Manchester Metropolitan University

About: Manchester Metropolitan University is a education organization based out in Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 5435 authors who have published 16202 publications receiving 442561 citations. The organization is also known as: Manchester Polytechnic & MMU.

Assessing Land Degradation and Desertification Using Vegetation Index Data: Current Frameworks and Future Directions

Abstract: Land degradation and desertification has been ranked as a major environmental and social issue for the coming decades. Thus, the observation and early detection of degradation is a primary objective for a number of scientific and policy organisations, with remote sensing methods being a candidate choice for the development of monitoring systems. This paper reviews the statistical and ecological frameworks of assessing land degradation and desertification using vegetation index data. The development of multi-temporal analysis as a desertification assessment technique is reviewed, with a focus on how current practice has been shaped by controversy and dispute within the literature. The statistical techniques commonly employed are examined from both a statistical as well as ecological point of view, and recommendations are made for future research directions. The scientific requirements for degradation and desertification monitoring systems identified here are: (I) the validation of methodologies in a robust and comparable manner; and (II) the detection of degradation at minor intensities and magnitudes. It is also established that the multi-temporal analysis of vegetation index data can provide a sophisticated measure of ecosystem health and variation, and that, over the last 30 years, considerable progress has been made in the respective research.

The benefits of silver in hygiene, personal care and healthcare.

Abstract: Silver has been used for centuries as an antimicrobial agent to reduce bioburden and prevent infection Its usage diminished when antibiotics were introduced but remained one of the most popular agents for wound infections, especially in burned patients Incorporation of silver into a range of hygiene and healthcare applications has increased, and this has raised concerns over the development of silver resistance, toxicity, methods of testing products and evidence of efficacy The published evidence for resistance and toxicity is limited and associated with frequent and high levels of silver used Increasing evidence of improved antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles of silver and possible dual immunomodulatory effects are exciting This may lead to further product development as potential alternative preservatives as some currently available preservatives have an increasing incidence of allergic reactions Acknowledging the role of the carrier is important, and as silver is active when in solution, opens a window of opportunity in personal hygiene area This is important in an age when multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming prevalent

A Review of Uncertainties in Global Temperature Projections over the Twenty-First Century

Abstract: Quantification of the uncertainties in future climate projections is crucial for the implementation of climate policies. Here a review of projections of global temperature change over the twenty-first century is provided for the six illustrative emission scenarios from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) that assume no policy intervention, based on the latest generation of coupled general circulation models, climate models of intermediate complexity, and simple models, and uncertainty ranges and probabilistic projections from various published methods and models are assessed. Despite substantial improvements in climate models, projections for given scenarios on average have not changed much in recent years. Recent progress has, however, increased the confidence in uncertainty estimates and now allows a better separation of the uncertainties introduced by scenarios, physical feedbacks, carbon cycle, and structural uncertainty. Projection uncertainties are now constrained by observations and therefore consistent with past observed trends and patterns. Future trends in global temperature resulting from anthropogenic forcing over the next few decades are found to be comparably well constrained. Uncertainties for projections on the century time scale, when accounting for structural and feedback uncertainties, are larger than captured in single models or methods. This is due to differences in the models, the sources of uncertainty taken into account, the type of observational constraints used, and the statistical assumptions made. It is shown that as an approximation, the relative uncertainty range for projected warming in 2100 is the same for all scenarios. Inclusion of uncertainties in carbon cycle–climate feedbacks extends the upper bound of the uncertainty range by more than the lower bound.

Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of coal: a review

Abstract: The advances in the characterization of amorphous carbons by Raman spectroscopy over the last four decades are of interest to many industries, especially those involving the combustion, gasification and pyrolysis of coal. Many researchers report on the Raman character of the natural organic matter in carbon-containing compounds, such as coal, and relate the Raman bands to the structural order of the amorphous carbons. The basis of most of these studies evolved around the assignment of the G (graphitic, ∼1580 cm−1) band to crystalline graphite and any other bands, called D bands, (disorder, various from 1100 to 1500 cm−1) to any type of structural disorder in the graphitic structure. Concerning coal analysis, the information gained by Raman investigations has been used to describe char evolution as a function of temperature, the presence of catalysts and different gasification conditions. In addition, researchers looked at maturation, grade, doppleritization and many more aspects of interest. One aspect that has, however, not been addressed by most of the researchers is the natural inorganic matter (NIM) in the carbon-containing compounds. Micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) has many advantages over other characterization tools, i.e. in situ analysis, nondestructive, no sample preparation, low detection limit, micrometer-scale characterization, versatility and sensitivity to many amorphous compounds. With the distinct advantages it has over that of other molecular characterization tools, such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray detection (SEM/EDS), it is surprising that it has not yet been fully exploited up to this point for the characterization of the NIM in coal and other amorphous carbons. This paper reviews the work published on the Raman characterization of the natural organic matter (NOM) of coals and reports on preliminary results of the NIM character of various South African coals, whereby various inorganic compounds and minerals in the coal have been characterized. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Serial Measurement of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Serum of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract: To the Editor: Slevin et al1 reported on elevated serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. They claim to demonstrate a relationship between stroke volume and circulating VEGF (tissue damage, hypoxia, and VEGF expression) and concluded from their data that VEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and could be of value in future treatment strategies. A moderate correlation between peripheral blood leukocyte counts and serum levels of VEGF was noted. These findings are interesting. However, in our opinion, several points need to be considered in order to interpret these results more accurately. Under physiological conditions virtually no soluble VEGF is present in the blood. The main transporter of VEGF in the blood stream are thrombocytes,2 and unfortunately no data on platelet counts are reported in the article by Slevin and colleagues. Platelets contain large amounts of VEGF (approximately 1,74 pg/106 platelets), and there is …