bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Povidone-iodine for the management of oral mucositis during cancer therapy
Authors: Kanagalingam Jeeve , Chopra Akhil , Hong Min Hee , Ibrahim Wisam , Villalon Antonio , Lin Jin-Ching
Published: September 2017

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and often dose-limiting side effect of cancer therapy. Povidone iodine (PVP-I) formulations have been shown to decrease the incidence and severity of OM, but the relevance of these findings remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to review evidence for the use of PVP-I for OM management. An algorithm identified relevant articles published online, and a panel of experts with experience in the management of OM reviewed the findings. Six studies fulfilled the criteria for full review. Two studies provided evidence of moderate quality. Two of the studies with negative findings were confounded by the use of PVP-I concentrations that are too low to be efficacious. The remaining two studies were found to have design flaws. There exists reasonable evidence to support a recommendation for the use of PVP-I in the management of cancer therapy-related OM.
Eigenvalue bounds for Schrödinger operators with complex potentials. II
Authors: Frank Rupert L. , Simon Barry
Published: September 2017

Laptev and Safronov conjectured that any non-positive eigenvalue of a Schrödinger operator

-\Delta+V

in

L^2(\mathbb R^\nu)

with complex potential has absolute value at most a constant times

\|V\|_{\gamma+\nu/2}^{(\gamma+\nu/2)/\gamma}

for

0<\gamma\leq\nu/2

in dimension

\nu\geq 2

. We prove this conjecture for radial potentials if

0<\gamma<\nu/2

and we 'almost disprove' it for general potentials if

1/2<\gamma<\nu/2

. In addition, we prove various bounds that hold, in particular, for positive eigenvalues.
Cluster expansion of the resolvent for the Schrödinger operator on non-percolating graphs with applications to Simon–Spencer type theorems and localization
Authors: Molchanov Stanislav , Zheng Lukun
Published: September 2017

The paper contains a generalization of the well-known 1D results on the absence of the a.c. spectrum ( in the spirit of the Simon–Spencer theorem) and localization to the wide class of “non-percolating” graphs, which include the Sierpiński lattice and quasi 1D trees. The main tools are cluster expansion of the resolvent and real analytic techniques (Kolmogorov’s lemma and similar estimates).
Semiclassical tunneling and magnetic flux effects on the circle
Authors: Bonnaillie-Noël Virginie , Hérau Frédéric , Raymond Nicolas
Published: September 2017

This paper is devoted to semiclassical tunneling estimates induced on the circle by a double well electric potential in the case when a magnetic field is added. When the two electric wells are connected by two geodesics for the Agmon distance, we highlight an oscillating factor (related to the circulation of the magnetic field) in the splitting estimate of the first two eigenvalues.
Spectral flow of exterior Landau–Robin hamiltonians
Authors: Goffeng Magnus , Schrohe Elmar
Published: September 2017

We study the spectral ow of Landau–Robin hamiltonians in the exterior of a compact domain with smooth boundary. This provides a method to study the spectrum of the exterior Landau–Robin hamiltonian’s dependence on the choice of Robin data, even explaining the heuristics of how the spectrum of the Robin problem asymptotically tends to the spectrum of the Dirichlet problem. The main technical result concerns the continuous dependence of Landau–Robin hamiltonians on the Robin data in the gap topology. The problem can be localized to the compact boundary where the asymptotic behavior of the spectral ow in some special cases can be described.
Spectral asymptotics for the semiclassical Dirichlet to Neumann operator
Authors: Hassell Andrew , Ivrii Victor
Published: September 2017

Let

M

be a compact Riemannian manifold with smooth boundary, and let

R(\lambda)

be the Dirichlet–to–Neumann operator at frequency

\lambda

. The semiclassical Dirichlet–to–Neumann operator

R_{\mathrm {scl}}(\lambda)

is defined to be

\lambda^{-1} R(\lambda)

. We obtain a leading asymptotic for the spectral counting function for

R_{\mathrm {scl}}(\lambda)

in an interval

[a_1, a_2)

as

\lambda \to \infty

, under the assumption that the measure of periodic billiards on

T^*M

is zero. The asymptotic takes the form

\mathrm N(\lambda; a_1,a_2) = ( \kappa(a_2)-\kappa(a_1))\mathrm {vol}'(\partial M) \lambda^{d-1}+o(\lambda^{d-1}),

where

\kappa(a)

is given explicitly by

\kappa(a) = \frac{\omega_{d-1}}{(2\pi)^{d-1}} \bigg( -\frac{1}{2\pi} \int_{-1}^1 (1 - \eta^2)^{(d-1)/2} \frac{a}{a^2 + \eta^2} \, d\eta - \frac{1}{4} + H(a) (1+a^2)^{(d-1)/2} \bigg) .
Quantum Cayley graphs for free groups
Authors: Carlson Robert
Published: September 2017

Dierential operators 

\Delta + q

are considered on metric Cayley graphs of the nitely generated free groups

\mathbb F_M

. The function

q

and the graph edge lengths may vary with the

M

edge types. Using novel methods, a set of

M

multipliers

\mu_m(\lambda)

depending on the spectral parameter is found. These multipliers are used to construct the resolvent and characterize the spectrum.
El proceso de gestión de la RSC. Estudio de caso
Authors: Barrio Fraile Estrella , Enrique Jiménez Ana María , Benavides Delgado Juan
Published: September 2017

