bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Authors: Peters Everson J.
Published: November 2013

A sustainable development path is critical to most small island developing states, which are often environmentally fragile and have little natural resources. For decades, the small Grenadine islands in the Eastern Caribbean have depended on rainwater harvesting (RWH) for water supply. The RWH systems have improved from the use of household drums and communal cisterns to individual cisterns such that water per capita use at some households is at a similar level to that of developed countries. This improvement was brought about through self-financed projects and the use of local construction know-how. A small project to promote RWH in Green St. Vincent was reviewed to procure an appreciation of the diffusion process. The RWH experiences in these islands as they relate to quality, design, and cost can be relevant to the regional efforts of promoting RWH. The chapter proposes a framework for enhancing the promotion of RWH. The chapter recognizes the importance of RWH in disaster management in the islands.
Multifunctional Agriculture and the Green Economy
Authors: Jean-Vasile Andrei
Published: November 2013

Multifunctional agriculture represents a proactive approach of the role and effects of agriculture both on rural communities and traditions. The multifunctional agriculture passes beyond the classical functions of the agriculture bringing new gainful activities for the rural farmers. Understanding properly the multifunctional agriculture and farm diversity can offer all those involved new trends in valuing agricultural potential. This chapter presents a short but very comprehensive analysis regarding the multifunctional agricultural concept and farm diversity, in the context of the massive changes that have marked the actual evolution agrarian economy. It presents the evolution of multifunctional agriculture concept in the international approach and also analyzes the agriculture functions. In addition, it presents a short study case regarding the evolution of farm structure development in the Romanian agrarian sector.
Towards Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB)
Authors: Fokaides Paris A.
Published: November 2013

In 2009, European Union (EU) member states forged a long-awaited compromise on the recast buildings directive, agreeing that all new buildings would have to comply with high energy-performance standards by the end of 2020. The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which was finally announced in May 2010, requires the public sector to take the lead by owning buildings with “nearly zero” energy consumption standards by the end of 2018, which is two years in advance of the private sector. The objective of this chapter is to discuss both the range of potential consequences to European cities resulting from widespread implementation of zero energy buildings (ZEBs) and the relevant environmental technologies in accordance with the national goals set by the EU Member States. As EU member states are moving ahead with their targets and strategies for ZEBs, this chapter presents the most possible scenarios for the implementation of the EU recast buildings directive regarding ZEBs by 2020. A detailed review regarding the existing EU member states’ definitions and policies on low energy buildings and ZEBs, and the current status of RES technologies for ZEBs is also presented. Finally, some first thoughts are provided regarding the minimisation of energy consumption in the building sector and the green city goal, as energy is considered to be one of the most important chapters when evaluating a green community. The next step for the integration of green buildings would be the adoption of principles resulting from ZEB analyses and descriptions in existing green building models.
The Impact of Web-Based Media on Evolution of Participatory Urban Planning and E-Democracy in Poland
Authors: Grabkowska Maja , Pancewicz Łukasz , Sagan Iwona
Published: November 2013

The article examines the relationship between the use of Web-based media and the emergence of social movements focused on urban agenda in Poland. The authors’ aim is to investigate how and to what extent a growing body of smaller activist groups use opportunities provided by the Internet to achieve their political objectives. The authors’ research results indicate that electronic media have helped to raise the profile of local initiatives and increased awareness of systemic urban issues between different groups of grass-root actors. The findings of the article are based on the analysis of the Congress of Urban Movements (Kongres Ruchów Miejskich), a broad coalition of smaller non-governmental organizations and bottom-up activist groups, which use Internet-based tools to network. The results indicate that the Web-based tools increase the members’ ability to connect and interact, consequently improving the ability to coordinate joint initiatives and expand real-life social networks.
E-Governance Development in Africa
Authors: Silva Carlos Nunes
Published: November 2013

This note explores trends in e-governance development in Africa and examines barriers and challenges confronting the development of Urban e-Planning in the continent. It has three main sections, besides the introduction and conclusion. The first is focused on e-governance development in Africa, examines the overall context of ICT in Africa and assesses e-government progress in Africa; the second deals with the barriers confronting e-planning; and the third discusses the challenges for e-planning implementation in Africa. Despite the overall negative picture of e-governance development in Africa that emerges from this review and the huge barriers it is confronted with, there are signs that it is feasible to have a rapid and sustained progress in the field of Urban e-Planning in the near future. However, considering the low level of conventional urban planning development in the continent, gradual implementation of e-Planning solutions in African cities is recommended.
Using Biometric Measurement in Real-Time as a Sympathetic System in Computer Games
Authors: Charij Stephanie , Oikonomou Andreas
Published: November 2013

