Crude oil spills are a major threat to marine biota and the environment. When light crude oil spills on water, it forms a thin layer that is difficult to clean by any methods of oil spill response. Under these circumstances, a special type of amphiphile termed as "chemical herder" is sprayed onto the water surrounding the spilled oil. The amphiphile forms a monomolecular layer on the water surf...

The tanker Nakhodka oil spill in the Sea of Japan was happened on January 2 1997 and this accident caused serious environmental damages. After the accident, discussions and collaborations involving citizens and government have been started to make significant steps to protect natural environment of river banks, mountains and hills in the vicinity of human residents and these activities seem to ...

The effects of groundwater flow and biodegradation on the long-distance migration of petroleum-derived benzene in oil-bearing sedimentary basins are evaluated. Using an idealized basin representation, a coupled groundwater flow and heat transfer model computes the hydraulic head, stream function, and temperature in the basin. A coupled mass transport model simulates water washing of benzene fro...

This study focuses on the segmentation and characterization of oil slicks on the sea surface from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations. In fact, an increase in viscosity due to oil notably reduces the roughness of the sea surface which plays a major part in the electromagnetic backscattering. So, an oil spill is characterized by low-backscattered energy and appears as a dark patch in a S...

AIM To evaluate and compare the frictional resistance produced by Super Slick modules during sliding with four different types of brackets and four ligature types both in conventional and figure-of-8 ligation method with saliva as lubricant. MATERIALS AND METHODS The frictional resistance was evaluated by using four different ligatures on 0.019" × 0.025" stainless steel (SS) archwires using f...

OBJECTIVE Identifying diabetes complications through screening using portable laboratory equipment in Aboriginal communities, and providing education and client empowerment for improved follow-up care and self-care. PARTICIPANTS First Nations people with known diabetes. SETTING Screening was carried out in temporary clinics and laboratories set up at the local health centre in each of Alber...

The dorsal horn (DH) of the spinal cord is the integrative center that processes and transmits pain sensation. Abnormal changes in ion channel expression can enhance the excitability of pain-related DH neurons. Sodium-activated potassium (KNa) channels are highly expressed particularly in the central nervous system; however, information about whether rat DH neurons express the SLICK channel pro...

The ability to maintain normal temperatures during heat stress is an important attribute for cattle in the subtropics and tropics. Previous studies have shown that Senepol cattle and their crosses with Holstein, Charolais and Angus animals are as heat tolerant as Brahman cattle. This has been attributed to the slick hair coat of Senepol cattle, which is thought to be controlled by a single domi...