title: Bigraph Metaprogramming for Distributed Computation

authors: Perrone, Gian David

subjects: bigraphs

abstract: Ubiquitous computing is a paradigm that emphasises integration of computing activities into the fabric of everyday life.  With the increasing availability of small, cheap computing devices, the ubiquitous computing model seems more and more likely to supplant desktop computing as the dominant paradigm.  Similarly, the presence of high-speed network connectivity between vast numbers of computers has already made distributed computing the preferred paradigm for many application domains.  Unfortunately, traditional approaches to software development are not necessarily well-suited to developing software in a post-desktop world.  We present an extension to the bigraphical reactive systems formalism that enables us to construct a programming language based upon it.  We believe that this programming language provides programmers with an environment better suited to the challenges that arise when creating software within a distributed or ubiquitous computing paradigm.  We detail our modification to the theory of bigraphical reactive systems that enables metaprogramming.  Finally, we provide a description of our prototype implementation of a programming language that enables metaprogramming of bigraphical reactive systems.

text: Bigraph Metaprogramming for Distributed Computation Ubiquitous computing is a paradigm that emphasises integration of computing activities into the fabric of everyday life.  With the increasing availability of small, cheap computing devices, the ubiquitous computing model seems more and more likely to supplant desktop computing as the dominant paradigm.  Similarly, the presence of high-speed network connectivity between vast numbers of computers has already made distributed computing the preferred paradigm for many application domains.  Unfortunately, traditional approaches to software development are not necessarily well-suited to developing software in a post-desktop world.  We present an extension to the bigraphical reactive systems formalism that enables us to construct a programming language based upon it.  We believe that this programming language provides programmers with an environment better suited to the challenges that arise when creating software within a distributed or ubiquitous computing paradigm.  We detail our modification to the theory of bigraphical reactive systems that enables metaprogramming.  Finally, we provide a description of our prototype implementation of a programming language that enables metaprogramming of bigraphical reactive systems.

year: 2010

title: Development of a Method for Trace Analysis of Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and its Application to Samples from the MV Rena Incident

authors: Bernstein, Daniel Richard

subjects: Liquid chromatography

abstract: The grounding of the MV Rena off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand in 2011 prompted the application of Corexit® oil spill dispersants in an attempt to mitigate the impact of the spilled oil to coastal ecosystems. A quantitative method was developed employing sonication assisted extraction from beach sand followed by sample clean up by solid phase extraction and analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of Corexit® component dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) at trace levels. The chromatographic method included the use of a C8 stationary phase with a gradient elution and quantitation by an internal standard approach based on mass spectrometer instrument response. Validation studies gave recoveries of 72 ± 1.7% with an accuracy of 94%. Calibration curves were shown to have a linear range of 0 – 200 μg.L⁻¹. Application of the method to the available environmental samples showed no presence of DOSS.
An attempt was made to apply the instrumental method to heavy fuel oil (HFO) tar-balls and oiled sand samples. Multiple extraction techniques were trialled including liquid-liquid extraction, sonication assisted extraction and anion exchange chromatography with recovery experiments for each method being carried out. Analysis of the extracts showed that quantitative recovery of DOSS had not been achieved for any of the methods investigated.
The difficulties associated with extracting DOSS from HFO tar-balls and oil sands suggest that the application of DOSS to surface oil slicks results in the preferential partitioning of DOSS into HFO. This has implications with respect to the distribution of DOSS in the environment following application, subsequent environmental monitoring and the degradation of HFO components by microbial communities.

text: Development of a Method for Trace Analysis of Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry and its Application to Samples from the MV Rena Incident The grounding of the MV Rena off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand in 2011 prompted the application of Corexit® oil spill dispersants in an attempt to mitigate the impact of the spilled oil to coastal ecosystems. A quantitative method was developed employing sonication assisted extraction from beach sand followed by sample clean up by solid phase extraction and analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of Corexit® component dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS) at trace levels. The chromatographic method included the use of a C8 stationary phase with a gradient elution and quantitation by an internal standard approach based on mass spectrometer instrument response. Validation studies gave recoveries of 72 ± 1.7% with an accuracy of 94%. Calibration curves were shown to have a linear range of 0 – 200 μg.L⁻¹. Application of the method to the available environmental samples showed no presence of DOSS.
An attempt was made to apply the instrumental method to heavy fuel oil (HFO) tar-balls and oiled sand samples. Multiple extraction techniques were trialled including liquid-liquid extraction, sonication assisted extraction and anion exchange chromatography with recovery experiments for each method being carried out. Analysis of the extracts showed that quantitative recovery of DOSS had not been achieved for any of the methods investigated.
The difficulties associated with extracting DOSS from HFO tar-balls and oil sands suggest that the application of DOSS to surface oil slicks results in the preferential partitioning of DOSS into HFO. This has implications with respect to the distribution of DOSS in the environment following application, subsequent environmental monitoring and the degradation of HFO components by microbial communities.

year: 2015

title: How many deaths were caused by the Tarawera eruption?

authors: Lowe, David J.

abstract: Most texts and brochures describing the Tarawera eruption of 10 June, l 886, record that it resulted in about 150 fatalities (e.g., Scott & Nairn, 1989; Ansell & Taber, 1996). Indeed, a figure of 153 deaths is recorded at the excellent new visitors' centre at the Buried Village, Te Wairoa, and in a number of other contexts. Elsewhere, numbers ranging from as few as about one hundred to possibly 'thousands' of deaths have been suggested (e.g., Houghton & Johnston, 1999).

text: How many deaths were caused by the Tarawera eruption? Most texts and brochures describing the Tarawera eruption of 10 June, l 886, record that it resulted in about 150 fatalities (e.g., Scott & Nairn, 1989; Ansell & Taber, 1996). Indeed, a figure of 153 deaths is recorded at the excellent new visitors' centre at the Buried Village, Te Wairoa, and in a number of other contexts. Elsewhere, numbers ranging from as few as about one hundred to possibly 'thousands' of deaths have been suggested (e.g., Houghton & Johnston, 1999).

year: 2001