bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community Service Learning
Authors: Farris Tomesha Manora , Ross Denise , Fontenot Brandi , Johnson Gaige , Uwayo Margaret , Warrilow Garrett D.
Published: September 2016

Poverty and low-socioeconomic status can have negative effects on the academic and social outcomes of children and youth. However, despite the growing number of children and families from low-income communities, the American Psychological Association reports that the field of psychology has not contributed significantly to research, education, and advocacy initiatives for low-income families. The purpose of the START model was to recruit and train psychology majors to work in low-income communities by engaging them in service, research, and teaching activities in a middle school located in a high-poverty community. For one semester, psychology undergraduate and graduate students collaborated on a literacy and classroom management project with a local middle school in a low-income community. Results showed an increase in the number of psychology students interested in working with low-income populations and high rates of satisfaction for the teacher who participated. Barriers and facilitators to implementation are discussed.
Service Learning Online
Authors: Brockmeier Frederick
Published: September 2016

Using service learning as a form of experiential learning and application of learning objectives has matured to the extent that it has a demonstrated value. There is learning value for the student, and tangible and intangible values for the partnership agency or organization. Those organizations take and apply the work of academia beyond its walls. Online learning has resulted in the development of educational tools of technology to expand the scope of education to diverse and distributed learners beyond the walls of academia. As service learning continues into the millennium, it will apply the expanded scope available through technology tools and the online learning environment to a global context. This chapter describes the expansion of service learning into online learning, presenting two service learning projects that prepared distance learners to work in global and cultural contexts through the technological tools that have become available to distance learners. Moreover, the chapter identifies best practices for the integration of service learning and online learning technological tools available to the experiential learner. This new global learning context will address experiential learning objectives involving cultural awareness and globalization now relevant in the 21st century.
Supporting Graduate Students to Implement Community-Engaged Research
Authors: Falk Audrey Faye , Vine Brittany E.
Published: September 2016

Community engagement is a growing field and engaged research is vital to the field. Community-engaged research has the defining features and principles of community, participation, and action, each of which are described in this chapter. Conducted with and for communities, community-engaged research exists on a continuum with varying degrees of engagement. There are many challenges to developing and implementing community-engaged research and graduate students in non-profit and community-based work require relevant training and experiences to do this work effectively. Key challenges include the timeframe required for community-engaged research, the Institutional Review Board process and ethical responsibilities to the community, students' basic research knowledge and experience, and students' comfort and confidence with community-engaged research. This chapter describes one program's approach to facilitating graduate students' acquisition of community-engaged research skills and offers recommendations to faculty involved in such work.
Phase Equilibrium of Mg-Nd-Zn System near Mg-Nd Side at 400°C
Authors: Huang Ming Li , Shen Xue , Li Hong Xiao
Published: September 2016

The equilibrium alloys closed to Mg-Nd side in the Mg-rich corner of the Mg-Zn-Nd system at 400°C have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The binary solid solutions Mg12Nd and Mg3Nd with the solubility of Zn have been identified. The maximum solubility of Zn in Mg12Nd is 4.8at%, and Mg12Nd phase can be in equilibrium with Mg solid solution. However, only when the solubility range of Zn in 26at%~32.2at%, Mg3Nd can be in two-phase equilibrium with Mg solid solution. As the results, two two-phase regions as Mg+Mg12Nd and Mg+Mg3Nd and a three-phase region as Mg+Mg12Nd+Mg3Nd in Mg-Nd-Zn ternary isothermal section at 400°C have been identified.
Crystal Structure, Phase Stability and Magnetic Properties of Cu-Doped Ni2MnGa Alloys from First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Yang Mei Jie , Bai Jing , Li Ze , Qiu Teng Fei
Published: September 2016

The effects of Cu addition on the crystal structure, phase stability and magnetic properties of Ni8Mn4-xGa4Cux (x=0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2) ferromagnetic shape memory alloys are systematically investigated by first-principles calculations. The formation energy results indicate that the added Cu preferentially occupies the Mn sites in Ni2MnGa alloy. The formation energy results indicate that ferromagnetic austenite is more stable than the paramagnetic one. The ferromagnetic state becomes instable and paramagnetic state becomes more stable when Mn is gradual substituted by Cu. Furthermore, the electronic density of states gives rise to the difference in the magnetic properties.
Electronic Structures of Antisite Defects in Chiral (6,2) SiC Nanotubes
Authors: Ma Hu Shan , Liu Hong Xia , Li Ke Jian
Published: September 2016

Antisite defects are common defects in nanotube materials and have seriously impacts on their electronic properties. Based on density-functional theory calculations, the electronic structures of the antisite defective chiral (6, 2) SiCNTs are investigated. C antisite and Si antisite lead to the formation of a depression and a bump in the surface of the nanotube, respectively. In the band gap of the SiCNT with a C antisite defect, the occupied level near the top of the valence band is formed, while the unoccupied level originating from the Si antisite defect enters the conduction band of the SiCNT.
Defect Stability and Electronic Configuration of Off-Stoichiometric Ni-X-In (X = Mn, Fe and Co) Alloys: A First-Principles Study
Authors: Zu Qi Rui , Bai Jing , Wang Xiao Shu , Wu Kai Hong , Wang Shuai , Song Tian Ye , Liu Luo Jin , Zhao Xiang
Published: September 2016

