bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Literacy as Part of a New Curriculum for the Netherlands
Authors: Fisser Petra , Strijker Allard
Published: June 2019

In November 2014, the State Secretary for Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands officially launched an online country-wide consultation about the future of Dutch education. Based on the outcomes and the ongoing debate, the Netherlands started the development of a new curriculum framework for primary and secondary education in 2018. One of the new themes in this curriculum is digital literacy, which is defined as a combination of ICT skills, media literacy, information literacy, and computational thinking. Together with other subjects such as languages and mathematics, digital literacy will be part of the design of the new curriculum. A teacher design team for digital literacy developed a vision and elaborated this in eight big ideas. Based on the big ideas learning trajectories were designed. These learning trajectories describe what students should learn in primary and secondary education. Schools were involved in the design process from the start. It is expected that the mandatory curriculum framework will be implemented in the year 2022.
Movement Literacy as a First Language
Authors: Seifert Tami , Yaron Shlomit
Published: June 2019

Movement is an inseparable part of our daily lives. Research indicates that learning through the moving body (embodiment) is meaningful learning. This chapter presents language of movement as a necessary avenue in the study of literacy and learning, and describes perceptions, uses, and applications of kinesthetic language as part of the learning experience. The language of movement is described as a literacy learned at three levels: Level 1 focuses on movement tools as applicable in learning in cultural fields. Level 2 is fed by movement aspects and perceptions as they support a learning space. Level 3 is fed by perceptions of relations between variables, seeing each existential space as composed of a collection of stimuli equal in value to and enabling focus on the creation of a learning space. A learning space can be envisaged as one that offers a rich arena for mutual interaction of expression, learning and creation, enriching and supporting the expansion of the learner's world, necessary for active, innovative, experimental, inquisitive, and boundary-breaking involvement.
Avatars and Digital Technology Literacy Applied in Psychology
Authors: Lee Judy Joohye , Dryjanska Laura
Published: June 2019

Technological advances have led to a variety of positive outcomes and benefits. This chapter aims to discuss the different kinds of therapeutic interventions, clinical methods, and approaches in the field of psychology that have resulted from the advance in digital and virtual technology. In particular, this chapter focuses on avatars and virtual technology as a component of media literacy. Additionally, the chapter explores, in detail, how avatars are used across various clinical settings with diverse populations such as individuals with autism spectrum disorder, individuals with schizophrenia, prison settings, and the criminal justice system. Furthermore, the chapter highlights the significant implications avatars have in regards to education. Lastly, controversies and challenges are discussed regarding the efficacy of digital technology within clinical settings (e.g., telepsychology).
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Use of Programs in the Design of Power Complexes Based on Renewable Energy Resources
Authors: Min Thu Yein , Tyagunov Michael G. , Deriugina Galina M.
Published: June 2019

This chapter studies the prospects of energy complexes on the basis of renewable energy sources to supply electricity to the stand-alone consumers in different regions of Myanmar. In order to do that, the territory of Myanmar is divided into regions according to their amount of renewable energy sources. The developed methods are for determining the optimum parameters and operation of the energy complex on the basis of renewable energy sources and the cost-effectiveness of those energy complexes was examined. This was for the purpose of a mathematical formulation of the problem of optimization of the energy complex on the basis of renewable energy sources for autonomous rural consumers of the Republic of Myanmar.
Seed pre-Activation Study by Means of LED Radiation
Authors: Bashilov Alexey , Belyakov Mikhail
Published: June 2019

To study the possibilities of pre-sowing seed activation, irradiation with LEDs emitting in the visible, violet, and near-ultraviolet ranges with a maximum of 405 nm was carried out. As a result of the growing experience, it was found that the height of wheat plants grown from the treated seeds significantly exceeds the control indicators except for the period of 45-55 days. To implement the flow, technology of seed activation with LEDs optoelectronic irradiation unit was developed. The advantages of the given installation are the energy efficiency and of seed treatment efficiency, due to of the optimal radiation spectrum selection and treatment doses.
The Study of Luminescence Spectra of Seeds of Crop Species for Diagnostic Quality
Authors: Bashilov Alexey , Belyakov Mikhail
Published: June 2019

In this chapter, optical luminescent biological objects diagnostics methods and biotissues are considered. According to the previously developed method, excitation and photoluminescence spectra agricultural plants seeds, including cereals, legumes, fodder, technical, and vegetable, were measured. The typical excitation spectrum lies in the range of 355-500 nm and has two maxima: the main one at 424 nm and the side one at 485 nm. The luminescence spectrum lies in the range of 420-650 nm and has a maximum in the region of 500-520 nm. The maximum luminescence is less pronounced than in the excitation spectrum. The measured spectral luminescence characteristics forage plants seeds by scarification. Due to the scarification forage plants seeds spectral characteristics increase. In Galega seeds with multiple scarification, observed qualitative changes in the excitation spectrum was associated with the appearance of a new maximum at a wavelength of 423 nm. Similarly, for clover seeds, the obtained results can be used to create seed diagnostics devices.
Examining the Links Between Affect Toward 3D Printing Technology and Interest in STEM Careers Among Female Elementary Students
Authors: Ali Nagla , Areepattamannil Shaljan , Santos Ieda M. , Khine Myint
Published: June 2019

