bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malignant pleural mesothelioma in the elderly patient. Retrospective study in the centers of Alessandria and Casale Monferrato
Authors: Grosso F. , Kasa A. , Gallizzi G. , Crivellari S. , Degiovanni D. , Ponte E. , Zai S.
Published: October 2016

Introduction: This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the management of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure and the clinical outcome of a case series of elderly patients followed at the Hospitals of Alessandria and Casale Monferrato. Methodology: From a total of 343 patients with MPM, treated between January 2005 and November 2011 at the Hospital SS. Antonio e Biagio and Cesare Arrigo Hospital in Alessandria and SS. Spirito Hospital in Casale Monferrato, 124 patients aged ≥70 years were selected. The following were analyzed for each patient: age, asbestos exposure, sex, histology, stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and treatment performed. Results: Median overall survival (OS) was 9 months. The most frequent histotype was epithelioid (59%). Asbestos exposure was documented in 96% of cases. The diagnosis of MPM was documented by histological examination in 91% of patients (the rate of histological diagnosis from the data of the Italian Mesothelioma Registry was much lower). The stage at diagnosis in most cases (60%) was reported as I-II. The ECOG-PS of this case series was between 0 and 1 in almost all cases, confirming that old age is not synonymous with poor performance status. No major comorbidities were observed in 64% of cases, whereas a mean score of 4 and 5 was found in 18% and 10% of cases, respectively. Survival analysis showed a negative impact on median OS in the presence of a CCI ≥4. Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in this elderly population was found to be feasible with a more than acceptable toxicity profile. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the influence also in the elderly population of some prognostic factors such as histological subtype, IMIG stage, presence of comorbidities according to CCI, and therapy with pemetrexed-based or non-pemetrexed-based regimens. On the basis of these analyses, greater attention to this category of patients is needed, hoping for the possibility of conducting prospective studies aimed also at the elderly population.
ZIKA VIRUS: A REVIEW FROM THE VIRUS BASICS TO PROPOSED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Authors: Zammarchi Lorenzo , Spinicci Michele , Spinicci Michele , Bartoloni Alessandro , Bartoloni Alessandro
Published: October 2016

This review aims to summarize the body of knowledge available on Zika virus to date. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on Zika virus was performed with the aim to stress relevant aspects for healthcare professionals in non-endemic area. For several years, the Zika virus infection was considered an extremely rare exotic disease with poor clinical relevance. However, Zika virus has recently gained the attention of the scientific community and public opinion since the virus spread to the Pacific islands and the South America in an unprecedented epidemic, and additionally due to the definitive evidence that the infection could be complicated by Guillain-Barré syndrome, passed through vertical transmission, and result in central nervous system abnormalities (including microcephaly) of the fetus. Studies and scientific evidences on the complications associated with Zika virus infection are growing day by day. It is advisable that the healthcare professionals working in non-endemic areas maintain full awareness on this issue in order to practice proper management of the imported cases of Zika virus infection.
Report on 2010-2015 permafrost thermal investigations in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territories
Authors: Duchesne C , Morse P D , Wolfe S
A , Kokelj S V
Published: October 2016

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS), in collaboration with the former Environment and Conservation Division of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Government of the Northwest Territories
Departments of Transportation, and Environment and Natural Resources, as well as BGC Engineering Inc., have conducted a field initiative to collect baseline geoscience data in support of the land-based transportation project in the Climate Change Geoscience Program (NRCan). The present initiative is
focused on addressing transportation risk in the arctic to climatic sensitivity (TRACS) in the Great Slave region. In this report, air, ground surface, near-surface, and shallow ground temperature data collected between 2010 and 2015 are presented. This report is an output of the NTGS's NWT
Permafrost Database project and contains digital ground temperature data.
2016 report of field activities in the Dunite Peak area, Big Salmon Range, south central Yukon: GEM2 Cordillera Project
Authors: Parsons A J , Ryan J J , Coleman M , van
Staal C
Published: October 2016

Foreword
The Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) program is laying the foundation for sustainable economic development in the North. The Program provides modern public geoscience that will set the stage for long-term decision making related to investment in responsible resource development. Geoscience
knowledge produced by GEM supports evidence-based exploration for new energy and mineral resources and enables northern communities to make informed decisions about their land, economy and society. Building upon the success of its first five-years, GEM has been renewed until 2020 to continue
producing new, publically available, regional-scale geoscience knowledge in Canada's North.
During the summer 2016, GEM program has successfully produced 23 activity reports that include geological, geochemical and geophysical surveying. These activities have been undertaken in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, northerners and their institutions, academia and the
private sector. GEM will continue to work with these key collaborators as the program advances.
Prevalence of lung lesions in slaughtered cattle in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Jaja Ishmael F. , Mushonga Borden , Green Ezekiel , Muchenje Voster
Published: October 2016

