bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Literacy and Knowledge of Chronic Diseases in Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Abha , Singh Suman Bahadur , Khanal Vijay Kumar , Bhattarai Sailesh , Maskey Robin , Pokharel Paras Kumar
Published: December 2018

Background:

Understanding of risk factors and developing healthy lifestyles is a way of tackling the surging burden of chronic diseases in low-to-middle income countries such as Nepal. Health literacy (HL) has a pivotal role in prevention, adherence to treatment, self-care, and better use of health care; therefore, factors associated with HL need to be studied in the context of Nepal.

Objective:

This study was conducted to assess the level of HL and explore disease-specific knowledge among patients with chronic diseases.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 426 respondents with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from a tertiary care hospital and primary care clinics using face-to-face interviews. HL was measured using a translated and pretested HL questionnaire (the Europe-Asia Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire). Disease-related knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire.

Key Results:

The study found that 27% of the respondents had sufficient HL, 19% had marginal HL, and 54% had inadequate HL. Factors associated with inadequate HL included being older and female, and having lower or no education, unemployment or retired status, poverty, and having a history of smoking or a history of consuming alcohol. HL was a strong predictor of knowledge regarding hypertension (β = 0.32;
p
< .05), diabetes mellitus (β = 0.41;
p
< .05), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (β = 0.37;
p
< .05) in multiple regression analyses after adjusting for age, gender, education, marriage, family history of disease, attendance at follow-up clinics at recommended intervals, information received regarding disease at clinics, smoking, and alcohol intake.

Conclusions:

A sufficient level of HL was uncommon among participants in our study. People with sufficient HL knew significantly more about their diseases or conditions than those with inadequate HL.

[
HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice
. 2018;2(4):e221–e230.]

Plain Language Summary:

Very little is known about health literacy in Nepal. We conducted a study to learn how much people in Nepal with hypertension, diabetes, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease knew about their condition and sought to check its association with health literacy. We found that more than one-half of the participants did not have adequate health literacy levels. Participants who were older, female, uneducated, retired from work, or poor had lower levels of health literacy. We also found that those with high levels of health literacy had better knowledge of their disease. Therefore, we recommend that in Nepal health literacy should be measured for each patient and support regarding management of his or her condition should be provided if necessary.
“Temporalidades emaranhadas”: desafios metodológicos da dinâmica dos protestos em rede de 2013 no Brasil
Authors: Silva Regina Helena Alves da , Ziviani Paula
Published: December 2018

Os protestos sociais que seguiram a conquista do Brasil para sediar a Copa do Mundo 2014 desafiaram a capacidade de compreensão de todos. Os eventos de junho de 2013 – conhecidos como “Jornadas de Junho” – abriram um infinito mar de possibilidades, avançando pelas ruas e na internet. As “Jornadas” constituíram um acontecimento-núcleo de diversas questões que se fundiram em um determinado intervalo de tempo. O objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre a dinâmica, o tempo e as temporalidades que explodiram neste contexto. Destina-se a abordar a articulação da ação política com as tecnologias, as redes digitais e os meios de comunicação, isto é, discutir e problematizar a dinâmica da interação entre espaços públicos urbanos e redes intermidiáticas nas recentes mobilizações políticas brasileiras.
Avanços e desafios da participação institucionalizada no sistema de saúde do Brasil
Authors: Júnior José Patrício Bispo
Published: December 2018

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar os principais desafios e características da participação institucionalizada no sistema de saúde brasileiro. Discute, primeiramente, as características e os princípios do Sistema Único de Saúde, com destaque para a importância da mobilização social na conformação do atual sistema de saúde do país. Em seguida, apresentam-se as características e atribuições dos conselhos e conferências de saúde enquanto mecanismos institucionalizados de participação. Os conselhos de saúde são analisados quanto às características de composição paritária e função deliberativa. Por fim, discutem-se os resultados do estudo de caso do Conselho de Saúde do estado da Bahia. Evidencia-se o baixo poder de agenda dos representantes sociais e a frágil capacidade de influência do conselho na definição da política de saúde.
Citizen Engagement and the Challenge of Democratizing Health: An Italian Case Study
Authors: Cervia Silvia
Published: December 2018

Participatory practices, within broader processes of rescaling and governance, have been identified as the solution to the “democratic deficit” in healthcare. Conversely, scholars have underscored how these practices could well be used for a contrary purpose, particularly in a top-down process. The first part of this paper outlines a theory-based evaluation framework oriented towards the analysis of institutional practices fostering citizens’ involvement in healthcare decision-making processes and how this involvement can act as a driver for the democratisation of the healthcare system. Following this interpretation, the second part of the paper analyses the new local governance structure adopted by Tuscany (Italy) in the healthcare sector, in particular the later stages of its adoption and diffusion and more than ten years after its institutionalisation. This leads us to identify certain crucial issues to be addressed when institutions promote re-visiting decision-making processes.
Le souverainisme menace l’universalisation des droits de l’Homme
Authors: Brengarth Vincent
Published: December 2018

