bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Café Design Principles into End-Of-Life Discussions: An Innovative Method for Continuing Education
Authors: Kanaskie Mary Louise
Published: March 2013

Café design provides an innovative method for conducting continuing education activities. This method was chosen to elicit meaningful conversation based on issues related to end-of-life care. Café design principles incorporate the following: setting the context, creating hospitable space, exploring questions that matter, encouraging everyone’s contributions, connecting diverse perspectives, listening together for insights, and sharing collective discoveries. Key discussion questions were identified from the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Core Curriculum. Questions were revised to incorporate the principles of appreciative inquiry, which encourage a shift from traditional methods of problem identification to creation of a positive vision. Participants rated the café design method as an effective way to share their ideas and to stimulate conversation.
Going Beyond Traditional Educational Models: The Evolution of the Nursing Clinical Case Conference in Behavioral Health Settings
Authors: Loewenstein Kristy
Published: March 2013

This column discusses using nursing clinical case conferences to assist with the ongoing development of staff nurses.
J Contin Educ Nurs
2011;42(3):103–104.
What Is Next? I Wish I Had a Crystal Ball
Authors: DeSilets Lynore D.
Published: March 2013

This column focuses on societal and technological changes that may influence how continuing nursing education is provided in the future.
Teaching Software Engineering in Blended Learning
Authors: Bhattacharya Sharbani
Published: March 2013

<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In this paper we will discuss teaching Software Engineering by using classroom teaching and web-based learning. The teaching assignments, notes , slides are also shared in a website while assessment is done one-to-one in viva or test conducted on the learning material. We are using Information and Communication Technology ICT for teaching. Software Engineering courseware are taught in B.Tech II year Information Technology and Computer Science & Engineering course in Mahamaya Technical University(MTU), Noida (part of Uttar Pradesh Technical University(UPTU), Lucknow).
40 Years of Technical Teacher Training in Hungary
Authors: Toth Agnes , Pentelenyi Pal
Published: March 2013

  Normal 0 21   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  The study outlines the significant periods of technical teacher training in Hungary embedded in the harmonization process of the European diversity.      <! /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normál táblázat"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} --> 
A Survey of Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Nebraska Sandhill Lakes Reveals Potential Alternative Ecosystem States
Authors: Jolley Jeffrey C. , Albin Emily S. , Kaemingk Mark A. , Willis David W.
Published: March 2013

Aquatic invertebrate communities are important to shallow lake ecosystem form and function, providing vital components to the food web and thereby important to achieving lake management goals. We characterized lake invertebrate communities and physicochemical variables in six Nebraska Sandhill lakes and examined these characteristics within an alternative stable state framework. Surveys were conducted during 2005 within each of these lakes by sampling aquatic macroinvertebrate abundance, zooplankton abundance and biomass, phytoplankton biomass, and physicochemical variables. When placed within an alternative stable state framework, the response variables exhibited a gradient of different ecosystem states. Two lakes appeared congruent with the clear water state (dense submergent vegetation, high invertebrate abundance and diversity, and low phytoplankton), two lakes were congruent with the turbid water state (high phytoplankton, low vegetation coverage, and low invertebrate abundance and diversity), and two lakes were intermediate, likely in a state of hysteresis (i.e., multiple states under equal environmental conditions). Principal component groupings further supported these findings by following similar lake-specific patterns with attributes of each stable state grouping meaningfully according to the observed lake states. The lakes contained varied fish communities, potentially influencing many measured metrics, through a top-down mechanism. Generally, lakes dominated by piscivorous fish displayed the clear water state, whereas lakes with abundant planktivores displayed the turbid water state. Shallow lakes containing dense invertebrate communities likely provide a rich food base to important fauna (migratory waterfowl) that aid in reaching desired management objectives for these systems. Multiple small lakes, in proximity, displaying divergent ecosystem states invites the opportunity for more in-depth analyses of driving mechanisms that will undoubtedly add to our ability to effectively manage these systems in the future.
Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering Education
Authors: Abu-Faraj Ziad O.
Published: March 2013

Bioengineering/biomedical engineering education is a social process integrating accrued knowledge, expertise, and values pertaining to a fusion of engineering sciences and biomedical sciences that have been disseminated across generations. It has evolved since 1959, and is currently undergoing a healthy global growth. This chapter provides a methodical and comprehensive study on bioengineering/biomedical engineering education. It is addressed to the international bioengineering/biomedical engineering researchers, faculty, and university/college students, as well as, practitioners in bioengineering/biomedical engineering, along with other closely-related governmental, non-governmental, and industrial entities.
Bioelectromagnetism
Authors: Wood Andrew W.
Published: March 2013