Information obtained from abattoirs on the causes of lung condemnation is important in preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases and for promoting food security. In this study, we assessed the causes of lung condemnation in cattle at three abattoirs represented as ANA, QTA and EBA to evaluate the financial losses associated with lung condemnation. A retrospective study (n = 51 302) involving the use of abattoir slaughter records of 2010–2012 and an active abattoir survey (n = 1374) was conducted from July to December 2013. The retrospective study revealed the main causes of lung condemnation as pneumonia (1.09%, 2.21% and 0.77%), emphysema (1.12%, 1.14% and 1.1.6%) and abscessation (0.71%, 1.06% and 0.77%), from ANA, QTA and EBA, respectively. The combined monetary loss because of lung condemnation during the period 2010 to 2012 was estimated as ZAR 85 158 (USD 7939) for the abattoirs surveyed. Conversely, during the active abattoir survey, agonal emphysema (15%, 15% and 23%) and improper eviscerations with faecal contamination (10%, 38% and 42%) were the major factors that led to lung condemnation at ANA, QTA and EBA, respectively. Other causes of lung condemnations were haemorrhage (10%) for QTA and pleurisy (12%) for EBA. The weight loss of lungs during the active abattoir survey was 6450 kg, while the associated monetary loss was estimated as ZAR 29 025 (USD 2706). This study identified major causes of lung condemnation as pleuritis, improper evisceration, pneumonia, abscesses, haemorrhages and lung worms and their associated monetary losses. The results of this study may be useful as baseline data for future comparison in similar surveys, for tracking of some zoonotic diseases affecting lungs and for further research in the Eastern Cape Province or other provinces of South Africa.
Development of a clinical feeding assessment scale for very young infants in South Africa
Authors: Viviers Mari , Kritzinger Alta , Vinck Bart
Published: October 2016

Background: There is a need for validated neonatal feeding assessment instruments in South Africa. A locally developed instrument may contribute to standardised evaluation procedures of high-risk neonates and address needs in resource constrained developing settings.Objective: The aim of the study was to develop and validate the content of a clinical feeding assessment scale to diagnose oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in neonates.Method: The Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) was developed using the Delphi method. Five international and South African speech-language therapists (SLTs) formed the expert panel, participating in two rounds of electronic questionnaires to develop and validate the content of the NFAS.Results: All participants agreed on the need for the development of a valid clinical feeding assessment instrument to use with the neonatal population. The initial NFAS consisted of 240 items across 8 sections, and after the Delphi process was implemented, the final format was reduced to 211 items across 6 sections. The final format of the NFAS is scored using a binary scoring system guiding the clinician to diagnose the presence or absence of OPD. All members agreed on the format, the scoring system and the feeding constructs addressed in the revised final format of the NFAS.Conclusion: The Delphi method and the diverse clinical and research experience of participants could be integrated to develop the NFAS which may be used in clinical practice in South Africa or similar developing contexts. Because of demographically different work settings marked by developed versus developing contexts, participants did not have the same expectations of a clinical dysphagia assessment. The international participants contributed to evidence-based content development. Local participants considered the contextual challenges of South African SLTs entering the field with basic competencies in neonatal dysphagia management, thereby justifying a comprehensive clinical instrument. The NFAS is aimed at clinicians working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units where they manage large caseloads of high-risk neonates. Further validation of the NFAS is recommended to determine its criterion validity in comparison with a widely accepted standard such as the modified barium swallow study.
Compassionate leadership? Some reflections on the work and life of Michael Lapsley
Authors: Nell Ian A.
Published: October 2016

In June 2007, I had the privilege of attending a Healing of Memories workshop lead by Father Michael Lapsley, one of the founder members of the Institute for Healing of Memories. The purpose of the workshop was to help the predominantly white members of a middle class Dutch Reformed congregation in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town and the predominantly coloured members of a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elsies River on the Cape Flats, to share their stories of the past with regard to apartheid with each other. Apart from the stories that were told and the sharing of experiences about the apartheid history that took place, I was struck by the way in which Father Lapsley conducted the workshop. There was a deep compassion for all the participants as was embodied through the way in which he treated each of us with respect. But apart from his cordiality in leading the workshop, one could sense a deeper source of compassion, a source revealing a compassionate understanding of God�s presence amidst the violence and turmoil in our broken world. The aim of this article is to reflect on whether one could speak of something like �compassionate leadership�, and to take a closer look at the relationship between compassion and God images in the life and work of Michael Lapsley. Special attention will be given to the way in which he exercises leadership through his many involvements related to his own personal story of trauma.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article presents literary research on the notion of compassionate leadership as a specific kind of leadership. The results indicate that the leadership of Father Michael Lapsley does indeed portray features of this kind of leadership. The research can become the source for finding new strategies for religious leadership.
Teor de nutrientes em folhas de milho fertilizado com vermicomposto de lodo de curtume e irrigado com água residuária doméstica
Authors: Malafaia Guilherme , De Araújo Fernando Godinho , Leandro Wilson Mozena , Lima de Rodrigues Aline Sueli
Published: October 2016

