bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bitumen Binders Properties – Middle-European Climate Requirements
Authors: Radziszewski Piotr , Sarnowski Michał , Król Jan B. , Kowalski Karol J.
Published: September 2017

The article concerns the properties of bitumens and modified binders manufactured in Poland and used in Central and Eastern Europe for road paving. The aim of the article is to evaluate the properties of bituminous binders in terms of the climatic conditions of Central and Eastern Europe, taking the Polish climate as an example. In order to obtain a qualitative assessment of binders taking into account their role in the formation of road surface and its operating conditions in a wide range of temperatures, extensive research of the binders most commonly used in the construction of asphalt pavement were carried out. Aside from the results of standard tests, this article also presents the results of studies determining the functional properties of binders according to the SUPERPAVE method. Based on the results, it was found that the bituminous binders meet the requirements specified in European standards and technical guidelines. The temperature range of viscoelasticity of all the tested bituminous binders is very wide and exceeds 80 °C. However, in view of the Polish climate, an unfavourable phenomenon is a shift in the temperature range of viscoelasticity towards higher operating temperatures, at the same time lowering the binder performance at low temperatures.
Geogrid Reinforced Subgrade Influence to Ensure Paved Road Durability
Authors: Šiukščius Aurimas , Vorobjovas Viktoras , Vaitkus Audrius
Published: September 2017

Geosynthetic materials are more and more often used for subgrade reinforcement and/or stabilisation. Geosynthetic reinforcement products used for paved and unpaved roads or traffic areas function on the basis of two mechanisms that contribute to their performance. Shear loads developing in unbound granular layers as a result of traffic loading are transmitted from the base aggregate to the geosynthetic as a result of frictional interaction or via the so called interlocking effect. Depending on the geosynthetic material properties load absorption functions on the basis of frictional interaction and the membrane effect. This study indicates how these two load absorbing mechanisms, depending on the geosynthetic material properties, correspond to the regulations for use of geosynthetics for road embankments and subgrades and harmonised European standards that are valid in Lithuania. It also presents the corrections and additions to improve the existing regulations for use of geosynthetics for road embankments and subgrades to ensure a better paved road durability.
Feelings and codependent behavior in the family of illicit drugs users
Authors: Costa Bruna Da , Marcon Sonia Silva , Paiano Marcelle , Sales Catarina Aparecida , Maftum Mariluce Alves , Waidman Maria Angélica Pagliarini
Published: September 2017

Current descriptive and qualitative study described feelings and codependent behavior in relatives of illicit drug users. Data were collected between March and April 2012 by an open interview with eight family members of illicit drugs-dependent individuals and subjected to theme-mode content analysis. Results were classified into two categories which showed intense suffering coupled to feelings of guilt, fear, shame, sadness, shame and manifestation of codependent behaviors such as denial and control of the one´s situation and that of others. Professionals should know the situation in which the families of drug addicts live to assist them in a different way. They should also identify codependent relatives, since they also need care so that their behavior does not worsen the symptoms and behavior of the drug user and prevents a possible medical or psychiatric diagnosis.
Dimensiones espacial y temporal de los procesos de selección de hábitats críticos por las tortugas marinas
Authors: Cuevas Eduardo
Published: September 2017

Las tortugas marinas son especies de grandes vertebrados que tienen un ciclo de vida complejo en el que ocupan diversos hábitats durante sus distintos estadios de vida. Tal complejidad impone retos para el estudio y conocimiento de sus poblaciones, y por décadas numerosas investigaciones se han dedicado a entender los factores que determinan la selección y uso de los recursos que requieren en sus diferentes etapas. La concepción a una escala espacial y temporal de los esfuerzos de investigación es de suma trascendencia para obtener información robusta y pertinente sobre los procesos de selección de sus hábitats. El objetivo de esta revisión fue analizar diferentes escalas y aproximaciones abordadas para la evaluación de los procesos de selección de playas de anidación, sitios de anidación y hábitats de alimentación por las tortugas marinas, considerando algunas de las implicaciones biológicas, ecológicas y evolutivas asociadas a dichos procesos. A partir de resultados publicados se analizan algunos de los resultados reportados y las implicaciones que estos procesos tienen en temas de conservación y manejo de sus poblaciones y hábitats críticos. El estudio de los procesos de selección y uso de los hábitats críticos que ocupan las tortugas marinas es una línea actualmente vigente, pertinente y de alta relevancia, a través de la cual se reitera la importancia estratégica y fundamental de estudios de monitoreo a largo plazo, única manera de evaluar de forma contundente modificaciones en sus poblaciones y hábitats a escalas espaciales y temporales distintas.
Modelo hidrodinámico en el Sistema Lagunar Navachiste, Guasave, Sinaloa, México
Authors: Sánchez Lindoro Fernando de J. , Jiménez-Illescas Ángel R. , Espinosa Carreón T. Leticia , Obeso Nieblas Maclovio
Published: September 2017

