bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity of the endangered coastal beetle Scarites laevigatus: is the northern Adriatic population a geographical subspecies or a case of introgressive hybridisation? (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Zanella Lorenzo
Published: December 2018

The ground beetle Scarites laevigatus Fabricius, 1792 is a specialized predator occurring in the Mediterranean sandy shores, currently threatened with disappearance due to the widespread modification of beach ecosystems. The present study purposes a morphological analysis of the northern Adriatic form, described by Puel in 1938 as a subspecies with the name venetianus, in comparison with the typical form of this taxon and S. terricola. The examination of pronotum, elytra, body shape, male genitalia and wing development, suggests that the studied population is different from the nominotypical form and might originate from the introgressive hybridisation of S. terricola with the north Adriatic populations of S. laevigatus. This hypothesis is discussed in the light of current knowledge of the systematics and ecology of the putative parent species.
Two new species of the flea beetle genus Psylliodes Latreille of the montana species-group from Eastern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Biondi Maurizio , D'Alessandro Paola
Published: December 2018

In this paper, Psylliodes afromontana sp. nov. and P. shira sp. nov., both from Eastern Africa [Kenya (Kikuyu Escarpment) and Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) respectively], are described. The two new species are attributed to the montana species-group, currently including four other wingless species occurring in the montane forests of Kenya and Tanzania: Psylliodes montana Weise, P. kikuyana Biondi, P. masai Biondi, P. manobioides Nadein. Micrographs of diagnostic characters, comprehending male and female genitalia are supplied. Ecological data for each species, including habitat preference, and phenology are also reported.
Design of a typical residence for the elderly in Morocco
Authors: Bouaoudate M. , El Harti J. , Maamar M. , Abouqal R.
Published: December 2018

The population of Moroccan elders is in full increase; their requirements for quality and quantity of services are becoming increasingly important. On the basis of this, reality and extension of many major innovative projects in Morocco (industrial expansion plan, renewable energy stations, the road infrastructure network, rural electrification, drinking water, accelerated urbanization, globalization...) gain importance. Reflection on the design of a typical residence for the elderly has become an ambitious idea possessing all the chances of its success; it is also worth noting that it is a citizen opportunity to be seized by all political decision-makers for the promotion of health and the improvement of the quality of life of a growing category of the population. The typical residence of the elderly remains not only a place of life but also an environment of therapeutic care and at different levels of autonomy and dependence of our elders.
The potential of RNA as a target for national screening of pre-cancer
Authors: Karlsen Frank , Muturi Margaret , Muyabwa Cosmas , Roseng Lars E. , Bigabwa Serge , Chihongola Byamungu , Muchiri Lucy
Published: December 2018

Whole national screening of pre-cancer is done only in some few countries, dominated by The Netherlands, Denmark, UK, Norway and Finland. These national screenings are done combining national cancer registry, national public health and national medical bodies or hospitals. Until some few years ago national screening was only done using morphological or visual methods or technology. Today a number of molecular methods have been implemented to serve these national screening programs. Based on all the discussions within this review, it is clear that the main driving engine and the cause of cervical pre-cancer and the main cause of invasive cervical cancer is the expression of E6 and E7 oncoproteins from HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45. However, the main challenge is the role of morphology or imaging-based diagnosis in the original definition of pre-cancer disease. This definition is not based on the cause of cervical precancer but based on a complex, subjective, morphological observations. The difference between these two definitions are discussed in this review. The unique discovery done while validating the first standardized detection technology used against mRNA, confirmed that the presence of both abnormal E6 and/or E7 mRNA and protein is the cause of cervical pre-cancer or severe neoplasia and the main cause of invasive cervical cancer. This confirmation was evident even though all these studies were disturbed by the above defined biases from morphology or imaging-based diagnosis. The use of the screening target that cause stable and high expression of the most carcinogenic compounds ever discovered, must cause a more accurate screening program. A number of studies have proved that the detection of E6/E7 mRNA followed-up by indirect or direct treatment in a well-organized national screening program, would reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. This review discusses the main studies involved in the scientific, clinical evaluation and how this unique technology could be used as a new medical gold standard for national screening of cervical pre-cancer.
Waging a professional turf war: an examination of professionalization as a strategic communication practice used by registered dietitians
Authors: Heiss Sarah N. , Smith Kristin K. , Carmack Heather J.
Published: December 2018

In 2012, the American Dietetic Association changed its name to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The following year, the association allowed their members to select between two titles: registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist. Based on interviews with dietitians, we argue that these semantic changes added fuel to a pre-existing discursive struggle for professional legitimacy. As of June 2017, there were over 100,000 registered dietetic practitioners, globally. Approximately 74% of RDs are members of the Academy, a notably high percent of representation, suggesting the influence of this professional organization on the occupation. Academy members work in a variety of occupational settings and fields, including hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and the food industry, and as such make significant contributions to patient health and public health outcomes.The Academy and its members have established a discursive turf war to strategically establish and defend boundaries within the field of nutrition and dietetics. Their discursive turf war has implications on the day-to-day work life of registered dietitians and other nutritional professionals as well as perceptions of professionalism made by audiences outside the field.
Thermal alterations in patients with inflammatory diseases: a comparison between psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Capo A. , Di Paolo J. , Celletti E. , Ismail E. , Merla A. , Amerio P.
Published: December 2018

