bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assimilation of High-Resolution Tropical Cyclone Observations with an Ensemble Kalman Filter Using NOAA/AOML/HRD’s HEDAS: Evaluation of the 2008–11 Vortex-Scale Analyses
Authors: Aksoy Altuğ , Aberson Sim D. , Vukicevic Tomislava , Sellwood Kathryn J. , Lorsolo Sylvie , Zhang Xuejin
Published: November 2012

The Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Ensemble Data Assimilation System (HEDAS) is developed to assimilate tropical cyclone inner-core observations for high-resolution vortex initialization. It is based on a serial implementation of the square root ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). In this study, HWRF is used in an experimental configuration with horizontal grid spacing of 9 (3) km on the outer (inner) domain. HEDAS is applied to 83 cases from years 2008 to 2011. With the exception of two Hurricane Hilary (2011) cases in the eastern North Pacific basin, all cases are observed in the Atlantic basin. Observed storm intensity for these cases ranges from tropical depression to category-4 hurricane.

Overall, it is found that high-resolution tropical cyclone observations, when assimilated with an advanced data assimilation technique such as the EnKF, result in analyses of the primary circulation that are realistic in terms of intensity, wavenumber-0 radial structure, as well as wavenumber-1 azimuthal structure. Representing the secondary circulation in the analyses is found to be more challenging with systematic errors in the magnitude and depth of the low-level radial inflow. This is believed to result from a model bias in the experimental HWRF caused by the overdiffusive nature of the planetary boundary layer parameterization utilized. Thermodynamic deviations from the observed structure are believed to be caused by both an imbalance between the number of the kinematic and thermodynamic observations in general and the suboptimal ensemble covariances between kinematic and thermodynamic fields. Future plans are discussed to address these challenges.
Information Warfare and New Organizational Landscapes: An Inquiry into the ExxonMobil–Greenpeace Dispute over Climate Change
Authors: MacKay Brad , Munro Iain
Published: November 2012

A defining characteristic of the emergence of new organizational landscapes is that information is not just being used as a tool by organizations, as it is more usually understood, but also as a weapon in a ‘war of position’. As organizations seek to influence public perception over emotive issues such as climate change, conflict at the ideational level can give rise to information warfare campaigns. This concerns the creation and deployment of often ideologically infused ideas through information networks to promote an organization’s interests over those of its adversaries. In this article, we analyse the ways in which ExxonMobil and Greenpeace employ distinctive informational tactics against a range of diverse targets in their dispute over the climate change debate. The purpose of this article is to advance the neo-Gramscian perspective on social movement organizations as a framework for understanding such behaviour. We argue that information warfare is likely to become common as corporations and non-governmental organizations are increasingly sensitive to their informational environment as a source of both opportunity and possible conflict.
The Inclusion of Aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Temporal Conditions for Institutional Entrepreneurship
Authors: Buhr Katarina
Published: November 2012

Recent literature on institutional entrepreneurship has examined the enabling conditions under which actors may influence institutional arrangements. Whereas conditions at field level and among actors have been highlighted, scholars have paid little attention to how and why the field is amenable to change at certain times and how actors act upon these conditions in a timely fashion. This paper examines the temporal conditions for institutional entrepreneurship. I propose that a collective of time-aware institutional entrepreneurs opens a window of opportunity for policy breakthrough by relating its activities to temporally favorable conditions of the multidimensional institutional process. These theoretical propositions are illustrated through an empirical case study of how aviation was targeted for its climate change impact by inclusion in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Greening Capitalism? A Marxist Critique of Carbon Markets
Authors: Böhm Steffen , Misoczky Maria Ceci , Moog Sandra
Published: November 2012

Climate change is increasingly being recognized as a serious threat to dominant modes of social organization, inspiring suggestions that capitalism itself needs to be transformed if we are to ‘decarbonize’ the global economy. Since the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, carbon markets have emerged as the main politico-economic tools in global efforts to address climate change. Newell and Paterson (2010) have recently claimed that the embrace of carbon markets by financial and political elites constitutes a possible first step towards the transformation of current modes of capitalist organization into a new form of greener, more sustainable ‘climate capitalism.’ In this paper, we argue that the institutionalization of carbon markets does not, in fact, represent a move towards the radical transformation of capitalism, but is better understood as the most recent expression of ongoing trends of ecological commodification and expropriation, driving familiar processes of uneven and crisis-prone development. In this paper, we review four critical Marxist concepts: metabolic rift (Foster, 1999), capitalism as world ecology (Moore, 2011a), uneven development and accumulation through dispossession (Harvey, 2003, 2006), and sub-imperialism (Marini, 1972, 1977), developing a framework for a Marxist analysis of carbon markets. Our analysis shows that carbon markets form part of a longer historical development of global capitalism and its relation to nature. Carbon markets, we argue, serve as creative new modes of accumulation, but are unlikely to transform capitalist dynamics in ways that might foster a more sustainable global economy. Our analysis also elucidates, in particular, the role that carbon markets play in exacerbating uneven development within the Global South, as elites in emerging economies leverage carbon market financing to pursue new strategies of sub-imperial expansion.
The Persistent Problems and Confounding Challenges of Educator Incentives
Authors: Rice Jennifer King , Malen Betty , Baumann Paul , Chen Elke , Dougherty Amy , Hyde Laura , Jackson Cara , Jacobson Reuben , McKithen Clarissa
Published: November 2012