Estamos ante un momento de cambio en el contexto empresarial, lo cual repercute en el comportamiento de las organizaciones con la sociedad, que a través de una adecuada gestión de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) da respuesta a los intereses de sus stakeholders. Metodología: El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar, mediante el estudio de caso Unilever España, cómo se articulan las diferentes fases del proceso de gestión de la RSC. Resultados y conclusiones: Los resultados muestran que el desarrollo de las diferentes fases tiene consecuencias en la propia naturaleza de la gestión de la RSC, siendo las principales: la transversalidad, la transparencia y el dinamismo. Esta investigación también supone una aportación interesante en la gestión de los valores de consumo (asociados a una marca producto) y su relación con los intangibles de la compañía.
Designing An Individualized EHR Learning Plan For Providers
Authors: DiAngi Yumi T. , Schremp Jonathan D. , Martorana Monet J. , Miller Roberta E. , Lee Tzielan C. , Pageler Natalie M. , Stevens Lindsay A.
Published: September 2017

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have been quickly implemented for meaningful use incentives; however these implementations have been associated with provider dissatisfaction and burnout. There are no previously reported instances of a comprehensive EHR educational program designed to engage providers and assist in improving efficiency and understanding of the EHR. Utilizing adult learning theory as a framework, Stanford Children’s Health designed a tailored provider efficiency program with various inputs from: (1) provider specific EHR data; (2) provider survey data; and (3) structured observation sessions. This case report outlines the design of this individualized training program including team structure, resource requirements, and early provider response.

Citation: Stevens LA, DiAngi YT, Schremp JD, Martorana MJ, Miller RE, Lee TC, Pageler NM. Designing An Individualized EHR Learning Plan. Appl Clin Inform 2017; 8:924–935 https://doi.org/10.4338/040054
Effect of tropical green forage Pueraria phaseoloides addition to a pelleted complete feed on rabbit growth performance and digestion
Authors: Kimsé M. , Yapi M.Y. , Karamoko M. , Gidenne T. , Zongo M. , Gnanda B.I. , Akoutey A. , Bodji N.C. , Fantodji A. , Otchoumou A.
Published: September 2017

The aim of this work was to study the effect of tropical green forage on rabbit growth performance and apparent digestibility. Thirty rabbits weaned at 35 d of age were individually caged and allotted to 2 dietary treatments. From 35 to 90 d of age, the control group C was fed ad libitum with commercial pelleted diet C only, while the test group was fed the C diet and forage Pueraria phaseoloides (Pp) ad libitum. Individual water and feed intake, body weight gain, nutrient apparent digestibility, red and white blood cells were studied. Mean housing temperature was 27.7°C. Water intake (35-90 d) did not differ between the 2 groups (mean=128 mL/d), whereas feed intake (35-90 d) was twice as high, with Pp (114 vs. 56 g; P=0.02). Forage intake doubled every 2 wk, averaging 50% of the total intake from 35 to 90 d of age. The growth rate was higher (+30%) in the Pp group after weaning (35-49 d) but did not differ between groups thereafter. The feed conversion was higher for the Pp group after weaning only (+ 87%; P<0;05). Weight of rabbits and feed efficiency were not affected by forage addition. Organic matter digestibility of diet C alone was roughly twofold higher compared to C+Pp (P=0.03). Red blood cells were not affected by treatments (4.1×1012 cells/L). However, the white blood cell count was higher in Pp than in C group (7.4×109 vs. 3.9×109 cells/L; P<0.01). P. phaseoloides may be used as a complement to a balanced pelleted feed, but further studies with a large number of rabbits are necessary to analyse the potential impact on health status.
Pyrosequencing study of caecal bacterial community of rabbit does and kits from a farm affected by epizootic rabbit enteropathy
Authors: Abecia L. , Rodríguez-Romero N. , Martínez-Fernández G. , Martínez-Vallespín B. , Fondevila M.
Published: September 2017

Epizootic Rabbit Enteropathy (ERE) is a disease of unknown aetiology that mainly affects post-weaning animals. Caecotrophs from animals in a farm affected by ERE were analysed to identify changes in the microbiological profile of growing rabbits. Does and kits at weaning (28 d) and the same rabbits ten days later (38 d) were used for a comparison using Roche 454 pyrosequencing of hypervariable V3-V5 regions of the 16S rRNA genes. The caecal bacterial community was dominated by the Firmicutes phylum (about 80%), followed by Bacteroidetes (15%), although relative abundances changed according to animal age (among does and kits at 28 and 38 d) and health status (affected or not by ERE). Two dominant families were classified within the Firmicutes phylum: Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae (50 and 20% of the sequences, respectively). In kits affected by ERE, relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Bacteroides genera decreased and increased, respectively, compared to healthy kits at the same age (28 and 38 d). The principal coordinate analysis plot revealed that kits at 28 d of age cluster together and apart from the does and the healthy 38-d rabbit groups. When only growing rabbits are considered, kits that showed symptoms of ERE clustered separately. Results suggest a different caecal bacterial community of rabbits affected by ERE. These findings highlight the need to identify different stages of the disease.
Effect of a lytic bacteriophage on rabbits experimentally infected with pathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhao J. , He L. , Pan L. , Liu Y. , Yao H. , Bao G.
Published: September 2017