Ni-Mn-In is a novel type of magnetic shape memory alloy, its shape memory effect has been realized through magnetic field induced reverse martensitic transformation. A variety of point defects would be generated during composition adjustment process, such as antisite defect, vacancy and exchange. The first–principles calculations within the framework of the density functional theory using the Vienna ab initio software package (VASP) have been used in this paper to investigate the defect formation energy and electronic configuration of the off-stoichiometric Ni-X-In (X= Mn, Fe and Co) alloys. The In antisite on the X sublattice (InX) and the Ni antisite on the X sublattice (NiX) have the lowest formation energies in the investigated series. The formation energy of the Ni vacancy is the lowest, while that of the in vacancy is the highest. It is confirmed that the in constituent plays a dominant role for stabilizing the austenitic phase.
Rainfall influences performance of insecticides on the codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apples
Authors: Wise John C. , Hulbert Daniel , Vandervoort Christine
Published: September 2016

Semi-field studies were used to evaluate the effects of rainfall and field ageing on the performance of insecticides from six different chemical classes used to control the codling moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). All insecticides were significantly more toxic to codling moth larvae than the untreated control, although seven-day field ageing reduced control for several compounds. Simulated rainfall events of 2.54 and 12.7 mm did not have negative effects on the performance of the insecticides. Simulated rainfall events of 50.8 mm of rainfall resulted in significant reductions of efficacy for thiacloprid and spinetoram. Residue profiles of apple leaves and fruit provided evidence for wash-off ranging from 13% to 93%, with patterns varying by compound, plant substrate, and rainfall level. This study will help apple growers make informed decisions on when reapplications of insecticides are needed in the field with the aim of improving integrated pest management.
Imbalance of the Vanin-1 Pathway in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Kavian Niloufar , Mehlal Souad , Marut Wioleta , Servettaz Amélie , Giessner Caroline , Bourges Christophe , Nicco Carole , Chéreau Christiane , Lemaréchal Hervé , Dutilh Marie-Flore , Cerles Olivier , Guilpain Philippe , Vuiblet Vincent , Chouzenoux Sandrine , Galland Franck , Quere Isabelle , Weill Bernard , Naquet Philippe , Batteux Frédéric
Published: September 2016

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs and vascular alterations. SSc pathophysiology involves systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Because the vanin-1 gene (vnn1) encodes an enzyme with pantetheinase activity that converts vasculoprotective pantethine into profibrotic pantothenic acid and pro-oxidant cystamine, we tested this pathway in the pathophysiology of SSc. Activation of the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway was investigated in wild-type BALB/c mice with hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced SSc by ELISA and Western blotting. We then evaluated the effects of the inactivation of vnn1 on the development of fibrosis, endothelial alterations, and immunological activation in mice with HOCl- and bleomycin-induced SSc. We then explored the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway in a cohort of patients with SSc and in controls. In wild-type mice with HOCl-induced SSc, the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway was dysregulated, with elevation of vanin-1 activity in skin and high levels of serum pantothenic acid. Inactivation of the vnn1 gene in vnn1−/− mice with HOCl-induced SSc prevented the development of characteristic features of the disease, including fibrosis, immunologic abnormalities, and endothelial dysfunction. Remarkably, patients with diffuse SSc also had increased expression of vanin-1 in skin and blood and elevated levels of serum pantothenic acid that correlated with the severity of the disease. Our data demonstrate that vanin-1/pantetheinase controls fibrosis, vasculopathy, autoimmunity, and oxidative stress in SSc. The levels of vanin-1 expression and pantothenic acid determine SSc severity and can be used as markers of disease severity. More importantly, inhibition of vanin-1 can open new therapeutic approaches in SSc.
Scavenger Receptor SCARA5 Acts as an HMGB1 Recognition Molecule Negatively Involved in HMGB1-Mediated Inflammation in Fish Models
Authors: Guo Dong-yang , Cao Chao , Zhang Xiao-yu , Xiang Li-xin , Shao Jian-zhong
Published: September 2016