Functional infrared imaging (fIRI) is used to provide information on circulation, thermal properties and thermoregulatory function of the cutaneous tissue in several clinical settings. This study aims to evaluate the application of fIRI in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) assessment, evaluating the thermoregulatory alterations due to joint inflammation in RA patients both in basal conditions and after a mild functional (isometric) exercise, using the same protocol we projected in our recent work on psoriatic arthritis (PsA); fIRI outcomes were compared with those provided by power-Doppler ultrasonography. Ten patients with RA and 11 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The cutaneous temperature dynamics of 20 regions of interest located on the dominant hand were recorded by means of high-resolution thermal imaging at baseline and after a functional exercise. RA patients showed lower thermal parameters compared to healthy controls, suggesting that the RA-related inflammatory state alters the normal thermal properties of the skin overlying inflamed joints. These results are different from PsA data observed in the previous study. fIRI applied to the study of the response to a functional stimulus may represent an innovative, non-invasive, and operator-independent method for the assessment of early RA
Source sector and region contributions to black carbon and PM2.5 in the Arctic
Authors: Sobhani Negin , Kulkarni Sarika , Carmichael Gregory R.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. The impacts of black carbon (BC) and particulate matter with aerodynamic
diameters less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) emissions from different
source sectors (e.g., transportation, power, industry, residential, and
biomass burning) and geographic source regions (e.g., Europe, North America,
China, Russia, central Asia, south Asia, and the Middle East) to Arctic BC
and PM2.5 concentrations are investigated through a series of annual
sensitivity simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting – sulfur
transport and deposition model (WRF-STEM) modeling framework. The simulations
are validated using observations at two Arctic sites (Alert and Barrow
Atmospheric Baseline Observatory), the Interagency Monitoring
of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) surface sites over the US, and
aircraft observations over the Arctic during spring and summer 2008.
Emissions from power, industrial, and biomass burning sectors are found to be
the main contributors to the Arctic PM2.5 surface concentration, with
contributions of ∼ 30 %, ∼ 25 %, and ∼ 20 %,
respectively. In contrast, the residential and transportation sectors are
identified as the major contributors to Arctic BC, with contributions of
∼ 38 % and ∼ 30 %. Anthropogenic emissions are the most
dominant contributors (∼ 88 %) to the BC surface concentration over
the Arctic annually; however, the contribution from biomass burning is
significant over the summer (up to ∼ 50 %). Among all geographical
regions, Europe and China have the highest contributions to the BC surface
concentrations, with contributions of ∼ 46 % and ∼ 25 %,
respectively. Industrial and power emissions had the highest contributions to
the Arctic sulfate (SO4) surface concentration, with annual
contributions of ∼ 43 % and ∼ 41 %, respectively. Further
sensitivity runs show that, among various economic sectors of all geographic
regions, European and Chinese residential sectors contribute to
∼ 25 % and ∼ 14 % of the Arctic average surface BC
concentration. Emissions from the Chinese industry sector and European power
sector contribute ∼ 12 % and ∼ 18 % of the Arctic surface
sulfate concentration. For Arctic PM2.5, the anthropogenic emissions
contribute > ∼ 75 % at the surface annually, with
contributions of ∼ 25 % from Europe and ∼ 20 % from
China; however, the contributions of biomass burning emissions are
significant in particular during spring and summer. The contributions of each
geographical region to the Arctic PM2.5 and BC vary significantly with
altitude. The simulations show that the BC from China is transported to the
Arctic in the midtroposphere, while BC from European emission sources are
transported near the surface under 5 km, especially during winter.
Fluvial organic carbon fluxes from oil palm plantations on tropical peatland
Authors: Cook Sarah , Whelan Mick J. , Evans Chris D. , Gauci Vincent , Peacock Mike , Garnett Mark H. , Kho Lip Khoon , Teh Yit Arn , Page Susan E.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Intact tropical peatlands are dense long-term stores of carbon. However, the
future security of these ecosystems is at risk from land conversion and
extensive peatland drainage. This can enhance peat oxidation and convert
long-term carbon sinks into significant carbon sources. In Southeast Asia,
the largest land use on peatland is for oil palm plantation agriculture.
Here, we present the first annual estimate of exported fluvial organic carbon
in the drainage waters of four peatland oil palm plantation areas in Sarawak,
Malaysia. Total organic carbon (TOC) fluxes from the plantation second- and
third-order drains were dominated (91 %) by dissolved organic carbon
(DOC) and ranged from 34.4 ± 9.7 C m−2 yr−1 to 57.7 %,
16.3 g C m−2 yr−1 (± 95 % confidence interval). These
fluxes represent a single-year survey which was strongly influenced by an El
Ninõ event and therefore lower discharge than usual was observed. The
magnitude of the flux was found to be influenced by water table depth, with
higher TOC fluxes observed from more deeply drained sites. Radiocarbon dating
on the DOC component indicated the presence of old (pre-1950s) carbon in all
samples collected, with DOC at the most deeply drained site having a mean age
of 735 years. Overall, our estimates suggest fluvial TOC contributes
∼ 5 % of total carbon losses from oil palm plantations on peat.
Maintenance of high and stable water tables in oil palm plantations appears
to be key to minimising TOC losses. This reinforces the importance of
considering all carbon loss pathways, rather than just CO2 emissions
from the peat surface, in studies of tropical peatland land conversion.
Climate evolution across the Mid-Brunhes Transition
Authors: Barth Aaron M. , Clark Peter U. , Bill Nicholas S. , He Feng , Pisias Nicklas G.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. The Mid-Brunhes Transition (MBT) began ∼ 430 ka with an increase in
the amplitude of the 100 kyr climate cycles of the past 800 000 years. The
MBT has been identified in ice-core records, which indicate interglaciations
became warmer with higher atmospheric CO2 levels after the MBT, and
benthic oxygen isotope (δ18O) records, which suggest that
post-MBT interglaciations had higher sea levels and warmer temperatures than
pre-MBT interglaciations. It remains unclear, however, whether the MBT was a
globally synchronous phenomenon that included other components of the climate
system. Here, we further characterize changes in the climate system across
the MBT through statistical analyses of ice-core and δ18O
records as well as sea-surface temperature, benthic carbon isotope, and dust
accumulation records. Our results demonstrate that the MBT was a global event
with a significant increase in climate variance in most components of the
climate system assessed here. However, our results indicate that the onset of
high-amplitude variability in temperature, atmospheric CO2, and sea
level at ∼430 ka was preceded by changes in the carbon cycle, ice
sheets, and monsoon strength during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 14 and MIS 13.
Reconciling North Atlantic climate modes: revised monthly indices for the East Atlantic and the Scandinavian patterns beyond the 20th century
Authors: Comas-Bru Laia , Hernández Armand
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Climate variability in the North Atlantic sector is commonly ascribed to the
North Atlantic Oscillation. However, recent studies have shown that taking
into account the second and third mode of variability (namely the East
Atlantic – EA – and the Scandinavian – SCA – patterns) greatly improves
our understanding of their controlling mechanisms, as well as their impact on
climate. The most commonly used EA and SCA indices span the period from 1950
to present, which is too short, for example, to calibrate palaeoclimate
records or assess their variability over multi-decadal scales. To tackle
this, here, we create new EOF-based (empirical orthogonal function) monthly
EA and SCA indices covering the period from 1851 to present, and compare them
with their equivalent instrumental indices. We also review and discuss the
value of these new records and provide insights into the reasons why
different sources of data may give slightly different time series.
Furthermore, we demonstrate that using these patterns to explain climate
variability beyond the winter season needs to be done carefully due to their
non-stationary behaviour. The datasets are available at
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.892769.
The TRIple-frequency and Polarimetric radar Experiment for improving process observation of winter precipitation
Authors: Dias Neto José , Kneifel Stefan , Ori Davide , Trömel Silke , Handwerker Jan , Bohn Birger , Hermes Normen , Mühlbauer Kai , Lenefer Martin , Simmer Clemens
Published: December 2018

