bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Near-highway aerosol and gas-phase measurements in a high-diesel environment
Authors: DeWitt H. L. , Hellebust S. , Temime-Roussel B. , Ravier S. , Polo L. , Jacob V. , Buisson C. , Charron A. , André M. , Pasquier A. , Besombes J. L. , Jaffrezo J. L. , Wortham H. , Marchand N.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Diesel-powered passenger cars currently outnumber gasoline-powered cars in many countries, particularly in Europe. In France, diesel cars represented 61% of light duty vehicles in 2011 and this percentage is still increasing (French Environment and Energy Management Agency, ADEME). As part of the September 2011 joint PM-DRIVE (Particulate Matter – DiRect and Indirect on-road Vehicular Emissions) and MOCOPO (Measuring and mOdeling traffic COngestion and POllution) field campaign, the concentration and high-resolution chemical composition of aerosols and volatile organic carbon species were measured adjacent to a major urban highway south of Grenoble, France. Alongside these atmospheric measurements, detailed traffic data were collected from nearby traffic cameras and loop detectors, which allowed the vehicle type, traffic concentration, and traffic speed to be quantified. Six aerosol age and source profiles were resolved using the positive matrix factorization model on real-time high-resolution aerosol mass spectra. These six aerosol source/age categories included a hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) commonly associated with primary vehicular emissions, a nitrogen-containing aerosol with a diurnal pattern similar to that of HOA, oxidized organic aerosol (OOA), and biomass burning aerosol. While quantitatively separating the influence of diesel from that of gasoline proved impossible, a low HOA : black carbon ratio, similar to that measured in other high-diesel environments, and high levels of NOx, also indicative of diesel emissions, were observed. Although the measurement site was located next to a large source of primary emissions, which are typically found to have low oxygen incorporation, OOA was found to comprise the majority of the measured organic aerosol, and isotopic analysis showed that the measured OOA contained mainly modern carbon, not fossil-derived carbon. Thus, even in this heavily vehicular-emission-impacted environment, photochemical processes, biogenic emissions, and aerosol oxidation dominated the overall organic aerosol mass measured during most of the campaign.
Interactions among drainage flows, gravity waves and turbulence: a BLLAST case study
Authors: Román-Cascón C. , Yagüe C. , Mahrt L. , Sastre M. , Steeneveld G. J. , Pardyjak E. , van de Boer A. , Hartogensis O.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The interactions among several stable-boundary-layer (SBL) processes occurring just after the evening transition of 2 July 2011 have been analysed using data from instruments deployed over the area of Lannemezan (France) during the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign. The near-calm situation of the afternoon was followed by the formation of local shallow drainage flows (SDFs) of less than ten meters depth at different locations. The SDF stage ended with the arrival of a deeper wind more associated with the mountain-plain circulation, which caused mixing and destruction of the SDFs. Several gravity wave-related oscillations were also observed on different time series. Wavelet analyses and wave parameters were calculated from high resolution and accurate surface pressure data of an array of microbarometers. These waves propagated relatively long distances within the SBL, which was confined from the surface to 100 m a.g.l. The effects of these phenomena on the surface fluxes have been studied through Multi Resolution Flux Decomposition methods performed on high frequency data from sonic anemometers deployed at different heights and locations. With this method, we were able to detect the different time-scales involved in surface flux generation and separate them from wave contributions, which becomes very important when choosing averaging-windows for surface flux computations using Eddy Covariance methods. The extensive instrumentation allowed us to highlight in detail the peculiarities of the surface fluxes in the SBL, where several of the noted processes were interacting and producing important variations in the fluxes with height and among sites along the sloping terrain.
MBL drizzle properties and their impact on cloud property retrievals
Authors: Wu P. , Dong X. , Xi B.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. In this study, we retrieve and document drizzle properties, and investigate the impact of drizzle on cloud property retrievals from ground-based measurements at the ARM Azores site from June 2009 to December 2010. For the selected cloud and drizzle samples, the drizzle occurrence is 42.6% with a maximum of 55.8% in winter and a minimum of 35.6% in summer. The annual means of drizzle liquid water path LWPd, effective radius rd, and number concentration Nd for the rain (virga) samples are 5.48 (1.29) g m−2, 68.7 (39.5) μm, and 0.14 (0.38) cm−3. The seasonal mean LWPd values are less than 4% of the MWR-retrieved LWP values. The annual mean differences in cloud-droplet effective radius with and without drizzle are 0.12 and 0.38 μm, respectively, for the virga and rain samples. Therefore, we conclude that the impact of drizzle on cloud property retrievals is insignificant at the ARM Azores site.
Characterization of downwelling radiance measured from the ground-based microwave radiometer using the theoretical reference data
Authors: Ahn M.-H. , Won H. Y. , Han D. , Kim Y.-H. , Ha J.-C.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The ground-based microwave sounding radiometers installed at 9 weather stations of Korea Meteorological Administration alongside with the wind profilers have been operated for more than 4 years. Here we introduce a process to assess the characteristics of the instrument calibration by comparing the measured brightness temperature (Tb) with the theoretical reference data, which are prepared by the radiative transfer simulation with the temperature and humidity profiles from the numerical weather prediction model. Based on the three years of data, from 2010 to 2012, we were able to characterize the effects of the absolute calibration, the thick clouds, and the frequency calibration to the quality of the measured Tb. When the three effects are properly considered, including the frequency adjustment which is estimated using the simulated Tb, the measured and simulated Tb show an excellent agreement. The regression coefficients are better than 0.97 along with the bias value of better than 0.5 K. However, the variability given as the SD of difference between the measured and simulated Tb, show a relatively large value at the lower observation frequencies, as large as 2.6 K at the 51.28 GHz channel, while they improve with the increasing frequency.
Large fluxes and rapid turnover of mineral-associated carbon across topographic gradients in a humid tropical forest: insights from paired 14C analysis
