bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor-Unrelated CD4 T Cell Help Augments CD134 plus CD137 Dual Costimulation Tumor Therapy
Authors: Mittal Payal , St. Rose Marie-Clare , Wang Xi , Ryan Joseph M. , Wasser Jeffrey S. , Vella Anthony T. , Adler Adam J.
Published: November 2015

The ability of immune-based cancer therapies to elicit beneficial CD8+ CTLs is limited by tolerance pathways that inactivate tumor-specific CD4 Th cells. A strategy to bypass this problem is to engage tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells. Thus, CD4 T cells, regardless of their specificity per se, can boost CD8+ CTL priming as long as the cognate epitopes are linked via presentation on the same dendritic cell. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic impact of engaging tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells during dual costimulation with CD134 plus CD137 that provide help via the above-mentioned classical linked pathway, as well as provide nonlinked help that facilitates CTL function in T cells not directly responding to cognate Ag. We found that engagement of tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells dramatically boosted the ability of dual costimulation to control the growth of established B16 melanomas. Surprisingly, this effect depended upon a CD134-dependent component that was extrinsic to the tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells, suggesting that the dual costimulated helper cells are themselves helped by a CD134+ cell(s). Nevertheless, the delivery of therapeutic help tracked with an increased frequency of tumor-infiltrating granzyme B+ effector CD8 T cells and a reciprocal decrease in Foxp3+CD4+ cell frequency. Notably, the tumor-unrelated CD4 Th cells also infiltrated the tumors, and their deletion several days following initial T cell priming negated their therapeutic impact. Taken together, dual costimulation programs tumor-unrelated CD4 T cells to deliver therapeutic help during both the priming and effector stages of the antitumor response.
Matthew’s building blocks: Mark and Q – A critical look at a recent monograph
Authors: Verheyden Joseph
Published: November 2015

This article offers a critical analysis of some of the principal arguments put forward in a recent monograph by J.A. Doole in defence of the thesis that Matthew, whilst being familiar wit hMark and Q, had a clear preference for the former in structuring his composition. Doole argues that Matthew used Q only in such a way that it never threatened to disrupt the dominance of Mark, used up Q ‘as quick as possible’, and was more at ease in Mark which he used both de visu and from memory. Against these positions, it is shown that Q played a more prominent roll all throughout Matthew’s gospel than Doole assumes it did and that the ‘de visu / from memory’ dichotomy does not match the evidence.Matteüs’ bouwstenen: Marcus en Q. – Een kritische kijk op een recente monografie. Het artikel biedt een kritische analyse van de voornaamste principes van J.A. Doole’s recente monografie ter verdediging van de thesis dat Matteüs weliswaar bekend is met Marcus e nmet Q, maar systematisch de voorkeur geeft aan Marcus. Doole stelt dat Matteüs Q alleen in die zin gebruikte dat het geen bedreiging was voor de dominantie van Marcus, Q zo snel mogelijk ‘opgebruikt’ heeft, en duidelijk meer vertrouwd was met Marcus die hij de visu en uit zijn herinnering benut. Tegen deze benadering wordt aangebracht dat Q een meer prominente rol speelt in het evangelie dan Doole voorhoudt en dat het onderscheid ‘de visu en uit herinnering’ niet opgaat.
Mortificatie en vivificatie in de Heidelbergse Catechismus
Authors: Van de Beek Abraham
Published: November 2015

Dit artikel richt zich op kritiek die geleverd is op het gedeelte over de dankbaarheid in de Heidelbergse Catechismus. Enerzijds is er kritiek dat de catechismus te negatief is over de vernieuwing van het leven van christenen. Anderzijds wordt gesteld dat de nadruk op dankbaarheid leidt tot een nieuwe vorm van knechtschap. Daartegenover wordt in dit artikel betoogd dat de negatieve benadering van de geboden in de catechismus haar wortels heeft in de decaloog en in de wijze waarop zowel het Oude als het Nieuwe Testament spreekt over het leven naar Gods wil. Het nieuwe leven is een vrije gave van God en daarom nooit een verplichting maar vrijheid. Deze wordt alleen bedreigd door de menselijke neiging om het eigen leven zeker te stellen. Door deze neiging wordt het vertrouwen in Gods gunst ontkend. Aangezien het Oude en het Nieuwe Testament beide deze menselijke neiging bestrijden is de paraenese dikwijls negatief geformuleerd en de Heidelbergse Catechismus volgt hen daarin.This article deals with critiques to the section on ‘Gratitude’ in the Heidelberg Catechism. On the one hand the catechism is said to be too negative about Christian renewal. On the other hand, its stress on gratitude appears to evoke a new servitude. In contrast to these criticisms, this article argues that the negative approach of the Catechism to the commandments has its roots in the Decalogue and in the calling to live according to God’s will as found in both the Old and the New Testament. The new life is God’s free gift and therefore never an obligation, but freedom, which is only endangered by the human inclination to secure life. By doing so, trust in God’s gift of freedom is negated. Since both the Old and the New Testament opposet his human inclination, the paraenesis is often formulated negatively and the Heidelberg Catechism follows this approach.