El Sistema Lagunar Navachiste se encuentra conectado con el Golfo de California (GC) a través de 3 canales de marea. El sistema cuenta con un área de 301 km2 aproximadamente, con una profundidad promedio de 2,5 m y una altura de mareas promedio de 1,5 m. Para simular las corrientes de mareas y el efecto del viento se aplicó un modelo hidrodinámico numérico barótropico, integrado en la vertical y en diferencias finitas; para calibrar el modelo se hicieron mediciones lagrangeanas y se compararon con las corrientes simuladas en los canales de marea del sistema. El modelo simula el comportamiento hidrodinámico del sistema lagunar y presenta una correlación superior al 85% con las trayectorias trazadas por los cuerpos de deriva y con las velocidades máximas eulerianas medidas en los canales internos y en las bocas del sistema.
Evaluación de dietas formuladas para la corvina rubia, Micropogonias furnieri (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae)
Authors: Bolasina Sergio Néstor , Benedetti Nicolás
Published: September 2017

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los efectos del reemplazo parcial (50%) de la harina de pescado por harina de carne bovina en dietas formuladas para juveniles de corvina rubia, Micropogonias furnieri. Se determinó el crecimiento, la eficiencia de conversión del alimento, la digestibilidad aparente de proteínas y lípidos y la supervivencia utilizando dos tipos de dietas isonitrogenadas (proteína cruda 38%), control y reemplazo. El incremento en longitud (cm) y en peso (g) fue mayor en los ejemplares alimentados con la dieta control (10,34 y 9,77% respectivamente), a los que se les suministró la dieta con reemplazo el incremento fue del 6,78 y 7,10%, respectivamente. La supervivencia fue similar para los ejemplares alimentados con la dieta control (88,9%) que con la dieta de reemplazo (86,3%). La digestibilidad aparente de proteínas para los individuos alimentados con la dieta control fue del 88,8%, para los individuos alimentados con la dieta con reemplazo de harina de carne el valor obtenido fue del 85,9%. El porcentaje de digestibilidad aparente para lípidos totales fue similar para ambos tratamientos (96,6 y 96,8%). La composición proximal de proteína y lípidos en músculo no varió significativamente con los tratamientos. Se concluye que la harina de carne puede utilizarse como fuente alternativa de reemplazo de la harina de pescado para la fabricación de dietas utilizadas en el engorde de Micropogonias furnieri. Se requiere continuar las investigaciones para aumentar el conocimiento de los requerimientos nutricionales de esta especie.
Designing Wearable Sensing Platforms for Healthcare in a Residential Environment
Authors: Fafoutis Xenofon , Vafeas Antonis , Janko Balazs , Sherratt R. Simon , Pope James , Elsts Atis , Mellios Evangelos , Hilton Geoffrey , Oikonomou George , Piechocki Robert , Craddock Ian
Published: September 2017

Wearable technologies are valuable tools that can encourage people to monitor their own well-being and facilitate timely health interventions. In this paper, we present SPW-2; a low-profile versatile wearable sensor that employs two ultra low power accelerometers and an optional gyroscope. Designed for minimum maintenance and a long-term operation outside the laboratory, SPW-2 is able to oer a battery lifetime of multiple months. Measurements on its wireless performance in a real residential environment with thick brick walls, demonstrate that SPW-2 can fully cover a room and - in most cases - the adjacent room, as well.
A Posteriori Error Estimator for a Weak Galerkin Finite Element Solution of the Stokes Problem
Authors: Zheng Xiaobo , Xie Xiaoping
Published: September 2017

