bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geomagnetic hazards
Authors: Boteler D H
Published: August 2013

This report provides a review of the effects of geomagnetic disturbances on technological systems on the ground. Information is provided on the causes and characteristics of different types of magnetic disturbances, and the factors affecting their occurrence are
used to build up a geomagnetic climatology. This information is then used to make a hazard assessment for affected systems in Canada. Geomagnetic effects on power systems, pipelines, and telephone cables are examined in detail. A catalogue is provided of the 150 years of geomagnetic effects that
have been observed on technological systems on the ground, and reports are given on using the celestial power.
Geo-mapping Frontiers: Updated information on the regions covered by Operations Baker, Bathurst, Keewatin, Northern Keewatin, Thelon and Wager; Nunavut and Northwest Territories: legacy fieldnotes
Authors: Harris J R , Hillary E M , Percival J A , Buller G , Buenviaje R , Bazor D , Baer S , Kiessling G M , Pehrsson S J , Davis W , Berman R G , Wodicka N , Beauchemin M , Coyne M , Therriault A M
Published: August 2013

The Geo-mapping Frontiers project was initiated to improve geoscience knowledge in the least understood parts of Canada's north. Open File 7434 is part of a series of open files, 7434 to 7448, produced during the Geo-mapping Frontiers project. The series contains
legacy geology data and remote predictive mapping information for a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut, collected over 2 years. The derived data products from this work are presented in 15 separate thematic packages to keep the downloads to a manageable size, between 1 and 4 GB. ArcGIS users
(version 9.3 and above) can download OF 7434 and any of the georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. Users not interested in geodatabases will find data in shape files in Open Files 7434 and 7435, or in georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. This series of publications
represents a compilation of available data sets for four regions, and their surrounding areas, that encompass a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut. Several interpretive Remote Predictive Mapping (RPM) layers are included. The data sets include airborne geophysics, LANDSAT 7 imagery, lake
sediment analyses, as well as legacy mapping and sample data from the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) archives. This series is the first of a group of reports for the Geo-mapping Frontiers project, and is intended to provide a basis of knowledge for the entire region.
Geo-mapping Frontiers: Updated information on the regions covered by Operations Baker, Bathurst, Keewatin, Northern Keewatin, Thelon and Wager; Nunavut and Northwest Territories: legacy traverse maps, NTS 66
Authors: Harris J R , Hillary E M , Percival J A , Buller G , Buenviaje R , Bazor D , Baer S , Kiessling G M , Pehrsson S J , Davis W , Berman R G , Wodicka N , Beauchemin M , Coyne M , Therriault A M
Published: August 2013

The Geo-mapping Frontiers project was initiated to improve geoscience knowledge in the least understood parts of Canada's north. Open File 7434 is part of a series of open files, 7434 to 7448, produced during the Geo-mapping Frontiers project. The series contains
legacy geology data and remote predictive mapping information for a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut, collected over 2 years. The derived data products from this work are presented in 15 separate thematic packages to keep the downloads to a manageable size, between 1 and 4 GB. ArcGIS users
(version 9.3 and above) can download OF 7434 and any of the georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. Users not interested in geodatabases will find data in shape files in Open Files 7434 and 7435, or in georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. This series of publications
represents a compilation of available data sets for four regions, and their surrounding areas, that encompass a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut. Several interpretive Remote Predictive Mapping (RPM) layers are included. The data sets include airborne geophysics, LANDSAT 7 imagery, lake
sediment analyses, as well as legacy mapping and sample data from the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) archives. This series is the first of a group of reports for the Geo-mapping Frontiers project, and is intended to provide a basis of knowledge for the entire region.
Geo-mapping Frontiers: Updated information on the regions covered by Operations Baker, Bathurst, Keewatin, Northern Keewatin, Thelon and Wager; Nunavut and Northwest Territories: National Reference Collection maps and tables, NTS 66
Authors: Harris J R , Hillary E M , Percival J A , Buller G , Buenviaje R , Bazor D , Baer S , Kiessling G M , Pehrsson S J , Davis W , Berman R G , Wodicka N , Beauchemin M , Coyne M , Therriault A M
Published: August 2013

The Geo-mapping Frontiers project was initiated to improve geoscience knowledge in the least understood parts of Canada's north. Open File 7434 is part of a series of open files, 7434 to 7448, produced during the Geo-mapping Frontiers project. The series contains
legacy geology data and remote predictive mapping information for a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut, collected over 2 years. The derived data products from this work are presented in 15 separate thematic packages to keep the downloads to a manageable size, between 1 and 4 GB. ArcGIS users
(version 9.3 and above) can download OF 7434 and any of the georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. Users not interested in geodatabases will find data in shape files in Open Files 7434 and 7435, or in georeferenced raster data in the rest of the series. This series of publications
represents a compilation of available data sets for four regions, and their surrounding areas, that encompass a large part of eastern mainland Nunavut. Several interpretive Remote Predictive Mapping (RPM) layers are included. The data sets include airborne geophysics, LANDSAT 7 imagery, lake
sediment analyses, as well as legacy mapping and sample data from the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) archives. This series is the first of a group of reports for the Geo-mapping Frontiers project, and is intended to provide a basis of knowledge for the entire region.
Sensed fittingness between act and consequence: The last acts of Esther in the book of Esther and Grace in the film Dogville
Authors: Snyman Gerrie
Published: August 2013

