bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mangrove habitats provide refuge from climate change for reef-building corals
Authors: Yates K. K. , Rogers C. S. , Herlan J. J. , Brooks G. R. , Smiley N. A. , Larson R. A.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business as usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined. Here we characterize the first natural, non-reef, coral refuge from thermal stress and ocean acidification and identify resiliency factors for mangrove–coral habitats. We measured diurnal and seasonal variations in temperature, salinity, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and seawater chemistry; characterized substrate parameters; and examined water circulation patterns in mangrove communities where scleractinian corals are growing attached to and under mangrove prop roots in Hurricane Hole, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Additionally, we inventoried the coral species and quantified incidences of coral bleaching, mortality and recovery for two major reef-building corals, Colpophyllia natans and Diploria labyrinthiformis, growing in mangrove shaded and exposed (unshaded) areas. At least 33 species of scleractinian corals were growing in association with mangroves. Corals were thriving in low-light (more than 70% attenuation of incident PAR) from mangrove shading and at higher temperatures than nearby reef tract corals. A higher percentage of C. natans colonies was living shaded by mangroves, and no shaded colonies bleached. Fewer D. labyrinthiformis colonies were shaded by mangroves, however more unshaded colonies bleached. A combination of substrate and habitat heterogeniety, proximity of different habitat types, hydrographic conditions, and biological influences on seawater chemistry generate chemical conditions that buffer against ocean acidification. This previously undocumented refuge for corals provides evidence for adaptation of coastal organisms and ecosystem transition due to recent climate change. Identifying and protecting other natural, non-reef coral refuges is critical for sustaining corals and other reef species into the future.
Biophysical controls on net ecosystem CO2 exchange over a semiarid shrubland in northwest China
Authors: Jia X. , Zha T. S. , Wu B. , Zhang Y. Q. , Gong J. N. , Qin S. G. , Chen G. P. , Kellomäki S. , Peltola H.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. The carbon (C) cycling in semiarid and arid areas remains largely unexplored, despite the wide distribution of drylands globally. Rehabilitation practices have been carried out in many desertified areas, but information on the C sequestration potential of recovering vegetation is still largely lacking. Using the eddy-covariance technique, we measured the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) over a recovering shrub ecosystem in northwest China throughout 2012 in order to (1) quantify NEE and its components, (2) examine the dependence of C fluxes on biophysical factors at multiple timescales. The annual budget showed a gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) of 456 ± 8 g C m−2 yr−1 and an ecosystem respiration (Re) of 379 ± 3 g C m−2 yr−1, resulting in a net C sink of 77 ± 7 g C m−2 yr−1. The maximum daily NEE, GEP and Re were −4.7, 6.8 and 3.3 g C m−2 day−1, respectively. Both the maximum C assimilation rate (i.e., at optimum light intensity) and the quantum yield varied strongly over the growing season, being higher in summer and lower in spring and autumn. At the half-hourly scale, water stress exerted a major control over daytime NEE, and interacted with heat stress and photoinhibition in constraining C fixation by the vegetation. Low soil moisture also reduced the temperature sensitivity of Re (Q10). At the synoptic scale, rain events triggered immediate pulses of C release from the ecosystem, followed by peaks of CO2 uptake 1–2 days later. Over the entire growing season, leaf area index accounted for 45 and 65% of the seasonal variation in NEE and GEP, respectively. There was a linear dependence of daily Re on GEP, with a slope of 0.34. These results highlight the role of abiotic stresses and their alleviation in regulating C cycling in the face of an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events.
Climate impacts on human livelihoods: where uncertainty matters in projections of water availability
Authors: Lissner T. K. , Reusser D. E. , Schewe J. , Lakes T. , Kropp J. P.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. Climate change will have adverse impacts on many different sectors of society, with manifold consequences for human livelihoods and well-being. However, a systematic method to quantify human well-being and livelihoods across sectors is so far unavailable, making it difficult to determine the extent of such impacts. Climate impact analyses are often limited to individual sectors (e.g. food or water) and employ sector-specific target-measures, while systematic linkages to general livelihood conditions remain unexplored. Further, recent multi-model assessments have shown that uncertainties in projections of climate impacts deriving from climate and impact models as well as greenhouse gas scenarios are substantial, posing an additional challenge in linking climate impacts with livelihood conditions. This article first presents a methodology to consistently measure Adequate Human livelihood conditions for wEll-being And Development (AHEAD). Based on a transdisciplinary sample of influential concepts addressing human well-being, the approach measures the adequacy of conditions of 16 elements. We implement the method at global scale, using results from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISI-MIP) to show how changes in water availability affect the fulfilment of AHEAD at national resolution. In addition, AHEAD allows identifying and differentiating uncertainty of climate and impact model projections. We show how the approach can help to put the substantial inter-model spread into the context of country-specific livelihood conditions by differentiating where the uncertainty about water scarcity is relevant with regard to livelihood conditions – and where it is not. The results indicate that in many countries today, livelihood conditions are compromised by water scarcity. However, more often, AHEAD fulfilment is limited through other elements. Moreover, the analysis shows that for 44 out of 111 countries, the water-specific uncertainty ranges are outside relevant thresholds for AHEAD, and therefore do not contribute to the overall uncertainty about climate change impacts on livelihoods. The AHEAD method presented here, together with first results, forms an important step towards making scientific results more applicable for policy-decisions.
Droughts and floods over the upper catchment of the Blue Nile and their connections to the timing of El Niño and La Niña events
Authors: Zaroug M. A. H. , Eltahir E. A. B. , Giorgi F.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. The Blue Nile originates from Lake Tana in the Ethiopian Highlands and contributes about 60–69% of the main Nile discharge. Previous studies investigated the relationship of sea surface temperature (SST) in the Pacific Ocean (Niño 3.4 region) to occurrence of meteorological and hydrological droughts in the Nile Basin. In this paper we focus on the dependence of occurrence of droughts and floods in the upper catchment of the Blue Nile on the timing of El Niño and La Niña events. Different events start at different times of the year and follow each other, exhibiting different patterns and sequences. Here we study the impact of these timing and temporal patterns on the Blue Nile droughts and floods. The comparison between the discharge measurements (1965–2012) at the outlet of the upper catchment of the Blue Nile and the El Niño index shows that when an El Niño event is followed by a La Niña event, there is a 67% chance for occurrence of an extreme flood. Furthermore, we also found that 83% of El Niño events starting in April–June resulted in droughts in the upper catchment of the Blue Nile. Although the current study is limited by the reduced number of samples, we propose that observations as well as global model forecasts of SST during this season could be used in seasonal forecasting of the Blue Nile flow.
Lithospheric-scale structures in New Guinea and their control on the location of gold and copper deposits
Authors: White L. T. , Morse M. P. , Lister G. S.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. The locations of major gold and copper deposits on the island of New Guinea are considered by many to be controlled by a series of transfer faults that strike N–S to NE–SW, perpendicular to the long axis of the island. The premise is that these faults dilate perpendicular to the regional stress field, forming conduits for metalliferous gases and fluids to drop out of solution. However, the data on which this idea was first proposed were often not presented or, when the data were presented, were of poor quality or low resolution. We therefore present a review of the existing structural interpretations and compare these with several recently published geophysical data sets to determine if the mineralization controlling transfer faults could be observed. These data were used to produce a new lineament map of New Guinea. A comparison of the lineaments with the location of major gold and copper deposits indicates there is a link between the arc-normal structures and mineralization. However, it is only those deposits that are less than 4.5 million years old that could be associated with these structures. Gravity and seismic tomography data indicate that some of these structures could penetrate deep levels of the lithosphere, providing some support to the earlier idea that the arc-normal structures act as conduits for the younger mineral deposits of New Guinea. The gravity data can also be used to infer the location of igneous intrusions at depth, which could have brought metal-bearing fluids and gases closer to the Earth's surface. These regions might be of interest for future exploration campaigns, particularly those areas that are crosscut by deep, vertical faults. However, new exploration models are needed to explain the location of the deposits that are older than 5 Ma.
Influence of stress, temperature and crystal habit on isothermal densification and specific surface area decrease of new snow
Authors: Schleef S. , Löwe H. , Schneebeli M.
Published: March 2014

