bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’America Latina: tra nuovo nazionalismo e secolarismo
Authors: Bochatey Alberto G.
Published: September 2016

Il pluralismo etico della società civile moderna considera, in genere, buono tutto quel che è autorizzato dalle leggi realizzate democraticamente e considera cattivo il contrario. Ciò vale anche per l’America Latina ed i Caraibi? Come vengono percepite le leggi in questi Paesi? Il contributo tenta di rispondere a questi interrogativi. La risposta è che è assente una critica e uno studio oggettivo e ragionato su quali interventi dell’Uomo nel campo della biologia moderna, della ricerca, della medicina, del riconoscimento di certi valori indiscutibili siano eticamente leciti. Molti di questi ambiti non sono regolati da leggi e in alcuni casi non sono nemmeno conosciuti dalla popolazione. I bioeticisti dell’America Latina e dei Carabi devono essere, dunque, attenti alla realtà di quei popoli senza applicare teorie elaborate in altri contesti. In altri termini, un’etica descrittiva non è sufficiente, ma occorre far riferimento alla realtà oggettiva e culturale della persona, al fine di promuovere il progresso scientifico ed il miglioramento della qualità della vita. ---------- The ethical pluralism of the modern civil society considers, generally, as good all that is authorized by the laws democratically realized and it considers the contrary as bad. Is this also equivalent in Latin America and the Caribbean? How are the laws perceived in these Countries? The contribution tries to answer to these questions. The answer is that a criticism and an objective and reasoned study is absent on what interventions of the Man in the field of the modern biology, of the search, of the medicine, of the recognition of certain indisputable values is ethically permissible. Many of these circles are not regulated by laws and in some cases they are not even known by the population. The bioethicists of Latin America and Caribbean have to be, therefore, careful to the reality of that people without applying theories elaborated in other contexts. In other terms, a descriptive ethics is not enough, but it is necessary to make reference to the objective and cultural reality of the person, with the purpose to promote the scientific progress and the improvement of the quality of life.
Nanotecnologie: la riflessione etica in alcuni Paesi europei
Authors: Daloiso Viviana , Spagnolo Antonio G.
Published: September 2016

Le nanotecnologie sono ormai entrate a pieno titolo nei progetti europei ed internazionali. Un grande contributo si deve altresì ai molteplici pareri elaborati a livello nazionale europeo. In tutti questi documenti si sottolinea che, a fronte delle grandi applicazioni di queste tecnologie, si registrano rischi ancora molto elevati, la cui conoscenza non è ancora del tutto nota. La necessità avvertita è dunque di provvedere al più presto alla formulazione di regolamentazioni specifiche, che offrano riferimenti utili anche per coloro che sono impegnati nella ricerca. Estremamente importante è anche l’introduzione della dimensione etica delle nanotecnologie per condurre una ricerca che sia allo stesso tempo non solo scientificamente valida, ma altresì etica e dunque rispettosa della persona umana ed altresì dell’ambiente in cui vive. Un aiuto in questa direzione potrebbe essere anche quello di creare tests appositi per la valutazione e gestione del rischio da utilizzare in ogni fase di ricerca: dall’ottenimento delle nanopartcielle, fino alla loro combinazione ed infine immissione sul mercato sottoforma di prodotti o servizi. ---------- The aim of this contribution is to draw the attention to some documents supplied by national European working groups, appointed to study the implications of nanotechnologies. The unanimous conclusion is that we are dealing with an emerging technology where risks are not all clear yet. So far, the suggestion is to provide this field of a specific regulation and develop solutions before the results of the tests are diffused into medical practice. The aim is to make both a good scientific and ethical research, promoting discoveries and the human dignity at the same time. In this direction, the suggestion is to elaborate specific tests to monitor the risks assessment process since the very stage of the research up to the commercialization of nanoproducts.
I Consultori e l’obiezione di coscienza sanitaria nella riorganizzazione pugliese della rete consultoriale
Authors: Casini Marina
Published: September 2016

Il contributo muove da una sintetica rassegna di alcuni provvedimenti emanati dall’amministrazione della Regione Puglia, provvedimenti che hanno suscitato un vivace dibattito e un’azione giudiziaria. Essi, infatti, prevedono l’esclusione dei medici obiettori di coscienza all’aborto dai Consultori familiari istituiti con la Legge 405 del 1975. In questo modo tali provvedimenti sono censurabili per violazione del principio di non discriminazione, ma anche perché svuotano i Consultori dei compiti loro assegnati in ordine alla tutela della vita nascente, consolidando un’applicazione nefasta della normativa sull’aborto, già in sé ingiusta. ---------- The contribution starts from a brief overview of some measures taken by the Regione Puglia Authority, measures that have raised a lively debate and a legal action. Indeed, they allow the exclusion of doctors conscientious objector to abortion from the Family Advice bureaus established by the Law 405/1975. In this way these measures are censurable for breach of the principle of non-discrimination, and also because they deprive Advice bureaus of their duties regarding the protection of unborn life, strengthening a disastrous enforcement of the law on abortion, already unjust in itself.
Il consenso informato: una finzione legale? / The informed consent: a legal finction?
Authors: Fiori Angelo
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
L’epistemologia e l’etica clinica di Giuseppe Moscati
Authors: Scoppettuolo Antonio
Published: September 2016