Scavenger receptor class A member 5 (SCARA5) and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein have become increasingly attractive for their critical functions in innate inflammatory reactions and disorders. However, the functional relevance between these two molecules has never been described. This study discovered that SCARA5 is an HMGB1 recognition receptor that is negatively involved in HMGB1-mediated inflammation in pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) models. Hence, SCARA5 is added as a new member to the HMGB1 receptor family. Tetraodon HMGB1 (TnHMGB1) is a trafficking protein that can be secreted from the nucleus to the outside of cells upon CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) stimulation. This protein exerts a strong synergistic effect on CpG-ODN–induced inflammation, as determined by the enhanced proinflammatory cytokine expression through coadministration of TnHMGB1 with CpG-ODN and impaired inflammatory responses through TnHMGB1 depletion. Tetraodon SCARA5 (TnSCARA5) is an inducible protein detected upon TnHMGB1 stimulation; this protein plays an inhibitory role in CpG-ODN–induced inflammation because TnSCARA5 overexpression suppresses cell responsiveness to CpG-ODN induction, whereas TnSCARA5 ablation intensifies the inflammatory reactions. TnSCARA5 can strongly associate with TnHMGB1 through the A and B boxes, depending on the redox state of the cysteine residues, but T box inhibits the association. TnSCARA5 mediates the endocytosis of TnHMGB1 into lysosomes. Results suggest that TnSCARA5 inhibits the CpG-ODN–mediated inflammation via the clearance of HMGB1 mediator for CpG-ODN stimulant. The above findings highlight a novel regulatory mechanism underlying innate inflammation and provide new insights into the clinical treatment of HMGB1-mediated diseases.
Onshore preparedness for hazardous chemical marine vessel accidents: A case study
Authors: Illiyas Faisel T. , Mohan Keshav
Published: September 2016

Hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) are widely transported in marine vessels to reach every part of the world. Bulk transportation of hazardous chemicals is carried out in tank container–carrying cargo ships or in designed vessels. Ensuring the safety of HNS containers during maritime transportation is critically important as the accidental release of any substance may be lethal to the on-board crew and marine environment. A general assumption in maritime accidents in open ocean is that it will not create any danger to the coastal population. The case study discussed in this article throws light on the dangers latent in maritime HNS accidents. An accident involving an HNS-carrying marine vessel in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Yemen became a safety issue to the coastal people of Kasargod District of Kerala, India. The ship carried more than 4000 containers, which were lost to the sea in the accident. Six HNS tank containers were carried by the waves and shored at the populated coast of Kasargod, more than 650 nautical miles east from the accident spot. The unanticipated sighting of tank containers in the coast and the response of the administration to the incident, the hurdles faced by the district administration in handling the case, the need for engaging national agencies and lessons learned from the incident are discussed in the article. This case study has proven that accidents in the open ocean have the potential to put the coastal areas at risk if the on-board cargo contains hazardous chemicals. Littoral nations, especially those close to the international waterlines, must include hazardous chemical spills to their oil spill contingency plans.
Prognostic markers in smear preparations for pancreatic endocrine neoplasms: A cytomorphologic study and statistical analysis of 20 potential prognostic features
Authors: Layfield Lester J. , Schmidt Robert L. , Campbell Jack , Esebua Magda
Published: September 2016

Background:

Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology guidelines place low- and intermediate-grade pancreatic endocrine tumors into the “neoplastic, other” category whereas high-grade pancreatic endocrine tumors are placed in the “malignant” category. No attempt was made to stratify pancreatic endocrine tumors in the “neoplastic, other” category by likelihood for metastases. Histologically, pancreatic endocrine tumors are divided into well, intermediate, and poorly differentiated examples based on mitotic count and Ki-67 proliferation index (PI). PI has been used in the evaluation of cytologic specimens utilizing cell block material. Unfortunately, cell block material may not always be available for analysis, and little data exists as to cytomorphologic features in smear preparations which might distinguish between low- and intermediate-grade endocrine neoplasms and predict metastases.

Methods:

We studied 36 cases of Diff-Quik stained smear preparations for 20 morphologic features to determine which best-classified cases into poor and not poor outcome categories. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between the morphologic features and outcomes.

Results:

Absolute agreement between raters ranged from 51% to 97% across the 20 morphologic features. About 12 of the 20 morphologic features showed statistically significant associations with poor outcome. Mitoses, irregular nuclear membranes, and 3-fold variation in nuclear size are the best discriminators between poor and not poor outcomes.

Conclusions:

A scoring system was developed utilizing mitoses, irregular nuclear membranes, and 3-fold variation in nuclear size to divide smears of pancreatic endocrine tumors into poor and not poor outcome groups. The scoring system achieved 84% accuracy in separating cases into poor and not poor outcomes.
PET Metabolic Biomarkers for Cancer
Authors: Croteau Etienne , Renaud Jennifer M. , Richard Marie Anne , Ruddy Terrence D. , Bénard François , deKemp Robert A.
Published: September 2016

The body's main fuel sources are fats, carbohydrates (glucose), proteins, and ketone bodies. It is well known that an important hallmark of cancer cells is the overconsumption of glucose. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using the glucose analog 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has been a powerful cancer diagnostic tool for many decades. Apart from surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy represent the two main domains for cancer therapy, targeting tumor proliferation, cell division, and DNA replication–-all processes that require a large amount of energy. Currently, in vivo clinical imaging of metabolism is performed almost exclusively using PET radiotracers that assess oxygen consumption and mechanisms of energy substrate consumption. This paper reviews the utility of PET imaging biomarkers for the detection of cancer proliferation, vascularization, metabolism, treatment response, and follow-up after radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and chemotherapy-related side effects.
Identifying Significant Features in Cancer Methylation Data Using Gene Pathway Segmentation
Authors: Hira Zena M. , Gillies Duncan F.
Published: September 2016

