bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Premium and Value-Added Private Labels
Authors: Labajo Victoria
Published: June 2016

The main purpose of this chapter is to gain insight into the latest trends in retailers' strategies in terms of private labels and their customer value proposition in the context of proliferating brands and multi-brand portfolios. The first part of this chapter provides a comprehensive review of research on evolving trends in private label strategy in addition to some conceptual considerations. It is followed by an analysis, based on a number of industry reports, of the resulting quality-value balance and PLs' performance across some representative countries. In addition, this chapter looks into some sustainable MMCG brands (organic, fair trade, etc.), with the focus on their presence in retailers worldwide, as an example of such premium PLs strategy. Finally, in order to further illustrate retailers' strategies and PLs role in this ever growing value-added niche market, this chapter will draw on sustainable Spanish FMCG market through a market-research case
Importance and Role of Retail Brands in a Non-Food Market
Authors: Warleta Gonzalo Moreno , Ventisca Mónica Díaz-Bustamante , Gallo María Puelles
Published: June 2016

Non-food vendors struggle to reduce customers churn when these shop for consumer goods: From simple coupons to sophisticated big-data-based loyalty systems, modern merchants undertake a range of initiatives to maintain customer loyalty to their stores. At the same time, while consensus exists on the fact that retail brands have the ability to generate store loyalty, this fact has seldom been empirically corroborated. Probably due to this lack of certainty, many non-food retailers use “private label” product strategies as a way to preserve healthy business ratios, such as revenue, contribution margin, operating profit, etc., far from the idea of developing customer loyalty to the store. This constitutes the main objective of our work: To prove the existence of a statistic correlation between Consumers' loyal attitudes and behaviors towards “private labels” and their loyalty towards The Store Brand Name that sponsors these brands.
Private Label in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Blázquez-Resino Juan José , Amatulli Cesare , Pino Giovanni
Published: June 2016

Tour operators and travel agencies who produce and sell tourism products under their own labels represent key players among the multiple intermediaries that exist in the tourism industry. This chapter aims to study the direct and indirect effects that the economic crisis has had on these private labels. The economic crisis had a moderate effect on tourism, but it also accelerated a number of changes that had been occurring in the sector. Through the study of the current situation and the one produced in recent years, this chapter develops a series of recommendations for traditional private labels to maintain their income and market position. We ascertained, in particular, that the new information and communications technology has led to a different market situation for tour operators and travel agency labels, which may disclose new opportunities in the process of differentiation and the creation of a competitive advantage.
India's Ocean Observation Network: Relevance to Society
Authors: Venkatesan Ramasamy , Sundar Ranganathan , Vedachalam Narayanaswamy , Jossia Joseph Karakunnel
Published: June 2016

AbstractSustained and real-time ocean observation systems using moored data buoys are vital for understanding ocean dynamics and the variability required for improving oceanographic services, including weather prediction, ocean state forecast, and climate change studies. This paper presents the effectiveness of India's moored data buoy network in capturing the response in the ocean during the cyclonic disturbances formed in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS) during the last 5-year period. The moored buoy network provided critical information about the evolution and intensification of low-pressure systems and supported the India Meteorological Department to improve prediction capabilities by incorporating real-time data. The lowest mean sea-level pressure of 920 hPa was recorded in the BoB during the very severe cyclonic storm Phailin. The warning systems adopted for the effective dissemination of the ocean forecast services to the user community have significantly reduced the loss of life and property in coastal states.
Osteoclast-Primed Foxp3+ CD8 T Cells Induce T-bet, Eomesodermin, and IFN-γ To Regulate Bone Resorption
Authors: Shashkova Elena V. , Trivedi Jahnavi , Cline-Smith Anna B. , Ferris Chloe , Buchwald Zachary S. , Gibbs Jesse , Novack Deborah , Aurora Rajeev
Published: June 2016

Osteoimmunology arose from the recognition that cytokines produced by lymphocytes can affect bone homeostasis. We have previously shown that osteoclasts, cells that resorb bone, act as APCs. Cross-presentation of Ags by osteoclasts leads to expression of CD25 and Foxp3, markers of regulatory T cells in the CD8 T cells. Octeoclast-induced Foxp3+ CD25+ regulatory CD8 T cells (OC-iTcREG) suppress priming of CD4 and CD8 T cells by dendritic cells. OC-iTcREG also limit bone resorption by osteoclasts, forming a negative feedback loop. In this study, we show that OC-iTcREG express concurrently T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes) and IFN-γ. Pharmacological inhibition of IκK blocked IFN-γ, T-bet, and Eomes production by TcREG. Furthermore, we show, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, NF-κB enrichment in the T-bet and Eomes promoters. We demonstrate that IFN-γ produced by TcREG is required for suppression of osteoclastogenesis and for degradation of TNFR-associated factor 6 in osteoclast precursors. The latter prevents signaling by receptor activator of NF-κB ligand needed for osteoclastogenesis. Knockout of IFN-γ rendered TcREG inefficient in preventing actin ring formation in osteoclasts, a process required for bone resorption. TcREG generated in vivo using IFN-γ−/− T cells had impaired ability to protect mice from bone resorption and bone loss in response to high-dose receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. The results of this study demonstrate a novel link between NF-κB signaling and induction of IFN-γ in TcREG and establish an important role for IFN-γ in TcREG-mediated protection from bone loss.
Severe acute lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia due to isolate tramadol poisoning
Authors: Granauro Patricia , Di Comite Vincenzo , Lippi Giuseppe , Marzi Umberto , Cervellin Gianfranco
Published: June 2016