Abstract. This study describes a two-months dataset of ground-based triple-frequency (X, Ka, and W-Band) Doppler cloud radar observations during the winter season obtained at the Jülich ObservatorY for Cloud Evolution core facility (JOYCE-CF), Germany. All relevant post-processing steps, such as re-gridding, offset and attenuation correction as well as quality flagging are described. The dataset contains all information needed to recover data at intermediate processing steps for user-specific applications and corrections (DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1405539). The rather long time duration of the dataset allowed for a statistical analysis, which we focused on the ice and snow part of the cloud. The reflectivity differences quantified by dual-wavelength ratios revealed temperature regimes, where aggregation seems to be triggered. Overall, the aggregation signatures found in the triple-frequency space agree with and corroborate conclusions from previous studies. Combining the information from reflectivity information with mean Doppler velocity and linear depolarization ratio, enables us to distinguish signatures of rimed particles and melting snowflakes; while the riming signatures agree well with results from previous studies, we find very strong aggregation signatures close to the melting layer, which have not been reported before. Mean Doppler velocity and the linear depolarization ratio have been used to separate the extreme aggregation signature from the triple-frequency characteristics of melting particles.
A generic pixel-to-point comparison for simulated large-scale ecosystem properties and ground-based observations: an example from the Amazon region
Authors: Rammig Anja , Heinke Jens , Hofhansl Florian , Verbeeck Hans , Baker Timothy R. , Christoffersen Bradley , Ciais Philippe , De Deurwaerder Hannes , Fleischer Katrin , Galbraith David , Guimberteau Matthieu , Huth Andreas , Johnson Michelle , Krujit Bart , Langerwisch Fanny , Meir Patrick , Papastefanou Phillip , Sampaio Gilvan , Thonicke Kirsten , von Randow Celso , Zang Christian , Rödig Edna
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Comparing model output and observed data is an
important step for assessing model performance and quality of simulation
results. However, such comparisons are often hampered by differences in
spatial scales between local point observations and large-scale simulations
of grid cells or pixels. In this study, we propose a generic approach for a
pixel-to-point comparison and provide statistical measures accounting for the
uncertainty resulting from landscape variability and measurement errors in
ecosystem variables. The basic concept of our approach is to determine the
statistical properties of small-scale (within-pixel) variability and
observational errors, and to use this information to correct for their effect
when large-scale area averages (pixel) are compared to small-scale point
estimates. We demonstrate our approach by comparing simulated values of
aboveground biomass, woody productivity (woody net primary productivity, NPP)
and residence time of woody biomass from four dynamic global vegetation
models (DGVMs) with measured inventory data from permanent plots in the
Amazon rainforest, a region with the typical problem of low data
availability, potential scale mismatch and thus high model uncertainty. We
find that the DGVMs under- and overestimate aboveground biomass by 25 %
and up to 60 %, respectively. Our comparison metrics provide a
quantitative measure for model–data agreement and show moderate to good
agreement with the region-wide spatial biomass pattern detected by plot
observations. However, all four DGVMs overestimate woody productivity and
underestimate residence time of woody biomass even when accounting for the
large uncertainty range of the observational data. This is because DGVMs do
not represent the relation between productivity and residence time of woody
biomass correctly. Thus, the DGVMs may simulate the correct large-scale
patterns of biomass but for the wrong reasons. We conclude that more
information about the underlying processes driving biomass distribution are
necessary to improve DGVMs. Our approach provides robust statistical measures
for any pixel-to-point comparison, which is applicable for evaluation of
models and remote-sensing products.
On the skill of raw and post-processed ensemble seasonal meteorological forecasts in Denmark
Authors: Lucatero Diana , Madsen Henrik , Refsgaard Jens C. , Kidmose Jacob , Jensen Karsten H.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. This study analyzes the quality of the raw and post-processed
seasonal forecasts of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
(ECMWF) System 4. The focus is given to Denmark, located in a region where
seasonal forecasting is of special difficulty. The extent to which there are
improvements after post-processing is investigated. We make use of two
techniques, namely linear scaling or delta change (LS) and quantile mapping (QM), to
daily bias correct seasonal ensemble predictions of hydrologically relevant
variables such as precipitation, temperature and reference evapotranspiration
(ET0). Qualities of importance in this study are the reduction of
bias and the improvement in accuracy and sharpness over ensemble climatology.
Statistical consistency and its improvement is also examined. Raw forecasts
exhibit biases in the mean that have a spatiotemporal variability more
pronounced for precipitation and temperature. This variability is more stable
for ET0 with a consistent positive bias. Accuracy is higher than
ensemble climatology for some months at the first month lead time only and,
in general, ECMWF System 4 forecasts tend to be sharper. ET0 also
exhibits an underdispersion issue, i.e., forecasts are narrower than their
true uncertainty level. After correction, reductions in the mean are seen.
This, however, is not enough to ensure an overall higher level of skill in
terms of accuracy, although modest improvements are seen for temperature and
ET0, mainly at the first month lead time. QM is better suited to
improve statistical consistency of forecasts that exhibit dispersion issues,
i.e., when forecasts are consistently overconfident. Furthermore, it also
enhances the accuracy of the monthly number of dry days to a higher extent
than LS. Caution is advised when applying a multiplicative factor to bias
correct variables such as precipitation. It may overestimate the ability that
LS has in improving sharpness when a positive bias in the mean exists.
Developing a drought-monitoring index for the contiguous US using SMAP
Authors: Sadri Sara , Wood Eric F. , Pan Ming
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Since April 2015, NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive
(SMAP) mission has monitored near-surface soil moisture, mapping the globe
(between 85.044∘ N/S) using an L-band
(1.4 GHz) microwave radiometer in 2–3 days depending on location. Of
particular interest to SMAP-based agricultural applications is a monitoring
product that assesses the SMAP near-surface soil moisture in terms of
probability percentiles for dry and wet conditions. However, the short SMAP
record length poses a statistical challenge for meaningful assessment of its
indices. This study presents initial insights about using SMAP for monitoring
drought and pluvial regions with a first application over the contiguous
United States (CONUS). SMAP soil moisture data from April 2015 to December
2017 at both near-surface (5 cm) SPL3SMP, or Level 3, at ∼36 km
resolution, and root-zone SPL4SMAU, or Level 4, at ∼9 km resolution,
were fitted to beta distributions and were used to construct probability
distributions for warm (May–October) and cold (November–April) seasons. To
assess the data adequacy and have confidence in using short-term SMAP for a
drought index estimate, we analyzed individual grids by defining two filters
and a combination of them, which could separate the 5815 grids covering CONUS
into passed and failed grids. The two filters were (1) the
Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test for beta-fitted long-term and the short-term
variable infiltration capacity (VIC) land surface model (LSM)
with 95 % confidence and (2) good correlation (≥0.4) between beta-fitted VIC and
beta-fitted SPL3SMP. To evaluate which filter is the best, we defined a mean
distance (MD) metric, assuming a VIC index at 36 km resolution as the
ground truth. For both warm and cold seasons, the union of the filters –
which also gives the best coverage of the grids throughout CONUS – was
chosen to be the most reliable filter. We visually compared our SMAP-based
drought index maps with metrics such as the U.S. Drought Monitor (from
D0–D4), 1-month Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) and near-surface VIC from
Princeton University. The root-zone drought index maps were shown to be
similar to those produced by the root-zone VIC, 3-month SPI,
and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). This study is a step forward towards building a
national and international soil moisture monitoring system without which
quantitative measures of drought and pluvial conditions will remain difficult
to judge.
Analysis of the risk associated with coastal flooding hazards: a new historical extreme storm surges dataset for Dunkirk, France
Authors: Hamdi Yasser , Garnier Emmanuel , Giloy Nathalie , Duluc Claire-Marie , Rebour Vincent
Published: December 2018

