bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LASIK for Hyperopic Astigmatism and Presbyopia Using Micro-monovision With the Carl Zeiss Meditec MEL80 Platform
Authors: Reinstein Dan Z. , Couch Darren G. , Archer Timothy J.
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the monocular and binocular outcomes of LASIK for a micro-monovision protocol for the correction of hyperopic astigmatism and presbyopia.

Methods:

A prospective non-comparative case series included 258 eyes of 129 consecutive patients with hyperopic astigmatism and presbyopia who were treated with LASIK-induced micro-monovision. The CRS-Master software was used to generate ablation profiles for the Carl Zeiss Meditec MEL80 excimer laser. The target refraction was plano for distance eyes (dominant eye) and between −1.00 and −1.50 diopters (D) for near eyes. Patients were followed for 1 year.

Results:

Mean attempted spherical equivalent refraction (SE) correction was +2.54±1.16 D (range: +0.25 to +5.75 D). Mean attempted cylinder was −0.52±0.49 D (range: −0.00 to −3.25 D). Median age was 56 years (range: 44 to 66 years). Median follow-up was 12.5 months (range: 3.3 months [early retreatment] to 18.2 months). The retreatment rate was 22%. Outcome measures after all treatments were as follows. Mean deviation from the intended SE correction was +0.09±0.48 D, with 79% of eyes within ±0.50 D and 95% within ±1.00 D. The cylinder correction ratio was 1.23±0.63 and the error ratio was 0.67±0.65. Of the distance eyes, 86% achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 and 100% achieved 20/40. Binocularly, 95% of patients achieved 20/20 and 100% achieved 20/40. Eighty-one percent of patients could read J2 and 100% could read J5. Binocularly, 95% of patients achieved 20/20 and could read J5. No eyes lost 2 or more lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. A statistically significant increase was noted in contrast sensitivity at 3 and 6 cycles per degree (cpd), with no reduction at 12 and 18 cpd. The average change in refraction between 3 months and 1 year was +0.11±0.36 D with a change of >1.00 D in 2.6% of eyes.

Conclusions:

This hyperopic micro-monovision protocol was a well-tolerated and effective procedure for treating patients with presbyopia in moderate to high hyperopia with corrections ranging up to +5.75 D. Contrast sensitivity was improved and the distance vision of near eyes was found to contribute positively to binocular distance vision compared to distance eyes monocularly.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:37–58.]
The Use of NIDEK OPD Scan II Wavefront Aberrometry in Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation
Authors: Gualdi Luca , Cappello Veronica , Giordano Cristina
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

To present case examples outlining the use of wavefront aberrometry for toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation pre- and postoperatively.

Methods:

Twelve eyes that underwent AcrySof Toric IOL (Alcon Inc Laboratories) implantation were assessed pre- and postoperatively using the NIDEK OPD Scan II (NIDEK Co Ltd). Wavefront aberrometry, corneal topography, and objective visual quality were measured using the OPD Scan II with OPD-Station software. The internal and corneal aberrations were evaluated separately to determine whether the source of astigmatism was corneal, internal, or a combination of both.

Results:

All IOLs were implanted using a 2.75-mm incision. Wavefront aberrometry was used to determine the position of the incision to minimize postoperative astigmatism. The postoperative objective visual quality and wavefront maps were used to determine the effect of residual irregular or regular astigmatism.

Conclusions:

The OPD Scan II determines whether irregular or regular astigmatism is due to the corneal surface or to the internal aberrations of the eye. The magnitude, type, and location of astigmatism can guide the proper placement of toric IOLs. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:S110–S115.]
Factors Affecting Vaulting After Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation
Authors: Kamiya Kazutaka , Shimizu Kimiya , Komatsu Mari
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the vaulting of the STAAR Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) over the crystalline lens after implantation.

Methods:

One hundred twenty-three eyes of 68 patients with myopic refractive errors of −3.25 to −22.75 diopters undergoing ICL implantation were examined retrospectively. The magnitude of the central vaulting of the ICL was assessed quantitatively using slit-lamp microscopy at 3 months after surgery. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the factors affecting the amount of vaulting.

Results:

The mean central vaulting 3 months after surgery was 603.6±259.6 µm. Explanatory variables relevant to the vaulting were, in order of influence, the horizontal white-to-white distance (partial regression coefficient B=0.268,
P
=.0002) and patient age (B=−0.007,
P
=.011).

Conclusions:

Although the majority of the variance remains unexplained, younger patients' eyes and eyes with greater white-to-white distances are more predisposed to have higher ICL vaulting over the crystalline lens. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:259–264.]
Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Retreatment After Wavefront-optimized Ablations With PRK and LASIK
Authors: Randleman J. Bradley , White Alfred J. , Lynn Michael J. , Hu Michelle H. , Stulting R. Doyle
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

To analyze and compare retreatment rates after wavefront-optimized photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK and determine risk factors for retreatment.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients undergoing PRK or LASIK with the wavefront-optimized WaveLight platform from January 2005 through December 2006 targeted for a plano outcome and to determine the rate and risk factors for retreatment surgery in this population.

