bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earnings Management and Stock Market Reaction
Authors: Cerqueira Antonio Melo , Pereira Claudia Ferreira
Published: February 2019

This chapter aims to analyze if and the extent to which earnings management activities are detected by market participants. For that purpose, this chapter reviews prior literature on stock market reaction to earnings management and earnings quality. A main conclusion obtained with this approach is that stock market participants are to some extent misled by earnings management activities consistent with those activities making the firm's information environment more opaque, thus increasing the difficulty for investors to interpret financial statements. Both the theoretical and empirical contributions provided in such works are relevant given the potential negative consequences of earnings management for stakeholders, firms, and even for the entire economy. In addition, it must be emphasized that accounting regulation is fundamental to balance the trade-off between more informative financial statements and reducing the level of managers' opportunistic choices.
Can Big Data Support Smart(er) Evaluation?
Authors: Brunetta Grazia , Caldarice Ombretta
Published: February 2019

In the last decade, the value of big data for social sciences is declared to be high for its social impact. This kind of data is currently applied to create a wealth of constantly updating information that in the spatial domain are generally used to support decision making. This chapter falls under this heading, and it presents the results of a research program developed by an interdisciplinar research team of the Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning of Politecnico di Torino for the Autonomous Province of Trento in which the Territorial Integrated Evaluation methodology was applied for evaluating regional development and designing territorial scenarios. According to the results of the research, TIE methodology proposes a smart approach to territorial evaluation as it links the strategic dimension of evaluation to the regional planning process. Starting from the TIE methodology, the chapter aims to represent a small step in the theoretical discussion on the big data in social sciences discussing its potential role for territorial evaluation.
A Territorial Dimension Can Be Useful for Managing Long-Term Regional Road Safety
Authors: Sciullo Alessandro , Occelli Sylvie
Published: February 2019

Analysis of road crashes at the local level is necessary for targeting and implementing effective countermeasures. This chapter presents a contribution to this task. It describes the research carried out in Piedmont, Italy, where an exploratory approach has been used to link road crash data with information about the spatial characteristics of urban settlements. The analytic strategy is developed in three steps. First, fine-grained spatial data for road crashes, land use, traffic counts, and population distribution are linked by GIS methods. Second, a selection of the data is implemented at the municipality level and processed through a cluster analysis to identify territorial accident profiles. Finally, to show their analytic potential, one case study is discussed that considers road segments as main observation units.
A Planning Model for Cognitive Cities
Authors: Kone Sarmada Madhulika
Published: February 2019

A city is a real-time function with constantly changing variables. Rapid urbanization of the cities and increase in a number of mega cities has made the entire urban management complex. With many parameters involved in it, urban data has started to resemble the characteristics of big data. The nexus between spatial cognition and the frequency of data collection of an urban system explains the role of big data analysis in performance monitoring of the urban systems. Urban data collection and analysis can be possible through participatory planning and participatory citizens. This chapter focuses on understanding the correlation between spatial cognition and participatory planning.
Predicting Patient Turnover
Authors: Ramsey Gregory W. , Bapna Sanjay
Published: February 2019

Predicting patient turnover within health services is beneficial for resource planning. In this chapter, patient turnover is viewed as a form of customer churn. As such, the authors examine whether free-form notes are useful for solving the classification problem typically associated with customer churn. The authors show that classifiers which incorporate free-form notes, using natural language processing techniques, are up to 11% more accurate than classifiers that are solely developed using structured data. In addition, the authors show that free-form notes aggregated for each account perform better than treating each note separately. It is suggested that hospitals and chronic disease management clinics can use structured data and free-form notes from electronic health records to predict which patients are likely to cease receiving care from their facilities. Classification tools for predicting patient churn are of interest to hospital administrators; such information can aid in resource planning and facilitates smoother handoffs between care providers.
Using Performance-Based Assessments as Part of Quality Assurance System for Program Improvement
Authors: Horne Erin Thomas , Monaco Malina K. , Cannon Sarah E. , Roberts Charlotte E.
Published: February 2019

As the use of performance-based assessments continues to spread nationally, teacher preparation programs must negotiate the role of these assessments and their data as part of their quality assurance systems. This chapter will explore how one educator preparation program leveraged local and national performance-based assessments to build the foundation of their quality assurance system. Further, discussion will illustrate how they engaged in a cycle of continuous improvement based on teacher candidate outcomes.
Tools and Methods of Information Support for the Development of Renewable Energy
Authors: Mukhamediyev Ravil I. , Kiseleva Sophia , Yakunin Kirill , Mustakayev Renat , Muhamedijeva Jelena
Published: February 2019

The chapter considers information systems that provide analysis of the RES resource base and support decision making. RES resources in the Republic of Kazakhstan are briefly analyzed. The methods and systems for evaluation of theoretical, technical, and economic potential of renewable energy sources are considered. Based on this overview, the authors propose six steps of estimation that should be realized in intellectual GIS. One of the major steps is the identification the factors that affect using of renewable energy sources. These factors can contribute to impeding the development of green energy. The simple taxonomy of these factors is proposed. The second important step is to aggregate estimations of the factors. As a result, the authors propose the aggregation method based on Bayes rule. Compared to other methods, this approach allows us to obtain two estimates: probabilities of positive and negative hypotheses. The methods discussed are at the heart of the information system supporting the development of renewable energy sources in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Renewable Energy Sources Development in Rural Areas of African Countries
Authors: Nefedova Liudmila V. , Solovyev Alexander Alexsvitch , Popova Olena
Published: February 2019

