV. In low and high density the flux of the two models is the same; in region II the free flow region of the MHVD model is enlarged, and the flux of the MHVD model is larger than that of the OV model; in region III serious jams occur in the OV model while the ACC system suppresses the jams in the MHVD model and the traffic flow is in order, but the flux of the OV model is larger than that of the MHVD model. Similar phenomena also appeared in mixed traffic flow which consists of manual and ACC vehicles. The results indicate that ACC vehicles have significant effect on traffic flow. The improvement induced by ACC vehicles decreases with the increasing proportion of ACC vehicles.     

Transplantation of bone-marrow-derived cells into a nerve guide resulted in transdifferentiation into Schwann cells and effective regeneration of transected mouse sciatic nerve

Peripheral nerves possess the capacity of self-regeneration after traumatic injury. Nevertheless, the functional outcome after peripheral-nerve regeneration is often poor, especially if the nerve injuries occur far from their targets. Aiming to optimize axon regeneration, we grafted bone-marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) into a collagen-tube nerve guide after transection of the mouse sciatic nerve. The control group received only the culture medium. Motor function was tested at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery, using the sciatic functional index (SFI), and showed that functional recovery was significantly improved in animals that received the cell grafts. After 6 weeks, the mice were anesthetized, perfused transcardially, and the sciatic nerves were dissected and processed for transmission electron microscopy and light microscopy. The proximal and distal segments of the nerves were compared, to address the question of improvement in growth rate; the results revealed a maintenance and increase of nerve regeneration for both myelinated and non-myelinated fibers in distal segments of the experimental group. Also, quantitative analysis of the distal region of the regenerating nerves showed that the numbers of myelinated fibers, Schwann cells (SCs) and g-ratio were significantly increased in the experimental group compared to the control group. The transdifferentiation of BMDCs into Schwann cells was confirmed by double labeling with S100/and Hoechst staining. Our data suggest that BMDCs transplanted into a nerve guide can differentiate into SCs, and improve the growth rate of nerve fibers and motor function in a transected sciatic-nerve model.     

The contribution of heavy vehicles to urban traffic noise

The dominating influence of road traffic on the noise climate of the world's cities is now established and attempts to reduce the problem follow two main lines: The first involves ameliorating the effects of traffic stream noise; the second an attack on the noise levels of individual vehicles. The great expense involved in developing and building quieter vehicles justifies expending considerable effort in establishing the relative noise contribution of the vehicle types found in typical urban traffic mixtures. This paper describes the development of a field method for examining the effects of heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses on the noise profile of the traffic stream. The essential feature of the method involves synchronisation of a recorded voice commentary with the traffic noise. The graphical record of this noise can then be annotated to show what type of vehicles cause the peaks in the overall noise profile.     

Identification of irradiated crab using EPR

EPR spectroscopy is a fast and powerful technique for the identification of irradiated food. Crab exoskeleton was divided into six parts: dactyl, cheliped, carapace, apron, swimming legs, and walking legs. Samples of the exoskeleton were prepared and irradiated to Cs-137 gamma radiation in the range (1.156–5.365 kGy). EPR spectra of unirradiated as well as irradiated samples were recorded and analyzed. Response to gamma radiation was plotted for each part of the exoskeleton, dactyl was found to be the most sensitive part, followed by the apron (38%), cheliped (37%), walking legs (30%), swimming legs (24%), and carapace (21%) relative to the dactyl response.     

高功率电磁脉冲对无人飞行器的毁伤破坏

高功率电磁脉冲干扰甚至损毁无人飞行器是应对小型无人飞行器威胁的一种非常有效的办法,高功率电磁脉冲对无人机系统进行干扰和毁伤主要通过前门耦合和后门耦合的方式。完成了高功率电磁脉冲对无人飞行器的毁伤破坏实验,完成了无人机在电磁脉冲源毁伤作用下的目标易损性分析,根据毁伤效果将高频电磁脉冲对无人飞行器毁伤等级分为三级,即干扰级、毁伤级、失效级。分析了电磁脉冲作用的主要目标元件,结果表明,无人飞行器最有可能受干扰的部分为接收机和电子调速器。在相关研究和实际应用时,应着重研究电磁脉冲对无人飞行器的接收机和电子调速器的毁伤破坏,根据接收机和电子调速器内部的电路结构来确定毁伤最佳频率。     

Identification of aerosol species using polarization lidar

This paper presents a new approach that has been developed to identify individual aerosol species using polarization lidar measurements. Individual aerosols can be identified based on their distinct ratios of extinction to backscatter, which are related to the depolarization ratio profile. Aerosol backscatter coefficients can be obtained from these ratios. Differential aerosol backscatter coefficients are proportional to the variation of the ratio of extinction to backscatter coefficient, and the coefficients increase, reach a peak value, and then decrease again, with increasing range.     

Determination of the sound power levels emitted by various vehicles using a novel testing method

This paper presents a new and efficient method to determine sound power levels (PWLs). PWLs, generally used for modeling outdoor sound simulations, are obtained from sounds that are emitted by various types of vehicles and cause road traffic noise. Other models, such as HARMONOISE and the ASJ Model, are also based on PWLs. However, a more efficient method is required for determining PWLs from sound pressure levels (SPLs) that typically are measured by field testing and evaluating the influence of different vehicles and road surfaces. The statistical pass-by (SPB) of ISO 11819-1 is used for SPL measurements; however, numerous SPBs must be carried out to reduce measurement uncertainty as well as to satisfy requirements related to meteorological conditions and background noise. In order to alleviate this problem and to make the determination of PWLS more efficient, a testing approach is presented that uses both the novel close proximity (NCPX) method and the pass-by method to determine PWLs.     

