CSIRO Australia Research Articles

A radio polarization study of magnetic fields in the Small Magellanic Cloud

ABSTRACT Observing the magnetic fields of low-mass interacting galaxies tells us how they have evolved over cosmic time and their importance in galaxy evolution. We have measured the Faraday rotation of 80 extra-galactic radio sources behind the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) with a frequency range of 1.4–3.0 GHz. Both the sensitivity of our observations and the source density are an order-of-magnitude improvement on previous Faraday rotation measurements of this galaxy. The SMC generally produces negative rotation measures after accounting for the Milky Way foreground contribution, indicating that it has a mean coherent line-of-sight magnetic field strength of $-0.3\pm 0.1\, \mu$G, consistent with previous findings. We detect signatures of magnetic fields extending from the north and south of the Bar of the SMC. The random component of the SMC magnetic field has a strength of $\sim 5\, \mu$G with a characteristic size-scale of magneto-ionic turbulence <250 pc, making the SMC like other low-mass interacting galaxies. The magnetic fields of the SMC and Magellanic Bridge appear similar in direction and strength, hinting at a connection between the two fields as part of the hypothesized ‘pan-Magellanic’ magnetic field.

Preface: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology (4th ICBB 2021), 21st-23rd September 2021.

Eka Sunarwidhi Prasedya, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. Chairman of 4th ICBB 2021 This issue of IOP conference proceedings contains papers presented at the 4th International Conference on Bioscience and Biotechnology (ICBB) 2021. The ICBB is an annual international conference since 2018 that was initiated by Prof Ir H Sunarpi PhD. This year we are lucky to collaborate with Postgraduate-studies (Pascasarjana) University of Mataram thanks to the director Prof. Ir. H Muhamad Sarjan, M.Agr.,C.P. Ph.D and vice director Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D. This meeting is hosted by Lab of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Mataram, Indonesia. It is held for three days, from 21 to 23 September 2021 by virtual conference with zoom platform due to COVID-19 pandemic.Interactive online presentations were arranged through Zoom Video Communications for the participants to present their ideas. The conference was divided into two main sessions: Main session for Keynote speakers and Panel Sessions for participants. A time of 30 minutes was given for Keynote speakers to present their fabulous work. For panel session, 10 minutes were given for participants to share their research and findings. A total of 204 participants (180 presenters and 24 non-presenters) from Universities, Research Institutes and also Government Departments joined the conference. All the selected papers were peer reviewed by expert reviewers in a double blind review system as per the review policy given by IOP Conference Series.On the first day of the conference (21st September) invited talks were presented by Prof. Julian Heyes, Ph.D. from Massey University New Zealand on “Deriving value from elite indigenous fruit and vegetable species”, Prof. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D. from University of Mataram on “Rapid measurement of soil carbon using near infrared technology”and Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc. from Universitas Gadjah Mada Indonesia on “Biotechnology approach to improve the quality and quantity of orchids as potential agricultural commodities in Indonesia”. The second day of the conference presented talks by Prof. Lim Phaik Eem, Ph.D. from University of Malaya on “Importance of marine habitat conservation for utilization and discovery of new bioresources of seaweeds”, Prof. Mat Vanderklift, Ph.D. from Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre CSIRO Australia on “Opportunities for sustainable use of coastal ecosystems”, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Rapeeporn Ruangchuay from Prince of Songkla University Thailand on “ Seaweed resources in Thailand: cultivation and utilization” and Dr.rer.nat. Andri Frediansyah, M.Sc. from LIPI Indonesia on ”Microbial natural products: a discovery strategy”. The final day of the conference included talks by Prof. Akihiro Hazama, Ph.D. from Fukushima Medical University on “Investigation of cigarette smoke-induced cell hyperplasia mechanism using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (IPSCs)”, Prof. Kato Yasuhiro, Ph.D. from Keio University Japan on ”Water circulation of the earth and life” and Eka Sunarwidhi Prasedya, Ph.D. from University of Mataram Indonesia on “Microbiome implications for bioprospecting of seaweeds”.List of Conference Photograph, Conference Organizers are available in this pdf.

