INTRODUCTION: Diarrheal disease contributes to an estimated 1.5 million deaths each year, including 760,000 deaths among children under the age of five. Of those, approximately 500,000 are attributable to inadequate drinking water. In areas where piped water is unsafe, unreliable or economically impossible, packaged water sold by private vendors can play an important role in meeting the water needs of these populations. As the activity and importance of packaged water vendors grow, more data is needed to assess the quality of water sold, and to inform policies that regulate the private water sector throughout the world. AIM: This pilot study seeks to identify factors that may contribute to the deterioration of packaged water quality. METHODS: Small packaged water enterprises (SWEs) operating in the following cities were visited twice between May 2014 and September 2015: La Paz, Bolivia; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Muisne and Tena, Ecuador. A brief survey was conducted with each distributor, and a facility tour was completed. Water samples were collected directly from the purification system and water packaged in both reusable and disposable containers were purchased. Samples were tested for total coliform and E. coli bacterial contamination on the day of collection and over the course of 28 days. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including median as the measure of central tendency, and frequency where the main outcome was presence or absence of either total coliform bacteria or E. coli. To determine the factors that were most associated with water quality deterioration, logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: A total of 616 samples were collected. This study found that 52% of the packaged water examined was contaminated with total coliform bacteria. Raw, untreated water and treated water packaged in reusable containers were most likely to be contaminated with total coliform bacteria and E.coli compared to treated water taken directly from the system. There was no significant association between water treatment or bottle disinfection protocols and total coliform or E. coli contamination. DISCUSSION: The study succeeded in identifying at what stage and in what type of container water is most likely to be contaminated with bacterial water-quality indicators. Furthermore, it highlights the heterogeneity that exists in terms of types of water sold, water treatment systems, and sanitizing protocols among SWEs in Central and South America. Reusable containers are vulnerable to contamination with total coliform bacteria and E. coli, even when filled with clean water, thus the contamination may be due to inadequate disinfection between uses. These results may have implications for national or international policies that regulate private water enterprises, and can inform guidelines for packaged water distributors in particular. Further research is needed to identify optimal cleaning methods for reusable containers that are practical for use in lower resource settings.

O-LiFE est un observatoire de l’environnement dédié à l’étude des ressources et de la biodiversité dans la zone critique à la vie, focalisé sur la méditerranée. C’est aussi une structure à l’interface entre la recherche fondamentale et les porteurs d’enjeux. Cette plateforme initiée en collaboration entre des équipes libanaises et françaises se focalise d’abord sur l’observation systémique du milieu naturel, autour des thématiques de l’eau, la biodiversité et la gestion de l’environnement. Le fondement de l’observatoire est la mise en oeuvre d’une approche transdisciplinaire du défi du changement global. Structurer, partager, pérenniser et valoriser les données environnementales constitue un objectif prioritaire pour permettre à une large communauté de converger vers une approche réellement systémique et transdisciplinaire des enjeux environnementaux en Méditerranée. La