叠前地震数据规则化、重建及噪音压制

I address of reconstruction of spatial irregular sampling seismic data to regular grids. Spatial irregular sampling data impairs results of prestack migration, multiple attenuations, spectra estimation. Prestack 5-D volumes are often divided into sub-sections for further processing. Shot gathers are easy to obtain from irregular sampling volumes. My strategy for reconstruction is as follows: I resort irregular sampling gathers into a form of easy to bin and perform bin regularization, then utilize F-K inversion to reconstruct seismic data. In consideration of poor ability of F-K regularization to fill in large gaps, I sort regular sampling gathers to CMP and proposed high-resolution parabolic Radon transform to interpolate data and extrapolate offsets. To strong interfering noise--multiples, I use hybrid-domain high-resolution parabolic Radon transform to attenuate it. F-K regularization demand ultimately for lower computing costs. I proposed several methods to further improve efficiency of F-K inversion: first I introduce 1D and 2D NFFT algorithm for a rapid calculation of DFT operators; then develop fast 1D and 2D CG method to solve least-square equations, and utilize preconditioner to accelerate convergence of CG iterations; what’s more, I use Delaunay triangulation for weight calculation and use bandlimit frequency and varying bandwidth technique for competitive computation. Numerical 2D and 3D examples are offered to verify reasonable results and more efficiency. F-K regularization has poor ability to fill in large gaps, so I rearrange data as CMP gathers and develop hybrid-domain high-resolution parabolic Radon transforms which be used ether to interpolate null traces and extrapolate near and far offsets or suppress a strong interfere noise: multiples. I use it to attenuate multiples to verify performances of our algorithm and proposed routines for industrial application. Numerical examples and field data examples show a nice performance of our method.

叠前时间偏移：各向异性、多次波衰减及应用

At present, in order to image complex structures more accurately, the seismic migration methods has been developed from isotropic media to the anisotropic media. This dissertation develops a prestack time migration algorithm and application aspects for complex structures systematically. In transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI media), the dissertation starts from the theory that the prestack time migration is an approximation of the prestack depth migration, based on the one way wave equation and VTI time migration dispersion relation, by combining the stationary-phase theory gives a wave equation based VTI prestack time migration algorithm. Based on this algorithm, we can analytically obtain the travel time and amplitude expression in VTI media, as while conclude how the anisotropic parameter influence the time migration, and by analyzing the normal moveout of the far offset seismic data and lateral inhomogeneity of velocity, we can update the velocity model and estimate the anisotropic parameter model through the time migration. When anisotropic parameter is zero, this algorithm degenerates to the isotropic time migration algorithm naturally, so we can propose an isotopic processing procedure for imaging. This procedure may keep the main character of time migration such as high computational efficiency and velocity estimation through the migration, and, additionally, partially compensate the geometric divergence by adopting the deconvolution imaging condition of wave equation migration. Application of this algorithm to the complicated synthetic dataset and field data demonstrates the effectiveness of the approach. In the dissertation we also present an approach for estimating the velocity model and anisotropic parameter model. After analyzing the velocity and anisotropic parameter impaction on the time migration, and based on the normal moveout of the far offset seismic data and lateral inhomogeneity of velocity, through migration we can update the velocity model and estimate the anisotropic parameter model by combining the advantages of velocity analysis in isotropic media and anisotropic parameter estimation in VTI media. Testing on the synthetic and field data, demonstrates the method is effective and very steady. Massive synthetic dataset、2D sea dataset and 3D field datasets are used for VTI prestack time migration and compared to the stacked section after NMO and prestack isotropic time migration stacked section to demonstrate that VTI prestack time migration method in this paper can obtain better focusing and less positioning errors of complicated dip reflectors. When subsurface is more complex, primaries and multiples could not be separated in the Radon domain because they can no longer be described with simple functions (parabolic). We propose an attenuating multiple method in the image domain to resolve this problem. For a given velocity model，since time migration takes the complex structures wavefield propagation in to account, primaries and multiples have different offset-domain moveout discrepancies, then can be separated using techniques similar to the prior migration with Radon transform. Since every individual offset-domain common-reflection point gather incorporates complex 3D propagation effects, our method has the advantage of working with 3D data and complicated geology. Testing on synthetic and real data, we demonstrate the power of the method in discriminating between primaries and multiples after prestack time migration, and multiples can be attenuated in the image space considerably.

