bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring a Transformative Teacher Professional Development Model to Engender Technology Integration in the 21st Century ESL Language Classrooms
Authors: Lee Kean Wah , James Cynthia C.
Published: November 2018

A 21st century teacher must communicate in the language and style of their students to ensure that their learning is meaningful. However, this is challenging, especially for teachers who are less familiar with using technology in teaching. To inspire a group of ESL ‘digital immigrant' teachers, a professional learning community (PLC) was set up. PLC consisted of both pre-service teachers (digital natives) and in-service teachers (digital immigrants). The two groups exchanged knowledge through a series of sharing sessions to demonstrate the technical aspects of technology, as well as to provide an understanding that technology has affordances and constraints. This case study investigates a group of in-service teachers who adopted the IDDIRR instructional design model (introduce, demonstrate, develop, implement, reflect, revise) to develop technology-based lessons for their ESL classrooms. The data for this study were collected through three main instruments: surveys, interviews and written reflections. The survey data was descriptively analysed using SPSS Version 24, while the reflection and interview data were assessed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that the IDDIRR-TPACK + PLC model, along with a supportive PLC environment and the presence of more knowledgeable peers (MKO), helped enhance teachers' TPACK and inspired them to integrate more technology in their classrooms.
Understanding the Adoption of SADAD E-Payments
Authors: Soomro Yasir Ali
Published: November 2018

Extant article utilizes the UTAUT Model with Islamic religiosity as a moderator to understand the adoption of SADAD payment system by Saudi banking customers. Islamic religiosity effects the behavior and choices of people. Path analysis performed on 248 respondents' data collected through questionnaires tests the conceptual hypotheses. All hypotheses except H3 was unsupported, which reveals that social influence (SI) had an insignificant relation with behavioral intention (BI). Multi-group analysis was performed on AMOS by dividing respondents into two groups with high and low Islamic religiosity values. Overall, results reveal that religiosity moderates the positive effect of BI on usage behavior (UB). The author found no effect for those with low scores on religiosity values. However, consumers with high score religiosity values have a stronger positive effect between BI and UB. Moreover, the UTAUT + IR explained 80% variance in UB. High religiosity customers find SADAD a better option.
Utilitarian and Hedonic Customer Benefits of e-Insurance
Authors: Ettis Saïd Aboubaker , Haddad Mohamed Mabrouk
Published: November 2018

The e-insurance adoption is an important issue that remains poorly investigated in academic research. E-insurance offer customers the possibility to obtain the most of insurance services at home, such as subscribing via the Internet to a contract of insurance, viewing and managing insurance contracts, and performing simulations. This study examined the influence of consumers' perceived benefits on their attitude toward e-insurance and its subsequent impact on behavioral intentions. The moderating effects of gender were also assessed. A survey was used for data collection. The proposed model was tested through the structural equation modeling SEM-PLS approach. Results showed that perceived hedonic and utilitarian benefits were significantly related to attitudes toward e-insurance, which was a prominent predictor of the behavioral intention to use e-insurance. This positive relationship was moderated by gender. The findings might provide insurance companies' decision-makers with information that could be useful in designing e-insurance systems and attracting customers to e-insurance.
Post-Truth
Authors: Paccagnella Luciano
Published: November 2018

Information quality is an increasingly pressing problem in network society, as it is the price we pay for the information overload afflicting us. This article illustrates three empirical cases that will help provide a better understanding of the range and breadth of misinformation, distinguishing between hoaxes, rumors, and conspiracies. The following sections discuss the limitations of remedies based on fact checking and debunking, and of proposed legislation to counter misinformation. The conclusions suggest several approaches to learning to deal with misinformation which should be addressed by future research: the processes of building and assessing reputation, the development of pragmatic trust, the dangers of the bubble effect, and the need for greater transparency concerning the algorithms that control online platforms.
Exploring Factors Associated With Digital and Conventional Political Participation in the Caribbean
Authors: Adugu Emmanuel , Broome Pearson A
Published: November 2018

The use of social media is becoming a feature of political engagement in the Caribbean. This article investigates factors associated with digital and conventional political participation in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Surinam and Haiti using 2012 AmericasBarometer dataset. Based on logistic regression, attitudinal factors positively associated with digital political participation are: political understanding, support for democracy, conventional political participation, and internet usage. Digital political action is less likely for the politically tolerant. Engagement in protest is positively associated with digital political action, signing petition, greater levels of education, being male but less likely for those who use the internet. These findings demonstrate that digital political action and conventional political participation are mutually reinforcing.
A Study on the Performance and Scalability of Apache Flink Over Hadoop MapReduce
Authors: Lathar Pankaj , Srinivasa K. G.
Published: November 2018