The prospects of increasing access to electricity for the population of rural areas of Africa are considered. The main international funds and organizations aimed at sustainable energy development in Africa are described. An analysis of the state and possible options for using renewable energy sources for this purpose in decentralized energy supply through the creation of mini-grids or stand-alone systems is given. The risks by developing renewable energy sources in rural areas and modern mechanisms for financing in solar energy are presented.
The Immune Function of Tuft Cells at Gut Mucosal Surfaces and Beyond
Authors: Ting Hung-An , von Moltke Jakob
Published: February 2019

Tuft cells were first discovered in epithelial barriers decades ago, but their function remained unclear until recently. In the last 2 years, a series of studies has provided important advances that link tuft cells to infectious diseases and the host immune responses. Broadly, a model has emerged in which tuft cells use chemosensing to monitor their surroundings and translate environmental signals into effector functions that regulate immune responses in the underlying tissue. In this article, we review the current understanding of tuft cell immune function in the intestines, airways, and thymus. In particular, we discuss the role of tuft cells in type 2 immunity, norovirus infection, and thymocyte development. Despite recent advances, many fundamental questions about the function of tuft cells in immunity remain to be answered.
Trauma from abuse, suggestibility and EMDR
Authors: Ficorilli Francesca Romana
Published: February 2019

One of the most complete definitions of Trauma describes it as an "extreme, unsustainable and inevitable threatening experience, in the face of which the individual experiences a sense of helplessness", an event outside the range of usual human experiences, which overwhelm the normal human capacity for adaptation. A modern and current understanding of the concept of Trauma occurs with Bowlby, which places it for the first time in a "relational" context. He argues that the way people react in adverse life situations, particularly to a traumatic event, depends on the type of attachment that has been established between the child and his attachment figures (AFs). The concept of "child abuse and neglect" includes different forms of violence against children, ranging from verbal abuse to rape. Law 66 of 15 February 1996 introduced specific rules on child sexual abuse, in particular the way of listening to children in order to collect good testimony. The theory that today represents the point of reference for most research on the accuracy of memory in testimony, considers memory a "reconstructive" process, and is the result of the interaction between interpretation that is given by the subject in the coding phase, recovery of clues based on the general knowledge possessed by the subject and the context in which it is in the moment in which it must remember. Loftus' studies on false memories affirm that eye witnessing, however bona fide it may be, can be completely unreliable because there are many distortions of memory. The problem of suggestibility in memory is not so much that the momentary account can be modified, but that a distortion of the original episode of what is represented in memory of the event in question takes place, which, from that moment on, will be irreversibly modified. The therapeutic crisis support is the first phase of the therapeutic work following the abuse and has as its privileged recipients the victim and the adult who takes care of them. Currently, a trauma-focused therapy such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an evidence-based psychotherapy approach, is used, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the elective therapy for the treatment of PTSD and several psychopathologies related to traumatic events, including sexual abuse. Not only because the victims of abuse could in turn perpetrate the cycle of abuse, but also so that victimisation is not considered an unchangeable characteristic of the person.
Criminal crowds: Responsibility attribution and social control in Sighele and Le Bon
Authors: Baietti Edoardo
Published: February 2019

Social control and responsibility attribution as fundamental concepts for a comparative analysis between the "Psychology of Crowds" (1895) by Gustave Le Bon and "The Criminal Crowd" (1891) by Scipio Sighele. The present study attempts to demonstrate the limitation of the distancing of the French thinker from the work of the Italian criminologist. Pioneering examples of psychology of crowds in a sociological/philosophical (for Le Bon) and criminological/forensic (for Sighele) interpretation, the texts follow some common reflections, overshadowed by the different background of the two authors and a different authorial purpose. In fact, for the eminent theoretician of positive law of Lombrosian inspiration the objective is to establish a criminal responsibility commensurate with the crimes of the members of the crowd, through the criterion of the temibility of the offender, for Le Bon instead (at least according to certain points of view) it is about providing the tools of control to the individual who does not want to be overwhelmed by the power of the crowd, while not neglecting even the latter some interesting suggestions of criminal law. This different perspective makes it easier for the reader to see the differences in thought and less easy to glimpse moments of conceptual harmony. At the same time, it will be attempted to demonstrate how it is not possible, even in spite of the title attributed by Sighele to his own work, to limit the reflection of the criminologist to the crimes of the crowds and not even flatten it on the controversial theories of criminal anthropology.
Safe Patient Handling: How Many People Do You Need to Safely Lateral Transfer Patients?
Authors: Smith Austin J. , Loder Michele
Published: February 2019