Despite the exponential growth in STEM-related jobs, there is an acute shortage of people choosing to pursue STEM-related studies and careers. Compared with men, women are underrepresented in STEM-related courses and careers. The chapter, therefore, examined the associations of perceived usefulness of 3D printing technology, self-concept in using 3D printing technology, and interest in and enjoyment of using 3D printing technology with interest in science-, math-, and technology-related careers among 276 female elementary students enrolled in public schools in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The results of path analyses after accounting for student demographic characteristics, revealed that perceived usefulness of 3D printing technology, self-concept in using 3D printing technology, and interest in and enjoyment of using 3D printing technology were significantly and positively related to interest in science-, math-, and technology-related careers among female elementary students. Implications of the findings for policy and practice are discussed.
Indigenous Australian Detective Fiction as Political Writing
Authors: Anae Nicole
Published: June 2019

Indigenous voices emerged within Australian detective fiction with the greatest clarity in the 1990s. This chapter examines the figure of the Indigenous Aboriginal detective created by Indigenous writers as an underrepresented character and speaking subject within Australian detective fiction that both traverses and disrupts conventional elements of literary style. Certainly, the conventional characteristic elements of crime genre are present within detective fiction written by Indigenous writers, but this literary post-colonialist analysis explores how Indigenous writers such as Mudrooroo (“The Westralian,” “The Healer,” and “Home on the Range”), Philip McLaren (Scream Black Murder), and Sally Morgan (My Place) juxtaposed elements of style to both highlight constructs of reality in Australian detective fiction while simultaneously providing fresh perspectives on both the Indigenous detective as a figure of political interest and Australian Indigenous detective fiction as political writing.
Exploring the Complex Nature of Ethical Cultures in Health Care Organizations
Authors: Burrell Darrell Norman , Bhargava Nimisha , Duncan Terrence , Lindsay Preston Vernard Leicester , Cole Cherise M. , Sangle Prerna
Published: June 2019

In the healthcare industry, errors have the potential to cause life-threatening circumstances for patients and legal consequences for medical providers. Errors often range from workplace fatigue and lack of judgment to intentional failure to adhere to policies. When these errors occur, it is essential for organizational leaders to engage transparently with those who are affected alongside internal stakeholders of the organization. Too often organizations fail to openly disclose the extent and nature of unsafe practices and more often than not, it is whistle-blowing that leads to the public finding out the severity of errors or issues. This research project examines emotional acumen and the role it plays in decision-making when it comes to reporting unethical behaviors around medical mistakes.
Strategic Applications of Business Analytics to Healthcare and Hospital Management
Authors: Wang Zhongxian , Pei Zhi , Gu Vicky Ching
Published: June 2019

Business analytics provides the framework to exploit the synergies among traditionally-diverse topics, such as the fields of data mining, quantitative methods, operations research/management science, decision support systems, and so forth, in a more practical, application-driven format. The authors investigate and explore business analytics applications in improving hospital and healthcare management, as well as controlling its ascending cost. Research frontiers confront many areas, such as prevention management, inpatients management, postoperative management, supply chain management, performance management, quality management, risk management, crisis management, disaster management, IT management, knowledge management, and change management. In addition, the article is trying to identify future research directions as well.
A Digital (3D) Reconstruction of a Lost Planetarium
Authors: Diolatzis Ioannis S , Pavlogeorgatos Gerasimos
Published: June 2019

After many years of research, it has been concluded that Antikythera mechanism is a more complicated device than initially was thought. Recently, the rapidly increasing development of 3D modeling and simulation software, resulted in attempts to recreate the mechanism's 3D construction. These 3D replicas are based on advanced knowledge, gathered by the study of the mechanism remnants or the deciphered inscription on its surfaces. The latest decrypted inscriptions on the back door of the mechanism refers to planetary motion, which might be illustrated by a planetarium formation, which is absent from the remains of Antikythera mechanism. The authors propose a 3D reconstruction of this alleged planetarium, as a possible sequence of the existed mechanism's remains, compatible with the surviving inscriptions. Specifically, the authors introduce a lot of constructional differentiations compared to the other suggested, focusing mainly on measurements accuracy which this planetary system could perform.
A Survey of Augmented Reality Applications in Cultural Heritage
Authors: Aliprantis John , Caridakis George
Published: June 2019