基于信息重建技术的地震信号处理方法研究

The dissertation addressed the problems of signals reconstruction and data restoration in seismic data processing, which takes the representation methods of signal as the main clue, and take the seismic information reconstruction (signals separation and trace interpolation) as the core. On the natural bases signal representation, I present the ICA fundamentals, algorithms and its original applications to nature earth quake signals separation and survey seismic signals separation. On determinative bases signal representation, the paper proposed seismic dada reconstruction least square inversion regularization methods, sparseness constraints, pre-conditioned conjugate gradient methods, and their applications to seismic de-convolution, Radon transformation, et. al. The core contents are about de-alias uneven seismic data reconstruction algorithm and its application to seismic interpolation. Although the dissertation discussed two cases of signal representation, they can be integrated into one frame, because they both deal with the signals or information restoration, the former reconstructing original signals from mixed signals, the later reconstructing whole data from sparse or irregular data. The goal of them is same to provide pre-processing methods and post-processing method for seismic pre-stack depth migration. ICA can separate the original signals from mixed signals by them, or abstract the basic structure from analyzed data. I surveyed the fundamental, algorithms and applications of ICA. Compared with KL transformation, I proposed the independent components transformation concept (ICT). On basis of the ne-entropy measurement of independence, I implemented the FastICA and improved it by covariance matrix. By analyzing the characteristics of the seismic signals, I introduced ICA into seismic signal processing firstly in Geophysical community, and implemented the noise separation from seismic signal. Synthetic and real data examples show the usability of ICA to seismic signal processing and initial effects are achieved. The application of ICA to separation quake conversion wave from multiple in sedimentary area is made, which demonstrates good effects, so more reasonable interpretation of underground un-continuity is got. The results show the perspective of application of ICA to Geophysical signal processing. By virtue of the relationship between ICA and Blind Deconvolution , I surveyed the seismic blind deconvolution, and discussed the perspective of applying ICA to seismic blind deconvolution with two possible solutions. The relationship of PC A, ICA and wavelet transform is claimed. It is proved that reconstruction of wavelet prototype functions is Lie group representation. By the way, over-sampled wavelet transform is proposed to enhance the seismic data resolution, which is validated by numerical examples. The key of pre-stack depth migration is the regularization of pre-stack seismic data. As a main procedure, seismic interpolation and missing data reconstruction are necessary. Firstly, I review the seismic imaging methods in order to argue the critical effect of regularization. By review of the seismic interpolation algorithms, I acclaim that de-alias uneven data reconstruction is still a challenge. The fundamental of seismic reconstruction is discussed firstly. Then sparseness constraint on least square inversion and preconditioned conjugate gradient solver are studied and implemented. Choosing constraint item with Cauchy distribution, I programmed PCG algorithm and implement sparse seismic deconvolution, high resolution Radon Transformation by PCG, which is prepared for seismic data reconstruction. About seismic interpolation, dealias even data interpolation and uneven data reconstruction are very good respectively, however they can not be combined each other. In this paper, a novel Fourier transform based method and a algorithm have been proposed, which could reconstruct both uneven and alias seismic data. I formulated band-limited data reconstruction as minimum norm least squares inversion problem where an adaptive DFT-weighted norm regularization term is used. The inverse problem is solved by pre-conditional conjugate gradient method, which makes the solutions stable and convergent quickly. Based on the assumption that seismic data are consisted of finite linear events, from sampling theorem, alias events can be attenuated via LS weight predicted linearly from low frequency. Three application issues are discussed on even gap trace interpolation, uneven gap filling, high frequency trace reconstruction from low frequency data trace constrained by few high frequency traces. Both synthetic and real data numerical examples show the proposed method is valid, efficient and applicable. The research is valuable to seismic data regularization and cross well seismic. To meet 3D shot profile depth migration request for data, schemes must be taken to make the data even and fitting the velocity dataset. The methods of this paper are used to interpolate and extrapolate the shot gathers instead of simply embedding zero traces. So, the aperture of migration is enlarged and the migration effect is improved. The results show the effectiveness and the practicability.

