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Developing a model of upland swamp structure, function and evolution for biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation: The case of threatened Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS)
Full text linkTemperate highland peat swamps on sandstone (THPSS) (called upland swamps) are a form of topogenous mire which occur on the plateau areas of eastern Australia. These systems are well recognised for their ecological value, under several State and Federal policies. However, our understanding of their structure, function and evolution remains limited. This study examines the sedimentology, age structure, hydrological function and stygofauna diversity of 19 valley-bottom swamps in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands of NSW to produce a regional model of THPSS geo-ecological function. This regional model provides a template for environmental health assessment and rehabilitation of these systems, and to inform State and Federal policy making on the conservation status of these systems. © 2014 University of Melbourn
Early Neolithic diets at Baijia, Wei River valley, China: Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of human and faunal remains
No full textThe first farmers of the Wei River valley belonged to
the Laoguantai period (ca. 8500-7000 yr BP) and lived in
small settlements that were sparsely distributed in the
landscape. Understanding of Laoguantai farming practices
is limited as only a small number of archaeological sites
are known. Here we present stable carbon and nitrogen
isotope values for faunal and human bone collagen from
Baijia, a Laoguantai site in the Wei River valley of Shaanxi
Province, China. Five of the collagen samples have been
AMS 14C dated and have a calibrated age range of ca.
7659-7339 yr BP. Stable isotope results show millet and
aquatic foods, such as fish and shellfish, being included
in the human diet. Bovid samples, which are tentatively
identified as water buffalo, have stable carbon isotope
values reflecting some millet consumption. The question
of whether these bovids were grazing on millet growing
wild, or had diets directly influenced by humans, remains
to be answered. Stable isotope results for a single pig
reveal a markedly different diet, one dominated by C3
plants which would have dominated natural vegetation of
the region. Overall, stable isotope results conform to the
current view of Laoguantai people being millet farmers
with subsistence strategies that included hunted wild
foods
Sequestration of 137Cs in marine fish tissues and organ-specific dose modelling: data review and recommendation for future sampling
No full textNot availabl
20th International Workshop on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ERCIS-2012)
Full text linkOn behalf of the Organising Committee, I am pleased to welcome you to the
20th International Workshop on Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources
(ECRIS-2012), being held in Sydney, Australia, from 25th-28th September 2012.
Following the last workshop in Grenoble, the birthplace of ECR ion sources, it is
perhaps fitting that the workshop comes to Sydney this year, on the very opposite
side of the planet, to show that ECRIS science and technology has indeed literally
spread all around the world.
The workshop will focus on the latest developments in performance, modelling
and applications of ECR ion sources along with the associated physics and
technologies.
The workshop is organised by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation (ANSTO), with the support of the Australian Institute of Nuclear
Science and Engineering, the Australian National University in Canberra and the
Australian Collaboration for Accelerator Science.Major sponsors / exhibitors: Pantechnik, Scitek and Swagelok.
Sponsors: John Morris Scientific, Agilent Technologies, Integrated Engineering
Software, National Electrostatics Corporation and National Instruments
Neutron scattering at OPAL: scientific highlights and next generation instrumentation
No full textNot available. Physical copy available in ANSTO Library at 621.48/1
Intrinsic and boron-enhanced hydrogen diffusion in amorphous silicon formed by ion implantation
No full textThe concentration dependence of H diffusion in amorphous Si (a-Si) formed by ion implantation is reported for implanted H profiles. An empirical relationship is proposed which relates the diffusion coefficient to the H concentration valid up to 0.3 at. %. B-enhanced H diffusion is observed and shows trends with temperature typically associated with a Fermi level shifting dependence. A modified form of the generalized Fermi level shifting model is applied to these data.
