bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerosol measurements at a high-elevation site: composition, size, and cloud condensation nuclei activity
Authors: Friedman B. , Zelenyuk A. , Beranek J. , Kulkarni G. , Pekour M. , Gannet Hallar A. , McCubbin I. B. , Thornton J. A. , Cziczo D. J
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Measurements of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations, single particle composition and size distributions at a high-elevation research site from March 2011 are presented. The temporal evolution of detailed single particle composition is compared with changes in CCN activation on four days, two of which include new particle formation and growth events. Sulfate-containing particles dominated the single particle composition by number; biomass burning particles, sea salt particles, and particles containing organic components were also present. CCN activation largely followed the behavior of the sulfate-containing particle types; biomass burning particle types also likely contained hygroscopic material that impacted CCN activation. Newly formed particles also may contribute to CCN activation at higher supersaturation conditions. Derived aerosol hygroscopicity parameters from the size distribution and CCN concentration measurements are within the range of previous reports of remote continental kappa values.
0.355-micrometer direct detection wind lidar under testing during a field campaign in consideration of ESA's ADM-Aeolus mission
Authors: Lolli S. , Delaval A. , Loth C. , Garnier A. , Flamant P. H.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. The atmospheric wind field information is a key issue to numerical weather prediction (NWP) and climate studies. The Atmospheric Dynamic Mission-Aeolus is currently developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch a wind sensing Doppler lidar in mid-2015. The high spectral resolution lidar concept is using backscattered laser signals from molecules and particles to provide accurate horizontal wind velocity measurements in the depth of atmosphere. The Aeolus lidar, so-called ALADIN, will operate in UV at 0.355 μm. The combination of air molecules and UV laser light is intended to provide wind data evenly distributed everywhere in the lower atmosphere (below 30 km altitude). The goal of the ESA's Aeolus mission is to enhance the present meteorological observations system over sparse wind data regions, and more importantly to provide direct wind information in the tropics where no geostrophic wind can be derived from mass fields obtained from passive radiometer satellite. The 0.355 μm lidar concept was under testing during a field campaign conducted at the Haute-Provence Observatory, France, in 1999. Several active remote sensors were deployed on the site, and it was the opportunity to address the self-consistency of wind measurements made by different lidars, a 72 MHz radar, and conventional balloon radio soundings. The paper presents the comparison of different remote sensors using two criteria: Pearson cross-correlation coefficient and root mean square error. The methodology discussed here may be useful in future ESA Aeolus validation campaigns involving different kinds of instruments.
COMPASS – COMparative Particle formation in the Atmosphere using portable Simulation chamber Study techniques
Authors: Bonn B. , Sun S. , Haunold W. , Sitals R. , van Beesel E. , dos Santos L. , Nillius B. , Jacobi S.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. In this study we report the set-up of a novel twin chamber technique that uses the comparative method and establishes an appropriate connection of atmospheric and laboratory methods to broaden the tools for investigations. It is designed to study the impact of certain parameters and gases on ambient processes, such as particle formation online, and can be applied in a large variety of conditions. The characterisation of both chambers proved that both chambers operate identically, with a residence time xT (COMPASS1) = 26.5 ± 0.3 min and xT (COMPASS2) = 26.6 ± 0.4 min, at a typical flow rate of 15 L min−1 and a gas leak rate of (1.6 ± 0.8) × 10−5 s−1. Particle loss rates were found to be larger (due to the particles' stickiness to the chamber walls), with an extrapolated maximum of 1.8 × 10−3 s−1 at 1 nm, i.e. a hundredfold of the gas leak rate. This latter value is associated with sticky non-volatile gaseous compounds, too. Comparison measurement showed no significant differences. Therefore operation under atmospheric conditions is trustworthy. To indicate the applicability and the benefit of the system, a set of experiments was conducted under different conditions, i.e. urban and remote, enhanced ozone and terpenes as well as reduced sunlight. In order to do so, an ozone lamp was applied to enhance ozone in one of two chambers; the measurement chamber was protected from radiation by a first-aid cover and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were added using a small additional flow and a temperature-controlled oven. During the elevated ozone period, ambient particle number and volume increased substantially at urban and remote conditions, but by a different intensity. Protection of solar radiation displayed a clear negative effect on particle number, while terpene addition did cause a distinct daily pattern. E.g. adding β pinene particle number concentration rose by 13% maximum at noontime, while no significant effect was observable during darkness. Therefore, the system is a useful tool for investigating local precursors and the details of ambient particle formation at surface locations as well as potential future feedback processes.
A concept of an automated function control for ambient aerosol measurements using mobility particle size spectrometers
Authors: Schladitz A. , Merkel M. , Bastian S. , Birmili W. , Weinhold K. , Löschau G. , Wiedensohler A.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. An automated function control unit was developed to regularly check the ambient particle number concentration derived from a mobility particle size spectrometer as well as its zero-point behaviour. The aim of the new feature is to conduct unattended quality control experiments under field conditions at remote air quality monitoring or research stations. The automated function control also has the advantage of being able to get a faster system stability response than the recommended on-site comparisons with reference instruments. The method is based on a comparison of the total particle number concentration measured by a mobility particle size spectrometer and a condensation particle counter removing the diffusive particles approximately smaller than 25 nm in diameter. In practice, the small particles are removed by a set of diffusion screens, as traditionally used in a diffusion battery. The other feature of the automated function control is to check the zero-point behaviour of the ambient aerosol passing through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. An exemplary one-year data set is presented for the measurement site Annaberg-Buchholz as part of the Saxon air quality monitoring network. The total particle number concentration derived from the mobility particle size spectrometer overestimates the particle number concentration by only 2% (grand average offset). Furthermore, tolerance criteria are presented to judge the performance of the mobility particle size spectrometer with respect to the particle number concentration. An upgrade of a mobility particle size spectrometer with an automated function control enhances the quality of long-term particle number size distribution measurements. Quality assured measurements are a precondition for intercomparison studies of different sites. Comparable measurements will improve cohort health and also climate-relevant research studies.
Multi-modal analysis of aerosol robotic network size distributions for remote sensing applications: dominant aerosol type cases
