[en] A liquid-liquid contactor column has a solvent input and an aqueous phase input. Lighter phase liquid is discharged and heavier phase is moved by an air lift to a receiver. The air supply line to the air lift includes valve and a pressure sensing transducer senses pressure in line and sends electric signals to signal processing unit which may for example close down operation of the column, or effect other changes to maintain operating characteristics of the column. The column could be pulsed by means which also send signals to unit, and could deliver to an external settler. (author)

[en] Historical observations of sea surface temperature since 1856 have been improved by applying corrections to compensate for the predominant use of uninsulated or partly insulated buckets until the Second World War. There are large gaps in coverage in the late nineteenth century and around the two world wars, but a range of statistical techniques suggest that these gaps do not severely prejudice estimates of global and regional climatic change. Nonetheless, to improve the analysis on smaller scales, many unused historical data are to be digitized and incorporated. For recent years, satellite-based sea surface temperatures have improved the coverage, after adjustments for their biases relative to in situ data. An initial version of a nominally globally complete sea ice and interpolated sea surface temperature data set, beginning in 1871, has been created for use in numerical simulations of recent climate. Long time series of corrected regional, hemispheric, and global sea surface temperatures are mostly consistent with corresponding night marine air temperature series, and confirm the regionally specific climatic changes portrayed in the Scientific Assessments of the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The observations also show an El Nino-like oscillation on bidecadal and longer time scales

[en] Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the period 1856 to the present have been corrected to compensate for the use of uninsulated buckets prior to the early 1940s. Trends in the corrected SST are consistent with trends in independently corrected nighttime marine air temperatures (NMAT). Global-scale patterns of variation of annual anomalies of SST and NMAT, as revealed by the first three covariance eigenvectors, are also in close agreement. The corrected SST anomalies are also compared with those of nearby coastal and island land air temperatures. Global-scale agreement is good except in the early 20th century when the land data were relatively warm by up to 0.2 C. Proposed causes are the siting of thermometers in open-sided thatched sheds in tropical regions at that time, along with a marked tendency to warm westerly atmospheric circulation over Europe in winter. Combined fields of SST and land air temperature are presented. The relative overall coldness of the late 19th century land air temperatures appears to have arisen from inner-continental and high-latitude regions, especially in winter. Combined fields do not yield full global coverage even in the 1980s, so satellite-based SST data need to be blended carefully with the ship-based observations if monitoring of global climate is to be complete

[en] Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the period 1856 to the present have been corrected to compensate for the use of uninsulated buckets prior to the early 1940s. Trends in the corrected SST are consistent with trends in independently corrected nighttime marine air temperatures (NMAT). Global-scale patterns of variation of annual anomalies of SST and NMAT, as revealed by the first three covariance eigenvectors, are also in close agreement. The corrected SST anomalies are also compared with those of nearby coastal and island land air temperatures. Global-scale agreement is good except in the early 20th century when the land data were relatively warm by up to 0.2 C. Proposed causes are the siting of thermometers in open-sided thatched sheds in tropical regions at that time, along with a marked tendency to warm westerly atmospheric circulation over Europe in winter. Combined fields of SST and land air temperature are presented. The relative overall coldness of the late 19th century land air temperatures appears to have arisen from inner-continental and high-latitude regions, especially in winter. Combined fields do not yield full global coverage even in the 1980s, so satellite-based SST data need to be blended carefully with the ship-based observations if monitoring of global climate is to be complete. 32 refs.; 16 figs

[en] This study defines the optimum imaging time window after injection of labeled platelet suspension for detection on left ventricular (LV) thrombi, identifies the most useful imaging views, and determines the reproducibility of this technique. A total of 662 images obtained from 64 patients were analyzed retrospectively on 2 separate occasions by 3 observers blinded as to patient identity, view (right anterior oblique, anterior, left anterior oblique, and left lateral), and time after injection of the platelet suspension that the images were obtained (0 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5 to 6 days). Images were categorized as either positive or negative. In every case surgical or autopsy verification of the presence or absence of LV thrombus was possible. It was concluded that (1) indium-111 platelet scintigraphy is a reproducible and specific technique for identifying LV thrombus, and (2) we advise imaging on day 0 and again 3 to 4 days after injection of the platelet suspension in right anterior oblique, left anterior oblique, left lateral, and anterior views to maximize accuracy and to facilitate localization of LV thrombus