No presente estudo objetivou-se analisar o teor de macro e micronutrientes de folhas de milho (Zea mays L.) cultivado em solo fertilizado com vermicomposto de lodo de curtume e irrigado com água residuária doméstica. O arranjo dos tratamentos consistiu em um fatorial 2x6, sendo dois tipos de irrigação: água de abastecimento (A) e água residuária doméstica (R); e seis tipos de adubação: T1: Solo controle, sem adubação química e sem vermicomposto; T2: Solo + NPK; T3: Solo + vermicomposto de lodo primário; T4: Solo + P + vermicomposto de lodo primário; T5: Solo + P + vermicomposto de lodo de caleiro e T6: Solo + vermicomposto de lodo de caleiro, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com cinco repetições. Para a análise do tecido foliar coletou-se, de cada planta, a folha inteira oposta e abaixo da primeira espiga (superior), excluída a nervura central por ocasião do aparecimento da inflorescência feminina. Os resultados apontam que tanto a água residuária quanto o vermicomposto de lodo de curtume constituem boa fonte de nutrientes para as plantas de milho, uma vez que os teores de macro e micronutrientes nas folhas mostraram-se satisfatórios, não tendo sido observado nenhum sinal ou sintoma de toxidez. Apesar de certa fragilidade da análise foliar servir como ferramenta exclusiva para avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas, este estudo, pioneiramente, aponta para a potencialidade do uso da água residuária de origem doméstica e de vermicomposto de lodo de curtume (em associação) na cultura do milho, motivando a realização de novas pesquisas.
Potencial de reúso de água na lavagem de caminhões utilizando Contator Biológico Rotativo
Authors: Subtil Eduardo Lucas , Mierzwa José Carlos , Hespanhol Ivanildo , Rodrigues Raphael
Published: October 2016

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial de reúso de água na lavagem de caminhões a partir do efluente tratado por um Contator Biológico Rotativo operado em escala real. Para avaliação do potencial de reúso foi realizado um balanço de massa para o sistema de reúso levando em consideração a concentração de Sólidos Dissolvidos Totais como contaminante crítico. O sistema de tratamento produziu um efluente com concentrações médias de cor, turbidez, SDT e DBO5 de 45 ± 14 uC, 15 ± 6,0 NTU, 244 ± 99 mg SDT/L e 14 ± 7,3 mg O2/L, respectivamente. Com base no balanço de massa e considerando o valor de SDT estabelecido na NBR 13.696, caso não fosse adotado o enxágue final com água limpa, o potencial de reúso seria de 40%. No entanto, adotando-se 30% do enxágue final com água limpa, seria possível reutilizar até 70% do efluente tratado sem comprometer o desempenho da lavagem dos caminhões. A adoção do sistema de reúso possibilitaria uma redução de R$ 2.590,75/mês no custo operacional do lava-rápido.
Metais potencialmente tóxicos em rios a montante do Pantanal Norte
Authors: De Magalhães Geizibel Campos , Fantin-Cruz Ibraim , Zeilhofer Peter , Dores Eliana Freire Gaspar de Carvalho
Published: October 2016

Os rios Cuiabá (CBA) e São Lourenço (SL) são considerados estratégicos por integrar regiões de grande relevância econômica, social e ambiental para o Brasil e o mundo. Porém, diversas atividades nas bacias destes rios podem representar fontes de metais potencialmente tóxicos e comprometer a sua qualidade ambiental. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a variabilidade espacial e temporal da concentração de metais nestas bacias e a sua relação com parâmetros de qualidade da água. Foram coletadas mensalmente, de agosto/2012 a julho/2013, 15 amostras de água superficial e 9 amostras de sedimento de fundo, nos rios CBA e SL. As concentrações de Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb e Zn nas amostras de água foram determinadas por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma acoplado indutivamente, e nas amostras de sedimento de leito, por espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização em chama. Os elementos Fe, Mn, Pb e Cr apresentaram elevadas concentrações nas amostras de água e sedimento, porém apenas Pb e Cr representam potencial risco ambiental. As concentrações de Fe e Mn foram mais elevadas na parte alta do rio SL enquanto as concentrações de Cu e Pb ocorreram na área dos centros urbanos. Temporalmente, os metais estiveram associados ao regime pluviométrico. A correlação observada entre metais indica uma fonte comum. Desta maneira, a ocorrência e concentração de metais nos rios CBA e SL mostram contribuição de origem natural, reflexo do tipo de solo associado ao regime pluviométrico da região, bem como contribuição antrópica devido às atividades agropecuárias e ao lançamento de efluentes urbanos não tratados.
Distribuição espacial do efluxo de CO2 em área de terra preta arqueológica sob cultivo de cacau e café no município de Apuí, AM, Brasil
Authors: Costa Campos Milton Cesar , Alho Leandro Coutinho , Pinheiro da Silva Diogo André , Rodrigues Soares Marcelo Dayron , Da Cunha José Mauricio , Pinheiro da Silva Douglas Marcelo
Published: October 2016

