bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ressources en gaz de la succession du Crétacé sommital postérieure au Groupe de Colorado dans le Bassin sédimentaire de l'Ouest du Canada (Plaines Intérieures)
Authors: Hamblin A P , Lee P J
Published: January 2014

The natural gas resource potential of uppermost Cretaceous�Tertiary, post-Colorado strata in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (excluding the Foothills Belt) was evaluated using a combination of geological play analysis and statistical estimation.
Post-Colorado strata belong to a foreland basin succession of siliciclastic sediments deposited as the final infill of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. The thickest deposits and most prolific oil and gas reservoirs occur in the thick depocentre of southern and west-central Alberta. The
post-Colorado succession contains a total discovered in-place volume of 556 280 x 10e6 m3 (19.8 TCF) raw gas in 12 mature and 2 immature, established plays. In addition, one conceptual play was identified. Exploration plays consist of stratigraphic and stratigraphic-structural combination traps with
reservoirs in shoreline, tidal channel, shallow marine, fluvial, and estuarine sandstones. Statistical analysis of the 14 established plays suggests they contain a remaining expected potential of 130 448 x 10e6 m3 (4.6 TCF). Four of these plays are predicted to contain over half of the remaining gas
potential: the Foremost Formation (�Basal Belly River�), Cycle 4 Shoreline play (e.g., Bashaw field, Belly River Pool No. 3), the Foremost Formation, Fluvial play (e.g., Bashaw field, Belly River C pool), the Oldman Formation, Fluvial play (Nevis field, BR C No. 1 pool), and the Dinosaur Park
Formation play (e.g., Carbon field, Belly River C pool). The very modest amount of gas estimated to be present in the conceptual and immature plays is consistent with the exploration maturity of the basin, and the idea that established play definitions are sufficiently broad to include variations in
trapping mechanism. Over 19 per cent of the total in-place resources remains to be discovered. Post-Colorado strata continue to offer small, but economically attractive exploration targets, particularly for junior operators, as shown by significant recent activity.
Uppermost Cretaceous, post-Colorado Group gas resources of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Interior Plains
Authors: Hamblin A P , Lee P J
Published: January 2014

The natural gas resource potential of uppermost Cretaceous�Tertiary, post-Colorado strata in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (excluding the Foothills Belt) was evaluated using a combination of geological play analysis and statistical estimation.
Post-Colorado strata belong to a foreland basin succession of siliciclastic sediments deposited as the final infill of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. The thickest deposits and most prolific oil and gas reservoirs occur in the thick depocentre of southern and west-central Alberta. The
post-Colorado succession contains a total discovered in-place volume of 556 280 x 10e6 m3 (19.8 TCF) raw gas in 12 mature and 2 immature, established plays. In addition, one conceptual play was identified. Exploration plays consist of stratigraphic and stratigraphic-structural combination traps with
reservoirs in shoreline, tidal channel, shallow marine, fluvial, and estuarine sandstones. Statistical analysis of the 14 established plays suggests they contain a remaining expected potential of 130 448 x 10e6 m3 (4.6 TCF). Four of these plays are predicted to contain over half of the remaining gas
potential: the Foremost Formation (�Basal Belly River�), Cycle 4 Shoreline play (e.g., Bashaw field, Belly River Pool No. 3), the Foremost Formation, Fluvial play (e.g., Bashaw field, Belly River C pool), the Oldman Formation, Fluvial play (Nevis field, BR C No. 1 pool), and the Dinosaur Park
Formation play (e.g., Carbon field, Belly River C pool). The very modest amount of gas estimated to be present in the conceptual and immature plays is consistent with the exploration maturity of the basin, and the idea that established play definitions are sufficiently broad to include variations in
trapping mechanism. Over 19 per cent of the total in-place resources remains to be discovered. Post-Colorado strata continue to offer small, but economically attractive exploration targets, particularly for junior operators, as shown by significant recent activity.
Tumor bed boost in breast cancer: Brachytherapy versus electron beam
Authors: Roy Sanjoy , Maji Tapas , Chaudhuri Prabir , Lahiri Debarshi , Biswas Jaydip ,   Devleena
Published: January 2014

Background: The prospective study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Electron beam or HDR 192Ir Interstitial Implant used as a boost in breast Conservation cases after completion of EBRT. The two therapeutic modalities were compared in terms of the following parameters; i.e. cosmesis, optimization of tumor bed boost, local control, toxicity, and DFS. Materials and Methods: The EBRT dose used was 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks time. Target delineation of boost treatment was done by CT scan or by high resolution USG. EBRT will be immediately followed by local boost at the primary tumor bearing site of breast with 8 to12 MeV electron beam to a dose of 15 Gy in 6 fractions (Arm A) or with HDR 192Ir interstitial brachytherapy to a dose of 15 Gy in 3 fractions at 6 hours apart (Arm B). Results: The excellent cosmesis achieved with electron beam therapy in Arm A was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.025). Local relapse was absent in both the arms. One distant metastasis occurred in Arm A within 10 months of initiation of treatment and one distant metastasis in Arm B came out within 3 months of starting of therapy. Conclusion: The study has shown good cosmetic result with electron boost and 100% local control with both the technique. However if there is a more number of patients with longer period of follow up we could have got the actual picture to verify our results and assess long term survival data.
Successful outcome of mucormycosis in two children on induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Gupta Anshul , Jain Sandeep , Agrawal Charu , Kapoor Gauri
Published: January 2014