Background: Although friction-reducing devices reduce the amount of force to complete a lateral transfer, the total force is significantly higher than the recommended pushing and pulling limits. Caregivers complete lateral transfers without knowing the amount of force required to laterally transfer patients, which subjects them to injury. Methods: This study was designed to identify the force to laterally transfer patients of any weight, in conditions similar to those found within the hospital of this study. There were 16 participants in this study. The participants were moved from a hospital bed to a hospital cart using two force gauges pulling two gait belts secured around the participant. Each participant was moved three times, resulting in 48 data points. A regression analysis was used to evaluate trends between two variables. A general linear model was applied and the coefficient of determination was calculated to show the percent fit to the trend line. Results: This study found a strong correlation between force of lateral transfer and the weight of the patient. Using this correlation, this study was able to predict the total force of a lateral transfer for any patient weight. The results from this study allowed for the creation of a guide to determine how many caregivers are required during a lateral transfer to maintain a safe amount of force per caregiver. Conclusion: Caregivers need to be given information regarding the forces required to complete physical movements so they can protect themselves from overexertion and injury. This study provides a guideline for caregivers to know how many people are needed to safely complete a lateral transfer.
A Reply to “Staggered Wage Net Discount Rates: Comment”
Authors: Baumann Robert , Schap David
Published: February 2019

In the comment by Krueger (2018), several guidelines are drawn from the Baumann and Schap (2018) analysis of wage net discount rates (WNDRs). This reply provides clarification on some of the guidelines.
Medicamentos sem registros na ANVISA : uma abordagem institucional
Authors: De Lazari Igor , Bolonha Carlos , Dias Sergio
Published: February 2019

Este artigo possui por objeto, a partir da abordagem institucionalista, a investigação dos níveis de deferência dos Poderes Legislativo e Judiciário à Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). Metodologicamente, serão analisadas decisões judiciais e legislativas que preterem as prerrogativas da ANVISA no que se refere à permissão de acesso a medicamentos sem registro, e indicar que os Poderes revisores deveriam observar nas suas decisões as suas limitações institucionais. Tem-se que a originalidade se baseia na inquirição da possibilidade de Poderes revisores substituírem a ANVISA nas suas atribuições para o propósito de atender interesses individuais de acesso a medicamentos não autorizados. Identificou-se, a partir disso, que relativa deferência à agência administrativa no que se refere à dispensação de medicamentos pode ser relevante e necessária às políticas públicas de medicamentos.
Medidas provisórias e políticas públicas : uma Análise do papel do congresso nacional nas políticas de saúde no governo (2011-2016)
Authors: De Pinho Clóvis Alberto Bertolini
Published: February 2019

A utilização de Medidas Provisórias (MPs) para a formação, estruturação, veiculação e normatização de políticas públicas (estas compreendidas como o programa de ação do Governo) tem se tornado cada vez mais recorrente. A possibilidade de adoção de MPs, com vigência imediata, acentua o recurso às MPs. Deste modo, o artigo busca: i) compreender as origens, desdobramentos e efeitos decorrentes da utilização de Medidas Provisórias por parte do Poder Executivo; ii) ponderar a respeito da conveniência do emprego de Medidas Provisórias como meios de normatização de políticas públicas; iii) verificar como a utilização das Medidas Provisórias poderia exercer um papel de condicionante à agenda do Poder Legislativo; iv) trazer casos concretos da utilização de Medidas Provisórias como forma de compreender a inserção de políticas públicas, analisando o papel do Poder Legislativo no processo de estruturação de políticas públicas, verificando a pertinência da veiculação de determinadas políticas por meio de MP. A metodologia utilizada foi a análise descritiva e estatística, como forma de melhor entender o tema abordado. A limitação da pesquisa se deu somente no âmbito do processo legislativo federal, não promovendo discussões com o processo legislativo de outras esferas de governo. A originalidade do trabalho consiste na compreensão das medidas provisórias e a perspectiva das políticas públicas, que ainda não conta com muito estudos no Brasil, sobretudo após a Emenda Constitucional nº 32/2001. Por fim, o estudo chega à conclusão de que o Congresso Nacional, no período analisado (2011-2016), tendeu a promover discussões mais intensas na análise de Medidas Provisórias, do que em proposições legislativas advindas do próprio parlamento.
A desproteção à saúde do trabalhador e a sua judicialização
Authors: Leme Renata Salgado , Paula Filho Luiz Pinto de
Published: February 2019

