bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empirical Analysis for E-Services Acceptance Model
Authors: Sandhu Kamaljeet
Published: January 2013

This study investigates factors that influence the acceptance and use of e-Services. The research model includes factors such as user experience, user motivation, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use in explaining the process of e-Services acceptance, use, and continued use. The two core variables of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, are integrated into the Electronic Services Acceptance Model (E-SAM).
Pervasive Games and Mobile Technologies for Embodied Language Learning
Authors: Driver Paul
Published: January 2013

Thanks to the rapidly increasing adoption of mobile communications and wireless technologies, language educators are now empowered to sculpt interactions and design learning experiences using the real world as their canvas. City streets, shopping centres, cafés, and cemeteries can be augmented with new layers of meaning and narrative as learner-players use their language skills to navigate the chaotic and unpredictable environment of everyday life and achieve their objectives. Spatially expanded games provide a natural way to situate language production in context-rich, authentic settings, in contrast to the comparatively sterile confines of the traditional classroom. They are multimodal, multi-sensory, and highly personal immersive experiences. This paper explores the potential of technology-enhanced pervasive urban games for language learning and the pedagogic and philosophical foundations upon which these ideas are based. Examples are provided from an ongoing location-based research project.
A Theoretical Framework for Serious Game Design
Authors: Rooney Pauline
Published: January 2013

It is widely acknowledged that digital games can provide an engaging, motivating and “fun” experience for students. However an entertaining game does not necessarily constitute a meaningful, valuable learning experience. For this reason, experts espouse the importance of underpinning serious games with a sound theoretical framework which integrates and balances theories from two fields of practice: pedagogy and game design (Kiili, 2005; Seeney & Routledge, 2009). Additionally, with the advent of sophisticated, immersive technologies, and increasing interest in the opportunities for constructivist learning offered by these technologies, concepts of fidelity and its impact on student learning and engagement, have emerged (Aldrich, 2005; Harteveld et al., 2007, 2010). This paper will explore a triadic theoretical framework for serious game design comprising play, pedagogy and fidelity. It will outline underpinning theories, review key literatures and identify challenges and issues involved in balancing these elements in the process of serious game design.
Intelligent Medication Adherence Monitoring System (iMedPlus)
Authors: Anastasiou Athanasios , Giokas Kostas , Koutsouri Georgia , Iliopoulou Dimitra
Published: January 2013

This paper presents the architecture and implementation of an automatic medication dispenser (iMedPlus) specifically for users who take medications without close professional supervision. By relieving the users from the error-prone tasks of interpreting medication directions and administrating medications accordingly, the device can improve rigor in compliance and prevent serious medication errors. By taking advantage of scheduling flexibility provided by medication directions, the device makes the user’s medication schedule easy to adhere and tolerant to tardiness whenever possible. This work is done collaboratively by the medication scheduler and dispenser controller in an action-oriented manner. An advantage of the action-oriented interface between the components is extensibility, as new functions can be added and existing ones removed with little or no need to modify the dispenser control structure. The paper first describes the action-oriented design, major components, and hardware structures of the smart device. It then provides an overview of the heuristic algorithms used by the medication scheduler and their relative merits. The different available user options are presented depicting the user-specific operating modes of the device/service. The scope of this paper is to describe the development of a smart electronic drug dispenser unit for the pharmaceutical adherence of patients.
Balancing of Heterogeneity and Interoperability in E-Business Networks
Authors: Dorloff Frank-Dieter , Kajan Ejub
Published: January 2013

To reach this interoperability visibility and common understanding must be ensured on all levels of the interoperability pyramid. This includes common agreements about the visions, political and legal restrictions, clear descriptions about the collaboration scenarios, included business processes and-rules, the type and roles of the Documents, a common understandable vocabulary, etc. To do this in an effective and automatable manner, ICT based concepts, frameworks and models have to be defined, that have to be known and understood, accepted and that have to provide additional e-benefits for all participating partners. In addition, ICT systems, tools and other instruments must be compliant with all the restrictions defined by the interoperability pyramid and they have to support the work properly and efficient, and last but not least they have to ensure trust and minimize e-business risks. Nowadays, many profitable and well working individual solutions on the market may be found. But there still is a gap for more general and well working interoperability solutions. This article shows the state of the Art in Research and Practice in building, managing and maintaining E-Business solutions under the focus to enhance interoperability based on standards, protocols and other helpful concepts, instruments and examples. To provide better understanding for non-specialists, also, the authors systemize the complex and interdisciplinary content and offer additional helpful explanations.
Insight into Disrupted Spatial Patterns of Human Connectome in Alzheimer’s Disease via Subgraph Mining
Authors: Shao Junming , Yang Qinli , Wohlschläger Afra , Sorg Christian
Published: January 2013

