Detection and discrimination of various oil-contaminated soils using vegetation reflectance.

The use of hyperspectral spectroscopy for oil detection recently sparked a growing interest for risk assessment over vegetated areas. In a perspective of image applications, we conducted a greenhouse experiment on a brownfield-established species, Rubus fruticosus L. (bramble), to evaluate the potential of vegetation reflectance to detect and discriminate among various oil-contaminated soils.

Homogenization and scattering from heterogeneous media based on finite-difference-time-domain Monte Carlo computations.

We present a method to study the scattering by heterogeneous media based on the two-dimensional (2D), finite-difference-time-domain method and a Monte Carlo algorithm. The inhomogeneities may reach wave-length size and their optical constants are in the visible and infrared domain. The algorithm is used to determine an effective propagation constant in a monodisperse medium from the observation of the energy decay in the medium.

Comparison of the effects of zolpidem and flunitrazepam on sleep structure and daytime cognitive functions. A study of untreated unsomniacs.

The effects of zolpidem 10 mg, flunitrazepam 1 mg, and placebo, administrated at bedtime, were studied in 12 healthy male insomniac patients. The assessments included polygraphic sleep recordings during the night and a battery of cognitive tests (sign crossing test, dichotic listening test, digit span test, visual recognition test and free recall test during four times during the following day. Compared with placebo, both active drugs improved sleep parameters.

Effects of repeated administration of zolpidem on sleep, diurnal and nocturnal respiratory function, vigilance, and physical performance in patients with COPD.

Study Objective: To assess the effects of repeated 10-mg oral doses of zolpidem on diurnal and nocturnal respiratory function, as well as on diurnal vigilance and physical performance in COPD patients with disordered sleep.

Design: Prospective single-blind placebo-controlled clinical study.

Setting: Outpatients of a respiratory medicine department.

Effects of zolpidem on the architecture and cyclical structure of sleep in poor sleepers.

Effects of zolpidem, a short acting non benzodiazepine hypnotic, have been studied in eight female poor sleepers, aged 25 to 54 years, documented during two consecutive adaptation nights. Subjects were recorded according to a 22 day single blind study. Placebo was given orally at bedtime on nights 2-4, zolpidem on nights 5-20 and finally placebo on nights 21-22.