construction d’un système d’information permettant cette mise en relation complète des données est donc prioritaire. Cependant cette mise en oeuvre est rendu complexe par plusieurs défis à relever pour répondre aux utilisateurs finaux et producteurs de données qui ne partagent pas les mêmes besoins, et pour tenir compte de l’hétérogénéité naturelle des données.Dans cette thèse, nous détaillons par conséquent les réflexions et travaux menés pour la mise en place de l’architecture du SI de l’observatoire. Le travail a été initié par une enquête permettant de mieux connaître les sources de données existantes. Nous avons ensuite proposé d’utiliser les environnements de gestion de données d’observations basés sur des ontologies partagées et les recommandations des consortiums reconnus (OGC). Des extensions sont proposées pour permettre la prise en compte de points de vue distincts sur les données via des multi-mapping. Cette extension permet un découplage entre la vision initiale du producteur de données et les multiples utilisations possibles des données à l’aide de croisement avec d’autres sources de données et/ou d’autres points de vue.Nous avons enfin appliqué la méthodologie sur les données O-LiFE et avons pu extraire des croisements de données inter-bases (entre deux sources de données distinctes) et intra-bases (en juxtaposant des points de vue distincts sur une même source de données). Ce travail est une démonstration du rôle fondamental des outils du SI et des observatoires dans le rapprochement indispensable des communautés scientifiques autant que des porteurs d’enjeux pour la résolution des grands défis sociétaux environnementaux, notamment en Méditerranéen. / O-LiFE is an environmental observatory dedicated to the study of resources and biodiversity in the critical area of life, focused on the Mediterranean. It is also a structure at the interface between basic research and the holders of issues. This platform initiated in collaboration between Lebanese and French teams focuses first on systemic observation of the natural environment around the themes of water, biodiversity and environmental management. The foundation of the observatory is the implementation of a transdisciplinary approach to the challenge of global change.Organize, share, sustain and enhance environmental data is a priority objective to enable the wider community to converge towards a truly systemic and transdisciplinary approach to environmental issues in the Mediterranean. The construction of an information system allowing complete connection of data is therefore a priority. However, this implementation is complicated by a number of challenges to meet the end users and data producers expectations who do not share the same needs, and to take into account thenatural heterogeneity of data.In this PhD, we detail brainstorming and work needed for the development of the architecture of the information system of the observatory. The work was initiated by a survey to better understand theexisting sources of data. We then proposed to use observational data management environments based on shared ontologies and the recommendations of recognized consortia (OGC). Extensions are proposed to enable the inclusion of different perspectives on data through multi-mapping. This extension allows a decouplingbetween the original vision of the data producer and the many possible uses of the data with crossbreeding with other data sources and / or other views.We then applied the methodology on the O-LiFE data and were able to extract inter-data analysis (between two distinct data sources) and intra-bases analysis (by juxtaposing different points of view on the same data source). This work is a demonstration of the fundamental role of IS tools and observatories in the essential gathering of the scientific communities as much as stakeholders to resolve major environmental challenges facing society, particularly in Mediterranean.

