bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SALUTO DEL PRESIDENTE DELLA SOCIETÃ€ ITALIANA DI FARMACOLOGIA
Authors: Cantelli Forti Giorgio
Published: October 2018

Not available.
I CHEMIOTERAPICI ANTIVIRALI1
Authors: Perno Carlo Federico
Published: October 2018

The concept of drug development with specific antiviral action is quite recent. The discovery, in the late â€˜70s, that acyclic nucleoside analogs could inhibit the replication of the Herpes Simplex virus (HSV) DNA, was the fundamental step that opened the way to the research on drugs able to deal with diseases caused by viruses. In the â€˜80s, the need to fight another disease related to a virus, AIDS caused by HIV, gave a further boost to the research in the field of viral chemotherapy. Currently, several classes of drugs are available for the treatment of viruses such as influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, HBV and hepatitis viruses, cytomegalovirus and HIV. Nevertheless, we however need a continuous and progressive development of antiviral chemotherapy and of the research related to it that can cope with the problem of the effectiveness of antiviral vaccines, the emergence of new diseases related to immunosuppression. In this context, the research of professor Paolo Mantegazza has made a valuable contribution to the understanding of the transforming role of some viruses such as polyomaviruses, including the SV40 monkey vacuolar virus. Professor Mantegazza also made a significant contribution to the synthesis of compounds for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies caused by prions.

1Trascrizione non corretta dallâ€™Autore.
RETTORE DI TUTTI: PAOLO MANTEGAZZA E LE FACOLTÃ€ UMANISTICHE
Authors: Padoa-Schioppa Antonio
Published: October 2018

A short survey of the personality and of the multiple achievements of the President, of the University of Milan, whose work has been seminal in developing research, teaching and library structures of students and professors.
SEEBECK EFFECT IN COMPLEX FLUIDS & MAGENTA PROJECT (MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLE BASED LIQUID ENERGY MATERIALS FOR THERMOELECTRIC APPLICATIONS)
Authors: Nakamae Sawako
Published: October 2018

Thermoelectric (TE) materials that are capable of converting heat into electricity have been considered as one possible solution to recover the low-grade waste-heat (from industrial waste-stream, motor engines, household electronic appliances or body-heat). Solid semiconductor-based TE-modules were the first to enter the commercial application, and they still dominate the TE-market today. Despite their technical robustness including long life-time, simple use involving no moving parts, TE-technology has long been limited to low-power applications due to their poor efficiency. Closely following the rise of â€˜nanotechnologyâ€™ in the 1980â€™s - 90â€™s, there has been a huge increase in the TE materials research in the past 20 years, which has led to some remarkable improvements in thermal-to-electric energy conversion capacity. However, even the most â€œpromisingâ€ materials have not yet reached the minimum ZT requirements. Furthermore, solid TE-materials suffer from a variety of practical obstacles such as small sizes, substantial production costs and the use of scarce and/or toxic raw materials, precluding them from wide-scale applications. Clearly, a technological breakthrough in TE-materials research is needed in order to make the thermoelectric technology environmentally friendly and economically viable for its future use. MAGENTA is a 4-year research & innovation project that aims at bringing a paradigm change in TE-technology by exploiting the magneto-thermoelectric (MTE) property of ionic-liquid (IL) based ferrofluids (FF), i.e., colloidal dispersions consisting of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in non-magnetic ionic liquids. Magnetic nanoparticles are, as the name suggests, a class of nanoparticles (less than 1 mm in diameter) made of magnetic elements such as iron and nickel and their alloys and chemical compounds. They are used in a plethora of technological fields from biomedicine to data storage. However, their use in energy applications remains quite limited so far. Ionic liquids (IL), on the other hand, are enjoying substantial attention in several areas of energy research including thermoelectricity in recent decades. As a thermoelectric material, ILs present many promising features such as high electrical conductivity, large temperature and electrochemical windows, low vapour pressure and toxicity, and raw material abundance. In this presentation, I will discuss MAGENTAâ€™s scientific motivations (how to produce thermoelectric voltage and current using IL based ferrofluids), the methodologies to be used and the project objectives; i.e., 1) to provide founding knowledge of novel MTE phenomena in IL based ferrofluids, and 2) to build application-specific MTE prototypes with tailor-made IL-FFs for their use in targeted industrial sectors (cars and portable electronics). Some encouraging preliminary results on liquid thermoelectric materials obtained by the project partners will also be presented.
THERMOELECTRICITY AND MODERN TRENDS IN ITS STUDIES
Authors: Varlamov Andrey , Chikina Ioulia , Peddis Davide
Published: October 2018