Heightened Faraday complexity in the inner 1 kpc of the galactic centre

ABSTRACT We have measured the Faraday rotation of 62 extra-galactic background sources in 58 fields using the CSIRO Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) with a frequency range of 1.1–3.1 GHz with 2048 channels. Our sources cover a region $\sim 12\, \times 12\, \mathrm{deg^{ 2}}$ (∼1 kpc) around the Galactic Centre region. We show that the Galactic Plane for |l| < 10° exhibits large Rotation Measures (RMs) with a maximum |RM| of $1691.2 \pm 4.9\, \mathrm{rad}\, \mathrm{m}^{-2}$ and a mean $|\mathrm{RM}| = 219 \pm 42\, \mathrm{rad}\, \mathrm{m}^{-2}$. The RMs decrease in magnitude with increasing projected distance from the Galactic Plane, broadly consistent with previous findings. We find an unusually high fraction (95 per cent) of the sources show Faraday complexity consistent with multiple Faraday components. We attribute the presences of multiple Faraday rotating screens with widely separated Faraday depths to small-scale turbulent RM structure in the Galactic Centre region. The second-order structure function of the RM in the Galactic Centre displays a line with a gradient of zero for angular separations spanning 0.83°–11° (∼120–1500 pc), which is expected for scales larger than the outer scale (or driving scale) of magneto-ionic turbulence. We place an upper limit on any break in the SF gradient of 66 arcsec, corresponding to an inferred upper limit to the outer scale of turbulence in the inner 1 kpc of the Galactic Centre of 3 pc. We propose stellar feedback as the probable driver of this small-scale turbulence.

Geological and Bioregional Assessments: a program to encourage industry development and improve regulatory efficiency while maintaining the highest possible environmental standards

The Australian Government’s $35.4 million Geological and Bioregional Assessment (GBA) Program provides independent scientific information and baseline data to governments, the community and regional industries on the potential impacts of shale, tight and deep coal gas development on water and the environment. The program aims to encourage industry development and growth by improving the understanding of upstream operations and their potential impacts to drive regulatory efficiency while maintaining the highest environmental standards. The GBA program comprises a series of independent scientific studies undertaken by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, supported by the Bureau of Meteorology and managed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. The program was conducted in three stages and focuses on where industry is currently exploring, conducting assessments across three regions; the Cooper Basin, Beetaloo Sub-basin and the Isa Superbasin, each with potential to supply gas to the East Coast Gas Market. The GBA program brings together a range of disciplines to collect, aggregate and analyse environmental baseline data to conceptualise the geologic, hydrologic, ecologic and anthropogenic features of these regions. This robust ‘conceptual’ understanding of the regions combined with rigorous hazard identification enables the program to prioritise potential impacts on water and the environment, improving regulatory efficiency by focusing regulators towards managing those activities where the potential impacts can’t be avoided. Additional papers and presentations from our partners in the GBA program tell the story of how the Program was developed and delivered. The Program leaves a legacy of publicly available baseline data, information and assessment tools that will make regulation of the industry more efficient in the regions assessed.

Factors responsible for yield improvement in new Gossypium hirsutum L. cotton cultivars

The factors responsible for yield progress can be analysed through yield determinant frameworks. These conceptual models consider factors such as crop growth dynamics, partitioning of vegetative and reproductive biomass and yield components to provide insights into the factors responsible for observed genetic gains and opportunities for future gains. The aim of this study was to use direct cultivar comparison to assess the rate of genetic gain in the CSIRO (Australia) cotton breeding program, and to understand how factors within a conceptual yield determinant framework relate to yield performance. Using field experimentation, yield progress of 16.1 kg lint ha−1 y−1 was observed in ten cultivars released between 1968 and 2012. This study identified that selection pressure has resulted in improvements in total dry matter (TDM), harvest index (HI), lint percentage and carbon assimilation. While gains have been made in these four parameters, improvements in lint yield have largely been driven by altering HI through increasing lint percentage. Although improvements have been made in TDM, the reproductive allocation of total biomass and the amount and efficiency of light capture has not been altered in modern cultivars. Future gains in lint yield will require the concurrent maintenance of harvest index while producing larger plants with more fruiting branches that capture more incident radiation with increased efficiency. As the collection of phenotype data such as biomass, boll number, boll size and radiation use efficiency at the scale required in a commercial breeding program is largely aspirational, we conclude in the short term improvements may be achieved through direct selection for yield. Future efforts should be placed in increasing early season growth rates, and in the longer term enhancing carbon assimilation rates. Importantly, due to trait associations and the effects of trade-offs between functional components, factors within a conceptual framework must not be considered in isolation.