La montée des populismes à travers le monde augmente en effet la crainte de voir la justice supranationale et les normes de droit international remis en cause, alors qu’elles contribuent à l’universalisation des droits de l’Homme. Or, cette universalisation est pourtant, selon l’auteur, plus que jamais de rigueur
Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Baby with Patau Syndrome
Authors: Vithanage N. D. , Hapuarachchi G. K. , Gomez K. , Munasingha T. M.
Published: December 2018

No abstract available
Documentation errors in paediatric drug charts: an Audit
Authors: Kankananarachchi I. , Egodage U. K. , Dharmasiri K. , Jayathilake E. , Shanika G. , Devasiri V.
Published: December 2018

INTRODUCTION:Documentation errors leading to medication errors pose a health risk to hospitalised patents. Maintenance of the drug chart in hospitalized patients is done by nursing staff in Sri Lanka. This audit was carried out in a paediatric unit to assess documentation errors and nature of risk to patients. METHOD:Drug charts of 236 Bed Head Tickets (BHT) were analyzed over a period of one month in a single paediatric unit. Parameters of concern were generic and propriety names of drugs, spelling mistakes, abbreviations and legibility of handwriting. RESULTS:Total of 882 drugs were written in 236 BHTs. The mean number of drugs per one BHT was 3.7. At least one error was observed in 473 (53.6%) names of drugs. 25% (225) of drug documentations had spelling mistakes. In majority of cases with spelling mistakes, there was an error in one letter (88.8%). Abbreviations, propriety names and illeg­ible hand writing were written in 134 (15.1%), 104 (11.7%) and 18 (2%) occasions respectively. Paracetamol was the most commonly documented drug and 30% of the time it was written in abbreviations. Most frequent spelling mistakes were seen in Clarithromycin (95%) and Amoxicillin (74%). Usage of trade name was commonly seen when writing Chlorpheniramine (26.5%). The least number of spelling mistakes were seen in salbutamol (3%). CONCLUSION:There was no standard practice of maintaining drug charts in hospitalized patients and it may pose a significant health risk. Authors would like to suggest doctors to take the responsibility of the maintenance of drug charts in order to minimize this high prevalence of documentation errors.
The Noncoding RNA nc886 Regulates PKR Signaling and Cytokine Production in Human Cells
Authors: Golec Ewelina , Lind Liza , Qayyum Munazza , Blom Anna M. , King Ben C.
Published: December 2018

Protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) is a cytoplasmic receptor for dsRNA, and as such is involved in detection of viral infection. On binding dsRNA, PKR dimerizes, autophosphorylates, and then phosphorylates its substrate, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit α (eIF2α), causing inhibition of mRNA translation and shutdown of viral protein production. However, active PKR has also been found to be involved in the NF-κB signaling pathway by inducing phosphorylation of IκBα. PKR is regulated by the noncoding RNA nc886, which has altered expression in cancer. We have found that expression of nc886 is highly upregulated during activation of human CD4+ T cells. As has been described in other cell types, nc886 bound to PKR in human T cell lysates, preventing PKR phosphorylation by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid or HIV trans-activation response element RNA in lysates of T cell lines or primary human CD4+ T cells. Using clonal human T cell lines, we found that nc886 expression was strictly required for IFN-γ and IL-2 expression and secretion after T cell activation but did not affect proliferation or activation-induced cell death. In stimulated human PBMCs, nc886 expression strongly correlated with IFN-γ expression. Although nc886 inhibited PKR activation by dsRNA, it was required for PKR phosphorylation during T cell stimulation, with subsequent NF-κB signaling and CREB phosphorylation. nc886 also regulated PKR phosphorylation during human monocyte-derived macrophage activation. We have therefore identified nc886 as a noncoding RNA marker of T cell activation and regulator of PKR-dependent signaling.
Siglec-1 Macrophages and the Contribution of IFN to the Development of Autoimmune Congenital Heart Block
Authors: Clancy Robert M. , Halushka Marc , Rasmussen Sara E. , Lhakhang Tenzin , Chang Miao , Buyon Jill P.
Published: December 2018

Given that diseases associated with anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren syndrome, are linked with an upregulation of IFN and type I IFN–stimulated genes, including sialic acid–binding Ig-like lectin 1 (Siglec-1), a receptor on monocytes/macrophages, recent attention has focused on a potential role for IFN and IFN-stimulated genes in the pathogenesis of congenital heart block (CHB). Accordingly, three approaches were leveraged to address the association of IFN, IFN-stimulated genes, and the phenotype of macrophages in affected fetal cardiac tissue: 1) cultured healthy human macrophages transfected with hY3, an anti-SSA/Ro–associated ssRNA, 2) RNA isolated from freshly sorted human leukocytes/macrophages after Langendorff perfusion of three fetal hearts dying with CHB and three healthy gestational age-matched hearts, and 3) autopsy tissue from three additional human CHB hearts and one healthy heart. TLR ligation of macrophages with hY3 led to the upregulation of a panel of IFN transcripts, including SIGLEC1, a result corroborated using quantitative PCR. Using independent and agnostic bioinformatics approaches, CD45+CD11c+ and CD45+CD11c− human leukocytes flow sorted from the CHB hearts highly expressed type I IFN response genes inclusive of SIGLEC1. Furthermore, Siglec-1 expression was identified in the septal region of several affected fetal hearts. These data now provide a link between IFN, IFN-stimulated genes, and the inflammatory and possibly fibrosing components of CHB, positioning Siglec-1–positive macrophages as integral to the process.
Risk for depression affects older people’s possibilities to exercise self-determination in using time, social relationships and living life as one wants: A cross-sectional study with frail older people
Authors: Ottenvall Hammar Isabelle , Berglund Helene , Dahlin-Ivanoff Synneve , Faronbi Joel , Gustafsson Susanne
Published: December 2018

