bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linguistic and Cultural Skills for Communication in Global Workplaces of the 21st Century
Authors: Briguglio Carmela
Published: February 2012

This chapter examines issues in intercultural communication in regard to the use of English as a global language in the workplace of the 21st century. The findings that emerged from data gathered in two multinational companies inform discussion about the sort of communication skills that workers will require in the global workplace. A case study with an Australian undergraduate class served to examine whether the skills identified in multinational workplaces are, in fact, being developed in graduates. Based on all the above, the author has developed a four dimensional model comprising the intercultural communication skills that future graduates, including engineers and IT professionals, will require for global workplaces. Some strategies that will facilitate the development of such skills are also discussed.
The Role of Human Collaboration in Supply Chain Management
Authors: Saban Kenneth , Mawhinney John
Published: February 2012

This chapter discusses the importance human collaboration in supply chain management. Supply chain performance is often equated with acquiring the best technology or process. However, current studies suggest that supply chain performance also requires human collaboration. To change conventional thinking, this chapter proposes a holistic approach to achieving human collaboration among distributed partners, clarifies the forces that facilitate human collaboration, and identifies the steps management can take to create more collaborative team members.
A Rigorous Analysis of the Harmony Search Algorithm
Authors: Weyland Dennis
Published: February 2012

In recent years a lot of novel (mostly naturally inspired) search heuristics have been proposed. Among those approaches is Harmony Search. After its introduction in 2000, positive results and improvements over existing approaches have been reported. In this paper, the authors give a review of the developments of Harmony Search during the past decade and perform a rigorous analysis of this approach. This paper compares Harmony Search to the well-known search heuristic called Evolution Strategies. Harmony Search is a special case of Evolution Strategies in which the authors give compelling evidence for the thesis that research in Harmony is fundamentally misguided. The overarching question is how such a method could be inaccurately portrayed as a significant innovation without confronting a respectable challenge of its content or credentials. The authors examine possible answers to this question, and implications for evaluating other procedures by disclosing the way in which limitations of the method have been systematically overlooked.
Theorems Supporting r-flip Search for Pseudo-Boolean Optimization
Authors: Alidaee Bahram , Kochenberger Gary , Wang Haibo
Published: February 2012

Modern metaheuristic methodologies rely on well defined neighborhood structures and efficient means for evaluating potential moves within these structures. Move mechanisms range in complexity from simple 1-flip procedures where binary variables are “flipped” one at a time, to more expensive, but more powerful, r-flip approaches where “r” variables are simultaneously flipped. These multi-exchange neighborhood search strategies have proven to be effective approaches for solving a variety of combinatorial optimization problems. In this paper, we present a series of theorems based on partial derivatives that can be readily adopted to form the essential part of r-flip heuristic search methods for Pseudo-Boolean optimization. To illustrate the use of these results, we present preliminary results obtained from four simple heuristics designed to solve a set of Max 3-SAT problems.
Stochastic Learning for SAT- Encoded Graph Coloring Problems
Authors: Bouhmala Noureddine , Granmo Ole-Christoffer
Published: February 2012

The graph coloring problem (GCP) is a widely studied combinatorial optimization problem due to its numerous applications in many areas, including time tabling, frequency assignment, and register allocation. The need for more efficient algorithms has led to the development of several GC solvers. In this paper, the authors introduce a team of Finite Learning Automata, combined with the random walk algorithm, using Boolean satisfiability encoding for the GCP. The authors present an experimental analysis of the new algorithm’s performance compared to the random walk technique, using a benchmark set containing SAT-encoding graph coloring test sets.
Confucianism Values for Transformational Leadership Development in the Chinese Context
Authors: Muniapan Balakrishnan , Seng Ee Yaw
Published: February 2012

Transformational leadership has received a great significance in the leadership literature during the past two decades. However, this research is dominated by Western traditions and scant attention is paid to Asian traditions. Therefore, in this paper, the authors explore the relevance of Confucianism, an Asian tradition, and its significance in transformational leadership development. For this purpose, the authors have selected the Analects, which provide the essence of Confucianism to explore the relevant transformational leadership concepts. This paper is based on hermeneutics, a qualitative research methodology that involves study, understanding and interpretation of ancient text. Confucianism provides an inside-out approach to transformational leadership development, which is self leadership first, before leadership of others. This inside-out perspective is also similar to other Asian traditions, such as ancient Indian wisdom. The prospects of analysis of Confucianism in other areas of leadership and management can be considered for future research.
Study on Chinese Low Carbon Economic Model
Authors: Li Huifeng , Wang Xiaofang
Published: February 2012

