bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Providence Nighttime Bracing in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Bohl Daniel D. , Telles Connor J. , Golinvaux Nicholas S. , Basques Bryce A. , DeLuca Peter A. , Grauer Jonathan N.
Published: December 2014

Interest has increased in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis braces that are worn only part time. One such brace, the Providence brace, is being used with increasing frequency despite limited literature evaluating its ability to alter the natural course of disease. The authors retrospectively identified 34 patients meeting modified Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) inclusion criteria who were treated with the Providence brace. In accordance with SRS criteria, patients were followed for progression more than 5°, progression to more than 45°, and recommendation for or performance of surgical fusion. Seventeen (50%) patients progressed more than 5°, and 9 (26%) progressed to more than 45° and had fusion surgery recommended or performed. Noncompliance was associated with progression to more than 45° (
P
=.045) and having fusion surgery recommended or performed (
P
=.045). Males had a higher rate of progression more than 5° than did females (100% vs 41%;
P
=.015). This is only the second study of the Providence brace to be guided by SRS criteria. The somewhat higher rates of progression more than 5° reported in these 2 studies compared with those reported in earlier studies likely result from this distinction. This study suggests a rate of progression that is similar to or lower than rates reported in natural history studies, possibly supporting the efficacy of the Providence brace. Additional studies using SRS criteria, including high-quality randomized, controlled trials, will be important to further understanding the relative effectiveness of this and other bracing protocols. [
Orthopedics.
2014; 37(12):e1085–e1090.]
Human Dermal Allograft for Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
Authors: Kokkalis Zinon T. , Mavrogenis Andreas F. , Scarlat Marius , Christodoulou Michael , Vottis Christos , Papagelopoulos Panayiotis J. , Sotereanos Dean G.
Published: December 2014

Previously published studies reported variable results using various suture techniques and reconstruction options for massive rotator cuff tears. Therefore, the current authors retrospectively studied 21 consecutive patients/shoulders with massive rotator cuff tears treated from January 2005 to October 2011 with a human dermal allograft through a mini-open approach. Mean patient age was 58 years (range, 33–72 years). Mean follow-up was 29 months (range, 18–52 months). Ten patients underwent revision repair for a failed rotator cuff repair. The authors measured the tendon gap (mean, 1.7 cm) and acromiohumeral interval (mean, 6.5 mm). They evaluated pain, shoulder range of motion (ROM) and function, patient satisfaction with the operation and outcome, and complications. At last follow-up, all patients experienced significant pain relief (
P
=.001) and improved ROM (
P
=.001) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score (
P
=.001). Eighteen patients reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied and 3 reported that they were not satisfied with the operation and outcome. Comparison of outcomes between patients who underwent primary repair and those who underwent revision repair and between patients who had muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration grades 0 to II and those who had grades III to IV showed no statistically significant differences. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the size of the tendon gap and postoperative pain, ROM (except external rotation), and ASES score (
P
<.050). No significant correlation was observed between postoperative pain, ROM, and ASES score and the acromiohumeral interval (
P
>.050). Complications related to the dermal human allograft were not observed. [
Orthopedics.
2014; 37(12):e1108–e1116.]
Corneal Hysteresis, Corneal Resistance Factor, and Intraocular Pressure Measurements in Eyes Implanted With a Small Aperture Corneal Inlay
Authors: Agca Alper , Demirok Ahmet , Çelik Haci Ugur , van de Pol Corina , Çankaya Kadir Ilker , Çelik Nimet Burcu , Yasa Dilek , Yilmaz Ihsan , Yilmaz Ömer Faruk
Published: December 2014

PURPOSE:

To compare the postoperative corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) of eyes implanted with a small aperture corneal inlay versus fellow eyes.

METHODS:

Medical records of patients who underwent small aperture corneal inlay (KAMRA; AcuFocus, Inc., Irvine, CA) implantation were retrospectively reviewed. There were two groups: the implanted and non-implanted. Main outcome measures were CH, CRF, Goldmann-correlated intraocular pressure (IOP
g
), corneal-compensated IOP (IOP
cc
), and Goldmann applanation tonometry measurements performed preoperatively and at postoperative week 1 and months 1, 3, and 6.

RESULTS:

The study included 68 eyes of 34 patients. CH was higher in the implanted group when compared with the non-implanted group at postoperative week 1 (12.2 ± 3.1 vs 10.9 ± 1.7 mm Hg;
P
= .007) and month 1 (12.3 ± 2.5 vs 10.9 ± 1.8 mm Hg;
P
= .001). CRF was higher in the implanted group when compared with the non-implanted group at postoperative week 1 (11.9 ± 2.9 vs 10.7 ± 1.6 mm Hg;
P
= .003) and month 1 (12.5 ± 2.5 vs 10.4 ± 1.8 mm Hg;
P
< .001). IOP
cc
was higher in the implanted group when compared with the non-implanted group at only the first postoperative month (17.1 ± 3.5 vs 14.3 ± 2.9 mm Hg;
P
< .001). There were no statistically significant differences in Goldmann applanation tonometry or IOP
g
measurements between the two groups (
P
> .05). At the 3-month postoperative visit, all parameters had returned to baseline and there was no change at the 6-month visit.

