bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of Placental Barrier Permeability: A Model Based on Partial Least Squares Variable Selection Procedure
Authors: Zhang Yong-Hong , Xia Zhi-Ning , Yan Li , Liu Shu-Shen
Published: May 2015

Assessing the human placental barrier permeability of drugs is very important to guarantee drug safety during pregnancy. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) method was used as an effective assessing tool for the placental transfer study of drugs, while in vitro human placental perfusion is the most widely used method. In this study, the partial least squares (PLS) variable selection and modeling procedure was used to pick out optimal descriptors from a pool of 620 descriptors of 65 compounds and to simultaneously develop a QSAR model between the descriptors and the placental barrier permeability expressed by the clearance indices (CI). The model was subjected to internal validation by cross-validation and y-randomization and to external validation by predicting CI values of 19 compounds. It was shown that the model developed is robust and has a good predictive potential (r2 = 0.9064, RMSE = 0.09, q2 = 0.7323, rp2 = 0.7656, RMSP = 0.14). The mechanistic interpretation of the final model was given by the high variable importance in projection values of descriptors. Using PLS procedure, we can rapidly and effectively select optimal descriptors and thus construct a model with good stability and predictability. This analysis can provide an effective tool for the high-throughput screening of the placental barrier permeability of drugs.
Bones of Contention: Bone Mineral Density Recovery in Celiac Disease—A Systematic Review
Authors: Grace-Farfaglia Patricia
Published: May 2015

Metabolic bone disease is a frequent co-morbidity in newly diagnosed adults with celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of dietary gluten. This systematic review of studies looked at the efficacy of the gluten-free diet, physical activity, nutrient supplementation, and bisphosphonates for low bone density treatment. Case control and cohort designs were identified from PubMed and other academic databases (from 1996 to 2015) that observed newly diagnosed adults with CD for at least one year after diet treatment using the dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Only 20 out of 207 studies met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Strengthening of the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement checklist. Gluten-free diet adherence resulted in partial recovery of bone density by one year in all studies, and full recovery by the fifth year. No treatment differences were observed between the gluten-free diet alone and diet plus bisphosphonates in one study. For malnourished patients, supplementation with vitamin D and calcium resulted in significant improvement. Evidence for the impact of physical activity on bone density was limited. Therapeutic strategies aimed at modifying lifestyle factors throughout the lifespan should be studied.
Alphaviruses in Gene Therapy
Authors: Lundstrom Kenneth
Published: May 2015

Alphavirus vectors present an attractive approach for gene therapy applications due to the rapid and simple recombinant virus particle production and their broad range of mammalian host cell transduction. Mainly three types of alphavirus vectors, namely naked RNA, recombinant particles and DNA/RNA layered vectors, have been subjected to preclinical studies with the goal of achieving prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy, particularly in oncology. In this context, immunization with alphavirus vectors has provided protection against challenges with tumor cells. Moreover, alphavirus intratumoral and systemic delivery has demonstrated substantial tumor regression and significant prolonged survival rates in various animal tumor models. Recent discoveries of the strong association of RNA interference and disease have accelerated gene therapy based approaches, where alphavirus-based gene delivery can play an important role.
Philippe Jaccottet, la poésie de l’effacement
Authors: Stiker-Métral Charles-Olivier
Published: May 2015

La poésie de Jaccottet est simple, d’une simplicité qui n’est pas banalité ou prosaïsme, mais dépouillement et purification. La poésie ne cède rien à la rhétorique, elle vient illuminer le monde. La quête de Jaccottet pour l’ineffable du réel a quelque chose de mystique, une mystique qui n’aurait pourtant rien de sacré.
Surveillance de la NSA : pourquoi le système des freins et contre-poids a été court-circuité
Authors: Shapiro Steven R. , Meyer Alix
Published: May 2015

Les dernières révélations sur les activités de surveillance de la NSA aux États-Unis et dans le monde continuent de susciter le débat : leur ampleur est-elle justifiée ? Qu’est-ce que la vie privée dans un monde numérique ? Jusqu’à présent, les questions juridiques ont surtout porté sur le programme de recueil de métadonnées de connexion auprès des opérateurs de téléphonie mobile. Ces données ont été recueillies par la NSA sans que l’agence n’ait eu à cibler un suspect en particulier, à l’encontre de la tradition juridique américaine de protection de la vie privée des personnes face aux intrusions de l’État. Depuis, les médias ont révélé l’existence d’autres programmes de surveillance qui soulèvent des problèmes similaires. Cet article propose de retracer l’histoire chaotique des efforts du législateur et du juge pour contrôler les méthodes de recueil du renseignement aux États-Unis avant d’explorer plus en avant en quoi le recueil en masse de métadonnées téléphoniques par la NSA constitue une menace pour la vie privée des personnes et comment le gouvernement américain a tenté de défendre la légalité de ses actions. Enfin, il s’agira d’expliquer les dysfonctionnements majeurs des mécanismes de contrôle par le législateur et les juges dont les failles ont été aggravées par les nouvelles contraintes très fortes qui pèsent aujourd’hui sur les journalistes qui cherchent à enquêter et à informer le public sur l’appareil de sécurité nationale.
Le « complexe industriel » du renseignement américain et la préservation des libertés
Authors: Le Voguer Gildas
Published: May 2015

