bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source areas and trajectories of nucleating air masses within and near the Carpathian Basin
Authors: Németh Z. , Salma I.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Particle number size distributions were measured by differential mobility particle sizer in the diameter range of 6–1000 nm in the near-city background and city centre of Budapest continuously for two years. The city is situated in the middle part of the Carpathian Basin, which is a topographically discrete unit in the southeast Central Europe. Yearly mean nucleation frequencies and uncertainties for the near-city background and city centre were (28+6/−4) % and (27+9/−4) %, respectively. Total numbers of days with continuous and uninterrupted growth process were 43 and 31, respectively. These events and their properties were utilised to investigate if there are any specific tracks and/or separable source regions for the nucleating air masses within or near the basin. Local wind speed and direction data indicated that there seem to be differences between the nucleation and growth intervals and non-nucleation days. For further analysis, backward trajectories were generated by a simple air parcel trajectory model. Start and end time parameters of the nucleation, and end time parameter of the particle growth were derived by a standardized procedure based on examining the channel contents of the contour plots. These parameters were used to specify a segment on each air mass trajectory that is associated with the track of the nucleating air mass. The results indicated that the nucleation events happened in the continental boundary layer mostly within the Carpathian Basin but the most distant trajectories originated outside of the basin. The tracks of the nucleating air masses were predominantly associated with NW and SE geographical fields, while the source areas that could be separated were frequently situated in the NW and NE quarters. Many of them were within or close to large forested territories. The results also emphasize that the new particle formation and growth phenomenon that occurs in the region influences larger territories than the Carpathian Basin.
Inversion of droplet aerosol analyzer data for long-term aerosol–cloud interaction measurements
Authors: Berghof M. I. A. , Frank G. P. , Sjogren S. , Martinsson B. G.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The droplet aerosol analyzer (DAA) was developed to study the influence of aerosol properties on clouds. It measures the ambient particle size of individual droplets and interstitial particles, the size of the dry (residual) particles after the evaporation of water vapor and the number concentration of the dry (residual) particles. A method was developed for the evaluation of DAA data to obtain the three-parameter data set: ambient particle diameter, dry (residual) particle diameter and number concentration. First results from in-cloud measurements performed on the summit of Mt. Brocken in Germany are presented. Various aspects of the cloud–aerosol data set are presented, such as the number concentration of interstitial particles and cloud droplets, the dry residue particle size distribution, droplet size distributions, scavenging ratios due to cloud droplet formation and size-dependent solute concentrations. This data set makes it possible to study clouds and the influence of the aerosol population on clouds.
Role of Coarse and Fine Mode Aerosols in MODIS AOD Retrieval: a case study over southern India
Authors: Sai Suman M. N. , Gadhavi H. , Ravi Kiran V. , Jayaraman A. , Rao S. V. B.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In the present study we compare the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) data with that obtained from operating sky-radiometer at a remote rural location in southern India (Gadanki, 13.45° N, 79.18° E) from April 2008 to March 2011. While the comparison between total (coarse mode + fine mode) AODs shows correlation coefficient (R) value of about 0.71 for Terra and 0.77 for Aqua, if one separates the AOD into fine and coarse mode, the comparison becomes very poor, particularly for fine mode with an R value of 0.44 for both Terra and Aqua. The coarse mode AOD derived from MODIS and sky-radiometer compare better with an R value of 0.74 for Terra and 0.66 for Aqua. The seasonal variation is also well captured by both ground-based and satellite measurements. It is shown that both the total AOD and fine mode AOD are significantly underestimated with slope of regression line 0.75 and 0.35 respectively, whereas the coarse mode AOD is overestimated with a slope value of 1.28 for Terra. Similar results are found for Aqua where the slope of the regression line for total AOD and fine mode AOD are 0.72 and 0.27 whereas 0.95 for coarse mode. The fine mode fraction derived from MODIS data is less than one-half of that derived from the sky-radiometer data. Based on these observations and comparison of single scattering albedo observed using sky-radiometer with that of MODIS aerosol models, we argue that the selection of aerosol types used in the MODIS retrieval algorithm may not be appropriate particularly in the case of southern India. Instead of selecting a moderately absorbing aerosol model (as being done currently in the MODIS retrieval) a more absorbing aerosol model could be a better fit for the fine mode aerosols, while reverse is true for the coarse mode aerosols, where instead of using "dust aerosols" which is relatively absorbing type, usage of coarse sea-salt particles which is less absorbing is more appropriate. However, not all the differences could be accounted based on aerosol model, other factors like errors in retrieval of surface reflectance may also be significant in causing underestimation of AOD by MODIS.
Impacts of physical data assimilation on the Global Ocean Carbonate System
Authors: Visinelli L. , Masina S. , Vichi M. , Storto A.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Prognostic simulations of ocean carbon distribution are largely dependent on an adequate representation of physical dynamics. In this work we show that the assimilation of temperature and salinity in a coupled ocean-biogeochemical model significantly improves the reconstruction of the carbonate system variables over the last two decades. For this purpose, we use the NEMO ocean global circulation model, coupled to the Biogeochemical Flux Model (BFM) in the global PELAGOS configuration. The assimilation of temperature and salinity is included into the coupled ocean-biogeochemical model by using a variational assimilation method. The use of ocean physics data assimilation improves the simulation of alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon against the control run as assessed by comparing with independent time series and gridded datasets. At the global scale, the effects of the assimilation of physical variables in the simulation of pCO2 improves the seasonal cycle in all basins, getting closer to the SOCAT estimates. Biases in the partial pressure of CO2 with respect to data that are evident in the control run are reduced once the physical data assimilation is used. The root mean squared errors in the pCO2 are reduced by up to 30% depending on the ocean basin considered. In addition, we quantify the relative contribution of biological carbon uptake on surface pCO2 by performing another simulation in which biology is neglected in the assimilated run.
Comparing the influence of net and gross anthropogenic land use and land cover changes on the carbon cycle in the MPI-ESM
Authors: Wilkenskjeld S. , Kloster S. , Pongratz J. , Raddatz T. , Reick C.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Global vegetation models traditionally treat anthropogenic land use and land cover changes (LULCC) only as the changes in vegetation cover seen from one year to the next (net transitions). This approach ignores sub-grid-scale processes such as shifting cultivation which do not affect the net vegetation distribution but which have an impact on the carbon budget. The simulations for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) all describe LULCC using the Harmonized Land-Use Protocol. Though this protocol describes such sub-grid-scale processes (gross transitions), some of the CMIP5 models still use the traditional approach. Using JSBACH/CBALANCE – the land carbon component of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM), this study demonstrates how this potentially leads to a severe underestimation of the carbon emissions from LULCC. Using net transitions lowers the average land use emissions from 1.44 to 0.90 Pg C yr–1 (38%) during the historical period (1850–2005) – a total lowering by 85 Pg C. The difference between the methods is smaller in the RCP-scenarios (2006–2100) but in RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 still cumulates to 30–40 Pg C (on average 0.3–0.4 Pg C yr–1 or 13–25%). In RCP4.5 essentially no difference between the methods is found. Results from models using net transitions are furthermore found to be sensitive to model resolution.
Multiproxy reconstruction for Kuroshio responses to Northern Hemispheric oceanic climate and Asian Monsoon since marine isotope stage 5.1 (∼88 ka)