While education accountability systems emphasize teacher quality as a prerequisite for student learning, education administrators have struggled to staff low-performing schools with effective teachers. Fueled in part by the federal Teacher Incentive Fund, compensation reforms have gained center stage status among strategies aimed at improving human capital in schools. This article presents findings from a formative evaluation of the initial year of implementation of the Financial Incentive Rewards for Supervisors and Teachers (FIRST) program in the Prince George’s County Public School System. Our review of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature on financial incentive systems in public school systems identified four sets of implementation challenges: securing and maintaining stakeholder support; developing and implementing accurate and credible measures of educator performance; developing the district and site capacity required to implement and sustain the initiative; and aligning the reform with human resource goals, school improvement initiatives, and features of the work environment. Our field research on the formulation, implementation, and initial impact of the FIRST initiative demonstrates that even when an educator incentive initiative reflects “lessons learned” from the empirical and theoretical literature, challenges that undermine the initiative’s potential to realize its major goals persist. We argue that this case extends our understanding of the key challenges identified in the literature and we highlight implications for policy and research.
Cohesion
Authors: Drescher Stuart , Burlingame Gary , Fuhriman Addie
Published: November 2012

This article is third in a series of four describing and integrating a multidimensional approach for measuring and understanding small group process. The construct of cohesion is reviewed and the multidimensional approach is applied to evidence, both conceptual and empirical, resulting from studies of cohesion. Observations and conclusions are discussed regarding cohesion and its current state.
Maps, Models, and Narratives
Authors: Kokanovic Renata , Butler Ella , Halilovich Hariz , Palmer Victoria , Griffiths Frances , Dowrick Christopher , Gunn Jane
Published: November 2012

Many researchers within the social sciences, medicine, and humanities have examined the ways people talk and think about depression. In their research and published literature they have attempted to determine the theoretical frameworks and appropriate language for categorizing such concepts and understandings. Drawing from mental health and broader social science scholarship, in this article we examine three approaches to developing an inclusive understanding of depression experiences: explanatory models, exploratory maps, and illness narratives. Utilizing these terms in the analysis of a single dataset, we identified multiple conceptual terms with potential analytical validity. Furthermore, we argue that variable usage and meanings of these concepts among lay people might contribute to a shared understanding of depression between lay people and experts, and ultimately have positive consequences for clinical practice.
Pancreatic diabetes: an Indian perspective
Authors: Swaminathan Krishnan , Prabhu Rajesh
Published: November 2012

Tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) and fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (FCPD) are unique forms of non-alcoholic pancreatitis and diabetes found almost exclusively in the tropics. Such patients can be erroneously labelled as having type 1 diabetes. A diagnosis of FCPD has potential implications in treatment, prediction of disease progression and complications. There are several characteristic features including young age of onset, progressive disease, non-ketotic diabetes, pancreatic calculi on imaging and a high risk of pancreatic cancer. Hyperglycaemia is usually severe and requires insulin, although ketoacidosis is a rare occurrence. Long term follow-up is necessary as microvascular complications have been reported. Macrovascular complications are less common due to a multitude of factors. The aetiology of TCP/FCPD is not clear but potential mechanisms include malnutrition, cyanogen toxicity, genetic factors, oxidant stress and micronutrient deficiency.
Hollenhorst Plaques in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Authors: Farnsworth Adele , Wright Alex D , Dodson Paul M
Published: November 2012

Gradable photographs of 81 patients within the Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country diabetic retinopathy screening programme 2004-2011 where Hollenhorst plaque was used in the grading report were reviewed. 60 patients had cholesterol emboli at arteriolar bifurcations. 21 patients had arteriolar sheathing that, unlike cholesterol emboli, did not occur at arteriolar bifurcations and tended to persist unchanged. The aetiology of sheathing was not established but was found in an elderly population with macrovascular disease. The term Hollenhorst plaque should be avoided in retinopathy grading in order to avoid confusion between these different appearances.
Toxin-antitoxin loci vapBC-1 and vapXD contribute to survival and virulence in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Ren Dabin , Walker Anna N , Daines Dayle A
Published: November 2012

Background

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a significant human pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections and the most common cause of recurrent otitis media. Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are genetic elements that code for a stable protein toxin and a labile antitoxin that are thought to be involved in metabolic regulation of bacteria by enabling a switch to a dormant state under stress conditions. The contribution to infection persistence of the NTHi TA loci vapBC-1 and vapXD was examined in this study.

