Results of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Triple Oxygen Isotope analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) studies are presented for stone fragments recovered from the North Central Province of Sri Lanka following a witnessed fireball event on 29 December 2012. The existence of numerous nitrogen depleted highly carbonaceous fossilized biological structures fused into the rock matrix is...

Microstructural characterization of plutonium by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) has been previously elusive primarily because of the extreme toxicity and surface oxidation rates associated with plutonium metal. In this work, initial electron backscattered diffraction pattern (EBSP) observations of a plutonium-gallium (Pu-Ga) alloy were made. Samples were prepared using standard metal...

Trimming procedures are an important part of the sequence analysis pipeline in an EST Sequencing Project. In general, trimming is done in several phases, each one detecting and removing some kind of undesirable artifact, such as low quality sequence, vectors or adapters sequence, and contamination. However, this strategy often results in a phase being unable to recognize its target because part...

background central dialysate fluid delivery systems (cdds) are used by dialysis centers in japan, and although these systems are effective at delivering dialysate, they have a complex piping network with numerous sites where contamination can develop. in japan, cleaning disinfectants have been clinically evaluated based on endotoxin levels and bacterial counts, but there have been no published ...

The 1986 Chernobyl fallout had dramatic consequences for traditional reindeer husbandry in central and southern Norway, and also for many farmers in these areas. In end July 1986 the Government therefore passed a principal resolution stating that every producer should be economically compensated for all losses due to measures introduced by the authorities because of the Chernobyl deposition. By...

Trace element concentrations in blood plasma or serum have been assayed by numerous investigators using a variety of analytical techniques. For several elements, figures obtained in different centers are widely disparate. Impressive evidence has accumulated that a great deal of the inconsistencies should be ascribed to unsuspected contamination of the samples with exogenous material during thei...

Different definitions of risk too easily lead to differences in the type and level of risk accepted by varying stakeholders involved in the remediation process and redevelopment of contaminated sites as a whole. This can be rooted in the way risk information is interpreted and evaluated: technical risk definitions are largely evidential and based on engineering or technical contents, whereas so...

Alkylphenol polyethoxylate (APEO) derivatives, such as nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NP1EO), nonylphenol diethoxylate (NP2EO), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), have been detected in the surface water, sediment, food and groundwater of numerous countries. Because groundwater is the main source of water for pig herds, the aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of APEO derivatives...

After preliminary tests indicated an increased number of heterotrophic bacteria, we investigated possible sources of contamination in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) water distribution system. Scanning electron microscopic examination of flexible metallic hoses associated with the system revealed the presence of a biofilm; partial 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that the biofilm contained Bl...

We investigated the amplification and purification of phage preparations with respect to titer, contamination level, stability, and technical affordability. Using various production systems (wave bags, stirred-tank reactors, and Erlenmeyer flasks), we obtained peak titers of 10(9) to 10(10) PFU/ml for T4-like coliphages. Phage lysates could be sterilized through 0.22-μm membrane filters without...