Authors: Taylor M. , Kazadzis S. , Gerasopoulos E.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. To date, size distributions obtained from the aerosol robotic network have been fit with bi-lognormals defined by six secondary microphysical parameters: the volume concentration, effective radius, and the variance of fine and coarse particle modes. However, since the total integrated volume concentration is easily calculated and can be used as an accurate constraint, the problem of fitting the size distribution can be reduced to that of deducing a single free parameter – the mode separation point. We present a method for determining the mode separation point for equivalent-volume bi-lognormal distributions based on optimisation of the root mean squared error and the coefficient of determination. The extracted secondary parameters are compared with those provided by AERONET's Level 2.0 Version 2 inversion algorithm for a set of benchmark dominant aerosol types including: desert dust, biomass burning aerosol, urban sulphate and sea salt. The total volume concentration constraint is then also lifted by performing multi-modal fits to the size distribution using nested Gaussian mixture models and a method is presented for automating the selection of the optimal number of modes using a stopping condition based on Fisher statistics and via the application of statistical hypothesis testing. It is found that the method for optimizing the location of the mode separation point is independent of the shape of the AVSD, does not require the existence of a local minimum in the size interval 0.439 μm ≤ r ≤ 0.992 μm, and shows some potential for optimizing the bi-lognormal fitting procedure used by AERONET particularly in the case of desert dust aerosol. The AVSD of impure marine aerosol is found to require 3 modes. In this particular case, bi-lognormals fail to recover key features of the AVSD. Fitting the AVSD more generally with multi-modal models allows automatic detection of a statistically-significant number of aerosol modes, is applicable to a very diverse range of aerosol types, and gives access to the secondary microphysical parameters of additional modes currently not available from bi-lognormal fitting methods.
Airborne emission measurements of SO2, NOx and particles from individual ships using sniffer technique
Authors: Beecken J. , Mellqvist J. , Salo K. , Ekholm J. , Jalkanen J.-P.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. A dedicated system for airborne ship emission measurements of SO2, NOx and particles has been developed and used from several small aircrafts. The system has been adapted for fast response measurements at 1 Hz and the use of several of the instruments is unique. The uncertainty of the given data is about 20.3% for SO2 and 23.8% for NOx emission factors. Multiple measurements of 158 ships measured from the air on the Baltic and North Sea during 2011 and 2012 show emission factors of 18.8 ± 6.5 g kgfuel−1, 66.6 ± 23.4 g kgfuel−1, and 1.8 ± 1.3 × 1016 particles kgfuel−1 for SO2, NOx and particle number respectively. The particle size distributions were measured for particle diameters between 15 and 560 nm. The mean sizes of the particles are between 50 and 62 nm dependent on the distance to the source and the number size distribution is mono-modal. Concerning the sulfur fuel content 85% of the ships comply with the IMO limits. The sulfur emission has decreased compared to earlier measurements from 2007 to 2009. The presented method can be implemented for regular ship compliance monitoring.
Upland streamwater nitrate dynamics across decadal to sub-daily timescales: a case study of Plynlimon, Wales
Authors: Halliday S. J. , Skeffington R. A. , Wade A. J. , Neal C. , Reynolds B. , Norris D. , Kirchner J. W.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Streamwater nitrate dynamics in the River Hafren, Plynlimon, mid-Wales were investigated over decadal to sub-daily timescales using a range of statistical techniques. Long-term data were derived from weekly grab samples (1984–2010) and high-frequency data from 7-hourly samples (2007–2009) both measured at two sites: a headwater stream draining moorland and a downstream site below plantation forest. This study is one of the first to analyse upland streamwater nitrate dynamics across such a wide range of timescales and report on the principal mechanisms identified. The data analysis provided no clear evidence that the long-term decline in streamwater nitrate concentrations was related to a decline in atmospheric deposition alone, because nitrogen deposition first increased and then decreased during the study period. Increased streamwater temperature and denitrification may also have contributed to the decline in stream nitrate concentrations, the former through increased N uptake rates and the latter resultant from increased dissolved organic carbon concentrations. Strong seasonal cycles, with concentration minimums in the summer, were driven by seasonal flow minimums and seasonal biological activity enhancing nitrate uptake. Complex diurnal dynamics were observed, with seasonal changes in phase and amplitude of the cycling, and the diurnal dynamics were variable along the river. At the moorland site, a regular daily cycle, with minimum concentrations in the early afternoon, corresponding with peak air temperatures, indicated the importance of instream biological processing. At the downstream site, the diurnal dynamics were a composite signal, resultant from advection, dispersion and nitrate processing in the soils of the lower catchment. The diurnal streamwater nitrate dynamics were also affected by drought conditions. Enhanced diurnal cycling in Spring 2007 was attributed to increased nitrate availability in the post-drought period as well as low flow rates and high temperatures over this period. The combination of high-frequency short-term measurements and long-term monitoring provides a powerful tool for increasing understanding of the controls of element fluxes and concentrations in surface waters.
Implementation of dynamic crop growth processes into a land surface model: evaluation of energy, water and carbon fluxes under corn and soybean rotation
Authors: Song Y. , Jain A. K. , McIsaac G. F.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Worldwide expansion of agriculture is impacting the earth's climate by altering carbon, water, and energy fluxes, but the climate in turn is impacting crop production. To study this two-way interaction and its impact on seasonal dynamics of carbon, water, and energy fluxes, we implemented dynamic crop growth processes into a land surface model, the Integrated Science Assessment Model (ISAM). In particular, we implemented crop-specific phenology schemes and dynamic carbon allocation schemes. These schemes account for light, water, and nutrient stresses while allocating the assimilated carbon to leaf, root, stem, and grain pools. The dynamic vegetation structure simulation better captured the seasonal variability in leaf area index (LAI), canopy height, and root depth. We further implemented dynamic root distribution processes in soil layers, which better simulated the root response of soil water uptake and transpiration. Observational data for LAI, above- and belowground biomass, and carbon, water, and energy fluxes were compiled from two AmeriFlux sites, Mead, NE, and Bondville, IL, USA, to calibrate and evaluate the model performance. For the purposes of calibration and evaluation, we use a corn–soybean (C4–C3) rotation system over the period 2001–2004. The calibrated model was able to capture the diurnal and seasonal patterns of carbon assimilation and water and energy fluxes for the corn–soybean rotation system at these two sites. Specifically, the calculated gross primary production (GPP), net radiation fluxes at the top of the canopy, and latent heat fluxes compared well with observations. The largest bias in model results was in sensible heat flux (SH) for corn and soybean at both sites. The dynamic crop growth simulation better captured the seasonal variability in carbon and energy fluxes relative to the static simulation implemented in the original version of ISAM. Especially, with dynamic carbon allocation and root distribution processes, the model's simulated GPP and latent heat flux (LH) were in much better agreement with observational data than for the static root distribution simulation. Modeled latent heat based on dynamic growth processes increased by 12–27% during the growing season at both sites, leading to an improvement in modeled GPP by 13–61% compared to the estimates based on the original version of the ISAM.
Effects of mowing on N2O emission from a temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, Northern China
Authors: Zhang L. , Wang Q. , Laanbroek H. J. , Wang C. , Guo D. , Li L.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Grazing and mowing are two common practices for grassland management. Mowing is now recommended as an alternative to traditional grazing for grassland conservation in Inner Mongolia, northern China. Many studies have revealed that both mowing and grazing may alter ecosystem properties in various ways. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of mowing on trace gas emissions, especially on N2O flux. In this study, we conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of mowing on N2O fluxes from a semiarid grassland in Inner Mongolia. The mowing experiment, which started in 2003, comprised four mowing intensity treatments, i.e. mowing heights at 2, 5, 10 and 15 cm above the soil surface, respectively, and a control of non-mowing, with five replicates. Gas fluxes were measured through a closed static chamber technique during the growing seasons (usually from May to September, depending on local climate at the time) of 2008 and 2009, respectively. Our results showed that mowing decreased N2O emissions, above-ground biomass and total litter production. N2O emissions were greater in May and June than in other sampling periods, regardless of treatments. A co-relationship analysis suggested that variations in seasonal N2O fluxes were mainly driven by variations in soil moisture and microbial biomass nitrogen, except in July and August. In July and August, above-ground plant biomass and soil total nitrogen became the major drivers of N2O fluxes under the soil temperatures between 16 °C and 18 °C. Overall, our study indicated that the introduction of mowing as a management practice might decrease N2O emissions in grasslands, and both mowing height and soil properties affected the magnitude of the reduction. Our findings imply that grasslands, along with proper management practices, can be a N2O sink mitigating the rise of N2O in the atmosphere.