O presente artigo discute a desproteção da saúde do trabalhador e os reflexos que referida desproteção gera no âmbito judicial, demonstrando como o descumprimento da norma constitucional de proteção à saúde do trabalhador tem implicado num excessivo número de ações judiciais que discutem o direito aos benefícios acidentários oriundos de acidentes de trabalho que, por sua vez, ocorrem muitas vezes pela ausência de políticas públicas de proteção à saúde do trabalhador. Para tanto, foi utilizado o método hipotético-dedutivo a fim de responder a seguinte pergunta: a saúde do trabalhador tem recebido a proteção prevista pela Constituição Federal, ou só é exercível mediante o ajuizamento de ações judiciais pleiteando este direito previsto constitucionalmente? Ao final do trabalho, foi respondida a pergunta suscitada de maneira negativa, comprovando-se que a saúde do trabalhador tem sido desprotegida pelo Estado, e que sobredita desproteção tem gerado reflexos judiciais que prejudicam o trabalhador, sua qualidade de vida e o próprio Estado.
Os limites e a extensão da defesa de direitos fundamentais por meio de instrumentos processuais de cognição estreita : mandado de segurança e o caso da saúde
Authors: Santana Héctor Valverde , Filho Roberto Freitas
Published: February 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os limites da defesa de direitos fundamentais por meio de mandado de segurança no Tribunal de Justiça do Distrito Federal e Territórios. Postula-se que o caso seja exemplar de um tipo de atividade processual e de padrão decisório que tem repercussões no campo da justiça coletiva e da administração pública. Propõe-se que a intervenção judicial na atividade do Poder Executivo no caso da saúde deve distinguir quatro situações possíveis. A intervenção judicial na política pública da saúde pode se dar pela ausência de prestação do direito, havendo regra específica que o preveja, ou seja, a regra existe e não é cumprida; ou quando a regra aplicável é inválida, pois é compreendida como insuficiente a dar mínima efetividade ao direito fundamental em face de uma regra de hierarquia superior reconhecida como contrária a ela; ou diante da ausência de regra específica que preveja o direito vindicado, espécie dentre outros já previstos por outra regra similar (caso de analogia normativa), não havendo regra aplicável ao caso; ou pela ausência de política pública que preveja como direitos enunciados de forma abstrata na Constituição Federal devem ser fruídos, não havendo uma política pública aplicável ao caso, apenas a enunciação genérica constitucional da existência do direito. É apresentada a visão liberal de Ronald Dworkin acerca da questão da igualdade na fruição de direitos prestacionais. Mostra-se a dificuldade de formulação de critérios para a identificação do sentido de dever jurídico originário em relação ao caso em análise e aborda-se a ideia de justiça coletiva, as visões caritativa e pietativa sobre o Direito, sugerindo-se que essas últimas não são adequadas à reflexão sobre problemas de alocação individual de recursos coletivos.
Privacidade relacional no Ambulatório de Oncogénetica do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
Authors: Stoll de Morais Leonardo , Ashton-Prolla Patrícia , Goldim José Roberto , Santana Fernandes Márcia
Published: February 2019

O artigo trata do direito à privacidade relacional no contexto do serviço multidisciplinar da Oncogenética. Em particular, objetiva-se no estudo problematizar a mudança empírica da privacidade individual, para a noção relacional, principalmente, em face dos desafios impostos pelo aconselhamento genético humano. A questão central do estudo é responder se a privacidade visa garantir uma fronteira exclusiva que separa o indivíduo dos demais; ou se ela, ao contrário, protege o relacionamento contínuo de confiança, permeado por decisões compartilhadas entre o indivíduo e outras pessoas. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo de caso institucional do Ambulatório de Oncogenética do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, para avaliar se, nesse ambiente, a privacidade é consolidada por meio de narrativas que potencializam a noção de indivíduo detentor de um segredo; ou se ela é definida com base em processos dialéticos que traduzem a ideia relacional de pessoa receptora de uma informação compartilhável. A partir dos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que, no aconselhamento genético, o direito à privacidade é protegido por meio de processos narrativos estabelecidos entre o paciente que compartilha as informações e o profissional que atua como receptor e intérprete. Trata-se, portanto, de um cenário em que há uma relação de cooperação a fim de garantir benefícios aos envolvidos, sendo o dever do paciente informar os familiares em risco e o dever do profissional de saúde manter os dados e informações de forma confidencial.
Desenhando modelos de sistemas de disputas para a administração pública : proposições acerca da política pública de fornecimento de medicamentos pelo viés do diálogo institucional
Authors: Castro Maira Lopes de , Sousa Monica Teresa Costa
Published: February 2019

O objetivo do presente estudo é propor a metodologia do Desenho de Sistema de Disputas como uma via possível de adoção pela Administração Pública, no que tange ao enfrentamento das conflitivas decorrentes da ineficiência da política pública nacional de medicamentos. Aborda-se, inicialmente, a judicialização de políticas públicas na área da saúde e seus impactos sob o erário. Em um segundo momento, apresenta-se as bases metodológicas do Desenho de Sistema de Disputas, enfatizando a necessidade de adoção de diálogos institucionais entre todas as esferas de poder. Na sequência, a fim de consolidar o objetivo do artigo, discorre-se acerca dos modelos existentes e possíveis no âmbito da Administração Pública, explorando o Termo de Cooperação Técnica para Assistência Farmacêutica firmado pela Defensoria Pública do Estado do Maranhão, bem como a experiência do Projeto Acessa SUS, no Estado de São Paulo. O trabalho justifica-se assim pela necessária revisão do intervencionismo do Poder Judiciário frente a políticas públicas institucionalizadas com hierarquias e competências pré-estabelecidas. Visa-se sobretudo propor modelos que atendam à perspectiva de jurisdição enquanto acesso à ordem jurídica justa. Para realização do objetivo proposto, adota-se o método de abordagem indutivo.
Papel institucional dos canais de reclamação para a resolução extrajudicial de conflitos sobre planos de saúde: uma análise comparada
Authors: Carvalho Rafaela Magalhães Nogueira , Porto Antônio José Maristrello , Ramalho Bruno
Published: February 2019