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is severely threatening the rabbit industry in China, and the concern over antibiotic-resistant bacteria has given rise to an urgent need for antibiotic alternatives. In this study, a member (ZRP1) of the Myoviridae family was isolated from rabbit faeces using a strain of rabbit atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (ZR1) as host. The one-step growth curve indicated that the latent period was around 25 to 30 min and the burst size was 144±31 plaque-forming unit/cell. The rate of phage-resistant mutation was 7×10–5±4×10–5. When the bacteriophage input at the multiplicity of infection (MOI) was 0.1, 1 or 10, the growth of host E. coli in broth was inhibited for 5 h. A single intravenous injection of ZRP1 at MOI 0.1, 1 or 10 significantly prolonged the survival time of rabbits which simultaneously received a lethal dose of ZR1.
Effect of substituting guinea grass with soybean hulls on production performance and digestion traits in fattening rabbits
Authors: Shang S.M. , Wu Z.Y. , Liu G.Y. , Sun C.R. , Ma M.W. , Li F. C.
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of soybean hulls (SH) to substitute guinea grass (GG), traditionally used as fibre source in the diets of fattening rabbits on performance, coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, gastrointestinal tract development and caecum fermentation. A total of 160 mixed sex Hyla commercial meat rabbits were allocated to 4 experimental groups (40 per treatment) differing in the SH level inclusion in the diet offered to rabbits from 40 to 90 d of age: 0, 50, 100 and 200 g/kg as-fed basis: SH0, SH50, SH100 and SH200 groups, respectively. Growth performance was recorded from 40 to 90 d of age, CTTAD of nutrients from 86 to 90 d of age, and gastrointestinal tract development, caecum fermentation and carcass traits were determined at 90 d of age. Average daily feed intake and the feed/gain ratio were lower in SH100 and SH200 groups than in SH0 group (P0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that SH can substitute GG in the diets of fattening rabbits up to 200 g/kg in diet with no adverse effects on the growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass traits and meat quality.
Oil Prices and the Global Economy
Authors: Mohaddes Kamiar , Pesaran M.
Published: September 2017

The recent plunge in oil prices has brought into question the generally accepted view that lower
oil prices are good for the United States and the global economy. In this paper, using a quarterly
multi-country econometric model, we first show that a fall in oil prices tends relatively quickly to
lower interest rates and inflation in most countries, and increase global real equity prices. The
effects on real output are positive, although they take longer to materialize (around four quarters
after the shock). We then re-examine the effects of low oil prices on the U.S. economy over
different sub-periods using monthly observations on real oil prices, real equity prices and real
dividends. We confirm the perverse positive relationship between oil and equity prices over the
period since the 2008 financial crisis highlighted in the recent literature, but show that this
relationship has been unstable when considered over the longer time period of 1946–2016. In
contrast, we find a stable negative relationship between oil prices and real dividends which we
argue is a better proxy for economic activity (as compared to equity prices). On the supply side,
the effects of lower oil prices differ widely across the different oil producers, and could be
perverse initially, as some of the major oil producers try to compensate their loss of revenues by
raising production. Taking demand and supply adjustments to oil price changes as a whole, we
conclude that oil markets equilibrate but rather slowly, with large episodic swings between low
and high oil prices.
Bank Consolidation, Efficiency, and Profitability in Italy
Authors: Weber Anke
Published: September 2017

This paper examines the case for efficiency-driven banking sector consolidation in Italy, evaluates its potential effects on profitability, and discusses policy options to facilitate a consolidation process that is as effective as possible. A bottom-up analysis of 386 Italian banks suggests that while profitability is expected to improve as the economy gradually recovers, operational efficiency gains are nonetheless needed to restore large parts of the banking system to healthy profitability. Banking system consolidation can play a role in facilitating such efficiency gains, but its effectiveness is likely to be most as part of a comprehensive strategy that includes complementary reforms to clean up bank balance sheets. Cross-country experience indicates that efficiency gains are more likely to follow consolidations where careful viability analyses are conducted of the synergies and operational improvements that can be achieved.
Macroprudential Policy Spillovers
Authors: Kang Heedon , Vitek Francis , Bhattacharya Rina , Jeasakul Phakawa , Muñoz Sònia , Wang Naixi , Zandvakil Rasool
Published: September 2017

This paper analyzes cross-border macrofinancial spillovers from a variety of
macroprudential policy measures, using a range of quantitative methods. Event study and
panel regression analyses find that liquidity and sectoral macroprudential policy measures
often affect cross-border bank credit, whereas capital measures do not. This empirical
evidence is stronger for tightening than for loosening measures, is distributed across credit
leakage and reallocation effects, and is generally regionally concentrated. Consistently,
structural model based simulation analysis indicates that output and bank credit spillovers
from sectoral macroprudential policy shocks are generally small worldwide, but are
regionally concentrated and economically significant for countries connected by strong
trade or financial linkages. This simulation analysis also indicates that countercyclical
capital buffer adjustments have the potential to generate sizeable regional spillovers.
The Financing of Ideas and the Great Deviation
Authors: Garcia-Macia Daniel
Published: September 2017