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of age-related dementia, which prominently affects the human connectome. In this paper, the authors focus on the question how they can identify disrupted spatial patterns of the human connectome in AD based on a data mining framework. Using diffusion tractography, the human connectomes for each individual subject were constructed based on two diffusion derived attributes: fiber density and fractional anisotropy, to represent the structural brain connectivity patterns. After frequent subgraph mining, the abnormal score was finally defined to identify disrupted subgraph patterns in patients. Experiments demonstrated that our data-driven approach, for the first time, allows identifying selective spatial pattern changes of the human connectome in AD that perfectly matched grey matter changes of the disease. Their findings also bring new insights into how AD propagates and disrupts the regional integrity of large-scale structural brain networks in a fiber connectivity-based way.
Human Extinction and Farsighted Universal Surveillance
Authors: Walker Mark
Published: January 2013

This paper bridges the dilemma created by intrusive surveillance technologies needed to safeguard people’s security, and the potential negative consequences such technologies might have on individual privacy. The author begins with a brief review of the increasing threat to human life posed by emerging technologies, e.g., genetic engineering and nanotechnology. Next, they canvass a potential technological means to mitigate some of this threat, namely, ubiquitous microscopic sensors. The author then notes that a consequence of the deployment of such technology appears to be an erosion of personal privacy on a scale hitherto unimaginable. It is then argued that many details of an individual’s private life are actually irrelevant for security purposes, and that it may be possible to develop technology to mask these details in the data gleaned from surveillance devices. Such a development could meet some, perhaps many, of the concerns about privacy. It is also argued that if it is possible to use technology to mask personal information this may actually promote the goal of security, since it is conjectured that the public is likely to be more willing to accept such invasive technology if it is designed to mask such details. Finally, some applications to Society’s current uses of surveillance technology are drawn.
Lack of Ethics for eLearning
Authors: Gearhart Deb
Published: January 2013

Among the many concerns an eLearning program administrator faces, ethics for eLearning is among the top. Ethical concerns come from within the program and external to it. This article is a review of some of the ethical concerns facing eLearning administrators; looking at two sides of the ethical coin. The first side of the coin looks at internal ethical issues which has brought about concern for the quality of eLearning programs and has led to five new federal regulations facing IHE. The flip side of the coin looks at ethical concerns coming from outside the program by way of unethical behaviors from students and how eLearning program administrators can deal with these unethical practices.
Leveraging Incrementally Enriched Domain Knowledge to Enhance Service Categorization
Authors: Zhang Jia , Wang Jian , Hung Patrick , Li Zheng , Zhang Neng , He Keqing
Published: January 2013

This paper reports the authors’ study over an open service and mashup repository, ProgrammableWeb, which groups stored services into predefined categories. Leveraging such a unique structural feature and hidden domain knowledge of the service repository, they extend the Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based text classification technique to enhance service-oriented categorization. An iterative approach is presented to automatically verify and adjust service categorization, which will incrementally enrich domain ontology and in turn enhance the accuracy of service categorization.
(S)-fuscumol and (S)-fuscumol acetate produced by a male Astyleiopus variegatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Authors: Hughes Gabriel P. , Zou Yunfan , Millar Jocelyn G. , Ginzel Matthew D.
Published: January 2013

Within the family Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), (E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-ol (fuscumol) and (E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-yl acetate (fuscumol acetate) have been shown to attract several species in the subfamily Lamiinae. However, it is not yet clear whether beetles within the subfamily actually produce these compounds as pheromones or rather respond to them as kairomones. We report here that male Astyleiopus variegatus (Haldeman) produce both fuscumol and fuscumol acetate, suggesting that the compounds are indeed pheromones for this species. We also determined that the absolute configurations of these compounds are (S)-fuscumol and (S)-fuscumol acetate by synthesis of both enantiomers of each.
Helios+ and Helios− Cells Coexist within the Natural FOXP3+ T Regulatory Cell Subset in Humans
Authors: Himmel Megan E. , MacDonald Katherine G. , Garcia Rosa V. , Steiner Theodore S. , Levings Megan K.
Published: January 2013

FOXP3-expressing T regulatory cells (Tregs) can be divided into two distinct subsets: naturally occurring Tregs (nTregs) that develop in the thymus, and induced Tregs (iTregs) that differentiate in peripheral tissues upon exposure to Ag in a tolerogenic environment. Recently it has been proposed that expression of Helios, an Ikaros family transcription factor, may specifically identify nTregs, allowing specific tracking of Tregs from different origins in health and disease. Surprisingly, we found that Helios- cells can be readily identified within naive (CD45RA+CD31+CCR7+CD62L+) FOXP3+ Tregs, a finding inconsistent with the notion that lack of Helios expression identifies Ag-experienced iTregs that should express memory markers. To investigate the phenotype and function of naive Helios+ and Helios− Tregs within the nTreg population, we isolated single-cell clones from each subset. We found that both Helios+ and Helios− nTreg clones have a similar suppressive capacity, as well as expression of FOXP3 and cell surface proteins, including CD39 and CTLA-4. Helios− nTregs, however, produced significantly more CCL3 and IFN-γ compared with Helios+ nTregs. Despite increased cytokine/chemokine production, Helios− FOXP3+ nTreg clones were demethylated at the FOXP3 Treg-specific demethylated region, indicative of Treg lineage stability. When cultured under Th1-polarizing conditions, Helios+ and Helios− nTreg clones had an equal ability to produce IFN-γ. Collectively, these data show that a lack of Helios expression does not exclusively identify human iTregs, and, to our knowledge, the data provide the first evidence for the coexistence of Helios+ and Helios− nTregs in human peripheral blood.
Usage of Sphingosine Kinase Isoforms in Mast Cells Is Species and/or Cell Type Determined
Authors: Dillahunt Sandra E. , Sargent Jennifer L. , Suzuki Ryo , Proia Richard L. , Gilfillan Alasdair , Rivera Juan , Olivera Ana
Published: January 2013

