bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circular Economy: Questions for Responsible Minerals, Additive Manufacturing and Recycling of Metals
Authors: Giurco Damien , Littleboy Anna , Boyle Thomas , Fyfe Julian , White Stuart
Published: May 2014

The concept of the circular economy proposes new patterns of production, consumption and use, based on circular flows of resources. Under a scenario where there is a global shift towards the circular economy, this paper discusses the advent of two parallel and yet-to-be-connected trends for Australia, namely: (i) responsible minerals supply chains and (ii) additive manufacturing, also known as 3D production systems. Acknowledging the current context for waste management, the paper explores future interlinked questions which arise in the circular economy for responsible supply chains, additive manufacturing, and metals recycling. For example, where do mined and recycled resources fit in responsible supply chains as inputs to responsible production? What is required to ensure 3D production systems are resource efficient? How could more distributed models of production, enabled by additive manufacturing, change the geographical scale at which it is economic or desirable to close the loop? Examples are given to highlight the need for an integrated research agenda to address these questions and to foster Australian opportunities in the circular economy.
Mitigating Product Harm Crises and Making Markets Sustainable: How does National Culture Matter?
Authors: Samaraweera Ganganee , Li Chongguang , Qing Ping
Published: May 2014

Product harm crisis has become a serious issue in the business world today irrespective of the crisis mitigating strategies adopted to remedy the harm. The purpose of the study is to determine whether national culture shapes consumer reactions to crisis response strategies as a result of variation of consumers’ perceptions the affected firm’s moral responsibility. The study considers a comparison of 303 marketing-based Chinese and Sri Lankan students. Findings of independent sample t tests and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) suggested that consumers’ moral perceptions vary significantly between China and Sri Lanka in response to crisis response strategies revealing a new insight in the crisis mitigating literature. A wounded company has to launch a super effort response in Sri Lanka whereas the voluntary recall response in China is sufficient in a crisis in order to maintain moral reputation. Moreover, the study reveals that implementation of an inappropriate strategy leads to significant financial and moral reputational loss to a company. Therefore, the study recommends companies choosing culture-specific response strategies in order to protect moral reputational status and to make the market sustainable.
Externalités de léducation et mobilité intergénérationnelle : application au cas français
Authors: Moullet Stéphanie , Fabre Alice
Published: May 2014

L ’ étude porte sur la mobilité intergénérationnelle en France sur la période 1945-1993 et met l ’ accent sur le rôle de la dotation en capital humain de l ’ économie . A l ’ aide d ’ un modèle à générations imbriquées avec agents hétérogènes , nous montrons que la présence d ’ effets d ’ entraînement , liés au capital humain moyen de l ’ économie , permet de réduire l ’ inégalité en capital humain , même dans le cas d ’ une croissance endogène à taux constant . Le modèle théorique apporte des éléments d ’ explication de l ’ élévation du niveau de scolarisation observée en France au cours des dernières décennies . Des estimations réalisées à partir de données issues de l ’ enquête Formation et Qualification Professionnelle 1993 de l ’ INSEE montrent ainsi que le capital humain moyen de l ’ économie joue un rôle significatif sur l ’ accumulation du capital humain et contribue à la mobilité intergénérationnelle , en dépit d ’ un coefficient de transmission du capital humain élevé entre générations .
Offre de travail et santé en France
Authors: Wolff François-Charles , Tessier Philippe
Published: May 2014

Labour Supply and Health Standards in France.

This paper proposes an econometric analysis giving information regarding possible interactions between labour and health in France based on the “ Emploi du temps ” (time use) survey. Using two measures of health, one objective and the other subjective, the estimation of models consisting of simultaneous discrete-choice equations reveal that the fact of being in poor health substantially reduces the probability of participating in the labour market, whereas the fact of being in work has no particular influence on state of health. The construction of suitable statistical sources, notably longitudinal data, would make it possible to go further in examining the links between labour and health.
Financement des politiques du marché du travail et protection de l'emploi
Authors: L'Haridon Olivier
Published: May 2014

Labour Market Policies Budget and Job Protection.

This article focuses on the links between the form of employment protection and two elements of the labour market policies budget : unemployment benefits and hiring subsidies. We study the complementarities of such policies in a standard matching model of employment. In our model two types of employment protection reforms are investigated : a reform of the existing job protection policies in Europe (regulatory costs of lay-offs ) and the introduction of a US-style “ experience rating scheme ”. Our simulations show that the design of job protection is a crucial parameter in determining the effect of these policies on unemployment and interacts strongly with the unemployment benefit financing policy. The results suggest that the complementarities between job protection and unemployment benefit policies depend heavily on the precise form of the employment protection.
Superior Potential of CD34-Positive Cells Compared to Total Mononuclear Cells for Healing of Nonunion following Bone Fracture
Authors: Fukui Tomoaki , Mifune Yutaka , Matsumoto Tomoyuki , Shoji Taro , Kawakami Yohei , Kawamoto Atsuhiko , Ii Masaaki , Akimaru Hiroshi , Kuroda Tomoya , Horii Miki , Yokoyama Ayumi , Alev Cantas , Kuroda Ryosuke , Kurosaka Masahiro , Asahara Takayuki
Published: May 2014