Why did the Great Recession lead to such a slow recovery? I build a model where
heterogeneous firms invest in physical and intangible capital, and can default on their debt. In
case of default, intangible assets are harder to seize by creditors. Hence, intangible capital
faces higher financing costs. This differential is exacerbated in a financial crisis, when
default is more likely and aggregate risk bears a higher premium. The resulting fall in
intangible investment amplifies the crisis, and gradual intangible spillovers to other firms
contribute to its persistence. Using panel data on Spanish manufacturing firms, I estimate the
model matching firm-level moments regarding intangibles and financing. The model captures
the extent and components of the Great Recession in Spanish manufacturing, whereas a
standard model without endogenous intangible investment would miss more than half of the
GDP fall. A policy of transfers conditional on firm age could speed up the recovery, as young
firms tend to be more financially constrained, particularly regarding intangible investment.
Conditioning transfers on firm size or subsidizing credit (as in current E.U. policy) appears to
be less effective.
When Gambling for Resurrection is Too Risky
Authors: Kirti Divya
Published: September 2017

Rather than taking on more risk, US insurers hit hard by the crisis pulled back from risk taking, relative to insurers not hit as hard by the crisis. Capital requirements alone do not explain this risk reduction: insurers hit hard reduced risk within assets with identical regulatory treatment. State level US insurance regulation makes it unlikely this risk reduction was driven by moral suasion. Other financial institutions also reduce risk after large shocks: the same approach applied to banks yields similar results. My results suggest that, at least in some circumstances, franchise value can dominate, making gambling for resurrection too risky.
Leaning Against Windy Bank Lending
Authors: Melina Giovanni , Villa Stefania
Published: September 2017

Using an estimated dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with banking, this paper first provides evidence that monetary policy reacted to bank loan growth in the US during the Great Moderation. It then shows that the optimized simple interest-rate rule features no response to the growth of bank credit. However, the welfare loss associated to the empirical responsiveness is small. The sources of business cycle fluctuations are crucial in determining whether a “leaning-against-the-wind” policy is optimal or not. In fact, the predominant role of supply shocks in the model gives rise to a trade-off between inflation and financial stabilization.
Japan
Authors:   International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
Published: September 2017

Selected Issues
Finance and Employment in Developing Countries
Authors: Dao Mai Chi , Liu Lucy Qian
Published: September 2017

We study the effect of external financing constraint on job creation in emerging markets and
developing countries (EMDC) at the firm level by looking at a specific transmission channel
- the working capital channel. We develop a simple model to illustrate how the need for
working capital financing of a firm affects the link between financial constraint and the firm's
job creation. We show that the effect of relaxing financial constraint on job creation is greater
the smaller the firm scale and the more labor-intensive its production structure. We use the
World Bank Enterprise Surveys data to test the main predictions of the model, and find
strong evidence for the working capital channel of external finance on firm employment.
Housing Finance and Real Estate Markets in Colombia
Authors: Roch Francisco
Published: September 2017

Colombian house prices have increased significantly between 2005 and 2016. This paper estimates the extent of misalignments in house prices relative to fundamentals and evaluates the overall risk to the economy from the housing sector. The results suggest a moderate house price misalignment relative to fundamentals which is, however, mitigated by housing finance characteristics.
Oil Prices and Inflation Dynamics
Authors: Choi Sangyup , Furceri Davide , Loungani Prakash , Mishra Saurabh , Poplawski Ribeiro Marcos
Published: September 2017

We study the impact of fluctuations in global oil prices on domestic inflation using an unbalanced panel of 72 advanced and developing economies over the period from 1970 to 2015. We find that a 10 percent increase in global oil inflation increases, on average, domestic inflation by about 0.4 percentage point on impact, with the effect vanishing after two years and being similar between advanced and developing economies. We also find that the effect is asymmetric, with positive oil price shocks having a larger effect than negative ones. The impact of oil price shocks, however, has declined over time due in large part to a better conduct of monetary policy. We further examine the transmission channels of oil price shocks on domestic inflation during the recent decades, by making use of a monthly dataset from 2000 to 2015. The results suggest that the share of transport in the CPI basket and energy subsidies are the most robust factors in explaining cross-country variations in the effects of oil price shocks during the this period.
Water uptake by fresh Indonesian peat burning particles is limited by water-soluble organic matter
Authors: Chen Jing , Budisulistiorini Sri Hapsari , Itoh Masayuki , Lee Wen-Chien , Miyakawa Takuma , Komazaki Yuichi , Yang Liu Dong Qing , Kuwata Mikinori
Published: September 2017

