[en] We have considered the theoretical background of biological tissue complex polarization analysis: (1) polarization mapping; (2) polarization-correlation mapping; (3) polarization correlometry. The technique of interferometric measurements of 2D distributions of the complex degree of mutual polarization of biological tissue images has been proposed. The totality of diagnostically urgent interconnections between the statistical and correlation structure of biological tissue polarization images and the optical-geometrical structure of their architectonics has been determined

[en] This patent deals with a device, apparatus, and method for the irradiation of fluids, especially physiological fluids such as blood. The device comprises a hollow casing having a pair of end walls, at least one element adapted to transmit radiant energy disposed within said casing with an end thereof being secured in one of the end walls, and an inlet and an outlet in said casing between the pair of end walls. Apparatusof the invention includes the aforementioned device and means, preferably located externally thereof, for directing radiant energy onto the element(s) for transmitting radiant energy. Method for irradiating fluid in accordance with the invention comprises providing the aforementioned device, directing radiant energy onto the radiant energy transmitting element(s) of said device, introducing fluid to be irradiated into the interior of the casing, and withdrawing said fluid from said casing

[en] Estimates of clumping index (Ω) are required to improve the indirect estimation of leaf area index (L) from optical field-based instruments such as digital hemispherical photography (DHP). A widely used method allows estimation of Ω from DHP using simple gap fraction averaging formulas (LX). This method is simple and effective but has the disadvantage of being sensitive to the spatial scale (i.e., the azimuth segment size in DHP) used for averaging and canopy density. In this study, we propose a new method to estimate Ω (LXG) based on ordered weighted gap fraction averaging (OWA) formulas, which addresses the disadvantages of LX and also accounts for gap size distribution. The new method was tested in 11 broadleaved forest stands in Italy; Ω estimated from LXG was compared with other commonly used clumping correction methods (LX, CC, and CLX). Results showed that LXG yielded more accurate Ω estimates, which were also more correlated with the values obtained from the gap size distribution methods (CC and CLX) than Ω obtained from LX. Leaf area index estimates, adjusted by LXG, are only 5%–6% lower than direct measurements obtained from litter traps, while other commonly used clumping correction methods yielded more underestimation. (author)

[en] It has been suggested that the leaf litter layer influences soil infiltration processes in hillslopes. This paper examines the effect of the presence of the leaf litter layer in an oak woodland on conservative tracer transport measured in situ using time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes. This was done using repeated tracer miscible displacement studies, first with the litter layer intact and then again after removal of the litter layer. Tracer transport, as measured breakthrough curves (BTCs), was characterized using temporal moment analyses. These plot scale studies, performed at a field location in northern California, did not identify consistent changes in tracer transport patterns in the vertical transport plots before and after litter layer removal. In contrast, downslope lateral tracer displacement in the upper 20 cm of the soil did change after litter removal. However, no differences were evident deeper in the soil (30-50 cm) in temporal moments before and after litter removal during lateral tracer transport. This result demonstrates that the litter layer had a localized (near soil surface) influence on lateral transport. This influence may be explained by vertical anisotropy in effective soil hydraulic conductivity on the direction of lateral flow relative to the soil surface in the hillslope plots. It was demonstrated that the litter presence promotes a more vertical direction for the lateral flow in the first 20 cm of the soil. Despite the small changes in the first 20 cm observed in tracer transport after litter removal, the physical presence of the leaf litter layer was not found to be a major influence on tracer transport at the 30- to 50-cm depth in this hillslope soil where most of the lateral flow occurs