Il saggio cerca di ricostruire la temperie culturale e filosofica nella quale si è formato ed ha operato il medico Giuseppe Moscati. Si tratta soprattutto di uno scavo nell’humus teorico ed epistemologico dell’arte medica dello scienziato e santo napoletano. Si esaminano perciò i fondamenti della scuola medica calando Moscati all’interno del dibattito sul positivismo scientifico dal quale si discosta attraverso la pratica di una medicina umanizzante. Seppure legato profondamente all’ambiente intellettuale e scientifico napoletano ha saputo apportare alla scienza e all’arte medica una impronta personalissima. ---------- The essay traces the philosophical and cultural climate in which the physician Giuseppe Moscati worked. This is above all a theoretical and epistemological investigation of the medical art of the Neapolitan medical scientist and saint. Therefore we examine the fundamentals of medical school withim the debate on scientific positivism from which Moscati deviates through the practice of humanizing medicine. Though he was deeply tied to the Neapolitan intellectual and scientific context, he left a personal mark on medical science.
Eutanasia, mass media e consenso sociale
Authors: Guzzo Giuliano
Published: September 2016

Questo articolo si pone l’obbiettivo di analizzare a grandi linee come il tema dell’eutanasia viene attualmente presentato dai mass media. In particolare, l’elaborato intende mettere in luce le modalità con cui i mezzi di comunicazione di massa si rendono con frequenza autori di una rappresentazione del fenomeno eutanasico che, di fatto, risulta direttamente funzionale alle tesi di coloro i quali, a vario livello, si battono per la depenalizzazione della “dolce morte”. ---------- The aim of this article is to take into consideration and analyze from a general point of view the way euthanasia is presented to the public by mass media. It particularly wants to emphasize the fact that instruments of mass communication frequently tend to deliver a notion of euthanasia and the issues concerning it that seem to, de facto, be compatible with the thesis of those who defend it and actually promote the depenalization of so called “dignified death”.
La famiglia eterologa / The heterologous family
Authors: Fiori Angelo
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Il “Giano bifronte” della responsabilità
Authors: Cembrani Fabio
Published: September 2016

L’Autore esamina, in questo studio, la questione della responsabilità professionale del medico. Di questo concetto sono analizzati i diversi significati ripercorrendone la sua parabola filosofica. Attraverso ciò l’Autore riflette sul significato più autentico della responsabilità evidenziandone la non simmetricità con la colpa giuridica; segnala, a questo riguardo, che confondere la responsabilità con la colpa è fonte di comportamenti professionali non sempre coerenti con i valori etici che alimentano la relazione di cura. L’Autore esamina, poi, il significato dato alla parola responsabilità dal Codice di deontologia medica italiano evidenziandone le molte sfumature poco utili, purtroppo, a connotarla nel suo significato più autentico; auspica, perciò, che la nuova versione del codice deontologico del medico sappia dare alla responsabilità quella dimensione pedagogica che le è propria. ---------- In this study, the Author examines the issue of the physician’s professional responsibility. The different meanings of this concept are analyzed, thinking over the philosophical parable of it. By this the author reflects on the true meaning of responsibility, highlighting the non-symmetry with the legal guilt; he points on this regard that confusing responsibility with guilt is a source of professional behavior not always consistent with the ethical values on which the care relationship is grounded. Then, the author examines the meaning given to the word responsibility from the Italian Code of Medical Ethics highlighting the many hits, that are unfortunately useless to connote it within its true meaning; therefore, he hopes that the new version of the deontological code will be able to provide the pedagogical dimension that is proper.
Ricerca scientifica e valutazioni morali devono crescere insieme / Research and moral evaluations are to grow together
Authors: Giuliodori Claudio
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Su alcuni effetti delle trasformazioni nella generazione umana
Authors: Refolo Pietro
Published: September 2016

Le odierne applicazioni della medicina hanno introdotto tali e tante trasformazioni nell’atto procreativo umano, da rendere plausibile l’idea che sia in corso una sorta di “rivoluzione riproduttiva”. Tra le problematiche risultanti delle trasformazioni in atto vi è, per un verso, un effetto involutivo sulla generazione umana, nel senso che esse hanno ridotto o rischiano di ridurre l’“evento” rappresentato dalla nascita a mero “fatto biologico”, di “avvicinare” pericolosamente i meccanismi che la regalano a quelli della riproduzione animale e di rendere “superflua”, nel processo generativo, l’integrazione affettivo-morale tra due persone, che poi è quel che qualifica più specificatamente il riprodursi umano. Per altro verso, vi sono una serie di mutamenti nella scena sociale concernenti l’atteggiamento che l’adulto ha nei confronti dei nuovi nati e lo “statuto simbolico” del figlio, la cui immagine è sempre meno associabile a nozioni quali “ospite”, “dono” “frutto”, “benedizione” e sempre associabile a quella di “desiderio” da soddisfare a tutti costi. Il contributo tenta un approfondimento di queste criticità. ---------- Medicine applications have changed human procreation to the point that the idea of a sort of “reproductive revolution” is plausible. Among the issues resulting from these changes, we have to consider, on the one hand, the regressive effect on human generation, in the sense that they have reduced or may reduce birth “event” into mere “biological fact”, to “approximate” dangerously its mechanisms to animal reproduction and to make “unnecessary” emotional integration among people, that is what qualifies more specifically human reproduction, within human generative processes. On the other hand, several changes in the social scene regarding adult’s attitude towards new born and the “symbolic status” of the child, whose image is less and less associated to notions such as “guest” “gift”, “fruit”, “blessing” and more and more associated to “desire” to win at all costs. The contribution intends to debate these critical issues.
Il Magistero del Pontefice emerito Benedetto XVI nell’ambito della Bioetica / The Magisterium of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the field of Bioethics
Authors: Sgreccia Elio
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Il suicidio assistito dell’autonomia / The assisted suicide of autonomy
Authors: Spagnolo Antonio G.
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Diritto disumano / Inhumane Law
Authors: Fiori Angelo
Published: September 2016