With the advancements in science and technology, data is being generated at a staggering rate. The raw data generated is generally of high value and may conceal important information with the potential to solve several real-world problems. In order to extract this information, the raw data available must be processed and analysed efficiently. It has however been observed, that such raw data is generated at a rate faster than it can be processed by traditional methods. This has led to the emergence of the popular parallel processing programming model – MapReduce. In this study, the authors perform a comparative analysis of two popular data processing engines – Apache Flink and Hadoop MapReduce. The analysis is based on the parameters of scalability, reliability and efficiency. The results reveal that Flink unambiguously outperformance Hadoop's MapReduce. Flink's edge over MapReduce can be attributed to following features – Active Memory Management, Dataflow Pipelining and an Inline Optimizer. It can be concluded that as the complexity and magnitude of real time raw data is continuously increasing, it is essential to explore newer platforms that are adequately and efficiently capable of processing such data.
Supply Chain Decisions Considering Heterogeneous Consumer Greenness Preference and Reservation Utilities
Authors: Zhang YuHang , Wang Ying
Published: November 2018

This article focuses on how the prices set by supply chains and the product greenness level changes when there exists a difference for consumers in both their greenness preference and their reservation utility for the common product with minimal greenness, based on a two-dimensional model which is built and the market is partitioned into four groups. In this study, the authors use the Stackelberg game model to analyze the decisions of a two-stage supply chain, providing environmentally friendly products affected by a consumer greenness preference which is represented by the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for product greenness. The authors found that manufacturers may lower the product greenness level with the decrease of the valuation of consumer's WTP for product greenness, but he may prefer keeping the same product greenness, he will even improve it, when there is a reduction in reservation utility for the traditional product. Moreover, this article shows that there is different impact for different combinations of both WTP for product greenness and product greenness level (different market segmentations) on price decisions of the manufacturer and retailer. In consideration of the asymmetric information about consumer's utility and willingness to pay between manufacturer and retailer, the authors introduce the bargaining power into the study, and then they conclude that during the different market segmentations, the wholesale price and retail price go down as a retailer strengthens his bargaining power, and increasing sales volume can improve profit to make up for a loss in retail price.
A Decision-Making Framework for Inventory Positioning in an Omnichannel Business Environment
Authors: Tan Albert Wee Kwan , Gligor David
Published: November 2018

Omnichannel is an evolving business model that has been gaining increased popularity among retailers. This business model allows firms to use a variety of channels to interact with their customers and fulfill their orders. Customers can order online and pick up later in the store, or they can choose to have the products delivered from a nearby store. Due to the complexity of fulfilling customer orders via omnichannel models, positioning inventory is a key challenge in supporting this type of business model. This article presents a framework for assisting companies in deciding under what condition to centralize or decentralize their inventory to fulfill customer orders without disrupting the shopping experience.
How Can Human Resource Management Help the Theory of Constraints
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: November 2018

Now, more companies consider human resource management (HRM) as part of strategic business management. A critical analysis of The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Goldratt as it relates to HRM allows for discussion and evaluation of HRM implications. However, does HRM implementation support achieving a companies' strategic objectives? If so, how is it related to The Goal? This report seeks answering these questions by evaluating HRM in the book's context. This article discusses the role of HRM in companies, HRM principals that impact operations, roles of stakeholders and their value in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), HRM and its impact on the TOC, roles of HRM management and leadership, and the relationship between technology and human resources. Discussing these topics, this article provides an overview of HRM's impact on organizations. The main findings indicate that HRM implementation is a strategic management resource to be implemented by any businesses.
Blockchain for Strengthening the Privacy of Healthcare Data
Authors: Kendzierskyj Stefan , Jahankhani Hamid , Ndumbe SHU I
Published: November 2018

The desire for eHealth systems is ever-growing as public institutions, healthcare providers, and its users see the positive gains from having systems of patient health information held in a single place; a decentralized connected architecture called blockchain. This concept can solve the interoperability issues and integrate the fragmented way healthcare records are held and present a more transparent, secure method to share data and protect patient privacy. The aim of this article is to provide a supportive environment for the health and social care workplace with special reference in the Primary Care sector in England on the impact and changes to the information governance toolkit (IGTK) as a result of the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force from May 2018. These challenges will also include the implementation of the National Data Guardian (NDG) review of data security and opt-outs amongst others.
Theory of Constraints and Human Resource Management Applications
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: November 2018