Exercising self-determination in daily life is highly valued by older people. However, being in the hands of other people may challenge the older people’s possibilities to exercise self-determination in their daily life. Among frail older people living in Sweden, risk for depression is highly predominant. There is a knowledge gap regarding if, and how having a risk of depression affects older people’s self-determination. The objective was, therefore, to explore if, and in that case how, frail older people’s self-determination is affected by the risk of depression. In this cross-sectional, secondary data analysis, with 161 communitydwelling frail older people, simple logistic regression models were performed to explore the association between self-determination, the risk of depression and demographic variables. The findings showed that risk for depression and reduced self-determination were significantly associated in the dimensions: use of time (P=0.020), social relationship (P=0.003), help and support others (P=0.033), and the overall self-determination item (P=0.000). Risk for depression significantly affected self-determination in use of time (OR=3.04, P=0.014), social relationship (OR=2.53, P=0.011), and overall self-determination (OR=6.17, P=0.000). This point out an increased need of strengthening healthcare professionals’ perspectives, and attitudes towards a self-determined, friendly, and person-centred dialogue.
Emergency Preparedness of Secondary School Athletic Programs in Arizona
Authors: McLeod Tamara C. Valovich , Cardenas Javier F.
Published: December 2018

Context

Schools that sponsor athletic programs have an obligation to provide a safe environment with appropriate policies for addressing emergencies.

Objective

To describe the emergency preparedness of secondary schools in Arizona specific to emergency action plans (EAPs), cardiac arrest, concussion, and heat illness.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Online survey.

Patients or Other Participants

Athletic directors from 143 Arizona secondary schools (response rate = 54%).

Intervention(s)

A 6-section survey that included questions related to athletic trainer (AT) access, EAPs, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), concussion, heat illness, and other policies.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Descriptive statistics were reported. Comparisons of responses between schools with and without AT access were conducted with Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results

Most respondents (81%, n = 116) indicated their school had access to an AT, and 95% (n = 125) of respondents reported their school had a written EAP. The AEDs were available at most (93%, n = 121) schools. All respondents were familiar with the interscholastic concussion policy, and 98% (n = 123) indicated they had a school-specific policy. Almost all respondents (99%, n = 121) reported being familiar with the state heat-illness policy. Environmental measures were taken before practices at 48% (n = 60) of schools. Schools with access to an AT were more likely to have an EAP, venue-specific EAPs, physician approval of EAPs, AEDs, heat-illness policies, and cold-water immersion tubs and to take environmental measures.

Conclusions

Whereas the majority of schools reported AT access, not all schools had adequate EAPs in place. Schools would benefit from educational opportunities regarding best practices and policy development to improve emergency preparedness.
A SINGLE REAGENT FIELD TEST FOR QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SOLUTIONS
Authors: Conklin Dwight B.
Published: December 2018

A test method is described for the verification of proper use concentrations of solutions of straight quaternary ammonium rinses or formulated detergent-quaternary preparations. The simple test kit and direct procedure afford an economical and easily used test method for the sanitarian and the food and beverage worker. The estimation of the quaternary concentration is accomplished by the reaction of the quaternary with a definite amount of bromphenol blue accurately buffered on the acid side. The blue color of the dye-quaternary complex is dominant if 200 ppm. or more of quaternary is present in the solution. If less than 200 ppm. quaternary is present various shades of green are produced by the partial conversion of the dye to its blue complex plus the acidified yellow excess. The test reagent may be used with many proprietary preparations after the dye demand of the specific quaternary at the recommended use concentration is established.

The test described is simpler than related methods in eliminating use of an organic solvent and in its wide adaptability to service conditions. It is simple and accurate and economical enough to encourage greater use of controlled solutions.
SYSTEMATIC TESTING OF INHIBITORY SUBSTANCES IN MILK*
Authors: Silverman G. J. , Kosikowsky F. V.
Published: December 2018

A portion of a 30 ml sample of milk is tested for general inhibition by a starter activity test and if positive results are obtained the remainder of the sample is subjected to a disc assay test for antibiotics and specific chemical test for quaternary ammonium compounds and sulfonamides. All of these tests are readily adaptable to a systematic laboratory procedure. Their significance and limitations are discussed.
THE USE OF GLASS SANITARY PIPES IN THE MODERN DAIRY*
Authors: Sheuring John. J. , Henderson H. B.
Published: December 2018