Results:

Eight hundred fifty-five eyes were analyzed, including 70 (8.2%) eyes with hyperopic refractions and 785 (91.8%) eyes with myopic refractions. After initial treatment, 72% of eyes were 20/20 or better and 99.5% were 20/40 or better. To improve uncorrected visual acuity, 54 (6.3%) eyes had retreatments performed. No significant differences in retreatment rates were noted based on age (
P
=.15), sex (
P
=.8), eye (
P
=.3), PRK versus LASIK (
P
=1.0), room temperature (
P
=.1) or humidity (
P
=.9), and no correlation between retreatment rate and month or season of primary surgery (
P
=.4). There was no correlation between degree of myopia and retreatment rate. Eyes were significantly more likely to undergo retreatment if they were hyperopic (12.8% vs 6.0%,
P
=.006) or had astigmatism ⩾1.00 diopter (D) (9.1% vs 5.3%,
P
=.04).

Conclusions:

Retreatment rate was 6.3% with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE excimer laser. This rate was not influenced by age, sex, corneal characteristics, or environmental factors. Eyes with hyperopic refractions or astigmatism ⩾1.00 D were more likely to undergo retreatment. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:273–276.]
A Comprehensive Teaching Reform Model for a Computer Networks Course Based on Integrated Information Systems
Authors: Yang Jingmin , Lee Trong-Yen , Chen Baoxing , Zhang Wenjie
Published: September 2019

in integrating and realigning the applied skills training at Minnan Normal University (MNNU), we analyzed the current situation and problems in the teaching of the Computer Networks course based on national standards on teaching quality and the Engineering Education Accreditation standards of China. Guided by a self-developed educational management system, teaching ex-perimentation platform and questionnaire survey system, based in a cloud com-puting platform, we adopted a problem-oriented research method to explore comprehensive teaching reform from four perspectives: teaching methods, teacher development, resource guarantees and continual improvement. The teaching reform cases show that the students’ ability to solve problems was sig-nificantly improved, and the goal of cultivating student knowledge, ability and quality has been achieved.
USRP Based Digital Audio Broadcasting Using OFDM in Virtual and Remote Laboratory
Authors: Telagam Nagarjuna , Sahu Padma Charan , Panda Sunita , Kandasamy Nehru
Published: September 2019

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is an amazing technology, achieving its promise of certainly delivering high quality digital audio in the most vindicate mobile and fixed receiver environments. The radio signal processing capability can be provided by Universal software radio peripheral (USRP) hardware. The received signal frequency can be controlled and transmitting the signal through wireless is possible by installing NI USRP utility configuration. The programmable USRP was running the VI snippet program in block diagram panel with radio companion integrated through USB cable on windows 7 64. With the parameters such as IQ rate, transmitter gain, carrier frequency along with device name which is given as ni2901_1 the students can able to tune the radio signal. DAB technology is integrated with USRP device using prominent OFDM technique for promise delivery of high quality audio signal. DAB works under four transmission modes in this paper. In this paper RF0 module is used USRP device is connected with dual band vertical antenna with 2.4 and 5GHz frequency as Tx1. This transmitting VI snippet program will support all file formats such as.wav, mp3, etc. the intention of the paper is to transmit the real time data through long distance using DAB technology in remote laboratory. The proposed system is implemented in virtual lab so that it can be accessed by any user from anywhere. This system is successfully tested on institute of aeronautical engineering virtual lab.
Quality Assurance
Authors: McDougald Jermaine S.
Published: September 2019

Online education has continued to increase at a rapid rate over the past decades, offering diverse learning programs at all levels of education. As a result, online programs continue to shift and change according to the demands of society. However, the demands for qualified online instructors (OI) are not increasing at the same rate and are not proportional to the number of instructors directly responsible for delivering quality online courses. Many OI do not know their learners; therefore, a gap is left in terms of their needs in an online environment. This chapter will provide insights into how the strategy “module hosts” for online discussion boards, and learner profiles are used in an online graduate program to promote effective communication, leadership, and collaboration. Moreover, the chapter discusses varied ways through which online instructors can incorporate a “bottom-up” approach in their instruction as part of being a change agent.
A Clinical Recommendation System to Maternity Care
Authors: Pereira Eliana , Portela Filipe , Abelha António
Published: September 2019

Nowadays in healthcare, the Clinical Decision Support Systems are used in order to help health professionals to take an evidence-based decision. An example is the Clinical Recommendation Systems. In this sense, a pre-triage system was developed and implemented in Centro Hospitalar do Porto in order to group the patients on two levels (urgent or outpatient). However, although this system is calibrated and specific to the urgency of obstetrics and gynaecology, it does not meet all clinical requirements by the general department of the Portuguese HealthCare (Direção Geral de Saúde). The main requirement is the need of having priority triage system characterized by five levels. Thus some studies have been conducted with the aim of presenting a methodology able to evolve the pre-triage system on a Clinical Recommendation System with five levels. After some tests (using data mining and simulation techniques), it has been validated the possibility of transformation the pre-triage system in a Clinical Recommendation System in the obstetric context. At the end the main indicators achieved with this system are presented in the Business Intelligence Platform already deployed. This paper presents an overview of the Clinical Recommendation System for obstetric triage, the model developed and the main results achieved.
Teaching Childbirth Support Techniques Using the Prepared Partner and Digital Birth
Authors: Holloway Alexandra
Published: September 2019