Augmented reality is now a well-known concept, a technology that integrates digital content to the user's physical world. As more and more applications begin to reshape user's daily lives in multiple domains, cultural heritage sites have begun to focus on capitalizing augmented reality's potential and improve their visitor experience. This work provides an overview of the state-of-the-art techniques, methodologies, and technologies integrated with augmented reality applications for cultural heritage while also categorizing the current works according to the latest techniques as they integrate to enrich the user's experience. The survey presents an overview of the characteristics of an augmented reality system, and discusses the current challenges, issues, limitations, and future directions. Finally, this work examines the methods and techniques that are used in the cultural heritage and augmented reality integration, outlining benefits, and open issues.
A Study of the Role of e-WOM on Social Commerce
Authors: Choi Youngkeun
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study is to discover how electronic word of mouth engages users and encourages them to purchase. By proposing the concepts of electronic word of mouth as different ways to provide reciprocal experience, this study develops a model that explores the antecedents of electronic word of mouth and its role in explaining a consumer to purchase in social commerce. For this, this study surveys 352 consumers using social commerce in Korea and analyzes the data using AMOS 24. In the results, first, information quality, information credibility, needs of information, and attitude towards information increase consumer electronic word of mouth. Second, the consumer's electronic word of mouth increases their purchase intention. Finally, information quality and attitude towards information among the antecedents of consumer electronic word of mouth increase his or her purchase intention through his or her electronic word of mouth. The findings contribute to research on social commerce by paying scholarly attention to meaningful engagement characterized by electronic word of mouth.
Analysis of Woven and Non-Woven Polyester Fabrics Made Flexible CP Annular Ring Textile Antenna
Authors: Rathod Kiran Ramesh , Mishra B. K.
Published: June 2019

This article reveals the characteristics of a probe-fed wideband circularly polarized (CP) annular ring textile antenna (ARTA). The proposed ARTA is fully flexible due to a conductive stack fabrics configuration for GSM-1800/ISM-2.4 GHz. The foremost aim of this article is to realize its performance under bending circumstances for wearable applications. The combinations of woven and non-woven polyester fabrics are used as a high-low substrate material to attain superb impedance bandwidth (BW) and worthy surface wave efficiency. A decent CP performance is realized by choosing the precise dimension of notches. It has measured and simulated impedance and the axial ratio (AR) BW of 18.33%, 13.88%, 7.86%, 2.86% and 3.97% in the lower and upper band, respectively. The optimization of CP in the upper band is under process. Results clarify that the CPARTA is beneficial for wearable and wireless application under bending circumstances. The proposed method is appropriate where a wide-range of CP bandwidth is essential.
On Rural Collective Economy and Rural Green Tourism
Authors: Qin Yang , Yinhua Tian
Published: June 2019

The ecological crisis brought by the rapid development of rural tourism has become a major practical problem that demands prompt solution in the process of rural economic transformation. Seen from the concept of green development, the application of the weight of the green evaluation indicator system in measuring and comparing influences of different economic organizations on the development of rural green tourism aims to analyze and evaluate the positive influence of the rural collective economy on rural green tourism from an empirical perspective. Results show that the collective economy strengthens the overall utility and development level of rural green tourism, contributes to the promotion of economy and the protection of the environment and happiness index, and even contributes to the formation of the “core” of the alliance of the collective economy and individual behavior. Therefore, the conclusion of the research provides new empirical evidence for the in-depth understanding of the development of collective economies under the background of a rural revitalization strategy.
Fuzzy based Data Fusion for Energy Efficient Internet of Things
Authors: Agarwal Madan Mohan , Govil Mahesh Chandra , Sinha Madhavi , Gupta Saurabh
Published: June 2019

Internet of Things will serve communities across the different domains of life. The resource of embedded devices and objects working under IoT implementation are constrained in wireless networks. Thus, building a scheme to make full use of energy is key issue for such networks. To achieve energy efficiency, an effective Fuzzy-based network data Fusion Light Weight Protocol (FLWP) is proposed in this article. The innovations of FLWP are as follows: 1) the simulated network's data fusion through fuzzy controller and optimize the energy efficiency of smart tech layer of internet of things (Energy IoT); 2) The optimized reactive route is dynamically adjusted based on fuzzy based prediction accurately from the number of routes provided by base protocol. If the selection accuracy is high, the performance enhances the network quality; 3) FLWP takes full advantage of energy to further enhance target tracking performance by properly selecting reactive routes in the network. Authors evaluated the efficiency of FLWP with simulation-based experiments. FLWP scheme improves the energy efficiency.
Key Competences of Information Systems Project Managers
Authors: Varajão João “Eduardo” , Silva Hélio , Pejic-Bach Mirjana
Published: June 2019

Project managers have a main role in all kinds of projects, and information systems (IS) projects are not an exception. In order to perform their activities well, project managers need to develop several complementary competences, including technical, contextual and behavioral competences. In literature we find important references on the project managers' general competences as, for instance, the ICB from IPMA. However, very little attention has been paid to the eventually distinctive features of IS project managers. In order to identify the most important competences of these project managers, we carried out a questionnaire-based survey. The results show that the top 12 competences are: communication; engagement and motivation; project requirements and objectives; leadership; reliability; results orientation; conflict and crisis; project orientation; teamwork; interested parties; resilience (emerging as a new competence); and ethics. Furthermore, results indicated that the project management bodies of knowledge are suitable to characterize the IS project manager's competences.
Building-Scale Virtual Reality
Authors: Nagao Katashi , Yang Menglong , Miyakawa Yusuke
Published: June 2019

