In this project, we proposed to develop the imaging method for early detection of amyloid plaque in Alzheimer's disease. As specified in SA1 and the project timeline, the major tasks of year 1 are the construction and optimization of a prototype x-ray phase contrast CT system to carry out the tasks specified in SA2 and 3. Thus far, the construction of the prototype x- ray phase contrast CT is progressing well and is in the optimization process as anticipated. The major challenge of building the prototype x-ray phase contrast CT is the fabrication of x-ray gratings at high precision and performance. Enabled by the cutting-edge opti-mechanical equipment and devices at the Nano- Technology Research Center of GaTech (see Fig. 1), we have gained a plenty of experience in fabricating the x-ray gratings through a trial and error optimization process. We have also built three modules that are ready for filling of ABeta-peptide and ABeta-peptide/fibril to make the ABeta-peptide phantoms to carry out the tasks specified in SA2. Thus far, under partial support of this award, two journal papers have been published in Medical Physics- one of the leading journals in medical imaging, and five papers published in leading international conferences. Overall, the project's progression has been in pace with the project timeline specified in statement of work (SOW).

关键词：阿尔茨海默病；脑；电脑断层扫描；X光片；医学影像

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The Underground Test Area (UGTA) activity is responsible for assessing and evaluating the effects of the underground nuclear weapons tests on groundwater at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), formerly the Nevada Test Site (NTS), and implementing a corrective action closure strategy. The UGTA strategy is based on a combination of characterization, modeling studies, monitoring, and institutional controls (i.e., monitored natural attenuation). The closure strategy verifies through appropriate monitoring activities that contaminants of concern do not exceed the SDWA at the regulatory boundary and that adequate institutional controls are established and administered to ensure protection of the public. Other programs conducted at the NNSS supporting the environmental mission include the Routine Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (RREMP), Waste Management, and the Infrastructure Program. Given the current programmatic and operational demands for various water-monitoring activities at the same locations, and the ever-increasing resource challenges, cooperative and collaborative approaches to conducting the work are necessary. For this reason, an integrated sampling plan is being developed by the UGTA activity to define sampling and analysis objectives, reduce duplication, eliminate unnecessary activities, and minimize costs. The sampling plan will ensure the right data sets are developed to support closure and efficient transition to long-term monitoring.

关键词：水污染监测；放射性废物管理；污染；地下水

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This report and the work described were sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicle Technologies Office. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and direction of Kevin Stork and Steve Przesmitzki at DOE. This work has also benefited from input and direction from members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Coordinating Research Council. The authors are also indebted to the personnel of the Southwest Research Institute, and Transportation Research Center, in particular Marty Heimrich, Brent Shoffner, Karrie Honchell, and Walt Dudek, for their efforts in data collection during the DOE Intermediate Ethanol Blends Program.

关键词：空气污染；空气污染控制；乙醇燃料；燃油经济

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In 2012, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO), in cooperation with the National Park Service, completed its eighth year of a habitat-based landbird monitoring program in the Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network. This program is de- signed to provide rigorous population trend data for most diurnal, regularly occurring breed- ing landbird species throughout parks of the Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN). This population information is useful for land managers and supports the National Park Services goal of long-term monitoring of biological indicators for network parks. The pro- gram is also consistent with goals emphasized by the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative Monitoring Subcommittee (2007).

关键词：环境监测；自然资源管理；栖息地；采样；繁殖

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Human's living and working in the harsh environment of space present many challenges for habitability engineers and microbiologists. Spacecraft must provide an internal environment in which physical (gas composition, pressure, temperature, and humidity), chemical, and biological environmental parameters are maintained at safe levels. Microorganisms are ubiquitous and will accompany all human-occupied spacecraft, but if biological contamination were to reach unacceptable levels, long-term human space flight would be impossible. Prevention of microbiological problems, therefore, must have a high priority. Historically, prevention of infectious disease in the crew has been the highest priority, but experience gained from the NASA-Mir program showed that microbial contamination of vehicle and life-support systems, such as biofouling of water and food, are of equal importance. The major sources of microbiological risk factors for astronauts include food, drinking water, air, surfaces, payloads, research animals, crew members, and personnel in close contact with the astronauts. In our efforts to eliminate or mitigate the negative effects of microorganisms in spacecraft, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) implemented comprehensive microbial analyses of the major risk factors. This included the establishment of acceptability requirements for food, water, air, surfaces, and crew members. A robust monitoring program was then implemented to verify that the risks were within acceptable limits. Prevention of microbiological problems is preferred over mitigation of problems during flight, and preventive steps must begin very early in the design phase. Spacecraft development must include requirements to control free water from humidity, condensate, hygiene activities, and other releases. If water is available, microbes are likely to grow because sufficient nutrients are potentially available. Materials selected for the spacecraft must not promote or support microbial growth. Air filtration can dramatically reduce the number of airborne bacteria, fungi, and particulates in spacecraft breathing air. Waterborne bacteria can be reduced to acceptable levels by thermal inactivation of bacteria during water processing, along with a residual biocide, and filtration at the point of use can ensure safety. System design must include onboard capability to achieve recovery of the system from contamination. Robust housekeeping procedures that include periodic cleaning and disinfection will prevent high levels of microbial growth on surfaces. Food for consumption in space must be thoroughly tested for excessive microbial content and pathogens before launch. Thorough preflight examination of flight crews, consumables, payloads, and the environment can greatly reduce pathogens in spacecraft. Many of the lessons learned from the Space Shuttle and previous programs were applied in the early design phase of the International Space Station, resulting in the safest space habitat to date. This presentation describes the monitoring program for the International Space Station and will summarize results from preflight and on-orbit monitoring.

