Control of primary productivity and the significance of photosynthetic bacteria in a meromictic kettle lake.

During 1986 planktonic primary production and controlling factors were investigated in a small (A0 = 11.8 · 103 m2, Zmax = 11.5 m) meromictic kettle lake (Mittlerer Buchensee). Annual phytoplankton productivity was estimated to ca 120 gC · m–2 · a–1 (1,42 tC · lake–1 · a–1). The marked thermal stratification of the lake led to irregular vertical distributions of chlorophylla concentrations (Chla) and, to a minor extent, of photosynthesis (Az). Between the depths of 0 to 6 m low Chla concentrations (< 7 mg · m–3) and comparatively high background light attenuation (kw = 0,525 m–1, 77% of total attenuation due to gelbstoff and abioseston) was found. As a consequence, light absorption by algae was low (mean value 17,4%) and self-shading was absent. Because of the small seasonal variation of Chla concentrations, no significant correlation between Chla and areal photosynthesis (A) was observed. Only in early summer (June–July) biomass appears to influence the vertical distribution of photosynthesis on a bigger scale. Around 8 m depth, low-light adapted algae and phototrophic bacteria formed dense layers. Due to low ambient irradiances, the contribution of these organisms to total primary productivity was small. Primary production and incident irradiance were significantly correlated with each other (r2 = 0.68). Although the maximum assimilation number (Popt) showed a clear dependence upon water temperature (Q10 = 2.31), the latter was of minor importance to areal photosynthesis

Isoperimetric Inequalities in Simplicial Complexes

In graph theory there are intimate connections between the expansion properties of a graph and the spectrum of its Laplacian. In this paper we define a notion of combinatorial expansion for simplicial complexes of general dimension, and prove that similar connections exist between the combinatorial expansion of a complex, and the spectrum of the high dimensional Laplacian defined by Eckmann. In particular, we present a Cheeger-type inequality, and a high-dimensional Expander Mixing Lemma. As a corollary, using the work of Pach, we obtain a connection between spectral properties of complexes and Gromov's notion of geometric overlap. Using the work of Gunder and Wagner, we give an estimate for the combinatorial expansion and geometric overlap of random Linial-Meshulam complexes

Full probabilistic design of a submerged floating tunnel and format for partial safety factors

A submerged floating tunnel (SFT) can be a promising solution for crossing a deep or wide waterway. This innovative concept however lacks research into its probabilistic design. In this research, the reliability of the tether-stabilized SFT is assessed. A first-order reliability method (FORM) and a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) are performed for the limit state functions of the most important failure mechanisms. Stochastic variables are chosen so that a target reliability index of 3.8 for a reference period of 50 years is met. The calculated factors from the full probabilistic design are compared with the general recommended partial factors for strength and resistance from Eurocode EN1990. For the strength mechanisms, the calculated factors are smaller than the factors from Eurocode. However, for the equilibrium mechanism, the calculated factor for the unfavorable loading is larger than the factor from Eurocode and should be increased by 10% in order to design a safe enough SFT

Comparison of contact patterns relevant for transmission of respiratory pathogens in Thailand and the Netherlands using respondent-driven sampling

Understanding infection dynamics of respiratory diseases requires the identification and quantification of behavioural, social and environmental factors that permit the transmission of these infections between humans. Little empirical information is available about contact patterns within real-world social networks, let alone on differences in these contact networks between populations that differ considerably on a socio-cultural level. Here we compared contact network data that were collected in the Netherlands and Thailand using a similar online respondent-driven method. By asking participants to recruit contact persons we studied network links relevant for the transmission of respiratory infections. We studied correlations between recruiter and recruited contacts to investigate mixing patterns in the observed social network components. In both countries, mixing patterns were assortative by demographic variables and random by total numbers of contacts. However, in Thailand participants reported overall more contacts which resulted in higher effective contact rates. Our findings provide new insights on numbers of contacts and mixing patterns in two different populations. These data could be used to improve parameterisation of mathematical models used to design control strategies. Although the spread of infections through populations depends on more factors, found similarities suggest that spread may be similar in the Netherlands and Thailand

Microwave-induced control of Free Electron Laser radiation

The dynamical response of a relativistic bunch of electrons injected in a planar magnetic undulator and interacting with a counterpropagating electromagnetic wave is studied. We demonstrate a resonance condition for which the free electron laser (FEL) dynamics is strongly influenced by the presence of the external field. It opens up the possibility of control of short wavelength FEL emission characteristics by changing the parameters of the microwave field without requiring change in the undulator's geometry or configuration. Numerical examples, assuming realistic parameter values analogous to those of the TTF-FEL, currently under development at DESY, are given for possible control of the amplitude or the polarization of the emitted radiation.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Applying Contextual integrity to Open Data Publishing

Open data publishing by both corporate and public bodies has increased significantly in recent years and this type of data could soon be developing into a real commodity. However, not all organisations pay sufficient heed to privacy as part of the decision-making process around open data publication, leaving both the organisation and the users whose data they handle vulnerable to privacy breaches. We present a case study in which we applied contextual integrity in practice, working with a UK local authority using real data. This illustrated how privacy can be incorporated into the decision-making process prior to publication taking place. Our results illustrate the application of Nissenbaum's Contextual Integrity Framework (CI) to the open data domain, and shows that CI is usable in practice