Abstract. Laboratory-based, experimental data for the microstructural evolution of new snow is scarce, though applications would benefit from a quantitative characterization of the main mechanism underlying the initial microstructural changes. To this end we have analyzed the metamorphism and concurrent densification of new snow under isothermal conditions by means of X-ray microtomography and compiled a comprehensive data set of 45 time series covering the practically relevant short time behavior within the first 24–48 h in high temporal resolution. The data set comprises natural and laboratory grown snow and experimental conditions include systematic variations of overburden stress, temperature and crystal habit to address the main influences on specific surface area (SSA) decrease rate and densification rate in a natural snowpack. For all conditions we find a linear increase of the density with the SSA, indicating that metamorphism has a key influence for the densification of new snow. Corroborated by the analysis of the individual influences of external conditions we derive a best-fit parametrization for the SSA decrease rate and the densification rate as required for applications.
“Hatcht up in Villanie and Witchcraft”:
Authors: Buckley Chloe
Published: March 2014

The witch child manifests at the intersection of history and fiction, revealing as uncanny the desire to capture a “real” child. This article considers the BBC Four documentary The Pendle Witch Child, and Joseph Delaney's fantasy series The Wardstone Chronicles, to explore how cultural constructions of the child inform representations of witch children in the wake of the four-hundred-year anniversary of the Pendle witches. Historical narratives that attempt to “recuperate” as real an innocent child victim are destabilized by an uncanny witch child who resists this recuperation. The witch child is uncanny because it reveals what ought to have remained hidden: there is no real child. Fantasy narratives have been viewed with some scorn in recent commentary on the Pendle witches. However, this article argues that fantasy's disregard for historical veracity allows space for the uncanny witch child to become something more than simply horrifying. Without a need to capture a real child, fantasy can allow the witch child to inhabit multiple possibilities.
Capturing Basque Witches, Releasing Lyrical Resources:
Authors: Echeverria Begoña
Published: March 2014

