bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gas adsorption and desorption effects on cylinders and their importance for long-term gas records
Authors: Leuenberger M. C. , Schibig M. F. , Nyfeler P.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. It is well known that gases adsorb on many surfaces, in particular metal surfaces. There are two main forms responsible for these effects (i) physisorption and (ii) chemisorption. Physisorption is associated with lower binding energies in the order of 1–10 kJ mol−1, compared to chemisorption which ranges from 100 to 1000 kJ mol−1. Furthermore, chemisorption only forms monolayers, contrasting physisorption that can form multilayer adsorption. The reverse process is called desorption and follows similar mathematical laws; however, it can be influenced by hysteresis effects. In the present experiment, we investigated the adsorption/desorption phenomena on three steel and three aluminium cylinders containing compressed air in our laboratory and under controlled conditions in a climate chamber, respectively. Our observations from completely decanting one steel and two aluminium cylinders are in agreement with the pressure dependence of physisorption for CO2, CH4, and H2O. The CO2 results for both cylinder types are in excellent agreement with the pressure dependence of a monolayer adsorption model. However, mole fraction changes due to adsorption on aluminium (< 0.05 and 0 ppm for CO2 and H2O) were significantly lower than on steel (< 0.41 ppm and about < 2.5 ppm, respectively). The CO2 amount adsorbed (5.8 × 1019 CO2 molecules) corresponds to about the fivefold monolayer adsorption, indicating that the effective surface exposed for adsorption is significantly larger than the geometric surface area. Adsorption/desorption effects were minimal for CH4 and for CO but require further attention since they were only studied on one aluminium cylinder with a very low mole fraction. In the climate chamber, the cylinders were exposed to temperatures between −10 and +50 °C to determine the corresponding temperature coefficients of adsorption. Again, we found distinctly different values for CO2, ranging from 0.0014 to 0.0184 ppm °C−1 for steel cylinders and −0.0002 to −0.0003 ppm °C−1 for aluminium cylinders. The reversed temperature dependence for aluminium cylinders points to significantly lower desorption energies than for steel cylinders and due to the small values, they might at least partly be influenced by temperature, permeation from/to sealing materials, and gas-consumption-induced pressure changes. Temperature coefficients for CH4, CO, and H2O adsorption were, within their error bands, insignificant. These results do indicate the need for careful selection and usage of gas cylinders for high-precision calibration purposes such as requested in trace gas applications.
Did high Neo-Tethys subduction rates contribute to early Cenozoic warming?
Authors: Hoareau G. , Bomou B. , van Hinsbergen D. J. J. , Carry N. , Marquer D. , Donnadieu Y. , Le Hir G. , Vrielynck B. , Walter-Simonnet A.-V.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The 58–51 Ma interval was characterized by a long-term increase of global temperatures (+4 to +6 °C) up to the Early Eocene Climate Optimum (EECO, 52.9–50.7 Ma), the warmest interval of the Cenozoic. It was recently suggested that sustained high atmospheric pCO2, controlling warm early Cenozoic climate, may have been released during Neo-Tethys closure through the subduction of large amounts of pelagic carbonates and their recycling as CO2 at arc volcanoes. To analyze the impact of Neo-Tethys closure on early Cenozoic warming, we have modeled the volume of subducted sediments and the amount of CO2 emitted along the northern Tethys margin. The impact of calculated CO2 fluxes on global temperature during the early Cenozoic have then been tested using a climate carbon cycle model (GEOCLIM). We show that CO2 production may have reached up to 1.55 × 1018 mol Ma−1 specifically during the EECO, ~ 4 to 37 % higher that the modern global volcanic CO2 output, owing to a dramatic India-Asia plate convergence increase. The subduction of thick Greater Indian continental margin carbonate sediments at ~ 55–50 Ma may also have led to additional CO2 production of 3.35 × 1018 mol Ma−1 during the EECO, making a total of 85 % of the global volcanic CO2 outgassed. However, climate modeling demonstrates that timing of maximum CO2 release only partially fits with the EECO, and that corresponding maximum pCO2 values (750 ppm) and surface warming (+2 °C) do not reach values inferred from geochemical proxies, a result consistent with conclusions arising from modeling based on other published CO2 fluxes. These results demonstrate that CO2 derived from decarbonation of Neo-Tethyan lithosphere may have possibly contributed to, but certainly cannot account alone for early Cenozoic warming. Other commonly cited sources of excess CO2 such as enhanced igneous province volcanism also appear to be up to 1 order of magnitude below fluxes required by the model to fit with proxy data of pCO2 and temperature at that time. An alternate explanation may be that CO2 consumption, a key parameter of the long-term atmospheric pCO2 balance, may have been lower than suggested by modeling. These results call for a better calibration of early Cenozoic weathering rates.
Detection of seasonal erosion processes at the scale of an elementary black marl gully from time series of Hi-Resolution DEMs
Authors: Bechet J. , Duc J. , Loye A. , Jaboyedoff M. , Mathys N. , Malet J.-P. , Klotz S. , Le Bouteiller C. , Rudaz B. , Travelletti J.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Roubine catchment located in the experimental research station of Draix-Bléone (south French Alps) is situated in Callovo-Oxfordian black marls, a lithology particularly prone to weathering processes. Since 30 years, this small watershed (0.13 ha) has been monitored for analysing hillslope erosion processes at the scale of elementary gullies. Since 2007, a monitoring of surface changes has been performed by comparing of high-resolution digital elevation models (HR-DEMs) produced from Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS). The objectives are (1) to detect and (2) to quantify the sediment production and the evolution of the gully morphology in terms of sediment availability/transport capacity vs. rainfall and runoff generation. Time series of TLS observations have been acquired periodically based on the seasonal runoff activity with a very high point cloud density ensuring a resolution of the DEM at the centimetre scale. The topographic changes over a time span of 4 years are analysed. Quantitative analyses of the seasonal erosion activity and of the sediment fluxes contributing to the recharge of tributary gullies and rills are presented. According to the transport capacity generated by runoff, loose regolith soil sources are eroded at different periods of the year. These are forming transient deposits in the main reach when routed downstream, evolving from a transport-limited to a supply-limited regime through the year. The monitoring allows a better understanding of the seasonal pattern of erosion processes for black marls badland-type slopes and illustrates the mode of sediment production and the temporal storage/entrainment in similar slopes. The observed surface changes caused by erosion (ablation/deposition) are quantified for the complete TLS time-series, and sediment budget maps are presented for each season. Comparisons of the TLS sediment budget map with the in situ sediment monitoring (limnigraph and sedigraph) in the stream are discussed. Intense and long duration rainfall events are the triggering factor of the major erosive events.
The impact of near-surface soil moisture assimilation at subseasonal, seasonal, and inter-annual timescales