Authors: Hall S. J , McNicol G. , Natake T. , Silver W. L.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. It has been proposed that the large soil carbon (C) stocks of humid tropical forests result predominantly from C stabilization by reactive minerals, whereas oxygen (O2) limitation of decomposition has received much less attention. We examined the importance of these factors in explaining patterns of C stocks and turnover in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico, using radiocarbon (14C) measurements of contemporary and archived samples. Samples from ridge, slope, and valley positions spanned three soil orders (Ultisol, Oxisol, Inceptisol) representative of humid tropical forests, and differed in texture, reactive metal content, O2 availability, and root biomass. Mineral-associated C comprised the large majority (87 ± 2%, n = 30) of total soil C. Turnover of most mineral-associated C (66 ± 2%) was rapid (11 to 26 years; mean and SE: 18 ± 3 years) in 25 of 30 soil samples across surface horizons (0–10 and 10–20 cm depths) and all topographic positions, independent of variation in reactive metal concentrations and clay content. Passive C with centennial–millennial turnover was typically much less abundant (34 ± 3%), even at 10–20 cm depths. Carbon turnover times and concentrations significantly increased with concentrations of reduced iron (Fe(II)) across all samples, suggesting that O2 availability may have limited the decomposition of mineral-associated C over decadal scales. Steady-state inputs of mineral-associated C were statistically similar among the three topographic positions, and could represent 10–25% of annual litter production. Observed trends in mineral-associated Δ14C over time could not be fit using the single-pool model used in many other studies, which generated contradictory relationships between turnover and Δ14C as compared with a more realistic two-pool model. The large C fluxes in surface and near-surface soils documented here are supported by findings from paired 14C studies in other types of ecosystems, and suggest that most mineral-associated C cycles relatively rapidly (decadal scales) across ecosystems that span a broad range of state factors.
Modelling the response of yields and tissue C : N to changes in atmospheric CO2 and N management in the main wheat regions of western Europe
Authors: Olin S. , Schurgers G. , Lindeskog M. , Wårlind D. , Smith B. , Bodin P. , Holmér J. , Arneth A.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) is a key element in terrestrial ecosystems as it influences both plant growth and plant interactions with the atmosphere. Accounting for carbon–nitrogen interactions has been found to alter future projections of the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle substantially. Dynamic vegetation models (DVMs) aim to accurately represent both natural vegetation and managed land, not only from a carbon cycle perspective but increasingly so also for a wider range of processes including crop yields. We present here the extended version of the DVM LPJ-GUESS that accounts for N limitation in crops to account for the effects of N fertilisation on yields and biogeochemical cycling. The performance of this new implementation is evaluated against observations from N fertiliser trials and CO2 enrichment experiments. LPJ-GUESS captures the observed response to both N and CO2 fertilisation on wheat biomass production, tissue C to N ratios (C : N) and phenology. To test the model's applicability for larger regions, simulations are subsequently performed that cover the wheat-dominated regions of western Europe. When compared to regional yield statistics, the inclusion of C–N dynamics in the model substantially increase the model performance compared to an earlier version of the model that does not account for these interactions. For these simulations, we also demonstrate an implementation of N fertilisation timing for areas where this information is not available. This feature is crucial when accounting for processes in managed ecosystems in large-scale models. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for C–N interactions when modelling agricultural ecosystems, and it is an important step towards accounting for the combined impacts of changes in climate, [CO2] and land use on terrestrial biogeochemical cycles.
Seasonal and size-dependent variations in the phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing in the southern South China Sea under the influence of the East Asian monsoon
Authors: Zhou L. , Tan Y. , Huang L. , Hu Z. , Ke Z.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. To examine seasonal and size-dependent variations in the phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing in oligotrophic tropical waters under the influence of seasonal reversing monsoon, dilution experiments were conducted during the summer 2009 (21 May to 9 June) and winter 2010 (9 to 18 November) in the southern South China Sea (SSCS). The results showed that environmental variables, phytoplankton biomass, phytoplankton growth rate (μ), microzooplankton grazing rate (m), and correlationship (coupling) between the μ and m, but the microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton (m/μ) significantly varied between the two seasons. Higher relative preference index (RPI) for and m on the larger-sized (>3 μm) phytoplankton than pico-phytoplankton (<3 μm), indicating significant size-selective grazing by microzooplankton on the larger-sized phytoplankton, were also observed. The μ and m were significantly correlated with salinity and dissolved inorganic nutrients, which indicated that salient seasonal variations in the phytoplankton growth and microzooplankton grazing in the SSCS were closely related to the environmental variables under the influence of the East Asian monsoon. We propose that intermittent arrivals of the northeast winter monsoon could lead to the low μ and m, and the decoupling between the μ and m in the SSCS, through influencing nutrient supply to the surface water, and inducing surface seawater salinity decrease. The low m/μ (<50% on average) indicates low remineralization of organic matter mediated by microzooplankton and the increased importance of the phytoplankton-mesozooplankton grazing pathway, and thus probably accounts for part of the high vertical biogenic particle fluxes in the prevailing periods of the monsoons in the SSCS. The size-selective grazing suggests that microzooplankton grazing contributes to the pico-phytoplankton dominance in the oligotrophic tropical waters such as that of the SSCS.
Earthworm impact on the global warming potential of a no-tillage arable soil
Authors: Nieminen M. , Hurme T. , Mikola J. , Regina K. , Nuutinen V.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. We studied the effect of the deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris on the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and global warming potential (GWP) of arable no-till soil using both field measurements and a controlled 15 week laboratory experiment. In the field, the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were on average 43 and 32% higher in areas occupied by L. terrestris (the presence judged by the surface midden) than in adjacent, unoccupied areas (with no midden). The fluxes of methane (CH4) were variable and had no consistent difference between the midden and non-midden areas. Removing the midden did not affect soil N2O and CO2 emissions. The laboratory results were consistent with the field observations in that the emissions of N2O and CO2 were on average 27 and 13% higher in mesocosms with than without L. terrestris. Higher emissions of N2O were most likely due to the higher content of mineral nitrogen and soil moisture under the middens, whereas L. terrestris respiration fully explained the observed increase in CO2 emissions. The activity of L. terrestris increased the GWP of field and laboratory soil by 50 and 18%, but only 6 and 2% of this increase was due to the enhanced N2O emission. Our results suggest that high N2O emissions commonly observed in no-tillage soils can partly be explained by the abundance of L. terrestris under no-till management and that L. terrestris can markedly regulate the climatic effects of different cultivation practises.
