bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Effect of Transformational Leadership on Innovation and Organizational Performance
Authors: Shih Cheng Ping , Orochena Olga del Carmen Peña
Published: May 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of transformational leadership on innovation and business performance, while analyzing other work environment variables such as empowerment and climate for innovation in an integrated model. The employees of a private Nicaraguan company called Casa Pellas participated in this research and 292 online questionnaires were received and analyzed by using Partial least square (PLS) technique. The findings indicate transformational leadership does have a positive and highly significant relationship with empowerment and climate for innovation, which in turn climate for innovation does have a positive and highly significant relationship with innovation. Innovation has a positive and significant relationship with organizational performance as well.
Enhancing Electroconductivity of Yytria-Stabilised Zirconia Ceramic Using Graphene Platlets
Authors: Markandan Kalaimani , Chin Jit Kai , Tan Michelle T.T.
Published: May 2016

A simple method to produce graphene-Yytria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) ceramic composite with significant improvement in electrical properties is reported here. The material was consolidated by annealing in presence of Argon gas that allowed densification of the ceramics. A detailed x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to study the phases and crystallinity of graphene-YSZ ceramic composite. XRD patterns of the sintered composite showed that graphene diffraction peaks were detected at 2θ≈27°. Furthermore, experimental results indicate that electrical conductivity of YSZ composites drastically increased with the addition of graphene platelets, and it reached a value of 2.8 S/cm at 2 wt.%.
Effect of Borax on Lightweight Material from Cullet and Fly Ash
Authors: Sriprasertsuk Sutthima , Suwannason Phatthiya , Saengchantara Wanna T.
Published: May 2016

This work investigated the recycling of fly ash waste and cullet as the raw materials for lightweight bodies produced by heat treatment and using sodium silicate as the binder. Borax was mixed with fly ash and cullet, and put into the block in dimension 10x10x2 cm3. The lightweight materials thus produced were then sintered at temperature of 800 °C. Density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity were determined. Borax showed a positive sintering effect on the porosity of lightweight material during the heat process. The compressive strength of lightweight material diminished with the reduction of density and thermal conductivity. Lightweight material manufactured with borax showed the lower density and thermal conductivity accompanied by the higher compressive strength. The test results indicated that using fly ash and cullet as the raw material with borax could obtain the lightweight material, thus enhancing the possibility of its reuse in a sustainable way.
Effect of Milling Time on the Properties of BYF Doped PZT Energy Harvesting Ceramics by High-Energy Ball Milling
Authors: Boonruang Arjin , Ngernchuklin Piyalak , Yongpraderm Nestchanok
Published: May 2016

Recently, Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) has been attracted for energy harvesting (EH) devices because of their excellent piezoelectric properties at the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The EH devices require high energy density related to high figure of merit (FOM: g33 x d33). As a result, the improvement of piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g33) and piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33) to better energy density property obtained should be searching for. Therefore, PZT-BYF system was chosen for piezoelectric energy harvester by focusing to study on the composition of 0.99PZT-0.01BYF (0.99Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3-0.01Bi(Y0.7Fe0.3)O3). In this study, PZT and BYF systems were calcined separately and then 0.99PZT-0.01BYF powders were prepared by solid state method and mixed via high-energy ball milling in various milling time (2, 4, 10 and 16 hrs). The effect of milling time on the physical and electrical properties, figure of merit and microstructure were investigated.
Comparison of Milling Techniques to Figure of Merit of 0.98PZT-0.02BYF Piezoelectric Ceramic Energy Harvester
Authors: Ngernchuklin Piyalak , Boonruang Arjin , Daungdaw Saengdoen , Yongpraderm Nestchanok
Published: May 2016

Nowadays, the concept of harvesting energy from the environment, for example, thermal, wind, sun, vibration and human activities is much of interest. PZT is one of the materials which show an ability to harness vibration energy and then change to electrical energy. Therefore, the PZT (Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3) doped with 0.02 mol% BYF (Bi(Y0.7Fe0.3)O3) piezoelectric ceramics has been studied to improve the figure of merit (d33*g33). The PZT and BYF powder systems were prepared by solid state reaction with calcination temperature of 800 and 850 °C for 2 h, respectively. XRD results showed that both powders exhibited pure perovskite phase for PZT and single phase of BYF without pyrochlore phase. Then, the two calcined powders (PZT and BYF) were mixed according to the composition of 0.02 mol% BYF doped PZT by two different milling techniques called conventional ball-milling (CBM) and high energy ball-milling (HBM) for 10 h. The result showed that average particle size obtain from HBM was 1 µm which was smaller than from CBM shown up to a few microns in bimodal mode. The PZT-BYF-HBM ceramics showed higher physical and electrical properties but lower K value. Thus promoting to higher g33 which was equal to 36.89 * 10-3(Vm/N) and FOM was 11,632*10-15(m2/N), while PZT-BYF-CBM had g33 of 26.86* 10-3(Vm/N) and FOM at 8,016*10-15(m2/N), respectively.
Effect of Substitution of Zn2+ and Zr4+ on Structural and Magnetic Properties of BaFe12O19 Powders
Authors: Wongmaneerung Rewadee
Published: May 2016