Global warming, which is caused by over consumption of fossil energy during economic development in human society, threatens global ecological balance, tampers social and economic development, imperils energy security, ecological safety, water and food safety, and endangers the entire human race. Low carbon economy is a new economic development model based on low energy consumption, low pollution, and low-emission-based. This paper analyzes the Status quo and Limits of the Chinese Low Carbon Economy, making deep research on Design and Implementation Strategy of Chinese Low Carbon Economic model.
Business Intelligence in the Bayou
Authors: Smith Gregory , Ariyachandra Thilini , Frolick Mark
Published: February 2012

During the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans. Significant damage to the Gulf region forced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to begin an unprecedented cleanup effort. The removal and disposal of debris was not only a challenge for landfill capacity but also for the administration of drivers, trucks, and debris type. With the debris removal workforce and certified hauling vehicles changing rapidly, record keeping and fraud detection proved difficult. This paper introduces the results of a data driven manpower audit for one parish in the greater New Orleans area that consolidated records and reconciled multiple record keeping systems. The authors’ findings bring to light the failings in record keeping during this disaster and highlight how a simple business intelligence application can improve the accuracy and quality of data and save costs.
Customer Relationship Management in Social and Semantic Web Environments
Authors: García-Crespo Ángel , Colomo-Palacios Ricardo , Gómez-Berbís Juan Miguel , Martín Fernando Paniagua
Published: February 2012

The growing influence of the Internet in current 21st-century everyday life has implied a paradigm shift in terms of relationships between customers and companies. New interaction means in the Web 1.0 have undergone a dramatic change in quantity and quality with the advent of the so-called Web 2.0, the Social Web. The upcoming Web 3.0, the Semantic Web will also impact tremendously in how companies understand Customer Relationship Management (CRM). In this dynamic environment, the present work presents a combination of both Social and Semantic Web Technologies and their application in the particular field of CRM. Tool and technology analysis both prove the challenging opportunities for these cutting-edge innovation trends in the CRM domain.
Media Richness Theory and the Intention to Use Online Stores
Authors: Brunelle Eric
Published: February 2012

Although media richness theory has received considerable empirical support in explaining individual channel use and could provide important insights into the explanation of e-consumer behavior, no studies have validated this theory in explaining consumers’ intentions to use online stores. Therefore, the objective of this study was to empirically test media richness theory in explaining consumers’ intentions to use online stores in their purchase process. An online survey was carried out and data from 749 consumers was collected and analyzed using structural equation models. The results open up a new way of explaining consumers’ intentions to use online stores, as they provide empirical support for media richness theory in a commercial context and link it with the theory of planned behavior.
Applications of Customer Relationship Marketing in the UK Hospitality Industry
Authors: Lancaster Geoff , Luck Diana
Published: February 2012

This paper aims to research the hospitality industry to gauge dimensions of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) that resonate with guests and employees. An uncovering of perceptual differences of hotel guests and employees was sought to assess its application within the London hotel industry and to investigate CRM as an emerging concept. The global hotel market contains many brands and partnerships, and CRM is significant, because differentiation becomes easier for those with potential to develop long-term customer relationships. Despite being differentiated by star ratings, most hotels in London offer similar core products and services. In this regard, development of relationships with customers can be considered emphatic to the London hotel industry. Methodologically, triangulation of data and theories was used in this paper to investigate staff and customers. A standardised questionnaire gauged elements regarded as being part CRM with the objective to assess differential CRM perceptions and their relevancy to the hotel industry in contemporary terms. Findings suggest CRM become an integral part of a hotel’s offerings and operations.
Cultural Models and Variations
Authors: Shi Yongjiang , Liu Zheng
Published: February 2012

This chapter provides the models and variation of culture. Specifically, the following concepts will be introduced: an understanding of the original of culture and how culture is studies in the academic field; the most influential culture theories which are adapted in business and management research. A detailed exploration on the methodology, dimensions, and implications of each model will be provided. An understanding of culture’s impact on manufacturing systems which stems from traditional factory-based model to inter-firm network with the increase of collaboration in globalization is given Some understanding of culture’s variation in the fast growing inter-firm collaboration with case observations are also elucidated.
An Experiment in E-Rulemaking with Natural Language Processing and Democratic Deliberation
Authors: Muhlberger Peter , Stromer-Galley Jenny , Webb Nick
Published: February 2012