Yes / Large amount of sediment deposits in the reservoir area can cause dam break, which not only leads to an immeasurable loss to the society, but also the sediments from the reservoir can be transported to generate further problems in the downstream catchment. This study aims to investigate the short-to-long term sediment transport and channel meandering process under such a situation. A coupled explicit-implicit technique based on the Euler-Lagrangian method (ELM) is used to solve the hydrodynamic equations, in which both the small and large time steps are used separately for the fluid and sediment marching. The main feature of the model is the use of the Characteristic-Based Split (CBS) method for the local time step iteration to correct the ELM traced lines. Based on the solved flow field, a standard Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) finite volume scheme is applied to solve the sediment transportation equation. The proposed model is first validated by a benchmark dambreak water flow experiment to validate the efficiency and accuracy of ELM modelling capability. Then an idealized engineering dambreak flow is used to investigate the long-term downstream channel meandering process with nonuniform sediment transport. The results showed that both the hydrodynamic and morphologic features have been well predicted by the proposed coupled model. / This research work is supported by Sichuan Science and Technology Support Plan (2014SZ0163), Start-up Grant for the Young Teachers of Sichuan University (2014SCU11056), and Open Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University (SKLH 1409; 1512).

No description available.

The objective of this research is to explore the information content of repeat-pass cross-track Interferometric SAR (InSAR) with regard to snow, in particular Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and snow depth. The study is an outgrowth of earlier snow cover modeling and radar interferometry experiments at Schefferville, Quebec, Canada and elsewhere which has shown that for reasons of loss of coherence repeat-pass InSAR is not useful for the purpose of snow cover mapping, even when used in differential InSAR mode. Repeat-pass cross-track InSAR would overcome this problem. As at radar wavelengths dry snow is transparent, the main reflection is at the snow/ground interface. The high refractive index of ice creates a phase delay which is linearly related to the water equivalent of the snow pack. When wet, the snow surface is the main reflector, and this enables measurement of snow depth. Algorithms are elaborated accordingly. Field experiments were conducted at two sites and employ two different types of digital elevation models (DEM) produced by means of cross track InSAR. One was from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model (SRTM DEM), flown in February 2000. It was compared to the photogrammetrically produced Canadian Digital Elevation Model (CDEM) to examine snow-related effects at a site near Schefferville, where snow conditions are well known from half a century of snow and permafrost research. The second type of DEM was produced by means of airborne cross track InSAR (TOPSAR). Several missions were flown for this purpose in both summer and winter conditions during NASA's Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX) in Colorado, USA. Differences between these DEM's were compared to snow conditions that were well documented during the CLPX field campaigns. The results are not straightforward. As a result of automated correction routines employed in both SRTM and AIRSAR DEM extraction, the snow cover signal is contaminated. Fitting InSAR DEM's to known topography distorts the snow information, just as the snow cover distorts the topographic information. The analysis is therefore mostly qualitative, focusing on particular terrain situations. At Schefferville, where the SRTM was adjusted to known lake levels, the expected dry-snow signal is seen near such lakes. Mine pits and waste dumps not included in the CDEM are depicted and there is also a strong signal related to the spatial variations in SWE produced by wind redistribution of snow near lakes and on the alpine tundra. In Colorado, cross-sections across ploughed roads support the hypothesis that in dry snow the SWE is measurable by differential InSAR. They also support the hypothesis that snow depth may be measured when the snow cover is wet. Difference maps were also extracted for a 1 km2 Intensive Study Area (ISA) for which intensive ground truth was available. Initial comparison between estimated and observed snow properties yielded low correlations which improved after stratification of the data set.In conclusion, the study shows that snow-related signals are measurable. For operational applications satellite-borne cross-track InSAR would be necessary. The processing needs to be snow-specific with appropriate filtering routines to account for influences by terrain factors other than snow.

Bakgrund: Language Assessment, Remediation and Screening Procedure, LARSP, är ett kliniskt verktyg för att utföra grammatiska analyser av spontantal hos barn med språkliga svårigheter. Än så länge finns inget normerat och standardiserat verktyg för bedömning av spontantal inom svensk logopedisk verksamhet, men en första anpassning av LARSP-protokollet har nyligen gjorts till svenska, Swe-LARSP (Rosenberg & Mellenius, 2016). Swe-LARSP bygger på tidigare empirisk forskning kring typisk språkutveckling hos svenskspråkiga barn, men har ännu inte utvärderats och testats mot spontantal hos svenska barn. Syfte: Denna studies syfte var att kvalitativt utvärdera steg IV i Swe-LARSP samt att praktiskt utvärdera användandet av Swe-LARSP. Metod: Spontantalsdata samlades in genom inspelningar av 8 normalspråkiga barn i åldern 2;5–3;0 år på fyra olika förskolor i Umeå kommun. Materialet transkriberades och genomgick en grammatisk analys enligt riktlinjer för LARSP. Vidare jämfördes strukturerna i Swe-LARSP-protokollet mot strukturerna som framkom i barnens yttranden. Resultat: Resultatet av den grammatiska analysen visade på sju frekvent förekommande strukturer som inte finns placerade i Swe-LARSP samt fyra redan befintliga strukturer med låg förekomst bland barnen. Resterande strukturer på steg IV yttrades av en majoritet av barnen. En struktur, placerad i steg V, förekom även hos en majoritet av barnen i studien. Slutsatser: LARSP är ett tidskrävande verktyg och kräver relativt djupgående förkunskaper, men ger en tydlig profil över barnets grammatiska förmåga. Strukturerna i steg IV i Swe-LARSP, som första anpassning, stämmer överens med barnens språk till stor del. Studien har visat att ytterligare strukturer kan behöva läggas till och några av de befintliga tas bort, alternativt placeras om i det befintliga protokollet för att bättre ringa in centrala grammatiska drag i språket hos svenska barn i åldern 2;6–3;0 år.