FcεRI engagement in mast cells (MCs) induces the activation of two distinct sphingosine kinase isoforms (SphK1 and SphK2) to produce sphingosine-1-phosphate, a mediator essential for MC responses. Whereas embryonic-derived SphK2-null MCs showed impaired responses to Ag, RNA silencing studies on other MC types indicated a dominant role for SphK1. Given the known functional heterogeneity of MCs, we explored whether the reported differences in SphK1 or SphK2 usage could be reflective of phenotypic differences between MC populations. Using lentiviral-based short hairpin RNA to silence SphK1 or SphK2, we found that SphK2 is required for murine MC degranulation, calcium mobilization, and cytokine and leukotriene production, irrespective of the tissue from which the MC progenitors were derived, the stage of MC granule maturity, or the conditions used for differentiation. This finding was consistent with the lack of a full allergic response in SphK2-null mice challenged to undergo passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. A redundant role for both SphKs was uncovered, however, in chemotaxis toward Ag in all MC types tested and in TNF-α production in certain MC types. In contrast, human MC responses were dependent only on SphK1, associating with a more robust expression of this isoform and a more varied representation of SphK variants relative to murine MCs. The findings show that the function of SphK1 and SphK2 can be interchangeable in MCs; however, an important determinant of SphK isoform usage is the species of origin and an influencing factor, the tissue from which MCs may be derived and/or their differentiation state.
Hepatic Stellate Cells Preferentially Induce Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells by Production of Retinoic Acid
Authors: Dunham Richard M. , Thapa Manoj , Velazquez Victoria M. , Elrod Elizabeth J. , Denning Timothy L. , Pulendran Bali , Grakoui Arash
Published: January 2013

The liver has long been described as immunosuppressive, although the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are incompletely understood. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a population of liver nonparenchymal cells, are potent producers of the regulatory T cell (Treg)–polarizing molecules TGF-β1 and all-trans retinoic acid, particularly during states of inflammation. HSCs are activated during hepatitis C virus infection and may therefore play a role in the enrichment of Tregs during infection. We hypothesized that Ag presentation in the context of HSC activation will induce naive T cells to differentiate into Foxp3+ Tregs. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the molecular interactions between murine HSCs, dendritic cells, and naive CD4+ T cells. We found that HSCs alone do not present Ag to naive CD4+ T cells, but in the presence of dendritic cells and TGF-β1, preferentially induce functional Tregs. This Treg induction was associated with retinoid metabolism by HSCs and was dependent on all-trans retinoic acid. Thus, we conclude that HSCs preferentially generate Foxp3+ Tregs and, therefore, may play a role in the tolerogenic nature of the liver.
IL-2 Produced by CD8+ Immune T Cells Can Augment Their IFN-γ Production Independently from Their Proliferation in the Secondary Response to an Intracellular Pathogen
Authors: Sa Qila , Woodward Jerold , Suzuki Yasuhiro
Published: January 2013

Chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii induces a potent resistance against reinfection, and IFN-γ production by CD8+ T cells is crucial for the protective immunity. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the secondary response remain to be elucidated. In the current study, we examined the role of IL-2 in IFN-γ production by CD8+ immune T cells in their secondary responses using T. gondii–specific CD8+ T cell hybridomas and splenic CD8+ immune T cells from chronically infected mice. The majority (92%) of CD8+ T cell hybridomas produced large amounts of IFN-γ only when a low amount (0.5 ng/ml) of exogenous IL-2 was provided in combination with T. gondii Ags. Inhibition of cell proliferation by mitomycin C did not affect the enhancing effect of IL-2 on the IFN-γ production, and significant increases in transcription factor T-bet expression were associated with the IL-2–mediated IFN-γ amplification. Splenic CD8+ immune T cells produced similar low levels of IL-2 in the secondary response to T. gondii, and a blocking of IL-2 signaling by anti–IL-2Rα Ab or inhibitors of JAK1 and JAK3 significantly reduced IFN-γ production of the T cells. This IL-2–mediated upregulation of IFN-γ production was observed in mitomycin C–treated CD8+ immune T cells, thus independent from their cell division. Therefore, endogenous IL-2 produced by CD8+ immune T cells can play an important autocrine-enhancing role on their IFN-γ production in the secondary responses to T. gondii, suggesting an importance of induction of CD8+ immune T cells with an appropriate IL-2 production for vaccine development.
Synergistic Lethality of Mifepristone and LY294002 in Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Wempe Stacy L. , Gamarra-Luques Carlos D. , Telleria Carlos M.
Published: January 2013