Bioelectromagnetism covers a number of sub-disciplines, but is firstly concerned with the ability of living systems to generate electrical currents and magnetic fields. Secondly, it covers the susceptibility of tissue to be stimulated by these currents or fields, and the ability of some organisms to sense low level fields. Thirdly, it also covers the possible health implications of exposure to low level environmental fields, including those associated with the transmission and distribution of electric power and of telecommunication systems. Fourthly, it presents the various therapeutic uses of these fields. Some of the effects are well-established, whereas others remain controversial. This chapter discusses the nature of this uncertainty.
Biomaterials
Authors: Chu Paul K. , Wu Shuilin
Published: March 2013

From the perspective of popular science, this chapter aims at providing a basic understanding of the concept and evolution of Biomaterials. Traditional biomaterials are introduced with emphasis on the concepts, merits, and drawbacks of metals, polymer, ceramics, and composites used in biomedical science. The importance of surface modification is described, and the general behavior as well as cell interactions with artificial materials is discussed. Plasma immersion ion implantation, which is one of the important and common techniques, is described in detail. In the last part of this chapter, typical applications of biomaterials and possible future development are presented.
Biomechanics
Authors: Slavens Brooke , Harris Gerald F.
Published: March 2013

Biomechanics is a vast discipline within the field of Biomedical Engineering. It explores the underlying mechanics of how biological and physiological systems move. It encompasses important clinical applications to address questions related to medicine using engineering mechanics principles. Biomechanics includes interdisciplinary concepts from engineers, physicians, therapists, biologists, physicists, and mathematicians. Through their collaborative efforts, biomechanics research is ever changing and expanding, explaining new mechanisms and principles for dynamic human systems. Biomechanics is used to describe how the human body moves, walks, and breathes, in addition to how it responds to injury and rehabilitation. Advanced biomechanical modeling methods, such as inverse dynamics, finite element analysis, and musculoskeletal modeling are used to simulate and investigate human situations in regard to movement and injury. Biomechanical technologies are progressing to answer contemporary medical questions. The future of biomechanics is dependent on interdisciplinary research efforts and the education of tomorrow’s scientists.
Medical Informatics and Bioinformatics
Authors: Facelli Julio Cesar , Hurdle John F. , Mitchell Joyce A.
Published: March 2013

In the last 50 years, computational applications have been developed to aid clinicians and researchers alike in the broad field of Biomedicine. Adopted early in the evolution of the field, the term medical informatics has been applied to the various sub-disciplines of computer applications and methods of organizing and using information principles and techniques in both clinical care and biomedical research. This chapter provides a broad survey of the complex discipline of Biomedical Informatics with special emphasis on the key emerging sub-disciplines such as translational informatics, clinical research informatics, consumer health informatics, and the informatics of the “omics” sciences, systems biology, and nanotechnology.
Medical and Biological Analysis
Authors: Bruce Eugene N.
Published: March 2013

Medical and biological analysis refers to the engineering methods of signal processing as applied to measurements from human subjects, with the purpose of defining the differences between normal and pathological signals, in order to detect the presence of a disease process or detect changes in the status of a patient associated with treatment. As such, the focus of this chapter is on the identification of the sources of biomedical signals and their classification. This is followed by a historical background with emphasis on clinical applications and early quantitative and engineering approaches. Subsequently, the chapter presents classical engineering methods addressing signals in one dimension, focusing on traditional signal processing methods. It then describes some contemporary engineering approaches to medical and biological analysis, and concludes by addressing filters and noise removal and signal compensation.
Die invloedsverlies van die kerk as geloofsgemeenskap op Christen adolessente se besluite rondom seksualiteit
Authors: Bornman Mathys J.
Published: March 2013

Baie Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente is seksueel aktief, ten spyte van wat hulle geloofsgemeenskap se lering oor seksuele aktiwiteite is. Daar kan nie ’n onderskeid gemaak word tussen die seksuele aktiwiteite van adolessente wat aan ’n geloofsgemeenskap behoort en adolessente wat nie aan ’n geloofsgemeenskap behoort nie. Hierdie studie argumenteer dat die rede vir hierdie tendens die verlies aan invloed is wat die geloofsgemeenskap op die besluitnemingsraamwerk van adolessente het met betrekking tot seksuele aktiwiteite. Deur die gebruik van deelnemerobservasie-navorsing as metodologie het adolessente deelnemers aan hierdie studie die inligtingsbronne wat adolessente oor seksuele aktiwiteite gebruik, geïdentifiseer asook die boodskappe wat hierdie bronne deurgee. Na aanleiding van hierdie data, binne die konteks van reeds bestaande literatuur, word die afleiding gemaak dat die kerk, as ’n geloofsgemeenskap, nie meer ’n invloed het op adolessente se seksuele aktiwiteite en hulle besluite daarrondom nie. Hierdie bevindings word binne die konteks van adolessensie as ontwikkelingsfase asook die ontwikkeling van moraliteit geplaas.The loss of influence of the faith community on Christian adolescents regarding decisions of sexual activities. Many South African adolescents are sexually active, regardless of what their faith communities teach on sexual activity. No distinction can be made between the sexual activities of adolescents who belong to a faith community and adolescents without one. This study argues that this trend prevails because the faith community no longer has an influence on the decision-making framework of adolescents. By using participant observation research as methodology the adolescent participants in this study identified the sources of information about sexual activities that are used by adolescents and also the messages from these sources. Following this argument, within the context of existing literature, the argument is that the church, as community of faith, has no longer an influence on adolescents’ sexual activities and their decisions regarding sex. These findings are placed within the context of adolescence as a developmental phase and the development of morality during this phase.
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness: Sharpening the ethical dimension of prophetic preaching in a context of corruption
Authors: De Wet Fritz W. , Kruger Ferdi P.
Published: March 2013