Red mud flocculation process in alumina production

The process of thickening and washing red mud is a gooseneck of alumina production. The existing automated systems of the thickening process control involve stabilizing the parameters of the primary technological circuits of the thickener. The actual direction of scientific research is the creation and improvement of models and systems of the thickening process control by model. But the known models do not fully consider the presence of perturbing effects, in particular the particle size distribution in the feed process, distribution of floccules by size after the aggregation process in the feed barrel. The article is devoted to the basic concepts and terms used in writing the population balance algorithm. The population balance model is implemented in the MatLab environment. The result of the simulation is the particle size distribution after the flocculation process. This model allows one to foreseen the distribution range of floccules after the process of aggregation of red mud in the feed barrel. The mud of Jamaican bauxite was acting as an industrial sample of red mud; Cytec Industries of HX-3000 series with a concentration of 0.5% was acting as a flocculant. When simulating, model constants obtained in a tubular tank in the laboratories of CSIRO (Australia) were used.

Redox Stable Cathodes for CO2-Steam Co-Electrolysis Process in Solid Oxide Electrolyzers for Syn-Gas Generation

Penetration of renewable energy (RE) in the consumable energy mix is expected to grow substantially in near future from its current share of 6.6 % of the total energy consumed globally.[i] In parallel, an allied energy conversion and storage technologies are also being developed and deployed globally. The batteries can provide short to medium term energy storage solution, however long term energy storage as well as transport of RE from the regions with high RE generation capacity to the regions with low RE capacity need innovative solutions. The conversion of RE into storable and transportable fuels is one of such approaches. The technologies such as electrolytic hydrogen production have already entered commercial space, however large scale storage and transport of hydrogen is energy intensive with about $15/kg cost just for the storage of compressed H2 at 700 bar.[ii] Further, the infrastructure for hydrogen transport is almost non-existent. Hence, the alternative electrochemical technologies which can produce transportable liquid fuels like blended hydrocarbons and methanol are being explored. These fuels are ready to use in the existing technologies like IC engines and diesel generators. As CO2 from industrial sources is used in the synthesis of these fuels, there is no net addition of CO2 in the cycle. It is worth noting that even with increased penetration of RE, there would be numerous industrial processes which generate vast amount of CO2 amounting to about 21 % of total CO2 emissions.[iii]The solid oxide electrolyser (SOE) is an electrochemical membrane reactor based upon oxygen ion conducting ceramic electrolyte which can efficiently produce syn-gas (mixture of H2 and CO) as a feedstock for synthesis of liquid fuels. SOEs can be thermally integrated to liquid fuel synthesis reactors which boosts the overall efficiency of the system with heat input from an exothermic fuel synthesis reaction used in the SOE. The total synthesis and transport efficiencies of such integrated system can be above 75 % with cost in the range of US$ 0.8 to 0.9 per litre of the fuel using well established existing fuel transportation infrastructure.[iv]Traditionally, yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes are used in SOE with Ni-YSZ cermet electrodes for splitting of CO2 and H2O on cathode side (negative electrode) and a perovskite La0.80Sr0.20MnO3 (LSM) is used to facilitate oxygen evolution reaction on the anode side (positive electrode). While Ni-YSZ electrodes have demonstrated excellent compatibility with YSZ electrolytes and sufficient catalytic activity as a fuel cell electrode, its application in solid oxide electrolyser typically requires additional external supply of hydrogen as a reducing gas along with steam and CO2 mixtures. Further, redox and thermal stability of Ni-YSZ cathodes could be of a concern considering intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. Thus, alternative electrodes such as ceramic perovskites and ceramic-Ag composites are under development as an alternative to Ni-YSZ cathode. In this presentation, an overview of the development work at CSIRO (Australia) and Ben Gurion University at Negev (Israel) would be presented along with the experimental data on the electrochemical performance of various ceramic and composite cathodes. Some of these newly developed cathodes have demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with an operating voltage close to 1.25 V providing current densities up to 350 mA/cm2 in robust and scalable electrolyte supported cells, with 80% CO2-H2O conversion to syngas in a single pass at 800° C for over 500 h of operation. The presentation will also compare the energy efficiencies of the cells with different cathodes based upon the product energy content. The advantages/disadvantages of using alternative electrodes would be also elaborated based upon initial assessment.