Les récentes révélations effectuées par la presse à propos de l’interception de communications téléphoniques privées et de programmes de surveillance électronique activés par la National Security Agency laissent une impression de déjà-vu. Cependant, l’ampleur de ces programmes est si considérable qu’il faut bien admettre que la communauté du renseignement américaine est entrée dans une nouvelle ère, celle de la surveillance de masse. Cet article a pour objet d’analyser comment les faiblesses du renseignement humain ont progressivement conduit la communauté du renseignement américaine à privilégier le renseignement technique. Après les attentats du 11 septembre, cette évolution s’est confirmée et la communauté du renseignement s’est transformée en un véritable « complexe industriel », qui a systématisé la surveillance de masse. Mais, dans un pays comme les États-Unis, cette évolution ne pouvait pas se passer sans anicroches car le respect sacro saint accordé à la vie privée et une longue tradition de désobéissance civile invitent les lanceurs d’alerte à réagir.
Le dilemme sécurité-libertés : les contradictions de la politique américaine en Afrique
Authors: Kandel Maya
Published: May 2015

Cet article entend aborder la problématique sécurité-libertés à travers le cas particulier de la politique des États-Unis en Afrique, emblématique du dilemme entre ces deux principes et qui pourrait se résumer par cette question : comment concilier la défense des intérêts stratégiques américains avec la volonté de promouvoir la démocratie et plus largement la gouvernance ou, pour le dire autrement, comment concilier objectifs à court terme et objectifs à long terme, c’est-à-dire la défense des intérêts américains contre une menace terroriste estimée en hausse, tout en cherchant à résoudre les causes du terrorisme et à régler ce problème sur le long terme ? L’étude de la politique américaine en Afrique est particulièrement pertinente dans cette optique, car Washington a voulu faire du continent africain le laboratoire de la réorientation stratégique engagée par Barack Obama et en particulier de la nouvelle stratégie d’empreinte légère ou light footprint. Or cette approche, si elle cherche à apporter une réponse novatrice prenant en compte le dilemme sécurité-libertés, n’est pas exempte de contradictions ; dans certains cas, elle pourrait même avoir des effets contre-productifs illustrant la difficulté de dépasser les contradictions entre certains objectifs fondamentaux de la politique américaine.
Image Based 3D Modeling and Rendering from Single View Perspective Images
Authors: Mohan S. , Murali S.
Published: May 2015

In computer vision, 3D modeling refers to the process of developing 3D representation of the real world objects with systematic procedure. The 3D models can be built based on geometric information about the object or scene to be modeled using CAD/CAM software. However, this approach needs prior knowledge of the objects in the scene like dimension, size of objects, distance from the object to camera, et cetera. To make the 3D models more photo realistic and convenient, images of the objects can be used to build the 3D models. In this chapter, the authors propose a method to extract 3D model from single view perspective image. The approach is based on edge length and exploiting symmetric objects in the scene. Later, an application of touring into picture is discussed with the proposed method.
Full Circle Moments
Authors: Taylor Nicole A.
Published: May 2015

This chapter reflects an education journey that has shaped the author's cultural ideologies of education and teaching. Even though the latter part of the author's education journey is the main focus, the beginning of the journey is also chronicled. Most of the journey that is discussed (in the latter part) took place among culturally different institutions of higher education. The pressures and practical lessons learned pertaining to education and cultural perspectives are discussed and emphasized. How the journey has impacted the author's thought process and engagement with students is also mentioned, as consideration is given to how different perspectives impact individuals' interactions with others in the learning process, especially as an educator. Overall, this chapter hopes to inspire women of color who strive to pursue a profession in the field of education by offering motivation through recollection of an educational journey and through mentioned practical implications for teaching.
Black, Female, and Foreign
Authors: Smith Christina Ramirez
Published: May 2015

Society has failed to acknowledge intra-group differences, and as a result, disregarded the ethnic distinctiveness, cultural practices, and norms of Afro-Caribbean emigrant (Rogers, 2001; Vickerman, 2001). In this chapter, the “triple-invisibility” of the Afro-Caribbean woman in the academy is explored within the context of race, gender, emigrant status and the goals concerning broader diversities related to higher education in the US.
Teaching to Digress
Authors: Etter-Lewis Gwendolyn , Banda Roselyn K. , Kinley Sarah A.
Published: May 2015