关键词：微生物学；传染病；航天器环境；环境监测；生态系统

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This document compiles recent research findings related to corrosion of metals in preservative treated wood into a single report on corrosion of metals in wood. The research was conducted as part of the Research, Technology and Education portion of the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation (NHCBP) Program administered by the Federal Highway Administration. The compilation addresses: corrosion rates of metals embedded in treated wood, the mechanism of corrosion in treated wood, the effect of extractives on corrosion, methods for predicting the service life of metals in treated wood, and suitable non-metallic replacement fasteners. The document was created to serve as a desk reference for engineers to aid in materials selection when building with treated wood.

关键词：防腐剂；紧固件；木材；腐蚀；纤维增强聚合物

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Traditional electrospun nanofibers have a myriad of applications ranging from scaffolds for tissue engineering to components of biosensors and energy harvesting devices. The generally smooth one-dimensional structure of the fibers has stood as a limitation to several interesting novel applications. Control of fiber diameter, porosity and collector geometry will be briefly discussed, as will more traditional methods for controlling fiber morphology and fiber mat architecture. The remainder of the review will focus on new techniques to prepare hierarchically structured fibers. Fibers with hierarchical primary structures including helical, buckled, and beads-on-a- string fibers, as well as fibers with secondary structures, such as nanopores, nanopillars, nanorods, and internally structured fibers and their applications will be discussed. These new materials with helical/buckled morphology are expected to possess unique optical and mechanical properties with possible applications for negative refractive index materials, highly stretchable/high-tensile-strength materials, and components in microelectromechanical devices. Core-shell type fibers enable a much wider variety of materials to be electrospun and are expected to be widely applied in the sensing, drug delivery/controlled release fields, and in the encapsulation of live cells for biological applications. Materials with a hierarchical secondary structure are expected to provide new superhydrophobic and self- cleaning materials.

关键词：纤维；纳米结构；生物检测;生物；能源；

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In August 2011, the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) conducted an assessment of the status of ecological condition of soft-bottom habitat and overlying waters of the continental shelf in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The original sampling design included 50 randomly selected sites from the Mississippi River delta to the U.S./Mexican border, representing a total area of 111,162 km2; however, vessel failures and inclement weather precluded sampling at 16 sites in the western-most part of the study region. Sampling was completed at the remaining 34 sites in offshore waters between the Mississippi River delta and Freeport, Texas, representing an estimated 75,591 km2. Field sampling followed standard methods and indicators applied in prior NOAA coastal studies and EPAs Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) and National Coastal Assessment (NCA). A key feature adopted from these studies was the incorporation of a random probabilistic sampling design. Such a design provides a basis for making unbiased statistical estimates of the spatial extent of ecological condition relative to various measured indicators and corresponding thresholds of concern. Indicators included multiple measures of water quality, sediment quality, and biological condition (benthic fauna, fish tissue contaminant levels).

关键词：生态；海洋；墨西哥湾；环境监测

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Unnecessary diagnostic imaging (DI) examinations raise concerns for patient safety and place stress on human and financial resources. To reduce unnecessary DI examinations, several Canadian pilot studies have investigated how decision support systems (DSS) could be utilized. Based on interview results from our previous research, in addition to a literature review, themes emerged that influenced the features and design of a DI DSS prototype. Features include having the referring professional indicate how the results of the examination will be utilized (i.e. for diagnosis or patient management), increasing communication between referring physicians/nurse practitioners and radiologists, and displaying previous DI examinations (or orders that are scheduled to take place) to avoid duplicate orders. Presenting a patient's cumulative radiation exposure, and having resources for information support to guide physicians through challenging clinical decisions are two other features included in the DSS prototype. By incorporating physician perspectives and current literature into the design, this DSS aims to promote the appropriate use of DI resources by supporting physicians and nurse practitioners in their DI ordering practices.

关键词：影像诊断；医学成像；决策支持工具；决策支持系统

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Real-time cyber-physical systems and information processing clusters require system designers to consider the total latency involved in collecting and aggregating data. For example, applications such as wild-fire monitoring require data to be presented to users in a timely manner. However, most models and algorithms for sensor networks have focused on alternative metrics such as energy efficiency. In this paper, we present a new model of sensor network aggregation that focuses on total latency. Our model is flexible and enables users to configure varying transmission and computation time on a node-by-node basis, and thus enables the simulation of complex computational phenomena. In addition, we present results from three tasking algorithms that trade-off local communication for overall latency performance. These algorithms are evaluated in simulated networks of up to 200 nodes.

关键词：环境监测；计量；数据处理；传感器；模拟

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