Authors: Shi X. , Wu Y. , Zou J. , Liu Y. , Ge S. , Zhao M. , Liu J. , Zhu A. , Meng X. , Yao Z. , Han Y.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The Kuroshio, a western boundary current in the Western Pacific, plays a key role in regulating ocean and climate in the East Asia. The evolution of the Kuroshio and its branches has been the focus of paleoceanographic studies. In this study, we applied a multiproxy (grain size, planktonic foraminiferal species, δ18O, alkenone sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity) reconstruction from sediment core CSH1, which is located at the main axis of the Tsushima Warm Current, a branch of the Kuroshio, in the northern Okinawa Trough (OT). This study, for the first time, extended the paleoceanographic record of the Kuroshio to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5.1 (∼88 ka) from the far northern site in the OT. The core CSH1 contains three volcanic layers, K-Ah, AT, and Aso-4, which are ideal chronostratigraphic markers for precise age controls of the core. Planktonic foraminiferal species identified from this core contain warm water species related to the Kuroshio and cold species related to subarctic water mass. The relative abundances of the warm water species are high during MIS 1 and MIS 5.1, while cold species are high during MIS 2. An organic biomarker proxy, alkenone SST measured from CSH1 ranges between 21 and 25 °C with higher values during interglacials (MIS 1, 3.3, 5.1) and interstadials, and lower values during glacials and Heinrich (H)/stadial events. Sea surface salinity (SSS) and the depth of thermocline (DOT) reconstructed based on foraminifera isotopes and faunas indicate dominant Kuroshio responses to Northern Hemispheric climate and Asian Monsoon (AM) since ∼88 ka. The CSH1 SSS appears to be mainly controlled by the local river runoff and open ocean water, while the DOT change seems to be closely related to the strength of Kuroshio and the latitudinal shift of subarctic frontal zone. Our records suggest that during MIS 1 and MIS 5.1 while global sea level was high, the Kuroshio was dominant; while during MIS 2, MIS 3, and MIS 4 with low sea level, stronger winter AM and more southward subarctic front played important roles in governing the hydrographic characteristics in the OT. Spectral analysis of our multiproxy hydrographic records shows a dominant period at ∼24 ka. Our multiproxy hydrographic records from site near the modern Tsushima Warm Current show homogenous regional responses mainly to the global sea level and Northern Hemispheric climate, and regional mechanisms such as the Kuroshio, AM and subarctic front, which are consistently invoked in the interpretations of other regional records from the OT.
Development of a plume-in-grid model for industrial point and volume sources: application to power plant and refinery sources in the Paris region
Authors: Kim Y. , Seigneur C. , Duclaux O.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Plume-in-grid (PinG) models incorporating a host Eulerian model and a subgrid-scale model (usually a Gaussian plume or puff model) have been used for the simulations of stack emissions (e.g., fossil fuel-fired power plants and cement plants) for gaseous and particulate species such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM) and mercury (Hg). Here, we describe the extension of a PinG model to study the impact of an oil refinery where volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions can be important. The model is based on a reactive PinG model for ozone (O3), which incorporates a three-dimensional (3-D) Eulerian model and a Gaussian puff model. The model is extended to treat PM, with treatments of aerosol chemistry, particle size distribution, and the formation of secondary aerosols, which are consistent in both the 3-D Eulerian host model and the Gaussian puff model. Furthermore, the PinG model is extended to include the treatment of volume sources to simulate fugitive VOC emissions. The new PinG model is evaluated over Greater Paris during July 2009. Model performance is satisfactory for O3, PM2.5 and most PM2.5 components. Two industrial sources, a coal-fired power plant and an oil refinery, are simulated with the PinG model. The characteristics of the sources (stack height and diameter, exhaust temperature and velocity) govern the surface concentrations of primary pollutants (NOx, SO2 and VOC). O3 concentrations are impacted differently near the power plant than near the refinery, because of the presence of VOC emissions at the latter. The formation of sulfate is influenced by both the dispersion of SO2 and the oxidant concentration; however, the former tends to dominate in the simulations presented here. The impact of PinG modeling on the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is small and results mostly from the effect of different oxidant concentrations on biogenic SOA formation. The investigation of the criteria for injecting plumes into the host model (fixed travel time and/or puff size) shows that a size-based criterion is recommended to treat the formation of secondary aerosols (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium), in particular, farther downwind of the sources (beyond about 15 km). The impacts of PinG modeling are less significant in a simulation with a coarse grid size (10 km) than with a fine grid size (2 km), because the concentrations of the species emitted from the PinG sources are relatively less important compared to background concentrations when injected into the host model with a coarser grid size.
A reduced order modeling approach to represent subgrid-scale hydrological dynamics for regional- and climate-scale land-surface simulations: application in a polygonal tundra landscape
Authors: Pau G. S. H. , Bisht G. , Riley W. J.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Existing land surface models (LSMs) describe physical and biological processes that occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. For example, biogeochemical and hydrological processes responsible for carbon (CO2, CH4) exchanges with the atmosphere range from molecular scale (pore-scale O2 consumption) to tens of kilometer scale (vegetation distribution, river networks). Additionally, many processes within LSMs are nonlinearly coupled (e.g., methane production and soil moisture dynamics), and therefore simple linear upscaling techniques can result in large prediction error. In this paper we applied a particular reduced-order modeling (ROM) technique known as "Proper Orthogonal Decomposition mapping method" that reconstructs temporally-resolved fine-resolution solutions based on coarse-resolution solutions. We applied this technique to four study sites in a polygonal tundra landscape near Barrow, Alaska. Coupled surface-subsurface isothermal simulations were performed for summer months (June–September) at fine (0.25 m) and coarse (8 m) horizontal resolutions. We used simulation results from three summer seasons (1998–2000) to build ROMs of the 4-D soil moisture field for the four study sites individually (single-site) and aggregated (multi-site). The results indicate that the ROM produced a significant computational speedup (> 103) with very small relative approximation error (< 0.1%) for two validation years not used in training the ROM. We also demonstrated that our approach: (1) efficiently corrects for coarse-resolution model bias and (2) can be used for polygonal tundra sites not included in the training dataset with relatively good accuracy (< 1.5% relative error), thereby allowing for the possibility of applying these ROMs across a much larger landscape. This method has the potential to efficiently increase the resolution of land models for coupled climate simulations, allowing LSMs to be used at spatial scales consistent with mechanistic physical process representation.
Long term soil moisture mapping over the Tibetan plateau using Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Authors: van der Velde R. , Salama M. S. , Pellarin T. , Ofwono M. , Ma Y. , Su Z.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. This paper discusses soil moisture retrievals over the Tibetan Plateau from brightness temperature (TB's) observed by the Special Sensor Microwave Imagers (SSM/I's) during the warm seasons of the period from July 1987 to December 2008. The Fundamental Climate Data Record (FCDR) of F08, F11 and F13 SSM/I satellites by the Precipitation Research Group of Colorado State University is used for this study. A soil moisture retrieval algorithm is developed based on a radiative transfer model that simulates top-of-atmosphere TB's whereby effects of atmosphere are calculated from near-surface forcings obtained from a bias-corrected dataset. Validation of SSM/I retrievals against in situ measurements for a two-and-half year period (225 matchups) gives a Root Mean Squared Error of 0.046 m3 m−3. The agreement between retrievals and Noah simulations from the Global Land Data Assimilation System is investigated to further provide confidence in the reliability of SSM/I retrievals at the Plateau-scale. Normalised soil moisture anomalies (N) are computed on a warm seasonal (May–October) and on a monthly basis to analyse the trends present within the products available from July 1987 to December 2008. The slope of linear regression functions between N and time is used to quantify the trends. Both the warm season and monthly N indicate severe wettings of 0.8 to almost 1.6 decade−1 in the centre of the Plateau. Correlations are found by the trend with elevation for the warm season as a whole and the individual months May, September and October. The observed wetting of the Tibetan Plateau agrees with recent findings on permafrost retreat, precipitation increase and potential evapotranspiration decline.
On the data-driven inference of modulatory networks in climate science: an application to West African rainfall
Authors: González II D. L. , Angus M. P. , Tetteh I. K. , Bello G. A. , Padmanabhan K. , Pendse S. V. , Srinivas S. , Yu J. , Semazzi F. , Kumar V. , Samatova N. F.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Decades of hypothesis-driven and/or first-principles research have been applied towards the discovery and explanation of the mechanisms that drive climate phenomena, such as western African Sahel summer rainfall variability. Although connections between various climate factors have been theorized, not all of the key relationships are fully understood. We propose a data-driven approach to identify candidate players in this climate system, which can help explain underlying mechanisms and/or even suggest new relationships, to facilitate building a more comprehensive and predictive model of the modulatory relationships influencing a climate phenomenon of interest. We applied coupled heterogeneous association rule mining (CHARM), Lasso multivariate regression, and Dynamic Bayesian networks to find relationships within a complex system, and explored means with which to obtain a consensus result from the application of such varied methodologies. Using this fusion of approaches, we identified relationships among climate factors that modulate Sahel rainfall, including well-known associations from prior climate knowledge, as well as promising discoveries that invite further research by the climate science community.
From Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) to Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback: The Bridge Between High-Tech Medicine and High-Tech Psychology—How Can We Proceed in Clinical Practice?
Authors: Sztembis Rafal , Moss Donald
Published: April 2014