Syfte:                        Denna studie syftar till att undersöka huruvida avskaffandet av revisionsplikten fick de effekterna som önskades av EU samt Svenska regeringen, vilket var att minska de administrativa bördor och kostnader för mindre bolag. Det har nu gått en tid sen avskaffandet och det är nu möjligt att se vilka effekter som de berörda företagen har märkt av.  Metod:                        Undersökningen ämnade utföras med en kvantitativ metod med hjälp av enkäter. Men på grund av få respondenter och stort bortfall används istället en kvalitativ metod. Uppsatsen har en induktiv metod.  Slutsats:        Studien visar att alla de företag som ingick i undersökningen upplever en minskning av kostnaderna efter att revisionsplikten avskaffades, samt att majoriteten av företagen även anser att den administrativa bördan minskat. En del av företagen har valt att ta hjälp av konsulttjänster efter att de valt bort revison. / Objective:                  The study aims to investigate whether the abolishment of mandatory audit achieved the desired effects by the European Union and the Swedish government, the goals where to reduce administrative costs and bureaucracy for smaller companies. Some time has past since the abolishment and it is now possible to investigate which effects the companies have laid notice to. Methodology:            The study aimed to follow a quantitative method using surveys. Because of the high number of correspondents who did not answer the surveys, the study follows a qvalitativ method instead. The study also follows an inductive method. Conclusion:               We conclude that all companies who took part in the study experience a reduction in cost after the abolishment of mandatory audit, and that the majority of businesses also find that the administrative burden has decreased. Some businesses have chosen to take use consultancy services after they abolished audit.

Bakgrund Barns språkliga förmåga kan bedömas genom formella tester och/eller spontantalsanalys. Ett material för att kvalitativt utvärdera barns expressiva grammatiska förmåga genom spontantalsanalys är Language Assessment, Remediation and Screening Procedure, LARSP. Detta engelska bedömningsmaterial anpassades för svenska år 2016 av Maria Rosenberg och Ingmarie Mellenius. Swe-LARSP är inte normerat för svenska barn men steg III-V har utvärderats genom tidigare examensarbeten inom logopedi.   Syfte  Studiens syfte var att kvalitativt utvärdera steg II i Swe-LARSP samt att jämföra två inspelningsbetingelser: en med testledaren närvarande och en annan med endast vårdnadshavaren närvarande.   Metod I studien deltog sex barn (1;6–2;0 år) som hade svenska som modersmål och typisk språkutveckling. Ljudinspelningar av barnens spontantal företogs i leksituation med vårdnadshavare. Tre barn spelades in av testledaren och tre av vårdnadshavare. Ljudinspelningarna transkriberades ortografiskt och analyserades enligt riktlinjer för Swe-LARSP. Därefter jämfördes yttrandeantal och tolkningssvårigheter utifrån de olika inspelningsbetingelserna.   Resultat  Analysen visade att 12 av 16 strukturer på steg II i Swe-LARSP producerades frekvent i testdeltagarnas spontantal. Det förekom även åtta strukturer som inte kunde placeras in i protokollets nuvarande form. Inga skillnader mellan inspelningsbetingelserna kunde noteras, varken gällande yttrandeantal eller tolkningssvårigheter.   Slutsatser  De flesta strukturerna på steg II i Swe-LARSP återfanns i barnens spontantal, men fortsatt anpassning av steg II behövs. Föreslagna förändringar är förflyttning eller anpassning av sex strukturer, tillägg av fyra strukturer samt möjlig exkludering av en struktur. Bedömning med Swe-LARSP kunde möjligen frångås innan två års ålder. Resultatet tyder på att en språklig bedömning kan vara möjlig utifrån ljudinspelningar i hemmet.

No description available.

Yes / A set of shallow-water equations (SWEs) based on a k-epsilon Reynold stress model is established to simulate the turbulent flows over a complex roughness bed. The fundamental equations are discretized by the second-order finite-difference method (FDM), in which spatial and temporal discretization are conducted by staggered-grid and leap-frog schemes, respectively. The turbulent model in this study stems from the standard k-epsilon model, but is enhanced by replacing the conventional vertical production with a more rigorous and precise generation derived from the energy spectrum and turbulence scales. To verify its effectiveness, the model is applied to compute the turbulence in complex flow surroundings (including a rough bed) in an abrupt bend and in a natural waterway. The comparison of the model results against experimental data and other numerical results shows the robustness and accuracy of the present model in describing hydrodynamic characteristics, especially turbulence features on the complex roughness bottom. / National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No: 2016YFE0122500, 2013CB036401 and 2013CB036402), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No: 2016M591184) and Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (Grant No: BC2018038) / Research Development Fund Publication Prize Award winner, June 2019.