bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solution Using Biochar Derived from Biomass and Sewage Sludge
Authors: Liu Han Qiao , Xu Xian , Wu Zhen Hua , Wei Guo Xia , Sun Lei
Published: June 2015

Biochar, a production of cotton/sludge pyrolysis, was used as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In this paper, it was assessed that the effect of biochar produced parameters including pyrolysis temperature and heating rate, adsorption time, solution pH and biochar modification on removal of Cd from aqueous solution, and the removal effect of heavy metals from mixed aqueous solution was also studied. The results showed that the optimum conditions were pyrolysis temperature of 550°C, heating rate of 5°C/min, adsorption time of 90min, biochar dosage of 10g/L and solution pH=6, respectively. And the effect was a little increased when the biochar were impregnated with chemicals. About 99% Cd, Pb and Zn were removed from aqueous solution using biochar under the optimum conditions.
Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in the northern eThekwini district of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
Authors: Govender Pirindhavellie , Ramson Prasidh , Visser Linda , Naidoo Kovin S.
Published: June 2015

Aim: To determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment, cataract surgical coverage and barriers to cataract surgery amongst people in the northern eThekwini district of KwaZuluNatal Province, South Africa.Method: Thirty-three clusters of 50 subjects ≥ 50 years old were randomly selected. Consenting subjects underwent enumeration to establish a demographic profile and thereafter a clinical examination. Visual acuity (VA) was measured with a Tumbling ‘E’ chart; participants having a VA < 6/18 were retested with a pinhole. If no improvement in VA occurred, subjects underwent clinical examination, including a dilated fundus exam where necessary, to determine the cause of visual impairment.Results: Of the 1650 subjects selected, 1542 (93.5%) were examined. The overall prevalence of blindness was 1.9%. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of blindness was 2.1%, severe visual impairment (SVI) 1.2%, and moderate visual impairment (MVI) 3.9%. Untreated cataract was the major cause of blindness (55.2%) and SVI (53.3%), and uncorrected refractive error was the major cause of MVI (49.1%). The cataract surgical coverage rate was 70% at visual acuity < 3/60 level; 51% at visual acuity < 6/60 level; and 38% at visual acuity < 6/18 level. Poor awareness of cataract surgical intervention was the main reason that participants with untreated cataracts had not used existing cataract services.Conclusion: The prevalence of blindness in the study region was lower (by 1.98%) than World Health Organization estimates of 9% for the Africa-E sub-region (within which South Africa falls). There is no permanent cataract service in this region; the lower cataract surgical coverage rates indicate that a permanent eye care centre could significantly alleviate avoidable blindness, particularly that caused by cataract.
An evaluation of ozone dry deposition in global scale chemistry climate models
Authors: Hardacre C. , Wild O. , Emberson L.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Dry deposition to the Earth's surface is an important process from both an atmospheric and biospheric perspective. Dry deposition controls the atmospheric abundance of many compounds as well as their input to vegetative surfaces, thus linking the atmosphere and biosphere. In many atmospheric and Earth system models it is represented using "resistance in series" schemes developed in the 1980s. These methods have remained relatively unchanged since their development and do not take into account more recent understanding of the underlying processes that have been gained through field and laboratory based studies. In this study we compare dry deposition of ozone across 15 models which contributed to the TF HTAP model intercomparison to identify where differences occur. We compare modelled dry deposition of ozone to measurements made at a variety of locations in Europe and North America, noting differences of up to a factor of two but no clear systematic bias over the sites examined. We identify a number of measures that are needed to provide a more critical evaluation of dry deposition fluxes and advance model development.
16 year climatology of cirrus clouds over a tropical station in southern India using ground and space-based lidar observations
Authors: Pandit A. K. , Gadhavi H. S. , Venkat Ratnam M. , Raghunath K. , Rao S. V. B. , Jayaraman A.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. 16 year (1998–2013) climatology of cirrus clouds and their macrophysical (base height, top height and geometrical thickness) and optical properties (cloud optical thickness) observed using a ground-based lidar over Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E), India, is presented. The climatology obtained from the ground-based lidar is compared with the climatology obtained from seven and half years (June 2006–December 2013) of Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) observations. A very good agreement is found between the two climatologies in spite of their opposite viewing geometries and difference in sampling frequencies. Nearly 50–55% of cirrus clouds were found to possess geometrical thickness less than 2 km. Ground-based lidar is found to detect more number of sub-visible clouds than CALIOP which has implications for global warming studies as sub-visible cirrus clouds have significant positive radiative forcing. Cirrus clouds with mid-cloud temperatures between −50 to −70 °C have a mean geometrical thickness greater than 2 km in contrast to the earlier reported value of 1.7 km. Trend analyses reveal a statistically significant increase in the altitude of sub-visible cirrus clouds which is consistent with the recent climate model simulations. Also, the fraction of sub-visible cirrus cloud is found to be increasing during the last sixteen years (1998 to 2013) which has implications to the temperature and water vapour budget in the tropical tropopause layer.
Simulated retrievals for the remote sensing of CO2, CH4, CO, and H2O from geostationary orbit
Authors: Xi X. , Natraj V. , Shia R. L. , Luo M. , Zhang Q. , Newman S. , Sander S. P. , Yung Y. L.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. The Geostationary Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GeoFTS) is designed to measure high-resolution spectra of reflected sunlight in three near-infrared bands centered around 0.76, 1.6, and 2.3 μm and to deliver simultaneous retrievals of column-averaged dry air mole fractions of CO2, CH4, CO, and H2O (denoted XCO2, XCH4, XCO, and XH2O, respectively) at different times of day over North America. In this study, we perform radiative transfer simulations over both clear-sky and all-sky scenes expected to be observed by GeoFTS and estimate the prospective performance of retrievals based on results from Bayesian error analysis and characterization. We find that, for simulated clear-sky retrievals, the average retrieval errors and single-measurement precisions are < 0.2% for XCO2, XCH4, and XH2O, and < 2% for XCO, when the a priori values have a bias of 3% and an uncertainty of 3%. In addition, an increase in the amount of aerosols and ice clouds leads to a notable increase in the retrieval errors and slight worsening of the retrieval precisions. Furthermore, retrieval precision is a strong function of signal-to-noise ratio and spectral resolution. This simulation study can help guide decisions on the design of the GeoFTS observing system, which can result in cost-effective measurement strategies while achieving satisfactory levels of retrieval precisions. The simultaneous retrievals at different times of day will be important for more accurate estimation of carbon sources and sinks on fine spatiotemporal scales and for studies to better understand the close coupling between the carbon and water cycles.