Zygomycetes are one of the less common causes of invasive fungal infections in patients with the hematological malignancies. We report two cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the pediatric age group, complicated by disseminated cutaneous mucormycosis during induction chemotherapy. In one of our cases, cutaneous mucormycosis progressed to osteomyelitis of the proximal ulna while in the other it disseminated to lungs and distant cutaneous site. Aggressive treatment, which included intravenous administration of amphotericin B; radical surgical intervention in the form of serial wound debridement in the former and wedge pulmonary resection in the later, allowed successful salvage, and administration of planned anti-leukemia treatment in both of our cases. High index of suspicion, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment are key components of a successful outcome.
Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma with paraneoplatic pemphigus: Rare case and a brief review of literature
Authors: Baghmar Saphalta , Kumar Sanjeev , Gupta S Dutta , Raina Vinod
Published: January 2014

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is often a fatal autoimmune bullous disease characterized by severe stomatitis, polymorphous skin eruptions, and underlying neoplasms. We describe a patient with PNP associated with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS), a rare neoplasm originating from follicular dendritic cells, which are non-lymphoid, non-phagocytic accessory cells of the lymphoid system and play an integral role in regulation of the germinal center reaction and present antigens to B-cells. The presence of rich vascularity around the tumor and few hyalanized vascular follicles found in histopathological examination gives the clue that the tumor might have developed from Castleman′s disease (CD). As for the mechanisms by which CD induces PNP, it has been proposed that autoantibodies secreted from the Castleman′s tumor play pivotal role. This hypothesis seems to be supported by the present case, in which CD may have triggered both the FDCS and the PNP.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia relapsing into acute myeloid leukemia-M2 with normal cytogenetics
Authors: Sahoo Ranjit Kumar , Kumar Lalit , Kumar Rajive , Sharma Atul
Published: January 2014

The use of all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and combination chemotherapy has made acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) a potentially curable leukemia. Late sequelae of the treatment of APL have therefore become an important consideration in the overall treatment strategy. We report a patient with APL who achieved complete clinical and molecular remission after treatment with daunorubicin and ATRA. Three years later, she developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), M2 subtype without any evidence of relapse of the APL clone. Karyotypic analysis showed a normal female karyotype.
How Occupational Therapists Engage Adults with Cognitive Impairments in Assessments
Authors: White Amanda , Hocking Clare , Reid Heleen
Published: January 2014

Introduction:

There is little discussion in the multidisciplinary literature about how to engage adults with cognitive impairments in health-related assessments. This qualitative descriptive study used semi-structured interviews to explore how nine occupational therapists working across a range of practice settings addressed this issue.

Method:

Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive analysis revealed themes, which were refined through an iterative process.

Findings:

The findings showed that the participants used individually developed strategies to engage clients in assessments. The first theme, ‘Managing a complex process’, described the steps used with clients and families to obtain informed consent, prepare for the assessment, and consider the impact of having a third party present. The second theme, ‘Recruiting cooperation’, addressed how the participants used their relationship with clients to recruit them to engage in the assessment.

Conclusion:

The findings provided a snapshot of processes employed in practice to determine the needs and capabilities of clients with cognitive impairments, and the compromises therapists make in relation to eliciting informed consent and the integrity of formal assessment tools. The findings have implications for the profession and further research.
The Need for a 7-day Therapy Service on an Emergency Assessment Unit
Authors: Robinson Anna , Lord-Vince Hannah , Williams Rebecca
Published: January 2014

This practice analysis acknowledges the changing nature of healthcare, recognizing the need for a 7-day therapy service on an Emergency Assessment Unit within the acute sector. A critical reflection on practice is offered to share the experiences of trialling a 7-day therapy service as a solution to managing today's political, economic, and demographic challenges.

A 12-month pilot of 4-hour therapy shifts at the weekend demonstrated therapists could discharge 40% of patients assessed on the Emergency Assessment Unit; thus evidencing the need for a permanently funded 7-day service to sustain these results long term.

Improved access to therapy on a Saturday and Sunday enhances equality of service provision, patient outcomes and weekend discharge rates. The findings are relevant to all occupational therapists and physiotherapists working in the acute sector.
Impact of Critical Care Medicine Training Programs' Palliative Care Education and Bedside Tools on ICU Use at the End of Life
Authors: Saft Howard L. , Richman Paul S. , Berman Andrew R. , Mularski Richard A. , Kvale Paul A. , Ray Daniel E. , Selecky Paul , Ford Dee W. , Asch Steven M.
Published: January 2014

Background

Intensive care unit (ICU) use at the end of life is rising. Little research has focused on associations among critical care fellows' training, institutional support, and bedside tools with ICU use at the end of life.