In order to provide the most effective therapy for cancer, it is important to be able to diagnose whether a patient's cancer will respond to a proposed treatment. Methylation profiling could contain information from which such predictions could be made. Currently, hypothesis testing is used to determine whether possible biomarkers for cancer progression produce statistically significant results. However, this approach requires the identification of individual genes, or sets of genes, as candidate hypotheses, and with the increasing size of modern microarrays, this task is becoming progressively harder. Exhaustive testing of small sets of genes is computationally infeasible, and so hypothesis generation depends either on the use of established biological knowledge or on heuristic methods. As an alternative machine learning, methods can be used to identify groups of genes that are acting together within sets of cancer data and associate their behaviors with cancer progression. These methods have the advantage of being multivariate and unbiased but unfortunately also rapidly become computationally infeasible as the number of gene probes and datasets increases. To address this problem, we have investigated a way of utilizing prior knowledge to segment microarray datasets in such a way that machine learning can be used to identify candidate sets of genes for hypothesis testing. A methylation dataset is divided into subsets, where each subset contains only the probes that relate to a known gene pathway. Each of these pathway subsets is used independently for classification. The classification method is AdaBoost with decision trees as weak classifiers. Since each pathway subset contains a relatively small number of gene probes, it is possible to train and test its classification accuracy quickly and determine whether it has valuable diagnostic information. Finally, genes from successful pathway subsets can be combined to create a classifier of high accuracy.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Medical Inpatients: A Retrospective Study of Implications of Untreated versus Treated Deficiency
Authors: Zaidi Syed Asher Hussain , Singh Gurjit , Owojori Olukolade , Kela Ram , Spoors Shirley , Abbas Mohamed , Barton Florence , Rogers Caroline
Published: September 2016

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency may further increase fracture risk in patients with decreased bone mineral density. A cross-sectional study on serum vitamin D concentrations in medical inpatients was conducted at Bassetlaw District General Hospital between April 2014 and January 2015 (10 months), and the relationship of serum vitamin D concentrations with calcium and alkaline phosphatase was evaluated. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D immunoassays were used and analyzed in the local laboratory. The total number of patients analyzed was 200, age range 18-99 years, with mean age of 76 years. The most common presentation was found to be fall/collapse. The following cutoff points for serum vitamin D were used: levels ≤30 nmol/L for severe deficiency, >30-50 nmol/L for moderate deficiency, >50-75 nmol/L for mild deficiency, and anything above 75 nmol/L as normal. Of the 209 participants examined, 78 (37.3%) participants had mild vitamin D deficiency, 54 (25.8%) participants had moderate vitamin D deficiency, 68 (32.5%) participants had severe vitamin D deficiency, and 9 (4.3%) participants with low vitamin D levels died during their admission. Of the 122 moderate/severe patients, 70 (57.4%) patients had their vitamin D deficiency treated, according to local Trust guidelines. The study found no relationship between serum calcium levels and vitamin D deficiency, whereas patients’ alkaline phosphatase levels were found to be higher with increased severity of vitamin D deficiency. The study examined the implications of untreated severe/moderate vitamin D deficiency compared to treated deficiency, in terms of the frequency of readmission with similar complaints. It was found that the rate of readmission within one year in patients who were not treated was 57%, compared to 48% in patients whose vitamin D deficiency was treated. Presenting after falls was a recurring theme. It was concluded that even if moderate vitamin D deficiency can be asymptomatic, it is important to correct it as it can have an impact on morbidity and readmission rates in the long term.
Common Eye Diseases in Children in Saudi Arabia (Jazan)
Authors: Darraj Abdulrahman , Barakat Walid , Kenani Mona , Shajry Reem , Khawaji Abdullah , Bakri Sultan , Makin Abdulrahman , Mohanna Azza , Yassin Abu Obaida
Published: September 2016

Background

The rise in childhood eye diseases has become a matter of concern in Saudi Arabia, and hence a study has been conducted on the residents of Jazan. The aim of the research was to find out the root cause of such issues and provide a solution to prevent such circumstances for it may affect the vision of children. In this study, therefore, we aimed to determine the types of childhood eye diseases in Jazan and to discuss the best ways to prevent them or prevent their effect on the vision of our children. Our institutions are working toward the longevity and welfare of the residents, and healthcare is one of the important aspects in such a field.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of all patients less than 18 years of age who presented to the pediatric ophthalmology clinic of Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Hospital, Jazan, between October 2014 and October 2015. The data, collected on 385 cases, included the age at first presentation, sex, clinical diagnosis, refractive error (RE) if present, and whether the child had amblyopia. If the child did not undergo complete ophthalmic examination with cycloplegic refraction, he/she was excluded. All data were collected and analyzed using the software SPSS. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

We reviewed the files of 385 children, with a male/female ratio of 1.1:1.0. The group aged 0–6 years made up the largest group ( P = 0.01), and the ratio is an expression to define the credibility of the study using a chi-squared test. Strabismus (36.9%), RE (26.5%), ocular trauma (7.5%), infection of cornea and conjunctiva (7.3%), and keratoconus (6.2%) were the most common conditions. There was no significant difference in presentation by age group and sex among children with REs and squint. Trauma was seen more commonly among males and in the group aged 12–18 years.