A permanent installation of glass pipes has been used in the University of Georgia Creamery for receiving raw milk for a period of two years. The pipes are installed in such a manner that they are washed and sterilized by continuous recirculation of the washing and sterilizing solutions. Bacteriological data were given which showed that the pipes can be adequately cleaned and sterilized by the recirculation method. After two years of daily use under normal operating conditions, the pipes contained practically no milkstone, were clean and shiny in appearance, and no breakage was experienced. A recommendation was made that milk sanitarians and health officials approve the glass pipe installations for receiving raw milk. The research is being continued.
NEED FOR SANITARY STANDARDS IN THE BAKING INDUSTRY*
Authors: Holmes E. L.
Published: December 2018

It is pointed out that there are three divergent viewpoints in food industry sanitation today. First that of the “Regulatory” official who simply points what is wrong and requires industry to develop the answer. Second, that of the educational or public health official who approaches the problems abstractly, hoping by education alone to inspire industry to do the things that the Regulatory official tries to force him into without education; and third, that of the complacent element in the food industry that regards sanitation as only being required when it is called to their attention.

It is further pointed out that there is a definite need for concerted effort on the part of professional sanitarians whether engaged in Regulatory work, public health work, or industrial counseling, to get together and bring these viewpoints to a common ground for the betterment of both food industry and cause of better sanitation in the interest of the consuming public.
THE EFFECTS OF HEAT ON BACTERIA IN MILK WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THERMAL DEATH RATES AS INFLUENCED BY VARIOUS FACTORS*
Authors: Prouty C. C.
Published: December 2018

Much of the data in the literature dealing with the effect of high temperature on the destruction of bacteria is incomplete from the standpoint of providing adequate information on thermal death rates. In order properly to select processing temperature-time combination for market milk, ice cream mix, and the various fluid milk products, whether pasteurization or sterilization is the objective, thermal death rate data for both pathogenic and thermoduric types of bacteria need to be available.
A BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDY OF ICE MILK1 2
Authors: Ripper R. W. , Foltz V. D. , Martin W. H.
Published: December 2018

Fifty-four pint samples of a frozen product, defined by Kansas law as ice milk, were examined for sanitary qualities and composition. The average quality of these samples was found to be equal or superior to state and local regulations for ice cream, ice milk, and similar products. Although containing less fat, the large amount of milk solids and low overrun make the caloric value of ice milk almost equal to that of ice cream. The data obtained indicate the use of quality materials, proper sanitation, and care in the manufacture and marketing of this product.
THE EFFECT OF SELECTED ANTIBIOTICS UPON THE SURVIVAL OF MICROORGANISMS IN RAW AND PASTEURIZED MILKS
Authors: Shiveler George , Weiser Harry
Published: December 2018

Data are presented showing that 5 units of penicillin, and 10 ppm of streptomycin and aureomycin respectively, when added to milk, inhibit bacterial growth.
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING ABBOTTS QUALITY MILK CONTROL PROGRAM*
Authors: Miller Alan B.
Published: December 2018

Observations on work of eight fieldmen maintaining a milk supply for fluid use.

Essential factors are (a) proper herd management with respect to health, housing, sanitation and milking practices, (b) proper equipment adequately cleansed after each use; and (c) proper storage of milk on the farm.

Records must be kept by fieldmen showing details of bacteria, sediment, flavor, and odor checks for each patron on the supply. Microscope and smear from incubated samples recommended for rapid determination of type and extent of contamination.

Fieldman must be intelligent, energetic, and respected by producers.
A COOPERATIVE HEALTH-AGRICULTURE-INDUSTRY APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS OF SANITATION*
Authors: Trout G. Malcolm
Published: December 2018

The need continues to exist for cooperation among involved agencies concerned with sanitation. Problems change with progress. Some of the current problems of sanitation are closely associated with labor, presence of coliform organisms in the finished product, pest control, milking machines, psychrophiles, plant housekeeping, and mastitis control. Representatives of health, agriculture, and industry might well meet with open minds in a sanitation workshop or conference for the purpose of discussing fully the objectives and weaknesses of a sanitation program. Out of such a meeting would come certain understandings of mutual benefit to all concerned with general improvement of sanitation.
FOOD STANDARDS AND THEIR MEANINGS
Authors: Grey Shelbey T.
Published: December 2018

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prescribes that standards of identity, quality, and fill of container shall be set up by the Secretary. Misbranding is described as non-compliance with a food standard of identity, quality, and fill of container. Standards must be “reasonable” and adopted by the Secretary after public hearings. Provisions are made which permit a manufacturer to develop a new product and test it without risking competitive loss or regulatory action when the commercial procedures are conducted in compliance with specific permit provisions.
SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITIES IN THE VIOLET RED BILE TECHNIQUE FOR COLIFORMS IN MILK*
Authors: Morris R. L. , Cerny Josephine
Published: December 2018

Criteria for recognition of inaccurate quantitative coliform counts are described. Under abnormal conditions of visual dye coloration, and/or appearance of minute speck-like colonies dispersed throughout the media, it is possible to demonstrate the presence of coliform colonies in the violet red bile agar without evidence of any typical colonies on the original plate.

It is recommended that plates under suspicion be confirmed by inoculating suspicious sections of agar into lactose and brilliant green bile broth or subjected to the completed test.
FARM BULK MILK HANDLING*
Authors: March R. P.
Published: December 2018

This article is based largely on a paper presented by the author to the Orange County, New York, milk sanitarians and guest farmers. The purpose of the talk was to give a general picture of the bulk handling situation with emphasis on facts of interest to New York State producers.