IRMNG 2006–2016: 10 years of a global taxonomic database

IRMNG, the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera, was commenced in 2006 as an initiative of the Australian OBIS Node (OBIS Australia) following an analysis of the taxonomic names management needs of OBIS, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. The main objectives were to produce a hierarchical classification of all life, both extant and fossil, to at least genus level (and to species as data were readily available) and to provide a tool to distinguish marine from nonmarine, and extant from fossil taxa. Over its first 10 years of operation IRMNG has acquired some 487,000 of an estimated c.500,000 published genus names (including both valid names and synonyms) in addition to almost 1.8 million species names, of which 1.3 million are considered valid. Throughout this time IRMNG data have been available for public query via a dedicated web interface based at CSIRO in Australia, as well as being supplied as bulk downloads for use by a range of global biodiversity projects. Over the period 2014-2016 responsibility for the system has been passed to the Data Centre Division of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Belgium, which will be continuing the maintenance and development of IRMNG at its new web location, www.irmng.org.

Biological control of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in the northeastern United States using an exotic parasitic nematode

The woodwasp Sirex noctilio is a devastating killer of pines in the southern hemisphere. Over the 20th Century, it has invaded exotic pine plantations in New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa successively. In response to this woodwasp threat, in the 1960–70s CSIRO in Australia launched a major campaign of exploration for biological control agents in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, the presumed indigenous range of S. noctilio. The most promising natural enemy discovered was a nematode, Deladenus siricidicola, which lives inside a pine tree as a mycophagous form but becomes parasitic when near host larvae and sterilizes adult woodwasp females. Australian scientists developed a biological control management system based on the nematode, including how to rear and release it in the field. The CSIRO program has been a model for Sirex management in the pine-growing regions of the southern hemisphere since the 1960s. Thus, when S. noctilio was collected in North America in 2004, it seemed natural to try using the Australian model as a simple technology transfer. Unfortunately the transfer has not proved to be so simple. In the following, we present the results of six years of experimental controlled release studies, in which no nematodes were actually released into the field. One of the first discoveries was that another strain, a “non-sterilizing” strain, of D. siricidicola was already present in the areas invaded by S. noctilio. Our annual studies compared infection rates between trees inoculated with the Australian “Kamona strain” and controls without nematodes. In most cases, the treated trees had the higher rates of nematode parasitism, but the controls were not always zero, suggesting that the non-sterilizing strain was well-established in our study plots. Many of the Kamona-treated trees did not contain Kamonas, suggesting that the non-sterilizing strain may have out-competed the Kamonas. Even with Kamona treatments, there was relatively little sterilization, indeed much less than expected. It seems likely that the S. noctilio strain invading North America is physiologically different from the Australian nematode and not susceptible to Kamona sterilization. Another interesting result was observed between host tree species. In a three-year study, nematode parasitism rates were consistently higher in P. sylvestris than in P. resinosa and significantly higher when the three years of data were pooled. We conclude with the observation that the Kamona strain is apparently not compatible with the S. noctilio invading North America and suggest that more exploration is needed in its area of origin for different and more effective nematode genotypes.

Determining the impacts of coal seam gas extraction on water-dependent assets

Many Australians, particularly in rural areas, are seeking clear scientific information about the potential impacts of coal seam gas production on groundwater and surface water across the country. In response to the resultant community concern, the Australian Government commissioned an ambitious multi-disciplinary program of bioregional assessments to improve understanding of the potential impacts of coal seam gas (and large coal mining) activities on water-dependent assets across six bioregions in eastern and central Australia. Delivered through a collaboration between the Department of the Environment, the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, and Geoscience Australia—and including close engagement with natural resource management and catchment management organisations, coal resource companies, Indigenous peoples and state governments—the results will allow coal resource companies, governments, and the community to focus on the areas where impacts may occur so that these can be minimised. Key findings of the program will be presented with specific reference to the potential impacts on water-dependent assets due to CSG development by Metgasco and AGL in the Clarence-Moreton and Gloucester regions, respectively.