The prevalence of corruption has enormous negative consequences for the ideal of an orderly and peaceful society. Corruption does not only have a destructive impact on socio-economic life, but also on human relationships, value systems and vision for life. With this research the authors described the role of the ethical dimension of prophetic preaching in addressing the apparent lack of righteousness as it manifests in a context of corruption in the South African society. The problem field was explored with the focus on an apparent lack of vision and willingness to hunger and thirst for righteousness in the current manifestation of corruption in the South African society. Normative perspectives from Scripture (attempting to voice the impact of Jesus� words in the Beatitudes, with the focus on Matthew 5�6) were discussed. It is reasoned that Jesus� words pneumatologically proved to be essential in developing a sharpened and action-inducing vision of the righteousness of the kingdom of God breaking through in the praxis of a society struggling with the effects of corruption. The research culminated in the formulation of preliminary homiletic theory with a view to a vision for a kind of prophetic preaching that will be able to activate the consciousness of hungering and thirsting for the righteousness of God�s kingdom and lead the believer in a life culminating in blessed nourishment. The ethical dimension of prophetic preaching is anchored in the eschatological sphere, aimed at making the perceiver conscious of the distinct presence of the King, calling his people to a blessed presence in this world and empowering them with his promise of restoration of an abundant life for all.
Parabolic tunnels in a heavy elastic medium
Authors: Leitman Marshall J. , Villaggio Piero
Published: March 2013

We consider an elastic half-space subject to constant body forces acting perpendicular to its surface. Assume that the medium is perforated by a parabolic cylindrical cavity whose plane of symmetry is perpendicular to the surface. We characterize the state of stress in the medium; in particular, we compute the hoop stresses along the boundary of the cavity. Our solution is obtained by applying the complex variable method in plane elasticity, extending the technique to stress states which do not necessarily vanish at infinity.
Los padres, ante el consumo televisivo de los hijos: Estilos de mediación
Authors: Torrecillas-Lacave Teresa
Published: March 2013

Los estudios más recientes sobre audiencias infantiles destacan la importancia de la familia como contexto fundamental en la recepción televisiva sobre el impacto que puedan tener los contenidos en el desarrollo de los niños. En este artículo difundimos los resultados de una investigación  que tuvo como objetivo principal describir y explicar las características de la mediación familiar sobre el consumo televisivo de los hijos y establecer una tipología. Para cumplir con el objetivo propuesto se han realizado 48 entrevistas en profundidad a padres y/o madres con hijos de entre 4 y 12 años de la Comunidad de Madrid. El estudio pormenorizado de los indicadores seleccionados a partir de la revisión bibliográfica, como las medidas de control, la covisión o la representación del medio, nos ha permitido identificar cuatro estilos y concluir que la mediación se presenta de forma muy simplificada y reducida a su dimensión normativa.
Design of a Medication Reconciliation Application
Authors: Spry K. , Morea J. , Russ A. L. , Duke J. , Weiner M. , Cadwallader J.
Published: March 2013

Background: Medication reconciliation is an essential, but resource-intensive process without a “gold standard” to measure medication adherence. Medication reconciliation applications that focus on facilitating clinicians’ decision-making are needed. Since no single available source of medication information is adequate, combining data sources may improve usefulness and outcomes.

Objectives: We aimed to design a medication reconciliation application that could incorporate multiple data sources and convey information about patients’ adherence to prescribed medications. We discuss design decisions integral to developing medication reconciliation applications for the electronic health record. The discussion is relevant for health IT developers, clinical providers, administrators, policy makers, and patients. Three hypotheses drove our design of this application: 1) Medication information comes from a variety of sources, each having benefits and limitations; 2) improvements in patient safety can result from reducing the cognitive burden and time required to identify medication changes; 3) a well-designed user interface can facilitate clinicians’ understanding and clinical decision making.

Methods: Relying on evidence about interface design and medication reconciliation, an application for the electronic health record at an academic medical center in the U.S. was designed. Multiple decisions that considered the availability, value, and display of the medication data are explored: Information from different sources; interval changes in medications; the sorting of information; and the user interface.