CONCLUSIONS:

Implantation of the KAMRA corneal inlay does not induce a permanent change in CH or CRF. A transient increase in both was seen in the early postoperative period.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2014;30(12):831–836.]
¿La ilustre Compañía? Memoria y hagiografía a través de las vidas jesuitas de los padres Juan Eusebio Nieremberg y Alonso de Andrade (1643-1667)
Authors: Betrán José Luis
Published: December 2014

El estudio de los «Varones Ilustres de la Compañía de Jesús» (1643-1667), obra de los jesuitas españoles Juan Eusebio Nieremberg y Alonso de Andrade, permite conocer no solo las claves del discurso hagiográfico barroco en la construcción de una identidad comunitaria en el seno de la orden, sino, y más importante, la lectura política que se desprende de algunas de las vidas que la configuran, con especial atención a las referidas a los generales jesuitas, en el contexto de la crisis política y religiosa vivida por la Compañía de Jesús en España en tiempos de Felipe IV.
Tolerar la costumbre: Ferias y romerías en el siglo XVIII
Authors: Peña Díaz Manuel
Published: December 2014

Desde mediados del siglo XVIII, los gobiernos borbónicos se obsesionaron con la vigilancia del orden público, tras el motín de Esquilache pesó mucho el miedo a la multitud. Mientras, las autoridades episcopales, cercanas al jansenismo y con una aversión instintiva hacia lo popular, intentaron desterrar las supersticiones y la inmoralidad de los actos religiosos populares que el disciplinamiento tridentino no había conseguido erradicar. Pero tampoco las reformas y las represiones aplicadas durante el siglo XVIII tuvieron el alcance deseado. La actitud de la Iglesia fue prudente, limitándose a reafirmar la imagen de su autoridad y a erradicar lo que consideraba que profanaba notoriamente y en exceso. Esta actitud fue similar a la del Gobierno, si la represión podía provocar tensiones y sonoras protestas era mejor seguir tolerando la costumbre. A partir de numerosos indicios documentales sobre ferias y romerías, en este estudio de historia socio-cultural de la vida cotidiana se analizan las transgresiones, resistencias y negociaciones que se establecieron cuando las autoridades intentaron rematar el inacabado proyecto de disciplinamiento tridentino.
A dinâmica de centralização e descentralização politica e administrativa e a revisão da malha territorial municipal da região norte do Brasil (1988 – 2010)
Authors: Rocha Gilberto de Miranda
Published: December 2014

Este artigo1 tem por objetivo analisar as alterações na malha territorial municipal da Região Norte do Brasil no período entre 1988 a 2010. A revisão da malha político – administrativa municipal no Brasil, se associa diretamente à múltiplos fatores, entre os quais destacamos: as mudanças na ordem política e institucional brasileira, principalmente, no que diz respeito a alternância de períodos de centralização e descentralização político administrativa; a redistribuição da população no território e ao processo de urbanização. Esses fatores foram significativos na Região Norte do Brasil. No período entre 1988 a 2010,a referida região conheceu, em termos percentuais, o maior índice de crescimento do número de municípios no país, 119%. Igualmente, presenciou profundas transformações demográficas: mudanças na distribuição populacional com a interiorização do povoamento e a urbanização. As taxas relativas ao ritmo de crescimento da população urbana na região foram superiores á média nacional
HEMODYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF CAROTID SIPHON WITH UNILATERAL STENOSIS: SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTERIAL GEOMETRY
Authors: Zhang Chi , Xie Sheng , Li Shuyu , Pu Fang , Fan Yubo , Li Deyu
Published: December 2014

Geometry of arteries has been considered as an important risk factor for atherosclerosis, because it influences the local hemodynamics. But the effect of the arterial shape on the internal carotid arterial (ICA) stenosis remains unknown. Four subjects with two geometrically different ICAs, diagnosed with unilateral stenosis, were investigated to clarify the association between the ICA shape and the stenosis. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images of the two branches of ICA were acquired from the subject, and reconstructed into 3D models. The bifurcations and taper of the ICAs were removed. The pulsatile flow in the models was computationally simulated to evaluate the effect of the arterial geometry on hemodynamics. Because of the different geometry between the two branches of ICAs, the hemodynamic pattern is obviously different. The wall shear stress gradient (WSSG) and oscillating shear index (OSI) is lower in the left ICA branches, where helical flow is found, because of the large nonplanarity of bends. The difference of the arterial geometry is probably the only reason for the stenosis in this study. Furthermore, the planarity of the carotid siphon is the only geometric factor that is significantly different between the two branches. Consequently, the planarity is considered as the most important geometric factor for stenosis in ICAs.
The Adam Williams Initiative: Collaborating With Community Resources to Improve Care for Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Bader Mary Kay , Stutzman Sonja E. , Palmer Sylvain , Nwagwu Chiedozie I. , Goodman Gary , Whittaker Margie , Olson Daiwai M.
Published: December 2014

Background

The Brain Trauma Foundation has developed treatment guidelines for the care of patients with acute traumatic brain injury. However, a method to provide broad acceptance and application of these guidelines has not been published.

Objective

To describe methods for the development, funding, and continued educational efforts of the Adam Williams Initiative; the experiences from the first 10 years may serve as a template for hospitals and nurses that seek to engage in long-term quality improvement collaborations with foundations and/or industry.