Litígios sobre planos de saúde são responsáveis por grande volume dos processos que tramitam nos tribunais brasileiros. Assim, os métodos alternativos para solução de conflitos são ferramentas que devem ser fortalecidas e aperfeiçoadas para minimizar os efeitos danosos da chamada “judicialização da saúde”. Sob tal justificativa, o presente trabalho teve o objetivo de investigar diferentes aspectos presentes em dois importantes canais de reclamações sobre planos de saúde: consumidor.gov.br e atendimento da Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS TabNet). A pesquisa contemplou as queixas que ingressaram em ambas as plataformas no intervalo entre os meses de maio de 2014 a maio de 2018. Como resultados, foram observadas importantes semelhanças, tais como a distribuição de reclamações por região geográfica e a grande concentração de reclamações atribuídas a poucas operadoras. A principal diferença entre as plataformas está na quantidade de queixas processadas – 6.604 para o consumidor.gov.br e 385.020 para o canal da agência reguladora – e nos temas tratados – o canal do consumidor recebe maior volume relacionado a cobranças indevidas e problemas de atendimento com o SAC, enquanto parcela substancial das reclamações tratadas pelo canal da ANS versa sobre a garantia de coberturas assistenciais. No âmbito da discussão, foram especuladas algumas hipóteses para explicar por que os canais extrajudiciais, isoladamente, não são suficientes para conter a escalada crescente da judicialização dos planos de saúde. Concluiu-se que ambas as plataformas exercem um papel relevante para a resolução de conflitos no setor e, em alguma medida, exercem papéis complementares entre si.
Atuação da defensoria pública na garantia do direito à saúde : a Judicialização como instrumento de acesso à saúde
Authors: Sant'Ana Ramiro Nóbrega
Published: February 2019