The article describes a case of severe acute lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia after intentional ingestion of tramadol overdose.
Using Mount Fuji for diagnosis of tension pneumocephalus
Authors: Ak Rohat , Doğanay Fatih , Ecmel Onur Özge
Published: June 2016

Not available.
Observation of Network Dynamics of Ryanodine Receptors on Skeletal Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Membranes
Authors: Hu Hongli , Meng Xing
Published: June 2016

Rabbit muscle vesicles derived from sarcoplasmic reticulum were used as a material in studying networks of ryanodine receptors by cryo electron tomography. Three-dimensional analysis reveals the dynamical features of these networks. It was found that the connection angles were rotated along the transmembrane axis of ryanodine receptors. Majority of the connections was observed at domains 6/6 of ryanodine receptors while a small group of connections were showed at domains 9/10. The flexible rotation and connection shift seem to facilitate the extension of an annular network on the wall of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in a triad.
Physical activity counteracts tumor cell growth in colon carcinoma C26-injected muscles: an interim report
Authors: Hiroux Charlotte , Vandoorne Tijs , Koppo Katrien , De Smet Stefan , Hespel Peter , Berardi Emanuele
Published: June 2016

Skeletal muscle tissue is a rare site of tumor metastasis but is the main target of the degenerative processes occurring in cancer-associated cachexia syndrome. Beneficial effects of physical activity in counteracting cancer-related muscle wasting have been described in the last decades. Recently it has been shown that, in tumor xeno-transplanted mouse models, physical activity is able to directly affect tumor growth by modulating inflammatory responses in the tumor mass microenvironment. Here, we investigated the effect of physical activity on tumor cell growth in colon carcinoma C26 cells injected tibialis anterior muscles of BALB/c mice. Histological analyses revealed that 4 days of voluntary wheel running significantly counteracts tumor cell growth in C26-injected muscles compared to the non-injected sedentary controls. Since striated skeletal muscle tissue is the site of voluntary contraction, our results confirm that physical activity can also directly counteract tumor cell growth in a metabolically active tissue that is usually not a target for metastasis.
Comparison of proximally versus distally placed spatially distributed sequential stimulation electrodes in a dynamic knee extension task
Authors: Laubacher Marco , Aksöz Efe A. , Binder-Macleod Stuart , Hunt Kenneth J.
Published: June 2016

Spatially distributed sequential stimulation (SDSS) has demonstrated substantial power output and fatigue benefits compared to single electrode stimulation (SES) in the application of functional electrical stimulation (FES). This asymmetric electrode setup brings new possibilities but also new questions since precise placement of the electrodes is one critical factor for good muscle activation. The aim of this study was to compare the power output, fatigue and activation properties of proximally versus distally placed SDSS electrodes in an isokinetic knee extension task simulating knee movement during recumbent cycling. M. vastus lateralis and medialis of seven able-bodied subjects were stimulated with rectangular bi-phasic pulses of constant amplitude of 40 mA and at an SDSS frequency of 35 Hz for 6 min on both legs with both setups (i.e. n=14). Torque was measured during knee-extension movement by a dynamometer at an angular velocity of 110 deg/s. Mean power, peak power and activation time were calculated and compared for the initial and final stimulation phases, together with an overall fatigue index. Power output values (Pmean, Ppeak) were scaled to a standardised reference input pulse width of 100 μs (Pmean,s, Ppeak,s). The initial evaluation phase showed no significant differences between the two setups for all outcome measures. Ppeak and Ppeak,s were both significantly higher in the final phase for the distal setup (25.4 ± 8.1 W vs. 28.2 ± 6.2 W, p=0.0062 and 34.8 ± 9.5 W vs. 38.9 ± 6.7 W, p=0.021, respectively). With distal SDSS, there was modest evidence of higher Pmean and Pmean,s (p=0.071, p=0.14, respectively) but of longer activation time (p=0.096). The rate of fatigue was similar for both setups. For practical FES applications, distal placement of the SDSS electrodes is preferable.
An intermediate animal model of spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Guiho Thomas , Azevedo Coste Christine , Delleci Claire , Chenu Jean-Patrick , Vignes Jean-Rodolphe , Bauchet Luc , Guiraud David
Published: June 2016

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) result in the loss of movement and sensory feedback as well as organs dysfunctions. For example, nearly all SCI subjects loose their bladder control and are prone to kidney failure if they do not proceed to intermittent (self-) catheterization. Electrical stimulation of the sacral spinal roots with an implantable neuroprosthesis is a promising approach, with commercialized products, to restore continence and control micturition. However, many persons do not ask for this intervention since a surgical deafferentation is needed and the loss of sensory functions and reflexes become serious side effects of this procedure. Recent results renewed interest in spinal cord stimulation. Stimulation of existing pre-cabled neural networks involved in physiological processes regulation is suspected to enable synergic recruitment of spinal fibers. The development of direct spinal stimulation strategies aiming at bladder and bowel functions restoration would therefore appear as a credible alternative to existent solutions. However, a lack of suitable large animal model complicates these kinds of studies. In this article, we propose a new animal model of spinal stimulation -pig- and will briefly introduce results from one first acute experimental validation session.
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter cuniculorum isolated from rabbits reared in intensive and rural farms
Authors: Piva Silvia , Florio Daniela , Mion Domenico , Zanoni Renato Giulio
Published: June 2016