In today's California, a mother's primary social support person in childbirth is her partner, guiding her through a multidimensional experience, helping her make sense of unforgettable emotions and sensations. Preparing the partner is an integral step to making sure that the mother is well-supported in her birth. Because the mother's experience is influenced by the support she receives, and because birth partners need more support than is recognized, we target birth partners with a learning intervention. We investigate video games as a vehicle for knowledge transfer to the birth partner, both as currently available and as a positive learning tool. To address the problem of limited access to childbirth preparation methods, we investigated, designed, and evaluated two games: The Prepared Partner, an online Flash game, and Digital Birth, an iPhone application. Both games allow the user to practice various supportive actions in the realm of childbirth support for a mother in labor. We found that players of The Prepared Partner met learning goals while enjoying the game.
A Predictive Analytic Model for Maternal Morbidity
Authors: Palza Edgardo , Sanchez Jorge , Mamani Guillermo , Pacora Percy , Abran Alain , Moon Jane
Published: September 2019

This chapter presents a predictive analytic model for preventing neonatal morbidity through the analysis of patterns of risky behavior regarding morbidity in newborns. The chapter presents the design and implementation of a forecasting model of Neonatal morbidity. The model developed is based on artificial intelligence using Bayesian Networks, Influence Diagrams and principles of traditional statistics. The model research is based on a repository of 10,000 medical records at a hospital in Peru. The model aims to identify the factors that are causes of morbidity in newborns, is based on data mining techniques and developed using the CRISP-DM methodology.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Maternal Health in Nigeria
Authors: Eshiet Idongesit
Published: September 2019

This chapter addresses the feasibility of Nigeria achieving Target 3.1 of Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims at reducing maternal deaths to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Maternal deaths occur due to lack of access to maternal healthcare, which encompasses the healthcare dimensions of family planning, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care for women. Nigeria is presently the second largest contributor to maternal deaths globally, having a maternal mortality ratio of 814 per 100,000 live births. Will Nigeria achieve this goal by 2030? This chapter assesses the maternal health landscape of Nigeria and the measures taken by the government to address maternal health from the perspective of the feasibility of achieving SDG 3, Target 3.1 by 2030.
Hindi and Punjabi Continuous Speech Recognition Using CNSVM
Authors: Passricha Vishal , Singhal Shubhanshi
Published: September 2019

CNNs are playing a vital role in the field of automatic speech recognition. Most CNNs employ a softmax activation layer to minimize cross-entropy loss. This layer generates the posterior probability in object classification tasks. SVMs are also offering promising results in the field of ASR. In this article, two different approaches: CNNs and SVMs, are combined together to propose a new hybrid architecture. This model replaces the softmax layer, i.e. the last layer of CNN by SVMs to effectively deal with high dimensional features. This model should be interpreted as a special form of structured SVM and named the Convolutional Neural SVM. (CNSVM). CNSVMs incorporate the characteristics of both models which CNNs learn features from the speech signal and SVMs classify these features into corresponding text. The parameters of CNNs and SVMs are trained jointly using a sequence level max-margin and sMBR criterion. The performance achieved by CNSVM on Hindi and Punjabi speech corpus for word error rate is 13.43% and 15.86%, respectively, which is a significant improvement on CNNs.
Opportunities for the Circular Economy in Smart Cities
Authors: Schipper Ron , Silvius Gilbert
Published: September 2019

Our current global economy is based on the linear flow of material and energy at a speed faster than earth can regenerate its services. A logical answer is reversing this into a circular economy, implemented through Circular Business Models (CBM). While cities count for the majority of current and future inhabitants, consumption and negative externalities people presume the CE should play an important role in coping with its challenges. To maintain urban livability, there is another emerging city strategy. That is to integrate technology in the urban domain and make a city “smart.” This development questions how digitization can also leverage CBM in the smart city area. However, little research is known on this topic. This article therefore studies the relationship between the circular economy and a circular smart city by exploring digital technology as a common variable. The authors first conceptualize the possibilities to enhance CBM by digital technology and then apply concept mapping to determine if and which CBM have greatest possibility to flourish in a circular smart city context.
Personalized Elective Selection
Authors: Eachempati Prajwal , Srivastava Praveen Ranjan
Published: September 2019