Conclusion

In this retrospective study, the focus was on the common childhood eye diseases that were considerably high. Hypermetropia was the predominant RE, which is in contrast to other studies where myopia was more common. However, it is important to promote public education on the significance of early detection of strabismus, REs, and amblyopia and have periodic screening in schools. The discussion of the various issues is aimed at increasing the awareness and building a support for the cause by creating the knowledge base to treat things on time and acknowledging the severity of the issues.
Guillain–Barré Syndrome After Zika Virus Infection in Brazil
Authors: do Rosário Mateus Santana , de Jesus Pedro Antonio Pereira , Vasilakis Nikos , Farias Daniel Santana , Novaes Marco Antônio Caires , Rodrigues Sueli Guerreiro , Martins Lívia Caricio , Vasconcelos Pedro Fernando da Costa , Ko Albert Icksang , Alcântara Luiz Carlos Junior , de Siqueira Isadora Cristina
Published: September 2016

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging flavivirus, which has caused a widespread outbreak in the Americas. Shortly after its introduction in 2015, a cluster of cases with Guillain–Barré syndrome was detected in Brazil. Herein, we describe two cases from the city of Salvador, who developed ascending paresis after an acute exanthematous illness. The patients were admitted to the intensive care unit with tetraparesis and cranial nerve palsy, which resolved after intravenous administration of human immunoglobulin. Serological evaluation detected IgM-specific ZIKV antibodies. In regions of Zika virus transmission, health-care workers must be aware of the potential severe neurological complications associated with ZIKV infection and be prepared to provide prompt diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care.
Fábricas modernas. Januário Godinho y el cemento coloreado de la central hidroeléctrica de Venda Nova
Authors: Cannatà Michele
Published: September 2016

La obra de Januário Godinho, realizada a finales de los años 40, introduce nuevas perspectivas de lectura de la modernidad en Portugal. La dimensión, cantidad y calidad de la producción, permite constatar la capacidad de expresión y adhesión al lenguaje internacional sen perder la continuidad con una tradición aresanal y sin ocultar el confrontamiento entre naturaleza y artificio.

El edificio de la central hidroeléctrica de Venda Nova, lejano de los grandes centros urbanos, se relaciona con una madura tradición del uso del hormigón armado en Portugal y con la capacidad de síntesis formal de los elementos compositivos del proyecto y de la construcción de la arquitectura. Técnica, forma, elementos decorativos e invención de nuevos paisajes son las componentes integradas y visibles de una arquitectura ejemplar proyectada por Januário Godinho en 1947.
Recuperación y remodelación de la Posada de Picote y área envolvente en Miranda do Douro. Portugal
Authors: Fernandes Fátima , Cannatà Michele
Published: September 2016

Situada en el punto más alto del área elegida para la realización del nuevo núcleo urbano, la Posada, sin esconder los privilegios evidentes de sus usuarios, por sus visibilidad y su volumen, asume el papel de elemento referencial en el territorio.

La Posada es un edificio que consta de dos volúmenes de geometría simple que se superponen, al parecer, sin tocarse. Una imagen de la suspensión y ligereza del volumen más alto que se usa para afirmar la capacidad de control de la técnica através del uso de pilotes y de las grandes superficies de vidrio de la planta baja. El volumen más bajo alberga los espacios comunes y las áreas de servicio. Un gran patio, sustraído del volumen que se apoya en el terreno, recuerda la tipología histórica del claustro asociada a la arquitectura de los conventos articulando al mismo tiempo las diferentes funciones con la diversificación de los accesos.
Apuntes sobre el Centro Cívico del Plan Director de Le Corbusier para Bogotá
Authors: O'Byrne María Cecilia
Published: September 2016

El plan director para Bogotá ya tiene más de sesenta años. Es común encontrar entre los arquitectos locales un decir que se ha convertido en leyenda: “Le Corbusier vino a Bogotá e hizo un plan que afortunadamente no se construyó, porque destruía la ciudad”. Este artículo busca desmentir un tópico tan poco afortunado. El centro de Bogotá no fue destruido por las ideas de Le Corbusier sino por las propias dinámicas de la ciudad, y hoy es básicamente “moderno”, pero muy lejano a la idea de modernidad que planteó Le Corbusier. Muchos de sus planteamientos siguen vigentes y es importante seguir estudiándolos en un mundo que todavía no sabe muy bien qué hacer con sus ciudades.
Casas gemelas. Barrio de Santa Ana. Bogotá. Colombia
Authors: MGP Arquitectura y Urbanismo Arquitectos
Published: September 2016