This chapter explores the challenge of creating a “liberated” classroom, one that digresses from the norm in both content and structure according to feminist principles. This teaching project was designed to create a unique learning environment through the use of black feminist pedagogy. Charged with teaching a cross-listed course (Women's Studies, Black Studies) entitled “Black Feminist Theory,” the teaching team consisted of a professor, a graduate student, and an undergraduate student. The team came together from a diversity of educational experiences in the U.S. and Africa. This chapter is a reflection of the team's experiences co-teaching a “non-traditional” course as well as a collective inquiry about the strategic importance of incorporating oppositional discourse into the college curriculum.
Performance Improvement of a Sales Training Feedback System
Authors: Symonette Simone G.
Published: May 2015

This case study examines the analysis, design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a training feedback system. In this case, the system captured sales training participant feedback and distributed that data to stakeholders to analyze and to resolve problems within the learning experience. The intervention set presented in the case is intended for practitioners who have limited time and resources but are interested in creating a feedback system that meets ever changing business demands in a sales training environment.
Bringing Service Standards to Life
Authors: Kwan Julie , Clark Stephanie , Villachica Steven W.
Published: May 2015

This case study describes the efforts of performance consultants to improve the extent to which staff and volunteers at a nonprofit agency performed according to their customer service standards. After providing background information about the organization and its service standards, the case study describes the existing performance gap regarding the standards and the consultants' response to the client's initial request for training. The case study describes the performance analysis the consultants conducted, including the gap analysis, organizational analysis, environmental analysis, and cause analysis. The case study also describes the task analysis that the consultants conducted using the critical incident technique. The case study concludes with a description of how the consultants created the resulting training, and the effect of the training on the sponsoring organization.
Knowledge Management of Medical Information Resources and Tools
Authors: Mi Misa , Stefaniak Jill E.
Published: May 2015

This case demonstrates how problem-based learning (PBL) was used as a teaching method to help medical students integrate their knowledge of basic sciences with a clinical application at a medical school. PBL promotes self-directed, problem-solving, and lifelong learning. In the PBL context, students sought out a variety of resources to tackle their learning issues and help them arrive at a solution to a patient problem. The existing strategy for curating resources was not aligned with the type of thinking and activities in the PBL process. Therefore, a knowledge management system was developed to provide an online knowledge base of medical information resources and tools easily accessible at the point of students' needs.
Blending Front-End Analysis
Authors: McGoldrick Beth
Published: May 2015

Performance problems come in all forms. The method presented in this chapter blends the models of three respected Performance improvement icons – Joe Harless, Thomas Gilbert, and Roger Chevalier. Their theoretical and practical approaches are applied to a case study. The three models – 13 Smart Questions (Front-end analysis), Behavior Engineering Model (BEM), and Updated BEM – when combined show ways practitioners can assess and improve performance. The practitioner will develop effective partnerships with clients, gain valuable perspectives on the issues, and their underlying causes. Finally the practitioner will be able to lead a department or an organization in fully analyzing problems and determining how best to solve them.
Rethinking the Project Management Process by Using Unified Modeling Language
Authors: Chang Liang-Cheng
Published: May 2015

Project management skills such as WBS, Gantt Chart and PERT have been applied in many fields, but system analysts preferred UML to project tools. This article recommend transformation rules from project items into objects and project charts into UML diagrams, to model all project items and processes by using UML. Therefore, UML can be applied not only to system analysis and design, but also to entire project processes. Stakeholders in a project can rethink the project in terms of object orientation and communicate with system developers using the same tool as UML.
Exacerbated Experimental Colitis in TNFAIP8-Deficient Mice
Authors: Sun Honghong , Lou Yunwei , Porturas Thomas , Morrissey Samantha , Luo George , Qi Ji , Ruan Qingguo , Shi Songlin , Chen Youhai H.
Published: May 2015

The TNF-α–induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8 or TIPE) is a risk factor for cancer and bacterial infection, and its expression is upregulated in a number of human cancers. However, its physiologic and pathologic functions are unclear. In this study, we describe the generation of TIPE-deficient mice and their increased sensitivity to colonic inflammation. TIPE-deficient mice were generated by germ line gene targeting and were born without noticeable developmental abnormalities. Their major organs, including lymphoid organs and intestines, were macroscopically and microscopically normal. However, after drinking dextran sodium sulfate–containing water, TIPE-deficient mice developed more severe colitis than wild type mice did, as demonstrated by decreased survival rates, increased body weight loss, and enhanced leukocyte infiltration, bacterial invasion, and inflammatory cytokine production in the colon. Bone marrow chimeric experiments revealed that TIPE deficiency in nonhematopoietic cells was responsible for the exacerbated colitis in TIPE-deficient mice. Consistent with this result, TIPE-deficient intestinal epithelial cells had increased rate of cell death and decreased rate of proliferation as compared with wild type controls. These findings indicate that TIPE plays an important role in maintaining colon homeostasis and in protecting against colitis.
De Novo–Induced Self-Antigen–Specific Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells Impair the Accumulation of Inflammatory Dendritic Cells in Draining Lymph Nodes
Authors: Alissafi Themis , Hatzioannou Aikaterini , Ioannou Marianna , Sparwasser Tim , Grün Joachim R. , Grützkau Andreas , Verginis Panayotis
Published: May 2015