O artigo aborda a judicialização da saúde e pondera sobre sua utilização como instrumento de acesso à saúde pelos cidadãos atendidos pela Defensoria Pública. Afirma-se que muitos usuários do SUS enfrentam as consequências negativas do descompasso entre o SUS previsto na Constituição de 1988 e a realidade da prática institucional. Nesse contexto, a judicialização da saúde se apresenta aos cidadãos como alternativa legítima e democrática de concretização de direitos fundamentais e acesso à saúde. Tal instrumento, todavia, tem sido criticado nos debates em âmbito institucional e acadêmico. O artigo aponta as inconsistências dessas avaliações e defende a reorientação desse debate a partir da análise da atuação institucional da Defensoria Pública, bem como pelo perfil das demandas propostas pelo referido órgão. São detalhados, ainda, arranjos institucionais nos quais os Defensores Públicos atuam como mediadores entre as necessidades dos cidadãos e os recursos do sistema de saúde. Conclui-se que a atuação da Defensoria Pública demonstra que a judicialização da saúde pode ser utilizada como instrumento de estruturação do SUS, especialmente na correção de falhas e injustiças no acesso à saúde pelos cidadãos de baixa renda.
New particle formation, growth and shrinkage at a rural
background site in western Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hakala Simo , Alghamdi Mansour A. , Paasonen Pauli , Khoder Mamdouh , Neitola Kimmo , Vakkari Ville , Sundström Anu-Maija , Kontkanen Jenni , Abdelmaksoud Ahmad S. , Al-Jeelani Hisham , Lihavainen Heikki , Hussein Tareq , Kulmala Markku , Kerminen Veli-Matti , Hyvärinen Antti-Pekka , Shabbaj Ibrahim I. , Almehmadi Fahd M.
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Atmospheric aerosols have significant effects on human health and the climate. A large fraction of these aerosols originates from secondary new particle formation (NPF), where atmospheric vapors form small particles that subsequently grow into larger sizes. In this study, we characterize NPF events observed at a rural background site of Hada Al Sham (21.802° N, 39.729° E), located in western Saudi-Arabia, during the years 2013–2015. Our analysis shows that NPF events occur very frequently at the site, as 73 % of all the 454 classified days were NPF days. The high NPF frequency is likely 20 explained by the typically prevailing conditions of clear skies and high solar radiation, in combination with sufficient amounts of precursor vapors for particle formation and growth. In Hada Al Sham, the precursor vapors seem to be related to the transport of anthropogenic emissions from the coastal urban and industrial areas, since no NPF events are observed in air masses coming from the sparsely inhabited inland. The median particle formation and growth rates for the NPF days were 8.7 cm−3 s−1 (J7nm) and 7.4 nm h−1 (GR7–12nm), respectively, both showing highest values during late summer. In addition, the 25 formation and growth rates increase as a function of the condensation sink, likely reflecting the common anthropogenic sources of large primary particles and NPF precursor vapors. 76 % of the NPF days showed an unusual progression, where the observed diameter of the newly formed particle mode started to decrease after the growth phase. In comparison to most long-term measurements, the NPF events in Hada Al Sham are exceptionally frequent and strong. In addition, the frequency of the decreasing mode diameter events is higher than anywhere else in the world.
Long-term total OH reactivity measurements in a boreal forest
Authors: Praplan Arnaud P. , Tykkä Toni , Chen Dean , Boy Michael , Taipale Ditte , Vakkari Ville , Zhou Putian , Petäjä Tuukka , Hellén Heidi
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Total hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity measurements were conducted at the second Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR II), a boreal forest site located in Hyytiälä, Finland, from April to July 2016. The measured values were compared with OH reactivity calculated from a combination of data from the routine trace gas measurements (station mast) as well as online and offline analysis with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and offline liquid chromatography. Up to 104 compounds, mostly Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and oxidised VOCs, but also inorganic compounds, were included in the analysis, even though the data availability for each compound varied with time. The averaged experimental total OH reactivity increased from April to June (from 5.3 to 11.3 s−1) and decreased in July (8.8 s−1) due to different environmental conditions during the measurement days. In general, the total OH reactivity increased in late-afternoon and is high at night. It decreases in the morning and is low during the day, following the pattern of mixing ratios due to change of the boundary layer height. The missing reactivity fraction (defined as the different between measured and calculated OH reactivity) was found to be high. Several reasons that can explain the missing reactivity are discussed in detail such as (1) missing measurements due to technical issues, (2) not measuring oxidation compounds of detected biogenic VOCs, (3) missing important reactive compounds or classes of compounds with the available measurements. In order to test the second hypothesis, a one-dimensional chemical transport model (SOSAA) has been used to estimate the amount of unmeasured oxidation products and their expected contribution to the reactivity for three different short periods in April, May, and July. However, only a small fraction (
Investigating the liquid water path over the tropical Atlantic with synergistic airborne measurements
Authors: Jacob Marek , Ament Felix , Gutleben Manuel , Konow Heike , Mech Mario , Wirth Martin , Crewell Susanne
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Clouds are a strongly variable component of the climate system and several studies have identified especially marine low level clouds to play a critical role for the climate. Liquid water path (LWP) is an important quantity to characterize clouds. Passive microwave satellite sensors provide the most direct estimate on global scale, but suffer from high uncertainties due to large footprints and the superposition of cloud and precipitation signals. Here, we use high spatial resolution airborne microwave radiometer (MWR) measurements together with cloud radar and lidar observations to better understand LWP of warm clouds over the tropical North Atlantic. The nadir measurements were taken by the German High Altitude and Long range research aircraft (HALO) in December 2013 (dry season) and August 2016 (wet season) during two Next generation Advanced Remote sensing for VALidation campaigns (NARVAL). Microwave retrievals of integrated water vapor (IWV), LWP and rain water path (RWP) are developed using artificial neural network techniques and a unique database based on cloud-resolving model simulations with 1.25 km grid spacing. The IWV and LWP retrievals share the same eight MWR frequency channels as their sole input. The comparison of retrieved IWV with coincident dropsondes and water vapor lidar measurements shows root-mean-square deviations below 1.4 kg m−2 over the range from 20 to 60 kg m−2. This comparison raises the confidence in LWP retrievals which can only be assessed theoretically. The theoretical analysis shows the dependency of the uncertainty on LWP itself as the error is below 20 g m−2 for LWP below 100 g m−2 and below 20 % above. The identification of clear sky scenes by ancillary measurements, here backscatter lidar, is crucial for thin clouds (LWP < 12 g m−2) as the microwave retrieved LWP uncertainty is higher than 100 %. The RWP retrieval combines active and passive microwave observations and is able to detect drizzle and light precipitation. The analysis of both campaigns reveals that clouds were more frequent in the dry than in the wet season and their LWP and RWP were higher, but microwave scattering of ice was observed more frequently in the wet season (1.6 % vs. 0.5 % of the time). As to be expected, the observed IWV clearly shows that the wet season (mean IWV = 41 kg m−2) is more humid than the dry season (mean IWV = 28 kg m−2). The results reveal that the observed frequency distributions of IWV are strongly affected by the choice of the flight pattern. Therefore, the airborne observations need to be used carefully to mediate between long-term ground-based and spaceborne measurements to draw statistically sound conclusions.