This purpose of this article is to assess constraints and suggest a theory that can improve Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS's). It investigates the relationship between Theory of Constraints (TOC) and operation management, which is based on the Critical Chain PMs book entitled The Goal. In 1984, the author, Goldratt, introduced an entire management philosophy about the TOC. The mental process and improvement theory tools discussed in his book mainly focus on manufacturing environments. However, the practice and examples in the book helped many organizations succeed, even in the private sectors. This study offers definitions of throughput, operating expense, and inventory measurements, and uses the principle of TOC to identify bottlenecks and constraints in every business process. By using these analyses, the study remodels the system to increase performance measurements of HRMS.
Management Accounting and Profitability in Private Healthcare SMEs
Authors: Holopainen Riikka Maarit , Niskanen Mervi , Rissanen Sari
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this article is to examine the management control practices in small and medium-sized health care enterprises (SMEs). Previous studies suggest that there are often few, if any, comprehensive management control systems (MCS) or there is lack of systematic management accounting or performance management (PM) monitoring in even fairly large SMEs. The first contribution of this article is to present nine years of financial data of micro companies. The data itself is quite unique and not open data for everyone. On one hand, it gives further information about diverse and complex combinations of the profitability process in the small companies and how the MA systems affect it. Based on the contingency theory conception, this article finds that the management accounting practices such as a budgeting system or increased cost knowledge of the company influence the company's performance. Further, some of the contextual factors such as size and age of the company affected the company's performance in this study.
Does Perceived Service Quality Affect Patient Satisfaction?
Authors: Akhtar Afsana , Huda SSM Sadrul , Dilshad Segufta
Published: November 2018

The healthcare industry is becoming highly competitive with an increasing number of private hospitals and clinics in Bangladesh. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of assessment of different aspects of service quality on patient satisfaction considering the public and private hospitals and clinics of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. A purposive sampling method was used to identify the person who visited hospitals in the previous years' time. The sample size was 100. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results showed a positive relation between perceived service quality and patient satisfaction. According to this study, the two most important constructs of service quality that have an impact on customer satisfaction are interpersonal interactions and technical quality. The research also found a significant correlation among perceived health care service quality, patient satisfaction, and behavioural intention of the patient. Future research is recommended to test the hypothesis with larger sample.
Approaching Empowerment Holistically: are Physicians Willing And Able?
Authors: Karamanidou Christina , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Xochelli Aliki
Published: November 2018

Patient empowerment is evident nowadays through the increased role undertaken by patients in the evaluation of healthcare, shaping health policy and involvement in clinical research. But are physicians willing and able to empower their patients? The biopsychosocial model offers a holistic approach to care by including the subjective experience of illness into clinical processes. Within this context, effective communication is key as it can contribute towards better clinical outcomes for patients as well as protect physicians from burnout due to emotional exhaustion. Hematological malignancies are the focus of this contribution as their nature and management pose serious challenges for patients to understand and physicians to explain. Physicians can play a pivotal role in encouraging patients' empowerment by educating them about their illness, supporting them in self-management and involving them in their care. Communication skills training, availability of consultation tools and e-health applications can support physicians in their new role.
An Innovative, Information and Communication Technology Supported Approach, Towards Effective Chronic Pain Management
Authors: Kondylakis Haridimos , Hors-Fraile Santiago , Koumakis Lefteris , Kouroubali Angelina , Notas George , Rivero-Rodriguez Alejandro , Sidiropoulos Prodromos , Simos Panagiotis , Katehakis Dimitrios G.
Published: November 2018

Chronic pain is one of the most common health problems affecting daily activity, employment, relationships and emotional functioning. Unfortunately, the lack of specialized health care personnel, and the high heterogeneity in terms of clinical manifestation and treatment results contribute in failure to manage efficiently and effectively pain. Information and communication technology (ICT) can be a valuable tool, enabling patients and healthcare professional empowerment and better self-management of pain. To this direction, this article reports on the design of a novel technical infrastructure to support effectively and efficiently chronic pain management, based on an Intelligent Personal Health Record platform on top of already available ICT tools. The designed platform targets, among others, at improving the knowledge on the patient data, effectiveness and adherence to treatment and providing effective communication channels between patients and healthcare professionals.
Comparative Study of 4-Compartmental PK-PD Model with Effective Site Compartment for Different Parameter Set
Authors: Shola UshaRani , Neelanarayanan V
Published: November 2018

Target-controlled infusion pumps are for patients to control pain or to infuse sedations and anesthesia, typically those who underwent surgery. The pump has a programmable syringe device used to control the injection level of drugs. These pumps are even used in the ICU or operating theaters to manage patient's pain after surgery or sedation. PK-PD Models are used to obtain the drug concentrations levels of the patient. The model depends on the drug flow rates in different parts of the body. There are many parameter sets available to measure the amount of drugs in the patients. This article presents a three compartmental patient model through Simulink to obtain concentrations levels from different parts of the body. The model is checked for a seven parameter set and suggests the set with the best results.
The Strategic View and Development of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Chang Victor , Zhang Weishuang , Xiong Chang
Published: November 2018

