On Determining Minimal Spectrally Arbitrary Patterns

In this paper we present a new family of minimal spectrally arbitrary patterns which allow for arbitrary spectrum by using the Nilpotent-Jacobian method. The novel approach here is that we use the Intermediate Value Theorem to avoid finding an explicit nilpotent realization of the new minimal spectrally arbitrary patterns.Comment: 8 page

A multi-layered risk estimation routine for strategic planning and operations for the maritime industry

Maritime regulators and port authorities require the ability to predict risk exposure for strategic planning aspects to optimize asset allocation, mitigate and prevent incidents. This article builds on previous work to develop the strategic planning component and introduces the concept of a multilayered risk estimation framework (MLREF) for strategic planning and operations. The framework accounts for most of the risk factors such as ship specific risk, vessel traffic densities and met ocean conditions and allows the integration of the effect of risk control option and a location specific spatial rate ratio to allow for micro level risk assessments. Both, the macro (eg. covering larger geographic areas or EEZ) and micro level application (eg. passage way, particular route of interest) of MLREF was tested via a pilot study for the Australian region using a comprehensive and unique combination of dataset. The underlying routine towards the development of a strategic planning tool was developed and tested in R. Applications of the layers for the operational part such as an automated alert system and sources of uncertainties for risk assessments in general are described and discussed along with future developments and improvements

A multi-layered risk exposure assessment approach for the shipping industry

__Abstract__ Shipping activity has increased worldwide and maritime administrations are trying to enhance risk mitigation strategies by using proactive approaches. We present and discuss a conceptual framework to minimize potential harm based on a multi-layered approach which can be implemented in either real time for operational purposes or in prediction mode for medium or longer term strategic planning purposes. We introduce the concept of total risk exposure which integrates risk at the individual ship level with vessel traffic densities and location specific parameters such as weather and oceanographic conditions, geographical features or environmental sensitivities. A comprehensive and robust method to estimate and predict risk exposure can be beneficial to maritime administrations to enhance mitigation strategies and understand uncertainties. We further provide a proof of concept based on 53 million observations of vessel positions and individual risk profiles of 8,900 individual ships. We present examples on how endpoints can be visualized for two integrated risk layers – ship specific risk and vessel traffic densities. We further identify and discuss uncertainties and present our ideas on how other risk layers could be integrated in the future

Glucan Phosphatase Variants for Starch Phosphorylation

Glucan phosphatase nucleotide or polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter can alter the biophysical properties of starch in vitro or in planta, as well as the total starch biomass production in planta as compared to plants expressing wild-type glucan phosphatases. Plants producing the polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter can have increased starch accumulation, increased starched biomass, and/or starch having desired biophysical properties. A method of the presently-disclosed subject matter for producing altered starch includes providing a plant that produces a glucan phosphatase polypeptide variant that comprises an amino acid mutation and collecting starch from the plant

HOUSEHOLDS' EXPERIENCES WITH THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), abbreviated as RIFA, is believed to have been brought by accident to Mobile, Alabama in the 1930s via ship ballast from South America. The RIFA was first reported in Charleston and Orangeburg counties in South Carolina in 1952 and has since spread to all 46 counties in the state. The RIFA has had adverse impacts on the environments it has infested. In natural environments, the young of ground-nesting insects, reptiles, birds and mammals are subject to RIFA predation. In agriculture, the RIFA damages crops and livestock. The RIFA poses a health threat to humans, as it is aggressive and has a venomous sting. To learn more about the current impacts of the RIFA, a random sample of South Carolina households was conducted between November 1998 and January 1999. This report summarizes the survey results.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Using Simulated Micrometeoroid Impacts to Understand the Progressive Space Weathering of the Surface of Mercury