Results: The prototype medication reconciliation application design reflects the visual organization, categorization, modality of interactions, and presentation of medication information from three data sources: patient, electronic health record, and pharmacy.

Conclusions: A new medication reconciliation user interface displays information from multiple sources, indicates discrepancies among sources, displays information about adherence, and sorts the medication list in a useful display for clinical decision making. Gathering, verifying, and updating medication data are resource-intensive processes. The outcomes of integrating, interpreting, and presenting medication information from multiple sources remain to be studied.

Citation: Cadwallader J, Spry K, Morea J, Russ AL, Duke J, WeineM. Design of a medication reconciliation application – facilitating clinician-focused decision making with data from multiple sources. Appl Clin Inf 2013; 4: 110–125

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2012-12-RA-0057
Observationally-constrained estimates of global fine-mode AOD
Authors: Lee K. , Chung C. E.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Small aerosols are mostly anthropogenic, and the fine-mode aerosol optical depth (fAOD) can be used to infer anthropogenic aerosol amounts. We estimate AOD and fAOD globally on a monthly time scale from 2001 to 2010 by integrating monthly satellite-based (MODIS and MISR) and ground-based (AERONET) observations. For fAOD, three integration methods are developed to utilize global coverage by satellite data and maximize the influence of AERONET data. We evaluate each method by applying the method without a few randomly-chosen AERONET data and comparing its output with the few AERONET data. The best method of the three is based on integrating the Ångström exponent (AE) data from MODIS, MISR and AERONET, and its output is closer to AERONET fAOD accuracy than MODIS or MISR fAOD over both ocean and land. Using our integrated data, we find that the global 2001–2010 average of 500 nm AOD and fAOD is 0.17 and 0.089, respectively. Eastern China as a region shows the largest decadal-mean fAOD. The linear trend of global AOD or global fAOD from 2001 to 2010 is found to be slightly negative. This decreasing trend is particularly pronounced over the West (Western Europe and US/Canada combined) where AOD and fAOD reductions are about −20%. By contrast, fAOD in India and eastern China combined increased slightly. These results reflect the overall anthropogenic aerosol emission reduction in the West, and stagnating conditions in Asia. Moreover, our results in the West are consistent with the so-called surface brightening phenomenon in the recent decades.
Radiative and dynamical contributions to past and future Arctic stratospheric temperature trends
Authors: Bohlinger P. , Sinnhuber B.-M. , Ruhnke R. , Kirner O.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion is closely linked to the occurrence of low stratospheric temperatures. There are indications that cold winters in the Arctic stratosphere have been getting colder, raising the question if and to what extent a cooling of the Arctic stratosphere may continue into the future. We use meteorological re-analyses from ERA-Interim for the past 32 yr together with calculations of the chemistry-climate model EMAC and CCM models from the CCMVal project to infer radiative and dynamical contributions to long-term Arctic stratospheric temperature changes. For the past three decades ERA-Interim shows a warming trend in winter and cooling trend in spring and summer. Changes in winter and spring are caused by a corresponding change of planetary wave activity with increases in winter and decreases in spring. During winter the increase of planetary wave activity is counteracted by a radiatively induced cooling. Stratospheric radiatively induced cooling is detected throughout all seasons being highly significant in spring and summer. This means that for a given dynamical situation, in ERA-Interim the annual mean temperature of the Arctic lower stratosphere has been cooling by −0.41 ± 0.11 K decade−1 at 50 hPa over the past 32 yr. Calculations with state-of-the-art models from CCMVal and the EMAC model confirm the radiatively induced cooling for the past decades, but underestimate the amount of radiatively induced cooling deduced from ERA-Interim. EMAC predicts a continued annual radiatively induced cooling for the coming decades (2001–2049) of −0.15 ± 0.06 K decade−1 where the projected increase of CO2 accounts for about 2/3 of the cooling effect. Expected decrease of stratospheric halogen loading and resulting ozone recovery in the future counteracts the cooling tendency due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and leads to a reduced future cooling trend compared to the past. CCMVal multi-model mean predicts a future annual mean radiatively induced cooling of −0.10 ± 0.02 K decade−1 which is also smaller in the future than in the past.
Simulation of SEVIRI infrared channels: a case study from the Eyjafjallajökull April/May 2010 eruption