As Terras Pretas Arqueológicas (TPA) são solos que podem concentrar até seis vezes mais carbono orgânico que solos adjacentes sem horizonte A antrópico, presumindo-se, dessa forma, maior efluxo de CO2 nesses solos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a distribuição espacial do efluxo de CO2, temperatura e umidade do solo em área de Terra Preta Arqueológica sob cultivo de cacau e café no município de Apuí, AM, Brasil. Foram construídas malhas amostrais nas dimensões 42 x 80 m, com espaço entre os pontos de 8 x 10 m e 6 x 10 m para as áreas de cacau e café, respectivamente. Após a etapa de coleta dos dados do efluxo de CO2, temperatura e umidade do solo, procedeu-se a análise estatística descritiva e geoestatística. Os resultados mostraram que os parâmetros avaliados apresentam dependência espacial, com alcance variando de 25 a 40 m para o efluxo de CO2 da área TPA com cacau. O efluxo de CO2 na área de cacau foi superior, com valor médio de 5,49 µmol m 2 s-1, comparado ao 3,99 µmol m-2 s-1 de CO2 da área com café.
Erosividade da chuva em Rondon do Pará, PA, Brasil de 1999 a 2015 e projetada para 2035
Authors: Rosa Amanda Gama , Leão de Sousa Adriano Marlisom , Da Costa Jamer Andrade , De Souza Everaldo Barreiros
Published: October 2016

Visando contribuir com informações acerca das perdas de solo em Rondon do Pará, este trabalho determinou o valor de erosividade da chuva para a área urbana deste município, sua probabilidade de ocorrência e de seu período de retorno projetados para os próximos 20 anos. Foram realizadas análises da distribuição anual do índice de erosividade e verificadas as correlações entre o índice de erosividade médio mensal com o coeficiente de chuva. Para isto, obtiveram-se dois tipos de dados de precipitação: 1) observados, dos satélites CMORPH, de 1999 a 2015; e 2) por modelagem, RegCM4, de 2016 a 2035. Com base nestes dados, a erosividade foi calculada com os dados mensais e anuais de precipitação. Distribuições de frequência dos valores de erosividade e seus períodos de retorno foram calculados e plotados em curvas de probabilidades de ocorrência. Foram feitas análises de regressão entre a precipitação e a erosividade. No período de 1999 a 2015, o valor do fator R para Rondon do Pará foi 16.390 MJ mm ha-1h-1ano-1, com probabilidade de 47% de ser igualado ou superado pelo menos uma vez a cada 2,1 anos. No período de 2016 a 2015, o valor de R foi 13.038 MJ mm ha-1h-1ano-1. Entre fevereiro a abril e janeiro a abril, são prováveis as maiores perdas de solo para 1999-2015 e 2016-2035, respectivamente. O modelo matemático de regressão que apresentou melhor resultado foi o de potência para os anos de 1999 a 2015 e o de polinômio para os anos de 2016 a 2035.
Densidade básica da madeira de espécies arbóreas de Cerradão no estado de Tocantins
Authors: Silva Carlos José da , Vale Ailton Teixeira do , Miguel Eder Pereira
Published: October 2016

O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar a densidade básica de espécies arbóreas da fitofisionomia Cerradão, no domínio do Cerrado no estado do Tocantins, e estabelecer a relação entre a densidade básica da madeira dos troncos em função da densidade básica da madeira dos galhos. Amostras de 80 indivíduos foram coletadas no tronco (base, meio e topo) e galhos (galho grosso, galho médio e galho fino) para determinação da densidade básica. As espécies apresentaram valor médio de 0,650 g cm-3, sendo que para a maioria das espécies (58%) decresceu da base para o topo do tronco. A densidade básica da madeira entre posições axiais do tronco e a densidade básica entre galhos de diferentes diâmetros apresentaram relação significativa. De acordo com os modelos propostos para estimar a densidade do tronco em função da densidade de galhos, a variável densidade do galho médio apresentou o melhor ajuste na equação. As equações desenvolvidas neste trabalho são adequadas para estimativas de biomassa e estoque de carbono de espécies arbóreas da fitofisionomia Cerradão, sem amostragem destrutiva de indivíduos arbóreos.
A study of best management practices for enhancing productivity in building projects: construction methods perspectives
Authors: Gurmu Argaw Tarekegn , Aibinu Ajibade Ayodeji , Chan Toong Khuan
Published: October 2016

This research investigates management practices that have the potential to enhance productivity in building projects by focusing on construction methods. In phase 1 of the study, face-to-face interviews with nineteen experts were conducted to identify the best management practices for construction methods. The qualitative data analysis reached saturation and resulted in a list of best practices for construction methods that are relevant to the local industry. The second phase used an industry-wide survey to prioritize the best practices. Accordingly, project start-up plan, traffic control plan, machinery positioning strategy, project completion plan, and dynamic site layout plan were shown to be the top five best practices for construction methods. The study also revealed that high levels of implementation of best practices are associated with low levels of project delays. The use of best practices also varied according to the project costs. There were no discernible differences between the top five best practices. The authors suggest that they should be implemented jointly to improve productivity in building projects. Contractors could use the logistic regression model developed, to predict the probability of exceeding a baseline productivity factor and, on that basis, implement corrective actions to achieve the desired level of productivity.
Assessing construction innovation: theoretical and practical perspectives
Authors: Davis Peter , Gajendran Thayaparan , Vaughan Josephine , Owi Toinpre
Published: October 2016