We recently demonstrated that the local transplantation of human peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells, an endothelial/hematopoietic progenitor cell-rich population, contributes to fracture repair via vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Human PB mononuclear cells (MNCs) are also considered a potential cell fraction for neovascularization. We have previously shown the feasibility of human PB MNCs to enhance fracture healing. However, there is no report directly comparing the efficacy for fracture repair between CD34+ cells and MNCs. In addition, an unhealing fracture model, which does not accurately resemble a clinical setting, was used in our previous studies. To overcome these issues, we compared the capacity of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized PB (GM-PB) CD34+ cells and human GM-PB MNCs in a nonunion model, which more closely resembles a clinical setting. First, the effect of local transplantation of 1 × 105 GM-PB CD34+ cells (CD34+ group), 1 × 107 GM-PB MNCs (containing approximately 1 × 105 GM-PB CD34+ cells) (MNC group), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (PBS group) on nonunion healing was compared. Similar augmentation of blood flow recovery at perinonunion sites was observed in the CD34+ and MNC groups. Meanwhile, a superior effect on nonunion repair was revealed by radiological, histological, and functional assessment in the CD34+ group compared with the other groups. Moreover, through in vivo and in vitro experiments, excessive inflammation induced by GM-PB MNCs was confirmed and believed to be one of the mechanisms underlying this potency difference. These results strongly suggest that local transplantation of GM-PB CD34+ cells is a practical and effective strategy for treatment of nonunion after fracture.
Integration-Free Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from type 1 Diabetes Patient Skin Fibroblasts Show Increased Abundance of Pancreas-Specific microRNAs
Authors: Liu Jun , Joglekar Mugdha V. , Sumer Huseyin , Hardikar Anandwardhan A. , Teede Halena , Verma Paul J.
Published: May 2014

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a disease that is typically associated with multigenetic changes as well as environmental triggers. Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are preferable cell sources to study T1D, as they are derived from patient cells and therefore capture the disease genotype in a stem cell line. The purpose of this study was to generate integration-free iPSCs from adult skin fibroblasts with T1D. iPSCs were generated by transfection of synthetic mRNAs encoding transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC, and LIN28. Phase-contrast microscopy, immunocytochemistry, karyotyping, bisulfite genomic sequencing, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and teratoma formation assay were used to determine reprogramming efficiency, pluripotency, and differentiation potential. Following 18 consecutive days of synthetic mRNA transfections, the T1D patient skin fibroblasts underwent morphological changes, and the aggregated clumps exhibited a human embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like morphology with a high nucleus/cytoplasm ratio. Highly efficient generation of iPSCs was achieved using the mRNA reprogramming approach. The disease-specific iPSCs expressed pluripotency markers, maintained a normal karyotype, and formed teratomas containing tissues representative of the three germ layers when injected into immune-deficient mice. Of interest, the iPSCs showed upregulations of pancreas-specific microRNAs, compared with parental fibroblasts. These data indicate that T1D patient skin fibroblasts can be reprogrammed to pluripotency using a synthetic mRNA approach. These cells can serve as a useful tool for the identification of genes that are involved in autoimmune reactions as well as generating patient-matched β-cells for cell-based therapy.
Olefin cross metathesis based de novo synthesis of a partially protected L-amicetose and a fully protected L-cinerulose derivative
Authors: Schmidt Bernd , Hauke Sylvia
Published: May 2014

Cross metathesis of a lactate derived allylic alcohol and acrolein is the entry point to a de novo synthesis of 4-benzoate protected L-amicetose and a cinerulose derivative protected at C5 and C1.
Que peut le Parlement européen ?
Authors: Costa Olivier
Published: May 2014

La revalorisation constante des pouvoirs du Parlement européen est l’un des traits les plus marquants de l’évolution du système institutionnel de l’Union depuis les origines. C’est aujourd’hui une assemblée puissante et surtout très indépendante, capable d’influer réellement sur la production normative et de contrôler effectivement la Commission. Toutefois, l’évaluation de l’influence du Parlement se heurte au développement de pratiques telles que les « trilogues », qui favorisent une généralisation des accords précoces en matière législative et occultent les rapports de forces entre les institutions.
FALL DETECTION USING THREE WEARABLE TRIAXIAL ACCELEROMETERS AND A DECISION-TREE CLASSIFIER
Authors: Luo Kan , Li Jianqing , Wu Jianfeng , Yang Hua , Xu Gaozhi
Published: May 2014

Unintentional falls cause serious health problem and high medical cost, particularly among the elders. Efficient fall detection can ensure fallen subjects with timely rescue, less pain and lower health-care expense. However, the accuracy of the present fall detection system with single accelerometer does not meet the requirement of practical application. In this paper, a fall detection method using three wearable triaxial accelerometers and a decision-tree classifier is proposed. The three triaxial accelerometers are, respectively mounted on the head, the waist and the ankle to capture the acceleration signals of human movement. A Kalman filter is adopted to estimate the body tilt angle. After the features are extracted, the trained decision-tree model is used to predict the fall. The efficiency improvement is evidenced by the scripted and unscripted lateral fall experiments, involving five young healthy volunteers (three males and two females; age: 23.3 ± 1 years). The classification of fall and activities of daily living (ADL) achieve recall, precision and F-value of 93.1%, 95.9%, and 94.5%, respectively, and the system detects all falls during the extended unscripted trials. The experimental results indicate that the complementary movement information coming from three accelerometers can enhance the performance of fall detection. The proposed method is efficient, and it has remarkable improvements in comparison to the method of using one or two accelerometers.
Foundations for Industrial Rejuvenation
Authors: Spoehr John
Published: May 2014