Objective

We evaluated whether hospital and critical care medicine program interventions were associated with ICU use in the last 6 months of life for patients with chronic illness.

Methods

Our observational, retrospective study explored associations between results from a survey of critical care program directors and hospital-level Medicare data on ICU use in the last 6 months of life. Program directors evaluated quality of palliative care education in their critical care fellowships and reported on the number of bedside tools and the presence or absence of an inpatient palliative care consultation service.

Results

For the 89 hospitals and 71 affiliated training programs analyzed, there were statistically significant relationships between 2 of the explanatory variables—the quality of palliative care education and the number of bedside tools—in ICU use. Each level of increased educational quality (1–5 Likert scale) was associated with a 0.57-day decrease in ICU days, whereas, for each additional, evidence-based bedside tool, there was a 0.31-day decrease. The presence of an inpatient palliative care program was not a significant predictor of ICU use.

Conclusions

We found that the quality of palliative care training in critical care medicine programs and the use of bedside tools were independently associated with reduced ICU use at the end of life.
How Close Is Your Government to Its People? Worldwide Indicators on Localization and Decentralization
Authors: Ivanyna Maksym , Shah Anwar
Published: January 2014

This paper provides a unique data set on local governance. This dataset measures government decisionmaking at the local level, i.e. the level of government closest to the people. By contrast, the existing literature has focused on decisionmaking at the “sub-national” level. The data set covers 182 countries, and it captures institutional dimensions of political, fiscal and administrative autonomy enjoyed by local governments. These dimensions are then aggregated to develop a “decentralization index” and are then adjusted for heterogeneity to develop a “government closeness index”.
Temporal and spatial variations in rainwater methanol
Authors: Felix J. D. , Jones S. B. , Avery G. B. , Willey J. D. , Mead R. N. , Kieber R. J.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. This work reports the first detailed analysis of methanol concentrations in rainwater. Methanol concentrations measured in 49 rain events collected between 28 August 2007 to 10 July 2008 in Wilmington, NC, USA, ranged from below the detection limit of 6 nM to 9.3 μM with a volume weighted average concentration of 1.2 ± 0.2 μM. Methanol concentrations in rainwater were up to ~200× greater than concentrations observed in marine waters indicating wet deposition as a potential significant source to marine waters. Assuming these methanol concentrations are an appropriate proxy for global methanol rainwater concentrations the global methanol wet deposition sink is estimated as 20 Tg yr−1 which implies previous methanol budgets underestimate removal by precipitation. Methanol concentrations did not correlate with H+, NO3−, and NSS, which suggest that the dominant source of the alcohol to rainwater is not anthropogenic. However, methanol concentrations were strongly correlated with acetaldehyde which has a primarily biogenic input. Methanol volume weighted concentration during the growing season (1.5 + 0.3 μM) was more than double that of the non-growing season (0.7 + 0.1 μM), further promoting biogenic emissions as the primary cause of fluctuating methanol concentrations. Methanol concentrations peaked in rainwater collected between the time period 12:00–06:00 p.m. Peaking during this period of optimal sunlight implies a direct relationship to photochemical methanol production but there are also increases in biogenic activity during this time period. Rain events with terrestrial origins had higher concentrations than those of marine origin demonstrating the significance of the continental source of methanol in rainwater.
A newly identified calculation discrepancy of the Sunset semi-continuous carbon analyzer
Authors: Zheng G. , Cheng Y. , He K. , Duan F. , Ma Y.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Sunset Semi-Continuous Carbon Analyzer (SCCA) is an instrument widely used for carbonaceous aerosol measurement. Despite previous validation work, here we identified a new type of SCCA calculation discrepancy caused by the default multi-point baseline correction method. When exceeding a certain threshold carbon load, multi-point correction could cause significant Total Carbon (TC) underestimation. This calculation discrepancy was characterized for both sucrose and ambient samples with three temperature protocols. For ambient samples, 22%, 36% and 12% TC was underestimated by the three protocols, respectively, with corresponding threshold being ~0, 20 and 25 μg C. For sucrose, however, such discrepancy was observed with only one of these protocols, indicating the need of more refractory SCCA calibration substance. The discrepancy was less significant for the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)-like protocol compared with the other two protocols based on IMPROVE (Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environments). Although the calculation discrepancy could be largely reduced by the single-point baseline correction method, the instrumental blanks of single-point method were higher. Proposed correction method was to use multi-point corrected data when below the determined threshold, while use single-point results when beyond that threshold. The effectiveness of this correction method was supported by correlation with optical data.
Three-dimensional phase-field study of crack-seal microstructures – insights from innovative post-processing techniques
Authors: Ankit K. , Selzer M. , Nestler B.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Numerical simulations of vein evolution contribute to a better understanding of processes involved in their formation and possess the potential to provide invaluable insights into the rock deformation history and fluid flow pathways. The primary aim of the present article is to investigate the influence of a "realistic" boundary condition, i.e. an algorithmically generated "fractal" surface, on the vein evolution in 3-D using a thermodynamically consistent approach, while explaining the benefits of accounting for an extra dimensionality. The 3-D simulation results are supplemented by innovative numerical post-processing and advanced visualization techniques. The new methodologies to measure the tracking efficiency demonstrate the importance of accounting the temporal evolution; no such information is usually accessible in field studies and notoriously difficult to obtain from laboratory experiments as well. The grain growth statistics obtained by numerically post-processing the 3-D computational microstructures explain the pinning mechanism which leads to arrest of grain boundaries/multi-junctions by crack peaks, thereby, enhancing the tracking behavior.
Seasonal predictions of agro-meteorological drought indicators for the Limpopo basin
Authors: Wetterhall F. , Winsemius H. C. , Dutra E. , Werner M. , Pappenberger F.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. The rainfall in Southern Africa has a large interannual variability, which can cause rain-fed agriculture to fail. The staple crop maize is especially sensitive to dry spells during the early growing season. An early prediction of the probability of dry spells and below normal precipitation can potentially mitigate damages through water management. This paper investigates how well ECMWF's seasonal forecasts predict dry spells over the Limpopo basin during the rainy season December–February (DJF) with lead times from 1 to 5 months. The seasonal forecasts were evaluated against ERA-Interim reanalysis data which in turn was corrected with GPCP (EGPCP) to match monthly precipitation totals. The seasonal forecasts were also bias-corrected with the EGPCP using quantile matching as well as post-processed using a precipitation threshold to define a dry day as well as spatial filtering. The results indicate that the forecasts show skill in predicting dry spells in comparison with a "climatological ensemble" based on previous years. Quantile matching in combination with a precipitation threshold improved the skill of the forecast, whereas a spatial filter had no effect. The skill in prediction of dry spells was largest over the most drought-sensitive region. Seasonal forecasts have potential to be used in a probabilistic forecast system for drought-sensitive crops, though these should be used with caution given the large uncertainties.
The Greenland Ice Mapping Project (GIMP) land classification and surface elevation datasets
Authors: Howat I. M. , Negrete A. , Smith B. E.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. As part of the Greenland Ice-sheet Mapping Project (GIMP) we have produced three geospatial datasets for the entire ice sheet and periphery. These are (1) a complete, 15 m resolution image mosaic, (2) ice-covered and ice-free terrain classification masks, also posted to 15 m resolution and (3) a complete, altimeter-registered Digital Elevation Model posted at 30 m. The image mosaic was created from a combination of Landsat-7 and RADARSAT-1 imagery acquired between 1999 and 2002. Each pixel in the image is stamped with the acquisition date and geo-registration error to facilitate change detection. This mosaic was then used to manually produce complete ice-covered and ice-free land classification masks. Finally, we used satellite altimetry and stereo-photogrammetric DEMs to enhance an existing DEM for Greenland, substantially improving resolution and accuracy over the ice margin and periphery.
Factors Affecting the Competitiveness of the Agribusiness Sector in Swaziland
Authors: Dlamini Bongiwe P. , Kirsten Johann F. , Masuku Micah B.
Published: January 2014