Electron-scale nested quadrupole Hall field in Cluster observations of magnetic reconnection
Authors: Jain N. , Sharma A. S.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. This paper presents the first evidence of a new and unique feature of spontaneous reconnection at multiple sites in electron current sheet, viz. a "nested quadrupole" structure of the Hall field at electron scales, in Cluster observations. The new nested quadrupole is a consequence of electron-scale processes in reconnection. Whistler response of the upstream plasma to the interaction of electron flows from neighboring reconnection sites produces a large-scale quadrupole Hall field enclosing the quadrupole fields of the multiple sites, thus forming a nested structure. Electron-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of an electron current sheet yields a mechanism of the formation of a nested quadrupole.
The MAGIC of CINEMA: first in-flight science results from a miniaturised anisotropic magnetoresistive magnetometer
Authors: Archer M. O. , Horbury T. S. , Brown P. , Eastwood J. P. , Oddy T. M. , Whiteside B. J. , Sample J. G.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. We present the first in-flight results from a novel miniaturised anisotropic magnetoresistive space magnetometer, MAGIC (MAGnetometer from Imperial College), aboard the first CINEMA (CubeSat for Ions, Neutrals, Electrons and MAgnetic fields) spacecraft in low Earth orbit. An attitude-independent calibration technique is detailed using the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF), which is temperature dependent in the case of the outboard sensor. We show that the sensors accurately measure the expected absolute field to within 2% in attitude mode and 1% in science mode. Using a simple method we are able to estimate the spacecraft's attitude using the magnetometer only, thus characterising CINEMA's spin, precession and nutation. Finally, we show that the outboard sensor is capable of detecting transient physical signals with amplitudes of ~ 20–60 nT. These include field-aligned currents at the auroral oval, qualitatively similar to previous observations, which agree in location with measurements from the DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) and POES (Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites) spacecraft. Thus, we demonstrate and discuss the potential science capabilities of the MAGIC instrument onboard a CubeSat platform.
Drivers of summer oxygen depletion in the central North Sea
Authors: Queste B. Y. , Fernand L. , Jickells T. D. , Heywood K. J. , Hind A. J.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. In stratified shelf seas, oxygen depletion beneath the thermocline is a result of a greater rate of biological oxygen demand than the rate of supply of oxygenated water. Suitably equipped gliders are uniquely placed to observe both the supply through the thermocline and the consumption of oxygen in the bottom layers. A Seaglider was deployed in the shallow (≈ 100 m) stratified North Sea in a region of known low oxygen during August 2011 to investigate the processes regulating supply and consumption of dissolved oxygen below the pycnocline. The first deployment of such a device in this area, it provided extremely high resolution observations, 316 profiles (every 16 min, vertical resolution of 1 m) of CTD, dissolved oxygen concentrations, backscatter and fluorescence during a three day deployment. The high temporal resolution observations revealed occasional small scale events that supply oxygenated water into the bottom layer at a rate of 2±1 μmol dm−3 day−1. Benthic and pelagic oxygen sinks, quantified through glider observations and past studies, indicate more gradual background consumption rates of 2.5±1 μmol dm−3 day−1. This budget revealed that the balance of oxygen supply and demand is in agreement with previous studies of the North Sea. However, the glider data show a net oxygen consumption rate of 2.8±0.3 μmol dm−3 day−1 indicating a localised or short-lived increase in oxygen consumption rates. This high rate of oxygen consumption is indicative of an unidentified oxygen sink. We propose that this elevated oxygen consumption is linked to localised depocentres and rapid remineralisation of resuspensded organic matter. The glider proved to be an excellent tool for monitoring shelf sea processes despite challenges to glider flight posed by high tidal velocities, shallow bathymetry, and very strong density gradients. The direct observation of these processes allows more up to date rates to be used in the development of ecosystem models.
Internal structure of event layers preserved on the Andaman Sea continental shelf, Thailand: tsunami vs. storm and flash-flood deposits
Authors: Sakuna-Schwartz D. , Feldens P. , Schwarzer K. , Khokiattiwong S. , Stattegger K.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Tsunami, storm and flash-flood event layers, which have been deposited over the last century on the shelf offshore Khao Lak (Thailand, Andaman Sea), are identified in sediment cores based on sedimentary structures, grain size compositions, Ti / Ca ratios and 210Pb activity. Individual offshore tsunami deposits are 12 to 30 cm in thickness and originate from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. They are characterized by (1) the appearance of sand layers enriched in shells and shell debris and (2) the appearance of mud and sand clasts. Storm deposits found in core depths between 5 and 82 cm could be attributed to recent storm events by using 210Pb profiles in conjunction with historical data of typhoons and tropical storms. Massive sand layers enriched in shells and shell debris characterize storm deposits. The last classified type of event layer represents reworked flash-flood deposits, which are characterized by a fining-upward sequence of muddy sediment. The most distinct difference between storm and tsunami deposits is the lack of mud and sand clasts, mud content and terrigenous material within storm deposits. Terrigenous material transported offshore during the tsunami backwash is therefore an important indicator to distinguish between storm and tsunami deposits in offshore environments.
Snowpack variability and trends at long-term stations in northern Colorado, USA
Authors: Fassnacht S. R. , Hultstrand M.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. The individual measurements from snowcourse stations were digitized for six stations across northern Colorado that had up to 79 years of record (1936 to 2014). These manual measurements are collected at the first of the month from February through May, with additional measurements in January and June. This dataset was used to evaluate the variability in snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) across a snowcourse, as well as trends in snowpack patterns across the entire period of record and over two halves of the record (up to 1975 and from 1976). Snowpack variability is correlated to depth and SWE. The snow depth variability is shown to be highly correlated with average April snow depth and day of year. Depth and SWE were found to be significantly decreasing over the entire period of record at two stations, while at another station the significant trends were an increase over the first half of the record and a decrease over the second half. Variability tended to decrease with time, when significant.
Non-stationary hydrological frequency analysis based on the reconstruction of extreme hydrological series