Permafrost Carbon: What soil science has to say about its distribution and fate

Permafrost Carbon: What soil science has to say about its distribution and fate

A comparison of methods for the measurement of CO2 and CH4 emissions from surface water reservoirs: Results from an international workshop held at Three Gorges Dam, June 2012

AbstractFluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) from hydroelectric and water supply reservoirs are receiving increasing attention around the world with a number of research groups having undertaken measurements of these emissions across a range of lakes and reservoirs located in different climates and landscapes. The use of floating chambers (aka flux chambers) is the most common technique for direct measurement of these fluxes. However, the relative performance of different measurement systems, especially different chamber designs, is not well documented. We report the results of an international workshop held in June 2012 at Three Gorges Dam, China, to compare measurements performed by four groups with extensive chamber monitoring experience: the Chinese Academy of Science (China), CSIRO (Australia), SINTEF (Norway), Hydro‐Québec/Environnement Illimité (Canada). A fifth group, Eawag (Switzerland), performed hydroacoustic surveys to detect ebullition in the water column. We recommend CH4 as a more suitable trace gas for comparing methodologies due to its relative stability in the surface layer of the water column, for example, it is not subject to significant diurnal changes due to photosynthesis and respiration. Measured fluxes agreed to within 20% between the four teams suggesting that the shape and dimensions of the floating chambers and the chamber gas flow rates (i.e., chamber residence time) did not have an appreciable systematic effect on the measured fluxes for the relatively low wind speeds prevalent at the reservoir. The CO2 and CH4 fluxes measured during the workshop agree well with previous measurements in Three Gorges Reservoir.

Creating scenarios or creating and sustaining social worlds? Towards new sociological understandings of the use and impacts of scenario planning

Many management scholars and some practitioners argue that scenario planning remains under-theorised, that it has a weak evidence base, and that, in practice, it is often too reactive. Responding to these critiques, we contribute to the development of sociologically informed scenario practices, which are more proactive (or 'transformative'). The paper is grounded in an examination of scenario practices at CSIRO (Australia's national science organisation), focused on the Future Fuels Forum, and a theory of social fields. The case illustrates that both convening a scenario exercise and the construction and/or use of scenarios can be forms of context-specific strategic action, often aimed at inducing cooperation as part of a skilled social action. It also illustrates that the impacts of scenario exercises are influenced by the fluidity of the situation and associated field-level processes; the social skill of actors and their ability to construct and use scenarios in ways that help to solve related problems; and the outcomes of political processes. We also identify key implications for practice.

Some Personal Recollections of Pheromone Research in Australia in the 1970s

The Journal of Chemical Ecology, particularly in its early years was devoted almost exclusively to research on pheromones. In the 1970s, considerable advances were being made in understanding the mechanisms underlying pheromone-mediated behavior, particularly in laboratory environments (e.g. R.J. Bartell at CSIRO Australia), as well as the chemical characterization of pheromones and recognizing the importance of minor components. However, there was little ecologically-based research at that time on the impacts of modifying pheromone-mediated behavior on the population dynamics of target pests, particularly in terms of validating the quantitative contributions of mating disruption or mass trapping to pest abundance within and between seasons. Among several reasons for this was that few sex pheromones of lepidopteran pests had been characterized and synthesised. However, in 1969, Wendell Roelofs published the identity of the main component of the female sex pheromone of a major moth pest with pan-continental distribution, the oriental fruit moth (OFM: Cydia (Grapholitha) molesta (Busck)), as cis-8 dodecenyl acetate, recognizing from field assays that there were probably also uncharacterized secondary components. This breakthrough enabled the group at CSIRO Australia to begin larger scale field work, although there were initially challenges in getting sufficient quantities of synthetic pheromone. As an aside, there was evidence from early CSIRO field tests that the far cheaper saturated analogue, dodecyl acetate, inhibited males from being attracted to live females or synthetic pheromone sources, but when extremely high background doses were released in a larger field trial, trap captures of males actually went up—all reflecting the lack of understanding of underlying mechanisms. Later research revealed that dodecyl acetate is a component of the female pheromone blend.

