bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inconsistency of ammonium–sulfate aerosol ratios with thermodynamic models in the eastern US: a possible role of organic aerosol
Authors: Silvern Rachel F. , Jacob Daniel J. , Kim Patrick S. , Marais Eloise A. , Turner Jay R. , Campuzano-Jost Pedro , Jimenez Jose L.
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Thermodynamic models predict that sulfate aerosol (S(VI)  ≡  H2SO4(aq) + HSO4−+ SO42−) should take up available ammonia (NH3) quantitatively as ammonium (NH4+) until the ammonium sulfate stoichiometry (NH4)2SO4 is close to being reached. This uptake of ammonia has important implications for aerosol mass, hygroscopicity, and acidity. When ammonia is in excess, the ammonium–sulfate aerosol ratio R =  [NH4+] ∕ [S(VI)] should approach 2, with excess ammonia remaining in the gas phase. When ammonia is in deficit, it should be fully taken up by the aerosol as ammonium and no significant ammonia should remain in the gas phase. Here we report that sulfate aerosol in the eastern US in summer has a low ammonium–sulfate ratio despite excess ammonia, and we show that this is at odds with thermodynamic models. The ammonium–sulfate ratio averages only 1.04 ± 0.21 mol mol−1 in the Southeast, even though ammonia is in large excess, as shown by the ammonium–sulfate ratio in wet deposition and by the presence of gas-phase ammonia. It further appears that the ammonium–sulfate aerosol ratio is insensitive to the supply of ammonia, remaining low even as the wet deposition ratio exceeds 6 mol mol−1. While the ammonium–sulfate ratio in wet deposition has increased by 5.8 % yr−1 from 2003 to 2013 in the Southeast, consistent with SO2 emission controls, the ammonium–sulfate aerosol ratio decreased by 1.4–3.0 % yr−1. Thus, the aerosol is becoming more acidic even as SO2 emissions decrease and ammonia emissions stay constant; this is incompatible with simple sulfate–ammonium thermodynamics. A tentative explanation is that sulfate particles are increasingly coated by organic material, retarding the uptake of ammonia. Indeed, the ratio of organic aerosol (OA) to sulfate in the Southeast increased from 1.1 to 2.4 g g−1 over the 2003–2013 period as sulfate decreased. We implement a simple kinetic mass transfer limitation for ammonia uptake to sulfate aerosols in the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model and find that we can reproduce both the observed ammonium–sulfate aerosol ratios and the concurrent presence of gas-phase ammonia. If sulfate aerosol becomes more acidic as OA ∕ sulfate ratios increase, then controlling SO2 emissions to decrease sulfate aerosol will not have the co-benefit of suppressing acid-catalyzed secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation.
Stochastic coalescence in Lagrangian cloud microphysics
Authors: Dziekan Piotr , Pawlowska Hanna
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Stochasticity in collisional growth of cloud droplets is studied in a box model using the super-droplet method (SDM). The SDM is compared with direct numerical simulations and the master equation. We use the SDM to study fluctuations in autoconversion time and the sol-gel transition. We determine how many computational droplets are necessary to correctly model expected number and standard deviation of autoconversion time. Also, growth rate of lucky droplets is determined and compared with a theoretical prediction. Size of the coalescence cell is found to strongly affect system behavior. In small cells, correlations in droplet sizes and droplet depletion affect evolution of the system. In large cells, unrealistic collisions between rain drops, caused by the assumption that the cell is well-mixed, become important. Maximal size of a volume that is turbulently well-mixed with respect to coalescence is estimated at Vmix = 1.05 · 10−2 cm3. It is argued that larger cells can be considered approximately well-mixed, but only through comparison with fine-grid simulations. In addition, validity of the Smoluchowski equation is tested. Discrepancy between the SDM and the Smoluchowski equation is observed if droplets are initially relatively small. This implies that cloud models that use the Smoluchowski equation might produce rain too soon.
Lightning Data Analysis of the CMA Network in China
Authors: Li Feng , Wu Lei , Li Yan
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Based on analysis and evaluation of the 2009 to 2013 national lightning monitoring data, the average lightning detection station distance is approximately 170 kilometers in China, and the average operational availability (AO) exceeds 90 %. Lightning detection systems use a hybrid location method of direction finding (DF) and the time difference of arrival (TOA). The stations use four localization algorithms, including two-station mixing, three-station mixing, four-station mixing and two-station amplitude. Among them, the four-station method has the highest positioning accuracy, i.e., close to 50 %. The statistical results show that lightning occurrences in China have increased, especially negative cloud-to-ground (−CG) flashes because positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) flashes account for only 5.1 % of the total. In china, most of lightning currents range are in the −60 ~ +60 kA, Lightning current between −10 ~ +10 kA only accounted for small proportion of 0.6 %.The average intensity of positive flashes is 64.2 kA, the average intensity of negative flashes is −40.28 kA. The average +CG intensity is higher than that of −CG flashes, which is consistent with statistical results of other Lightning detection network. Lightning frequency has obvious regional differences across the country; the high density lightning area is mainly distributed in south-central China, the south-central Yangtze River region and the eastern part of southwestern China. Seasonal variation in lightning activity is well defined, with few lightning occurrences in winter and a gradual but significant increase from spring to autumn in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River to the north, south and southwest. The ratio of positive to negative flashes is highest in winter.
Understanding of Morphometric Features for an Adequate Water Resources Management in Arid Environments
Authors: Elhag Mohamed , Galal Hanaa , Alsubaie Haneen
Published: April 2017

