bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognition of the genus Thaumatophyllum Schott − formerly Philodendron subg. Meconostigma (Araceae) − based on molecular and morphological evidence
Authors: Sakuragui Cassia Mônica , Calazans Luana Silva Braucks , de Oliveira Leticia Loss , de Morais Érica Barroso , Benko-Iseppon Ana Maria , Vasconcelos Santelmo , Schrago Carlos Eduardo Guerra , Mayo Simon Joseph
Published: May 2018

PhilodendronsubgenusMeconostigma has been a well-circumscribed group since 1829. Members of this group are easily distinguished by diagnostic morphological characters as well as by a distinct ecology and geographical distribution. Based on molecular, morphological and cytological evidence, we propose the recognition of P.subg.Meconostigma as a distinct genus, Thaumatophyllum Schott. We also present the necessary new combinations, an emended key and some nomenclatural and taxonomic corrections regarding 21 names of Thaumatophyllum.
Chiococca grandiflora (Rubiaceae), a new species from Northern Mexico
Authors: Lorence David H. , Van Devender Thomas R. , Ferguson George M.
Published: May 2018

The new species Chiococcagrandiflora Lorence & T.Van Devender from Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico differs from its congeners by its larger, showy white flowers in compact cymes of 3–9, and infundibuliform corollas 16–20 mm long with tubes 13–17 mm long and lobes 3–3.5 mm long. Its distribution, habitat, and relationships are outlined. The conservation status for this species is estimated to be Endangered (EN) based on IUCN Red List Criteria.
Nursing Students' Perceptions of Participatory Action Research
Authors: Csiernik Rick , O'Regan Tony , Forchuk Cheryl , Rudnick Abraham
Published: May 2018

Background:

This article evaluates the experience of students engaged in a participatory action research project.

Method:

Nursing students were assigned to research activities addressing poverty and social inclusion in the lives of individuals with mental health issues. Focus group interviews were held with 25 students, representing 58.1% of eligible students.

Results:

Themes and subthemes were categorized from the transcripts, with two overarching themes emerging: (a) aspects that worked well, and (b) aspects that could be improved. The range of activities students engaged in while assigned to the project and students' perceptions, both positive and negative, about their overall exposure to participatory action research are identified and discussed.

Conclusion:

Findings in the literature with regard to perceived benefits and limitations of participatory action research projects involving students are supported by those found in this study. Based on the findings of this study, curriculum development for an interdisciplinary graduate-level course is in process. [
J Nurs Educ.
2018;57(5):282–286.]
Collaborative Testing: An Effective Invitational Strategy for High-Stakes Testing in Nursing
Authors: Green Rebecca , Worthey Terri , Kerven Jenny
Published: May 2018

Background:

A collaborative testing intervention was designed as an application of the invitational education model in an undergraduate nursing course. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of collaborative testing on examination scores and knowledge retention of course content and to evaluate students' feelings about the collaborative testing process.

Method:

A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effect of collaborative testing on examination scores and knowledge retention among undergraduate nursing students in a public health course (
N
= 106). A descriptive survey was used to evaluate students' perceptions of the collaborative testing intervention.

Results:

Collaborative testing increased examination scores and facilitated knowledge retention. Students' perceptions of the intervention were positive.

Conclusion:

Invitational strategies, such as collaborative testing, may result in measurably better outcomes, such as better examination scores and improved knowledge retention. Rigor does not need to be a barrier to invitational learning and, in fact, it may be complemented and enhanced by it. [
J Nurs Educ.
2018;57(5):291–295.]
Advocacy and Awareness: Integrating LGBTQ Health Education Into the Prelicensure Curriculum
Authors: McNiel Paula L. , Elertson Kathleen M.
Published: May 2018

Background:

An identified gap in the curriculum related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) health needs prompted nursing faculty to implement a collaborative educational offering. LGBTQ individuals experience significant health disparities, compared with heterosexual counterparts. Enhancing established LGBTQ population-specific training to highlight health disparities and awareness of special health care needs was piloted with two clinical groups of senior baccalaureate nursing students (
N
= 16).

Method:

Didactic, simulated, and panel discussion related to LGBTQ terminology, current health standards of care, and the importance of advocacy was provided by campus advocates, experienced health care providers, and a student panel identifying as LGBTQ. Health specific learning outcomes were established and evaluated.

Results:

Posteducation, anonymous surveys, and journaling were completed. Survey respondents (
n
= 13) reported increased awareness and understanding of health disparities specific to the LGBTQ population.