On November 8, 1610, eleven Basque “witches” were burned at the stake in Logroño, Spain—six alive, five in effigy. Most of these “witches” were women. In this article, I show that the “witches” persecuted in Logroño and those “captured” by Pierre de Lancre in his treatise On the Inconstancy of Witches (1612) deviate widely from those captured in Basque song. The former represent male and female witches as sexually deviant, cannibalistic, poison-procuring servants of the Devil deserving death for profaning God's name and violating his most sacred laws. The latter features witches—always female—as unruly, fun-loving tricksters but certainly not handmaidens of the Devil. I suggest that the lyrical resources released by these Basque songs about witches remain ambiguous and deserve further study.
Voicing Women, “Community” Drama, and The Late Lancashire Witches
Authors: Eleanor Rycroft
Published: March 2014

On August 17, 2012, as part of the Capturing Witches: Histories, Stories, Images 400 Years After the Lancashire Witches conference held at Lancaster University, a semi-staged reading of Heywood and Brome's The Late Lancashire Witches was performed at Lancaster Castle; the first time a witch trial had been enacted at the castle since 1634, when the witches who are dramatized in the play were tried. When a Lancaster judge disagreed with the verdict against the women in 1634 they were sent to London for retrial by the Privy Council, articulating the tension between London and Lancaster, urban and rural societies, and local and centralized justice, with which the play is concerned. This article considers the dimensions of the play that were revealed through directing this practice-based research project. It focuses on female speech-acts and embodiment in the witch drama, the depiction of official and unofficial justice in the play, as well as its representation of community. It also reflects on some of the difficulties that arise from conducting research-through-practice in historic sites, as well as the benefits: for instance, how the spaces in the castle—a working court since the seventeenth century—interacted with the play and furthered an understanding of its preoccupations. It concludes with an analysis of the impact of economic changes on social constructions of neighborliness during the period, suggesting that traditional notions of hospitality and festivity were waning during the early seventeenth century, and that the activities of the witches in the play partly hark back to a time of integrated communality before the intervention of a new fiscal era.
Radial variations of wood different properties in Diospyros lotus
Authors: Kiaei Majid , Bakhshi Reza
Published: March 2014

Aim of study: The aim of this study was to determine some of the physical, biometry and mechanical strength properties of Diospyros lotus L. wood along radial direction from the pith to the bark and the relationship between wood various properties. Area of study: The study area is located in north Iran in the province of Mazandarn. Material and methods: Testing samples were taken at breast height of tree stem and three radial position of stem radius to determine physical (basic density), fiber biometry (fiber length, fiber diameter, cell-wall thickness) and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity).Main results: The results of ANOVA indicated that there are significant differences along radial direction in above mentioned properties for persimmon wood. Basic density, fiber length, fiber diameter, cell-wall thickness, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture increased along radial direction from pith toward the bark. Research highlights: The persimmon wood isn’t suitable for pulp and paper production due to the unfavorable flexibility and Runkel coefficients.Keywords: Diospyros lotus; basic density; fiber features; modulus of rupture; modulus of elasticity.
Assessment of Soil Protection to Support Forest Planning: an Experience in Southern Italy
Authors: Ferretti Fabrizio , Cantiani Paolo , De Meo Isabella , Paletto Alessandro
Published: March 2014

Aim of study: to support landscape planning when soil-erosion control and water cycle regulation represent relevant issues for forest management. A methodological approach - based on simplified index – is proposed in order to assess the protective efficacy of forests on soils (indirect protection). This method is aimed at supporting technicians who are requested to define the most suitable management guidelines and silvicultural treatments.Area of study: Southern Apennines (Alto Agri district – Basilicata Region - Italy), where a landscape planning experimentation was implemented. Material and Methods: The data to estimate the parameters used for the simplified index calculation are retrieved from a non aligned systematic forest inventory. The method considers: 1) the tendency towards instability, 2) the protective action of forest cover and 3) different silvicultural options.Main results: For the analysed forest categories, the results indicate the situations in which hydrogeological hazard is high. The cross-reading of these data with the values based on years of partial and total uncovering of the ground according to different silvicultural options (for each forest category in the reference period of 100 years) has supported the definition of silviculture treatments and management options suitable for the considered forest formations.Research highlights: The proposed method can effectively support technicians in the field by highlighting situations of major hazard risk. Thanks to the joined assessment of different silvicultural options for each forest category, a series of silvicultural treatments, capable of better protecting the soil, can be already defined in the field survey phase.Key words: Alto Agri district (Italy); Forest Landscape Management Planning (FLMP); management; silvicultural treatment; protective function and soil erosion.
Physico-mechanical properties of Spanish juniper wood considering the effect of heartwood formation and the presence of defects and imperfections
Authors: De la Fuente-Leon Javier , Lafuente-Jimenez Edgar , Hermosilla Daphne , Broto-Cartagena Miguel , Gasco Antonio
Published: March 2014