Magnetic resonance imaging of optic nerve
Authors: Gala Foram
Published: November 2015

Optic nerves are the second pair of cranial nerves and are unique as they represent an extension of the central nervous system. Apart from clinical and ophthalmoscopic evaluation, imaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plays an important role in the complete evaluation of optic nerve and the entire visual pathway. In this pictorial essay, the authors describe segmental anatomy of the optic nerve and review the imaging findings of various conditions affecting the optic nerves. MRI allows excellent depiction of the intricate anatomy of optic nerves due to its excellent soft tissue contrast without exposure to ionizing radiation, better delineation of the entire visual pathway, and accurate evaluation of associated intracranial pathologies.
Effects of long-range aerosol transport on the microphysical properties of low-level liquid clouds in the Arctic
Authors: Coopman Q. , Garrett T. J. , Riedi J. , Eckhardt S. , Stohl A.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The properties of clouds in the Arctic can be altered by long-range aerosol transport to the region. The goal of this study is to use satellite, tracer transport model, and meteorological data sets to determine the effects of pollution on cloud microphysics due only to pollution itself and not to the meteorological state. Here, A-Train, POLDER-3 and MODIS satellite instruments are used to retrieve low-level liquid cloud microphysical properties over the Arctic between 2008 and 2010. Cloud retrievals are co-located with simulated pollution represented by carbon-monoxide concentrations from the FLEXPART tracer transport model. The sensitivity of clouds to pollution plumes – including aerosols – is constrained for cloud liquid water path, temperature, altitude, specific humidity, and lower tropospheric stability (LTS). We define an Indirect Effect (IE) parameter from the ratio of relative changes in cloud microphysical properties to relative variations in pollution concentrations. Retrievals indicate that, depending on the meteorological regime, IE parameters range between 0 and 0.34 for the cloud droplet effective radius, and between −0.10 and 0.35 for the optical depth, with average values of 0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.15 ± 0.02 respectively. The IE parameter increases with increasing specific humidity and LTS. Further, the results suggest that for a given set of meteorological conditions, the liquid water path of arctic clouds does not respond strongly to pollution. Or, not constraining sufficiently for meteorology may lead to artifacts that exaggerate the magnitude of the aerosol indirect effect. The converse is that the response of arctic clouds to pollution does depend on the meteorologic state. Finally, we find that IE values are highest when pollution concentrations are low, and that they depend on the source of pollution.
Simulating the effects of mid- to upper-tropospheric clouds on microwave emissions in EC-Earth using COSP
Authors: Johnston M. S. , Holl G. , Hocking J. , Cooper S. J. , Chen D.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. In this work, the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison (CFMIP) Observation Simulation Package (COSP) is expanded to include scattering and emission effects of clouds and precipitation at passive microwave frequencies. This represents an advancement over the official version of COSP (version 1.4.0) in which only clear-sky brightness temperatures are simulated. To highlight the potential utility of this new microwave simulator, COSP results generated using the climate model EC-Earth's version 3 atmosphere as input are compared with Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) channel (190.311 GHz) observations. Specifically, simulated seasonal brightness temperatures (TB) are contrasted with MHS observations for the period December 2005 to November 2006 to identify possible biases in EC-Earth's cloud and atmosphere fields. The EC-Earth's atmosphere closely reproduces the microwave signature of many of the major large-scale and regional scale features of the atmosphere and surface. Moreover, greater than 60 % of the simulated TB are within 3 K of the NOAA-18 observations. However, COSP is unable to simulate sufficiently low TB in areas of frequent deep convection. Within the Tropics, the model's atmosphere can yield an underestimation of TB by nearly 30 K for cloudy areas in the ITCZ. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include both incorrect amount of cloud ice water in the model simulations and incorrect ice particle scattering assumptions used in the COSP microwave forward model. These multiple sources of error highlight the non-unique nature of the simulated satellite measurements, a problem exacerbated by the fact that EC-Earth lacks detailed micro-physical parameters necessary for accurate forward model calculations. Such issues limit the robustness of our evaluation and suggest a general note of caution when making COSP-satellite observation evaluations.