The Zn2+ and Zr4+-doped barium hexaferrite according to the stoichiometric formation BaFe(12-(2x /3))ZnxO19 and BaFe(12-(4x /3))ZrxO19 with x = 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 were prepared by conventional method using ball milling technique. These powders were calcined at various temperatures from 1000 °C to 1200 °C for 2 h. The structural, morphology and magnetic properties were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), respectively. The XRD confirmed the formation of main phase magneplumbite and the crystalline structure of samples is still hexagonal. Pure and dopes barium hexaferrite shows only single phase. The lattice parameter a and c increased with the Zn2+ and Zr4+ ion content increasing. The SEM results showed that the particles of pure BaFe12O19 were regular hexagonal while doped-samples showed spherical shape. After Fe3+ is partly substituted with Zn2+, the magnetic parameters like coercivity and saturation magnetization are decreased. On the other hand, with increasing Zr4+ ions, the coercive force and saturation magnetization are slightly increased. The behavior of magnetic properties of materials is explained by the combined effect of the coherent rotation of the magnetic domains and the replacements of Fe3+ by Zn2+ and Zr4+ ions in the tetrahedral and octahedral sites.
The Fabrication of Refractory Cordierite from Aluminium Buff Mixture
Authors: Kongkajun Nuntaporn , Chakartnarodom Parinya , Borwornkiatkaew Warunee
Published: May 2016

The aim of this work is to propose the utilization of aluminium buff from aluminium part manufacturer as a raw material for cordierite batch composition. The powder mixtures were compacted by uniaxial pressing. The green compacts were sintered at temperature in the range 1300-1400°C for 2 hours in air. The physical properties were characterized by Archimedes method, Brazilian test and dilatometry. Phase and microstructural analysis were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD analysis showed the major phase was cordierite along with sapphirine as a secondary phase. The fired properties of materials were demonstrated that the optimal properties was achieved from the specimen sintered at 1375 °C.
Major problems encountered by the coconut growers who visit coconut technology park of coconut research institute of Sri Lanka
Authors: Herath C. S. , Chandrarathna J. P. T. R. , Abewickrama S. W. R. K.
Published: May 2016

The study was carried out to identify and rank the main problems of the growers who visit Coconut Technology Park of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Two questionnaires were used to collect data. First questionnaire was to identify the growers main problems and the second was to assess the intensity of the identified problems. The survey was carried out during the months June to November 2011. For the data collection, 153 respondents who visited Coconut Technology Park were randomly selected. The severity of the problems was estimated by developing average problem score. The study reveals that growers’ were confronted with four critical problems. The most critical problem was lack of seedlings, followed by pest damage, farm gate nut price and access to technology. Amongst the identified problems, the “access to technology” has become a problem only to part-time growers, which implies that there is a necessacity of an extension approach that can cater to the part time growers who do not find sufficient time to spend on coconut cultivation. The cyber extension or internet based extension may be a future solution to cater the part-time growers. COCOS Vol. 20: 1-8 (2013)
A CMOS SiC Linear Voltage Regulator for High Temperature Applications
Authors: Murphree R.C. , Ahmed S. , Barlow M. , Rahman A. , Mantooth H.A. , Francis A. M.
Published: May 2016

This paper establishes the first linear regulator in a 1.2 μm CMOS silicon carbide (SiC) process. The linear regulator presented consists of a SiC error amplifier and a pass transistor which has a W/L = 70,000 μm / 1.2 μm. The feedback loop is internal and the frequency compensation network is a combination of internal and external components. As a result of potential process variation in this emerging technology, the voltage reference used at the negative input terminal of the error amplifier has been made external. With an input voltage of 20 V to 30 V, the voltage regulator is able to provide a 15 V output and a continuous load current of 100 mA at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to over 400 °C. At a temperature of 400 °C, testing of the fabricated circuit has shown line regulation of less than 4 mV/V. Under the same test conditions, a load regulation of less than 420 mV/A is achieved.
High Temperature GaN Gate Driver in SOI CMOS Technology
Authors: Kappert Holger , Braun Sebastian , Kordas Norbert , Dreiner Stefan , Kokozinski Rainer
Published: May 2016

Power electronics is a rapidly developing application area for high temperature electronics. Wide bandgap semiconductors have intrinsic advantages for high temperature operation due to the large bandgap in comparison to silicon based semiconductors. Especially GaN is a promising material for power semiconductors due to the possibility to process GaN on silicon carrier wafers, which results in lower device costs in comparison to SiC. In addition GaN provides higher switching frequencies and lower on-resistances of power devices. In combination these advantages enable the design of high performing, small size power modules operating at elevated temperatures. However, in order to exploit all benefits from GaN technology, new approaches in driver design are necessary. In this work a GaN specific gate driver supporting increased switching frequency, low driver output resistance, and GaN specific control voltages is presented. The driver has been implemented in a 0.35 micron thin film SOI-CMOS technology allowing high temperature operation up to 250 °C. The driver output characteristic is digitally adjustable with configuration data stored in an on-chip non-volatile memory based on EEPROM.
A High Performance Power Module with >10kV capability to Characterize and Test In Situ SiC Devices at >200°C Ambient
Authors: Zhao Xin , Ke Haotao , Jiang Yifan , Morgan Adam , Xu Yang , Hopkins Douglas C.
Published: May 2016