The present study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility in Campylobacter cuniculorum of 29 isolates on non-selective media from rabbits reared in 18 intensive and 11 rural farms not epidemiologically correlated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 antimicrobial agents was determined using the agar dilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), modified, for what concern the supplements in the base medium and incubation conditions, for C. cuniculorum isolates. The isolates obtained from rural farming resulted susceptible to all the antimicrobial agents tested, with the exception of one isolate resistant to nalidixic acid. All the isolates obtained from intensively farmed rabbits were sensitive to chloramphenicol and ampicillin; 16 isolates were resistant to tetracycline; 15 to nalidixic acid and erythromycin, 13 and 10 isolates to, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin respectively and only 1 to gentamicin. The resistance of several isolates to macrolides and fluoroquinolones, which represent the drugs of choice in treatment of human campylobacteriosis, could pose a risk to human health if a pathogenic role of C. cuniculorum was demonstrated.
Asymptomatic endoalveolar hemorrhage in a young male
Authors: Kafyeke Alain , Pomponio Giovanni , Balloni Andrea , Gambini Simona , Barbisan Francesca , Gabrielli Armando
Published: June 2016

We describe the case of a young male affected by granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting with non-specific complaints and complicated by the occurrence of a diffuse endoalveolar hemorrhage characterized by atypical clinical and radiological features. The importance of a rapid and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach has to be strongly underlined. Available data regarding prevalence, clinical and radiological characteristics and treatment of this uncommon manifestation have also been hereby reviewed.
An 81-year-old patient with recent diagnosis of classic testicular seminoma
Authors: Martins Sandro José , De Almeida José Carlos , Dos Santos Vitorino Modesto , Cançado Ana Carolina Vieira , Cavalcanti Giovanna Ferraz , Ribeiro Kelle Regina Alves
Published: June 2016

An old patient with recent diagnosis of classic seminoma is reported. The tumor of left testicle was heralded by tenderness about 30 days before medical attention and enlarged testis confirmation. There was antecedent of left testis hypotrophy treated with testosterone and a surgery for varicocele at 15 years of age. Clinical hypothesis of testicular tumor was strengthened by ultrasonography images and elevated tumor markers (lactate dehydrogenase, α-fetoprotein, and β-hCG). Radical orchiectomy was performed and a classic seminoma (pT1pNx) was diagnosed. Active waiting was the first choice for management, but six months later a retroperitoneal mass with lymph node enlargement were found, and he underwent four sessions of carboplatin (AUC 5), bleomycin and etoposide (BEP regimen). Asymptomatic, he was referred to outpatient surveillance on Oncology. Population-based studies about frequency and outcome of early-stage testis seminoma in elderly are scarce. Case studies might contribute to the knowledge about this condition.
Cryptococcal meningitis - a silent culprit behind delirium in a patient with Parkinson’s disease, on levodopa, presenting with urinary tract infection
Authors: Manappallil Robin
Published: June 2016

Patients with Parkinson’s disease are prone to mental disturbances like psychosis and delirium. Psychosis has been attributed to drugs like dopamine agonists, while delirium is commonly seen during the days of hospital stay and infections. This is a case of a 62-year-old lady, a known case of Parkinson’s disease on levodopa therapy, who has had repeated episodes of delirium over the past year. Her delirium episodes were usually associated with urinary tract infection and hyponatremia or as a part of levodopa therapy. However, this time on further evaluation, she was found to have cryptococcal meningitis as the culprit for her delirium.
Ulcers in congenital anemia
Authors: Fracchia Enzo , Cantello Carla , Gori Amerigo , Partsch Hugo , Forni Gianluca
Published: June 2016

Not available
The everyday experiences of early childhood caregivers: Challenges in an under-resourced community
Authors: Vorster Adri , Sacks Ashleigh , Amod Zaytoon , Seabi Joseph , Kern Anwynne
Published: June 2016

One factor that has been identified to enhance the early development of children is the care provided by caregivers outside the home environment. However, little research has been done in this regard in South Africa, where a significant number of children receive care outside their home environment. The current research study subsequently focused on the experiences of caregivers who work with young children in an under-resourced community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and revealed the following themes: the responsibility of being a role model; ECD is a place; and challenges for all. Overall, the participants in this sample yielded valuable information that contributes not only to our understanding of the experiences of caregivers in under-resourced communities but the information that also described how some contextual factors could arguably influence the type of care given to young children.
Using game theory to assess multi-company strategies in watershed management
Authors: Thompson Luke Ogilvie , Leoneti Alexandre Bevilacqua , Bañares-Alcántara René , Pires Eduardo Cleto
Published: June 2016