Abstract. This paper aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a historical
study devoted to French nuclear power plants (NPPs) which can be prone to
extreme coastal flooding events. It has been shown in the literature that the
use of historical information (HI) can significantly improve the
probabilistic and statistical modeling of extreme events. There is a
significant lack of historical data on coastal flooding (storms and storm
surges) compared to river flooding events. To address this data scarcity and
to improve the estimation of the risk associated with coastal flooding
hazards, a dataset of historical storms and storm surges that hit the
Nord-Pas-de-Calais region during the past five centuries was created from
archival sources, examined and used in a frequency analysis (FA) in order to
assess its impact on frequency estimations. This work on the Dunkirk site
(representative of the Gravelines NPP) is a continuation of previous work
performed on the La Rochelle site in France. Indeed, the frequency model (FM)
used in the present paper had some success in the field of coastal hazards
and it has been applied in previous studies to surge datasets to prevent
coastal flooding in the La Rochelle region in France. In a first step, only information collected from the literature (published
reports, journal papers and PhD theses) is considered. Although this first
historical dataset has extended the gauged record back in time to 1897,
serious questions related to the exhaustiveness of the information and about
the validity of the developed FM have remained unanswered. Additional
qualitative and quantitative HI was extracted in a second step from many
older archival sources. This work has led to the construction of storm and
coastal flooding sheets summarizing key data on each identified event. The
quality control and the cross-validation of the collected information, which
have been carried out systematically, indicate that it is valid and complete
in regard to extreme storms and storm surges. Most of the HI collected is in
good agreement with other archival sources and documentary climate
reconstructions. The probabilistic and statistical analysis of a dataset
containing an exceptional observation considered as an outlier (i.e., the
1953 storm surge) is significantly improved when the additional HI collected
in both literature and archives is used. As the historical data tend to be
extreme, the right tail of the distribution has been reinforced and the
1953 “exceptional” event does not appear as an outlier any more. This new
dataset provides a valuable source of information on storm surges for future
characterization of coastal hazards.
Water-level attenuation in broad-scale assessments of exposure to coastal flooding: a sensitivity analysis
Authors: Vafeidis Athanasios T. , Schuerch Mark , Wolff Claudia , Spencer Tom , Merkens Jan L. , Hinkel Jochen , Lincke Daniel , Brown Sally , Nicholls Robert J.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. This study explores the uncertainty introduced in global assessments of coastal flood exposure and risk when not accounting for water level attenuation due to land-surface characteristics. We implement a range of plausible water-level attenuation values for characteristic land-cover classes in the flood module of the Dynamic and Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (DIVA) modelling framework and assess the sensitivity of flood exposure and flood risk indicators to differences in attenuation rates. Results show a reduction of up to 47 % in area exposure and even larger reductions in population exposure and expected flood damages when considering water level attenuation. The reductions vary by country, reflecting the differences in the physical characteristics of the floodplain as well as in the spatial distribution of people and assets in coastal regions. We find that uncertainties related to not accounting for water attenuation in global assessments of flood risk are of similar magnitude to the uncertainties related to the amount of SLR expected over the 21st century. Despite using simplified assumptions to account for the process of water level attenuation, which depends on numerous factors and their complex interactions, our results strongly suggest that an improved understanding and representation of the temporal and spatial variation of water levels across floodplains is essential for future impact modelling.
The short timescale variability of the oxygen inventory in the NE Black Sea slope water
Authors: Ostrovskii Alexander G. , Zatsepin Andrey G. , Solovyev Vladimir A. , Soloviev Dmitry M.
Published: December 2018