Taking off the training wheels: the properties of a dynamic vegetation model without climate envelopes
Authors: Fisher R. A. , Muszala S. , Verteinstein M. , Lawrence P. , Xu C. , McDowell N. G. , Knox R. G. , Koven C. , Holm J. , Rogers B. M. , Lawrence D. , Bonan G.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. We describe an implementation of the Ecosystem Demography (ED) concept in the Community Land Model. The structure of CLM(ED) and the physiological and structural modifications applied to the CLM are presented. A major motivation of this development is to allow the prediction of biome boundaries directly from plant physiological traits via their competitive interactions. Here we investigate the performance of the model for an example biome boundary in Eastern North America. We explore the sensitivity of the predicted biome boundaries and ecosystem properties to the variation of leaf properties determined by the parameter space defined by the GLOPNET global leaf trait database. Further, we investigate the impact of four sequential alterations to the structural assumptions in the model governing the relative carbon economy of deciduous and evergreen plants. The default assumption is that the costs and benefits of deciduous vs. evergreen leaf strategies, in terms of carbon assimilation and expenditure, can reproduce the geographical structure of biome boundaries and ecosystem functioning. We find some support for this assumption, but only under particular combinations of model traits and structural assumptions. Many questions remain regarding the preferred methods for deployment of plant trait information in land surface models. In some cases, plant traits might best be closely linked with each other, but we also find support for direct linkages to environmental conditions. We advocate for intensified study of the costs and benefits of plant life history strategies in different environments, and for the increased use of parametric and structural ensembles in the development and analysis of complex vegetation models.
An open and extensible framework for spatially explicit land use change modelling in R: the lulccR package (0.1.0)
Authors: Moulds S. , Buytaert W. , Mijic A.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Land use change has important consequences for biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystem services, as well as for global environmental change. Spatially explicit land use change models improve our understanding of the processes driving change and make predictions about the quantity and location of future and past change. Here we present the lulccR package, an object-oriented framework for land use change modelling written in the R programming language. The contribution of the work is to resolve the following limitations associated with the current land use change modelling paradigm: (1) the source code for model implementations is frequently unavailable, severely compromising the reproducibility of scientific results and making it impossible for members of the community to improve or adapt models for their own purposes; (2) ensemble experiments to capture model structural uncertainty are difficult because of fundamental differences between implementations of different models; (3) different aspects of the modelling procedure must be performed in different environments because existing applications usually only perform the spatial allocation of change. The package includes a stochastic ordered allocation procedure as well as an implementation of the widely used CLUE-S algorithm. We demonstrate its functionality by simulating land use change at the Plum Island Ecosystems site, using a dataset included with the package. It is envisaged that lulccR will enable future model development and comparison within an open environment.
The GRENE-TEA Model Intercomparison Project (GTMIP): overview and experiment protocol for Stage 1
Authors: Miyazaki S. , Saito K. , Mori J. , Yamazaki T. , Ise T. , Arakida H. , Hajima T. , Iijima Y. , Machiya H. , Sueyoshi T. , Yabuki H. , Burke E. J. , Hosaka M. , Ichii K. , Ikawa H. , Ito A. , Kotani A. , Matsuura Y. , Niwano M. , Nitta T. , O'ishi R. , Ohta T. , Park H. , Sasai T. , Sato A. , Sato H. , Sugimoto A. , Suzuki R. , Tanaka K. , Yamaguchi S. , Yoshimura K.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. As part of the terrestrial branch of the Japan-funded Arctic Climate Change Research Project (GRENE-TEA), which aims to clarify the role and function of the Arctic terrestrial system in the climate system, and assess the influence of its changes on a global scale, this model intercomparison project (GTMIP) is planned and being conducted to (1) enhance communication and understanding between the "minds and hands" (i.e., between the modelling and field scientists) and (2) assess the uncertainty and variations stemming from variability in model implementation/design and in model outputs due to climatic and historical conditions in the Arctic terrestrial regions. This paper provides an overview and the experiment protocol of Stage 1 of the project, site simulations driven by statistically fitted data created using the GRENE-TEA site observations for the last three decades. The target metrics for the model evaluation cover key processes in both physics and biogeochemistry, including energy budgets, snow, permafrost, phenology, and carbon budgets. The preliminary results on four metrics (annual mean latent heat flux, annual maximum snow depth, gross primary production, and net ecosystem production) already demonstrate the range of variations in reproducibility among existing models and sites. Full analysis on annual as well as seasonal time scales, to be conducted upon completion of model outputs submission, will delineate inter-dependence among the key processes, and provide the clue for improving the model performance.
Simulating Secondary Inorganic Aerosols using the chemistry transport model MOCAGE version R2.15.0
Authors: Guth J. , Josse B. , Marécal V. , Joly M.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. In this study we develop a Secondary Inorganic Aerosol (SIA) module for the chemistry transport model MOCAGE developed at CNRM. Based on the thermodynamic equilibrium module ISORROPIA II, the new version of the model is evaluated both at the global scale and at the regional scale. The results show high concentrations of secondary inorganic aerosols in the most polluted regions being Europe, Asia and the eastern part of North America. Asia shows higher sulfate concentrations than other regions thanks to emissions reduction in Europe and North America. Using two simulations, one with and the other without secondary inorganic aerosol formation, the model global outputs are compared to previous studies, to MODIS AOD retrievals, and also to in situ measurements from the HTAP database. The model shows a better agreement in all geographical regions with MODIS AOD retrievals when introducing SIA. It also provides a good statistical agreement with in situ measurements of secondary inorganic aerosol composition: sulfate, nitrate and ammonium. In addition, the simulation with SIA gives generally a better agreement for secondary inorganic aerosols precursors (nitric acid, sulfur dioxide, ammonia) in particular with a reduction of the Modified Normalised Mean Bias (MNMB). At the regional scale, over Europe, the model simulation with SIA are compared to the in situ measurements from the EMEP database and shows a good agreement with secondary inorganic aerosol composition. The results at the regional scale are consistent with those obtained with the global simulations. The AIRBASE database was used to compare the model to regulated air quality pollutants being particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations. The introduction of the SIA in MOCAGE provides a reduction of the PM2.5 MNMB of 0.44 on a yearly basis and even 0.52 on a three spring months period (March, April, May) when SIA are maximum.
