bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automotive Light-Weighting Using Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Nturanabo Francis , Masu Leonard M. , Govender Gonasagren
Published: August 2015

The automotive manufacturing industry, worldwide, has been engaged in a race to produce lightweight vehicles. Consequently, the industry continues to deploy significant resources in developing and utilising advanced lightweight materials and cutting-edge technologies in the manufacture of new vehicle models that are energy efficient, more reliable, safer, more user-friendly and less polluting; without compromising the other important vehicle attributes such as, size, cargo space and payload, structural integrity, power and acceleration. Mass reduction is one consistent and cost-effective strategy that can be combined with other efficiency improvement strategies and technologies to meet the requirements of fuel economy and emission reduction. The materials used in automotive light-weighting must fulfil several criteria imposed by regulation and legislation with the environment in addition to satisfying customer requirements. The choice for light, high strength automotive materials is between advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) on one hand, and composites of aluminium (aluminium metal matrix composites (AlMMCs)), magnesium and polymers, on the other. In this paper, the potential of AlMMCs as a replacement for most steels and aluminium alloys in the manufacture of automotive parts and components is discussed as well as their current status and future trends of utilisation in automotive light-weighting.
Geology of Mingo Lake - Macdonald Island map area, Baffin Island, District of Franklin
Authors: Blackadar R G
Published: August 2015

Interest in iron deposits of possible economic importance was aroused following reconnaissance geological studies made in southern Baffin Island between 1951 and 1953. A more detailed geological examination was made in 1959 and 1960 of NTS map-sheets 36A and 35P,
which include many of the deposits.
The rocks are mainly Precambrian, and a K-Ar age determination (1 ,700 m.y.) indicates an Early Proterozoic age for the metamorphism of the area. The Precambrian rocks, lithologically like the rocks of the Grenville Province, comprise an assemblage of granulite, granitic gneiss, lit-par-lit gneiss,
pyroxenehornblende gneiss, rusty graphite schist and gneiss, and crystalline limestone. The iron deposits are commonly associated with pyroxene-hornblende gneiss. Diabase dykes intrude all exposed Precambrian rocks. Relatively flat-lying limestone and shale units of Palaeozoic age are presumed to
outcrop in the northeastern part of the map-area.
Exploratory work, including diamond drilling, carried out by companies holding claims in the region indicated that the iron deposits are not of ore grade under present economic conditions.
Geology of the Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group, Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, British Columbia
Authors: Muller J E , Jeletzky J A
Published: August 2015

The Upper Cretaceous Nanaimo Group, for mor e than one hundred years subject of study of many geologists and paleontologists, is b e ing restudied by Muller (geology and stratigraphy) and J e letzky (biochronology) . The gr oup is n ewly subdivided in four
succeeding transgressive sedimentation cycles. Each contain s most of the following successive facies:
(1) Fanglome rate (angular , unsort ed) and greywacke : basal fluvial and coastal deposits.
(2) Conglomerate (well-rounded, sorted), grit, sandstone: deltaic and shoreline deposits.
(3) Sandstone, shale a n d coal (plant foss ils) : shore-bar and lagoonal deposits .
(4) Siltstone, shale minor sandstone, many thick-shelled fossils: n e arshor e marine deposits.
(5) Thin-bedded siltstone-shale turbidite sequences, few fossils are ammonites: offshore deposits .
Previous workers recognized the alternation of conglomeratesandstone and siltstone- shale formations and established a double formational succession, one for the Nan aimo Basin and one for the Comox Basin. With some changes in correl ation two formational names have been retaine d for each cycle,
giving a success ion of eight alternat ing mainly nonmarine and mar ine formations. A ninth and youngest formation is nonmarine.
Economic coal deposits were formed in the Nanaimo Gr oup in the Comox Basin during the first cycle and in the Nanaimo Basin during the second cycle.
Six faunal zones and subzones are established on the basis of ammonites and inocerami and integrated with the depositional cycles . The lower two faunal subzones correspond to McGugan' s (1962) Rugogl obigerina zone; the middle three to his Cibicides voltziana zone and the uppe r subzone to his
Bolivina incrassata zone . The sedimentary basin occupied in the earlie r cycles the southwestern part of the Strait of Georgia and adjacent areas of Van couver Island w ith a southward oceanic connection. In the later cycles parts of northern Vancouver Island and the mainland were also submerged
but the basin was probably closed off to the south and open to the north . The structure features mainly northwestwardly tilted blocks, separated by northwesterly longitudinal normal faults and by northea5terly crossfault s . Near the fault zones beds a re flexured steeply and close 1 y folded;
otherwise strata are flat or gently inclined.
The Benefit System and its scope in contemporary orthodontic protocols
Authors: Wilmes Benedict , Willmann Jan , Stocker Bruce , Drescher Dieter
Published: August 2015