Abstract. Warm winters have recently become common over the Black Sea, leading to the
risk of shoaling oxygen penetration. The insufficient supply of oxygen to the
near-bottom layer may result in a decrease in faunal abundance. However,
there is a lack of data on the temporal variations in oxygen throughout the
water column over short timescales of hours to weeks. In this paper, new
observations over the upper part of the NE Black Sea continental slope are
presented. Regular, frequent measurements were performed using a moored
profiler from January to early March 2016. The profiling allowed for direct
observations of the temperature in the cold intermediate layer (CIL),
pycnocline structure, current velocity, and oxygen stratification and in
particular, the depths of hypoxia onset. The average local oxygen inventory
below a depth of 30 m was 24.9 mol m−2. Relatively high/low oxygen
inventory cases were related to the thin/thick main pycnocline, which was
associated with the onshore/offshore location of the Black Sea Rim Current.
The pycnocline hindered the vertical transport of oxygenated water to the
CIL. The vertical displacements of the hypoxia onset depth ranged from
97 to 170 m, while the shelf edge depth in this region usually ranged from
90 to 100 m. Intermittently, the hypoxia boundary depth fluctuated on two timescales: ∼17 h due to inertial oscillations and 3–7 days due to
current meanders and eddies.
Going Beyond Boundaries: There is a Way and the Use of English Medium in Hausa Film Industry
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Muhsin , Yusuf Aliyu Yakubu
Published: December 2018