El proyecto nació del sueño de dos familias. Una la del arquitecto y la otra la de su hermana, cada una con cuatro miembros, padre, madre y dos hijos de pocos años. Ambos tenían la ilusión de hacerse su propia casa. Cada una para que la familia pueda crecer allí, de manera independiente y de manera conjunta. Para que los primos se encuentren en el jardín. Para que las familias tengan la intimidad indispensable de una casa y al mismo tiempo puedan compartir el espacio y el tiempo si así lo quieren.
Didáctica de las matemáticas y arquitectura: la razón áurea en la Lonja de Valencia
Authors: Donat Paula , Rueda Pilar , Sánchez-Pérez Enrique Alfonso
Published: September 2016

El objetivo del presente trabajo es doble. Por una parte, se pretende estructurar y relatar una experiencia docente de tutorización de un trabajo fin de grado de Matemáticas de la Universidad de Valencia. La característica principal del proyecto es que trata sobre ciertas propiedades geométricas de un edificio emblemático de la ciudad de Valencia. Concretamente se trata de analizar el proceso de planteamiento, concreción, documentación y elaboración del trabajo fin de grado seguido en dicha experiencia. Por otro lado, se pretende también analizar la metodología seguida para la obtención y valoración  de los resultados derivados de una de las partes fundamentales del trabajo en cuestión: la descomposición armónica del edificio de la Lonja de la Seda en Valencia.
Atmospheric CO2 inversions at the mesoscale using data driven
prior uncertainties. Part 1: Methodology and system evaluation
Authors: Kountouris Panagiotis , Gerbig Christoph , Rödenbeck Christian , Karstens Ute , Koch Thomas F. , Heimann Martin
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Atmospheric inversions are widely used in the optimization of surface carbon fluxes at regional scale using information from atmospheric CO2 dry mole fractions. In many studies the prior flux uncertainty applied to the inversion schemes does not reflect directly the true flux uncertainties but it is used in such a way to regularize the inverse problem. Here, we aim to implement an inversion scheme using the Jena inversion system and applying a prior flux error structure derived from a model – data residual analysis using high spatial and temporal resolution over a full year period in the European domain. We analyzed the performance of the inversion system with a synthetic experiment, where the flux constraint is derived following the same residual analysis but applied to the model-model mismatch. The synthetic study showed a quite good agreement between posterior and “true” fluxes at European/Country and annual/monthly scales. Posterior monthly and country aggregated fluxes improved their correlation coefficient with the “known truth” by 7 % compared to the prior estimates when compared to the reference, with a mean correlation of 0.92. Respectively, the ratio of the standard deviation between posterior/reference and prior/reference was also reduced by 33 % with a mean value of 1.15. We identified temporal and spatial scales where the inversion system maximizes the derived information; monthly temporal scales at around 200 km spatial resolution seem to maximize the information gain.
Characteristics of bacterial community in fog water at Mt. Tai: similarity and disparity under polluted and non-polluted fog episodes
Authors: Wei Min , Xu Caihong , Chen Jianmin , Zhu Chao , Li Jiarong , Lv Ganglin
Published: September 2016

Abstract. Bacteria, widely distributed in atmospheric bioaerosols, are indispensable component in fog water system and play an important role in atmospheric hydrological cycle. However, little is known about the bacterial community dynamics and ecological function, especially under the increasing serious air pollution events in North China Plain. Here we have a comprehensive characterization of bacterial community structure, variation and environmental influence about fog water collected at Mt. Tai under polluted and non-polluted fog episodes from 24 Jul to 23 Aug 2014. Using the Miseq 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the facts that fog water harbored a highly diverse bacterial community and the predominant phyla of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes were investigated. The abundant genera Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Empedobacter originated from a wide range of habitat included opportunistic pathogenic and functional species, suggesting the bacterial ecological and healthy importance in fog water should be concerned. Clustering analysis including hierarchical cluster (Hcluster) and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) indicated a significant disparity between polluted and non-polluted samples. Potential pathogens were significant group in the polluted samples, whereas a more diverse ecological function group of bacteria were identified in the non-polluted samples using linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe). Community structure discrepant performed by redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated PM2.5 have negative impact on bacteria, playing vital role in shaping microbial community structure. PM2.5 was possibly associated with different origins and pathways of air mass using source tracking by the backward trajectory and wind analysis, mainly related to the long-term transport combing with local regional emission processes. This work furthered our understanding of bacterial ecological characteristics in the atmospheric aqueous phase, highlighted the potential influence of environmental variables on bacterial community over fog process, which will provide fundamental acquaintance of bacterial community response in fog water under increasing pollution stress.
Ground-based imaging remote sensing of ice clouds: uncertainties caused by sensor, method and atmosphere
Authors: Zinner Tobias , Hausmann Petra , Ewald Florian , Bugliaro Luca , Emde Claudia , Mayer Bernhard
Published: September 2016