Abstract. The current research investigates the significance of remote sensing data to evaluate the fluviological features and to identify the morphometric parameters of Yalamlam basin, West of Saudi Arabia. Hydrological characteristics, such as topographic parameters, drainage attributes, and the land use, land cover pattern were evaluated for the water resource management of the watershed area. Under GIS environment, the delineation of the watershed and the calculation of morphometric characteristics using ASTER GGDEM was undertaken. The drainage density of the basin has been estimated to be very high which indicates that the watershed possesses high permeable soils and low to medium relief (Hadley and Schumn 1961). The stream order of the area ranges from first to sixth order showing semi dendritic and radial drainage pattern that indicates the heterogeneity in textural characteristics and is influenced by structural characteristics in the study area. The bifurcation ratio (Rb) of the basin ranges from 2.0 to 4.42 and the mean bifurcation ratio is 3.84 of the entire study area that signifies that the drainage pattern of the entire basin is much more controlled by the lithological and geological structure. The elongation ratio is 0.14, which indicates that the shape of the basin belongs to the narrow and elongated shape. Land use and land cover map were generated by using Landsat-8 image acquired on August 10th 2015 was classified to distinguish mainly the alluvial deposit from the mountainous rock. The study reveals that hydrological evaluation using ASTER GGDEM is more precise and applied with compared to other techniques at the watershed scale.
A water risk index for portfolio exposure to climatic extremes: conceptualization and an application to the mining industry
Authors: Bonnafous Luc , Lall Upmanu , Siegel Jason
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Corporations, industries and non-governmental organizations have become increasingly concerned with growing water risks in many parts of the world. Most of the focus has been on water scarcity and competition for the resource between agriculture, urban users, ecology and industry. However, water risks are multi-dimensional. Water-related hazards include flooding due to extreme rainfall, persistent drought and pollution, either due to industrial operations themselves, or to the failure of infrastructure. Most companies have risk management plans at each operational location to address these risks to a certain design level. The residual risk may or may not be managed, and is typically not quantified at a portfolio scale, i.e. across many sites. Given that climate is the driver of many of these extreme events, and there is evidence of quasi-periodic climate regimes at inter-annual and decadal timescales, it is possible that a portfolio is subject to persistent, multi-year exceedances of the design level. In other words, for a multi-national corporation, it is possible that there is correlation in the climate-induced portfolio water risk across its operational sites as multiple sites may experience a hazard beyond the design level in a given year. Therefore, from an investor's perspective, a need exists for a water risk index that allows for an exploration of the possible space and/or time clustering in exposure across many sites contained in a portfolio. This paper represents a first attempt to develop an index for financial exposure of a geographically diversified, global portfolio to the time-varying risk of climatic extremes using long daily global rainfall datasets derived from climate re-analysis models. Focusing on extreme daily rainfall amounts and using examples from major mining companies, we illustrate how the index can be developed. We discuss how companies can use it to explore their corporate exposure, and what they may need to disclose to investors and regulators to promote transparency as to risk exposure and mitigation efforts. For the examples of mining companies provided, we note that the actual exposure is substantially higher than would be expected in the absence of space and time correlation of risk as is usually tacitly assumed. We also find evidence for the increasing exposure to climate-induced risk, and for decadal variability in exposure. The relative vulnerability of different portfolios to multiple extreme events in a given year is also demonstrated.
Technical note: Evaluation of three machine learning models for surface ocean CO2 mapping
Authors: Zeng Jiye , Matsunaga Tsuneo , Saigusa Nobuko , Shirai Tomoko , Nakaoka Shin-ichiro , Tan Zheng-Hong
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Reconstructing surface ocean CO2 from scarce measurements plays an important role in estimating oceanic CO2 uptake. There are varying degrees of differences among the 14 models included in the Surface Ocean CO2 Mapping (SOCOM) inter-comparison initiative, in which five models used neural networks. This investigation evaluates two neural networks used in SOCOM, self-organizing maps and feedforward neural networks, and introduces a machine learning model called a support vector machine for ocean CO2 mapping. The technique note provides a practical guide to selecting the models.
Characteristics of starch breads enriched with red potatoes
Authors: Gumul Dorota , Berski Wiktor , Ivanišová Eva , Gambuś Halina , Kačániová Miroslava , Harangozo Luboš , Tokár Marián
Published: April 2017