Conclusion:

LGBTQ-specific health education has been implemented as a permanent curriculum change. [
J Nurs Educ.
2018;57(5):312–314.]
The Use of New Learning Technologies in Higher Education Classroom: A Case Study
Authors: Esteves Micaela Dinis , Pereira Angela , Veiga Nuno , Vasco Rui , Veiga Anabela
Published: May 2018

We have conducted a study with higher level education students, in lecture classes of three Undergraduate Courses and one Professional Higher Technical Course that involved six different subjects with a total of 324 students. In this research the use of Game-Based Learning platform was analysed in order to encourage the students’ participation, increasing motivation and keeping them motivated and committed during lessons, therefore, increasing their learning skills. Based on these results, we recommend that Kahoot is used in lectures in order to help students develop their performances and abilities and at the same time be more successful and prepared to have an active participation in society.
MicroRNA-155 Modulates Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease by Impacting T Cell Expansion, Migration, and Effector Function
Authors: Zitzer Nina C. , Snyder Katiri , Meng Xiamoei , Taylor Patricia A. , Efebera Yvonne A. , Devine Steven M. , Blazar Bruce R. , Garzon Ramiro , Ranganathan Parvathi
Published: May 2018

MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is a small noncoding RNA critical for the regulation of inflammation as well as innate and adaptive immune responses. MiR-155 has been shown to be dysregulated in both donor and recipient immune cells during acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). We previously reported that miR-155 is upregulated in donor T cells of mice and humans with aGVHD and that mice receiving miR-155–deficient (miR155−/−) splenocytes had markedly reduced aGVHD. However, molecular mechanisms by which miR-155 modulates T cell function in aGVHD have not been fully investigated. We identify that miR-155 expression in both donor CD8+ T cells and conventional CD4+ CD25− T cells is pivotal for aGVHD pathogenesis. Using murine aGVHD transplant experiments, we show that miR-155 strongly impacts alloreactive T cell expansion through multiple distinct mechanisms, modulating proliferation in CD8+ donor T cells and promoting exhaustion in donor CD4+ T cells in both the spleen and colon. Additionally, miR-155 drives a proinflammatory Th1 phenotype in donor T cells in these two sites, and miR-155−/− donor T cells are polarized toward an IL-4–producing Th2 phenotype. We further demonstrate that miR-155 expression in donor T cells regulates CCR5 and CXCR4 chemokine-dependent migration. Notably, we show that miR-155 expression is crucial for donor T cell infiltration into multiple target organs. These findings provide further understanding of the role of miR-155 in modulating aGVHD through T cell expansion, effector cytokine production, and migration.
Occupational Therapy Fall Prevention Interventions for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Elliott Sharon , Leland Natalie E.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE. Accidental falls among community-dwelling older adults are preventable and increase the risk of morbidity, hospitalization, and institutionalization. We updated and broadened a 2008 systematic review examining the evidence for the effectiveness of fall prevention interventions in improving fall-related outcomes, occupational performance, quality of life, and health care facility readmissions for community-dwelling older adults.

METHOD. We searched and analyzed literature published from 2008 to 2015 from five electronic databases.

RESULTS. Fifty articles met the inclusion criteria and were critically appraised and synthesized—37 provided Level I; 5, Level II; and 8, Level III evidence. Analysis was organized into four intervention themes: single component, multicomponent, multifactorial, and population based. Mixed evidence was found for single-component and multifactorial interventions, strong evidence was found for multicomponent interventions, and moderate evidence was found for population-based interventions.

CONCLUSION. These findings can inform the delivery and integration of fall prevention interventions from acute care to community discharge.
Feasibility of Integrating Occupational Therapy Into a Care Coordination Program for Aging in Place
Authors: Dickson Kelly L. , Toto Pamela E.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE. We examined the feasibility and benefit of integrating occupational therapy into a long-term services and supports (LTSS) care coordination program for aging in place.

METHOD. Clients referred to occupational therapy during a 16-wk trial were evaluated with the In-Home Occupational Performance Evaluation and received education on strategies for aging in place. Clients who indicated readiness for change were assisted in setting personalized goals with goal attainment scaling and received four additional occupational therapy visits.

RESULTS. Of the program’s feasibility benchmarks, 87% were met. Twenty-three clients were referred, and 16 clients were evaluated; 37.5% of those evaluated indicated readiness for change, establishing 18 goals with 100% goal attainment.

CONCLUSION. Integration of occupational therapy into an LTSS care coordination program was feasible. Benefits of adding occupational therapy included a performance-based evaluation that revealed personal factors as barriers to aging in place and gave access to a client-centered service to maximize independence.
Implementing Evidence-Based Interventions With Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Authors: Juckett Lisa A. , Robinson Monica L.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE. With the rapid growth of the community-dwelling older adult population, evidence-based occupational therapy interventions targeting older clients need to be effectively implemented. However, little is understood about the factors influencing effective intervention implementation into practice.

METHOD. We performed a scoping review to explore what strategies and factors relate to the uptake of older adult interventions into practice. Concepts from implementation science literature guided our review.

RESULTS. Our review yielded 13 articles that met our search criteria. Study designs examined barriers, facilitators, and strategies related to the implementation of evidence-based older adult interventions into practice. Effective implementation strategies included training sessions, workshops, consultations, and outreach meetings.