The book of Esther employs a wisdom theme to develop the plot and its denouement. The particular illustration of wisdom is that of role reversal. Haman, the second in command, gets kicked out and the leaders of those he sought to lock out filled his position. However, the role reversal becomes more than a mere change in status. As Grace needed to step into her gangster father’s shoes in the film Dogville in order to achieve justice, so Esther had to step into Persian shoes to achieve justice. The execution of justice is an untidy and messy affair. The question this article puts on the table is whether Esther acts with justice in her quest for retribution. In answering this question, the article firstly inquires into the narrative rationality of the story and the denouement of the plot. Related to the book of Esther’s narrative rationality, the article examines the question of wisdom from a narrator’s and character’s perspective. Lastly, it will then put the issue of justice on the table with the help of the film Dogville in order to see whether there is a link between wisdom and justice.
The Experience of Engaging in Occupation following Stroke: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Williams Shoshannah , Murray Carolyn
Published: August 2013

Introduction:

A meta-synthesis is a means of extracting data from multiple qualitative studies about the same topic, re-analysing the findings and bringing them together as a collective whole. Data from six qualitative studies that investigated the experience of engaging in occupation following a stroke were extracted and reanalysed with the purpose of gaining a greater understanding of the subjective experience to inform occupational therapy practice.

Methods:

Six databases were systematically searched for literature published in English during 1990–2011. Seven studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool; six of these were included in the meta-synthesis.

Findings:

Five conceptual themes regarding occupational engagement emerged from the review: an emotional response, impact on identity, role of significant others, community access and the process of occupational adaptation.

Conclusion:

Engagement in occupation following a stroke is linked to self-identity and an emotional response; both of these, in turn, have an impact on capacity for occupational adaptation. Individuals are situated within a context of significant others and community. These findings give occupational therapists greater insight into the experience of older people following stroke in community settings.
Time to Wake Up: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice for Sleep in Occupational Therapy
Authors: Fung Christina , Wiseman-Hakes Catherine , Stergiou-Kita Mary , Nguyen Michelle , Colantonio Angela
Published: August 2013

Sleep plays an essential role in physical, cognitive and emotional functioning, and in occupational performance and participation; it is now considered within the scope of occupational therapy practice. However, since sleep is not routinely assessed and addressed in standard practice, a practice gap exists. Interventions are available to optimize sleep and cope with the consequences of sleep disorders, but occupational therapists may overlook the effect of sleep on function, so missing opportunities to provide relevant management strategies. This opinon piece argues the benefits of including sleep within occupational therapy practice and provides suggestions to facilitate its inclusion within practice, education and research.
Effects of Prior Cold Work on Hydrogen Trapping and Diffusion in API X-70 Line Pipe Steel During Electrochemical Charging
Authors: Ha Hung M. , Ai Jia-He , Scully John R.
Published: August 2013

The effect of prior cold work (10, 20, and 40% reduction in thickness) on hydrogen diffusion and trapping was investigated using both Devanathan permeation and thermal desorption methods. The first rise transient during diffusion-controlled permeation marks the slowest Deff (1.8×10−7 cm2/s in as-received API X-70 steel), which is indicative of the greatest degree of trapping by both irreversible and reversible traps. Faster Deff during all subsequent decay and rise transients (3.0 to 4.2×10−6 cm2/s in as-received API X-70 steel) indicates partial trap filling/release from reversible traps and permanent filling of irreversible traps after the first rise transient. Cold work substantially increased trapping as evident from both slower permeation and reduced Deff (2.0 to 4.2×10−7 cm2/s in cold-worked API X-70 steels) as well as by thermal desorption. Thermal desorption spectroscopy indicates one relatively reversible and one room temperature irreversible trap state in the cold-worked steels with desorption activation energies of 13.9±0.8 and 19.9±0.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The reversible trap state was the dominant absorber of H in the cold-worked materials.
Steam Oxidation of 9% to 12%Cr Steels: Critical Evaluation and Implications for Practical Application
Authors: Zurek J. , De Bruycker E. , Huysmans S. , Quadakkers W.J.
Published: August 2013