Abstract. In this study a method is introduced for the retrieval of optical thickness and effective particle size of ice clouds over a wide range of optical thickness from ground-based transmitted radiance measurements. Low optical thickness of cirrus clouds and their complex microphysics present a challenge for cloud remote sensing. In transmittance, the relationship between optical depth and radiance is ambiguous. To resolve this ambiguity the retrieval utilizes the spectral slope of radiance between 485 and 560 nm in addition to the commonly employed combination of a visible and a short-wave infrared wavelength.An extensive test of retrieval sensitivity was conducted using synthetic test spectra in which all parameters introducing uncertainty into the retrieval were varied systematically: ice crystal habit and aerosol properties, instrument noise, calibration uncertainty and the interpolation in the lookup table required by the retrieval process. The most important source of errors identified are uncertainties due to habit assumption: Averaged over all test spectra, systematic biases in the effective radius retrieval of several micrometre can arise. The statistical uncertainties of any individual retrieval can easily exceed 10 µm. Optical thickness biases are mostly below 1, while statistical uncertainties are in the range of 1 to 2.5.For demonstration and comparison to satellite data the retrieval is applied to observations by the Munich hyperspectral imager specMACS (spectrometer of the Munich Aerosol and Cloud Scanner) at the Schneefernerhaus observatory (2650 m a.s.l.) during the ACRIDICON-Zugspitze campaign in September and October 2012. Results are compared to MODIS and SEVIRI satellite-based cirrus retrievals (ACRIDICON – Aerosol, Cloud, Precipitation, and Radiation Interactions and Dynamics of Convective Cloud Systems; MODIS – Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer; SEVIRI – Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager). Considering the identified uncertainties for our ground-based approach and for the satellite retrievals, the comparison shows good agreement within the range of natural variability of the cloud situation in the direct surrounding.
Phosgene in the UTLS: seasonal and latitudinal variations from MIPAS observations
Authors: Valeri Massimo , Carlotti Massimo , Flaud Jean-Marie , Raspollini Piera , Ridolfi Marco , Dinelli Bianca Maria
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) is a Fourier transform spectrometer that measured mid-infrared atmospheric limb emission spectra from July 2002 to April 2012 on board the polar-orbiting satellite ENVISAT. We have used MIPAS data to study the latitudinal variations of phosgene (COCl2 or carbonyl chloride) and, for the first time, its seasonal variation in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region (UTLS). Retrievals of phosgene were made using the 830–860 cm−1 region, corresponding to the ν5 bands of COCl2. Unfortunately, in that region, the ν4 band of CFC-11, which is much stronger than COCl2 ν5, hides the phosgene emission. In order to evaluate seasonality and latitudinal distribution of phosgene we have analysed all the measurements made by MIPAS on days 18 and 20 of each month of 2008 with the optimized retrieval model (ORM) recently upgraded with the multi-target retrieval technique and with the optimal estimation functionality to apply external constraints to the state vector. Average seasonal profiles of phosgene show an evident latitudinal variability with the largest values observed in the tropical regions (maximum  ≈  35 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) at about 300 hPa). In the midlatitude and polar regions, the volume mixing ratio (VMR) values do not exceed 30 pptv and the vertical distributions are less peaked. Our analysis highlights that COCl2 seasonal variability is fairly low, apart from the polar regions.
Exploring water cycle dynamics by sampling multiple stable water isotope
pools in a developed landscape in Germany
Authors: Orlowski Natalie , Kraft Philipp , Pferdmenges Jakob , Breuer Lutz
Published: September 2016

Abstract. A dual stable water isotope (δ2H and δ18O) study was conducted in the developed (managed) landscape of the Schwingbach catchment (Germany). The 2-year weekly to biweekly measurements of precipitation, stream, and groundwater isotopes revealed that surface and groundwater are isotopically disconnected from the annual precipitation cycle but showed bidirectional interactions between each other. Apparently, snowmelt played a fundamental role for groundwater recharge explaining the observed differences to precipitation δ values. A spatially distributed snapshot sampling of soil water isotopes at two soil depths at 52 sampling points across different land uses (arable land, forest, and grassland) revealed that topsoil isotopic signatures were similar to the precipitation input signal. Preferential water flow paths occurred under forested soils, explaining the isotopic similarities between top- and subsoil isotopic signatures. Due to human-impacted agricultural land use (tilling and compression) of arable and grassland soils, water delivery to the deeper soil layers was reduced, resulting in significant different isotopic signatures. However, the land use influence became less pronounced with depth and soil water approached groundwater δ values. Seasonally tracing stable water isotopes through soil profiles showed that the influence of new percolating soil water decreased with depth as no remarkable seasonality in soil isotopic signatures was obvious at depths > 0.9 m and constant values were observed through space and time. Since classic isotope evaluation methods such as transfer-function-based mean transit time calculations did not provide a good fit between the observed and calculated data, we established a hydrological model to estimate spatially distributed groundwater ages and flow directions within the Vollnkirchener Bach subcatchment. Our model revealed that complex age dynamics exist within the subcatchment and that much of the runoff must has been stored for much longer than event water (average water age is 16 years). Tracing stable water isotopes through the water cycle in combination with our hydrological model was valuable for determining interactions between different water cycle components and unravelling age dynamics within the study area. This knowledge can further improve catchment-specific process understanding of developed, human-impacted landscapes.
Hybridizing sequential and variational data assimilation for robust
high-resolution hydrologic forecasting
Authors: Hernández Felipe , Liang Xu
Published: September 2016