This paper aims to recommend the appropriate elective subjects for management students keeping in mind their personalized priorities assigned to factors that influence their decision making. For achieving this objective, a hybrid multi-criteria technique fuzzy analytical hierarchy process and evaluation based on distance from average (EDA) has been adopted to analyze the criteria and determine the appropriate electives. The results of the study reveal that in different scenarios, based on the different priorities assigned by students, the choice of elective also varies. From a practical standpoint, the proposed model will help students in determining suitable subject choices in a real-time decision-making scenario and can be automated to provide quick dynamic decisions to students when they are faced with this challenge.
Study on Influencing Factors of Noise Reduction Performance of Pervious Concrete
Authors: Wang Ji Liang , Niu Zi Dong , Chen Qian , Yu Yong Yan , Chen Xiao
Published: September 2019

In this experiment, four kinds of pervious concrete with different porosity (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%), four kinds of paste coating thickness (0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm) and four kinds of thickness (30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm) were prepared and their sound absorption coefficients under different frequency bands were tested. The results show that with the increase of target porosity, the thickness of paste coating and the thickness of pervious concrete, the sound absorption coefficient of pervious concrete increases firstly and then decreases. Through comprehensive consideration, when the target porosity is 18%, the thickness of paste coating is 0.5mm and the thickness is 40mm, pervious concrete has the best noise reduction effect. It provides a technical basis for the design of pervious concrete with noise reduction function.
The Simulation of Shear Angle and Deformations of Cu/Al Composite Sheets during Accumulated Roll Bonding
Authors: Pham Quang
Published: September 2019

The present simulation study gives shear angle distribution and deformations, there in the effect of severe plastic deformation due to the accumulated roll bonding on the crystalline structure of materials is discussed. In the analysis, the classical metal plasticity models with a von Mises yield surfaceand thePLASTIC, HARDENING = ISOTROPIC as keyword in ABAQUS, were employed. The equivalent strain, εeq, imposed by rolling is defined as micro-hardness was used to characterize the mechanical properties. After four cycles, the mechanical properties were improved with increasing ARB cycles.
Sperm dynein ATPase and ATPases associated with various cellular activities (AAA+): regulation in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia and necrozoospermia as extreme sperm motility disorders
Authors: Lestari Silvia W. , Firdaus Fitrah , Miati Dessy Noor , Asmarinah -
Published: September 2019

Asthenozoospermia is the most frequent sperm motility disorder, but there are other more extreme sperm motility disorders, namely oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) and necrozoospermia. There are several cellular mechanisms known for OAT and necrozoospermia, but there are limited data on dynein ATPase and ATPases associated with various cellular activities (AAA+). AAA1 is involved in ATP hydrolysis, while AAA2 is entangled in ATP-binding pocket. This study was conducted to investigate the role of dynein ATPase activity and quantification of AAA dynein. Spermatozoa from 14 men with OAT, 11 men with necrozoospermic and 17 men with normoozspermic samples were used in this study. Makler chamber was used to determine sperm concentration and motility, while Papanicolaou stained semen smears using World Health Organization-fifth edition criteria was performed to determine sperm morphology, and dynein ATPase was quantified by calculation of released inorganic phosphate. AAA was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas the distribution was determined by immunocytochemistry. This study showed that the dynein ATPase activity in OAT and necrozoospermia was lower than in the normozoospermic group (2.68±0.76, 1.01±0.31, 7.22±1.08 μmol Pi/mg protein/h, respectively, P<0.05), as well as the amounts of AAA1 and AAA2. In addition, staining for AAA in the sperm tail paralleled the dynein ATPase activity and quantity of AAA, being the highest in sperm from normozoospermic samples, lower in sperm from OAT samples, and almost undetectable in sperm from necrozoospermic samples. The structure and function of damaged sperm dynein may alter dynein ATPase activity and levels of AAA1 and AAA2.
Ovid: Metamorphoses. From the Second Triad
Authors: Šega Čeh Barbara
Published: September 2019

Motiv o Salmakidi in Hermafroditu, o spojitvi ženske in moškega v dvospolno telo, sodi med raritete antične mitološke zakladnice. Odstopa tudi od prevladujočega vsebinskega vzorca v Ovidijevih Metamorfozah: tokrat nimfa izjemoma ni žrtev posilstva, ampak storilka nasilnega dejanja nad moškim. Ni ugotovljivo, odkod je Ovidij ta motiv povzel, ali pa si ga je izmislil sam, kot domnevajo nekateri komentatorji, vendar hermafrodite pred njim omenja že Diodor Sicilski.
Quercetin directly promotes rabbit ovarian steroidogenesis
Authors: Sirotkin A.V. , Štochmaľová A. , Grossmann R. , Alwasel S. , Harrath A.H.
Published: September 2019

The bioflavonoid quercetin is a component of food with numerous biological effects, but its function in reproductive processes remains to be investigated. This study aimed to examine the direct action of quercetin on steroid hormone release in rabbit ovaries. We analysed the effect of quercetin (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) on cultured rabbit ovarian fragments. The release of progesterone (P4), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were analysed by enzyme immunoassay. Quercetin promoted P4, T, and E2 release by rabbit ovarian fragments. These observations indicate that quercetin can directly stimulate rabbit ovarian steroidogenesis – an essential regulator of reproduction and fecundity. The application of dietary quercetin for control of rabbit reproduction is discussed.
Coral Cultures in the Anthropocene
Authors: Schuster Joshua
Published: September 2019