Innovation is key for productivity improvement and advancements in different sectors of the economy, including the construction sector.  The criticism of the slow pace of innovation in construction industry may be unwarranted, considering the structure of the industry and nature of the construction business.  The loosely coupled nature of firms, mostly Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), delivering ‘projects’ through partial engagement, together with the distinction between the project innovation and firm innovation makes it difficult to extract innovations in a meaningful way.  The problem also lies in conceptualising, defining, articulating and assessing innovation in construction.  The literature is replete with research into construction innovation, however, there is limited research into understanding how innovation is perceived and narrated in practice.  The paper aims to explore how innovation is assessed and narrated in construction, specifically analysing theory and practice perspectives.  A theoretical model was constructed from a structured literature review illustrating existing discourse and narratives of construction innovation assessment.  A qualitative analysis of ‘Professional Excellence in Building’ submission documents to the Australian Institute of Building was performed to identify the practice perspective of innovation.  The findings suggest that internal organizational and process innovation account for the majority of improvements identified.  Importantly a taxonomy of narrative is developed that articulates how the construction industry in Australia views industry innovation.
Impact of climate change on the production and transport of sea salt aerosol
on European seas
Authors: Soares Joana , Sofiev Mikhail , Geels Camilla , Christensen Jens H. , Andersson Camilla , Tsyro Svetlana , Langner Joakim
Published: October 2016

Abstract. The impact of climate change on sea salt aerosol production, dispersion, and fate over Europe is studied using four offline regional chemistry transport models driven by the climate scenario SRES A1B over two periods: 1990–2009 and 2040–2059. This study is focused mainly on European seas: Baltic, Black, North, and Mediterranean. The differences and similarities between the individual models' predictions of the impact on sea salt emission, concentration, and deposition due to changes in wind gusts and seawater temperature are analysed. The results show that the major driver for the sea salt flux changes will be the seawater temperature, as wind speed is projected to stay nearly the same. There are, however, substantial differences between the model predictions and their sensitivity to changing seawater temperature, which demonstrates substantial lack of current understanding of the sea salt flux predictions. Although seawater salinity changes are not evaluated in this study, sensitivity of sea salt aerosol production to salinity is similarly analysed, showing once more the differences between the different models. An assessment of the impact of sea salt aerosol on the radiative balance is presented.
Quantification of environmentally persistent free radicals and reactive
oxygen species in atmospheric aerosol particles
Authors: Arangio Andrea M. , Tong Haijie , Socorro Joanna , Pöschl Ulrich , Shiraiwa Manabu
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Fine particulate matter plays a central role in the adverse health effects of air pollution. Inhalation and deposition of aerosol particles in the respiratory tract can lead to the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may cause oxidative stress. In this study, we have detected and quantified a wide range of particle-associated radicals using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Ambient particle samples were collected using a cascade impactor at a semi-urban site in central Europe, Mainz, Germany, in May–June 2015. Concentrations of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR), most likely semiquinone radicals, were found to be in the range of (1–7)  × 1011 spins µg−1 for particles in the accumulation mode, whereas coarse particles with a diameter larger than 1 µm did not contain substantial amounts of EPFR. Using a spin trapping technique followed by deconvolution of EPR spectra, we have also characterized and quantified ROS, including OH, superoxide (O2−) and carbon- and oxygen-centered organic radicals, which were formed upon extraction of the particle samples in water. Total ROS amounts of (0.1–3)  × 1011 spins µg−1 were released by submicron particle samples and the relative contributions of OH, O2−, C-centered and O-centered organic radicals were ∼  11–31, ∼  2–8, ∼  41–72 and ∼  0–25 %, respectively, depending on particle sizes. OH was the dominant species for coarse particles. Based on comparisons of the EPR spectra of ambient particulate matter with those of mixtures of organic hydroperoxides, quinones and iron ions followed by chemical analysis using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), we suggest that the particle-associated ROS were formed by decomposition of organic hydroperoxides interacting with transition metal ions and quinones contained in atmospheric humic-like substances (HULIS).
Monthly trends of methane emissions in Los Angeles from 2011 to 2015
inferred by CLARS-FTS observations
Authors: Wong Clare K. , Pongetti Thomas J. , Oda Tom , Rao Preeti , Gurney Kevin R. , Newman Sally , Duren Riley M. , Miller Charles E. , Yung Yuk L. , Sander Stanley P.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. This paper presents an analysis of methane emissions from the Los Angeles Basin at monthly timescales across a 4-year time period – from September 2011 to August 2015. Using observations acquired by a ground-based near-infrared remote sensing instrument on Mount Wilson, California, combined with atmospheric CH4–CO2 tracer–tracer correlations, we observed −18 to +22 % monthly variability in CH4 : CO2 from the annual mean in the Los Angeles Basin. Top-down estimates of methane emissions for the basin also exhibit significant monthly variability (−19 to +31 % from annual mean and a maximum month-to-month change of 47 %). During this period, methane emissions consistently peaked in the late summer/early fall and winter. The estimated annual methane emissions did not show a statistically significant trend over the 2011 to 2015 time period.
Global large-scale stratosphere-troposphere exchange in modern
reanalyses
Authors: Boothe Alexander C. , Homeyer Cameron R.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) has important and significant impacts on the chemical and radiative properties of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. This study presents a 15-year climatology of global large-scale STE from four modern reanalyses: ERA-Interim, JRA-55, MERRA-2, and MERRA-1. STE is separated into four categories for analysis to identify the significance of known transport mechanisms: 1) vertical stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT), 2) vertical troposphere-to-stratosphere transport (TST), 3) lateral STT (that occurring between the tropics and the extratropics and across the tropopause "break"), and 4) lateral TST. In addition, this study employs a method to identify STE as that which crosses the lapse-rate tropopause (LRT), while most previous studies have used a potential vorticity (PV) isosurface as the troposphere-stratosphere boundary. PV-based and LRT based STE climatologies are compared using the same reanalysis output (ERA-Interim). The comparison reveals quantitative and qualitative differences, particularly in the geographic representation of TST in the polar regions. Based upon spatiotemporal integrations, we find STE to be STT-dominant in ERA-Interim and JRA-55 and TST-dominant in the MERRA reanalyses. Time series during the 15-year analysis period show long-term changes that are argued to correspond with changes in the Brewer-Dobson circulation.
Impact of Saharan dust on North Atlantic marine stratocumulus
clouds: Importance of the semi-direct effect
Authors: Amiri-Farahani Anahita , Allen Robert J. , Neubauer David , Lohmann Ulrike
Published: October 2016