Identifying the factors that influence competitiveness is imperative in order, to appreciate the position of the firm in relation to its environment and to propose appropriate measures and strategies for increasing competitiveness of agribusiness firms. The study sought to determine the competitiveness of the agribusiness sector in Swaziland and to identify the factors affecting competitiveness. Porter’s (1998) theory of the determinants of competitive advantage was applied in the analysis. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the top 3 constraining factors to competitiveness were: the unavailability of professional labour (mean = 1.63); high cost of supplies/inputs (mean = 1.69); incompetence of public sector personnel (mean = 1.69); ineffective public sector personnel (mean = 1.88) and the size of the local market (mean = 1.88). The enhancing factors to competitiveness were: production of affordable high quality products (mean = 4.19); availability of water for industrial purposes (mean = 4.00) and affordable cost of unskilled labour (mean = 3.94). The results further indicate that the agribusiness sector is constrained, suggesting that the environment is not enabling for agribusinesses to be competitive. It is recommended that other markets be explored in order to expand the export base, which could be carried out through product diversification.
Unshackling Foreign Corporations: Kiobel’s Unexpected Legacy
Authors: Chander Anupam
Published: January 2014

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. disfavors American corporations. While largely unshackling foreign corporations from the risk of being haled before an American court to answer for human rights abuses abroad, the decision keeps American corporations constrained by human rights law. This inconsistency exists because application of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), as announced in Kiobel, turns on whether a corporation’s actions “touch and concern” the United States. American corporations are simply far more likely to satisfy that standard than foreign corporations.
Waving Not Drowning: Kiobel Outside the United States
Authors: McCorquodale Robert
Published: January 2014