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including unstable angina (UA) and myocardial infarction (MI), are clinical symptoms of heart disease, called ischemic heart disease (IHD), and are important causes of death worldwide and in Poland. Medical associations including the European Cardiac Society (ECS) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recognize psychological factors, including depression, anxiety, and stress, as important factors that influence progression of IHD among patients after ACS. Data are accumulating, showing that psychophysiological interventions and relaxation exercises improve clinical outcome in cardiac patients. In the medical literature, however, a number of clinical randomized, controlled studies document the effectiveness of practical medical recommendations (evidence-based medicine, EBM), but very little available data and almost no evidence-based guidelines support physician use of practical implementation of psychophysiological practice or relaxation. The present article describes a study in a Polish hospital cardiology unit, utilizing a psychophysiological stress profile (PSP) to assess patients after myocardial infarction, to assess which patients can utilize paced diaphragmatic breathing as home practice without extended biofeedback training, and which require more extensive biofeedback training. The article discusses safety issues in the use of a PSP in cardiac populations, and possible practical consequences of using a psychophysiological stress profile in clinical cardiac practice.
Effect of a Brief Guided Imagery on Stress
Authors: Bigham Elizabeth , McDannel Lauren , Luciano Isabel , Salgado-Lopez Guadalupe
Published: April 2014