At present, scholarly research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the hot issues in strategy since CSR is related to taking responsibility for stakeholders under the condition of maximizing the interests of company's stockholders. Taking the view of the Chinese market, this concept has been important and numerous local enterprises and multi-corporations have made actions and progress in this area for strategy. This article is focused on the case study of the Samsung company, which further investigates how well the firm performs in practicing CSR in the Chinese market and how consumers perceive its CSR activities. Samsung with local Chinese tactics combines the strategies of its firm in order to strengthen the company's competition and reputation in society. Furthermore, managers of Samsung have also been interviewed to ascertain how they deal with social responsibility. In order to identify the impacts of CSR activities, 365 valid questionnaires collected. Finally, the data analysis and recommendations for Samsung have been discussed in detail. The finding shows that first, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 accidents with fire and explosion have negative influenced people's purchase intentions of its other phone series. Second, Samsung's social responsibility activities are beneficial to the firm's reputation and the company should promote customer rights visible to consumers and the society. It is interesting to point out that Samsung's corporate social responsibility activities have positive influences in customers' willingness-to-pay for its phones have been overturned in this case study. Implementing CSR activities is important to the firm's strategy.
Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility on the Web
Authors: Atlı Dinçer , Vidović Maja , Omazić Mislav Ante
Published: November 2018

The main focus of this article is to thoroughly examine the practice of virtual corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication of the best multinational companies in the world. By distinguishing the benchmarks for CSR communication in this fast-growing area of online CSR communication, we are aiming to provide tools for easier analysis of the best practices and a more widespread adoption of those best practices by other organizations. The empirical analysis focuses on the aspects of the pyramid of CSR. For the topic coding, five categories were differentiated: society, environment, employees, sponsoring and volunteerism. The analysis focused on reports from five consecutive years (2010 to 2014) in order to recognize a trend.
Profits or Employment
Authors: Wojtkowiak Grzegorz
Published: November 2018

The aim of this study was to identify possible differences between the basic grounds behind managerial decisions taken by university students in different countries. This paper was inspired by the article ‘Profit, Layoffs, and Priorities' by Daniel G. Arce and Sherry Xin Li, who repeated and extended A. Rubinstein's research. As the result of research, a hypothesis was tested. This was that with when students of technology are compared with economics students, they tend to be more driven by the need to maximise profit than to secure the interests of employees. Moreover, the research was expanded and as the result, another hypothesis was created that: the students who have a relatively stable job are more driven by the need to maximise profits than the wish to maintain a higher level of employment. The hypothesis was not verified but the base for future discussion was prepared.
Participation of Women in Logistics Through Innovation
Authors: García María J. , Hernández Gilberto J. , Hernández José G. G.
Published: November 2018

This article relates relevant aspects of business: logistics, innovation, female participation and multicriteria models. One issue that is paying close attention is the participation of women in different social spheres, including business. On the other hand, logistics is related to practically all areas of an organization, which can be visualized, when studying it supported, in the Logistics Model Based on Positions (MoLoBaC). There are other models that interest this work, such as multicriteria models, in particular the multiattribute models with multiplicative factors (MMcFm). Also, companies maintain and prosper thanks to their ability to manage innovation. The confluence of these four fields of knowledge generates the general objective of this research: Use of the different areas of the logistics model based on positions to measure, through a multiattribute model, the female participation in logistics, having as a thread the innovation processes.
Knowledge Value, Task Complexity, and Enterprise Technology Implementation
Authors: Sasidharan Sharath
Published: November 2018

Employees utilize their informal social networks for acquiring system-related knowledge during enterprise technology implementation. Prior research on knowledge acquisition through social networks has not considered the domain proficiency of knowledge sources or the quality of knowledge flows. This study assigns domain-proficiency levels to knowledge sources and introduces the concept of knowledge value: the net impact of acquired knowledge on performance outcomes. Conceptualized as the differential in the domain proficiency of the knowledge source and the knowledge recipient, knowledge value is examined in the context of both factual and applied knowledge, in relation to task complexity and its influence on performance outcomes. Data collected during the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system indicate that knowledge value has a significant impact on performance outcomes, but the impact of applied knowledge is moderated by task complexity. The results stress the importance of considering domain proficiency of knowledge sources during knowledge-network modelling.
Predictors of the Readiness to Use E-Government Services From Citizens' Perspective
Authors: Mensah Isaac Kofi , Mi Jianing
Published: November 2018

This article investigated the predictors of e-government services adoption from the citizens' perspective in Ghana. The results show that perceived service quality, perceived efficient public service delivery, computer self-efficacy and perceived transparent and accountable government (TAG) were all significant in predicting citizens' perspective towards the use of e-government services. Age as a demographic factor was found to have a direct impact on computer self-efficacy of citizens. However, gender and education were not significant in determining computer self-efficacy. The implications of these findings on the implementation of e-government are discussed.
Effective Knowledge Based Recommender System for Tailored Multiple Point of Interest Recommendation
Authors: Vijayakumar V. , Vairavasundaram Subramaniyaswamy , Logesh R. , Sivapathi A.
Published: November 2018