A robust residual-based a posteriori error estimator is proposed for a weak Galerkin finite element method for the Stokes problem in two and three dimensions. The estimator consists of two terms, where the first term characterises the difference between the L2-projection of the velocity approximation on the element interfaces and the corresponding numerical trace, and the second is related to the jump of the velocity approximation between the adjacent elements. We show that the estimator is reliable and efficient through two estimates of global upper and global lower bounds, up to two data oscillation terms caused by the source term and the nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. The estimator is also robust in the sense that the constant factors in the upper and lower bounds are independent of the viscosity coefficient. Numerical results are provided to verify the theoretical results.
Attribution of recent ozone changes in the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes using statistical analysis and chemistry–climate model simulations
Authors: Zeng Guang , Morgenstern Olaf , Shiona Hisako , Thomas Alan J. , Querel Richard R. , Nichol Sylvia E.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Ozone (O3) trends and variability from a 28-year (1987–2014) ozonesonde record at Lauder, New Zealand, have been analysed and interpreted using a statistical model and a global chemistry–climate model (CCM). Lauder is a clean rural measurement site often representative of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) mid-latitude background atmosphere. O3 trends over this period at this location are characterised by a significant positive trend below 6 km, a significant negative trend in the tropopause region and the lower stratosphere between 9 and 15 km, and no significant trend in the free troposphere (6–9 km) and the stratosphere above 15 km. We find that significant positive trends in lower tropospheric ozone are correlated with increasing temperature and decreasing relative humidity at the surface over this period, whereas significant negative trends in the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere appear to be strongly linked to an upward trend of the tropopause height. Relative humidity and the tropopause height also dominate O3 variability at Lauder in the lower troposphere and the tropopause region, respectively. We perform an attribution of these trends to anthropogenic forcings including O3 precursors, greenhouse gases (GHGs), and O3-depleting substances (ODSs), using CCM simulations. Results indicate that changes in anthropogenic O3 precursors contribute significantly to stratospheric O3 reduction, changes in ODSs contribute significantly to tropospheric O3 reduction, and increased GHGs contribute significantly to stratospheric O3 increases at Lauder. Methane (CH4) likely contributes positively to O3 trends in both the troposphere and the stratosphere, but the contribution is not significant at the 95 % confidence level over this period. An extended analysis of CCM results covering 1960–2010 (i.e. starting well before the observations) reveals significant contributions from all forcings to O3 trends at Lauder – i.e. increases in GHGs and the increase in CH4 alone all contribute significantly to O3 increases, net increases in ODSs lead to O3 reduction, and increases in non-methane O3 precursors cause O3 increases in the troposphere and reductions in the stratosphere. This study suggests that a long-term ozonesonde record obtained at a SH mid-latitude background site (corroborated by a surface O3 record at a nearby SH mid-latitude site, Baring Head, which also shows a significant positive trend) is a useful indicator for detecting atmospheric composition and climate change associated with human activities.
Chemical characterization of fine particulate matter emitted by peat fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, during the 2015 El Niño
Authors: Jayarathne Thilina , Stockwell Chelsea E. , Gilbert Ashley A. , Daugherty Kaitlyn , Cochrane Mark A. , Ryan Kevin C. , Putra Erianto I. , Saharjo Bambang H. , Nurhayati Ati D. , Albar Israr , Yokelson Robert J. , Stone Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was collected in situ from peat smoke during the 2015 El Niño peat fire episode in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Twenty-one PM samples were collected from 18 peat fire plumes that were primarily smoldering with modified combustion efficiency (MCE) values of 0.725–0.833. PM emissions were determined and chemically characterized for elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), water-soluble OC, water-soluble ions, metals, and organic species. Fuel-based PM2.5 mass emission factors (EF) ranged from 6.0–29.6 g kg−1 with an average of 17.3 ± 6.0 g kg−1. EC was detected only in 15 plumes and comprised ~ 1 % of PM mass. Together, OC (72 %), EC (1 %), water-soluble ions (1 %) and metal oxides (0.1 %) comprised 74 ± 11 % of gravimetrically-measured PM mass. Assuming that the remaining mass is due to elements that form organic matter (OM; i.e. elements O, H, N) an OM to OC conversion factor of 1.26 was estimated by linear regression. Overall, chemical speciation revealed the following characteristics of peat burning emissions: high OC mass fractions (72 %), primarily water-insoluble OC (84 ± 11 % C), low EC mass fractions (1 %), vanillic to syringic acid ratios of 1.9, and relatively high n-alkane contributions to OC (6.2 % C) with a carbon preference index of 1.2–1.6. Comparison to laboratory studies of peat combustion revealed similarities in the relative composition of PM, but greater differences in the absolute EF values. The EF developed herein, combined with estimates of the mass of peat burned, are used to estimate that 3.2–11 Tg of PM2.5 was emitted to atmosphere during the 2015 El Niño peatland fire event in Indonesia. Combined with gas-phase measurements of CO2, CO, CH4 and VOC from Stockwell et al. (2016), it is determined that OC and EC account for 2.1 % and 0.04 % of total carbon emissions, respectively. These in situ EFs can be used to improve the accuracy of the representation of Indonesian peat burning in emission inventories and receptor-based models.
A new moisture tagging capability in the Weather Research and Forecasting Model: formulation, validation and application to the 2014 Great Lake-effect snowstorm
Authors: Insua-Costa Damián , Miguez-Macho Gonzalo
Published: September 2017