This study examined whether a guided imagery exercise impacted perceived cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral stress and whether higher initial levels of cognitive and emotional symptoms of stress were associated with greater physiological benefits from the guided imagery exercise. Twenty-nine participants completed measures of perceived stress. Heart rate and coherence levels were measured before and at the end of a guided imagery exercise. Cognitive and emotional stress scores decreased. Lower initial levels of emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms of stress were associated with greater reductions in heart rate. Decreases in behavioral symptoms of stress were associated with improvements in coherence. In conclusion, guided imagery exercises reduce cognitive and emotional stress and may be most effective at reducing heart rate when levels of perceived stress are low.
Anxiety Misdiagnosed as Dementia? A Complex Case Successfully Treated Using a Multimodal Biofeedback Approach
Authors: Guziak Cara C. , Smith Julia E.
Published: April 2014

A sixty-three year old woman with a recent diagnosis of dementia sought biofeedback treatment for depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) revealed brainwave patterns that could be associated with anxiety as well as possible dementia. The context of her forgetfulness and disorientation was explored and discovered to coincide with anxiety-related hyperarousal. Following a combination of heart rate variability (HRV) and neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback), she reported significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.
Obstacles and Pedestrian Detection on a Moving Vehicle
Authors: Yang Yang , Mingwu Ren , Jingyu Yang
Published: April 2014

We present a new method for obstacle and pedestrian detection with lower computation complexity and higher detection performance on a small target. By calculating stereo disparity according to the road parameters, our system efficiently detects objects above the ground. Experiments on over 10,000 images captured in urban areas demonstrate our method's effectiveness.

We also propose a multi-scale compatible pedestrian detector. Detection speed is improved by avoiding size adjustment of input. Experiments on three public pedestrian databases and our HENU database show that our detector achieves better results than the state-of-the-art detection quality at equal speed, especially on pedestrian target with small size.
External Force Estimation for Teleoperation Based on Proprioceptive Sensors
Authors: del Sol Enrique , King Ryan , Scott Robin , Ferre Manuel
Published: April 2014

This paper establishes an approach to external force estimation for telerobotic control in radioactive environments by the use of an identified manipulator model and pressure sensors, without employing a force/torque sensor. The advantages of - and need for - force feedback have been well-established in the field of telerobotics, where electrical and back-drivable manipulators have traditionally been used. This research proposes a methodology employing hydraulic robots for telerobotics tasks based on a model identification scheme. Comparative results of a force sensor and the proposed approach using a hydraulic telemanipulator are presented under different conditions. This approach not only presents a cost effective solution but also a methodology for force estimation in radioactive environments, where the dose rates limit the use of electronic devices such as sensing equipment.
Groundwater management using spatial and temporal aquifer zoning
Authors: Missimer Thomas M. , Ghaffour Noreddine , Amy Gary L.
Published: April 2014