With the increasing potential for gaming hardware and peripherals to support biometrics, their application within the games industry for software and design should be considered. This paper assesses the ability to use a form of biometric measurement, heart rate, in real-time to improve the challenge and enjoyment of a game by catering it to individuals of varying ability. While the findings of this study are valuable to game developers interested in providing additional dimensions to gameplay and testing, they may also be useful for those researching medical or therapeutic applications for games. The results suggest that although the tested game was inherently challenging and enjoyable, the adaptive affective gameplay was not altering the game enough to induce strong physiological or emotional responses from participants. Biofeedback games lend themselves to medical applications, but adaptive affective games can be used to respond sympathetically to the player without requiring direct control of physiological responses as a form of input.
Methods for Space-Time Analysis and Modeling
Authors: Delmelle Eric , Kim Changjoo , Xiao Ningchuan , Chen Wei
Published: November 2013

With increasing availability of spatio-temporal data and the democratization of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), there has been a demand for novel statistical and visualization techniques which can explicitly integrate space and time. The paper discusses the nature of spatio-temporal data, the integration of time within GIS and the flourishing availability of spatial and temporal-explicit data over the Internet. The paper attempts to answer the fundamental question on how these large datasets can be analyzed in space and time to reveal critical patterns. The authors further elaborate on how spatial autocorrelation techniques are extended to deal with time, for point, linear, and areal features, and the impact of parameter selection, such as critical distance and time threshold to build adjacency matrices. The authors also discuss issues of space-time modeling for optimization problems.
Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Recent Air Passenger Flows
Authors: Kim Changjoo , Kim Hyun
Published: November 2013

Airline mergers and acquisitions (MAs) are on the rise across the globe and have been a growing trend in the U.S. aviation industry in the last few years. MAs are taking several factors into consideration, such as cost efficiency, competition, and geographic coverage. For airlines, these transactions can eliminate overlapping routes and help reduce competition, leading airlines to achieve higher operating margins. For travelers, MAs often lead to lesser flight frequency, higher airfares or longer travel miles. To explore spatial-temporal variations from airline and passenger perspectives, this paper focuses on 55 major airports in the 50 largest cities between 2000 and 2010. The detailed results of passenger flow patterns suggest that some airports have more spatial imbalance than others in terms of passenger travel distances. Further, the findings indicate that the MAs have different effects on passenger flows and traveled distances, and the effect is complexly related to the airport’s spatial status.
Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Dengue Fever in Cali, Colombia
Authors: Delmelle Eric , Casas Irene , Rojas Jorge H. , Varela Alejandro
Published: November 2013

Dengue fever is an arboviral disease typical of the tropics that can be life-threatening and if not controlled properly may result in an epidemic. The absence of an effective vaccine makes strategies to prevent the virus transmission the most effective means of control. The planning of such strategies, however, is difficult due to the constant movement of individuals and mosquito host (Aedes aegypti). In this paper, the spatial and temporal relations that might exist between infected individuals during a dengue-epidemic year are explored. This research is motivated in that a deep understanding of potential transmission patterns between individuals might lead to a better design and planning of control strategies. A GIS-based Health Exploratory AnaLysis Tool (HELP) is used to compute space-time relationships by means of spatial K-function, kernel density, space-time K-function and linking pairs of cases within significant time and space intervals. Significant clustering was observed at a scale of 50 meters and 750 meters, respectively while temporal significance was determined at two days and five to eight days. While an increase of cases occurs in the months following severe droughts due to an El Niño phenomenon, the location of clusters remains relatively stable. These are observed near areas where potential habitats for the mosquito exist such as storm drains, hard surfaces where water accumulates (e.g., vases, containers), but also in poorer neighborhoods. The results from the spatial analysis provide valuable information for health care managers to take preventive actions at the municipality level.
Modeling Cooperative Decision Support Systems with Hybrid Agents
Authors: Adla Abdelkader
Published: November 2013

In this paper, the authors propose to use Multi-Agents Systems (MAS) to model Cooperative Decision Support Systems (DSS). These systems support the collaboration of two kinds of agents: the human agent (the decision-maker or the user) and the artificial agent (machine) to solve jointly a problem and make a decision. In this way, the authors take advantage of the capacities of both the decision-maker and the machine. The novelty of the proposed approach is the modeling of Cooperative DSS using agent technology by coupling two MAS, the first is reactive and the latter is cognitive or deliberative. The resulting system is designed to support operators, as decision-makers during contingencies. Using the system, the operators should be able to: gather information about the incident location, access databases related to the incident, activate predictive modeling programs, support analyses, and monitor the progress of the situation and action execution. A simple scenario is given, to illustrate the feasibility of the proposal.
Olfactory Effects on Human Behavior within a Simulation Experiment
Authors: Feit Tanja , Leopold-Wildburger Ulrike
Published: November 2013