CONCLUSION. Our findings suggest that practitioners, administrators, and researchers should adopt strategies such as workshops, consultations, fidelity vignettes, peer mentoring, and standardized training to effectively implement research into practice with older adults.
Attracting FDI in middle-skilled supply chains
Authors: Moran Theodore , Görg Holger , Serič Adnan , Krieger-Boden Christiane
Published: May 2018

While popular opinion often pictures FDI flowing in search of lowest-wage, lowestskilled activities in emerging markets, actual FDI to such countries increasingly addresses medium to high-skilled manufacturing sectors. Such FDI might be called “Quality FDI” that contributes to the creation of decent and value-adding jobs, enhancing the skill base of host economies, facilitating transfer of technology, knowledge and know-how, boosting competitiveness of domestic firms and enabling their access to world-wide markets, as well as operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. To attract such quality FDI, host countries need mindfully tailored policies. Recent research offers evidence for strategies in developing countries that successfully turned FDI into such quality FDI.
La otra montaña roja: El cultivo de la amapola en Guerrero
Authors: Gaussens Pierre
Published: May 2018

El estado de Guerrero es el primer cultivador de amapola en México y representa una de las principales zonas productoras de goma de opio en el mundo. La relevancia estratégica de esta situación contrasta con la pobreza de su análisis. Las ciencias sociales han dado a la cuestión de los cultivos ilícitos un tratamiento marginal, el cual suele restringirse a prescripciones normativas y oscila desde la criminología y el derecho penal, hasta la economía de los mercados ilegales. Este artículo aborda el tema en su dimensión propiamente política y de manera crítica, es decir, en contra del discurso oficial del prohibicionismo, el “combate al narcotráfico” o la “lucha anti-drogas”, con el fin de poder indagar, en cambio, acerca de las relaciones históricas que unen el tráfico de las drogas ilegales con las políticas del Estado mexicano y, en particular, los cultivos ilícitos con la principal institución encargada de su erradicación: el ejército. Es lo que nos proponemos hacer, a partir de un trabajo de investigación realizado en Guerrero sobre el cultivo de la amapola.
The importance of vertical resolution in the free troposphere for modeling intercontinental plumes
Authors: Zhuang Jiawei , Jacob Daniel J. , Eastham Sebastian D.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Chemical plumes in the free troposphere can preserve their identity for more
than a week as they are transported on intercontinental scales. Current
global models cannot reproduce this transport. The plumes dilute far too
rapidly due to numerical diffusion in sheared flow. We show how model
accuracy can be limited by either horizontal resolution (Δx) or
vertical resolution (Δz). Balancing horizontal and vertical numerical
diffusion, and weighing computational cost, implies an optimal grid
resolution ratio (Δx ∕ Δz)opt ∼ 1000
for simulating the plumes. This is considerably higher than current global
models (Δx ∕ Δz ∼ 20) and explains the rapid plume
dilution in the models as caused by insufficient vertical resolution. Plume
simulations with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Finite-Volume
Cubed-Sphere Dynamical Core (GFDL-FV3) over a range of
horizontal and vertical grid resolutions confirm this limiting behavior. Our
highest-resolution simulation (Δx ≈ 25 km, Δz ≈ 80 m) preserves the maximum mixing ratio in the plume to
within 35 % after 8 days in strongly sheared flow, a drastic improvement
over current models. Adding free tropospheric vertical levels in global
models is computationally inexpensive and would also improve the simulation
of water vapor.
Anomalous holiday precipitation over southern China
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , Gong Dao-Yi , Mao Rui , Yang Jing , Zhang Ziyin , Qian Yun