Groundwater protection is an important issue in water resources management that can be achieved using a more efficient and economic methodology, allowing water use and economic development to coexist. Current protection strategies commonly lead to inefficient use of water resources and protracted disputes. This article proposes adopting a groundwater protection strategy based on spatial and temporal zoning of aquifers and aquifer systems, similar to the strategy for land use management. In some groundwater basins a common‐sense spatial scheme can be developed with buffers separating potentially conflicting water and land uses. More intense uses would be located down‐gradient or cross‐gradient from sensitive uses (e.g., potable‐supply wells). Where groundwater data are abundant, modeling would be used to establish buffer dimensions, allowing more intense uses to be located in closer proximity. Monitoring wells would be located in the buffers to ensure compliance with water quality standards and criteria.
Research Suggests that Timed Tests Cause Math Anxiety
Authors: Boaler Jo
Published: April 2014

This department publishes brief news articles, announcements and guest editorials on current mathematics education issues that stimulate the interest of TCM readers and cause them to think about an issue or consider a specific viewpoint about some aspect of mathematics education.
Untangling Geometric Ideas
Authors: Burgess Claudia R.
Published: April 2014

This geometry lesson uses the work of abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky as a springboard and is intended to promote the conceptual understanding of mathematics through problem solving, group cooperation, mathematical negotiations, and dialogue.
Pattern-Block Puzzlers
Authors: Yeh Cathery
Published: April 2014

Postscript items are designed as rich “grab-and-go” resources that any teacher could quickly incorporate into his or her classroom repertoire with little effort and maximum impact. The current article shares ideas for using Pattern Blocks to increase students' creativity and problem solving skills while extending their understanding of geometric reasoning and number sense.
Une mesure unifiée de la complexité linguistique : l’analyse matricielle définitoire
Authors: Ibrahim Amr Helmy
Published: April 2014

Cet article essaie de démontrer qu’il est possible d’avoir une mesure unifiée et standardisée de la plupart des types de complexité linguistique quelle que soit la langue à condition de recourir à un système de description et d’interprétation du fonctionnement des langues – en l’occurrence l’analyse matricielle définitoire (AMD) – qui s’appuie sur cette propriété remarquable des langues naturelles de pouvoir se décrire avec leurs termes les plus courants à travers la construction de classes d’équivalence au sein desquelles les faits grammaticaux – principale source de complexité – sont « décomplexifiés » et mesurés en termes d’opérations régulières de réduction.
La langue médicale est-elle « trop complexe » ?
Authors: Vecchiato Sara , Gerolimich Sonia Vanna
Published: April 2014

Cette contribution analyse la nature fondamentalement complexe de la langue médicale. Les auteures montrent que cette complexité permet la densification du contenu informationnel et donc une transmission efficace des informations entre spécialistes. Toutefois, certains aspects de cette complexité peuvent constituer un obstacle entre les professionnels de la santé et les profanes, ainsi qu’entre les spécialistes eux-mêmes. Les auteures proposent alors la notion d’hypercomplexité, pour cerner les cas où la complexité perd sa fonctionnalité. La frontière entre complexité et hypercomplexité est une question de (dis)proportion entre le contenu notionnel d’une forme linguistique et l’effort requis pour la comprendre. Nous proposons alors (d’établir) une échelle de complexité, qui est liée, d’une part, à l’opacité imposée au destinataire du texte et, d’autre part, à la typologie à laquelle le texte appartient. La portée des choix rédactionnels a été mise en évidence à partir d’un corpus de textes de vulgarisation (formulaires de consentement éclairé et notices pharmaceutiques).
Complexité dans une langue isolante : exemple du vietnamien
Authors: Do-Hurinville Danh Thành
Published: April 2014

Toutes les langues sont aussi complexes les unes que les autres, mais le degré de complexité peut ne pas être similaire dans un domaine donné. Le présent article vise à examiner l’hypothèse compensatoire (selon laquelle les langues isolantes sont moins complexes que les langues flexionnelles du point de vue morphologique, mais peuvent être, par compensation, plus complexes du point de vue syntaxique et sémantique) en passant au crible la grammaire du vietnamien, langue isolante, dont la complexité est examinée à trois niveaux : morpho-phonologique, syntactico-sémantique et discursif.
Evaluating the specificity of primers employed for PCR-based diagnostics of Leishmaniases using multiple alignment analysis
Authors: Gabriel Jane Eyre
Published: April 2014

The purpose of this study was to assess the specificity of distinct primers used in the molecular diagnosis for Leishmania detection by using biological sequence search and alignment tools. Four primer pairs routinely employed in the PCR-based diagnostics for Leishmaniasis detection were evaluated through the software Primer-BLAST, which compares nucleotide sequences against user-selected database to avoid primer pairs cause non-specific amplifications. The LU5A-LB3C primer pair showed good specificity among all primers analyzed, generating alignments exclusively against distinct sequences of Leishmania species and no matches were found with other parasite species. Whereas the primer pairs designated MP3H - MP1L, B1-B2 and 13A-13B demonstrated matches against distinct sequences of Leishmania strains and other species, such as Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis). These findings emphasize the importance of selecting suitable primers for diagnosis of molecular diseases by conducting previous screenings in order to infer their specificity and identity against target templates within biological sequence annotation database.
Análises cariotípicas em Leporellus vittatus e Leporinus striatus (Teleostei, Characiformes, Anostomidae) da Bacia do Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso, Brasil
Authors: Krinski Diones , Miyazawa Carlos Suetoshi
Published: April 2014