We have previously shown that the antiprogestin and antiglucocorticoid mifepristone inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells. In this work, we hypothesized that cellular stress caused by mifepristone is limited to cytostasis and that cell killing is avoided as a consequence of the persistent activity of the PI3K/Akt survival pathway. To investigate the role of this pathway in mifepristone-induced growth inhibition, human ovarian cancer cells of various histological subtypes and genetic backgrounds were exposed to cytostatic doses of mifepristone in the presence or absence of the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. The activation of Akt in ovarian cancer cells, as marked by its phosphorylation on Ser473, was not modified by cytostatic concentrations of mifepristone, but it was blocked upon treatment with LY294002. The combination mifepristone/LY294002, but not the individual drugs, killed ovarian cancer cells via apoptosis, as attested by genomic DNA fragmentation and cleavage of caspase-3, and the concomitant downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and XIAP. From a pharmacological standpoint, when assessing cell growth inhibition using a median-dose analysis algorithm, the interaction between mifepristone and LY294002 was synergistic. The lethality caused by the combination mifepristone/LY294004 in 2-dimensional cell cultures was recapitulated in organized, 3-dimensional spheroids. This study demonstrates that mifepristone and LY294002 when used individually cause cell growth arrest; yet, when combined, they cause lethality.
Numerical Approximation of Hopf Bifurcation for Tumor-Immune System Competition Model with Two Delays
Authors: Zhao Jing-Jun , Xiao Jing-Yu , Xu Yang
Published: January 2013

This paper is concerned with the Hopf bifurcation analysis of tumor-immune system competition model with two delays. First, we discuss the stability of state points with different kinds of delays. Then, a sufficient condition to the existence of the Hopf bifurcation is derived with parameters at different points. Furthermore, under this condition, the stability and direction of bifurcation are determined by applying the normal form method and the center manifold theory. Finally, a kind of Runge-Kutta methods is given out to simulate the periodic solutions numerically. At last, some numerical experiments are given to match well with the main conclusion of this paper.
Escherichia coli Pathotypes in Pakistan from Consecutive Floods in 2010 and 2011
Authors: Bokhari Habib , Shah Muhammad Ali , Asad Saba , Akhtar Sania , Akram Muhammad , Wren Brendan W.
Published: January 2013

This study compares Escherichia coli pathotypes circulating among children in Pakistan during the floods of 2010 and 2011 and from sporadic cases outside flood affected areas. Using multiplex polymerase chain reaction 115 of 205 stool samples (56.29%) were positive for diarrheagenic E. coli from specimens taken during the floods compared with 50 of 400 (12.5%) stool samples being positive for sporadic cases. The E. coli pathotypes were categorized as Enteropathogenic E. coli 33 (28.69%) and 13 (26%), Enterotoxigenic E. coli 29 (25.21%) and 15 (30%), Enteroaggregative E. coli 21 (18.2%) and 18 (36%), Enterohemorrhagic E. coli 5 (4.34%) and 1 (2%) from flood and sporadic cases, respectively. Furthermore, patients co-infected with more than one pathotype were 26 (22.60%) and 3 (6%) from flood and sporadic cases, respectively. The study shows an unexpectedly high rate of isolation of E. coli pathotypes suggesting Pakistan as an endemic region that requires active surveillance particularly during flood periods.
A trace‐metal clean, pH‐controlled incubator system for ocean acidification incubation studies
Authors: Hoffmann Linn J. , Breitbarth Eike , McGraw Christina M. , Law Cliff S. , Currie Kim I. , Hunter Keith A.
Published: January 2013