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the use of game theory as a strategic tool for watershed management decision-making. An engineering problem case study was used in which three organizations compare various scenarios when deciding where to locate a polluting plant on a watershed. Six games were modeled to provide a variety of conditions that could feasibly be implemented and were simulated using software for finding Nash Equilibria solutions. The results show that game theory can provide key insights, such as the consideration of other players’ strategies, and identify possible pitfalls that may occur when the companies seek only to maximize their individual profitability.
Índices de calidad ambiental de aguas del Arroyo Caañabe mediante tests microbiológicos y ecotoxicológico
Authors: López Arias Tomás Rodrigo , Fernández Peralta Virginia Florencia , Franco de Diana Deidamia Mercedes , Galeano Delgado Edgar Fidel , Alonso Márquez Fernando Salvador , Benítez Martínez Mónica Diana , López Vera María Eva , Ímas Ayala Helton , Bobadilla Giménez Nathalia , Benitez Resquín Liz Mariela , Mazó Bareiro Carlos Gustavo
Published: June 2016

El Arroyo Caañabe, es un curso de agua que corre a través de los Departamentos Central y Paraguarí (República del Paraguay). Las descargas de origen agropecuario, urbano e industrial contaminan sus aguas. En este trabajo se evalúa la calidad del arroyo mediante sus características fisicoquímicas, ecotoxicológicas, microbiológicas y se la comparan con la legislación vigente. Se colectaron muestras en los meses de Julio y Setiembre del año 2014. Se estudiaron tres sitios denominados S1, ubicado en aguas arriba de la Ciudad de Carapegua; S2 en la intersección del arroyo con la Ruta 1, y S3, en la zona límite de las ciudades de Carapegua y Nueva Italia. Se realizaron ensayos de toxicidad aguda con Daphnia magna, Lactuca sativa, y alevines de Danio rerio; además de ensayos crónicos en Tetradesmus wisconsinenesis, D. rerio y Allium cepa. Se evaluaron los grupos y especies microbianos siguientes: aerobios mesófilos, enterobacterias, coliformes totales, coliformes fecales, E. coli, Pseudomona aeruginosa, mohos y levaduras; además se determinaron índices de calidad y de contaminación. Los resultados indican que las aguas del arroyo presentaron características de clase II y de clase III según el padrón establecido por la Secretaría del Ambiente del Paraguay. El índice de calidad de agua (ICA) arrojó valores comprendidos entre 52 y 62 lo que otorga la clasificación de “regular”; mientras que el índice de contaminación trófica (ICOTRO) presentó valores entre 0,12 y 0.26, indicando “eutrofización”. Los recuentos de coliformes fueron superiores en el segundo muestreo, aunque dentro lo establecido por la norma. La presencia de P. aeruginosa en los tres puntos constituye un riesgo para la salud. Ensayos ecotoxicológicos agudos mostraron que las aguas presentan escasos efectos letales, no obstante los ensayos crónicos en A. cepa y el test de micronúcleos en D. rerio indican potenciales efectos citotóxicos y genotóxicos de las aguas del Arroyo Caañabe.
Behavioral changes in female Swiss mice exposed to tannery effluents
Authors: De Almeida Sabrina Ferreira , Rabelo Letícia Martins , Souza Joyce Moreira de , Ferreira Raíssa De Oliveira , Guimarães Abraão Tiago Batista , Pereira Caio César Oliveira , Rodrigues Aline Sueli de Lima , Malafaia Guilherme
Published: June 2016

Among the anthropic activities generating potentially toxic residues are those involved with bovine hide processing (tannery industries). However, knowledge is scant regarding the damage caused to the health of various organisms by tannery waste and studies are rare, especially in mammalian experimental models. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the physical and behavioral effects of the exposure of female Swiss mice to tannery effluent. To accomplish this, for a period of 15 days the animals were fed tannery effluent diluted with water in the following concentrations: 0% (control group, received only potable water), 5% and 10%. The body mass of the animals was evaluated at the beginning and end of the experiment, as well as the daily consumption of water and food. After 15 days of exposure to the effluent, the animals were submitted to the elevated plus maze (predictive of anxiety) and the forced swim test (predictive of depression). The treatments did not affect the animals’ body mass, either in eating behavior or in consumption of water. However, it was found that the animals that ingested tannery effluent concentrations of 5% and 10% exhibited an anxiolytic (lower level of anxiety, greater percentage of time in the open arms, longer time and frequency in the diving behavior, less time of lurks and less frequency of freezing) and an antidepressant effect (more time in climbing behavior and less time of immobility) when compared to the control group. It was concluded that the exposure of female Swiss mice to tannery effluents (5% and 10% diluted with water) causes behavioral changes, possibly related to the neurotoxicity of this waste, without causing physical changes in the animals.
Anisakiasis Causing Acute Dysentery in Malaysia
Authors: Amir Amirah , Ngui Romano , Ismail Wan Hafiz Wan , Wong Kum T. , Ong Jaxinthe S. K. , Lim Yvonne A. L. , Lau Yee-Ling , Mahmud Rohela
Published: June 2016