Observations of deep-sea fishes and mobile scavengers from the abyssal DISCOL
experimental mining area
Authors: Drazen Jeffrey C. , Leitner Astrid , Morningstar Sage , Marcon Yann , Greinert Jens , Purser Autun
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Industrial interest in deep-sea mineral extraction began decades ago and today it is at an all-time high, accelerated by global demand for metals. Several seafloor ecosystem disturbance experiments were performed beginning in the 1970’s, including the DISturbance and reCOLonization experiment (DISCOL) conducted in the Peru Basin in 1989. A large seafloor disturbance was created by repeatedly plowing the seafloor over an area of ~ 10.8 km2. Though a number of studies in abyssal mining regions have evaluated megafaunal biodiversity and ecosystem responses, few have included quantitative and detailed data on fishes or scavengers despite their ecological importance as top predators. We used towed camera transects and baited camera data to evaluate the fish community at the DISCOL site. The abyssal fish community was relatively diverse with 16 taxa dominated by Ipnops meadi. Fish density was lower in ploughed habitat during the several years following disturbance but thereafter increased over time in part due to changes in regional environmental conditions. 26 years post disturbance there were no differences in overall total fish densities between reference and experimental areas, but the dominant fish, I. meadi, still exhibited much lower densities in ploughed habitat suggesting only partial fish community recovery. The scavenging community was dominated by eelpouts (Pachycara spp), hermit crabs (Probeebei mirabilis) and shrimp. The large contribution of hermit crabs appears unique amongst abyssal scavenger studies worldwide. The abyssal fish community at DISCOL was similar to that in the more northerly Clarion Clipperton Zone, though some species have only been observed at DISCOL thus far. Also, further species level identifications are required to refine this assessment. Additional studies across the polymetallic nodule provinces of the Pacific are required to further evaluate the environmental drivers of fish density and diversity and species biogeographies, which will be important for the development of appropriate management plans aimed at minimizing human impact from deep-sea mining.
Citizen science flow – an assessment of simple streamflow measurement methods
Authors: Davids Jeffrey C. , Rutten Martine M. , Pandey Anusha , Devkota Nischal , van Oyen Wessel David , Prajapati Rajaram , van de Giesen Nick
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Wise management of water resources requires data. Nevertheless, the amount of
streamflow data being collected globally continues to decline. Generating
hydrologic data together with citizen scientists can help fill this growing
hydrological data gap. Our aim herein was to (1) perform an initial
evaluation of three simple streamflow measurement methods (i.e., float, salt
dilution, and Bernoulli run-up), (2) evaluate the same three methods with
citizen scientists, and (3) apply the preferred method at more sites with
more people. For computing errors, we used midsection measurements from an
acoustic Doppler velocimeter as reference flows. First, we (authors) performed 20 evaluation
measurements in headwater catchments of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Reference flows ranged from 6.4 to 240 L s−1. Absolute errors averaged
23 %, 15 %, and 37 % with average biases of 8 %, 6 %, and
26 % for float, salt dilution, and Bernoulli methods, respectively.
Second, we evaluated the same three methods at 15 sites in two watersheds
within the Kathmandu Valley with 10 groups of citizen
scientists (three to four members
each) and one “expert” group (authors). At each site, each group performed three simple
methods; experts also performed SonTek FlowTracker midsection reference
measurements (ranging from 4.2 to 896 L s−1). For float, salt
dilution, and Bernoulli methods, absolute errors averaged 41 %, 21 %,
and 43 % for experts and 63 %, 28 %, and 131 % for citizen
scientists, while biases averaged 41 %, 19 %, and 40 % for
experts and 52 %, 7 %, and 127 % for citizen scientists,
respectively. Based on these results, we selected salt dilution as the
preferred method. Finally, we performed larger-scale pilot testing in
week-long pre- and post-monsoon Citizen Science Flow campaigns involving 25
and 37 citizen scientists, respectively. Observed flows (n=131
pre-monsoon; n=133 post-monsoon) were distributed among the 10 headwater
catchments of the Kathmandu Valley and ranged from 0.4 to 425 L s−1
and from 1.1 to 1804 L s−1 in pre- and post-monsoon, respectively.
Future work should further evaluate uncertainties of citizen science salt
dilution measurements, the feasibility of their application to larger
regions, and the information content of additional streamflow data.
Migration of Reflector Orientation Attributes in Deep Seismic Profiles: Evidence for Decoupling of the Yilgarn Craton Lower Crust
Authors: Calvert Andrew J. , Doublier Michael P.
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Interpretation of deep seismic data is challenging due to the lack of direct geological constraints from drilling and the more limited amount of data available from 2-D profiles in comparison to hydrocarbon exploration surveys. Thus other constraints that can be derived from the seismic data themselves can be of great value. Though the origin of most deep seismic reflections remains ambiguous, an association between seismic reflections and crustal strain, e.g. shear zones, underlies many interpretations. Estimates of the 3D orientation of reflectors may help associate specific reflections, or regions of the crust, with geological structures mapped at the surface whose orientation and tectonic history are known. In the case of crooked 2-D onshore seismic lines, the orientation of reflections can be estimated when the range of azimuths in a common midpoint gather is greater than approximately 20 degrees, but integration of these orientation attributes into an interpretation of migrated seismic data requires that they also be migrated. Here we present a simple approach to the 2-D migration of these orientation attributes that utilises that apparent the dip of reflections on the unmigrated stack, and maps reflector strike, for example, to a short linear segment depending on its original position and a migration velocity. This interpretation approach has been applied to a seismic line shot across the Younami Terrane of the Australian Yilgarn Craton, and indicates that the lower crust behaved differently from the overlying middle crust as the newly assembled crust collapsed during the Late Archean. Some structures related to approximately east-directed shortening are preserved in the middle crust, but the lower crust is characterized by reflectors that suggest N-NNE-oriented ductile flow. Deployment of off-line receivers during seismic acquisition allows the recording of a larger range of source-receiver azimuths, and should produce more reliable future estimates of reflector attributes.
Inter-comparison and improvement of 2-stream shortwave radiative transfer
models for unified treatment of cryospheric surfaces in ESMs
Authors: Dang Cheng , Zender Charles S. , Flanner Mark G.
Published: February 2019