In the study at hand, the authors pose the question how people are influenced by olfactory stimulation while solving an economic problem? The economic problem involves managing a strategic planning simulation experiment. To demonstrate the fundamental task of economic decisions, the authors run experiments in the laboratory. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between several economic parameters and a firm’s success within a simulation experiment. Teams of students are assigned the role of managers of a firm within a competitive market situation. Subjects had the task of managing the complex situation in which they act in a group as managers to increase the performance of a firm by setting specific parameters. The authors will demonstrate to what extent a strong peppermint scent is able to influence the decision-makers within such a reasonably complex situation when they are to manage a firm's product range and compete against other firms. The authors are able to show that the smell of peppermint improved the overall mood considerably and thus also the results of the given task.
Evaluating the Validity of IS Success Models for the Electronic Government Research
Authors: Rana Nripendra P. , Dwivedi Yogesh K. , Williams Michael D.
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate the validity of Information systems (IS) success models such as DeLone and McLean’s (1992), Seddon’s (1997), and DeLone and McLean’s (2003) IS success models for an e-government application called the Online Public Grievance Redressal System (OPGRS) in context of India. The paper also provides an integrated model of IS success based on the comparison of the three well-known IS success models. All the existing models of IS success are not considered in their original shapes as this research is not using the variables such as use, individual impact, organizational impact from DeLone and McLean (1992) IS success model, use and net benefits from DeLone and McLean (2003) IS success model, and other measures of net benefits of IS use including net benefits to individuals, organizations, and society, and expectations about the net benefits of future IS use from Seddon’s (1997) IS success model. The proposed model contains the additional constructs relevant to e-government research including complexity, trust, and facilitating conditions and found that the model performs quite satisfactorily as far as the success of the OPGRS system is concerned. The paper also discusses its limitations, provides implications for theory and practice, and proposed future lines of research which will allow the researchers, practitioners, and government to leverage the full potential of the OPGRS system to curb and eradicate corruption and to build a transparent and sanitized society.
Applying Gap Model for Bringing Effectiveness to e-Government Services
Authors: Amritesh  , Misra Subhas C. , Chatterjee Jayanta
Published: November 2013

Taking the means-ends approach to e-governance service quality the authors adopt the Parasuraman’s ‘Gap Model’ to evaluate the antecedents of service performance in an Indian context of government-to-citizen (G2C) service deployment under the national e-governance plan (NeGP) of India. This e-governance initiative in India has been implemented at multiple tiers of the government that integrates administration and service processes at different levels that includes center, state, district, block, and further to the lowest level of governance unit (Panchayat). The authors acknowledge five levels of potential service discrepancies across the service delivery chain, from designing the service policy to achieving citizen satisfaction. These are service conceptualization, service design, service capacity, service offering, and service consumption. Corresponding to these discrepancies, the authors explain six types of potential gaps in e-governance G2C service context: Assessment Gap, Design Gap, Capacity Gap, External Communication Gap, Delivery Gap, and Service Gap. Preliminary strategies to close these gaps are also proposed.
Mobile and Wireless Computing towards Sustainable and Ubiquitous Clouds Services
Authors: Hsu Ching-Hsien , Udoh Emmanuel
Published: November 2013

The ever-growing cloud computing and services provide dynamic intelligence and play an increasingly critical role in all aspects of our lives. By taking advantage of virtualized resources, cloud computing services presents an attractive means to address the challenges while realizing the potential of Mobile and Wireless Computing (MWC). The MWC paradigm can be generalized to include mobile devices, which not only incorporate sophisticated methods for users to interact with the online world through numerous applications in their devices, but are endowed with multiple sensors that enable them to contribute data as nodes in the IoT. In this context, mobile cloud services that enable widespread data collection through mobile devices and collaborative use of mobile devices to enhance existing and realize new applications are very much of interest. As such, the MWC has come to the picture seeking solutions for computing and IT infrastructures to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This special issue is in response to the increasing convergence between MWC and cloud services, while different approaches exist, challenges and opportunities are numerous in this context. The research papers selected for this special issue represent recent progresses in the field, including works on services computing and modeling, mobile cloud, U-Care cloud, vehicle networks, energy-aware architectures, and wireless sensor network technologies and applications. This special issue includes four extended version of the selected paper originally presented at the 17th Mobile Computing Workshop (MC 2012) and the 8th Workshop on Wireless, Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks (WASN 2012), held at Taipei, Taiwan; one extended version of the selected paper originally presented at the 4th IEEE International Conference on Cloud Computing Technology and Science (IEEE CloudCom 2012), held at Taipei, Taiwan; and one regular submission with 20% average acceptance rate for 2012 submissions in IJGHPC. The papers selected for this issue not only contribute valuable insights and results but also have particular relevance to the mobile, wireless and cloud computing community. All of them present high quality results for tackling problems arising from the ever-growing mobile and cloud services. We believe that this special issue provides novel ideas and state-of-the-art techniques in the field, and stimulates future research in the mobile and wireless services in clouds.
Toward an Access Infrastructure for Mobile Cloud
Authors: Dai Yuan-Kao , Yen Li-Hsing , Su Jia-Wei
Published: November 2013