Since its inception in 1990, Kannywood, the Northern Nigerian film industry, produced films only in Hausa, the dominant language of the region. The film, There is a Way (2016, dir. Falalu A. Dorayi) has recently debuted a new “genre” in the English language in the industry. However, the place of English or any non-African language in African arts (film, inclusive) is a topic of scholarly debate, especially within the discourse of postcolonial studies. Many pan-African writers and critics query the justification of that as the language is, they argue, foreign to African audience and is used only by and for the elites. Kannywood filmmakers, nevertheless, claim that theirs is rather a response to the Southern Nigerian filmmakers whose industry, Nollywood is enormously successful and far ahead for, among other reasons, their use of English. This paper attempts an evaluation of the English language and the subtitle of the film in question, to access the success or otherwise of its narrative essence.
Queer Theory and Brokeback Mountain
Authors: Hodgson James
Published: December 2018

Matthey Tinkcom, Queer Theory and Brokeback Mountain. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2017. x + 125 pp. ISBN: PB: 978-1-5013-1882-5
Political Claustrophobia in Lars von Trier’s Europa and America Trilogies
Authors: Denli Özlem
Published: December 2018

This essay aims to trace the specific kind of political pessimism, that can be termed ‘political claustrophobia’ underlying the filmography of the Danish director Lars von Trier. Elements of this worldview are traced by analyzing two clusters of films categorized under Europa and America trilogies; namely, The Element of Crime, Epidemic, Europa, Dogville and Manderlay. Trier portrays a particularly bleak picture of the European civilization in the aftermath of the II World War. An equally claustrophobic outlook also characterizes his depiction of the life and relationships in American small towns during the 1930s. In both settings, attempts at reform and change are thwarted by entrenched social reality; leading the audience to the conclusion that there can be no political outside to the existing world.
Let’s Make it American: American Remakes of the British Films
Authors: Kahraman Dönmez Elif
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze American remake versions of the original British films taking narrative as a basis. It claims that the American remakes put America forward as a cultural product for sale, and makes the British narrative Americanized. For the study, four films have been chosen for analysis: Alfie (1966, dir. Lewis Gilbert), Alfie (2004, dir. Charles Shyer), Bedazzled (1967, dir. Stanley Donen), Bedazzled (2000, dir. Harold Ramis). This study explores the narrative elements of the American remakes by comparing the remakes with their originals. These narrative elements are setting, intertextuality and Americanization.
El concierto en España: espacios y prácticas (1750-1900). Notas preliminares
Authors: Bertran Lluís
Published: December 2018

El concierto en España: espacios y prácticas (1750-1900). Notas preliminares
Investigating the Effectiveness of Branding on Customer Loyalty in Some Selected Hotels in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Seh Tah Irene , Darko Awo Kyemenua
Published: December 2018

The study investigated the effectiveness of branding on customer loyalty in some selected hotels in Accra. In all, 250 questionnaires were administered to the customers and 200 representing 80% were retrieved. Five selected hotels in Accra were used for the research. The study revealed that some hotels apply branding strategies in selling their products while others do not. This was attributed to the fact that managers of those hotels are unaware of the benefits of effective branding strategies. The study also revealed that services that attract customers most to a hotel include front office, food and beverage and housekeeping. From management perspective, it was realized that 40% of customers mostly patronize housekeeping services and 40% also patronize food and beverage services mostly. Finally the study found that, factors such as trust, commitment, high quality services, customer satisfaction and reward programmes influence customer loyalty in the hotel industry. Customer satisfaction appeared to be the major factor that influences customer loyalty in hotels. Hotel managers and employees should therefore maintain a friendly relationship with customers and customer’s needs should constantly be met as this could help to make customers highly satisfied.
The Last “Hero” and Jia Pingwa's Ecological Concerns in Remembering Wolves
Authors: He Weihua
Published: December 2018

