Suitability of chlorine bulk decay models for planning and management of water distribution systems

Effective disinfection planning and management in large, complex water distribution systems requires an accurate network water quality model. This model should be based on reaction kinetics, which describes disinfectant loss from bulk water over time, within experimental error. Models in the literature were reviewed for their ability to meet this requirement in real networks. Essential features were identified as accuracy, simplicity, computational efficiency, and ability to describe consistently the effects of initial chlorine dose, temperature variation, and successive rechlorinations. A reaction scheme of two organic constituents reacting with free chlorine was found to be necessary and sufficient to provide the required features. Recent release of the multispecies extension (MSX) to EPANET and MWH Soft's H2OMap Water MSX network software enables users to implement this and other multiple-reactant bulk decay models in real system simulations.

An empirical study of neighbourhood decay in Kohonen's self organizing map

In this paper, empirical results are presented which suggest that size and rate of decay of region size plays a much more significant role in the learning, and especially the development, of topographic feature maps. Using these results as a basis, a scheme for decaying region size during SOM training is proposed. The proposed technique provides near optimal training time. This scheme avoids the need for sophisticated learning gain decay schemes, and precludes the need for a priori knowledge of likely training times. This scheme also has some potential uses for continuous learning.

A hybrid neural network classifier combining ordered fuzzy ARTMAP and the dynamic decay adjustment algorithm

This paper presents a novel conflict-resolving neural network classifier that combines the ordering algorithm, fuzzy ARTMAP (FAM), and the dynamic decay adjustment (DDA) algorithm, into a unified framework. The hybrid classifier, known as Ordered FAMDDA, applies the DDA algorithm to overcome the limitations of FAM and ordered FAM in achieving a good generalization/performance. Prior to network learning, the ordering algorithm is first used to identify a fixed order of training patterns. The main aim is to reduce and/or avoid the formation of overlapping prototypes of different classes in FAM during learning. However, the effectiveness of the ordering algorithm in resolving overlapping prototypes of different classes is compromised when dealing with complex datasets. Ordered FAMDDA not only is able to determine a fixed order of training patterns for yielding good generalization, but also is able to reduce/resolve overlapping regions of different classes in the feature space for minimizing misclassification during the network learning phase. To illustrate the effectiveness of Ordered FAMDDA, a total of ten benchmark datasets are experimented. The results are analyzed and compared with those from FAM and Ordered FAM. The outcomes demonstrate that Ordered FAMDDA, in general, outperforms FAM and Ordered FAM in tackling pattern classification problems.

Novel mechanism of Col10a1 nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a conserved surveillance mechanism that selectively targets mRNA transcripts carrying premature termination codons (PTCs) for rapid degradation in all studied eukaryotes. Mutations that introduce PTCs account for approximately one-third of all inherited genetic disorders, highlighting the importance of NMD in the molecular pathology of many diseases.
The experimental findings presented in this thesis demonstrate that the mechanism of Col10a1 NMD is different to previously described NMD pathways and could represent a failsafe NMD mechanism used by genes that have similar gene structures to COL10A1, which would escape the canonical NMD pathway.

Removal of natural organic matter though membrane filtration and subsequent effect on disinfectant decay

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of membrane filtration in removing natural organic matters (NOMs) from four different source waters and the subsequent effect that it has on total chlorine (TC) demand of these waters. Source water samples were filtered sequentially through membranes with molecular weight cut-off of 3,500, 1,000 and 200 Da as well as RO membrane. The source waters and sequentially filtered samples were dosed with chlorine and the residual chlorine data were used to estimate the TC demand of these waters. A robust chlorine decay model constructed in AQUASIM software was used to do so. More than 80% of the chlorine demand in untreated surface water sources was found to be contributed mainly by NOMs that were larger than 3,500 Da. However, for water treated by granular filtration, the chlorine demand was found to be contributed by NOMs which were down to 200 Da. Sequential filtration through all four membranes reduced chlorine demand by more than 94% in surface waters and 84% in waters treated by granular filtration. Significant reduction in the formation of trihalomethane can be achieved if water is treated by appropriate membranes after granular media filtration. © 2014 © 2014 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

Audit of gross decay treatment in young children under general anaesthetic

Abstract In Australia, dental caries is one of the most prevalent diseases effecting children. For more severe cases a dental general anaesthetic (GA) is required. A retrospective analysis of clinical records for all patients aged up to 10 years who attended Barwon Health (Geelong, Victoria, Australia) for a dental GA from 2010-2012 was performed. There were 236 separate events in 234 children, with 223 new cases and 11 that had already received a dental GA prior to the study period. The average age of patients at their dental GA procedure was 6.3 ± 2.0 years. Prior to the GA, the average dmft/ DMFT was 8 (6-12) (median, interquartile range). The length of time from referral to GA increased significantly from 166.4 days (SD 108.1), 164.3 days (SD 98.9) to225.4 days (SD 129.5) in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Follow up review appointments after GA appointment was attended by 10.8%, 37.3% and 36.0% of patients, respectively across the same years. Following the findings of long waiting times for GA procedures for children with severe dental caries, and the low rate of attendance for post-GA reviews, a change in dental process is urgently needed.

Trace memory: after decay

In this exhibition, interdisciplinary artist Tonya A. Meyrick presents a body of new work that explores the relationship between memory and place.Tonya A. Meyrick explores the recollection and perception of memory and considers how our memories are not stable; rather, they are fickle and tied to the places which we inhabit, past events and the ebb and flow of our daily patterns. The act of remembering, putting our memories back together is the thread that runs through this exhibition of large format digital still and moving artworks coupled with an experience of augmented reality