The provision of mobile cloud service calls for a wireless access infrastructure that offers high bandwidth to mobile users. Among all enabling technologies, wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have the advantage of low deployment cost and widely available user equipments. To provide more bandwidth, access points in WMNs are commonly equipped with multiple wireless interfaces (radios) that can operate on multiple non-overlapping channels in parallel. The objective of channel assignments in a multi-channel, multi-radio MWN is to reduce co-channel interference experienced by links so as to increase network capacity while maintaining network connectivity. Prior studies addressing this issue majorly considered effects of co-channel interference at the link layer. In this study, the authors consider co-channel interference at the physical layer. Furthermore, most existing methods are based on heuristic or game theory. This study applies simulated annealing technique to the channel allocation problem. The objective function for this approach is defined as the total signal-to-interference radio (SIR) experienced by each link. To maintain network connectivity, the proposed approach limits the set of assigned channels for each radio. Experimental results show that, compared with traditional heuristic-based and game-theoretic approaches, the proposed simulated annealing algorithm results in more operative links.
An Energy-Efficient Data Dissemination Scheme in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Hwang Shiow-Fen , Lin Han-Huei , Dow Chyi-Ren
Published: November 2013

In wireless sensor networks, due to limited energy, how to disseminate the event data in an energy-efficient way to allow sinks quickly querying and receiving the needed event data is a practical and important issue. Many studies about data dissemination have been proposed. However, most of them are not energy-efficient, especially in large-scale networks. Hence, in this paper the authors proposed an energy-efficient data dissemination scheme in large-scale wireless sensor networks. First, the authors design a data storage method which disseminates only a few amount event data by dividing the network into regions and levels, and thus reducing the energy consumption. Then, the authors develop an efficient sink query forwarding strategy by probability analysis so that a sink can query events easily according to its location to reduce the delay time of querying event data, as well as energy consumption. In addition, a simple and efficient maintenance mechanism is also provided. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms TTDD and LBDD in terms of the energy consumption and control overhead.
Multiple Sequence Alignments with Regular Expression Constraints on a Cloud Service System
Authors: Lin Yu-Shiang , Lin Chun-Yuan , Chi Hsiao-Chieh , Chung Yeh-Ching
Published: November 2013

Multiple sequence alignments with constraints are of priority concern in computational biology. Constrained sequence alignment incorporates the domain knowledge of biologists into sequence alignments such that the user-specified residues/segments are aligned together according to the alignment results. A series of constrained multiple sequence alignment tools have been developed in relevant literatures in the recent decade. GPU-REMuSiC is the most advanced method with the regular expression constraints, in which graphics processing units (GPUs) with CUDA are used. GPU-REMuSiC can achieve a speedup ratio of 29x for overall computation time based on the experimental results. However, the execution environment of GPU-REMuSiC must be constructed; it is a threshold for biologists to set up it. Therefore, this work presents an intuitive friendly user interface of GPU-REMuSiC for the potential cloud server with GPUs, called Cloud GPU-REMuSiC. Implementing the user interface via a network allows us to transmit the input data to a remote server without a complex cumbersome setting in a local host. Finally, the alignment results can be obtained from a remote cloud server with GPUs. Cloud GPU-REMuSiC is highly promising as an online application that is accessible without time or location constraints.
Integrated Knowledge Management
Authors: Zeleny Milan
Published: November 2013

In this paper the author presents the inception of Integrated Knowledge Management (IKM). Knowledge management is entering its new stage, after the delays of its “definitionless”, IT-based period, when knowledge got confused with information, losing thus two decades of fruitful development. Although there now is a significant information overload, killing productivity, creativity and innovation, there can never be any knowledge overload. Knowledge is fundamentally different from information. The integration of data, information, knowledge and wisdom into a coherent and unified management support is necessary for effective transformational IKM support systems. The author draws the necessary distinction between information and knowledge and show that although it is difficult to measure the value of information, the value of knowledge can be measured simply and effectively: by the metric of added value. Several quantitative examples of knowledge measurement are also given. Once people learn how to measure knowledge, the value of the inputs of data and information can be derived. The space is thus opened for integrated knowledge management. Integrating data mining, information processing, knowledge management and wisdom attainment into a unified support system is a prerequisite for effective management in the post-crisis era of socio-economic transformation.
Factors Affecting Development of Communities in 3D Immersive Learning Environments
Authors: McClannon Terry , Sanders Robert , Cheney Amy , Bolt Les , Terry Krista
Published: November 2013

