New application of hyperspectral imaging to steady-state plasma observations.

A new application of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to steady-state plasma emission observations is proposed because of its prominent feature: an HSI camera records a two-dimensional image, and each spatial pixel contains spectral data typically with more than a hundred bands, while conventional digital cameras have only three bands. The characterization of an HSI camera (Specim IQ) has been performed during steady-state plasma-material interaction experiments using the linear plasma device PISCES-A. By easily subtracting the background/continuum emission in contrast to conventional filter cameras, two-dimensional images of multiple emission lines at different wavelengths are simultaneously obtained during a single measurement, demonstrating the advantage in plasma emission observations.

Maternal Diet During Pregnancy and Blood Cadmium Concentrations in an Observational Cohort of British Women.

Few studies have investigated the extent to which diet predicts body Cd concentrations among women of reproductive age, and pregnant women in particular. The aim of this study was to examine diet as a predictor of blood Cd concentrations in pregnant women participating in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples were analysed for Cd (median 0.

Dietary Patterns Are Not Consistently Associated with Variability in Blood Lead Concentrations in Pregnant British Women.

Background: During pregnancy lead crosses the placenta freely and can have adverse effects on the fetus, with the potential for lifelong impact on the child. Identification of dietary patterns and food groups in relation to measures of lead status could provide a more useful alternative to nutrient-specific advice to minimize fetal lead exposure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary patterns and food groups are associated with blood lead concentration (B-Pb) in pregnancy.

Development of a LIBS system for surface measurements during plasma exposure in PISCES-A.

A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system has been developed with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (wavelength = 1064 nm and pulse width ∼5 ns) to conduct surface measurements during plasma exposure in the PISCES-A linear divertor plasma simulator. The LIBS signal enhancement is obtained with both the magnetic field normal to the surface of a target and steady-state background plasma. Migration of sputtered Ta impurities onto the neighboring Cr surface is identified during He plasma exposure, only when cone structures are formed on the Cr surface.