Authors: Draper C. , Reichle R.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. A 9 year record of Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer – Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) soil moisture retrievals are assimilated into the Catchment land surface model at four locations in the US. The assimilation is evaluated using the unbiased mean square error (ubMSE) relative to watershed-scale in situ observations, with the ubMSE separated into contributions from the subseasonal (SMshort), mean seasonal (SMseas), and inter-annual (SMlong) soil moisture dynamics. For near-surface soil moisture, the average ubMSE for Catchment without assimilation was (1.8 × 10−3 m3 m−3)2, of which 19 % was in SMlong, 26 % in SMseas, and 55 % in SMshort. The AMSR-E assimilation significantly reduced the total ubMSE at every site, with an average reduction of 33 %. Of this ubMSE reduction, 37 % occurred in SMlong, 24 % in SMseas, and 38 % in SMshort. For root-zone soil moisture, in situ observations were available at one site only, and the near-surface and root-zone results were very similar at this site. These results suggest that, in addition to the well-reported improvements in SMshort, assimilating a sufficiently long soil moisture data record can also improve the model representation of important long-term events, such as droughts. The improved agreement between the modeled and in situ SMseas is harder to interpret, given that mean seasonal cycle errors are systematic, and systematic errors are not typically targeted by (bias-blind) data assimilation. Finally, the use of 1-year subsets of the AMSR-E and Catchment soil moisture for estimating the observation-bias correction (rescaling) parameters is investigated. It is concluded that when only 1 year of data are available, the associated uncertainty in the rescaling parameters should not greatly reduce the average benefit gained from data assimilation, although locally and in extreme years there is a risk of increased errors.
Subsurface storage capacity influences climate–evapotranspiration interactions in three western United States catchments
Authors: Garcia E. S. , Tague C. L.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. In the winter-wet, summer-dry forests of the western United States, total annual evapotranspiration (ET) varies with precipitation and temperature. Geologically mediated drainage and storage properties, however, may strongly influence these relationships between climate and ET. We use a physically based process model to evaluate how plant accessible water storage capacity (AWC) and rates of drainage influence model estimates of ET–climate relationships for three snow-dominated, mountainous catchments with differing precipitation regimes. Model estimates show that total annual precipitation is a primary control on inter-annual variation in ET across all catchments and that the timing of recharge is a second-order control. Low AWC, however, increases the sensitivity of annual ET to these climate drivers by 3 to 5 times in our two study basins with drier summers. ET–climate relationships in our Colorado basin receiving summer precipitation are more stable across subsurface drainage and storage characteristics. Climate driver–ET relationships are most sensitive to subsurface storage (AWC) and drainage parameters related to lateral redistribution in the relatively dry Sierra site that receives little summer precipitation. Our results demonstrate that uncertainty in geophysically mediated storage and drainage properties can strongly influence model estimates of watershed-scale ET responses to climate variation and climate change. This sensitivity to uncertainty in geophysical properties is particularly true for sites receiving little summer precipitation. A parallel interpretation of this parameter sensitivity is that spatial variation in storage and drainage properties are likely to lead to substantial within-watershed plot-scale differences in forest water use and drought stress.
Comment on "Ultra low frequency (ULF) electromagnetic anomalies associated with large earthquakes in Java Island, Indonesia by using wavelet transform and detrended fluctuation analysis" by Febriani et al. (2014)
Authors: Masci F. , Thomas J. N.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. We examine the recent report of Febriani et al. (2014) in which the authors show changes in ULF magnetic field data prior to the M7.5 Tasikmalaya earthquake that occurred south of Java, Indonesia, on 2 September 2009. Febriani et al. (2014) state that the magnetic changes they found may be related to the impending earthquake. We do not agree that the pre-earthquake magnetic changes shown in Febriani et al. (2014) are seismogenic. These magnetic changes, indeed, are too closely related to global geomagnetic disturbances to be regarded as being of seismic origin.
Ensemble flood forecasting to support dam water release operation using 10 and 2 km-resolution JMA Nonhydrostatic Model ensemble rainfalls
Authors: Kobayashi K. , Otsuka S. ,   Apip, Saito K.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. This paper presents a study on short-term ensemble flood forecasting specifically for small dam catchments in Japan. Numerical ensemble simulations of rainfall from the Japan Meteorological Agency Nonhydrostatic Model are used as the input data to a rainfall–runoff model for predicting river discharge into a dam. The ensemble weather simulations use a conventional 10 km and a high-resolution 2 km spatial resolution. A distributed rainfall–runoff model is constructed for the Kasahori dam catchment (approx. 70 km2) and applied with the ensemble rainfalls. The results show that the hourly maximum and cumulative catchment-average rainfalls of the 2 km-resolution JMA-NHM ensemble simulation are more appropriate than the 10 km-resolution rainfalls. All the simulated inflows based on the 2 and 10 km rainfalls become larger than the flood discharge of 140 m3 s−1; a threshold value for flood control. The inflows with the 10 km-resolution ensemble rainfall are all considerably smaller than the observations, while, at least one simulated discharge out of 11 ensemble members with the 2 km-resolution rainfalls reproduces the first peak of the inflow at the Kasahori dam with similar amplitude to observations, although there are spatiotemporal lags between simulation and observation. To take positional lags into account of the ensemble discharge simulation, the rainfall distribution in each ensemble member is shifted so that the catchment-averaged cumulative rainfall of the Kasahori dam maximizes. The runoff simulation with the position-shifted rainfalls show much better results than the original ensemble discharge simulations.
Occurrence and characteristics of mesoscale eddies in the tropical northeast Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Schütte F. , Brandt P. , Karstensen J.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Coherent mesoscale features (referred to here as eddies) in the tropical northeast Atlantic (between 12–22° N and 15–26° W) are examined and characterised. The eddies' surface signatures are investigated using 19 years of satellite derived sea level anomaly (SLA) data. Two automated detection methods are applied, the geometrical method based on closed streamlines around eddy cores, and the Okubo–Weiß method based on the relation between vorticity and strain. Both methods give similar results. Mean eddy surface signatures of SLA, sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS) are obtained from composites of all snapshots around identified eddy cores. Anticyclones/cyclones are associated with elevation/depression of SLA and enhanced/reduced SST and SSS patterns. However, about 20 % of all detected anticyclones show reduced SST and reduced SSS instead. These kind of eddies are classified as anticyclonic mode-water eddies (ACMEs). About 146 ± 4 eddies per year are identified (52 % cyclones, 39 % anticylones, 9 % ACMEs) with rather similar mean radii of about 56 ± 12 km. Based on concurrent in-situ temperature and salinity profile data (from Argo float, shipboard and mooring data) inside of the three eddy types, their distinct differences in vertical structure is determined. Most eddies are generated preferentially in boreal summer and along the West African coast at three distinct coastal headland region and carry South Atlantic Central Water that originates from the northward transport within the Mauretania coastal current system. Westward eddy propagation (on average about 3.00 ± 2.15 km d−1) is confined to distinct corridors with a small meridional deflection dependent on the eddy type (anticyclones – equatorward, cyclones – poleward, ACMEs – no deflection). Heat and salt flux out of the coastal region and across the Cap Verde Frontal Zone, which separates the shadow zone from the ventilated gyre, are calculated.
Reformas Estructurales y Re-reformas de Pensiones, y sus Efectos en el Bienestar Social: El Caso de Chile
Authors: Mesa-Lago Carmelo
Published: December 2015