This study is based on survey research conducted in 2010 and 2011, involving graduate students using a 3D immersive environment for their coursework. Investigators examined students’ perceptions of community and presence via coursework offered in the immersive world. Utilizing the Sense of Community II index and the Communities of Inquiry survey, variables examined include students’ time within their graduate programs, time spent in the 3D environment, and their levels of immersion, as well as the relationship between the two instruments. Analysis showed significant results for each of the research questions for both instruments.
Akt2 Deficiency Protects from Acute Lung Injury via Alternative Macrophage Activation and miR-146a Induction in Mice
Authors: Vergadi Eleni , Vaporidi Katerina , Theodorakis Emmanuel E. , Doxaki Christina , Lagoudaki Eleni , Ieronymaki Eleftheria , Alexaki Vassilia I. , Helms Mike , Kondili Eumorfia , Soennichsen Birte , Stathopoulos Efstathios N. , Margioris Andrew N. , Georgopoulos Dimitrios , Tsatsanis Christos
Published: November 2013

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of respiratory failure, with limited effective treatments available. Alveolar macrophages participate in the pathogenesis of ARDS. To investigate the role of macrophage activation in aseptic lung injury and identify molecular mediators with therapeutic potential, lung injury was induced in wild-type (WT) and Akt2−/− mice by hydrochloric acid aspiration. Acid-induced lung injury in WT mice was characterized by decreased lung compliance and increased protein and cytokine concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Alveolar macrophages acquired a classical activation (M1) phenotype. Acid-induced lung injury was less severe in Akt2−/− mice compared with WT mice. Alveolar macrophages from acid-injured Akt2−/− mice demonstrated the alternative activation phenotype (M2). Although M2 polarization suppressed aseptic lung injury, it resulted in increased lung bacterial load when Akt2−/− mice were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. miR-146a, an anti-inflammatory microRNA targeting TLR4 signaling, was induced during the late phase of lung injury in WT mice, whereas it was increased early in Akt2−/− mice. Indeed, miR-146a overexpression in WT macrophages suppressed LPS-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and promoted M2 polarization, whereas miR-146a inhibition in Akt2−/− macrophages restored iNOS expression. Furthermore, miR-146a delivery or Akt2 silencing in WT mice exposed to acid resulted in suppression of iNOS in alveolar macrophages. In conclusion, Akt2 suppression and miR-146a induction promote the M2 macrophage phenotype, resulting in amelioration of acid-induced lung injury. In vivo modulation of macrophage phenotype through Akt2 or miR-146a could provide a potential therapeutic approach for aseptic ARDS; however, it may be deleterious in septic ARDS because of impaired bacterial clearance.
Cancer-Initiating Cells from Colorectal Cancer Patients Escape from T Cell–Mediated Immunosurveillance In Vitro through Membrane-Bound IL-4
Authors: Volonté Andrea , Di Tomaso Tiziano , Spinelli Michela , Todaro Matilde , Sanvito Francesca , Albarello Luca , Bissolati Massimiliano , Ghirardelli Luca , Orsenigo Elena , Ferrone Soldano , Doglioni Claudio , Stassi Giorgio , Dellabona Paolo , Staudacher Carlo , Parmiani Giorgio , Maccalli Cristina
Published: November 2013

Cancer-initiating cells (CICs) that are responsible for tumor initiation, propagation, and resistance to standard therapies have been isolated from human solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to obtain an immunological profile of CRC-derived CICs and to identify CIC-associated target molecules for T cell immunotherapy. We have isolated cells with CIC properties along with their putative non-CIC autologous counterparts from human primary CRC tissues. These CICs have been shown to display “tumor-initiating/stemness” properties, including the expression of CIC-associated markers (e.g., CD44, CD24, ALDH-1, EpCAM, Lgr5), multipotency, and tumorigenicity following injection in immunodeficient mice. The immune profile of these cells was assessed by phenotype analysis and by in vitro stimulation of PBMCs with CICs as a source of Ags. CICs, compared with non-CIC counterparts, showed weak immunogenicity. This feature correlated with the expression of high levels of immunomodulatory molecules, such as IL-4, and with CIC-mediated inhibitory activity for anti-tumor T cell responses. CIC-associated IL-4 was found to be responsible for this negative function, which requires cell-to-cell contact with T lymphocytes and which is impaired by blocking IL-4 signaling. In addition, the CRC-associated Ag COA-1 was found to be expressed by CICs and to represent, in an autologous setting, a target molecule for anti-tumor T cells. Our study provides relevant information that may contribute to designing new immunotherapy protocols to target CICs in CRC patients.
Effects of a Prevention Program for Media Addiction on Television Addiction, Internet Addiction, Cellular Addiction, and Impulsiveness in Elementary School Students.
Authors: Koo Hyun Young
Published: November 2013