Public comment processes in federal and state agency rulemakings are among the most substantial potential arenas for public input into government. Unfortunately, these processes have not been much used for thoughtful public input. This research sought to shed light on whether online democratic deliberation, without facilitation, and natural language processing tools could empower participants to provide more informed input into an agency rulemaking. It also sought to determine whether such an approach had other positive effects such as enhancing citizenship and increasing confidence in the pertinent agency. Findings indicate improvements in participant knowledge of the network neutrality rulemaking topic, systematic attitude change, improvements to citizenship measures, and increased confidence in the Federal Communications Commission. Results suggest that public deliberation under conditions needed to involve substantial numbers of people—namely, online deliberation without facilitators—can improve public comments into federal and state agency rulemakings while strengthening the citizenship qualities of participants. They also indicate that many of the desired effects of face-to-face deliberation with trained facilitators can also be obtained online without facilitators.
Records Management, Privacy, and Social Media
Authors: Zavattaro Staci M.
Published: February 2012

This chapter provides an overview of United States federal policies guiding citizen/government interaction on social media tools. Such an overview begins to fill the gap regarding how federal agencies make policies regarding records retention and privacy on these platforms. Records management, inherently linked with privacy concerns, also will be explored to further ground the argument and future recommendations based on a qualitative content analysis of social media policies from three U.S. government agencies. From analyzing these policies, along with bringing in relevant literature, a workable framework and recommendations emerge to guide future social media use within government.
Moderated Multiple Regression of Absorptive Capacity Attributes and Deployment Outcomes
Authors: Angeles Rebecca
Published: February 2012

In this study, the author examines organizations’ perceptions of the importance of absorptive capacity attributes in the deployment of radio frequency identification (RFID) in a supply chain and their relationships with operational efficiency and market knowledge creation as moderated by information technology infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire administered online to members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Four proposed hypotheses were partially supported in this study. Both variables, IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration, moderate the relationships between three predictor variables, business process modularity, standard electronic business interfaces, and breadth of information exchange and the two dependent variables examined in this study, operational efficiency and market knowledge creation to a considerable extent. This study has clear implications for how decision makers affecting their firm’s supply chains should make a business case for robust IT elements that support both IT infrastructure integration and supply chain process integration.
Management of Logistics Planning
Authors: Aas Bjørnar , Wallace Stein W.
Published: February 2012

Logistics problems are gradually becoming more complex and a better understanding of logistics management as a subject is a key to deal with the new challenges. A core element of logistics management is logistics planning, which substitutes for low customer service levels, high waste, and the use of buffers and slacks in the execution of logistic activities. Furthermore, the availability of information and problem-solving capabilities are established as the core parts of logistics planning. Based on this, in this paper, a conceptual model for the management of logistics planning is proposed and discussed. In this regard, the model is built on ideas from microeconomics.
Global Bacteria Optimization Meta-Heuristic Algorithm for Jobshop Scheduling
Authors: Montoya-Torres Jairo R. , Gómez-Vizcaíno Libardo S. , Solano-Charris Elyn L. , Paternina-Arboleda Carlos D.
Published: February 2012

This paper examines the problem of jobshop scheduling with either makespan minimization or total tardiness minimization, which are both known to be NP-hard. The authors propose the use of a meta-heuristic procedure inspired from bacterial phototaxis. This procedure, called Global Bacteria Optimization (GBO), emulates the reaction of some organisms (bacteria) to light stimulation. Computational experiments are performed using well-known instances from literature. Results show that the algorithm equals and even outperforms previous state-of-the-art procedures in terms of quality of solution and requires very short computational time.
Automatic Partitioning of Large Scale Simulation in Grid Computing for Run Time Reduction
Authors: Celik Nurcin , Mazhari Esfandyar , Canby John , Kazemi Omid , Sarfare Parag , Al-Otaibi Majed S. , Son Young-Jun
Published: February 2012

Simulating large-scale systems usually entails exhaustive computational powers and lengthy execution times. The goal of this research is to reduce execution time of large-scale simulations without sacrificing their accuracy by partitioning a monolithic model into multiple pieces automatically and executing them in a distributed computing environment. While this partitioning allows us to distribute required computational power to multiple computers, it creates a new challenge of synchronizing the partitioned models. In this article, a partitioning methodology based on a modified Prim’s algorithm is proposed to minimize the overall simulation execution time considering 1) internal computation in each of the partitioned models and 2) time synchronization between them. In addition, the authors seek to find the most advantageous number of partitioned models from the monolithic model by evaluating the tradeoff between reduced computations vs. increased time synchronization requirements. In this article, epoch- based synchronization is employed to synchronize logical times of the partitioned simulations, where an appropriate time interval is determined based on the off-line simulation analyses. A computational grid framework is employed for execution of the simulations partitioned by the proposed methodology. The experimental results reveal that the proposed approach reduces simulation execution time significantly while maintaining the accuracy as compared with the monolithic simulation execution approach.
Liquid junction photocells synthesized with dye coated zinc oxide films
Authors: Samarasekara P.
Published: February 2012