Representing northern peatland microtopography and hydrology within the Community Land Model
Authors: Shi X. , Thornton P. E. , Ricciuto D. M. , Hanson P. J. , Mao J. , Sebestyen S. D. , Griffiths N. A. , Bisht G.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Predictive understanding of northern peatland hydrology is a necessary precursor to understanding the fate of massive carbon stores in these systems under the influence of present and future climate change. Current models have begun to address microtopographic controls on peatland hydrology, but none have included a prognostic calculation of peatland water table depth for a vegetated wetland, independent of prescribed regional water tables. We introduce here a new configuration of the Community Land Model (CLM) which includes a fully prognostic water table calculation for a vegetated peatland. Our structural and process changes to CLM focus on modifications needed to represent the hydrologic cycle of bogs environment with perched water tables, as well as distinct hydrologic dynamics and vegetation communities of the raised hummock and sunken hollow microtopography characteristic of peatland bogs. The modified model was parameterized and independently evaluated against observations from an ombrotrophic raised-dome bog in northern Minnesota (S1-Bog), the site for the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Climatic and Environmental Change experiment (SPRUCE). Simulated water table levels compared well with site-level observations. The new model predicts hydrologic changes in response to planned warming at the SPRUCE site. At present, standing water is commonly observed in bog hollows after large rainfall events during the growing season, but simulations suggest a sharp decrease in water table levels due to increased evapotranspiration under the most extreme warming level, nearly eliminating the occurrence of standing water in the growing season. Simulated soil energy balance was strongly influenced by reduced winter snowpack under warming simulations, with the warming influence on soil temperature partly offset by the loss of insulating snowpack in early and late winter. The new model provides improved predictive capacity for seasonal hydrological dynamics in northern peatlands, and provides a useful foundation for investigation of northern peatland carbon exchange.
Subglacial landforms beneath Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica: detailed bed topography from ice-penetrating radar
Authors: King E. C. , Pritchard H. D. , Smith A. M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. We present a digital elevation model of the bed of Rutford Ice Stream, Antarctica derived from radio-echo sounding data. The data cover an 18 km × 40 km area immediately upstream of the grounding line of the ice stream. This area is of particular interest because repeated seismic surveys have shown that rapid erosion and deposition of subglacial sediments has taken place. The bed topography shows a range of different subglacial landforms including mega-scale glacial lineations, drumlins and hummocks. This dataset will form a baseline survey which, when compared to future surveys, should reveal how active subglacial landscapes change over time. These data also allow comparison between subglacial landforms in an active system with those observed in deglaciated areas in both polar regions. The dataset comprises observed ice thickness data, an interpolated bed elevation grid, observed surface elevation data and a surface elevation grid. The dataset is available at http://doi.org/269.
Damage functions for climate-related hazards: unification and uncertainty analysis
Authors: Prahl B. F. , Rybski D. , Boettle M. , Kropp J. P.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Most climate change impacts manifest in the form of natural hazards. For example, sea-level rise and changes in storm climatology are expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of flooding events. In practice there is a need for comprehensive damage assessment at an intermediate level of complexity. Answering this need, we reveal the common grounds of macroscale damage functions employed in storm damage, coastal-flood damage, and heat mortality assessment. The universal approach offers both bottom-up and top-down damage evaluation, employing either an explicit or an implicit portfolio description. Putting emphasis on the treatment of data uncertainties, we perform a sensitivity analysis across different scales. We find that the behaviour of intrinsic uncertainties on the microscale level (i.e. single item) does still persist on the macroscale level (i.e. portfolio). Furthermore, the analysis of uncertainties can reveal their specific relevance, allowing for simplification of the modelling chain. Our results shed light on the role of uncertainties and provide useful insight for the application of a unified damage function.
Study on the risk and impacts of land subsidence in Jakarta
Authors: Abidin H. Z. , Andreas H. , Gumilar I. , Brinkman J. J.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia located in the west-northern coast of Java island, within a deltaic plain and passes by 13 natural and artificial rivers. This megapolitan has a population of about 10.2 million people inhabiting an area of about 660 km2, with relatively rapid urban development. It has been reported for many years that several places in Jakarta are subsiding at different rates. The main causative factors of land subsidence in Jakarta are most probably excessive groundwater extraction, load of constructions (i.e., settlement of high compressibility soil), and natural consolidation of alluvial soil. Land subsidence in Jakarta has been studied using leveling surveys, GPS surveys, InSAR and Geometric-Historic techniques. The results obtained from leveling surveys, GPS surveys and InSAR technique over the period between 1974 and 2010 show that land subsidence in Jakarta has spatial and temporal variations with typical rates of about 3–10 cm year−1. Rapid urban development, relatively young alluvium soil, and relatively weak mitigation and adapatation initiatives, are risk increasing factors of land subsidence in Jakarta. The subsidence impacts can be seen already in the field in forms of cracking and damage of housing, buildings and infrastructure; wider expansion of (riverine and coastal) flooding areas, malfunction of drainage system, changes in river canal and drain flow systems and increased inland sea water intrusion. These impacts can be categorized into infrastructural, environmental, economic and social impacts. The risk and impacts of land subsidence in Jakarta and their related aspects are discussed in this paper.