Foxp3+ regulatory T cell (Treg)-based immunotherapy holds promise for autoimmune diseases. However, this effort has been hampered by major caveats, including the low frequency of autoantigen-specific Foxp3+ Tregs and lack of understanding of their molecular and cellular targets, in an unmanipulated wild-type (WT) immune repertoire. In this study, we demonstrate that infusion of myelin in WT mice results in the de novo induction of myelin-specific Foxp3+ Tregs in WT mice and amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Myelin-specific Foxp3+ Tregs exerted their effect both by diminishing Ag-bearing inflammatory dendritic cell (iDC) recruitment to lymph nodes and by impairing their function. Transcriptome analysis of ex vivo–isolated Treg-exposed iDCs showed significant enrichment of transcripts involved in functional properties of iDCs, including chemotaxis-related genes. To this end, CCR7 expression by iDCs was significantly downregulated in tolerant mice and this was tightly regulated by the presence of IL-10. Collectively, our data demonstrate a novel model for deciphering the Ag-specific Foxp3+ Treg-mediated mechanisms of tolerance and delineate iDCs as a Foxp3+ Treg cellular target in unmanipulated mice.
Regulation of Neutrophilic Inflammation by Proteinase-Activated Receptor 1 during Bacterial Pulmonary Infection
Authors: José Ricardo J. , Williams Andrew E. , Mercer Paul F. , Sulikowski Michal G. , Brown Jeremy S. , Chambers Rachel C.
Published: May 2015

Neutrophils are key effector cells of the innate immune response to pathogenic bacteria, but excessive neutrophilic inflammation can be associated with bystander tissue damage. The mechanisms responsible for neutrophil recruitment to the lungs during bacterial pneumonia are poorly defined. In this study, we focus on the potential role of the major high-affinity thrombin receptor, proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1), during the development of pneumonia to the common lung pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our studies demonstrate that neutrophils were indispensable for controlling S. pneumoniae outgrowth but contributed to alveolar barrier disruption. We further report that intra-alveolar coagulation (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid thrombin–antithrombin complex levels) and PAR-1 immunostaining were increased in this model of bacterial lung infection. Functional studies using the most clinically advanced PAR-1 antagonist, SCH530348, revealed a key contribution for PAR-1 signaling in influencing neutrophil recruitment to lung airspaces in response to both an invasive and noninvasive strain of S. pneumoniae (D39 and EF3030) but that PAR-1 antagonism did not impair the ability of the host to control bacterial outgrowth. PAR-1 antagonist treatment significantly decreased pulmonary levels of IL-1β, CXCL1, CCL2, and CCL7 and attenuated alveolar leak. Ab neutralization studies further demonstrated a nonredundant role for IL-1β, CXCL1, and CCL7 in mediating neutrophil recruitment in response to S. pneumoniae infection. Taken together, these data demonstrate a key role for PAR-1 during S. pneumoniae lung infection that is mediated, at least in part, by influencing multiple downstream inflammatory mediators.
Knowledge apartheid in disaster risk management discourse: Is marrying indigenous and scientific knowledge the missing link?
Authors: Mutasa Mukundi
Published: May 2015

Indigenous knowledge (IK) is a key component of disaster risk management (DRM) and development planning, yet it is often overlooked, with practitioners preferring to use scientific knowledge. Critics of IK have termed it archaic, primitive, a constraint to development and inferior to scientific knowledge, which has contributed to its widespread marginalisation. However, smallholder farmers in rural Zimbabwe have utilised IK for generations, especially in predicting rainfall patterns and managing drought conditions, showing that IK can be a useful tool in DRM. This article presents findings from research on drought vulnerability and coping conducted in Zimbabwe’s Buhera and Chikomba districts in 2009, particularly relating to utilisation of IK in smallholder farming communities, and argues that unless IK is documented and preserved, its marginalisation will persist. The research followed a mixed-methods approach whereby both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. Whilst smallholder respondents were randomly selected for household surveys, snowball sampling was employed for key informant interviews. Respondents indicated that they utilised some indigenous rainfall pattern predictions gained from observing and interpreting plant and animal behaviour. Some cultural practices that were critical to development and utilisation of certain IK were also threatened with extinction. The article argues for ’marrying’ IK and scientific knowledge, in the hope that the two will offset each other’s weaknesses, resulting in some kind of hybrid knowledge that will be critical for promoting sustainable agricultural production in Zimbabwe. However, this is not for disregard the challenges associated with knowledge hybridisation, as these two types of knowledge are grounded on differing foundations.
Identifying Molecular Features Associated with Psychoneurological Symptoms in Women with Breast Cancer Using Multivariate Mixed Models
Authors: Zhou Qing , Jackson-Cook Colleen , Lyon Debra , Perera Robert , Archer Kellie J.
Published: May 2015