Drawing on a body of research examining the economic and social effects of downturns and major manufacturing plant closures in Australia and South Australia in particular, this chapter investigates how industrial rejuvenation strategies can help to minimise the negative impacts on the workforce and supply chains affected. The chapter identifies key lessons from the national and international literature on industrial rejuvenation and the management of major closures. Industrial rejuvenation is a multi-faceted strategy that seeks to manage pressures and complex change in response to local, national, and global conditions. The chapter focuses on the evidence about the strategic options for industrial rejuvenation available to government in partnership with industry, trade union, and community stakeholders. The chapter concludes by drawing out some broad strategic implications for the design of more integrated rejuvenation and regeneration policies.
Business Innovation
Authors: Scott-Kemmis Don
Published: May 2014

This chapter presents the case for a wider understanding of innovation beyond technology and beyond novel products and processes. It examines the dynamics of Business Model Innovation, which refers to fundamental changes to the total formula for business success. New approaches to value creation and appropriation through business model innovation are particularly vital in times of turbulence and realignment faced by firms in high cost operating environments. Business model innovation can create new and sustainable sources of competitive advantage for firms, securing their survival and growth. The chapter discusses the evidence for the role of business model innovation in the growth of leading firms and in the restructuring of markets. It provides an overview of the frameworks for characterising and analysing business models. The options for different types of business models likely to be successful in high cost environments are described.
The Effects of Six Sigma Quality (SSQ) on Innovation and Organisational Ambidexterity in a High Operating Cost Environment
Authors: Terziovski Milé
Published: May 2014

This chapter explores the effect of Six Sigma Quality (SSQ) on innovation and organizational ambidexterity in a high operating cost environment. Multiple-cross case analysis revealed that SSQ seems to align very well with process innovation, where the organisation has a well-defined process output to control. However, some tension exists between SSQ and product innovation, particularly in terms of the time expectation for SSQ to deliver results. Furthermore, the study shows that SSQ could have a positive impact on organizational ambidexterity in a high operating cost environment, as long as management recognizes that innovation approaches require their own formula for success. Management needs to establish a team that could manage the tension between “getting it right the first time” as part of managed innovation and “learning from failure” as part of entrepreneurial innovation.
Exploring Emergence within Social Systems with Agent Based Models
Authors: Friesen Marcia R. , Gordon Richard , McLeod Robert D.
Published: May 2014

In this chapter, the authors examine manifestations of emergence or apparent emergence in agent based social modeling and simulation, and discuss the inherent challenges in building real world models and in defining, recognizing and validating emergence within these systems. The discussion is grounded in examples of research on emergence by others, with extensions from within our research group. The works cited and built upon are explicitly chosen as representative samples of agent-based models that involve social systems, where observation of emergent behavior is a sought-after outcome. The concept of the distinctiveness of social from abiotic emergence in terms of the use of global parameters by agents is introduced.
Large-Scale Social Simulation, Dealing with Complexity Challenges in High Performance Environments
Authors: Montañola-Sales C. , Rubio-Campillo X. , Casanovas-Garcia J. , Cela-Espín J. M. , Kaplan-Marcusán A.
Published: May 2014

Advances on information technology in the past decades have provided new tools to assist scientists in the study of social and natural phenomena. Agent-based modeling techniques have flourished recently, encouraging the introduction of computer simulations to examine behavioral patterns in complex human and biological systems. Real-world social dynamics are very complex, containing billions of interacting individuals and an important amount of data (both spatial and social). Dealing with large-scale agent-based models is not an easy task and encounters several challenges. The design of strategies to overcome these challenges represents an opportunity for high performance parallel and distributed implementation. This chapter examines the most relevant aspects to deal with large-scale agent-based simulations in social sciences and revises the developments to confront technological issues.
From Meso Decisions to Macro Results
Authors: Luyet Stéphane
Published: May 2014

Policy diffusion needs to be studied as a complex phenomenon, since it involves interdependent relationships between autonomous and heterogeneous countries. This chapter aims at developing a simple computational model based on a theoretical model of policy diffusion (Braun & Gilardi, 2006) that helps to explain the emergence of diffusion in a complex system. Based on three simple conditions (ready, choose, change) and a few internal and external characteristics that define countries and their interactions, the model presented in this chapter shows that policies do diffuse and lead to local convergence and global divergence. Moreover, it takes time for a country to introduce the best-suited policy and for this policy to become very effective. To conclude, diffusion is a complex phenomenon and its outcomes, as ensued from the author's model, are in line with the theoretical expectations and the empirical evidence.
Multi-Agent Economically Motivated Decision-Making
Authors: Trigo Paulo
Published: May 2014