With the massive growth of the internet, a new paradigm of recommender systems (RS's) is introduced in various real time applications. In the research for better RS's, especially in the travel domain, the evolution of location-based social networks have helped RS's to understand the changing interests of users. In this article, the authors present a new travel RS employed on the mobile device to generate personalized travel planning comprising of multiple Point of Interests (POIs). The recommended personalized list of travel locations will be predicted by generating a heat map of already visited POIs and the highly relevant POIs will be selected for recommendation as destinations. To enhance the recommendation quality, this article exploits the temporal features for increased user visits. A personalized travel plan is recommended to the user based on the user selected POIs and the proposed travel RS is experimentally evaluated with the real-time large-scale dataset. The obtained results of the developed RS are found to be proficient by means of improved diversity and accuracy of generated recommendations.
The Impact of Electronic Human Resource Management (E-HRM) Strategies on Organizational Innovation by Knowledge Repository as Mediating Role
Authors: Khashman Aysar Mohammad
Published: November 2018

The current study is intended to provide analysis of the direct and indirect relationships between (E-HRM) strategies and organizational innovation through knowledge repository as a mediation construct. From various previous studies, five (E-HRM) strategies constructs were adopted for this study. These include E- recruitment, e- selection, e-training, e- performance appraisal, and e-compensations, and used the mediating role of a knowledge repository for these constructs to improve organizational innovation. The study applied the smart partial least square (PLS) software to analyse the underlying relationships amongst the most relevant constructs between (E-HRM) strategies, knowledge repositories, and organizational innovation with a total of seven constructs. The results are from top, middle managers (n = 94) working in the Royal Jordanian airline. It was found that there was a strong and statistically positive significant relationship between several (E-HRM) strategies and organizational innovation by using the knowledge repository as a mediation construct.
Use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) By Undergraduates in Selected Nigerian Universities
Authors: Tella Adeyinka
Published: November 2018

This article examines the use of the online public access catalogue (OPAC) among undergraduates in selected universities in Nigeria. A sample was drawn from among undergraduate students in five selected Universities. Survey design was adopted in the conduct of the study while data was collected through a self-designed/administered questionnaire. A total of 2,240 undergraduates were initially sampled and administered the questionnaire, but only two thousand copies were properly filled in and good for data analysis representing an 89.3% return rate. This 2000 represent the sample for the study. The results revealed that the majority of undergraduate students used the OPAC on a weekly basis while the majority of respondents (57.5%) spent fewer hours (between 0-3) using the OPAC. Places of accessing the OPAC identified include the school library, respondents' homes, cyber cafés and lecture rooms. The major uses of the OPAC by the undergraduate students include: to locate books and other materials; and to find non-print materials.
Bridging the Gaps
Authors: Wu Tien
Published: November 2018

The packaging industry is facing higher expectations in business enablement due to the increasing complexity of inhomogeneous integration alongside multiple dimensions of business requirements. During his keynote, Dr. Tien Wu will focus on key aspects of future packaging technologies and explore how these might open up new design concepts and business freedoms to ultimately enable better performance and efficiency at the system level.
The Aplocnemus Stephens, 1830, of Greece (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Dasytidae). A contribution to their knowledge
Authors: Liberti Gianfranco
Published: November 2018

The first part of the paper includes an overview of genus Aplocnemus and a discussion of the related subgenera; as a result one of them is placed in synonymy: Holcopleura Schilsky, 1894 = Aplocnemus (Aplocnemus) Stephens, 1830. The second part deals with the 16 Aplocnemus species found to live in Greece. Out of these, 9 are fully discussed, with descriptions and drawings of dissected structures (median lobe, tegmen, last sternite). The remaining 7 have been already – and rather recently – considered and illustrated in previous papers: for them only new taxonomic and/or distributional information are herewith supplied. One new taxon is described: Aplocnemus henrici sp. n from northern Greece and Bulgaria. 9 new synonymies, at species level, are proposed: A. macedonicus Pic, 1922 = A. (Aplocnemus) basalis (Küster, 1849); A. pristocerus Kiesenwetter, 1859 = A. (Aplocnemus) caelatus (Brullé, 1832); A. brevissimus Pic, 1908 = A. (Aplocnemus) quercicola Mulsant and Rey, 1968; A. kiesenwetteri Schilsky, 1897 = A. (Aplocnemus) rufipes Miller, 1862; A. turcicus Schilsky, 1897 = A. (Aplocnemus) reitteri Schilsky, 1894; A. cribripennis Pic, 1921 = A. (Aplocnemus) serratus (Brullé, 1832); A. latior Pic, 1908, A. thessalicus Pic, 1908 and A. atricornis Pic, 1921 = A. (Diplambe) abietum Kiesenwetter, 1859.
Steady-State Directional Control Test Procedures for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
Authors:   Vehicle Dynamics Standards Committee
Published: November 2018