The emerging research field of ocean acidification studies has gained international attention during the past years and recently defined international standards in the Guide to best practices for ocean acidification research and data reporting. However, a combination of ocean acidification studies with trace metal research is very rare and possible trace metal side effects on marine phytoplankton in ocean acidification incubation studies are often not assessed. Here we describe a trace metal clean, pH‐controlled incubator system for laboratory and seagoing ocean acidification research. Seawater pH adjustment is achieved via passing CO2 gas through diffusive silicone tubing to minimize the risk of contamination and to avoid the negative mechanical effects of gas bubbles on phytoplankton. The system measures pH automatically with an accuracy of 0.004 and a precision of 0.001 and includes a feedback regulation to adjust pH during the incubation if required. Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd, and Pb measurements show that our system and the pH adjustment method do not contaminate the samples with any of these metals. We tested this system in laboratory studies as well as during the PINTS voyage in the Tasman Sea.
The climate dependence of the terrestrial carbon cycle, including parameter and structural uncertainties
Authors: Smith M. J. , Purves D. W. , Vanderwel M. C. , Lyutsarev V. , Emmott S.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. The feedback between climate and the terrestrial carbon cycle will be a key determinant of the dynamics of the Earth System (the thin layer that contains and supports life) over the coming decades and centuries. However, Earth System Model projections of the terrestrial carbon-balance vary widely over these timescales. This is largely due to differences in their terrestrial carbon cycle models. A major goal in biogeosciences is therefore to improve understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle to enable better constrained projections. Utilising empirical data to constrain and assess component processes in terrestrial carbon cycle models will be essential to achieving this goal. We used a new model construction method to data-constrain all parameters of all component processes within a global terrestrial carbon model, employing as data constraints a collection of 12 empirical data sets characterising global patterns of carbon stocks and flows. Our goals were to assess the climate dependencies inferred for all component processes, assess whether these were consistent with current knowledge and understanding, assess the importance of different data sets and the model structure for inferring those dependencies, assess the predictive accuracy of the model and ultimately to identify a methodology by which alternative component models could be compared within the same framework in the future. Although formulated as differential equations describing carbon fluxes through plant and soil pools, the model was fitted assuming the carbon pools were in states of dynamic equilibrium (input rates equal output rates). Thus, the parameterised model is of the equilibrium terrestrial carbon cycle. All but 2 of the 12 component processes to the model were inferred to have strong climate dependencies, although it was not possible to data-constrain all parameters, indicating some potentially redundant details. Similar climate dependencies were obtained for most processes, whether inferred individually from their corresponding data sets or using the full terrestrial carbon model and all available data sets, indicating a strong overall consistency in the information provided by different data sets under the assumed model formulation. A notable exception was plant mortality, in which qualitatively different climate dependencies were inferred depending on the model formulation and data sets used, highlighting this component as the major structural uncertainty in the model. All but two component processes predicted empirical data better than a null model in which no climate dependency was assumed. Equilibrium plant carbon was predicted especially well (explaining around 70% of the variation in the withheld evaluation data). We discuss the advantages of our approach in relation to advancing our understanding of the carbon cycle and enabling Earth System Models to make better constrained projections.
An assessment of the Atlantic and Arctic sea–air CO2 fluxes, 1990–2009
Authors: Schuster U. , McKinley G. A. , Bates N. , Chevallier F. , Doney S. C. , Fay A. R. , González-Dávila M. , Gruber N. , Jones S. , Krijnen J. , Landschützer P. , Lefèvre N. , Manizza M. , Mathis J. , Metzl N. , Olsen A. , Rios A. F. , Rödenbeck C. , Santana-Casiano J. M. , Takahashi T. , Wanninkhof R. , Watson A. J.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. The Atlantic and Arctic Oceans are critical components of the global carbon cycle. Here we quantify the net sea–air CO2 flux, for the first time, across different methodologies for consistent time and space scales for the Atlantic and Arctic basins. We present the long-term mean, seasonal cycle, interannual variability and trends in sea–air CO2 flux for the period 1990 to 2009, and assign an uncertainty to each. We use regional cuts from global observations and modeling products, specifically a pCO2-based CO2 flux climatology, flux estimates from the inversion of oceanic and atmospheric data, and results from six ocean biogeochemical models. Additionally, we use basin-wide flux estimates from surface ocean pCO2 observations based on two distinct methodologies. Our estimate of the contemporary sea–air flux of CO2 (sum of anthropogenic and natural components) by the Atlantic between 40° S and 79° N is −0.49 ± 0.05 Pg C yr−1, and by the Arctic it is −0.12 ± 0.06 Pg C yr−1, leading to a combined sea–air flux of −0.61 ± 0.06 Pg C yr−1 for the two decades (negative reflects ocean uptake). We do find broad agreement amongst methodologies with respect to the seasonal cycle in the subtropics of both hemispheres, but not elsewhere. Agreement with respect to detailed signals of interannual variability is poor, and correlations to the North Atlantic Oscillation are weaker in the North Atlantic and Arctic than in the equatorial region and southern subtropics. Linear trends for 1995 to 2009 indicate increased uptake and generally correspond between methodologies in the North Atlantic, but there is disagreement amongst methodologies in the equatorial region and southern subtropics.
Three years of increased soil temperature and atmospheric N deposition have no effect on the N status and growth of a mature balsam fir forest
Authors: D'Orangeville L. , Houle D. , Côté B. , Duchesne L. , Morin H.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) is a major growth-limiting factor in boreal forest ecosystems. Increases of temperature and atmospheric N deposition are expected to affect forest growth directly and indirectly, by increasing N availability due to higher rates of N mineralization. In order to understand the potential impacts of these changes, a mature balsam fir stand in Québec, Canada, was subjected to (i) experimentally increased soil temperature (4 °C) and earlier snowmelt (2–3 weeks) as well as (ii) increased inorganic N concentration in artificial precipitation (3 × current N concentrations using 15NH4–15NO3). Soil inorganic N was measured using buried ion exchange membranes (PRS™-probes) and standard soil extractions. Dendrometers were used to monitor the variations in diameter growth and needles were analyzed annually for N to assess the nutritional response of trees. After three years of treatment, there was no significant increase in soil nitrate (NO3) or ammonium (NH4) availability either in the organic or in the mineral soil as measured with standard soil extractions. Similar results were obtained with ion exchange membranes, except for an average 54% increase in the forest floor available NH4. No effect of treatments were observed on needle N or diameter growth, but an eight-day earlier peak in diameter growth was measured in heated plots in 2010. We attributed the limited effects of our treatments to the acute soil competition for available N at the site. As a result, the projected modifications of the forest N cycle and concomitant increased forest growth due to an earlier snowmelt, increased soil temperature and N deposition should be considered with caution in similar cold N-poor ecosystems.
Parameterization of vertical chlorophyll a in the Arctic Ocean: impact of the subsurface chlorophyll maximum on regional, seasonal and annual primary production estimates
Authors: Ardyna M. , Babin M. , Gosselin M. , Devred E. , Bélanger S. , Matsuoka A. , Tremblay J.-É.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Predicting water-column phytoplankton biomass from near-surface measurements is a common approach in biological oceanography, particularly since the advent of satellite remote sensing of ocean color (OC). In the Arctic Ocean, deep subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCMs) that significantly contribute to primary production (PP) are often observed. These are neither detected by ocean color sensors nor accounted for the primary production models applied to the Arctic Ocean. Here, we assemble a large database of pan-Arctic observations (i.e. 5206 stations) and develop an empirical model to estimate vertical chlorophyll a (chl a) according to: (1) the shelf-offshore gradient delimited by the 50 m isobath, (2) seasonal variability along pre-bloom, post-bloom and winter periods, and (3) regional differences across ten sub-Arctic and Arctic seas. Our detailed analysis of the dataset shows that, for the pre-bloom and winter periods, as well as for high surface chl a concentration (chl asurf; 0.7–30 mg m−3) throughout the open water period, the chl a maximum is mainly located at or near the surface. Deep SCMs occur chiefly during the post-bloom period when chl asurf is low (0–0.5 mg m−3). By applying our empirical model to annual chl asurf time series, instead of the conventional method assuming vertically homogenous chl a, we produce novel pan-Arctic PP estimates and associated uncertainties. Our results show that vertical variations in chl a have a limited impact on annual depth-integrated PP. Small overestimates found when SCMs are shallow (i.e. pre-bloom, post-bloom > 0.05 mg m−3 and the winter period) somehow compensate for the underestimates found when SCMs are deep (i.e. post-bloom < 0.05 mg m−3). SCMs are, however, important seasonal features with a substantial impact on depth-integrated PP estimates, especially when surface nitrate is exhausted in the Arctic Ocean and where highly stratified and oligotrophic conditions prevail.