The key motivation for this chapter is the perception that within the near future, markets will be composed of individuals that may simultaneously undertake the roles of consumers, producers and traders. Those individuals are economically motivated “prosumer” (producer-consumer) agents that not only consume, but can also produce, store and trade assets. This chapter describes the most relevant aspects of a simulation tool that provides (human and virtual) prosumer agents an interactive and real-time game-like environment where they can explore (long-term and short-term) strategic behaviour and experience the effects of social influence in their decision-making processes. The game-like environment is focused on the simulation of electricity markets, it is named ITEM-game (“Investment and Trading in Electricity Markets”), and it is publically available (ITEM-Game, 2013) for any player to explore the role of a prosumer agent.
Knowledge-Based Externalities and Geographical Clusters
Authors: Carbonara Nunzia
Published: May 2014

Agglomeration economies are positive externalities associated with the co-location of firms within a bounded geographic area. Traditionally, these agglomerative advantages have been expressed in terms of pecuniary externalities and they have been identified as one of the key sources of geographical cluster (GC) competitive advantage. However, in the last years the basics of competition are changed and the ability of firms to create new knowledge is more crucial for success rather than the efficiency in production. This has shifted the attention of scholars on the role of knowledge and learning in GCs. In line with these studies, this chapter suggests that agglomeration economies are related to both pecuniary externalities and knowledge-based externalities. The latter are benefits that co-located firms can gain in terms of development of knowledge. To investigate whether knowledge-based externalities affect geographical clustering of firms, an agent-based model is developed. By using this model, a simulation analysis is carried out.
A Moderate Zinc Deficiency Does Not Impair Gene Expression of PPARα, PPARγ, and Mitochondrial Enoyl-CoA Delta Isomerase in the Liver of Growing Rats
Authors: Justus Jennifer , Weigand Edgar
Published: May 2014

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of a moderate zinc deficiency and a high intake of polyunsaturated fat on the mRNA expression of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and mitochondrial Δ3Δ2-enoyl-CoA isomerase (ECI) in the liver. Weanling rats were assigned to five groups (eight animals each) and fed semi-synthetic, low-carbohydrate diets containing 7 or 50 mg Zn/kg (low-Zn (LZ) or high-Zn (HZ)) and 22% cocoa butter (CB) or 22% safflower (SF) oil for four weeks. One group each was fed the LZ-CB, LZ-SF, or HZ-SF diet free choice, and one group each was fed the HZ-CB and HZ-SF diets in restricted amounts according to intake of the respective LZ diets. The LZ diets markedly lowered growth and zinc concentrations in plasma and femur. Hepatic mRNA levels of PPARα, PPARγ, and ECI were not reduced by the moderate zinc deficiency. Overall, ECI-mRNA abundance was marginally higher in the SF-fed than in the CB-fed animals.
EFECTO DE LA DENSIDAD DE PLANTACIÓN EN LA RENTABILIDAD DE PLANTACIONES DE Eucalyptus globulus
Authors: Guerra-Bugueño Emilio , Célis-Mosqueira Fabián , Moreno-García Norman
Published: May 2014

El estudio evaluó, económicamente, la respuesta de densidades de plantación y marcos de espaciamiento de Eucalyptus globulus establecido con fines pulpables. La técnica de Montecarlo se usó para examinar el efecto de las variaciones de precios y la tasa de descuento sobre la rentabilidad. El ensayo fue realizado en el Valle Central de la IX Región de Chile. Los tratamientos fueron: 1,000 árboles·ha-1(T1); 1,428 árboles·ha-1 (T2); 1,667 árboles·ha-1 (T3) y 2,000 árboles·ha-1 (T4). El volumen de producción de cada tratamiento se midió a la edad de cosecha (10 años) y posteriormente se realizó un análisis financiero, para obtener la rentabilidad (valor actual neto [VAN], valor económico del suelo [VES] y tasa interna de retorno [TIR]). Los mayores valores de VAN se obtuvieron con el T1 (US$ 330·ha-1) y T4 (US$ 322·ha-1). Los pronósticos obtenidos para el VAN de T1 mostraron una probabilidad de ocurrencia de 73 %, resultando ser la opción menos riesgosa para la inversión. Los mayores rendimientos volumétricos (T4 y T3) no propician las mayores rentabilidades, pues el incremento de la densidad de plantación aumenta los costos por unidad de planta con relación al manejo de suelos, control de malezas y fertilización.
ANÁLISIS COMPARATIVO DE TRES HIDROGRAMAS UNITARIOS SINTÉTICOS EN DOS CUENCAS MEDITERRÁNEAS DE CHILE, REGIÓN DEL MAULE
Authors: Pizarro-Tapia Roberto , Balocchi-Contreras Francisco , Andrade-Vilaró Fernando , Sangüesa-Pool Claudia , Vargas-Baecheler José , Morales-Calderón Carolina , Vera-Camiroaga Mauricio , Valdés-Pineda Rodrigo , Vallejos-Carrera Carlos , Mendoza-Mendoza Romina , Olivares-Santelices Claudio , Abarza-Martínez Alejandro , Fuentes-Lagos Roberto
Published: May 2014