The thermoelectric effect is the direct conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage and vice versa. A thermoelectric device creates voltage when there is a different temperature on each side. Conversely, when a voltage is applied to it, it creates a temperature difference. At the microscopic level of understanding one can say that an applied temperature gradient causes charge carriers in the material to diffuse from the hot side to the cold side. We will start our discussion from the discovery of the phenomenon of thermoelectricity by the Estonian physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck in 1821 and its early manifestations. Today the term â€œthermoelectric effectâ€ encompasses three separately identified effects: the Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson effect. Application of magnetic field considerably increases the variety of possible manifestations of thermoelectricity. The most known among them is the Nernst effect which is nothing else as a thermoelectric effect observed when a conducting sample is subjected to a magnetic field and a temperature gradient perpendicular to each other. The crossed electric and magnetic fields should lead to the drift of a charged particle in the direction perpendicular to both of them. In the case of broken circuit condition such motion of the carriers is prevented by appearance of the temperature gradient in corresponding direction, what is the essence of the Nernst-Ettingshaus effect, reciprocal to the Nernst one. The theory of thermoelectric and thermomagnetic phenomena in metals and semiconductors, based on the quantum theory of solids, was developed in the middle of XX century. It was found that in metals these effects are negligibly small (for Bi the Seebeck coefficient is maximal and is of the order of 7Î¼V/K). The magnitudes of thermoelectric signals considerably increase in semiconductors what allows to use them as the working elements of thermoelectric generators (solid state devices that convert heat flux (temperature differences) directly into electrical energy), for studies of the scattering mechanisms in semiconductors, etc. Today the interest to the thermoelectricity is very high, especially in view of the possibility to design new artificial materials with tuned high thermoelectric properties: graphene, new generation of superconductors, conducting polymers, electrolytes and ferrofluids. Their non-trivial properties will be reviewed in the second part of our presentation.
GRAPHENE AS A QUANTUM PLAYGROUND
Authors: Benedek Giorgio
Published: October 2018

The modern triathlon â€œheat-electricity-mechanicsâ€ has an indisputable champion, graphene, as a recordman, among all materials in normal conditions, in all three specialties: thermal conductivity, electrical mobility and mechanical strength. On the other hand graphene, being perfectly planar, is the simplest of all possible sp2 pure carbon structures. The graphene family includes curved forms like fullerenes, having gaussian curvature G >0, nanotubes, with G=0 like graphene, and schwarzites with G <0 and vanishing mean curvature. The conjugation of carbon-carbon sp2 bonds makes several global electronic and vibrational properties of graphenes to primarily depend upon the structure topology. Global properties which can be estimated on topological grounds are the growth process, the isomer hierarchy, the vibrational spectrum, the elastic constants, the porosity as a function of the deposition energy, etc. The dynamics of free electrons in graphene is well described by the Dirac quantum-relativistic equation, and some of its consequences like the Zitterbewegung and Kleinâ€™s paradox have been proved in graphene. Thus graphene allows for the simulation and validation of fundamental theories in fields hardy accessible to experiments like high-energy physics and cosmology. With some surprising prediction! It is a fact that since the late XIX century topology has become a reference paradigm in many branches of fundamental physics, from Hermann Weylâ€™s topological theory of electricity and cosmological wormholes, to string theory and present topological field theories in high-energy physics.
INTRODUZIONE
Authors: Rigamonti Attilio , Varlamov Andrey
Published: October 2018

Non disponibile.
PRESENTAZIONE DEL SYMPOSIUM
Authors: Sacchi Landriani Giannantonio
Published: October 2018

Not available.
MICRO-SCALE TECHNOLOGIES FOR CELL MECHANICS: EXPERIMENTAL AND MODELLING APPROACHES
Authors: Caselli Federica , Nodargi Nicola A. , Bisegna Paolo
Published: October 2018

Cell mechanics is a discipline that bridges cell biology with mechanics. Emerging microscale technologies are opening new venues in the field, due to their costeffectiveness, relatively easy fabrication, and high throughput. Two examples of those technologies are discussed here: microfluidic impedance cytometry and erythrocyte electrodeformation. The former is a lab-on-chip technology offering a simple, non-invasive, label-free method for counting, identifying and monitoring cellular biophysical and mechanical function at the single-cell level. The latter is a useful complement to the former, enabling cell deformation under the influence of an applied electric field.
Seasonality of the N2O cycle of the Biobío River during the megadrought
Authors: Cornejo-D'Ottone Marcela , Figueroa Ricardo , Parra Oscar
Published: October 2018

The mechanisms involved in N2O production, consumption and air-sea interactions in fluvial systems are modulated and affected by several factors, including hydrological, chemical and anthropogenic impacts. In recent decades, the basin of the Biobío River (central Chile) has been impacted by an enhanced precipitation deficit and anthropogenic pressure, so the aim of the present work is to understand the spatial and seasonal dynamics of N2O during a megadrought that has been affecting the river since 2010. We also aim to determine the annual contribution of N2O to the atmosphere and the possible response of the Biobío River to projected climatic changes. Seasonal sampling of the water physical-chemical properties was carried out at 15 stations along 280 km of the river and its five tributaries; the stations were distributed between the pristine headwaters (700 m asl) and the outlet of the river at the Pacific Ocean. The longitudinal distribution of oxygen, nutrients, and nitrous oxide evidenced agricultural, urban and industrial impacts on the river water. Headwater areas presented the highest oxygen concentration and the lowest nutrient and N2O concentrations, all of which fluctuated with the variability in water discharge with the different seasons. In the middle river section, where agricultural, industrial and urban activities impacted the river, the nutrient and N2O concentrations increased up to 20 and 1.2 times, respectively, compared to those in the headwaters, and the outlet area showed the highest nutrient and N2O concentrations. Throughout the entire river, N2O oversaturation exhibited a pronounced seasonal cycle with maxima occurring during the dry season. Our results suggest that urban activities had the greatest impact on the Biobío River at its outlet. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between the N2O concentration and water discharge suggests that the predicted future decrease in water discharge may result in higher N2O values in the Biobío River that would expectedly enhance global warming further, through a positive feedback.
Conventional and advanced brain MR imaging in patients with sickle cell anemia
Authors: Issar Pratibha , Nehra Maya , Singh Gurmeet , Issar SK
Published: October 2018