Full-scale experimental and numerical study about structural behaviour of a thin-walled cold-formed steel building affected by ground settlements due to land subsidence
Authors: Ortiz J. A. , Hernández L. A. , Hernández M. , Pacheco J. , Zermeño M. E. , Salinas R.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Land subsidence due to ground water withdrawal is a problem in many places around the world (Poland, 1984). This causes differential ground settlements that affect masonry structures, because these structural materials do not exhibit an adequate performance beyond a certain level of angular distortion. This work presents the experimental and numerical results about a study regarding the performance of a full-scale thin-walled cold-formed steel building affected by ground differential settlements due to land subsidence. The experimental stage consisted in the construction of a test-building to be subjected to differential settlements in laboratory. The numerical stage consisted in performing a numerical non-linear static pull-down analysis simulating the differential ground settlements of the test-building. The results show that the structural performance of the tested building was very suitable in terms of ductility.
Has land subsidence changed the flood hazard potential? A case example from the Kujukuri Plain, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Chen H. L. , Ito Y. , Sawamukai M. , Su T. , Tokunaga T.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Coastal areas are subject to flood hazards because of their topographic features, social development and related human activities. The Kujukuri Plain, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, is located nearby the Tokyo metropolitan area and it faces to the Pacific Ocean. In the Kujukuri Plain, widespread occurrence of land subsidence has been caused by exploitation of groundwater, extraction of natural gas dissolved in brine, and natural consolidation of the Holocene and landfill deposits. The locations of land subsidence include areas near the coast, and it may increase the flood hazard potential. Hence, it is very important to evaluate flood hazard potential by taking into account the temporal change of land elevation caused by land subsidence, and to prepare hazard maps for protecting the surface environment and for developing an appropriate land-use plan. In this study, flood hazard assessments at three different times, i.e., 1970, 2004, and 2013 are implemented by using a flood hazard model based on Multicriteria Decision Analysis with Geographical Information System techniques. The model incorporates six factors: elevation, depression area, river system, ratio of impermeable area, detention ponds, and precipitation. Main data sources used are 10 m resolution topography data, airborne laser scanning data, leveling data, Landsat-TM data, two 1:30 000 scale river watershed maps, and precipitation data from observation stations around the study area and Radar data. The hazard assessment maps for each time are obtained by using an algorithm that combines factors with weighted linear combinations. The assignment of the weight/rank values and their analysis are realized by the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. This study is a preliminary work to investigate flood hazards on the Kujukuri Plain. A flood model will be developed to simulate more detailed change of the flood hazard influenced by land subsidence.
Subsidence by liquefaction-fluidization in man-made strata around Tokyo bay, Japan: from geological survey on damaged part at the 2011 off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake
Authors: Kazaoka O. , Kameyama S. , Shigeno K. , Suzuki Y. , Morisaki M. , Kagawa A. , Yoshida T. , Kimura M. , Sakai Y. , Ogura T. , Kusuda T. , Furuno K.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Geological disaster by liquefaction-fluidization happened on southern part of the Quaternary Paleo-Kanto submarine basin at the 2011 Earthquake off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku. Liquefaction-fluidization phenomena occurred mainly in man-made strata over shaking 5+ intensity of Japan Meteorological Agency scale. Many subsided spots, 10–50 m width, 20–100 m length and less than 1 m depth, by liquefaction-fluidization distributed on reclaimed land around northern Tokyo bay. Large amount of sand and groundwater spouted out in the terrible subsided parts. But there are little subsidence and no jetted sand outside the terrible subsided part. Liquefaction-fluidization damaged part at the 1987 earthquake east off Chiba prefecture re-liquefied and fluidized in these parts at the 2011 great earthquake. The damaged area were more wide on the 2011 earthquake than the 1987 quake. Detailed classification maps of subsidence by liquefaction-fluidization on the 2011 grate earthquake were made by fieldwork in Chiba city around Tokyo bay. A mechanism of subsidence by liquefaction-fluidization in man-made strata was solved by geological survey with continuous large box cores on the ACE Liner and large relief peals of the cores at a typical subsided part.