The economic aspects as they affect the hauler, dealer and producers are briefly reviewed. Producers are informed and advised concerning some of the engineering aspects of bulk cooling. The effect on milk quality is discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of bulk tanks for the farmer are summarized.
A PLAN FOR THE PREPARATION, SHIPMENT, AND BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF SPLIT SAMPLES OF MILK
Authors: Beck William J. , Adams Irma C.
Published: December 2018

A plan and a progress report has been presented for the preparation and shipment of split milk samples to include the performance test in an approval program for milk laboratories.
THE EFFECT OF FREEZING ON THE STANDARD PLATE COUNT OF MILK1
Authors: Johns C. K. , Berzins I.
Published: December 2018

Milk and cream samples were subjected to (a) slow or (b) rapid freezing, and analysed after 24 and 48 hours storage by the standard plate count method. Bacterial destruction was much less than that reported for liquid egg.
BACTERICIDAL EFFECTIVENESS OF IODOPHOR DETERGENT-SANITIZERS1
Authors: Mueller W. S.
Published: December 2018

The bactericidal properties of an iodine liquid and an iodine powder detergent sanitizer were found to he practically equal. At 25 ppm. of available iodine both products compared favorably with 100 ppm. of available chlorine in killing E. coli, S typhosa, M. pyogenes var. aures and Ps. aeruginosa, in the presence of hard water, whole milk, and dishwash soil. The iodine detergent-sanitizers can be recommended for sanitizing food utensils, if field tests substantiate results of the laboratory performance tests.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DETERMINATION OF ANTIBIOTICS IN MILK1
Authors: Johns C. K. , Berzins I.
Published: December 2018

A so-called “2 hour” test for the detection of penicillin in milk showed no advantage over the regular disc assay procedure. Sensitivity of the latter test was increased by (1) reducing to 4 ml. the volume of seeded agar per plate, (2) refrigerating “planted” plates for 2–6 hours, (3) avoiding overnight incubation at 37°C, and (4) using the larger (0.5 in.) paper discs.

Dornbush's disc assay procedure using B. cereus for detecting aureomycin was. also found to be less sensitive than claimed. Zones of inhibition were less sharply defined than with penicillin. A spore suspension was successfully substituted for a broth culture here.

The methylene blue reduction type of test showed good sensitivity in detecting aureomycin. B. cereus was more sensitive than B mesentericus, and broth cultures more than spore suspensions.
THE PROBLEM OF ANTIBIOTIC DETECTION IN MILK
Authors: Nutting L. A. , Barber F. W.
Published: December 2018

The potential importance of the presence of antibiotic compounds in raw milk has led to the development of several antibiotic detection methods. The majority of these procedures is based on the inhibition of the metabolic activities of dairy streptococci with antibiotics as evidenced by a decrease in acid production rate or in reductase activity. Considerations of the problems associated with the use of antibiotic-free control samples, the time required for the test and other factors are important in the application of these methods.
TESTING THE PERFORMANCE OF MILK LABORATORIES BY MEANS OF LIQUID SPLIT-SAMPLES1
Authors: Thompson D. I. , Koepp Elaine
Published: December 2018

In recent years state laboratory agencies have shown greater interest in the accuracy of results of laboratories performing official quality tests of milk. Visits to laboratories for purposes of evaluation may be supplemented by use of split-samples shipped from the central laboratory twice each year. The details of a method for shipping liquid split-samples are described.

Liquid split-samples may be examined by procedures such as standard plate count, coliform plate count and the phosphatase test. A thermal sensitive organism proved to be useful in detecting laboratories using excessive incubation temperatures.
The effects of natural mating and artificial insemination using cryopreserved buck semen on reproductive performance in Alpine goats
Authors: Agossou Dehouegnon Jerry , Koluman Nazan
Published: December 2018