Abstract. A new moisture-tagging tool, usually known as water vapor tracer (WVT) method or online Eulerian method, has been implemented into the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) regional meteorological model, enabling it for precise studies on atmospheric moisture sources and pathways. We present here the method and its formulation, along with details of the implementation into WRF. We perform an in-depth validation with monthly long simulations over North America at 20 km resolution, tagging all possible moisture sources: lateral boundaries, continental, maritime or lake surfaces and initial atmospheric conditions. We estimate errors as the moisture or precipitation amounts that cannot be traced back to any source. Validation results indicate that the method exhibits high precision, with errors considerably lower than 1 % during the entire simulation period, for both precipitation and total precipitable water. We apply the method to the Great Lake-effect snowstorm of November 2014, aiming at quantifying the contribution of lake evaporation to the large snow accumulations observed in the event. We perform simulations in a nested domain at 5 km resolution with the tagging technique, demonstrating that about 30–50 % of precipitation in the regions immediately downwind, originated from evaporated moisture in the Great Lakes. This contribution increases to between 50–60 % of the snow water equivalent in the most severely affected areas, which suggests that evaporative fluxes from the lakes have a fundamental role in producing the most extreme accumulations in these episodes, resulting in the highest socio-economic impacts.
Spatio-temporal patterns of the effects of precipitation variability and land use/cover changes on long-term changes in sediment yield in the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Gao Guangyao , Zhang Jianjun , Liu Yu , Ning Zheng , Fu Bojie , Sivapalan Murugesu
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Within China's Loess Plateau there have been concerted revegetation efforts and engineering measures since the 1950s aimed at reducing soil erosion and land degradation. As a result, annual streamflow, sediment yield, and sediment concentration have all decreased considerably. Human-induced land use/cover change (LUCC) was the dominant factor, contributing over 70 % of the sediment load reduction, whereas the contribution of precipitation was less than 30 %. In this study, we use 50-year time series data (1961–2011), showing decreasing trends in the annual sediment loads of 15 catchments, to generate spatio-temporal patterns in the effects of LUCC and precipitation variability on sediment yield. The space–time variability of sediment yield was expressed notionally as a product of two factors representing (i) the effect of precipitation and (ii) the fraction of treated land surface area. Under minimal LUCC, the square root of annual sediment yield varied linearly with precipitation, with the precipitation–sediment load relationship showing coherent spatial patterns amongst the catchments. As the LUCC increased and took effect, the changes in sediment yield pattern depended more on engineering measures and vegetation restoration campaign, and the within-year rainfall patterns (especially storm events) also played an important role. The effect of LUCC is expressed in terms of a sediment coefficient, i.e., the ratio of annual sediment yield to annual precipitation. Sediment coefficients showed a steady decrease over the study period, following a linear decreasing function of the fraction of treated land surface area. In this way, the study has brought out the separate roles of precipitation variability and LUCC in controlling spatio-temporal patterns of sediment yield at catchment scale.
Event-based stochastic point rainfall resampling for statistical replication and climate projection of historical rainfall series
Authors: Thorndahl Søren , Andersen Aske Korup , Larsen Anders Badsberg
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Continuous and long rainfall series are a necessity in rural and urban hydrology for analysis and design purposes. Local historical point rainfall series often cover several decades, which makes it possible to estimate rainfall means at different timescales, and to assess return periods of extreme events. Due to climate change, however, these series are most likely not representative of future rainfall. There is therefore a demand for climate-projected long rainfall series, which can represent a specific region and rainfall pattern as well as fulfil requirements of long rainfall series which includes climate changes projected to a specific future period. This paper presents a framework for resampling of historical point rainfall series in order to generate synthetic rainfall series, which has the same statistical properties as an original series. Using a number of key target predictions for the future climate, such as winter and summer precipitation, and representation of extreme events, the resampled historical series are projected to represent rainfall properties in a future climate. Climate-projected rainfall series are simulated by brute force randomization of model parameters, which leads to a large number of projected series. In order to evaluate and select the rainfall series with matching statistical properties as the key target projections, an extensive evaluation procedure is developed.
Physically based approaches incorporating evaporation for early warning predictions of rainfall-induced landslides
Authors: Reder Alfredo , Rianna Guido , Pagano Luca
Published: September 2017

Abstract. In the field of rainfall-induced landslides on sloping covers, models for early warning predictions require an adequate trade-off between two aspects: prediction accuracy and promptness. When a cover's initial hydrological state is a determining factor in triggering landslides, taking evaporative losses into account (or not) could significantly affect both aspects. This study evaluates the performance of three physically based predictive models, converting precipitation and evaporation fluxes into hydrological variables useful in assessing slope safety conditions. Two of the models incorporate evaporation, with one representing evaporation as both a boundary and internal phenomenon, and the other only a boundary phenomenon. The third model totally disregards evaporation. Model performances are assessed by analysing a well-documented case study involving a two-meter thick sloping volcanic cover. The large amount of monitoring data collected for the soil involved in the case study, reconstituted in a suitably equipped lysimeter, makes it possible to propose procedures for calibrating and validating the parameters of the models. All predictions indicate a hydrological singularity at the landslide time (alarm). Comparison of the models’ predictions also indicates that the greater the complexity and completeness of the model, the lower the number of predicted hydrological singularities when no landslides occur (false alarms).
Brief communication: Increasing shortwave absorption over the Arctic Ocean is not balanced by trends in the Antarctic
Authors: Katlein Christian , Hendricks Stefan , Key Jeffrey
Published: September 2017

Abstract. On the basis of a new, consistent, long-term observational satellite dataset we show that, despite the observed increase of sea ice extent in the Antarctic, absorption of solar shortwave radiation in the Southern Ocean poleward of 60° latitude is not decreasing. The observations hence show that the small increase in Antarctic sea ice extent does not compensate for the combined effect of retreating Arctic sea ice and changes in cloud cover, which both result in a total increase in solar shortwave energy deposited into the polar oceans.
Looking to the future of visual assessment using driving simulation
Authors: Wilkie Richard McGilchrist , Mole Callum David
Published: September 2017