Visualization of three dimensional earth fissures in geological structure
Authors: Zhu L. , Yu J. , Liu Y. , Gong H. , Chen Y. , Chen B.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. This paper proposes a new method for visualizing the earth fissures of geological structure in three dimensional (3-D) domains on the basis of the seismic data and features information of earth fissures. The seismic data were interpreted for obtaining the stratagraphic data with various lithological information and the depth of the earth fissures. The spatial distribution of the ground fissures including the dip, strike and width were digitalized on an ArcGIS platform. Firstly, the 3-D geological structure was rebuilt using the Generalized Tri-Prism (GTP) method which is a real solid method for displaying geological structures. The GTP method can reflect the inner material of the strata and can simulate complicated geological structures such as faults and stratagraphic pinch outs. The upper and lower surfaces of each stratum consist of Triangle Irregular Networks (TIN). The inner solid between the two surfaces are a series of triangular prisms. Secondly, since the width of the ground fissure gradually decreases with depth, multiple edge lines of the earth fissures on the bottom stratum surface are deduced on the basis of the fissure characteristics. Then, the model of the earth fissures consisting of a series of triangular pyramids can be constructed using these points and the edge lines. A cutting operation was carried out on the 3-D geological structure using this ground fissures model. If the surfaces of the ground fissures model intersects with the GTPs in the geological structure model, new GTPs were generated within the local regions. During this process, the topological relations between TIN, triangular prism and lines were reconstructed so that the visualization of ground fissures in the geological structure model is realized. This method can facilitate the mechanism for studying fissures and avoid the gaps between the fissure solid and the geological structure to accurately reflect their 3-D characteristics.
Study of the deformation mechanism of the Gaoliying ground fissure
Authors: Cheng G. , Wang H. , Luo Y. , Guo H.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The Gaoliying ground fissure in Beijing has caused building cracking and road damage, and has seriously influenced city construction. Based on investigations and trenching, the influences of the fault and the variation of groundwater levels on the formation mechanism of the Gaoliying ground fissure were investigated by using FLAC3D. The results indicated that (1) the surface location of Gaoliying fissure is controlled by the underlying normal fault activity, and over pumping further exacerbates development of the ground fissure; (2) when the groundwater level declines, obvious differential settlement occurs at both sides of the ground fissure, in which greater settlement occurs in the vicinity of the hanging wall, the greater the distance from the hanging wall, the smaller the ground subsidence, however smaller ground subsidence occurs in the vicinity of the footwall, the greater the distance from the footwall, the greater the ground subsidence; (3) the vertical velocity of the ground fissure triggered by the fault activity and groundwater decline ranges from 15.5 to 18.3 mm a−1, which is basically in line with the monitoring data. The fault activity contributes about 28–39 %, and the groundwater contributes about 61–72 % to the deformation of the ground fissure, respectively.
Application of high resolution geophysical prospecting to assess the risk related to subsurface deformationin Mexico City
Authors: Centeno-Salas F. A. , Carreón-Freyre D. , Flores-García W. A. , Gutiérrez-Calderón R. I.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. In the eastern sector of Mexico City the sub soil consists of high contrasting sequences (lacustrine and volcanic inter bedded deposits) that favor the development of erratic fracturing in the surface causing damage to the urban infrastructure. The high-resolution geophysical prospecting are useful tools for the assessment of ground deformation and fracturing associated with land subsidence phenomena. The GPR method allowed to evaluate the fracture propagation and deformation of vulcano-sedimentary sequences at different depths, the main electrical parameters are directly related with the gravimetric and volumetric water content and therefore with the plasticity of the near surface prospected sequences. The active seismology prospection consisted in a combination of Seismic Refraction (SR) and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) for the estimation of the velocity of the mechanical compressive (P) and the shear (S) waves. The integration of both methods allowed to estimate the geomechanical parameters characterizing the studied sequence, the Poisson Ratio and the volumetric compressibility. The obtained mechanical parameters were correlated with laboratory measured parameters such as plasticity index, density, shear strength and compressibility and, GPR and seismic profiles were correlated with the mapped fracture systems in the study area. Once calibrated, the profiles allowed to identify the lithological contact between lacustrine and volcanic sequences, their variations of thicknesses in depth and to assess the deformation area in the surface. An accurate determination of the geometry of fracturing was of the most importance for the assessment of the geological risk in the study area.
Analysis of the variation of the compressibility index (Cc) of volcanic clays and its application to estimate subsidence in lacustrine areas
Authors: Carreón-Freyre D. , González-Hernández M. , Martinez-Alfaro D. , Solís-Valdéz S. , Cerca M. , Millán-Malo B. , Gutiérrez-Calderón R. , Centeno-Salas F.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. An analysis of the deformation conditions of lacustrine materials deposited at three sites in the volcanic valley of the Mexico City is presented. Currently geotechnical studies assume that compressibility of granular materials decreases in depth due to the lithostatic load. That means that the deeper the sample the more rigid is supposed to be, this assumption should be demonstrated by a decreased Compression Index (Cc) in depth. Studies indicate that Mexico City clays exhibit brittle behaviour, and have high water content, low shear strength and variable Cc values. Furthermore, groundwater withdrawal below the city causes a differential decrease in pore pressure, which is related to the physical properties of granular materials (hydraulic conductivity, grain size distribution) and conditions of formation. Our results show that Cc for fine grain materials (lacustrine) can be vertically variable, particularly when soils and sediments are the product of different volcanic materials. Lateral and vertical variations in the distribution of the fluvio-lacustrine materials, especially in basins with recent volcanic activity, may be assessed by Cc index variations. These variations can also be related to differential deformation, nucleation and propagation of fractures and need to be considered when modelling land subsidence.