Os peixes da família Anostomidae (Characiformes) representam um dos grupos mais importantes da ictiofauna de água doce da América do Sul, com muitas espécies de alto valor econômico em termos de pesca, piscicultura e também como espécies ornamentais. Esta família possui 12 gêneros com 138 espécies descritas e cerca de 25 espécies novas ainda não descritas. Quando consideradas as pesquisas citogenéticas realizadas com esta família, a maioria dos estudos foram realizados com grupos de peixes com pintas, sendo poucas as análises com os grupos de listras. Cromossomicamente, os anostomídeos com pintas representa um dos grupos de peixes mais bem estudados com espécies apresentando cromossomos sexuais do tipo ZZ/ZW e cromossomos supranumerários, embora a maioria não apresente cromossomos sexuais. Deste modo, este trabalho teve como objetivo auxiliar no conhecimento citogenético deste grupo de peixes através de análise cromossômica das espécies Leporellus vittatus e Leporinus striatus. Ambas as espécies analisadas mostraram valor diploide modal de 2n = 54 cromossomos; metacêntricos e submetacêntricos e número fundamental igual a 108. A heterocromatina constitutiva esteve presente em pequenos blocos intersticiais ou proximais aos telômeros da maioria dos cromossomos de L. striatus, havendo um bloco heterocromático bem marcado na região pericentromérica de um par de submetacêntrico, corroborando com a região organizadora de nucléolos (Ag-RON) do tipo simples. Em L. vittatus a heterocromatina constitutiva esteve presente em blocos heterocromáticos bem marcados nos centrômeros de alguns cromossomos, enquanto outros apresentaram marcações conspícuas na região pericentromérica e a Ag-RON mostrou-se evidente em um par cromossômico na região telomérica dos braços longos de um cromossomo submetacêntrico. Os resultados obtidos corroboram com outros trabalhos, mostrando que este grupo possui de fato um cariótipo estável, o que é esperado em peixes que apresentam alta vagilidade.
Assembleia de Larvas de Odonata (Insecta) em ambientes límnicos do Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, Paraná, Brasil
Authors: Oliveira Edinalva , Takeuchi Simone Satsuki , Cerutti Vânia Eloiza
Published: April 2014

Para analisar a composição, distribuição e índices ecológicos para a assembleia de larvas de Odonata, em 15 pontos amostrais (seis lênticos e nove lóticos) do Parque Estadual de Vila Velha, foram executados quatro programas de amostragem. Um ao fim de cada estação climática, entre março e dezembro/2011. Em cada ponto foram extraídas cinco amostras, cada uma obtida num intervalo de 15min, utilizando peneira (diâmetro de 25 cm e abertura da malha 0,2 mm). Foram coligidas 3.061 larvas, destas 2.419 registradas em sistemas lênticos e 642 em lóticos. Nos sistemas lênticos a maior frequência absoluta (538) ocorre no Baixio do Coqueiro. Nos sistemas lóticos (166) ocorrem no Rio Guabiroba. Entre as sete famílias registradas, Coenagrionidae – 40,48% – e Libellulidae – 39,36% foram as mais abundantes e Megapodagrionidae – 0,52%, a de menor representatividade. Dos 21 gêneros ocorrentes, Acanthagrion, Aeshna, Hetaerina, Lestes, Macrothemis e Telebasis representam cerca de 88% do total. A riqueza de gêneros foi próxima: lênticos (10) e lóticos (9). A maior riqueza de Margalef (17,4) ocorreu no Rio Guabiroba, valores mais elevados da diversidade de Shannon (0,83) ocorrem nos rios Barrozinho e Quebra Perna. A dominância de Berger Parker foi marcada pela presença de Hetaerina no Rio Barrozinho e a equitabilidade de Pielou foi mais acentuada no Rio Guabiroba. O estimador Jackniffe de segunda ordem apontou o máximo valor (23,4) para gêneros. Os resultados refletem a relevância dessa Unidade de Conservação com relação à manutenção de áreas úmidas conservadas a favor da biodiversidade desta assembleia de larvas
Diagnóstico ambiental e bacteriológico da água do equipo odontológico na cidade de Vitória da Conquista (BA)
Authors: Gusmão Isabel Celeste Caires Pereira , Gusmão João Milton Rocha
Published: April 2014