Particles size distribution and carbon flux across the Arabian Sea Oxygen Minimum Zone
Authors: Roullier F. , Berline L. , Guidi L. , Sciandra A. , Durrieu De Madron X. , Picheral M. , Pesant S. , Stemmann L.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. The goal of the Arabian Sea section of the TARA oceans expedition was to study Large Particulate Matter (LPM > 100 μm) distributions and possible impact of associated midwater biological processes on vertical carbon export through the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) of this region. We found that spatial patterns in LPM distribution resulted from the timing and location of surface phytoplankton bloom, lateral transport, microbial processes in the core of the OMZ, and zooplankton activity at the lower oxycline. Indeed, satellite-derived net primary production maps showed that the northern stations of the transect were under the influence of a previous major bloom event while, the most southern stations were in a more oligotrophic situation. Lagrangian simulations of particle transport showed that deep particles of the northern stations could originate from the surface bloom while the southern stations could be considered as driven by 1-D vertical processes. In the first 200 m of the OMZ core, minima in nitrate concentrations and the Intermediate Nepheloid Layer (INL) coincided with high concentrations of 100 μm < LPM < 200 μm. These particles could correspond to colonies of bacteria or detritus produced by anaerobic microbial activity. However, the calculated carbon flux through this layer was not affected. Vertical profiles of carbon flux indicate low flux attenuation in the OMZ, with a Martin model b exponent value of 0.22. At the lower oxycline, a deep nepheloid layer was associated to an increase of carbon flux and an increase in mesozooplankton abundance. Zooplankton feeding on un-mineralized sinking particles in the OMZ is proposed as a mechanism for the observed deep particle aggregation. These results suggest that OMZ may be regions of enhanced carbon flux to the deep sea relative to non-OMZ regions.
Impacts of climate and catastrophic forest changes on streamflow and water balance in a mountainous headwater stream in Southern Alberta
Authors: Mahat V. , Anderson A.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Rivers in Southern Alberta are vulnerable to climate change because much of the river water originates as snow in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Changes in likelihood of forest disturbance (wildfire, insects, logging, etc.) may also have impacts that are compounded by climate change. This study evaluates the impacts of climate and forest changes on streamflow in the upper parts of the Oldman River in Southern Alberta using a conceptual hydrological model, HBV-EC (Hydrologiska Byråns attenbalansavdelning, Environment Canada), in combination with a stochastic weather generator (LARS-WG) driven by GCM (global climate model) output climate data. Three climate change scenarios (A1B, A2 and B1) are selected to cover the range of possible future climate conditions (2020s, 2050s, and 2080s). The GCM projected less than a 10% increase in precipitation in winter and a similar amount of precipitation decrease in summer. These changes in projected precipitation resulted in up to a 200% (9.3 mm) increase in winter streamflow in February and up to a 63% (31.2 mm) decrease in summer flow in June. Flow also decreased in July and August, when irrigation is important; these reduced river flows during this season could impact agriculture production. The amplification in the streamflow is mostly driven by the projected increase in temperature that is predicted to melt winter snow earlier, resulting in lower water availability during the summer. Uncertainty analysis was completed using a guided GLUE (generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation) approach to obtain the best 100 parameter sets and associated ranges of streamflows. The impacts of uncertainty in streamflows were higher in spring and summer than in winter and fall. Forest change compounded the climate change impact by increasing the winter flow; however, it did not reduce the summer flow.
Shallow landslide's stochastic risk modelling based on the precipitation event of August 2005 in Switzerland: results and implications
Authors: Nicolet P. , Foresti L. , Caspar O. , Jaboyedoff M.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Due to their relatively unpredictable characteristics, shallow landslides represent a risk for human infrastructures. Multiple shallow landslides can be triggered by widespread intense precipitation events. The event of August 2005 in Switzerland is used in order to propose a risk model to predict the expected number of landslides based on the precipitation amounts and lithological units. The spatial distribution of rainfall is characterized by merging data coming from operational weather radars and a dense network of rain gauges with an artificial neural network. Lithologies are grouped into four main units, with similar characteristics. Then, from a landslide inventory containing more than 5000 landslides, a probabilistic relation linking the precipitation amount and the lithology to the number of landslides in a 1 km2 cell, is derived. In a next step, this relation is used to randomly redistribute the landslides using Monte Carlo simulations. The probability for a landslide to reach a building is assessed using stochastic geometry and the damage cost is assessed from the estimated mean damage cost using an exponential distribution to account for the variability. Although the model reproduces well the number of landslides, the number of affected buildings is underestimated. This seems to result from the human influence on landslide occurrence. Such a model might be useful to characterize the risk resulting from shallow landslides and its variability.
Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses in seismic risk assessments on the example of Cologne, Germany
Authors: Tyagunov S. , Pittore M. , Wieland M. , Parolai S. , Bindi D. , Fleming K. , Zschau J.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties associated with different sources and components of risk (hazard, exposure, vulnerability) are present at each step of seismic risk assessments. All individual sources of uncertainty contribute to the total uncertainty, which might be very high and, within the decision-making context, may therefore lead to either very conservative and expensive decisions or the perception of considerable risk. When anatomizing the structure of the total uncertainty, it is therefore important to propagate the different individual uncertainties through the computational chain and to quantify their contribution to the total value of risk. The present study analyzes different uncertainties associated with the hazard, vulnerability and loss components by the use of logic trees. The emphasis is on the analysis of epistemic uncertainties, which represent the reducible part of the total uncertainty, including a sensitivity analysis of the resulting seismic risk assessments with regards to the different uncertainty sources. This investigation, being a part of the EU FP7 project MATRIX (New Multi-Hazard and Multi-Risk Assessment Methods for Europe), is carried out for the example of, and with reference to, the conditions of the city of Cologne, Germany, which is one of the MATRIX test cases. At the same time, this particular study does not aim to revise nor to refine the hazard and risk level for Cologne; it is rather to show how large are the existing uncertainties and how they can influence seismic risk estimates, especially in less well-studied areas, if hazard and risk models adapted from other regions are used.
Medical errors: Moral and ethical considerations
Authors: Bonney Wilfred
Published: December 2013