This SAE Recommended Practice establishes consistent test procedures for determination of steady-state directional control properties for passenger cars and light trucks with two axles. These properties include the steering-wheel angle gradient, reference steer angle gradient, sideslip angle gradient, vehicle roll angle gradient, and steering-wheel torque gradient with respect to lateral acceleration. They also include the yaw velocity gain, lateral acceleration gain, and sideslip angle gain with respect to steering-wheel angle. Additionally, the characteristic or critical speed and the front and rear wheel steer compliances may be determined.
Interrelations between surface, boundary layer, and columnar
aerosol properties over a continental urban site
Authors: Wang Dongxiang , Szczepanik Dominika , Stachlewska Iwona S.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. PollyXT Raman Polarization Lidar observations were performed at the Remote Sensing laboratory in Warsaw (52.2109° N, 20.9826° E), Poland, in the framework of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the Aerosols, Clouds and Trace gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS). Data collected in July, August and September of 2013, 2015 and 2016 were analysed using the classical Raman approach. In total 202 sets of profiles of the particle extinction and backscatter coefficient, and linear particle depolarization ratio at 355 nm and 532 nm were derived for statistical investigations (EARLINET/ACTRIS Data Base). The main analysis was focused on intensive optical properties obtained within aerosol boundary layer (ABL). The interrelationships of different optical properties inside ABL are discussed for different periods: entire day, nocturnal time and sunrise/sunset time. In addition, the lidar derived boundary layer optical properties were compared with the columnar daytime aerosol properties derived from radiometer (MFR-7, PolandAOD-NET) and photometer (C318, AERONET). Relationships of these and surface in-situ measurements of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter
Can turbulence within the field of view cause significant biases in radiative transfer modeling at the 183 GHz band?
Authors: Calbet Xavier , Peinado-Galan Niobe , DeSouza-Machado Sergio , Kursinski Emil Robert , Oria Pedro , Ward Dale , Otarola Angel , Rípodas Pilar , Kivi Rigel
Published: November 2018