HyLogger™ near-infrared spectral analysis: a non-destructive mineral analysis of Aboriginal Australian objects

Cultural heritage materials from Indigenous cultures often use geological raw materials such as natural rock and mineral pigments. For analysis, these complex human-altered materials require high-resolution, non-destructive methods, and in the case of intricate designs, a point-by-point analysis and mapping capability is desirable. The CSIRO Australia HyLogger™ technology has been adapted from mineral exploration and mining applications to the high-resolution non-destructive infrared and visible light spectroscopic mineral analysis of Aboriginal Australian objects. Aboriginal Australian people primarily applied mineral pigments such as hematite and kaolinite to wood, fibre, bark, resin or other organic substrates, making non-destructive in situ scientific analyses of cultural objects challenging. This proof of concept study demonstrated the utility of the near-IR technology for the visual and mineralogical analysis of six Aboriginal Australian objects, of varying size and pigment application, as case studies for the development of methods to identify and differentiate types of mineral pigments regardless of the substrate or binder. While many identified pigments such as hematite and goethite were expected for the red, orange and yellow pigments, HyLogger™ in combination with The Spectral Geologist™ software identified additional mixtures of previously unknown mineral components. White minerals, such as calcite and pyrophyllite, were identified along with kaolinite in mixtures in white pigments on the artefacts. Analyses of individual spectra were used for interpretation of spectral features for specific pigments. Additionally, classes of pigment groups were identified for spectral analysis. This manuscript presents the novel application of the near-IR technology to Australian Aboriginal artefacts for characterisation and high-resolution near-IR spectroscopy of applied mineral pigments. These results challenge and add to prior knowledge about the mineralogical composition of traditional Aboriginal Australian inorganic pigments.

Extracting mineralogical and geomorphological information using new ASTER mineral maps with airborne geophysics

Australia wide maps have recently been generated and released by CSIRO and Geoscience Australia using the 14 band satellite-borne ASTER sensors. Seventeen map products related to surface composition have been developed, based on spectral absorption features representing either abundance of mineral groups, specific minerals and their chemistry, vegetation cover or regolith related characteristics. This study aims to test the geoscience mapping capabilities of these products, individually, and integrated with airborne geophysics and DEMs over the semi-arid Mt Fitton, South Australia, and within the agricultural Wagga Wagga region, New South Wales. The robustness of these techniques is further tested comparing the results from these two areas with different geological exposure and cultivation. Various image processing, GIS and principal component analytical techniques were utilised. High resolution airborne hyperspectral imagery and published mapping provided control. ASTER map products : Ferric Oxide Content, Ferrous Iron Index, AlOH Group Content, FeOH Group Content, MgOH Group Content & Composition, Ferrous Iron Content in MgOH, and Silica Index products revealed surface mineral composition associated with previously mapped host or altered units of Mt Fitton. MgOH Group Composition and Ferrous Iron in MgOH products highlighted anomalies associated with Mt Fitton talc/tremolite metasomatism. The AlOH Group Content and Ferrous Iron Index products discriminated the radiometrically anomalous Terrapinna and Yerila Granites whilst DEM information enabled the discrimination between ASTER Silica Index defined quartz rich alluvium and outcrops. These results showed that within the semi-arid Mt Fitton environment, ASTER map products were useful for the identification of the mineral(group) composition related to either the host rock units or altered mineralogy. Integration of ASTER products with airborne radiometric, magnetics and DEMs refined the interpretation of the surface geology and associated landforms.

Tu2068 Spatial Aliasing of Colonic Manometry Data: What Have We Been Missing or Mislabeling?

