Scales and causes of heterogeneity in bars in a large multi-channel river: Rio Parana, Argentina

To date, published studies of alluvial bar architecture in large rivers have been restricted mostly to case studies of individual bars and single locations. Relatively little is known about how the depositional processes and sedimentary architecture of kilometre-scale bars vary within a multi-kilometre reach or over several hundreds of kilometres downstream. This study presents Ground Penetrating Radar and core data from 11, kilometre-scale bars from the Rio Parana, Argentina. The investigated bars are located between 30km upstream and 540km downstream of the Rio Parana - Rio Paraguay confluence, where a significant volume of fine-grained suspended sediment is introduced into the network. Bar-scale cross-stratified sets, with lengths and widths up to 600m and thicknesses up to 12m, enable the distinction of large river deposits from stacked deposits of smaller rivers, but are only present in half the surface area of the bars. Up to 90% of bar-scale sets are found on top of finer-grained ripple-laminated bar-trough deposits. Bar-scale sets make up as much as 58% of the volume of the deposits in small, incipient mid-channel bars, but this proportion decreases significantly with increasing age and size of the bars. Contrary to what might be expected, a significant proportion of the sedimentary structures found in the Rio Parana is similar in scale to those found in much smaller rivers. In other words, large river deposits are not always characterized by big structures that allow a simple interpretation of river scale. However, the large scale of the depositional units in big rivers causes small-scale structures, such as ripple sets, to be grouped into thicker cosets, which indicate river scale even when no obvious large-scale sets are present. The results also show that the composition of bars differs between the studied reaches upstream and downstream of the confluence with the Rio Paraguay. Relative to other controls on downstream fining, the tributary input of fine-grained suspended material from the Rio Paraguay causes a marked change in the composition of the bar deposits. Compared to the upstream reaches, the sedimentary architecture of the downstream reaches in the top ca 5m of mid-channel bars shows: (i) an increase in the abundance and thickness (up to metre-scale) of laterally extensive (hundreds of metres) fine-grained layers; (ii) an increase in the percentage of deposits comprised of ripple sets (to >40% in the upper bar deposits); and (iii) an increase in bar-trough deposits and a corresponding decrease in bar-scale cross-strata (<10%). The thalweg deposits of the Rio Parana are composed of dune sets, even directly downstream from the Rio Paraguay where the upper channel deposits are dominantly fine-grained. Thus, the change in sedimentary facies due to a tributary point-source of fine-grained sediment is primarily expressed in the composition of the upper bar deposits.

Involvement of family physicians in structured programs for chronic diseases or multi-morbidity in Switzerland.

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity represents challenges for health systems worldwide. In that perspective, the current organization of healthcare delivery, fragmentation of care, limited use of evidence-based guidelines and patients'insufficient empowerment are some reasons explaining the current limited effectiveness of the management of chronically ill patients. Based on theoretical models such as the Chronic Care Model (CCM), initiatives targeting improvements in the care of patients with chronic diseases have been implemented worldwide since more than a decade. Their development in Switzerland, a health system where more than half of practices are still single handed [6], is only recent and infrequent. Structured programs for patients with chronic diseases or multimorbidity usually propose patient-centered interventions and consider an integrative multidisciplinary approach. Currently, little is known on the existence of such programs and on the role of family physicians (FPs)within these programs, in Switzerland. The objective of this study was to identify and describe current structured programs targeting chronic diseases or multi-morbidity in Switzerland. This may help in examining innovative approaches that are only developed locally but would deserve wider interest for further implementation. We conducted a telephone-based survey between June and November 2013 and contacted systematically key institutions, informants and stakeholders nationwide and in the 26 cantons...

Multi-purpose infrastructure for delivering and supporting mobile context-aware applications

The use of contextual information in mobile devices is receiving increasing attention in mobile and ubiquitous computing research. An important requirement for mobile development today is that devices should be able to interact with the context. In this paper we present a series of contributions regarding previous work on context-awareness. In the first place, we describe a client-server architecture that provides a mechanism for preparing target non context-aware applications in order to be delivered as context-aware applications in a semi-automatic way. Secondly, the framework used in the server to instantiate specific components for context-awareness, the Implicit Plasticity Framework, provides independence from the underlying mobile technology used in client device, as it is shown in the case studies presented. Finally, proposed infrastructure deals with the interaction among different context constraints provided by diverse sensors. All of these contributions are extensions to the infrastructure based on the Dichotomic View of plasticity, which now offers multi-purpose support.