Non disponibile / Not available
Un vaccino sicuro (safe) e convincente (persuasive). Considerazioni etico-narrative in tema di sanità pubblica / A safe and convincing vaccination. Ethical-narrative considerations on public health
Authors: Cattorini Paolo M.
Published: September 2016

Il significato di termini storicamente importanti, come igiene, sanità pubblica, medicina delle comunità, è divenuto controverso, vago e persino contraddittorio nel contesto pluralistico attuale, in cui il paternalismo è tramontato, un dialogo esigente viene richiesto tra biomedicina e humanities, e in cui la nozione stessa di pratica clinica attraversa una crisi profonda. Sono presentati e commentati in questo articolo due recenti film, che rappresentano le preoccupazioni etico-psicologiche e i dilemmi morali dei personaggi (professionisti o comuni utenti). Lo scopo della scelta stilistico-espositiva, operata dall’autore, è quello di accendere una rinnovata avvertenza per i valori in conflitto e di favorire una giustificazione razionale delle opzioni sanitarie, sia a livello individuale che pubblico. La narrazione è una componente imprescindibile dei criteri e metodi decisionali, anche in materia igienistica, e quindi va considerata ed elaborata con proprietà e competenza. ---------- The meaning of ancient words (hygiene, public health, welfare, community medicine) has become confused, vague and even contradictory in our contemporary pluralistic arena, where the paternalism has declined, a new dialogue between biomedicine and humanities is required, and the idea itself of medicine is going through a difficult crisis. Two motion pictures are presented, examined and commented, in order to underline the psychological concerns and the ethical dilemmas of the moral agents involved (both professionals and lay people). The author shows how an ethical awareness might be raised, for the sake of rationally justifying the aims, methods and criteria of a shared decision inside the community about delicate issues in public health. In particular, narrative can help us to take sound and just social and medical choices.
“Il Piccolo Principe” e la Medicina dell’Invisibile: relazione, organizzazione e prevenzione / "The Little Prince" and the Invisible Medicine: relationship, organization and prevention
Authors: Colucci Massimiliano , Pegoraro Renzo
Published: September 2016

In questo articolo, tentiamo di guardare a quattro temi di bioetica attraverso gli occhi del Piccolo Principe: il contesto di fine vita, la relazione medico-paziente, l’etica dell’organizzazione, la prevenzione/precauzione. Useremo un prospettiva che abbiamo chiamato “Medicina dell’Invisibile”, focalizzata sul valore. Il Piccolo Principe ci suggerisce di cercare l’invisibile come un nuovo tipo di “dato clinico” che può aiutare a rendere l’intervento assistenziale più etico ed efficace. Tale invisibile – che è la «cosa importante», la «cosa seria», anche su un piano gnoseologico ed epistemologico – è raggiungibile solo all’interno di una relazione. Perciò, il medico ha bisogno di essere “addomesticato” dal paziente, e il paziente dal medico – ognuno diventando responsabile dell’altro, ognuno diventando se stesso attraverso il dialogo con l’altro. Ma responsabilità significa anche attenzione al futuro, verso minacce alla vita che sono ancora ignote. Infatti, il Piccolo Principe ci insegna che possedere una parte di mondo – il “possesso utile” – implica l’imperativo etico di agire, al fine di salvaguardare la vita. Ma, senza la concretezza di una relazione – impregnata di tempo vissuto, di esperienze condivise, e dell’unicità individuale – non si dà alcun significato né valore. Per questo motivo la Medicina dell’Invisibile ricorda alla Bioetica che «quello che è importante, non lo si vede». ---------- In this paper, we attempt to look at four bioethical issues through the Little Prince’s eyes: the end-life context, the patient-physician relationship, the organization ethics, the prevention/precaution. We will use a perspective we have called “Medicine of the Invisible”, that is value-focused. The Little Prince suggests us to seek the invisible as a new type of ‘clinical data’ which may help to make the healthcare intervention more ethical and effective. Such an invisible – the “thing that is important”, the “matters of consequence”, even on a gnoseological and epistemological level – is attainable only within a relationship. Therefore, the physician needs to be tamed by the patient, and the patient by the physician – each one becoming responsible of the other, each one becoming himself through the dialogue with the other. But responsibility also means attention towards the future, against threats to life that are still unseen and unknown. Indeed, the Little Prince teaches us that owning a part of the world – the “useful possession” – entails the ethical imperative to act, in order to safeguard life. But, without the concreteness of a relationship – saturated with lived time, shared experiences, and individual’s uniqueness – no meaning and no value is given. For this reason the Medicine of Invisible reminds Bioethics that «the thing that is important is the thing that is not seen».
Fragilità e giustizia. Alcune premesse antropologiche per la biogiuridica / Fragility and justice. Some anthropological premises for biolaw
Authors: Sartea Claudio
Published: September 2016