Human anisakiasis is a zoonosis acquired by eating raw or undercooked infected seafood. Herein, we report a case of acute dysentery caused by anisakiasis in a 64-year-old man in Malaysia. A colonoscopy was performed and a nematode larva was found penetrating the mucosa of the ascending colon. Bleeding was observed at the site of penetration. Y-shaped lateral epidermal cords were seen from the cross section of the worm, which is a prominent feature of Anisakis larva. Molecular analysis using polymerase chain reaction of cytochrome oxidase 2 (cox2) gene confirmed the specimen to be larva of Anisakis simplex.
Cross-Reactivity Pattern of Asian and American Human Gnathostomiasis in Western Blot Assays Using Crude Antigens Prepared from Gnathostoma spinigerum and Gnathostoma binucleatum Third-Stage Larvae
Authors: Neumayr Andreas , Ollague Jose , Bravo Francisco , Gotuzzo Eduardo , Jimenez Pedro , Norton Scott A. , Doanh Pham Ngoc , Nawa Yukifumi , Horii Yoichiro , Nickel Beatrice , Marti Hanspeter
Published: June 2016

Gnathostomiasis is a zoonotic parasitosis endemic in many Asian and some Latin American countries. Most human infections are caused by Gnathostoma spinigerum in Asia and Gnathostoma binucleatum in the Americas, and recently, imported cases have been increasing among travelers returning from endemic regions. Confirmation of the clinical diagnosis relies largely on serologic tests, with a G. spinigerum-antigen-based immunoblot currently being the diagnostic method of choice. However, we repeatedly experienced that sera from patients with clinically suspected American gnathostomiasis gave negative results in this assay. Therefore, we used homologous methods to prepare G. spinigerum- and G. binucleatum-antigen-based immunoblot assays, and evaluated the cross-reactivity of the two assays. The results show incomplete cross-reactivity between the two assays: the G. spinigerum-antigen-based immunoblot apparently only detects Asian gnathostomiasis caused by G. spinigerum, whereas the G. binucleatum-antigen-based immunoblot is apparently capable of detecting American as well as Asian gnathostomiasis.
Het onpersoonlijk passief in het Nederlands en het Zweeds
Authors: Rawoens Gudrun , Johansson Annika , Boons Heleen
Published: June 2016

The impersonal passive in Dutch and Swedish

This paper gives an account of the impersonal passive in Dutch and Swedish and has two goals: first, to define the impersonal passive and second, to offer a corpus-based study of impersonal passives in both languages. Impersonal passives are defined as passive constructions encoding actions with a general reference. They are made up of an overt expletive subject, viz. er ‘there’ in Dutch and det ‘it’ in Swedish, combined with a passive predicate. A contrastive study of the impersonal passive gives a wider and in-depth analysis of this structure in both languages by applying knowledge from two grammatical traditions. The empirical part of the study reveals that impersonal passives occur more frequently in Dutch than in Swedish. Moreover, the empirical data show that elements such as telicity, transitivity and control come into play in an interesting way in impersonal passives.
Age Differences in Self-Liking in Japan: The Developmental Trajectory of Self-Esteem from Elementary School to Old Age
Authors: Ogihara Yuji
Published: June 2016

The present research examined age differences in self-liking (an important component of self-esteem) across a broad range of the population in Japan, from elementary school students to the elderly. Previous research in the U.S. has shown that self-esteem levels in childhood are high, decline during adolescence, rise gradually in adulthood and drop in old age. However, it was unclear whether this pattern holds for other cultures. As self-esteem is significantly affected by culture, it is important to reveal its developmental trajectory not only in European American cultures, but also in other cultures. Therefore, the current research analyzed a large, highly representative cross-sectional dataset from Japan. Results showed that levels of self-liking were high for elementary school students, declined among middle school and high school students, and rose gradually among adults, replicating the developmental trajectory of self-esteem found in prior research.
Degree of ice particle surface roughness inferred from polarimetric observations
Authors: Hioki Souichiro , Yang Ping , Baum Bryan A. , Platnick Steven , Meyer Kerry G. , King Michael D. , Riedi Jerome
Published: June 2016

Abstract. The degree of surface roughness of ice particles within thick, cold ice clouds is inferred from multi-directional, multi-spectral satellite polarimetric observations over oceans, assuming a column-aggregate particle habit. An improved roughness inference scheme is employed that provides a more noise-resilient roughness estimate than the conventional best-fit approach. The improvements include the introduction of a quantitative roughness parameter based on empirical orthogonal function analysis and proper treatment of polarization due to atmospheric scattering above clouds. A global 1-month data sample supports the use of a severely roughened ice habit to simulate the polarized reflectivity associated with ice clouds over ocean. The density distribution of the roughness parameter inferred from the global 1-month data sample and further analyses of a few case studies demonstrate the significant variability of ice cloud single-scattering properties. However, the present theoretical results do not agree with observations in the tropics. In the extratropics, the roughness parameter is inferred but 74 % of the sample is out of the expected parameter range. Potential improvements are discussed to enhance the depiction of the natural variability on a global scale.
Constraining N2O emissions since 1940 using firn air isotope measurements in both hemispheres
Authors: Prokopiou M. , Martinerie P. , Sapart C. J. , Witrant E. , Monteil G. A. , Ishijima K. , Bernard S. , Kaiser J. , Levin I. , Sowers T. , Blunier T. , Etheridge D. , Dlugokencky E. , van de Wal R. S. W. , Röckmann T.
Published: June 2016