Abstract. This study compared the effects of natural mating and
artificial insemination using frozen buck semen on reproductive performance
in Alpine goats. Sixty reproductive Alpine goats were grouped according to
natural mating (n=30) and artificial insemination (n=30) breeding
methods. Oestrus was synchronised in experimental goats using a vaginal
sponge impregnated with 20 mg of progestogen FGA (fluorogestone acetate) for 11 days. At the time of
sponge insertion, 150 µg of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) analogue was injected
intramuscularly. Forty-eight hours prior to vaginal sponge withdrawal,
500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was injected into the animals. At the end of synchronisation
protocol, goats were fertilised using frozen semen or mated with a
well-performing buck (ratio: 1 male to 5 females). The pregnancy
(pregnant/synchronised goats) and mortality rates (P<0.05) were
higher (93 % vs. 70 %; 2 % vs. 4 %) in the naturally mated goats than the
artificially inseminated group. Kids' live weight at birth was similar
(3.83±0.23 and 3.15±0.11 kg) in both groups. The oestrus
synchronisation followed by natural mating achieved better reproductive
performance than the goats artificially inseminated using frozen semen.
However, the artificially inseminated animals displayed an acceptable twinning rate.
Attributing differences in the fate of lateral boundary ozone in AQMEII3 models to physical process representations
Authors: Liu Peng , Hogrefe Christian , Im Ulas , Christensen Jesper H. , Bieser Johannes , Nopmongcol Uarporn , Yarwood Greg , Mathur Rohit , Roselle Shawn , Spero Tanya
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Increasing emphasis has been placed on characterizing the contributions and
the uncertainties of ozone imported from outside the US. In chemical
transport models (CTMs), the ozone transported through lateral boundaries
(referred to as LB ozone hereafter) undergoes a series of physical and
chemical processes in CTMs, which are important sources of the uncertainty in
estimating the impact of LB ozone on ozone levels at the surface. By
implementing inert tracers for LB ozone, the study seeks to better understand
how differing representations of physical processes in regional CTMs may lead
to differences in the simulated LB ozone that eventually reaches the surface
across the US. For all the simulations in this study (including WRF∕CMAQ,
WRF∕CAMx, COSMO-CLM∕CMAQ, and WRF∕DEHM), three chemically inert tracers
that generally represent the altitude ranges of the planetary boundary layer
(BC1), free troposphere (BC2), and upper troposphere–lower stratosphere
(BC3) are tracked to assess the simulated impact of LB specification. Comparing WRF∕CAMx with WRF∕CMAQ, their differences in vertical grid
structure explain 10 %–60 % of their seasonally averaged differences in
inert tracers at the surface. Vertical turbulent mixing is the primary
contributor to the remaining differences in inert tracers across the US in
all seasons. Stronger vertical mixing in WRF∕CAMx brings more BC2 downward,
leading to higher BCT (BCT=BC1+BC2+BC3) and BC2∕BCT at the surface in
WRF∕CAMx. Meanwhile, the differences in inert tracers due to vertical mixing
are partially counteracted by their difference in sub-grid cloud mixing over
the southeastern US and the Gulf Coast region during summer. The process
of dry deposition adds extra gradients to the spatial distribution of the
differences in DM8A BCT by 5–10 ppb during winter and summer. COSMO-CLM∕CMAQ and WRF∕CMAQ show similar performance in inert tracers both
at the surface and aloft through most seasons, which suggests similarity
between the two models at process level. The largest difference is found in
summer. Sub-grid cloud mixing plays a primary role in their differences in
inert tracers over the southeastern US and the oceans in summer. Our
analysis of the vertical profiles of inert tracers also suggests that the
model differences in dry deposition over certain regions are offset by the
model differences in vertical turbulent mixing, leading to small differences
in inert tracers at the surface in these regions.
Statistical climatology of mid-latitude mesospheric summer echoes
characterised by OSWIN radar observations
Authors: Pokhotelov Dimitry , Stober Gunter , Chau Jorge L.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Mid-latitude mesospheric summer echoes (MSEs) appear in radar observations during summer months. The geophysical factors controlling the formation of MSEs include solar and energetic particle ionisation, neutral temperature, turbulence, and meridional wind transport. 12 years of summer month observations with OSWIN radar in Kühlungsborn, Germany have been analysed to detect MSE events and to analyse statistical connections to these controlling factors. A more sensitive and consistent method for deriving signal-to-noise ratio has been utilised. Daily and monthly composite analysis demonstrates strong daytime preference and early summer seasonal preference for MSEs. The statistical results are not entirely conclusive due to the low occurrence rates of MSEs. Nevertheless, it is demonstrated that the meridional wind transport from colder high-latitude summer mesosphere is the important controlling factor, while no clear connection to geomagnetic and solar activity is found.
Comparison of two automated aerosol typing methods and their application on an EARLINET station
Authors: Voudouri Kalliopi Artemis , Siomos Nikolaos , Michailidis Konstantinos , Papagiannopoulos Nikolaos , Mona Lucia , Cornacchia Carmela , Nicolae Doina , Balis Dimitris
Published: December 2018

Abstract. In this study we compare two automatic algorithms for the characterization of the aerosol layers derived from a Raman lidar and we test their application over a specific environment in continental Thessaloniki. Both automated aerosol typing methods base their typing on aerosol intensive properties. The methodologies are briefly described and the application on two case studies is presented. The results are checked for their consistency with satellite products and model simulations. Further application of the two classification tools was conducted. The evaluated dataset corresponds to ACTRIS/EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork) Thessaloniki data acquired during the period 2012–2015. 80 layers out of 116 (percentage of 69 %) were successfully typed by both algorithms and assigned to four major types of aerosols: Dust, Maritime, Polluted Smoke and Clean Continental. The analysis showed that the two algorithms are in a very good agreement, when applied to real atmospheric conditions, with an agreement percentage of 88.8 % for Dust, 93.7 % for Polluted Smoke and 70 % for Clean Continental. The Maritime category was the one with the largest spread. These differences are attributed to differences in defining the aerosol types for the two methods. The overall consistency of the aerosol typing between the two automatic procedures despite the different aerosol type definition, allows their applicability to lidar data for characterization purposes. The joint characterization shows the highest degree of confidence in identifying Dust and Polluted Smoke, and emphasizes the need of further investigation for Maritime and Clean Continental type.
Low Level Cloud and Dynamical Features within the Southern West African Monsoon
Authors: Dione Cheikh , Lohou Fabienne , Lothon Marie , Adler Bianca , Babić Karmen , Kalthoff Norbert , Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia Xabier , Bezombes Yannick , Gabella Omar
Published: December 2018