Access to an effective remedy is part of the third pillar of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Guiding Principles). It should require states to provide access to judicial remedies for human rights violations, even those that have occurred outside the territory of the state by a corporation domiciled in that state, especially where claimants “cannot access [their] home State courts regardless of the merits of the claim.” While the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. may seem to overwhelm or even drown some of the expectations of such remedies within the United States, the case law in the rest of the world is unlikely to be greatly affected by the ruling due to the jurisdictional and legal system foundations of other states. This article will examine the main case law and judicial remedies sought across the world, with a special emphasis on Europe, where the majority of large non-U.S. transnational corporations have their headquarters.
The Paradox of Kiobel in Europe
Authors: Kaeb Caroline , Scheffer David
Published: January 2014

One of the most striking features of Chief Justice John Roberts’s majority opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court’s judgment in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. is how it pays homage to foreign governments’ opposition to the extraterritorial application of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), as voiced most prominently from European foreign ministries. “[F]oreign policy concerns” and the overarching goal to avoid diplomatic tensions with foreign sovereigns are themes heavily informing the Roberts opinion. The majority found the presumption against extraterritoriality applicable to the ATS in large part due to fear of “unwarranted judicial interference in the conduct of [U.S.] foreign policy” if the Court allowed the ATS to “reach conduct occurring in the territory of a foreign sovereign.” In that light, the Kiobel judgment can be understood primarily as a decision prohibiting the overreach of U.S. law and protecting jurisdictional prerogatives of lex loci delicti and state of incorporation alike.
Reviving Human Rights Litigation After Kiobel
Authors: Curran Vivian Grosswald , Sloss David
Published: January 2014

In Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., the Supreme Court held that “the presumption against extraterritoriality applies to claims under the [Alien Tort Statute (ATS)], and that nothing in the statute rebuts that presumption.” The Court preserved the possibility that claims arising from conduct outside the United States might be actionable under the ATS “where the claims touch and concern the territory of the United States ... with sufficient force to displace the presumption against extraterritorial application.” However, the Court’s decision apparently sounds the death knell for “foreign-cubed” human rights claims under the ATS—that is, cases in which foreign defendants committed human rights abuses against foreign plaintiffs in foreign countries.
First WTO Judicial Review of Climate Change Subsidy Issues
Authors: Shadikhodjaev Sherzod
Published: January 2014

On May 6, 2013, in the combined reports Canada—Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector and Canada—Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program (Canada—Renewable Energy/Feed-in Tariff), the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) upheld some key conclusions of a decision of the WTO’s dispute settlement panel (the panel), finding Ontario’s feed-in tariff (FIT) program in violation of certain of Canada’s WTO obligations. The FIT program permits qualified Ontario-based renewable energy producers to enter into long-term fixed-price electricity purchase contracts at premium rates in exchange for feeding into the grid. Japan and the European Union had challenged the program on two grounds: first, that conditioning FIT program eligibility on the use of locally produced materials discriminates against foreign goods, contrary to “national treatment” obligations; and, second, that it constitutes an unlawful subsidy (the provision of a financial contribution by the government that confers a benefit on a specific recipient), contrary to WTO requirements under the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) Agreement. While affirming the panel’s decision on the first ground, the Appellate Body reversed its finding on the second, that the complainants had failed to establish a FIT-based “benefit” for electricity producers within the meaning of WTO law. But the Appellate Body itself could not eventually confirm the fact of illegal subsidization.
Stichting Mothers of Srebrenica v. Netherlands
Authors: Katz Cogan Jacob
Published: January 2014

On June 11, 2013, in Stichting Mothers of Srebrenica, a chamber of the European Court of Human Rights found that the Dutch courts’ grant of immunity to the United Nations in a case brought by and on behalf of relatives of individuals killed by the Army of the Republika Srpska in and around Srebrenica in July 1995 did not run afoul of Articles 6 and 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention). Those provisions guarantee, respectively and among other things, the right of access to a court and the right to “an effective remedy before a national authority” if any Convention right is violated. Having found that the challenged decisions accorded with Dutch obligations under the Convention, the chamber declared the application before the Court inadmissible as “manifestly ill-founded” and “rejected” it pursuant to Article 35(3)(a) and 4. The chamber’s decision was unanimous.
Maximizing the Contribution of Irrigated Agriculture to Poverty Alleviation
Authors: Jordaan Henry , Grové Bennie
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the water use and marketing behaviour of smallholder cabbage producers from the Zanyokwe Irrigation Scheme in South Africa to identify the behaviour associated with the highest financial returns to water allocated to smallholder farmers to decrease rural poverty. The blue water footprint for cabbages was estimated; the value of the water was then calculated as the gross margin and value added per cubic metre of water at the respective stages along the value chain. The analyses show that the attributes of the products have a major influence on the degree of access to the highest value market alternatives, and hence on the ability of smallholder farmers to generate the highest possible return from the water they receive for agricultural purposes.
Evaluation of Network RTK Performance and Elements of Certification—A Southern Ontario Case Study
Authors: Bisnath S. , Saeidi A. , Wang J.-G. , Seepersad G.
Published: January 2014