While colonic manometry has helped to defined dysmotility in patients with functional colonic or anorectal disorders, identification of specific manometric markers that assist in subtyping these disorders remains elusive. Typically colonic manometry is recorded with sensor spacing ≥10cm, however we have shown that colonic propagated sequences (PS) can extend over segments as short as 3-5cm(1). It is likely, therefore that traditional manometry is overlooking potentially relevant motor patterns. Aim: To determine the influence of pressure sensor spacing on our ability to accurately identify colonic motility patterns. Method: A fibre-optic catheter containing 72-90 sensors spaced at 1cm intervals was placed colonoscopically to the caecum in 11 patients with scintigraphically confirmed slow transit constipation. Controls comprised 11 patients with neurogenic fecal incontinence and 9 healthy subjects. From each of these recordings a 2hr section of trace was selected to assess motor response to either the response to a 1000kCal meal (healthy controls) or the colonic response to sacral nerve stimulation (patient population). Each data set was analysed in 6 different ways by sub-sampling different sets of the full array to simulate inter-recording site distances of 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1cm. In blinded fashion, in each manometric trace antegrade and retrograde propagating sequences (PS) were identified. Against the 1cm spaced data (gold standard), we compared all the PSs identified at each test sensor spacing (2-10cm). Results: In all three groups as sensor spacing increased; i) the frequency of identified antegrade and retrograde PSs decreased; , 5% of the propagating activity observed at 1cm spacing could be seen at 10cm (P , 0.0001); ii) the ratio of antegrade to retrograde PSs increased (P , 0.0001), from pre-dominantly retrograde activity at 1cm spacing to predominantly antegrade at 10cm spacing; & iii) the number of falsely labeled PSs (when compared to 1cm data) increased (P , 0.003). At a sensor spacing .5cm the only PSs that can be reliably detected are those of high amplitude and slow propagation velocity; (real vs false amplitude: 138 vs 29 (+/12 SEM) mmHg; real vs false velocity: 5 vs 20 (+/3 SEM) mm/s). Conclusions: 1) Inadequate proximity between recording sites (resolution) results in both missed and mis-labeling of colonic propagating sequences. 2) An inter-recording site distance . 5cm grossly misrepresents colonic manometric patterns. 3) High resolution colonic manometry is likely to assist in the identification of diagnostically relevant manometric markers of colonic motor disorders. Supported by NHMRC and CSIRO Australia (1) Dinning PG et al. Br J Surg. 99: 1002-1010.

Tu2069 Characterization of the Colonic Meal Response in Healthy Controls and Patients With Slow Transit Constipation: Initial Results From Fibre-Optic High-Resolution Manometry

While colonic manometry has helped to defined dysmotility in patients with functional colonic or anorectal disorders, identification of specific manometric markers that assist in subtyping these disorders remains elusive. Typically colonic manometry is recorded with sensor spacing ≥10cm, however we have shown that colonic propagated sequences (PS) can extend over segments as short as 3-5cm(1). It is likely, therefore that traditional manometry is overlooking potentially relevant motor patterns. Aim: To determine the influence of pressure sensor spacing on our ability to accurately identify colonic motility patterns. Method: A fibre-optic catheter containing 72-90 sensors spaced at 1cm intervals was placed colonoscopically to the caecum in 11 patients with scintigraphically confirmed slow transit constipation. Controls comprised 11 patients with neurogenic fecal incontinence and 9 healthy subjects. From each of these recordings a 2hr section of trace was selected to assess motor response to either the response to a 1000kCal meal (healthy controls) or the colonic response to sacral nerve stimulation (patient population). Each data set was analysed in 6 different ways by sub-sampling different sets of the full array to simulate inter-recording site distances of 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1cm. In blinded fashion, in each manometric trace antegrade and retrograde propagating sequences (PS) were identified. Against the 1cm spaced data (gold standard), we compared all the PSs identified at each test sensor spacing (2-10cm). Results: In all three groups as sensor spacing increased; i) the frequency of identified antegrade and retrograde PSs decreased; , 5% of the propagating activity observed at 1cm spacing could be seen at 10cm (P , 0.0001); ii) the ratio of antegrade to retrograde PSs increased (P , 0.0001), from pre-dominantly retrograde activity at 1cm spacing to predominantly antegrade at 10cm spacing; & iii) the number of falsely labeled PSs (when compared to 1cm data) increased (P , 0.003). At a sensor spacing .5cm the only PSs that can be reliably detected are those of high amplitude and slow propagation velocity; (real vs false amplitude: 138 vs 29 (+/12 SEM) mmHg; real vs false velocity: 5 vs 20 (+/3 SEM) mm/s). Conclusions: 1) Inadequate proximity between recording sites (resolution) results in both missed and mis-labeling of colonic propagating sequences. 2) An inter-recording site distance . 5cm grossly misrepresents colonic manometric patterns. 3) High resolution colonic manometry is likely to assist in the identification of diagnostically relevant manometric markers of colonic motor disorders. Supported by NHMRC and CSIRO Australia (1) Dinning PG et al. Br J Surg. 99: 1002-1010.