Methods

In 2004, the nonprofit Adam Williams Initiative was established with the goal of providing education and resources that would encourage hospitals across the United States to incorporate the Brain Trauma Foundation’s guidelines into practice.

Results

Between 2004 and 2014, 37 hospitals have been funded by the Adam Williams Initiative and have had staff members participate in an immersion experience at Mission Hospital (Mission Viejo, California) during which team members received both didactic and hands-on education in the care of traumatic brain injury.

Conclusions

Carefully cultivated relationships and relentless teamwork have contributed to successful implementation of the Brain Trauma Foundation’s guidelines in US hospitals.
Introduction to Complementary, Alternative, and Traditional Therapies
Authors: Kramlich Debra
Published: December 2014

The use of complementary, alternative, and traditional therapies is increasing in the United States, and patients and their families are bringing these practices into the acute care setting. Acute and critical care nurses are in a unique and trusted position to advocate for their patients and to promote safe incorporation of complementary, alternative, and traditional therapies into the plan of care.
Mucinous Urothelial Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis
Authors: Behzatğlu Kemal , Boyaci Ceren , Okçu Oğuzhan , Hacihasanoğlu Ezgi , Çakir Yasemin , Darakçi Seher
Published: December 2014

Urothelial carcinoma with abundant myxoid stroma is a newly-described and extremely rare entity. Since only very few cases have been reported, there is no consensus on its nomenclature. Microscopic examination revealed invasive urothelial carcinoma with widespread low-grade noninvasive areas. There were focal invasive areas in the neighborhood of the renal parenchyma. Malignant urothelial tumor/cell groups localized in the stroma had abundant myxoid/mucinous background in the invasive areas. The cytoplasm of the tumoral cells was more eosinophilic in these areas and the cells formed small groups and cords. Histochemically, PAS and Alcian Blue were positive in the cytoplasm of the tumoral cells and in the stroma while negative in the non-mucinous areas. Immunohistochemically, the tumoral cells of the mucinous invasive areas diffusely expressed MUC1 and MUC2. We discuss the origin of the mucinous/myxoid stroma, the tumor's nature and its nomenclature with histochemical and immunohistochemical features.
Icings in the Great Slave region (1985-2014), Northwest Territories, mapped from Landsat Imagery
Authors: Morse P D , Wolfe S A
Published: December 2014

Icings are sheet-like masses of layered ice that form over the winter by freezing of successive flows of water on the ground surface or on top of river or lake ice. Because icings can negatively impact the performance of seasonal and all-season roads, they are a
transportation risk in the Arctic. Therefore, maps of their occurrence and reoccurrence provide important geoscience information required for development and transportation infrastructure planning. In this study, threshold values of band ratios were used to derive a set of icing maps from Landsat
image time series of images (1985 - 2014), located within the Slave Geological Province (WRS-2 Path 47/Row 16). The icings maps were generated using image data acquired in late-spring when the region is largely snow-free, but ice bodies remain. A water mask created from summer image data was used to
differentiate frozen water bodies so any remaining ice was considered to be land-fast, and thus icings formed from winter overland flow of water. Icing occurrence and reoccurrence maps were generated by overlaying the successive icing distribution maps in a Geographic Information System. This Open
File contains digital, georeferenced icing data.
SWAMP: Sliding Window Alignment Masker for PAML
Authors: Harrison Peter W. , Jordan Gregory E. , Montgomery Stephen H.
Published: December 2014

With the greater availability of genetic data, large genome-wide scans for positive selection increasingly incorporate data from a range of sources. These data sets may be derived from different sequencing methods, each of which has potential sources of error. Sequencing errors, compounded by alignment errors, greatly increase the number of false positives in tests for adaptive evolution. Genome-wide analyses often fail to fully address these issues or to provide sufficient detail on postalignment masking/filtering. Here, we introduce a Sliding Window Alignment Masker for Phylogenetic Analysis by Maximum Likelihood (SWAMP) that scans multiple-sequence alignments for short regions enriched with unreasonably high rates of nonsynonymous substitutions caused, for example, by sequence or alignment errors. SWAMP prevents their inclusion in downstream evolutionary analyses and therefore increases the reliability of downstream analyses. It is able to effectively mask short stretches of erroneous sequence, particularly prevalent in low-coverage genomes, which may not be detected by existing methods based on filtering by sitewise conservation or alignment confidence. SWAMP offers a flexible masking approach, and the user can apply different masking regimens to specific branches or sequences in the phylogeny allowing the stringency of masking to vary according to branch length, expected divergence levels, or assembly quality. We exemplify SWAMPs effectiveness on a dataset of 6,379 protein-coding genes from primate species, including data of variable quality. Full reporting of the software parameters will further improve the reproducibility of genome-wide analyses, as well as reduce false-positive rates.