This essay discusses how coral is becoming a kind of charismatic megafauna and a cultural icon for extinction in the Anthropocene. Until recently, most of the cultural associations around coral emphasized the strangeness and exotic qualities of coral that combines animal, mineral, and vegetable bodies. Darwin studied coral as a robust maker of atolls, while Melville wrote about coral stringing the Pacific Islands as ‘marine gardens.’ More recent theorizing on coral from Eva Hayward and Stefan Helmreich has been keen to emphasize how coral is transbiological and queer in the multi-species kinships it enables. However, in recent decades, as evidence of bleaching and mass coral die-offs have been registered by marine scientists, coral is also fast becoming a barometer for the sixth mass extinction. I look at how contemporary cultural representations of coral are straining to reconfigure the life of coral as caught between associations of fragility and resilience, seeing coral as capable of supporting indigenous island civilizations while not being able to survive ocean warming of less than one degree Celsius. I examine the work of recent artists (Courtney Mattison and Alison McDonald) whose coral-themed work combines science and spectacle. These artists return to older visions of coral figured fantastically as both living and dead, yet updating this view for today, as we find coral to be a primary figure for life and death in the Anthropocene. I finish with a discussion of the recent documentary film Chasing Coral (2017) as negotiating multiple simultaneous visual tropes and coral conditions. This film aims to provide viewers with a sense of time constraints for scientists, filmmakers, and for coral reef colonies under extreme stress in areas including the Great Barrier Reef. The film tries to articulate a pathway between scientific documentation, environmental activism, and visual drama, ultimately composing these perspectives into a work that suggests that the imbalance and overlap of these ways of engaging with coral will provide a model for how to form a global coral culture movement.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of N-(2-(N-methylsulfamoyl)phenyl)formamide: Degradation product of 2-methyl-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide
Authors: Etse Koffi Senam , Zaragoza Guillermo , Pirotte Bernard
Published: September 2019

The hydrolysis of 2-methyl-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine 1,1-dioxide (2) during crystallization under humidity (85 %) conditions, lead to N-(2-(N-methylsulfamoyl)phenyl)formamide as second step hydrolysis product, identified in the proposed degradation mechanism. Crystal of N-(2-(N-methylsulfamoyl)phenyl)formamide C8H10N2O3S (4), was obtained and characterized. The molecular structure determination was carried out with MoKα X-ray and data measured at 100 K. The compound 4 crystallizes in triclinic P͞1 space group with unit cell parameters a = 4.8465(4) Å, b = 8.1942(9) Å, c = 11.8686(13) Å, α = 77.080(4)°, β = 82.069(4)°, γ = 80.648(4)°, V = 450.76 (8) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure is stabilized by intramolecular N-H···O and intermolecular C-H···O and N-H···O hydrogen bonds that extended as infinite 1D chain along [100]. Stabilization is also ensured by oxygen-π stacking interaction between the aromatic ring and oxygen of the sulfonamide group. The analysis of intermolecular interactions through the mapping of dnorm and shape-index revel that the most significant contributions to the Hirshfeld surface 40.6 and 33.9% are from H···H and O···H contacts, respectively.
Utilization of UPLC-tandem mass spectrometry for quantitation of colouring matters in dietary formulation
Authors: Zaghary Wafaa Abdou , Abdalla Ahmed Mostafa , Hanna Emily Tawfik , Zanoun Marwa Abdel Rahman Tohamy
Published: September 2019