Abstract. One component of aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) involves dust and marine stratocumulus clouds (MSc). Few observational studies have focused on dust-MSc interactions, thus this effect remains poorly quantified. We use observations from multiple sensors in the NASA A-Train satellite constellation from 2004 to 2012 to obtain estimates of the aerosol-cloud radiative effect, including its uncertainty, for dust aerosol influencing Atlantic MSc off the coast of North Africa between 45° W and 15° E, and 0–35° N. To calculate the aerosol-cloud radiative effect, we use two methods following Quaas et al. (2008) (Method 1) and Chen et al. (2014) (Method 2). These two methods yield similar results of −3.99 ± 0.78 and −3.21 ± 3.61 W m−2, respectively, for the annual mean aerosol-cloud radiative effect. Thus, Saharan dust modifies MSc in a way that acts to cool the planet. There is a strong seasonal variation, with the aerosol-cloud radiative effect switching from significantly negative during the boreal summer to weakly positive during boreal winter. Method 1 (Method 2) yields −3.81 ± 2.51 (−4.27 ± 4.01) during summer, and 0.97 ± 2.91 (0.63 ± 0.48) W m−2 during winter. In Method 1, the aerosol-cloud radiative effect can be decomposed into two terms, one representing the first aerosol indirect effect and the second representing the combination of the second aerosol indirect effect and the semi-direct effect (i.e., changes in liquid water path and cloud fraction in response to changes in absorbing aerosols and local heating). The first aerosol indirect effect is relatively small, varying from −0.65 ± 0.61 in summer to 0.05 ± 0.5 W m−2 in winter. The second term, however, dominates the overall radiative effect, varying from −3.16 ± 2.45 in summer to 0.92 ± 2.86 W m−2 during winter. Studies show that the semi-direct effect can result in a negative (i.e., absorbing aerosol lies above low clouds like MSc) or positive (i.e., absorbing aerosol lies within low clouds) aerosol-cloud radiative effect. CALIPSO shows that 50 % to 90 % of Saharan dust resides above North Atlantic MSc during summer for most of our study area. This is consistent with a relatively weak first aerosol indirect effect, and also suggests the second aerosol indirect effect plus semi-direct effect (the second term in Method 1) is dominated by the semi-direct effect. In contrast, the percentage of Saharan dust above North Atlantic MSc is much lower during the winter, ranging from 10 % to 40 %. Because the aerosol-cloud radiative effect is positive during winter, and is also dominated by the second term, this again supports the importance of the semi-direct effect. We conclude that Saharan dust-MSc interactions off the coast of north Africa are likely dominated by the semi-direct effect.
Multivariate hydrological data assimilation of soil moisture and groundwater
head
Authors: Zhang Donghua , Madsen Henrik , Ridler Marc E. , Kidmose Jacob , Jensen Karsten H. , Refsgaard Jens C.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Observed groundwater head and soil moisture profiles are assimilated into an integrated hydrological model. The study uses the ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) data assimilation method with the MIKE SHE hydrological model code. The method was firstly tested on synthetic data in a catchment of less complexity (the Karup catchment in Denmark), and later implemented using data from real observations in a larger and more complex catchment (the Ahlergaarde catchment in Denmark). In the Karup model, several experiments were designed with respect to different observation types, ensemble sizes and localization schemes, to investigate the assimilation performance. The results showed the necessity of using localization, especially when assimilating both groundwater head and soil moisture. The proposed scheme with both distance localization and variable localization was shown to be more robust and provide better results. Using the same assimilation scheme in the Ahlergaarde model, groundwater head and soil moisture were successfully assimilated into the model. The hydrological model with assimilation showed an overall improved performance compared to the model without assimilation.