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop a prevention program for media addiction in elementary school students, and to examine its effects on television addiction, internet addiction, cellular phone addiction, and impulsiveness.METHODS: The study was designed using a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 58 elementary school students (29 in the experimental group and 29 in the control group). Students in the experimental group were given the prevention program for media addiction.The data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 19.0 program.RESULTS: Students in the experimental group reported a significant decrease in television addiction compared to students in the control group.CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that the prevention program for media addiction was effective in decreasing television addiction in elementary school students.
Upper Paleozoic evaporites of southeastern Canada
Authors: Howie R D
Published: November 2013

The Paleozoic fold belt in Atlantic Canada forms the northeastern part of the Appalachian region
of North America. During the waning stages of the Middle Paleozoic Acadian orogeny, folding, faulting,
uplift and granitic intrusion occurred. The highly fractured basement subsided forming a complex series
of northeast-trending horst and graben structures. In this area of regional downwarp, evaporite deposits
of two ages were deposited. Minor salt deposits containing glauberite accumulated locally and are
preserved as part of continental sequences in Horton Group rocks of late Tournaisian to possibly early
Vise'an age. The overlying Windsor Group (middle to late Visdan age) contains thick deposits of salt,
and is the only Late Paleozoic marine sequence in southeastern Canada.
The Horton Group evaporites are interpreted as local playa lake deposits. Exploratory drilling has
con.rmed the occurrence of these evaporites in four diferent areas, but the deposits are not considered
to be of economic importance.
Temporary tectonic stability, abnormally high temperatures, a nearly land- locked marine setting and
semiarid conditions resulted in the rhythmic deposition of Windsor Group evaporites over a wide area.
The Windsor Group evaporites, preserved as outliers in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and in a
northeast- trending basin beneath the Gulf of St. Lawrence, are erosional remnants of a much larger
evaporite basin. %e salt occurs as bedded deposits or within flow structures that vary in thickness fiom
a few centimetres to over 4573 m in structurally thickened sections. The variation in local thickness of
these rocks is a function of both environment of deposition and tectonism. In some areas the salt is pure
enough to be mined and, locally, contains significant amounts of potash. Some of these mines have the
potential for development of underground storage sites for hydrocarbons and industrial waste.
X-ray fluorescence determination of TiO2 and other major oxides in Kahnooj Kerman ilmenite ore, KKI
Authors: Akhavin Mohamadi Z
Published: November 2013

Titanium dioxide is the principal white pigment of commerce, and is used widely in the paint, paper, plastic, and ceramic industries. The aim of this project was to extract TiO2 from ilmenite and consequently the ilmenite ore from the region Kahnooj of Kerman in
Iran, was studied by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The concentration of titanium dioxide and other major oxides were determined by XRF and fusion of the sample. Details of this investigation will be described.
A simple method for the chemical analysis of chromite
Authors: Biswas S , Satyanarayana K
Published: November 2013

Complete and accurate chemical analysis of chromite ore is a matter of difficulty even if it is fused with a universally accepted flux (e.g. Na2O2). The basic problem is its incomplete fusion by most fluxes other than Na2O2, the availability of which is very
scanty in the Indian market. Keeping this in consideration the authors have developed a simple new method of analysis of such ores without using Na2O2. The method involves fusion of the ore first by Na2CO3 followed by extraction in hot dilute HNO3. The residue thus obtained after filtration followed
by ignition is fused with K2S2O7. This pyrosulphate-fused material is extracted by boiling with dilute H2SO4 and mixed with the earlier filtrate. A clear solution of the completely fused ore is thus obtained which can be used for subsequent determination of Cr2O3, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, etc.
Detailed experimental procedure for every analysis is presented in the paper. Samples of 18 beneficiation products and an original sample of a medium grade Indian chromite ore were analyzed and the results for Cr2O3 are tabulated. The head assays calculated with these results are found to have
negligible deviation from the original assay value. A set of six more samples of another chromite ore were analyzed simultaneously by fusing with Na2O2 and by this method and the results are tabulated for comparison. Some discussions have also been made to highlight the advantages of this method
over the others.
Current status of direct solids analysis of geological and related refractory materials by slurry injection (SI) and spark ablation (SA)
Authors: Brenner I B
Published: November 2013