Aim of study: Determining the main physical and mechanical properties of Spanish juniper wood from Soria (Spain) considering the effects of heartwood formation and the presence of defects and imperfections; and comparing the resulting characteristics with similar existing data for other regional softwood species of commercial interest. Area of study: Berlanga de Duero (Soria, Castilla y León), Spain.Material and Methods: Wood physico-mechanical performance was determined by Spanish UNE standards in order to provide proper comparisons to other regional softwood species. An individual tree representing average plot characteristics was selected in all eight 10 m radius circular plots that were established well-representing the heterogeneity of this woodland. The age of every tree was determined reading the number of growth rings at the base of each sampled tree. Every physico-mechanical property was assessed at least 4 times for every wood sample type (sapwood and heartwood, whether clear or with the presence of defects) of each tree. Two-way ANOVA was run to assess significant differences in the results. Post hoc all pairwise comparisons were performed using Tukey's test (p < 0.05).Research highlights: Spanish juniper wood resulted harder than other regional commercial conifers, and showed semi-heavyweight heartwood and lightweight sapwood; whereas shrinkage figures remarked its great dimensional stability. The high presence of knots within heartwood made it even heavier, harder, and more resistant to compression parallel to grain. A commercial use of this rare precious wood may contribute to juniper forests preservation in the frame of forest sustainable management plans. Key words: heartwood effect; Juniperus thurifera L.; physico-mechanical wood properties; wood classification; wood defects.
Species richness of vascular plants along the climatic range of the Spanish dehesas at two spatial scales
Authors: Garcia del Barrio Jose M. , Alonso Ponce Rafael , Benavides Raquel , Roig Sonia
Published: March 2014

Aims of study: The goals of this paper are to summarize and to compare plant species richness and floristic similarity at two spatial scales; mesohabitat (normal, eutrophic, and oligotrophic dehesas) and dehesa habitat; and to establish guidelines for conserving species diversity in dehesas.Area of study: We considered four dehesa sites in the western Peninsular Spain, located along a climatic and biogeographic gradient from north to south. Main results: Average alpha richness for mesohabitats was 75.6 species, and average alpha richness for dehesa sites was 146.3. Gamma richness assessed for the overall dehesa habitat was 340.0 species. The species richness figures of normal dehesa mesohabitat were significantly lesser than of the eutrophic mesohabitat and lesser than the oligotrophic mesohabitat too. No significant differences were found for species richness among dehesa sites. We have found more dissimilarity at local scale (mesohabitat) than at regional scale (habitat). Finally, the results of the similarity assessment between dehesa sites reflected both climatic and biogeographic gradients.Research highlights: An effective conservation of dehesas must take into account local and regional conditions all along their distribution range for ensuring the conservation of the main vascular plant species assemblages as well as the associated fauna.Keywords: Agroforestry systems; mesohabitat; non-parametric estimators; alpha richness; gamma richness; floristic similarity; climatic and biogeographic range.
Detection of ambrosia beetles using a pan-sharpened image generated from ALOS/AVNIR-2 and ALOS/PRISM imagery
Authors: Sonobe Rei , Tani Hiroshi , Wang Xiufeng
Published: March 2014

Aim of study: The ambrosia beetle, Platypus quercivorus, is a vector of Japanese oak wilt, which causes massive mortality of oak trees in Japan. ALOS/AVNIR-2 true color images can be used to help detect areas of oak wilt, although such detection by inventory surveys is not realistic. Applying pan-sharpening techniques, a higher spatial resolution multispectral image can be generated from lower-resolution multispectral images and higher-resolution panchromatic images. In this study, some pan-sharpening algorithms were considered and evaluated for the detection of damage points.Area of study: The oak forests in Kanazawa prefecture, Japan.Materials and methods: The ALOS/AVNIR-2 and ALOS/PRISM sensors were used. The pan-sharpening algorithms adopted were: Brovey transformation, Modified IHS transformation, Wavelet transformation, Ehlers fusion and High Pass Filter Resolution Merge. Four types of quantitative spectral analyses and visual detection were conducted to evaluate these algorithms.Main results: The Brovey transformation was the most useful algorithm to detect damage points, although it had an issue with the preservation of spectral characteristics.Research highlights: The detection rate of damage points was improved in 50% by applying the Brovey algorithm to a 10 m panchromatic image and 62.5 m multispectral image.Key words: ambrosia beetle; oak wilt; pan-sharpening; satellite imagery; visual detection.
Ignition probability of fine dead surface fuels of native Patagonian forests or Argentina
Authors: Bianchi Lucas O. , Defosse Guillermo E.
Published: March 2014

