Spreading the use of economic methods in coastal risk management: a simple but insightful “calculator”

Navas, F.; Malvárez, G.; Penning-Rowsell, E., and Parker, D.J., 2020. Spreading the use of economic methods in coastal risk management: A simple but insightful "calculator". In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 1217–1222. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. European Directives, such as the EU Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) require that decision makers include objective methodologies, such as benefit-cost analysis, in their assessments of flood risk reduction measures. Methodologies to establish a sustainable knowledge framework addressing the costs and benefits of prevention and response to coastal hazards resulting from hydro-meteorological, hydrographic and other natural events and processes (e.g. flooding, beach erosion, cliff erosion, sea level rise) are not homogeneously implemented in the European Union. Until now, investment decisions in this field have been made more on local political imperatives than logical economic risk assessments. This paper aims to overcome some these limitations by demonstrating the usefulness of a simplified benefit-cost methodology and its application to a coastal case where a number of alternative flood risk reduction schemes are considered. The method allows the economically optimal scheme to be identified. The method is discussed within the context of generally poorly comprehended aspects; issues presented in coupling benefit-cost methods with vulnerability and related assessments; and key data uncertainties

Flow Structure and Channel Stability at the Site of a Deep Scour Hole, Mackenzie Delta, Canada

Unusually deep scour holes in distributary channels of the Mackenzie Delta are of concern for oil and gas resource development, particularly with respect to buried pipeline crossings. Surveys of one such hole, carried out in 1985 and 1992, indicated vertical stability and slight lateral movement. The present study examines how the hole may have changed by the mid-2000s and documents the complex local velocity field and related bed material properties. Small discrepancies between isobaths of different years suggest a dynamic stability that involves short-term fluctuations in erosion and deposition. This suggestion was corroborated by detailed measurements of the highly three-dimensional velocity field, which revealed major eddy structures and flow reversals that help maintain sizeable velocity magnitudes despite low mean velocities. The composition of the bed material suggests cohesive behaviour, but the literature indicates a range of critical shear stresses that spans two orders of magnitude. The more probable lower end of this range is consistent with the observed dynamic stability of the scour hole.Des fosses d’affouillement exceptionnellement profondes se trouvant dans les effluents du delta du Mackenzie risquent de poser des problèmes en matière de mise en valeur des ressources pétrolières et gazières, surtout en ce qui a trait aux pipelines enfouis. Selon les levés d’une de ces fosses effectués en 1985 et en 1992, cette fosse serait verticalement stable et aurait un léger mouvement latéral. La présente étude se penche sur la façon dont la fosse pourrait avoir changé une fois rendu vers le milieu des années 2000 et documente le champ de vitesse local complexe de même que les propriétés des matériaux de fond connexes. De petits écarts entre les isobathes de différentes années laissent entrevoir une stabilité dynamique assortie de fluctuations à court terme sur le plan de l’érosion et de la déposition. Cette suggestion a été corroborée à l’aide de mesures détaillées du champ de vitesse hautement tridimensionnel, qui a révélé d’importantes structures à grands tourbillons et des écoulements de retour qui favorisent le maintien d’intensités de vitesse appréciables malgré des vélocités moyennes faibles. Bien que la composition des matériaux de fond suggère un comportement cohésif, la documentation indique une gamme de contraintes de cisaillement critique qui s’étend sur deux ordres de grandeur. Le bas de cette gamme plus probable est conforme à la stabilité dynamique observée à l’égard de la fosse d’affouillement

The (im)materiality of literacy : the significance of subjectivity to new literacies research.

This article deconstructs the online and offline experience to show its complexities and idiosyncratic nature. It proposes a theoretical framework designed to conceptualise aspects of meaning-making across on- and offline contexts. In arguing for the ‘(im)materiality’ of literacy, it makes four propositions which highlight the complex and diverse relationships between the immaterial and material associated with meaning-making. Complementing existing sociocultural perspectives on literacy, the article draws attention to the significance of relationships between space, mediation, materiality and embodiment to literacy practices. This in turn emphasises the importance of the subjective in understanding how different locations, experiences and so forth inflect literacy practice. The article concludes by drawing on the Deleuzian concept of the ‘baroque’ to suggest that this focus on articulations between the material and immaterial helps us to see literacy as multiply and flexibly situated

A systematic review of the accuracy and utility of peritoneal cytology in patients with gastric cancer

Background There is lack of uniformity in the utilization of peritoneal cytology in gastric cancer management. the identification of intraperitoneal free cancer cells (IFCCs) is believed to confer poor prognosis. However, while some of these patients are palliated, others may undergo more aggressive therapies. in this review, we aimed to identify and synthesize findings on the use of peritoneal cytology in predicting peritoneal recurrence and overall survival in curative gastric cancer patients.Methods Electronic literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2009. We determined the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of peritoneal cytology in predicting peritoneal recurrence based on four techniques-conventional cytology, immunoassay, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Recurrence rates and overall survival rates for curative patients were determined, based on positivity or negativity for IFCCs.Results Twenty-eight articles were included. All four techniques showed wide variations in accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in predicting peritoneal recurrence. Recurrence rates for patients positive for IFCCs ranged from 11.1 to 100%, while those negative for IFCCs had recurrence rates of 0-51%. Overall survival was significantly reduced for patients with positive IFCCs. Short follow-up periods and possible duplication of results may limit result interpretation.Conclusion the presence of IFCCs appears to increase the risk of peritoneal recurrence and is associated with worse overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Further incorporation of peritoneal cytology in clinical decision-making in gastric cancer depends on the development of a consistently accurate and rapid IFCC detection method.Canadian Cancer SocietyOntario Ministry of Health and Long-Term CareUniv Toronto, Dept Surg, Toronto, ON, CanadaSunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Sunnybrook Res Inst, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilDalhousie Univ, Dept Surg, Halifax, NS B3H 4H2, CanadaQueens Univ, Dept Community Hlth & Epidemiol, Kingston, ON, CanadaSunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Anat Pathol, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaUniv Toronto, Div Surg Oncol, Sunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Odette Canc Ctr, Toronto, ON, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, São Paulo, BrazilCanadian Cancer Society: 019325Web of Scienc