Abstract. During the Boreal summer, the monsoon season that takes place in West Africa is accompanied by low stratus clouds over land, that stretch from the Guinean coast several hundred kilometers inland. These clouds form during the night and dissipate during the following day. Inherently linked with the diurnal cycle of monsoon flow, those clouds still remain poorly documented and understood.Moreover, numerical climate and weather models lack fine quantitative documentation of cloud macrophysical characteristics and the dynamical and thermodynamical structures occupying the lowest troposphere. The Dynamics–Aerosol–Chemistry–Cloud Interactions in West Africa (DACCIWA) field experiment, which took place in summer 2016, addresses this knowledge gap. Low level atmospheric dynamics and low-level cloud macrophysical properties are analyzed using in-situ and remote sensing continuous measurements collected from 20 June to 30 July at Savè, Benin, roughly 180 km from the coast. The macrophysical characteristics of the stratus clouds are deduced from a ceilometer, an infrared cloud camera and cloud radar. Onset times, evolution, dissipation times, base heights and thickness are evaluated. The Data from a UHF (Ultra High Frequency) wind profiler, a microwave radiometer and an energy balance station are used to quantify the occurrence and characteristics of the monsoon flow, the nocturnal low-level jet and the cold air mass inflow propagating northwards from the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The results show that these dynamical structures are very regularly observed during the entire 41-day documented period. Monsoon flow is observed 100 % of the time. The so-called maritime inflow and the nocturnal low level jet are also systematic features in this area. According to monsoon flow conditions, the maritime inflow reaches Savè around 18:00–19:00 UTC on average: this timing is correlated with the strength of the monsoon flow. This time of arrival is close to the time range of the nocturnal low level jet settlement. As a result, these phenomena are difficult to distinguish at the Savè site. The low level jet occurs every night, except during rain events, and is associated 65 % of the time with low stratus clouds. Stratus cloud form between 22:00 UTC and 06:00 UTC at an elevation close to the nocturnal low level jet core height. The cloud base height, 310 ± 30 m above ground level (a.g.l.) is rather stationary during the night and remains below the jet core height. The cloud top height, at 640 ± 100 m a.g.l., is typically found above the jet core. The nocturnal low level jet, low level clouds, monsoon flow and maritime inflow reveal significant day-to-day variability during the summer. Distributions of strength, depth, onset time, break up time, etc. are quantified here.
From ERA-Interim to ERA5: considerable impact of ECMWF's next-generation reanalysis on Lagrangian transport simulations
Authors: Hoffmann Lars , Günther Gebhard , Li Dan , Stein Olaf , Wu Xue , Griessbach Sabine , Heng Yi , Konopka Paul , Müller Rolf , Vogel Bärbel , Wright Jonathon S.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF's) next-generation reanalysis ERA5 provides many improvements, but it also confronts the community with a big data challenge. Data storage requirements for ERA5 increase by a factor of ~ 80 compared with the ERA-Interim reanalysis, introduced a decade ago. Considering the significant increase in resources required for working with the new ERA5 data set, it is important to assess its impact on Lagrangian transport simulations. To quantify the differences between transport simulations using ERA5 and ERA-Interim data, we analyzed comprehensive global sets of 10-day forward trajectories for the free troposphere and the stratosphere for the year 2017. The new ERA5 data have considerable impact on the simulations. Spatial transport deviations between ERA5 and ERA-Interim trajectories are up to an order of magnitude larger than those caused by diffusion and subgrid-scale wind fluctuations after 1 day and still up to a factor of 2–3 larger after 10 days. Depending on the height range, the spatial differences between the trajectories map into deviations as large as 3 K in temperature, 30 % in specific humidity, 1.8 % in potential temperature, and 50 % in potential vorticity after 1 day. Part of the differences between ERA5 and ERA-Interim is attributed to better spatial and temporal resolution of the ERA5 reanalysis, allowing for a better representation of convective updrafts, gravity waves, tropical cyclones, and other meso- to synoptic scale features of the atmosphere. Another important finding is that ERA5 trajectories exhibit significantly improved conservation of potential temperature in the stratosphere, pointing to an improved consistency of ECMWF's forecast model and observations that leads to smaller data assimilation increments. We conducted a number of downsampling experiments with the ERA5 data, in which we reduced the numbers of meteorological time steps, vertical levels, and horizontal grid points. Significant differences remain present in the transport simulations, if we downsample the ERA5 data to a resolution similar to ERA-Interim. This points to substantial changes of the forecast model, observations, and assimilation system of ERA5 in addition to improved resolution. A comparison of two Lagrangian trajectory models allowed us to assess the readiness of the codes and workflows to handle the comprehensive ERA5 data and to demonstrate the consistency of the simulation results. Our results will help to guide future Lagrangian transport studies attempting to navigate the increased computational complexity and leverage the considerable benefits and improvements of ECMWF's new ERA5 data set.
Evolution of DARDAR-CLOUD ice cloud cloud retrieval: new parameters and impacts on the retrieved microphysical properties
Authors: Cazenave Quitterie , Ceccaldi Marie , Delanoë Julien , Pelon Jacques , Groß Silke , Heymsfield Andrew
Published: December 2018