Nos últimos anos, grande esforço tem sido feito para conscientizar os profissionais da saúde sobre a importância dos processos de esterilização e antissepsia. Entretanto, pouca atenção tem sido dispensada pelos cirurgiões-dentistas à qualidade da água utilizada na prática odontológica. Neste trabalho, realizou-se um diagnóstico quanto à presença de coliformes fecais, totais e heterotróficas nas torneiras e equipos odontológicos (turbina e seringa tríplice) de 10 consultórios públicos da cidade de Vitória da Conquista (BA), mediante técnica de tubos múltiplos. Das 30 amostras obtidas somente uma foi negativa para bactérias heterotróficas e 29 apresentaram contaminação severa. A presença de coliformes fecais pode indicar falha na higienização desses espaços, comprometendo a saúde de seus usuários. Os resultados apontam a necessidade de cuidados especiais, tais como a descontaminação e a desinfecção periódica dos sistemas de água dos equipos.
A Phytochemical-rich Multivitamin-multimineral Supplement is Bioavailable and Reduces Serum Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein, Myeloperoxidase, and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in a Four-week Pilot trial of Healthy Individuals
Authors: Lerman Robert H. , Desai Anuradha , Lamb Joseph J. , Chang Jyh-Lurn , Darland Gary , Konda Veera R.
Published: April 2014

Background:

A multivitamin-multimineral supplement combined with a diverse blend of bioactive phytochemicals may provide additional antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory property for overall health. This convenient feature may be useful for individuals who want to increase their intake of phytochemicals.

Methods:

We conducted a pilot study in 15 healthy individuals (8 women and 7 men, mean age 41.7±14.9 years, mean body mass index 28.0±5.6) to investigate the effects of this novel formulation on biomarkers associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. After a 2-week diet that limited intake of fruits and vegetables to 2 servings/day, participants continued with the same restricted diet but began consuming 2 tablets of the study product for the subsequent 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples collected at Week 2 and Week 6 were analyzed and compared using paired t-tests for levels of carotenoids, folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), F2-isoprostane, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and myeloperoxidase. Noninvasive peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT) was also measured.

Results:

After 4 weeks of supplementation, plasma levels of carotenoids, folate, and vitamin B12, but not homocysteine, were significantly increased (P<.05). Serum levels of oxLDL, PAI-1 and myeloperoxidase were significantly reduced (P<.05), but F2-isoprostane, hs-CRP, and EndoPAT measures were unchanged compared with baseline. The study product was well tolerated.

Conclusions:

This nutritional supplement is bioavailable as indicated by the significant increase in plasma carotenoids, vitamin B12, and folate levels and may provide health benefits by significantly reducing serum levels of oxLDL, myeloperoxidase, and PAI-1 in healthy individuals.
Nonlocal Intuition: Replication and Paired-subjects Enhancement Effects
Authors: Rezaei Saeed , Mirzaei Maryam , Zali Mohammad Reza
Published: April 2014

This article reports the results of a study of repeat entrepreneurs in Tehran, Iran, in which nonlocal intuition was investigated in a replication and extension of experiment using measures of heart rate variability (HRV). Nonlocal intuition is the perception of information about a distant or future event by the body's psychophysiological systems, which is not based on reason or memories of prior experience. This study follows up on the McCraty, Radin, and Bradley studies, which found evidence of nonlocal intuition. We used Radin's experimental protocol, with the addition of HRV measures as in the McCraty studies involving computer administration of a random sequence of calm and emotional pictures as the stimulus, and conducted two experiments on mutually exclusive samples—the first on a group of single participants (N=15) and the second on a group of co-participant pairs (N=30)—to investigate the question of the “amplification” of intuition effects by social connection. Each experiment was conducted over 45 trials while heart rate rhythm activity was recorded continuously. Results, using random permutation analysis, a statistically conservative procedure, show significant pre-stimulus results—that is, for the period before the computer had randomly selected the picture stimulus—for both experiments. Moreover, while significant separation between the emotional and calm HRV curves was observed in the single-participant experiment, an even larger separation was apparent for the experiment on co-participant pairs; the difference between the two groups was also significant. Overall, the results of the single-participant experiment confirm previous finding: that electrophysiological measures, especially changes in the heart rhythm, can detect intuitive foreknowledge. This result is notable because it constitutes cross-cultural corroboration in a non-Western context—namely, Iran. In addition, the results for co-participant pairs offer new evidence on the amplification of the nonlocal intuition signal.
Impurity-driven multilayer formation in inverted aluminum-induced layer exchange of silicon
Authors: Takeuchi Masayoshi , Kondo Michio
Published: April 2014

We report on the multilayer formation in inverted aluminum-induced layer exchange of silicon for samples with higher oxygen content in amorphous silicon. We find that the aluminum layer after the exchange contains silicon precipitates with a morphology that differed depending on oxygen contamination. The sample with the lower oxygen content shows columnar silicon precipitates, whereas the most contaminated sample shows a layered structure of Al/Si/Al. These results are interpreted in terms of aluminum and silicon diffusion influenced by the presence of oxygen, and a two-step layer exchange model is proposed for the formation of the layered structure.
Low-frequency noise in amorphous indium–gallium–zinc oxide thin-film transistors with an inverse staggered structure and an SiO2 gate insulator
Authors: Park Jae Chul , Lee Ho-Nyeon
Published: April 2014