El artículo primero resume las reformas estructurales de pensiones (privatización total o parcial) en América Latina y Europa Central y Oriental, identificando sus ventajas y desventajas, así como del emergente proceso internacional de re-reforma de pensiones con un mayor rol del Estado. Segundo, escoge a Chile como caso de estudio, por ser pionero en el mundo en ambas reformas; describe las características y efectos en el bienestar social, tanto de la reforma estructural de 1981 como de la re-reforma de 2008. Dichos efectos se evalúan basados en diez principios de seguridad social de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT): 1) diálogo social para aprobar la reforma, 2) cobertura universal de la población, 3) trato uniforme de los asegurados, 4) solidaridad social, 5) equidad de género, 6) suficiencia en las prestaciones, 7) eficiencia y costo administrativo razonable, 8) participación social en la gestión del sistema, 9) rol del Estado y supervisión, y 10) sostenibilidad financiera. Tercero, resume las ventajas y desventajas-retos de la re-reforma e informa del debate actual sobre reformas para el futuro.
Estudio sobre la eficacia del régimen fiscal cooperativo portugués
Authors: Aguiar Nina , Meira Deolinda , Raquel Sandra
Published: December 2015

El ordenamiento jurídico portugués consagra un régimen fiscal especial para el sector cooperativo, basado, al igual que otros ordenamientos como el español o el italiano, en la protección de la mutualidad como forma de organización empresarial especialmente benéfica en el plano social. Para alcanzar ese objetivo, el régimen fiscal cooperativo debe ser selectivo, lo que significa que al legislador se le plantea el reto de establecer criterios para separar, dentro del marco cooperativo, lo que debe ser protegido de lo que no merece protección fiscal. El legislador portugués optó por un modelo basado en dos grupos de ramos cooperativos claramente diferenciados según los beneficios fiscales aplicables, ambos con amplias exenciones fiscales. El presente trabajo no se centra en el contenido de los beneficios aplicables sino en las condiciones que las cooperativas deben reunir para acogerse a esos regímenes fiscales favorables. Estos criterios son: i) una división entre operaciones con socios y operaciones con terceros; ii) una delimitación de las operaciones o actividades cooperativas según estén o no vinculadas con el “fin propio de la cooperativa”; y iii) una estructura prevalentemente mutualista del factor trabajo. Esta fórmula legal tiene su raíz en una legislación de 1929 y se ha mantenido hasta el día de hoy debido en parte a un fenómeno de inercia legislativa. El presente trabajo, basándose en la metodología de la sociología jurídica, asienta en una encuesta dirigida a 64 cooperativas, por la que se buscaba indagar hasta qué punto estos criterios (de acuerdo con los que se seleccionan las cooperativas que pueden acogerse a los regímenes fiscales favorables) cuadran con la realidad cooperativa actual. Como era de esperar, la vetustez del régimen hizo que se encontraran desajustes muy significativos, que reclaman una reforma urgente.
Tanshinone II A Relieves Adriamycin-induced Myocardial Injury in Rat Model
Authors: Wang Yu , Chai Hua , Wang Yi Lin , Cao Xian Yu , Wei Cheng Xi , Zhao Ming
Published: December 2015