Authors: Kylling A. , Buras R. , Eckhardt S. , Emde C. , Mayer B. , Stohl A.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Infrared satellite images are widely and successfully used to detect and follow atmospheric ash from erupting volcanoes. We describe a new radiative transfer model framework for the simulation of infrared radiances, which can be compared directly with satellite images. This can be helpful to get insight into the processes that affect the satellite retrievals. As input to the radiative transfer model, the distribution of ash is provided by simulations with the FLEXPART Lagrangian particle dispersion model, meteorological cloud information is adopted from the ECMWF analysis and the radiative transfer modelling is performed with the MYSTIC 3-D radiative transfer model. The model framework is used to study an episode during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010. It is found that to detect ash by the reverse absorption retrieval technique, accurate representation of the ash particle size distribution is required. Detailed investigation of individual pixels displays the radiative effects of various combinations of ash, liquid water and ice clouds. In order to be clearly detectable, the ash clouds need to be located at some distance above other clouds. If ash clouds are mixed with water clouds or are located only slightly above water clouds, detection of the ash becomes difficult. Simulations were also made using the so-called independent pixel approximation (IPA) instead of the fully 3-D radiative transfer modelling. In the two simulations, different clouds (or different parts of the clouds) or the ground are effectively emitting radiation towards the instrument, thus causing differences in the brightness temperature of up to ± 25 K. The presented model framework is useful for further studies of the processes that affect satellite imagery and may be used to test both new and existing ash retrieval algorithms.
Storage and stability of organic carbon in soils as related to depth, occlusion within aggregates, and attachment to minerals
Authors: Schrumpf M. , Kaiser K. , Guggenberger G. , Persson T. , Kögel-Knabner I. , Schulze E.-D.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Conceptual models suggest that stability of organic carbon (OC) in soil depends on the source of plant litter, occlusion within aggregates, incorporation in organo-mineral complexes, and location within the soil profile. Density fractionation is a useful tool to study the relevance of OC stabilization in aggregates and in association with minerals, but it has rarely been applied to full soil profiles. We aim to determine factors shaping the depth profiles of physically unprotected and mineral associated OC and test their relevance for OC stability across a range of European soils that vary in vegetation, soil types, parent material, and land use. At each of the 12 study sites, 10 soil cores were sampled to 60 cm depth and subjected to density separation. Bulk soil samples and density fractions (free light fractions – fLF, occluded light fractions – oLF, heavy fractions – HF) were analysed for OC, total nitrogen (TN), δ14C, and Δ14C. Bulk samples were also incubated to determine CO2 evolution per g OC in the samples (specific mineralization rates) as an indicator for OC stability. Depth profiles of OC in the light fraction (LF-OC) matched those of roots for undisturbed grassland and forest sites, suggesting that roots are shaping the depth distribution of LF-OC. Organic C in the HF declined less with soil depth than LF-OC and roots, especially at grassland sites. The decrease in Δ14C (increase in age) of HF-OC with soil depth was related to soil pH as well as to dissolved OC fluxes. This indicates that dissolved OC translocation contributes to the formation of subsoil HF-OC and shapes the Δ14C profiles. The LF at three sites were rather depleted in 14C, indicating the presence of fossil material such as coal and lignite, probably inherited from the parent material. At the other sites, modern Δ14C signatures and positive correlations between specific mineralization rates and fLF-OC indicate the fLF is a potentially available energy and nutrient source for subsurface microorganisms throughout the profile. Declining specific mineralization rates with soil depth confirm greater stability of OC in subsoils across sites. The overall importance of OC stabilization by binding to minerals was demonstrated by declining specific mineralization rates with increasing contributions of HF-OC to bulk soil OC, and the low Δ14C values of HF-OC. The stability of HF-OC was greater in subsoils than in topsoils; nevertheless, a portion of HF-OC was active throughout the profile. While quantitatively less important than OC in the HF, consistent older ages of oLF-OC than fLF-OC suggest that occlusion of LF-OC in aggregates also contributes to OC stability in subsoils. Overall, our results indicate that association with minerals is the most important factor in stabilization of OC in soils, irrespective of vegetation, soil type, and land use.
Geomorphic control on the δ15N of mountain forests
Authors: Hilton R. G. , Galy A. , West A. J. , Hovius N. , Roberts G. G.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Mountain forests are subject to high rates of physical erosion which can export particulate nitrogen from ecosystems. However, the impact of geomorphic processes on nitrogen budgets remains poorly constrained. We have used the elemental and isotopic composition of soil and plant organic matter to investigate nitrogen cycling in the mountain forest of Taiwan, from 24 sites with distinct geomorphic (topographic slope) and climatic (precipitation, temperature) characteristics. The organic carbon to nitrogen ratio of soil organic matter decreased with soil 14C age, providing constraint on average rates of nitrogen loss using a mass balance model. Model predictions suggest that present day estimates of nitrogen deposition exceed contemporary and historic nitrogen losses. We found ∼6‰ variability in the stable isotopic composition (δ15N) of soil and plants which was not related to soil 14C age or climatic conditions. Instead, δ15N was significantly, negatively correlated with topographic slope. Using the mass balance model, we demonstrate that the correlation can be explained by an increase in nitrogen loss by non-fractioning pathways on steeper slopes, where physical erosion most effectively removes particulate nitrogen. Published data from forests on steep slopes are consistent with the correlation. Based on our dataset and these observations, we hypothesise that variable physical erosion rates can significantly influence soil δ15N, and suggest particulate nitrogen export is a major, yet underappreciated, loss term in the nitrogen budget of mountain forests.
