Patterns of primary and heterotrophic productivity in an arid lowland river

Three river conceptual models make differing predictions about the major source of primary production in lowland rivers, acknowledging the importance of primary productivity in the ecology and management of lowland rivers. Patterns of primary production in lowland rivers are still an area of considerable uncertainty. The objective of this study was to examine the major sources and transformations of organic matter in an Australian lowland river and compare them to the predictions of existing models. The broad approach adopted was to quantify the contribution from the major ecosystem components and compare these with estimates of system metabolism determined using open water measures of diel oxygen change. Three 4‐km river reaches were selected to represent the extent of variation found along the free‐flowing lowland sections of the Murray River, one of Australia's largest and most regulated rivers. Annual open water gross primary production (GPP) estimates for the Murray R. during this study ranged from 221 to 376 gC m^?2 y^?1 and were similar to other large rivers. Examination of the net contribution of organic matter to the channel indicates that primary productivity in the Murray R. is derived from a combination of phytoplankton, riparian vegetation and macrophytes, but that the major source varies both spatially and temporally. The present study confirms that the River Continuum Concept (RCC), the Flood Pulse Concept (FPC) and Riverine Productivity Model (RPM) all have some application to Australian lowland rivers, but that synthesis of the models will be difficult until we can incorporate the extent, causes and consequences of primary production variability. This study also highlights the importance of the microbial loop and macrophytes in the ecology of the Murray R. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ziegler–Natta catalysts based on vanadium halides: a DFT study

Ziegler–Natta ethylene insertion into the carbon–metal bond for a number of fragments containing vanadium on different oxidation states as well as the halogen ligands has been studied by means of DFT. It is shown that the complexation and insertion energies are strongly influenced by the charge on the transition metal atom and, to some extent, by the electronegativity of the halogen atom. Complexation energy varies in the range −129 to −159 kJ/mol for charged species and −64 to −77 kJ/mol for neutral ones. Insertion energy follows a similar pattern and ranges from −28 to −62 and −82 to −100 kJ/mol, respectively. The calculated values are compared with the experimental results and different activities of catalysts based on VX₃ (where X denotes a halogen atom) are accounted for. Discussion of certain structural features of active sites, transition states and products is also given.     

Maritime surveillance: Tracking ships inside a dynamic background using a fast level-set

Surveillance in a maritime environment is indispensable in the fight against a wide range of criminal activities, including pirate attacks, unlicensed fishing trailers and human trafficking. Computer vision systems can be a useful aid in the law enforcement process, by for example tracking and identifying moving vessels on the ocean. However, the maritime domain poses many challenges for the design of an effective maritime surveillance system. One such challenge is the tracking of moving vessels in the presence of a moving dynamic background (the ocean). We present techniques that address this particular problem. We use a background subtraction method and employ a real-time approximation of level-set-based curve evolution to demarcate the outline of moving vessels in the ocean. We report promising results on both small and large vessels, based on two field trials.     

The Use of Context-Free Probabilistic Grammar to Anonymise Statistical Data

Abstract

In the following article, a proprietary method of anonymisation of identifiable statistical data using context-free probabilistic grammar is proposed. The advantage of this method is that it is simple and thanks to this, the identifier is easy to retrieve after masking the identifiable data, e.g. when it is necessary to modify or update the micro-data. This can be done using public-key cryptography, i.e. encrypting some probabilistic context-free grammar with this method. In the case of public statistics, there is often a need to use an anonymised source value, for example when economic operators’ reports are verified by statistical officers. With appropriate information generated by context-free grammar, the verifier can easily identify an economic operator or a natural person. The idea of the anonymising algorithm used in the proposed method is presented by means of an example. According to the authors, the combination of the proposed method with asymmetric encryption of the definition of context-free grammar using public key infrastructure, makes it probable that its resistance to attacks will be quite high. This is because statistical methods that are used in the analysis of natural languages are not susceptible to attacks.     