As an effective antineoplastic agent, adriamycin (ADR) remains a use for the treatment of cancer. However, it is limited by the serous cardiotoxicity. Tanshinone II A is the main effective component of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge which has been used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of Tanshinone II A on adriamycin-induced myocardial injury in rat and explore the mechanism of this effect. Male Wistar rats (200 ± 20 g) were divided into three groups, control (CON) group, adriamycin (ADR) group and ADR + Tanshinone II A (TRA) group. At the end of the 4 week treatment period, cardiac function was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. Molecular and cellular measurements were performed in atrial muscle to examine histopathological changes, the formation of fibrosis, Inflammation and apoptosis. Cardiac dysfunction was induced by adriamycin, as indicated by significant decreases in ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction. This adriamycin-induced cardiac dysfunction was prevented by the treatment of Tanshinone II A. Adriamycin induced pathological changes and fibrosis, activated apoptosis (increased TUNEL index, apoptotic DNA fragmentation,and caspase-3 activity and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio), inflammation and suppressed phosphorylation status (eIF2α and PERK) in atrial. All these molecular and cellular alterations induced by ADR were not found in the rats treated with Tanshinone II A. These findings demonstrate clearly that Tanshinone II A protects the cardiomyocytes against the ADR-induced cardiomyopathy by preventing the activation of cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis, and the effects are probably mediated through ERS pathway.
A fast method to estimate body capacitance to ground at mid frequencies
Authors: Aliau-Bonet Carles , Pallas-Areny Ramon
Published: December 2015

Impedance measurements that involve the human body are affected by the capacitance between the body and earth ground. This paper describes a fast method to estimate that capacitance at 10 kHz, which is valid for impedance analyzers intended to measure ungrounded impedances. The method does not require any external component other than two common capacitors and two conductive electrodes in contact with the body.
Trade-off between Energy Consumption and Comfort Experience in Smart Buildings
Authors: Zupančič Domen , Luštrek Mitja , Gams Matjaž
Published: December 2015

The thermal comfort experience in conditioned environments is closely related to the indoor temperature andvaries mainly due to the dynamics of occupant state and the environmental state. The heating or cooling required to achievethe desired temperature and comfort influences the energy consumption. This article presents a multi-agent control systemthat primarily regulates thermal comfort rather than the indoor temperature. We developed this comfort regulator that basedon (i) the difference between the desired level of comfort and the current level of comfort and (ii) the difference between thecurrent temperature and the set point temperature adapts the set point temperature in order to achieve the desired comfort.An occupancy prediction algorithm and expert rules were designed to efficiently reduce unnecessary energy consumptionduring periods when the home is not occupied and the comfort experience is therefore not important. The results of experimentsare presented in a comfort/energy-consumption space. The comfort/energy-consumption space shows how the finalresult is influenced by (i) different versions of learning algorithms and (ii) different comfort threshold values. Comparingthe comfort/energy-consumption spaces for different occupancy patterns shows that the rule settings have similar impact oncontrol performance, which indicates that the rules are general. In nearly all experiments, the proposed multi-agent controlsystem assured better comfort experience with small increase of energy consumption compared to reactive control system.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.itc.44.4.10139
Ruin Probabilities of a Discrete-time Multi-risk Model
Authors: Grigutis Andrius , Korvel Agneška , Šiaulys Jonas
Published: December 2015