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The Chinese Spring Festival (CSF) is the most important festival in China. Officially, this holiday lasts approximately one week. Based on the long-term station observations from 1979 to 2012, this manuscript reports that during the holidays, the precipitation over southern China (108° E–123° E and 21° N–33° N, 155 stations) has been significantly reduced. The precipitation frequency anomalies from the fourth day to the sixth day after Lunar New Year's Day (i.e., days [+4, +6]) were found to decrease by −7.4 %. At the same time, the daily precipitation amounts experienced a reduction of −0.62 mm d−1 during days +2 to +5. The holiday precipitation anomalies are strongly linked to the relative humidity (ΔRH) and cloud cover. The station observations of the ΔRH showed an evident decrease from day +2 to +7, and a minimum appeared on days [+4, +6], with a mean of −3.9 %. The ΔRH vertical profile displays a significant drying below approximately 800 hPa. Between 800 hPa and 1000 hPa, the mean ΔRH is −3.9 %. The observed station daytime low cloud cover (LCC) evidently decreased by −6.1 % during days [+4, +6]. Meanwhile, the ERA-Interim daily LCC also shows a comparable reduction of −5.0 %. The anomalous relative humidity is mainly caused by the lower water vapor in the lower-middle troposphere. Evident negative specific humidity anomalies persist from day −3 to day +7 in the station observations. The average specific humidity anomaly for days [+4, +6] is −0.73 g kg−1. When the precipitation days exclude the mean, the anomaly remains significant, being −0.46 g kg−1. A significant deficit of water vapor is observed in the lower troposphere below 700 hPa. Between 800 hPa and 1000 hPa, the mean specific humidity dropped by −0.70 g kg−1. This drier lower-middle troposphere is due to anomalous northerly winds. Authors have proposed that the anomalous atmospheric circulation is likely related to the holiday aerosol anomaly. Station and satellite observations show that the East Asian aerosol concentrations during the CSF decrease evidently, the largest reduction occurring on days [−3, −1]. At the same time, a concurrent cooling is observed in the lower troposphere. In addition, an anomalous low pressure tilting westward occurs in the troposphere over East Asia. The anomalous cold advection seems to help trigger/strengthen a cyclonic circulation anomaly, which is responsible for the northerly winds and the less precipitation around the holidays. This possible mechanism needs further clarification by elaborate observation analysis and modeling.
Composition and mixing state of atmospheric aerosols determined by
electron microscopy: method development and application to aged Saharan
dust deposition in the Caribbean boundary layer
Authors: Kandler Konrad , Schneiders Kilian , Ebert Martin , Hartmann Markus , Weinbruch Stephan , Prass Maria , Pöhlker Christopher
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The microphysical properties, composition and mixing state of mineral dust, sea-salt and secondary compounds were measured by active and passive aerosol sampling followed by electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence in the Caribbean marine boundary layer. Measurements were carried out at Ragged Point, Barbados during June/July 2013 and August 2016. Techniques were developed to conclude from collected aerosol on atmospheric concentrations and aerosol mixing-state, and different models were compared. It became obvious that in the diameter range with the highest dust deposition the models disagree by more than two orders of magnitude. Aerosol at Ragged Point was dominated by dust, sea-salt and soluble sulfates in varying proportions. Contribution of sea-salt was dependent on local wind speed. Sulfate concentrations were linked to long-range transport from Africa/Europe and South America/Southern Atlantic Ocean. Dust sources were in Western Africa. The total dust deposition observed was 10 mg m−2 d−1 (range 0.5–47 mg m−2 d−1), of which 0.67 mg m−2 d−1 was iron and 0.001 mg m−2 d−1 phosphorus. Iron deposition had two sources, mainly silicate particles from Africa, and particularly in 2016 a lower contribution of small iron-rich particles from South America or Barbados of probably anthropogenic origin. Dust particles were mixed internally to a minor fraction (10 %), mostly with sea-salt and less frequently with sulfate. It was estimated that average dust deposition velocity under ambient conditions is increased by the internal mixture by 30–140 % for particles between 1 and 10 µm dust aerodynamic diameter, with approximately 35 % at the mass median diameter of deposition (7.0 µm). For this size, an effective deposition velocity of 6.4 mm/s (geometric standard deviation of 3.1 over all individual particles) was observed.
Comparison of Lyman-alpha and LI-COR infrared hygrometers for airborne measurement of turbulent fluctuations of water vapour
Authors: Lampert Astrid , Hartmann Jörg , Pätzold Falk , Lobitz Lennart , Hecker Peter , Kohnert Katrin , Larmanou Eric , Serafimovich Andrei , Sachs Torsten
Published: May 2018