Exploitation of the full potential of PSI data for subsidence monitoring
Authors: Crosetto M. , Devanthéry N. , Cuevas-González M. , Monserrat O. , Crippa B.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) is a remote sensing technique used to measure and monitor land deformation from a stack of interferometric SAR images. The main products that can be derived using the PSI technique are the deformation maps and the time series of deformation. In this paper, an approach to apply the PSI technique to a stack of Sentinel-1 images is described. Moreover, the problems encountered during the processing are detailed and an explanation of how they were dealt with is provided. Finally, Sentinel-1 deformation maps and time series obtained over the metropolitan area of Mexico DF are shown.
Subsidence monitoring system for offshore applications: technology scouting and feasibility studies
Authors: Miandro R. , Dacome C. , Mosconi A. , Roncari G.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Because of concern about possible impacts of hydrocarbon production activities on coastal-area environments and infrastructures, new hydrocarbon offshore development projects in Italy must submit a monitoring plan to Italian authorities to measure and analyse real-time subsidence evolution. The general geological context, where the main offshore Adriatic fields are located, is represented by young unconsolidated terrigenous sediments. In such geological environments, sea floor subsidence, caused by hydrocarbon extraction, is quite probable. Though many tools are available for subsidence monitoring onshore, few are available for offshore monitoring. To fill the gap ENI (Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi) started a research program, principally in collaboration with three companies, to generate a monitoring system tool to measure seafloor subsidence. The tool, according to ENI design technical-specification, would be a robust long pipeline or cable, with a variable or constant outside diameter (less than or equal to 100 mm) and interval spaced measuring points. The design specifications for the first prototype were: to detect 1 mm altitude variation, to work up to 100 m water depth and investigation length of 3 km. Advanced feasibility studies have been carried out with: Fugro Geoservices B.V. (Netherlands), D'Appolonia (Italy), Agisco (Italy). Five design (using three fundamental measurements concepts and five measurement tools) were explored: cable shape changes measured by cable strain using fiber optics (Fugro); cable inclination measured using tiltmeters (D'Appolonia) and measured using fiber optics (Fugro); and internal cable altitude-dependent pressure changes measured using fiber optics (Fugro) and measured using pressure transducers at discrete intervals along the hydraulic system (Agisco). Each design tool was analysed and a rank ordering of preferences was performed. The third method (measurement of pressure changes), with the solution proposed by Agisco, was deemed most feasible. Agisco is building the first prototype of the tool to be installed in an offshore field in the next few years. This paper describes design of instruments from the three companies to satisfy the design specification.
Spatio-temporal evolution of aseismic ground deformation in the Mexicali Valley (Baja California, Mexico) from 1993 to 2010, using differential SAR interferometry
Authors: Sarychikhina O. , Glowacka E.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Ground deformation in Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico, the southern part of the Mexicali-Imperial valley, is influenced by active tectonics and human activity, mainly that of geothermal fluid extraction in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field. Significant ground deformation, mainly subsidence (~ 18 cm yr−1), and related ground fissures cause severe damage to local infrastructure. The technique of Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) has been demonstrated to be a very effective remote sensing tool for accurately measuring the spatial and temporal evolution of ground displacements over broad areas. In present study ERS-1/2 SAR and ENVISAT ASAR images acquired between 1993 and 2010 were used to perform a historical analysis of aseismic ground deformation in Mexicali Valley, in an attempt to evaluate its spatio-temporal evolution and improve the understanding of its dynamic. For this purpose, the conventional 2-pass DInSAR was used to generate interferograms which were used in stacking procedure to produce maps of annual aseismic ground deformation rates for different periods. Differential interferograms that included strong co-seismic deformation signals were not included in the stacking and analysis. The changes in the ground deformation pattern and rate were identified. The main changes occur between 2000 and 2005 and include increasing deformation rate in the recharge zone and decreasing deformation rate in the western part of the CPGF production zone. We suggested that these changes are mainly caused by production development in the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field.
New information on regional subsidence and soil fracturing in Mexico City Valley
Authors: Auvinet G. , Méndez-Sánchez E. , Juárez-Camarena M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. In this paper, updated information about regional subsidence in Mexico City downtown area is presented. Data obtained by R. Gayol in 1891, are compared with information obtained recently from surveys using the reference points of Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudad de México (2008) and on the elevation of a cloud of points on the ground surface determined using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. In addition, this paper provides an overview of recent data obtained from systematic studies focused on understanding soil fracturing associated with regional land subsidence and mapping of areas susceptible to cracking in Mexico City Valley.