The surfaces of airless bodies such as Mercury are continually modified by space weathering, which is driven by micrometeoroid impacts and solar wind irradiation. Space weathering alters the chemical composition, microstructure, and spectral properties of surface regolith. In lunar and ordinarychondritic style space weathering, these processes affect the reflectance properties by darkening (lowering of reflectance), reddening (increasing reflectance with increasing wavelength), and attenuation of characteristic absorption features. These optical changes are driven by the production of nanophase Febearing particles (npFe). While our understanding of these alteration processes has largely been based on data from the Moon and near-Earth S-type asteroids, the space weathering environment at Mercury is much more extreme. The surface of Mercury experiences a more intense solar wind flux and higher velocity micrometeoroid impacts than its planetary counterparts at 1 AU. Additionally, the composition of Mercurys surface varies significantly from that of the Moon. Most notably, a very low albedo unit has been identified on Mercurys surface, known as the low reflectance material (LRM). This unit is enriched with up to 4 wt.% carbon, likely in the form of graphite, over the local mean. In addition, the surface concentration of Fe across Mercurys surface is low (<2 wt.%) compared to the Moon. Our understanding of how these low-Fe and carbon phases are altered as a result of space weathering processes is limited. Since Fe plays a critical role in the development of space weathering features on other airless surfaces (e.g., npFe), its limited availability on Mercury may strongly affect the space weathering features in surface materials. In order to understand how space weathering affects the chemical, microstructural, and optical properties of the surface of Mercury, we can simulate these processes in the laboratory [7]. Here we used pulsed laser irradiation to simulate the short duration, high temperature events associated with micrometeoroid impacts. We used forsteritic olivine, likely present on the Mercurian surface, with varying FeO contents, each mixed with graphite, in our experiments. We then performed reflectance spectroscopy and electron microscopy to investigate the spectral, chemical, and microstructural changes in these samples

Thermophilic Phosphatases and Methods for Processing Starch Using the Same

The presently-disclosed subject matter includes thermophilic glucan phosphatase polypeptides. In some embodiments the polypeptide includes non-native laforin polypeptides, or fragments and/or variants thereof, and in some instances the polypeptide can alter the biophysical properties of starch in vitro or in planta. The presently-disclosed subject matter also includes isolated polynucleotides encoding the present polypeptides, methods for processing starch by exposing starch to the present polypeptides, and methods for making the present polypeptides

An Analysis of the Vascular Flora of Annapolis Heathlands, Nova Scotia

A description and analysis of the vascular plant composition of heathlands in the Annapolis valley were undertaken to provide a basis for biodiversity preservation within a system of protected sites. Species presence and abundance were recorded at 23 remnant sites identified using topographic maps, air photos, and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources records. A total of 126 species was recorded, of which 94 were native and 31 introduced. The Annapolis heathland remnants are strongly dominated by Corema conradii with Comptonia peregrina, Vaccinium angustifolium and Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum. A number of species, including Solidago bicolor, Carex tonsa var. rugosperma, Dichanthelium depauperatum, Lechea intermedia, Melampyrum lineare, and Rubus hispidus, were characteristic of heathland remnants, although they usually contributed little to the total cover. The most frequent alien species were Hieracium pilosella and Festuca filiformis, but Pinus sylvestris, present at 7 of 18 sites, appeared to have the greatest impact in displacing native species. Species listed as at risk and sensitive in Nova Scotia, including Helianthemun canadense, Hudsonia ericoides and Viola sagittata var. ovata, occur in open disturbed sand in the Corema heathlands. Distinctive patterns of variation occur in several species and variation in crop relatives is noted with particular reference to the genera Rubus (blackberries), Amelanchier (Juneberries, Saskatoon) and Vaccinium (Blueberries). The available evidence suggests that the heathlands and sandy barrens in the Annapolis valley differ from those further west in Canada and from anthropogenic and coastal heathlands of Nova Scotia in their species composition including particularly the presence of Corema conradii, Hudsonia ericoides and Amelanchier lucida. The need to protect representative examples is supported

High energy photon interactions at the LHC

Experimental prospects for studying high-energy photon-photon and photon-proton interactions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are discussed. Cross sections are calculated for many electroweak and beyond the Standard Model processes. Selection strategies based on photon interaction tagging techniques are studied. Assuming a typical LHC multipurpose detector, various signals and their irreducible backgrounds are presented after applying acceptance cuts. Prospects are discussed for the Higgs boson search, detection of supersymmetric particles and of anomalous quartic gauge couplings, as well as for the top quark physics.Comment: 17 pages, 16 tables and 14 figure