La fragilità umana non è un’eventualità, fortuita e comunque sfortunata, dell’esistenza degli esseri umani, bensì una delle sue cifre più caratteristiche. Ogni essere vivente, per la sua costitutiva mortalità, è esposto alla vulnerabilità ed alla fragilità, ma l’essere umano è in più consapevole di questo. Così è possibile pensare la fragilità come elemento di ogni esistenza umana concreta: da cui dipende anche l’uguaglianza ed una configurazione peculiare del compito del diritto, garantire questa uguaglianza proteggendo la fragilità inerme dei deboli nei confronti della sempre possibile violenza dei forti. Riconoscerlo implica superare una certa visione moderna della giuridicità basata sull’esaltazione dell’autonomia nel nome dei diritti fondamentali intesi come rivendicazioni soggettive più o meno arbitrarie. ---------- Human fragility is not an eventuality, fortuitous and unfortunate, of the existence of human beings, but one of its most characteristic figures. Every living being, indeed, for its constitutive mortality, is exposed to the vulnerability and fragility, but the human being is aware of this. So you can think of the fragility as an element of every concrete human existence: on which also depends the equality of persons and a peculiar configuration of the law’s task: to ensure this equality, protecting the helpless frailty of the weak against the potential violence of the strong. Recognize it involves overcoming a certain modern vision of legality based on the exaltation of autonomy in the name of fundamental rights understood as more or less arbitrary subjective claims.
Outcomes of a conservative approach to management in amoebic liver abscess
Authors: Kale S , Nanavati AJ , Borle N , Nagral S
Published: September 2016

Context:

Unfortunately, there is confusion among the medical community regarding the management of amoebic liver abscess (ALA). Therapeutic options range from simple pharmacotherapy to use of interventions like a needle or catheter aspiration under ultrasound guidance to surgical intervention. There is a plethora of thresholds for parameters such as the maximum diameter of the abscess and volume on ultrasound examination suggested by various authors to serve as a criterion to help to decide when to use which modality in these cases.

Aims:

To assess the outcome of patients with uncomplicated ALA treated using a conservative approach. Moreover, to identify factors associated with its failure.

Settings and Design:

A prospective, observational study was carried out at a large municipal urban health care center over a period of 3-year (2011–2014) in India.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with uncomplicated ALA were recruited. All patients were managed with pharmacotherapy initially for a period of 72 h. Response to treatment was assessed by resolution of symptoms within the given time frame. Failure to respond was considered an indication for intervention. Needle aspiration was offered to these patients and response assessed within 72 h. Failure to respond to aspiration was considered an indication for catheter drainage. Statistical Analysis Used: Data recorded were entered in a Microsoft Office Excel Sheet and analyzed using the SPSS version 16.0 (IBM).

Results:

Sixty patients with ALA were included in the study over its duration. Forty-nine (81.67%) patients were managed conservatively, while 11 (18.33%) patients needed an intervention for relief. Patients who required intervention had deranged liver function at presentation, a larger abscess diameter (10.09 ± 2.23 vs. 6.33 ± 1.69 cm P < 0.001) and volume (399.73 ± 244.46 vs. 138.34 ± 117.85 ml, P < 0.001) compared to those who did not need it. Patients that required intervention had a longer length of hospital stay (7.1 ± 2.4 vs. 4.8 ± 0.9 days, P < 0.001). On post hoc analysis, a maximum diameter of >7.7 cm was found to be the optimal criterion to predict the need of intervention in cases of ALA.

Conclusions:

A conservative approach is effective in the management of ALA for a majority of patients. Failure of conservative management was predicted by the size of the abscess (maximum diameter >7.7 cm). Even in the cases of failure, a gradual step-up with interventions was found to be safe and effective.
Right atrial mural thrombi
Authors: Vaideeswar P , Chaudhari J , Karnik N , Sahu T , Gupta A
Published: September 2016

Background:

Right atrial mural thrombi (RAMT) are often seen in association with cardiac diseases or foreign bodies. Unusual locations at the flutter isthmus and the atrial appendage prompted us to evaluate our 2-year autopsy data on such thrombi.

Materials and Methods:

In the 2-year retrospective autopsy, the clinical and autopsy records of patients with RAMT were reviewed, with particular reference to the presence of central venous catheter (CVC), its site of insertion, its type, material and size, its duration of placement, and the drugs infused through the catheter.