Visual function is considered uniquely important for driving because it provides multiple critical sources of information that when combined ensures successful steering. There are, however, additional cognitive functions that are essential for the driver to be able to dynamically respond to the world and make predictions about the scene, as well as the behaviour of other road users. Given the complexity of driving through a busy urban environment it should be no surprise that simple tests of visual acuity seem to have weak explanatory power in terms of increased crash risk when driving. Despite this, fitness to drive still includes a formal assessment of visual acuity, with poor scores being used to revoke the driving licence. The 'gold standard' measure of driving ability remains the on-road driving test but compared to visual tests they are fairly uncontrolled, susceptible to great variation depending on the road conditions, and are unable to reliably detect subtle visual deficits. To address some of the limitations of these existing tests we use examples from two simulator settings (steering control and hazard detection) that highlight the merits of using driving simulation in order to control the visual conditions and probe specific functional capabilities of drivers. When used in conjunction with visual tests these methods will not only determine whether the core functions of driving are intact but also be able to provide richer feedback to individuals about the nature of their deficits. There are many exciting possibilities using simulation techniques to establish predictive relationships between routine visual testing and driving performance, ultimately aiming for better, more reliable assessment of fitness to drive.
Visual evoked potentials in diagnostics of optic neuropathy associated with renal failure
Authors: Jurys Małgorzata , Sirek Sebastian , Kolonko Aureliusz , Pojda-Wilczek Dorota
Published: September 2017

Chronic renal failure is associated with many neurological complications. Due to accumulation of uremic neurotoxins axonal degeneration with its secondary demyelination occurs, which results in development of polineuropathy in 60-100% of patients with chronic renal failure. One of the most severe peripheral neuropathy is optic neuropathy. It is associated with visual deterioration and reduction in quality of life. Symptoms of the optic neuropathy may appear either before or after dialysis therapy. They often worsen after renal transplant, probably due to immunosuppressive regimen. Early diagnostics of the optic neuropathy became possible by using visual evoked potentials (VEP). This reliable, sensitive and noninvasive technique provides a direct measure of subclinical impairment of visual pathways. Among hemodialysed or immunosupressed patients one can observe abnormal VEP parameters – especially prolonged latency of the P100 component, less often fluctuation of its amplitude. These alterations are pronounced even if clinical examination reveals no abnormalities. This review presents a summary of current use of visual evoked potentials in monitoring of patients with chronic renal failure.
Kreowanie wartości atrakcji turystycznej opartej na doświadczeniach
Authors: Bosiacki Stefan , Hołderna-Mielcarek Bernadeta
Published: September 2017

Cel. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie możliwości wykorzystania idei marketingu doświadczeń w kreowaniu atrakcji turystycznych. W szczególności identyfikacja doświadczeń wiążących się z atrakcją turystyczną według 4 kategorii doświadczeń J.B. Pine’a II i J.H. Gilmore’a [1998, s.101-102] oraz pozytywnych i negatywnych bodźców i otoczenia na nie oddziałujących.

Metoda. Metodą wykorzystaną w badaniu jest sondaż diagnostyczny, techniką – ankieta rozdawana, narzędziem – kwestionariusz ankietowy.

Wyniki. Wyniki badania mają posłużyć rozpoznaniu, jakie doznania towarzyszą doświadczeniu turystycznemu i jakich czynników dostarczać, by wzbudzić pozytywne doświadczenia wiążące się z atrakcją turystyczną.

Ograniczenia badań i wnioskowania. Badania dotyczą atrakcji turystycznych zlokalizowanych w Wielkopolsce.

Implikacje praktyczne. W konsekwencji uzyskane wyniki mogą posłużyć kreowaniu wartościowych dla turysty atrakcji turystycznych, które dostarczają, poza korzyściami funkcjonalnymi, także korzyści emocjonalnych.

Oryginalność pracy. Podjęta problematyka dotyczy współczesnych trendów w konsumpcji i tworzenia wartości dla klienta opartej na doświadczeniach. Idea marketingu doświadczeń otwiera nowe obszary tworzenia wartości dodanej i kreowania atrakcji turystycznych o emocjonalnym potencjale korzyści, uznanych w społeczeństwie doznań za ważny czynnik konkurencyjności.

Rodzaj pracy. Artykuł prezentuje wyniki badań empirycznych; badania mają charakter eksploracyjny, służą rozpoznaniu możliwości wykorzystania marketingu doświadczeń w turystyce.
Wnioski z obrad VIII Gremium Ekspertów Turystyki dotyczących sesji naukowo-badawczych
Authors: Gołembski Grzegorz
Published: September 2017

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People in the News
Authors: Galloway Ann-Christe
Published: September 2017

AppointmentsRetirements
Impact of litter quantity on the soil bacteria community during the decomposition ofQuercus wutaishanicalitter
Authors: Zeng Quanchao , Liu Yang , An Shaoshan
Published: September 2017