Results

Deletions in vapBC-1, vapXD and vapBC-1 vapXD significantly decreased the survival of NTHi co-cultured with primary human respiratory tissue at the air-liquid interface and in the chinchilla model of otitis media. The TA deletions did not affect the growth dynamics of the mutants in rich media, their ultra-structural morphology, or display appreciable synergy during NTHi infections. The toxin and antitoxin proteins of both pairs heterodimerized in vivo. Consistent with our previous findings regarding the VapC-1 toxin, the NTHi VapD toxin also displayed ribonuclease activity.

Conclusions

We conclude that the vapBC-1 and vapXD TA loci enhance NTHi survival and virulence during infection in vitro and in vivo using a mechanism of mRNA cleavage, and that these conserved TA pairs represent new targets for the prophylaxis and therapy of otitis media and other NTHi-caused mucosal diseases.
DNAGear- a free software for spa type identification in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: AL-Tam Faroq , Brunel Anne-Sophie , Bouzinbi Nicolas , Corne Philippe , Bañuls Anne-Laure , Shahbazkia Hamid Reza
Published: November 2012

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is both human commensal and an important human pathogen, responsible for community-acquired and nosocomial infections ranging from superficial wound infections to invasive infections, such as osteomyelitis, bacteremia and endocarditis, pneumonia or toxin shock syndrome with a mortality rate up to 40%. S. aureus reveals a high genetic polymorphism and detecting the genotypes is extremely useful to manage and prevent possible outbreaks and to understand the route of infection. One of current and expanded typing method is based on the X region of the spa gene composed of a succession of repeats of 21 to 27 bp. More than 10000 types are known. Extracting the repeats is impossible by hand and needs a dedicated software. Unfortunately the only software on the market is a commercial program from Ridom.

Findings

This article presents DNAGear, a free and open source software with a user friendly interface written all in Java on top of NetBeans Platform to perform spa typing, detecting new repeats and new spa types and synchronizing automatically the files with the open access database. The installation is easy and the application is platform independent. In fact, the SPA identification is a formal regular expression matching problem and the results are 100% exact. As the program is using Java embedded modules written over string manipulation of well established algorithms, the exactitude of the solution is perfectly established.

Conclusions

DNAGear is able to identify the types of the S. aureus sequences and detect both new types and repeats. Comparing to manual processing, which is time consuming and error prone, this application saves a lot of time and effort and gives very reliable results. Additionally, the users do not need to prepare the forward-reverse sequences manually, or even by using additional tools. They can simply create them in DNAGear and perform the typing task. In short, researchers who do not have commercial software will benefit a lot from this application.
Field Dissipation of Sulfentrazone and Pendimethalin in Colorado
Authors: Shaner Dale L.
Published: November 2012

Pendimethalin and sulfentrazone are applied PRE in sunflower to control many grasses and broadleaf weeds. These herbicides have quite different physicochemical properties. Pendimethalin has a high carbon-referenced sediment partition coefficient (Koc)(17,200 L kg−1), with a low leaching potential, whereas sulfentrazone has a low Koc(43 L kg−1), with a high leaching potential. A 2-yr study was conducted to determine the dissipation of these two herbicides applied to a loamy sand soil. Pendimethalin dissipated in two phases, an initial rapid loss between application and 3 to 5 d after application (DAT) and then a slower rate of dissipation. The first, rapid phase was likely due to volatilization of the herbicide from the soil surface. Pendimethalin dissipated at a similar rate for the slower phase in 2008 and 2010 (time to 50% dissipation [DT50] was 43 d and 39 d, respectively). The dissipation of sulfentrazone, unlike pendimethalin, was not biphasic. The DT50for sulfentrazone was different between the 2 yr (30 d and 14 d in 2008 and 2010, respectively). Pendimethalin remained primarily in the top 7.5 cm of the soil column, whereas sulfentrazone leached to at least 30 cm. The leaching of sulfentrazone depended on the timing of irrigation or precipitation after application. The more rapid loss of sulfentrazone in the top 30 cm of the soil column in 2010 could have been partially due to the herbicide leaching below the 30 cm depth that was sampled.
Dose–Response of Newly Established Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum) to Postemergence Herbicides
Authors: Odero Dennis C. , Gilbert Robert A.
Published: November 2012