Identification of equivalent dynamics using ordinal pattern distributions

The frequency of occurrence of ordinal patterns in an observed (or measured) times series can be used to identify equivalent dynamical system. We demonstrate this approach for system identification and parameter estimation for dynamics that can (at least approximately) be described by one-dimensional iterated maps.     

Identification of cellulose fibres belonging to Spanish cultural heritage using synchrotron high resolution X-ray diffraction

A complete characterisation of fibres used in Spanish artwork is necessary to provide a complete knowledge of these natural fibres and their stage of degradation. Textile samples employed as painting supports on canvas and one sample of unprocessed plant material were chosen for this study. All the samples were investigated by synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD). Flax and cotton have the Cellulose I structure. The values of the crystalline index (CI) were calculated for both types of fibres. The structure of Cellulose IV was associated with the unprocessed plant material. The information obtained by SR-XRD was confirmed by laboratory techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).     

Visualization of collagen regeneration in mouse dorsal skin using second harmonic generation microscopy

The purpose of this study is to highlight a clearer understanding of the process of collagen regeneration during wound healing. By means of second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, the changes of collagen arrangement at the wound margin were analyzed at 0, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13 days post injury. The degree of collagen disorders associated with the healing process was quantitatively obtained using the aspect ratio of polar plot image of collagen azimuthal angles and the healing status of collagen could be estimated by arithmetical mean deviation (Ra) of the collagen SHG images. Our results suggest that SHG microscopy has potential advances in the collagen studies during wound healing and the arrangement of collagen fibers gradually transformed from disorder to order so as to contract the wound. It is capable of promoting clinical application of the noninvasive imaging tool and the analysis methods of collagen disorder as an effective scar management for prevention and treatment about aberrant healing. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2009. The article is published in the original.     

Identification of regeneration-associated genes after central and peripheral nerve injury in the adult rat

Background  

It is well known that neurons of the peripheral nervous system have the capacity to regenerate a severed axon leading to functional recovery, whereas neurons of the central nervous system do not regenerate successfully after injury. The underlying molecular programs initiated by axotomized peripheral and central nervous system neurons are not yet fully understood.     

Dynamical switching of a reaction coordinate to carry the system through to a different product state at high energies

Questions of how the nature of a reaction coordinate that dominates the reaction ceases to exist and whether some new features emerge as an increase of total energy of systems are investigated for many degrees of freedom Hamiltonian systems. As a model system, a hydrogen atom in crossed electric and magnetic fields is scrutinized. It is shown that, when the total energy increases, the reaction coordinate no longer dominates the reaction as did at the lower energies. In turn, a new reaction coordinate emerges, connecting totally different reactant and product states. Furthermore, depending on which parts of the phase space the system traverses through the saddle, the system nonuniformly experiences the switching of the reaction coordinate leading to the different product state. The universal mechanism of the cessation and the switching of the reaction coordinate at high energy regimes above the saddle is investigated.     

Use of nonlinear asymmetrical shock absorber to improve comfort on passenger vehicles

In this study the behaviour of two different types of shock absorbers, symmetrical (linear) and asymmetrical (nonlinear) is compared for use on passenger vehicles. The analyses use different standard road inputs and include variation of the severity parameter, the asymmetry ratio and the velocity of the vehicle. Performance indices and acceleration values are used to assess the efficacy of the asymmetrical systems. The comparisons show that the asymmetrical system, with nonlinear characteristics, tends to have a smoother and more progressive performance, both for vertical and angular movements. The half-car front asymmetrical system was introduced, and the simulation results show that the use of the asymmetrical system only at the front of the vehicle can further diminish the angular oscillations. As lower levels of acceleration are essential for improved ride comfort, the use of asymmetrical systems for vibrations and impact absorption can be a more advantageous choice for passenger vehicles.     

太赫兹成像技术对玉米种子的鉴定和识别

利用太赫兹时域光谱(THz_TDS)测试技术及透射式太赫兹逐点扫描成像技术分别对几种玉米种子DNA和胚的样品进行了光谱和成像测量;利用空间图样成份分析(component spatial pattern analysis)方法对得到的THz像进行识别运算。实验结果表明,几种样品在THz波段都有不同的吸收特性,但都没有明显的吸收峰,不能利用“特征指纹谱”进行识别。用基于THz扫描成像的空间图样成份分析方法能很好地实现不同玉米种子DNA样品的鉴定和识别。与现有的THz图像识别方法相比,这个方法只需要THz像的实验数据和样品的吸收谱信息,不需要样品的其它特征。这项研究为进一步利用THz成像技术实现无损检测、安全检查、质量监测等提供了依据,具有实际应用价值。     

基于傅里叶变换红外光谱的土传真菌分类研究

应用FTIR-ATR光谱技术与多元统计分析相结合的方法对镰刀菌、立枯丝核菌、核盘菌、瓜果腐霉菌和辣椒疫霉菌等重要的土传致病真菌进行鉴别.对测得的FTIR光谱进行了归一化和二阶求导处理,选择了适合于真菌分类识别的14个光谱特征波段.在此基础上,采用典型判别分析和系统聚类分析对不同菌株进行了识别.结果表明,不同菌种间识别准确率达到100%,而镰刀菌种内不同菌株间识别准确率为95.56%,说明傅里叶变换红外光谱技术在植物病原真菌分类识别方面具有较大的应用潜能.