Abstract. N2O is currently the 3rd most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas in terms of radiative forcing and its atmospheric mole fraction is rising steadily. To quantify the growth rate and its causes, we performed a multi-site reconstruction of the atmospheric N2O mole fraction and isotopic composition using firn air data collected from Greenland and Antarctica in combination with a firn diffusion and densification model. The multi-site reconstruction showed that while the global mean N2O mole fraction increased from (290 ± 1) nmol mol−1 in 1940 to (322 ± 1) nmol mol−1 in 2008 the isotopic delta [values] of atmospheric N2O decreased by (−2.2 ± 0.2) ‰ for δ15Nav, (−1.0 ± 0.3) ‰ for δ18O, (−1.3 ± 0.6) ‰ for δ15Nα, and (−2.8 ± 0.6) ‰ for δ15Nβ over the same period. The detailed temporal evolution of the mole fraction and isotopic composition derived from the firn air model was then used in a two-box atmospheric model (comprising a stratospheric and a tropospheric box) to infer changes in the isotopic source signature over time. The precise value of the source strength depends on the choice of the N2O lifetime, which we choose to be 123−19+29 a. Adopting this lifetime results in total average source isotopic signatures of (−7.6 ± 0.8) ‰ (vs. Air-N2) for δ15Nav, (32.2 ± 0.2) ‰ (vs. VSMOW) for δ18O, (−3.0 ± 1.9) ‰ (vs. Air-N2) for δ15Nα, and (−11.7 ± 2.3) ‰ (vs. Air-N2) for δ15Nβ over the investigated period. δ15Nav and δ15Nβ show some temporal variability while the other source isotopic signatures remain unchanged. The 15N site-preference (= δ15Nα – δ15Nβ) can be used to reveal further information on the source emission origins. Based on the changes in the isotopes we conclude that the main contribution to N2O changes in the atmosphere since 1940 is from soils, with agricultural soils being the principal anthropogenic component which is in line with previous studies.
Differential absorption radar techniques: water vapor retrievals
Authors: Millán Luis , Lebsock Matthew , Livesey Nathaniel , Tanelli Simone
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Two radar pulses sent at different frequencies near the 183 GHz water vapor line can be used to determine total column water vapor and water vapor profiles (within clouds or precipitation) exploiting the differential absorption on and off the line. We assess these water vapor measurements by applying a radar instrument simulator to CloudSat pixels and then running end-to-end retrieval simulations. These end-to-end retrievals enable us to fully characterize not only the expected precision but also their potential biases, allowing us to select radar tones that maximize the water vapor signal minimizing potential errors due to spectral variations in the target extinction properties. A hypothetical CloudSat-like instrument with 500 m by  ∼  1 km vertical and horizontal resolution and a minimum detectable signal and radar precision of −30 and 0.16 dBZ, respectively, can estimate total column water vapor with an expected precision of around 0.03 cm, with potential biases smaller than 0.26 cm most of the time, even under rainy conditions. The expected precision for water vapor profiles was found to be around 89 % on average, with potential biases smaller than 77 % most of the time when the profile is being retrieved close to surface but smaller than 38 % above 3 km. By using either horizontal or vertical averaging, the precision will improve vastly, with the measurements still retaining a considerably high vertical and/or horizontal resolution.
New strategies for submicron characterization the carbon binding of reactive minerals in long-term contrasting fertilized soils: implications for soil carbon storage
Authors: Xiao Jian , He Xinhua , Hao Jialong , Zhou Ying , Zheng Lirong , Ran Wei , Shen Qirong , Yu Guanghui
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Mineral binding is a major mechanism for soil carbon (C) stabilization. However, the submicron information about the in situ mechanisms of different fertilization practices affecting organo-mineral complexes and associated C preservation remains unclear. Here, we applied nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) to examine differentiating effects of inorganic versus organic fertilization on interactions between highly reactive minerals and soil C preservation. To examine such interactions, soils and their extracted colloids were collected during a 24-year long-term fertilization period (1990–2014) (no fertilization, control; chemical nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization, NPK; and NPK plus swine manure fertilization, NPKM). The results for different fertilization conditions showed a ranked soil organic matter concentration with NPKM > NPK > control. Meanwhile, oxalate-extracted Al (Alo), Fe (Feo), short-range ordered Al (Alxps), Fe (Fexps), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) ranked with NPKM > control > NPK, but the ratios of DOC ∕ Alxps and DOC ∕ Fexps ranked with NPKM > NPK > control. Compared with the NPK treatment, the NPKM treatment enhanced the C-binding loadings of Al and Fe minerals in soil colloids at the submicron scale. Furthermore, a greater concentration of highly reactive Al and Fe minerals was presented under NPKM than under NPK. Together, these submicron-scale findings suggest that both the reactive mineral species and their associations with C are differentially affected by 24-year long-term inorganic and organic fertilization.
Shift in the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter in the Congo River network
Authors: Lambert Thibault , Bouillon Steven , Darchambeau François , Massicotte Philippe , Borges Alberto V.
Published: June 2016