Multi-scale effects of nestling diet on breeding performance in a terrestrial top predator inferred from stable isotope analysis

Inter-individual diet variation within populations is likely to have important ecological and evolutionary implications. The diet-fitness relationships at the individual level and the emerging population processes are, however, poorly understood for most avian predators inhabiting complex terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we use an isotopic approach to assess the trophic ecology of nestlings in a long-lived raptor, the Bonelli"s eagle Aquila fasciata, and investigate whether nestling dietary breath and main prey consumption can affect the species" reproductive performance at two spatial scales: territories within populations and populations over a large geographic area. At the territory level, those breeding pairs whose nestlings consumed similar diets to the overall population (i.e. moderate consumption of preferred prey, but complemented by alternative prey categories) or those disproportionally consuming preferred prey were more likely to fledge two chicks. An increase in the diet diversity, however, related negatively with productivity. The age and replacements of breeding pair members had also an influence on productivity, with more fledglings associated to adult pairs with few replacements, as expected in long-lived species. At the population level, mean productivity was higher in those population-years with lower dietary breadth and higher diet similarity among territories, which was related to an overall higher consumption of preferred prey. Thus, we revealed a correspondence in diet-fitness relationships at two spatial scales: territories and populations. We suggest that stable isotope analyses may be a powerful tool to monitor the diet of terrestrial avian predators on large spatio-temporal scales, which could serve to detect potential changes in the availability of those prey on which predators depend for breeding. We encourage ecologists and evolutionary and conservation biologists concerned with the multi-scale fitness consequences of inter-individual variation in resource use to employ similar stable isotope-based approaches, which can be successfully applied to complex ecosystems such as the Mediterranean.

Use of the heat dissipation method for sap flow measurement in citrus nursery trees1

Sap flow could be used as physiological parameter to assist irrigation of screen house citrus nursery trees by continuous water consumption estimation. Herein we report a first set of results indicating the potential use of the heat dissipation method for sap flow measurement in containerized citrus nursery trees. 'Valencia' sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] budded on 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) was evaluated for 30 days during summer. Heat dissipation probes and thermocouple sensors were constructed with low-cost and easily available materials in order to improve accessibility of the method. Sap flow showed high correlation to air temperature inside the screen house. However, errors due to natural thermal gradient and plant tissue injuries affected measurement precision. Transpiration estimated by sap flow measurement was four times higher than gravimetric measurement. Improved micro-probes, adequate method calibration, and non-toxic insulating materials should be further investigated.

The multi-facets of sustainable nanotechnology : lessons from a nanosafety symposium

An international symposium for nanosafety was held recently at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Topics relating to understanding nanomaterial properties, tools, and infrastructure required for predicting hazardous outcomes, measuring nanomaterial exposure levels, systems approach for risk assessment and public's perception of nanotechnology were covered. The need for a multidisciplinary approach, across both natural and social sciences, for developing sustainable nanotechnology solutions was heavily emphasized. This commentary highlights the major issues discussed and the commitment of the nanosafety research community in Singapore to contribute collectively to realise the vision of sustainable nanotechnology.

Normaalijakaumaan perustuva mutaatio-operaatio differentiaalievoluutioalgoritmiin

Evoluutioalgoritmit ovat viime vuosina osoittautuneet tehokkaiksi menetelmiksi globaalien optimointitehtävien ratkaisuun. Niiden vahvuutena on etenkin yleiskäyttöisyys ja kyky löytää globaali ratkaisu juuttumatta optimoitavan tavoitefunktion paikallisiin optimikohtiin. Tässä työssä on tavoitteena kehittää uusi, normaalijakaumaan perustuva mutaatio-operaatio differentiaalievoluutioalgoritmiin, joka on eräs uusimmista evoluutiopohjaisista optimointialgoritmeista. Menetelmän oletetaan vähentävän entisestään sekä populaation ennenaikaisen suppenemisen, että algoritmin tilojen juuttumisen riskiä ja se on teoreettisesti osoitettavissa suppenevaksi. Tämä ei päde alkuperäisen differentiaalievoluution tapauksessa, koska on voitu osoittaa, että sen tilanmuutokset voivat pienellä todennäköisyydellä juuttua. Työssä uuden menetelmän toimintaa tarkastellaan kokeellisesti käyttäen testiongelmina monirajoiteongelmia. Rajoitefunktioiden käsittelyyn käytetään Jouni Lampisen kehittämää, Pareto-optimaalisuuden periaatteeseen perustuvaa menetelmää. Samalla saadaan kerättyä lisää kokeellista näyttöä myös tämän menetelmän toiminnasta. Kaikki käytetyt testiongelmat kyettiin ratkaisemaan sekä alkuperäisellä differentiaalievoluutiolla, että uutta mutaatio-operaatiota käyttävällä versiolla. Uusi menetelmä osoittautui kuitenkin luotettavammaksi sellaisissa tapauksissa, joissa alkuperäisellä algoritmilla oli vaikeuksia. Lisäksi useimmat ongelmat kyettiin ratkaisemaan luotettavasti pienemmällä populaation koolla kuin alkuperäistä differentiaalievoluutiota käytettäessä. Uuden menetelmän käyttö myös mahdollistaa paremmin sellaisten kontrolliparametrien käytön, joilla hausta saadaan rotaatioinvariantti. Laskennallisesti uusi menetelmä on hieman alkuperäistä differentiaalievoluutiota raskaampi ja se tarvitsee yhden kontrolliparametrin enemmän. Uusille kontrolliparametreille määritettiin kuitenkin mahdollisimman yleiskäyttöiset arvot, joita käyttämällä on mahdollista ratkaista suuri joukko erilaisia ongelmia.