A simple and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometric detection (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of two food colouring matters, Curcumin (CUR) and Riboflavin (RIB). Chromatographic separation was done on Hypersil gold 50×2.1 mm (1.9 μm) column, with gradient programing of mobile phase starting with aqueous 0.1% formic acid and increasing the percentage of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile. The utilization of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) improved the selectivity of detection and decreased the matrix effect.  The method was linear in the range of 5-500 ng/mL for CUR and RIB. Intra- and inter-day reproducibility were within the accepted criteria. The method was successfully applied for the determination the laboratory prepared mixtures of the two selected colouring matters. The use of mass spectrometry enhanced the selectivity and sensitivity of detection which allows the robust use of the method in routine quality control tests of the two colouring matters (CUR and RIB).
Characterization of carbonaceous aerosols in Singapore: insight from black carbon fragments and trace metal ions detected by a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer
Authors: Rivellini Laura-Hélèna , Adam Max G. , Kasthuriarachchi Nethmi , Lee Alex K. Y.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Understanding sources and atmospheric processes that can influence the physio-chemical properties of carbonaceous aerosols are essential to evaluate their impacts on air quality and climate. However, resolving the sources, emission characteristics and aging processes of carbonaceous aerosols in complex urban environments remain challenging. In this work, a soot-particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS) was deployed to characterize organic aerosols (OA), refractory BC (rBC) and trace metals in Singapore, a highly urbanized city with multiple local and regional air pollution sources in the tropical region. rBC (C1+–C9+) fragments and trace metals ions (K+, Na+, Ni+, V+ and Rb+) were integrated into our positive matrix factorization of OA. Two types of fossil fuel combustion-related OA with different degree of oxygenation were identified. This work provides evidence that over 90 % of rBC was originated from local combustion sources with ~ 30 % of them associated with the fresh secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced under the influences of industrial emissions during daytime. The results also show that ~ 43 % of the total rBC was emitted from local traffic, and the rest of rBC fraction due to multiple sources, including vehicular, shipping and industrial emissions, being not fully resolved. There was only a weak association between the cooking-related OA component and rBC. Although there was no observable biomass burning episode during the sampling period, tracers for biomass burning, K+ and Rb+, were mainly associated with the more-oxidized oxygenated OA component (~ 32 % of the total OA), indicating significant contributions of regional biomass burning emissions to this aged OA component. Furthermore, the aerosol pollutants transported from the industrial area and shipping ports gave higher C1+/C3+ and V+/Ni+ ratios than those associated with traffic and biomass burning. The observed association between Na+ and rBC suggests that the contribution of anthropogenic emissions to total particulate sodium should not be ignored in coastal urban environments. Overall, this work demonstrates that rBC fragments and trace metal ions can improve our understanding on the sources, emissions characteristics and aging history of carbonaceous aerosol (OA and rBC) in this type of complex urban environments.
Trace elements in mussel shells from the Brazos River, Texas: environmental and biological control
Authors: VanPlantinga Alexander A. , Grossman Ethan L.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. In sclerochronology, understanding the drivers of shell chemistry is necessary in order to use shells to reconstruct environmental conditions. We measured the Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Mn contents in water samples and in the shells of two freshwater mussels (Amblema plicata and Cyrtonaias tampicoensis) from the Brazos River, Texas to test their reliability as environmental archives. Shells were analyzed along growth increments using age models established with stable and clumped isotopes. Shells were also examined with cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy to map Mn / Ca distribution patterns. Sr / Ca correlated with Mn / Ca, while Mg / Ca and Ba / Ca showed no clear trends. Mn / Ca correlated inversely with the log of river discharge. Because dissolved and inorganic particulate sources of manganese are low during low flow, peak Mn / Ca values may come from elevated feeding or metabolic rates. Shell Mn / Ca values were used to reconstruct river discharge patterns, which, to our knowledge, has previously only been performed with shell chemistry using oxygen isotopes.
Multi-decadal changes in structural complexity following mass coral mortality on a Caribbean reef
Authors: Roff George , Joseph Jennifer , Mumby Peter J.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. In recent decades, extensive mortality of reef-building corals throughout the Caribbean region has led to erosion of reef frameworks and declines in biodiversity. Using field observations, structural models and high-precision U-th dating methods, we quantify changes in structural complexity in the major framework building coral Orbicella annularis over a 20-year period at Long Cay (Belize). Despite extensive mortality following the mass coral bleaching event of 1998, structural complexity of frameworks remained largely unchanged between 1998 (rugosity index = 2.35 ± 0.1) and 2018 (2.29 ± 0.1). Reef-scale structural complexity was maintained through rapid growth of surviving ramets (0.69 ± 0.1 cm yr−1) offsetting slower bioerosion of dead ramets (−0.11 ± 0.16 cm yr−1). Despite apparent stability of structural complexity at reef-scales, bioerosion of individual dead ramets over two decades led to declines in microhabitat complexity, with an overall reduction of the depth of microhabitats within frameworks. Altered microhabitat complexity appears to have negative effects for cryptic fauna, with the grazing urchin Echinometra viridis declining from 1.5 ± 0.4 per m2 in 1998 to 0.02 ± 0.02 per m2 in 2018. Changes in microhabitat complexity have the potential to alter ecological interactions that can impact recovery dynamics on coral reefs in ways that are undetectable using reef-scale metrics of structural complexity.
Mass balance, grade, and adjustment timescales in bedrock channels
Authors: Turowski Jens Martin
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Rivers are dynamical systems that are thought to evolve towards a steady state configuration. Then, geomorphic parameters, such as channel width and slope, are constant over time. In the mathematical description of the system, the steady state corresponds to a fixed point in the dynamic equations in which all time derivatives are equal to zero. In alluvial rivers, steady state is characterised by grade. This can be expressed as a so-called order principle: An alluvial river evolves to achieve a state in which sediment transport is constant along the river channel, and is equal to transport capacity everywhere. In bedrock rivers, steady state is thought to be achieved with a balance between erosion and uplift. The corresponding order principle is: A bedrock river evolves to achieve a vertical bedrock incision rate that is equal to the uplift rate or baselevel lowering rate. Within the present paper, considerations of process physics and of the mass balance of a bedrock channel are used to argue that bedrock rivers evolve to achieve both grade and a balance between erosion and uplift. As such, bedrock channels are governed by two order principles. As a consequence, the recognition of a steady state with respect to one of them does not necessarily imply an overall steady state. For further discussion of the bedrock channel evolution towards a steady state, expressions for adjustment timescales are sought. For this, a mechanistic model for lateral erosion of bedrock channels is developed, which allows to obtain analytical solutions for the adjustment timescales for the morphological variables of channel width, channel bed slope and alluvial bed cover. The adjustment timescale to achieve steady cover is of the order of minutes to days, while the adjustment timescales for width and slope are of the order of thousands of years. Thus, cover is adjusted quickly in response to a change in boundary conditions to achieve a graded state. The resulting change in vertical and lateral incision rates triggers a slow adjustment of width and slope, which in turn affects bed cover. As a result of these feedbacks, it can be expected that a bedrock channel is close to a graded state most of the time, even when it is transiently adjusting its bedrock channel morphology.