A method is presented that extends the real world into all buildings. This building-scale virtual reality (VR) method differs from augmented reality (AR) in that it uses automatically generated 3D point cloud maps of building interiors. It treats an entire indoor area a pose tracking area by using data collected using an RGB-D camera mounted on a VR headset and using deep learning to build a model from the data. It modifies the VR space in accordance with its intended usage by using segmentation and replacement of the 3D point clouds. This is difficult to do with AR but is essential if VR is to be used for actual real-world applications, such as disaster simulation including simulation of fires and flooding in buildings. 3D pose tracking in the building-scale VR is more accurate than conventional RGB-D simultaneous localization and mapping.
Recent trends in Sustainable Urban Planning
Authors: Vargas-Hernández José G , Zdunek-Wielgołaska Justyna Anna
Published: June 2019

This article aims to analyze some of the recent development of sustainable urban planning as a tool for the development of urban areas aimed to improve their economic growth, social development and inclusiveness, and to make more environmentally friendly, inclusive and safer cities. Sustainable urban planning is moving away from traditional practices towards more collaborative and participatory approaches supported by considerations of the waste management, the new methods, policies and strategies leading to governance. Finally, there are considered the limitations that the new models of sustainable urban planning are facing
Translator Professionalism
Authors: Liu Christy Fung-ming
Published: June 2019

In recent decades, Translation Studies scholars have highlighted the concept of translator professionalism as a multidimensional term related not only to practitioners' competency in the language domain, but also to their attitudes, behavior, and actions. This article empirically examines how translation clients in Asia perceive translator professionalism. The analysis is based on 72 clients in Asia. The findings suggest that clients perceive the translation occupation as vital to society but have divergent views on whether translation is a profession. They attach importance to translators' proactive behavior at work, such as their reliability. The clients have statistically different opinions on whether or not translators can share their work-related pictures and information in online communities. They also point out that the lack of a certification system affects the professional image of translators. This research allows translators, clients and scholars to have a more informed perception of translator professionalism perceived by Asian clients.
I Think We Should…
Authors: Yan Hengbin
Published: June 2019

High-frequency recurrent word combinations known as lexical bundles are an essential component in the second language development. However, existing research on second language lexical bundle use has focused on writing proficiency, while oral proficiency has not received adequate attention. This study adopts a corpus-driven approach to the investigation of the speech of second language learners, comparing lexical bundle use across proficiency levels in several areas of interest including frequency, functional distribution and bundle fixedness. Results show that low-proficiency students tend to use significantly more context-dependent bundles than high-proficiency students, but do not differ in overall lexical bundle use. The patterning of lexical bundle use in non-native speech exhibits features that are typical in the register of classroom teaching. Additionally, the frequency and functional distributions of non-native speech share many similarities with those of non-native writing. Implications of the author's findings are discussed in relation to previous studies.
Microstructural Characterization of Clay-Based Ceramics with the Addition of Granite Residues
Authors: Gadioli Monica Castoldi Borlini , de Aguiar Mariane Costalonga , Vieira Carlos Maurício Fontes , Garcia Filho Fabio da Costa , Monteiro Sergio Neves
Published: June 2019

Million tons of ornamental stones residues are produced every year. Most of this residue is disposed without any kind of processing or treatment. Moreover, disposal occurs without a prospective of reuse or recycling. The incorporation into ceramics is a possible alternative for part of this residue. Clay-based ceramics have high capacity of incorporation of industrial residues. This work aimed to conduct a microstructural characterization of clay-based ceramics with incorporation of granite residues in the composition of the ceramic matrix. Specimens were produced with the addition of 0, 10, 20 and 30 wt. % of granite residues. The specimens were prepared by uniaxial pressing and sintered at temperatures of 1050 and 1200°C. For the microstructural analysis were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the incorporated ceramics sintered at 1200oC presented higher densification and lower porosity as compared with those sintered at 1050oC.
Decoration Cylinder Pressure and it’s Influence on the Hue Variation of Ceramic Tiles Decorated by the Laser Engraving Silicone Cylinder Method
Authors: Ferraço Fabio , Boschi Anselmo Ortega
Published: June 2019

Several factors can influence the hue variation of tiles through contact elements; the pressure on the surface to be decorated is an important feature. This paper studied this variable applied to decoration by silicone cylinders. A variation of height was made between the cylinder and the tile. The influence of the feature is linked to cylinder wear and distance decrease. The reflectance, as well as the shape and filling of the decorated dots of gray scale values (5, 25 and 85%) were analyzed; the heights studied were 0.8; 1.0; 1.3 and 1.5mm. A similar behavior was observed in the engraving studied; in low shades of gray the reflectance decreases with increasing pressure and then becomes directly proportional; in the middle and high tones range the general trend was an increase in reflectance with increasing pressure on the ceramic tile.
Mechanical Properties of a Composite of Gypsum Reinforced with Caroá Fiber and PVAc
Authors: Santos Edpo Ferreira , da Silva Aoliabe Pedro , Olivier Nelson Cárdenas , Pereira Alessandra Félix da Costa , Dantas Alan Christie da Silva
Published: June 2019