Over the past decade, network RTK technology has become popular as an efficient method of precise, real-time positioning. Its relatively low-cost and single receiver ease-of-use has allowed it to mostly replace static relative GPS and single baseline RTK in urban areas where such networks are economically viable (e.g., cadastral and construction survey). The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) and York University have investigated the performance of commercial network RTK services in Southern Ontario, where performance is defined by a set of developed metrics. It was found that the user horizontal solution had an overall precision of ∼2.5 cm (95%), though there were cases of solution biases, drifts and gaps. A follow-up study is developing criteria and pathways for the certification of such commercial network RTK services, focusing on: reference station integration, reference station maintenance, and user solution monitoring. A set of recommendations for network certification is in preparation.
Performance Evaluation of USTEC Product for Single-Frequency Precise Point Positioning
Authors: El-Rahman Mahmoud Abd , El-Rabbany Ahmed
Published: January 2014

Geodetic-grade dual-frequency GPS receivers are typically used for precise point positioning (PPP). Unfortunately, these receiver systems are expensive and may not provide a cost-effective solution in many instances. The use of low-cost single-frequency GPS receivers, on the other hand, are limited by the effect of ionospheric delay. A number of mitigation techniques have been proposed to account for the effect of ionospheric delay for single-frequency GPS users. Unfortunately, however, those mitigation techniques are not suitable for PPP. More recently, the U.S. Total Electron Content (USTEC) product has been developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which describes the ionospheric total electron content in high resolution over most of North America. This paper investigates the performance of USTEC and studies its effect on single-frequency PPP solution. A performance comparison with two widely-used ionospheric mitigation models is also presented.
The roles and effects of safety factors in small system water regulation
Authors: Regnier John E.
Published: January 2014

For small water systems, complying with drinking water regulations can be costly; the National Rural Water Association has produced several white papers that evaluate these regulations and the conservative assumptions on which they are based.
How Industry Can Help Maintain a Healthy Environment
Authors: Theobald Daniel L.
Published: January 2014

Conservation among residential consumers has become a mainstay of utility operations, but opportunities abound among industrial users to put conservation measures into practice. This e‐mail interview with wastewater expert Daniel Theobald details the ways in which industry can incorporate recycling and reuse into its daily operations. Theobald, proprietor of Environmental Services, is also a professional wastewater and safety consultant/trainer. He is known in the industry as “Wastewater Dan” and has more than 24 years of hands‐on industry experience operating various wastewater treatment processing units. Theobald is a trainer in wastewater and industrial health and safety topics and is eager to share his knowledge with others to promote conservation of water (www.Conserve‐On‐Water.com).
A Simple Action Plan for Utilities to Secure Their Process Control Systems
Authors: Spence Shannon , Roberson J. Alan , Morley Kevin M.
Published: January 2014

Water systems confront a variety of threats on a daily basis, ranging from vandalism to insider jobs to hurricanes and tornadoes. The actual threat is not the point; it's the end game that is most critical. Cybersecurity is an increasingly important issue for water systems. A critical factor is the relative ease with which such attacks can be executed. The perpetrator can remain totally anonymous without risk of exposure as would occur in attempting a physical attack. Cyber‐terrorists are often hundreds or thousands of miles away and take advantage of the Internet to gain access to process controls. As long as water systems rely on process control systems and other automated systems to support their operations, vigilance on the cyber‐front will need to continue.
Effect of Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cell Paracrine Signaling on Keloid Fibroblasts
Authors: Arno Anna I. , Amini-Nik Saeid , Blit Patrick H. , Al-Shehab Mohammed , Belo Cassandra , Herer Elaine , Jeschke Marc G.
Published: January 2014

Keloid scars are abnormal benign fibroproliferative tumors with high recurrence rates and no current efficacious treatment. Accumulating evidence suggests that human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) have antifibrotic properties. Paracrine signaling is considered one of the main underlying mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells. However, the paracrine signaling effects of WJ-MSCs on keloids have not yet been reported. The aim of this study is to investigate paracrine signaling effects of human WJ-MSCs on keloid fibroblasts in vitro. Human umbilical cords and keloid skin samples were obtained, and WJ-MSCs and keloid fibroblasts were isolated and cultured. One-way and two-way paracrine culture systems between both cell types were investigated. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-I and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) transcripts were upregulated in keloid fibroblasts cultured with WJ-MSC-conditioned medium (WJ-MSC-CM) and cocultured with inserts, while showing lower TGF-β3 gene expression. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 protein expression was also enhanced. The WJ-MSC-CM-treated keloid fibroblasts showed higher proliferation rates than their control keloid fibroblasts with no significant change in apoptosis rate or migration ability. In our culture conditions, the indirect application of WJ-MSCs on keloid fibroblasts may enhance their profibrotic phenotype.
Arctic Ocean basin liquid freshwater storage trend 1992–2012
Authors: Rabe B. , Karcher M. , Kauker F. , Schauer U. , Toole J. M. , Krishfield R. A. , Pisarev S. , Kikuchi T. , Su J.
Published: January 2014