Elephantgrass has been proposed as a potential feedstock for biofuel production in south Florida. To limit future invasion of escapes in sugarcane and vegetables, the response of newly established elephantgrass to glyphosate, clethodim, sethoxydim, asulam, and trifloxysulfuron was determined using dose–response curves. Log-logistic models were used to determine the herbicide dose required to produce 90% growth reduction (GR90). The GR90values for shoot biomass at 21 d after treatment (DAT) were 477 g ae ha−1of glyphosate, 262 g ai ha−1of clethodim, 381 g ai ha−1of sethoxydim, 12 kg ai ha−1of asulam, and 94 g ai ha−1of trifloxysulfuron. The GR90values for root biomass at 35 DAT were 570 g ae ha−1of glyphosate, 257 g ai ha−1of clethodim, 432 g ai ha−1of sethoxydim, 17 kg ai ha−1of asulam, and 183 g ai ha−1of trifloxysulfuron. Elephantgrass was predicted to exhibit 97, 98, 75, 1, and 5% mortality after application of glyphosate, clethodim, sethoxydim, asulam, and trifloxysulfuron, respectively, at the label use rates 35 DAT. Results suggest that glyphosate and clethodim will provide control of newly established elephantgrass at label use rates for spot treatments and in vegetables, respectively. Rates higher than the label use rate of sethoxydim will be required to provide acceptable control of newly established elephantgrass in vegetables. However, newly established elephantgrass was not controlled by asulam and trifloxysulfuron at label use rates, implying that control of escapes will be difficult in sugarcane.
Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) Control in WideStrike® Flex Cotton
Authors: Barnett Kelly A. , Mueller Thomas C. , Steckel Lawrence E.
Published: November 2012

A field study was conducted in 2009, 2010, and 2011 on a grower's field with a known population of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed to determine potential control options utilizing a WideStrike® cotton variety. Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed control and cotton response to herbicide applications were both assessed. Few herbicide treatments provided greater than 80% control. Glufosinate followed by glufosinate was the only treatment that provided greater than 90% control at each assessment timing. Other effective treatments were glufosinate alone, glufosinate plus glyphosate, glyphosate plus pyrithiobac, and glufosinate plus fluometuron. Results from this study indicate that few of the studied herbicide treatments provide effective control of glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed without reducing yield in WideStrike cotton. Treatments that had the highest level of giant ragweed control at all ratings and also had the highest yield included glufosinate followed by glufosinate, glufosinate plus pyrithiobac, and glufosinate plus fluometuron at either rate. However, glufosinate followed by glufosinate was the only treatment that resulted in greater than 90% control of giant ragweed without reducing crop yield.
Influence of Glyphosate or Glufosinate Combinations with Growth Regulator Herbicides and Other Agrochemicals in Controlling Glyphosate-Resistant Weeds
Authors: Chahal Gurinderbir S. , Johnson William G.
Published: November 2012

With the forthcoming release of the 2,4-D- and dicamba-resistance traits stacked with either glyphosate or glufosinate resistance, the use of 2,4-D or dicamba alone or in tank mix with glyphosate or glufosinate likely will increase the control of glyphosate-resistant weeds in soybean. There also is an increasing trend among soybean growers to apply POST herbicides in combination with fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers to reduce trips over the field. Greenhouse experiments were conducted during 2011 and 2012 to evaluate glyphosate or glufosinate applications with growth regulator herbicides and other agrochemicals for the control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed and glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. In most cases, glyphosate or glufosinate application with 2,4-D or dicamba provided 80% or more control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed and glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. These studies demonstrate that performance of glufosinate alone and with agrochemicals was poor on glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters. However, no differences in glyphosate-resistant common lambsquarters biomass were noted among treatments including glufosinate alone, glufosinate plus growth regulator herbicides, and glufosinate plus growth regulator herbicides plus agrochemicals. The agrochemicals lambda-cyhalothrin, manganese, and pyraclostrobin did not affect weed control by glyphosate or glufosinate combinations with growth regulator herbicides. Visible soybean injury was noted at 1 wk after treatment (WAT) only when glufosinate was applied with lambda-cyhalothrin or pyraclostrobin but no differences in visible injury were seen with these combinations at 3 WAT.
Numerical Evaluation of Effective Unsaturated Hydraulic Properties of Fractured Rocks using a Stochastic Continuum Approach
Authors: Lu Zhiming , Kwicklis Edward M.
Published: November 2012

This study builds on past studies that have investigated the effective properties of unsaturated porous media and merges stochastic continuum concepts to develop a numerical procedure for estimating the effective flow parameters that are independent of pressure head or saturation. The procedure involves the development of a numerical permeameter based on randomly generated, spatially correlated fields of fundamental fracture properties such as spacing and aperture. Local values of hydraulic conductivity, and the van Genuchten fitting parameters α and n in this random field are computed from local values of mechanical aperture and spacing based on the cubic law and relationships established from pore‐scale fracture simulations. By considering multiple realizations of these spatially correlated fields and by running the numerical permeameter over a range of effective saturations and flow rates, outputs are generated that can be fit with the standard van Genuchten model to estimate block effective values of saturated hydraulic conductivity and the van Genuchten unsaturated hydraulic parameters of a fracture continuum at the field scale. These parameters can then be incorporated to conventional numerical simulators originally developed for porous media. The study shows that reasonable approximations to the results obtained through computationally demanding stochastic simulations can be developed based on estimates of the mean fracture spacing and aperture. Although the example application assumes the presence of an impermeable rock matrix, the hydraulic properties estimated for the fracture continuum with this methodology can be combined with those measured or similarly estimated for a matrix continuum in dual‐permeability continuum models.
Comparing Plume Characteristics Inferred from Cross‐Borehole Geophysical Data
Authors: Haarder Eline B. , Binley Andrew , Looms Majken C. , Doetsch Joseph , Nielsen Lars , Jensen Karsten H.
Published: November 2012