Starch breads may often be low in nutritional value, in comparison to traditional products, as they contain less dietary fibre, protein and micro and macro elements. As an effect a risk of mineral deficiencies and digestive problems caused by lack of dietary fibre could be expected in persons adhering to gluten free diet. To eliminate such problems, a continuous research on gluten-free bread nutritional enrichment, has been done in recent years. Raw material used to enrich gluten free products should include: inulin, lupine, radish, soy, lucerne sprouts, oilseeds, different type of dried fruits. Among the most commonly used raw materials, there are flours from gluten free cereals and pseudocereals such as buckwheat, amaranth and maize are very popular. It seem that valuable alternative could be considered a red, purple or pink potatoes as starch breads additives. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect addition of freeze-dried color potatoes on crude fiber, polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids and nutritional value of gluten free breads. It could be concluded, that freeze-dried color (red, purple, pink) potatoes enriched the gluten free breads (starch breads) with health promoting bioactive components, like polyphenols, and highly valuable protein. The most promising additive was Magenta Love red potato variety lyophilisates, because gluten free breads enriched with this component were characterized by high protein content and the highest content of free and bound polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins. The presence of all these components increased the nutritional and pro-health value of gluten free product as starch bread.
Attitudes towards refugees in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia
Authors: DeCoursey C.A. , Naimushin Boris , Tuncay Hidayet , Stepanova Maria
Published: April 2017

As refugee flows have increased, western attitudes towards them have become conflicted. Attitudes towards refugees in non-western and in Muslim nations are rarely studied, though these nations accept most refugees. This study of attitudes towards refugees among tertiary students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Lebanon, Russia and Kyrgyzstan used Appraisal and content analysis frequencies and co-frequencies. Results showed that the Lebanese realised greater affect, possibly due to their experience of refugees. More generally, nationality shaped attitudes more than religion, tertiary students favour technocratic solutions by government actors despite realistically estimating the challenge, and while students critically analyse the problems created by refugee inflows, they retain a nativist stance and seem unaware of the optics and politics of this stance.
The Meaning and Evolution of the Name “Hangzhou Silk”
Authors: Bian Xiangyang , Cao Aijuan , Ren Dongmao
Published: April 2017

With regard to the meaning and evolution of "Hangzhou Silk", the author uses the documentary research methodology to trim and verify from three aspects of industry name, product name and brand name respectively, attempting to find out the source of "Hangzhou Silk" from historical documents. Research shows that, as the industry name being called as "Hangzhou satin industry" or "Hangzhou silk weaving industry", it was generally called as the "Hangzhou Silk and Satin Industry” after the combination of Hangzhou Silk Reeling Industry Association and Hangzhou Silk Weaving Industry Association until 1952. As the product name being called as "Hangzhou silk” or “Hangzhou satin", it was called as “Hangzhou silk “after the China liberation. As the brand name, it referred to the specific silk products of Hangzhou region in particular after being awarded of protection as Chinese national geographical mark product since September 2011.
The Challenges and Prospects for Regional and Economic Integration in West Africa
Authors: Bala Maiyaki Theodore
Published: April 2017

The age-long practice of the individual survival of nations have long given way to the emergent concept of integration and cooperation among states as an option to meeting the collective development needs of the cooperating states. Practice has shown over time that when states take comparative advantage of each other’s strength and weaknesses, it opens the space and engenders the potentials for specialization, development of the economies of scale and indeed reduces the cost of production. Consequently, it enhances the purchasing power of the citizenry. In recent times, there have been significant increases in the efforts of developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve regional economic integration. The advent of the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) have given new impetus to the global African and regional integration processes and has focused particular attention on the need to take decisive action to tackle the continent’s numerous problems through the instrument of the economic integration strategy. This paper appreciates the evolution of regional integration and analyses the rationale for economic integration in West Africa. It evaluates the challenges and prospects of integration in West Africa.
Self-Selecting Robust Logistic Regression Model
Authors: Gbohounme Idelphonse Leandre  Tawanou , Ngesa Oscar Owino , Eggoh Jude
Published: April 2017

Logistic regression model is the most common model used for the analysis of binary data. However, the problem of atypical observations in the data has an unduly effect on the parameter estimates. Many researchers have developed robust statistical model to solve this problem of outliers. Gelman (2004) proposed GRLR, a robust  model by trimming the probability of success in LR. The trimming values in this model were fixed and the user is required to specify this value well in advance. In particular this study developed SsRLR model by allowing the data itself to select the alpha value. We proposed a Restricted LR model to substitute the LR in presence of outliers. We proved that the SsRLR model is the more robust to the presence of leverage points in the data. Parameter estimations is done using a full Bayesian approach implemented in WinBUGS 14 software.
Veranderingen in de relatie tussen overheid en burger, een uitdaging voor onderzoekers: een verkenning van de VSO-netwerkgroep
Authors: Peters André , Schalk Jan , Meijneken Dymphna , Mensinga Celina , Voutz Hans
Published: April 2017

Veranderingen in de relatie tussen overheid en burger, een uitdaging voor onderzoekers: een verkenning van de VSO-netwerkgroep