Abstract. There are two main frameworks for the estimation of initial states in geophysical models for real-time and forecasting applications: sequential data assimilation and variational data assimilation. However, modern high-resolution models offer challenges, both in terms of indeterminacy and computational requirements, which render most traditional methods insufficient. In this article we introduce a hybrid algorithm called OPTIMISTS which combines advantageous features from both of these data assimilation perspectives. These features are integrated with a multi-objective approach for selecting ensemble members to create a probabilistic estimate of the state variables, which promotes the reduction of observational errors as well as the maintenance of the dynamic consistency of states. Additionally, we propose simplified computations as alternatives aimed at reducing memory and processor requirements. OPTIMISTS was tested on two models of real watersheds, one with over 1,000 variables and the second with over 30,000, on two distributed hydrologic modelling engines: VIC and the DHSVM. Our tests, consisting of assimilating streamflow observations, allowed determining which features of the traditional approaches lead to more accurate forecasts while at the same time making an efficient use of the available computational resources. The results also demonstrated the benefits of the coupled probabilistic/multi-objective approach, which proved instrumental in reducing the harmful effects of overfitting – especially on the model with higher dimensionality.
Seismic anisotropy inferred from direct S-waves derived splitting
measurements and its geodynamic implications beneath
southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Tiwari Ashwani Kant , Singh Arun , Eken Tuna , Grewal Nitin , Singh Chandrani
Published: September 2016

Abstract. The present study deals with detecting seismic anisotropy parameters beneath southeastern Tibet near Namche Barwa Mountain using splitting of the direct S-waves. We employed the reference station technique to remove the effects of source side anisotropy. Seismic anisotropy parameters, splitting time delay and fast polarization directions were estimated through analyses on a total of 501 splitting measurements obtained from direct-S waves from 25 earthquakes (> 5.5 magnitude) that were recorded at 42 stations of Namchebarwa seismic network. We observed a large variation in time delays ranging from 0.64 to 1.68 s but in most cases it is more than 1 s, which suggests for a highly anisotropic lithospheric mantle in the region. A comparison between direct S- and SKS-derived splitting parameters generally shows a close similarity although some discrepancies exist where null or negligible anisotropy is reported earlier using SKS. The seismic stations with hitherto null or negligible anisotropy are now supplemented with new measurements with clear anisotropic signatures. Our analyses indicate a sharp change in lateral variations of fast polarization directions (FPDs) from consistent ENE-SSW or E-W to NW-SE direction at the southeastern edge of Tibet. Comparison of the FPDs with global positioning system (GPS) measurements, absolute plate motion (APM) directions and surface geological features signify that the observed anisotropy and hence inferred deformation patterns are not only due to asthenospheric dynamics but it is a combination of lithospheric deformation and sub-lithospheric (asthenospheric) mantle dynamics. Splitting measurement using direct-S waves proves their utility to supplement the anisotropic measurements in the study region and fills the missing links that remain rather illusive due to lack of SKS measurements.
Kiswani Wholesale Distributor “Bu Siness Plan”
Authors: Ismail Mohammad A.
Published: September 2016

Kiswani Wholesalers and Distributors (KWD) is a proposed Limited Liability Company (LLC) that will be co-owned by two partners and operated in New York State, serving four counties of Rockland, Westchester, Orange and Dutchess. The company will be dealing in medicines sold over the counter, health and beauty products, general merchandise and male enhancement drugs. These product lines offer the company a unique product mix that will enable it to penetrate and sustain a steady market base in the market for profitability. The proposed company has identified four market segments: convenience stores, supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations and other small retail shops that will be its customers. It intends to target the first four segments of its market in the first year of operation. KWD will employ a marketing strategy that will put it ahead of its competitors and its SWOT analysis shows that it will compete favorably in the business environment into which it intends to venture.Key success factors will be the experienced ownership and management and skilled and qualified persons who will implement the success strategies of pricing, marketing and sales to deliver high outputs that will enable the firm to break even in the ninth month of operation. Upon commencement of its operations, KWD will plough back its profits for purposes of expansion, which is inevitable for every organization in all industries. Its books of account as projected are so promising that the owners will confidently acquire $ 24,000 of the total capital from a bank loan and contribute $20, 000 personally as the other $15,000 is gained from credit facilities by the suppliers in a 21-day credit term. With a small size workforce of only five personnel for the startup phase, KWD will be able to have efficient operations that will steer the firm to rapid growth and profitability.