Meta-analysis of relationships between environmental factors and aboveground biomass in the alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Sun J. , Cheng G. W. , Li W. P.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau, known as the "world's third pole" for its extremely harsh and fragile ecological environment, has attracted great attention because of its sensitivity to global changes. Alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau has an important function in the global carbon cycle. Many studies have examined the effects of various environmental factors on biomass distribution. In this study, the relationships between the habitat parameters and the aboveground biomass (AGB) abundance on the Tibetan Plateau were examined through a meta-analysis of 110 field sites across the widely distributed alpine steppe and meadow. The obtained data were then analysed using the classification and regression tree model and the generalized additive model. The results showed that the AGB abundance in alpine steppe was positively correlated with six environmental factors, namely, soil organic carbon density of the top soil layer from 0 cm to 30 cm (SOC30 cm), longitude, mean annual precipitation (MAP), latitude, clay, and soil moisture. For the alpine meadow, five main factors were detected, namely, altitude, soil moisture, nitrogen, MAP, and mean annual temperature. The increased AGB abundance in the alpine steppe was associated with the increased SOC30 cm, MAP, and latitude, and the increased longitude resulted in decreased AGB abundance. For the alpine meadow, altitude and soil moisture showed strongly negative effects on AGB abundance, and soil nitrogen content was positively related to the AGB distribution across all examined sites. Our results suggest the combined effects of meteorological, topographic, and soil factors on the spatial patterns of AGB on the Tibetan Plateau.
Madagascar corals reveal a multidecadal signature of rainfall and river runoff since 1708
Authors: Grove C. A. , Zinke J. , Peeters F. , Park W. , Scheufen T. , Kasper S. , Randriamanantsoa B. , McCulloch M. T. , Brummer G.-J. A.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SST) influence rainfall variability on multidecadal and interdecadal timescales in concert with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). Rainfall variations in locations such as Australia and North America are therefore linked to phase changes in the PDO. Furthermore, studies have suggested teleconnections exist between the western Indian Ocean and Pacific Decadal Variability (PDV), similar to those observed on interannual timescales related to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, as instrumental records of rainfall are too short and sparse to confidently assess multidecadal climatic teleconnections, here we present four coral climate archives from Madagascar spanning up to the past 300 yr (1708–2008) to assess such decadal variability. Using spectral luminescence scanning to reconstruct past changes in river runoff, we identify significant multidecadal and interdecadal frequencies in the coral records, which before 1900 are coherent with Asian-based PDO reconstructions. This multidecadal relationship with the Asian-based PDO reconstructions points to an unidentified teleconnection mechanism that affects Madagascar rainfall/runoff, most likely triggered by multidecadal changes in North Pacific SST, influencing the Asian Monsoon circulation. In the 20th century we decouple human deforestation effects from rainfall-induced soil erosion by pairing luminescence with coral geochemistry. Positive PDO phases are associated with increased Indian Ocean temperatures and runoff/rainfall in eastern Madagascar, while precipitation in southern Africa and eastern Australia declines. Consequently, the negative PDO phase that started in 1998 may contribute to reduced rainfall over eastern Madagascar and increased precipitation in southern Africa and eastern Australia. We conclude that multidecadal rainfall variability in Madagascar and the western Indian Ocean needs to be taken into account when considering water resource management under a future warming climate.
Nanofiltration for water and wastewater treatment – a mini review
Authors: Shon H. K. , Phuntsho S. , Chaudhary D. S. , Vigneswaran S. , Cho J.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. The application of membrane technology in water and wastewater treatment is increasing due to stringent water quality standards. Nanofiltration (NF) is one of the widely used membrane processes for water and wastewater treatment in addition to other applications such as desalination. NF has replaced reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in many applications due to lower energy consumption and higher flux rates. This paper briefly reviews the application of NF for water and wastewater treatment including fundamentals of membrane process in general, mechanisms of NF process including few basic models. fouling challenges and their control mechanisms adopted.
Safety and fortification with folic acid in neonatal period
Authors: Žikavská Tatiana , Brucknerová Ingrid
Published: March 2013