The forest ecosystem is the main component of terrestrial ecosystems. The global climate and the functions and processes of soil microbes in the ecosystem are all influenced by litter decomposition. The effects of litter decomposition on the abundance of soil microorganisms remain unknown. Here, we analyzed soil bacterial communities during the litter decomposition process in an incubation experiment under treatment with different litter quantities based on annual litterfall data (normal quantity, 200 g/(m2/yr); double quantity, 400 g/(m2/yr) and control, no litter). The results showed that litter quantity had significant effects on soil carbon fractions, nitrogen fractions, and bacterial community compositions, but significant differences were not found in the soil bacterial diversity. The normal litter quantity enhanced the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes and reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Plantctomycets and Nitrospiare. The Beta-, Gamma-, and Deltaproteobacteria were significantly less abundant in the normal quantity litter addition treatment, and were subsequently more abundant in the double quantity litter addition treatment. The bacterial communities transitioned from Proteobacteria-dominant (Beta-, Gamma-, and Delta) to Actinobacteria-dominant during the decomposition of the normal quantity of litter. A cluster analysis showed that the double litter treatment and the control had similar bacterial community compositions. These results suggested that the double quantity litter limited the shift of the soil bacterial community. Our results indicate that litter decomposition alters bacterial dynamics under the accumulation of litter during the vegetation restoration process, which provides important significant guidelines for the management of forest ecosystems.
Annual Irrigation Dynamics in the U.S. Northern High Plains Derived from Landsat Satellite Data
Authors: Deines Jillian M. , Kendall Anthony D. , Hyndman David W.
Published: September 2017

Sustainable management of agricultural water resources requires improved understanding of irrigation patterns in space and time. We produced annual, high‐resolution (30 m) irrigation maps for 1999–2016 by combining all available Landsat satellite imagery with climate and soil covariables in Google Earth Engine. Random forest classification had accuracies from 92 to 100% and generally agreed with county statistics (r2 = 0.88–0.96). Two novel indices that integrate plant greenness and moisture information show promise for improving satellite classification of irrigation. We found considerable interannual variability in irrigation location and extent, including a near doubling between 2002 and 2016. Statistical modeling suggested that precipitation and commodity price influenced irrigated extent through time. High prices incentivized expansion to increase crop yield and profit, but dry years required greater irrigation intensity, thus reducing area in this supply‐limited region. Data sets produced with this approach can improve water sustainability by providing consistent, spatially explicit tracking of irrigation dynamics over time.
Arylation of Aniline C(sp3)−H Bonds with Phenols via an In Situ Activation Strategy
Authors: Gui Yong‐Yuan , Wang Zi‐Xiao , Zhou Wen‐Jun , Liao Li‐Li , Song Lei , Yin Zhu‐Bao , Li Jing , Yu Da‐Gang
Published: September 2017

Herein, a general and efficient arylation of aniline C(sp3)−H bonds with phenols by an in situ activation strategy via visible‐light photoredox/nickel dual catalysis is reported. The direct use of phenols as proelectrophiles features high step efficiency, time economy, and environmental impact. This protocol tolerates a wide array of phenols and anilines to afford benzylic amines in high yields with good functional‐group tolerance under low catalyst loading.
Albumin‐Assisted Method Allows Assessment of Release of Hydrophobic Drugs From Nanocarriers
Authors: Gil Dmitry , Frank‐Kamenetskii Anastasia , Barry John , Reukov Vladimir , Xiang Yun , Das Arabinda , Varma Abhay K. , Kindy Mark S. , Banik Naren L. , Vertegel Alexey
Published: September 2017

Polymeric nanoparticles have been extensively studied as drug delivery vehicles both in vitro and in vivo for the last two decades. In vitro methods to assess drug release profiles usually utilize degradation of nanoparticles in aqueous medium, followed by the measurement of the concentration of the released drug. This method, however, is difficult to use for drugs that are poorly water soluble. In this study, a protocol for measuring drug release kinetic using albumin solution as the medium is described. Albumin is a major blood transport protein, which mediates transport of many lipid soluble compounds including fatty acids, hormones, and bilirubin. The use of a dialysis‐based system utilizing albumin dialysate solution allows hydrophobic drug release from a diverse set of drug delivery modalities is demonstrated. The method using liposomes and PLGA nanoparticles as drug carriers, and two model hydrophobic drugs, 17β‐estradiol, and dexamethasone is validated.
Effects of low‐to‐moderate alcohol supplementation on urinary estrogen metabolites in postmenopausal women in a controlled feeding study
Authors: Mahabir Somdat , Pfeiffer Ruth , Xu Xia , Baer David J. , Taylor Philip R.
Published: September 2017

Heavy alcohol drinking is associated with increased breast cancer risk, but associations with low‐to‐moderate alcohol consumption are less clear and the biological mechanisms are not well defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of low (15 g/d) and moderate (30 g/d) alcohol ingestion on concentrations of 15 urinary estrogen metabolites (EMs) in postmenopausal women (n = 51) in a controlled feeding study with a randomized crossover design. Compared to no alcohol, 15 g/day for 8 weeks had no effect on urinary EMs. However, compared to no alcohol, 30 g/day for 8 weeks decreased urinary 2‐hydroestrone (2‐OHE1) by 3.3% (P = 0.055) and increased 16‐epiestriol (16‐EpiE3) by 26.6% (P = 0.037). Trends for reduced urinary 2‐OHE1 (P = 0.045), reduced ratio of 2‐OH:16OH pathways (P = 0.008), and increased 16‐EpiE3 (P = 0.035) were observed as alcohol ingestion increased from 0 g to 15 g to 30 g/d. Moderate alcohol consumption for 8 weeks had modest effects on urinary concentrations of 2‐OHE1 and 16‐EpiE3 among postmenopausal women in a carefully controlled feeding study.
Reliability of Constant Charge Method for Molecular Dynamics Simulations on EDLCs in Nanometer and Sub‐Nanometer Spaces
Authors: Yang Jinyuan , Bo Zheng , Yang Huachao , Qi Hualei , Kong Jing , Yan Jianhua , Cen Kefa
Published: September 2017