Authors: Hu Y. M. , Liang Z. M. , Jiang X. L. , Bu H.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. In this paper, a novel approach for non-stationary hydrological frequency analysis is proposed. The approach is due to the following consideration that, at present the data series used to detect mutation characteristic is very short, which may only reflect the partial characteristic of the population. That is to say, the mutation characteristic of short series may not fully represent the mutation characteristic of population, such as the difference of mutation degree between short sample and population. In this proposed method, an assumption is done that the variation hydrological series in a big time window owns an expected vibration center (EVC), which is a linear combination of the two mean values of the two subsample series obtained through separating the original hydrological series by a novel optimal segmentation technique (change rate of slope method). Then using the EVC to reconstruct non-stationary series to meet the requirement of stationary, and further ensure the conventional frequency analysis methods is valid.
The need of the change of the conceptualisation of hydrologic processes under extreme conditions – taking reference evapotranspiration as an example
Authors: Liu S. , Tan L. , Mo X. , Zhang S.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. What a hydrological model displays is the relationships between the output and input in daily, monthly, yearly and other temporal scales. In the case of climate change or other environment changes, the input of the hydrological model may show a gradual or abrupt change. There have been numerous documented studies to explore the response of output of the hydrological models to the change of the input with scenario simulation. Most of the studies assumed that the conceptualisation of hydrologic processes will remain, which may be true for the gradual change of the input. However, under extreme conditions the conceptualisation of hydrologic processes may be completely changed. Taking an example of the Allen's formula to calculate crop reference evapotranspiration (ET0) as a simple hydrological model, we analyze the alternation of the extreme in ET0 from 1955 to 2012 at the Chongling Experimental Station located in Hebei Province, China. The relationships between ET0 and the meteorological factors for the average values, minimum (maximum) values at daily, monthly and annual scales are revealed. It is found the extreme of the output can follow the extreme of the input better when their relationship is more linear. For non-liner relationship, the extreme of the input cannot at all be reflected from the extreme of the output. Relatively, extreme event at daily scale is harder to be shown than that at monthly scale. The result implicates that a routine model may not be able to catch the response to extreme events and it is even more so as we extrapolate models to higher temperature/CO2 conditions in the future. Some possible choices for the improvements are suggested for predicting hydrological extremes.
Effects of precipitation and potential evaporation on actual evapotranspiration over the Laohahe basin, northern China
Authors: Liu Y. , Ren L. , Yang X. , Ma M. , Yuan F. , Jiang S.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Problems associated with water scarcity are facing new challenges under the climate change. As one of main consumptions in water cycle on the Earth, evapotranspiration plays a crucial role in regional water budget. In this paper, we employ two methods, i.e. hydrological sensitivity analysis and hydrological model simulation, to investigate the effect of climate variability and climatic change on actual evapotranspiration (Ea) within the Laohahe basin during 1964–2009. Calibrations of the two methods are firstly conducted during the baseline period (1964–1979), then with the two benchmarked models, simulations in climatic change duration (1980–2009) are further conducted and quantitative assessments on climatic change-induced variation of Ea are analysed accordingly. The results show that affected by combined impacts of decreased precipitation and potential evapotranspiration, variation of annual Ea in most sub-catchments suffer a downward trend during 1980–2009, with a higher descending rate in northern catchments. At decadal scale, Ea shows significant oscillation in accordance with precipitation patterns. Northern catchments generally suffer more decadal Ea changes than southern catchments, implying the impact of climatic change on decadal Ea is more intense in semi-arid areas than that in semi-humid regions. For whole changed durations, a general 0–20 mm reduction of Ea is found in most parts of studied region. For this water-limited region, Ea shows higher sensitivity to precipitation than to potential evaporation, which confirms the significant role of precipitation in controlling Ea patterns, whereas the impact of potential evapotranspiration variation would be negligible.
Comparison of nonstationary generalized logistic models based on Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Kim S. , Nam W. , Ahn H. , Kim T. , Heo J.-H.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Recently, the evidences of climate change have been observed in hydrologic data such as rainfall and flow data. The time-dependent characteristics of statistics in hydrologic data are widely defined as nonstationarity. Therefore, various nonstationary GEV and generalized Pareto models have been suggested for frequency analysis of nonstationary annual maximum and POT (peak-over-threshold) data, respectively. However, the alternative models are required for nonstatinoary frequency analysis because of analyzing the complex characteristics of nonstationary data based on climate change. This study proposed the nonstationary generalized logistic model including time-dependent parameters. The parameters of proposed model are estimated using the method of maximum likelihood based on the Newton-Raphson method. In addition, the proposed model is compared by Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the characteristics of models and applicability.
Drought assessment and trends analysis from 20th century to 21st century over China
Authors: Yang X. L. , Ren L. L. , Tong R. , Liu Y. , Cheng X. R. , Jiang S. H. , Yuan F.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Droughts are becoming the most expensive natural disasters in China and have exerted serious impacts on local economic development and ecological environment. The fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) provides a unique opportunity to assess scientific understanding of climate variability and change over a range of historical and future period. In this study, fine-resolution multimodel climate projections over China are developed based on 7 CMIP5 climate models under RCP8.5 emissions scenarios by means of Bilinear Interpolation and Bias Correction. The results of downscaled CMIP5 models are evaluated over China by comparing the model outputs with the England Reanalysis CRU3.1 from 1951 to 2000. Accordingly, the results from the output of downscaled models are used to calculate the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Time series of SPI has been used to identify drought from 20th century to 21st century over China. The results show that, most areas of China are projected to become wetter as a consequence of increasing precipitation under RCP8.5 scenarios. Detailed examination shows that the SPI show a slightly increasing trend in the future period for the most parts of China, but drought in Southwest region of China will become the norm in the future RCP8.5 scenarios.
Plant-Derived Flavonoids in Ocular Angiopathy
Authors: Chirumbolo Salvatore
Published: June 2015