Availability

SWAMP is freely available, published under GNU GPL v3, including documentation and example test data from http://github.com/peterwharrison/SWAMP
Stratospheric lifetime ratio of CFC-11 and CFC-12 from satellite and model climatologies
Authors: Hoffmann L. , Hoppe C. M. , Müller R. , Dutton G. S. , Gille J. C. , Griessbach S. , Jones A. , Meyer C. I. , Spang R. , Volk C. M. , Walker K. A.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) play a key role in stratospheric ozone loss and are strong infrared absorbers that contribute to global warming. The stratospheric lifetimes of CFCs are a measure of their stratospheric loss rates that are needed to determine global warming and ozone depletion potentials. We applied the tracer–tracer correlation approach to zonal mean climatologies from satellite measurements and model data to assess the lifetimes of CFCl3 (CFC-11) and CF2Cl2 (CFC-12). We present estimates of the CFC-11/CFC-12 lifetime ratio and the absolute lifetime of CFC-12, based on a reference lifetime of 52 years for CFC-11. We analyzed climatologies from three satellite missions, the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment-Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), the HIgh Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS), and the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). We found a CFC-11/CFC-12 lifetime ratio of 0.47±0.08 and a CFC-12 lifetime of 112(96–133) years for ACE-FTS, a ratio of 0.46±0.07 and a lifetime of 113(97–134) years for HIRDLS, and a ratio of 0.46±0.08 and a lifetime of 114(98–136) years for MIPAS. The error-weighted, combined CFC-11/CFC-12 lifetime ratio is 0.46±0.04 and the CFC-12 lifetime estimate is 113(103–124) years. These results agree with the recent Stratosphere-troposphere Processes And their Role in Climate (SPARC) reassessment, which recommends lifetimes of 52(43–67) years and 102(88–122) years, respectively. Having smaller uncertainties than the results from other recent studies, our estimates can help to better constrain CFC-11 and CFC-12 lifetime recommendations in future scientific studies and assessments. Furthermore, the satellite observations were used to validate first simulation results from a new coupled model system, which integrates a Lagrangian chemistry transport model into a climate model. For the coupled model we found a CFC-11/CFC-12 lifetime ratio of 0.48±0.07 and a CFC-12 lifetime of 110(95–129) years, based on a 10-year perpetual run. Closely reproducing the satellite observations, the new model system will likely become a useful tool to assess the impact of advective transport, mixing, and photochemistry as well as climatological variability on the stratospheric lifetimes of long-lived tracers.
Chemical composition, sources, and processes of urban aerosols during summertime in northwest China: insights from high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometry
Authors: Xu J. , Zhang Q. , Chen M. , Ge X. , Ren J. , Qin D.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. An Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) was deployed along with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP) to measure the temporal variations of the mass loading, chemical composition, and size distribution of submicron particulate matter (PM1) in Lanzhou, northwest China, during 11 July–7 August 2012. The average (PM1 mass concentration including non-refractory (PM1 (NR-(PM1) measured by HR-ToF-AMS and black carbon (BC) measured by MAAP during this study was 24.5 μg m−3 (ranging from 0.86 to 105 μg m−3), with a mean composition consisting of 47% organics, 16% sulfate, 12% BC, 11% ammonium, 10% nitrate, and 4% chloride. Organic aerosol (OA) on average consisted of 70% carbon, 21% oxygen, 8% hydrogen, and 1% nitrogen, with the average oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O / C) of 0.33 and organic mass-to-carbon ratio (OM / OC) of 1.58. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) of the high-resolution organic mass spectra identified four distinct factors which represent, respectively, two primary OA (POA) emission sources (traffic and food cooking) and two secondary OA (SOA) types – a fresher, semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA) and a more aged, low-volatility oxygenated OA (LV-OOA). Traffic-related hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA) and BC displayed distinct diurnal patterns, both with peak at ~ 07:00–11:00 (BJT: UTC +8), corresponding to the morning rush hours, while cooking-emission related OA (COA) peaked during three meal periods. The diurnal profiles of sulfate and LV-OOA displayed a broad peak between ~ 07:00 and 15:00, while those of nitrate, ammonium, and SV-OOA showed a narrower peak between ~ 08:00–13:00. The later morning and early afternoon maximum in the diurnal profiles of secondary aerosol species was likely caused by downward mixing of pollutants aloft, which were likely produced in the residual layer decoupled from the boundary layer during nighttime. The mass spectrum of SV-OOA was similar to that of coal combustion aerosol and likely influenced by coal combustion activities in Lanzhou during summer. The sources of BC were estimated by a linear decomposition algorithm that uses the time series of the NR-PM1 components. Our results indicate that a main source of BC was local traffic (47%) and that transport of regionally processed air masses also contributed significantly to BC observed in Lanzhou. Finally, the concentration and source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were evaluated.
Contrasting effects of invasive insects and fire on ecosystem water use efficiency
Authors: Clark K. L. , Skowronski N. S. , Gallagher M. R. , Renninger H. , Schäfer K. V. R.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. We used eddy covariance and meteorological measurements to estimate net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE), gross ecosystem production (GEP), evapotranspiration (Et), and ecosystem water use efficiency (WUEe; calculated as GEP / Et during dry canopy conditions) in three upland forests in the New Jersey Pinelands, USA, that were defoliated by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) or burned using prescribed fire. Before disturbance, half-hourly daytime NEE during full sunlight conditions, daily GEP, and daily WUEe during the summer months were greater at the oak-dominated stand compared to the mixed or pine-dominated stands. Both defoliation by gypsy moth and prescribed burning reduced stand leaf area and nitrogen mass in foliage. During complete defoliation in 2007 at the oak stand, NEE during full sunlight conditions and daily GEP during the summer averaged only 14 and 35% of pre-disturbance values. Midday NEE and daily GEP then averaged 58 and 85%, and 71 and 78% of pre-defoliation values 1 and 2 years following complete defoliation, respectively. Prescribed fires conducted in the dormant season at the mixed and pine-dominated stands reduced NEE during full sunlight conditions and daily GEP during the following summer to 57 and 68%, and 79 and 82% of pre-disturbance values, respectively. Daily GEP during the summer was a strong function of N mass in foliage at the oak and mixed stands, but a weaker function of N in foliage at the pine-dominated stand. Ecosystem WUEe during the summer at the oak and mixed stands during defoliation by gypsy moth averaged 1.6 and 1.1 g C kg H2O−1, representing 60 and 46% of pre-disturbance values. In contrast, prescribed fires at the mixed and pine-dominated stands had little effect on WUEe. Two years following complete defoliation by gypsy moth, WUEe during the summer averaged 2.1 g C kg H2O−1, 80% of pre-disturbance values. WUEe was correlated with canopy N content only at the oak-dominated stand. Overall, our results indicate that WUEe during and following non-stand replacing disturbance is dependent on both the type and time since disturbance.
