Development of online automatic detector of hydrocarbons and suspended organic matter by simultaneously acquisition of fluorescence and scattering.

Permanent online monitoring of water supply pollution by hydrocarbons is needed for various industrial plants, to serve as an alert when thresholds are exceeded. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a suitable technique for this purpose due to its sensitivity and moderate cost. However, fluorescence measurements can be disturbed by the presence of suspended organic matter, which induces beam scattering and absorption, leading to an underestimation of hydrocarbon content.

Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Task-oriented Approach in Upper Extremity Post-stroke Rehabilitation.

There is a need for more effective rehabilitation methods for individuals post-stroke. Occupational Therapy Task-Oriented (TO) approach has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional and impairment efficacies of TO approach on the more-affected Upper Extremity (UE) of persons post-stroke.

Mass-independent sulfur isotopic compositions in stratospheric volcanic eruptions.

The observed mass-independent sulfur isotopic composition (Delta33S) of volcanic sulfate from the Agung (March 1963) and Pinatubo (June 1991) eruptions recorded in the Antarctic snow provides a mechanism for documenting stratospheric events. The sign of Delta33S changes over time from an initial positive component to a negative value. Delta33S is created during photochemical oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid on a monthly time scale, which indicates a fast process.

Age, geographic, and temporal distribution of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in cow-calf herds.

Objective: To evaluate fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium parvum from California cow-calf herds with respect to age, geographic region, temporal effects, and association with watery feces.

Animals: Cows and calves from 38 beef cow-calf operations.

Procedure: Fecal specimens were collected and examined for C parvum oocysts, using immunofluorescent microscopy.

Influence of light intensity on methanotrophic bacterial activity in Petit Saut Reservoir, French Guiana.

One year after impoundment in January 1994, methanotrophic bacteria in Petit Saut Reservoir (French Guiana) were active at the oxic-anoxic interface. This activity was revealed by the sudden extinction of diffusive methane emission (600 metric tons of CH4. day-1 for the whole lake surface area, i.