Abstract. The hypothesis whether turbulence within the passive microwave
sounders field of view can cause significant biases in radiative transfer
modeling at the 183 GHz water vapor absorption band is tested. A novel
method to calculate the effects of turbulence in radiative transfer modeling
is presented. It is shown that the turbulent nature of water vapor in the
atmosphere can be a critical component of radiative transfer modeling in
this band. Radiative transfer simulations are performed comparing a uniform
field with a turbulent one. These comparisons show frequency dependent biases
which can be up to several kelvin in brightness temperature. These biases can
match experimentally observed biases, such as the ones reported in
Brogniez et al. (2016). Our simulations show that those biases could be
explained as an effect of high-intensity turbulence in the upper troposphere.
These high turbulence phenomena are common in clear air turbulence, storm or
cumulus cloud situations.
A Generalized Simulation Capability for Rotating Beam
Scatterometers
Authors: Li Zhen , Stoffelen Ad , Verhoef Anton
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Rotating-beam wind scatterometers exist in two types: rotating fan-beam and rotating pencil-beam. In our study, a generic simulation frame is established and verified to assess the wind retrieval skill of the three different scatterometers: SCAT on CFOSAT, WindRad on FY-3E and SeaWinds on QuikScat. Besides the comparison of the so-called 1st rank-solution retrieval skill of the input wind field, other Figure of Merits (FoMs) are applied to statistically characterize the associated wind retrieval performance from three aspects: wind vector root mean square error, ambiguity susceptibility, and wind biases. The evaluation shows that, overall, the wind retrieval quality of the three instruments can be ranked from high to low as WindRad, SCAT, and SeaWinds, where the wind retrieval quality strongly depends on the Wind Vector Cell (WVC) location across the swath. Usually, the higher the number of views, the better the wind retrieval, but the effect of increasing the number of views reaches saturation, considering the fact that the wind retrieval quality at the nadir and sweet swath parts stays relatively similar for SCAT and WindRad. On the other hand, the wind retrieval performance in the outer swath of WindRad is improved substantially as compared to SCAT due to the increased number of views. The results may be generally explained by the different incidence angle ranges of SCAT and WindRad, mainly affecting azimuth diversity around nadir and number of views in the outer swath. This simulation frame can be used for optimizing the Bayesian wind retrieval algorithm, in particular to avoid biases around nadir, but also to investigate resolution and accuracy through incorporating and analysing the spatial response functions of the simulated Level-1B data for each WVC.
Reactive mercury flux measurements using cation exchange membranes
Authors: Miller Matthieu B. , Gustin Mae S. , Edwards Grant C.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. A method was developed to measure gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) air-surface exchange using 2 replicated dynamic flux chambers (DFCs) in conjunction with cation exchange membrane (CEM) filters. The experimental design and method was developed and tested in a laboratory setting, using materials collected from industrial scale open pit gold mines in central Nevada, USA. Materials used included waste rock, heap leach ore, and tailings, with substrate concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 40 μg g−1 total mercury (THg). CEM filters were used to capture GOM from the DFC sample lines while a Tekran® 2537A analyzer measured GEM concurrently. Previous and ongoing work demonstrated that CEM do not collect GEM and efficiently collects multiple compounds of GOM. Positive GOM emission rates up to 4000 pg m−2 h−1 were measured from tailings materials with high Hg substrate concentrations, and this has significant implication with respect to air-Hg surface exchange. GOM flux was variable for lower Hg concentration substrates, with both emission and deposition observed, and this was affected by ambient air GOM concentrations. For substrates that experienced GOM deposition, deposition velocities were in the range 0.01–0.07 cm s−1.
GSFLOW–GRASS v1.0.0: GIS-enabled hydrologic modeling of coupled groundwater–surface-water systems
Authors: Ng G.-H. Crystal , Wickert Andrew D. , Somers Lauren D. , Saberi Leila , Cronkite-Ratcliff Collin , Niswonger Richard G. , McKenzie Jeffrey M.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. The importance
of water moving between the atmosphere and aquifers has led to efforts to
develop and maintain coupled models of surface water and groundwater.
However, developing inputs to these models is usually time-consuming and
requires extensive knowledge of software engineering, often prohibiting their
use by many researchers and water managers, thus reducing these models'
potential to promote science-driven decision-making in an era of global
change and increasing water resource stress. In response to this need, we
have developed GSFLOW–GRASS, a bundled set of open-source tools that
develops inputs for, executes, and graphically displays the results of
GSFLOW, the U.S. Geological Survey's coupled groundwater and surface-water
flow model. In order to create a robust tool that can be widely implemented
over diverse hydro(geo)logic settings, we built a series of GRASS GIS
extensions that automatically discretizes a topological surface-water flow
network that is linked with an underlying gridded groundwater domain. As
inputs, GSFLOW–GRASS requires at a minimum a digital elevation model, a
precipitation and temperature record, and estimates of channel parameters and
hydraulic conductivity. We demonstrate the broad applicability of the toolbox
by successfully testing it in environments with varying degrees of drainage
integration, landscape relief, and grid resolution, as well as the presence
of irregular coastal boundaries. These examples also show how GSFLOW–GRASS
can be implemented to examine the role of groundwater–surface-water
interactions in a diverse range of water resource and land management
applications.
Modeling the effects of litter stoichiometry and soil mineral N availability on soil organic matter formation using CENTURY-CUE (v1.0)
Authors: Zhang Haicheng , Goll Daniel S. , Manzoni Stefano , Ciais Philippe , Guenet Bertrand , Huang Yuanyuan
Published: November 2018

Abstract. Microbial decomposition of plant litter is a crucial process for the land
carbon (C) cycle, as it directly controls the partitioning of litter C
between CO2 released to the atmosphere versus the formation of new
soil organic matter (SOM). Land surface models used to study the C cycle
rarely considered flexibility in the decomposer C use efficiency
(CUEd) defined by the fraction of decomposed litter C that is
retained as SOM (as opposed to be respired). In this study, we adapted a
conceptual formulation of CUEd based on assumption that litter
decomposers optimally adjust their CUEd as a function of litter
substrate C to nitrogen (N) stoichiometry to maximize their growth rates.
This formulation was incorporated into the widely used
CENTURY soil biogeochemical
model and evaluated based on data from laboratory litter incubation
experiments. Results indicated that the CENTURY model with new
CUEd formulation was able to reproduce differences in respiration
rate of litter with contrasting C : N ratios and under different levels of
mineral N availability, whereas the default model with fixed CUEd
could not. Using the model with flexible CUEd, we also
illustrated that litter quality affected the long-term SOM formation. Litter
with a small C : N ratio tended to form a larger SOM pool than litter with
larger C : N ratios, as it could be more efficiently incorporated into SOM
by microorganisms. This study provided a simple but effective formulation to
quantify the effect of varying litter quality (N content) on SOM formation
across temporal scales. Optimality theory appears to be suitable to predict
complex processes of litter decomposition into soil C and to quantify how
plant residues and manure can be harnessed to improve soil C sequestration
for climate mitigation.
The potential of sea ice leads as a predictor for summer Arctic sea ice extent
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Cheng Xiao , Liu Jiping , Hui Fengming
Published: November 2018