Effect of ablation rings and soil temperature on 3-year spring CO2 efflux along the Dalton Highway, Alaska
Authors: Kim Y.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Winter and spring soil CO2 efflux measurements represent a significant component in the assessment of annual carbon budgets of tundra and boreal forest ecosystems, reflecting responses to climate change in the Arctic. This study was conducted in order to quantify CO2 efflux, using a portable chamber system at representative sites along the Dalton Highway. Study sites included three tundra, two white spruce, and three black spruce forest locations during the winter and spring seasons of 2010–2012; the study of these sites promised better understanding of winter and spring carbon contributions to the annual carbon budget, as well as the respective ablation-ring effects during spring. Three-year spring CO2 efflux depends on soil temperature at 5 cm depth on a regional scale. At their highest, Q10 values were 4.2 × 106, within the exposed tussock tundra of the upland tundra site, which tundra soils warmed from −0.9 to 0.5 °C, involving soil microbial activity. From the forest census (400 m2) of the two white spruce forest sites, CO2 emissions were estimated as 0.09–0.36 gC m−2 day−1 in winter and 0.14–4.95 gC m−2 day−1 in spring, corresponding to 1–3% and 1–27% of annual carbon, respectively. Contributions from spring CO2 emissions are likely to increase as exposed soils widen in average length (major axis) from the east-, west-, south-, and north-side lengths (minor axis). Considering the periods of winter and spring seasons across tundra and boreal forests, average winter- and spring-seasonal CO2 contributions to annual carbon budgets correspond roughly to 14–22% for tundra and 9–24% for boreal forest sites during 2011 and 2012. Spring carbon contributions, such as growing season CO2 emissions, are sensitive to subtle changes at the onset of spring and during the snow-covered period in northern high latitudes, in response to recent Arctic climate change.
Terrestrial cycling of 13CO2 by photosynthesis, respiration, and biomass burning in SiBCASA
Authors: van der Velde I. R. , Miller J. B. , Schaefer K. , van der Werf G. R. , Krol M. C. , Peters W.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. We present an enhanced version of the SiBCASA terrestrial biosphere model that is extended with (a) biomass burning emissions from the SiBCASA carbon pools using remotely sensed burned area from the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED), (b) an isotopic discrimination scheme that calculates 13C signatures of photosynthesis and autotrophic respiration, and (c) a separate set of 13C pools to carry isotope ratios into heterotrophic respiration. We quantify in this study the terrestrial exchange of CO2 and 13CO2 as a function of environmental changes in humidity and biomass burning. The implementation of biomass burning yields similar fluxes as CASA-GFED both in magnitude and spatial patterns. The implementation of isotope exchange gives a global mean discrimination value of 15.2‰, ranges between 4 and 20‰ depending on the photosynthetic pathway in the plant, and compares favorably (annually and seasonally) with other published values. Similarly, the isotopic disequilibrium is similar to other studies that include a small effect of biomass burning as it shortens the turnover of carbon. In comparison to measurements, a newly modified starch/sugar storage pool propagates the isotopic discrimination anomalies to respiration much better. In addition, the amplitude of the drought response by SiBCASA is lower than suggested by the measured isotope ratios. We show that a slight increase in the stomatal closure for large vapor pressure deficit would amplify the respired isotope ratio variability. Our study highlights the importance of isotope ratio observations of 13C to assess and improve biochemical models like SiBCASA, especially with regard to the allocation and turnover of carbon and the responses to drought.
Estimated stocks of circumpolar permafrost carbon with quantified uncertainty ranges and identified data gaps
Authors: Hugelius G. , Strauss J. , Zubrzycki S. , Harden J. W. , Schuur E. A. G. , Ping C.-L. , Schirrmeister L. , Grosse G. , Michaelson G. J. , Koven C. D. , O'Donnell J. A. , Elberling B. , Mishra U. , Camill P. , Yu Z. , Palmtag J. , Kuhry P.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Soils and other unconsolidated deposits in the northern circumpolar permafrost region store large amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC). This SOC is potentially vulnerable to remobilization following soil warming and permafrost thaw, but SOC stock estimates were poorly constrained and quantitative error estimates were lacking. This study presents revised estimates of permafrost SOC stocks, including quantitative uncertainty estimates, in the 0–3 m depth range in soils as well as for sediments deeper than 3 m in deltaic deposits of major rivers and in the Yedoma region of Siberia and Alaska. Revised estimates are based on significantly larger databases compared to previous studies. Despite this there is evidence of significant remaining regional data gaps. Estimates remain particularly poorly constrained for soils in the High Arctic region and physiographic regions with thin sedimentary overburden (mountains, highlands and plateaus) as well as for deposits below 3 m depth in deltas and the Yedoma region. While some components of the revised SOC stocks are similar in magnitude to those previously reported for this region, there are substantial differences in other components, including the fraction of perennially frozen SOC. Upscaled based on regional soil maps, estimated permafrost region SOC stocks are 217 ± 12 and 472 ± 27 Pg for the 0–0.3 and 0–1 m soil depths, respectively (±95% confidence intervals). Storage of SOC in 0–3 m of soils is estimated to 1035 ± 150 Pg. Of this, 34 ± 16 Pg C is stored in poorly developed soils of the High Arctic. Based on generalized calculations, storage of SOC below 3 m of surface soils in deltaic alluvium of major Arctic rivers is estimated as 91 ± 52 Pg. In the Yedoma region, estimated SOC stocks below 3 m depth are 181 ± 54 Pg, of which 74 ± 20 Pg is stored in intact Yedoma (late Pleistocene ice- and organic-rich silty sediments) with the remainder in refrozen thermokarst deposits. Total estimated SOC storage for the permafrost region is ∼1300 Pg with an uncertainty range of ∼1100 to 1500 Pg. Of this, ∼500 Pg is in non-permafrost soils, seasonally thawed in the active layer or in deeper taliks, while ∼800 Pg is perennially frozen. This represents a substantial ∼300 Pg lowering of the estimated perennially frozen SOC stock compared to previous estimates.
Nitrous oxide emission budgets and land-use-driven hotspots for organic soils in Europe