Abstract. The relationship between hygroscopic properties and chemical characteristics of Indonesian biomass burning (BB) particles, which are dominantly generated from peatland fires, was investigated using a humidified tandem differential mobility analyzer. In addition to peat, acacia (a popular species at plantation) and fern (a pioneering species after disturbance by fire) were used for experiments. Fresh Indonesian peat burning particles are almost non-hygroscopic (mean hygroscopicity parameter, κ < 0.06) due to predominant contribution of water-insoluble organics. The range of κ spans from 0.02 to 0.04 (dry diameter = 100 nm, hereinafter) for Riau peat burning particles, while that for Central Kalimantan ranges from 0.05 to 0.06. Fern combustion particles are more hygroscopic (κ = 0. 08), whereas the acacia burning particles have a mediate κ value (0.04). These results suggest that κ is significantly dependent on biomass types. This variance in κ is partially determined by fractions of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), as demonstrated by a correlation analysis (R = 0.65). κ of water-soluble organic matter is also quantified, incorporating the 1-octanol–water partitioning method. κ values for the water extracts are high, especially for peat burning particles (A0 (a whole part of the water-soluble fraction): κ = 0.18, A1 (highly water-soluble fraction): κ = 0.30). This result stresses the importance of both the WSOC fraction and κ of the water-soluble fraction in determining the hygroscopicity of organic aerosol particles. Values of κ correlate positively (R = 0.89) with the fraction of m∕z 44 ion signal quantified using a mass spectrometric technique, demonstrating the importance of highly oxygenated organic compounds to the water uptake by Indonesian BB particles. These results provide an experimentally validated reference for hygroscopicity of organics-dominated particles, thus contributing to more accurate estimation of environmental and climatic impacts driven by Indonesian BB particles on both regional and global scales.
Potential impact of carbonaceous aerosol on the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) and precipitation during Asian summer monsoon in a global model simulation
Authors: Fadnavis Suvarna , Kalita Gayatry , Kumar K. Ravi , Gasparini Blaž , Li Jui-Lin Frank
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Recent satellite observations show efficient vertical transport of Asian pollutants from the surface to the upper-level anticyclone by deep monsoon convection. In this paper, we examine the transport of carbonaceous aerosols, including black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC), into the monsoon anticyclone using of ECHAM6-HAM, a global aerosol climate model. Further, we investigate impacts of enhanced (doubled) carbonaceous aerosol emissions on the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS), underneath monsoon circulation and precipitation from sensitivity simulations. The model simulation shows that boundary layer aerosols are transported into the monsoon anticyclone by the strong monsoon convection from the Bay of Bengal, southern slopes of the Himalayas and the South China Sea. Doubling of emissions of both BC and OC aerosols over Southeast Asia (10° S–50° N, 65–155° E) shows that lofted aerosols produce significant warming (0.6–1 K) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) near 400–200 hPa and instability in the middle/upper troposphere. These aerosols enhance radiative heating rates (0.02–0.03 K day−1) near the tropopause. The enhanced carbonaceous aerosols alter aerosol radiative forcing (RF) at the surface by −4.74 ± 1.42 W m−2, at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) by +0.37 ± 0.26 W m−2 and in the atmosphere by +5.11 ± 0.83 W m−2 over the TP and Indo-Gangetic Plain region (15–35° N, 80–110° E). Atmospheric warming increases vertical velocities and thereby cloud ice in the upper troposphere. Aerosol induced anomalous warming over the TP facilitates the relative strengthening of the monsoon Hadley circulation and increases moisture inflow by strengthening the cross-equatorial monsoon jet. This increases precipitation amounts over India (1–4 mm day−1) and eastern China (0.2–2 mm day−1). These results are significant at the 99 % confidence level.
Meteorological controls on atmospheric particulate pollution during hazard
reduction burns
Authors: Di Virgilio Giovanni , Hart Melissa Anne , Jiang Ningbo
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Internationally, severe wildfires are an escalating problem likely to worsen given projected changes to climate. Hazard reduction burns (HRB) are used to suppress wildfire occurrences, but they generate considerable emissions of atmospheric fine particulate matter, which depending upon prevailing atmospheric conditions, can degrade air quality. Our objectives are to improve understanding of the relationships between meteorological conditions and air quality during HRBs in Sydney, Australia. We identify the primary meteorological covariates linked to high PM2.5 pollution (particulates
Evaluating the Community Land Model (CLM4.5) at a coniferous forest site in northwestern United States using flux and carbon-isotope measurements
Authors: Duarte Henrique F. , Raczka Brett M. , Ricciuto Daniel M. , Lin John C. , Koven Charles D. , Thornton Peter E. , Bowling David R. , Lai Chun-Ta , Bible Kenneth J. , Ehleringer James R.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Droughts in the western United States are expected to intensify with climate change. Thus, an adequate representation of ecosystem response to water stress in land models is critical for predicting carbon dynamics. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Community Land Model (CLM) version 4.5 against observations at an old-growth coniferous forest site in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States (Wind River AmeriFlux site), characterized by a Mediterranean climate that subjects trees to water stress each summer. CLM was driven by site-observed meteorology and calibrated primarily using parameter values observed at the site or at similar stands in the region. Key model adjustments included parameters controlling specific leaf area and stomatal conductance. Default values of these parameters led to significant underestimation of gross primary production, overestimation of evapotranspiration, and consequently overestimation of photosynthetic 13C discrimination, reflected in reduced 13C : 12C ratios of carbon fluxes and pools. Adjustments in soil hydraulic parameters within CLM were also critical, preventing significant underestimation of soil water content and unrealistic soil moisture stress during summer. After calibration, CLM was able to simulate energy and carbon fluxes, leaf area index, biomass stocks, and carbon isotope ratios of carbon fluxes and pools in reasonable agreement with site observations. Overall, the calibrated CLM was able to simulate the observed response of canopy conductance to atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and soil water content, reasonably capturing the impact of water stress on ecosystem functioning. Both simulations and observations indicate that stomatal response from water stress at Wind River was primarily driven by VPD and not soil moisture. The calibration of the Ball–Berry stomatal conductance slope (mbb) at Wind River aligned with findings from recent CLM experiments at sites characterized by the same plant functional type (needleleaf evergreen temperate forest), despite significant differences in stand composition and age and climatology, suggesting that CLM could benefit from a revised mbb value of 6, rather than the default value of 9, for this plant functional type. Conversely, Wind River required a unique calibration of the hydrology submodel to simulate soil moisture, suggesting that the default hydrology has a more limited applicability. This study demonstrates that carbon isotope data can be used to constrain stomatal conductance and intrinsic water use efficiency in CLM, as an alternative to eddy covariance flux measurements. It also demonstrates that carbon isotopes can expose structural weaknesses in the model and provide a key constraint that may guide future model development.
Reinforcing the North Atlantic backbone: revision and extension of the composite splice at ODP Site 982
Authors: Drury Anna Joy , Westerhold Thomas , Hodell David , Röhl Ursula