In-situ formation compaction monitoring in deep reservoirs by use of fiber optics
Authors: Ikeda H. , Kunisue S. , Nohara D. , Ooba K. , Kokubo T.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. We have devised a new in situ monitoring method for the amount of stratified compaction in borehole drilled several hundred meters underground. This newly developed epoch-making monitoring system differs from conventional monitoring methods for land subsidence in that it is designed to continuously monitor the amounts of displacement in several intervals separately, using optical fibers fitted in the sensor assembly. This report presents results from a deep observation well. This is a continued report from the previous one on EISOLS 2010.
Numerical simulation of earth fissures due to groundwater withdrawal
Authors: Wang Z. , Zhang Y. , Wu J. , Yu J. , Gong X.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Excessive groundwater withdrawal can cause land subsidence and earth fissures. The initiation and propagation of earth fissures are related to tensile failure and crack propagation in soils. Based on fracture mechanics, the crack band model (CBM), one of the smear crack models which is relatively easy to construct and convenient to be integrated into standard finite element codes is used in this paper. The calculated results of CBM are less dependent on the sizes of finite elements. The model was applied to simulate the formation and propagation of earth fissures in the hydrostratigraphic units with a bedrock ridge. The simulated positions and patterns of earth fissures coincide with field observations, suggesting that the modeling approach is adept to simulate the initiation and propagation of earth fissures due to groundwater withdrawal.
Simulation study of the in-situ formation deformation behavior of a shallow formation in the Southern Kanto Natural gas field, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Authors: Adachi M. , Matsuyama R. , Nakagawa T. , Kuroshima S. , Ogatsu T. , Adachi R.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. In 2010, eight companies which are exploiting natural gas and brine water in the Southern Kanto natural gas field, Chiba prefecture, Japan constructed an in-situ formation deformation monitoring well with a depth of approximately 80 m, and in-situ formation deformation was measured on a trial basis. After this field test, by conducting the simulation study, we verified whether the deformation behavior at the monitoring well was perfectly elastic or not. In addition, we compared in-situ rock properties like Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio which were estimated by the simulation study with those determined from a triaxial compression test.
The interaction between land subsidence and urban development in China
Authors: Yang Y. , Wang R. , Zhou Y. , Jiang Y. , Wang X.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The Yangtze River Delta and North China Plain are experiencing serious land subsidence development and are also the areas that have undergone the fastest urbanization. Rapid urban development inevitably requires more water resources. However, China is a country with small per capita water resources, nonuniform distribution of water resources, and over-exploitation of groundwater – all of which are critical factors contributing to the potential for a land subsidence disaster. In addition, land subsidence has brought about elevation loss, damaged buildings, decreased safety of rail transit projects, lowered land value, and other huge economic losses and potential safety hazards in China. In this paper, Beijing, a typical northern Chinese city deficient in water, is taken as an example to explore (a) the problems of urban development, utilization of water resources, and land subsidence development; (b) the harm and influence of land subsidence hazards on urban construction; and (c) the relationship between urban development and land subsidence. Based on the results, the author has predicted the trend of urban development and land subsidence in Beijing and puts forward her viewpoints and suggestions.
Characterization of land subsidence induced by groundwater withdrawals in Wenyu River alluvial fan, Beijing, China
Authors: Wang R. , Luo Y. , Yang Y. , Tian F. , Zhou Y. , Tian M.-Z.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The Beijing plain area has suffered from severe land subsidence owing to groundwater overdraft. A major example is the Wenyu River alluvial fan in the Beijing plain area. This area has experienced as much as 10 m of land subsidence through 2000s. An integrated subsidence-monitoring program, including borehole extensometer and multilayer monitoring of groundwater, has been designed to meet the needs of monitoring land subsidence in this region. This work has allowed us to characterize land subsidence and understand the mechanical properties of the strata. The analysis results show the development of the land subsidence in this area is consistent with water-level change. The major strata contributing to compression deformation are Mid-Pleistocene stratum which contributed around 70 % of total subsidence. The shallow stratum and deep stratum show elastic mechanical behavior the intermediate stratum exhibit elastic-plastic mechanical behavior.
A model, describing the influence of water management alternatives on dike stability
Authors: Lambert J. W. M. , Vastenburg E. , Roelofsen F. J.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The awareness is rising that economic effects of Land Subsidence are high. Nevertheless, quantifying these economic losses is difficult and, as far as known, not yet done in a sophisticated way. Also, to be able to decide about future strategies, for example to avoid or decrease subsidence, it is necessary to know the financial consequences of measures and possible solutions. As a first step to quantify these economic effects, a MODFLOW-SCR (coupled MODFLOW-Settlements model) is coupled with the model DAM. Based on the local stratigraphy, the shape and composition of the existing dike or levee, the level of the surface water and the surface level, macro-stability of the dike is calculated and – if the dike does not meet the required stability – adaptions are proposed. The model enables to separate effects that are caused by sea-level rise and the effects of subsidence. Coupling the DAM model with an economic model to calculate costs of these adaptions is under construction.