The front cover artwork is provided by Mr. Jinyuan Yang and Prof. Zheng Bo, Zhejiang University (Zhejiang, China). The image shows the comparison of constant charge and constant potential methods for molecular dynamics simulations on electric double layer capacitance in nano‐confined spaces. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/celc.201700447.
Population Pharmacokinetic Evaluation and Missed‐Dose Simulations for Eslicarbazepine Acetate Monotherapy in Patients With Partial‐Onset Seizures
Authors: Sunkaraneni Soujanya , Blum David , Ludwig Elizabeth , Chudasama Vaishali , Fiedler‐Kelly Jill , Marvanova Marketa , Bainbridge Jacquelyn , Phillips Luann
Published: September 2017

Given the potential consequences of antiepileptic therapy nonadherence, missed‐dose scenarios of 12‐ to 48‐hour dose delays (4‐hour intervals) for eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy were evaluated using simulated plasma concentrations of a population pharmacokinetic model (representing 493 subjects). When 1600‐mg doses were delayed 12 to <16 or 36 to <44 hours, simulations showed immediate administration of 1600 mg followed by the same dose at the scheduled time maintained plasma concentrations within the target concentration range. With 16‐ to 24‐ or 44‐ to 48‐hour delays, administration of 2400 mg at the scheduled time followed by resumption of 1600 mg/day maintained plasma concentrations within the target concentration range. For exploratory purposes, the population pharmacokinetic model was refined to predict (n = 6 subjects) and also to allow for simulation of cerebrospinal fluid concentrations. Based on the plasma concentration simulations conducted herein, potential dosing recommendations were developed that suggest a missed ESL dose should be taken when remembered, and the usual dose regimen resumed. If it is remembered within 4 hours of the next dose, 1.5 times the usual dose should be taken immediately, the scheduled dose for that day should be skipped, and the usual regimen resumed the next day.
Differentiation of the Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma From Classic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: An Ultrasound Analysis and Complement to Fine‐Needle Aspiration Cytology
Authors: Ng Soh‐Ching , Kuo Sheng‐Fong , Hua Chung‐Ching , Huang Bie‐Yu , Chiang Kun‐Chun , Chu Yin‐Yi , Hsueh Chuen , Lin Jen‐Der
Published: September 2017

Objectives

It is difficult to establish a diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) using fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Preoperative features on ultrasound (US) imaging are different between follicular PTC and classic PTC. This study developed a risk score system to differentiate follicular PTC from classic PTC and to correlate the risk score of follicular PTC with its FNAC categories and pathologic features.

Methods

The US features, FNAC results, and pathologic reports of 156 follicular PTC nodules and 152 classic PTC nodules from 296 patients with PTC along with their clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively. A risk score system based on US features was developed by multivariate logistic regression to differentiate classic PTC from follicular PTC nodules. The risk scores were then correlated with the FNAC category and pathologic features of the nodules.

Results

The US risk score (5 × echogenicity + 3 × calcifications + 3 × marginal regularity) had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 and a cutoff value of 8.0, with specificity of 87% and sensitivity of 69% for predicting a classic PTC nodule. The follicular PTC nodules with low Bethesda categorization (I–III) had a median US risk score of 6 (range, 0–11), which was higher than that of nodules with high categorization (IV–VI; median, 3; range, 0–11).

Conclusions

The US risk score may be useful in differentiating classic PTC from follicular PTC and complementary to FNAC in identifying follicular PTC.
The Rate of Cervical Length Shortening in the Management of Vasa Previa
Authors: Maymon Ron , Melcer Yaakov , Tovbin Josef , Pekar‐Zlotin Marina , Smorgick Noam , Jauniaux Eric
Published: September 2017

Objectives

There is no consensus about the optimal surveillance strategy in women with a diagnosis of vasa previa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the rate of change in cervical length measurements in the management of singleton pregnancies with a diagnosis of vasa previa.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case‐control study of our databases for pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa that were followed with transvaginal sonography for cervical length and evaluated the impact of the changes in cervical length on the need for emergency cesarean delivery.

Results

The cohort included 29 singleton pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa in the second trimester. There were 14 and 15 pregnancies that underwent elective and emergency cesarean delivery, respectively. The rate of cervical length shortening was significantly slower for women with elective compared to emergency cesarean delivery (median [range], 0.7 [0.1–2.0] versus 1.5 [0.25–3.0] mm/wk; P = .011). For each additional millimeter‐per‐week decrease in cervical length, the odds of emergency cesarean delivery increased by 6.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.02–41.20). The receiver operating characteristic curve for the rate of cervical length shortening in the prediction of emergency cesarean delivery yielded an area under the curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.99).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate an association between the rate of cervical length shortening and the risk of emergency cesarean delivery in pregnancies with a diagnosis of vasa previa in the second trimester. Further multicentric studies are required to validate our data prospectively and, in particular, the role of serial cervical length measurements in determining the optimal delivery time for individual cases.
Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting over MIL‐125(Ti) upon CoPi and Pt Co‐catalyst Deposition
Authors: An Yang , Xu Benyan , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Zeyan , Wang Peng , Dai Ying , Qin Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaoyang , Huang Baibiao
Published: September 2017