The Department of Electronic Materials Engineering at the Australian National University is acknowledged for providing access to ion implanting facilities. This work was supported by grants from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (Award No. AINGRA08035). © 2009 American Institute of Physic
Reducing mortality risk by targeting specific air pollution sources: Suva, Fiji
No full textHealth implications of air pollution vary dependent upon pollutant sources. This work determines the value, in terms of reduced mortality, of reducing ambient particulate matter (PM2.5: effective aerodynamic diameter 2.5 μm or less) concentration due to different emission sources. Suva, a Pacific Island city with substantial input from combustion sources, is used as a case-study. Elemental concentration was determined, by ion beam analysis, for PM2.5 samples from Suva, spanning one year. Sources of PM2.5 have been quantified by positive matrix factorisation. A review of recent literature has been carried out to delineate the mortality risk associated with these sources. Risk factors have then been applied for Suva, to calculate the possible mortality reduction that may be achieved through reduction in pollutant levels. Higher risk ratios for black carbon and sulphur resulted in mortality predictions for PM2.5 from fossil fuel combustion, road vehicle emissions and waste burning that surpass predictions for these sources based on health risk of PM2.5 mass alone. Predicted mortality for Suva from fossil fuel smoke exceeds the national toll from road accidents in Fiji. The greatest benefit for Suva, in terms of reduced mortality, is likely to be accomplished by reducing emissions from fossil fuel combustion (diesel), vehicles and waste burning.© 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V
Upper Hunter Valley particle characterization study: final report
Full text linkThis study provides an analysis of the composition of PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) in the two main population centres in the Upper Hunter, namely Muswellbrook and Singleton, during 012.The finer PM2.5 particles have been studied because they are of greatest concern owing to their impact on health.
Samples were collected for 24 hours every third day and analysed for the components of PM2.5, specifically twenty elements, fourteen soluble ions, two anhydrous sugars (levoglucosan and mannosan) that are found in woodsmoke, organic carbon (OC), and black carbon (BC), as well as gravimetric mass.
The chemical composition of all the samples from each site was analysed using a mathematical technique called Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF), which is widely used in air pollution source apportionment studies. This identified eight factors (also called ‘fingerprints’) which represent the mix of components that
tend to vary together in time. Further analysis, using information about known sources and knowledge of atmospheric chemistry as well as wind sector and seasonal analysis, was undertaken to identify the most likely source of emissions for each factor and hence the contribution that each source makes to the
measured PM2.5 concentrations. © 2013 CSIROSummary (factsheet) also attached
Determination of niobium diffusion in titania and zirconia using secondary ion mass spectrometry
No full textThis paper provides an outline for the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in the determination of diffusion data in metal oxides. The focus is on the determination of Nb bulk and grain boundary diffusion coefficients in TiO2 and zirconia. Specifically, the diffusion of Nb in TiO2 and yttria doped (10 mol.-%) ZrO2 (10YSZ) has been assessed. The following bulk diffusion coefficients D 93Nb were obtained
D 93Nb =(1·03±0·051) × 10−18 m2 s−1 10YSZ(1273K)
D 93Nb =(1·91±0·096) × 10−16 m2 s−1 TiO2(1273K)
The grain boundary diffusion parameter for Nb grain boundary diffusion in 10YSZ was also determined
D 93Nb δα =(7·48 ± 0·37) × 10−25 m2 s−1 10YSZ(1273K)
The Nb grain boundary diffusion coefficient D′93Nb was determined to be
D′93Nb =(3·99 ± 0·20) × 10−16 m2 s−1 10YSZ(1273K)© 2007 Informa UK Limite
Synroc technology: perspectives and current status (review)
No full textDr Eric (Lou) Vance spent 32 years at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), where he was dedicated to the development of Synroc technology, a waste treatment solution for intractable nuclear wastes. The original form of Synroc, a multiphase ceramic wasteform based on stable and leach resistant titanate minerals, was invented by Australian scientists in the late 1970s. This formulation was directed toward the immobilization of PUREX wastes from the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. Synroc at ANSTO under the scientific leadership of Dr Vance since evolved beyond these original titanate ceramics into a waste treatment technology platform. This platform can be applied to produce glass, glass‐ceramic and ceramic wasteforms and offers distinct advantages in terms of waste loading and suppressing volatile losses. The platform therefore provides an opportunity to treat those waste streams that are problematic for glass matrices alone or existing vitrification process technologies. Such wastes include, for example, actinide‐bearing wastes, those that contain large proportions of refractory elements, those with significant fission product or corrosive volatile emissions and those wastes resulting from radiopharmaceutical production. The implementation of the latter will see the industrialization of Synroc technology via a first‐of‐a‐kind Synroc Waste Treatment Facility that is currently under construction at ANSTO. This paper will review Synroc technology, particularly noting the substantial and essential contributions from the late Dr Vance. The review will also provide some perspective on the development of the technology for nuclear waste immobilization and describe the significant recent advancements at ANSTO. © 1999-2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc