A practical approach to the production of ENC with high density bathymetric content

Over the last two years, the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) has published and maintained Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) with greater scale and higher density bathymetric content than those derived from paper nautical charts. Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is investigating the production of ENCs with high density bathymetric content which will likely replace the traditional berthing ENC. This article describes the approaches adopted by AHO and LINZ to produce such ENC using current IHO standards. The article describes also how AHO and LINZ engaged with stakeholders to meet the demands of large ships navigating in confined waters with small safety margins. ENCs with greater scale and high density-bathymetric content represent an opportunity for Hydrographic Offices to not only enhance safety of navigation under normal circumstances in confined waters, but also to potentially expand the range of weather and tidal conditions in which safe navigation may be conducted.En los dos últimos años, el Servicio Hidrográfico Australiano (AHO) ha publicado y mantenido Cartas Náuticas Electrónicas (ENCs) de mayor escala y con un contenido batimétrico de mayor densidad que las derivadas de las cartas náuticas de papel. Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) está investigando la producción de ENCs con un contenido batimétrico de alta densidad, que probablemente sustituirán a las tradicionales ENCs de las zonas de atraque. Este artículo describe los enfoques adoptados por el AHO y por LINZ para producir tales ENCs utilizando las normas actuales de la OHI. Este artículo también describe cómo el AHO y LINZ se comprometieron con las partes interesadas para satisfacer las demandas de los grandes buques que navegan en aguas confinadas con pequeños márgenes de seguridad. Las ENCs de mayor escala y de contenido batimétrico de alta densidad representan una oportunidad para que los Servicios Hidrográficos no sólo mejoren la seguridad de la navegación en circunstancias normales en aguas confinadas, sino que también amplíen potencialmente la variedad de condiciones meteorológicas y de mareas en las que se puede llevar a cabo una navegación segura.Ces deux dernières années, le Service hydrographique australien (AHO) a publié et tenu à jour des cartes électroniques de navigation (ENC) à plus grandes échelles et contenant des données bathymétriques à plus haute densité que celles issues des cartes marines papier. Le Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) étudie la production d’ENC contenant des données bathymétriques à haute densité, qui remplaceront sûrement les traditionnelles ENC d’accostage. Le présent article décrit l’approche adoptée par l’AHO et le LINZ pour produire ces ENC en utilisant les normes de l’OHI en vigueur. L’article décrit également la manière dont l’AHO et le LINZ se sont impliqués auprès des parties prenantes afin de répondre aux contraintes des navires de grande taille qui naviguent dans des eaux resserrées avec de faibles marges de sécurité. Des ENC contenant des données à plus grandes échelles et des données bathymétriques à haute densité représentent l’opportunité pour les services hydrographiques non seulement d’améliorer la sécurité de la navigation dans des eaux resserrées dans des circonstances normales, mais également d’étendre potentiellement l’éventail des conditions météorologiques et de marées dans lesquelles il est possible de naviguer en toute sécurité

Comparison of Italian and Hungarian Black Spot Ranking

AbstractBlack spot ranking is an important tool for finding the sites with potential safety improvement on the road network. The EU Directive on Road Infrastructure Safety Management also demands the ranking of high accident concentration sites. This paper gives an introduction to localizing high accident concentration sites and the indicators used by Italy and Hungary. Accident and traffic volume data are gathered for motorway sections from both countries. Safety ranking is made using two conventional indicators, absolute number of accidents and accident rate. A more sophisticated ranking using the Empirical Bayes method is applied. Expected average crash frequency with Empirical Bayes adjustment is calculated. Based on the estimation of the crash frequency, the Critical Crash Rate (CCR) was added to identify and rank black spots. This additional performance measure is able to take into account traffic volume as required by the EU Directive. Results of the Empirical Bayes method are compared with the conventional procedures. It is concluded that the results are not comparable; inasmuch as there are modifications in the order of black spots. Based on the comparison of results recommendations are given to change the practice in both countries

Influence of cooling profile on the product properties in cooling crystallizers

Batch cooling crystallization process is investigated using different cooling procedures through mathematical modelling and computer simulation. The main element of the mathematical model is the population balance equation which contains both process and kinetic parameters. In the mathematical model of crystallizer the population balance equation is completed with the ordinary differential equations governing the mass balances of solute and solvent, as well as the heat balances of the crystalline suspension and the cooling medium. From the population balance model a set of differential equations was obtained for the first four moments of the size variable of crystals and the mass and heat balances, and the resulted equation system was solved in MATLAB environment. The dynamic properties and behaviour of the crystallizer depending on the cooling procedures was studied by numerical experimentation the results of which are presented and analysed

Human p53 interacts with the elongating RNAPII complex and is required for the release of actinomycin D induced transcription blockage