Encouraging reports of flavonoid activity, mainly coming from in vitro or ex vivo experimental evidence, should be replicated in randomized controlled trials, to examine their ability to prevent angiopathy.
Ayn Rand and Rape
Authors: Brown Susan Love
Published: June 2015

The first sexual encounter between Dominique Francon and Howard Roark in The Fountainhead is known as the “rape scene.” From the time of the novel's publication, some readers have found a contradiction between Rand's views on freedom and the violence within the novel. The ambiguity arises from the way in which the scenes leading up to the event are constructed, the sadomasochistic context of the novel, and Rand's views of gender and romantic relationships. Although Rand repeatedly denied that any rape occurred, this article concludes that a rape did occur and that Rand fully intended it to be so.
Ayn Rand and Vladimir Nabokov
Authors: Kostenko Anna
Published: June 2015

Ayn Rand is often put on a par with Vladimir Nabokov, proceeding from the similarity of their creative destinies. The general vicissitudes of life forced the two writers to converge on one theme—the indisputable statement of the supreme value of a human life, by understanding the importance of the individual “I” over the public. The main problem of their poetic worlds is the question of self-identification. As Russian immigrant writers, both occupy the position of “estrangement” in relation to both their own heritage and the environment to which they immigrated.
The Prohibition Against Psychologizing
Authors: Campbell Robert L.
Published: June 2015

The prohibition against psychologizing has been a source of confusion to many Randians. Psychologizing is the practice of incorrectly or improperly inferring motives in other people instead of rendering moral judgment. Rand thought that it could manifest in two ways: inquisitorial and excuse-making. However, Rand's concrete examples are preponderantly of the excuse-making type; her bright line between psychology and philosophy is unsuccessfully drawn; and in offering extended, strongly condemnatory analyses of the supposed motives behind psychologizing, she yields to the very temptation she claims to warn against. “Psychologizing” turns out to be an anticoncept.
Russian Radical: Twenty Years Later
Authors: McElroy Wendy
Published: June 2015