中国地下工程氡污染健康影响与防护研究-以内蒙古自治区为例

由于对人体健康的危害，氡越来越受到世界各国的广泛关注。经济的发展，使我国地下公共场所大量涌现，但其空气中氡浓度的大规模调查及系统研究还属空白。本论文采取瞬时法（美国SUN公司的1027型连续测氰仪）与累积法（CR一39SSNTD）相结合的测量方法，对我国23个城市的地下工程进行了为期一年的监测，获得了实测数据700多个。在监测的同时，收集了每个测点的各种相关情况资料。论文以内蒙古自治区的呼和浩特、包头、集宁、鄂尔多斯四个城市为例，从环境地球化学角度出发，在研究了各个测点的各种情况之后，探讨了氧在不同类型工程和不同城市的浓度规律。对长期有人在内工作的地下工程内氛所致工作人员的有效剂量当量进行了估算。最后对氨异常的测点进行了原因分析，并提出了地下工程内氰污染的治理和防范措施。本次研究主要得出以下结论：1、地下工程中氰浓度的季节变化规律为：从总平均值看，夏高冬低。与前人对坑道的调查结果一致，与地上氨浓度的变化规律相反。从两季浓度差来看，两季浓度差从大到小依次为：隧道类工程）单建式铜室类工程＞结建式嗣室类工程。2、总体来看内蒙三类工程的氰浓度值：隧道类工程）结建式铜室类工程）单建式铜室类工程。不管是单季还是年平均值，各城市三类工程的氧浓度都遵循隧道类．工程远大于结建式铜室工程和单建式铜室工程的规律。通过对结建式桐室工程和单建式铜室工程的对比分析，发现在地下工程内工程上部有无建筑物阻隔，并不是影响氨浓度高低的重要因素，即氰的纵向扩散作用小于横向扩散作用。3、呼和浩特、包头、集宁、鄂尔多斯四个城市的氛浓度年平均值分别为：190Bq／m3、700Bq／m3、190Bq／m3、270Bq／m3。去掉仅有一季结果的侧点值，包头、鄂尔多斯的氨浓度年平均值为：62oBq／m3、250Bq／m3。呼和浩特、包头、集宁、鄂尔多斯四个城市的氛浓度单季值的范围分别为：31-830Bq／m3、57-3500Bq／m3、26一65oBq／m，、64一69OBq／m'，；年平均值的范围分别为：39一580Bq／m：'、94一210oBq／m：，、35-460Bq／m3、110-390Bq／m3。呼和浩特、包头、集宁、鄂尔多斯四个城市分别有30.0%、44.4%、33.3%、50.0%的工程年平均氧浓度在200Bq／时以上。四个城市氦浓度的普遍水平：包头）鄂尔多斯）集宁）呼和浩特。4、对所有单建式铜室类地下工程和结建式铜室类工程内工作人员所受剂量当量进行了估算。单建式地下工程内工作人员所受剂量当量的范围是1.247mSv-6．SOgmsv，平均值是2.610Sv。结建式地下工程内工作人员所受剂量当量的范围是1．195Sv-8.531mSv，平均值是2.572mSv。两类地下工程内工作人员所受氨照射剂量当量都很高，有一半的工程剂量当量是地面上公众人员剂量当量0.924mSv的两倍以上。5、不管是从浓度角度还是从剂量估算角度分析，地下工程内的氛水平都比较偏高，需要采取一定防护措施，对现有状况进行改善。6、通风是地下工程防治氡污染最简便易行、见效最快的措施。使用防氡涂料是最经济的措施。

A new proposition on the martingale representation theorem and on the approximate hedging of contingent claim in mean-variance criterion

In this work we revisit the problem of the hedging of contingent claim using mean-square criterion. We prove that in incomplete market, some probability measure can be identified so that becomes -martingale under .This is in fact a new proposition on the martingale representation theorem. The new results also identify a weight function that serves to be an approximation to the Radon-Nikodým derivative of the unique neutral martingale measure.