Het overheidsveld en het maatschappelijk veld zijn sterk in beweging. Burgers en organisaties willen meer invloed uitoefenen op beleid en uitvoering. Er is een ontwikkeling naar pluriformiteit, bottom-up sturing, netwerken, met lokale initiatieven. Tegelijkertijd blijft er een grote kloof tussen overheid en burgers bestaan. Het is de vraag hoe gemeentelijke (beleids)onderzoekers het best kunnen reageren op deze ontwikkelingen. Blijven zij top-down werken of gaan ook zij de uitdaging aan en sluiten zij zich aan bij de bottom-up trend? In dit artikel worden ten aanzien van burgerparticipatie en onderzoek enkele ontwikkelingen in beeld gebracht. Nieuwe media en (online) instrumenten spelen een toenemende rol. Het gemeentelijke beleidsveld krijgt te maken met een andere manier van werken. Daaruit komen kansen voor de rol van onderzoek en onderzoekers. Een werkgroep van VSO-onderzoekers heeft verkend wat de consequenties en uitdagingen zijn van de geschetste ontwikkelingen op het gebied van burgerparticipatie en sociale media.
Recht voor de zorgmarkten
Authors: Sijmons J.G.
Published: April 2017

Recht voor de zorgmarkten. Een overzicht

De wetgever heeft ervoor gekozen om de zorg in te richten als een markt en zij is een aanzienlijk (complex) aandeel van onze economie geworden. De zorgmarkten zijn sterk gereguleerd door de overheid. Niettemin opereren zorginstellingen op de zorgmarkt steeds meer als gewone ondernemingen en zijn recht en financiering van de zorg een deel van het ondernemingsrecht. Dit artikel geeft een overzicht van deze verhoudingen.
Governance in het ziekenhuis
Authors: van den Ende T.A.M.
Published: April 2017

Governance in het ziekenhuis. Het participatiemodel als Haarlemmerolie?

In deze bijdrage gaat de auteur in op de verhoudingen binnen het ziekenhuis. Belicht worden de door de tijd gewijzigde rol en positie van de medisch specialist en de raad van bestuur van het ziekenhuis in relatie tot de nimmer aflatende beslissingen vanuit de wetgever die invloed uitoefenen op die positie. De auteur schetst een mogelijke invulling van het door de politiek geopperde participatiemodel en gaat in op het op dit moment schaarse aantal praktijkvoorbeelden waarbij bestuurbaarheid en gelijkgerichtheid binnen het ziekenhuis vanuit de hoek van het ondernemingsrecht handen en voeten worden gegeven.
Enige opmerkingen over de nietigheid en vernietigbaarheid van een uiterste wil op grond van vormgebreken
Authors: van Es P.C.
Published: April 2017

Enige opmerkingen over de nietigheid en vernietigbaarheid van een uiterste wil op grond van vormgebreken

De Wna bepaalt dat wanneer aan bepaalde vormvereisten niet is voldaan, een akte authenticiteit mist en zij niet voldoet aan de voorschriften waarin de vorm van een notariële akte wordt geëist. Boek 4 van het BW geeft in artikel 109 een eigen regeling voor (onder meer) een in een notariële akte gegoten uiterste wil die niet aan bepaalde vormvereisten voldoet. Dit artikel moet worden gezien als een bepaling die een afwijking inhoudt van de hoofdregel van artikel 3:39 BW: op grond van lid 4 van artikel 4:109 BW geldt namelijk dat het niet in acht nemen van bepaalde vormvereisten (waar de Wna wel de sanctie van verlies van authenticiteit op stelt) geen nietigheid, maar vernietigbaarheid van de uiterste wil meebrengt.

In deze bijdrage wordt – mede aan de hand van HR 5 oktober 2001, NJ 2002/410 – op zoek gegaan naar de grenzen van de mogelijkheid een vernietigbare uiterste wil te vernietigen.
A Novel Automated Slide-Based Technology for Visualization, Counting, and Characterization of the Formed Elements of Blood: A Proof of Concept Study
Authors: Winkelman James W. , Tanasijevic Milenko J. , Zahniser David J.
Published: April 2017

Context.—

A novel automated slide-based approach to the complete blood count and white blood cell differential count is introduced.

Objective.—

To present proof of concept for an image-based approach to complete blood count, based on a new slide preparation technique. A preliminary data comparison with the current flow-based technology is shown.

Design.—

A prototype instrument uses a proprietary method and technology to deposit a precise volume of undiluted peripheral whole blood in a monolayer onto a glass microscope slide so that every cell can be distinguished, counted, and imaged. The slide is stained, and then multispectral image analysis is used to measure the complete blood count parameters. Images from a 600-cell white blood cell differential count, as well as 5000 red blood cells and a variable number of platelets, that are present in 600 high-power fields are made available for a technologist to view on a computer screen. An initial comparison of the basic complete blood count parameters was performed, comparing 1857 specimens on both the new instrument and a flow-based hematology analyzer.

Results.—

Excellent correlations were obtained between the prototype instrument and a flow-based system. The primary parameters of white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet counts resulted in correlation coefficients (r) of 0.99, 0.99, and 0.98, respectively. Other indices included hemoglobin (r = 0.99), hematocrit (r = 0.99), mean cellular volume (r = 0.90), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (r = 0.97), and mean platelet volume (r = 0.87). For the automated white blood cell differential counts, r values were calculated for neutrophils (r = 0.98), lymphocytes (r = 0.97), monocytes (r = 0.76), eosinophils (r = 0.96), and basophils (r = 0.63).