Rethinking GIS Towards The Vision Of Smart Cities Through CityGML
Authors: Guney C.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Smart cities present a substantial growth opportunity in the coming years. The role of GIS in the smart city ecosystem is to integrate different data acquired by sensors in real time and provide better decisions, more efficiency and improved collaboration. Semantically enriched vision of GIS will help evolve smart cities into tomorrow’s much smarter cities since geospatial/location data and applications may be recognized as a key ingredient of smart city vision. However, it is need for the Geospatial Information communities to debate on “Is 3D Web and mobile GIS technology ready for smart cities?” This research places an emphasis on the challenges of virtual 3D city models on the road to smarter cities.
DETERMINATION OF LAND COVER/LAND USE USING SPOT 7 DATA WITH SUPERVISED CLASSIFICATION METHODS
Authors: Bektas Balcik F. , Karakacan Kuzucu A.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Land use/ land cover (LULC) classification is a key research field in remote sensing. With recent developments of high-spatial-resolution sensors, Earth-observation technology offers a viable solution for land use/land cover identification and management in the rural part of the cities. There is a strong need to produce accurate, reliable, and up-to-date land use/land cover maps for sustainable monitoring and management. In this study, SPOT 7 imagery was used to test the potential of the data for land cover/land use mapping. Catalca is selected region located in the north west of the Istanbul in Turkey, which is mostly covered with agricultural fields and forest lands. The potentials of two classification algorithms maximum likelihood, and support vector machine, were tested, and accuracy assessment of the land cover maps was performed through error matrix and Kappa statistics. The results indicated that both of the selected classifiers were highly useful (over 83% accuracy) in the mapping of land use/cover in the study region. The support vector machine classification approach slightly outperformed the maximum likelihood classification in both overall accuracy and Kappa statistics.
MODELLING THE EFFECTS OF LAND-USE CHANGES ON CLIMATE: A CASE STUDY ON YAMULA DAM
Authors: Köylü Ü. , Geymen A.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Dams block flow of rivers and cause artificial water reservoirs which affect the climate and the land use characteristics of the river basin. In this research, the effect of the huge water body obtained by Yamula Dam in Kızılırmak Basin is analysed over surrounding spatial’s land use and climate change. Mann Kendal non-parametrical statistical test, Theil&Sen Slope method, Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) methods are integrated for spatial and temporal analysis of the research area. For this research humidity, temperature, wind speed, precipitation observations which are collected in 16 weather stations nearby Kızılırmak Basin are analyzed. After that these statistical information is combined by GIS data over years. An application is developed for GIS analysis in Python Programming Language and integrated with ArcGIS software. Statistical analysis calculated in the R Project for Statistical Computing and integrated with developed application. According to the statistical analysis of extracted time series of meteorological parameters, statistical significant spatiotemporal trends are observed for climate change and land use characteristics. In this study, we indicated the effect of big dams in local climate on semi-arid Yamula Dam.
SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS USING GIS
Authors: Bouajaj Ahmed , Bahi Lahcen , Ouadif Latifa , Awa Mohamed
Published: October 2016