Currently, the alveolar process is the most preferred insertion site for orthodontic mini-implants. However, due to the varying bone quality and the risk of root contact, the survival rate of implants inserted in the alveolar ridge still needs improvement. Other regions, such as the anterior palate and the mental region provide much better conditions for temporary anchorage device (TAD) insertion since the amount and quality of the available bone are far superior. Mini-implants with different types of abutments and connectors allow the construction of versatile and cost efficient appliances for a large variety of orthopedic and orthodontic applications. Utilizing TAD’s in the anterior palate and the mental region eliminates the risk of root injury and takes the implants out of the path of tooth movement. The design of the interchangeable abutment system provides the orthodontist with a skeletal anchorage system that integrates easily into clinical practice and allows treatment of cases that were difficult or impossible to treat previously.
Computational Shape Models Characterize Shape Change of the Left Atrium in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Cates Joshua , Bieging Erik , Morris Alan , Gardner Gregory , Akoum Nazem , Kholmovski Eugene , Marrouche Nassir , McGann Christopher , MacLeod Rob S.
Published: August 2015

Shape change of the left atrium (LA) and LA appendage in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is hypothesized to be linked to AF pathology and to play a role in thrombogenesis; however, many aspects of shape variation in the heart are poorly understood. To date, studies of the LA shape in AF have been limited to empirical observation and summary metrics, such as volume and its likeness to a sphere. This paper describes a more comprehensive approach to the study of the LA shape through the use of computationally derived statistical shape models. We describe practical approaches that we have developed to extract shape parameters automatically from the three-dimensional MR images of the patient. From these images and our techniques, we can produce a more comprehensive description of LA geometric variability than that has been previously possible. We present the methodology and results from two examples of specific analyses using shape models: (1) we describe statistically significant group differences between the normal control and AF patient populations ( n = 137) and (2) we describe characteristic shapes of the LA appendage that are associated with the risk of thrombogenesis determined by transesophageal echocardiography ( n = 203).
Force Plate Assessment of Quiet Standing Balance Control: Perspectives on Clinical Application within Stroke Rehabilitation
Authors: Mansfield Avril , Inness Elizabeth L.
Published: August 2015

Assessment of balance control is essential to guide physical rehabilitation poststroke. However, current observational assessment tools available to physiotherapists provide limited information about underlying dyscontrol. This paper describes a force plate-based assessment of quiet standing balance control that we have implemented for individuals attending inpatient stroke rehabilitation. The assessment uses two force plates to measure location of ground reaction forces to maintain stability in quiet standing in five conditions (eyes open, eyes closed, standing symmetrically, and maximal loading on the less-affected and more-affected limbs). Measures of interest are variability of the centers of pressure under each foot and both feet combined, weight-bearing asymmetry, and correlation of center of pressure fluctuations between limbs. We present representative values for the above-mentioned measures and case examples to illustrate how the assessment can reveal patient-specific balance control problems and direct treatment. We identify limitations to our current assessment and recommendations for future research.
Phylogenetic relationships among the first and second introns of selectedPrunus S-RNase genes
Authors: Rahemi Alireza , Gradziel Thomas M. , Chaparro Jose X. , Folta Kevin M. , Taghavi Toktam , Fatahi Reza , Ebadi Ali , Hassani Darab
Published: August 2015

Rahemi, A., Gradziel T.M., Chaparro J.X., Folta, K.M., Taghavi, T., Fatahi, R., Ebadi, A. and Hassani, D. 2015. Phylogenetic relationships among the first and second introns of selected Prunus S-RNase genes. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1145–1154. To identify and evaluate self-incompatible alleles in almonds and related germplasm, DNA from 15 Prunus species was amplified using two degenerate consensus primer pairs flanking first and second S-locus introns (PaConsI-FD+EM-Pc1ConsRD and EM-Pc2ConsFD+EM-Pc3ConsRD). Twenty-eight amplified PCR products were analyzed by automated sequencer capillary electrophoresis. Sequenced fragments were aligned against available Prunus S-locus sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information and S-alleles identities were determined. The phylogenetic relationships between S-alleles in the germplasm studied were determined by the homology between their sequences and dendrograms were obtained for each primer pair. The Maximum Likelihood (homology) ranged from 84 to 100%. Most sequences were similar to cultivated almond (Prunus dulcis) or to the European wild almond (P. webbii). Twenty-six alleles for the first and the second introns were registered in the database in the GenBank. Two sequences of the first and second introns, which were taken from Prunus nairica and had similarity in GenBank, were registered in the database under a common sequence of the first and second intron. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships (dendrograms) among S-alleles from wild almond species as well as S-alleles cluster relations showed most pairs of alleles well supported by bootstrap.
On transverse invariants from Khovanov homology
Authors: Lipshitz Robert , Ng Lenhard L. , Sarkar Sucharit
Published: August 2015

In [31], O. Plamenevskaya associated to each transverse knot

K

an element of the Khovanov homology of

K

. In this paper, we give two renements of Plamenevskaya’s invariant, one valued in Bar-Natan’s deformation (from [2]) of the Khovanov complex and another as a cohomotopy element of the Khovanov spectrum (from [20]). We show that the rst of these renements is invariant under negative ypes and

SZ

moves; this implies that Plamenevskaya’s class is also invariant under these moves. We go on to show that for small-crossing transverse knots

K

, both renements are determined by the classical invariants of

K

.
Equivariant Khovanov–Rozansky homology and Lee–Gornik spectral sequence
Authors: Wu Hao
Published: August 2015

Lobb observed in [8] that each equivariant

\mathfrak {sl} (N)

Khovanov–Rozansky homology over

\mathbb C [a]

admits a standard decomposition of a simple form.