Freshwater in the Arctic Ocean plays an important role in the regional ocean circulation, sea ice, and global climate. From salinity observed by a variety of platforms, we are able, for the first time, to estimate a statistically reliable liquid freshwater trend from monthly gridded fields over all upper Arctic Ocean basins. From 1992 to 2012 this trend was 600±300 km3 yr−1. A numerical model agrees very well with the observed freshwater changes. A decrease in salinity made up about two thirds of the freshwater trend and a thickening of the upper layer up to one third. The Arctic Ocean Oscillation index, a measure for the regional wind stress curl, correlated well with our freshwater time series. No clear relation to Arctic Oscillation or Arctic Dipole indices could be found. Following other observational studies, an increased Bering Strait freshwater import to the Arctic Ocean, a decreased Davis Strait export, and enhanced net sea ice melt could have played an important role in the freshwater trend we observed.
The importance of shallow hydrothermal island arc systems in ocean biogeochemistry
Authors: Hawkes Jeffrey A. , Connelly Douglas P. , Rijkenberg Micha J. A. , Achterberg Eric P.
Published: January 2014

Hydrothermal venting often occurs at submarine volcanic calderas on island arc chains, typically at shallower depths than mid–ocean ridges. The effect of these systems on ocean biogeochemistry has been under‐investigated to date. Here we show that hydrothermal effluent from an island arc caldera was rich in Fe(III) colloids (0.02–0.2 µm; 46% of total Fe), contributing to a fraction of hydrothermal Fe that was stable in ocean water. Iron(III) colloids from island arc calderas may be transferred into surrounding waters (generally 0–1500 m depth) by ocean currents, thereby potentially stimulating surface ocean primary productivity. Hydrothermal Fe oxyhydroxide particles (>0.2 µm) were also pervasive in the studied caldera and contained high concentrations of oxyanions of phosphorus (P), vanadium (V), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn). Hydrothermal island arcs may be responsible for > 50% of global hydrothermal P scavenging and > 40% V scavenging, despite representing <10% of global hydrothermal fluid flow.
Evidence for coral island formation during rising sea level in the central Pacific Ocean
Authors: Kench Paul S. , Owen Susan D. , Ford Murray R.
Published: January 2014

The timing and evolution of Jabat Island, Marshall Islands, was investigated using morphostratigraphic analysis and radiometric dating. Results show the first evidence of island building in the Pacific during latter stages of Holocene sea level rise. A three‐phase model of development of Jabat is presented. Initially, rapid accumulation of coarse sediments on Jabat occurred 4800–4000 years B.P. across a reef flat higher than present level, as sea level continued to rise. During the highstand, island margins and particularly the western margin accreted vertically to 2.5–3.0 m above contemporary ridge elevations. This accumulation phase was dominated by sand‐size sediments. Phase three involved deposition of gravel ridges on the northern reef, as sea level fell to present position. Jabat has remained geomorphically stable for the past 2000 years. Findings suggest reef platforms may accommodate the oldest reef islands in atoll systems, which may have profound implications for questions of prehistoric migration through Pacific archipelagos.
The impact of different external sources of iron on the global carbon cycle
Authors: Tagliabue Alessandro , Aumont Olivier , Bopp Laurent
Published: January 2014

Variable supply of iron to the ocean is often invoked to explain part of past changes in atmospheric CO2 (CO2atm). Using model simulations, we find that CO2atm is sensitive on the order of 15, 2, and 1 ppm to sedimentary, dust, and hydrothermal iron input. CO2atm is insensitive to dust because it is not the major iron input to the Southern Ocean. Modifications to the relative export of Si(OH)4 to low latitudes are opposite to those predicted previously. Although hydrothermalism is the major control on the iron inventory in ~25% of the ocean, it remains restricted to the deep ocean, with minor effects on CO2atm. Nevertheless, uncertainties regarding the iron‐binding ligand pool can have significant impacts on CO2atm. Ongoing expansion of iron observations as part of GEOTRACES will be invaluable in refining these results.
First direct observation of sputtered lunar oxygen
Authors: Vorburger A. , Wurz P. , Barabash S. , Wieser M. , Futaana Y. , Holmström M. , Bhardwaj A. , Asamura K.
Published: January 2014