Conclusions.—

Quantitative results for components of the complete blood count and automated white blood cell differential count can be developed by image analysis of a monolayer preparation of a known volume of peripheral blood.
Faire de la philosophie avec les enfants africains à partir du fond culturel endogène
Authors: Kola Étienne
Published: April 2017

L’Afrique est riche de son patrimoine culturel. Cependant peut-elle se réjouir de l’apport de ses filles et de ses fils sur le double plan de la démocratie et de la rationalité moderne ? Le relatif retard de ce continent dans certains domaines semble s’enraciner dans des écueils d’ordre éducatif. La plupart des systèmes éducatifs africains sont en effet perçus comme des structures inadaptées aux réalités socioculturelles des peuples. Le paradigme de la philosophie pour enfants consacre la culture du débat sensé, de l’esprit critique, des valeurs éthiques et démocratiques à travers l’institution des communautés de recherche philosophique. Un usage judicieux du substrat culturel africain comme support heuristique dans les communautés de recherche peut s’avérer bénéfique pour l’éveil de la jeunesse. Cette expérience de la philosophie pour enfants vaut la peine d’être menée en Afrique.
The Loneliness of “Adam”
Authors: Świeżyński Adam
Published: April 2017

The experience of loneliness is usually seen as a negative aspect of human existence and something to overcome. However, it is worth trying to break free, if only on a trial basis, from the established traditional perception of loneliness, and strive to reduce it immediately from being one of the main sources of human affliction and to rethink its importance in human life. In order to do this, we must first consider the question of the essence of loneliness (ontology of loneliness), and then examine the question of its axiological status, i.e. its value (axiology of loneliness). The ontological dimension and the axiological dimension of the issue should include the opportunity to construct the concept of human loneliness, by taking into account its internal (phenomenological) and external (essential) aspect. The purpose of this paper is to propose an outline concept of loneliness, which, on the basis of findings on its essence, seeks to determine its axiological nature. The designated point of departure is the biblical image of human loneliness presented in Genesis (Gen. 2:4b-24).
Competition and feeding ecology in two sympatric Xenopus species (Anura: Pipidae)
Authors: Vogt Solveig , de Villiers F. André , Ihlow Flora , Rödder Dennis , Measey John
Published: April 2017

The widespread African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) occurs in sympatry with the IUCN Endangered Cape platanna (Xenopus gilli) throughout its entire range in the south-western Cape, South Africa. In order to investigate aspects of the interspecific competition between populations of X. laevis and X. gilli, an assessment of their niche differentiation was conducted through a comprehensive study on food composition and trophic niche structure at two study sites: the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) and Kleinmond. A total of 399 stomach contents of X. laevis (n = 183) and X. gilli (n = 216) were obtained together with samples of available prey to determine food preferences using the Electivity index (E*), the Simpson’s index of diversity (1 − D), the Shannon index (H′), and the Pianka index (Ojk). Xenopus gilli diet was more diverse than X. laevis, particularly in Kleimond where the Shannon index was nearly double. Both species were found to consume large amounts of tadpoles belonging to different amphibian species, including congeners, with an overall higher incidence of anurophagy than previously recorded. However, X. laevis also feeds on adult X. gilli, thus representing a direct threat for the latter. While trophic niche overlap was 0.5 for the CoGH, it was almost 1 in Kleinmond, suggesting both species utilise highly congruent trophic niches. Further, subdividing the dataset into three size classes revealed overlap to be higher in small frogs in both study sites. Our study underlines the importance of actively controlling X. laevis at sites with X. gilli in order to limit competition and predation, which is vital for conservation of the south-western Cape endemic.
Distribution and establishment of the alien Australian redclaw crayfish,Cherax quadricarinatus, in South Africa and Swaziland
Authors: Nunes Ana L. , Zengeya Tsungai A. , Hoffman Andries C. , Measey G. John , Weyl Olaf L.F.
Published: April 2017

Background

The Australian redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus, von Martens), is native to Australasia, but has been widely translocated around the world due to aquaculture and aquarium trade. Mostly as a result of escape from aquaculture facilities, this species has established extralimital populations in Australia and alien populations in Europe, Asia, Central America and Africa. In South Africa,C. quadricarinatuswas first sampled from the wild in 2002 in the Komati River, following its escape from an aquaculture facility in Swaziland, but data on the current status of its populations are not available.

Methods

To establish a better understanding of its distribution, rate of spread and population status, we surveyed a total of 46 sites in various river systems in South Africa and Swaziland. Surveys were performed between September 2015 and August 2016 and involved visual observations and the use of collapsible crayfish traps.

Results

Cherax quadricarinatusis now present in the Komati, Lomati, Mbuluzi, Mlawula and Usutu rivers, and it was also detected in several off-channel irrigation impoundments. Where present, it was generally abundant, with populations having multiple size cohorts and containing ovigerous females. In the Komati River, it has spread more than 112 km downstream of the initial introduction point and 33 km upstream of a tributary, resulting in a mean spread rate of 8 km year−1downstream and 4.7 km year−1upstream. In Swaziland, estimated downstream spread rate might reach 14.6 km year−1. Individuals were generally larger and heavier closer to the introduction site, which might be linked to juvenile dispersal.