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer among women. Research shows many women with BC experience anxiety, depression, and stress (ADS). Epigenetics has recently emerged as a potential mechanism for the development of depression. 1 Although there are growing numbers of research studies indicating that epigenetic changes are associated with ADS, there is currently no evidence that this association is present in women with BC. The goal of this study was to identify high-throughput methylation sites (CpG sites) that are associated with three psychoneurological symptoms (ADS) in women with BC. Traditionally, univariate models have been used to examine the relationship between methylation sites and each psychoneurological symptom; nevertheless, ADS can be treated as a cluster of related symptoms and included together in a multivariate linear model. Hence, an overarching goal of this study is to compare and contrast univariate and multivariate models when identifying methylation sites associated with ADS in women with BC. When fitting separate linear regression models for each ADS scale, 3 among 285,173 CpG sites tested were significantly associated with depression. Two significant CpG sites are located on their respective genes FAM101A and FOXJ1, and the third site cannot be mapped to any known gene at this time. In contrast, the multivariate models identified 8,535 ADS-related CpG sites. In conclusion, when analyzing correlated psychoneurological symptom outcomes, multivariate models are more powerful and thus are recommended.
Quantitative stability for sumsets in $\mathbb R^n$
Authors: Figalli Alessio , Jerison David
Published: May 2015

Given a measurable set

A\subset \mathbb R^n

of positive measure, it is not difficult to show that

|A+A|=|2A|

if and only if

A

is equal to its convex hull minus a set of measure zero. We investigate the stability of this statement: If

(|A+A|-|2A|)/|A|

is small, is

A

close to its convex hull? Our main result is an explicit control, in arbitrary dimension, on the measure of the difference between

A

and its convex hull in terms of

(|A+A|-|2A|)/|A|

.
Ouverture de ‘Smart Specialisation, Global Markets and Innovation Policies’
Authors: Bellini Nicola , Brondoni Silvio M.
Published: May 2015