Results:

Of the 940 autopsies performed in 2 years, RAMT was seen in 24 hearts and was related to an insertion of a CVC in 23 patients (95.8%). The risk and/or associated factors for this complication were tunneled and polyethylene catheters, Intensive Care Unit admission, infused drugs, underlying cardiac diseases, and pregnancy. A noteworthy feature was the location of the thrombi in the flutter isthmus in 16 hearts (66.7%) and atrial appendage in another six hearts. Localized endocarditis/myocarditis and pulmonary thromboembolism were observed in six and four patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

This autopsy study, which has a high incidence of catheter-related RAMT, does not reflect the true incidence but reiterates the importance of guided insertion of central venous and prompt recognition of thrombus formation.
Evolution of medical education in India
Authors: Anshu  , Supe A
Published: September 2016

The cross-cultural exchanges between the people of India and their colonial rulers provides a fascinating insight into how these encounters shaped medicine and medical education in India. This article traces the history of how Indian medicine was transformed in the backdrop of colonialism and hegemony. It goes on to show how six decades after independence, we have have still been unable to convincingly shrug off the colonial yoke. India needs to work out a national medical curriculum which caters to our country's needs. A symbiotic relationship needs to be developed between the indigenous and allopathic systems of medicine.
Reliability of Electrodermal Activity: Quantifying Sensory Processing in Children With Autism
Authors: Schupak Barbara M. , Parasher Raju K. , Zipp Genevieve Pinto
Published: September 2016

OBJECTIVE. We established test–retest reliability of electrodermal markers used to quantify physiological response to sensation using the Sensory Challenge Protocol in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

METHOD. Electrodermal activity (EDA) was measured during rest and in response to sensory inputs. Fourteen children with ASD and 18 typically developing children were tested and retested after 2–6 wk on skin conductance response, skin conductance level, nonspecific skin conductance response, and habituation.

RESULTS. Test–retest reliability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Rest-phase coefficients for both groups were moderate (.65–.73). ICCs during response to sensation ranged from moderate to good for amplitude (.60–.81) and magnitude (.50–.75). In addition, moderate to excellent reliability (.51–.93) was observed for nonspecific response measures.

CONCLUSION. EDA measures are reliable physiological markers that can quantify response to sensation in children with and without ASD.
The Zugspitze radiative closure experiment for quantifying water vapor
absorption over the terrestrial and solar infrared –
Part 3: Quantification of the mid- and near-infrared water vapor continuum
in the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 spectral range under atmospheric conditions
Authors: Reichert Andreas , Sussmann Ralf
Published: September 2016