Abstract. In this paper we present the latest refinements brought to the DARDAR-CLOUD product, which contains ice cloud microphysical properties retrieved from the cloud radar and lidar measurements from the A-Train mission. Based on a large dataset of in-situ ice cloud measurements collected during several campaigns performed between 2000 and 2007 in different regions of the globe, the parameterizations used in the microphysical model of the algorithm were assessed and refined to 5 better fit the measurements, keeping the same formalism as proposed in DARDAR basis papers. It is shown that these changes can affect the ice water content retrievals by up to 50 %, with, globally, a reduction of the ice water content and ice water path. In parallel, the retrieved effective radii increase between 5 % and 40 %. The largest differences are found for the warmest temperatures (between −20 °C and 0 °C) in regions where the cloud microphysical processes are more complex and where the retrieval is almost exclusively based on radar-only measurements. In regions where lidar measurements are available, the lidar 10 ratio retrieved for ice clouds is shown to be well constrained by lidar-radar combination or molecular signal detected below thin semi-transparent cirrus. Using this information, the parameterization of the lidar ratio was refined and the new retrieval equals on average 35 sr ± 10 sr in the temperature range between −60 °C and −20 °C.
Derivation of the mean annual water-energy balance equation based
on an Ohms-type approach
Authors: Shan Xu , Li Xindong , Yang Hanbo
Published: December 2018

Abstract. The Budyko hypothesis has been widely used to describe precipitation partitioning at the catchment scale. Many empirical and analytical formulas have been proposed to describe the Budyko hypothesis. Based on dimensional analysis and mathematic reasoning, previous studies have given an analytical derivation, i.e., the Mezentsev-Choudhury-Yang (MCY) equation. However, few hydrological processes are involved in the derivation. Note that similar to electrical circuits and atmospheric motions, this study tried to give a new derivation of the Budyko hypothesis based on an analogy of the Ohms-type approach and the homogeneity assumption. The derived equation has the same form as the MCY equation but has a more physical explanation than the mathematic reasoning proposed in previous studies. In addition, under conditions without the homogeneity constraint, a more general expression is E=P(b+kE)0) [Pn+(b+kE)0)n](1/n), where E, E0 and P are evaporation, potential evaporation and precipitation, respectively, and n, k and b are constants.
Can the Nucleation Phase be Generated on a Sub-fault Linked to the Main Fault of an Earthquake?
Authors: Wang Jeen-Hwa
Published: December 2018

Abstract. We study the effects of seismic coupling, friction, viscous, and inertia on earthquake nucleation based on a two-body spring-slider model in the presence of thermal-pressurized slip-dependent friction and viscosity. The stiffness ratio of the system to represent seismic coupling is the ratio of coil spring K between two sliders and the leaf spring L between a slider and the background plate and denoted by s = K/L. The s is not a significant factor in generating the nucleation phase. The masses of the two sliders are m1 and m2, respectively. The frictional and viscous effects are specified by the static friction force, fo, the characteristic displacement, Uc, and viscosity coefficient, h, respectively. Numerical simulations show that friction and viscosity can both lengthen the natural period of the system and viscosity increases the duration time of motion of the slider. Higher viscosity causes lower particle velocities than lower viscosity. The ratios γ = h2/h1, φ = fo2/fo1, ψ = Uc2/Ucl, and μ = m2/m1 are four important factors in influencing the generation of a nucleation phase. When s > 0.17, γ > 1, 1.15 > φ > 1, ψ
On the localization in strongly coupled ensemble data assimilation using a two-scale Lorenz model
Authors: Shen Zheqi , Tang Youmin , Li Xiaojing , Gao Yanqiu , Li Junde
Published: December 2018

Abstract. In the data assimilation of coupled models, the stongly coupled data assimilation (SCDA) is much more complicated than the weakly coupled data assimilation (WCDA), since it involves the cross-domain error covariances which could be very inaccurate when the ensemble size is small. In this study, the SCDA experiments are conducted using a two-scale Lorenz '96 model, which is a coupled system composed by two Lorenz '96 models in two domains have different temporal and spatial scales. A localization strategy is specially designed for the cross-domain error covariances when the ensemble adjustment Kalman filter (EAKF) is used for the coupled data assimilation (CDA) experiments. The formulas for computing the localization factors that can deal with multiple spatial scales and provide essential information are developed to imporve the quality of analyses. The result shows that the SCDA can provides much more accurate estimation of the states than the WCDA when the localization for the cross-domain error covariances is used. Moreover, it is found that the advantage of the SCDA over the WCDA for this model is attributed to the assimilation of small scale observations into the coupled system, whereas the contribution of the assimilation of the large-scale observations to the coupled system is not obvious. This current study provides a possible strategy or idea for developing operational CDA using realistic coupled models.