Zinc oxide (ZnO) films fabricated using low cost methods were employed to synthesize a liquid junction photocell explained in this report. Methyl violet dye has been coated on ZnO films to enhance the light absorption. The thickness of the ZnO film and the separation between the Platinum electrode and ZnO film were varied in order to obtain the maximum efficiency of the photocell. The best photocurrent and photo-voltage could be measured for ZnO films coated with methyl violet dye for 12 hours. The optimum photocurrent obtained was 0.24 mA/cm2, which was a higher photocurrent for Methyl violet coated ZnO films. But the photo-voltage measured was comparable to the photo-voltage of ZnO films measured by some other researchers. Hence, a considerably higher optimum efficiency such as 2.4% could be obtained for these ZnO films consist of ZnO nanoparticles. The higher effective surface area provided by ZnO nanoparticles is the possible reason for this higher photocurrent.Keywords: Zinc Oxide, I-V characteristic curves, photocell, photocurrent and photo-voltageDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/josuk.v5i0.4088 J Sci.Univ.Kelaniya 5 (2010): 25-31
Prionocera revisited (Diptera: Tipulidae)
Authors: Brodo Fenja
Published: February 2012

The synonymy of Prionocera chosenicola Alexander with Prionocera tjederi Mannheims is discussed and the following syn. nov. is proposed: Prionocera mannheimsi Savchenko = Prionocera byersi Brodo. Prionocera parrii (Kirby) remains a nomen dubium. Significant range extensions are noted for Prionocera dimidiata (Loew), Prionocera ominosa (Alexander), Prionocera oregonica Alexander, Prionocera pubescens Loew, Prionocera ringdahli Tjeder, Prionocera serricornis (Zetterstedt), Prionocera subserricornis (Zetterstedt), and Prionocera turcica (Fabricius).
Binge Drinking and Psychoactive Drug use in a Cohort of European Youths
Authors: Siliquini Roberta , Colombo Alessandra , Berchialla Paola , Bert Fabrizio ,   TEN-D Group, Alamar B. , Alonso F. , Calatayud C. , Carena F. , Piat S. Chiadò , Chiapusso T. ,   CONSEPI group, Druart A. , Duce M.T. , Esteban C. , Izzicupo C. , Kalitowicz Ag. , Kalitowicz An. , Kedzia M. , Manassero G. , Pignata E. , Papalia R. , Pudule I. , Sànchez L. , Siliquini R. , Siliquini V. , Sroka R. , Vankov D. , Vanzino S. , Villerusa A.
Published: February 2012

Background

TEN-D by Night is an international, multicentre, cross-sectional portal survey conducted on a large sample of young people in six European countries. This paper aims to investigate the alcohol and psychoactive drug consumption of this sample, with a focus on the prevalence of binge drinking and the poly-drug habits of the TEN-D cohort.

Design and Methods

The study population consisted of 4695 young people attending recreational sites on weekend nights. The intervention included two questionnaires and two psychoactive substance detection tests performed at the entry and exit of the recreational sites. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to predict the probability of binge drinking.

Results

Binge drinking was reported by 20% of the males and 13% of the females (P=0.001) before entry into the recreational sites and by 18% of the males and 11% of the females before entry into the clubs (P<0.001). Poly-drug use was reported by 71% of the males and 66% of the females. Living with a parent (OR 1.57; P=0.01), seeking employment (OR 1.66; P=0.005) and cannabis consumption (several times per month and several times per week, OR 1.94 and 3.66, respectively, P<0.05) were associated with binge drinking.

Conclusions

Our survey showed that it is possible to identify individuals and groups at higher risk of binge drinking. This identification would allow for a focus on specific targets and would facilitate the redesign of prevention programmes. The increased use of psychoactive substances among youths should be studied extensively to promote successful prevention campaigns.
Turning the tide: Registered nurses' job withdrawal intentions in a Finnish university hospital
Authors: Salminen Hanna M.
Published: February 2012