This paper presents design, fabrication and characterization details of a 10kV power module package for >200°C ambient temperature applications. Electrical simulations were performed to confirm the module design, and that the electric field distribution throughout the module did not exceed dielectric capabilities of components and materials. A suitable copper etching process was demonstrated for DBC layout, and a high melting point Sn/Pb/Ag solder reflow process was developed for device and component attachment.

To monitor the operational temperature of the module, a thermistor was integrated onto the substrate. A new silicone gel, having a working temperature up to 210°C, was evaluated and selected for encapsulation and, of great importance, for passivation of high voltage (10kV) SiC dies. An additive manufacturing ‘Design Process’ was developed and applied to printing the housings, molds, and test fixtures. Also, cleaning processes were evaluated for every step in the fabrication process.

To verify performance of the modules, mechanical dies were mounted on the substrates, and a high temperature testing setup built to characterize the modules at high temperature. Measurements indicated that the module can operate up to 12kV within 25°C to 225°C, with less than 0.1 μA leakage current. The packaging was used for full-power characterization of developmental 10kV SiC diodes, and proved that the power module packaging satisfied all requirements for high voltage and high temperature applications. This work successfully validated the processes for creating high voltage (>10 kV) and high temperature (>200°C) power modules.
Towards Integrated Sensors for Environments with Temperatures up to 600 °C
Authors: Maralani Ayden , Beker Levent , Pisano Albert P.
Published: May 2016

The main objective is to develop sensing systems by integrating transducers such as pressure sensing elements with the interface circuitry in one package that can withstand harsh environments, particularly high temperatures up to 600 °C. To achieve that, both pressure transducer and interface circuitry are individually required to operate and survive up to 600 °C with acceptable degrees of reliability. This paper reports performance evaluation of fabricated 4H-SiC JFETs along with differential pairs for use in the interface circuitry. The test results are very promising and show stable performances from 25 °C up to 600 °C. Moreover, design, fabrication, and early test of a SiC based circular diaphragm type pressure transducer is also reported.
Co-fired Platinum High Temperature Sensor Element
Authors: Sugawara Tsutomu , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Ito Hiroki , Sato Shingo , Kokubu Masanari
Published: May 2016

In recent years, initiatives for improving the fuel consumptions have been accelerated to reduce the CO2 emissions in exhaust gas from an automotive engine; as a measure against global warming. One of the known techniques to reduce CO2 emissions, is more accurate temperature measurement of the engine. For such application, sensors such as thermistors or thin-film platinum temperature sensors have been widely used for sensing exhaust gas temperature. Especially, the thin-film platinum temperature sensors were favorable because of its linearity in resistance to temperature dependensy and accuracy in temperature measurements. However, the deformation of a resistor circuit in thin-film platinum temperature sensor elements have been observed after used in high temperature. The deformation causes the resistance drifts which leads to less accurate temperature measurements. In this study, durability of the co-fired platinum temperature sensor element was examined for high temperature application. As of result, we found that the resistance drift of the co-fired platinum temperature sensor elements were smaller than that of the thin-film platinum temperature sensor elements; after storage test at 1100 °C. Thus, the co-fired platinum temperature sensor elements can be used for higher temperature sensing, which can contribute to the reduction of CO2 emission of automotive engines.
A review of the human retina with emphasis on nerve fibre layer and macula thicknesses
Authors: Mashige Khathutshelo P. , Oduntan Olalekan A.
Published: May 2016

The retina is the innermost neural layer of the eye, and is the site of transformation of light energy into a neural signal. Knowledge and assessment of the human retinal structural parameters are important for the appropriate diagnosis and management of various ocular diseases. For instance, potentially blinding eye diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macula degeneration, cause structural changes in the retina. Clinical evidence with ocular coherence tomography also suggests that eyes with glaucoma lose retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cells axons before loss of visual function. These losses appear as a visible change in the optic nerve head and can be seen before visual field abnormalities are noticed by the patient. This review discusses certain aspects (anatomical structures, structural changes with eye diseases and assessment methods) involving the human retina, their clinical importance and factors that may influence them. The content of this article will be useful to optometrists and ophthalmologists who assess these parameters in normal patients as well as in those with eye conditions such as glaucoma.Keywords: Retinal parameters; optic disc; nerve fibre layer thickness; macula thickness; glaucoma
Cesarean section under combined spinal epidural in parturient with frontal glioma
Authors: VanDeCappelle Caitlin , Ma HK , Ho E
Published: May 2016