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP) Site 982 represents a key location for understanding the evolution of climate in the North Atlantic over the past 12 Ma. However, concerns exist about the validity and robustness of the underlying stratigraphy and astrochronology, which currently limits the adequacy of this site for high-resolution climate studies. To resolve this uncertainty, we verify and extend the early Pliocene to late Miocene shipboard composite splice at Site 982 using high-resolution XRF core scanning data and establish a robust high-resolution stable isotope stratigraphy and astrochronology between 4.5 and 8.0 Ma. Splice revisions and verifications resulted in ~ 11 m of gaps in the original Site 982 isotope stratigraphy. Our new stratigraphy reveals previously unseen benthic δ18O excursions, particularly prior to 6.65 Ma. The benthic δ18O record displays distinct, asymmetric cycles between 7.7 and 6.65 Ma, confirming that high-latitude climate is a prevalent forcing during this interval. An intensification of the 41-kyr beat in both the benthic δ13C and δ18O is also observed ~ 6.4 Ma, marking a strengthening in the cryosphere-carbon cycle coupling. A large ~ 0.7 ‰ double excursion is revealed ~ 6.4–6.3 Ma, which also marks the onset an interval of average higher δ18O and large precession and obliquity-dominated δ18O excursions between 6.4–5.4 Ma, coincident with the culmination of the late Miocene cooling. The two largest benthic δ18O excursions ~ 6.4–6.3 Ma and TG20/22 coincide with the coolest alkenone-derived SST estimates from Site 982, suggesting a strong connection between the late Miocene global cooling and deep-sea cooling and dynamic ice sheet expansion. The splice revisions and revised astrochronology resolve key stratigraphic issues that have hampered correlation between Site 982, the equatorial Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Comparisons of the revised Site 982 stratigraphy to high-resolution astronomically tuned benthic δ18O stratigraphies from ODP Site 926 (equatorial Atlantic) and Ain el Beida (north western Morocco) show that prior inconsistencies in short-term excursions are now resolved. Our new integrated deep-sea benthic stable isotope stratigraphy and astrochronology from Site 982 will facilitate future high-resolution late Miocene to early Pliocene climate research.
A hydrological prediction system based on the SVS land-surface scheme: efficient calibration of GEM-Hydro for streamflow simulation over the Lake Ontario basin
Authors: Gaborit Étienne , Fortin Vincent , Xu Xiaoyong , Seglenieks Frank , Tolson Bryan , Fry Lauren M. , Hunter Tim , Anctil François , Gronewold Andrew D.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. This work explores the potential of the distributed GEM-Hydro runoff modeling platform, developed at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) over the last decade. More precisely, the aim is to develop a robust implementation methodology to perform reliable streamflow simulations with a distributed model over large and partly ungauged basins, in an efficient manner. The latest version of GEM-Hydro combines the SVS (Soil, Vegetation and Snow) land-surface scheme and the WATROUTE routing scheme. SVS has never been evaluated from a hydrological point of view, which is done here for all major rivers flowing into Lake Ontario. Two established hydrological models are confronted to GEM-Hydro, namely MESH and WATFLOOD, which share the same routing scheme (WATROUTE) but rely on different land-surface schemes. All models are calibrated using the same meteorological forcings, objective function, calibration algorithm, and basin delineation. GEM-Hydro is shown to be competitive with MESH and WATFLOOD: the NSE  √  (Nash–Sutcliffe criterion computed on the square root of the flows) is for example equal to 0.83 for MESH and GEM-Hydro in validation on the Moira River basin, and to 0.68 for WATFLOOD. A computationally efficient strategy is proposed to calibrate SVS: a simple unit hydrograph is used for routing instead of WATROUTE. Global and local calibration strategies are compared in order to estimate runoff for ungauged portions of the Lake Ontario basin. Overall, streamflow predictions obtained using a global calibration strategy, in which a single parameter set is identified for the whole basin of Lake Ontario, show accuracy comparable to the predictions based on local calibration: the average NSE  √  in validation and over seven subbasins is 0.73 and 0.61, respectively for local and global calibrations. Hence, global calibration provides spatially consistent parameter values, robust performance at gauged locations, and reduces the complexity and computation burden of the calibration procedure. This work contributes to the Great Lakes Runoff Inter-comparison Project for Lake Ontario (GRIP-O), which aims at improving Lake Ontario basin runoff simulations by comparing different models using the same input forcings. The main outcome of this study consists in a new generalizable methodology for implementing a distributed hydrologic model with a high computation cost in an efficient and reliable manner, over a large area with ungauged portions, using global calibration and a unit hydrograph to replace the routing component.
Physical soil quality indicators for monitoring British soils
Authors: Corstanje Ron , Mercer Theresa G. , Rickson Jane R. , Deeks Lynda K. , Newell-Price Paul , Holman Ian , Kechavarsi Cedric , Waine Toby W.
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Soil condition or quality determines its ability to deliver a range of functions that support ecosystem services, human health and wellbeing. The increasing policy imperative to implement successful soil monitoring programmes has resulted in the demand for reliable soil quality indicators (SQIs) for physical, biological and chemical soil properties. The selection of these indicators needs to ensure that they are sensitive and responsive to pressure and change, e.g. they change across space and time in relation to natural perturbations and land management practices. Using a logical sieve approach based on key policy-related soil functions, this research assessed whether physical soil properties can be used to indicate the quality of British soils in terms of their capacity to deliver ecosystem goods and services. The resultant prioritised list of physical SQIs was tested for robustness, spatial and temporal variability, and expected rate of change using statistical analysis and modelling. Seven SQIs were prioritised: soil packing density, soil water retention characteristics, aggregate stability, rate of soil erosion, depth of soil, soil structure (assessed by visual soil evaluation) and soil sealing. These all have direct relevance to current and likely future soil and environmental policy and are appropriate for implementation in soil monitoring programmes.
Methods and uncertainty estimations of 3-D structural modelling in crystalline rocks: a case study
Authors: Schneeberger Raphael , de La Varga Miguel , Egli Daniel , Berger Alfons , Kober Florian , Wellmann Florian , Herwegh Marco
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Exhumed basement rocks are often dissected by faults, the latter controlling physical parameters such as rock strength, porosity, or permeability. Knowledge on the three-dimensional (3-D) geometry of the fault pattern and its continuation with depth is therefore of paramount importance for applied geology projects (e.g. tunnelling, nuclear waste disposal) in crystalline bedrock. The central Aar massif (Central Switzerland) serves as a study area where we investigate the 3-D geometry of the Alpine fault pattern by means of both surface (fieldwork and remote sensing) and underground ground (mapping of the Grimsel Test Site) information. The fault zone pattern consists of planar steep major faults (kilometre scale) interconnected with secondary relay faults (hectometre scale). Starting with surface data, we present a workflow for structural 3-D modelling of the primary faults based on a comparison of three extrapolation approaches based on (a) field data, (b) Delaunay triangulation, and (c) a best-fitting moment of inertia analysis. The quality of these surface-data-based 3-D models is then tested with respect to the fit of the predictions with the underground appearance of faults. All three extrapolation approaches result in a close fit ( >  10 %) when compared with underground rock laboratory mapping. Subsequently, we performed a statistical interpolation based on Bayesian inference in order to validate and further constrain the uncertainty of the extrapolation approaches. This comparison indicates that fieldwork at the surface is key for accurately constraining the geometry of the fault pattern and enabling a proper extrapolation of major faults towards depth. Considerable uncertainties, however, persist with respect to smaller-sized secondary structures because of their limited spatial extensions and unknown reoccurrence intervals.
Investigating cold based summit glaciers through direct access to basal ice: A case study constraining the maximum age of Chli Titlis glacier, Switzerland
Authors: Bohleber Pascal , Hoffmann Helene , Kerch Johanna , Sold Leo , Fischer Andrea
Published: September 2017