Aim of study: The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) is being implemented all over the world. This index is being adapted to the Argentinean ecosystems since the year 2000. With the objective of calibrating the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) of the FWI system to Patagonian forests, we studied the relationship between ignition probability and fine dead surface fuel moisture content (MC) as an indicator of potential fire ignition.Area of study: The study area is located in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, and comprised two main forest types (cypress and ñire) grown under a Mediterranean climate, with a dry summer and precipitations during winter and autumn (~500-800 mm per year).Material and Methods: We conducted lab ignition tests fires to determine the threshold of fine dead fuel ignition at different MC levels. Moisture content of dead fine surface fuels in the field was measured every 10-15 days from November to March for three seasons. We calculated the FFMC during these seasons and correlated it with the measured MC by applying a logistic regression model. We combined the results of the ignition tests and of the regressions to suggest FFMC categories for estimating fire danger in Patagonian forests.Main results: The ignition threshold occurred at MC values of 21.5 and 25.0% for cypress and ñire sites, respectively. The MC measured varied from 7.3 to 129.6%, and the calculated FFMC varied between 13.4 and 92.6. Highly significant regressions resulted when FFMC was related to MC. The ignition threshold corresponded to a FFMC=85. We proposed to divide the FFMC scale in three fire danger categories: Low (FFMC≤85), High (8589).Research highlights: Our results provide a useful tool for predicting fire danger in these ecosystems, and are a contribution to the development of the Argentinean Fire Danger Rating and a reference for similar studies in other countries where the FWI is being implemented.Keywords: Austrocedrus chilensi; Nothofagus antarctica; wildfire; fire behavior; fuel moisture; fire weather index.
Protective Effect of Hydroethanolic Extracts of Solanum scabrum and Cola verticillata Against Cyclophosphamide Induced Toxicity in Female Rats
Authors: M-A Mbong Angie , G. Djiokeng Paka , R. Ntentie F. , H. Dimodi , L. Ngondi J. , J. Oben Enyong
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of hydroethanolic extracts of S. scabrum and C. verticillata against cyclophosphamide induced toxicity. In this light, female albino wistar rats were treated by intraperitoneal administration of 100 mg/kg BW of cyclophosphamide or distilled water every other day for 7 days associated with oral gavage using hydroethanolic extract of C. verticillata/S. scabrum at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/kg BW or not every day for the same 7 days. On the 8th day, blood and organs (liver, heart and kidney) were collected for analyses of toxicity-related and oxidative stress markers. Cyclophosphamide treatment induced significant toxicity as shown by liver enzymes, urea and creatinine levels. The administration of extracts helped reduce the levels of these markers. The antioxidant effect of these extracts also helped or not to ameliorate oxidative stress markers (MDA, NO, hydroperoxides, catalase, thiols, GPx) depending on the extract and on the dose administered. These results suggest that administration of hydroethanolic extracts of S. scabrum and C. verticillata can help prevent or reduce toxicity that is brought about by treatment with cyclophosphamide due to their ability to upregulate antioxidant mechanisms.
Do Mug Fairies Exist? An experiment in self-cleaning crockery
Authors: Pentz Ed
Published: March 2014

The author set out to prove that if coffee or tea mugs are left in an office for long enough they will clean themselves. Previous research in this area suggest that this hypothesis is true, as the author has very infrequently had to resort to cleaning the mugs himself.
System Integration for Real-Time Mobile Manipulation
Authors: Oftadeh Reza , Aref Mohammad M. , Ghabcheloo Reza , Mattila Jouni
Published: March 2014

Mobile manipulators are one of the most complicated types of mechatronics systems. The performance of these robots in performing complex manipulation tasks is highly correlated with the synchronization and integration of their low-level components. This paper discusses in detail the mechatronics design of a four wheel steered mobile manipulator. It presents the manipulator's mechanical structure and electrical interfaces, designs low-level software architecture based on embedded PC-based controls, and proposes a systematic solution based on code generation products of MATLAB and Simulink. The remote development environment described here is used to develop real-time controller software and modules for the mobile manipulator under a POSIX-compliant, real-time Linux operating system. Our approach enables developers to reliably design controller modules that meet the hard real-time constraints of the entire low-level system architecture. Moreover, it provides a systematic framework for the development and integration of hardware devices with various communication mediums and protocols, which facilitates the development and integration process of the software controller.
Les aînées réfugiées au Québec
Authors: Laaroussi Michèle Vatz
Published: March 2014

Les groupes aînés et immigrants sont le plus souvent analysés au travers de leurs traits culturels et plusieurs études s’intéressent aux transmissions intergénérationnelles. Les femmes aînées immigrantes, quant à elles, sont perçues soit au travers de problèmes qui seraient propres à la migration, comme l’isolement, soit particuliers aux personnes âgées, comme la dépendance, ou encore spécifiques de leur genre, comme la domination et l’exploitation. À partir d’une étude menée sur les transmissions mais aussi sur les constructions sociales et les transformations au sein de trios intergénérationnels de femmes réfugiées au Québec, l’auteure propose une analyse multidimensionnelle et interactionniste. Elle s’intéresse aux processus qui placent ces aînées, les grands-mères des trios, au coeur non seulement des transmissions, par exemple de la langue maternelle ou de certaines coutumes familiales, mais aussi en chefs de file de construction de nouveaux savoirs et de transformations sociales. En particulier, les divers types d’alliance et les processus de circulation du changement seront analysés en suivant l’hypothèse selon laquelle la circularité des transmissions et des transformations amène ces actrices à modifier leurs pratiques culturelles, à changer les rôles sociaux au sein des dynamiques familiales ainsi qu’à investir de nouvelles positions dans les processus de socialisation et dans l’espace public.
S’enraciner ou s’émanciper?
Authors: Mallon Isabelle
Published: March 2014