Evaluation of precipitation estimates over CONUS derived from satellite, radar, and rain gauge data sets at daily to annual scales (2002–2012)
Authors: Prat O. P. , Nelson B. R.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. We use a suite of quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) derived from satellite, radar, and surface observations to derive precipitation characteristics over the contiguous United States (CONUS) for the period 2002–2012. This comparison effort includes satellite multi-sensor data sets (bias-adjusted TMPA 3B42, near-real-time 3B42RT), radar estimates (NCEP Stage IV), and rain gauge observations. Remotely sensed precipitation data sets are compared with surface observations from the Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-D) and from the PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model). The comparisons are performed at the annual, seasonal, and daily scales over the River Forecast Centers (RFCs) for CONUS. Annual average rain rates present a satisfying agreement with GHCN-D for all products over CONUS (±6%). However, differences at the RFC are more important in particular for near-real-time 3B42RT precipitation estimates (−33 to +49%). At annual and seasonal scales, the bias-adjusted 3B42 presented important improvement when compared to its near-real-time counterpart 3B42RT. However, large biases remained for 3B42 over the western USA for higher average accumulation (≥ 5 mm day−1) with respect to GHCN-D surface observations. At the daily scale, 3B42RT performed poorly in capturing extreme daily precipitation (> 4 in. day−1) over the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, the conditional analysis and a contingency analysis conducted illustrated the challenge in retrieving extreme precipitation from remote sensing estimates.
Climate model uncertainty vs. conceptual geological uncertainty in hydrological modeling
Authors: Sonnenborg T. O. , Seifert D. , Refsgaard J. C.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Projections of climate change impact are associated with a cascade of uncertainties including CO2 emission scenario, climate model, downscaling and impact model. The relative importance of the individual uncertainty sources is expected to depend on several factors including the quantity that is projected. In the present study the impacts of climate model uncertainty and geological model uncertainty on hydraulic head, stream flow, travel time and capture zones are evaluated. Six versions of a physically based and distributed hydrological model, each containing a unique interpretation of the geological structure of the model area, are forced by 11 climate model projections. Each projection of future climate is a result of a GCM-RCM model combination (from the ENSEMBLES project) forced by the same CO2 scenario (A1B). The changes from the reference period (1991–2010) to the future period (2081–2100) in projected hydrological variables are evaluated and the effects of geological model and climate model uncertainties are quantified. The results show that uncertainty propagation is context dependent. While the geological conceptualization is the dominating uncertainty source for projection of travel time and capture zones, the uncertainty on the climate models is more important for groundwater hydraulic heads and stream flow.
Livestock redistribute runoff and sediments in semi-arid rangeland areas
Authors: Sarah P. , Zonana M.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Semi-arid areas where grazing is the main land use exhibit a "three-phase-mosaic" pattern of dominant surface patches: shrubs, trampling routes, and intershrub areas. This pattern differs from the "two-phase mosaic" seen in grazing-free semi-arid areas. The patches might create a positive feedback process in which enhanced infiltration beneath shrubs minimizes overland flow from under their canopies, thereby strengthening the sink–source mechanism by which overland flow generated between shrubs rapidly infiltrates into the soil beneath them, where it deposits soil particles, litter, nutrients and organic matter, thereby enhancing infiltration by changing the local microtopography, and improving soil properties. To analyze sink–source relationships among the patches in grazed areas in rangelands of the semi-arid northern Negev region of Israel, we constructed small runoff plots, 0.25–1.0 m2 in area, of five types: shrub (Sarcopoterium spinosum), intershrub, route, route–shrub combination, and intershrub–shrub combination. The shrubs always occupied the downslope part of the plot. Overland flow and sediment deposits were measured in all plots during 2007/8 and 2008/9. The combined plots yielded much less overland flow and sediments than intershrub, routes and shrub ones, indicating that the shrubs absorbed almost all the yields of the upper part of their plots. The shrubs generated less runoff and sediments than routes and intershrubs; runoff flows from the routes and intershrubs were similar; sediment yield was highest in the intershrubs. Thus, runoff yield exhibited a two-phase mosaic pattern, and sediment yield, i.e., soil erosion, a three-phase mosaic pattern.
Reducing sediment concentration and soil loss using organic and inorganic amendments at plot scale
Authors: Sadeghi S. H. R. , Gholami L. , Homaee M. , Khaledi Darvishan A.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Various organic and inorganic mulches are used for soil conservation purposes, the effectiveness of which on soil characteristics has not been comprehensively considered from different aspects. The present study surveys the efficiency of straw mulch, manure and TA-200 polyacrylamide with respective rates of 500, 300 and 50 g m−2 in changing sediment concentration and soil loss. The experiments were conducted for sandy-loam soil taken from a summer rangeland, the Alborz Mountains, northern Iran. The experiments were performed under laboratory conditions with simulated rainfall intensities of 30, 50, 70 and 90 mm h−1 and a slope of 30%. The results showed that the straw mulch decreased soil erosion at rate of 45.60% compared to the control plots and performed better than manure (8.98% reduction) and PAM (4.74% reduction). The results showed that the maximum reduction in sediment concentration and soil loss for all soil amendments occurred at the rainfall intensity of 90 mm h−1 with the rates of 58.69 and 63.24% for straw mulch, 14.65 and 13.14% for manure and 20.15 and 23.44% for TA-200.
What's So Dangerous about a Free Education? Radical Feminist Musings From a CUNY Student in a Corporate Stranglehold
Authors: Salgado Julieta
Published: April 2015