Competition in global markets shapes a multi-dimensional space so that a given geographical context can imply the simultaneous presence of very different competitors. Research and innovation are acknowledged to play a key role in maintaining sustainable levels of growth and employment. Restoring sustainable growth will only be possible if the EU boosts competitiveness and promotes innovation in the industry and services sectors. In recent years, the so-called “smart specialisation” has assumed great importance in the policies for economic growth of European regions. The smart specialisation strategy defines itself as a flexible and dynamic innovation strategy for a new phase of development, which passes through the global transformation of the economic environment.
Scaling from individual trees to forests in an Earth system modeling framework using a mathematically tractable model of height-structured competition
Authors: Weng E. S. , Malyshev S. , Lichstein J. W. , Farrior C. E. , Dybzinski R. , Zhang T. , Shevliakova E. , Pacala S. W.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The long-term and large-scale dynamics of ecosystems are in large part determined by the performances of individual plants in competition with one another for light, water, and nutrients. Woody biomass, a pool of carbon (C) larger than 50% of atmospheric CO2, exists because of height-structured competition for light. However, most of the current Earth system models that predict climate change and C cycle feedbacks lack both a mechanistic formulation for height-structured competition for light and an explicit scaling from individual plants to the globe. In this study, we incorporate height-structured competition for light, competition for water, and explicit scaling from individuals to ecosystems into the land model version 3 (LM3) currently used in the Earth system models developed by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). The height-structured formulation is based on the perfect plasticity approximation (PPA), which has been shown to accurately scale from individual-level plant competition for light, water, and nutrients to the dynamics of whole communities. Because of the tractability of the PPA, the coupled LM3-PPA model is able to include a large number of phenomena across a range of spatial and temporal scales and still retain computational tractability, as well as close linkages to mathematically tractable forms of the model. We test a range of predictions against data from temperate broadleaved forests in the northern USA. The results show the model predictions agree with diurnal and annual C fluxes, growth rates of individual trees in the canopy and understory, tree size distributions, and species-level population dynamics during succession. We also show how the competitively optimal allocation strategy – the strategy that can competitively exclude all others – shifts as a function of the atmospheric CO2 concentration. This strategy is referred to as an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) in the ecological literature and is typically not the same as a productivity- or growth-maximizing strategy. Model simulations predict that C sinks caused by CO2 fertilization in forests limited by light and water will be down-regulated if allocation tracks changes in the competitive optimum. The implementation of the model in this paper is for temperate broadleaved forest trees, but the formulation of the model is general. It can be expanded to include other growth forms and physiologies simply by altering parameter values.
Two decades of inorganic carbon dynamics along the Western Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Hauri C. , Doney S. C. , Takahashi T. , Erickson M. , Jiang G. , Ducklow H. W.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. We present 20 years of seawater inorganic carbon measurements collected along the western shelf and slope of the Antarctic Peninsula. Water column observations from summertime cruises and seasonal surface underway pCO2 measurements provide unique insights into the spatial, seasonal and interannual variability of the dynamic system. The discrete measurements from depths > 2000 m align well with World Ocean Circulation Experiment observations across the time-series and underline the consistency of the data set. Analysis shows large spatial gradients in surface alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon content, with a concomitant wide range of Ωarag from values < 1 up to 3.9. This spatial variability was mainly driven by increasing influence of biological productivity towards the southern end of the sampling grid and melt water input along the coast towards the northern end. Large inorganic carbon drawdown through biological production in summer caused high near-shore Ωarag despite glacial and sea-ice melt water input. In support of previous studies, we observed Redfield behavior of regional C / N nutrient utilization, while the C / P (80.5 ± 2.5) and N / P (11.7 ± 0.3) molar ratios were significantly lower than the Redfield elemental stoichiometric values. Seasonal predictions of Ωarag suggest that surface waters remained mostly supersaturated with regard to aragonite throughout the study. However, more than a third of the predictions for winters between 1999 and 2013 resulted in Ωarag < 1.3. Such low levels of Ωarag may have implications for important organisms such as pteropods. Despite large interannual variability, surface pCO2 measurements indicate a statistically significant increasing trend of up to 23 μatm per decade in fall and spring and a concomitant decreasing pH, pointing towards first signs of ocean acidification in the region. The combination of ongoing ocean acidification and freshwater input may soon provoke more unfavorable conditions than what the ecosystem experiences today.
Evaluating the Community Land Model in a pine stand with 13CO2 labeling and shading manipulations
Authors: Mao J. , Ricciuto D. M. , Thornton P. E. , Warren J. M. , King A. W. , Shi X. , Iversen C. M. , Norby R. J.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Carbon allocation and flow through ecosystems regulate land surface–atmosphere CO2 exchange and thus is a key, albeit uncertain, component of mechanistic models. The Partitioning in Trees and Soil (PiTS) experiment-model project tracked carbon allocation through a young Pinus taeda stand following pulse-labeling with 13CO2 and two levels of shading. The field component of this project provided process-oriented data that was used to evaluate and improve terrestrial biosphere model simulations of rapid shifts in carbon allocation and hydrological dynamics under varying environmental conditions. Here we tested the performance of the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4) in capturing short-term carbon and water dynamics in relation to manipulative shading treatments, and the timing and magnitude of carbon fluxes through various compartments of the ecosystem. For CLM4 to closely simulate pretreatment conditions, we calibrated select model parameters with pretreatment observational data. Compared to CLM4 simulations with default parameters, CLM4 with calibrated model parameters was able to better simulate pretreatment vegetation carbon pools, light response curves, and other initial states and fluxes of carbon and water. Over a 3 week treatment period, the calibrated CLM4 generally reproduced the impacts of shading on average soil moisture at 15–95 cm depth, transpiration, relative change in stem carbon, and soil CO2 efflux rate, although some discrepancies in the estimation of magnitudes and temporal evolutions existed. CLM4, however, was not able to track the progression of the 13CO2 label from the atmosphere through foliage, phloem, roots or surface soil CO2 efflux, even when optimized model parameters were used. This model bias arises, in part, from the lack of a short-term non-structural carbohydrate storage pool and progressive timing of within-plant transport, thus indicating a need for future work to improve the allocation routines in CLM4. Overall, these types of detailed evaluations of CLM4, paired with intensive field manipulations, can help to identify model strengths and weaknesses, model uncertainties, and additional observations necessary for future model development.
Sea level trends in Southeast Asian seas
Authors: Strassburg M. W. , Hamlington B. D. , Leben R. R. , Manurung P. , Lumban Gaol J. , Nababan B. , Vignudelli S. , Kim K.-Y.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Southeast Asian seas span the largest archipelago in the global ocean and provide a complex oceanic pathway connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans. The Southeast Asian sea regional sea level trends are some of the highest observed in the modern satellite altimeter record that now spans almost 2 decades. Initial comparisons of global sea level reconstructions find that 17-year sea level trends over the past 60 years exhibit good agreement with decadal variability associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and related fluctuations of trade winds in the region. The Southeast Asian sea region exhibits sea level trends that vary dramatically over the studied time period. This historical variation suggests that the strong regional sea level trends observed during the modern satellite altimeter record will abate as trade winds fluctuate on decadal and longer timescales. Furthermore, after removing the contribution of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) to sea level trends in the past 20 years, the rate of sea level rise is greatly reduced in the Southeast Asian sea region. As a result of the influence of the PDO, the Southeast Asian sea regional sea level trends during the 2010s and 2020s are likely to be less than the global mean sea level (GMSL) trend if the observed oscillations in wind forcing and sea level persist. Nevertheless, long-term sea level trends in the Southeast Asian seas will continue to be affected by GMSL rise occurring now and in the future.
Stability of ENSO and its tropical Pacific teleconnections over the Last Millennium