Abstract. Cold glaciers at the highest locations of the European Alps have been investigated with great success by drilling ice cores to retrieve their stratigraphic climate records. Findings like the Oetztal ice man have demonstrated that small ice bodies at summit locations of comparatively lower altitudes may also contain old ice if comprising ice frozen to the underlying bedrock. In this case, constraining the maximum age of their basal ice part may help to identify past periods with minimum ice extent in the Alps. Facing ongoing warming and recent years with extremely negative glacier mass balance, these sites may not preserve their unique climate information for much longer, however. Since sampling and dating the lowermost ice is essential, and usually requires substantial logistical (drilling) effort, we utilize here the direct access to basal ice offered by an existing ice cave at Chli Titlis (3030 m), Central Switzerland. Our dedicated approach comprises a combination of standard glaciological tools with the analysis of the isotopic and physical properties and sophisticated radiocarbon dating techniques. By this means we demonstrate that, in comparison to an earlier study at Chli Titlis, stagnant cold basal ice conditions still exist fairly unchanged more than 25 years after the pioneering exploration. Our radiocarbon analysis constrains the maximum age of the ice at Chli Titlis to about 5000 years before present. By this means, the approach presented here will contribute to a future systematic investigation of cold-based summit glaciers also targeting the Eastern Alps.
Subcapsular left hepatic lobe hematoma: A potentially life-threatening post-ERCP complication
Authors: A.M Alzubaidi , A.A. Alshadadi , M.F Atta , S.A Alsareii
Published: September 2017