En el presente artículo se realiza un análisis comparativo de tres métodos para obtener hidrogramas unitarios sintéticos (HUS). Los métodos de Snyder, de “U.S. Bureau of Reclamation” y el de Témez se analizaron en dos cuencas de la zona mediterránea de Chile. Para ello, se realizó una caracterización morfológica y vegetacional de cada cuenca. Además, se utilizó la información de tres tormentas reales con intensidades clasificadas como alta, media y baja, a fin de obtener los hidrogramas de escorrentía directa (HED) para ambas cuencas. La escorrentía asociada a los eventos de precipitación se obtuvo utilizando la metodología del número de curva. Los resultados demostraron que, a nivel general, los HUS utilizados no presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P = 0.05) para ambas cuencas. Por otra parte, la metodología del HUS de Snyder fue la única que detectó diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los HED respecto a los otros métodos y sólo bajo una tormenta de alta intensidad en la cuenca Cunculén.
DAÑOS CAUSADOS POR EL BARRENADOR MAYOR DE LOS GRANOS Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (COLEOPTERA: BOSTRICHIDAE) EN MAÍZ Y RAMAS DE PLANTAS SILVESTRES
Authors: Bourne-Murrieta Luz R. , Wong-Corral Francisco J. , Borboa-Flores Jesús , Cinco-Moroyoqui Francisco J.
Published: May 2014

Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) es un insecto barrenador de la madera que se ha adaptado a los productos alimenticios almacenados, principalmente de maíz. En este trabajo se cuantificaron las pérdidas y daños ocasionados por el barrenador en 10 variedades de maíz y 10 especies vegetales para determinar la susceptibilidad y los efectos que el insecto pudiera ocasionar si se adapta a las condiciones del noroeste de México. Las semillas de los maíces y los trozos de ramas de las especies arbóreas se sometieron a infestación artificial por adultos de P. truncatus y se incubaron a 27 ± 1 °C y 70 ± 3 % de humedad relativa. La preferencia de los insectos y los daños ocasionados en cada material fueron determinados. Los insectos prefirieron y dañaron en mayor grado al “Maizón”, una variedad de maíz criollo sembrado por los productores de la región serrana de Sonora. Los trozos de ramas con mayor daño provocado por P. truncatus fueron Ricinus communis, Jatropha cardiophylla y Parkinsonia aculeata; sin embargo, el insecto no fue capaz de reproducirse en éstas. El “Maizón” también presentó la disminución más drástica de germinación y fue una de las variedades con mayor número de adultos de P. truncatus emergidos.
EFECTO DEL MEDIO DE CULTIVO EN EL DESARROLLO DE Suillus granulatus (L.) Roussel y S. brevipes (Pk.) Kuntze
Authors: Murrieta-Hernández Dulce Ma. , Noa-Carrazana Juan C. , Mata-Rosas Martín , Pineda-López María del R. , Zulueta-Rodríguez Ramón , Flores-Estévez Norma
Published: May 2014