As a writer rooted in China's historical, social, and cultural transformation, Jia Pingwa has expressed in his works his anxieties over environmental deterioration and the effects of that deterioration on people. With the thriving of ecocriticism in China, his Remembering Wolves has received a new wave of significant attention due to its ecological concerns. In tracing Gao Ziming's journey to photograph the fifteen remaining wolves in Shangzhou, Jia weaves different strands of ecological thoughts into the story. Through a close reading of this novel, this essay first attempts to reveal the way Jia expresses his anxieties over the current racial degeneration, it then proceeds to analyze his mobilization of traditional Chinese ecological thoughts in his representation of nature. It ends by highlighting the intrinsic connection between the environmental crisis and the current social problems in China.
Performance and Cognition: How the Performing Arts Contribute to The Science of Mind
Authors: Rokotnitz Naomi
Published: December 2018

The explosion of interest in “4E cognition” in recent years marks a change, not merely in scientific approaches to material brains and bodies, but in attitudes to the processes by which humans think, feel, communicate, and create. This article traces how the evolution of the new field of “the cognitive humanities”—which fosters cross-fertilization between theorists and practitioners from the “humanities” and empirical experimenters in the “sciences”—has been expressed in the work of performers and performance scholars over the last thirty years, leading up to the most recent projects currently underway (in the summer of 2017). I analyze how these forms of artistic and scholarly production contribute to our increasingly nuanced understanding of the breadth and complexity of the human affective, emotional, cognitive, and cultural spectrum.
(Un)Healthy Systems: Merleau-Ponty, Dewey, and the Dynamic Equilibrium Between Self and Environment
Authors: McMahon Laura
Published: December 2018

Against empiricist and rationalist prejudices concerning the nature of issues related to “mental health,” this article offers a phenomenological account of identity as developed in a meaningful system with the environment (Umwelt) or world (Welt). Drawing on the work of Merleau-Ponty and Dewey, I argue that behavioral and emotional health and illness must be understood in terms of the plasticity or rigidity, respectively, of the individual's responses in the face of new and threatening environmental demands. However, individual plasticity and rigidity are not given qualities of the individual but are themselves developed in healthy or unhealthy interpersonal environments. I discuss three cases of emotional and behavioral trouble in order to explore the manner in which unhealthy self-environment systems can undermine individuals' powers of adaptability and growth.
La Salud y espiritualidad desde las identidades culturales, frente al poder colonizador
Authors: Ibarra López Anabel
Published: December 2018

En el siguiente ensayo se comparte una reflexión de la salud y la espiritualidad frente al poder colonizador, este ensayo es producto de diferentes vivencias y aprendizajes de formación que ha permitido articular un análisis a partir que el cuerpo es un constructo social, cultural e histórico por ende la familia, como institución primaria en nuestra vida juega un papel preponderante en la definición de las identidades. Los significados se construye de manera recíproca y en este caso el cuerpo memoria de las emociones, el método etnográfico facilita la exposición del contenido abordar partiendo de mi propia experiencia como facilitadora de procesos de liderazgo y espiritualidad, que me ha permitido profundizar de manera teórica y práctica en mi vivencia personal y profundizar en muchos saberes ancestrales que muchas veces por no tener registros escritos solo se quedan en la memoria oral, pero que también no se reconocen comovaliosos y profesionalizantes.
Factors Affecting the Behavior and Stages of Readiness to Change Exercise Behaviour among University Students
Authors: Boonsem Aungkana , Malarat Anan
Published: December 2018

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the readiness of exercise behaviors of University students. The 400 students were selected using the formula of Yamane and stratified systematic sampling. The instrument used to collect the data was behavioral assessment. The data were analysed using an independent t-test, which resulted in a level of 0.05 level of significance. The results showed the overview of students for the stages of exercise behaviour were in the contemplation stage of 44.10%. In addition, the male and female students have exercise behaviour, according to the mentioned theory were in the contemplation stage.
Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Resource Planning Systems from the Stakeholders’ Perspective: The Case of Jordan
Authors: Halim Reema Mohammad Abdel , Arafeh Mazen , Sweis Ghaleb , Sweis Rateb
Published: December 2018

This study is motivated by the high failure rate of enterprise resource planning (ERP). An analysis is conducted of the numerous studies that have attempted to explore factors that may lead to success in ERP. A descriptive, quantitative, and qualitative approach was used to examine the critical success factors (CSFs) and their effect on emerging ERP success in public and large private organizations in Jordan.

The overall findings of this study indicate that the CSFs for ERP in the private sector are totally different from those in the public sector and that various stakeholders have different opinions regarding these factors.
De ISU-beschikking; rijdt de Commissie een scheve schaats?
Authors: Roscam Abbing Felix
Published: December 2018

De ISU-beschikking; rijdt de Commissie een scheve schaats?