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is minimally invasive procedure commonly performed for biliary and pancreatic diseases. According to literature, the most common related complication are pancreatitis, post-sphincterotomy bleeding, perforation and cholangitis. This is rare and exceptional ERCP complication and only few cases have been reported. We report a case of rare post-ERCP complication, subcapsular liver hematoma that was diagnosed 16 hour post-ERCP in 28-year-old lady with intra-abdominal collection, ultrasound guided drainage of suspected bile leak was done, but the drained fluid was bloody (blood mixed with bile), with total amount of 900 ml in the first 36 hours. Patient received 2 units packed RBCs and she maintain her vital sign and hemoglobin 8.5 g/dl. Computed tomography scan of abdomen revealed a large left hepatic lobe subcapsular hematoma 16x7x12 cm with no active bleeding causing compression of the left hepatic vessels. On the basis of laboratory, clinical, and hemodynamic parameters the patient was hemodynamically stable. She was managed conservatively with only ultrasound guided drained of abdominal collection and no any radiological or surgical intervention needed for the hematoma.
Arte y Poder en la historia
Authors: Pastor Fasquelle Rodolfo
Published: September 2017

El poder público establece, de manera más o menos transitoria o sostenida, las condiciones objetivas para el desarrollo del arte. El poder específicamente permite que se produzca el tipo de especialización que impulsa el desarrollo dinámico del arte “profesional”, como un oficio, al que el artista puede dedicarse, asegura las condiciones en las cuales se puede financiar, conseguir materias primas e importar innovaciones. De ese modo permite que el arte evolucione. Aunque también puede ser muy conservador el arte oficial, tiene esa inclinación o inercia, de conservar. Hablemos pues del arte que, desde los albores de la historia, se hace a solicitud del poder y para sus fines, casi todo el arte, porque la mayoría de los fenómenos artísticos de nuestra civilización se originan en esa demanda del poder: político, eclesiástico o económico.
La Estructura Oropéndola en la Acrópolis de Copán
Authors: Agurcia Fasquelle Ricardo , Pérez Calderón Juan Carlos
Published: September 2017

La estructura Oropéndola se ubica al interior de la Estructura 10L-16, en el centro de la Acrópolis de Copán. La construcción del edificio está fechada para mediados del Clásico Temprano; un poco más tardía que Rosalila, sugiriéndose una fecha entre el 550 y 600 d.C.Oropéndola tiene la característica de ser el primero de los edificios en Copán en cambiar el estilo de decoración del estuco modelado al mosaico en piedra, que en los siglos venideros se convirtió en el sello distintivo de Copán como uno de los centros urbanos mejor decorados y artísticos del Mundo Maya. Tanto su iconografía como su ubicación en la antigua Acrópolis muestran una clara relación del edificio con el inframundo. La imagen que prevalece es la del jaguar, animal que se asocia en el arte maya con el sol nocturno, la noche, las tinieblas, y el ámbito acuático del inframundo. Las imágenes no sólo son formas artísticas, sino que representan todo un sistema de creencias de lo que se considera fuerte, valiente y poderoso, tanto en el mundo real (el gobernante y sus guerreros) como en el supernatural. Tanto Rosalilia como Oropéndola, están marcados como montañas sagradas, witz, y tienen una multitud de otros elementos iconográficos de cosmología maya, muchos relacionados con la veneración de los antepasados y el poder de los reyes.
Ideología y Poder en el Arte del Manejo Antiguo del Agua
Authors: Fash Bárbara W. , Davis-Salazar Karla L.
Published: September 2017

Los templos y monumentos de Copán están repletos de símbolos del agua y de sustento, ambas fuerzas importantes en el desarrollo de complejidad social a través de la región y prevalente en toda Mesoamérica. Nuestro trabajo revela que los sistemas de agua manejados en Copán y áreas circundantes de Honduras tienen una historia larga y se manifiestan en diversas formas. Además de funciones prácticas, desde irrigación hasta el almacenamiento de agua, las fuentes y sistemas de agua tenían numerosos usos religiosos. Discutiremos cómo se concebía, usaba y se representaba el agua en tiempos antiguos y las formas que en que creemos se utilizaba su carácter sagrado en el arte para elevar la autoridad política. Por medio de nuestras investigaciones sabemos que la organización comunitaria era importante para la operación exitosa del manejo de los sistemas antiguos de agua. Puede que algunos de estos métodos sean relevantes en los paisajes actuales para mejorar las condiciones de vida, asegurar la potabilidad del agua y mejorar las cosechas.
PUNÇÃO VENOSA PERIFÉRICA GUIADA POR ULTRASSONOGRAFIA: PREVALÊNCIA DE SUCESSO E FATORES ASSOCIADOS
Authors: De Oliveira Andrey Maciel , Danski Mitzy Tannia Reichembach , Pedrolo Edivane
Published: September 2017

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os fatores associados ao sucesso na primeira tentativa de punção venosa periférica guiada por ultrassonografia em adultos. Estudo transversal analítico em uma unidade de pronto atendimento na região sul do Brasil, entre 1º e 30 de abril de 2015. Os participantes foram submetidos à punção venosa periférica guiada por ultrassonografia. Foram incluídos 97 participantes. A razão de prevalência de sucesso foi 43% maior nas veias visíveis e 128% maior nas veias retilíneas. Não foi encontrada relação significativa entre as variáveis analisadas e a diminuição da prevalência de sucesso na primeira tentativa. A presença de veia retilínea e visível foi o principal fator associado ao sucesso na primeira tentativa.