The need to analyze geological materials by direct solids procedures is becoming more and more important especially in the field of mineral beneficiation, coal utilization, and other industrial applications. Currently these chemically resistant materials are
analyzed by atomic spectrometries after time-consuming fusion and mixed acid dissolution techniques. Indeed for refractory silicates and composite materials it may not be possible to effect a complete dissolution of the sample. Hence an accurate, rapid, direct solid technique would improve sample
throughput. In this presentation the current status of SI and SA ICP-AES are evaluated by analyzing a wide range of materials. For SI, rock, refractory, and coal (<5 þm) slurries were nebulized into argon and mixed argon-oxygen and nitrogen ICPs in a Trassy-Mermet demountable torch using
a high solids EBDON nebulizer. It will be shown that the addition of a molecular gas to the ICP increased excitation temperature and Ne and enhanced particle decomposition. In these plasmas the differences in the observation zones for various analytes in various materials are significantly reduced
and the intensity-concentration relationships are improved. Quantitative data for SRM clays, coals, and alumina slurries will be presented. However SI-ICP analytical data for refractory materials are still inadequate due to particle-plasma interactions. Several new approaches for overcoming these
setbacks will be discussed, in particular the application of internal references in the solution and in the solid phase to compensate for chemical effects in the transport system and the plasma itself. SI performance will then be compared to GD (glow discharge)-ES and SA-ICP. SEM surface
morphologies of the sputtered and ablated surfaces reveal that sample transport in GD-ES is mainly physical, and as a result the technique is free from the influence of mineralogical and chemical compositions, whereas in SA-ICP melting and sintering is responsible for selective volatilization
resulting in significant bias of the analytical data. GD-ES is considered to be a very suitable technique for the analysis of these materials due to minimum interference effects, simple sample preparation, large dynamic range, superior precision, and accuracy.
Preconcentration by coprecipitation with gallium - a reappraisal
Authors: Brindle I -D , Le X V
Published: November 2013

Coprecipitation with gallium has been described by Japanese workers as a method for the determination of trace elements in sea water by ICP-AES. We have investigated this methodology to determine whether it can be applied to the determination of trace elements in
surface and groundwaters. Our findings suggest that, in fact, gallium is unnecessary for this procedure. In fact, magnesium appears to be the agent that collects the trace elements. We shall report the results of our investigations into an alternate coprecipitation procedure. Determinations of
germanium in surface and groundwaters have been determined by this procedure and range between <1 ngþL-1 and 17 ngþ L-1.
Upgrading the chemical laboratory facilities of the Bangladesh geological survey and training of their staff in geochemical analysis
Authors: Brown F W
Published: November 2013

The USGS is assisting the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) in the modernization of its facilities. Some areas of upgrading include implementing programs in mineral exploration, geochemical analysis, geological mapping, engineering geology, geophysics, marine
geology, groundwater, stratigraphy, geochemistry, drilling, and publications. After a one-month visit to the GSB in July 1983, recommendations were made to upgrade the chemical laboratories. Suggestions included the acquisition of analytical instrumentation for support of GSB programs in mineral
resources exploration. In 1986 and 1987, five GSB chemists were trained at the Branch of Geochemistry Laboratory in Reston, Virginia. The training consisted of the basic principles of rock and coal crushing, atomic absorption spectrometry, spectrophotometry, determination of the forms of sulphur,
and fire-assay/atomic absorption techniques for the determination of gold, platinum, palladium, and rhodium. A follow-up visit in 1989 was made to GSB to ensure that modifications to their laboratories and rooms including the installation of fume hoods, had been completed. Also during this visit,
time was spent working with the GSB chemists in familiarizing them with the newly acquired instrumentation, reviewing portions of the analytical procedures they learned during training at the USGS, and making additional recommendations for improvement of the laboratory facilities and operations. The
panel discussions will include the problems and successes encountered in making improvements to the laboratories, acquisition of instruments, chemicals, supplies, and the training of GSB chemists.
A new catalytic polarographic system for the determination of trace amounts of tungsten
Authors: Dan D
Published: November 2013