Our patient presented to hospital in acute asthma exacerbation and foetal distress. Past history was remarkable for pregnancy at 35 weeks, morbid obesity, uncontrolled asthma, seizure disorder and known frontal glioma. Here we highlight the neuraxial management of this patient for cesarean section and discuss the central dogma of neuraxial technique in the face of known intracranial neoplasm.
Ozone Production and Its Sensitivity to NOx and VOCs: Results from the DISCOVER-AQ Field Experiment, Houston 2013
Authors: Mazzuca Gina M. , Ren Xinrong , Loughner Christopher P. , Estes Mark , Crawford James H. , Pickering Kenneth E. , Weinheimer Andrew J. , Dickerson Russell R.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. An observation-constrained box model based on the Carbon Bond mechanism, Version 5 (CB05), was used to study photochemical processes along the NASA P-3B flight track and spirals over eight surface sites during the September 2013 Houston, Texas deployment of the NASA DISCOVER-AQ campaign. Data from this campaign provided an opportunity to examine and improve our understanding of atmospheric photochemical oxidation processes related to the formation of secondary air pollutants such as ozone (O3). O3 production and its sensitivity to NOx and VOCs were calculated at different locations and times of day. Ozone production efficiency (OPE), defined as the ratio of the ozone production rate to the NOx oxidation rate, was calculated using the observations and the simulation results of the box and Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) models. Correlations of these results with other parameters, such as radical sources and NOx mixing ratio, were also evaluated. It was generally found that O3 production tends to be more VOC sensitive in the morning along with high ozone production rates, suggesting that control of VOCs may be an effective way to control O3 in Houston. In the afternoon, O3 production was found to be mainly NOx sensitive with some exceptions. O3 production at near major emissions sources such as Deer Park was mostly VOC sensitive for the entire day, other urban areas near Moody Tower and Channelview were VOC sensitive or in the transition regime, and areas farther from downtown Houston such as Smith Point and Conroe were mostly NOx sensitive for the entire day. It was also found that the control of NOx emissions has reduced O3 concentrations over Houston, but led to larger OPE values. The results from this work strengthen our understanding of O3 production; they indicate that controlling NOx emissions will provide air quality benefits over the greater Houston metropolitan area in the long run, but in selected areas controlling VOC emissions will also be beneficial.
Evaluating the influence of laser wavelength and detection stage geometry on optical detection efficiency in a single particle mass spectrometer
Authors: Marsden Nicholas , Flynn Michael J. , Taylor Jonathan W. , Allan James D. , Coe Hugh
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Single particle mass spectrometry (SPMS) is a useful tool for the on-line study of aerosols with the ability to measure size resolved chemical composition with a temporal resolution relevant to atmospheric processes. In SPMS, optical particle detection is used for the effective temporal alignment of an ablation laser pulse with the presence of a particle in the ion source, and gives the option for aerodynamic sizing by measuring the offset of particle arrival times between two detection stages. The efficiency of the optical detection stage has a strong influence on the overall instrument performance. A custom detection laser system consisting of a high powered fibre coupled Nd:YAG solid state laser with a collimated beam was implemented in the detection stage of a LAAP-TOF single particle mass spectrometer without major modifications to instrument geometry. The use of a collimated laser beam permitted the construction of a numerical model that predicts the effects of detection laser wavelength, output power, beam focussing characteristics, light collection angle, particle size and refractive index on the active detection volume in the detection stage. We compare the model predictions with an ambient data set acquired during the Ice in Clouds Experiment - Dust (ICE-D) project. The new laser system resulted in an order of magnitude improvement in instrument sensitivity to spherical particles in the size range 500–800 nm compared to a focussed 405 nm laser diode system. The model demonstrates that the limit of detection in terms of particle size is determined by the scattering cross section (Csca) as predicted by Mie theory. In addition, if light is collected over a narrow collection angle, oscillations in the magnitude of Csca with respect to particle diameter result in a variation in the active detection volume, resulting in large particle size dependent variation in detection efficiency across the particle transmission range. This detection bias is imposed on the aerodynamic size distributions measured by the instrument and accounts for a detection bias towards sea salt particles in the ambient data set.
Algorithm update of the GOSAT/TANSO-FTS thermal infrared CO2 product (version 1) and validation of the UTLS CO2 data using CONTRAIL measurements
Authors: Saitoh Naoko , Kimoto Shuhei , Sugimura Ryo , Imasu Ryoichi , Kawakami Shuji , Shiomi Kei , Kuze Akihiko , Machida Toshinobu , Sawa Yousuke , Matsueda Hidekazu
Published: May 2016