In the present paper, we derive a formula for the corresponding Lee–Gornik spectral sequence in terms of this decomposition. Based on this formula, we give a simple alternative definition of the Lee–Gornik spectral sequence using exact couples. We also demonstrate that an equivariant

\mathfrak {sl} (N)

Khovanov–Rozansky homology over

\mathbb C [a]

can be recovered from the corresponding Lee–Gornik spectral sequence via this formula. Therefore, these two algebraic invariants are equivalent and contain the same information about the link.

As a byproduct of the exact couple construction, we generalize Lee's endomorphism on the rational Khovanov homology to a natural

\bigwedge^\ast \mathbb C^{N-1}

-action on the

\mathfrak sl (N)

Khovanov–Rozansky homology.

A numerical link invariant called torsion width comes up naturally in our work. It determines when the corresponding Lee–Gornik spectral sequence collapses and is bounded from above by the homological thickness of the

\mathfrak {sl} (N)

Khovanov–Rozansky homology. We use the torsion width to explain why the Lee spectral sequences of certain H-thick links collapse so fast.
Quantifying the contribution of long-range transport to particulate matter (PM) mass loadings at a suburban site in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plain (NW-IGP)
Authors: Pawar H. , Garg S. , Kumar V. , Sachan H. , Arya R. , Sarkar C. , Chandra B. P. , Sinha B.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Many sites in the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) frequently exceed the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 100 μg m−3 for 24 h average PM10 and 60 μg m−3 for 24 h average PM2.5 mass loadings, exposing residents to hazardous levels of particulate matter (PM) throughout the year. We quantify the contribution of long-range transport to elevated PM levels and the number of exceedance events through a back-trajectory climatology analysis of air masses arriving at the IISER Mohali Atmospheric Chemistry facility (30.667° N, 76.729° E; 310 m a.m.s.l.) for the period August 2011–June 2013. Air masses arriving at the receptor site were classified into six clusters, which represent synoptic-scale air-mass transport patterns. Long-range transport from the west leads to significant enhancements in the average fine- and coarse-mode PM mass loadings during all seasons. The contribution of long-range transport from the west and south-west (source regions: Arabia, Thar Desert, Middle East and Afghanistan) to coarse-mode PM varied between 9 and 57 % of the total PM10–2.5 mass. Local pollution episodes (wind speed < 1 m s−1) contributed to enhanced PM2.5 mass loadings during both the winter and summer seasons and to enhanced coarse-mode PM only during the winter season. South-easterly air masses (source region: eastern IGP) were associated with significantly lower fine- and coarse-mode PM mass loadings during all seasons. The fraction of days in each season during which the PM mass loadings exceeded the national ambient air quality standard was controlled by long-range transport to a much lesser degree. For the local cluster, which represents regional air masses (source region: NW-IGP), the fraction of days during which the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 60 μg m−3 for 24 h average PM2.5 was exceeded varied between 36 % of the days associated with this synoptic-scale transport during the monsoon, and 95 % during post-monsoon and winter seasons; the fraction of days during which the NAAQS of 100 μg m−3 for the 24 h average PM10 was exceeded, varied between 48 % during the monsoon and 98 % during the post-monsoon season. Long-range transport was responsible for both, bringing air masses with a significantly lower fraction of exceedance days from the eastern IGP and air masses with a moderate increase in the fraction of exceedance days from the west (source regions: Arabia, Thar Desert, Middle East and Afghanistan). In order to bring PM mass loadings into compliance with the NAAQS and to reduce the number of exceedance days, mitigation of regional combustion sources in the NW-IGP needs to be given highest priority.
Aircraft-measured indirect cloud effects from biomass burning smoke in the Arctic and subarctic
Authors: Zamora L. M. , Kahn R. A. , Cubison M. J. , Diskin G. S. , Jimenez J. L. , Kondo Y. , McFarquhar G. M. , Nenes A. , Thornhill K. L. , Wisthaler A. , Zelenyuk A. , Ziemba L. D.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The incidence of wildfires in the Arctic and subarctic is increasing; in boreal North America, for example, the burned area is expected to increase by 200–300 % over the next 50–100 years, which previous studies suggest could have a large effect on cloud microphysics, lifetime, albedo, and precipitation. However, the interactions between smoke particles and clouds remain poorly quantified due to confounding meteorological influences and remote sensing limitations. Here, we use data from several aircraft campaigns in the Arctic and subarctic to explore cloud microphysics in liquid-phase clouds influenced by biomass burning. Median cloud droplet radii in smoky clouds were ~ 50 % smaller than in background clouds. Based on the relationship between cloud droplet number (Nliq) and various biomass burning tracers (BBt) across the multi-campaign dataset, we calculated the magnitude of subarctic and Arctic smoke aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI, where ACI = (1/3) × d ln (Nliq) / d ln (BBt)) to be ~ 0.12 out of a maximum possible value of 0.33 that would be obtained if all aerosols were to nucleate cloud droplets. Interestingly, in a separate subarctic case study with low liquid water content (~ 0.02 g m−3) and very high aerosol concentrations (2000–3000 cm−3) in the most polluted clouds, the estimated ACI value was only 0.06. In this case, competition for water vapor by the high concentration of CCN strongly limited the formation of droplets and reduced the cloud albedo effect, which highlights the importance of cloud feedbacks across scales. Using our calculated ACI values, we estimate that the smoke-driven cloud albedo effect may decrease shortwave radiative flux by 2–4 W m−2 or more under some low and homogeneous cloud cover conditions in the subarctic, although the changes should be smaller in high surface albedo regions of the Arctic. We lastly show evidence to suggest that numerous northern latitude background Aitken particles can interact with combustion particles, perhaps impacting their properties as cloud condensation and ice nuclei. However, the influence of background particles on smoke-driven indirect effects is currently unclear.