On-board Robotic Multi-pinhole SPECT System for Region-of-interest (ROI) Imaging

On-board image guidance, such as cone-beam CT (CBCT) and kV/MV 2D imaging, is essential in many radiation therapy procedures, such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). These imaging techniques provide predominantly anatomical information for treatment planning and target localization. Recently, studies have shown that treatment planning based on functional and molecular information about the tumor and surrounding tissue could potentially improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy. However, current on-board imaging systems are limited in their functional and molecular imaging capability. Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is a candidate to achieve on-board functional and molecular imaging. Traditional SPECT systems typically take 20 minutes or more for a scan, which is too long for on-board imaging. A robotic multi-pinhole SPECT system was proposed in this dissertation to provide shorter imaging time by using a robotic arm to maneuver the multi-pinhole SPECT system around the patient in position for radiation therapy.

A 49-pinhole collimated SPECT detector and its shielding were designed and simulated in this work using the computer-aided design (CAD) software. The trajectories of robotic arm about the patient, treatment table and gantry in the radiation therapy room and several detector assemblies such as parallel holes, single pinhole and 49 pinholes collimated detector were investigated. The rail mounted system was designed to enable a full range of detector positions and orientations to various crucial treatment sites including head and torso, while avoiding collision with linear accelerator (LINAC), patient table and patient.

An alignment method was developed in this work to calibrate the on-board robotic SPECT to the LINAC coordinate frame and to the coordinate frames of other on-board imaging systems such as CBCT. This alignment method utilizes line sources and one pinhole projection of these line sources. The model consists of multiple alignment parameters which maps line sources in 3-dimensional (3D) space to their 2-dimensional (2D) projections on the SPECT detector. Computer-simulation studies and experimental evaluations were performed as a function of number of line sources, Radon transform accuracy, finite line-source width, intrinsic camera resolution, Poisson noise and acquisition geometry. In computer-simulation studies, when there was no error in determining angles (α) and offsets (ρ) of the measured projections, the six alignment parameters (3 translational and 3 rotational) were estimated perfectly using three line sources. When angles (α) and offsets (ρ) were provided by Radon transform, the estimation accuracy was reduced. The estimation error was associated with rounding errors of Radon transform, finite line-source width, Poisson noise, number of line sources, intrinsic camera resolution and detector acquisition geometry. The estimation accuracy was significantly improved by using 4 line sources rather than 3 and also by using thinner line-source projections (obtained by better intrinsic detector resolution). With 5 line sources, median errors were 0.2 mm for the detector translations, 0.7 mm for the detector radius of rotation, and less than 0.5° for detector rotation, tilt and twist. In experimental evaluations, average errors relative to a different, independent registration technique were about 1.8 mm for detector translations, 1.1 mm for the detector radius of rotation (ROR), 0.5° and 0.4° for detector rotation and tilt, respectively, and 1.2° for detector twist.

Simulation studies were performed to investigate the improvement of imaging sensitivity and accuracy of hot sphere localization for breast imaging of patients in prone position. A 3D XCAT phantom was simulated in the prone position with nine hot spheres of 10 mm diameter added in the left breast. A no-treatment-table case and two commercial prone breast boards, 7 and 24 cm thick, were simulated. Different pinhole focal lengths were assessed for root-mean-square-error (RMSE). The pinhole focal lengths resulting in the lowest RMSE values were 12 cm, 18 cm and 21 cm for no table, thin board, and thick board, respectively. In both no table and thin board cases, all 9 hot spheres were easily visualized above background with 4-minute scans utilizing the 49-pinhole SPECT system while seven of nine hot spheres were visible with the thick board. In comparison with parallel-hole system, our 49-pinhole system shows reduction in noise and bias under these simulation cases. These results correspond to smaller radii of rotation for no-table case and thinner prone board. Similarly, localization accuracy with the 49-pinhole system was significantly better than with the parallel-hole system for both the thin and thick prone boards. Median localization errors for the 49-pinhole system with the thin board were less than 3 mm for 5 of 9 hot spheres, and less than 6 mm for the other 4 hot spheres. Median localization errors of 49-pinhole system with the thick board were less than 4 mm for 5 of 9 hot spheres, and less than 8 mm for the other 4 hot spheres.