In new and future generation power plants, creep-resistant steels selected for high-temperature components are subjected to several service environments. In many of these applications, water vapor has been found to substantially alter the technologically relevant properties, mainly growth rate and adherence, of the surface oxides. Various data sets exist in the literature for steam oxidation for this type of steel; however, these data show a substantial variability. These differences can be related to, e.g., “batch-to-batch” variations, oxidation conditions, surface treatment, and differences between laboratory/power plants data. Therefore, these literature data need careful and critical verification when being used to estimate the long-term materials behavior in real power generation plants. The paper discusses the existing steam oxidation data for the martensitic steels P91 (9%Cr-V-Mo), P92 (9%Cr-W-V-Mo), and VM12 (12%Cr-Co-W-V-Mo), with the main emphasis on discussing the parameters that are responsible for the observed variations in oxidation rates for the various types of materials. Differences in minor alloying additions and surface treatment have as a result that for the 9%Cr steels the scale thickness after a given oxidation time may easily differ by a factor of two. Because of the “batch-to-batch variation” in oxidation behavior, the common procedure used to determine service temperatures of tubes made of low-Cr steels on the basis of measured oxide layer thicknesses, has to be used with some care in case of the 9% to 12%Cr martensitic steels. This is especially the case for the 12%Cr steels because their oxidation rates between 500°C and 650°C may not steadily increase with increasing temperature.
Space-based observations of fire NOx emission coefficients: a global biome-scale comparison
Authors: Mebust A. K. , Cohen R. C.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Biomass burning represents both a significant and highly variable source of NOx to the atmosphere. This variability stems from both the episodic nature of fires, and from fire conditions such as the modified combustion efficiency of the fire, the nitrogen content of the fuel and possibly other factors that have not been identified or evaluated by comparison with observations. Satellite instruments offer an opportunity to observe emissions from wildfires, providing a large suite of measurements which allow us to study mean behavior and variability on the regional scale in a statistically rigorous manner. Here we use space-based measurements of fire radiative power from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer in combination with NO2 tropospheric column densities from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument to measure mean emission coefficients (ECs in g NO MJ−1) from fires for global biomes, and across a wide range of smaller-scale ecoregions, defined as spatially-distinct clusters of fires with similar fuel type. Mean ECs for all biomes fall between 0.250–0.362 g NO MJ−1, a range that is smaller than found in previous studies of biome-scale emission factors. The majority of ecoregion ECs fall within or near this range, implying that under most conditions, mean fire emissions per unit energy are similar between different regions regardless of fuel type or spatial variability. In contrast to these similarities, we find that about 24% of individual ecoregion ECs deviate significantly (p < 0.05) from the mean EC for the associated biome, and a similar number of ecoregion ECs falls outside this range, implying that there are some regions where fuel type-specific global emission parameterizations fail to capture local fire NOx emissions.
Methods for estimating uncertainty in factor analytic solutions
Authors: Paatero P. , Eberly S. , Brown S. G. , Norris G. A.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. EPA PMF version 5.0 and the underlying multilinear engine executable ME-2 contain three methods for estimating uncertainty in factor analytic models: classical bootstrap (BS), displacement of factor elements (DISP), and bootstrap enhanced by displacement of factor elements (BS-DISP). The goal of these methods is to capture the uncertainty of PMF analyses due to random errors and rotational ambiguity. It is shown that the three methods complement each other: depending on characteristics of the data set, one method may provide better results than the other two. Results are presented using synthetic data sets, including interpretation of diagnostics, and recommendations are given for parameters to report when documenting uncertainty estimates from EPA PMF or ME-2 applications.
Flask sample measurements for CO2, CH4 and CO using cavity ring-down spectrometry
Authors: Wang J.-L. , Jacobson G. , Rella C. W. , Chang C.-Y. , Liu I. , Liu W.-T. , Chew C. , Ou-Yang C.-F. , Liao W.-C. , Chang C.-C.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. In recent years, cavity ring-down spectrometry (CRDS) has been demonstrated to be a highly sensitive, stable and fast analytical technique for real-time in situ measurements of greenhouse gases. In this study, we propose the technique (which we call flask-CRDS) of analyzing whole air flask samples for CO2, CH4 and CO using a custom gas manifold designed to connect to a CRDS analyzer. Extremely stable measurements of these gases can be achieved over a large pressure range in the flask, from 175 to 760 Torr. The wide pressure range is conducive to flask sample measurement in three ways: (1) flask samples can be collected in low-pressure environments (e.g. high-altitude locations); (2) flask samples can be first analyzed for other trace gases with the remaining low-pressure sample for CRDS analysis of CO2, CH4 and CO; and (3) flask samples can be archived and re-analyzed for validation. The repeatability of this method (1σ of 0.07 ppm for CO2, 0.4 ppb for CH4, and 0.5 ppb for CO) was assessed by analyzing five canisters filled with the same air sample to a pressure of 200 Torr. An inter-comparison of the flask-CRDS data with in-situ CRDS measurements at a high-altitude mountain baseline station revealed excellent agreement, with differences of 0.10 ± 0.09 ppm (1σ) for CO2 and 0.9 ± 1.0 ppb for CH4. This study demonstrated that the flask-CRDS method was not only simple to build and operate but could also perform highly accurate and precise measurements of atmospheric CO2, CH4 and CO in flask samples.
Study on the antibacterial activity of selected natural herbs and their application in water treatment
Authors: Harikumar P. S. , Manjusha C. M.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The microbial contamination of water is a world-wide environmental problem. Many traditional methods are being used in various parts of the world to purify the water. According to World Health Organization, 80% of world's population living in rural areas relies on herbal traditional medicines as their primary health care. So the study on properties and uses of medicinal plants are subject to growing interests. An attempt was made to assess the antibacterial properties of certain selected herbs such as Ocimum sanctum (Krishna Tulsi), Ocimum kilimandscharicum (Karpoora Tulsi), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Ram Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Simarouba glauca (bitterwood), Caesalpinia sappan (Pathimugam), Cuminum cyminum (Jeerakam), Vetiveria zizanioides (Ramacham), Saraca indica (Ashoka tree) and Murraya koenigii (curry leaves) against different bacteria such as total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp. and Serratia sp. The antibacterial activity of the plant extracts was determined by spread plate method, Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method, most probable number (MPN) method and Petrifilm method. The shelf life of the herbal extract Ocimum sanctum (Krishna Tulsi) was also determined using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. A comparison study of the antibacterial efficiency of the three varieties of Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum kilimandscharicum and Ocimum tenuiflorum was also done. After the complete analysis of the antibacterial activity of different herbs, Ocimum sanctum, the most efficient herb, was selected and treatment methods based on the herb were developed so that it can be used conveniently in various households. Therefore Ocimum sanctum plant can be further subjected to isolation of therapeutic antimicrobial and pharmacological evaluation.
Coupling between the JULES land-surface scheme and the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model (JULES-CCATT-BRAMS1.0): applications to numerical weather forecasting and the CO2 budget in South America
Authors: Moreira D. S. , Freitas S. R. , Bonatti J. P. , Mercado L. M. , Rosário N. M. É. , Longo K. M. , Miller J. B. , Gloor M. , Gatti L. V.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. This article presents the coupling of the JULES surface model to the CCATT-BRAMS atmospheric chemistry model. This new numerical system is denominated JULES-CCATT-BRAMS. We demonstrate the performance of this new model system in relation to several meteorological variables and the CO2 mixing ratio over a large part of South America, focusing on the Amazon basin. The evaluation was conducted for two time periods, the wet (March) and dry (September) seasons of 2010. The model errors were calculated in relation to meteorological observations at conventional stations in airports and automatic stations. In addition, CO2 mixing ratios in the first model level were compared with meteorological tower measurements and vertical CO2 profiles were compared with observations obtained with airborne instruments. The results of this study show that the JULES-CCATT-BRAMS modeling system provided a significant gain in performance for the considered atmospheric fields relative to those simulated by the LEAF (version 3) surface model originally employed by CCATT-BRAMS. In addition, the new system significantly increases the ability to simulate processes involving air–surface interactions, due to the ability of JULES to simulate photosynthesis, respiration and dynamic vegetation, among other processes. We also discuss a wide range of numerical studies involving coupled atmospheric, land surface and chemistry processes that could be done with the system introduced here. Thus, this work presents to the scientific community a free modeling tool, with good performance in comparison with observational data and reanalysis model data, at least for the region and time period discussed here. Therefore, in principle, this model is able to produce atmospheric hindcast/forecast simulations at different spatial resolutions for any time period and any region of the globe.