I woke up from a feverish nap, the bottom half of my body on the cold floor, my upper torso on a corner piece of matting. Other women’s feet lined above my head in a row of little spooning bodies, all of us in a forced intimacy for the night at Brooklyn Central Booking. It so happened I was in the often delightful, but quite aggressive company of queer women in a jail cell. One big friendly dyke asked me, “Yo Sparkles”─my jailbird name due to my gold sequin miniskirt─“What you in for?” I replied: “I wanted a free education.”
Book reviews
Authors: Arthur Chris , Bannier Betsy
Published: April 2015

None
Turning Doctors Into Employees
Authors: Anderson Matthew
Published: April 2015

Background: Much of the contentious debate surrounding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) concerned its financing and its attempt to guarantee (near) universal access to healthcare through the private insurance market.  Aside from sensationalist stories of “death panels,” much less attention went to implications of the bill for the actual provision of healthcare.Methodology: This paper examines the "patient-centered medical home" (PCMH) model which has been widely promoted as a means of reviving and improving primary care (i.e. general internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics).Argument: The PCMH and many of its components (e.g pay-for-performance, electronic medical records) were interventions that were implemented on a massive basis without any evidence of benefit. Recent research has not generally supported clinical benefits with the PCMH model. Instead it seems to designed to de-professionalize (make proletarians of) health care workers and enforce corporate models of health. The core values of professional work are undermined while the PCMH does nothing to address the structural marginalization of primary care within US health care.Conclusions: The development of alternative models will require political changes. Both doctors and teachers are in a position of advocate for more progressive systems of care and education.
Empathy Imperiled: Capitalism, Culture and the Brain by Gary Olson
Authors: Franklin Kris
Published: April 2015