Abstract. The Thermal and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation (TANSO)–Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) on board the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) has been observing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in several atmospheric layers in the thermal infrared (TIR) band since its launch. This study compared TANSO-FTS TIR version 1 (V1) CO2 data and CO2 data obtained in the Comprehensive Observation Network for TRace gases by AIrLiner (CONTRAIL) project in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), where the TIR band of TANSO-FTS is most sensitive to CO2 concentrations, to validate the quality of the TIR V1 UTLS CO2 data from 287 to 162 hPa. We first evaluated the impact of considering TIR CO2 averaging kernel functions on CO2 concentrations using CO2 profile data obtained by the CONTRAIL Continuous CO2 Measuring Equipment (CME), and found that the impact at around the CME level flight altitudes (∼ 11 km) was on average less than 0.5 ppm at low latitudes and less than 1 ppm at middle and high latitudes. From a comparison made during flights between Tokyo and Sydney, the averages of the TIR upper-atmospheric CO2 data were within 0.1 % of the averages of the CONTRAIL CME CO2 data with and without TIR CO2 averaging kernels for all seasons in the Southern Hemisphere. The results of comparisons for all of the eight airline routes showed that the agreements of TIR and CME CO2 data were worse in spring and summer than in fall and winter in the Northern Hemisphere in the upper troposphere. While the differences between TIR and CME CO2 data were on average within 1 ppm in fall and winter, TIR CO2 data had a negative bias up to 2.4 ppm against CME CO2 data with TIR CO2 averaging kernels at the northern low and middle latitudes in spring and summer. The negative bias at the northern middle latitudes resulted in the maximum of TIR CO2 concentrations being lower than that of CME CO2 concentrations, which led to an underestimate of the amplitude of CO2 seasonal variation.
Net ecosystem carbon exchange of a dry temperate eucalypt forest
Authors: Hinko-Najera Nina , Livesley Stephen J , Beringer Jason , Isaac Peter , van Gorsel Eva , Exbrayat Jean-François , McHugh Ian , Arndt Stefan K.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle by sequestering a considerable fraction of anthropogenic CO2 thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. However, there is a gap in our understanding about the carbon dynamics of eucalypt (broadleaf evergreen) forests in temperate climates, which might differ from temperate coniferous or deciduous forests given their fundamental differences in physiology, phenology and growth dynamics. To address this gap we undertook a three year study (2010–2012) using eddy covariance measurements in a dry temperate eucalypt forest in south-eastern Australia. We determined the annual net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) and investigated the temporal (seasonal and inter-annual) variability and environmental controls of NEE, gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). The forest was a large and constant carbon sink throughout the study period, even in winter, with an overall mean NEE of −1062 ± 53 g C m−2 yr−1. Gross CO2 ecosystem fluxes showed no significant inter-annual variability and mean annual estimate of GPP was 2521 ± 35 g C m−2 yr−1 and ER was 1458 ± 31 g C m−2 yr−1. GPP and ER had a pronounced seasonality with GPP being greatest during spring and summer and ER during summer whereas peaks of NEE occurred in early spring and again in summer. High NEE in spring was caused by a delayed increase in ER due to low temperatures. A random forest analysis showed that variability in GPP was mostly explained by incoming solar radiation whilst air temperature was the main environmental driver of ER on seasonal and inter-annual time scales. The forest experienced unusual above average annual rainfall during the first two years of this three year period so that soil moisture content remained relatively high and the forest was not water limited. Our results show the potential of temperate eucalypt forests to sequester large amounts of carbon when not water limited. Our observations can provide data on an underrepresented biome to test and parameterise ecosystem models. However, longer monitoring is needed to assess the inter-annual variability of the carbon sink strength particularly during years with drought conditions.
A new methodology exploring the record of snow avalanches in lake sediments
Authors: Fouinat Laurent , Sabatier Pierre , Poulenard Jérôme , Reyss Jean-Louis , Montet Xavier , Arnaud Fabien
Published: May 2016

Abstract. In recent years, wet avalanche deposits have become a subject of increasing concern in a context of both global change and winter mountain tourism activities. This study focuses on the use of a new methodology based on CT scans to identify snow avalanche deposits in lake sediment. Here, we study the mid-elevation Lake Lauvitel system (western French Alps), which features steep slopes and avalanche corridors. CT scanning is a fast, non-destructive method based on X-ray technology and allows the identification of elements with different densities. We applied this method to sediment cores, leading to the 3D identification of the dense rocks and organic matter macroremains that characterize wet avalanches. A total of eight periods of higher avalanche activity are identified since AD 1880 at the site. This new methodology is suitable for avalanche deposit reconstruction and may be applicable more widely in paleolimnological studies.
Inconsistent strategies to spin up models in CMIP5: implications for ocean biogeochemical model performance assessment
Authors: Séférian Roland , Gehlen Marion , Bopp Laurent , Resplandy Laure , Orr James C. , Marti Olivier , Dunne John P. , Christian James R. , Doney Scott C. , Ilyina Tatiana , Lindsay Keith , Halloran Paul R. , Heinze Christoph , Segschneider Joachim , Tjiputra Jerry , Aumont Olivier , Romanou Anastasia
Published: May 2016