Capabilities and performance of Elmer/Ice, a new-generation ice sheet model
Authors: Gagliardini O. , Zwinger T. , Gillet-Chaulet F. , Durand G. , Favier L. , de Fleurian B. , Greve R. , Malinen M. , Martín C. , Råback P. , Ruokolainen J. , Sacchettini M. , Schäfer M. , Seddik H. , Thies J.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The Fourth IPCC Assessment Report concluded that ice sheet flow models, in their current state, were unable to provide accurate forecast for the increase of polar ice sheet discharge and the associated contribution to sea level rise. Since then, the glaciological community has undertaken a huge effort to develop and improve a new generation of ice flow models, and as a result a significant number of new ice sheet models have emerged. Among them is the parallel finite-element model Elmer/Ice, based on the open-source multi-physics code Elmer. It was one of the first full-Stokes models used to make projections for the evolution of the whole Greenland ice sheet for the coming two centuries. Originally developed to solve local ice flow problems of high mechanical and physical complexity, Elmer/Ice has today reached the maturity to solve larger-scale problems, earning the status of an ice sheet model. Here, we summarise almost 10 yr of development performed by different groups. Elmer/Ice solves the full-Stokes equations, for isotropic but also anisotropic ice rheology, resolves the grounding line dynamics as a contact problem, and contains various basal friction laws. Derived fields, like the age of the ice, the strain rate or stress, can also be computed. Elmer/Ice includes two recently proposed inverse methods to infer badly known parameters. Elmer is a highly parallelised code thanks to recent developments and the implementation of a block preconditioned solver for the Stokes system. In this paper, all these components are presented in detail, as well as the numerical performance of the Stokes solver and developments planned for the future.
Using globally available soil moisture indicators for flood modelling in Mediterranean catchments
Authors: Massari C. , Brocca L. , Barbetta S. , Papathanasiou C. , Mimikou M. , Moramarco T.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Floods are one of the most dangerous natural hazards in Mediterranean regions. Flood forecasting tools and early warning systems can be very beneficial to reduce flood risk. Event-based rainfall runoff models are frequently employed for operational flood forecasting purposes because of their simplicity and the reduced number of parameters involved with respect to continuous models. However, the advantages that are related with the reduced parameterization face against the need for a correct initialization of the model, especially in areas affected by strong climate seasonality. On the other hand, the use of continuous models may be very problematic in poorly gauged areas. This paper introduces a simplified continuous rainfall-runoff model, which uses globally available soil moisture retrievals to identify the initial wetness condition of the catchment, and, only event rainfall data to simulate discharge hydrographs. The model calibration involves only 3 parameters. For soil moisture, beside in situ and modelled data, satellite products from the Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth observation (AMSR-E) sensors are employed. Additionally, the ERA-LAND reanalysis soil moisture product of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) is used. The model was tested in the small catchment of Rafina, 109 km2 located in the Eastern Attica region, Greece. Specifically, fifteen rainfall-runoff events were modelled by considering different configurations for the initial soil moisture conditions. Comparing the performance of the different soil moisture products, it was found that all global indicators allow reproducing fairly well the selected flood events providing much better results than the situation where a constant initial condition is provided. ERA-LAND slightly outperforms the satellite soil moisture products and in general, all the indicators give the same performance obtained by ground and continuously simulated soil moisture data. Due to the wide diffusion of globally available soil moisture retrievals and the small amount of parameters used, the proposed modelling approach is very suitable for runoff prediction in poorly gauged areas.
Evaluation of the JULES land surface model in simulating catchment hydrology in Southern Africa
Authors: MacKellar N. C. , Dadson S. J. , New M. , Wolski P.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Land surface models (LSMs) are advanced tools which can be used to estimate energy, water and biogeochemical exchanges at regional scales. The inclusion of a river flow routing module in an LSM allows for the simulation of river discharge from a catchment and offers an approach to evaluate the response of the system to variations in climate and land-use, which can provide useful information for regional water resource management. This study offers insight into some of the pragmatic considerations of applying an LSM over a regional domain in Southern Africa. The objectives are to identify key parameter sensitivities and investigate differences between two runoff production schemes in physically contrasted catchments. The Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) LSM was configured for a domain covering Southern Africa at a 0.5° resolution. The model was forced with meteorological input from the WATCH Forcing Data for the period 1981–2001 and sensitivity to various model configurations and parameter settings were tested. Both the PDM and TOPMODEL sub-grid scale runoff generation schemes were tested for parameter sensitivities, with the evaluation focussing on simulated river discharge in sub-catchments of the Orange, Okavango and Zambezi rivers. It was found that three catchments respond differently to the model configurations and there is no single runoff parameterization scheme or parameter values that yield optimal results across all catchments. The PDM scheme performs well in the upper Orange catchment, but poorly in the Okavango and Zambezi, whereas TOPMODEL grossly underestimates discharge in the upper Orange and shows marked improvement over PDM for the Okavango and Zambezi. A major shortcoming of PDM is that it does not realistically represent subsurface runoff in the deep, porous soils typical of the Okavango and Zambezi headwaters. The dry-season discharge in these catchments is therefore not replicated by PDM. TOPMODEL, however, simulates a more realistic seasonal cycle of subsurface runoff and hence improved dry-season flow.
Evaluation and projection of daily temperature percentiles from statistical and dynamical downscaling methods
Authors: Casanueva A. , Herrera S. , Fernández J. , Frías M. D. , Gutiérrez J. M.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. The study of extreme events has become of great interest in recent years due to their direct impact on society. Extremes are usually evaluated by using extreme indicators, based on order statistics on the tail of the probability distribution function (typically percentiles). In this study, we focus on the tail of the distribution of daily maximum and minimum temperatures. For this purpose, we analyse high (95th) and low (5th) percentiles in daily maximum and minimum temperatures on the Iberian Peninsula, respectively, derived from different downscaling methods (statistical and dynamical). First, we analyse the performance of reanalysis-driven downscaling methods in present climate conditions. The comparison among the different methods is performed in terms of the bias of seasonal percentiles, considering as observations the public gridded data sets E-OBS and Spain02, and obtaining an estimation of both the mean and spatial percentile errors. Secondly, we analyse the increments of future percentile projections under the SRES A1B scenario and compare them with those corresponding to the mean temperature, showing that their relative importance depends on the method, and stressing the need to consider an ensemble of methodologies.
Road assessment after flood events using non-authoritative data
Authors: Schnebele E. , Cervone G. , Waters N.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. This research proposes a methodology that leverages non-authoritative data to augment flood extent mapping and the evaluation of transportation infrastructure. The novelty of this approach is the application of freely available, non-authoritative data and its integration with established data and methods. Crowdsourced photos and volunteered geographic data are fused together using a geostatistical interpolation to create an estimation of flood damage in New York City following Hurricane Sandy. This damage assessment is utilized to augment an authoritative storm surge map as well as to create a road damage map for the affected region.
The Legalization of Marijuana, Drug Trafficking, and U.S. and Mexican Security
Authors: Olivero James Michael , Murataya Rodrigo
Published: August 2013