Spatial, temporal and vertical distribution of ammonia concentrations over Europe – comparing a static and dynamic approach with WRF-Chem
Authors: Werner M. , Kryza M. , Geels C. , Ellermann T. , Ambelas Skjøth C.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The study focuses on the application of a dynamic ammonia emission into the Weather Research and Forecasting Chemistry model (WRF-Chem) and the influence on the simulated ammonia concentrations and the overall model performance. We have focused on agricultural ammonia sources and have analysed both hourly and daily patterns of ammonia emissions and concentrations at measurement sites located in agricultural areas or influenced by this activity. For selected episodes, we have also investigated the 3-D patterns of the ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere. The application of the dynamic ammonia emission into the WRF-Chem model (the "DYNAMIC" simulation) results in an improvement of the modelled daily ammonia concentrations in comparison to a static approach (the "BASE" simulation), which is currently widely used in chemical transport models. In the case of hourly resolution, we have observed an improvement for the DYNAMIC approach for the winter and autumn seasons, but for the entire year the modelled hourly ammonia peaks are shifted toward the afternoon hours if compared with measurements. This study indicates that the current description of the diurnal cycle of the ammonia concentration from fields is not accurate and more research is needed in order to improve the processes that describe the emission from fertilised fields. The results suggest that the governing processes in relation to the diurnal cycle are the atmospheric mixing and the emission strength. Therefore, an improved description of the diurnal profile of ammonia concentrations within atmospheric models requires a better description of the planetary boundary layer height and a stronger daily pattern of ammonia emission, e.g. through increased evaporation or increased fluxes from the surface.
Design and application of a mobile ground-based observatory for continuous measurements of atmospheric trace gas and criteria pollutant species
Authors: Bush S. E. , Hopkins F. M. , Randerson J. T. , Lai C.-T. , Ehleringer J. R.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Ground-based measurements of atmospheric trace gas species and criteria pollutants are essential for understanding emissions dynamics across space and time. Gas composition in the lower 50 m of the atmosphere has the greatest direct impacts on human health as well as ecosystem processes; hence data at this level are necessary for addressing carbon-cycle- and public-health-related questions. However, such surface data are generally associated with stationary measurement towers, where spatial representation is limited due to the high cost of establishing and maintaining an extensive network of measurement stations. We describe here a compact mobile laboratory equipped to provide high-precision, high-frequency, continuous, on-road synchronous measurements of CO2, CO, CH4, H2O, NOx, O3, aerosol, meteorological, and geospatial position data. The mobile laboratory has been deployed across the western USA. In addition to describing the vehicle and its capacity, we present data that illustrate the use of the laboratory as a powerful tool for investigating the spatial structure of urban trace gas emissions and criteria pollutants at spatial scales ranging from single streets to whole ecosystem and regional scales. We assess the magnitude of known point sources of CH4 and also identify fugitive urban CH4 emissions. We illustrate how such a mobile laboratory can be used to better understand emissions dynamics and quantify emissions ratios associated with trace gas emissions from wildfire incidents. Lastly, we discuss additional mobile laboratory applications in health and urban metabolism.
On the vertical distribution of the chlorophyll a concentration in the Mediterranean Sea: a basin-scale and seasonal approach
Authors: Lavigne H. , D'Ortenzio F. , Ribera D'Alcalà M. , Claustre H. , Sauzède R. , Gacic M.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The distribution of the chlorophyll a concentration ([Chl a]) in the Mediterranean Sea, mainly obtained from satellite surface observations or from scattered in situ experiments, is updated by analyzing a database of fluorescence profiles converted into [Chl a]. The database, which includes 6790 fluorescence profiles from various origins, was processed with a specific quality control procedure. To ensure homogeneity between the different data sources, 65 % of fluorescence profiles have been intercalibrated on the basis of their concomitant satellite [Chl a] estimation. The climatological pattern of [Chl a] vertical profiles in four key sites of the Mediterranean Sea has been analyzed. Climatological results confirm previous findings over the range of existing [Chl a] values and throughout the principal Mediterranean trophic regimes. They also provide new insights into the seasonal variability in the shape of the vertical [Chl a] profile, inaccessible through remote-sensing observations. An analysis based on the recognition of the general shape of the fluorescence profile was also performed. Although the shape of [Chl a] vertical distribution characterized by a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) is ubiquitous during summer, different forms are observed during winter, thus suggesting that factors affecting the vertical distribution of the biomass are complex and highly variable. The [Chl a] spatial distribution in the Mediterranean Sea mimics, on smaller scales, what is observed in the global ocean. As already evidenced by analyzing satellite surface observations, midlatitude- and subtropical-like phytoplankton dynamics coexist in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the Mediterranean DCM variability appears to be characterized by patterns already observed on the global scale.
The influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on soil organic matter dynamics in contrasting semi-natural tropical ecosystems
Authors: Saiz G. , Bird M. , Wurster C. , Quesada C. A. , Ascough P. , Domingues T. , Schrodt F. , Schwarz M. , Feldpausch T. R. , Veenendaal E. , Djagbletey G. , Jacobsen G. , Hien F. , Compaore H. , Diallo A. , Lloyd J.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Variations in the carbon isotopic composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in bulk and fractionated samples were used to assess the influence of C3 and C4 vegetation on SOM dynamics in semi-natural tropical ecosystems sampled along a precipitation gradient in West Africa. Differential patterns in SOM dynamics in C3/C4 mixed ecosystems occurred at various spatial scales. Relative changes in C / N ratios between two contrasting SOM fractions were used to evaluate potential site-scale differences in SOM dynamics between C3- and C4-dominated locations. These differences were strongly controlled by soil texture across the precipitation gradient, with a function driven by bulk δ13C and sand content explaining 0.63 of the observed variability. The variation of δ13C with soil depth indicated a greater accumulation of C3-derived carbon with increasing precipitation, with this trend also being strongly dependant on soil characteristics. The influence of vegetation thickening on SOM dynamics was also assessed in two adjacent, but structurally contrasting, transitional ecosystems occurring on comparable soils to minimise the confounding effects posed by climatic and edaphic factors. Radiocarbon analyses of sand-size aggregates yielded relatively short mean residence times (τ) even in deep soil layers, while the most stable SOM fraction associated with silt and clay exhibited shorter τ in the savanna woodland than in the neighbouring forest stand. These results, together with the vertical variation observed in δ13C values, strongly suggest that both ecosystems are undergoing a rapid transition towards denser closed canopy formations. However, vegetation thickening varied in intensity at each site and exerted contrasting effects on SOM dynamics. This study shows that the interdependence between biotic and abiotic factors ultimately determine whether SOM dynamics of C3- and C4-derived vegetation are at variance in ecosystems where both vegetation types coexist. The results highlight the far-reaching implications that vegetation thickening may have for the stability of deep SOM.
Environmental drivers of drought deciduous phenology in the Community Land Model
Authors: Dahlin K. M. , Fisher R. A. , Lawrence P. J.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Seasonal changes in plant leaf area have a substantial impact on global climate. The presence of leaves and the time when they appear affect surface roughness and albedo, and the gas exchange occurring between leaves and the atmosphere affects carbon dioxide concentrations and the global water system. Thus, correct predictions of plant phenological processes are important for understanding the present and future states of the Earth system. Here we compare plant phenology as estimated in the Community Land Model (CLM) to that derived from satellites in drought deciduous regions of the world. We reveal a subtle but important issue in the CLM: anomalous green-up during the dry season in many semi-arid parts of the world owing to rapid upwards water movement from wet to dry soil layers. We develop and implement a solution for this problem by introducing an additional criterion of minimum cumulative rainfall to the leaf-out trigger in the drought deciduous algorithm. We discuss some of the broader ecological impacts of this change and highlight some of the further steps that need to be taken to fully incorporate this change into the CLM framework.
Estimation of microbial metabolism and co-occurrence patterns in fracture groundwaters of deep crystalline bedrock at Olkiluoto, Finland
Authors: Bomberg M. , Lamminmäki T. , Itävaara M.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The microbial diversity in oligotrophic isolated crystalline Fennoscandian Shield bedrock fracture groundwaters is great but the core community has not been identified. Here we characterized the bacterial and archaeal communities in 12 water conductive fractures situated at depths between 296 and 798 m by high throughput amplicon sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq platform. The great sequencing depth revealed that up to 95 and 99 % of the bacterial and archaeal communities, respectively, were composed of only a few common species, i.e. the core microbiome. However, the remaining rare microbiome contained over 3 and 6 fold more bacterial and archaeal taxa. Several clusters of co-occurring rare taxa were identified, which correlated significantly with physicochemical parameters, such as salinity, concentration of inorganic or organic carbon, sulphur, pH and depth. The metabolic properties of the microbial communities were predicted using PICRUSt. The rough prediction showed that the metabolic pathways included commonly fermentation, fatty acid oxidation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation and methanogenesis/anaerobic methane oxidation, but carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle, reductive TCA cycle and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway was also predicted. The rare microbiome is an unlimited source of genomic functionality in all ecosystems. It may consist of remnants of microbial communities prevailing in earlier conditions on Earth, but could also be induced again if changes in their living conditions occur. In this study only the rare taxa correlated with any physicochemical parameters. Thus these microorganisms can respond to environmental change caused by physical or biological factors that may lead to alterations in the diversity and function of the microbial communities in crystalline bedrock environments.