A site-specific agricultural water requirement and footprint estimator (SPARE:WATER 1.0) for irrigation agriculture
Authors: Multsch S. , Al-Rumaikhani Y. A. , Frede H.-G. , Breuer L.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. The water footprint accounting method addresses the quantification of water consumption in agriculture, whereby three types of water to grow crops are considered, namely green water (consumed rainfall), blue water (irrigation from surface or groundwater) and grey water (water needed to dilute pollutants). Most of current water footprint assessments focus on global to continental scale. We therefore developed the spatial decision support system SPARE:WATER that allows to quantify green, blue and grey water footprints on regional scale. SPARE:WATER is programmed in VB.NET, with geographic information system functionality implemented by the MapWinGIS library. Water requirement and water footprints are assessed on a grid-basis and can then be aggregated for spatial entities such as political boundaries, catchments or irrigation districts. We assume in-efficient irrigation methods rather than optimal conditions to account for irrigation methods with efficiencies other than 100%. Furthermore, grey water can be defined as the water to leach out salt from the rooting zone in order to maintain soil quality, an important management task in irrigation agriculture. Apart from a thorough representation of the modelling concept we provide a proof of concept where we assess the agricultural water footprint of Saudi Arabia. The entire water footprint is 17.0 km3 yr−1 for 2008 with a blue water dominance of 86%. Using SPARE:WATER we are able to delineate regional hot spots as well as crop types with large water footprints, e.g. sesame or dates. Results differ from previous studies of national-scale resolution, underlining the need for regional water footprint assessments.
Parameterizing sub-surface drainage with geology to improve modeling streamflow responses to climate in data limited environments
Authors: Tague C. L. , Choate J. S. , Grant G.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Hydrologic models are one of the core tools used to project how water resources may change under a warming climate. These models are typically applied over a range of scales, from headwater streams to higher order rivers, and for a variety of purposes, such as evaluating changes to aquatic habitat or reservoir operation. Most hydrologic models require streamflow data to calibrate subsurface drainage parameters. In many cases, long-term gage records may not be available for calibration, particularly when assessments are focused on low-order stream reaches. Consequently, hydrologic modeling of climate change impacts is often performed in the absence of sufficient data to fully parameterize these hydrologic models. In this paper, we assess a geologic-based strategy for assigning drainage parameters. We examine the performance of this modeling strategy for the McKenzie River watershed in the US Oregon Cascades, a region where previous work has demonstrated sharp contrasts in hydrology based primarily on geological differences between the High and Western Cascades. Based on calibration and verification using existing streamflow data, we demonstrate that: (1) a set of streams ranging from 1st to 3rd order within the Western Cascade geologic region can share the same drainage parameter set, while (2) streams from the High Cascade geologic region require a different parameter set. Further, we show that a watershed comprised of a mixture of High and Western Cascade geologies can be modeled without additional calibration by transferring parameters from these distinctive High and Western Cascade end-member parameter sets. More generally, we show that by defining a set of end-member parameters that reflect different geologic classes, we can more efficiently apply a hydrologic model over a geologically complex landscape and resolve geo-climatic differences in how different watersheds are likely to respond to simple warming scenarios.
Dissolved organic carbon characteristics in surface ponds from contrasting wetland ecosystems: a case study in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Wang L. L. , Song C. C. , Yang G. S.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a significant component of carbon and nutrient cycling in fluvial ecosystems. Natural wetlands, as important DOC sources for river and ocean ecosystems, have experienced extensive natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as climate change, hydrological variations and land use change in recent years. The DOC characteristics in surface ponds from contrasting wetlands in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeastern China were investigated. Surface ponds at seven sites (two natural phialiform wetlands, three natural riparian wetlands, one degraded wetland and one artificial wetland, i.e., rice paddy) were monitored during the growing seasons of 2009 and 2010. The results show that the surface ponds at the five natural wetland sites exhibited a wide range of DOC concentrations (10.06–48.73 mg L−1) during the study period. The DOC concentrations showed no annual differences (P > 0.05) at all the wetland sites, except one of the phialiform wetland sites. The two phialiform wetlands exhibited higher DOC concentrations than the three riparian wetlands (P < 0.05). The DOC concentration in the surface pond at the artificial wetland site was relatively low (P < 0.05) compared to that at the degraded wetland site. The C/C ratios (the color per carbon unit ratio, Abs400/DOC concentration) showed inconsistent variations among these seven wetland sites, while the E4/E6 ratio (Abs465/Abs665, fulvic acid/humic acid) from the surface pond in the rice paddy land exerted 42.07–55.36% reductions (P < 0.05), compared to those at the five natural wetland sites. Furthermore, the E4/E6 ratio in the surface pond at the rice paddy site was significantly lower compared to that at the degraded wetland site (P < 0.05), which indicated that disturbance to wetland DOC in surface ponds might be stronger when natural wetlands were converted to rice paddies in comparison with wetland degradation. This study could not only provide insightful points for understanding the aquatic DOC dynamics from different wetland ecosystems, but also support data information for incorporating the aquatic DOC into the model for regional carbon budgets in the future.
Urbanization and climate change impacts on future urban flooding in Can Tho city, Vietnam
Authors: Huong H. T. L. , Pathirana A.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. Urban development increases flood risk in cities due to local changes in hydrological and hydrometeorological conditions that increase flood hazard, as well as to urban concentrations that increase the vulnerability. The relationship between the increasing urban runoff and flooding due to increased imperviousness is better perceived than that between the cyclic impact of urban growth and the urban rainfall via microclimatic changes. The large-scale, global impacts due to climate variability and change could compound these risks. We present the case of a typical third world city – Can Tho (the biggest city in Mekong River Delta, Vietnam) – faced with multiple future challenges, namely: (i) the likely effect of climate change-driven sea level rise, (ii) an expected increase of river runoff due to climate change as estimated by the Vietnamese government, (iii) increased urban runoff driven by imperviousness, and (iv) enhancement of extreme rainfall due to urban growth-driven, microclimatic change (urban heat islands). A set of model simulations were used to construct future scenarios, combining these influences. Urban growth of the city was projected up to year 2100 based on historical growth patterns, using a land use simulation model (Dinamica EGO). A dynamic limited-area atmospheric model (WRF), coupled with a detailed land surface model with vegetation parameterization (Noah LSM), was employed in controlled numerical experiments to estimate the anticipated changes in extreme rainfall patterns due to urban heat island effect. Finally, a 1-D/2-D coupled urban-drainage/flooding model (SWMM-Brezo) was used to simulate storm-sewer surcharge and surface inundation to establish the increase in the flood hazard resulting from the changes. The results show that under the combined scenario of significant change in river level (due to climate-driven sea level rise and increase of flow in the Mekong) and "business as usual" urbanization, the flooding of Can Tho could increase significantly. The worst case may occur if a sea level rise of 100 cm and the flow from upstream happen together with high-development scenarios. The relative contribution of causes of flooding are significantly different at various locations; therefore, detailed research on adaptation are necessary for future investments to be effective.
Burst increases of precipitating electrons recorded by the DEMETER satellite before strong earthquakes
Authors: Zhang X. , Fidani C. , Huang J. , Shen X. , Zeren Z. , Qian J.
Published: January 2013