Authors: Leppelt T. , Dechow R. , Gebbert S. , Freibauer A. , Lohila A. , Augustin J. , Drösler M. , Fiedler S. , Glatzel S. , Höper H. , Järveoja J. , Lærke P. E. , Maljanen M. , Mander Ü. , Mäkiranta P. , Minkkinen K. , Ojanen P. , Regina K. , Strömgren M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Organic soils are a main source of direct emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), an important greenhouse gas (GHG). Observed N2O emissions from organic soils are highly variable in space and time, which causes high uncertainties in national emission inventories. Those uncertainties could be reduced when relating the upscaling process to a priori-identified key drivers by using available N2O observations from plot scale in empirical approaches. We used the empirical fuzzy modelling approach MODE to identify main drivers for N2O and utilize them to predict the spatial emission pattern of European organic soils. We conducted a meta-study with a total amount of 659 annual N2O measurements, which was used to derive separate models for different land use types. We applied our models to available, spatially explicit input driver maps to upscale N2O emissions at European level and compared the inventory with recently published IPCC emission factors. The final statistical models explained up to 60% of the N2O variance. Our study results showed that cropland and grasslands emitted the highest N2O fluxes 0.98 ± 1.08 and 0.58 ± 1.03 g N2O-N m−2 a−1, respectively. High fluxes from cropland sites were mainly controlled by low soil pH value and deep-drained groundwater tables. Grassland hotspot emissions were strongly related to high amount of N-fertilizer inputs and warmer winter temperatures. In contrast, N2O fluxes from natural peatlands were predominantly low (0.07 ± 0.27 g N2O-N m−2 a−1) and we found no relationship with the tested drivers. The total inventory for direct N2O emissions from organic soils in Europe amount up to 149.5 Gg N2O-N a−1, which also included fluxes from forest and peat extraction sites and exceeds the inventory calculated by IPCC emission factors of 87.4 Gg N2O-N a−1. N2O emissions from organic soils represent up to 13% of total European N2O emissions reported in the European Union (EU) greenhouse gas inventory of 2011 from only 7% of the EU area. Thereby the model demonstrated that the major part (85%) of the inventory is induced by anthropogenic management, which shows the significant reduction potential by rewetting and extensification of agriculturally used peat soils.
Physical and chemical characterization of biochars derived from different agricultural residues
Authors: Jindo K. , Mizumoto H. , Sawada Y. , Sanchez-Monedero M. A. , Sonoki T.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Biochar is widely recognized as an efficient tool for carbon sequestration and soil fertility. The understanding of its chemical and physical properties, which are strongly related to the type of the initial material used and pyrolysis conditions, is crucial to identify the most suitable application of biochar in soil. A selection of organic wastes with different characteristics (e.g., rice husk (RH), rice straw (RS), wood chips of apple tree (Malus pumila) (AB), and oak tree (Quercus serrata) (OB)) were pyrolyzed at different temperatures (400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C) in order to optimize the physicochemical properties of biochar as a soil amendment. Low-temperature pyrolysis produced high biochar yields; in contrast, high-temperature pyrolysis led to biochars with a high C content, large surface area, and high adsorption characteristics. Biochar obtained at 600 °C leads to a high recalcitrant character, whereas that obtained at 400 °C retains volatile and easily labile compounds. The biochar obtained from rice materials (RH and RS) showed a high yield and unique chemical properties because of the incorporation of silica elements into its chemical structure. The biochar obtained from wood materials (AB and OB) showed high carbon content and a high absorption character.
Annual proxy data from Lago Grande di Monticchio (southern Italy) between 76 and 112 ka: new chronological constraints and insights on abrupt climatic oscillations
Authors: Martin-Puertas C. , Brauer A. , Wulf S. , Ott F. , Lauterbach S. , Dulski P.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. We present new annual sedimentological proxies and sub-annual element scanner data from the Lago Grande di Monticchio (MON) sediment record for the sequence 76–112 thousand years before present (ka). They are combined with the previously published decadal to centennial resolved pollen assemblage in order to provide a comprehensive reconstruction of six major abrupt stadial spells (MON 1–6) in the central Mediterranean during the early phase of the last glaciation. These climatic oscillations are defined by intervals of thicker varves and high Ti-counts and coincide with episodes of forest depletion interpreted as Mediterranean stadial conditions (cold winter/dry summer). Our chronology, labelled as MON-2014, has been updated for the study interval by tephrochronology and repeated and more precise varve counts and is independent from ice-core and speleothem chronologies. The high-resolution Monticchio data then have been compared in detail with the Greenland ice-core δ18O record (NorthGRIP) and the northern Alps speleothem δ18Ocalcite data (NALPS). Based on visual inspection of major changes in the proxy data, MON 2–6 are suggested to correlate with Greenland stadials (GS) 25–20. MON 1 (Woillard event), the first and shortest cooling spell in the Mediterranean after a long phase of stable interglacial conditions, has no counterpart in the Greenland ice core, but coincides with the lowest isotope values at the end of the gradual decrease in δ18Oice in NorthGRIP during the second half of the Greenland interstadial (GI) 25. MON 3 is the least pronounced cold spell and shows gradual transitions, whereas its NorthGRIP counterpart GS 24 is characterized by sharp changes in the isotope records. MON 2 and MON 4 are the longest and most pronounced oscillations in the MON sediments in good agreement with their counterparts identified in the ice and spelethem records. The length of MON 4 (correlating with GS 22) supports the duration of stadial proposed by the NALPS timescales and suggests ca. 500 year longer duration than calculated by the ice-core chronologies GICC05modelext and AICC2012. Absolute dating of the cold spells provided by the MON-2014 chronology shows good agreement among the MON-2014, the GICC05modelext and the NALPS timescales for the period between 112 and 100 ka. In contrast, the MON-2014 varve chronology dates the oscillations MON 4 to MON 6 (92–76 ka) as ca. 3500 years older than the most likely corresponding stadials GS 22 to GS 20 by the other chronologies.
Continued increase in atmospheric CO2 seasonal amplitude in the 21st century projected by the CMIP5 Earth system models