Medical errors are an inevitable part of the practice of medicine and pose a significant threat to the safety of patients. Improper management of healthcare professionals, clinical workflow processes, and information systems often leads to medical errors. Disclosure of medical errors to patients and family members serves as a catalyst for litigation and thus, the establishment of appropriate moral and ethical standards cannot be ignored when implementing solutions to remedy the situation. In this paper, a systematic literature review was used to explore and evaluate the moral and ethical issues that confront the healthcare industry as a result of medical errors. The practical implications of medical errors were also discussed.
Bioestratigrafia do Grupo Passa Dois no estado de São Paulo
Authors: Mezzalira Sergio
Published: December 2013

A abertura de poços, para captação de água subterrânea, em diversas localidades do Estado de São Paulo, pelo Instituto Geológico (ex-Instituto Geográfico e Geológico), tem-nos fornecido novos dados litológicos e paleontológicos que permitem ampliar o conhecimento e comportamento geopaleontológico do Grupo Passa Dois no Estado de São Paulo. Foram identificados nos testemunhos do poço de Laras: Lycopodiopsis derbyi Renault; ? Thallites sp.; Pecopteris sp.; Vegetais indeterminados; Leinzia froesi Mendes; Paulocaris pachecoi Clarke; Amaralia paulistana Kegel; Liocaris hueoei Beurlen; Clarkecaris brazilicus (Clarke); escamas e espinhas de peixes paleoniscídeos e ostracodes. São feitas algumas considerações sobre a posição estratigráfica dos biota fósseis, do Grupo Passa Dois, tendo em vista as recentes pesquisas com o objetivo de estabelecer uma correlação entre os macro e microfósseis e um zoneamento bioestratigráfico dentro desse Grupo. Foram sugeridas, em caráter experimental para possíveis correlações, as seguintes zonas: ,Zona Pinzonella neotropica; Zona Lycopodiopsis derbyi; Zona I; Zona Pinzonella illusa; Zona II, dentro da Formação Estrada Nova. Dentro da Formação Irati, subjacente, com a inclusão do Membro Serra Alta, foram sugeridas: Zona III; Zona Leinzia froesi; Zona Barbosaia angulata; Zona Paulocaris pachecoi; Zona Mesosaurus brasiliensis com a Subzona Pygaspis brasiliensis e Zona Clarkecaris brazilicus.
Contribuição à geologia dos arredores de Registro, SP
Authors: Pressinotti Paulo Cesar , Pressinotti Marcia Maria Nogueira
Published: December 2013