PEMODELAN PERUBAHAN IKLIM DAERAH KABUPATEN TUBAN MENGGUNAKAN MAGICC/SCENGEN

ABSTRAK Modeling of climate change requires heavy and complicated computing; it is not surprising that early development is limited just for a few institutions. One of climate scenario device of MAGICC/SCENGEN is widely used. This study aims to determine the rate of Indonesia climate change (temperature and precipitation) with the MAGICC model simulations-SCENGEN (global circulation models CCSR / NIES Japan, and the CSIRO Australia) with the scenarios A2 and B2-AIM-AIM. Global average temperature change based on A2-AIM and B2 AIM increase linearly. Both scenarios on different focus and same region show different rate. This confirms the increase of the average temperature for the future and Tuban shows different and irregular patterns. In general, the model projected increase in precipitation is quite high in the wet months (December to February) and the transitional months between seasons (March-May and September-November) but precipitation changes is decreases in the dry months. Modeling results indicates precipitation tends to increase in wet month. Keywords:Climate change, MAGICC/SCENGEN.

Comment on “Changes in sulfides and platinum-group minerals with the degree of alteration in the Roby, Twilight, and High Grade Zones of the Lac des Iles Complex, Ontario, Canada” by MLN Djon and SJ Barnes

I wish to raise three main issues arising out of a carefulreading of the paper by Djon and Barnes (2012):1. It employs a fundamentally flawed technique by usingthin sections/polished blocks to measure the absoluteand relative abundances of base metal sulfide (BMS)minerals and trace platinum group minerals (PGMs) insilicate whole rocks, resulting in errors in calculationsfor mass balance and PGE deportment;2. It describes poor analytical methods for electron probemicro-analysis (EPMA) of PGM and laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of the BMS, resulting in errors inthe reported concentrations for some elements;3. It shows poor preparation of the manuscript, omittingimportant details on which values for PGE concentra-tions were used in calculations for mass balance andPGE deportment, and why. This makes for the inabilityof the results to be checked and evaluated critically byreaders.It is also unfortunate that the authors do not acknowledgeany referees for their efforts, which make it impossible forthe reader to judge whether (a) the referees were knowl-edgeable in applied/process mineralogy and EPMA/LA-ICP-MS, and (b) the authors implemented the obvious rec-ommendations that would have been made by such experts.Because this journal is mainly devoted to the study ofmineral deposits, some background is relevant to put theabove criticisms in context. Studies of PGE mass balancesand their deportment in rocks is a well-developed techniquein the discipline of applied/process mineralogy. Similarly,well-established procedures have been developed in theanalytical geochemistry community for in situ analyses ofPGEs in sulfide minerals by LA-ICP-MS. Nonetheless, bothapplied/process mineralogy and LA-ICP-MS analyses ofminerals are relatively new areas of scientific endeavor formany mineral deposit geologists and academics, perhapsexplaining some of the mistakes made.Applied/process mineralogy only evolved internationallywith the first International Council for Applied Mineralogy(ICAM) conference in 1981, having been developed in someof the major mining companies and some governmentresearch laboratories [e.g., Canmet (Canada), CSIRO (Aus-tralia), and Mintek (South Africa)]. Unfortunately, there areveryfew universitieswherestudentscanbecomeproficientinappliedandprocessmineralogy;mostexpertshavinglearntonthe job (Schouwstra and Smit 2011). There are also very fewbooks devoted to the subject, a rare one being by Petruk(2000); most case studies being found in conference proceed-ings [e.g., Canadian Mineral Processors, ICAM, and TheMinerals, Metals, and Material Society (TMS-AIME)], ormore recently in the Conference of Metallurgists (e.g., Fordet al. 2009, 2011) and Minerals Engineering (e.g., Lotter2011). Thus, proper procedures for PGE mass balances anddeportment are not well known outside the applied/processmineralogy community. Secondly, LA-ICP-MS of mineralswasdevelopedonly20yearsago,fromthepioneeringworkofJackson et al. (1992), and proper procedures for analyses ofBMS has been only widely possible more recently.