Authors: Lewis S. C. , LeGrande A. N.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Determining past changes in the amplitude, frequency and teleconnections of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is important for understanding its potential sensitivity to future anthropogenic climate change. Palaeo-reconstructions from proxy records provide long-term information of ENSO interactions with the background climatic state through time. However, it remains unclear how ENSO characteristics have changed through time, and precisely which signals proxies record. Proxy interpretations are underpinned by the assumption of stationarity in relationships between local and remote climates, and often utilise archives from single locations located in the Pacific Ocean to reconstruct ENSO histories. Here, we investigate the stationarity of ENSO teleconnections using the Last Millennium experiment of CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5) (Taylor et al., 2012). We show that modelled ENSO characteristics vary on decadal- to centennial-scales, resulting from internal variability and external forcings, such as tropical volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, the relationship between ENSO conditions and local climates across the Pacific basin varies throughout the Last Millennium. Results show the stability of teleconnections is regionally dependent and proxies may reveal complex changes in teleconnected patterns, rather than large-scale changes in base ENSO characteristics. As such, proxy insights into ENSO likely require evidence to be synthesised over large spatial areas in order to deconvolve changes occurring in the NINO3.4 region from those pertaining to proxy-relevant local climatic variables. To obtain robust histories of the ENSO and its remote impacts, we recommend interpretations of proxy records should be considered in conjunction with palaeo-reconstructions from within the Central Pacific.
Analysis of precipitation cycles based on MEM in the Yellow River basin
Authors: Li Z. , Cheng T. , Song H. , Li Z. , Yu J.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Using the monthly precipitation series of 32 meteorological stations in the Yellow River basin from 1951 to 2003, the precipitation cycles were discussed using the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM), the spatial distribution of the precipitation cycles were analysed, and the possible driving factors of the cycles investigated. The results show that the precipitation in the Yellow River has decadal (60a), inter-decadal (25a and 14a) and inter-annual cycles (9a and 3a). The main oscillations over the whole basin are 3a and 9a. There are clearer inter-decadal variations in the riverhead area with much greater water resources, and north of the region of LanHe main stream. The decadal signals are detected in the inner area with less precipitation and Wei River basin. These differences are possibly related to some physical processes, such as the mutual action of sea and atmosphere, and solar activities.
Satellite and gauge rainfall merging using geographically weighted regression
Authors: Hu Q. , Yang H. , Meng X. , Wang Y. , Deng P.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. A residual-based rainfall merging scheme using geographically weighted regression (GWR) has been proposed. This method is capable of simultaneously blending various satellite rainfall data with gauge measurements and could describe the non-stationary influences of geographical and terrain factors on rainfall spatial distribution. Using this new method, an experimental study on merging daily rainfall from the Climate Prediction Center Morphing dataset (CMOROH) and gauge measurements was conducted for the Ganjiang River basin, in Southeast China. We investigated the capability of the merging scheme for daily rainfall estimation under different gauge density. Results showed that under the condition of sparse gauge density the merging rainfall scheme is remarkably superior to the interpolation using just gauge data.
Spatial and temporal variations of precipitation in Haihe River basin in the recent 53 years
Authors: Wang B. , Xu Z.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. In the context of climate change, the precipitation of the Haihe River basin undergoes significant changes. Based on the daily precipitation data from 58 stations over 53 years in and around Haihe River basin, the spatial and temporal variation of precipitation was analysed by the M-K test method using the ArcGIS platform. The results showed that there is a descending trend in the annual precipitation and after the mutations, 97.9% of the area experiences a precipitation reduction by the amount of 0–200 mm. The proportion of precipitation in the flood season demonstrates a decreasing tendency, in which the proportion of precipitation in July declines significantly. Meanwhile, precipitation in July also experiences a downward tendency and after the mutations, the decrement of precipitation in July amounts to 0–84 mm. However, annual precipitation and the proportion of precipitation in June all experience a rising trend. After the mutations, the added precipitation concentrates in 0–36 mm. With the increase of the proportion of non-flood season precipitation, the precipitation and proportion of precipitation in May both exhibit an increasing tendency. After the mutations, the added value of precipitation concentrates as 0–29 mm.
Study of Beijiang catchment flash-flood forecasting model
Authors: Chen Y. , Li J. , Huang S. , Dong Y.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. Beijiang catchment is a small catchment in southern China locating in the centre of the storm areas of the Pearl River Basin. Flash flooding in Beijiang catchment is a frequently observed disaster that caused direct damages to human beings and their properties. Flood forecasting is the most effective method for mitigating flash floods, the goal of this paper is to develop the flash flood forecasting model for Beijiang catchment. The catchment property data, including DEM, land cover types and soil types, which will be used for model construction and parameter determination, are downloaded from the website freely. Based on the Liuxihe Model, a physically based distributed hydrological model, a model for flash flood forecasting of Beijiang catchment is set up. The model derives the model parameters from the terrain properties, and further optimized with the observed flooding process, which improves the model performance. The model is validated with a few observed floods occurred in recent years, and the results show that the model is reliable and is promising for flash flood forecasting.
Study of heterogeneous vertical hyporheic flux via streambed temperature at different depths
Authors: Zhu J. , Shu L. , Lu C. , Li J. , Chen S. , Li S. , Wang G.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The hyporheic flux can be characterized using the heat-tracing method. Based on the analytical solution of the one-dimensional steady-state heat transport equation under vertical groundwater discharge conditions, hyporheic flux was obtained via a curve fitting method. The temperature data used was obtained from monitoring three different sections of the DaWen River, Shandong Province. The distribution of the depth of the hyporheic zone was analysed by a curve relating groundwater temperature and the depth of the hyporheic zone. The study results showed that the vertical hyporheic flux was significantly heterogeneous along the three sections. The hyporheic flux ranged from 99.61 to 356.25 L/m2 per day. In the summer, the low temperature area on streambed profile was in accordance with the high value areas of hyporheic flux. There were several strong discharge zones within the same section and these flux values were normally distributed. The depth of the hyporheic zone was inversely proportional to the hyporheic flux and the hyporheic zone depth, also, presented great spatial heterogeneity.
Research experiment on infiltration and runoff in Jujube land of northern Shaanxi Province
Authors: Song X. , Bai P.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. To provide guidance for the efficient use of rainwater in Jujube forests of the northern Shaanxi Province, research on the processes of infiltration and runoff under field simulated rainfall were conducted. The process of infiltration and runoff-yield on sloping land was simulated with Richards equation and the water balance equation under different rainfall intensities and soil water content, in the north of Shaanxi province. It reached results via comparing with observation results: the mean relative error of the period cumulative infiltration was less than 3%, with a root mean squared error (RSME) less than 0.3. The mean relative error of the period cumulative runoff was less than 12.5%, RSME < 0.4. The simulation results were reasonable; however, the simulation ponding time generally lagged behind measured ponding time probably because of spatial variation of saturated hydraulic conductivity and uneven rainfall.
Flood forecasting model based on geographical information system
Authors: Dong A. , Zhi-Jia L. , Yong-Tuo W. , Cheng Y. , Yi-Heng D.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. In this paper, the Antecedent Precipitation Index Model (API) combined with Nash’s Instantaneous Unit Curve Method is adopted for flood forecasting. The parameters n and k of Nash’s Method is obtained by setting up the mathematic relation between these two parameters and topographic characteristics. Based on the DEM information, ArcGIS software is used to get the topographic characteristics and the topographic parameters. The Tunxi basin in the humid region was taken as an example for analysis. Through comparison with the simulation results of the Xinanjiang model, the detailed analysis of our simulation results is carried out giving a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency 0.80 for the combined model and 0.94 for the Xinanjiang model. This indicates that the combined model as well as the Xinanjiang Model has a good performance in the simulation process. The combined model has great potential as a new efficient approach for flood forecasting in similar basins.
An estimation method of the direct benefit of a waterlogging control project applicable to the changing environment
Authors: Zengmei L. , Guanghua Q. , Zishen C.
Published: May 2015