A new approach towards controlled synthesis of multifunctional core-shell nano-architectures: luminescent and superparamagnetic

We have developed a two-step method for synthesis of multifunctional core-shell nanoparticles with an improved structure as compared with those prepared by traditional methods used independently. The nanoparticles comprise a superparamagnetic core, an inner insulating dye-free silica shell, an outer luminescent silica shell encapsulating thousands of dye molecules and a functionalizeable surface. The innovative insertion of the isolating silica shell benefits the nanoparticles' architecture in two ways. Firstly, by keeping the dye molecules away from the magnetic core, the silica shell prevents dye luminescence quenching. Secondly, the non-magnetic shell decreases magnetic interparticle coupling, which, by reducing aggregation and preventing agglomeration, facilitates the formation of the high-quality luminescent shell in the second step of the process. The final nanoparticles being both superparamagnetic and luminescent have a great potential for theranostic applications such as ultra-sensitive detection, and in-vitro and in-vivo imaging.     

Physicochemical and sensory properties of goat cheeses and their fatty acid profile in relation to the geographic region of production

The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemical composition, colour and sensory profile of rennet goat cheeses, taking into account their geographic region of production. The relationships between the botanical composition of the goats’ pasture to the fatty acid (FA) profiles and health indicators of the fat of cheese produced from their milk in artisanal conditions were also determined. Grazing of goats on natural pastures with greater floristic richness and, above all, the presence of more meadow species and herbs, not only increased the proportions of beneficial FAs in the cheese but also improved sensory characteristics valued by consumers.     

Structural analysis of tars from fluidized-bed pyrolysis of coal. 1. Gas-liquid chromatography of aliphatic and aromatic subfractions

The effect of pyrolysing gas composition on the low-molecular-weight aliphatic and aromatic components of fluidized-bed tars has been investigated. Two tars from the rapid pyrolysis of coal in a fluidized-bed were solvent-fractionated into oils, asphaltenes and benzene-insoluble materials. The aliphatic and low-molecular-weight aromatic subfractions of the oils were then analysed by glass-capillary column gas-liquid chromatography. The results show that pyrolysis in a more active atmosphere of char gasification gases is ‘deeper’, and, to some extent, similar to hydrogen-assisted pyrolysis; the yield of tar is higher, and the product has higher aromaticity and average molecular weight compared with pyrolysis in nitrogen-rich flue gases.     

Chromium-doped LiCAF laser passively Q switched with a V3+:YAG crystal

A tunable, lamp-pumped Cr(3+):LiCaAlF(6) laser that operates in the 760-800-nm wavelength range is demonstrated. As a passive Q switch the V(3+):YAG crystal, characterized by wide saturable absorption in the 760-900-nm wavelength range, was applied. The V(3+):YAG parameters were determined by spectroscopic and saturable transmission measurements. The 30-mJ output energy at 2-Hz repetition rate in the free-running regime was obtained in a cavity reinforced by a diaphragm near the fundamental mode. The dispersive prism inserted into the cavity enabled tuning in the 760-800-nm wavelength range. In the passive Q-switching regime we achieved greater than 1-mJ energy with 50-ns pulse duration in a 35-cm-long cavity. A numerical model that takes into account the short recovery time of V(3+):YAG (~5 ns) and excited-state absorption was used to analyze such a laser.     

Influence of synthesis method on the properties of mixed Aurivillius phase Bi5TiNbWO15

The ceramic material Bi₅TiNbWO₁₅ (BTNW) was obtained and is characterized by a layered, Aurivillus type structure (MBLPO—mixed bismuth oxide layered perovskites) with m = 1.5. In order to optimize the production, BTNW was synthesized by two methods: synthesis of a mixture of simple oxides Bi₂O₃, Nb₂O₅, WO₃, TiO₂ and synthesis of a mixture of appropriate, layered Aurivillus type structures Bi₂WO₆ (m = 1) and Bi₃TiNbO₉ (m = 2). Synthesized solid solutions were consolidated with a conventional method. The crystal structure of Bi₂WO₆ and Bi₃TiNbO₉ Bi₅TiNbWO₁₅ was examined at room temperature with an X-ray diffraction method. Microstructure and chemical composition were analyzed. The authors analyzed the temperature—permittivity ɛ relationship for the ceramic with m = 1,5, which was obtained with two methods, as well as for m = 1 and m = 2.