International Journal of Social Science Research regrets that this article is no longer available. Should you have any questions, please contact us at ijssr@macrothink.org
A New Approach for Analysing National Innovation Systems in Emerging and Developing Countries
Authors: Seidel Uwe , Müller Lysann , Köcker Gerd Meier zu , Filho Guajarino de Araújo
Published: August 2013

This paper presents a tool for the indicator-based analysis of national innovation systems (ANIS). ANIS identifies the economic strengths and weaknesses of a country-wide, regional or local system and includes a comprehensive examination and evaluation of the status of existing innovation systems. The use of a particular form of expert interviews at macro, meso and micro levels provides a detailed image of a national, regional or local economy. This analytical approach is intended mainly for emerging and developing countries, for which standard innovation benchmarking and monitoring approaches may not be appropriate. The ANIS approach provides a quick and comprehensive picture of the main scope of interventions for improving individual determinants of an innovation system. As a result, targeted policy measures can be formulated to address these determinants. Policy makers can thus benefit from clear advice when striving to overcome weaknesses in their innovation systems and in identifying those determinants that should receive special attention. An analysis of the local innovation system of Manaus in Brazil is presented here as an example.
A Study of the Beijing Science and Technology Resource Platform
Authors: Li Jizhen , Wang Yueheng , Gao Xudong
Published: August 2013