Abstract. We present a first quantification of the near-infrared (NIR) water vapor continuum absorption from an atmospheric radiative closure experiment carried out at the Zugspitze (47.42° N, 10.98° E; 2964 m a.s.l.). Continuum quantification is achieved via radiative closure using radiometrically calibrated solar Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectra covering the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 spectral range. The dry atmospheric conditions at the Zugspitze site (IWV 1.4 to 3.3 mm) enable continuum quantification even within water vapor absorption bands, while upper limits for continuum absorption can be provided in the centers of window regions. Throughout 75 % of the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 spectral range, the Zugspitze results agree within our estimated uncertainty with the widely used MT_CKD 2.5.2 model (Mlawer et al., 2012). In the wings of water vapor absorption bands, our measurements indicate about 2–5 times stronger continuum absorption than MT_CKD, namely in the 2800 to 3000 cm−1 and 4100 to 4200 cm−1 spectral ranges. The measurements are consistent with the laboratory measurements of Mondelain et al. (2015), which rely on cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CDRS), and the calorimetric–interferometric measurements of Bicknell et al. (2006). Compared to the recent FTIR laboratory studies of Ptashnik et al. (2012, 2013), our measurements are consistent within the estimated errors throughout most of the spectral range. However, in the wings of water vapor absorption bands our measurements indicate typically 2–3 times weaker continuum absorption under atmospheric conditions, namely in the 3200 to 3400, 4050 to 4200, and 6950 to 7050 cm−1 spectral regions.
Optimal use of buffer volumes for the measurement of atmospheric gas
concentration in multi-point systems
Authors: Cescatti Alessandro , Marcolla Barbara , Goded Ignacio , Gruening Carsten
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Accurate multi-point monitoring systems are required to derive atmospheric measurements of greenhouse gas concentrations both for the calculation of surface fluxes with inversion transport models and for the estimation of non-turbulent components of the mass balance equation (i.e. advection and storage fluxes) at eddy covariance sites. When a single analyser is used to monitor multiple sampling points, the deployment of buffer volumes (BVs) along sampling lines can reduce the uncertainty due to the discrete temporal sampling of the signal. In order to optimize the use of buffer volumes we explored various set-ups by simulating their effect on time series of high-frequency CO2 concentration collected at three Fluxnet sites. Besides, we proposed a novel scheme to calculate half-hourly weighted arithmetic means from discrete point samples, accounting for the probabilistic fraction of the signal generated in the averaging period. Results show that the use of BVs with the new averaging scheme reduces the mean absolute error (MAE) up to 80 % compared to a set-up without BVs and up to 60 % compared to the case with BVs and a standard, non-weighted averaging scheme. The MAE of CO2 concentration measurements was observed to depend on the variability of the concentration field and on the size of BVs, which therefore have to be carefully dimensioned. The optimal volume size depends on two main features of the instrumental set-up: the number of measurement points and the time needed to sample at one point (i.e. line purging plus sampling time). A linear and consistent relationship was observed at all sites between the sampling frequency, which summarizes the two features mentioned above, and the renewal frequency associated with the volume. Ultimately, this empirical relationship can be applied to estimate the optimal volume size according to the technical specifications of the sampling system.
The Zugspitze radiative closure experiment for quantifying water vapor
absorption over the terrestrial and solar infrared – Part 2: Accurate calibration of high spectral-resolution infrared
measurements of surface solar radiation
Authors: Reichert Andreas , Rettinger Markus , Sussmann Ralf
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Quantitative knowledge of water vapor absorption is crucial for accurate climate simulations. An open science question in this context concerns the strength of the water vapor continuum in the near infrared (NIR) at atmospheric temperatures, which is still to be quantified by measurements. This issue can be addressed with radiative closure experiments using solar absorption spectra. However, the spectra used for water vapor continuum quantification have to be radiometrically calibrated. We present for the first time a method that yields sufficient calibration accuracy for NIR water vapor continuum quantification in an atmospheric closure experiment. Our method combines the Langley method with spectral radiance measurements of a high-temperature blackbody calibration source (<  2000 K). The calibration scheme is demonstrated in the spectral range 2500 to 7800 cm−1, but minor modifications to the method enable calibration also throughout the remainder of the NIR spectral range. The resulting uncertainty (2σ) excluding the contribution due to inaccuracies in the extra-atmospheric solar spectrum (ESS) is below 1 % in window regions and up to 1.7 % within absorption bands. The overall radiometric accuracy of the calibration depends on the ESS uncertainty, on which at present no firm consensus has been reached in the NIR. However, as is shown in the companion publication Reichert and Sussmann (2016), ESS uncertainty is only of minor importance for the specific aim of this study, i.e., the quantification of the water vapor continuum in a closure experiment. The calibration uncertainty estimate is substantiated by the investigation of calibration self-consistency, which yields compatible results within the estimated errors for 91.1 % of the 2500 to 7800 cm−1 range. Additionally, a comparison of a set of calibrated spectra to radiative transfer model calculations yields consistent results within the estimated errors for 97.7 % of the spectral range.
Technical Note: Improving the computational efficiency of sparse matrix multiplication in linear atmospheric inverse problems
Authors: Yadav Vineet , Michalak Anna M.
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Matrix multiplication of two sparse matrices is a fundamental operation in linear Bayesian inverse problems for computing covariance matrices of observations and a posteriori uncertainties. Applications of sparse-sparse matrix multiplication algorithms for specific use-cases in such inverse problems remain unexplored. Here we present a hybrid-parallel sparse-sparse matrix multiplication approach that is more efficient by a third in terms of execution time and operation count relative to standard sparse matrix multiplication algorithms available in most libraries. Two modifications of this hybrid-parallel algorithm are also proposed for the types of operations typical of atmospheric inverse problems, which further reduce the cost of sparse matrix multiplication by yielding only upper triangular and/or dense matrices.
3-D GPS velocity field and its implications on the present-day post-orogenic
deformation of the Western Alps and Pyrenees
Authors: Nguyen Hai Ninh , Vernant Philippe , Mazzotti Stephane , Khazaradze Giorgi , Asensio Eva
Published: September 2016