We present the first direct measurement of neutral oxygen in the lunar exosphere, detected by the Chandrayaan‐1 Energetic Neutral Analyzer (CENA). With the lunar surface consisting of about 60% of oxygen in number, the neutral oxygen detected in CENA's energy range (11 eV−3.3 keV) is attributed to have originated from the lunar surface, where it was released through solar wind ion sputtering. Fitting of CENA's mass spectra with calibration spectra from ground and in‐flight data resulted in the detection of a robust oxygen signal, with a flux of 0.2 to 0.4 times the flux of backscattered hydrogen, depending on the solar wind helium content and particle velocity. For the two solar wind types observed, we derive subsolar surface oxygen atom densities of N0= (1.1 ± 0.3) · 107m−3 and (1.4 ± 0.4) · 107m−3, respectively, which agree well with earlier model predictions and measured upper limits. From these surface densities, we derive column densities of NC= (1.5 ± 0.5) · 1013 m−2and (1.6 ± 0.5) · 1013 m−2. In addition, we identified for the first time a helium component. This helium is attributed to backscattering of solar wind helium (alpha particles) from the lunar surface as neutral energetic helium atoms, which has also been observed for the first time. This identification is supported by the characteristic energy of the measured helium atoms, which is roughly 4 times the energy of reflected solar wind hydrogen, and the correlation with solar wind helium content.
Analysis of the ground level enhancement on 17 May 2012 using data from the global neutron monitor network
Authors: Mishev A. L. , Kocharov L. G. , Usoskin I. G.
Published: January 2014

We have analyzed the data of the world neutron monitor network for the first ground level enhancement of solar cycle 24, the ground level enhancement (GLE) on 17 May 2012. A newly computed neutron monitor yield function and an inverse method are applied to estimate the energy spectrum, anisotropy axis direction, and pitch angle distribution of the high‐energy solar particles in interplanetary space. The method includes the determination of the asymptotic viewing cones of neutron monitor stations through computations of trajectories of cosmic rays in a model magnetosphere. The cosmic ray particle trajectories are determined with the GEANT‐based MAGNETOCOSMICS code using Tsyganenko 1989 and International Geomagnetic Reference Field models. Subsequent calculation of the neutron monitor responses with the model function is carried out, that represents an initial guess of the inverse problem. Derivation of the solar energetic particle characteristics is fulfilled by fitting the data of the global neutron monitor network using the Levenberg‐Marquardt method over the nine‐dimensional parameter space. The pitch angle distribution and rigidity spectrum of high‐energy protons are obtained as function of time in the course of the GLE. The angular distribution appears quite complicated. It comprises a focused beam along the interplanetary magnetic field line from the Sun and a loss‐cone feature around the opposite direction, possibly indicative of the particle transport in interplanetary magnetic field structures associated with previous coronal mass ejections.
Physical causes of solar cycle amplitude variability
Authors: Cameron R. H. , Jiang J. , Schüssler M. , Gizon L.
Published: January 2014

The level of solar activity varies from cycle to cycle. This variability is probably caused by a combination of nonlinear and random effects. Based on surface flux transport simulations, we show that the observed inflows into active regions and toward the activity belts provide an important nonlinearity in the framework of Babcock‐Leighton model for the solar dynamo. Inclusion of these inflows also leads to a reproduction of the observed proportionality between the open heliospheric flux during activity minima and the maximum sunspot number of the following cycle. A substantial component of the random variability of the cycle strength is associated with the cross‐equatorial flux plumes that occur when large, highly tilted sunspot groups emerge close to the equator. We show that the flux transported by these events is important for the amplitude of the polar fields and open flux during activity minima. The combined action of inflows and cross‐equatorial flux plumes provides an explanation for the weakness of the polar fields at the end of solar cycle 23 (and hence for the relative weakness of solar cycle 24).
Parameterization of the spatially averaged sky view factor in complex topography
Authors: Helbig N. , Löwe H.
Published: January 2014

Large‐scale meteorological, land surface or climate models require precise subgrid parameterizations to reproduce unresolved subgrid processes. This is particularly important in mountainous terrain where subgrid surface properties (e.g., glacier area extent) are used to illustrate the impact of global climate change. The sky view factor is one of the most frequently used terrain characteristics to parameterize the influence of topography on the surface radiation balance in complex terrain. A precise subgrid parameterization of sky view factors is therefore essential for accurate parameterizations of radiative fluxes such as shortwave diffuse sky and terrain reflected radiation. While its computation is straightforward for a particular site, a systematic characterization of the spatially averaged sky view factor is still missing. We use Gaussian random fields with a Gaussian covariance as topography model, and based on an analytical approximation, we derive a parameterization for the spatially averaged sky view factor. The sky view factor parameterization is solely based on computationally cheap terrain parameters, namely the correlation length of subgrid topographic features and the mean‐squared slope in the grid cell of the large‐scale model. For validation we compare parameterized to numerically exact sky view factors computed for real terrain of the Swiss Alps from a 25 m digital elevation model, with subsequent averaging to varying target domain sizes. We obtain a very good agreement when approaching the resolutions of regional climate models. The parameterization also compares well for various real topographies from the U.S.