Besides prone breast imaging, respiratory-gated region-of-interest (ROI) imaging of lung tumor was also investigated. A simulation study was conducted on the potential of multi-pinhole, region-of-interest (ROI) SPECT to alleviate noise effects associated with respiratory-gated SPECT imaging of the thorax. Two 4D XCAT digital phantoms were constructed, with either a 10 mm or 20 mm diameter tumor added in the right lung. The maximum diaphragm motion was 2 cm (for 10 mm tumor) or 4 cm (for 20 mm tumor) in superior-inferior direction and 1.2 cm in anterior-posterior direction. Projections were simulated with a 4-minute acquisition time (40 seconds per each of 6 gates) using either the ROI SPECT system (49-pinhole) or reference single and dual conventional broad cross-section, parallel-hole collimated SPECT. The SPECT images were reconstructed using OSEM with up to 6 iterations. Images were evaluated as a function of gate by profiles, noise versus bias curves, and a numerical observer performing a forced-choice localization task. Even for the 20 mm tumor, the 49-pinhole imaging ROI was found sufficient to encompass fully usual clinical ranges of diaphragm motion. Averaged over the 6 gates, noise at iteration 6 of 49-pinhole ROI imaging (10.9 µCi/ml) was approximately comparable to noise at iteration 2 of the two dual and single parallel-hole, broad cross-section systems (12.4 µCi/ml and 13.8 µCi/ml, respectively). Corresponding biases were much lower for the 49-pinhole ROI system (3.8 µCi/ml), versus 6.2 µCi/ml and 6.5 µCi/ml for the dual and single parallel-hole systems, respectively. Median localization errors averaged over 6 gates, for the 10 mm and 20 mm tumors respectively, were 1.6 mm and 0.5 mm using the ROI imaging system and 6.6 mm and 2.3 mm using the dual parallel-hole, broad cross-section system. The results demonstrate substantially improved imaging via ROI methods. One important application may be gated imaging of patients in position for radiation therapy.

A robotic SPECT imaging system was constructed utilizing a gamma camera detector (Digirad 2020tc) and a robot (KUKA KR150-L110 robot). An imaging study was performed with a phantom (PET CT PhantomTM), which includes 5 spheres of 10, 13, 17, 22 and 28 mm in diameter. The phantom was placed on a flat-top couch. SPECT projections were acquired with a parallel-hole collimator and a single-pinhole collimator both without background in the phantom, and with background at 1/10th the sphere activity concentration. The imaging trajectories of parallel-hole and pinhole collimated detectors spanned 180 degrees and 228 degrees respectively. The pinhole detector viewed a 14.7 cm-diameter common volume which encompassed the 28 mm and 22 mm spheres. The common volume for parallel-hole was a 20.8-cm-diameter cylinder which encompassed all five spheres in the phantom. The maneuverability of the robotic system was tested by navigating the detector to trace the flat-top table while avoiding collision with the table and maintaining the closest possible proximity to the common volume. For image reconstruction, detector trajectories were described by radius-of-rotation and detector rotation angle θ. These reconstruction parameters were obtained from the robot base and tool coordinates. The robotic SPECT system was able to maneuver the parallel-hole and pinhole collimated SPECT detectors in close proximity to the phantom, minimizing impact of the flat-top couch on detector to center-of-rotation (COR) distance. In no background case, all five spheres were visible in the reconstructed parallel-hole and pinhole images. In with background case, three spheres of 17, 22 and 28 mm diameter were readily observed with the parallel-hole imaging, and the targeted spheres (22 and 28 mm diameter) were readily observed in the pinhole ROI imaging.

In conclusion, the proposed on-board robotic SPECT can be aligned to LINAC/CBCT with a single pinhole projection of the line-source phantom. Alignment parameters can be estimated using one pinhole projection of line sources. This alignment method may be important for multi-pinhole SPECT, where relative pinhole alignment may vary during rotation. For single pinhole and multi-pinhole SPECT imaging onboard radiation therapy machines, the method could provide alignment of SPECT coordinates with those of CBCT and the LINAC. In simulation studies of prone breast imaging and respiratory-gated lung imaging, the 49-pinhole detector showed better tumor contrast recovery and localization in a 4-minute scan compared to parallel-hole detector. On-board SPECT could be achieved by a robot maneuvering a SPECT detector about patients in position for radiation therapy on a flat-top couch. The robot inherent coordinate frames could be an effective means to estimate detector pose for use in SPECT image reconstruction.