Abstract. To investigate if the LI-COR humidity sensor can be used as a replacement of the Lyman-alpha sensor for airborne applications, the measurement data of the Lyman-alpha and several LI-COR sensors are analysed in direct intercomparison flights on different airborne platforms. One vibration isolated closed-path and two non-isolated open-path LI-COR sensors were installed on a Dornier 128 twin engine turbo-prop aircraft. The closed-path sensor provided absolute values and fluctuations of the water vapour mixing ratio in good agreement with the Lyman-alpha. The signals of the two open-path sensors showed considerable high-frequency noise, and the absolute value of the mixing ratio was observed to drift with time in this vibrational environment. On the helicopter-towed sensor system Helipod, with very low vibration levels, the open-path LI-COR sensor agreed very well with the Lyman-alpha sensor over the entire frequency range up to 3 Hz. The results show that the LI-COR sensors are well suited for airborne measurements of humidity fluctuations, provided that a vibrationless environment is given, and this turns out to be more important than close sensor spacing.
Field measurements of methylglyoxal using Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and comparison to the DNPH/HPLC-UV method
Authors: Michoud Vincent , Sauvage Stéphane , Léonardis Thierry , Fronval Isabelle , Kukui Alexandre , Locoge Nadine , Dusanter Sébastien
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Methylglyoxal (MGLY) is an important atmospheric α-dicarbonyl species whose photolysis acts as a significant source of peroxy radicals, contributing to the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere and, as such, the formation of secondary pollutants such as organic aerosols and ozone. However, despite its importance, only a few techniques exhibit time resolutions and detection limits that are suitable for atmospheric measurements. This study present, to the best of our knowledge, the first measurements of ambient MGLY using Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToFMS). These measurements were performed during the ChArMEx SOP2 field campaign. This campaign took place at a Mediterranean site characterized by intense biogenic emissions and low levels of anthropogenic trace gases. Concomitant measurements of MGLY were performed using the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivatization technique and High Performance Liquide Chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. PTR-ToFMS and DNPH-HPLC measurements were compared to determine whether these techniques can perform reliable measurements of MGLY. Ambient time series revealed levels of MGLY ranging from 28–365 pptv, with a clear diurnal cycle due to elevated concentrations of primary biogenic species during daytime, whose oxidation led to large production rates of MGLY. A scatter plot of the PTR-ToFMS and DNPH-HPLC measurements indicates a reasonable correlation (R2 = 0.48) but a slope significantly lower than unity (0.58 ± 0.05) and a significant intercept of 88.3 ± 8.0 pptv. A careful investigation of the differences between the two techniques suggests that this disagreement is not due to spectrometric interferences from H3O+(H2O)3, MEK (or butanal) detected at m/z 73.050 and m/z 73.065, respectively, which are close to the MGLY m/z of 73.029. The differences are more likely due to uncorrected sampling artefacts such as overestimated collection efficiency or loss of MGLY into the sampling line for the DNPH-HPLC technique or unknown isobaric interfering compounds such as acrylic acid and propanediol for the PTR-ToFMS. Calculations of MGLY loss rates with respect to OH-oxidation and direct photolysis indicate similar contributions for these two loss pathways.
Lidar temperature series in the middle atmosphere as a reference data set. Part A: Improved retrievals and a 20 year cross-validation of two co-located French
lidars
Authors: Wing Robin , Hauchecorne Alain , Keckhut Philippe , Godin-Beekmann Sophie , Khaykin Sergey , McCullough Emily M. , Mariscal Jean-François , d'Almeida Éric
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The objective of this paper and its companion (Wing et al., 2018b) is to show that ground based lidar temperatures are a stable, accurate and precise dataset for use in validating satellite temperatures at high vertical resolution. Long-term lidar observations of the middle atmosphere have been conducted at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP), located in southern France (43.93° N, 5.71° E), since 1978. Making use of 20 years of high-quality co-located lidar measurements we have shown that lidar temperatures calculated using the Rayleigh technique at 532 nm are statistically identical to lidar temperatures calculated from the non-absorbing 355 nm channel of a Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system. This result is of interest to members of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) ozone lidar community seeking to produce validated temperature products. Additionally, we have addressed previously published concerns of lidar-satellite relative warm bias in comparisons of Upper Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric (UMLT) temperature profiles. We detail a data treatment algorithm which minimizes known errors due to data selection procedures, a priori choices, and initialization parameters inherent in the lidar retrieval. Our algorithm results in a median cooling of the lidar calculated absolute temperature profile by 20 K at 90 km altitude with respect to the standard OHP NDACC lidar temperature algorithm. The confidence engendered by the long-term cross-validation of two independent lidars and the improved lidar temperature dataset is exploited in (Wing et al., 2018b) for use in multi-year satellite validations.
Lidar temperature series in the middle atmosphere as a reference data set. Part B: Assessment of temperature observations from MLS/Aura and SABER/TIMED satellites