Abstract. During the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) substantial efforts were made to systematically assess the skill of Earth system models. One goal was to check how realistically representative marine biogeochemical tracer distributions could be reproduced by models. In routine assessments model historical hindcasts were compared with available modern biogeochemical observations. However, these assessments considered neither how close modeled biogeochemical reservoirs were to equilibrium nor the sensitivity of model performance to initial conditions or to the spin-up protocols. Here, we explore how the large diversity in spin-up protocols used for marine biogeochemistry in CMIP5 Earth system models (ESMs) contributes to model-to-model differences in the simulated fields. We take advantage of a 500-year spin-up simulation of IPSL-CM5A-LR to quantify the influence of the spin-up protocol on model ability to reproduce relevant data fields. Amplification of biases in selected biogeochemical fields (O2, NO3, Alk-DIC) is assessed as a function of spin-up duration. We demonstrate that a relationship between spin-up duration and assessment metrics emerges from our model results and holds when confronted with a larger ensemble of CMIP5 models. This shows that drift has implications for performance assessment in addition to possibly aliasing estimates of climate change impact. Our study suggests that differences in spin-up protocols could explain a substantial part of model disparities, constituting a source of model-to-model uncertainty. This requires more attention in future model intercomparison exercises in order to provide quantitatively more correct ESM results on marine biogeochemistry and carbon cycle feedbacks.
Analyses of altimetry errors using Argo and GRACE data
Authors: Legeais Jean-François , Prandi Pierre , Guinehut Stéphanie
Published: May 2016

Abstract. This study presents the evaluation of the performances of satellite altimeter missions by comparing the altimeter sea surface heights with in situ dynamic heights derived from vertical temperature and salinity profiles measured by Argo floats. The two objectives of this approach are the detection of altimeter drift and the estimation of the impact of new altimeter standards that requires an independent reference. This external assessment method contributes to altimeter calibration–validation analyses that cover a wide range of activities. Among them, several examples are given to illustrate the usefulness of this approach, separating the analyses of the long-term evolution of the mean sea level and its variability, at global and regional scales and results obtained via relative and absolute comparisons. The latter requires the use of the ocean mass contribution to the sea level derived from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measurements. Our analyses cover the estimation of the global mean sea level trend, the validation of multi-missions altimeter products as well as the assessment of orbit solutions.Even if this approach contributes to the altimeter quality assessment, the differences between two versions of altimeter standards are getting smaller and smaller and it is thus more difficult to detect their impact. It is therefore essential to characterize the errors of the method, which is illustrated with the results of sensitivity analyses to different parameters. This includes the format of the altimeter data, the method of collocation, the temporal reference period and the processing of the ocean mass solutions from GRACE. We also assess the impact of the temporal and spatial sampling of Argo floats, the choice of the reference depth of the in situ profiles and the importance of the deep steric contribution. These analyses provide an estimation of the robustness of the method and the characterization of associated errors. The results also allow us to draw some recommendations to the Argo community regarding the maintenance of the in situ network.
Improvement of operational flood forecasting through the assimilation of satellite observations and multiple river flow data
Authors: Castelli Fabio , Ercolani Giulia
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Data assimilation has the potential to improve flood forecasting. However, it is rarely employed in distributed hydrologic models for operational predictions. In this study, we present variational assimilation of river flow data at multiple locations and of land surface temperature (LST) from satellite in a distributed hydrologic model that is part of the operational forecasting chain for the Arno river, in central Italy. LST is used to estimate initial condition of soil moisture through a coupled surface energy/water balance scheme. We present here several hindcast experiments to assess the performances of the assimilation system. The results show that assimilation can significantly improve flood forecasting, although in the limit of data error and model structure.
In situ measurement of low-frequency sea-ice dielectric properties and implications for tracking seasonal evolution of microstructure
Authors: O'Sadnick Megan , Ingham Malcolm , Eicken Hajo , Pettit Erin
Published: May 2016

Abstract. The seasonal evolution of sea-ice microstructure controls key ice properties, including those governing ocean-atmosphere heat and gas exchange, remote-sensing signatures and the role of the ice cover as a habitat. Non-destructive in situ monitoring of sea-ice microstructure is of value for sea-ice research and operations, but remains elusive to date. We examine the potential for the electric properties of sea ice, which is highly sensitive to the brine distribution within the ice, to serve as a proxy for microstructure and, hence, other ice transport properties. Throughout spring of 2013 and 2014, we measured complex dielectric permittivity in the range of 10 Hz to 95 kHz in landfast ice off the coast of Barrow, Alaska. Temperature and salinity measurements and ice samples provide data to characterize ice microstructure in relation to these permittivity measurements. The results reveal a significant correlation between complex dielectric permittivity, brine volume fraction, and microstructural characteristics including pore volume and connectivity, derived from x-ray microtomography of core samples. The influence of temperature and salinity variations, as well as the relationships between ice properties, microstructural characteristics, and dielectric behavior emerge from multivariate analysis of the combined data set. Our findings suggest some promise for low-frequency permittivity measurements to track seasonal evolution of a combination of mean pore volume, fractional connectivity, and pore surface area-to-volume ratio, which in turn may serve as proxies for key sea-ice transport properties.
Micro & Small Enterprises in Ireland: A Brand Management Perspective
Authors: Kennedy Bobby , Wright Angela
Published: May 2016

Branding aids companies in the acquisition of new customers, allows them to build a favourable reputation, leads to increased customer loyalty and, ultimately, is a driver of profitability. Although there is an impressive quantity of academic literature related to both large corporate and product line branding, there has been less focus regarding the research on branding of small businesses, despite their economic importance.