Guavira emergence and seedling production with substrates containing organic compost and soil under different screen environments

This study aimed to evaluate different proportions of organic compost and soil as a substrate for the guavira emergence and seedling formation under different protected environments, in the high Pantanal region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The seeds were placed in polyethylene bags (15 x 25 centimeters) filled with four percentages of organic compost (0%, 20%, 80%, and 100% of total volume) mixed with soil. These substrates were tested in agro-nurseries covered with black screen and 50% thermo-reflecting shade cloths. The substrate with 20% soil and 80% organic compost and the black screen shade cloth promote the best performance in the seedling production.

Data Envelopment Analysis and non-discretionary inputs : How to select the most suitable model using multi-criteria decision analysis

Within Data Envelopment Analysis, several alternative models allow for an environmental adjustment. The majority of them deliver divergent results. Decision makers face the difficult task of selecting the most suitable model. This study is performed to overcome this difficulty. By doing so, it fills a research gap. First, a two-step web-based survey is conducted. It aims (1) to identify the selection criteria, (2) to prioritize and weight the selection criteria with respect to the goal of selecting the most suitable model and (3) to collect the preferences about which model is preferable to fulfil each selection criterion. Second, Analytic Hierarchy Process is used to quantify the preferences expressed in the survey. Results show that the understandability, the applicability and the acceptability of the alternative models are valid selection criteria. The selection of the most suitable model depends on the preferences of the decision makers with regards to these criteria.

Multi-sided Böhm-Bawerk assignment markets: the core

[cat] En aquest treball introduïm la classe de "multi-sided Böhm-Bawerk assignment games", que generalitza la coneguda classe de jocs d’assignació de Böhm-Bawerk bilaterals a situacions amb un nombre arbitrari de sectors. Trobem els extrems del core de qualsevol multi-sided Böhm-Bawerk assignment game a partir d’un joc convex definit en el conjunt de sectors enlloc del conjunt de venedors i compradors. Addicionalment estudiem quan el core d’aquests jocs d’assignació és estable en el sentit de von Neumann-Morgenstern.

Consistency and the core of multi-sided assignment markets

[cat] En aquest treball es demostra que en el domini dels jocs d’assignació equilibrats multisectorials (Quint, 1991), el core és l’única solució no buida que satisfà derived consistency i projection consistency. També es caracteritza el core en tota la classe dels jocs d’assignació multisectorials amb els axiomes de singleness best, individual antimonotonicity i derived consistency. Com a casos particulars, s’obtenen dues noves axiomàtiques del core per als jocs d’assignació bilaterals (Shapley and Shubik, 1972).

Fraktiointikerrostuksen vaikutus paperin laatuun

Työn tavoitteena oli kehittää prosessia fraktioinnista monikerrosperälaatikolle painopaperilajeilla. Tarkoituksena oli selvittää koeajojen avulla sihti- ja pyörrepuhdistusfraktioinnin soveltuvuutta paperin kerrostuksen kannalta. Työssä vertailtiin keskenään fraktiointimenetelmiä ja niiden yhdistelmiä. Tehtävänä oli prosessikonseptin kehittäminen eri prosessikytkennöistä ja –ratkaisuista simuloinnin avulla. Kirjallisuusosassa tutustuttiin analysoiden kirjallisuusviitteiden perusteella massan fraktiointiin ja paperin kerrostamiseen sekä fraktiointikerrostetun rainan karakterisointiin. Tavoitteiden saavuttamiseksi esikokeena suoritettiin pilotkoeajo hienopaperimassalla, jossa tutkittiin pääasiassa fraktiointitulosta. Toinen koeajo suoritettiin LWC-paperilla, jossa koekonekonsepti oli optimaalisempi kerrostuksen kannalta ja fraktiointitulos voitiin linkittää paperin laatusuureisiin. LWC-koeajossa fraktioidulla massalla tehtiin laboratoriomittakaavassa monikerrosarkkimuottikokeita, joiden tuloksilla pyrittiin vahvistamaan koeajosta saatuja tuloksia ja fraktioinnnin potentialia. Prosessikonseptin kehittämiseksi rakennettiin seitsemän simulointimallia eri kytkennöistä. Malleja verrattiin keskenään täyteaine- ja kuitujakeiden fraktiointikyvyn perusteella. Koeajojen avulla selvitettiin fraktioinnin kannalta optimaaliset prosessimuuttujat. Fraktiointikerrostuksella parannettiin paperin z-suuntaista lujuutta ja etenkin pyörrepuhdistinfraktioinnilla pintojen sileyttä. Fraktiointikerrostuksella voitiin parantaa paperin täyteainejakaumaa. Kokeiden perusteella huomattiin, että kukin paperilaji tarvitsee erilaisen fraktiointijärjestelyn riippuen käytetystä massasta ja täyteaineesta.