Decompositions of spaces of measures

Let M be the Banach space of sigma-additive complex-valued measures on an abstract measurable space. We prove that any closed, with respect to absolute continuity norm-closed, linear subspace L of M is complemented and describe the unique complement, projection onto L along which has norm 1. Using this fact we prove a decomposition theorem, which includes the Jordan decomposition theorem, the generalized Radon-Nikodym theorem and the decomposition of measures into decaying and non-decaying components as particular cases. We also prove an analog of the Jessen-Wintner purity theorem for our decompositions.

Genomic instability after targeted irradiation of human lymphocytes: Evidence for inter-individual differences under bystander conditions

Environmental (222)radon exposure is a human health concern, and many studies demonstrate that very low doses of high LET alpha-particle irradiation initiate deleterious genetic consequences in both radiated and non-irradiated bystander cells. One consequence, radiation-induced genomic instability (RIGI), is a hallmark of tumorigenesis and is often assessed by measuring delayed chromosomal aberrations We utilised a technique that facilitates transient immobilization of primary lymphocytes for targeted microbeam irradiation and have reported that environmentally relevant doses, e.g. a single He-3(2+) particle traversal to a single cell, are sufficient to Induce RIGI Herein we sought to determine differences in radiation response in lymphocytes isolated from five healthy male donors Primary lymphocytes were irradiated with a single particle per cell nucleus. We found evidence for inter-individual variation in radiation response (Rid, measured as delayed chromosome aberrations) Although this was not highly significant, it was possibly masked by high levels of intra-individual variation While there are many studies showing a link between genetic predisposition and RIGI, there are few studies linking genetic background with bystander effects in normal human lymphocytes In an attempt to investigate inter-individual variation in the induction of bystander effects, primary lymphocytes were irradiated with a single particle under conditions where fractions of the population were traversed We showed a marked genotype-dependent bystander response in one donor after exposure to 15% of the population The findings may also be regarded as a radiation-induced genotype-dependent bystander effect triggering an instability phenotype (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Birth order and childhood type 1 diabetes risk: A pooled analysis of 31 observational studies

Background: The incidence rates of childhood onset type 1 diabetes are almost universally increasing across the globe but the aetiology of the disease remains largely unknown. We investigated whether birth order is associated with the risk of childhood diabetes by performing a pooled analysis of previous studies. Methods: Relevant studies published before January 2010 were identified from MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE. Authors of studies provided individual patient data or conducted pre-specified analyses. Meta-analysis techniques were used to derive combined odds ratios (ORs), before and after adjustment for confounders, and investigate heterogeneity. Results: Data were available for 6 cohort and 25 case-control studies, including 11 955 cases of type 1 diabetes. Overall, there was no evidence of an association prior to adjustment for confounders. After adjustment for maternal age at birth and other confounders, a reduction in the risk of diabetes in second-or later born children became apparent [fully adjusted OR=0.90 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83-0.98; P=0.02] but this association varied markedly between studies (I 2=67%). An a priori subgroup analysis showed that the association was stronger and more consistent in children <5years of age (n=25 studies, maternal age adjusted OR=0.84 95% CI 0.75, 0.93; I 2=23%). Conclusion: Although the association varied between studies, there was some evidence of a lower risk of childhood onset type 1 diabetes with increasing birth order, particularly in children aged <5 years. This finding could reflect increased exposure to infections in early life in later born children. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2010; all rights reserved.

Breast-feeding and childhood-onset type 1 diabetes:A pooled analysis of individual participant data from 43 observational studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if there is a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes in children breastfed or exclusively breastfed by performing a pooled analysis with adjustment for recognized confounders.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Relevant studies were identified from literature searches using MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Authors of relevant studies were asked to provide individual participant data or conduct prespecified analyses. Meta-analysis techniques were used to combine odds ratios (ORs) and investigate heterogeneity between studies.
RESULTS: Data were available from 43 studies including 9,874 patients with type 1 diabetes. Overall, there was a reduction in the risk of diabetes after exclusive breast-feeding for >2 weeks (20 studies; OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.88), the association after exclusive breast-feeding for >3 months was weaker (30 studies; OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.75-1.00), and no association was observed after (nonexclusive) breast-feeding for >2 weeks (28 studies; OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.81-1.07) or >3 months (29 studies; OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.78-1.00). These associations were all subject to marked heterogeneity (I(2) = 58, 76, 54, and 68%, respectively). In studies with lower risk of bias, the reduced risk after exclusive breast-feeding for >2 weeks remained (12 studies; OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.75-0.99), and heterogeneity was reduced (I(2) = 0%). Adjustments for potential confounders altered these estimates very little.
CONCLUSIONS: The pooled analysis suggests weak protective associations between exclusive breast-feeding and type 1 diabetes risk. However, these findings are difficult to interpret because of the marked variation in effect and possible biases (particularly recall bias) inherent in the included studies.