The Development of new materials for building industry is a necessary issue to promote sustainability. Gypsum is an important low cost material very abundant in the northeast region of Brazil. Its physical properties make it an interesting material to form composite materials. This work presents a study of gypsum reinforced with Caroá (neoglasiovia variegate) natural fibers, where different amounts of fibers (1, 2, and 3%) were added into gypsum matrix. Three different fiber sizes (5, 10, and 20mm) were used to evaluate the effect of fiber size on the properties. PVAc was added in order to enhance the interactions between matrix and fibers. Mechanical strength was characterized by compression and bending tests. The addition of 1% mass Caroá fibers leads to a slightly increase on the mechanical strength independently of fiber size.
Increase of the Elastic Modulus of Cassava Starch Films with Modified Clay through Factorial Planning
Authors: Monteiro Mayra Keroly Sales , Oliveira Victor Rafael Leal , dos Santos Francisco Klebson Gomes , Barros Neto Eduardo Lins , de Lima Leite Ricardo Henrique , Mendes Aroucha Edna Maria , de Oliveira Silva Karyn Nathallye
Published: June 2019

In this study, was investigated the optimization of the factors that significantly influenced the mechanical property improvement of cassava starch nanocomposites through complete factorial design 23. The factors to be analyzed were cassava starch (A), glycerol (B) and modified clay (C) contents. The clay had its surface modified by anion exchange in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt. The factorial analysis suggested a regression model capable of predicting the optimal mechanical property of the cassava starch biofilm from the maximization of the elastic modulus. The reliability of the regression model was tested by the correlation established with the experimental data through the following statistical analyzes: Pareto graph and response surface. The response surface showed the best combination of factor configurations to achieve the best response and SEM analysis in thermoplastic cassava starch biofilms in both the best and the worst elasticity conditions was performed to visualize the standard of the structure of the biopolymeric matrix in both conditions. The sequence of the degree of statistical significance on the elastic modulus in relation to the effects investigated is therefore C> B> A> BC> AC.
The Role of Memory CD8+ T Cells in Vitiligo
Authors: Riding Rebecca L. , Harris John E.
Published: June 2019

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease mediated by autoreactive CD8+ T cells that destroy the pigment-producing cells of the epidermis, melanocytes, leading to areas of depigmentation. Patients with vitiligo require lifelong treatment to regain and maintain their pigment. Clinical observations uncovered the importance of autoimmune memory in vitiligo because cessation of treatment frequently led to relapse of disease at the site of previous lesions. A subset of memory T cells known as CD8+ resident memory T cells (TRM) are long-lived, nonmigratory memory cells that persist in most nonlymphoid tissues, including the skin. Recent reports describe the presence of CD8+ TRM in lesional vitiligo patient skin and suggest their role as active players in disease maintenance. In this review, we will discuss the role of skin CD8+ TRM in maintaining disease in vitiligo and the opportunity to target this population to induce a long-lasting reversal of disease.
Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Providencia alcalifaciens Infections
Authors: Shah Mohammad Monir , Odoyo Erick , Ichinose Yoshio
Published: June 2019

Providencia alcalifaciens is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae that has been commonly implicated as a causative agent of diarrheal infection in humans and animals. Recent outbreaks of P. alcalifaciens in both developing and developed countries have raised public health concerns. Several studies have suggested that P. alcalifaciens can cause diarrhea by invading the intestinal mucosa, although its pathogenicity has not been well established. Often routine laboratory investigations that seek etiological agents of diarrhea do not actively pursue P. alcalifaciens detection. Therefore, routine laboratory diagnosis should be given more attention for better understanding the epidemiology and pathogenicity of P. alcalifaciens.
Connecting Rural and Global Health Education for Workforce Development
Authors: Steeb David R. , Dascanio Sarah A. , Kiser Stephanie N.
Published: June 2019

Healthcare workforce shortages are continuing to increase worldwide with more profound deficits seen in rural communities in both developed and developing countries. These deficits impede progress towards heath equity and global health initiatives including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Medical training has supported the idea that having a rural background influences future practice in rural settings. With a majority of global health experiences taking place in rural settings, there is an opportunity for health profession programs to take advantage of expanding global health education to encourage future practice in rural settings and address inequalities in workforce distribution.
Clinical and Diagnostic Features of 413 Patients Treated for Imported Strongyloidiasis at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London
Authors: Ming Damien K. , Armstrong Margaret , Lowe Patricia , Chiodini Peter L. , Doherty Justin F. , Whitty Christopher J. M. , McGregor Alastair C.
Published: June 2019