In the specific case of SMEs in Ireland, branding studies are scant. There is little understanding of the branding practices of SME founder-owners in Ireland, and, moreover, a lack of clarity as to their knowledge levels apropos the strategic brand management process. Essentially, many small business owners may not even realise that their business is a brand, partly due to a lack of understanding of what the concepts of a brand and branding actually mean. This paper presents findings from research associated with the brand development practices of Irish micro and small enterprises. A qualitative data collection tool, leveraging semi-structured interviews is employed to collect substantive and relevant data from 10 Irish micro and small business owners. The study extends the knowledge of the brand development process being undertaken by these companies.

The findings in this study reveal an unfavourable picture in terms of branding practices in Irish SME’s and demonstrates a lack of understanding and devotion on behalf of founder-owners towards the process. These conclusions have direct implications for branding literature, specifically in relation to Irish and international SMEs and also for managerial practice within those organisations. 
Analysis of Language used in Gikuyu Marriage Negotiation Discourse
Authors: Wanjiku Kinuthia, Jane , Njeri Wathika Lucy , Loise Mwai Wamaitha , J. K. Mutiti Yakobo,
Published: May 2016

This paper which focuses on language use within the formal discursive process of negotiating and legalising marriage in the domain of ‘Ruracio’ or bride wealth payment amongst the Agikuyu of Kenya was conceived on the premise that language is a significant phenomenon in the production and maintenance of social relations of power. The focus is on language elements that are both linguistic and non-linguistic and their influence on the concepts of gender and power as brought out through the data collected for this study. Data, consisting of five recorded discourses from sampled negotiation sessions and five focus group discussions from Kiambu County Kenya, was translated, transcribed and analysed with a view of examining how people use language to accomplish social acts. The findings are that language use, linguistic or non-linguistic, demonstrates that Gikuyu marriage negotiation discursive domain is male dominated, it constructs roles and identities and also defines how people can have power over others to a level that they control their behavior. It is hoped that the findings will be useful to all language users in this domain as well as contributing to knowledge in discourse analysis. 
Spatial Distribution of Phytoplankton and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Reservoir Agaie-Lapai Dam, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria
Authors: R. O. Ojutiku , R. J. Kolo , M. A. Yakubu
Published: May 2016

Presence of phytoplankton displays water quality and useablity by aquatic life. Agaie-Lapai Dam located in Niger State (latitude 9⁰ 39N and longitude 6⁰33E) was constructed for irrigation purpose and also to serves as source of livelihood to fishermen living in surroundings. The objective of the present research was conducted to assess the distribution of phytoplankton and physic-chemical assessment of Agaie-Lapai Dam. Reservoir Water.  Samples were collected fortnightly and analyzed for phytoplankton and physico-chemical parameters. The dissolved oxygen ranged from 3.8 – 5.15mg/l and temperature from 24.6 – 29.00C.  A total of 14 species of 5 taxonomic groups were recorded. Bacillariophyceae was the most abundant group (44%) followed by Chlorophyceae (26%) while the lowest was Dinophyceae (8%). Phytoplankton abundances in the following descending order: Bacillariophyceae>Cyanophyceae>Chlorophyceae>Chrysophyceae>Dinophyceae.The spatial analysis revealed that phytoplankton was not equally distributed in the water that enabled it to function as productive water body. The observed physico-chemical parameters fell within thus it was within the tolerable limits. It is expected that the identified species will enhance fish productivity. 
Analytical and Experimental Evaluation of Handovers in IPv6 Mobility Management Protocols
Authors: Carmona-Murillo Javier , Cortés-Polo David , Calle-Cancho Jesús , González-Sánchez José-Luis , Rodríguez-Pérez Francisco-Javier
Published: May 2016

Mobile data traffic in the Internet has experienced an exponential growth due to the widespread presence of multimedia capable mobile devices and the deployment of multiple wireless networks. With this continuous development of mobile communications, the achievement of an efficient IP mobility management protocol has revealed as one of the major challenges in next-generation wireless networks. Mobility management solutions are responsible for maintaining the ongoing communications while the user roams among distinct networks. Mobile IPv6 and Proxy Mobile IPv6 are the most representative solutions standardized by the IETF. Recently, the IPv6 mobility support has been newly integrated into the kernel sources and Linux mobility ready kernels are available from versions 3.8.1. In this article, we conduct an analytic and experimental evaluation of Mobile IPv6 and Proxy Mobile IPv6. We develop an analytic model of the signaling and handover latency. Moreover, we present an experimental study these protocols based on their open source implementations. We provide numerical results based on experiments made in real scenarios under different network conditions.
Using OpenFlow to control redundant paths in wireless networks
Authors: Molina Elias , Jacob Eduardo , Astarloa Armando
Published: May 2016