Abstract. The Arctic sea ice extent throughout the melt season is closely associated
with initial sea ice state in winter and spring. Sea ice leads are important
sites of energy fluxes in the Arctic Ocean, which may play an important role
in the evolution of Arctic sea ice. In this study, we examine the potential
of sea ice leads as a predictor for summer Arctic sea ice extent forecast
using a recently developed daily sea ice lead product retrieved from the
Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Our results show that
July pan-Arctic sea ice extent can be predicted from the area of sea ice
leads integrated from midwinter to late spring, with a prediction error of
0.28 million km2 that is smaller than the standard deviation of the
observed interannual variability. However, the predictive skills for August
and September pan-Arctic sea ice extent are very low. When the area of sea
ice leads integrated in the Atlantic and central and west Siberian sector of
the Arctic is used, it has a significantly strong relationship (high
predictability) with both July and August sea ice extent in the Atlantic and
central and west Siberian sector of the Arctic. Thus, the realistic
representation of sea ice leads (e.g., the areal coverage) in numerical
prediction systems might improve the skill of forecast in the Arctic region.
Evaluation of the CloudSat surface snowfall product over Antarctica using ground-based precipitation radars
Authors: Souverijns Niels , Gossart Alexandra , Lhermitte Stef , Gorodetskaya Irina V. , Grazioli Jacopo , Berne Alexis , Duran-Alarcon Claudio , Boudevillain Brice , Genthon Christophe , Scarchilli Claudio , van Lipzig Nicole P. M.
Published: November 2018

Abstract. In situ observations of snowfall over the Antarctic Ice Sheet are scarce.
Currently, continent-wide assessments of snowfall are limited to information
from the Cloud Profiling Radar on board the CloudSat satellite, which has not been evaluated up to now. In this study,
snowfall derived from CloudSat is evaluated using three ground-based
vertically profiling 24 GHz precipitation radars (Micro Rain Radars: MRRs).
Firstly, using the MRR long-term measurement records, an assessment of the
uncertainty caused by the low temporal sampling rate of CloudSat (one revisit
per 2.1 to 4.5 days) is performed. The 10–90th-percentile temporal sampling
uncertainty in the snowfall climatology varies between 30 % and 40 %
depending on the latitudinal location and revisit time of CloudSat. Secondly,
an evaluation of the snowfall climatology indicates that the CloudSat
product, derived at a resolution of 1∘ latitude by 2∘
longitude, is able to accurately represent the snowfall climatology at the
three MRR sites (biases < 15 %), outperforming ERA-Interim. For coarser
and finer resolutions, the performance drops as a result of higher omission
errors by CloudSat. Moreover, the CloudSat product does not perform well in
simulating individual snowfall events. Since the difference between the MRRs
and the CloudSat climatology are limited and the temporal uncertainty is
lower than current Climate Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5)
snowfall variability, our results imply that the CloudSat product is valuable
for climate model evaluation purposes.
DETERMINATION OF A SUITABLE CONDITION OF GRAFT COPOLYMERIZATION OF VINYLTRIETHOXYSILANE ONTO NR TO FORM NANOMATRIX STRUCTURE
Authors: Zhou Yuanbing , Yamamoto Yoshimasa , Kawahara Seiichi
Published: November 2018

Graft copolymerization of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) onto NR particles in the latex stage is a unique reaction, since it occurs together with hydrolysis and condensation of the triethoxysilane group of VTES to form a colloidal silica linking to the rubber particles. These reactions may contribute to the formation of a silica nanomatrix structure that consists of a dispersoid of rubber particles as the major component and a silica matrix as the minor component. Here, the graft copolymerization of VTES followed by hydrolysis and condensation is investigated to determine a suitable condition to prepare NR with a silica nanomatrix structure. The mechanical properties of the resulting graft copolymer are discussed in relation to the morphology, silica content, and gel content of the rubber. Based on morphological observations, NR particles with an average diameter of approximately 1 μm are well dispersed in a nanomatrix consisting of silica nanoparticles. The thickness of the silica nanomatrix increases as the monomer concentration increases, and a long incubation time generates large silica nanoparticles. The tensile strength and viscoelastic properties are significantly improved by forming the silica nanomatrix structure, with its continuous structure that prevents the NR particles from merging.
Using Institutional Data to Predict Teacher Candidate Performance on a Certification Exam
Authors: Clark Linda E. , Kara-Soteriou Julia , Alfano Michael P.
Published: November 2018

This study employed a continuous quality framework with an emphasis on closing the assessment loop and guiding an intervention process for teacher certification candidates at a master's-level regional institution. Using student academic performance data, a logistic regression model was applied to predict success on a certification exam, the Foundations of Reading Test. Data analysis revealed that the odds of passing this exam were influenced by students' SAT total scores, grade point average, and grade in a required reading instruction course. The results of this model allow the institution to identify and proactively provide academic intervention to at-risk students.