Folic acid, the essential vitamin, and its active forms are substantial parts of many biochemical processes in the human body. In the period of rapid growth of organism or in cell growth, body’s demands for folate increase. Its impact in neonatal period varies even in premature newborns. Fortification with folic acid and its substitution in the treatment of anaemia are the important parts in the comprehensive care in premature newborns. To determine optimal dose in this group of patients is difficult. The determination of red blood cell folate concentration levels is the most accurate indicator of long-term folate level status in the body. Unmetabolised folic acid in circulation of newborns could have potentially adverse effects. Toxicity of folic acid is not a concern as folate is water-soluble and easily excreted by kidneys when in excess but on the other side growing organism of preterm newborn and disruption of metabolic balance could be potential risks.
Differential effects of spring reacclimation and deacclimation on cell membranes of Norway spruce seedlings
Authors: Pukacki Paweł M. , Kamińska-Rożek Emilia
Published: March 2013

Two-year-old seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies) during spring deacclimation were subjected to controlled reacclimation by exposure to low temperatures of 4/−3°C (day/night) in a cold room. The highest increase in freezing tolerance (by 7°C) was observed after 12 d of low temperature exposure, when shoot water potential (Ψw shoot) decreased to 0.64 MPa. The process of reacclimation was accompanied by an increase in the phospholipid content of needle cell membranes. This increase applied to total (PL) and individual phospholipids: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidic acid (PA). After being exposed to the low temperature for 18 d, the seedlings were moved into the open air. This caused deacclimation, with an increase in Ψw shoot to −0.36 MPa and a decrease in the total phospholipid content and freezing tolerance of the needles. Significant correlations were observed between freezing tolerance, the membrane permeability (MP) of the needles and the phospholipid content, Ψw shoot and water content of the needles. The results show that during spring deacclimation, Norway spruce seedlings can be subjected to reacclimation, which is reflected in the phospholipid content, the biophysical changes of the membranes, and the freezing tolerance of the seedlings. During both spring deacclimation and reacclimation, water content in the needles plays a critical role in the cold tolerance of spruce seedlings.
Organic Light Detectors: Photodiodes and Phototransistors
Authors: Baeg Kang‐Jun , Binda Maddalena , Natali Dario , Caironi Mario , Noh Yong‐Young
Published: March 2013

While organic electronics is mostly dominated by light‐emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells and transistors, optoelectronics properties peculiar to organic semiconductors make them interesting candidates for the development of innovative and disruptive applications also in the field of light signal detection. In fact, organic‐based photoactive media combine effective light absorption in the region of the spectrum from ultraviolet to near‐infrared with good photogeneration yield and low‐temperature processability over large areas and on virtually every substrate, which might enable innovative optoelectronic systems to be targeted for instance in the field of imaging, optical communications or biomedical sensing.

In this review, after a brief resume of photogeneration basics and of devices operation mechanisms, we offer a broad overview of recent progress in the field, focusing on photodiodes and phototransistors. As to the former device category, very interesting values for figures of merit such as photoconversion efficiency, speed and minimum detectable signal level have been attained, and even though the simultaneous optimization of all these relevant parameters is demonstrated in a limited number of papers, real applications are within reach for this technology, as it is testified by the increasing number of realizations going beyond the single‐device level and tackling more complex optoelectronic systems. As to phototransistors, a more recent subject of study in the framework of organic electronics, despite a broad distribution in the reported performances, best photoresponsivities outperform amorphous silicon‐based devices. This suggests that organic phototransistors have a large potential to be used in a variety of optoelectronic peculiar applications, such as a photo‐sensor, opto‐isolator, image sensor, optically controlled phase shifter, and opto‐electronic switch and memory.
Study of Thermal Decomposition of Li1‐x(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)0.9O2 Using In‐Situ High‐Energy X‐Ray Diffraction
Authors: Chen Zonghai , Ren Yang , Lee Eungje , Johnson Christopher , Qin Yan , Amine Khalil
Published: March 2013

Safety has been a major technological concern hindering the deployment of lithium‐ion batteries for automobile applications. We investigated the decomposition mechanism of delithiated cathode materials at thermal abuse conditions using Li1.1[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]0.9O2 as a model cathode material. An in‐situ high‐energy X‐ray diffraction technique was established as an alternative to conventional thermal analysis techniques like differential scanning calorimetry and accelerating rate calorimetry. The X‐ray diffraction data revealed that the thermal decomposition pathway of delithiated Li1‐x[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]0.9O2 strongly depended on the exposed chemical environment, like solvents and lithium salts. A phase transformation of dry delithiated Li1‐x[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]0.9O2 was observed at about 278 °C, and its onset temperature was reduced to about 197°C with the presence of the electrolyte. It is suggested that the reduction in thermal stability is possibly related to proton intercalation into the delithiated material.
Reactive adsorption for the selective dehydration of sugars to furans: Modeling and experiments
Authors: Swift T. Dallas , Bagia Christina , Nikolakis Vladimiros , Vlachos Dionisios G. , Peklaris George , Dornath Paul , Fan Wei
Published: March 2013