The second expanded edition of Ayn Rand: The Russan Radical, like the trilogy of which it is a part, aims to radically redefine the methodology of established traditions by wedding the dialectical method to libertarianism. On this overall trilogy, many important questions remain with regard to Chris Matthew Sciabarra's ambitious project. But this does not take away from the fact that the book remains a brilliant and pathbreaking work. Sciabarra inspires us to rethink issues on a fundamental level.
Comparative Studies on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Melon (Citrullus vulgaris) Seed Flours Used in “EGUSI” Soup Preparation
Authors: Akusu Monday O. , Kiin-Kabari David B.
Published: June 2015

A comparative study on the physicochemical and sensory properties of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and melon (Citrullus vulgaris) seed flours in food preparation were investigated. A composite flour containing equal parts of watermelon seed flour and melon seed flour were prepared. Egusi soups were prepared from the melon seed flour; watermelon seed flour and a combination of the two flours in equal proportions. Sensory properties of the three soups were evaluated. The results of the investigation showed that the equal proportions of watermelon/melon seed flours had higher crude protein of 27.73% and crude fat of 47.85% than the water melon seed and melon seed flours. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in water absorption, foam capacity, viscosity and least gelation properties of the melon seed flour compared to the 50:50 flour sample. The sensory properties showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in appearance, taste, thickness and overall acceptability of egusi soup from melon seed flour and 50:50 flour sample. Therefore watermelon seed flour can be used to replace 50% melon seed flour in the preparation of egusi soup
The genetic architecture of NAFLD among inbred strains of mice
Authors: Hui Simon T , Parks Brian W , Org Elin , Norheim Frode , Che Nam , Pan Calvin , Castellani Lawrence W , Charugundla Sarada , Dirks Darwin L , Psychogios Nikolaos , Neuhaus Isaac , Gerszten Robert E , Kirchgessner Todd , Gargalovic Peter S , Lusis Aldons J
Published: June 2015

To identify genetic and environmental factors contributing to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, we examined liver steatosis and related clinical and molecular traits in more than 100 unique inbred mouse strains, which were fed a diet rich in fat and carbohydrates. A >30-fold variation in hepatic TG accumulation was observed among the strains. Genome-wide association studies revealed three loci associated with hepatic TG accumulation. Utilizing transcriptomic data from the liver and adipose tissue, we identified several high-confidence candidate genes for hepatic steatosis, including Gde1, a glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase not previously implicated in triglyceride metabolism. We confirmed the role of Gde1 by in vivo hepatic over-expression and shRNA knockdown studies. We hypothesize that Gde1 expression increases TG production by contributing to the production of glycerol-3-phosphate. Our multi-level data, including transcript levels, metabolite levels, and gut microbiota composition, provide a framework for understanding genetic and environmental interactions underlying hepatic steatosis.
Punishment and penalties, Greece and Rome
Authors: Fuhrmann Christopher , Wilkerson Jaren
Published: June 2015

Punishment and penalties in Greece and Rome reflected major trends in ancient civilization, from archaic Greece to the later Roman Empire. Key subtopics include the family, social status, and the state;miasma(religious pollution), private and public punishment, sexual crimes, fines, shaming, exile, imprisonment, execution. Ancient sources on punishment and penalties are most full for Classical Athens, and for the Roman world from the first century BCE until the early fifth century CE.
Peristeria in Messenia
Authors: Kelder Jorrit M.
Published: June 2015

Peristeria in Messenia is the site of an important Middle Helladic and early Mycenaean settlement, which probably served as the seat of a local ruler. Three early Mycenaean tholos tombs attest to the importance of the site. Peristeria was eclipsed by the nearby centre at Mouriathada in the thirteenth century BCE, possibly as the result of a (Pylian) palatial intervention in the area. It might be identified witha‐te‐re‐wi‐jaon various tablets from Pylos.
Huneric
Authors: Merrills A. H.
Published: June 2015

Huneric was king of Vandal North Africa from 477 to 484
ce
. He is best remembered for his persecution of the Nicene Church within North Africa, which reached a climax in the last year of his reign. This episode is recorded in detail in the
History of the Vandal persecutions
of Victor of Vita, which also provides us with our fullest textual source for life in Vandal Africa. Huneric was married to Eudocia, the daughter of Valentinian III and may have spent some time in his youth as a diplomatic hostage in the imperial court.
Thrasamund
Authors: Merrills A. H.
Published: June 2015

Thrasamund was king of Vandal North Africa from 496–523 CE. During his reign, a number of Nicene churchmen were exiled from North Africa to Sardinia, including Fulgentius of Ruspe. Thrasamund's theological exchanges with Fulgentius are referred to in the
Life
of the saint, and are preserved in his corpus. Several poems of the
Latin anthology
were also composed during Thrasamund's rule, which is sometimes regarded as a cultural “renaissance.” Thrasamund was married to the Ostrogothic princess Amalafrida in 500.
Basilissa
Authors: Carney Elizabeth
Published: June 2015

Basilissa
is a title first applied to royal women (kings’ wives and sometimes kings’ daughters) in the early Hellenistic era and designates royal status, not specific powers.
Domestic space, Greek and Roman
Authors: Ault Bradley A.
Published: June 2015

Domestic space is among the most prominent of society's interpenetrating spatial realms. Deeply rooted in privacy and the family, it is both fundamental and broadly overarching. Structured by activities and in turn architecture, the house is its container. As houses develop over time from simple to ever more complex syntactical arrangements of rooms, they are accompanied by an increasing segmentation and specialization of domestic space and activities.
Women, ancient Near East
Authors: Gadotti Alhena
Published: June 2015