Abstract. We present a new 3-D GPS velocity solution for 182 sites for the region encompassing the Western Alps, Pyrenees, and southern France. The velocity field is based on a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) solution, to which we apply a common-mode filter, defined by the 26 longest time series, in order to correct for network-wide biases (reference frame, unmodeled large-scale processes, etc.). We show that processing parameters, such as troposphere delay modeling, can lead to systematic velocity variations of 0.1–0.5 mm yr−1 affecting both accuracy and precision, especially for short (< 5 years) time series. A velocity convergence analysis shows that minimum time-series lengths of  ∼  3 and  ∼  5.5 years are required to reach a velocity stability of 0.5 mm yr−1 in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively. On average, horizontal residual velocities show a stability of  ∼  0.2 mm yr−1 in the Western Alps, Pyrenees, and southern France. The only significant horizontal strain rate signal is in the western Pyrenees with up to 4  ×  10−9 yr−1 NNE–SSW extension, whereas no significant strain rates are detected in the Western Alps (< 1  ×  10−9 yr−1). In contrast, we identify significant uplift rates up to 2 mm yr−1 in the Western Alps but not in the Pyrenees (0.1 ± 0.2 mm yr−1). A correlation between site elevations and fast uplift rates in the northern part of the Western Alps, in the region of the Würmian ice cap, suggests that part of this uplift is induced by postglacial rebound. The very slow uplift rates in the southern Western Alps and in the Pyrenees could be accounted for by erosion-induced rebound.
A multi-stage 3-D stress field modelling approach exemplified in the Bavarian Molasse Basin
Authors: Ziegler Moritz O. , Heidbach Oliver , Reinecker John , Przybycin Anna M. , Scheck-Wenderoth Magdalena
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The knowledge of the contemporary in situ stress state is a key issue for safe and sustainable subsurface engineering. However, information on the orientation and magnitudes of the stress state is limited and often not available for the areas of interest. Therefore 3-D geomechanical–numerical modelling is used to estimate the in situ stress state and the distance of faults from failure for application in subsurface engineering. The main challenge in this approach is to bridge the gap in scale between the widely scattered data used for calibration of the model and the high resolution in the target area required for the application. We present a multi-stage 3-D geomechanical–numerical approach which provides a state-of-the-art model of the stress field for a reservoir-scale area from widely scattered data records. Therefore, we first use a large-scale regional model which is calibrated by available stress data and provides the full 3-D stress tensor at discrete points in the entire model volume. The modelled stress state is used subsequently for the calibration of a smaller-scale model located within the large-scale model in an area without any observed stress data records. We exemplify this approach with two-stages for the area around Munich in the German Molasse Basin. As an example of application, we estimate the scalar values for slip tendency and fracture potential from the model results as measures for the criticality of fault reactivation in the reservoir-scale model. The modelling results show that variations due to uncertainties in the input data are mainly introduced by the uncertain material properties and missing SHmax magnitude estimates needed for a more reliable model calibration. This leads to the conclusion that at this stage the model's reliability depends only on the amount and quality of available stress information rather than on the modelling technique itself or on local details of the model geometry. Any improvements in modelling and increases in model reliability can only be achieved using more high-quality data for calibration.
Estimates of ikaite export from sea ice to the underlying seawater in a sea
ice–seawater mesocosm
Authors: Geilfus Nicolas-Xavier , Galley Ryan J. , Else Brent G. T. , Campbell Karley , Papakyriakou Tim , Crabeck Odile , Lemes Marcos , Delille Bruno , Rysgaard Søren
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The precipitation of ikaite and its fate within sea ice is still poorly understood. We quantify temporal inorganic carbon dynamics in sea ice from initial formation to its melt in a sea ice–seawater mesocosm pool from 11 to 29 January 2013. Based on measurements of total alkalinity (TA) and total dissolved inorganic carbon (TCO2), the main processes affecting inorganic carbon dynamics within sea ice were ikaite precipitation and CO2 exchange with the atmosphere. In the underlying seawater, the dissolution of ikaite was the main process affecting inorganic carbon dynamics. Sea ice acted as an active layer, releasing CO2 to the atmosphere during the growth phase, taking up CO2 as it melted and exporting both ikaite and TCO2 into the underlying seawater during the whole experiment. Ikaite precipitation of up to 167 µmolkg−1 within sea ice was estimated, while its export and dissolution into the underlying seawater was responsible for a TA increase of 64–66 µmolkg−1 in the water column. The export of TCO2 from sea ice to the water column increased the underlying seawater TCO2 by 43.5 µmolkg−1, suggesting that almost all of the TCO2 that left the sea ice was exported to the underlying seawater. The export of ikaite from the ice to the underlying seawater was associated with brine rejection during sea ice growth, increased vertical connectivity in sea ice due to the upward percolation of seawater and meltwater flushing during sea ice melt. Based on the change in TA in the water column around the onset of sea ice melt, more than half of the total ikaite precipitated in the ice during sea ice growth was still contained in the ice when the sea ice began to melt. Ikaite crystal dissolution in the water column kept the seawater pCO2 undersaturated with respect to the atmosphere in spite of increased salinity, TA and TCO2 associated with sea ice growth. Results indicate that ikaite export from sea ice and its dissolution in the underlying seawater can potentially hamper the effect of oceanic acidification on the aragonite saturation state (Ωaragonite) in fall and in winter in ice-covered areas, at the time when Ωaragonite is smallest.
Contribuições da produção de autoconsumo em quintais para a segurança alimentar e nutricional e renda em Jangada, Baixada Cuiabana, MT
Authors: Do Amaral Cleomara Nunes , Coelho-de-Souza Gabriela Peixoto , Schuch Ilaine , De Souza Marcelino
Published: September 2016

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é apresentar os resultados de pesquisa sobre a contribuição dos quintais na segurança alimentar e nutricional e nas rendas das famílias de agricultoras tradicionais. Para tal, foi constituída uma amostra aleatória proporcional ao tamanho da população e foram pesquisadas 90 famílias em 7 comunidades rurais do município de Jangada, Baixada Cuiabana, estado do Mato Grosso. Os dados foram coletados no período de agosto de 2012 a julho de 2013. Para a análise de consumo alimentar e aspectos de segurança alimentar das famílias, os dados foram coletados por meio da técnica de inquérito de consumo alimentar familiar. Mensurou-se o valor econômico do autoconsumo das famílias traduzido sob a forma de renda, considerando-se os preços praticados ao consumidor. A produção obtida oferece nutrientes importantes, ficando ausentes os alimentos mais ricos em minerais, os quais são produzidos em menor quantidade pelas famílias. A produção dos quintais parece não ser suficiente para garantir a segurança alimentar das famílias, especialmente no que se refere ao consumo de alguns macronutrientes e vitaminas em níveis adequados. No entanto, o autoconsumo, que muitas vezes se apresenta como uma renda invisível, contribui economicamente para a manutenção das famílias, bem como para garantir ao menos parcialmente a segurança alimentar dos agricultores e de suas famílias.
Alimento e comida: sistema de abastecimento e consumo alimentar urbano
Authors: Gomes Júnior Newton Narciso , Pinto Henrique Salles , Leda Luisa Corrêa
Published: September 2016