The deployment of wireless networks in critical industrial environments must ensure the availability of monitoring and control applications, for which it is essential to exploit redundancy techniques. In order to reduce to zero the failover time, in this paper, the Parallel Redundancy Protocol (PRP) is used in Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) which are implemented under the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm. It is discussed how the OpenFlow protocol allows an external controller to configure redundant paths between dual-homed devices. As a result, critical services can be protected in interference and mobility situations. The improvement in availability has been obtained by using both emulation and simulation.
Algorithmic regulation and the global default: Shifting norms in Internet technology
Authors: Wagner Ben
Published: May 2016

The world we inhabit is surrounded by ‘coded objects’ from credit cards to airplanes to telephones (Kitchin and Dodge 2011).  Sadly the governance mechanisms of many of these technologies are only poorly understood, leading to the common premise that such technologies are ‘neutral’ (Brey 2005; Winner 1980), thereby obscuring normative and power-related consequences of their design (Bauman et al. 2014; Denardis 2012). In order to unpack supposedly neutral technologies, the following paper will try and foreground two of key questions around the technologies used on the global Internet: 1) how are content regulatory regimes governed and 2) how are the algorithms embedded in software governed? The following paper will explore these two aspects in turn, before drawing conclusions on understanding the normative frameworks embedded in technological systems.Article first published online: 22 MARCH 2016
Public domain and democracy in the digital age
Authors: Mindus Patricia , Säfström Nils
Published: May 2016

This special issue of Etikk i praksis - Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics deals with the largely underexplored connections between public domain and democracy in the digital age and features articles highlighting various aspects of this broader theme.
Ponencia Central en la Inauguración de la XVI Jornada Universitaria de Desarrollo Científico (JUDC). UNAN-FAREM-Estelí
Authors: López Herrera Eduardo
Published: May 2016

Quiero iniciar esta ponencia haciendo alusión a dos momentos memorables en nuestra historia y que están relacionados con el pensamiento, con la reflexión, en primer lugar al dialogo entre El Cacique Nicarao y Gil González en 1523, lo central del dialogo es cuando Nicarao lo interroga: ¿El papa y el rey de los cristianos son Mortales? ¿Que honra se le debe al rey de los cristianos?, ¿Por qué se produce la oscuridad, el frío y el calor?, ¿Cómo se sostienen los astros en el firmamento y la energía de estos de donde surge? ¿Por qué, tan pocos hombres, querían tanto oro?, esas preguntas reflejaban un grado de abstracción científico-filosófico bien profundo.
Intervención en el acto de promoción 2013 de la Facultad Regional Multidisciplinaria de Estelí (FAREM-Estelí)
Authors: Rodríguez Pérez Ramona
Published: May 2016

La UNAN-Managua se complace con la celebración de esta promoción de 134 nuevo profesionales que ponemos a disposición de la sociedad nicaragüense. Un sueño hecho realidad, una meta alcanzada por ustedes graduados(as), por sus familiares y, por supuesto por la universidad, nuestras felicitaciones al equipo de Decanatura, a cada uno de Ustedes Graduados(as), al Personal Docente y Personal Administrativo, por su exitosa labor, lo cual se corresponde plenamente con la misión y visión de la Facultad y particularmente con la misión y visión de la UNAN-Managua.
Self-directed Learning in Preparatory-year University Students: Comparing Successful and Less-successful English Language Learners
Authors: Alghamdi Fatimah M. A.
Published: May 2016

There is consensus among those involved in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in the Saudi educational context that students’ achievement in language learning is below expectations. Much research has been directed towards finding the reasons for low achievement amongst learners. However, very few studies have looked at parameters of learners’ agency and learners’ responsibility in the learning process. This study examines learners’ efforts at self-directed learning, measured with reference to a set of behavioral and metacognitive constructs. The primary objective is to diagnose efficiency problems in EFL learning and compare successful learners to those who fail to progress from one academic language level to the next. A secondary objective in this study is to find out if the General Aptitude Test (GAT) score is a predictor of success in language learning.

The findings reveal significant differences between successful learners and less-successful learners in aggregate self-directedness scores. However, while the analysis of the component constructs shows statistically significant differences between successful and less-successful learners in the self-management and study time measures, differences in the self-monitoring and motivation measures were non-significant. The lack of significant differences between some of the measures is attributed to the relative baseline similarity of the two groups. Moreover, the GAT measure yielded a counter-intuitive result; namely that less-successful learners had higher GAT scores than the successful ones, though the difference wasn’t statistically significant. The study concludes with implications for further research; for example, calling for a larger scale investigation of self-directedness, as well as other meta-cognitive strategies, and the possible relationship of these to GAT scores. Academic coaching of self-directedness and self-regulation strategies for college students is recommended.
Mathematical Lens: A Mathematical Pyramid Scheme
Authors: Caglayan Günhan
Published: May 2016

Students analyze a photograph to solve mathematical questions related to the images captured in the photograph. This month, the photographs are of a pyramid in Egypt, and students are asked to compute volume, slant height, and the ratio of the base of the pyramid to its height.