Orientation: Given the global shortage of registered nurses, it is important to investigate the intentions for job withdrawal of nurses, and resolve these, in order to retain nurses in the field.Research purpose: The objective was to examine the intentions for job withdrawal of ageing and younger nurses, and the antecedents of these intentions, with special reference to job control and perceived development opportunities. The age of 45 was adopted as a starting point when referring to ageing employees.Motivation for the study: Different forms of job withdrawal have rarely been studied together and associated.Research design, approach and method: A quantitative study was applied with logistic regression analyses. Respondents were registered nurses working in a university hospital in Finland. The response rate was 46.1% (N = 343).Main findings: A quarter (25%) of the nurses had frequently thought about leaving the profession and 19% of the nurses had thought about taking early retirement. Factors that increased the likelihood of intentions for occupational turnover were young age, low job satisfaction, low organisational commitment, low work ability and skills in balance with or above present work demands. The intention to take early retirement was increased with older age, being male, working shifts, low work ability, low job satisfaction and poor job control.Practical/managerial implications: A nurse’s job satisfaction and work ability should be regularly monitored and opportunities should be offered them, to apply their skills and to control their work, in order to retain them.Contribution/value–added: The article added information about the factors that contribute to a nurse’s intentions for job withdrawal.
The climatology, propagation and excitation of ultra-fast Kelvin waves as observed by meteor radar, Aura MLS, TRMM and in the Kyushu-GCM
Authors: Davis R. N. , Chen Y.-W. , Miyahara S. , Mitchell N. J.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Wind measurements from a meteor radar on Ascension Island (8° S, 14° W) and simultaneous temperature measurements from the Aura MLS instrument are used to characterise ultra-fast Kelvin waves (UFKW) of zonal wavenumber 1 (E1) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) in the years 2005–2010. These observations are compared with some predictions of the Kyushu-general circulation model. Good agreement is found between observations of the UFKW in the winds and temperatures, and also with the properties of the waves in the Kyushu-GCM. UFKW are found at periods between 2.5–4.5 days with amplitudes of up to 40 m s−1 in the zonal winds and 6 K in the temperatures. The average vertical wavelength is found to be 44 km. Amplitudes vary with latitude in a Gaussian manner with the maxima centred over the equator. Dissipation of the waves results in monthly-mean eastward accelerations of 0.2–0.9 m s−1 day−1 at heights around 95 km, with 5-day mean peak values of 4 m s−1 day−1. Largest wave amplitudes and variances are observed over Indonesia and central Africa and may be a result of very strong moist convective heating over those regions. Rainfall data from TRMM are used as a proxy for latent-heat release in an investigation of the excitation of these waves. No strong correlation is found between the occurrence of large-amplitude mesospheric UFKW events and either the magnitude of the equatorial rainfall or the amplitudes of E1 signatures in the rainfall time series, indicating that either other sources or the propagation environment are more important in determining the amplitude of UFKW in the MLT. A strong semiannual variation in wave amplitudes is observed. Intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) with periods 25–60 days are evident in the zonal background winds, zonal-mean temperature, UFKW amplitudes, UFKW accelerations and the rainfall rate. This suggests that UFKW play a role in carrying the signature of tropospheric ISOs to the MLT region.
The effect of ENSO-induced rainfall and circulation changes on the direct and indirect radiative forcing from Indonesian biomass-burning aerosols
Authors: Chrastansky A. , Rotstayn L. D.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Emissions of biomass-burning aerosols from the Indonesian region are known to vary in response to rainfall anomalies associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, the effects of these rainfall anomalies on regional aerosol burdens and radiative forcing have not been investigated. In this study, we simulate the effects of ENSO-related changes in (1) emissions and (2) rainfall and circulation on the radiative forcing of Indonesian biomass-burning aerosols. We find that rainfall and circulation anomalies, as well as emissions, contribute substantially to the direct and first indirect radiative effects. We compare two experiments that are performed with the CSIRO-Mk3.6 atmospheric global climate model (GCM). The first experiment (AMIP) consists of a pair of runs that respectively represent El Niño and La Niña conditions. In these runs, the distribution of aerosols is simulated under the influence of realistic Indonesian biomass-burning aerosol emissions and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for 1997 (El Niño) and 2000 (La Niña). The second experiment (CLIM) is identical to AMIP, but is forced by climatological SSTs, so that in CLIM meteorological differences between 1997 and 2000 are suppressed. The comparison of AMIP and CLIM shows that the radiative forcing anomalies associated with ENSO (El Niño minus La Niña) are substantially stronger when ENSO-related SST anomalies are taken into account. This is true for both for the direct and the first indirect effects. SST-induced changes in rainfall and wind fields enhance the anomaly of aerosol burdens over Indonesia and the equatorial Indian Ocean. This, in turn, has an indirect effect on cloud properties due to changes in the concentration and radii of cloud droplets. Our results suggest that the direct and indirect radiative effects of Indonesian biomass-burning emissions would be underestimated if feedbacks of ENSO-related SST variations on radiative forcing are not taken into account.
A global coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian model and 1 × 1 km CO2 surface flux dataset for high-resolution atmospheric CO2 transport simulations
Authors: Ganshin A. , Oda T. , Saito M. , Maksyutov S. , Valsala V. , Andres R. J. , Fisher R. E. , Lowry D. , Lukyanov A. , Matsueda H. , Nisbet E. G. , Rigby M. , Sawa Y. , Toumi R. , Tsuboi K. , Varlagin A. , Zhuravlev R.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. We designed a method to simulate atmospheric CO2 concentrations at several continuous observation sites around the globe using surface fluxes at a very high spatial resolution. The simulations presented in this study were performed using the Global Eulerian-Lagrangian Coupled Atmospheric model (GELCA), comprising a Lagrangian particle dispersion model coupled to a global atmospheric tracer transport model with prescribed global surface CO2 flux maps at a 1 × 1 km resolution. The surface fluxes used in the simulations were prepared by assembling the individual components of terrestrial, oceanic and fossil fuel CO2 fluxes. This experimental setup (i.e. a transport model running at a medium resolution, coupled to a high-resolution Lagrangian particle dispersion model together with global surface fluxes at a very high resolution), which was designed to represent high-frequency variations in atmospheric CO2 concentration, has not been reported at a global scale previously. Two sensitivity experiments were performed: (a) using the global transport model without coupling to the Lagrangian dispersion model, and (b) using the coupled model with a reduced resolution of surface fluxes, in order to evaluate the performance of Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling and the role of high-resolution fluxes in simulating high-frequency variations in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. A correlation analysis between observed and simulated atmospheric CO2 concentrations at selected locations revealed that the inclusion of both Eulerian-Lagrangian coupling and high-resolution fluxes improves the high-frequency simulations of the model. The results highlight the potential of a coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian model in simulating high-frequency atmospheric CO2 concentrations at many locations worldwide. The model performs well in representing observations of atmospheric CO2 concentrations at high spatial and temporal resolutions, especially for coastal sites and sites located close to sources of large anthropogenic emissions. While this study focused on simulations of CO2 concentrations, the model could be used for other atmospheric compounds with known estimated emissions.
Mapping the climate: guidance on appropriate techniques to map climate variables and their uncertainty