Em linhas gerais, este trabalho versa sobre a geologia, tectônica e ambiente de sedimentação de formações quaternárias, na região do vale do rio Ribeira, parte Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, resultante de um mapeamento geológico elaborado na escala de 1:50.000 e de estudos sedimentológicos. Uma síntese das seguintes unidades estratigráficas são apresentadas: a) migmatitos, xistos e granitos do Pré-cambriano médio; b) sedimentos inconsolidados da Formação Pariquera-Açu - Pleistoceno; c) areias marinhas, argilas e turfas do holoceno. Evidências de falhas gravitacionais, ocorridas ao longo de direções estruturais mais antigas, durante o neocenozóico, são expostas, formando a planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape
Contribuição à geologia de subsuperficie e à paleontologia do Grupo Tubarão no estado de São Paulo
Authors: Mezzalira Sérgio
Published: December 2013

A abertura de poços para captação de água subterrânea, em diversas localidades do Estado de São Paulo, pelo Instituto Geológico (ex-Instituto Geográfico e Geológico) tem-nos permitido obter não só novos dados litoestratigráficos como paleontológicos que permitem ampliar o conhecimento e o comportamento geopaleontológico do Grupo Tubarão no Estado de São Paulo. São descritos perfis geológicos de poços abertos em: Sarapuí, em número de dois com profundidades de 138 m e 130 m; Itu, em número de 4 com 81 m, 87 m, 100 m, e 134 m de profundidades e Salto de Pirapora, com 119 m. Nos poços perfurados nas três localidades inicialmente mencionadas, só foram cortados sedimentos do Grupo Tubarão, atingindo nas duas últimas o Embasamento representado aqui por termos do Grupo São Roque (filito - quartzítico, calcífero compacto). Nos poços de Sarapuí, foram encontrados: no nº1, Restos e fragmentos de vegetais (hastes principalmente) carbonizados e não carbonizados e o megásporo Lagenoisporites (Trileites) brasiliensis (Dijkstra, 1955); no n. 2 , também, inúmeros restos e fragmentos de vegetais carbonizados e não carbonizados e o vegetal ?Plumsteadiella sp
A paleontologia no estado de São Paulo: sua evolução e seus problemas
Authors: Mezzalira Sérgio
Published: December 2013