Authors: Wing Robin , Hauchecorne Alain , Keckhut Philippe , Godin-Beekmann Sophie , Khaykin Sergey , McCullough Emily M.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. We have compared 1338 nights of Rayleigh lidar temperatures measured at L'Observatoire de Haute Provence (OHP) with co-located temperature measurements from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Sounding of the Atmosphere by Broadband Emission Radiometry instru- ment (SABER). The comparisons were conducted using data from January 2002 to January 2011 in the geographic region around the observatory (43.93° N, 5.71° E). We have found systematic differences between the temperatures measured from the ground based lidar and those measured from the satellites which suggest non-linear distortions in the satellite altitude retrievals. We see a winter stratopause cold bias in the satellite measurements with respect to the lidar (−6 K for SABER and −15 K for MLS), a summer mesospheric warm bias (10 K near 60 km), and a vertically structured bias for MLS (0 to 4 K). We have corrected the stratopause height of the satellite measurements using the lidar temperatures and have seen an improvement in the comparison. The winter stratospheric relative cold bias between the lidar and SABER has been eliminated and the summer mesospheric warm bias is reduced by 6 K. Stratopause altitude corrections have reduced the relative cold bias between the lidar and MLS by 4 K in the early autumn and late spring.
Precipitation of Calcium Carbonate Mineral Induced by Viral Lysis of Cyanobacteria
Authors: Xu Hengchao , Peng Xiaotong , Bai Shijie , Ta Kaiwen , Yang Shouye , Liu Shuangquan , Jang Ho Bin , Guo Zixiao
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Viruses have been acknowledged as important components of the marine system for the past two decades, but the understanding of their role in the functioning of the geochemical cycle remains poor. Viral induced rupturing of cyanobacteria are theoretically capable of releasing intracellular bicarbonate and inducing the homogeneous nucleation of calcium carbonate, but experimental-based support for viral induced calcification is lacking. In this laboratory study, both water carbonate chemistry and precipitates were monitored during the cyanophage infection and lysis of host cells. Our results show that viral lysis of cyanobacteria can influence the carbonate equilibrium system remarkably and promotes the nucleation and stabilization of carbonate minerals. Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and aragonite were evident in the lysate compared to the brucite precipitate in non-infection cultures implying that a different precipitation process had occurred. Based on the carbonate chemistry change and microstructure of the precipitation, the viral induced calcification may initiate by rapid intracellular calcification because of the unfettered intracellular access of Ca2+ and react with cytoplasmic alkalinity after the virus attacks and breaks down the cell wall. The experimental results raised here first demonstrate the pathway and result regarding how viruses influence the mineralization of carbonate minerals. Furthermore, our results also imply that viruses play a crucial role in seawater carbonate chemistry and may balance the geochemical element budget within the earth system.
Life cycle of bamboo in southwestern Amazon and its relation to fire events
Authors: Dalagnol Ricardo , Wagner Fabien Hubert , Galvão Lênio Soares , Nelson Bruce Walker , Aragão Luiz Eduardo Oliveira e Cruz de
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Bamboo-dominated forests comprise 1 % of the world’s forests. In southwest Amazon, a prior investigation mapped 16.15 million ha of bamboo-dominated forests by visual interpretation of Landsat and MODIS satellite images. They observed that the near infrared (NIR) wavelength was important to discriminate adult and dead bamboo areas, and estimated an average life cycle of 28 years for the Guadua spp. bamboo that dominate the region. In these bamboo areas, flowering and fruiting occur once in a lifetime before death, which produce massive quantities of necromass. The "bamboo-fire hypothesis" argues that increased dry fuel after die-off enhances fire probability, creating opportunities that favor bamboo. In this study, we developed and validated a method to map the bamboo die-off and its spatial distribution using satellite-derived time series of vegetation reflectance from MODIS (MAIAC) data and explored the fire hypothesis by evaluating the relationship between bamboo die-off and fires detected by MODIS thermal anomalies product in southwest Amazon. Our findings show that the NIR is the most sensitive spectral interval to characterize bamboo growth and cohort age. Automatic detection of historical bamboo die-off achieved an accuracy above 79 %. We mapped and estimated 15.5 million ha of bamboo-dominated forests in the region. The mean patch size during 2001–2017 die-off events was 85 km2, while the largest patch covered up to 6162 km2. The "bamboo-fire hypothesis" was not fully supported, because most bamboo cohorts did not burn after die-off. Nonetheless, fire occurrence was 45 % higher in dead than live bamboo in drought years, associated with ignition sources from land use, suggesting a bamboo-human-fire association. Since fire favors bamboo development, this may contribute to the maintenance of high bamboo density where it is already present, the expansion of bamboo into adjacent bamboo-free forests, or even bring deadly consequences to these adjacent forests under climate change effects.
The GRISLI ice sheet model (version 2.0): calibration and validation for multi-millennial changes of the Antarctic ice sheet
Authors: Quiquet Aurélien , Dumas Christophe , Ritz Catherine , Peyaud Vincent , Roche Didier M.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. In this paper we present the GRISLI (Grenoble Ice Sheet and Land Ice) model in its newest revision (version 2.0). Whilst GRISLI is applicable to any given geometry, we focus here on the Antarctic ice sheet because it highlights the importance of grounding line dynamics. Important improvements have been implemented since its original version (Ritz et al., 2001) including notably an explicit flux computation at the grounding line based on the analytical formulations of Schoof (2007) and Tsai et al. (2015) and a basal hydrology model. A calibration of the mechanical parameters of the model based on an ensemble of 150 members sampled with a Latin Hypercube method is used. The ensemble members performance is assessed relative to the deviation from present-day observed Antarctic ice thickness. The model being designed for multi-millenial long- term integrations, we also present glacial-interglacial ice sheet changes throughout the last 400 kyr using the best ensemble members. To achieve this goal, we construct a simple climatic perturbation of present-day climate forcing fields based on two climate proxies, both atmospheric and oceanic. The model is able to reproduce expected grounding line advances during glacials and subsequent retreats during terminations with reasonable glacial-interglacial ice volume changes.
Evaluation of operational model forecasts of aerosol transport using
ceilometer network measurements
Authors: Chan Ka Lok , Wiegner Matthias , Flentje Harald , Mattis Ina , Wagner Frank , Gasteiger Josef , Geiß Alexander
Published: May 2018