Photocatalytic overall water splitting is realized by taking advantage of the semiconductive and porous properties of MIL‐125(Ti). CoPi and Pt are deposited into MIL‐125(Ti) in two steps. The co‐catalysts CoPi and Pt not only act as reactive sites for oxygen and hydrogen evolution, respectively, but also improve the photogenerated charge separation efficiency. The above conclusions are supported by the photoelectrical and photophysical results.
A Comparative Study of the Explosion Characteristics of IPN and IPN/JP‐10 Mixtures in Air Aerosols
Authors: Liu Xueling , Wang Yue
Published: September 2017

This article presents a comparison of the explosion characteristics of mixtures of isopropyl nitrate (IPN, (CH3)2CHONO2) and JP‐10 (C10H16, tricycle [5.2.1.02,6] decane) in air aerosols. The explosion pressure, flame temperature, maximum rate of pressure rise, maximum rate of temperature rise, and lower flammability limits (LFLs) were measured for two sets of IPN and mixed IPN/JP‐10 in air aerosols at different concentrations and Sauter mean diameters (SMDs) of 19 μm and 34 μm, respectively, and the values were compared with the experimental results of JP‐10/air aerosols with SMDs of 20 μm and 35 μm (from our previous research). Experiments were also performed to study various concentrations at various ignition energies for the IPN/air aerosols and the explosions of binary mixture aerosols with various mass ratios of IPN and JP‐10. The experimental results indicated that for the IPN/air and JP‐10/air aerosols with a mean SMD of ∼34 μm, the maximum peak pressure and maximum peak temperature of the IPN/air aerosols were greater than those of the JP‐10/air aerosols. The maximum rate of pressure rise of the IPN/air aerosols reached a maximum value of 395.3 MPa/s at a mean SMD of ∼34 μm, and the pressure increased more abruptly in the IPN/air aerosols than in the JP‐10/air aerosols. The LFLs of the IPN/air aerosols occurred with a total concentration of 197 g/m3 at a mean SMD of 19 μm and a total concentration of 233 g/m3 at a mean SMD of 34 μm, whereas the LFLs for the JP‐10/air aerosols with SMDs of 20 μm and 35 μm were less than 47 g/m3 and 40 g/m3, respectively. The experimental results presented here also showed that the maximum peak pressure was 1.07 MPa at a binary liquid mass ratio of IPN:JP‐10 (%) of 72 : 28 and a mean SMD of ∼34 μm.
A Model-Based Approach to Simultaneous Clustering and Dimensional Reduction of Ordinal Data
Authors: Ranalli Monia , Rocci Roberto
Published: September 2017

The literature on clustering for continuous data is rich and wide; differently, that one developed for categorical data is still limited. In some cases, the clustering problem is made more difficult by the presence of noise variables/dimensions that do not contain information about the clustering structure and could mask it. The aim of this paper is to propose a model for simultaneous clustering and dimensionality reduction of ordered categorical data able to detect the discriminative dimensions discarding the noise ones. Following the underlying response variable approach, the observed variables are considered as a discretization of underlying first-order latent continuous variables distributed as a Gaussian mixture. To recognize discriminative and noise dimensions, these variables are considered to be linear combinations of two independent sets of second-order latent variables where only one contains the information about the cluster structure while the other one contains noise dimensions. The model specification involves multidimensional integrals that make the maximum likelihood estimation cumbersome and in some cases infeasible. To overcome this issue, the parameter estimation is carried out through an EM-like algorithm maximizing a composite log-likelihood based on low-dimensional margins. Examples of application of the proposal on real and simulated data are performed to show the effectiveness of the proposal.
Aircraft-sized anechoic chambers for electronic warfare, radar and other electromagnetic engineering evaluation
Authors: Pywell M. , Midgley-Davies M.
Published: September 2017

This paper considers capabilities and benefits of aircraft-sized radio/radar frequency anechoic chambers for Test and Evaluation (T&E) of Electronic Warfare (EW), radar and other electromagnetics aspects of air and ground platforms. There are few such chambers worldwide. Initially developed to reduce costs, timescales and risks associated with open-air range flight testing of EW systems, their utility has expanded to most areas of platforms’ electromagnetics’ T&E. A key feature is the ability to conduct T&E of nationally sensitive equipment and systems, fully installed on platforms, in absolute privacy. Chambers’ capabilities and uses are described, with emphasis on key infrastructure and instrumentation. Non-EW uses are identified and selected topics elaborated. Operation and maintenance are discussed, based on experiential knowledge from international use and the authors’ 30 years’ involvement with BAE Systems’ EW Test Facility. A view is provided of trends and challenges whose resolution could further increase chamber utility. National affordability challenges also suggest utility expansion to support continuing moves, from expensive and difficult to repeat flight test and operational evaluation trials, towards an affordability-driven optimal balance between modelling and simulation, and real-world testing of platforms.