The distribution of science and technology resources in China has encountered a series of problems including, for example, scattered resources, unnecessary duplication and ineffective management. To facilitate access to these valuable resources, the Beijing Science and Technology Committee, a local government agency, established the Beijing Science and Technology Resource Platform (BSTRP) in 2009. BSTRP introduced market-oriented professional service companies as third parties acting in cooperation with suppliers and end users of science and technology resources. The aim of BSTRP was to create a win–win mechanism without dramatically changing the existing institutional framework or disturbing the basic interests of the participants. In this paper the authors report on the development of BSTRP and its progress to date. They also discuss the theoretical implications of the BSTRP model.
Triple Helix Systems: An Analytical Framework for Innovation Policy and Practice in the Knowledge Society
Authors: Ranga Marina , Etzkowitz Henry
Published: August 2013

This paper introduces the concept of Triple Helix systems as an analytical construct that synthesizes the key features of university–industry–government (Triple Helix) interactions into an ‘innovation system’ format, defined according to systems theory as a set of components, relationships and functions. Among the components of Triple Helix systems, a distinction is made between (a) R&D and non-R&D innovators; (b) ‘single-sphere’ and ‘multi-sphere’ (hybrid) institutions; and (c) individual and institutional innovators. The relationships between components are synthesized into five main types: technology transfer; collaboration and conflict moderation; collaborative leadership; substitution; and networking. The overall function of Triple Helix systems – knowledge and innovation generation, diffusion and use – is realized through a set of activities in the knowledge, innovation and consensus spaces. This perspective provides an explicit framework for the systemic interaction between Triple Helix actors that was previously lacking, and a more fine-grained view of the circulation of knowledge flows and resources within and among the spaces, helping to identify existing blockages or gaps. From a Triple Helix systems perspective, the articulation and the non-linear interactions between the spaces can generate new combinations of knowledge and resources that can advance innovation theory and practice, especially at the regional level.
A Global Benchmarking of the Hotel Industry
Authors: Assaf A. George , Barros Carlos Pestana
Published: August 2013

This paper presents an efficiency analysis of some of the leading hotel companies around the world. The authors estimate efficiency with the stochastic frontier semi-parametric approach, which is unique in the hotel context and has several advantages over other traditional methodologies used in the hotel literature. The results, derived from a sample of 37 countries, indicate that the most efficient hotel companies operate in Switzerland, the UK, Spain and the UAE, while the least efficient hotel chains operate in Croatia, Slovakia and Kenya. On a regional basis, the hotel industries in the USA and Europe seem to enjoy the highest efficiency, followed by the Middle East, South America and Africa. Finally, we show that international hotel chains are more efficient than national hotel chains or hotels that are independently owned.
An Examination of Tourist Arrivals Dynamics Using Short-Term Time Series Data: A Space—Time Cluster Approach
Authors: Gursoy Dogan , Parroco Anna Maria , Scuderi Raffaele
Published: August 2013

The purpose of this study is to examine the development of Italian tourist areas ( circoscrizioni turistiche) through a cluster analysis of short time series. The technique is an adaptation of the functional data analysis approach developed by Abraham et al (2003), which combines spline interpolation with k-means clustering. The findings indicate the presence of two patterns (increasing and stable) averagely characterizing groups of territories. Moreover, tests of spatial contiguity suggest the presence of ‘space–time clusters’; that is, areas in the same ‘time cluster’ are also spatially contiguous. These findings appear to be more robust in particular for those series characterized by an increasing trend.
The Internet and Seasonality: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Vertically Differentiated Accommodation Structures
Authors: Boffa Federico , Succurro Marianna
Published: August 2013