Short critical examination of Empathy Imperiled by Gary Olsen.
Review Essay: They Had No Voice by Denny Abbott and Working for Peace and Justice by Lawrence S. Wittner
Authors: Felman Jyl Lynn
Published: April 2015

Book Review comparing and contrasting the memoirs They Had No Voice by Denny Abbott and Working For Peace and Justice by Lawrence S. Wittner. Topics discussed include how the personal becomes political; working for social justice locally and globally; the disarmament movement, 1960's activism, and the omission of the feminist movement from both memoirs.
The Contribution of other Eminent Scholars to Lijphart’s Power-Sharing Theory
Authors: Mafakheri Ramin , Ahmad Zaid Bin
Published: April 2015

Power-sharing theory, which is both prescriptive and empirical, is one of the seminal democratic theories in political science in general and comparative politics in particular. The prescriptive approach of the theory recommends consociationalism to any country with deeply divided society. In other words, it serves to solve the problem of achieving and maintaining democratic stability in plural societies. As well it recommends consensus democracy to any country that is going to establish a democratic political system or that is going to change its model of democracy. Arend Lijphart is best known for his career-long dedication to formulate and develop power-sharing theory. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the theory it should be considered that while his name is prominently associated with the development of it, there are several eminent scholars who simultaneously worked on power-sharing democracy and the development of the theory. While these scholars merely focused either on sociopolitical or political aspect of the theory, Lijphart concentrates on both aspects so that the theory is the product of this prima facie paradoxical overlapping. From this point of view, the intellectual contribution of these scholars is particularly considered in this article.
The initial years of the implementation of the Basic Education Assistance Module in Zimbabwe: 2001-2005
Authors: Mutasa Florence
Published: April 2015

Illiteracy is thought to be one of the biggest causes of the poverty cycle. Thus education is perceived as a tool of breaking the poverty cycle. Literature on poverty also advocates bottom-up participatory approaches to development as a lasting solution to poverty alleviation Hence, BEAM is one of the programmes that the Government of Zimbabwe put in place to improve the conditions of the majority blacks through education with the involvement of communities in the identification of intended beneficiaries. The objective of the research is to assess the effectiveness of BEAM as a poverty alleviation strategy. Through the review of literature and interviews, a general overview of the concept of beneficiary participation (an important component of BEAM) is given and the initial years of the implementation of BEAM is assessed. Results of the study indicated that some children who initially failed to start school due to financial constrains were able to do so due to the BEAM programme through community involvement.  Thus access to education assistance improved.  However, the implementation of BEAM had its own share of problems, thus limiting its effectiveness.   Key words: policy, implementation, participation, community, beneficiary
Evaluating thermal performance in residential buildings: Examination of conventional wall materials in the regional climates of Egypt
Authors: Atef Faggal Ahmed
Published: April 2015