Authors: Kaye N. R. , Hartley A. , Hemming D.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Maps are a crucial asset in communicating climate science to a diverse audience, and there is a wealth of software available to analyse and visualise climate information. However, this availability makes it easy to create poor maps as users often lack an underlying cartographic knowledge. Unlike traditional cartography, where many known standards allow maps to be interpreted easily, there is no standard mapping approach used to represent uncertainty (in climate or other information). Consequently, a wide range of techniques have been applied for this purpose, and users may spend unnecessary time trying to understand the mapping approach rather than interpreting the information presented. Furthermore, communicating and visualising uncertainties in climate data and climate change projections, using for example ensemble based approaches, presents additional challenges for mapping that require careful consideration. The aim of this paper is to provide background information and guidance on suitable techniques for mapping climate variables, including uncertainty. We assess a range of existing and novel techniques for mapping variables and uncertainties, comparing "intrinsic" approaches that use colour in much the same way as conventional thematic maps with "extrinsic" approaches that incorporate additional geometry such as points or features. Using cartographic knowledge and lessons learned from mapping in different disciplines we propose the following 6 general mapping guidelines to develop a suitable mapping technique that represents both magnitude and uncertainty in climate data: – use a sensible sequential or diverging colour scheme; – use appropriate colour symbolism if it is applicable; – ensure the map is usable by colour blind people; – use a data classification scheme that does not misrepresent the data; – use a map projection that does not distort the data – attempt to be visually intuitive to understand. Using these guidelines, we suggest an approach to map climate variables with associated uncertainty, that can be easily replicated for a wide range of climate mapping applications. It is proposed this technique would provide a consistent approach suitable for mapping information for the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR5).
Mid-Pliocene global climate simulation with MRI-CGCM2.3: set-up and initial results of PlioMIP Experiments 1 and 2
Authors: Kamae Y. , Ueda H.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. The mid-Pliocene (3.3 to 3.0 million yr ago), a globally warm period before the Quaternary, is recently attracting attention as a new target for paleoclimate modelling and data-model synthesis. This paper reports set-ups and results of experiments proposed in Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP) using with a global climate model, MRI-CGCM2.3. We conducted pre-industrial and mid-Pliocene runs by using of the coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) and its atmospheric component (AGCM) for the PlioMIP Experiments 2 and 1, respectively. In addition, we conducted two types of integrations in AOGCM simulation, with and without flux adjustments on sea surface. General characteristics of differences in the simulated mid-Pliocene climate relative to the pre-industrial in the three integrations are compared in this study. Generally, difference of simulated surface climate between AGCM and AOGCM is larger than that between the two AOGCM runs, with and without flux adjustments. The simulated climate shows different pattern between AGCM and AOGCM particularly over low latitude oceans, subtropical land regions, and high latitude oceans. The AOGCM simulations do not reproduce wetter environment in the subtropics relative to the present-day, which is suggested by terrestrial proxy data. The differences between the two types of AOGCM runs are little over the land but evident over the ocean particularly in the North Atlantic and polar regions.
Calibration and evaluation of a semi-distributed watershed model of sub-Saharan Africa using GRACE data
Authors: Xie H. , Longuevergne L. , Ringler C. , Scanlon B.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Irrigation development is rapidly expanding in mostly rainfed Sub-Saharan Africa. This expansion underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding of water resources beyond surface water. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites provide valuable information on spatio-temporal variability of water storage. The objective of this study was to calibrate and evaluate a semi-distributed regional-scale hydrological model, or a large-scale application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, for basins in Sub-Saharan Africa using seven-year (2002–2009) 10-day GRACE data. Multi-site river discharge data were used as well, and the analysis was conducted in a multi-criteria framework. In spite of the uncertainty arising from the tradeoff in optimizing model parameters with respect to two non-commensurable criteria defined for two fluxes, it is concluded that SWAT can perform well in simulating total water storage variability in most areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, which have semi-arid and sub-humid climates, and that among various water storages represented in SWAT, the water storage variations from soil, the vadose zone, and groundwater are dominant. On the other hand, the study also showed that the simulated total water storage variations tend to have less agreement with the GRACE data in arid and equatorial humid regions, and the model-based partition of total water storage variations into different water storage compartments could be highly uncertain. Thus, future work will be needed for model enhancement in these areas with inferior model fit and for uncertainty reduction in component-wise estimation of water storage variations.
Damaging events along roads during bad weather periods: a case study in Calabria (Italy)
Authors: Petrucci O. , Pasqua A. A.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. The study focuses on circumstances that affect people during periods of bad weather conditions characterised by winds, rainfall, landslides, flooding, and storm surges. A methodological approach and its application to a study area in southern Italy are presented here. A 10-yr database was generated by mining data from a newspaper. Damaging agents were sorted into five types: flood, urban flooding, landslide, wind, and storm surge. Damage to people occurred in 126 cases, causing 13 victims, 129 injured and about 782 people involved but not injured. For cases of floods, urban flooding and landslides, the analysis does not highlight straightforward relationships between rainfall and damage to people, even if the events showed different features according to the months of occurrence. The events occurring between May and October were characterised by concentrated and intense rainfall, and between May and July, the highest values of hourly (103 mm on the average) and monthly rainfall (114 mm on the average) were recorded. Urban flooding and flash floods were the most common damaging agents: injured, involved people and more rarely, cases with victims were reported. Between November and April, the highest number of events was recorded. Rainfall presented longer durations and hourly and sub-hourly rainfall were lower than those recorded between May and October. Landslides were the most frequent damaging agents but the highest number of cases with victims, which occurred between November and January, were mainly related to floods and urban flooding. Motorists represent the totality of the victims; 84% of the people were injured and the whole of people involved. All victims were men, and the average age was 43 yr. The primary cause of death was drowning caused by floods, and the second was trauma suffered in car accidents caused by urban flooding. The high number of motorists rescued in submerged cars reveals an underestimation of danger in the case of floods, often increased by the sense of security related to the familiarity of the road. In contrast, in the cases of people involved in landslides, when there was enough time to realise the potential risk, people behaved appropriately to avoid negative consequences. Of the victims, 50% were killed along fast-flowing roads; this may be related to the high speed limit in force on these roads, as a car's speed reduces the reaction time of a driver's response to an unexpected situation, whatever the damaging agent is. These results can be used in local information/education campaigns to both increase risk awareness and promote self-protective behaviours. Moreover, the mapping of damaging effects pointed out the regional sectors in which the high frequency of the events suggests further planning of in-depth examinations, which can individuate the critical points and local regulator interventions that might change damage incidences in the future.
Sensory evaluation of fresh cheese taste with the addition of oregano
Authors: Pavelková Adriana , Flimelová Erika , Vietoris Vladimí­r
Published: February 2012