An overview of ancient Near Eastern women's lives based on archaeological, artistic, and epigraphic evidence.
Kushan Empire
Authors: Kaim Barbara
Published: June 2015

The Kushan Empire was built on the ruins of the Greco‐Bactrian kingdom, which, weakened in internal dynastic struggles, ultimately fell to the invasions of nomads infiltrating Bactria. In the first three centuries CE, extending from the Ganges valley to Central Asian oases, the Kushan Empire was one of the major powers, together with Rome, China and, Parthia, with which it kept diplomatic and trade contacts along the Silk Roads. The development of philosophy, art, and technology within the borders of the empire was a consequence of these cross‐cultural relations.
Marsa Matruh
Authors: Kelder Jorrit M.
Published: June 2015

Marsa Matruh is a site on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, approximately 290 km west of Alexandria. It was a major port in Roman times, when it was known as Paraetonium. It served as a stopover in Late Bronze Age maritime trade between Egypt and the Aegean.
Akurgal, Ekrem
Authors: İren Kaan
Published: June 2015

Ekrem Akurgal (1911–2002) was one of the most prominent archaeologists of Turkey in the twentieth century. He studied archaeology at the University of Berlin and held a professorship at the University of Ankara until his retirement in 1981. He directed many successful excavations in Turkey and is the author of numerous archaeological studies and popularizing publications on Anatolian civilizations.
Afrati in Crete
Authors: Antoniadis Vyron
Published: June 2015

Afrati is the modern name of a settlement of the ninth to fifth century
bce
built on a hill in central Crete. Impressive tomb furnishings from its two cemeteries and ceramic vessels indicate the prosperity of the site.
Toumba tou Skourou
Authors: Georgiou Artemis
Published: June 2015

Toumba tou Skourou is a Late Bronze Age site situated on the northwest coast of Cyprus, by the modern town of Morphou.
Salutatio
Authors: Goldbeck Fabian
Published: June 2015

The
salutatio
was a daily greeting ritual. It took place in the houses of the Roman elite during the early morning. The
salutationes
helped to establish and stabilize personal connections between ordinary citizens and elite members of society and to visualize the social prestige of the latter.
Cities, rivalry between, Roman Empire
Authors: Mitchell Stephen
Published: June 2015

City rivalry was endemic in the ancient world. In the Roman Empire, when outright violence and bloodshed were rare outside periods of civil war, the mutual animosity of rival cities is to be seen in their claims to titles, privileges, and other tokens of status and honor. Competition between cities provided a dominant theme for civic politics in many provinces, notably in the eastern empire, and was under constant supervision by the emperors, who took sole responsibility for awarding or confirming civic titles. Deep historical animosities underlay the apparent vanity of these contests.
Idrimi
Authors: von Dassow Eva
Published: June 2015

Idrimi ruled the kingdom of Alalah, on the lower Orontes River, in the mid fifteenth century BCE. He established a new territorial state, subordinate to the king of Mittani, and a new dynasty, which endured at least through the reigns of his son Niqmepa and his grandson Ilimilimma. He is best known from his statue, through which he received cult as a deceased royal ancestor, and on which was inscribed a novella‐like retrospective tale of his career.
Conimbriga
Authors: Limão Filomena
Published: June 2015

Conimbriga is the name of the ruins of a Roman city located in central Portugal. The present‐day archaeological site of Conímbriga, which includes a Monographic Museum, is of great importance to the study of the Romanization of the western Iberian Peninsula. Conimbriga was a native
oppidum
pre‐dating the Roman conquest and was mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary and in Pliny's
Natural History
. In the first century
ce
, the emperors Augustus and Vespasian promoted the urban and monumental development of the city. Conimbriga was invaded by the Germanic peoples in the fifth century, as mentioned by the Roman bishop Hydatius, and made part of the Suebic and Visigothic kingdoms. The Islamic invasion in the early eighth century contributed to the growing desertion of the place.
Lachares of Athens
Authors: Cooper Craig
Published: June 2015

Lachares, who was a popular democrat in command of Athens’ mercenaries, seized control of the city and made himself tyrant around 300
bce
. Though he allowed the organs of democratic government to operate, opposition arose from two quarters: “soldiers of the Piraeus” and citizens “from the city.” Lachares was only forced out of Athens when Demetrios Poliorketes began to lay siege to the city in 295
bce
. The dying days of Lachares’ reign were marked by rapaciousness as he stripped Athens’ shrines of their dedications.
Literacy in the ancient Near East
Authors: Michalowski Piotr
Published: June 2015

Writing and literacy are often associated with the rise of highly complex societies and the state and as such are generally considered to be a hallmark of ancient Near Eastern societies. While such correlations are indisputable, there is little agreement on matters of causality, process, and function, or on the status of literacy in ancient polities. In the ancient Near East literacy was always restricted, and its scope and power were in constant flux. It was an established factor in economic and social interaction. As a marker of status, authority, and control it was embedded in the omnipresent displays of royal writing that were there for all to see, most significantly by illiterates.
Patriarchy
Authors: Hänninen Marja‐Leena
Published: June 2015