A criação dos supermercados e a disseminação do alimento industrializado foram fatores determinantes no processo de urbanização e industrialização do Brasil no que tange as problemáticas associadas à alimentação da população. Simultaneamente, vivenciamos o desaparecimento dos sistemas tradicionais de abastecimento e a substituição do consumo de alimentos in natura e socialmente referenciados por uma gama de produtos industrializados e prontos para consumo que vêm contribuindo com o intenso avanço de problemas crônicos de saúde e da degradação de práticas alimentares tradicionais. Pretende-se aqui refletir sobre a questão urbana e o sistema de varejo de alimentos e sua conexão com a atual transição alimentar. Ao analisar o pequeno varejo e as transformações associadas à disseminação dos supermercados, argumenta-se sobre a importância da construção de um novo sistema de abastecimento alimentar urbano assentado sobre a estrutura de equipamentos tradicionais de varejo, sobre produtos da agricultura camponesa e voltado ao atendimento dos requisitos necessários para a plena fruição do Direito Humano à Alimentação. Conclui-se que, para isso, é fundamental considerar-se diversas ações, sendo algumas delas a revitalização do sistema atacadista representado pelas Centrais de Abastecimento, o incentivo e apoio à implantação de empresas associativas, o desenvolvimento de programas de revitalização de mercados municipais e feiras livres.
Das nossas ciências ao diálogo intercientífico para a sustentabilidade alimentar e o desenvolvimento sustentável
Authors: Delgado Freddy , Rist Stephan , Jacobi Johanna , Delgado Mayra
Published: September 2016

Este artigo discute as ciências endógenas como um sistema de conhecimentos que pode contribuir para a segurança e a soberania alimentar. Toma como premissa fundamental o reconhecimento de que todos os sistemas de conhecimentos milenares do mundo são ciências com suas próprias epistemologias e ontologias e isto implica em diferentes visões de vida e valorações, como é o caso dos conceitos de alimento e medicina. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar e promover marcos teóricos e metodológicos que levem ao diálogo intercientífico de saberes entre os diferentes sistemas de conhecimento do mundo, considerando o pluralismo epistemológico e o surgimento e/ou recriação de paradigmas das ciências e o desenvolvimento, e propondo delineamentos a partir da praxis para fortalecer o corpus cognitivo das ciências endógenas que aportem à sustentabilidade alimentar e ao desenvolvimento sustentável. Pode-se afirmar que o diálogo de saberes que parte da revalorização da sabedoria das nações e povos indígenas camponeses do mundo (que chamamos de intraculturalidade) e a transdisciplinaridade (acadêmica), tem sido a base para sustentar um marco teórico-conceitual e metodológico que permite aportar à construção de novos paradigmas das ciências e o desenvolvimento que se concretiza no diálogo intercientífico.
Regulating Heterogeneous Utilities: A New Latent Class Approach with Application to the Norwegian Electricity Distribution Networks
Authors: Orea Luis , Jamasb Tooraj
Published: September 2016

Since the 1990s, electricity distribution networks in many countries have been subject to incentive regulation. The sector regulators aim to identify the best performing utilities as frontier firms to determine the relative efficiency of firms. This paper develops a nested latent class (NLC) model approach where unobserved differences in firm performance are modelled using two ‘zero inefficiency stochastic frontier’ (ZISF) models nested in a ‘latent class stochastic frontier’ (LCSF) model. This captures the unobserved differences due to technology or environmental conditions. A Monte Carlo simulation suggests that the proposed model does not suffer from identification problems. We illustrate the proposed model with an application to Norwegian distribution network utilities for the period 2004-2011. We find that the efficiency scores in both LCSF and ZISF models are biased, and some firms in the ZISF model are wrongly labelled as inefficient. Conversely, inefficient firms may be wrongly labelled as being fully efficient by the ZISF model.
Electrochemical Determination of Albendazole at Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Gowda Jayant I , Kantikar Rahul B , Harakuni Devaraddi G , Jadhav Kirankumar Y , Chanagoudar Vinay C , Nandibewoor Sharanappa T
Published: September 2016

In this article, the electrochemical behavior on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was investigated and the electrochemical parameters of albendazole (ALB) were calculated. ALB effectively accumulated on the GCE surface and caused a pair of redox peaks at around 1.095 V and 1.028 V and an oxidation peak at 0.844 V (versus saturated calomel electrode) in 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.0). Under optimized conditions, the anodic peak current was linear to the ALB concentration the range of 1.5 × 10−7 M to 4.0 × 10−5 M. The regression equation was: Ipa (10−6 A) = 0.79 [ALB] (μM) + 0.84 (R2 = 0.982). The detection limit 6.08 × 10−8 M was obtained. The proposed method was successfully used to determine ALB content in tablet samples, with satisfactory results.