We compare results of three cross‐borehole geophysical approaches for imaging tracer migration arising from a point injection of water in the unsaturated zone: three‐dimensional electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), two‐dimensional ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) tomography and quasi‐three‐dimensional GPR tomography. In the studied field experiment, a tracer was injected for a period of 5 d and was monitored both during injection and for 5 d during the subsequent redistribution. The three methods show similar characteristics of the plume development and movement, which has a strong lateral component and slow vertical migration. In addition to revealing the main tracer plume, two‐dimensional GPR and the quasi‐three‐dimensional GPR results show development of secondary plumes at depth, which are not captured by the three‐dimensional ERT due to lack of resolution. The flow patterns are compared to geological information from a coring obtained at the site and it is concluded that the diversion of water in the lateral direction can be caused by a few thin layers of contrasting geological composition. Mass balance calculations based on moment analysis of the moisture content changes reveal that two‐dimensional and quasi‐three‐dimensional GPR results show similar results and that three‐dimensional ERT underestimate the amount of tracer substantially. Our results further show that the analysis volume as well as threshold value for moisture content increase has significant impact on computed mass recovery. The choice of threshold value, in particular, should be method‐dependent and needs to be considered carefully if the results of the moment calculations are to be used in constraining hydrological models.
Modeling a Thick Unsaturated Zone at San Gorgonio Pass, California: Lessons Learned after Five Years of Artificial Recharge
Authors: Flint Alan L. , Ellett Kevin M. , Christensen Allen H. , Martin Peter
Published: November 2012

Approximately 3.8 million cubic meters of surface water was applied to spreading ponds from 2003–2007 to artificially recharge the underlying aquifer through a 200‐meter thick unsaturated zone in the San Gorgonio Pass area in southern California. A study was conducted between 1997 and 2003, and a numerical model was developed to help determine the suitability of the site for artificial recharge. Ongoing monitoring results indicated that the existing model needed to be modified and recalibrated to more accurately predict artificial recharge at the site. The objective of this work was to recalibrate the model by using observation of the application rates, the rise and fall of the water level above a perching layer, and the approximate arrival time to the water table during the 5‐yr monitoring period following initiation of long‐term artificial recharge. Continuous monitoring of soil‐matric potential, temperature, and water levels beneath the site indicated that artificial recharge reached the underlying water table between 3.75 and 4.5 yr after the initial application of the recharge water. The model was modified to allow the simulation to more adequately match the perching layer dynamics and the time of arrival at the water table. The instrumentation also showed that the lag time between changes in application of water at the surface and the response at the perching layer decreased from about 4 mo to less than 1 mo due to the wet‐up of the unsaturated zone and the increase in relative permeability. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of iteratively monitoring and modeling the unsaturated zone in layered alluvial systems in the context of artificial recharge. They show that adequate geologic and hydraulic‐property data on perching layers are critical to success. Continuous monitoring in the unsaturated and saturated zones beneath a site provides data to develop and constrain numerical models, better understand local unsaturated zone process, manage artificial recharge operations, and to determine the timing and volume of recoverable water for consumptive use.
Characteristics of small residential and commercial water systems that influence their likelihood of being on drinking water advisories in rural British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional study using administrative data
Authors: Edwards Joanne E. , Henderson Sarah B. , Struck Sylvia , Kosatsky Tom
Published: November 2012

Health officials often lack information about characteristics that predict which water systems are most likely to be placed on and to persist on drinking water advisories (e.g. health warnings offering advice or information). This study uses data collected by the Interior Health Authority in British Columbia to characterize water systems on advisory for microbiological threats and to identify the variables associated with advisory status and length. By systematically extracting key characteristics, this study explores advisory status by examining associated variables: water systems size, administrative area, governance structure, water source, treatment level, and service type (e.g. residential or commercial systems). Results show residential and commercial water systems have different characteristics associated with advisory status and length. For residential systems, certain governance structures are more likely to be placed on and to stay on advisory, especially the cooperative governance structures not operated by local governments. For commercial systems, administrative area and system size were associated with advisory status, but not advisory length. The overall results highlight the influence of governance structure and support the need for targeted interventions to improve residential small water systems not operated by local governments or utilities. Lastly, these results show how health officials can use administrative data for program planning and evaluation.
The synergistic effect of Escherichia coli inactivation by sequential disinfection with low level chlorine dioxide followed by free chlorine
Authors: Yang Wu , Yang Dong , Zhu Sui-Yi , Chen Bo-Yan , Huo Ming-Xin , Li Jun-Wen
Published: November 2012