Authors: Zhao F. , Zeng N.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. In the Northern Hemisphere, atmospheric CO2 concentration declines in spring and summer, and rises in fall and winter. Ground-based and aircraft-based observation records indicate that the amplitude of this seasonal cycle has increased in the past. Will this trend continue in the future? In this paper, we analyzed simulations for historical (1850–2005) and future (RCP8.5, 2006–2100) periods produced by 10 Earth system models participating in the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Our results present a model consensus that the increase of CO2 seasonal amplitude continues throughout the 21st century. Multi-model ensemble relative amplitude of detrended global mean CO2 seasonal cycle increases by 62 ± 19% in 2081–2090, compared to 1961–1970. This amplitude increase corresponds to a 68 ± 25% increase in net biosphere production (NBP). The results show that the increase of NBP amplitude mainly comes from enhanced ecosystem uptake during Northern Hemisphere growing season under future CO2 and temperature conditions. Separate analyses on net primary production (NPP) and respiration reveal that enhanced ecosystem carbon uptake contributes about 75% of the amplitude increase. Stimulated by higher CO2 concentration and high-latitude warming, enhanced NPP likely outcompetes increased respiration at higher temperature, resulting in a higher net uptake during the northern growing season. The zonal distribution and spatial pattern of NBP change suggest that regions north of 45° N dominate the amplitude increase. Models that simulate a stronger carbon uptake also tend to show a larger increase of NBP seasonal amplitude, and the cross-model correlation is significant (R=0.73, p< 0.05).
Reevaluation of transit time distributions, mean transit times and their relation to catchment topography
Authors: Seeger S. , Weiler M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. The transit time of water is a fundamental property of catchments, revealing information about the flow pathways, source of water and storage in a single integrated measure. While several studies have investigated the relationship between catchment topography and transit times, few studies expanded the analysis to a wide range of catchment properties and assessed the influence of the selected transfer function (TF) model. We used stable water isotopes from mostly baseflow samples with lumped convolution models of time-invariant TFs to estimate the transit time distributions of 24 meso-scale catchments covering different geomorphic and geologic regions in Switzerland. The sparse network of 13 precipitation isotope sampling sites required the development of a new spatial interpolation method for the monthly isotopic composition of precipitation. A point-energy-balance based snow model was adapted to account for the seasonal water isotope storage in snow dominated catchments. Transit time distributions were estimated with three established TFs (exponential, gamma distribution and two parallel linear reservoirs). While the exponential TF proved to be less suitable to simulate the isotopic signal in most of the catchments, the gamma distribution and the two parallel linear reservoirs transfer function reached similarly good model fits to the fortnightly observed isotopic compositions in discharge, although in many catchments the transit time distributions implied by equally well fitted models differed markedly from each other and in extreme cases, the resulting mean transit time (MTT) differed by orders of magnitude. A more thorough comparison showed that equally suited models corresponded to agreeing values of cumulated transit time distributions only between 3 and 6 months. The short-term (< 30 days) component of the transit time distributions did not play a role because of the limited temporal resolution of the available input data. The long-term component (> 3 years) could hardly be assessed by means of stable water isotopes, resulting in ambiguous MTT and hence questioning the relevance of an MTT determined with stable isotopes. Finally we investigated the relation between MTT estimates based on the three different TF types as well as other transit time properties and a range of topographical catchment characteristics. Depending on the selected transfer model, we found a weak correlation between transit time properties and the ratio between flow path length over the flow gradient, drainage density and the mean discharge. The catchment storage derived from MTTs and mean discharge did not show a clear relation to any catchment properties, indicating that in many studies the mean annual discharge may bias the MTT estimates.
Internal structure of event layers preserved on the Andaman Sea continental shelf, Thailand: tsunami vs. storm and flash flood deposits
Authors: Sakuna-Schwartz D. , Feldens P. , Schwarzer K. , Khokiattiwong S. , Stattegger K.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Tsunami, storm and flash event layers, which have been deposited over the last century on the shelf offshore from Khao Lak (Thailand, Andaman Sea), are identified in sediment cores based on sedimentary structures, grain size compositions, Ti / Ca ratios and 210Pb activity. Individual offshore tsunami deposits are 12 to 30 cm in thickness and originate from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. They are characterized by (1) the appearance of sand layers enriched in shells and shell debris, (2) cross lamination and (3) the appearance of rip-up clasts. Storm deposits found in core depths between 5 and 82 cm could be attributed to individual storm events by using 210Pb dating in conjunction with historical data of typhoons and tropical storms and could thus be securely differentiated from tsunami deposits. Massive sand layers enriched in shells and shell debris characterize the storm deposits. The last classified type of event layer represents flash floods, which is characterized by a fining-upward sequence of muddy sediment. The most distinct difference between the storm and tsunami deposits is the lack of rip-up clasts, mud, and terrigenous material within the storm deposits. Terrigenous material transported offshore during the tsunami backwash is therefore an important indicator to distinguish between offshore storm and tsunami deposits.
An improved ARIMA model for precipitation simulations
Authors: Wang H. R. , Wang C. , Lin X. , Kang J.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Auto regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models have been widely used to calculate monthly time series data formed by interannual variations of monthly data or inter-monthly variation. However, the influence brought about by inter-monthly variations within each year is often ignored. An improved ARIMA model is developed in this study accounting for both the interannual and inter-monthly variation. In the present approach, clustering analysis is performed first to hydrologic variable time series. The characteristics of each class are then extracted and the correlation between the hydrologic variable quantity to be predicted and characteristic quantities constructed by linear regression analysis. ARIMA models are built for predicting these characteristics of each class and the hydrologic variable monthly values of year of interest are finally predicted using the modeled values of corresponding characteristics from ARIMA model and the linear regression model. A case study is conducted to predict the monthly precipitation at the Lanzhou precipitation station in Lanzhou, China, using the model, and the results show that the accuracy of the improved model is significantly higher than the seasonal model, with the mean residual achieving 9.41 mm and the forecast accuracy increasing by 21%.
Of Fish and Men
Authors: DeMott Robert
Published: December 2014