In this work,  we investigate a  multi-risk model describing insurance business with  two or more independent series of claim amounts. Each series of claim amounts consists of independent nonnegative random variables. Claims of each series occur periodically with some fixed   inter-arrival time. Claim amounts occur until they   can be compensated by a common premium rate and the initial insurer's surplus.  In this article, wederive a recursive formula for calculation of finite-time ruin probabilities. In the case of bi-risk model, we present a procedure to calculate the ultimate ruin probability. We add several numerical examples illustrating application  of the derived formulas.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.itc.44.4.8635
An Improved Authentication Scheme for Electronic Payment Systems in Global Mobility Networks
Authors: Heydari Mohammad , Sadough S. Mohammad-Sajad , Chaudhry Shehzad Ashraf , Sabzinejad Farash Mohammad , Aref Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2015

The use of e-payment system for electronic trade is on its way to make daily life more easy and convenient‎. ‎Contrarily‎, ‎there are a number of security issues to be addressed‎, ‎user anonymity and fair exchange have become important concerns along with authentication‎, ‎confidentiality‎, ‎integrity and non-repudiation‎. ‎In a number of existing e-payment schemes‎, ‎the customer pays for the product before acquiring it‎. ‎Furthermore‎, ‎many such schemes require very high computation and communication costs‎. ‎To address such issues recently Yang et.al‎. ‎proposed an authenticated encryption scheme and an e-payment scheme based on their authenticated encryption‎. ‎They excluded the need of digital signatures for authentication‎, ‎further they claimed their schemes to resist replay‎, ‎man-in-middle‎, ‎impersonation and identity theft attack‎, ‎while providing confidentiality‎, ‎authenticity‎, ‎integrity and privacy protection‎. ‎However our analysis exposed that Yang et al.'s both authenticated encryption scheme and e-payment system are vulnerable to impersonation attack‎. ‎An adversary just having knowledge of public parameters can easily masquerade as a legal user‎. ‎Furthermore‎, ‎we proposed improved authenticated encryption and e-payment schemes to overcome weaknesses of Yang et al.'s schemes‎. ‎We prove the security of our schemes using automated tool ProVerif‎. ‎The improved schemes are more robust and more lightweight than Yang et al.'s schemes which is evident from security and performance analysis‎.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.itc.44.4.9197
IMPACT OF THE HYDRIC REPOSITION IN SOIL ON THE AGRICULTURE IN SEMI ARID REGION
Authors: Galvíncio Josiclêda Domiciano , França Luciana Mayla
Published: December 2015

Scientists around the world have shown impacts of the climate change in agriculture. The study of impacts climate in agriculture is very important for different areas, human, economic, hydrology, social, environment, etc. The aim this study is to analyze the spatial-temporal variation of agriculture due hydric reposition on semiarid region of Brazil. In this study we used Landsat image for estimate NDVI – Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and method of Thornthwaite and Matter for estimate water balance. The results of this study show that knowing the amount of water that is stored in the soil during rainy season is very important to specify the conditions of the agriculture in this year. Finally, it is possible to predict the conditions of the agriculture using climatic water balance and vegetation indices obtained satellite images of the rainy season.
Drive to Marry and Social Prescription in Chinese Online Daters
Authors: Lange Rense , Houran James , Li Song
Published: December 2015

Individuals’ eagerness or desire to get married was investigated in a sample of online daters in China (n = 3,389) using a 6-item version of the Drive to Marry (DTM) Scale, which was modified with new questions about normative pressures to marry given the cultural emphasis on social prescription in Eastern versus Western culture. The questionnaire items conformed to a unidimensional Rasch scale with interval-level measurement, although two themes seemed inherent to DTM – positive feelings of excitement or anticipation and negative feelings of urgency or desperation. Consistent with previous theory and research, women exhibited stronger DTM than men and normative pressures resulted in greater perceived DTM. Finally, significant response biases by sex were found, indicating that men and women differ in their qualitative experience of DTM. The results offer a preliminary cross-cultural validation and perspective on DTM and expand the present conceptualization and measurement of the construct to guide future research and theory-building.
‘In New Zealand I feel more confidence’: The role of context in the willingness to communicate (WTC) of migrant Iranian English language learners
Authors: Cameron Denise
Published: December 2015

This article will discuss recent theories of Willingness to Communicate (WTC) and provide an overview of studies into this individual difference which have been conducted in both Iran and New Zealand (NZ). So far few qualitative studies have been carried out into WTC or have used permanent migrants as participants. The article reports on a longitudinal study of the WTC of a group of Iranian migrants to NZ. By means of questionnaires, observations, and individual semi-structured interviews conducted at six-month intervals, case studies of these learners in a NZ university English class were compiled. Their WTC was found to encompass such learner characteristics as confidence, motivation, and personality, and varied from country to country and semester to semester. Finally, this article discusses the contribution of this study to the WTC field of research, identifying the implications of these results for teachers of English in the ESL (English as a Second language/migrant) context and possible avenues for future research.
The nature of language learners’ beliefs: A half-told story
Authors: Zhong Qunyan (Maggie)
Published: December 2015