To the best of our knowledge, there was little information available on pathogen removal using low level disinfectant followed by free chlorine in sequential disinfection (SD). This study investigated Escherichia coli inactivation by four types of disinfection: single step disinfection (SSD), SD, traditional sequential disinfection (TSD) and mixed disinfectant disinfection (MDD). Results indicated that SD had higher ability to inactivate E. coli than the others, indicating there was a positive synergistic effect on chlorine disinfection by prior dosing with a low level of chlorine dioxide (ClO2). The ONPG assay suggested that the permeability of cell wall rather than the viability of E. coli were changed under 0.02 mg/l ClO2 treatment. The coexistence of residual ClO2 and free chlorine also plays an active synergistic effect. Additionally, temperature had a positive effect on E. coli inactivation in SD, while inactivation was reduced in alkaline compared to neutral and acidic conditions.
Direct and indirect QMRA of infectious Cryptosporidium oocysts in reclaimed water
Authors: Agulló-Barceló M. , Casas-Mangas R. , Lucena F.
Published: November 2012

Water scarcity leads to an increased use of reclaimed water, which in turn calls for an improvement in water reclamation procedures to ensure adequate quality of the final effluent. The presence of infectious Cryptosporidium oocysts (IOO) in reclaimed water is a health hazard for users of this resource. Here, we gathered information on Cryptosporidium (concentrations, infectivity and genotype) in order to perform quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). Moreover, data concerning the spores of sulphite-reducing clostridia (SRC) were used to undertake QMRA at a screening level. Our results show that the probability of infection (PI) by Cryptosporidium depends on the tertiary treatment type. The mean PI using the exponential dose-response model was 3.69 × 10−6 in tertiary effluents (TE) treated with UV light, whereas it was 3 log10 units higher, 1.89 × 10−3, in TE not treated with this disinfection method. With the β-Poisson model, the mean PI was 1.56 × 10−4 in UV-treated TE and 2 log10 units higher, 4.37 × 10−2, in TE not treated with UV. The use of SRC to perform QMRA of Cryptosporidium showed higher PI than when using directly IOO data. This observation suggests the former technique is a conservative method of QMRA.
Solar inactivation of four Salmonella serovars in fresh and marine waters
Authors: Boehm Alexandria B. , Soetjipto Cherrie , Wang Dan
Published: November 2012

Sunlight-mediated disinfection of water is of interest to both the drinking and recreational water quality community of researchers due to its potential to reduce microbial contamination and waterborne illness. Photo-inactivation of enteric bacteria has primarily been investigated using Escherichia coli and laboratory strains of model bacteria. The present study sought to document the photo-inactivation of environmental isolates of Salmonella in filter-sterilized natural seawater and freshwater and to test the hypothesis that diverse Salmonella serovars decay at similar rates both within and between water matrices. The inactivation of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium LT2, Typhimurium ST19, Heidelberg, and Mbandaka was examined in sunlit and dark microcosms. First order decay was observed in sunlit microcosms; the time until 90% inactivation was of the order of 10 min. A significant shoulder, of the order of 1 hr in length, was observed in the freshwater microcosms during which concentrations were stable. Serovar Mdandaka decayed more slowly than other serovars in both seawater and freshwater. The serovars were extremely stable in the dark microcosms showing little to no decay over 53 days. The results document intra-species variation in photo-inactivation, likely owing to differences in intracellular concentrations of photo-sensitizing molecules or molecules that quench reactive species.
The efficacy of simulated solar disinfection (SODIS) against coxsackievirus, poliovirus and hepatitis A virus
Authors: Heaselgrave Wayne , Kilvington Simon
Published: November 2012

The antimicrobial activity of simulated solar disinfection (SODIS) against enteric waterborne viruses including coxsackievirus-B5, poliovirus-2 and hepatitis A virus was investigated in this study. Assays were conducted in transparent 12-well polystyrene microtitre plates containing the appropriate viral test suspension. Plates were exposed to simulated sunlight at an optical irradiance of 550 Wm−2 (watts per square metre) delivered from a SUNTEST™ CPS+ solar simulator for 6 hours. Aliquots of the viral test suspensions were taken at set time points and the level of inactivation of the viruses was determined by either culture on a HeLa cell monolayer for coxsackievirus-B5 and poliovirus-2 or by utilising a chromogenic antibody-based approach for hepatitis A virus. With coxsackievirus-B5, poliovirus-2 and hepatitis A virus, exposure to SODIS at an optical irradiance of 550 Wm−2 for 1–2 hours resulted in complete inactivation of each virus. The findings from this study suggest that under appropriate conditions SODIS may be an effective technique for the inactivation of enteric viruses in drinking water. However, further verification studies need to be performed using natural sunlight in the region where the SODIS technology is to be employed to validate our results.
The effect of excessive coca-cola consumption on the development of dental erosions
Authors: Ignjatovic Zorica , Stojsin Ivana , Brkanic Tatjana , Loncar Jovana
Published: November 2012