La tasa de crecimiento micelial de los hongos ectomicorrícicos Suillus granulatus y S. brevipes, se evaluó en tres medios de cultivo (PDA, BAF y MNM) con dos valores de pH (4.8 y 5.8), con el fin de seleccionar el mejor medio de cultivo. Las cepas se aislaron de esporomas colectados en el bosque de Pinus hartwegii del Parque Nacional Cofre de Perote, Veracruz, México. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (Tukey, P ≤ 0.05) en el área de crecimiento de ambas especies; los valores más altos se registraron en el medio PDA. Respecto a los valores de pH evaluados, no hubo diferencias significativas. Cada uno de los medios evaluados se puede utilizar para el cultivo de las cepas S. granulatus y S. brevipes dependiendo de los objetivos. El medio PDA fue el mejor sustrato para el crecimiento de las cepas. Se sugiere utilizar el medio BAF para la producción masiva de micelio para inóculo y el medio MNM se recomienda ya sea para el mantenimiento de las cepas o para pruebas de micorrización.
Aerosol variability and atmospheric transport in the Himalayan region from CALIOP 2007–2010 observations
Authors: Bucci S. , Cagnazzo C. , Cairo F. , Di Liberto L. , Fierli F.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. This work quantifies the spatial distribution of different aerosol types, their seasonal variability and sources.The analysis of four years of CALIOP (Cloud–Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization) vertically resolved aerosol data allows the identification of spatial patterns of desert dust and carbonaceous particles in different atmospheric layers. Clusters of Lagrangian back trajectories highlight the transport pathways from source regions during the dusty spring season. The analysis shows a prevalence of dust; at low heights it occurs frequently (up to 70% of available observations) and is distributed north of the Tibetan Plateau with a main contribution from the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, and west of the Tibetan Plateau, originating from the deserts of southwest Asia and advected by the Westerlies. Above the Himalayas the dust amount is minor but still not negligible (occurrence around 20%) and mainly affected by the transport from more distant deserts sources (Sahara and Arabian Peninsula). Carbonaceous aerosol, produced mainly in northern India and eastern China, is subject to shorter-range transport and is indeed observed closer to the sources, while there is a limited amount reaching the top of the plateau. Data analysis reveals a clear seasonal variability in the frequencies of occurrence for the main aerosol types; dust is regulated principally by the monsoon dynamics, with maximal occurrence in spring. We also highlight relevant interannual differences, showing a larger presence of aerosol in the region during 2007 and 2008. The characterization of the aerosol spatial and temporal distribution in terms of observational frequency is a key piece of information that can be directly used for the evaluation of global aerosol models.
Estimation of direct and indirect impacts of fireworks on the physicochemical characteristics of atmospheric fine and coarse particles
Authors: Tian Y.-Z. , Wang J. , Peng X. , Shi G.-L. , Feng Y.-C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. To quantify total, direct and indirect impacts of fireworks individually, size-resolved PM samples were collected before, during, and after a Chinese folk-custom festival (Chinese New Year) in a megacity in China. Through chemical analysis and morphology characterization, strong influence of fireworks on physicochemical characteristics of PM10 and PM2.5 was observed. Concentrations of many species exhibited an increasing trend during heavy-firework period, especially for K+, Mg2+ and Cr; and the results of non-sea-salt ions demonstrated anthropogenic influence on them. Then, source apportionment was conducted by receptor models and Peak Analysis. Total influence of fireworks was quantified by PMF, showing that fireworks contributed rather higher fractions (23.40% to PM10 and 29.66% to PM2.5) during heavy-firework period than those during light-firework period (4.28% to PM10 and 7.18% to PM2.5). Profiles of total fireworks obtained by two independent methods (PMF and Peak Analysis) were consistent, with higher abundances of K+, Al, Si, Ca and OC. Finally, individual contributions of direct and indirect impacts of fireworks were quantified by CMB. The percentage contributions of resuspended dust, biomass combustion and direct-fireworks were 36.82, 14.08 and 44.44% for PM10 and 34.89, 16.60 and 52.54% for PM2.5, in terms of the total fireworks. The quantification of total, direct and indirect impacts of fireworks to ambient PM gives an original contribution to understand the physicochemical characteristics and mechanisms of such high-intensity anthropogenic activities.
Air quality simulations of wildfires in the Pacific Northwest evaluated with surface and satellite observations during the summers of 2007 and 2008
Authors: Herron-Thorpe F. L. , Mount G. H. , Emmons L. K. , Lamb B. K. , Jaffe D. A. , Wigder N. L. , Chung S. H. , Zhang R. , Woelfle M. D. , Vaughan J. K.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Evaluation of a regional air quality forecasting system for the Pacific Northwest was carried out for the 2007 and 2008 fire seasons using suite of surface and satellite observations. Wildfire events in the Pacific Northwest during the summers of 2007 and 2008 were simulated using the Air Information Report for Public Access and Community Tracking v.3 (AIRPACT-3) framework utilizing the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Fire emissions were simulated using the BlueSky framework with fire locations determined by the Satellite Mapping Automated Reanalysis Tool for Fire Incident Reconciliation (SMARTFIRE). Plume rise was simulated using two different methods: the Fire Emission Production Simulator (FEPS) and the Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions (SMOKE) model. Predicted plume top heights were compared to the Cloud-Aerosol LIDAR with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) instrument aboard the Cloud Aerosol LIDAR and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite. Carbon monoxide predictions were compared to the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. Horizontal distributions of column aerosol optical depth (AOD) were compared to retrievals by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard the Aqua satellite. Model tropospheric nitrogen dioxide distributions were compared to retrievals from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) aboard the Aura satellite. Surface ozone and PM2.5 predictions were compared to surface observations. The AIRPACT-3 model captured the location and transport direction of fire events well, but sometimes missed the timing of fire events and overall underestimated the impact of wildfire events at regional surface monitor locations. During the 2007 fire period the fractional biases of AIRPACT-3 for average 24 h PM2.5, maximum daily average 8 h Ozone, AOD, total column CO, and tropospheric column NO2 were found to be −33%, −8%, −61%, −10%, and −39%, respectively; while during the 2008 fire period the fractional biases were −27%, +1%, −53%, −5%, and −28%, respectively. Fractional biases of AIRPACT-3 plume tops were found to be −46% above mean sea level (a.m.s.l.), but only −28% above ground level (a.g.l.), partly due to the under-estimation of AIRPACT-3 elevation in complex terrain that results from the 12 km grid-cell smoothing.
Improving the bias characteristics of the ROPP refractivity and bending angle operators
Authors: Burrows C. P. , Healy S. B. , Culverwell I. D.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. The bending angle observation operator (forward model) currently used to assimilate radio occultation (RO) data at the Met Office, ECMWF and other centres is the same as is included in the Radio Occultation Processing Package (ROPP), along with the corresponding tangent-linear and adjoint code. The functionality of this package is described in another paper in this issue. The mean bending angle innovations produced with this operator using Met Office background fields show a bias that oscillates with height and whose magnitude peaks between the model levels. These oscillations have been attributed to shortcomings in the assumption of exponentially varying refractivity between model levels. This is used directly in the refractivity operator, and indirectly to produce forward-modelled bending angles via the Abel transform. When the spacing between the model levels is small, this assumption is acceptable, but at stratospheric heights where the model level spacing is large, these biases can be significant, and can potentially degrade analyses. This paper provides physically-based improvements to the functional form of refractivity with height. These new assumptions considerably improve the oscillatory bias, and a number of approaches for practical implementation of the bending angle operator are provided.
Simulated anthropogenic CO2 uptake and acidification of the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Palmiéri J. , Orr J. C. , Dutay J.-C. , Béranger K. , Schneider A. , Beuvier J. , Somot S.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Constraints on the Mediterranean Sea's uptake of anthropogenic CO2 are limited, coming only from data-based approaches that disagree by more than a factor of two. Here we simulate this marginal sea's anthropogenic carbon uptake by applying a perturbation approach in a high-resolution regional model. Our model simulates that between 1800 and 2001, basin-wide CO2 uptake by the Mediterranean Sea has increased by 1.0 Pg C, a lower limit based on the corresponding model evaluation with CFC-12, indicating inadequate simulated deep-water ventilation. Furthermore, by testing a data-based approach (Transit Time Distribution) in our model, comparing simulated anthropogenic CO2 to values computed from simulated CFC-12 and physical variables, we conclude that the associated basin-wide uptake of 1.7 Pg, published previously, must be an upper bound. Out of the total simulated uptake of 1.0 Pg C, 75% comes from air–sea exchange into the Mediterranean Sea and 25% comes from net transport from the Atlantic across the Strait of Gibraltar. Sensitivity tests indicate that the Mediterranean Sea's higher total alkalinity, relative to the global-ocean mean, enhances the Mediterranean's total inventory of anthropogenic carbon by 10%. Yet the corresponding average anthropogenic change in surface pH does not differ significantly from the global-ocean average, despite higher total alkalinity. In Mediterranean deep waters, the pH change is estimated to be between −0.005 and −0.06 pH units.
Multi-model ensemble: technique and validation
Authors: Rozante J. R. , Moreira D. S. , Godoy R. C. M. , Fernandes A. A.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. In this study, a method of numerical weather prediction by ensemble for the South American region is proposed. This method takes into account combinations of the numerical predictions of various models, assigning greater weight to models that exhibit the best performance. Nine operational numerical models were used to perform this study. The main objective of the study is to obtain a weather forecasting product (short-to-medium range) that combines what is best in each of the nine models used in the study, thus producing more reliable predictions. The proposed method was evaluated during austral summer (December 2012, and January and February 2013) and winter (June, July and August 2013). The results show that the proposed method can significantly improve the results provided by the numerical models, and consequently has promising potential for operational applications in any weather forecasting center.
Model–data fusion across ecosystems: from multi-site optimizations to global simulations
Authors: Kuppel S. , Peylin P. , Maignan F. , Chevallier F. , Kiely G. , Montagnani L. , Cescatti A.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. This study uses a variational data assimilation framework to simultaneously constrain a global ecosystem model with eddy covariance measurements of daily net carbon (NEE) and latent heat (LE) fluxes from a large number of sites grouped in seven plant functional types (PFTs). It is an attempt to bridge the gap between the numerous site-specific parameter optimization works found in the literature and the generic parameterization used by most land surface models within each PFT. The present multi-site approach allows deriving PFT-generic sets of optimized parameters enhancing the agreement between measured and simulated fluxes at most of the sites considered, with performances often comparable to those of the corresponding site-specific optimizations. Besides reducing the PFT-averaged model–data root-mean-square difference (RMSD) and the associated daily output uncertainty, the optimization improves the simulated CO2 balance at tropical and temperate forests sites. The major site-level NEE adjustments at the seasonal scale are: reduced amplitude in C3 grasslands and boreal forests, increased seasonality in temperate evergreen forests, and better model–data phasing in temperate deciduous broadleaf forests. Conversely, the poorer performances in tropical evergreen broadleaf forests points to deficiencies regarding the modeling of phenology and soil water stress for this PFT. An evaluation with data-oriented estimates of photosynthesis (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) rates indicates distinctively improved simulations of both gross fluxes. The multi-site parameter sets are then tested against CO2 concentrations measured at 53 locations around the globe, showing significant adjustments of the modeled seasonality of atmospheric CO2 concentration, whose relevance seems PFT-dependent, along with an improved interannual variability. Lastly, a global scale evaluation with remote sensing NDVI measurements indicates an improvement of the simulated seasonal variations of the foliar cover for all considered PFTs.
The influence of feeding GMO-peas on growth of animal models
Authors: Mares Petr , Pokorna Tunde Jurikova , Sochor Jiri , Zeman Ladislav , Baron Mojmir , Mlcek Jiri , Balla Stefan
Published: May 2014