This study describes the clinical features of a cohort of imported cases of strongyloidiasis and the performance of standard diagnostic techniques for this condition. A total of 413 cases were identified, of whom 86 had microscopically proven infection. In proven cases, 23% had normal eosinophil counts, 19% had negative Strongyloides-specific serology, and 9.3% had normal blood counts and were seronegative. Serological testing was less sensitive for returning travelers (46.2%) than for migrants (89.7%). Immunosuppression, including human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1, was significantly associated with proven infection after controlling for age, presence of symptoms, duration of infection, and eosinophilia (OR 5.60, 95% CI 1.54–20.4). Patients with proven infection had lower serology values than those diagnosed with strongyloidiasis on the basis of positive serology and eosinophilia alone (P = 0.016). Symptomatic patients were significantly younger, had a shorter presumed duration of infection, and lower serology values. These data suggest a correlation between immunologic control of strongyloidiasis and the amplitude of the humoral response.
Prevalence of Enteropathogens in Outpatients with Acute Diarrhea from Urban and Rural Areas, Southeast China, 2010–2014
Authors: Chen Chong , Wang Li-Ping , Yu Jian-Xing , Chen Xiao , Wang Ruo-Nan , Yang Xian-Zhi , Zheng Shu-Fa , Yu Fei , Zhang Zi-Ke , Liu Si-Jia , Li Zhong-Jie , Chen Yu
Published: June 2019

Acute diarrhea is an important public health issue. Here, we focused on the differences of enteropathogens in acute diarrhea between urban and rural areas in southeast China. Laboratory- and sentinel-based surveillance of acute diarrhea (≥ 3 loose or liquid stools/24 hours) was conducted at 16 hospitals. Fecal specimens were tested for bacterial (Aeromonas sp., Campylobacter sp., diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Plesiomonas shigelloides, non-typhoidal Salmonella, Shigella sp., Vibrio sp., and Yersinia sp.) and viral (adenovirus, astrovirus, Norovirus, Rotavirus, and Sapovirus) pathogens. Descriptive statistics were used. Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, 4,548 outpatients with acute diarrhea were enrolled (urban, n = 3,220; rural, n = 1,328). Pathogens were identified in 2,074 (45.6%) patients. Norovirus (25.7%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (10.2%), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) (8.8%), group A Rotavirus (7.0%), and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (5.6%) were the most common pathogens. Enteropathogens were less common in urban than in rural areas (42.0% versus 54.4%, P < 0.001). In urban areas, EAEC and ETEC were more common in high-income than in middle-income regions. Interventions targeting the most common enteropathogens can substantially reduce the burden of acute diarrhea in southeast China.
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Deer Tick Virus (Powassan Virus, Lineage II) in Ixodes scapularis Ticks Collected in Maine
Authors: Robich Rebecca M. , Cosenza Danielle S. , Elias Susan P. , Henderson Elizabeth F. , Lubelczyk Charles B. , Welch Margret , Smith Robert P.
Published: June 2019

Deer tick virus (DTV) is a genetic variant of Powassan virus (POWV) that circulates in North America in an enzootic cycle involving the blacklegged or “deer tick,” Ixodes scapularis, and small rodents such as the white-footed mouse. The number of reported human cases with neuroinvasive disease has increased substantially over the past few years, indicating that POWV may be of increasing public health importance. To this end, we sought to estimate POWV infection rates in questing I. scapularis collected from four health districts in Maine (York, Cumberland, Midcoast, and Central Maine). Infection rates were 1.6%, 1.7%, 0.7%, and 0%, respectively, for adults collected from April to November in 2016. Adults collected in October and November in 2017 from York and Cumberland counties had slightly higher rates of 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively. There was no difference in the number of males verses the number of females infected. All positive samples were of the DTV (lineage II) variant. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on 8 of the 15 DTV sequences obtained in 2016. Deer tick virus from the coastal regions were genetically similar and clustered with virus strains isolated from I. scapularis from New York State and Bridgeport, CT. The two inland viruses were genetically nearly identical and grouped with viruses from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. These results are the first reported infection rates and sequences for POWV in questing ticks collected in Maine and will provide a reference point for future POWV studies.
Dust Constraints from joint Observational-Modelling-experiMental analysis (DustCOMM): Comparison with measurements and model simulations
Authors: Adebiyi Adeyemi A. , Kok Jasper F. , Wang Yang , Ito Akinori , Ridley David A. , Nabat Pierre , Zhao Chun
Published: June 2019