Tools to support maintenance strategies under soft soil conditions
Authors: Lambert J. W. M. , van Meerten J. J. , Woning M. P. , Eijbersen M. J. , Huber M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Costs for maintenance of infrastructure in municipalities with soft soil underground conditions, are estimated to be almost 40 % higher than in others. As a result, these municipalities meet financial problems that cause overdue maintenance. In some cases municipalities are even afraid to be unable to offer a minimum service level in future. In common, traditional practice, roads and sewerage systems have been constructed in trenches that consist of sandy material that replaces the upper meters of the soft soil. Under influence of its weight, this causes accelerated settlements of the construction. A number of alternative constructions have been developed, e.g. using light-weight materials to limit settlement velocity. In order to limit future maintenance costs, improvement of maintenance strategies is desired. Tools have been and will be developed to support municipalities in improving their maintenance strategies and save money by doing that. A model (BALANS) that weighs the attractiveness of alternative solutions under different soil, environmental and economic circumstances, will be presented.
Combination with precise leveling and PSInSAR observations to quantify pumping-induced land subsidence in central Taiwan
Authors: Lu C. H. , Ni C. F. , Chang C. P. , Yen J. Y. , Hung W. C.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Choushui River Fluvial Plain (CRFP) is located in the western central Taiwan, where the geomaterials are composed of alluvial deposits. Because the CRFP area receives highly variable rainfall in wet and dry seasons, the groundwater becomes the main resource of residential water. The precise leveling monitoring from 1970s indicated that the coastal areas of CRFP had been threatened by serious pumping-induced land subsidence. On the basis of relatively accurate measurements of precise leveling measurements, we used cokriging technique to incorporate a number of InSAR images to quantify the surface deformation in CRFP. More specifically, the well-developed Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSI) was employed to process 34 Envisat images (2005–2008) and the results of PSI was then used for improving the spatial resolution of data from precise leveling. The results of cokriging estimation indicate whether the rate or the area of the land subsidence slows down gradually from 2005 to 2008. The subsidence in the northern part of CRFP was influenced by the groundwater decline in aquifer III, and the southern part was influenced by groundwater decline in aquifer II and III. The cokriging estimation was also comparable with continuous GPS data, and their correlation coefficient is 0.9603 and the root mean square is 10.56 mm yr−1.
The Effect of Relationship Marketing on Customers’ Loyalty (Evidence from Zemen Bank)
Authors: Chakiso Cherinet Boke
Published: November 2015

AbstractEvery firm without good marketing team and strategies is bound to fail. In order to be competitive and profitable in the industry, bankers should acquire and retain profitable customers. Definitely this is done with Relationship marketing. Relationship marketing is a philosophy of doing business, a strategic orientation that focuses on keeping and improving current customers rather than acquiring new customers. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Relationship marketing underpinnings on customers‟ loyalty. The study also investigated the mediating role of top management commitment between relationship marketing and customers‟ loyalty. The study is based on information collected from both primary and secondary sources of data. The sample for this study is taken from customers of Zemen bank in Addis Ababa. Data analyses were done using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, cross-tabulations, and tables followed by discussions. Moreover, inferential statistics of bivariate correlations and simple and multiple regressions were used. Findings of this study reveal that there is a significant and strong correlation between relationship marketing and customers‟ loyalty. Moreover, the study reveals that there is significant effect of trust, commitment, communication, and gratitude on predicting customers’ loyalty. Of these relationships, Gratitude emerged as the strongest factor which influences customers’ loyalty while conflict management remained statistically insignificant and negligible influence on customers’ loyalty in the cumulative model. However, all underpinnings had statistically significant influence on customers’ loyalty as individual. Moreover, management commitment had mediating effect between relationship marketing and customers’ loyalty. Depending on the findings, practical implications of this study is in order to ensure loyalty among bank customers; bankers should build a better relationship marketing strategy. Therefore, banks competitiveness and profitability will depend on their ability to build strong relationship bonds with their customers continuously. Furthermore, future research directions were also suggested on this study.
Joint-Stock Corporation under Turkish Commercial Law and the Doctrine of Increasing Shareholder Commitments
Authors: Tepe Berna
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACT The principle that the shareholder of a joint-stock company is under the single obligation of paying in his contribution to the equity-capital is in force within the framework of the 2011 Turkish Commercial Code. It appears as if the reinforced principle of “single obligation” critically challenges the relevance of the formerly settled norm of subjecting increase in shareholders’ commitments to unanimous consent of all shareholders.  That being said, since the Turkish Commercial Code also contains deviations to the single obligation principle in addition to the fact that the notion of increase is shareholders’ commitments was not made entirely obsolete from the Turkish Commercial Code, the doctrine for subjecting increases in shareholders’ commitments to the general assembly’s unanimous vote is - to an extent - still relevant within the context of the 2011 Turkish Commercial Code.