The aim of the study was to assess the sensory characteristics, especially the taste of fresh cheese with the addition of oregano. The oregano was added in the form of leachate and in the form of essences. From the methods of sensory analysis, the Time-Intensity method was selected and used for evaluation of taste of product. The samples of produced fresh cheeses were evaluated after 24 hours and vacuum-packed samples of cheeses were evaluated after 7 days storage under refrigeration. From the obtained results we can state, that in the samples with the addition of oregano leachate, were observed significant changes in taste perception of oregano after 7 days of storage compared with the results of sensory evaluation after 24 hours. In the case of application of the addition of oregano essence, significant differences were not perceived by assessors between samples of cheese after 24 hours and after 7 days storage. Thus, the essence seems to be the acceptable possibility of its use in the manufacture of fresh cheeses in comparison with the addition of the leachate.
Business Case Analysis and the Confounds of Innovation Driven by Performance-Based Postproduction Support Strategies
Authors: Randall Wesley S. , Brady Stephan P. , Nowicki David R.
Published: February 2012

The postproduction support cost of complex systems such as rail, power, and defense often exceed the cost of research, design and production. As such systems age and degrade the traditional maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) approach does little to reduce their cost or improve performance. The failure of traditional MRO has given rise to a number of multi-year, performance-based, postproduction support strategies. These strategies drive investment to reduce cost, infuse innovation, and increase system performance. The dynamism and innovation associated with these strategies makes it difficult to conduct a business case analysis (BCA) that compares the return on sales model of traditional MRO to the return on investment model of performance based strategies. To address this gap in practice and theory we provide a framework for rationalizing performance-based and traditional strategies within the same BCA. We develop questions to guide the creation of BCAs that include performance- based options. Finally, we offer analytical guidance to support direct economic comparison between these two fundamentally different postproduction support strategies.
Physical activity, obesity, and cognitive impairment among women with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Katz Patricia , Julian Laura , Tonner Mary C. , Yazdany Jinoos , Trupin Laura , Yelin Edward , Criswell Lindsey A.
Published: February 2012