Investigating local relationships between trace elements in soils and cancer data

Medical geology research has recognised a number of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, vanadium, uranium and zinc, known to influence human disease by their respective deficiency or toxicity. As the impact of infectious diseases has decreased and the population ages, so cancer has become the most common cause of death in developed countries including Northern Ireland. This research explores the relationship between environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements in soil and cancer disease data across Northern Ireland. The incidence of twelve different cancer types (lung, stomach, leukaemia, oesophagus, colorectal, bladder, kidney, breast, mesothelioma, melanoma and non melanoma(NM) both basal and squamous, were examined in the form of twenty-five coded datasets comprising aggregates over the 12 year period from 1993 to 2006. A local modelling technique,geographically weighted regression (GWR) is usedto explore the relationship between environmental exposure and cancer disease data. The results show comparisons of the geographical incidence of certain cancers (stomach and NM squamous skin cancer) in relation to concentrations of certain PTEs (arsenic levels in soils and radon were identified). Findings from the research have implications for regional human health risk assessments.

Avaliação do desempenho energético e da qualidade do ar de uma piscina coberta

Este trabalho teve como propósito fazer uma avaliação do desempenho energético e da qualidade do ar no interior das instalações de uma Piscina Municipal Coberta, localizada na zona norte de Portugal, sendo estabelecidos os seguintes objetivos: caracterização geral da piscina, no que respeita aos seus diferentes espaços e equipamentos, cálculo dos consumos térmicos e elétricos bem como o registo das concentrações de elementos poluentes para controlo da qualidade do ar no interior da piscina, tendo como base a legislação atualmente em vigor. A caracterização geral da piscina permitiu verificar algumas inconformidades como a temperatura da água nos tanques de natação que tem valores superiores aos recomendados e a sala de primeiros socorros que não possui acesso direto ao exterior. Acrescente-se que o pavimento nos chuveiros da casa de banho feminina e os valores de pH para água do tanque grande e pequeno não estão sempre dentro da gama de recomendação. O caudal da renovação de ar está a ser operado manualmente e quando está a funcionar a 50% da sua capacidade máxima, que acontece numa parte do dia, apenas consegue renovar 77,5% do caudal recomendado pelo RSECE. Para se obter o valor recomendado é necessário ter pelo menos 7 horas com o caudal a 100% da capacidade máxima. A avaria na UTA2 originou que 40% dos registos diários da humidade relativa interior estivessem fora da gama de valores recomendados e que esta é fortemente dependente da humidade no exterior e pode ser agravada quando as portas dos envidraçados da nave são abertas. Analisando ainda a quantidade de água removida na desumidificação do ar com a água evaporada em condições de Outono-Inverno ou Primavera-Verão, este estudo permitiu concluir que todas as combinações demonstraram a necessidade de desumidificação salvo a combinação Outono-Inverno e UTA2 a funcionar a 100% da sua capacidade máxima. Os isolamentos das tubagens na sala das caldeiras foram observados e comparados com as soluções recomendadas pelas empresas especialistas e verificou-se que alguns estão mal colocados com parcial ou total degradação, promovendo perdas térmicas. No caso das perdas calorificas por evaporação, estas representaram cerca de 67,78% das perdas totais. Como tal, estudou-se a aplicação de uma cobertura sobre o plano de água durante o período de inatividade da piscina (8 horas) e verificou-se que o resultado seria uma poupança de 654,8 kWh/dia, na ausência de evaporação da água, mais 88,00 kWh/dia do período da UTA2 a funcionar a 50% da sua capacidade, perfazendo um total de 742,8 kWh/dia. A aplicação da cobertura permite obter um VAL de valor positivo, uma TIR de 22,77% e sendo este valor superior ao WACC (Weight Average Cost of Capital), o projeto torna-se viável com um Pay-Back de 3,17 anos. Caracterizou-se também o consumo total diário em eletricidade, e verificou-se que as unidades de climatização, as bombas de circulação de água, a iluminação, e outros equipamentos representam, respetivamente, cerca de 67,81, 25,26, 2,68 e 3,91% da energia elétrica total consumida. Por fim, a análise à qualidade do ar no interior da nave em Maio e Setembro identificou que as concentrações de ozono apresentavam valores no limite do aceitável em Maio e superiores ao valor de emissão em Setembro. Os compostos orgânicos voláteis também apresentavam valores em Maio 4,98 vezes superior e em Setembro 6,87 vezes superior aos valores máximos exigidos pelo D.L. nº 79/2006. Houve ainda altas concentrações de radão registadas na casa dos filtros, em Maio com um valor 11,49 vezes superior, no entanto esse valor desceu em Setembro para 1,08 vezes, mesmo assim superior ao exigido pelo D.L. nº 79/2006.