This paper is the first part of a sequenced simulation analysis which aims at improving the thermal performance of Residential buildings through variations of external walls in Egypt. The findings of this paper present preliminary thermal analysis done for an air conditioned standard office building. The study focused on the thermal performance assessment of the building’s local construction wall materials and the analysis has been carried out using dynamic thermal simulations using the hourly weather data of Alexandria, Cairo and Aswan. A typical open residential space was selected for assessment, wall construction materials were selected according to a survey done for façade materials of office buildings in a smart village and fifth’s settlements in Cairo. The simulations in this paper were carried out in two consecutive stages: the first stage addressed the air temperature and energy usage on a year-round basis to define the peak day and the worst orientation among the four main orientations. The second stage results focused on the peak day occupancy time and the worst orientation performance of the building. Peak day results were analyzed and compared in the three studied cities. The thermal performance of the conventional wall materials showed that the predicted percentage of dissatisfied people was (21%) and (27.5%) in Alexandria, a Mediterranean coastal region, and Cairo, a semi desert region, respectively. While the higher predicted percentage of dissatisfied people (34%) was attained in the extreme dry desert region of Aswan.
Existing buildings; Energy auditing and assessment
Authors: Ali Fedaa , Rady Mohamed
Published: April 2015

In order to develop a platform to assess building operational energy performance and identify energy conservation measures in existing buildings, Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute (QEERI) has released a proposal to conduct a survey to benchmark existing building performance and to identify the energy conservation measures needed in order to reduce energy consumption. Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) and QEERI agreed to take the Clubhouse as a first model for this endeavor, as it is a QF public facility. This paper summarizes the work conducted during energy auditing of the Clubhouse through analysis and assessment. It also recommends the potential changes that can be made to the architectural design, operation and maintenance of the existing system in order to reduce energy consumption and prioritize each opportunity in terms of the cost and potential benefit. An energy saving of approximately 55% of the current energy usage (from 1,379,090 kWh/year to 758499 kWh/year) was found possible by applying the recommended energy conservation measures.
Efficient use of lighting is the most sustainable way to save energy in high-performance building
Authors: Obeidat Islam M , Athamenah Rania
Published: April 2015

High-performance and low-impact materials are typically energy efficient, safe for occupants, and have low impact on the environment. Most frequently, lighting systems were recommended based on lighting ability to reduce costs of energy. High-performance interior materials are perceived as more expensive to design, construct, operate, and maintain, but may have increased health, comfort, and safety factors for occupants in the built environment. According to Nguyen et al. (2010), commercial and residential buildings in the United States consume close to 40% of our total energy. Criteria in the energy efficiency category (i.e. lighting) were not met. Similarly, the costs associated with sustainable design have decreased as experience in the industry has increased. The purpose of this study is to focus on using a high-performance and low-impact interior materials, and discuss barriers to sustainable design in the built environment. How can interior design materials impact the health, safety, and well-being of occupants in the built environment? And how can interior designers integrate high-performance and low-impact materials in the sustainable design?A review of literature regarding high-performance and low-impact materials was conducted. Interviews with interior designers were conducted. Instructors and students from different design departments completed a questionnaire survey.Interior designers tend to become more environmentally conscious by supporting sustainable designs that are more environmentally friendly and socially conscious. Therefore they should 1) understand that the sustainability of the high-performance and low-impact materials can be improved by the interior designer’s decisions, 2) consider the properties of sustainable materials when choosing interior design materials, 3) increase the sustainability of the high-performance interior environment by utilizing solar energy (e.g. daylighting), 4) consider how the high-performance materials can increase the sustainability of residential occupants, 5) provide efficient energy, water, light sources, equipment, and accessories to reduce the use of resources, 6) incorporate sustainable attributes into new designs by using abundant daylighting.
LEED criteria and sustainability indicators for the hot climate
Authors: Aldeberky Amaal
Published: April 2015

LEED criteria and indicators - Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design - spread locally, regionally and internationally in response to the call for energy conservation and the preservation of the environment, the resources and local development. The rating systems have been developed to illustrate the sustainability level attained by buildings according to the adopted elements of rationalization and achievement of green architecture.These indicators and standards which follow US standards need to be checked for their compatibility with the hot desert environment to ensure the realization of an energy efficient building in accordance to the efficacy of the local environment. The research deals with presentation of these criteria and indicators and their compatibility with the desert environment with its natural, social and economic components through the application of these standards in the administrative building at the newly constructed Jazan University , as well as an administrative building in Doha required to be presented to acquire the LEED certificate for the hot desert climate, and then infer sub-standards that are compatible with hot, humid and dry desert environment.
HITTITE CSP & desalinization technology
Authors: Kayihan  , Capan Oguz
Published: April 2015