UNIVERSITIES AS SMART CITY DRIVERS IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES
Authors: Bodum L. , Moreno D.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Many small and medium-sized cities meet their limitations when it comes to deliver longer running smart city services and to manage the complexity of big data. There is a tendency to be stuck in pilots and smaller set-ups because the knowledge and innovation that is required for these projects and services can’t be obtained in organisations, where there is more focus on daily operations and maintaining service levels in welfare. At the same time there is a need for a scientific baseline in relation to move our urban areas towards a more sustainable future. Someone needs to deliver data that can document the challenges that cities stand up against reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This paper describes a case where the local university together with a research-based start-up company have taken an initiative to deploy and manage a network of multi-functional probes (MONTEM CityProbes) that contains a large number of sensors that can track a broad suite of environmental data in near real-time. The service is established with open data capabilities and with a hope to kickstart further innovations in smart city developments and to strengthen the IoT eco-system of the region. The specific example focusses on monitoring the air quality from 25 probes deployed in places with strategic importance and where there is heavy traffic intensity from fossil-fuelled motor vehicles.
SMART GOVERNANCE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF WARSAW WITH THE USE OF ICT AND GEOINFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Gotlib D. , Kulisiewicz T. , Muraszkiewicz M. , Olszewski R.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The article presents the results of work carried out as part of the “Objectives of the SMART CITY program in the capital city of Warsaw” project run at the request of the Digitisation Bureau of the Warsaw City Hall by a design team from the Warsaw University of Technology in cooperation with Comtegra S.A. company. The first part shows the analytical assessment of systems, services, and solutions used in Warsaw in September and October 2017 as well as a SWOT analysis of weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of transforming Warsaw into a smart city. The second part of the article presents reasons and objectives of the transformation, as well as a general conceptual framework for Warsaw as a smart city. The study focuses on describing the critical processes that should take place in the structures of the city; principles and future directions for the model of organisation: services and solutions, actions and assistance that are already in progress or will be undertaken in the first stages of transforming the capital city of Warsaw into a smart city. The solution proposed by the authors of the article below concerning the transformation of the Polish capital into a smart city is currently being implemented by the City Hall of Warsaw in cooperation with Deloitte.
BIG DATA IN EMISSION PRODUCING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES – AN EXPLORATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Hämäläinen E. , Inkinen T.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Data management and intelligent systems provide new possibilities and trajectories for environmentally robust industrial production. Global climate change has evoked a number of fresh studies on data management, openness and environmental innovation. This literature review approaches current academic research focusing on big data, industry, and emissions. The paper is based on key word searches that returned publications from high-class scientific journals dedicated to this particular topic. The article reading illustrates that big data is utilised in various industries, and explores a large variety of polluting substances. The authors argue that innovative and insightful new ways of using big data provide tools for emission monitoring and clean technology utilisation. The diversity in the analysed articles proves the complexity of market operations and corporate responsibility. The paper concludes in addressing the need of using and combining data resources, particularly at the industry unit level, in order to develop more efficient tools for environmental monitoring and decision making.
Internal tides in the Solomon Sea in contrasted ENSO conditions
Authors: Tchilibou Michel , Gourdeau Lionel , Lyard Florent , Morrow Rosemary , Koch Larrouy Ariane , Allain Damien , Djath Bughsin
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The Solomon Sea is a place of intense Low Latitudes Western Boundary current transiting to the equator where mesoscale activity is superimposed on internal tides. In this marginal sea, the cumulated effects of these dynamical constraints result in water mass transformation as observed by in situ observations. The objective of this paper is to document the M2 internal tides in the Solomon Sea and their impacts based on two regional simulations with and without tides. Because the Solomon Sea is under the influence of ENSO, the characteristics of the internal tides are analyzed for two contrasted ENSO conditions: the 1997–1998 El Niño and the 1999 La Niña. The generation, propagation and dissipation of the internal tides are sensitive to changes in stratification and mesoscale activity between El Niño and La Niña. Mode 1 is the dominant mode to propagate baroclinic tidal energy within the Solomon Sea, but the El Niño conditions, with stratification closer to the surface, are favorable for the propagation of mode 2. The la Niña case with a high level of mesoscale activity favors the appearance of incoherent internal tides. These results illustrate the complexity in predicting internal tides in order to access meso and submesoscale signatures from altimetric missions, including the future SWOT mission. Diapycnal mixing induced by the internal tides is efficient in eroding the salinity maximum of the upper thermocline water, and in cooling the surface temperature interacting with the atmosphere. Such effects are particularly visible far from the strong currents, where particles may experience the tidal effects during a longer time. Nevertheless, the impacts are different when considering particular ENSO conditions. The interaction of internal tides with the surface mesoscale activity reduces surface cooling during El Niño 1998, but increases surface warming during La Niña 1999, with possible impacts on regional air sea interaction.
Abutting faults: a case study of the evolution of strain at Courthouse branch point, Moab Fault, Utah
Authors: van Gent Heijn , Urai Janos L.
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Slip planes and slip directions of subsequent generations of faults were measured in the interaction damage zone two abutting faults in porous sandstones, to understand the evolution of paleostress/paleostrain evolution. The Courthouse branch point, of the Moab Fault in SE Utah, is a much-studied spectacular outcrop of two abutting faults. It shows a wide range of deformation structures and fault related diagenesis: striated slip planes, deformation bands, veins, Liesegang bands and copper-rich mineralization. By combining our own measurements with published results on the relative age of these structures, we classified our data in four sets. Using the Numeric Dynamic Analysis (NDA) to calculate the orientation of the kinematic axes we found three different paleo-extension directions in the four sets, recording the evolution of stress/strain axes during the abutting process. The first phase of deformation direction is the regional extension in the NE-SE direction. As the second fault approached the main fault from its footwall side and the two faults start to become kinematically linked, the extension direction changed so that the overall extension became perpendicular to the approaching fault (NW-SE). Finally, the extension direction changed back to perpendicular to the first segment (NE-SW), when the two faults become geometrically-linked and regional extension dominates.
Uncertainties in breakup markers along the Iberia-Newfoundland margins illustrated by new seismic data
Authors: Causer Annabel , Pérez-Díaz Lucía , Adam Jürgen , Eagles Graeme
Published: September 2019