The last few years have brought many changes in daily habits and overall
lifestyle of human population, which is accompanied by increased exposure to
acidic substances and increased consumption of acidic food. Regardless of the
numerous warnings given by the World Health Organization about the harmful
effects of carbonated beverages on general health, popularity and frequency
of Coca-Cola usage have been growing steadily. Numerous epidemiological
studies have demonstrated its potential negative effects on tooth structure.
Good health education in developed countries has improved the awareness of
the importance of oral hygiene; on the other hand, greater consumption of
soft drinks has increased the incidence of dental erosions. Effective
prevention and monitoring of dental erosions mostly depend on the knowledge
about the etiology and early recognition of signs and symptoms of these
lesions in clinical practice.
Clinicopathological Signiﬁcance of NMIIA Overexpression in Human Gastric Cancer
Authors: Liu Dongning , Zhang Lei , Shen Zhiyong , Tan Fei , Hu Yanfeng , Yu Jiang , Li Guoxin
Published: November 2012

Altered expressions of nonmuscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) have been observed in certain types of cancers, but the impact of the alterations in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of NMIIA at the mRNA and protein level in patients with GC and to assess its clinical significance. We investigated the expression of NMIIA in fresh, paired GC tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR; n = 14) and Western blot analysis (n = 36). Simultaneously, we performed immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin embedded specimens, including 96 GC specimens, 30 matched normal specimens and 30 paired metastatic lymph node samples. NMIIA is overexpressed in GC compared with the adjacent normal gastric epithelium (p < 0.001) and high-level NMIIA expression is significantly correlated with the depth of wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage. Furthermore, elevated NMIIA expression is an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model (p = 0.021). These findings indicate that overexpression of NMIIA may contribute to the progression and poor prognosis of GC.
Estimating Aerosol Emissions by Assimilating Remote Sensing Observations into a Global Transport Model
Authors: Schutgens Nick , Nakata Makiko , Nakajima Teruyuki
Published: November 2012

We present a fixed-lag ensemble Kalman smoother for estimating emissions for a global aerosol transport model from remote sensing observations. We assimilate AERONET AOT and AE as well as MODIS Terra AOT over ocean to estimate the emissions for dust, sea salt and carbon aerosol and the precursor gas SO2. For January 2009, globally dust emission decreases by 26% (to 3,244 Tg/yr), sea salt emission increases by 190% (to 9073 Tg/yr), while carbon emission increases by 45% (to 136 Tg/yr), compared with the standard emissions. Remaining errors in global emissions are estimated at 62% (dust), 18% (sea salt) and 78% (carbons), with the large errors over land mostly due to the sparseness of AERONET observations. The new emissions are verified by comparing a forecast run against independent MODIS Aqua AOT, which shows significant improvement over both ocean and land. This paper confirms the usefulness of remote sensing observations for improving global aerosol modelling.
Improving Wishart Classification of Polarimetric SAR Data Using the Hopfield Neural Network Optimization Approach
Authors: Pajares Gonzalo , López-Martínez Carlos , Sánchez-Lladó F. , Molina Íñigo
Published: November 2012

This paper proposes the optimization relaxation approach based on the analogue Hopfield Neural Network (HNN) for cluster refinement of pre-classified Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) image data. We consider the initial classification provided by the maximum-likelihood classifier based on the complex Wishart distribution, which is then supplied to the HNN optimization approach. The goal is to improve the classification results obtained by the Wishart approach. The classification improvement is verified by computing a cluster separability coefficient and a measure of homogeneity within the clusters. During the HNN optimization process, for each iteration and for each pixel, two consistency coefficients are computed, taking into account two types of relations between the pixel under consideration and its corresponding neighbors. Based on these coefficients and on the information coming from the pixel itself, the pixel under study is re-classified. Different experiments are carried out to verify that the proposed approach outperforms other strategies, achieving the best results in terms of separability and a trade-off with the homogeneity preserving relevant structures in the image. The performance is also measured in terms of computational central processing unit (CPU) times.
Thiol Reactive Probes and Chemosensors
Authors: Peng Hanjing , Chen Weixuan , Cheng Yunfeng , Hakuna Lovemore , Strongin Robert , Wang Binghe
Published: November 2012

Thiols are important molecules in the environment and in biological processes. Cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play critical roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. The selective detection of thiols using reaction-based probes and sensors is very important in basic research and in disease diagnosis. This review focuses on the design of fluorescent and colorimetric probes and sensors for thiol detection. Thiol detection methods include probes and labeling agents based on nucleophilic addition and substitution, Michael addition, disulfide bond or Se-N bond cleavage, metal-sulfur interactions and more. Probes for H2S are based on nucleophilic cyclization, reduction and metal sulfide formation. Thiol probe and chemosensor design strategies and mechanism of action are discussed in this review.
Can Course Design in an Online MAT Program Promote Personalized Learning through e-Teaching and e-Learning Practices?
Authors: Schwartz-Bechet Barbara
Published: November 2012