O presente trabalho é uma tentativa de efetuar um relatório histórico sobre contribuições científicas estrangeiras e nacionais a pesquisa paleontológica no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil até 1977.
Geologia da folha de São João da Boa Vista
Authors: Tominaga Lidia Keiko
Published: December 2013

Na Folha de São João da Boa Vista, ocorrem rochas do Grupo Pinhal de idade pré-cambriana superior, representadas por um complexo migmatítico-granítico, e rochas sedimentares do Grupo Itararé de idade carbonífero superior a permiano inferior, constituídas por arenitos, siltitos e diamictitos. Ocorrem também, uma pequena intrusão alcalina (tinguaito) e vários corpos de diabásio sob forma de "sills" e diques. A cobertura cenozóica é aqui dividida em dois tipos, de acordo com as prováveis épocas de deposição: Terciário e Quaternário. O Terciário é caracterizado por sedimentos areno-argilosos inconsolidados que ocorrem formando colinas de encostas convexas, com espessuras da ordem de 10 a 15 m e o Quaternário representado por depósitos aluviais associados às linhas de drenagens atuais.
Estudos sedimentológicos das formações Botucatu e Pirambóia na região de Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, SP
Authors: Azevedo Anna Artemisia Barracco de , Pressinotti Márcia Maria Nogueira , Massoli Marcos
Published: December 2013

Os estudos sedimentológicos realizados em 28 amostras de arenito tiveram por objetivo a caracterização, mediante parâmetros estatísticos de FOLK & WARD, das Formações Botucatu e Pirambóia, na folha de Santa Rita do Passa Quatro. Os dados obtidos revelaram, para estas duas Formações, diferenças marcantes nos seus valores de grau de seleção e curtose, ao passo que a assimetria mostrou valores bastante próximos. Através da distribuição granulométrica das amostras, pode-se fazer uma classificação desses sedimentos, segundo SHEPPARD, bem como construir os gráficos denominados Sedimentogramas, que contribuíram nas interpretações dos ambientes deposicionais das referidas Formações.
Cálculo aproximado de coeficientes de permeabilidade em rochas sedimentares de aquíferos
Authors: Carvalho Moacyr de
Published: December 2013

O presente trabalho completa um anterior já publicado na Rev. IG, v. 1, n.1 jan./jul. 1980, versando sobre o cálculo aproximado de coeficientes de permeabilidade dos diversos estratos de sedimentos que, geralmente, compõem um aquífero. Trata-se de um método que se baseia fundamentalmente na representação de um fenômeno mecânico ou seja da percolação da água em um meio poroso, através de um sistema de equações lineares. Embora a parte já publicada e a presente estejam ligadas pela mesma idéia central, são dois procedimentos distintos no que concerne à geração do sistema de equações.
Ocorrência de fósseis vegetais na Formação Pariqüera-Açú na região de Iguape, SP
Authors: Marcello Edgard Pierre
Published: December 2013

Durante pesquisas geológicas realizadas no mês de julho de 1981 para o projeto "Prospecção de minerais no vale do Ribeira", foram encontrados no município de Iguape, restos fossilíferos de vegetais em sedimentos cenozóicos, provavelmente da Formação.Pariqüera-Açu.
Compensation Discrimination for Wide Receivers: Applying Quantile Regression to the National Football League
Authors: Burnett Nancy J , Scyoc Lee J. Van
Published: December 2013

Keefer's recent article in the Journal of Sports Economics (2013) finds evidence of wage discrimination in the National Football League (NFL) market for linebackers. We examine the market for NFL wide receivers using similar techniques as Keefer, though we explore only rookies rather than all current players and wide receivers rather than linebackers. While we would expect to find stronger evidence of discrimination in the rookie market, as rookies are captured sellers, we find no pervasive pattern of pay discrimination by race in this market.
Systematic land climate and evapotranspiration biases in CMIP5 simulations
Authors: Mueller B. , Seneviratne S. I.
Published: December 2013

Land climate is important for human population since it affects inhabited areas. Here we evaluate the realism of simulated evapotranspiration (ET), precipitation, and temperature in the CMIP5 multimodel ensemble on continental areas. For ET, a newly compiled synthesis data set prepared within the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment‐sponsored LandFlux‐EVAL project is used. The results reveal systematic ET biases in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations, with an overestimation in most regions, especially in Europe, Africa, China, Australia, Western North America, and part of the Amazon region. The global average overestimation amounts to 0.17 mm/d. This bias is more pronounced than in the previous CMIP3 ensemble (overestimation of 0.09 mm/d). Consistent with the ET overestimation, precipitation is also overestimated relative to existing reference data sets. We suggest that the identified biases in ET can explain respective systematic biases in temperature in many of the considered regions. The biases additionally display a seasonal dependence and are generally of opposite sign (ET underestimation and temperature overestimation) in boreal summer (June–August).
Experimental detection of upward going cosmic particles and consequences for correction of density radiography of volcanoes
Authors: Jourde K. , Gibert D. , Marteau J. , de Bremond d'Ars J. , Gardien S. , Girerd C. , Ianigro J.‐C. , Carbone D.
Published: December 2013