A new catalytic polarographic system for the determination of trace amounts of tungsten is investigated. It was found that tungsten-MBT yields a sensitive catalytic hydrogen wave at -1.10V (vs. SCE) in strongly acid medium. The linear relationship occurs between
the peak height and tungsten concentration over the range of 0.004-1.4 þg/mL, in a solution of 0.9 M H2SO4-2% NaCl-0.01 þg/mL MBT. The influence of foreign ions on the wave has been examined. The experiments show that the method is rapid, simple, sensitive, and has a wide linear range. The
method has been applied to determine trace amounts of tungsten in six Chinese geochemical standard materials with satisfactory results without any separation. The mechanism of the polarogram has also been studied.
Preconcentration-flow injection techniques for the analysis of geochemical samples by plasma spectrometry
Authors: De Silva N , Hall G E M , Gauthier G , Pelchat J C
Published: November 2013

Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission (ICP-ES) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) have evolved to be among the most popular and versatile analytical techniques available for multielement trace analysis, especially for geochemical applications. However, due to the
complexity and wide range of composition of geochemical samples, one encounters serious physical, chemical, and spectroscopic interferences during the determination of trace quantities of analytes in the presence of high concentration of matrix elements resulting in significantly poorer detection
limits and accuracy. Immobilized ligands such as Chelex-100 can be used to remove the matrix components and to preconcentrate the trace analytes in order to improve the analytical figures of merit significantly. For routine application of preconcentration methods manual procedures are too cumbersome
and generally require large volumes of samples and reagents. Analytical systems based on flow injection (FIA) can be used to automate these preconcentration and analysis procedures with much lower sample and reagent consumption. Strategies for optimization of hardware and data acquisition
procedures in terms of the analytical figures of merit and the overall system efficiency by exploiting the advantages of both FIA and ICP spectrometry will be presented.
Granite and dolerite reference rock standards-preparation and evaluation
Authors: Govil P K , Ahmad S M
Published: November 2013

Two reference rock standards, granite NGRI-G and dolerite NGRI-D, have been prepared to be used as reference samples for the chemical analysis of granite and dolerite rock samples using different instrumental methods of chemical analysis and for the calibration
of instruments. The scarcity of and difficulties in obtaining international rock standards necessitated the preparation of some standards in our own country, especially in India where one of the best exposure of the rocks in the world is available. A program has been started in NGRI to prepare
international reference rock standards. The granite was prepared in limited quantity and the preliminary data for major elements were published in the Journal of the Geological Society of India in 1986. The second dolerite sample (200 kg) was collected in 1987 from Osmania University campus,
Hyderabad. The sample was found to be fine- to medium-grained dry dolerite dyke containing pyroxene, amphiboles, augite, plagioclase, etc. and showing no metamorphism. The sample was first subdivided using a hard steel jaw crusher and then finely powdered to -250 mesh size using a HERZOG grinding
mill. The powdered sample was thoroughly mixed and stored in clean plastic bottles to supply different laboratories. The homogeneity test was performed and no significant evidence of inhomogeneity was observed by analysis of variance. The sample was analyzed by different laboratories in India and
abroad for major and trace elements. REE data were provided by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, in India; the Hahn Meitner Institute in W. Germany; NASA, U.S.A.; and ANRT, France. Replicate analysis at NGRI using spectrophotometry, AAS, XRF, and at other laboratories, has given us confidence in
the results. The data received from different laboratories were treated as follows: (i) where 10 or more results are available the median, mean, and standard deviation are computed; or (ii) where fewer results are available for some elements, the decision as to whether or not to assign any usable
value is made, based on the number of reported results, their degree of concurrence and the variety of analytical methods used. The assigned value is generally based on the median after the elimination of obvious outlines which should not constitute more than 10% of the data available. Usable
values for all the major oxides, nine trace elements, and seven rare-earth elements for both standards are reported in this paper and the samples are now available for distribution.
Are there still geostandards problems?
Authors: Govindaraju K
Published: November 2013

In the mid-1970s, there was an uneasy feeling among specialists that something was wrong in the realm of geochemical reference samples. There was a great proliferation of "standard samples" with "recommended" or "certified" values. The blind use of these values,
without any curiosity to ascertain their value (in both senses of the word) began to have repercussions on the quality of rock analysis. Among the solutions advanced for clarifying this chaotic situation, the inauguration of the Journal Geostandards Newsletter in 1977 turned out to be one of the
actions in the right direction. That the term "geostandards" coined at that date has now become a "popular" word, points to the active role of the Journal as a "forum for exchange of ideas and information on geochemical reference samples". The geostandards problems which faced us at that period and
the new ones which now arise today will be reviewed in the light of the progress made and to be made. Because progress in geochemical analysis is intimately tied up with progress in geostandards, an attempt will also be made to render geoanalysts more geostandard-conscious. In this connection,
"Think Geostan" is a slogan that we wish to launch to set these problems in the limelight.