I approach this somewhat fanciful and admittedly elliptical and digressive topic on “Of Fish and Men” by focusing not on Steinbeck's obvious mainstream works, but on some less prominent side channels in his art and life: a relatively neglected scene from East of Eden, a biographical anecdote recorded by Graham Watson, and a couple of tongue-in-cheek non-fiction essays by Steinbeck called “On Fishing” (1954) and “Then My Arm Glassed Up” (1965) in which angling pursuits play a strong role. I utilize some of the common and more or less non-technical elements and lingo of fly fishing to provide explanatory context for a few of Steinbeck's short unheralded fishing texts. This paper, then, may be considered a kind of fishing expedition, perhaps best thought of as a “meandering” one at that, to steal a crucial metaphor from Ted Leeson's Jerusalem Creek, one of the finest fly fishing memoirs ever written.
The Haunted Tree:
Authors: Sams Edward Boyer
Published: December 2014

According to Monterey folklore, the Lara–Soto Adobe is haunted by a curse that influenced John Steinbeck while writing his novella The Pearl. The original version of The Pearl appears as a parable in Sea of Cortez, but Steinbeck's later version is much darker than the original. The legend of the haunted tree, the death of a child, and the path of evil are all woven into Steinbeck's new text. “The Haunted Tree” explores this oral tradition in Monterey as a commentary on Steinbeck's own problematic relationships with the city and his own minor masterpiece The Pearl.