Muon tomography measures the flux of cosmic muons crossing geological bodies to determine their density. The telescopes used to perform measurements are exposed to noise fluxes with high intensities relative to the tiny flux of interest. We give experimental evidences of a so far never described source of noise caused by a flux of upward going particles. Data acquired on La Soufrière of Guadeloupe and Mount Etna reveal that upward going particles are detected only when the rear side of the telescope is exposed to a wide volume of atmosphere located below the altitude of the telescope and with a rock obstruction less than several tens of meters. Biases produced on density muon radiographies by upward going fluxes are quantified, and correction procedures are applied to radiographies of La Soufrière.
Dipolarization and turbulence in the plasma sheet during a substorm: THEMIS observations and global MHD simulations
Authors: El‐Alaoui Mostafa , Richard Robert L. , Ashour‐Abdalla Maha , Goldstein Melvyn L. , Walker Raymond J.
Published: December 2013

Spacecraft in the magnetotail have observed fluctuations in velocity and magnetic field that have the characteristics of fluid turbulence. We investigated the properties of these fluctuations during a substorm on 7 February 2009. During this event several spacecraft were observing the magnetotail. By using upstream observations performed by Wind, we conducted a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the substorm. The simulation results were compared to time series of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations in the magnetotail, and it performed well as the spacecraft encountered dipolarizations and strong flows. Further, the power spectral densities and probability distribution functions observed in the magnetotail by THEMIS and in the MHD simulations were similar. Notable features of the event include a large dipolarization growing by accreting smaller earthward moving dipolarization fronts. The dipolarizations were associated with a strong channel of earthward flow and a large vortex. In the MHD simulation results, which are supported by the observations, strong narrow flow channels are a clear and persistent feature of magnetotail convection which exist at the driving scales for the turbulent spectra.
New approaches to removing cloud shadows and evaluating the 380 nm surface reflectance for improved aerosol optical thickness retrievals from the GOSAT/TANSO‐Cloud and Aerosol Imager
Authors: Fukuda Satoru , Nakajima Teruyuki , Takenaka Hideaki , Higurashi Akiko , Kikuchi Nobuyuki , Nakajima Takashi Y. , Ishida Haruma
Published: December 2013

A satellite aerosol retrieval algorithm was developed to utilize a near‐ultraviolet band of the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite/Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for carbon Observation (GOSAT/TANSO)‐Cloud and Aerosol Imager (CAI). At near‐ultraviolet wavelengths, the surface reflectance over land is smaller than that at visible wavelengths. Therefore, it is thought possible to reduce retrieval error by using the near‐ultraviolet spectral region. In the present study, we first developed a cloud shadow detection algorithm that uses first and second minimum reflectances of 380 nm and 680 nm based on the difference in Rayleigh scattering contribution for these two bands. Then, we developed a new surface reflectance correction algorithm, the modified Kaufman method, which uses minimum reflectance data at 680 nm and the NDVI to estimate the surface reflectance at 380 nm. This algorithm was found to be particularly effective at reducing the aerosol effect remaining in the 380 nm minimum reflectance; this effect has previously proven difficult to remove owing to the infrequent sampling rate associated with the three‐day recursion period of GOSAT and the narrow CAI swath of 1000 km. Finally, we applied these two algorithms to retrieve aerosol optical thicknesses over a land area. Our results exhibited better agreement with sun‐sky radiometer observations than results obtained using a simple surface reflectance correction technique using minimum radiances.
Skeletogenesis: Genetics
Authors: Wuelling Manuela , Vortkamp Andrea
Published: December 2013

The vertebrate skeleton is formed by two mechanisms – endochondral and intramembranous ossification. During intramembranous ossification, mesenchymal cells directly differentiate into osteoblasts. Endochondral ossification is a two‐step process during which bones are preformed as cartilage templates, which are subsequently replaced by bone. During this process, the inner cells of the cartilage condensation differentiate into chondrocytes, which proliferate and differentiate into hypertrophic chondrocytes producing a mineralised matrix. The outer cells differentiate into the perichondrium surrounding the cartilage template and later into osteoblasts, which produce a bone collar surrounding the hypertrophic region. Blood vessels from the bone collar invade the hypertrophic region in close association with bone‐resorbing osteoclasts and bone‐forming osteoblasts. The orchestrated formation, differentiation and degradation of cartilage and bone are regulated by a multitude of growth factors and transcriptional regulators, which will be discussed in this article.

Key Concepts:

During intramembranous ossification, mesenchymal progenitor cells differentiate directly into bone‐forming osteoblasts.

Endochondral ossification includes the formation of cartilage templates, which are subsequently replaced by bone and bone marrow.