Abstract. An analysis of slope stability using Geographic Information System (GIS) is presented in this paper. The methodology is based on the calculation of the safety factor in 2D and 3D using ArcGis. Hovland's Method in 3D and 2D were used in the stability analysis of the slope located at the 34 kilometer point (K.P.34) on the highway in the North of Morocco connecting Tangier to Ksar Sghir. Results shows that the safety factors obtained in 3D are always higher than those obtained in 2D and the slope becomes unstable when the water table level is less than 1 m.
EXPERIENCES ON LICENSED OFFICES OF SURVEYING AND CADASTRE (LOSC) IN
ADANA, TURKEY
Authors: Yalcin G. , Ates H. B.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Modern cadastre means to integrate the registration of the real estates with the data of the other related activities such as taxation, mortgage, valuation, land-use, land cover,..etc. In Turkey cadastral technical activities were carried out by General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre until 2005. But then cadastre sustainment services were transferred to private sector according to “Law on Cadastre” technical parts of initial cadastre and according to the Law on “Licensed Engineers of Surveying and Cadastre and Offices”. In this article services of Licensed Offices of Surveying and Cadastre (LOSCs) are presented and the experiences in Adana are shared.
IMPROVING NEAREST NEIGHBOUR SEARCH IN 3D SPATIAL ACCESS METHOD
Authors: Suhaibaha A. , Rahman A. A. , Uznir U. , Anton F. , Mioc D.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Nearest Neighbour (NN) is one of the important queries and analyses for spatial application. In normal practice, spatial access method structure is used during the Nearest Neighbour query execution to retrieve information from the database. However, most of the spatial access method structures are still facing with unresolved issues such as overlapping among nodes and repetitive data entry. This situation will perform an excessive Input/Output (IO) operation which is inefficient for data retrieval. The situation will become more crucial while dealing with 3D data. The size of 3D data is usually large due to its detail geometry and other attached information. In this research, a clustered 3D hierarchical structure is introduced as a 3D spatial access method structure. The structure is expected to improve the retrieval of Nearest Neighbour information for 3D objects. Several tests are performed in answering Single Nearest Neighbour search and k Nearest Neighbour (kNN) search. The tests indicate that clustered hierarchical structure is efficient in handling Nearest Neighbour query compared to its competitor. From the results, clustered hierarchical structure reduced the repetitive data entry and the accessed page. The proposed structure also produced minimal Input/Output operation. The query response time is also outperformed compared to the other competitor. For future outlook of this research several possible applications are discussed and summarized.
EXTRACTION OF URBAN TREES FROM INTEGRATED AIRBORNE BASED DIGITAL IMAGE AND LIDAR POINT CLOUD DATASETS - INITIAL RESULTS
Authors: Dogon-yaro M. A. , Kumar P. , Rahman A. Abdul , Buyuksalih G.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Timely and accurate acquisition of information on the condition and structural changes of urban trees serves as a tool for decision makers to better appreciate urban ecosystems and their numerous values which are critical to building up strategies for sustainable development. The conventional techniques used for extracting tree features include; ground surveying and interpretation of the aerial photography. However, these techniques are associated with some constraint, such as labour intensive field work, a lot of financial requirement, influences by weather condition and topographical covers which can be overcome by means of integrated airborne based LiDAR and very high resolution digital image datasets. This study presented a semi-automated approach for extracting urban trees from integrated airborne based LIDAR and multispectral digital image datasets over Istanbul city of Turkey. The above scheme includes detection and extraction of shadow free vegetation features based on spectral properties of digital images using shadow index and NDVI techniques and automated extraction of 3D information about vegetation features from the integrated processing of shadow free vegetation image and LiDAR point cloud datasets. The ability of the developed algorithms shows a promising result as an automated and cost effective approach to estimating and delineated 3D information of urban trees. The research also proved that integrated datasets is a suitable technology and a viable source of information for city managers to be used in urban trees management.
Towards thresholds of disaster management performance under demographic
change: exploring functional relationships using agent-based modeling
Authors: Dressler Gunnar , Müller Birgit , Frank Karin , Kuhlicke Christian
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Effective disaster management is a core feature for the protection of communities against natural disasters such as floods. Disaster management organizations (DMOs) are expected to contribute to ensuring this protection. However, what happens when their resources to cope with a flood are at stake or the intensity and frequency of the event exceeds their capacities? Many cities in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, were strongly hit by several floods in the last years and are additionally challenged by demographic change, with an ageing society and out-migration leading to population shrinkage in many parts of Saxony. Disaster management, which is mostly volunteer-based in Germany, is particularly affected by this change, leading to a loss of members. We propose an agent-based simulation model that acts as a "virtual lab" to explore the impact of various changes on disaster management performance. Using different scenarios we examine the impact of changes in personal resources of DMOs, their access to operation relevant information, flood characteristics as well as differences between geographic regions. A loss of DMOs and associated manpower caused by demographic change has the most profound impact on the performance. Especially in rural, upstream regions population decline in combination with very short lead times can put disaster management performance at risk.
Shallow subsurface geology and seismic microzonation in a deep continental basin. The Avezzano Town, Fucino basin (central Italy)
Authors: Boncio Paolo , Milana Giuliano , Cara Fabrizio , Di Giulio Giuseppe , Di Naccio Deborah , Famiani Daniela , Liberi Francesca , Galadini Fabrizio , Rosatelli Gianluigi , Vassallo Maurizio
Published: October 2016

Abstract. We present detailed geological investigations aimed at the reconstruction of the shallow subsurface geology, and associated local seismic hazard, of the Avezzano town in the Quaternary Fucino basin (central Apennines). This work shows a basic (Level 1) seismic microzonation (SM) of the Avezzano town, focusing the attention on geologic constraints. We also discuss some methodological procedures of SM. Level 1 SM involves a reconstruction of the subsurface geological model achieved by a multidisciplinary approach synthesized in two main thematic maps and geologic sections. The first map, containing essential geologic information, is formed by overlapping layers (geological units, litho-technical units, and geomorphological/structural features). The second map is a summary map, easily accessible to non-geologist earthquake scientists/technicians, which synthesizes surface geology, subsurface data and resonance frequencies into homogeneous microzones. The two maps are tools for land and urban planning. The Avezzano area provides a case study of shallow subsurface geology and site effects in a deep continental basin environment, and is of potential interest for similar geologic contexts worldwide. Within the investigated area, almost all the possible earthquake-induced effects can occur, such as (a) stratigraphic amplifications in a wide range of resonance frequencies (from 0.4 to > 10 Hz); (b) liquefaction; (c) coseismic surface faulting; (d) basin-edge effects; and (e) slope instability.