Objective

To examine relationships of obesity and physical inactivity to cognitive impairment in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Body composition was measured with dual x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) for 138 women with SLE. Obesity was defined by total percent body fat. Physical activity was ascertained with the self‐reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire; inactivity was defined as expenditure of <600 metabolic equivalent minutes/week. Cognitive function was assessed with a 12‐index neuropsychological battery. Impairment was defined as age‐adjusted Z scores ≤1.5 SDs below the mean on 1 of 3 of tests completed. Scores were obtained for the total battery and for memory and executive function components. Multivariate analyses examined the relationship of obesity and physical activity, individually and combined, to cognitive impairment, controlling for education, race/ethnicity, disease activity, glucocorticoid use, and depression.

Results

Fifteen percent of subjects were cognitively impaired, 28% were physically inactive, and 50% were obese. Five percent of active women were impaired on the executive function battery compared to 23% of those who were inactive (P = 0.003). Obese women were more likely to be impaired on the total battery (6% versus 23%; P = 0.007) and on the executive function portion (2% versus 19%) than nonobese women. In multivariate analysis, both inactivity and DXA‐defined obesity were significantly associated with impairment in executive function (inactivity: odds ratio [OR] 9.4, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.7–52.8; obesity: OR 14.8, 95% CI 1.4–151.0).

Conclusion

Both obesity and inactivity were significantly and independently associated with impairment in cognitive function. If longitudinal studies show that physical inactivity and obesity are precursors to cognitive impairment, these may become important targets for intervention.
Densification Behavior and Wear Response of Spark Plasma Sintered Iron‐Based Bulk Amorphous Alloys
Authors: Singh Ashish , Paital Sameer R. , Andapally Abhinay , Dahotre Narendra B. , Harimkar Sandip P.
Published: February 2012

In the present study, spark plasma sintering (SPS) process is used to sinter Fe‐based bulk amorphous alloys from starting amorphous powder. The sintering was performed in supercooled liquid region (at 630 °C with uniaxial pressure of 70 MPa) where plastic flow of the amorphous powder results in better densification without crystallization. To study the crystallization behavior and its influence on mechanical behavior, the sintered discs were de‐vitrified by annealing at 700 and 800 °C. Detailed characterization of phase development, microhardness at different loads, and wear behavior of the as‐sintered and annealed alloys is presented.
Self‐Assembled Complexes of Horseradish Peroxidase with Magnetic Nanoparticles Showing Enhanced Peroxidase Activity
Authors: Corgié Stéphane C. , Kahawong Patarawan , Duan Xiaonan , Bowser Daniel , Edward Joseph B. , Walker Larry P. , Giannelis Emmanuel P.
Published: February 2012

Bio‐nanocatalysts (BNCs) consisting of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) self‐assembled with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) enhance enzymatic activity due to the faster turnover and lower inhibition of the enzyme. The size and magnetization of the MNPs affect the formation of the BNCs, and ultimately control the activity of the bound enzymes. Smaller MNPs form small clusters with a low affinity for the HRP. While the turnover for the bound fraction is drastically increased, there is no difference in the H2O2inhibitory concentration. Larger MNPs with a higher magnetization aggregate in larger clusters and have a higher affinity for the enzyme and a lower substrate inhibition. All of the BNCs are more active than the free enzyme or the MNPs (BNCs > HRP ≫ MNPs). Since the BNCs show surprising resilience in various reaction conditions, they may pave the way towards new hybrid biocatalysts with increased activities and unique catalytic properties for magnetosensitive enzymatic reactions.