Les femmes aînées vivant en milieu rural isolé ne sont pas seulement d’anciennes paysannes ayant vieilli sur place, mais aussi des habitantes venues s’installer ou se réinstaller à la campagne sur le tard de leur vie. Le vieillissement des femmes demeurées au pays s’opère dans une forte continuité biographique, notamment dans le maintien des rapports sociaux de sexe traditionnels dans la société paysanne. En revanche, le déménagement aux alentours de la retraite construit pour les femmes venues d’ailleurs ce dernier temps de la vie comme une période d’occasions et d’émancipation partielle de leurs rôles de sexe.
Le genre à l’épreuve des neurosciences
Authors: Vidal Catherine
Published: March 2014

Une avancée majeure des recherches en neurosciences est d’avoir révélé les extraordinaires capacités de « plasticité » du cerveau qui se façonne en fonction de l’histoire vécue. Au cours des apprentissages et des expériences, la structure intime du cerveau se modifie sans cesse avec la fabrication de nouvelles connexions entre les neurones. Rien n’est à jamais figé dans le cerveau, quels que soient les âges de la vie. Le concept de plasticité cérébrale apporte un éclairage neurobiologique fondamental sur les processus de construction sociale et culturelle de nos identités sexuées. Il vient ainsi conforter et enrichir les recherches en sciences humaines sur le genre.
Properties of crystalline In–Ga–Zn-oxide semiconductor and its transistor characteristics
Authors: Yamazaki Shunpei , Suzawa Hideomi , Inoue Koki , Kato Kiyoshi , Hirohashi Takuya , Okazaki Kenichi , Kimizuka Noboru
Published: March 2014

We report, in this paper, that crystalline In–Ga–Zn-oxide (IGZO) can be formed over an amorphous surface or over an uneven surface by a sputtering process at lower than 500 °C through the purification of IGZO. Crystalline IGZO, in which no clear grain boundary is observed, shows c-axis alignment but random a- and b-axis orientations without alignment. This crystal morphology differs from other morphologies that have been known thus far, such as single crystal and polycrystal morphologies. Our model for understanding the formation of this crystal morphology [c-axis-aligned crystal (CAAC)] is also discussed. Upon thermal annealing of a deposited film at lower than 500 °C, nanocrystal regions remaining in the CAAC can be converted into the CAAC structure. Accordingly, I
off can be at the yA/µm (10−24 A/µm) level at 85 °C. It has been proven that by utilizing normally-off characteristics even with L/W = 40 nm/40 nm (actual size: L/W = 68 nm/34 nm), the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) LSI with a 3D oxide semiconductor/Si hybrid structure is feasible.
Analog design optimization methodology for ultralow-power circuits using intuitive inversion-level and saturation-level parameters
Authors: Eimori Takahisa , Anami Kenji , Yoshimatsu Norifumi , Hasebe Tetsuya , Murakami Kazuaki
Published: March 2014

A comprehensive design optimization methodology using intuitive nondimensional parameters of inversion-level and saturation-level is proposed, especially for ultralow-power, low-voltage, and high-performance analog circuits with mixed strong, moderate, and weak inversion metal–oxide–semiconductor transistor (MOST) operations. This methodology is based on the synthesized charge-based MOST model composed of Enz–Krummenacher–Vittoz (EKV) basic concepts and advanced-compact-model (ACM) physics-based equations. The key concept of this methodology is that all circuit and system characteristics are described as some multivariate functions of inversion-level parameters, where the inversion level is used as an independent variable representative of each MOST. The analog circuit design starts from the first step of inversion-level design using universal characteristics expressed by circuit currents and inversion-level parameters without process-dependent parameters, followed by the second step of foundry-process-dependent design and the last step of verification using saturation-level criteria. This methodology also paves the way to an intuitive and comprehensive design approach for many kinds of analog circuit specifications by optimization using inversion-level log-scale diagrams and saturation-level criteria. In this paper, we introduce an example of our design methodology for a two-stage Miller amplifier.
Size dependence of electrostatic lens effect in vertical MOSFETs
Authors: Muraguchi Masakazu , Endoh Tetsuo
Published: March 2014

The size dependence of the electrostatic lens effect in the channel of a nanoscale vertical pillar-type metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (V-MOSFET) is studied by quantum dynamics simulation. Our findings indicate that the applicable diameter of the pillar for the efficient current-path control by the electrostatic lens effect on the V-MOSFET is in the range of about 10–30 nm. In the large-diameter pillar (30 nm diameter), the lens effect at the interfaces between the source and the body, and between the body and the source works well owing to the ballistic transport of electrons. On the other hand, in a slim pillar (10 nm diameter or less), the lens effect does not work well, because it is difficult to handle the electron dynamics by the analogy of classical geometrical optics, even though the electrons show ballistic transport. Our results indicate that the proposed technique is applicable for many nanoscale pillar-type devices.
Magneto-optical properties for antiferromagnetically coupled CoPt stacked films with hexagonal anti-dot lattices
Authors: Yamane Haruki , Kobayashi Masanobu
Published: March 2014