Patriarchy is a concept describing the dominant status of males in society. Patriarchal society is understood by feminist scholars as a system where women have no political rights and where women have inferior staus in the household, too. As for ancient Greek and Roman societies, patriarchy refers more specifically to the dominant power of the father. The authority of the father was particularly strong in ancient Rome.
Senatus consultum ultimum
Authors: Lundgreen Christoph
Published: June 2015

In passing a so‐called
senatus consultum ultimum
, the Roman Senate expressed the opinion that an urgent threat had to be countered in order to preserve the
res publica
. Whereas such a decree could enhance the political authority of the magistrates’ action upon it, the
s.c.u
. neither changed their legal position nor deprived citizens of their right of a trial before the people. Contrary to the (modern) wording and the sometimes assumed notions of certain emergency powers, the
s.c.u
. should thus not be assessed from a legal perspective but from the point of political rhetoric.
Tetrabenzo[a,f,j,o]perylene: A Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon With An Open‐Shell Singlet Biradical Ground State
Authors: Liu Junzhi , Ravat Prince , Wagner Manfred , Baumgarten Martin , Feng Xinliang , Müllen Klaus
Published: June 2015

A novel tetrabenzo[a,f,j,o]perylene, namely “bistetracene” in which two tetracenes are connected side by side with two bonds, was synthesized and characterized. An optical energy gap of about 1.56 eV is derived from the UV/Vis absorption spectrum, showing the low optical gap feature of such zigzag‐edged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Theoretical calculations and physical property investigations manifest that such a PAH possesses a prominent biradical character in the ground state, which is the first example among bistetracene derivatives. However, the bistetracene can easily undergo oxidation to tetrabenzo[a,f,j,o]perylene‐9,19‐dione (diketone) under ambient conditions. Thereby, such zigzag‐edged PAH provides insight into understanding the edge state of other expanded homologues, such as peri‐tetracenes or peri‐pentacenes.
Highly Luminescent Microporous Organic Polymer with Lewis Acidic Boron Sites on the Pore Surface: Ratiometric Sensing and Capture of F− Ions
Authors: Suresh Venkata M. , Bandyopadhyay Arkamita , Roy Syamantak , Pati Swapan K. , Maji Tapas Kumar
Published: June 2015

Reversible and selective capture/detection of F− ions in water is of the utmost importance, as excess intake leads to adverse effects on human health. Highly robust Lewis acidic luminescent porous organic materials have potential for efficient sequestration and detection of F− ions. Herein, the rational design and synthesis of a boron‐based, Lewis acidic microporous organic polymer (BMOP) derived from tris(4‐bromo‐2,3,5,6‐tetramethylphenyl)boron nodes and diethynylbiphenyl linkers with a pore size of 1.08 nm for selective turn‐on sensing and capture of F− ion are reported. The presence of a vacant pπ orbital on the boron center of BMOP results in intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from the linker to boron. BMOP shows selective turn‐on blue emission for F− ions in aqueous mixtures with a detection limit of 2.6 μM. Strong B–F interactions facilitate rapid sequestration of F− by BMOP. The ICT emission of BMOP can be reversibly regenerated by addition of an excess of water, and the polymer can be reused several times.
Expanding the Scope of 2′‐SCF3 Modified RNA
Authors: Jud Lukas , Košutić Marija , Schwarz Veronika , Hartl Markus , Kreutz Christoph , Bister Klaus , Micura Ronald
Published: June 2015

The 2′‐trifluoromethylthio (2′‐SCF3) modification endows ribonucleic acids with exceptional properties and has attracted considerable interest as a reporter group for NMR spectroscopic applications. However, only modified pyrimidine nucleosides have been generated so far. Here, the syntheses of 2′‐SCF3 adenosine and guanosine phosphoramidites of which the latter was obtained in highly efficient manner by an unconventional Boc‐protecting group strategy, are reported. RNA solid‐phase synthesis provided site‐specifically 2′‐SCF3‐modified oligoribonucleotides that were investigated intensively. Their excellent behavior in 19F NMR spectroscopic probing of RNA ligand binding was exemplified for a noncovalent small molecule–RNA interaction. Moreover, comparably to the 2′‐SCF3 pyrimidine nucleosides, the purine counterparts were also found to cause a significant thermodynamic destabilization when located in double helical regions. This property was considered beneficial for siRNA design under the aspect to minimize off‐target effects and their performance in silencing of the BASP1 gene was demonstrated.
Asymmetric Isothiourea‐Catalysed Formal [3+2] Cycloadditions of Ammonium Enolates with Oxaziridines
Authors: Smith Siobhan R. , Fallan Charlene , Taylor James E. , McLennan Ross , Daniels David S. B. , Morrill Louis C. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Smith Andrew D.
Published: June 2015