Abstract. This case study developed a method for data processing over six years, from 2004 to 2010, of 70 keV–2.3 MeV electrons recorded by the DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) satellite. Short time increases in electron counting rates, having 99% probabilities of not being Poisson fluctuations, were statistically selected using geomagnetic invariant space and called electron bursts. Temporal series were analysed confirming the seasonal variations in low energy bands of 70–450 keV. Differently from previous results, the DEMETER results exhibited two peaks of electron bursts: one in the period June–August and one in the period December–February annually. Specifically, six earthquake cases are presented in detail having increases in electron burst number prior to events. Moreover, electron burst precipitation occurring before each strong earthquake of the entire period over the life of the satellite with M ≥ 7.0 was verified as having a probability greater than 97% of not being of a statistical origin. Low energetic electrons in 70–330 keV resulted occurring more frequently near seismic activity than those observed in 330 keV–2.34 MeV energy bands at the satellite altitude in the ionosphere.
Oculus–Spark Perimetry Compared with 3 Procedures of Glaucoma Morphologic Analysis (GDx, HRT, and OCT)
Authors: de la Rosa Manuel Gonzalez , Gonzalez-Hernandez Marta , Sanchez-Garcia Mariel , de la Vega Ricardo Rodriguez , Diaz-Aleman Tinguaro , Rios Alicia Pareja
Published: January 2013