The influence of two-dimensional array structures (hexagonal anti-dot lattices) on magneto-optical (MO) properties was investigated in perpendicular antiferromagnetically coupled Co80Pt20 stacked films containing ZnO optical interference layers. Antiferromagnetic exchange coupling was generated in a [CoPt/Ru/CoPt] tri-layered structure, and anti-dot lattices were formed on both CoPt layers. The exchange coupling between the CoPt layers across a very thin 0.46-nm Ru interlayer was maintained even after nanofabrication. Characteristic MO hysteresis loops were measured by a 405-nm wavelength incident light on samples containing a 50-nm ZnO optical interference layer. The anti-dot lattice with a 200-nm diameter hole exhibited an increase in the residual Kerr rotation angle owing to the antiparallel magnetization alignment of the CoPt layers. Furthermore, compared with samples without the interference layer, the figure of merit for the anti-dot lattice with a 200-nm diameter hole was enhanced by inserting a 100-nm ZnO interference layer. These improvements are attributed to MO interference effects inside the stacked films.
Graphene-oxide-based resistive switching device for flexible nonvolatile memory application
Authors: Lin Chun-Chieh , Wu Hsiao-Yu , Lin Nian-Cin , Lin Chu-Hsuan
Published: March 2014

Resistive switching memory, flexible electronics equipment, and graphene-oxide-based devices have attracted much attention recently because of their possible application in next-generation electronic devices. In this study, a graphene-oxide-based flexible resistive switching memory is proposed. The flexibility and nonvolatility of the flexible device are demonstrated. A possible resistive switching filamentary model of the flexible device is also proposed. The experimental results indicate that the proposed graphene-oxide-based device is promising for use in next-generation nonvolatile memory and flexible electronics equipment.
Projected Changes in Statin and Antihypertensive Therapy Eligibility With the AHA PREVENT Cardiovascular Risk Equations
Authors: Diao James A. , Shi Ivy , Murthy Venkatesh L. , Buckley Thomas A. , Patel Chirag J. , Pierson Emma , Yeh Robert W. , Kazi Dhruv S. , Wadhera Rishi K. , Manrai Arjun K.
Published: July 2024

Importance

Since 2013, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have recommended the pooled cohort equations (PCEs) for estimating the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). An AHA scientific advisory group recently developed the Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs (PREVENT) equations, which incorporated kidney measures, removed race as an input, and improved calibration in contemporary populations. PREVENT is known to produce ASCVD risk predictions that are lower than those produced by the PCEs, but the potential clinical implications have not been quantified.

Objective

To estimate the number of US adults who would experience changes in risk categorization, treatment eligibility, or clinical outcomes when applying PREVENT equations to existing ACC and AHA guidelines.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Nationally representative cross-sectional sample of 7765 US adults aged 30 to 79 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys of 2011 to March 2020, which had response rates ranging from 47% to 70%.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Differences in predicted 10-year ASCVD risk, ACC and AHA risk categorization, eligibility for statin or antihypertensive therapy, and projected occurrences of myocardial infarction or stroke.

Results

In a nationally representative sample of 7765 US adults aged 30 to 79 years (median age, 53 years; 51.3% women), it was estimated that using PREVENT equations would reclassify approximately half of US adults to lower ACC and AHA risk categories (53.0% [95% CI, 51.2%-54.8%]) and very few US adults to higher risk categories (0.41% [95% CI, 0.25%-0.62%]). The number of US adults receiving or recommended for preventive treatment would decrease by an estimated 14.3 million (95% CI, 12.6 million-15.9 million) for statin therapy and 2.62 million (95% CI, 2.02 million-3.21 million) for antihypertensive therapy. The study estimated that, over 10 years, these decreases in treatment eligibility could result in 107 000 additional occurrences of myocardial infarction or stroke. Eligibility changes would affect twice as many men as women and a greater proportion of Black adults than White adults.

Conclusion and Relevance

By assigning lower ASCVD risk predictions, application of the PREVENT equations to existing treatment thresholds could reduce eligibility for statin and antihypertensive therapy among 15.8 million US adults.
Daily rhythms in metabolic and locomotor behaviour of prematurely ageing PolgA mice
Authors: Singh Amit , Yilmaz Dilara , Wehrle Esther , Kuhn Gisela A. , Müller Ralph
Published: July 2024