The current study sought to determine if the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program design promoted personalized learning in the LMS platform, Webtycho. Personalized learning provides a medium to improve efficiencies in online learning. Personalized learning is not directed or paced so much by the teacher as it is by the student's own ability and capacity to acquire knowledge [1]. A qualitative case study, paired with quantitative data, will corroborate indications, through triangulation, of some, or all, of the seven multiple intelligences learning styles, student e-learning practices demonstrated, and e-teaching practices employed, to determine if personalized learning has occurred with current MAT students. A recommendation of ways to meet the learning needs of all current and future students in the MAT program will be provided.
The integration of verbal and non-verbal materials in some instances of written scientific discourse
Authors: Sionis Claude
Published: November 2012

Cet article porte sur l'intégration de modes de représentation dissimilaires (verbal, partiellement verbal, et visuel) souvent présents au sein du discours écrit des sciences dites dures. Elle repose sur l'étude de trente communications scientifiques rédigées en anglais par des chercheurs natifs et non natifs dans les domaines du génie mécanique et de la conception/fabrication assistées par ordinateur. Plusieurs types de procédés lexico-syntaxiques, sémantiques et pragmatiques/rhétoriques qui assurent habituellement la cohésion du discours strictement verbal sont envisagés dans la perspective d'un discours intégré hybride. La communication fait référence à diverses démarches représentatives au sein de la théorie de l'énonciation et à des recherches sur la valeur communicationnelle de la représentation visuelle.
A Mutual Authentication Protocol with Resynchronisation Capability for Mobile Satellite Communications
Authors: Lasc Ioana , Dojen Reiner , Coffey Tom
Published: November 2012

Many peer-to-peer security protocols proposed for wireless communications use one-time shared secrets for authentication purposes. This paper analyses online update mechanisms for one-time shared secrets. A new type of attack against update mechanisms, called desynchronisation attack, is introduced. This type of attack may lead to a permanent denial of service condition. A case study demonstrates the effectiveness of desynchronisation attacks against a security protocol for mobile satellite communications. A new mutual authentication protocol for satellite communications, incorporating a resynchronisation capability, is proposed to counter the disruptive effects of desynchronisation attacks. The new protocol has an esynchronisation phase that is initiated whenever desynchronisation is suspected. Thus, the possibility of causing permanent denial of service conditions by mounting desynchronisation attacks is eliminated. A security analysis of the proposed protocol establishes its resistance against attacks like replay attacks, dictionary attacks, and desynchronisation attacks.
An Integrated Security Governance Framework for Effective PCI DSS Implementation
Authors: Nicho Mathew , Fakhry Hussein
Published: November 2012

This paper analyses relevant IT governance and security frameworks/standards used in IT assurance and security to propose an integrated framework for ensuring effective PCI DSS implementation. Merchants dealing with credit cards have to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) or face penalties for non-compliance. With more transactions based on credit cards, merchants are finding it costly and increasingly difficult to implement and interpret the PCI standard. One of the top reasons cited for merchants to fail PCI audit, and a leading factor in data theft, is the failure to adequately protect stored cardholder data. Although implementation of the PCI DSS is not a guarantee for perfect protection, effective implementation of the PCI standards can be ensured through the divergence of the PCI standard into wider information security governance to provide a comprehensive overview of information security based not only on security but also security audit and control. The contribution of this paper is the development of an integrated comprehensive security governance framework for ‘information security’ (rather than data protection) incorporating Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT), Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and ISO 27002.
EEG Feature Extraction and Pattern Classification Based on Motor Imagery in Brain-Computer Interface
Authors: Zou Ling , Wang Xinguang , Shi Guodong , Ma Zhenghua
Published: November 2012

Accurate classification of EEG left and right hand motor imagery is an important issue in brain-computer interface. Firstly, discrete wavelet transform method was used to decompose the average power of C3 electrode and C4 electrode in left-right hands imagery movement during some periods of time. The reconstructed signal of approximation coefficient A6 on the sixth level was selected to build up a feature signal. Secondly, the performances by Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis with two different threshold calculation ways and Support Vector Machine methods were compared. The final classification results showed that false classification rate by Support Vector Machine was lower and gained an ideal classification results.
Toward Automatic Answers in User-Interactive Question Answering Systems
Authors: Hao Tianyong , Xu Feifei , Lei Jingsheng , Wenyin Liu , Li Qing
Published: November 2012

A strategy of automatic answer retrieval for repeated or similar questions in user-interactive systems by employing semantic question patterns is proposed in this paper. The used semantic question pattern is a generalized representation of a group of questions with both similar structure and relevant semantics. Specifically, it consists of semantic annotations (or constraints) for the variable components in the pattern and hence enhances the semantic representation and greatly reduces the ambiguity of a question instance when asked by a user using such pattern. The proposed method consists of four major steps: structure processing, similar pattern matching and filtering, automatic pattern generation, question similarity evaluation and answer retrieval. Preliminary experiments in a real question answering system show a precision of more than 90% of the method.