Testing the D/H ratio of alkenones and palmitic acid as salinity proxies in the Amazon Plume
Authors: Häggi C. , M. Chiessi C. , Schefuß E.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The stable hydrogen isotope composition of lipid biomarkers, such as alkenones, is a promising new tool for the improvement of paleosalinity reconstructions. Laboratory studies confirmed the correlation between lipid biomarker δD composition (δDLipid), water δD composition (δDH2O) and salinity. Yet, there is limited insight into the applicability of this proxy in oceanic environments. To fill this gap, we test the use of the δD composition of alkenones (δDC37) and palmitic acid (δDPA) as salinity proxies using samples of surface suspended material along the distinct salinity gradient induced by the Amazon Plume. Our results indicate a positive correlation between salinity and δDH2O, while the relationship between δDH2O and δDLipid is more complex: δDPA correlates strongly with δDH2O (r2 = 0.81) and shows a salinity dependent isotopic fractionation factor. δDC37 only correlates with δDH2O in samples with alkenone concentrations > 10 ng L−1 (r2 = 0.51). These findings are mirrored by alkenone based temperature reconstructions, which are inaccurate for samples with alkenone concentrations < 10 ng L−1. Deviations in δDC37 and temperature are likely to be caused by limited haptophyte algae growth due to low salinity and light limitation imposed by the Amazon Plume. Our study confirms the applicability of δDLipid as a salinity proxy in oceanic environments. But it raises a note of caution concerning regions where low alkenone production can be expected due to very low salinity conditions. To circumvent these limitations, we suggest the complementary use of δDC37 and δDPA.
Uncertainty analysis of gross primary production partitioned from net ecosystem exchange measurements
Authors: Raj R. , Hamm N. A. S. , van der Tol C. , Stein A.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Gross primary production (GPP), separated from flux tower measurements of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2, is used increasingly to validate process-based simulators and remote sensing-derived estimates of simulated GPP at various time steps. Proper validation should include the uncertainty associated with this separation at different time steps. This can be achieved by using a Bayesian framework. In this study, we estimated the uncertainty in GPP at half hourly time steps. We used a non-rectangular hyperbola (NRH) model to separate GPP from flux tower measurements of NEE at the Speulderbos forest site, The Netherlands. The NRH model included the variables that influence GPP, in particular radiation, and temperature. In addition, the NRH model provided a robust empirical relationship between radiation and GPP by including the degree of curvature of the light response curve. Parameters of the NRH model were fitted to the measured NEE data for every 10-day period during the growing season (April to October) in 2009. Adopting a Bayesian approach, we defined the prior distribution of each NRH parameter. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation was used to update the prior distribution of each NRH parameter. This allowed us to estimate the uncertainty in the separated GPP at half-hourly time steps. This yielded the posterior distribution of GPP at each half hour and allowed the quantification of uncertainty. The time series of posterior distributions thus obtained allowed us to estimate the uncertainty at daily time steps. We compared the informative with non-informative prior distributions of the NRH parameters. The results showed that both choices of prior produced similar posterior distributions GPP. This will provide relevant and important information for the validation of process-based simulators in the future. Furthermore, the obtained posterior distributions of NEE and the NRH parameters are of interest for a range of applications.
Marine regime shifts in ocean biogeochemical models: a case study in the Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Beaulieu C. , Cole H. , Henson S. , Yool A. , Anderson T. R. , de Mora L. , Buitenhuis E. T. , Butenschön M. , Totterdell I. J. , Allen J. I.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Regime shifts have been reported in many marine ecosystems, and are often expressed as an abrupt change occurring in multiple physical and biological components of the system. In the Gulf of Alaska, a regime shift in the late 1970s was observed, indicated by an abrupt increase in sea surface temperature and major shifts in the catch of many fish species. This late 1970s regime shift in the Gulf of Alaska was followed by another shift in the late 1980s, not as pervasive as the 1977 shift, but which nevertheless did not return to the prior state. A thorough understanding of the extent and mechanisms leading to such regime shifts is challenged by data paucity in time and space. We investigate the ability of a suite of ocean biogeochemistry models of varying complexity to simulate regime shifts in the Gulf of Alaska by examining the presence of abrupt changes in time series of physical variables (sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth), nutrients and biological variables (chlorophyll, primary productivity and plankton biomass) using change-point analysis. Our study demonstrates that ocean biogeochemical models are capable of simulating the late 1970s shift, indicating an abrupt increase in sea surface temperature forcing followed by an abrupt decrease in nutrients and biological productivity. This predicted shift is consistent among all the models, although some of them exhibit an abrupt transition (i.e. a significant shift from one year to the next), whereas others simulate a smoother transition. Some models further suggest that the late 1980s shift was constrained by changes in mixed layer depth. Our study demonstrates that ocean biogeochemical can successfully simulate regime shifts in the Gulf of Alaska region, thereby providing better understanding of how changes in physical conditions are propagated from lower to upper trophic levels through bottom-up controls.