Groundwater resources in the Indo-Gangetic Basin : resilience to climate change and abstraction

Groundwater within the Indo‐Gangetic Basin (IGB) alluvial aquifer system forms one of the world’s most important and heavily exploited reservoirs of freshwater. In this study we have examined the groundwater system through the lens of its resilience to change – both from the impact of climate change and increases in abstraction. This has led to the development of a series of new maps for the IGB aquifer, building on existing datasets held in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, a review of approximately 500 reports and papers, and three targeted field studies on under‐researched topics within the region. The major findings of the study are described below. The IGB groundwater system 1. The IGB alluvial aquifer system comprises a large volume of heterogeneous unconsolidated sediment in a complex environmental setting. Annual rainfall varies from 2000mm in the Bengal basin, and the system is dissected by the major river systems of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra. The groundwater system has been modified by the introduction of large scale canal irrigation schemes using water from the Indus and Ganges since the 19th and early 20th centuries. 2. High yielding tubewells can be sustained in most parts of the alluvial aquifer system; permeability is often in the range of 10 – 60 m/d and specific yield (the drainable porosity) varies from 5 – 20%, making it highly productive. 3. High salinity and elevated arsenic concentrations exist in parts of the basin limiting the usefulness of the groundwater resource. Saline water predominates in the Lower Indus, and near to the coast in the Bengal Delta, and is also a major concern in the Middle Ganges and Upper Ganges (covering much of the Punjab Region in Pakistan, southern Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh in India). Arsenic severely impacts the development of shallow groundwater in the fluvial influenced deltaic area of the Bengal Basin. 4. Recharge to the IGB aquifer system is substantial and dynamic, controlled by monsoonal rainfall, leakage from canals, river infiltration and irrigation returns. Recharge from rainfall can occur even with low annual rainfall (350 mm) and appears to dominate where rainfall is higher (> 750 mm). Canal leakage is also highly significant and constitutes the largest proportion of groundwater recharge in the drier parts of the aquifer, partially mitigating the effects of abstraction on groundwater storage. 5. Deep groundwater (>150 m) in the Bengal basin has strategic value for water supply, health and economic development. Excessive abstraction poses a greater threat to the quality of this deep groundwater than climate change. Heavy pumping may induce the downward migration of arsenic in parts of Bangladesh, and of saline water in coastal regions, but field evidence and modelling both suggest that deep groundwater abstraction for public water supply in southern Bangladesh is in general secure against widespread ingress of arsenic and saline water for at least 100 years

Eye–hand coordination during manual object transport with the affected and less affected hand in adolescents with hemiparetic cerebral palsy

In the present study we investigated eye–hand coordination in adolescents with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP) and neurologically healthy controls. Using an object prehension and transport task, we addressed two hypotheses, motivated by the question whether early brain damage and the ensuing limitations of motor activity lead to general and/or effector-specific effects in visuomotor control of manual actions. We hypothesized that individuals with hemiparetic CP would more closely visually monitor actions with their affected hand, compared to both their less affected hand and to control participants without a sensorimotor impairment. A second, more speculative hypothesis was that, in relation to previously established deficits in prospective action control in individuals with hemiparetic CP, gaze patterns might be less anticipatory in general, also during actions performed with the less affected hand. Analysis of the gaze and hand movement data revealed the increased visual monitoring of participants with CP when using their affected hand at the beginning as well as during object transport. In contrast, no general deficit in anticipatory gaze control in the participants with hemiparetic CP could be observed. Collectively, these findings are the first to directly show that individuals with hemiparetic CP adapt eye–hand coordination to the specific constraints of the moving limb, presumably to compensate for sensorimotor deficits

Can we rate public support for democracy in a comparable way? Cross-national equivalence of democratic attitudes in the World Value Survey

In this study we examine the cross-cultural equivalence of two scales that measure attitudes toward democracy across 36 countries in the World Value Survey (WVS) 2000. We examine the equivalence of these scales in order to explore if we can meaningfully compare democratic attitudes across countries. Multiple group confirmatory factor analyses (MGCFA) is applied to answer this question. The analyses indicate that the scales may be compared but only to a certain extent and not across all the countries. We close this article by discussing the implications of the findings

Preventie op de camping:Resultaten van twee pilots in West-Brabant in het souterrain van de woningmarkt

Vanwege tekorten op de woningmarkt enerzijds en de moeizame exploitatie van recreatieparken anderzijds, is permanente bewoning op recreatieparken een structureel maatschappelijk verschijnsel geworden. Permanente bewoning is wettelijk niet toegestaan en kan samengaan met diverse vormen van sociale problematiek. De sociale crisis die ontstond op camping Fort Oranje is voor de GGD WestBrabant aanleiding geweest preventieve werkwijzen voor recreatieparken te ontwikkelen. Dit artikel beschrijft twee pilots die in dit verband werden opgezet. De ambitie was bewoners van recreatieparken in beeld te krijgen en waar nodig te ondersteunen, en om een stem te geven aan hun verhaal