Purpose

To compare diagnostic capabilities and agreement between Oculus-Spark perimetry and 3 procedures of glaucoma morphologic analysis.

Methods

A total of 102 normal eyes and 104 consecutive eyes with suspected or confirmed glaucoma (1 eye per subject) were analyzed in a prospective observational case-control study, using Spark strategy (Oculus Easyfield Perimeter), Heidelberg retinal tomograph (HRT), Zeiss laser polarimetry (GDx), and Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results

Spark first phase lasted 37 seconds and all 4 phases 2:34 minutes. Specificities and sensitivities were as follows: Spark mean deviation (MD) first phase (95.1%, 85.6%), MD second and final phases (95.1%, 86.5%), GDx–nerve fiber indicator (95.1%, 57.4%), HRT–Reinhard Burk discriminant function (95.1%, 52.9%), HRT glaucoma probability score (95.1%, 71.2%), Cirrus OCT vertical cup/ disc ratio (96.1%, 85.6%), and Cirrus OCT retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (95.1%, 68.0%). Diagnostic agreement between second and final Spark MD phases was kappa=0.92; between phase 1 Spark/MD and Cirrus OCT/vertical C/D ratio was kappa=0.78. Agreements between the 2 Cirrus OCT indices was kappa=0.69 and between the 2 HRT indices was kappa=0.559. The correlation coefficient between second and final MD and PSD was 0.99, and 0.98 between the number of scotomatous points. There was high concordance in scotoma position in both phases (kappa=0.86). The linear correlation coefficients between the morphologic indices were 0.48–0.78, and between morphologic and functional indices 0.51–0.76. Correlation coefficients comparing morphologic and functional indices were similar in the first and the last phase (p>0.05 in all cases).

Conclusions

Spark perimetry appears to show useful sensitivity and specificity, even in the first phase, and good agreement with the morphology.
Considérations théoricométhodologiques autour de la mixité
Authors: Rodríguez-García Dan
Published: January 2013

Cet article propose quelques considérations théoricométhodologiques autour de la mixité. Il cherche à mettre en évidence les limites, les pièges et les dérives de la littérature existante en ce qui a trait à la conceptualisation de la notion de mixité. Après une contextualisation initiale (définition, variables et modèles liés au phénomène de la mixité), il s'agira d'indiquer les différents niveaux clés de complexité théorique et méthodologique du phénomène afin d'éviter les visions simplistes ou réductrices. Nous nous interrogerons donc sur la clarté de la notion d’« union mixte », l'équivalence entre mixité et intégration sociale, et nous soulignerons la complexité inhérente aux processus de configuration de l'identité ethnique résultante.
Bénéfices et obligations alimentaires dans la belle-famille du couple mixte. Brus et gendres français chez leurs alliés taiwanais
Authors: Yang Fong-Ming
Published: January 2013

Cet article étudie le rapport entre la famille alliée et le conjoint ou la conjointe du couple dans les situations de mixité conjugale, à travers les repas pris en commun. L’auteur s’appuie sur une recherche réalisée auprès de couples franco-taiwanais résidant à Taiwan pour analyser la commensalité différenciée suivant les positions des belles-filles et beaux-fils français – amoureux et amoureuses, concubin et concubine ainsi qu’époux et épouse – dans sa belle-famille taiwanaise. Il en ressort que l’hospitalité, qui se manifeste par le partage du repas entre un gendre étranger ou/et une bru étrangère et ses alliés autochtones, est riche de sens symbolique, matériel et affectif.
Contenu et utilité d’un forum de discussion sur Internet destiné aux parents d’enfants autistes
Authors: des Rivières-Pigeon Catherine , Courcy Isabelle , Poirier Nathalie
Published: January 2013

Chaque jour, des millions de personnes utilisent Internet pour rechercher de l’information, se confier ou offrir de l’aide. Cet article présente une analyse du contenu d’un forum de discussion québécois destiné à des parents d’enfants autistes. Son objectif est de décrire leurs préoccupations et de mieux comprendre comment cet espace peut constituer une source de soutien. Les résultats mettent en lumière l’ampleur de la démarche de recherche de services décrite par les participantes comme étant parsemée d’embuches et de frustrations. Le rôle très actif endossé par ces mères, et qui s’apparente souvent à celui de l’intervenante, est également soulevé.
Ordem pública e segurança individual: política e polícia no sertão de Pernambuco
Authors: Villela Jorge Mattar
Published: January 2013

Este livro pretende mostrar, com base em material de arquivo cuja circunscrição histórica é a Primeira República, os modos de combate ao banditismo do sertão de Pernambuco. Demonstra o modo como as reflexões de políticos, juristas e policiais alocaram o sertão como uma região caracterizada pelo atraso, pela ignorância e que deveria ter como alvo um projeto simultaneamente civilizatório e repressivo. Além disso, a documentação aponta diferentes ações e preocupações políticas e policiais segundo uma clivagem essencial para a época: a ordem pública e a segurança individual.