The tropical Atlantic surface wind divergence belt and its effect on clouds
Authors: Tubul Y. , Koren I. , Altaratz O.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. A well-defined surface wind divergence (SWD) belt with distinct cloud properties forms over the equatorial Atlantic during the boreal summer months. This belt separates the deep convective clouds of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) from the shallow marine stratocumulus cloud decks forming over the cold-water subtropical region of the southern Hadley cell. Using the QuikSCAT-SeaWinds and Aqua-MODIS instruments, we examined the large-scale spatiotemporal variability of the SWD belt during a 6 year period (2003–2008) and the related links to cloud properties over the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic SWD belt was found to be most pronounced from May to August, between the equator and 2° N latitude. A positive correlation and a strong link were observed between formation of the SWD belt and a sharp sea-surface temperature gradient on the northern border of the cold tongue, supporting Wallace's vertical-mixing mechanism. The dominant cloud type over this region was shallow cumulus. Cloud properties were shown to be strongly linked to the formation and strength of the SWD zone. Our findings help understand the link between ocean–atmosphere dynamics and cloud properties over this region, and suggest that the SWD zone be considered a unique cloud belt of the southern branch of the Atlantic Hadley cell.
Biogeography of key mesozooplankton species in the North Atlantic and egg production of Calanus finmarchicus
Authors: Melle W. , Runge J. A. , Head E. , Plourde S. , Castellani C. , Licandro P. , Pierson J. , Jónasdóttir S. H. , Johnson C. , Broms C. , Debes H. , Falkenhaug T. , Gaard E. , Gislason A. , Heath M. R. , Niehoff B. , Nielsen T. G. , Pepin P. , Stenevik E. K. , Chust G.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Here we present a new, pan-North-Atlantic compilation of data on key mesozooplankton species, including the most important copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Distributional data of eight representative zooplankton taxa, from recent (2000–2009) Continuous Plankton Recorder data, are presented, along with basin-scale data of the phytoplankton colour index. Then we present a compilation of data on C. finmarchicus, including observations of abundance, demography, egg production and female size, with accompanying data on temperature and chlorophyll. This is a contribution by Canadian, European and US scientists and their institutions: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.820732, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.824423, http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.828393 (please also see Melle et al., 2013; Castellani and Licandro, 2013; Jónasdóttir et al., 2014).
ERSEM 15.06: a generic model for marine biogeochemistry and the ecosystem dynamics of the lower trophic levels
Authors: Butenschön M. , Clark J. , Aldridge J. N. , Allen J. I. , Artioli Y. , Blackford J. , Bruggeman J. , Cazenave P. , Ciavatta S. , Kay S. , Lessin G. , van Leeuwen S. , van der Molen J. , de Mora L. , Polimene L. , Sailley S. , Stephens N. , Torres R.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The ERSEM model is one of the most established ecosystem models for the lower trophic levels of the marine food-web in the scientific literature. Since its original development in the early nineties it has evolved significantly from a coastal ecosystem model for the North-Sea to a generic tool for ecosystem simulations from shelf seas to the global ocean. The current model release contains all essential elements for the pelagic and benthic part of the marine ecosystem, including the microbial food-web, the carbonate system and calcification. Its distribution is accompanied by a testing framework enabling the analysis of individual parts of the model. Here we provide a detailed mathematical description of all ERSEM components along with case-studies of mesocosm type simulations, water column implementations and a brief example of a full-scale application for the North-West European shelf. Validation against in situ data demonstrates the capability of the model to represent the marine ecosystem in contrasting environments.
Analytical approach for determining the mean water level profile in an estuary with substantial fresh water discharge
Authors: Cai H. , Savenije H. H. G. , Jiang C. , Zhao L. , Yang Q.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Although modestly, the mean water level in estuaries rises in landward direction induced by a combination of the salinity gradient, the tidal asymmetry, and the backwater effect. The water level slope is increased by the fresh water discharge. However, the interactions between tide and river flow and their individual contributions to the rise of the mean water level along the estuary are not yet completely understood. In this study, we adopt an analytical approach to describe the tidal wave propagation under the influence of fresh water discharge, in which the friction term is approximated by a Chebyshev polynomials approach. The analytical model is used to quantify the contributions made by tide, river, and tide–river interaction to the water level slope along the estuary. Subsequently, the method is applied to the Yangtze estuary under a wide range of river discharge conditions and the influence of tidal amplitude and fresh water discharge on the longitudinal variation of mean water level is explored. The proposed method is particularly useful for accurately predicting water levels and the frequency of extreme high water, relevant for water management and flood control.
Developing system robustness analysis for drought risk management: an application on a water supply reservoir