Substantial amount of research regarding L2 learners’ beliefs has been conducted in recent years. However, not enough attention has been paid to investigating the nature of learners’ beliefs; hence our understanding of the construct is contradictory in the sense that early research studies report stability in beliefs, while more recent studies provide evidence of change in learners’ beliefs. This paper reports on a case study aiming at contributing to a deeper understanding of the nature of language learners’ beliefs. Data were gathered longitudinally over an 18-week period using a number of tools. The findings reveal the complexity of learners’ beliefs. The beliefs that the learners held were not always in harmony and some of them can be self contradictory. Furthermore, while some beliefs may evolve and change over time and across situation, others may remain relatively stable, suggesting the complex and dual nature of learners’ beliefs. Drawing on these findings, the paper concludes that learner beliefs can best be perceived as an inter-related construct that has dual features and sometimes can be paradoxical.
Time-resolved curling-probe measurements of electron density in high frequency pulsed DC discharges
Authors: Pandey Anil , Sakakibara Wataru , Matsuoka Hiroyuki , Nakamura Keiji , Sugai Hideo
Published: December 2015

A plasma-induced shift in the resonance frequency of a curling probe measured by using a network analyzer (NWA) yields the electron density. This technique was applied here for measuring time-varying electron density in pulsed DC glow discharges. Using the NWA in an on-sweep synchronization mode with the discharge pulse allows measuring at pulse frequencies below 0.5 kHz. For higher pulse frequencies, an on-point mode was introduced which enabled time-resolved measurements of electron density at pulse frequencies reaching 25 kHz, with the minimal time interval of 2 µs, typically for nitrogen discharge at 10 Pa. In the afterglow regime, the decay time constant of electron density was measured for nitrogen and argon discharges at 40 Pa. In the case of argon, the electron density was observed to decrease in three steps. This characteristic behavior was tentatively attributed to a bi-Maxwellian electron energy distribution and Ramsauer effect, supported by Langmuir probe measurements.
Optical properties and durability performance of substance SiO2/Nb2O5 for multilayer thin films prepared by high-density plasma-assisted vapor deposition
Authors: Moriizumi Yasushi , Honma Hideo , Takai Osamu
Published: December 2015

Optical lenses normally require an antireflection (AR) film to improve their characteristics of visibility and transmittance. The AR film is constructed with materials of various refractive indices and designed to obtain good optical properties by combining various materials to utilize light interference with controlled film thickness and number of layers. Therefore, in this study, we have fabricated an AR film consisting of multilayer thin films of SiO2 and Nb2O5 by high-density plasma-assisted vapor deposition to improve its environmental resistance, especially its mechanical properties, while maintaining its optical properties. We conducted the sand falling test to evaluate the damage to the multilayer we fabricated and found that the Nb2O5 layer located at a depth of about 200 nm from the outermost layer was plastically deformed and the layer absorbed the shock from the sand to reduce damage.
Bending and turbulent enhancement phenomena of neutral gas flow containing an atmospheric pressure plasma by applying external electric fields measured by schlieren optical method
Authors: Yamada Hiromasa , Yamagishi Yusuke , Sakakita Hajime , Tsunoda Syuichiro , Kasahara Jiro , Fujiwara Masanori , Kato Susumu , Itagaki Hirotomo , Kim Jaeho , Kiyama Satoru , Fujiwara Yutaka , Ikehara Yuzuru , Ikehara Sanae , Nakanishi Hayao , Shimizu Nobuyuki
Published: December 2015

To understand the mechanism of turbulent enhancement phenomena of a neutral gas flow containing plasma ejected from the nozzle of plasma equipment, the schlieren optical method was performed to visualize the neutral gas behavior. It was confirmed that the turbulent starting point became closer to the nozzle exit, as the amplitude of discharge voltage (electric field) increased. To study the effect of electric field on turbulent enhancement, two sets of external electrodes were arranged in parallel, and the gas from the nozzle was allowed to flow between the upper and lower electrodes. It was found that the neutral gas flow was bent, and the bending angle increased as the amplitude of the external electric field increased. The results obtained using a simple model analysis roughly coincide with experimental data. These results indicate that momentum transport from drifted ions induced by the electric field to neutral particles is an important factor that enhances turbulence.
Correlates of unprotected sex by client type among female sex workers that inject drugs in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Authors: Lindsay Ryan P. , Roesch Scott C. , Strathdee Steffanie A. , Rangel M. Gudelia , Staines-Orozco Hugo S. , Abramovitz Daniela , Ulibarri Monica D. , Rusch Melanie L.A.
Published: December 2015