Recentelijk heeft de Europese Commissie geoordeeld dat de regels van de ISU op grond waarvan schaatsers die aan niet-geautoriseerde wedstrijden van derden meedoen een langdurige of zelfs levenslange schorsing riskeren, in strijd zijn met het mededingingsrecht. De Commissie concludeert dat de ISU-regels een doelbeperking zijn in de zin van artikel 101 VWEU. In deze annotatie wordt besproken of deze zaak zich wel leent voor beoordeling als doelbeperking in plaats van gevolgbeperking, en of artikel 101 VWEU überhaupt wel zou moeten worden toegepast. Als laatste wordt kort besproken of dergelijke zaken wel zouden moeten worden beoordeeld onder het mededingingsrecht.
Desenvolvendo Tecnologia de Gestão via Pesquisa-Ação: Uma forma alternativa de demonstrar o Resultado Operacional no Custeio Variável
Authors: Xavier Filho Jose Lindenberg Julião
Published: December 2018

Admitindo a Pesquisa-Ação como uma estratégia de investigação que contempla geração de conhecimento de base empírica, este artigo faz uso de tal estratégia para explorar a temática uso da informação de custo para fins de decisão. O presente estudo foi realizado em uma loja de departamentos de grande porte. A situação-problema que demandou o desenvolvimento da tecnologia de gestão apresentada apontava para a necessidade de acompanhar o resultado dos departamentos. Os Custeios Variável e Direto foram considerados como soluções previamente disponíveis na literatura. A inquietação teórica foi como melhorar a informação da contribuição do objeto de custo à formação do resultado no Custeio Variável quando na estrutura de gastos se tem de forma representativa a presença de gastos fixos próprios/vinculados? Uma forma alternativa de demonstrar o resultado foi desenvolvida a partir do Custeio Variável, gerando a Margem de Contribuição Líquida (MCL) como resultado intermediário na apuração do resultado.
Impactos do tamanho do lote de produção na capacidade produtiva de um recurso crítico de uma empresa calçadista
Authors: Spohr Pedro , Loos Mauricio Johnny
Published: December 2018

O mercado da moda exige constante inovação e variedade de produtos, que devem atender as diversas estações do ano e tendências. Para a manufatura industrial, tamanha variedade torna-se mais desafiadora quando acrescidos fatores como: diferentes numerações e cores. Cada fator tende a reduzir o tamanho das ordens de produção, resultando em aumento dos setups em diversos processos produtivos. Nesse contexto, esse artigo objetiva avaliar o impacto do tamanho dos lotes de produção na capacidade produtiva de um recurso crítico de uma empresa calçadista e sugerir mudanças no processo para aumentar a produtividade do equipamento. A abordagem metodológica utilizada nesse trabalho foi o estudo de caso. Os resultados mostraram que, por meio do estudo realizado foi possível aumentar 60% a eficiência do equipamento analisado, mudando o sequenciamento de carga para a produção de um mesmo modelo agrupando todas as ordens de produção nas matérias primas que não variavam de cor.
Comprometimento organizacional e satisfação no trabalho: estudo com funcionários do CRAS de Borborema-PB
Authors: Bianca Amorim de Oliveira Cíntia , Fontes da Silva Erika , Fontes da Silva Filipe , Dália Paulino Raissa
Published: December 2018

Este estudo objetiva analisar a influência da satisfação no trabalho no comprometimento organizacional dos servidores públicos do CRAS de Borborema- PB, sendo caracterizado quanto aos fins, como pesquisa descritiva; aos meios, uma pesquisa bibliográfica e um estudo de caso, com abordagem quantitativa. O estudo utilizou instrumentos desenvolvidos e validados no Brasil, para medir a satisfação a Escala de Satisfação no Trabalho (EST) e para o comprometimento organizacional, as versões nacionais das três bases do comprometimento conceituadas por Meyer e Allen (1990): Comprometimento Organizacional Afetivo (ECOA), Comprometimento Organizacional Calculativo (ECOC) e Comprometimento Organizacional Normativo (ECON) todas as escalas de autoria de Siqueira (2008). Os resultados revelaram o nível de satisfação dos servidores com o trabalho e níveis de satisfação para cada dimensão, como também o comprometimento organizacional predominante na instituição. De modo geral, constatou-se a correlação positiva entre a satisfação no trabalho e as três bases do comprometimento organizacional.
Otimização de rotas utilizando o sistema de roteirização de código aberto XL Router
Authors: Martins Filipe Soares
Published: December 2018

Este artigo objetivou propor a utilização de um sistema de roteirização baseado no problema do caixeiro viajante de forma que fosse possível aplica-lo de maneira prática a criação de uma nova proposta de rota a ser utilizada por uma empresa da área de distribuição e vendas de produtos gelados. Como procedimento metodológico foi utilizado uma pesquisa aplicada, telematizada e bibliográfica. Foi desenvolvido o sistema XL Router em VBA utilizando o suplemento OpenSolver para que a partir de um ponto de partida e uma série de pontos de parada fosse definida a menor rota possível, informando de maneira clara o tempo previsto para percorrer o percurso. O estudo concluiu que a utilização do sistema proposto alcançou o objetivo primordial de reduzir a quantidade de quilômetros percorridos e que de maneira eficiente gerou informações suficientes para auxiliar o processo de roteirização e que, pela redução do percurso, também permite a redução de custos associados ao processo de transporte e distribuição.