The authors study the impact of online booking on seasonality across various types of accommodation. They first build a theoretical model on vertical differentiation and seasonality, and show that, if the impact of the Internet on search costs is homogenous for hotels with different quality levels, then the increase in seasonality as a result of ICT development is greater for low-quality accommodations. On the other hand, if the Internet is more spread among high-quality firms than among low-quality ones, then the Internet-induced increase in seasonality is larger for high-quality establishments. The paper's empirical analysis, which differentiates the impact of the Internet on seasonality between ‘hotels and similar establishments’ and ‘other types of accommodation’, finds that ICT has a positive effect on seasonality in both instances, but that the impact is quantitatively larger for ‘hotels and similar establishments’.
Effects on Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Non-Intact Steaks of the Frequency of Turning Over Steaks During Grilling
Authors: Gill C. O. , Yang X. , Uttaro B. , Badoni M. , Liu T.
Published: August 2013

Beef steaks between 1 cm and 3 cm-thick were inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and/or temperature histories were collected at steak centres, at points initially below the central plane, and/or at points 1 cm or 2 cm from steak edges. The steaks were turned over once during grilling when temperatures at the centres reached 30°C or 50°C, or at specified times once, twice or several times during cooking to specified temperatures between 60and 71°C. When steaks were turned over at centre temperature of 30 or 50°C, some points in some steaks did not reach the temperatures specified for steak centres. When steaks turned over at 50°C were cooked to 60, 63 or 65°C, E. coli O157:H7 inoculated at ? 5 log cfu at each point survived at some points in some steaks at numbers ?3 log cfu. When steaks were turned over once during cooking to 71°C, E. coli O157:H7 survived at some points in some steaks turned over after ? 8 min. When steaks were turned over frequently, or twice at appropriate times during cooking to 63°C, no E. coli O157:H7 were recovered from any inoculated steak. Thus, cooking steaks to 71°C may sometimes have only relatively small effects on E. coli O157:H7 in steaks turned over once. However, turning steaks over twice or more during cooking to 63°C can ensure inactivation of large numbers of E. coli O157:H7 at all points in mechanically tenderized steaks.
La gouvernance multiniveau et la nouvelle gestion publique : des idées nouvelles à intégrer aux approches traditionnelles du fédéralisme dans le contexte de l’étude des relations intergouvernementales
Authors: Turkewitsch Lisa , Stein Michael
Published: August 2013

Le concept de gouvernance multiniveau peut aider àreconnaître et à comprendre de nouvelles tendances dansles relations intergouvernementales et l’élaboration depolitiques. Dans cet article, nous nous penchons sur les liens quiexistent entre la littérature sur l’administrationpublique, particulièrement celle portant sur la nouvelle gestionpublique, et la gouvernance multiniveau. Ces deux approches sontsusceptibles d’améliorer les approches traditionnellesutilisées pour comprendre le fonctionnement interne desrelations intergouvernementales dans les régimesfédéraux. Nous fournissons des exemples tirés detrois fédérations : l’Australie, le Canada etles États-Unis. Nous nous concentrons sur la façon dontla gouvernance multiniveau peut mettre en lumière leschangements dans les relations intergouvernementales (entre leséchelons supranational, fédéral,étatique/provincial et municipal) ainsi quel’élargissement horizontal de la gouvernance dans cesmêmes régimes à des organisations nongouvernementales et à d’autres acteurs.
La gouvernance partagée en devenir au Québec : les conditions d’une relation partenariale et dynamique État-régions
Authors: Valade Marc
Published: August 2013

Cette contribution puise dans l’expérience de gouvernanced’une structure d’interface entre les régionsadministratives et l’État québécois. Lesrelations managério-administratives et politiques vécues,à l’échelle régions-centre durant lapériode 2004-2009, sont décrites dans une analyse de caset amèneront à faire des liens avec certains enjeuxliés à la gouvernance partagée. Ceux-ci concernentnotamment des valeurs de démocratie délibérativeet réflexive, ainsi que les défis de maillageélus-société. Au service d’une telle vision,cinq conditions clés sont mises au jour pour assurer unegouvernance multiniveau dynamique, symétrique et interactive,essentielle pour s’engager dans la voie d’unedécentralisation de type partenariale.
La gouvernance multiniveau dans les nations minoritaires : les cas du Québec-Canada et de la Catalogne-Espagne
Authors: Couture Gagnon Alexandre
Published: August 2013

Dans cet article, nous examinons la gouvernance multiniveau de deuxnations minoritaires (le Québec et la Catalogne) dans troischamps de politique, soit la langue, l’immigration et lesrelations internationales. Après l’examen de ces troischamps, il ressort qu’une telle gouvernance est absente de lapolitique linguistique au Québec-Canada, alors qu’elleatteint un paroxysme de formalisme pour ce qui est de la politiqued’immigration. Quant aux relations internationales, lagouvernance varie selon les dossiers. Du côté de laCatalogne-Espagne, la gouvernance multiniveau est appeléeà changer au chapitre de la politique linguistique, et elle estprésente en regard de la politique d’immigration,quoiqu’elle connaisse certaines difficultés en raison dela gestion budgétaire et de l’implication des éluspolitiques. Finalement, la politique de relations extérieuresest soumise à la volonté de Madrid.
Du global au local : vers une redéfinition de la gouvernance de la sécurité publique en Suisse
Authors: Jacot-Descombes Caroline , Wendt Karin
Published: August 2013

