Development of a laser heterodyne radiometer for regional methane leak detection.

We have developed and tested a laser heterodyne radiometer (LHR) for detecting methane leaks from upstream oil and gas infrastructure and landfills that uses the Sun as the signal light source, demonstrating here sensitivity sufficient to detect "super-emitter" leaks (>50/, 1166 slm). Tracking optics follow the Sun during its apparent daily transit across the sky, and the system collects direct absorption data and optionally the 1f and 2 wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) signals. The direct absorption data are processed in real time using a retrieval algorithm with a 5 s update rate to reveal the methane concentration versus altitude for each measurement line of sight.

Development of a passive optical heterodyne radiometer for near and mid-infrared spectroscopy.

We have developed a novel laser heterodyne radiometer using a fiber-coupled distributed feedback laser as the local oscillator to perform spectroscopic measurements of small molecules in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Here, we demonstrate measurement of HCN and in the lab and and in the atmospheric column. In addition, we demonstrate detection of a neutral iron, Fe(I), Fraunhofer line in the spectrum of the sun, at a vacuum wavelength of 1559.

Implementation and integration of microbial source tracking in a river watershed monitoring plan.

Fecal pollution of water bodies poses a serious threat for public health and ecosystems. Microbial source tracking (MST) is used to track the source of this pollution facilitating better management of pollution at the source. In this study we tested 12 MST markers to track human, ruminant, sheep, horse, pig and gull pollution to assess their usefulness as an effective management tool of water quality.

Capacity to provide informed consent among adults with bipolar disorder.

Background: Identifying correlates of capacity to provide informed consent among individuals with bipolar disorder is essential for patient protection. As part of a clinical trial involving approved, standard treatments, we investigated relationships between clinical characteristics and capacity to provide informed consent in adults with bipolar disorder using the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR). After administering the MacCAT-CR, continuing participants in the trial were capable of and provided informed consent.

Evaluating a microbial water quality prediction model for beach management under the revised EU Bathing Water Directive.

The revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) requires EU member states to minimise the risk to public health from faecal pollution at bathing waters through improved monitoring and management approaches. While increasingly sophisticated measurement methods (such as microbial source tracking) assist in the management of bathing water resources, the use of deterministic predictive models for this purpose, while having the potential to provide decision making support, remains less common. This study explores an integrated, deterministic catchment-coastal hydro-environmental model as a decision-making tool for beach management which, based on advance predictions of bathing water quality, can inform beach managers on appropriate management actions (to prohibit bathing or advise the public not to bathe) in the event of a poor water quality forecast.