Discussion

These findings demonstrate thatC. quadricarinatusis established in South Africa and Swaziland and that the species has spread, not only within the river where it was first introduced, but also between rivers. Considering the strong impacts that alien crayfish usually have on invaded ecosystems, assessments of its potential impacts on native freshwater biota and an evaluation of possible control measures are, therefore, urgent requirements.
Preliminary observations on the age and growth of dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) and mahogany snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni) from the Southeastern U.S.
Authors: Potts Jennifer C. , Burton Michael L.
Published: April 2017

Dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu Bloch and Schneider 1801) and mahogany snapper (Lutjanus mahogoni Cuvier 1828) are infrequently caught snappers in the southeastern U.S. primarily occurring off of southern Florida. The species were opportunistically sampled from commercial and recreational fisheries in the southeastern U.S. from 1979 to 2015. Fish were aged (56 dog snapper and 54 mahogany snapper) by counting opaque zones on sectioned sagittal otoliths. Otoliths of both species were easily interpretable and agreement between readers was acceptable. Analysis of otolith edge-type revealed that annuli formed between May and July on both species. Dog snapper ranged from 200–837 mm total length (TL) and ages 2–33, while mahogany snapper ranged from 270–416 mm TL and ages 2–18. The Von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 746(1–e(−0.20(t−0.32))) and Lt = 334(1–e(0.31(t+1.19))) for dog snapper and mahogany snapper, respectively. The weight-length relations were W = 1.31 × 10−5L3.03(n = 78, r2 = 0.99) and W = 5.40 × 10−6L3.15(n = 79, r2 = 0.79) for dog snapper and mahogany snapper, respectively, where W = whole weight in grams.
Successful one-stage operation for ipsilateral, synchronous carcinomas of the breast and lung: A case report
Authors: Meng Liwei , Huang Liming , Xu Yingchun
Published: April 2017

The incidence of double primary malignancies is very low, particularly, a case of synchronous carcinomas of the ipsilateral breast and lung. Determining whether to have a one-stage operation for ipsilateral breast cancer and lung cancer is a challenge for the surgeon. The current study presents a case of a 56-year-old female, with a rigid textured mass measuring approximately 18×20 mm above the areola of the right breast and chest CT showing a mass of 20 × 14 mm at the tip segment of right upper lobe of the lung. A diagnosis of a synchronous dual primary carcinoma of the right lung (cT1N0M0) and right breast (cT1N0M0) was made. The patient underwent a right breast-conserving surgery, sentinel node biopsy, and right upper lobectomy and lymphadenectomy with a video-assisted thoracoscopic technique simultaneously. To our knowledge, in the previous literature, there was no one-stage operation for ipsilateral, synchronous carcinomas of the breast and lung and only one reported case with left breast and right lung cancer underwent a one-stage operation. This report first presents the successful treatment of a case with synchronous primary breast and lung carcinomas on the same side of the body with a one-stage operation and therefore is educational.
The differentiated and conserved roles of Swi5‐Sfr1 in homologous recombination
Authors: Argunhan Bilge , Murayama Yasuto , Iwasaki Hiroshi
Published: April 2017

Homologous recombination (HR) is the process whereby two DNA molecules that share high sequence similarity are able to recombine to generate hybrid DNA molecules. Throughout evolution, the ability of HR to identify highly similar DNA sequences has been adopted for numerous biological phenomena including DNA repair, meiosis, telomere maintenance, ribosomal DNA amplification and immunological diversity. Although Rad51 and Dmc1 are the key proteins that promote HR in mitotic and meiotic cells, respectively, accessory proteins that allow Rad51 and Dmc1 to effectively fulfil their functions have been identified in all examined model systems. In this Review, we discuss the roles of the highly conserved Swi5‐Sfr1 accessory complex in yeast, mice and humans, and explore similarities and differences between these species.
Spectral scaling technique to determine extreme Carrington‐level geomagnetically induced currents effects
Authors: Winter Lisa M. , Gannon Jennifer , Pernak Rick , Huston Stuart , Quinn Richard , Pope Edward , Ruffenach Alexis , Bernardara Pietro , Crocker Nicholas
Published: April 2017

Space weather events produce variations in the electric current in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. From these high‐altitude atmospheric regions, resulting geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can lead to fluctuations in ground currents that affect the electric power grid and potentially overload transformers during extreme storms. The most extreme geomagnetic storm on record, known as the 1859 Carrington event, was so intense that ground‐based magnetometers were saturated at high magnetic latitudes. The most reliable, unsaturated observation is the hour resolution data from the Colaba Magnetic Observatory in India. However, higher‐frequency components—fluctuations at second through minute time cadence—to the magnetic field can play a significant role in GIC‐related effects. We present a new method for scaling higher‐frequency observations to create a realistic Carrington‐like event magnetic field model, using modern magnetometer observations. Using the magnetic field model and ground conductivity models, we produce an electric field model. This method can be applied to create similar magnetic and electric field models for studies of GIC effects on power grids.
Global characterization of surface soil moisture drydowns
Authors: McColl Kaighin A. , Wang Wei , Peng Bin , Akbar Ruzbeh , Short Gianotti Daniel J. , Lu Hui , Pan Ming , Entekhabi Dara
Published: April 2017