Assessment of direct radiological risk and indirect associated toxic risks originated by Coal-Fired Power Plants

Over the past few decades there has been some discussion concerning the increase of the natural background radiation originated by coal-fired power plants, due to the uranium and thorium content present in combustion ashes. The radioactive decay products of uranium and thorium, such as radium, radon, polonium, bismuth and lead, are also released in addition to a significant amount of 40K. Since the measurement of radioactive elements released by the gaseous emissions of coal power plants is not compulsory, there is a gap of information concerning this situation. Consequently, the prediction of dispersion and mobility of these elements in the environment, after their release, is based on limited data and the radiological impact from the exposure to these radioactive elements is unknown. This paper describes the methodology that is being developed to assess the radiological impact due to the raise in the natural background radiation level originated by the release and dispersion of the emitted radionuclides. The current investigation is part of a research project that is undergoing in the vicinity of Sines coal-fired power plant (south of Portugal) until 2013. Data from preliminary stages are already available and possible of interpretation.

On Some Infinite Convex Invariants

The present study on some infinite convex invariants. The origin of convexity can be traced back to the period of Archimedes and Euclid. At the turn of the nineteenth centaury , convexicity became an independent branch of mathematics with its own problems, methods and theories. The convexity can be sorted out into two kinds, the first type deals with generalization of particular problems such as separation of convex sets[EL], extremality[FA], [DAV] or continuous selection Michael[M1] and the second type involved with a multi- purpose system of axioms. The theory of convex invariants has grown out of the classical results of Helly, Radon and Caratheodory in Euclidean spaces. Levi gave the first general definition of the invariants Helly number and Radon number. The notation of a convex structure was introduced by Jamison[JA4] and that of generating degree was introduced by Van de Vel[VAD8]. We also prove that for a non-coarse convex structure, rank is less than or equal to the generating degree, and also generalize Tverberg’s theorem using infinite partition numbers. Compare the transfinite topological and transfinite convex dimensions

Studies on Fuzzy Matroitls and Related Topics

The doctoral thesis focuses on the Studies on fuzzy Matroids and related topics.Since the publication of the classical paper on fuzzy sets by L. A. Zadeh in 1965.the theory of fuzzy mathematics has gained more and more recognition from many researchers in a wide range of scientific fields. Among various branches of pure and applied mathematics, convexity was one of the areas where the notion of fuzzy set was applied. Many researchers have been involved in extending the notion of abstract convexity to the broader framework of fuzzy setting. As a result, a number of concepts have been formulated and explored. However. many concepts are yet to be fuzzified. The main objective of this thesis was to extend some basic concepts and results in convexity theory to the fuzzy setting. The concept like matroids, independent structures. classical convex invariants like Helly number, Caratheodoty number, Radon number and Exchange number form an important area of study in crisp convexity theory. In this thesis, we try to generalize some of these concepts to the fuzzy setting. Finally, we have defined different types of fuzzy matroids derived from vector spaces and discussed some of their properties.