The p53 tumour suppressor regulates the transcription initiation of selected genes by binding to specific DNA sequences at their promoters. Here we report a novel role of p53 in transcription elongation in human cells. Our data demonstrate that upon transcription elongation blockage, p53 is associated with genes that have not been reported as its direct targets. p53 could be co-immunoprecipitated with active forms of DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 1 (RPB1), highlighting its association with the elongating RNA polymerase II. During a normal transcription cycle, p53 and RPB1 are localised at distinct regions of selected non-canonical p53 target genes and this pattern of localisation was changed upon blockage of transcription elongation. Additionally, transcription elongation blockage induced the proteasomal degradation of RPB1. Our results reveal a novel role of p53 in human cells during transcription elongation blockage that may facilitate the removal of RNA polymerase II from DNA

Mechanism of cell polarisation and first lineage segregation in the human embryo

The formation of differential cell lineages in the mammalian blastocyst from the totipotent zygote is crucial for implantation and the success of the whole pregnancy. The first lineage segregation generates the polarised trophectoderm (TE) tissue, which forms the placenta, and the apolar inner cell mass (ICM), which mainly gives rise to all foetal tissues and also the yolk sac. The mechanism underlying this cell fate segregation has been extensively studied in the mouse embryo. However, when and how it takes place in the human embryo remains unclear. Here, using time-lapse imaging and 325 surplus human embryos, we provide a detailed characterisation of morphological events and transcription factor expression and localisation to understand how they lead to the first lineage segregation in human embryogenesis. We show that the first lineage segregation of the human embryo is triggered by cell polarisation that occurs at the 8-cell stage in two sequential steps. In the first step, F-actin becomes apically polarised concomitantly with embryo compaction. In the second step, the Par complex becomes polarised to form the apical cellular domain. Mechanistically, we show that activation of Phospholipase C (PLC) triggers actin polarisation and is therefore essential for apical domain formation, as is the case in mouse embryos. Finally, we show that, in contrast to the mouse embryo, the key extra-embryonic determinant GATA3 is expressed not only in extra-embryonic lineage precursors upon blastocyst formation. However, the cell polarity machinery enhances the expression and nuclear accumulation of GATA3. In summary, our results demonstrate for the first time that cell polarisation reinforces the first lineage segregation in the human embryo

Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification

Apico-basal polarization of cells within the embryo is critical for the segregation of distinct lineages during mammalian development. Polarized cells become the trophectoderm (TE), which forms the placenta, and apolar cells become the inner cell mass (ICM), the founding population of the fetus. The cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to polarization of the human embryo and its timing during embryogenesis have remained unknown. Here, we show that human embryo polarization occurs in two steps: it begins with the apical enrichment of F-actin and is followed by the apical accumulation of the PAR complex. This two-step polarization process leads to the formation of an apical domain at the 8–16 cell stage. Using RNA interference, we show that apical domain formation requires Phospholipase C (PLC) signaling, specifically the enzymes PLCB1 and PLCE1, from the eight-cell stage onwards. Finally, we show that although expression of the critical TE differentiation marker GATA3 can be initiated independently of embryo polarization, downregulation of PLCB1 and PLCE1 decreases GATA3 expression through a reduction in the number of polarized cells. Therefore, apical domain formation reinforces a TE fate. The results we present here demonstrate how polarization is triggered to regulate the first lineage segregation in human embryos

Cold-dependent activation of complement: Recognition, assessment, and mechanism

Cold-dependent activation of complement (CDAC) is a phenomenon characterized by low hemolytic complement activity in chilled serum. Complement component levels are normal when measured immunologically, and there is normal hemolytic activity in EDTA plasma or serum maintained at 37°C. Little attention has been paid to CDAC except in Japan, and current unfamiliarity with it, even by clinical immunologists, can lead to confusion and unnecessary laboratory tests. A 66-year-old patient with a complex medical history is described whose complement tests showed abnormalities characteristic of CDAC. Evidence for classical complement pathway activation in the cold was obtained by CH 50 measurements, by hemolytic C4 determinations, by C4a, C3a, and C4d generation, and by quantitating complexes. A good correlation was observed among these parameters. Cryoprecipitates were absent. CDAC activity has persisted for over 5 years and is greater at 13 than at 4°C. Activation is ablated by heating at 56°C and restored by the addition of C1 to the heated serum. Adsorption by streptococcal protein G-Sepharose and precipitation by 2.5% polyethylene glycol support the hypothesis that CDAC is caused by aggregated IgG. The CDAC factor(s) also induces complement activation in normal serum but has not interfered with Raji cell or C1q binding tests or with FACS analysis. More limited studies of a second individual experiencing CDAC yielded similar results.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44843/1/10875_2004_Article_BF00920794.pd