Loss terms in the land water budget (including drainage, runoff, and evapotranspiration) are encoded in the shape of soil moisture “drydowns”: the soil moisture time series directly following a precipitation event, during which the infiltration input is zero. The rate at which drydowns occur—here characterized by the exponential decay time scale τ—is directly related to the shape of the loss function and is a key characteristic of global weather and climate models. In this study, we use 1 year of surface soil moisture observations from NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission to characterize τ globally. Consistent with physical reasoning, the observations show that τ is lower in regions with sandier soils, and in regions that are more arid. To our knowledge, these are the first global estimates of τ—based on observations alone—at scales relevant to weather and climate models.
The balanced radiative effect of tropical anvil clouds
Authors: Hartmann Dennis L. , Berry Sara E.
Published: April 2017

Coincident instantaneous broadband radiation budget measurements from Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System and cloud vertical structure information from CloudSat‐Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations radar‐lidar observations are combined to study the relationship of cloud vertical structure to top‐of‐atmosphere energy balance fluctuations. Varying optical and physical thickness of high ice clouds produces most of the covariation between albedo and outgoing longwave radiation in regions of tropical convection. Rainy cores of tropical convective clouds have a negative impact on the radiation balance, while nonprecipitating anvil clouds have a positive effect. The effect of anvil clouds on the radiative heating profile is to warm near cloud base and cool near cloud top, and to reduce the radiative cooling rate in the clear air below the cloud. The cooling rate in the clear air below the anvil is reduced to small values for moderately thick anvils, and the driving of instability in the anvil itself also saturates for relatively thin clouds. It is hypothesized that the dependence of radiative heating on cloud thickness may be important in driving the distribution of tropical cloud structures toward one that produces net neutrality of the cloud radiative effect at the top‐of‐the‐atmosphere, as is found in regions of deep convection over ocean areas with high and relatively uniform surface temperatures. This idea is tested with a single‐column model, which indicates that cloud‐radiation interactions affect anvil cloud properties, encouraging further investigation of the hypothesis.
Measuring ionizing radiation in the atmosphere with a new balloon‐borne detector
Authors: Aplin K. L. , Briggs A. A. , Harrison R. G. , Marlton G. J.
Published: April 2017

Increasing interest in energetic particle effects on weather and climate has motivated development of a miniature scintillator‐based detector intended for deployment on meteorological radiosondes or unmanned airborne vehicles. The detector was calibrated with laboratory gamma sources up to 1.3 MeV and known gamma peaks from natural radioactivity of up to 2.6 MeV. The specifications of our device in combination with the performance of similar devices suggest that it will respond to up to 17 MeV gamma rays. Laboratory tests show that the detector can measure muons at the surface, and it is also expected to respond to other ionizing radiation including, for example, protons, electrons (>100 keV), and energetic helium nuclei from cosmic rays or during space weather events. Its estimated counting error is ±10%. Recent tests, when the detector was integrated with a meteorological radiosonde system and carried on a balloon to ~25 km altitude, identified the transition region between energetic particles near the surface, which are dominated by terrestrial gamma emissions, to higher‐energy particles in the free troposphere.
Lice
Authors: Cohn Douglas L.
Published: April 2017

Lice are external parasites classified within two suborders of insects: Mallophaga and Anoplura, the biting and sucking lice, respectively. Lice parasitize a large number of primate species, encompassing prosimians, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys, apes, and humans. Lice do transmit infectious agents to human hosts, but this has not been documented for nonhuman primates outside the laboratory. Pediculosis can cause various degrees of dermatitis in mammalian hosts, and in the case of anoplurans, chronic, heavy infestation can lead to anemia. A number of antiparasitic agents and methods have been used to successfully treat the disease.
Socioecological Model
Authors: Isbell Lynne A.
Published: April 2017

The “socioecological model” is a conceptual approach used to explain the diversity of social organizations among primates by identifying the ecological and social conditions responsible for such diversity. Historically, ecological conditions have focused on predation pressure and food abundance/distribution, and social conditions, particularly male participation in grouping behavior. More recently, the trend has been toward increasingly detailed predictions of female social behavior within certain types of social organizations. This has produced largely unsatisfactory results, and some have suggested that socioecology and its conceptual models be abandoned and replaced by approaches that involve phylogenetic, or internal, constraints. However, another more recent socioecological model that is reminiscent of traditional socioecological models in considering only broad levels of diversity in social organization remains untested. It differs from other models by including both ecological conditions and evolved energetic constraints, the latter likely having a phylogenetic footprint.
Habitat Conservation
Authors: McConkey Kim R.
Published: April 2017