Introduction of genetically modified (GM) food or feed into the commercial sale represents a very complicated process. One of the most important steps in approval process is the evaluation of all risks on the health status of people and animal models. Within our project the genetically modified peas was breeded that showed significant resistance against Pea seed-borne mosaic virus and Pea enation mosaic virus. Preclinical studies have been conducted to found out the effect of GMO peas on animals - rats of outbreeding line Wistar. In a total, 24 male, specific pathogen free Wistar rats were used in the experiment. At the beginning of the experiment, the animals were 28 days old. The three experimental groups with 8 individuals were created. The first group of rats was fed with GMO peas, the second group of rats consumed mix of pea cultivar Raman and the third group was control without pea addition (wheat and soya were used instead of pea). In the present study we focused our attention on health, growth and utility features of rats fed with GM pea. All characteristic were observed during the experiment lasting 35 days. Consumed feed was weighted daily and the weight of the animals was measured every seven days. The average values were compared within the groups. The aim of the experiment was to verify if resistant lines of pea influence the weight growth of animal models. The results of our experiment showed that even a high concentration (30% of GM pea) did not influence growth rate of rats to compare with both rats fed with pea of Raman cultivar and control group. We did not observe any health problems of animal models during the experiment.
Determination of textural properties of different kinds of ketchups of two different rates under different conditions of storage for the determination of their consumal quality
Authors: Bebejová Andrea , Čapla Jozef , Zajác Peter , Belej Ľubomí­r , Čurlej Jozef , Vietoris Vladimí­r
Published: May 2014