A highly enantioselective Lewis base‐catalysed formal [3+2] cycloaddition of ammonium enolates and oxaziridines to give stereodefined oxazolidin‐4‐ones in high yield is described. Employing an enantioenriched oxaziridine in this process leads to a matched/mis‐matched effect with the isothiourea catalyst and allowed the synthesis of either syn‐ or anti‐stereodefined oxazolidin‐4‐ones in high d.r., yield and ee. Additionally, the oxazolidin‐4‐one products have been derivatised to afford functionalised enantioenriched building blocks.
Strong Direct Magnetic Coupling in a Dinuclear CoII Tetrazine Radical Single‐Molecule Magnet
Authors: Woods Toby J. , Ballesteros‐Rivas Maria Fernanda , Ostrovsky Sergei M. , Palii Andrew V. , Reu Oleg S. , Klokishner Sophia I. , Dunbar Kim R.
Published: June 2015

The ligand‐centered radical complex [(CoTPMA)2‐μ‐bmtz.−](O3SCF3)3⋅CH3CN (bmtz=3,6‐bis(2′‐pyrimidyl)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine, TPMA=tris‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) has been synthesized from the neutral bmtz precursor. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies have confirmed the presence of the ligand‐centered radical. The CoII complex exhibits slow paramagnetic relaxation in an applied DC field with a barrier to spin reversal of 39 K. This behavior is a result of strong antiferromagnetic metal–radical coupling combined with positive axial and strong rhombic anisotropic contributions from the CoII ions.
Run‐to‐Run Optimization of Biodiesel Production using Probabilistic Tendency Models: A Simulation Study
Authors: Luna Martin F. , Martínez Ernesto C.
Published: June 2015

Variability of the composition and properties of raw materials used for biodiesel production may cause a loss of productivity, since the same operating conditions give rise to different yields for alternative feedstock sources. The capability to re‐optimize the process when the raw materials change may lead to a significant improvement in productivity. For yield optimization, first‐principles models of a biodiesel reactor have limited prediction capabilities due to the complex kinetics involving transesterification and saponification reactions, which demands active learning of relevant data through optimal design of experiments. In this work, a Bayesian approach for integrating experimentation with imperfect models is proposed to optimize biodiesel production on a run‐to‐run basis. Parameter distributions in a probabilistic tendency model for the transesterification of triglycerides are re‐estimated using data from a sequence of experiments designed to guide policy improvement. Global sensitivity analysis is used to formulate the optimal sampling strategy in each dynamic experiment as an optimization problem. Results obtained highlight that, even when there are significant errors in the tendency model structure and reduced information content in samples, a significant increase in biodiesel production can be achieved after a handful of runs.
Contrasting Response of Two Dipolar Fluorescence Probes in a Leucine‐Based Organogel and Its Implications
Authors: Soumya Sivalingam , Seth Sudipta , Paul Sneha , Samanta Anunay
Published: June 2015

The microenvironments of a leucine‐based organogel are probed by monitoring the fluorescence behavior of coumarin 153 (C153) and 4‐aminophthalimide (AP). The steady‐state data reveals distinctly different locations of the two molecules in the gel. Whereas AP resides close to the hydroxyl moieties of the gelator and engages in hydrogen‐bonding interactions, C153 is found in bulk‐toluene‐like regions. In contrast to C153, AP exhibits excitation‐wavelength‐dependent emission, indicating that the environments of the hydrogen‐bonded AP molecules are not all identical. A two‐component fluorescence decay of AP in gel, unlike C153, supports this model. A time‐resolved fluorescence anisotropy study of the rotational motion of the molecules also reveals the strong association of only AP with the gelator. That AP influences the critical gelation concentration implies its direct involvement in the gel‐formation process. The results highlight the importance of guest–gelator interactions in gels containing guest molecules.
Layered Graphene–Hexagonal BN Nanocomposites: Experimentally Feasible Approach to Charge‐Induced Switchable CO2 Capture
Authors: Tan Xin , Kou Liangzhi , Smith Sean C.
Published: June 2015

Recently, inducing negative charge density on hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) has been predicted as an effective strategy for controllable, selective, and reversible CO2 capture. However, h‐BN is a wide‐gap semiconductor and it is not clear how to effectively induce the requisite negative charge density. In this paper, we employ first‐principle calculations to propose hybrid h‐BN–graphene (hybrid BN/G) nanosheets as an experimentally feasible strategy to induce charge on h‐BN for charge‐controlled CO2 capture. The results indicate that the charge density is effectively transferred from the graphene layer with high electronic mobility into the h‐BN layer on the surface, regardless of the thickness of BN layers, such that CO2 capture/release can be simply controlled by switching on/off the charge states of hybrid BN/G system. In addition, these negatively charged hybrid BN/G are highly selective for separating CO2 from mixtures with CH4, N2, and/or H2.
Silylations of Arenes with Hydrosilanes: From Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed CX Bond Cleavage to Environmentally Benign Transition‐Metal‐Free CH Bond Activation
Authors: Xu Zheng , Xu Li‐Wen
Published: June 2015

The construction of carbon–silicon bonds is highlighted as an exciting achievement in the field of organosilicon chemistry and green chemistry. Recent developments in this area will enable the sustainable chemical conversion of silicon resources into synthetically useful compounds. Especially, the catalytic silylation through CH bond activation without directing groups and hydrogen acceptors is one of the most challenging topics in organic chemistry and green chemistry. These remarkable findings on catalytic silylation can pave the way to a more environmentally benign utilization of earth‐abundant silicon‐based resources in synthetic chemistry.