Authors: Mens M. J. P. , Gilroy K. , Williams D.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Droughts will likely become more frequent, greater in magnitude and longer in duration in the future due to climate change. Already in the present climate, a variety of drought events may occur with different exceedance frequencies. These frequencies are becoming more uncertain due to climate change. Many methods in support of drought risk management focus on providing insight into changing drought frequencies, and use water supply reliability as a key decision criterion. In contrast, robustness analysis focuses on providing insight into the full range of drought events and their impact on a system's functionality. This method has been developed for flood risk systems, but applications on drought risk systems are lacking. This paper aims to develop robustness analysis for drought risk systems, and illustrates the approach through a case study with a water supply reservoir and its users. We explore drought characterization and the assessment of a system's ability to deal with drought events, by quantifying the severity and socio-economic impact of a variety of drought events, both frequent and rare ones. Furthermore, we show the effect of three common drought management strategies (increasing supply, reducing demand and implementing hedging rules) on the robustness of the coupled water supply and socio-economic system. The case is inspired by Oologah Lake, a multipurpose reservoir in Oklahoma, United States. Results demonstrate that although demand reduction and supply increase may have a comparable effect on the supply reliability, demand reduction may be preferred from a robustness perspective. To prepare drought management plans for dealing with current and future droughts, it is thus recommended to test how alternative drought strategies contribute to a system's robustness rather than relying solely on water reliability as the decision criterion.
Combined fluvial and pluvial urban flood hazard analysis: method development and application to Can Tho City, Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Apel H. , Trepat O. M. , Hung N. N. , Chinh D. T. , Merz B. , Dung N. V.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Many urban areas experience both fluvial and pluvial floods, because locations next to rivers are preferred settlement areas, and the predominantly sealed urban surface prevents infiltration and facilitates surface inundation. The latter problem is enhanced in cities with insufficient or non-existent sewer systems. While there are a number of approaches to analyse either fluvial or pluvial flood hazard, studies of combined fluvial and pluvial flood hazard are hardly available. Thus this study aims at the analysis of fluvial and pluvial flood hazard individually, but also at developing a method for the analysis of combined pluvial and fluvial flood hazard. This combined fluvial-pluvial flood hazard analysis is performed taking Can Tho city, the largest city in the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta, as example. In this tropical environment the annual monsoon triggered floods of the Mekong River can coincide with heavy local convective precipitation events causing both fluvial and pluvial flooding at the same time. Fluvial flood hazard was estimated with a copula based bivariate extreme value statistic for the gauge Kratie at the upper boundary of the Mekong Delta and a large-scale hydrodynamic model of the Mekong Delta. This provided the boundaries for 2-dimensional hydrodynamic inundation simulation for Can Tho city. Pluvial hazard was estimated by a peak-over-threshold frequency estimation based on local rain gauge data, and a stochastic rain storm generator. Inundation was simulated by a 2-dimensional hydrodynamic model implemented on a Graphical Processor Unit (GPU) for time-efficient flood propagation modelling. All hazards – fluvial, pluvial and combined – were accompanied by an uncertainty estimation considering the natural variability of the flood events. This resulted in probabilistic flood hazard maps showing the maximum inundation depths for a selected set of probabilities of occurrence, with maps showing the expectation (median) and the uncertainty by percentile maps. The results are critically discussed and ways for their usage in flood risk management are outlined.
Are We ‘Smarter’ Now? Case Study of Smart School Implementation in a Developing Nation
Authors: S. Abdul Majeed Zaenab , Yusoff Zailin Shah
Published: August 2015

This study was aimed at investigating ICT adoption at a Smart School in Malaysia. A questionnaire gathering data on the tools and applications used by teachers as well factors affecting teachers’ adoption of ICT in teaching was administered to 73 teachers and one administrator while 10 teachers and the administrator were interviewed to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for the responses given in the questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were calculated while emerging themes from the interviews were recorded for analysis. The results revealed that the participants were at the Utilisation level of ICT adoption even though most of them have positive attitudes toward ICT adoption which means that they were willing to use ICT, specifically computers, in the classroom. The participants used ICT tools to prepare exam materials, content, worksheets and handouts for their teaching. However, the factors that influenced participants’ ICT adoption were: one, using ICT in teaching took up too much time, two, the school management did not provide enough ICT facilities and training to improve ICT skills was needed and three, even though the school management supported ICT adoption they did not put it as a priority. In conclusion, the findings indicated that the participants were positive about the adoption but several factors are barriers which could have affected their progress from lower level to a higher level adoption. Recommendations include allocation of time to prepare ICT resources and lesson, further training for teachers and increase in the number of computers at the school. 