Abstract. Plate tectonic modellers often rely on the identification of break-up markers to reconstruct the early stages of continental separation. Along the Iberian-Newfoundland margin, so-called break-up markers include interpretations of old magnetic anomalies from the M-series, as well as the J-anomaly. These have been used as the basis for plate tectonic reconstructions on the belief that these anomalies pinpoint the location of first oceanic lithosphere. However, uncertainties in the location and interpretation of break-up markers, as well as the difficulty in dating them precisely, has led to plate models that differ in their depiction of the separation of Iberia and Newfoundland. We use newly available seismic data from the Southern Newfoundland Basin (SNB) to assess the suitability of commonly used break-up markers along the Newfoundland margin for plate kinematic reconstructions. Our data shows that basement associated with the younger M-Series magnetic anomalies is comprised of exhumed mantle and magmatic additions, and most likely represents transitional domains and not true oceanic lithosphere. Because rifting propagated northward, we argue that M-series anomaly identifications further north, although in a region not imaged by our seismic, are also unlikely to be diagnostic of true oceanic crust beneath the SNB. Similarly, our data also allows us to show that the high amplitude of the J Anomaly is associated to a zone of exhumed mantle punctuated by significant volcanic additions, and at times characterised by interbedded volcanics and sediments. Magmatic activity in the SNB at a time coinciding with M4 (128 Ma), and the presence of SDR packages onlapping onto a basement fault suggest that, at this time, plate divergence was still being accommodated by tectonic faulting. We illustrate the differences in the relative positions of Iberia and Newfoundland across published plate reconstructions and discuss how these are a direct consequence of the uncertainties introduced into the modelling procedure by the use of extended continental margin data (dubious magnetic anomaly identifications, breakup unconformity interpretations). We conclude that a different approach is needed for constraining plate kinematics of the Iberian plate pre M0 times.
The impact of a forest parametrization on coupled WRF-CFD
simulations during the passage of a cold front over the WINSENT
test-site
Authors: Leukauf Daniel , El-Bahlouli Asmae , zum Berge Kjell , Schön Martin , Knaus Hermann , Bange Jens
Published: September 2019

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model has been coupled with a URANS Model to simulate the passage of a cold front over the WINSENT site, a wind energy test-site under development. It is located on a hill near a steep, forested terrain edge. A high spatial resolution is necessary to simulate the flow over this complex site accurately for which reason the WRF model is run at high resolution in LES mode coupled to a URANS model with an even higher resolution. A forest parametrization is implemented in both models to account for the drag caused by the trees. The main result is that the WRF model without forest parametrization overestimates the wind speed in the lowest 100 m above ground on average by about 3 ms−1. Introducing the forest parametrization reduces the bias considerably, but overcompensates the error at 45 m above ground, leading to a small negative bias. The URANS model further improves the flow simulation and provides a nearly bias free simulation compared to observation. Observations are taken with a 100-m high met-mast at five different levels. In addition, wind measurements taken with an Unmanned Aircraft System provide data along a cross-section that intersects the terrain edge.