5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can be produced from the acid‐catalyzed dehydration of fructose, but its yield is limited due to subsequent HMF degradation to side products. A reactive adsorption process is proposed to improve the yield to HMF. Separate experimental single‐component isotherms of fructose, HMF, formic acid, and levulinic acid on carbon BP2000 and reaction kinetics of the fructose dehydration to HMF in aqueous solution of HCl are presented to develop empirical isotherms and kinetic rate constants, respectively. These submodels are subsequently integrated in an adsorptive reactor at a range of temperatures (100–150°C) with different loadings of adsorbent. It is shown that the adsorbent improves HMF yield compared to the single‐solution phase (adsorbent‐free case). Low temperatures and high‐adsorbent loadings improve HMF yield. Under certain conditions both reactive adsorption and the commonly used reactive extraction can result in a similar improvement in HMF yield. HMF recovery from the solid adsorbent has been identified as a major challenge that can be ameliorated through adsorbent and solvent selection. The framework outlined here can be applied to any aqueous phase chemistry where the desired product is an intermediate in a reaction cascade. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3378–3390, 2013
Marine conservation planning in practice: lessons learned from the Gulf of California
Authors: Álvarez‐Romero Jorge G. , Pressey Robert L. , Ban Natalie C. , Torre‐Cosío Jorge , Aburto‐Oropeza Octavio
Published: March 2013

Overfishing, pollution, coastal development and climate change threaten marine biodiversity globally and compromise the services that marine ecosystems provide. Systematic conservation planning (SCP) provides a framework to identify areas where actions can be effective in addressing these threats, while minimizing the costs of interventions. This study investigated the application of SCP in the Gulf of California, a marine hotspot where seven prioritization exercises have been undertaken.

The review of planning exercises showed that the use of SCP methods has progressed slowly (gaps include planning for land–sea connections and ecosystem services) and highlighted benefits and difficulties of applying SCP principles and tools.

Despite some convergence, important spatial differences were found in priorities between plans. Convergence was evident in well‐studied shallow and benthic marine ecosystems. There were also important differences related to the planning approach, methods and extent. Divergence between methodological and spatial similarities between plans suggests that additional factors (e.g. manually delineating priority areas, incorporating updated datasets, random error), in addition to data and objectives, play an important role in defining the distribution of conservation priorities.

According to expert opinion, the implementation of new marine protected areas (MPAs) in the region has been influenced by some of the planning exercises. However, uptake of planning outputs has progressed slowly for many reasons (e.g. conflicting mandates and interests between organizations, limited technical capacities and resources, insufficient political commitment). Other benefits of planning included: developing institutional skills and knowledge; improving collaboration and coordination between organizations (including agencies, and local, regional and national NGOs); converging on the need to assess priorities for marine conservation in regional context; and building trust among organizations.

The existence of multiple marine conservation plans in the Gulf of California also highlighted some of the complexities and benefits of having multiple sets of priorities.

Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
“Keep it secret, keep it safe”: Information poverty, information norms, and stigma
Authors: Lingel Jessa , boyd danah
Published: March 2013

When information practices are understood to be shaped by social context, privilege and marginalization alternately affect not only access to, but also use of information resources. In the context of information, privilege, and community, politics of marginalization drive stigmatized groups to develop collective norms for locating, sharing, and hiding information. In this paper, we investigate the information practices of a subcultural community whose activities are both stigmatized and of uncertain legal status: the extreme body modification community. We use the construct of information poverty to analyze the experiences of 18 people who had obtained, were interested in obtaining, or had performed extreme body modification procedures. With a holistic understanding of how members of this community use information, we complicate information poverty by working through concepts of stigma and community norms. Our research contributes to human information behavior scholarship on marginalized groups and to Internet studies research on how communities negotiate collective norms of information sharing online.
Transition Metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)‐Doped Graphene Hybrids for Electrocatalysis
Authors: Toh Rou Jun , Poh Hwee Ling , Sofer Zdeněk , Pumera Martin
Published: March 2013

The development of electrocatalysts is crucial for renewable energy applications. Metal‐doped graphene hybrid materials have been explored for this purpose, however, with much focus on noble metals, which are limited by their low availability and high costs. Transition metals may serve as promising alternatives. Here, transition metal‐doped graphene hybrids were synthesized by a simple and scalable method. Metal‐doped graphite oxide precursors were thermally exfoliated in either hydrogen or nitrogen atmosphere; by changing exfoliation atmospheres from inert to reductive, we produced materials with different degrees of oxidation. Effects of the presence of metal nanoparticles and exfoliation atmosphere on the morphology and electrocatalytic activity of the hybrid materials were investigated using electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Doping of graphene with transition metal nanoparticles of the 4th period significantly influenced the electrocatalysis of compounds important in energy production and storage applications, with hybrid materials exfoliated in nitrogen atmosphere displaying superior performance over those exfoliated in hydrogen atmosphere. Moreover, nickel‐doped graphene hybrids displayed outstanding electrocatalytic activities towards reduction of O2 when compared to bare graphenes. These findings may be exploited in the research field of renewable energy.