Ageing is an inherent and intricate biological process that takes place in living organisms as time progresses. It involves the decline of multiple physiological functions, leading to body structure and overall performance modifications. The ageing process differs among individuals and is influenced by various factors, including lifestyle, environment and genetic makeup. Metabolic changes and reduced locomotor activity are common hallmarks of ageing. Our study focuses on exploring these phenomena in prematurely ageing PolgA(D257A/D257A) mice (also known as PolgA) aged 41–42 weeks, as they closely mimic human ageing. We assess parameters such as oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and locomotor activity using a metabolic cage for 4 days and comparing them with age‐matched wild‐type littermates (WT). Our findings revealed that VO2, VCO2, RER, locomotor activities, water intake and feeding behaviour show a daily rhythm, aligning with roughly a 24‐h cycle. We observed that the RER was significantly increased in PolgA mice compared to WT mice during the night‐time of the light–dark cycle, suggesting a shift towards a higher reliance on carbohydrate metabolism due to more food intake during the active phase. Additionally, female PolgA mice displayed a distinct phenotype with reduced walking speed, walking distance, body weight and grip strength in comparison to male PolgA and WT mice, indicating an early sign of ageing. Taken together, our research highlights the impact of sex‐specific patterns on ageing traits in PolgA mice aged 41–42 weeks, which may be attributable to human ageing phenotypes. The unique genetic composition and accelerated ageing characteristics of PolgA mice make them invaluable in ageing studies, facilitating the investigation of underlying biological mechanisms and the identification of potential therapeutic targets for age‐related diseases.
Comparison of the distribution of households with regard to worshipping the same shrines or crossings, and their correspondence to the areal extent of tol—A study on the socio‐spatial structure and urban tissue in Bhaktapur, Nepal Part 1
Authors: Miyauchi Anri , Yamamoto Naohiko , Masui Masaya , Tanaka Mari , Pant Mohan , Hamaoka Asuka , Mukai Yoichi
Published: July 2024

This paper aimed to discuss the areal extent and spatial structure of neighborhood, called tol, which possibly demarcate urban tissue with respect to worship of the deity and funerary acts. Bhaktapur is known as one of the historical cities of the World Heritage Site in Kathmandu Valley. The analysis firstly focuses on the dwelling distributions that have the common votary area of the guardian deities' temples/shrines and the use of the same crossing for funerary acts. Then, the authors compare those dwelling distribution with the areal extent of tols to find out how tol boundaries were formed. This result will be a precondition to conduct further examination on historical urban formation in the coming paper.
Retinal optical coherence tomography measures in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: El Ayoubi Nabil K. , Ismail Ali , Fahd Fares , Younes Lama , Chakra Nour A. , Khoury Samia J.
Published: July 2024

Spectral domain‐optical coherence tomography plays a crucial role in the early detection and monitoring of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathophysiology. We aimed to quantify differences in retinal layer measures among different groups of MS and explored different variables that correlate with retinal measures. This study was reported according PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was done across PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. The mean difference in thickness of retinal layers and macular volume was assessed. Meta‐regression was done to assess the sources of heterogeneity. A total of 100 articles were included in the meta‐analyses. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness significantly decreased in the MSON (MD: −16.44, P < 0.001), MSNON (MD: −6.97, P < 0.001), and PMS (MD: −11.35, P < 0.001) versus HC. The macular RNFL was lower among the MSON (MD: −6.24, P = 0.013) and MSNON (MD: −3.84, P <0.001) versus HC. Macular ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) was thinner among MSON (MD: −14.83, P <0.001), MSNON (MD: −6.38, P < 0.001), and PMS (MD: −11.52, P < 0.001) compared with control eyes. Inner nuclear layer (INL) was higher in the MSON (MD: 0.49, P < 0.001) versus HC. Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness significantly lower in the MSNON (MD: −1.15, P = 0.019) versus HC. Meta‐regression showed that disease duration, age, EDSS score, and percentage of patients taking DMT are all negatively correlated with pRNFL and GCIPL thickness; however, female gender was correlated with less atrophy. As conclusion, the study highlights substantial thinning in the pRNFL and macular GCIPL between MS versus controls. INL as valuable parameter for capturing inflammatory disease activity.
Bespoke Dual‐Layered Interface Enabled by Cyclic Ether in Localized High‐Concentration Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Kim Yong Min , Park Bo Keun , Kang Seungyeop , Yang Soung Jin , Choi Seung Ho , Yoo Dong‐Joo , Kim Ki Jae
Published: July 2024

Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) are regarded as a highly promising candidate for next‐generation batteries owing to their exceptional energy density. Nevertheless, the instability of the interphase poses significant safety and degradation challenges for LMAs, thereby impeding their feasibility for commercial application. Herein, based on the lessons learned from the stable solid‐electrolyte‐interface (SEI) layer formed with ethylene carbonate (EC) solvents for graphite anodes, the effects of cyclic‐ethers are systematically investigated in localized high concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) using tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,3‐dioxolane (DOL), and 1,4‐epoxybuta‐1,3‐diene (Furan) as co‐solvents. When using DME and THF as co‐solvents, the most stable interface, a LiF‐rich SEI layer with a polymeric outer‐layer, is formed, elongating the cyclability of the Li | Li symmetric cells up to 1200 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. This research gives useful insight into how to enhance the mechanical strength of the SEI layer with polymeric compounds by incorporating cyclic‐ether co‐solvents in LHCEs.