Abstract. Mineral dust is the most abundant aerosol specie by mass in the atmosphere, and it impacts global climate, biogeochemistry, and human health. Understanding these varied impacts on the Earth system requires accurate knowledge of dust abundance, size, and optical properties, and how they vary in space and time. However, current global models show substantial biases against measurements of these dust properties. For instance, recent studies suggest that atmospheric dust is substantially coarser and more aspherical than accounted for in models, leading to persistent biases in modelled impacts of dust on the Earth system. Here, we facilitate more accurate constraints on dust impacts by developing a new dataset: Dust Constraints from joint Observational-Modelling-experiMental analysis (DustCOMM). This dataset leverages observational and experimental constraints on dust size distribution and shape to obtain more accurate constraints on three-dimensional (3-D) atmospheric dust properties than is possible from global model simulations alone. Specifically, we present annual and seasonal climatologies of the 3-D dust size distribution, 3-D dust mass extinction efficiency at 550 nm, and two-dimensional atmospheric dust loading. Comparisons with independent measurements taken over several locations, heights, and seasons show that DustCOMM estimates consistently outperform conventional global model simulations. In particular, DustCOMM achieves a substantial reduction in the bias relative to measured dust size distributions in the 0.5–20 µm diameter range. Furthermore, DustCOMM reproduces measurements of dust mass extinction efficiency to almost within the experimental uncertainties, whereas global models generally overestimate the mass extinction efficiency. DustCOMM thus provides more accurate constraints on 3-D dust properties, and as such can be used to improve global models or serve as an alternative to global model simulations in constraining dust impacts on the Earth system.
Measurements and quality control of ammonia eddy covariance fluxes: A new strategy for high frequency attenuation correction
Authors: Moravek Alexander , Singh Saumya , Pattey Elizabeth , Pelletier Luc , Murphy Jennifer G.
Published: June 2019

Abstract. Measurements of the surface-atmosphere exchange of ammonia (NH3) are necessary to study the emission and deposition processes of NH3 from managed and natural ecosystems. The eddy covariance technique, which is the most direct method for trace gas exchange measurements at the ecosystem level, requires trace gas detection at fast sample frequency and high precision. In the past, the major limitation for measuring NH3 eddy covariance fluxes has been the slow time response of NH3 measurements due to NH3 adsorption on instrument surfaces. While high frequency attenuation correction methods are used, large uncertainties in these corrections still exist mainly due to the lack of understanding of the processes that govern the time response. We measured NH3 fluxes over a corn crop field using a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCL) that enables measurements of NH3 at a 10 Hz measurement frequency. The 5 month measurement period covered a large range of environmental conditions that included both periods of NH3 emission and deposition and allowed us to investigate the time response controlling parameters in field conditions. Without high frequency loss correction, the median daytime NH3 flux was 8.59 ng m−2 s−1 during emission and −19.87 ng m−2 s−1 during deposition periods, with a median daytime random flux error of 1.61 ng m−2 s−1. The overall median flux detection limit was 2.15 ng m−2 s−1, leading to only 11.6 % of valid flux data below the detection limit. From the flux attenuation analysis we determined a median flux loss of 17 % using the ogive method. No correlations of the flux loss with environmental or analyser parameters, such as humidity or inlet aging were found, attributed to the uncertainties in the ogive method. Therefore, we propose a new method that simulates the flux loss by using the analyser time response that is determined frequently over the course of the measurement campaign. A correction that uses as a function of the horizontal wind speed and the time response is formulated which accounts for surface aging and contamination over the course of the experiment. Using this method, the median flux loss was calculated to be 34 %, substantially higher than with the ogive method.
Distribution and Flux of Dissolved Iron of the Rajang and Blackwater Rivers at Sarawak, Borneo
Authors: Zhang Xiaohui , Müller Moritz , Jiang Shan , Wu Ying , Zhu Xunchi , Mujahid Aazani , Zhu Zhuoyi , Muhamad Mohd Fakharuddin , Sia Edwin Sien Aun , Jang Faddrine Holt Ajon , Zhang Jing
Published: June 2019

Abstract. Dissolved iron (dFe) is essential for biogeochemical reactions in oceans, such as photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen fixation. Currently, large uncertainties remain on riverine dFe inputs, especially for tropical rivers in Southeast Asia. In the present study, dFe concentrations and distribution along the salinity gradient in the Rajang River in Malaysia, and three blackwater rivers draining from peatlands, including the Maludam River, the Sebuyau River, and the Simunjan River, were determined. In the Rajang River, the concentration of dFe in fresh water (salinity
Coupled climate–carbon cycle simulation of the Last Glacial Maximum atmospheric CO2 decrease using a large ensemble of modern plausible parameter sets
Authors: Kemppinen Krista M. S. , Holden Philip B. , Edwards Neil R. , Ridgwell Andy , Friend Andrew D.
Published: June 2019