Abstract. The role of river ecosystems in processing inputs of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the terrestrial environment during downstream transport in river networks is poorly constrained. In this study we report a data-set of DOM concentrations (dissolved organic carbon) and composition (stable carbon isotopic composition, absorption and fluorescence properties) acquired along a 1700 km stretch in the Congo River Basin, the second river in the World. Samples were collected in the main river and its tributaries in the central part of the Basin during high waters (HW) and falling waters (FW) periods. The longitudinal increase in DOC concentrations and changes in DOM characteristics along the mainstem was found to differ between the two periods, especially because of greater photodegradation of terrestrial inputs from the DOM-rich waters from the Cuvette Centrale during FW as water residence time (WRT) increased. DOM degradation within the Congo Basin was found to result in the transition from aromatic to aliphatic DOM, resulting from the losses of aromatic compounds by photodegradation and the production of aliphatic compound by biological degradation. This study highlights that landscape properties and changes in WRT can play a major role on the functioning of river ecosystems in processing DOM during its downstream transformation in river networks.
Automatic delineation of geomorphological slope-units and their optimization for landslide susceptibility modelling
Authors: Alvioli Massimiliano , Marchesini Ivan , Reichenbach Paola , Rossi Mauro , Ardizzone Francesca , Fiorucci Federica , Guzzetti Fausto
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Automatic subdivision of landscapes into terrain units remains a challenge. Slope-units are terrain units bounded by drainage and divide lines, but their use in hydrological and geomorphological studies is limited because of the lack of reliable software for their automatic delineation. We present the r.slopeunits software for the automatic delineation of slope-units, given a digital elevation model and a few input parameters. We further propose an approach for the selection of optimal parameters controlling the terrain subdivision for landslide susceptibility modelling. We tested the software and the optimization approach in Central Italy, where terrain, landslide, and geo-environmental information was available. The software was capable of capturing the variability of the landscape, and to partition the study area into slope-units suited for landslide susceptibility modelling and zonation. We expect r.slopeunits to be used in different physiographical settings for the production of reliable and reproducible landslide susceptibility zonations.
DeepMIP: experimental design for model simulations of the EECO, PETM, and pre-PETM
Authors: Lunt Daniel J. , Huber Matthew , Baatsen Michiel L. J. , Caballero Rodrigo , DeConto Rob , Donnadieu Yannick , Evans David , Feng Ran , Foster Gavin , Gasson Ed , von der Heydt Anna S. , Hollis Chris J. , Kirtland Turner Sandy , Korty Robert L. , Kozdon Reinhardt , Krishnan Srinath , Ladant Jean-Baptiste , Langebroek Petra , Lear Caroline H. , LeGrande Allegra N. , Littler Kate , Markwick Paul , Otto-Bliesner Bette , Pearson Paul , Poulsen Chris , Salzmann Ulrich , Shields Christine , Snell Kathryn , Starz Michael , Super James , Tabour Clay , Tierney Jess , Tourte Gregory J. L. , Upchurch Gary R. , Wade Bridget , Wing Scott L. , Winguth Arne M. E. , Wright Nicky , Zachos James C. , Zeebe Richard
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Past warm periods provide an opportunity to evaluate climate models under extreme forcing scenarios, in particular high (> 800 ppmv) atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although a post-hoc intercomparison of Eocene (~50 million years ago, Ma) climate model simulations and geological data has been carried out previously, models of past high-CO2 periods have never been evaluated in a consistent framework. Here, we present an experimental design for climate model simulations of three warm periods within the latest Paleocene and the early Eocene. Together these form the first phase of DeepMIP – the deeptime model intercomparison project, itself a group within the wider Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP). The experimental design consists of three core paleo simulations and a set of optional sensitivity studies. The experimental design specifies and provides guidance on boundary conditions associated with palaeogeography, greenhouse gases, orbital configuration, solar constant, land surface parameters, and aerosols. Initial conditions, simulation length, and output variables are also specified. Finally, we explain how the geological datasets, which will be used to evaluate the simulations, will be developed.
Estimation of surface energy fluxes in the Arctic tundra using the remote sensing thermal-based Two-Source Energy Balance model
Authors: Cristóbal Jordi , Prakash Anupma , Anderson Martha C. , Kustas William P. , Euskirchen Eugénie S. , Kane Douglas L.
Published: June 2016