Most primate species inhabit tropical forests where their requirements for population persistence are often in direct conflict with the needs of people. Primates are threatened by direct loss of habitat, as well as more subtle changes in habitat structure and resource distribution caused by forest‐product harvesting by humans, climate change, and pollution. The magnitude of threats varies in different regions, but most primate species are threatened by some form of habitat change. Local extinction of primates may further degrade habitats in which they play important functional roles. Efforts at habitat conservation include the establishment of protected parks and habitat corridors that link primary habitat, advocacy for reduced‐impact logging, promotion of agroecosystems that retain high species diversity, and working with local people to enhance primate conservation efforts.
F
edigan,
L
inda
M
arie
Authors: Jack Katharine M.
Published: April 2017

Linda Fedigan (Ph.D. 1974, University of Texas, Austin) is a Canada Research Chair and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Fedigan is best known for her studies of the behavior and reproduction of nonhuman female primates and the influence of gender on the history of primatology.
Folivory
Authors: Sayers Ken
Published: April 2017

Leaf consumption is widespread in the Order Primates. Although increasing folivory is frequently associated with various anatomical signatures, including digestive and dental adaptations as well as larger body sizes, these traits vary only as a matter of degree in relation to observed diets. Overall, primates, including many traditionally classed as “folivores,” trend towards comparatively wide fundamental niche breadths and dietary generalism. Although leaves have in the past been viewed as low quality, superabundant, and unworthy of competition, recent behavioral, ecological, and nutritional findings often contradict such generalizations. The study of primate foraging must ultimately consider the perceptual, physiological, and psychological basis of decision making, and not just simple categorization based on gross plant parts.
Guenon, Semiterrestrial
Authors: Jaffe Karin E.
Published: April 2017

Guenons are a large and diverse group of small‐ to medium‐sized African monkeys in the subfamily Cercopithecinae. The term “guenon,” broadly used, refers to all genera within the tribe Cercopithecini. Recent molecular work suggests the guenons should be divided into the “arboreal guenons,” comprised of
Cercopithecus
and
Miopithecus
, and the “semiterrestrial guenons,” comprised of
Allenopithecus
,
Allochrocebus
,
Chlorocebus
, and
Erythrocebus
.
R
owell,
T
helma
Authors: Cords Marina
Published: April 2017

Thelma Rowell (1935–), a British zoologist, spent much of her career studying the social behavior of African monkeys, both wild and captive. Educated in England, she spent her professional life in Uganda, Kenya, and the United States. Throughout her career, Rowell challenged commonly held views of primate behavior, sometimes in provocative ways.
Bipedalism
Authors: Lewton Kristi L.
Published: April 2017

Bipedality is the defining characteristic of humans and our hominin ancestors, and evolved in Africa after the divergence of our lineage from that of chimpanzees, around 7–8 million years ago. In modern humans, a suite of morphological features of the postcranium evolved to increase mechanical efficiency and stability during bipedal walking and running. Based on the preserved morphology of fossil hominin species, they likely exhibited diverse varieties of bipedal locomotion and also incorporated arboreal behaviors such as climbing. Although various hypotheses explaining the emergence of bipedality have been proposed, it was likely related to increasing metabolic efficiency during foraging in a patchy environment.
Primate Conservation Genetics
Authors: Roos Christian , Zinner Dietmar
Published: April 2017

Due to the dramatic decline of many nonhuman primates, effective conservation efforts have to be undertaken to save these species from extinction. The field of conservation genetics can largely contribute to strengthen conservation actions, particularly by providing powerful tools to assess biodiversity, to identify evolutionary significant units and management units for preservation, and to assess and assist in maintaining genetic variability within and among such units. The field of conservation genetics has changed dramatically over recent decades and has largely taken advantage of recent improvements in laboratory and computational methods.
Behavioral Sampling
Authors: Lewis Rebecca J.
Published: April 2017

Various methods are available for researchers interested in studying primate behavior. The appropriate choice depends on the aim of the study, the observation conditions, the technology used, and how the data will be analyzed, as well as the impact the study will have on the animals. The importance of a well‐thought‐out protocol cannot be overstated.
Learning
Authors: Graham Kerrie Lewis
Published: April 2017

Learning refers to the ways in which an animal acquires and modifies information and skills, which in turn impact its behavior. Learning can involve differing degrees of cognition, but learning need not necessarily be cognitive. Learning is usually discussed with reference to classical and operant conditioning (associative learning), habituation and sensitization (nonassociative learning), modeling or social learning (observational learning), and, to some degree, play behavior.
Niche
Authors: Marshall Andrew J.
Published: April 2017

The niche is an abstract concept that describes the ecological space that a species occupies. A species' niche is determined by the environmental conditions it inhabits, the resources it uses, and its interactions with other species. Classical ecological theory postulates that no two species can occupy precisely the same niche, an idea known as the “competitive exclusion principle.” Accordingly, communities comprise species that utilize resources in sufficiently distinct ways to limit interspecific competition and thereby permit coexistence. Diet and body size are generally considered to be the primary axes of niche differentiation among primates, although differences in habitat selection, activity patterns, and canopy use may also reduce competition. Although the utility of the niche concept has been hotly debated, it remains a central component of modern ecology. Recent applications of the concept include: species distribution modeling, the niche construction concept, and consideration of phylogenetic niche conservatism at different taxonomic levels.