Abstract. In this paper, we present a comparison of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Integrated Forecast System (ECMWF-IFS) model simulation of aerosol backscatter profiles with measurements of the ceilometer network operated by the German weather service (DWD) over 1 year from September 2015 to August 2016. As the model output provides mass mixing ratios of different types of aerosol whereas the ceilometers don't, it is necessary to determine a common physical quantity for the comparison. We have chosen the attenuated backscatter β* for this purpose. The β*-profiles are calculated from the mass mixing ratios of the model output assuming the inherent aerosol microphysical properties. Comparison of the attenuated backscatter, averaged between an altitude from 0.2 km (typical overlap range of ceilometers) and 1 km, showed slightly larger values from the model. To investigate possible reasons for the differences, we have examined the role of the hygroscopic growth of particles and the particle shape. Our results show that using a more recent particle growth model would result in a ~ 22 % reduction of particle backscatter for sea salt aerosols, corresponding to a 10 %-reduction of the total backscatter signal on average. Accounting for non-spherical dust particles in the model would reduce attenuated backscatter of dust particles by ~ 30 %. As the concentration of dust aerosol is in general very low in Germany, a significant effect on the total backscatter signal is restricted to dust episodes. In summary, consideration of both effects tend to improve the agreement between model and observations, but without leading to a perfect consistency. In addition a case study was conducted to investigate the agreement of the spatiotemporal distribution of particles. It was found that for a dust episode in April 2016 the arrival time of the dust layer and its vertical extent very well agree between model and ceilometer measurements for several stations. However, due to the large set of parameters characterizing the aerosol distribution and the complexity of the ceilometer retrieval an automated and quantitative comparison scheme for β*-profiles is still missing. Consequently, the representativeness of the case study remains open.
SOIL CARBON MAPPING IN LOW RELIEF AREAS WITH COMBINED LAND USE TYPES AND PERCENTAGES
Authors: Liu Y. L. , Wu Z. H. , Chen Y. Y. , Wang B. Z.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Accurate mapping of soil carbon in low relief areas is of great challenge because of the defect of conventional “soil-landscape” model. Efforts have been made to integrate the land use information in the modelling and mapping of soil organic carbon (SOC), in which the spatial context was ignored. With 256 topsoil samples collected from Jianghan Plain, we aim to (i) explore the land-use dependency of SOC via one-way ANOVA; (ii) investigate the “spillover effect” of land use on SOC content; (iii) examine the feasibility of land use types and percentages (obtained with a 200-meter buffer) for soil mapping via regression Kriging (RK) models. Results showed that the SOC of paddy fields was higher than that of woodlands and irrigated lands. The land use type could explain 20.5 % variation of the SOC, and the value increased to 24.7 % when the land use percentages were considered. SOC was positively correlated with the percentage of water area and irrigation canals. Further research indicated that SOC of irrigated lands was significantly correlated with the percentage of water area and irrigation canals, while paddy fields and woodlands did not show similar trends. RK model that combined land use types and percentages outperformed the other models with the lowest values of RMSEC (5.644 g/kg) and RMSEP (6.229 g/kg), and the highest R2C (0.193) and R2P (0.197). In conclusions, land use types and percentages serve as efficient indicators for the SOC mapping in plain areas. Additionally, irrigation facilities contributed to the farmland SOC sequestration especially in irrigated lands.
STUDY ON SITE CONDITIONS BASED ON TOPOGRAPHIC SLOPE
Authors: Wu X. , Wang X. , Yuan X. , Chen M. , Dou A.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The travel-time averaged shear-wave velocity to a depth of 30m (Vs30) below the Earth’s surface is widely used to classify sites in many building codes. Vs30 is also used to estimate site classification in recent ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs), and the distribution of Vs30 has been mapped in a region or country. An alternative method has recently been proposed for evaluating global seismic site conditions or Vs30, from the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DEMs (digital elevation models). The basic premise of the method is that the topographic slope can be used as a reliable proxy for Vs30 in the absence of geologically and geotechnically based site-condition maps through correlations between Vs30 measurements and topographic gradient. Here, we use different resolutions (3 arcsec, 30 arcsec) DEM data to get Vs30 data separately, analyze and compare the difference of Vs30 data and site conditions obtained from different resolution DEM data. Shandong Province in eastern China and Sichuan Province in Western China are studied respectively. It is found that the higher resolution data is better at defining spatial topographic features than the 30c data, but less improvement in its correlation with Vs30.
IMAGE QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF HIGH-RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES WITH MTF-BASED FUZZY COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION METHOD
Authors: Wu Z. , Luo Z. , Zhang Y. , Guo F. , He L.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. A Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)-based fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was proposed in this paper for the purpose of evaluating high-resolution satellite image quality. To establish the factor set, two MTF features and seven radiant features were extracted from the knife-edge region of image patch, which included Nyquist, MTF0.5, entropy, peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), average difference, edge intensity, average gradient, contrast and ground spatial distance (GSD). After analyzing the statistical distribution of above features, a fuzzy evaluation threshold table and fuzzy evaluation membership functions was established. The experiments for comprehensive quality assessment of different natural and artificial objects was done with GF2 image patches. The results showed that the calibration field image has the highest quality scores. The water image has closest image quality to the calibration field, quality of building image is a little poor than water image, but much higher than farmland image. In order to test the influence of different features on quality evaluation, the experiment with different weights were tested on GF2 and SPOT7 images. The results showed that different weights correspond different evaluating effectiveness. In the case of setting up the weights of edge features and GSD, the image quality of GF2 is better than SPOT7. However, when setting MTF and PSNR as main factor, the image quality of SPOT7 is better than GF2.
EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT SECURITY IN CONTIGUOUS POVERTY ALLEVIATION AREA OF SICHUAN PROVINCE
Authors: Xian W. , Chen Y. , Chen J. , Luo X. , Shao H.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. According to the overall requirements of ecological construction and environmental protection, rely on the national key ecological engineering, strengthen ecological environmental restoration and protection, improve forest cover, control soil erosion, construct important ecological security barrier in poor areas, inhibit poverty alleviation through ecological security in this area from environmental damage to the vicious cycle of poverty. Obviously, the dynamic monitoring of ecological security in contiguous destitute areas of Sichuan province has a policy sense of urgency and practical significance. This paper adopts RS technology and GIS technology to select the Luhe region of Jinchuan county and Ganzi prefecture as the research area, combined with the characteristics of ecological environment in poor areas, the impact factors of ecological environment are determined as land use type, terrain slope, vegetation cover, surface water, soil moisture and other factors. Using the ecological environmental safety assessment model, the ecological environment safety index is calculated. According to the index, the ecological environment safety of the research area is divided into four levels. The ecological environment safety classification map of 1990 in 2009 is obtained. It can be seen that with the human modern life and improve their economic level, the surrounding environment will be destroyed, because the research area ecological environment is now in good, the ecological environment generally tends to be stable. We should keep its ecological security good and improve local economic income. The relationship between ecological environmental security and economic coordinated development in poor areas has very important strategic significance.
URBAN BUILT-UP AREA EXTRACTION AND APPLICATION BASED ON GF-2 SATELLITE DATA
Authors: Xiao C. , Yu X.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. GF-2 satellite was launched in China on August 19, 2014. It has wide potential applications with the spatial resolution of around 1 meter. In this paper, urban built-up area was extracted and classified based on GF-2 satellite data using object-oriented method. Songbai town of Shennongjia forest region was taken as an example. The results were applied to urban-rural planning and supervision of Songbai town in Shennongjia forest region.
OIL SPILL AISA+ HYPERSPECTRAL DATA DETECTION BASED ON DIFFERENT SEA SURFACE GLINT SUPPRESSION METHODS
Authors: Yang J. , Ren G. , Ma Y. , Dong L. , Wan J.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The marine oil spill is a sudden event, and the airborne hyperspectral means to detect the oil spill is an important part of the rapid response. Sun glint, the specular reflection of sun light from water surface to sensor, is inevitable due to the limitation of observation geometry, which makes so much bright glint in image that it is difficult to extract oil spill feature information from the remote sensing data. This paper takes AISA+ airborne hyperspectral oil spill image as data source, using multi-scale wavelet transform, enhanced Lee filter, enhanced Frost filter and mean filter method for sea surface glint suppression of images. And then the classical SVM method is used for the oil spill information detection, and oil spill information distribution map obtained by human-computer interactive interpretation is used to verify the accuracy of oil spill detection. The results show that the above methods can effectively suppress the sea surface glints and improve the accuracy of oil spill detection. The enhanced Lee filter method has the highest detection accuracy of 88.28 %, which is 12.2 % higher than that of the original image.
STUDY OF MAOWUSU SANDY LAND VEGETATION COVERAGE CHANGE BASED ON MODIS NDVI
Authors: Ye Q. , Liu H. , Lin Y. , Han R.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. This paper selected 2006-2016 MODIS NDVI data with a spatial resolution of 500m and time resolution of 16d, got the 11 years’ time series NDVI data of Maowusu sandy land through mosaicking, projection transformation, cutting process in batch. Analysed the spatial and temporal distribution and variation characteristics of vegetation cover in year, season and month time scales by maximum value composite, and unary linear regression analysis. Then, we combined the meteorological data of 33 sites around the sandy area, analysed the response characteristics of vegetation cover change to temperature and precipitation through Pearson correlation coefficient. Studies have shown that: (1) The NDVI value has a stable increase trend, which rate is 0.0075 / a. (2) The vegetation growth have significantly difference in four seasons, the NDVI value of summer > autumn > spring > winter. (3) The NDVI value change trend is conformed to the gauss normal distribution in a year, and it comes to be largest in August, its green season is in April, and yellow season is in the middle of November, the growth period is about 220 d. (4) The vegetation has a decreasing trend from the southeast to the northwest, most part is slightly improved, and Etuokeqianqi improved significantly. (5) The correlation indexes of annual NDVI with temperature and precipitation are −0.2178 and 0.6309, the vegetation growth is mainly affected by precipitation. In this study, a complete vegetation cover analysis and evaluation model for sandy land is established. It has important guiding significance for the sand ecological environment protection.
WETLAND CLASSIFICATION FOR BLACK DUCK HABITAT MANAGEMENT USING COMBINED POLARIMETRIC RADARSAT 2 AND SPOT IMAGERY
Authors: Zhang W. , Hu B. , Brown G.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The black duck population has decreased significantly due to loss of its breeding habitat. Wetlands are an important feature that relates to habitat management and requires monitoring. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems are helpful to map the wetland as the microwave signals are sensitive to water content and can be used to map surface water extent, saturated soils, and flooded vegetation. In this study, RadarSat 2 Polarimetric data is employed to map surface water and track changes in extent over the years through image thresholding and reviewed different approaches of Polarimetric decompositions for detecting flooded vegetation. Also, object-based analysis associated with beaver activity is conducted with combined multispectral SPOT satellite imagery. Results show SAR data has proven ability to improve mapping open water areas and locate flooded vegetation areas.