Abstract. The Arctic has become generally a warmer place over the past decades leading to earlier snow melt, permafrost degradation and changing plant communities. Increases in precipitation and local evaporation in the Arctic, known as one of the acceleration components of the hydrologic cycle, coupled with land cover changes, have resulted in significant changes in the regional surface energy budget. Quantifying spatiotemporal trends in surface energy flux partitioning is a key to forecasting ecological responses to changing climate conditions in the Arctic regions. An extensive evaluation of the two-source energy balance model (TSEB) – a remote sensing-based model using thermal infrared retrievals of land–surface temperature – was performed using tower measurements collected over different tundra types in Alaska in all sky conditions over the full growing season from 2008 to 2012. Based on comparisons with flux tower observations, refinements in the original TSEB net radiation, soil heat flux and canopy transpiration parameterizations were identified for the unique Arctic tundra conditions. In particular, a revised method for estimating soil heat flux based on relationships with soil temperature was developed, resulting in significantly improved performance. These refinements result in mean flux errors around 50 W m−2 at half-hourly timesteps similar to errors typically reported in surface energy balance modeling studies conducted in more temperate climatic regimes. MODIS LAI remote sensing product proved to be useful for estimating energy fluxes in Arctic tundra in the absence of field data. This work builds toward a regional implementation of the TSEB model over Arctic tundra ecosystems, using thermal satellite remote sensing to assess response of surface fluxes to changing vegetation and climate conditions.
Quantifying uncertainty on sediment loads using bootstrap confidence intervals
Authors: Slaets Johanna I. F. , Piepho Hans-Peter , Schmitter Petra , Hilger Thomas , Cadisch Georg
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Load estimates are more informative than constituent concentrations alone, as they allow quantifying on- and off-site impacts of environmental processes concerning pollutants, nutrients and sediment, such as soil fertility loss, reservoir sedimentation and irrigation channel siltation. While statistical models used to predict constituent concentrations have been developed considerably over the last years, measures of uncertainty on constituent loads are rarely reported. Loads are the product of two predictions, constituent concentration and discharge, integrated over a time period, which makes it not straightforward to produce a standard error or a confidence interval. In this paper, a linear mixed model is used to estimate sediment concentrations. A bootstrap method is then developed that accounts for the uncertainty in the concentration and discharge predictions, allowing temporal correlation in the constituent data, and can be used when data transformations are required. The method was tested for a small watershed in Northwest Vietnam for the period 2010–2011. The results showed that confidence intervals were asymmetric, with the highest uncertainty on the upper limit, and that a load of 6262 Mg/year had a 95 % confidence interval of [4331, 12 267] in 2010 and a load of 5543 Mg had an interval of [3593, 8975] in 2011. Additionally, the approach demonstrated that direct estimates from the data were biased downwards compared to bootstrap median estimates. These results imply that constituent loads predicted from regression-type water quality models could frequently be underestimating sediment yields and their environmental impact.
MONITORING OF THE RIVERBEDS OF RIVERS DNIESTER AND TISZA OF THE CARPATHIAN REGION
Authors: Burshtynska K. , Shevchuk V. , Tretyak S. , Vekliuk V.
Published: June 2016

Abstract. The paper analyses the causes of riverbed shifts of the rivers Dniester and Tisza of the Carpathian region. Among these reasons are mostly climate, physical and geographical, and anthropogenic factors, including frequent floods, weak rocks and soils, logging, and removal of gravel and sand materials out of the channels. The research considers the transition of the Dniester and Tisza rivers from mountaineous area into the lowland. The analysis of these shifts has been carried out on the 100 km long sections over a 100-year period. We used topographic maps and space images, as well as special geological and soil maps, as materials for this research. We have determined that the shifts of the Dniester and Tisza riverbeds can reach up to 500-1000 m in some sections. We also analyze the risks and dangers that follow such shifts.
AN OBJECT-BASED METHOD FOR CHINESE LANDFORM TYPES CLASSIFICATION
Authors: Ding Hu , Tao Fei , Zhao Wufan , Na Jiaming , Tang Guo’an
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Landform classification is a necessary task for various fields of landscape and regional planning, for example for landscape evaluation, erosion studies, hazard prediction, et al. This study proposes an improved object-based classification for Chinese landform types using the factor importance analysis of random forest and the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). In this research, based on 1km DEM of China, the combination of the terrain factors extracted from DEM are selected by correlation analysis and Sheffield's entropy method. Random forest classification tree is applied to evaluate the importance of the terrain factors, which are used as multi-scale segmentation thresholds. Then the GLCM is conducted for the knowledge base of classification. The classification result was checked by using the 1:4,000,000 Chinese Geomorphological Map as reference. And the overall classification accuracy of the proposed method is 5.7% higher than ISODATA unsupervised classification, and 15.7% higher than the traditional object-based classification method.
PLASTIC AND GLASS GREENHOUSES DETECTION AND DELINEATION FROM WORLDVIEW-2 SATELLITE IMAGERY
Authors: Koc-San D. , Sonmez N. K.
Published: June 2016

Abstract. Greenhouse detection using remote sensing technologies is an important research area for yield estimation, sustainable development, urban and rural planning and management. An approach was developed in this study for the detection and delineation of greenhouse areas from high resolution satellite imagery. Initially, the candidate greenhouse patches were detected using supervised classification techniques. For this purpose, Maximum Likelihood (ML), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machines (SVM) classification techniques were applied and compared. Then, sieve filter and morphological operations were performed for improving the classification results. Finally, the obtained candidate plastic and glass greenhouse areas were delineated using boundary tracing and Douglas Peucker line simplification algorithms. The proposed approach was implemented in the Kumluca district of Antalya, Turkey utilizing pan-sharpened WorldView-2 satellite imageries. Kumluca is the prominent district of Antalya with greenhouse cultivation and includes both plastic and glass greenhouses intensively. When the greenhouse classification results were analysed, it can be stated that the SVM classification provides most accurate results and RF classification follows this. The SVM classification overall accuracy was obtained as 90.28%. When the greenhouse boundary delineation results were considered, the plastic greenhouses were delineated with 92.11% accuracy, while glass greenhouses were delineated with 80.67% accuracy. The obtained results indicate that, generally plastic and glass greenhouses can be detected and delineated successfully from WorldView-2 satellite imagery.