Lindsay, R., Roesch, S., Strathdee, S., Rangel, M., Staines-Orozco, H., Abramovitz, D., Ulibarri, M., & Rusch, M. (2015). Correlates of unprotected sex by client type among female sex workers that inject drugs in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4(2), 159-169. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.208Aims: Risk environment factors may influence unprotected sex between female sex workers who are also injection drug users(FSW-IDUs) and their regular and non-regular clients differently. Our objective is to identify correlates of unprotected vaginalsex in the context of client type.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 583 FSW-IDUs in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, was analyzed using negativebinomial regression to determine physical, social, economic, and policy risk-environment factors that affect the frequency ofunprotected sex with regular and non-regular clients.Results: Median number of unprotected vaginal sex acts in the past month among FSW-IDUs and their regular and non-regularclients was 11 (IQR 3–30) and 13 (IQR 5–30), respectively. Correlates differed by site and client type and were most closelyassociated with the risk environment. In Tijuana, social factors (e.g., injecting drugs with clients) were independently associatedwith more unprotected sex. Factors independently associated with less unprotected sex across client type and site included socialand economic risk environment factors (e.g., receiving more money for unprotected sex). In the policy risk environment, alwayshaving free access to condoms was independently associated with less unprotected sex among non-regular clients in Tijuana(Risk rate ratio = 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.43–0.97).Conclusions: Primarily physical, social, and economic risk-environment factors were associated with unprotected vaginal sexbetween FSW-IDUs and both client types, suggesting potential avenues for intervention.
Commentary: Girls, women, and alcohol: Implications for alcohol policy
Authors: Johnston Ann Dowsett
Published: December 2015

Johnston, A. (2015). Commentary: Girls, women, and alcohol: Implications for alcohol policy. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4(2), 101-102. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.212Alcohol abuse is rising in much of the developed world, and in many countries, female drinkers are responsible for this growth. This is a global issue: the richer the country, the fewer abstainers and the smaller the gap between male and female behaviour. The new reality: while male consumption is constant or declining, female consumption is on the upswing.
Letter to the Editor: Why do pregnant South African women drink alcohol? A call to action for more qualitative investigations
Authors: Olusanya Olufunto A. , Barry Adam E.
Published: December 2015

Olusanya, O., & Barry, A. (2015). Letter to the Editor: Why do pregnant South African women drink alcohol? A call to action for more qualitative investigations. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4(2), 171-174. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.213Even though the adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy have been well documented, millions of babies each year continue to be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This is concerning given that FASD is completely preventable. FASDs have been documented across a variety of races and geographical regions worldwide, yet the highest known prevalence rates are recorded in Africa. Specifically, for every 1000 children born in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, approximately 59.3 to 91.0 are determined to have fetal alcohol syndrome, the most severe form of FASD. While the risk factors contributing to FASDs have been examined quantitatively among South African women, there is a dearth of qualitative investigations that articulate and contextualize the underling motivations, beliefs, and attitudes that influence these risk factors. Qualitative investigations have been conducted in other geographic regions (e.g., Australia), but are not generalizable to South Africa. Qualitative investigations, which explore the familial, social, cultural, and economic factors that influence maternal drinking, are needed to inform future health promotion programs and interventions aimed at decreasing and ultimately eliminating maternal alcohol consumption among South African women.
Making Financial Assistance Programs Equitable and Accessible
Authors: Kona Maanasa
Published: September 2024

This Viewpoint discusses the lack of oversight and uniformity in hospitals’ financial assistance programs and the impact on patient access.
Effects of electron density force to 1.0 and fill to 1.0 on VMAT treatment plans for lung SBRT
Authors: Elcim Yelda
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of forcing and filling the electron density (ED) to 1.0 of the planning target volume (PTV) overdose distribution in lung SBRT treatment leading to shortening patient treatment time and increasing patient comfort by reducing MU/fraction due to ED manipulation effect.

Methods

In this study, 36 lung SBRT plans of 12 suitable patients who prescribed a total dose of 50 Gy in five fractions were generated with Monaco v.5.10 TPS using the Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique by PTV ED values forcing as well as filling to 1.0 and comparatively assessed. The first group of plans was created by using the patient's original ED, second and third groups of plans were reoptimized by forcing and filling the ED of PTV to 1.0, respectively, therefore acquiring a new dose distribution which lead to comparatively assessment the effects of changes in ED on PTV and OAR doses.

Results

Assessment of treatment plans revealed that mean MU/fx numbers were decreased by 76% and 75.25% between Groups 1 and 2, Groups 1 and 3, respectively. The number of segments was also reduced in Group 1 by up to 15% compared with Groups 2 and 3. Maximum HI and CI differences for PTV between Groups 1 and 2 were less than 1% and Groups 1 and 3 were 1.5% which indicates all 3 group plans were comparable in terms of dose distribution within PTV.