Dans le contexte de la mondialisation, la sécurité d’un État dépasse les frontières de sa politique intérieure pour être redéfinie au niveau international. Cet article porte sur les modalités d’ajustement du système fédéraliste suisse aux impératifs émanant de l’international. Tandis que ses compétences étaient traditionnellement restreintes en matière de sécurité, la Confédération suisse devient dès lors un interlocuteur central qui cherche à étendre ses tâches tout en étant contraint de prendre en compte les cantons, principaux acteurs de cette politique. Ainsi, le système multiniveau suisse, sous une pression internationale mais aussi interne, se réforme lentement tout en conservant ses spécificités qui sont autant de freins à son adaptation à la situation internationale.
Bougainville à la lumière de ses lectures : les références classiques dans les Écrits sur le Canada
Authors: Richard Jean-Olivier
Published: August 2013

La valeur historique du témoignage de Bougainville sur le Canada durant la guerre de Sept Ans est reconnue, mais historiens et biographes ont peu cherché à mettre en lumière la façon dont différents genres littéraires en colorent le contenu. Cette étude démontre l’importance d’expliciter la rhétorique et la culture classique de Bougainville dans les Écrits sur le Canada, plus particulièrement en ce qui concerne les observations « ethnographiques » de l’officier, sa représentation de lui-même et de l’armée française, de même que sa critique de l’administration coloniale.
Ownership Structure, Institutional Environment, and the Economic Consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility Information Disclosure: Evidence from Analysts’ Earnings Forecasts
Authors: He Xianjie , Xiao Tusheng , Zhu Hongjun
Published: August 2013

In recent years, as corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been drawing increasing public attention, the regulatory authorities in China have implemented a series of regulations and rules on the disclosure of CSR which have required listed companies to disclose CSR reports since 2008. This paper examines whether the disclosure of CSR-related information can provide useful information to investors. Specifically, we examine the impact of CSR disclosure on the accuracy and dispersion of analysts’ earnings forecasts. The results show that higher quality CSR disclosure by firms leads to smaller analysts’ earnings forecast errors and dispersion. The conclusions still hold after eliminating the endogenous concerns. In a further analysis, we find that the impact of CSR disclosure on the accuracy and dispersion of analysts’ earnings forecasts is stronger for firms which are ultimately controlled by private enterprises, located in regions with a good institutional environment, and in industries with high CSR concern. Collectively, our findings suggest that the disclosure of CSR-related information provides useful information to investors and decreases the degree of information asymmetry. Meanwhile, the relationship between CSR disclosure and forecast accuracy is also affected by the structure of corporate ownership, institutional environment, and industry characteristics.
Os tempos da viagem para os idosos
Authors: Carvalho Alessandra Silva , Salles Maria do Rosário Rolfsen
Published: August 2013

O significativo aumento da população idosa no mundo vem suscitando o interesse de diversos campos do conhecimento. No que tange ao campo do Turismo é notória a discussão a respeito do envelhecimento, uma vez que os idosos se configuram como potenciais viajantes. Em face destas constatações, neste artigo propõe-se a discussão das vertentes que relacionam o envelhecimento ao turismo, do ponto de vista da melhoria da qualidade de vida do idoso, apresentando as peculiaridades da viagem para este público, explorando os tempos da viagem para o idoso, a partir dos resultados oriundos de uma investigação mais ampla. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, com a aplicação de um roteiro semiestruturado para sete idosos que viajam com regularidade, realizou-se análise de conteúdo com os dados recolhidos. Os resultados apontaram para o papel que as viagens cumprem no cotidiano destes idosos, bem como indicaram desdobramentos importantes sobre o papel relevante dessas viagens para a sociabilidade destes indivíduos.
Antecedentes da satisfação na rede hoteleira: Uma investigação através da modelagem de equações estruturais
Authors: Ladeira Wagner Junior , Costa Gustavo da Silva , Santini Fernando de Oliveira , Araujo Clecio Falcao
Published: August 2013

Os estudos da satisfação têm se tornado fundamentais para aumentar o relacionamento entre hóspedes e hotéis. Nesse sentido, este estudo tem como principal objetivo analisar as relações funcionais que interferem na satisfação dos hóspedes do setor hoteleiro, tendo como base a análise de dois componentes: antecedentes de consumo, relacionados às experiências anteriores e expectativas de consumidor; e experiências de consumo, relacionadas aos aspectos físicos e ao ambiente social dos estabelecimentos. Assim, foram levantadas quatro hipóteses testadas junto a duzentos e sessenta hóspedes de hotéis localizados no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Os resultados apresentaram sustentação para as hipóteses levantadas, indicando que o “Ambiente físico” é o maior preditor na satisfação dos hóspedes de hotéis, seguido pela dimensão “Experiência anterior”, “Ambiente social” e, por fim, “Expectativa de consumo”.