The aim of this work is an evaluation of structural properties of ketchups originating from five different producers at two different batches and consecutively their comparison in different storage conditions and a determination of their consumable quality. Using the objective instrumental method based on physical deformation of the sample we evaluated properties like, viscosity and consistency of ketchups on texturometer TA.XT plus (Stable Micro Systems, Godalming, United Kingdom). These tests were completed on the basis of regressive extrusion using a hyperbaric disc. The consistency of each ketchup from the first rate determined by regressive extrusion ranged from 2656.82 g.s-1 to 5137.37 g.s-1. The lowest value 2656.82 g.s-1 was found in the sample A after 3 days of storage at the temperature 5 °C, the highest value 5137.37 gs-1 was found in the sample C after 10 days of storage at the temperature 5 °C. The value of the consistency in each of the samples didn´t change much, not even after the ketchups were stored at a room temperature for 24 hours. The consistency of each of the ketchups from the second rate determined by the regressive extrusion ranged form 2700.14 g.s-1 to 5133.94 g.s-1. The lowest value 2700.14 g.s-1 was found in the sample A after 10 days of storage at the temperature 5 °C, the highest value 5133.94 g.s-1 was found in the sample C after buying in a market and consequential cooling to 5 °C. The value of the consistency in each of the samples didn´t change much, not even after the ketchups were stored at a room temperature for 24 hours. The results obtained from the evaluation of the texture can be used to optimize the production and thereby prolonging the duration of maintaining its characteristics during the period of minimum durability.
Effect of malt milling for wort extract content
Authors: Géczi Gábor , Horváth Márk , Dráb Štefan , Tóth Žigmund , Bense László
Published: May 2014

Beer manufacturing is one of the most ancient procedures of food manufacturing. The four (in many cases much more) ingredients, the great numbers of technological steps and variations of technological parameters (temperature, time, pressure etc.) have a major influence on both type and quality of the final product. As a result of this, studying beer brewing may offer a great deal of possibilities for numerous researches, scientific examinations, and can provide useful informations for the manufacturing companies as well. At the „Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra" we examined an entire beer brewing process in October 2013, utilising the Ahlborn sensors, which were integrated in the instruments. Simultaneously, in Gödöllő at the Szent István University, we analysed the effect of malt milling on extract yield and the filterability of wort. We used the brewing parameters (temperature, time, volume ratios), which were experienced in the microbrewery and published in professional literature. Our results verify the conclusions drawn in the professional literature, however they point out the importance of grinding. Results performed on the yields with different grain-constitution might directly be utilised for the specialists of recently in Slovakia and Hungary spreading small-scale, handicraft, and homemade beer brewing.
Bone adaptation to simultaneous cadmium and diazinon toxicity in adult male rats
Authors: Chovancová Hana , Omelka Radoslav , Boboňová Ivana , Formicki Grzegorz , Toman Róbert , Martiniaková Monika
Published: May 2014

Food contamination from natural or anthropogenic sources poses severe risks to health of human and animals. Bone is a metabolically active organ, which can be affected by various toxic substances, such as cadmium (Cd) and diazinon (DZN), leading to disruption in bone metabolic processes. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of simultaneous peroral administration to Cd and DZN on femoral compact bone structure in adult male rats. A total of twenty 1-month-old male Wistar rats were randomized into two experimental groups. In the first group (EG), young males were dosed with a combination of 30 mg CdCl2/L and 40 mg DZN/L in drinking water, for 90 days. Ten 1-month-old males without Cd-DZN intoxication served as a control group (CG). After 90 days of daily peroral exposure, evaluations of femoral bonemacro- and micro-structure were performed in each group. We found no significant differences in body weight, femoral weight, femoral length and cortical bone thickness between both groups (EG and CG). However, rats from the group EG displayed different microstructure in the middle part of the substantia compacta where primary vascular radial bone tissue appeared. In some cases, vascular expansion was so enormous that canals were also present near the periost. On the other hand, they occurred only near endosteal surfaces in rats from the control group. Moreover, a smaller number of primary and secondary osteons was identified in Cd-DZN-exposed rats. This fact signalizes reduced mechanical properties of their bones. Anyway, our results suggest an adaptive response of compact bone tissue to Cd-DZN-induced toxicity in adult male rats in order to prevent osteonecrosis.