[en] Even after extensive re-working of past data, in many instances we are incapable of resolving important aspects concerning climate change and variability including greenhouse gases such as CO₂, and aerosols. Virtually every monitoring system and data set requires better data quality, continuity, and homogeneity if we expect to conclusively answer questions of interest to both scientists and policy-makers. This is a result of the fact that long-term meteorological data, (both satellite and conventional) both now and in the past, are and have been collected primarily for weather prediction, and only in some cases, to describe the current climate. Long-term climate monitoring, capable of resolving decade-to-century scale changes in climate, requires different strategies of operation. Furthermore, the continued degradation of conventional surface-based observing systems in many countries (both developed and developing) is an ominous sign with respect to sustaining present capabilities into the future. Satellite-based observing platforms alone will not, and cannot, provide all the necessary measurements. Moreover, it is clear that for satellite measurements to be useful in long-term climate monitoring much wise implementation and monitoring practices must be undertaken to avoid problems of data inhomogeneity that currently plague space-based measurements. Continued investment in data analyses to minimize time-varying biases and other data quality problems from historical data are essential if we are to adequately understanding climate change, but they will never replace foresight with respect to ongoing and planned observing systems required for climate monitoring. Fortunately, serious planning for a Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is now underway that provides an opportunity to rectify the current crisis. 76 refs., 22 figs

[en] In a study comparing indium-111 platelet scintigraphy and two-dimensional echocardiography as methods of identifying left ventricular thrombi, the results obtained with both techniques were verified at surgery or autopsy in 53 patients-34 with left ventricular aneurysms, and 19 with mitral-valve disease. Left ventricular thrombi were found at surgery or autopsy in 14 of the patients with aneurysms and in none of those with mitral-valve disease. Thirteen of 53 echocardiograms (25%) were technically inadequate and excluded from the analysis. In the group with aneurysms, the sensitivity of scintigraphy in detecting thrombi was 71%, and that of echocardiography was 77%. The specificity of scintigraphy was 100%, and that of echocardiography was 93%. We conclude that indium-111 platelet scintigraphy and two-dimensional echocardiography have useful and complementary roles in the detection of left ventricular thrombi. Both these noninvasive techniques can be used to monitor therapy

[en] In a study comparing ¹¹¹In platelet scintigraphy and two-dimensional echocardiography as methods of identifying left ventricular thrombi, the results obtained with both techniques were verified at surgery or autopsy in 53 patients--34 with left ventricular aneurysms, and 19 with mitral-valve disease. Left ventricular thrombi were found at surgery or autopsy in 14 of the patients with aneurysms and in none of those with mitral-valve disease. Thirteen of 53 echocardiograms (25 per cent) were technically inadequate and excluded from the analysis. In the group with aneurysms, the sensitivity of scintigraphy in detecting thrombi was 71 per cent, and that of echocardiography was 77 per cent. The specificity of scintigraphy was 100 per cent, and that of echocardiography was 93 per cent. We conclude that ¹¹¹In platelet scintigraphy and two-dimensional echocardiography have useful and complementary roles in the detection of left ventricular thrombi. Both these noninvasive techniques can be used to monitor therapy

[en] Groups of pregnant mice were irradiated at selected times between 10.00 hours on gestation day 7 and 16.00 hours on day 8. Each group received 0.39 Gy of neutrons or 1.60 Gy of X-rays, or was sham irradiated. We identified a period of high susceptibility of the embryos to radiation-induced exencephalia, anophthalmia and prenatal mortality early in gestation day 8. Dose-incidence relationships in this period were investigated with 0.19-0.48 Gy of neutrons and with 0.40-2.00 Gy of X-rays. (author)

[en] The cosmic radiation environment at air carrier flight altitudes is described and estimates are given of the amount of galactic cosmic radiation received on a wide variety of routes to and from, and within the United States. Methods are provided to assess health risks incurred by aircrews from occupational exposure to galactic radiation. On the 32 flights studied, the highest dose of galactic radiation received by a crew member who worked as many as 1000 block hours a year would be less than half the average annual limit of 20 mSv recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for a non-pregnant occupationally exposed adult. A pregnant crew member who worked 70 block hours a month for 5 months would exceed the recommended 2mSv pregnancy limit on about one-third of the flights. (author)