Abstract. Snow is an important climate regulator because it greatly increases the surface albedo of large parts of the Earth. Earth System Models (ESMs) often adopt 2-stream approximations with different radiative transfer techniques, the same snow therefore has different solar radiative properties depending whether it is on land or on sea ice. Here we inter-compare three 2-stream algorithms widely used in snow models, improve their predictions at large zenith angles, and introduce a hybrid model suitable for all cryospheric surfaces in ESMs. The algorithms are those employed by the SNow ICe and Aerosol Radiative (SNICAR) module used in land models, and by Icepack, the column physics used in the Los Alamos sea ice model CICE and MPAS-seaice, and a 2-stream discrete ordinate (2SD) model. Compared with a 16-stream benchmark model, the errors in snow visible albedo for a direct-incident beam from all three 2-stream models are small (
Effect of altitude on essential oil composition and on glandular trichome density in three "Nepeta" species ("N. sessilifolia", "N. heliotropifolia" and "N. fissa")
Authors: Talebi Seyed Mehdi , Nohooji Majid Ghorbani , Yarmohammadi Mahboobeh , Khani Musa , Matsyura Alex
Published: February 2019

In the current study, the trichome density and the chemical variation of the hydrodistillated essential oils were determined along the altitudinal gradient in Nepeta sessilifolia, N. heliotropifolia, and N. fissa. The capitate glandular trichomes were predominant in all populations studied. Denser leaves indumentum was observed in high altitude populations of N. heliotropifolia, and in low altitude populations of N. sessilifolia and N. fissa. Moreover, the inter-population chemical polymorphism was detected. In the lower population of N. sessilifolia, spathulenol (14.2%) was the major compound of essential oils. This oil had great amount of oxygenated sesquiterpene (35.3%), while the oil of high altitude population had great amount of diterpenes, namely phytol (32.8%). In N. fissa, the main compound in lower population was β-caryophyllene (33.1%), whereas in the higher population it was caryophyllene oxide (21.5%). In N. heliotropifolia, 1,8-cineole (20.1%) was as the principal oil compound in low altitude population and β-caryophyllene (18.8%) in the high altitude population. We suggested that the amount of different types of monoterpenes decreases along the altitudinal gradient and the amount of oxygenated compounds increases with the elevation.
"Arthrocaulon meridionalis" (Chenopodiaceae), a new species of Mediterranean flora
Authors: Ramírez Esteban , Rufo Lourdes , Sánchez-Mata Daniel , De la Fuente Vicenta
Published: February 2019

A new species of Arthrocaulon Piirainen & G. Kadereit, A. meridionalis is described. This diploid taxon is known from the islands of Sicily and Sardinia and from circum-Mediterranean territories (from North Africa to the Anatolian Peninsula in Turkey and as far as the Persian Gulf on the Asian continent). The distinctive macro-, micromorphological and chorological features of this taxon are given.
A new plant community with the strictly endemic "Cirsium alpis-lunae" (Asteraceae) in the Northern Apennines (Italy) and considerations on the alliances "Senecionion samniti" and "Adenostylion alpinae"
Authors: Viciani Daniele , Lazzaro Lorenzo , Gonnelli Vincenzo , Lastrucci Lorenzo
Published: February 2019

We conducted a phytosociological study of the particular coenoses with presence of Cirsium alpis-lunae, a strictly endemic species living in marly-arenaceous montane screes of the Apennines between Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Marche. We surveyed all the reported locations and analyzed the coenological and ecological features of the communities by means of standard statistical methods, describing a new association, Laserpitio latifolii-Cirsietum alpis-lunae. We attributed the new association to Mulgedio-Aconitetea, but we noted in the literature some nomenclatural misinterpretations concerning the syntaxonomic treatment of this Apennine vegetation at the order and alliance level. We found that Adenostylion alpinae is the most suitable alliance to encompass Laserpitio latifolii-Cirsietum alpis-lunae and it cannot be considered a synonym of Senecionion samniti. Senecionion samniti was here lectotypified, and seems to be closer to Molinio-Arrhenetheretea than to Mulgedio-Aconitetea.
Notes clarifying the status on some ethnobotanical species from the Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Luzuriaga-Quichimbo Carmen X. , Escobar García Pedro , Cerón-Martínez Carlos E. , Blanco-Salas José , Ruiz-Téllez Trinidad
Published: February 2019

Despite belonging to one of the most biodiverse ecoregions on Earth, the Ecuadorian Amazon remains largely unexplored. During the elaboration of an ethnobotanical checklist of the useful plants in the Kichwa community of Pakayaku (Pastaza, Ecuador), we faced taxonomical difficulties due to the lack of basic information and unknown location of type specimens for several plant names. In this contribution, we present notes clarifying the status of six taxa of the H. Karsten and E. F. Poeppig names and locate the corresponding type specimens at the herbarium W (Natural History Museum, Vienna).