Abstract. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), atmospheric
CO2 was around 90 ppmv lower than during the
pre-industrial period. The reasons for this decrease are most often
elucidated through factorial experiments testing the impact of individual
mechanisms. Due to uncertainty in our understanding of the real system,
however, the different models used to conduct the experiments inevitably
take on different parameter values and different structures. In this paper,
the objective is therefore to take an uncertainty-based approach to
investigating the LGM CO2 drop by simulating it
with a large ensemble of parameter sets, designed to allow for a wide range
of large-scale feedback response strengths. Our aim is not to definitely
explain the causes of the CO2 drop but rather
explore the range of possible responses. We find that the LGM
CO2 decrease tends to predominantly be associated
with decreasing sea surface temperatures (SSTs), increasing sea ice area, a
weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a
strengthening of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) cell in the Atlantic
Ocean, a decreasing ocean biological productivity, an increasing
CaCO3 weathering flux and an increasing deep-sea
CaCO3 burial flux. The majority of our simulations
also predict an increase in terrestrial carbon, coupled with a decrease in
ocean and increase in lithospheric carbon. We attribute the increase in
terrestrial carbon to a slower soil respiration rate, as well as the
preservation rather than destruction of carbon by the LGM ice sheets. An
initial comparison of these dominant changes with observations and
paleoproxies other than carbon isotope and oxygen data (not evaluated
directly in this study) suggests broad agreement. However, we advise more
detailed comparisons in the future, and also note that, conceptually at
least, our results can only be reconciled with carbon isotope and oxygen
data if additional processes not included in our model are brought into
play.
The UKC3 regional coupled environmental prediction system
Authors: Lewis Huw W. , Castillo Sanchez Juan Manuel , Arnold Alex , Fallmann Joachim , Saulter Andrew , Graham Jennifer , Bush Mike , Siddorn John , Palmer Tamzin , Lock Adrian , Edwards John , Bricheno Lucy , Martínez-de la Torre Alberto , Clark James
Published: June 2019

Abstract. This paper describes an updated configuration of the regional coupled
research system, termed UKC3, developed and evaluated under the UK
Environmental Prediction collaboration. This represents a further step
towards a vision of simulating the numerous interactions and feedbacks
between different physical and biogeochemical components of the environment
across sky, sea and land using more integrated regional coupled prediction
systems at kilometre-scale resolution. The UKC3 coupled system incorporates
models of the atmosphere (Met Office Unified Model), land surface with river
routing (JULES), shelf-sea ocean (NEMO) and ocean surface waves (WAVEWATCH
III®), coupled together using OASIS3-MCT
libraries. The major update introduced since the UKC2 configuration is an
explicit representation of wave–ocean feedbacks through introduction of
wave-to-ocean coupling. Ocean model results demonstrate that wave coupling,
in particular representing the wave-modified surface drag, has a small but
positive improvement on the agreement between simulated sea surface
temperatures and in situ observations, relative to simulations without wave
feedbacks. Other incremental developments to the coupled modelling capability
introduced since the UKC2 configuration are also detailed. Coupled regional prediction systems are of interest for applications across
a range of timescales, from hours to decades ahead. The first results from
four simulation experiments, each of the order of 1 month in duration, are
analysed and discussed in the context of characterizing the potential
benefits of coupled prediction on forecast skill. Results across atmosphere,
ocean and wave components are shown to be stable over time periods of weeks.
The coupled approach shows notable improvements in surface temperature, wave
state (in near-coastal regions) and wind speed over the sea, whereas the
prediction quality of other quantities shows no significant improvement or
degradation relative to the equivalent uncoupled control simulations.
Challenges in developing a global gradient-based groundwater model (G3M v1.0) for the integration into a global hydrological model
Authors: Reinecke Robert , Foglia Laura , Mehl Steffen , Trautmann Tim , Cáceres Denise , Döll Petra
Published: June 2019

Abstract. In global hydrological models, groundwater (GW) is
typically represented by a bucket-like linear groundwater reservoir.
Reservoir models, however, (1) can only simulate GW discharge to surface
water (SW) bodies but not recharge from SW to GW, (2) provide no information
on the location of the GW table, and (3) assume that there is no GW flow
among grid cells. This may lead, for example, to an underestimation of
groundwater resources in semiarid areas where GW is often replenished by SW
or to an underestimation of evapotranspiration where the GW table is close
to the land surface. To overcome these limitations, it is necessary to replace
the reservoir model in global hydrological models with a hydraulic head
gradient-based GW flow model. We present G3M, a new global gradient-based GW model with
a spatial resolution of 5′ (arcminutes), which is to be integrated into the 0.5∘
WaterGAP Global Hydrology Model (WGHM). The newly developed model framework
enables in-memory coupling to WGHM while keeping overall runtime relatively
low, which allows sensitivity analyses, calibration, and data assimilation.
This paper presents the G3M concept and model design
decisions that are specific to the large grid size required for a global-scale model. Model results under steady-state naturalized conditions, i.e.,
neglecting GW abstractions, are shown. Simulated hydraulic heads show better
agreement to observations around the world compared to the model output of de Graaf et
al. (2015). Locations of simulated SW recharge to GW are found, as is
expected, in dry and mountainous regions but areal extent of SW recharge may
be underestimated. Globally, GW discharge to rivers is by far the dominant
flow component such that lateral GW flows only become a large fraction of
total diffuse and focused recharge in the case of losing rivers, some
mountainous areas, and some areas with very low GW recharge. A strong
sensitivity of simulated hydraulic heads to the spatial resolution of the
model and the related choice of the water table elevation of surface water
bodies was found. We suggest to investigate how global-scale groundwater
modeling at 5′ spatial resolution can benefit from more highly resolved
land surface elevation data.