The Joint Damping Experiment (JDX)

The Joint Damping Experiment (JDX), flown on the Shuttle STS-69 Mission, is designed to measure the influence of gravity on the structural damping of a high precision three bay truss. Principal objectives are: (1) Measure vibration damping of a small-scale, pinjointed truss to determine how pin gaps give rise to gravity-dependent damping rates; (2) Evaluate the applicability of ground and low-g aircraft tests for predicting on-orbit behavior; and (3) Evaluate the ability of current nonlinear finite element codes to model the dynamic behavior of the truss. Damping of the truss was inferred from 'Twang' tests that involve plucking the truss structure and recording the decay of the oscillations. Results are summarized as follows. (1) Damping, rates can change by a factor of 3 to 8 through changing the truss orientation; (2) The addition of a few pinned joints to a truss structure can increase the damping by a factor as high as 30; (3) Damping is amplitude dependent; (4) As gravity induced preloads become large (truss long axis perpendicular to gravity vector) the damping is similar to non-pinjointed truss; (5) Impacting in joints drives higher modes in structure; (6) The torsion mode disappears if gravity induced preloads are low

Use of the PIXEL method to investigate gas adsorption in metal–organic frameworks

PIXEL has been used to perform calculations of adsorbate-adsorbent interaction energies between a range of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and simple guest molecules. Interactions have been calculated for adsorption between MOF-5 and Ar, H(2), and N(2); Zn(2)(BDC)(2)(TED) (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, TED = triethylenediamine) and H(2); and HKUST-1 and CO(2). The locations of the adsorption sites and the calculated energies, which show differences in the Coulombic or dispersion characteristic of the interaction, compare favourably to experimental data and literature energy values calculated using density functional theory

Distinct degassing pulses during magma invasion in the stratified Karoo Basin – New insights from hydrothermal fluid flow modelling

Magma emplacement in organic‐rich sedimentary basins is a main driver of past environmental crises. Using a 2D numerical model, we investigate the process of thermal cracking in contact aureoles of cooling sills and subsequent transport and emission of thermogenic methane by hydrothermal fluids. Our model includes a Mohr‐Coulomb failure criterion to initiate hydrofracturing and a dynamic porosity/permeability. We investigate the Karoo Basin, taking into account host‐rock material properties from borehole data, realistic total organic carbon content, and different sill geometries. Consistent with geological observations, we find that thermal plumes quickly rise at the edges of saucer‐shaped sills, guided along vertically fractured high permeability pathways. Contrastingly, less focused and slower plumes rise from the edges and the central part of flat‐lying sills. Using a novel upscaling method based on sill‐to‐sediment ratio we find that degassing of the Karoo Basin occurred in two distinct phases during magma invasion. Rapid degassing triggered by sills emplaced within the top 1.5 km emitted ~1.6·103 Gt of thermogenic methane, while thermal plumes originating from deeper sills, carrying a 12‐times greater mass of methane, may not reach the surface. We suggest that these large quantities of methane could be re‐mobilized by the heat provided by neighboring sills. We conclude that the Karoo LIP may have emitted as much as ~22.3·103 Gt of thermogenic methane in the half million years of magmatic activity, with emissions up to 3 Gt/year. This quantity of methane and the emission rates can explain the negative δ13C excursion of the Toarcian environmental crisis. Key Points Sill geometry and emplacement depth as well as intruded host rock type are the main factors controlling methane mobilization and degassing Dehydration‐related porosity increase and pore‐pressure‐induced hydrofracturing are important mechanisms for a quick transport of methane from sill to the surface The Karoo Basin may have degassed ~22.3·103 Gt of thermogenic methane in the half million years of magmatic activit

The Elite-Plus stem migrates more than the flanged Charnley stem: A clinical, radiographic, and radiostereometric analysis of 114 patients with an average of 7 years follow-up

Background and purpose The Charnley Elite-Plus stem was introduced in 1993 as a presumed improvement of the flanged Charnley stem. We started this study in 1996 to investigate the migratory pattern of the Elite-Plus stem. Patients and methods We followed 114 patients with osteoarthritis and a primary total hip replacement with the Elite-Plus stem. Mean age at the time of operation was 64 (50-76) years. The mean follow-up time was 6.5 (2-7) years. Radiographs were evaluated with respect to cementing technique, migration, and wear measured by radiostereometry (RSA). Results The stem survival was 98% (CI: 96-100) at 7 years and 92% (CI: 86-97) at 10 years. Mean migration of the femoral head was 0.35 mm (SD 0.3) medially, 0.51 mm (SD 0.6) distally, and 1.1 mm (SD 1.8) in the dorsal direction. Mean total point motion was 1.7 mm (SD 1.7). The migration of the stems stabilized after 5 years in the medial and dorsal directions, but continued to subside slightly. Migration along any of the axes was higher if the cementing technique was inferior. Interpretation Patients with a Charnley Elite-Plus stem and defects in the cement mantle or other signs of inferior implantation technique should be carefully monitored