We report the low-frequency noise (LFN) behavior of amorphous indium–gallium–zinc oxide thin-film transistors with an inverse staggered structure and an SiO2 gate insulator. The normalized noise power spectral density depended on channel length, L, with the form 1/L
2, and on the gate bias voltage, V
G, and threshold voltage, V
TH, with the form 1/(V
G − V
TH)β where 1.5 < β < 2.1. In addition, the scattering constant α was less than 105 Ω. These results suggest that the contact resistance has a significant role in the LFN behavior and the charge-carrier density fluctuation is the dominant origin of LFN.
Characteristics of liquid phase deposited SiO2 on (NH4)2S-treated GaAs with an ultrathin Si interface passivation layer
Authors: Lee Ming-Kwei , Yen Chih-Feng
Published: April 2014

The characteristics of liquid-phase-deposited SiO2 film on GaAs were investigated. A mixture of H2SiF6 and H3BO3 aqueous precursors was used as the growth solution. SiO2 on GaAs with (NH4)2S treatment shows good electrical characteristics owing to the reduction of native oxides and sulfur passivation. The electrical characteristics are further improved with an ultrathin Si interface passivation layer (Si IPL) from the reduction of Fermi-level pinning and interface state density. Moreover, during the SiO2 deposition, HF in the growth solution can simultaneously and effectively remove native oxides on Si IPL and provide fluorine passivation on it. The Al/SiO2/Si IPL/(NH4)2S-treated GaAs MOS capacitor shows superior electrical properties. The leakage current densities can reach 7.4 × 10−9 and 6.83 × 10−8 A/cm2 at ±2 V. The interface state density can reach a 2.11 × 1011 cm−2 eV−1 with low frequency-dispersion of 8%.
Effect of fabrication routes on the properties of Mn-doped BaTi2O5 ceramics
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Tsukada Shinya , Akishige Yukikuni
Published: April 2014

In the present study, 0, 0.2, and 0.4 wt % MnO2 doped BaTi2O5 ceramics were fabricated by three different routes, i.e., sol–gel deriving powders and spark plasma sintering (SPS) sintering, solid state calcining and SPS sintering, sol–gel deriving powders and two times sintering. Only through the sol–gel technique and conventional sintering route, Mn could substitute for Ti as the acceptor doping and consequently caused the sharp drop of the Curie temperature as well as the enhanced dielectric constant and restricted ferroelectricity. Besides, the 0.2 wt % MnO2 doped BaTi2O5 ceramics fabricated by sol–gel deriving powders and SPS sintering exhibited the most superior dielectric and ferroelectric properties.
Radical reaction in aqueous media injected by atmospheric pressure plasma jet and protective effect of antioxidant reagents evaluated by single-molecule DNA measurement
Authors: Kurita Hirofumi , Shimizu Mika , Sano Kaori , Nakajima Tomoko , Yasuda Hachiro , Takashima Kazunori , Mizuno Akira
Published: April 2014

Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) has been extensively studied for biological and medical applications in recent years. Chemically active species are generated and injected into aqueous media subjected to plasma exposure. They play an important role in the activation and/or inactivation of biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, lipid, and proteins, in aqueous media. To evaluate the effect of NTP on these biomolecules at the molecular level, we have been considering large DNA molecules to be used as a biomarker. The single-molecule-based analysis of strand breakages induced by NTP, namely, the atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), on large DNA molecules has been performed. We demonstrated the facile estimation of the rate of double-strand breaks induced by the APPJ. Using this analysis, we have evaluated both the intensity of radical reaction and the protective effect on the reaction by adding antioxidant agents.
Sustainable sediment management in reservoirs and regulated rivers: Experiences from five continents
Authors: Kondolf G. Mathias , Gao Yongxuan , Annandale George W. , Morris Gregory L. , Jiang Enhui , Zhang Junhua , Cao Yongtao , Carling Paul , Fu Kaidao , Guo Qingchao , Hotchkiss Rollin , Peteuil Christophe , Sumi Tetsuya , Wang Hsiao‐Wen , Wang Zhongmei , Wei Zhilin , Wu Baosheng , Wu Caiping , Yang Chih Ted
Published: April 2014

By trapping sediment in reservoirs, dams interrupt the continuity of sediment transport through rivers, resulting in loss of reservoir storage and reduced usable life, and depriving downstream reaches of sediments essential for channel form and aquatic habitats. With the acceleration of new dam construction globally, these impacts are increasingly widespread. There are proven techniques to pass sediment through or around reservoirs, to preserve reservoir capacity and to minimize downstream impacts, but they are not applied in many situations where they would be effective. This paper summarizes collective experience from five continents in managing reservoir sediments and mitigating downstream sediment starvation. Where geometry is favorable it is often possible to bypass sediment around the reservoir, which avoids reservoir sedimentation and supplies sediment to downstream reaches with rates and timing similar to pre‐dam conditions. Sluicing (or drawdown routing) permits sediment to be transported through the reservoir rapidly to avoid sedimentation during high flows; it requires relatively large capacity outlets. Drawdown flushing involves scouring and re‐suspending sediment deposited in the reservoir and transporting it downstream through low‐level gates in the dam; it works best in narrow reservoirs with steep longitudinal gradients and with flow velocities maintained above the threshold to transport sediment. Turbidity currents can often be vented through the dam, with the advantage that the reservoir need not be drawn down to pass sediment. In planning dams, we recommend that these sediment management approaches be utilized where possible to sustain reservoir capacity and minimize environmental impacts of dams.