Assessment of potential atmospheric transport and deposition patterns due to Russian Pacific Fleet operations.

A probabilistic analysis of atmospheric transport and deposition patterns from two nuclear risk sites-Kamchatka and Vladivostok-situated in the Russian Far East to countries and geographical regions of interest (Japan, China, North and South Koreas, territories of the Russian Far East, State of Alaska, and Aleutian Chain Islands, US) was performed. The main questions addressed were the following: Which geographical territories are at the highest risk from hypothetical releases at these sites? What are the probabilities for radionuclide atmospheric transport and deposition on different neighboring countries in case of accidents at the sites? For analysis, several research tools developed within the Arctic Risk Project were applied: (1) isentropic trajectory model to calculate a multiyear dataset of 5-day forward trajectories that originated over the site locations at various altitudes; (2) DERMA long-range transport model to simulate 5-day atmospheric transport, dispersion, and deposition of 137Cs for 1-day release (at the rate of 10(10) Bq/s); and (3) a set of statistical methods (including exploratory, cluster, and probability fields analyses) for evaluation of trajectory and dispersion modeling results. The possible impact (on annual, seasonal, and monthly basis) of selected risk sites on neighboring geographical regions is evaluated using a set of various indicators. For trajectory modeling, the indicators examined are: (1) atmospheric transport pathways, (2) airflow probability fields, (3) fast transport probability fields, (4) maximum possible impact zone, (5) maximum reaching distance, and (6) typical transport time fields. For dispersion modeling, the indicators examined are: (1) time integrated air concentration, (2) dry deposition, and (3) wet deposition. It was found for both sites that within the boundary layer the westerly flows are dominant throughout the year (more than 60% of the time), increasing with altitude of free troposphere up to 85% of the time. For the Kamchatka site, the US regions are at the highest risk with the average times of atmospheric transport ranging from 3 to 5.1 days and depositions of 10(-1) Bq/m2 and lower. For the Vladivostok site, the northern China and Japan regions are at the highest risk with the average times of atmospheric transport of 0.5 and 1.6 days, respectively, and depositions ranging from 10(0) to 10(+2) Bq/m2. The areas of maximum potentially impacted zones are 30 x 10(4) km2 and 25 x 10(4) km2 for the Kamchatka and Vladivostok sites, respectively.

Individual interventions to prevent drunk driving: types, efficacy, and a theoretical perspective.

College students (n = 100) who had tried to stop someone from driving drunk, or who someone else had tried to stop, provided information about their interaction, including what was said and whether the intervention worked. Results suggest that the manner in which people intervene can affect the likelihood that the impaired person will not drive, with forceful statements, clear demands, and concrete action being more effective than requests, pleas, or suggestions. The hypothesis that intervention represents a threat to the person's image received limited support, possibly for methodological reasons. The concept of threat to competence is discussed, as are implications of the results for prevention and education activities.

Microwave radiation (2450 MHz) alters the endotoxin-induced hypothermic response of rats.

The parenteral administration of bacterial endotoxin to rats causes a hypothermia that is maximal after approximately 90 minutes. When endotoxin-injected rats were held in a controlled environment at 22 degree C and 50% relative humidity and exposed for 90 minutes to microwaves (2450 MHz, CW) at 1 mW/cm2, significant increases were observed in body temperature compared with endotoxin-treated, sham-irradiated rats. The magnitude of the response was related to power density (10 mW/cm2 greater than 5 mW/cm2 greater than 1 mW/cm2). Saline-injected rats exposed for 90 minutes at 5 mW/cm2 (specific absorption rate approximately 1.0 mW/g) showed no significant increase in body temperature compared with saline-injected, sham-irradiated rats. The hypothermia induced by endotoxin in rats was also found to be affected by ambient temperature alone. Increases in ambient temperature above 22 degree C in the absence of microwaves caused a concomitant increase in body temperature. This study reveals that subtle microwave heating is detectable in endotoxin-treated rats that have impaired thermoregulatory capability. These results indicate that the interpretation of microwave-induced biological effects observed in animals at comparable rates and levels of energy absorption should include a consideration of the thermogenic potential of microwave.