Hittite's desalinization technology won the DM2006 Technology Competition from among 2550 applicants. This competition was organized by World Bank and Bill Gates Foundation. Judges for this competition were academicians from UCLA,MIT and Harvard.-Hittite Technologies have been approved by world famous renewable energy laboratories.-SPA-CIEMAT of Spain and DRL of Germany have included Hittite in their EU-financed Project Proposal in 2013.-NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab. of US Dep. Of Energy) and EPRI (American Electric Power Research Institute) included Hittite CSP Technology in their Government Project application called "solar hybridization of existing coal power plants".-Furthermore, MRIGlobal (an independent, not-for-profit organization performing contract research for US Government and Industry) reviewed and decided that Water Treatment & Desalinization Technology of Hittite is the best for industrial waste water treatment, including Shale Gas Farck Water and signed a cooperation agreement with Hittite to use this technology in North America.-Last but not the least, ACCIONA Agua Group from Spain (World's Largest Water Treatment Comp. and World's 2nd Largest Solar Energy Comp.) reviewed and decided that Water Treatment & Desalinization Technology of Hittite is the best fir industrial waste water treatment & desalinization and signed MOU with Hittite to use this technology in their projects.After being introduced to Hittite's desalinization technology in June 2014, the California State Water Authority called the Hittite technology "a game changer" and decided that it will help dramatically reduce California's serious drought problem, inviting Hittite to bring the demo units for demonstration.
GLOBALIZAÇÃO E O DÉFICIT DEMOCRÁTICO DAS INSTITUIÇÕES REPRESENTATIVAS BRASILEIRAS
Authors: Gaspardo Murilo
Published: April 2015

Em decorrência da globalização, o Estado perdeu o monopólio da mediação política. Por exemplo, passou a compartilhar decisões com múltiplos atores, internos e externos, e não é capaz de controlar diversas variáveis que interferem na vida nacional. Isso tem impactos sobre o funcionamento e a legitimidade das instituições representativas. Entretanto, há paradoxos que as acompanham desde seus primórdios e, em Estados semiperiféricos como o Brasil e outros latino-americanos, há questões histórico-culturais, como bloqueios internos e externos à soberania, cultura política patrimonialista, clientelista e populista, bem como uma sociedade precariamente integrada e com profundas desigualdades, que também explicam os problemas da democracia. Assim, o propósito desta pesquisa consistiu em investigar quais elementos caracterizadores do déficit democrático das instituições representativas brasileiras foram, de fato, causados ou potencializados pela globalização. Com isso, procurou-se superar análises simplificadoras, que atribuem todos os problemas da democracia contemporânea à globalização, ou, então, insistem em restringir o campo de análise aos limites estabelecidos pelo modelo democrático representativo de base territorial, cujo potencial explicativo apresenta limites severos em um contexto de policentrismo político, e em que as instituições representativas se revelam incompatíveis com as exigências de mediação social.
A TUTELA JURÍDICA DO CONSUMIDOR DIANTE DO ATRASO DO INCORPORADOR IMOBILIÁRIO
Authors: Alves Fabrício Germano , Motta Thiago De Lucena
Published: April 2015

O presente artigo trata das consequências jurídicas do atraso do incorporador em entregar o edifício em uma incorporação imobiliária, analisando as opções colocadas pelo ordenamento jurídico à disposição do consumidor adquirente lesado pela mora. O contrato de aquisição de unidade autônoma em incorporação imobiliária envolve, em regra, fornecedor e consumidor, o que atrai a incidência do regime protetivo instituído pelo Código de Defesa do Consumidor. A partir de análise da normatização pertinente, de bibliografia especializada e decisões de tribunais, o objetivo do presente trabalho é demonstrar que a lógica que deve orientar os casos de atraso é a responsabilização do incorporador pelos danos de qualquer ordem causados ao consumidor, garantindo-se a este autonomia para prosseguir no contrato ou proceder à resolução do mesmo.
DISTINÇÕES HERMENÊUTICAS DA CONSTITUCIONALIZAÇÃO DO DIREITO CIVIL: O INTÉRPRETE NA DOUTRINA DE PIETRO PERLINGIERI
Authors: Konder Carlos Nelson
Published: April 2015

O artigo visa a analisar a metodologia da constitucionalização do direito civil de Pietro Perlingieri, por vezes referida como “direito civil-constitucional”, por meio da confrontação deste método com os demais, estabelecendo comparações, distinções, divergências, semelhanças e, por vezes, oportunidades de diálogo. Utilizou-se, para tanto, a resposta dos métodos para duas grandes questões interligadas acerca da interpretação do direito: deontologia x teleologia e liberdade x restrição à atuação do intérprete.
DA RELIGIÃO DO JURAMENTO AO JURAMENTO SECULARIZADO: CONCLUSÕES DE UM ESTUDO SOBRE A EVOLUÇÃO DO JURAMENTO PROCESSUAL NA COLÔMBIA DURANTE O SÉCULO XIX
Authors: Bernal Andrés Botero
Published: April 2015

Este artigo apresenta a conclusão de um trabalho maior que traz novas luzes sobre o processo de laicização do juramento processual ao longo do século XIX colombiano. Baseado em fontes primárias (processos judiciais, normativas e causas célebres) e secundárias, analisa-se o valor do juramento como garantia de verdade no marco da finalidade cultural do processo judicial, a evolução do juramento (política e processualmente) na modernidade e a passagem paulatina do juramento religioso ao secularizado no processo judicial colombiano. Discute-se, ainda, a forte relação entre religião (tanto a culta como a popular) e o juramento processual, o que contribui para a identificação das características mais importantes da cultura jurídica do século XIX.