Abstract. The direct benefit of a waterlogging control project is reflected by the reduction or avoidance of waterlogging loss. Before and after the construction of a waterlogging control project, the disaster-inducing environment in the waterlogging-prone zone is generally different. In addition, the category, quantity and spatial distribution of the disaster-bearing bodies are also changed more or less. Therefore, under the changing environment, the direct benefit of a waterlogging control project should be the reduction of waterlogging losses compared to conditions with no control project. Moreover, the waterlogging losses with or without the project should be the mathematical expectations of the waterlogging losses when rainstorms of all frequencies meet various water levels in the drainage-accepting zone. So an estimation model of the direct benefit of waterlogging control is proposed. Firstly, on the basis of a Copula function, the joint distribution of the rainstorms and the water levels are established, so as to obtain their joint probability density function. Secondly, according to the two-dimensional joint probability density distribution, the dimensional domain of integration is determined, which is then divided into small domains so as to calculate the probability for each of the small domains and the difference between the average waterlogging loss with and without a waterlogging control project, called the regional benefit of waterlogging control project, under the condition that rainstorms in the waterlogging-prone zone meet the water level in the drainage-accepting zone. Finally, it calculates the weighted mean of the project benefit of all small domains, with probability as the weight, and gets the benefit of the waterlogging control project. Taking the estimation of benefit of a waterlogging control project in Yangshan County, Guangdong Province, as an example, the paper briefly explains the procedures in waterlogging control project benefit estimation. The results show that the waterlogging control benefit estimation model constructed is applicable to the changing conditions that occur in both the disaster-inducing environment of the waterlogging-prone zone and disaster-bearing bodies, considering all conditions when rainstorms of all frequencies meet different water levels in the drainage-accepting zone. Thus, the estimation method of waterlogging control benefit can reflect the actual situation more objectively, and offer a scientific basis for rational decision-making for waterlogging control projects.