Conclusions

Forcing and filling the ED of PTV to 1.0 strategy has provided reduced a number of segments and MU/fx without a significant change in PTV mean and maximum doses, thereby decreasing treatment time and patient discomfort during treatment. This process should be considered in line of a potential number of patients as well as prescribed dose and MU/fx numbers.
A General Strategy toward Enhanced Electrochemical and Mechanical Performance of Solid‐State Lithium Batteries through Constructing Covalently Bonded Electrode Materials/Electrolyte Interfaces
Authors: Zhang Weicai , Wu Tianlai , Zheng Yansen , Wang Yongyin , Xie Zhuohao , Zheng Mingtao , Liu Yingliang , Liang Yeru , Liu Lifeng
Published: September 2024

Solid‐state lithium batteries (SSLBs) offer inherent safety and high energy density for next‐generation energy storage, but the large interfacial resistance and poor physical connection between electrode materials and the solid electrolyte (SE) severely impede their practical applications. This work reports a general strategy to introduce covalent bonds between electrode materials and SE, not only reducing interfacial resistance but also enhancing electrochemical stability and mechanical robustness of SSLBs. The covalent bonding is accomplished by functionalizing electrode surfaces with C═C groups, enabling in situ copolymerization with telechelic polymers in the SE. This approach is applicable to various cathode/anode materials and SEs. Particularly, the SSLBs comprising LiFePO4 cathode, Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12/(polyethylene oxide (PEO)/lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)/silk composite SE and metallic lithium anode exhibit a specific capacity of 158.4 mAh g−1 and can be cycled at 2 C for 2200 times with >80% retention. Additionally, the SSLBs containing the high nickel‐content LiNi0.96Co0.03Mn0.01O2 cathode can afford a high specific capacity of 201.8 mAh g−1. Comprehensive experimental examination and theoretical simulations confirm that the lowered interfacial resistance and intimately contacted electrode materials/electrolyte interfaces facilitate Li+ transport at different stages of charge. Furthermore, the covalently bonded electrode/electrolyte interfaces also endow SSLBs with outstanding mechanical stability, enabling flexible SSLB pouch cells to operate under various bending states without performance decay.
Bio‐Inspired Design of 4D‐Printed Scaffolds Capable of Programmable Multi‐Step Transformations Toward Vascular Reconstruction
Authors: Wang Qifan , Zhang Yonggang , Shao Fei , Yang Xueying , Wang Shuya , Shen Yi , Wang Huanan
Published: September 2024

Many withered leaves or flowers spontaneously curl and transform from flattened structures into tubular constructs upon dehydration. Inspired by this phenomenon, an innovative strategy is developed to design stimuli‐responsive scaffolds that are capable of programmable transformation from flattened 2D constructs into various curled 3D tissue‐mimicking structures. Specifically, Janus‐structured scaffolds consisting of a passive layer of polycaprolactone and an active, triggered‐transforming layer of methacrylate gelatin/alginate hydrogel are 3D‐printed, which replicate the asymmetrical structure of leaves and enabled on‐demand transformation into desired curvatures and shapes through mimicking the regulation mechanism of leaves curling behavior by mesophyll matrix stiffness and vein patterns. Particularly for vascular reconstruction, multi‐step transformation scaffolds capable of primary 2D‐to‐3D transformation into tubular constructs induced by dehydration, and secondary transformation to adapt to the local intravascular geometry in vivo, are successfully developed. In addition, the oriented polycaprolactone layer of the printed scaffold can enable the adhesion, proliferation, and orientation of endothelial cells, thus demonstrating a novel strategy for the design of tissue‐engineered blood vessels. In general, this study provides an innovative design strategy for programmable biomaterials capable of shape morphing and adaptation in physiological conditions, thereby opening up a new avenue for the design of intelligent biomaterials in regenerative medicine.
Revolutionizing CO2‐to‐C2 Conversion: Unleashing the Potential of CeO2 Nanocores for Self‐ Supported Electrocatalysts with Cu2O Nanoflakes on 3D Graphene Aerogel
Authors: Yap Feng Ming , Loh Jian Yiing , Yuan Shaoyu , Zeng Xianhai , Ong Wee‐Jun
Published: September 2024

Cu serves as a promising electrocatalyst for converting CO2 into valuable C2 products in CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR). However, instability in CO* formation is crucial for CO2 adsorption‐ desorption still remains a challenge under reduction conditions. This study explores the impact of lanthanide oxide, particularly CeO2, on Cu‐based catalytic performances. By leveraging Ce's distinctive electronic structure, CO* species are stabilized during the reaction in CeO2─Cu2O, resulting in exceptional catalytic performance for CO2 electroreduction to C2 products. Hybridizing CeO2‐Cu2O with graphene aerogel enhances electrochemical active surface area and CO2RR efficiency. The resulting CeO2─Cu2O(10%)/GA electrocatalyst exhibits a remarkable faradaic efficiency for C2 products, exceeding 62%, alongside exceptional stability over 80 h with wide potential window (−0.8 to −1.2 V) using a H‐cell. Systematic investigations elucidate the intricate interplay between surface properties and catalytic activity. Furthermore, a solar cell‐ powered CO2 reduction system demonstrates consistent performance (−27.8 mA cm−2 at 3.46 V) under solar radiation of ≈100 mW cm−2, showcasing outstanding stability with nearly 100% retention over 4 h of continuous illumination. In short, by harnessing catalytic and electronic effects, this innovation advances the development of electrocatalysts with heightened CO2‐to‐C2 selectivity, bridging fundamental research with technological innovation to tackle critical global challenges.