[en] A signature of globalization is the prevalence of exotic trees along reforested urban and rural riparian zones in the neotropics, but little is known about the instream processing of its leaf litter. In this study, leaf litter breakdown rates were measured during 35 days using mesh bags within a reference headwater stream for seven exotic and three native tree species commonly used in urban and rural reforestation. Artocarpus altilis, Schefflera actinophylla and Terminalia catappa scored the highest mass loss rates (>85 %; mean life: t50 <15 d), while Cecropia sp. and Cespedesia macrophylla (mass loss =36 and 15 %; t50 =58 and 172 d, respectively) scored the lowest rates. However, a broad range of rates was observed among the ten species studied. The carbon to phosphorus ratio (c:p) and toughness of the leaf litter were the best predictors of breakdown rates. However, these leaf properties were not correlated with the very low values of macro invertebrates abundance and diversity, and the few morpho classified as shredders. Therefore physical rather than biological controls seem to best explain the observed variability of mass loss rates, and thus slow decomposing leaf litter species seems to provide a habitat rather than a food resource, particularly to collectors. This study suggests that riparian reforestation will propagate species-specific ecological influences on instream processes such as leaf litter processing depending on leaf quality properties, therefore ecosystem-wide influences should be considered for improving reforestation strategies. Future studies should test for differences in breakdown rates and colonization by macro invertebrates relative for leaf litter species origin (native vs. exotic).

[en] The effect of the ionic contrast media diatrizoate, iocarmate and metrizoate and the non-ionic metrizamide on whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit was investigated. All the contrast media increased whole blood and plasma viscosity and reduced the hematocrit. The whole blood viscosity increased with increasing osmolality of the contrast medium solutions, whereas the plasma viscosity increased with increasing viscosity of the contrast medium solutions. The higher the osmolality of the contrast media, the lower the hematocrit became. The normal shear-thinning (decreasing viscosity with increasing shear rate) property of blood was reduced when contrast medium was added to the blood. At 50 per cent volume ratio (contrast medium to blood), the ionic contrast media converted the blood into a shear-thickening (increasing viscosity with increasing shear rate) suspension, indicating a marked rigidification of the single red cell, while the non-ionic contrast medium still produced shear-thinning, indicating less rigidification of the red cell (p<0.01). (Auth.)

[en] The development of the centrifuge fast analyzer (CFA) is reviewed. The development of a miniature CFA with computer data analysis is reported and applications for automated diagnostic chemical and hematological assays are discussed. A portable CFA system with microprocessor was adapted for field assays of air and water samples for environmental pollutants, including ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, sulfates, and silica. 83 references

[en] Five ml of blood samples were taken from cervix, lung and other cancer patients treated with therapeutic radiation of 1,000r, 1,200r, 1,400r, 1,600r, 2,000r, 2,800r, 3,000r, 3,800r, 4,000r, 4,600r, 5,000r, 5,400r, 5,800r and 6,000r respectively. Chromosome preparations were obtained from invitro leukocyte culture and air drying method. Types of chromosome aberration rates were analyzed according to the radiation dose. Two types of abnormal chromosomes, dicentric and acentric chromosomes, were observed in the leukocytes. The polyploid cells were also found in the experimental groups. (author)

[en] The protein fractions of blood serum containing HB antigen underwent disintegration to varying degrees, depending on the radiation ose. Dry preparations were more radiation-resistant. Gamma radiation reduced the immunochemical activity of HB-antigen. (author)

[en] Samples of biosolids, spiked with increasing amounts of Cu, Ni or Zn were applied to field plots in a Pinus radiata forest, and the nutrient and metal status of the forest litter and underlying mineral soil was monitored over a period of six years following application. The macronutrient status of the forest litter was changed markedly by the biosolids application, with substantial increases in N, P and Ca concentrations, and decreases in Mg and K. The C/N ratio of the litter was also decreased and pH was increased by the biosolids application. The metals applied with the biosolids were retained predominantly in the litter layer, and even with non-metal-spiked biosolids there were substantial increases in litter metal concentrations. There was also firm evidence of some movement of Cu, Ni and Zn into the underlying mineral soil. The potential environmental issues resulting from these changes in nutrient and metal status are discussed. - Biosolids application to forest soils results in substantial build-up of macronutrients and metals in the forest litter layer