Redeeming The Aural: Amodal Resonance And Media History

Sounding New Media: Immersion and Embodiment in the Arts and Culture by Frances Dyson. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009. Pp. 262. $60.00 cloth,$28.95 paper

Studies on selected organic-metal interactions of importance in the environment

This research project investigated the interaction between natural organics acids and selected metal ions. The aim of the project was to provide quantitative data on the speciation of metal ions when placed in systems containing natural organic acids. It was envisaged that such data will assist in the risk assessment of the Drigg low level waste site in Cumbria. The formation and complexing ability of these natural organic acids is discussed and the classing of these acids into high molecular weight organic acids and low molecular weight organic acids. Initial investigations used a potentiometric technique to study the interaction between nickel and europium and selected low molecular weight organic acids which were thought to occur in significant concentrations in soils and groundwaters. These experiments confirmed existing critically assessed literature values, and provided an experimental methodology for further 'in-house' measurement of such values. In addition, studies were also performed on systems containing two competing organic acids. Studies of such systems showed no synergistic effect and that they could be modelled using individual stability constants. A comprehensive investigation was performed on the interaction of nickel and europium with humic acid. High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography (HPSEC) was assessed for its applicability to study such systems and was found to be suitable. Stability constants were determined for europium and nickel with humic acid. All data was modelled using MINTEQA2, a geochemical speciation code. Further work on these systems was carried out by a column ion exchange technique which confirmed the HPSEC data. A comparison was then carried out between batch and column exchange with the conclusion that column gave lower metal bound to the humic at high concentrations due to competition from the resin. HPSEC was used to investigate systems of low molecular weight organic acids with humic acids. In these systems no evidence for mixed complexes was found and that there was good agreement between experimental data and model predictions. The role of humic acid at alkaline pH was also investigated. It was found that humic acid showed enhanced complexation with europium and that this was attributable to phenolic groups on the humic molecule. In conclusion, results have been generated which provide data for a number of important reactions that occur in the environment

A near real-time algorithm for flood detection in urban and rural areas using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar images

A near real-time flood detection algorithm giving a synoptic overview of the extent of flooding in both urban and rural areas, and capable of working during night-time and day-time even if cloud was present, could be a useful tool for operational flood relief management and flood forecasting. The paper describes an automatic algorithm using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data that assumes that high resolution topographic height data are available for at least the urban areas of the scene, in order that a SAR simulator may be used to estimate areas of radar shadow and layover. The algorithm proved capable of detecting flooding in rural areas using TerraSAR-X with good accuracy, and in urban areas with reasonable accuracy

Near real-time flood detection in urban and rural areas using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar images

A near real-time flood detection algorithm giving a synoptic overview of the extent of flooding in both urban and rural areas, and capable of working during night-time and day-time even if cloud was present, could be a useful tool for operational flood relief management. The paper describes an automatic algorithm using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data that builds on existing approaches, including the use of image segmentation techniques prior to object classification to cope with the very large number of pixels in these scenes. Flood detection in urban areas is guided by the flood extent derived in adjacent rural areas. The algorithm assumes that high resolution topographic height data are available for at least the urban areas of the scene, in order that a SAR simulator may be used to estimate areas of radar shadow and layover. The algorithm proved capable of detecting flooding in rural areas using TerraSAR-X with good accuracy, classifying 89% of flooded pixels correctly, with an associated false positive rate of 6%. Of the urban water pixels visible to TerraSAR-X, 75% were correctly detected, with a false positive rate of 24%. If all urban water pixels were considered, including those in shadow and layover regions, these figures fell to 57% and 18% respectively

Near real-time flood detection in urban and rural areas using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar images

A near real-time flood detection algorithm giving a synoptic overview of the extent of flooding in both urban and rural areas, and capable of working during night-time and day-time even if cloud was present, could be a useful tool for operational flood relief management. The paper describes an automatic algorithm using high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data that builds on existing approaches, including the use of image segmentation techniques prior to object classification to cope with the very large number of pixels in these scenes. Flood detection in urban areas is guided by the flood extent derived in adjacent rural areas. The algorithm assumes that high resolution topographic height data are available for at least the urban areas of the scene, in order that a SAR simulator may be used to estimate areas of radar shadow and layover. The algorithm proved capable of detecting flooding in rural areas using TerraSAR-X with good accuracy, and in urban areas with reasonable accuracy. The accuracy was reduced in urban areas partly because of TerraSAR-X’s restricted visibility of the ground surface due to radar shadow and layover

Welfare and Distributional Effects of Road Pricing Schemes for Metropolitan Washington, DC

Economists have long advocated congestion pricing as an efficient way of allocating scarce roadway capacity. However, with a few exceptions, congestion tolls are rarely used in practice and strongly opposed by the public and elected officials. Although high implementation costs and privacy issues are alleviated as appropriate technologies are developed, the concerns that congestion pricing will adversely affect low-income travelers remain. In this paper, we use a strategic transportation planning model calibrated for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area to compare the welfare and distributional effects of three pricing schemes: value pricing (HOT lanes), limited congestion pricing, and comprehensive congestion pricing. We find that social welfare gains from HOT lanes amount to three-quarters of those from the comprehensive road pricing. At the same time, a HOT lanes policy turns out to be much more equitable than other road pricing schemes, with all income groups strictly benefiting even before the toll revenue is recycled.traffic congestion, congestion pricing, value pricing, HOT lanes, HOV lanes

Our place is special: the response of a major fossil-fuel company to emissions trading developments in New Zealand

Purpose: To examine and interpret the activity, arguments, and policy proposals put forward over a four-year period by a major state-owned fossil-fuel company, on climate-change policy and emissions trading in New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach: The signing of the Kyoto protocol by the New Zealand Government in 1997, followed by the introduction of Climate Change Response legislation in 2002, and the proposed introduction, and subsequent implementation, of a New Zealand emissions trading scheme between 2007-2011, provide the empirical context for our research. In order to investigate the position on GHG management of a key member of the fossil-fuel industry, submissions on each of the four stages of pre-consultation and review process on the emissions trading scheme were analysed, with a focus on key arguments, policy proposals, and degree of involvement in policy formulation. The company responses were evaluated from a legitimacy theory perspective. Findings: A notable position on emissions control, in which it was argued that New Zealand should be allowed to increase gross emissions over time, whilst relying on carbon sinks, primarily forestry, in order to meet net emissions targets, was revealed. The rationale was that since most New Zealand production processes are less emissions intensive than those elsewhere, New Zealand should enjoy a privileged position in the production of certain commodities relative to other countries. Economic growth, emissions leakage and energy efficiency arguments were invoked to support the position that net emissions reductions should only be made if required by international treaty obligations, and then only in line with actions of key trading partners. It was argued that if an emissions trading scheme were to proceed it should provide maximum support for emitters, free allocations, subsidised allocations, delayed entry of sectors into the scheme and an extended phase-out period for free allocations. The company was found to have played a major role in the submissions process