Cells in the cartilage condensation represent bipotential osteochondroprogenitor cells that differentiate depending on their level of Sox9 into chondrocytes.

Ihh serves as a key regulator of endochondral ossification regulating chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophic differentiation and ossification.

Ihh and Pthrp interact in a negative feedback mechanism to control the domain of columnar, high‐proliferating chondrocytes.

Pthrp negatively regulates cell cycle exit.

Runx2 and Mef2c activate chondrocyte differentiation.

Runx2 and Osterix are required to induce osteoblast differentiation.

The balance between Rankl and osteoprotegerin determines the differentiation of osteoclasts.

Chondrocyte differentiation is regulated by secreted growth factors, which activate distinct steps of the differentiation programme.
Language and Genes
Authors: Tomblin J Bruce , Mueller K L
Published: December 2013

The development of spoken language involves the acquisition of a complex system of knowledge and processing mechanisms that recruits a number of neural systems. These neural systems depend on numerous genetically influenced biological functions that provide for experience dependent learning. That language development and use entail genetic mechanisms is clear. A substantial literature shows that individual differences in language are partially heritable. This evidence of heritability has now motivated efforts to uncover specific genetics mechanisms using modern molecular genetics. To date, one gene,FOXP2, has been shown to be associated with speech and language. However, it is not appropriate to conclude thatFOXP2contains the human language faculty. Instead, it likely participates with many genetic systems to support language development. What these genetically influenced systems are is only beginning to be revealed.

Key Concepts:

There is considerable support for a role for genes in language development and function.

Twin studies along with adoption studies show that individual differences in language are partially attributable to genetic factors.

There is little evidence that vocabulary and grammar are differentially influenced by genetic factors.

Heritability of language increases through childhood.

Twin research suggests that the genetic influence on language development is shared with nonlanguage cognitive skills.

Substantial evidence shows that FOXP2 plays an important role in the neurobiology of language via it regulation of the expression of other genes.

CNTNAP2is a downstream regulatory target ofFOXP2that has been associated with developmental language impairment.

Future progress in understanding a complex trait such as language may come from understanding genetic mechanisms controlling the expression levels of genes (eQTLs).
CFTR: TheCFGene and Its Regulation in Physiology and Disease
Authors: Davies Wayne IL
Published: December 2013

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes an atypical transporter that functions as a chloride channel. The regulation of both the gene and the protein is highly complex, involving many novel regulatory mechanisms: these include differential usage of transcription start sites and upstream exons; alternative splicing and the production of unique polypeptide isoforms; and post‐transcriptional influences on transcript stability and protein levels. Together they mediate basal and tissue‐specificCFTRexpression in epithelial and nonepithelial tissues, such as the heart, under both normal physiological conditions and in the disease state.

Key Concepts:

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most well‐known and commonest monogenetic disorders in the Caucasian population.

Nearly 2000 mutations have been identified in theCFTRgene.

TheCFTRgene, also known asABCC7, contains 27 exons and encodes a chloride channel that is unique within the ABC transporter superfamily.

Despite CF being primarily a disease of epithelial cells,CFTRexpression has also been identified in nonepithelial cells, for example, hypothalamic neurons and cardiomyocytes.

Although relatively widespread,CFTRexpression shows tissue‐specific regulatory mechanisms that act at multiple levels, including transcription, post‐transcription and translation.

Collectively, these control pathways yield distinct, tightly regulated transcripts that encode unique CFTR protein variants.

The complexity ofCFTRexpression may be the main determining factor against the production of an effective cure for CF.

Further study of these parallel tissue‐specific regulatory mechanisms, especially in organs that appear to be protected in CF, may provide insights into CF pathology and potential disease treatments.
Molecular Genetics of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
Authors: Horani Amjad , Ferkol Thomas W
Published: December 2013

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease of the motile cilia, and is part of a rapidly expanding collection of disorders collectively known as ciliopathies. Our understanding of the complex genetics and functional phenotypes of these conditions has rapidly advanced over the past decade. A growing number of cilia‐related genes and mutations have been identified, which segregate into genes that encode axonemal motor proteins, structural and regulatory proteins within the cilium, as well as an emerging class of cytoplasmic proteins involved in ciliary assembly. These findings have yielded unexpected insights into the processes involved in the assembly, structure and function of a cilium, which will allow us to better understand the clinical heterogeneity of disease. Moreover, these discoveries have the potential to revolutionise testing for PCD, and lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of affected individuals.

Key Concepts:

Cilia are complex organelles that are on the surface of many cell types and involved in diverse cellular functions.

Cilia are broadly classified as motile (motor) or primary (sensory), and the latter are important signalling organelles that sense the extracellular environment.

Motile cilia are critical for the intrinsic defence of the respiratory tract, including the middle ear, paranasal sinuses, and conducting airways.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is an inherited disease that is characterised by impaired ciliary function and leads to diverse clinical manifestations, including chronic sinopulmonary disease, persistent middle ear effusions, laterality defects and infertility.

Mutations in different primary ciliary dyskinesia‐associated genes that encode proteins involved in ciliary assembly, structure and function can produce similar clinical phenotypes but different ultrastructural defects.