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive hemolytic disorder; its cerebrovascular complications include silent cerebral ischemia, infarct, and brain atrophy. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often underestimates the extent of injury. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can demonstrate and quantify microstructural brain changes in SCD cases having normal routine MRI. Objective: To identify various neurological abnormalities in asymptomatic sickle cell patients using routine MRI and to evaluate the microstructure of various regions of the brain using DTI. Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized case–control study was conducted over a period of 2 years. A total of 58 cases of SCD and 56 age- and sex-matched controls were included. Routine MRI and DTI were performed in both the groups following a standard protocol. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated in certain pre-defined regions. Primary data were analyzed using MS excel version 17. Analysis of variance test was performed and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Thirty regions of interest with 60 variables were included in the final analysis. Patients with SCD showed statistically significant reduced FA values, increased ADC values, or both, clustered in several brain areas, including pons, cerebral peduncle, corpus callosum, frontal, temporal, parietal white matter, centrum semiovale, periventricular areas, basal ganglia, and left thalamus (P < 0.05). Conclusion: DTI is a promising method for characterizing microstructural changes, when conventional MRI is normal.
Plain CT vs MR venography in acute cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Triumphant dark horse
Authors: Digge Poornima , Prakashini Koteshwar , Bharath K V
Published: October 2018

Context: Most patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) present with nonspecific signs and symptoms and are likely to undergo nonenhanced head computed tomography (NCT) at presentation, which may show a normal report in up to two-thirds of patients. However, in case of acute thrombosis, sensitivity of diagnosing CVST is high as sinuses are hyperdense. Though magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing CVST, it is not universally available in an acute setting. Aims: To evaluate whether increased attenuation in cerebral venous sinuses in acute condition can be used to diagnose acute CVST and to determine its diagnostic value. Materials and Methods: The study involves two independent groups. One group of patients with sinus thrombosis were confirmed by MR venography (group A). The other group included patients without sinus thrombosis (group B). The HU (CT attenuation), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and H: H (HU: HCT) ratio of both groups were compared. Thirty-six patients (59 thrombotic sinuses) were studied in group A and 40 in group B. Statistical Analysis: Average HU and H: H ratio were compared using two-tailed t-test, and linear regression analysis was used to assess correlation between HCT and HU. Results: Average HU (73.7 vs 48.6) and H: H ratio values were higher in group A patients compared to group B (P < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed positive correlation between HGB and HCT with HU among both the groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that acute CVST can be diagnosed using HU values in NCT.
Bronchial anthracofibrosis: The spectrum of radiological appearances
Authors: Shah Ashok , Kunal Shekhar , Gothi Rajesh
Published: October 2018

Bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF), caused by long-standing exposure to biomass fuel smoke, has emerged as a distinct pulmonary disease. It is usually seen in elderly females who have worked long hours in poorly ventilated kitchen full of smoke due to incomplete combustion of biomass fuel. The diagnosis is confirmed on bronchoscopic visualization of bluish-black anthracotic pigmentation along with narrowing/distortion of the affected bronchus. BAF has been associated with clinical conditions such as pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and malignancy. Tuberculosis, once thought to be the causative agent for BAF, is now considered to be an association. BAF has a diverse radiological presentation and the presence of associated clinical conditions often confound the radiological picture. The imaging features of BAF include primary imaging characteristics, which pertains to the disease entity directly, and secondary features based on the presence of associated conditions. High-resolution computed tomography findings of multifocal bronchial narrowing and peribronchial cuffing are considered to be specific diagnostic features of BAF. In addition, the diagnostic probability is increased in the presence of mediastinal adenopathy and collapse/atelectasis with middle lobe syndrome being the most common presentation. This pictorial essay highlights the range of imaging appearances in patients with BAF.
Mucinous cystadenoma of pancreas with honeycombing appearance: Radiological-Pathological correlation
Authors: Jefferson Beno , Venkatraman Indiran , Kumar R Vinoth , Ponnuswamy Karkuzhali , Maduraimuthu Prabakaran ,   Anbukkarasi
Published: October 2018

Most mucinous cystadenomas of pancreas are solitary and multilocular with a few large compartments. Serous cystadenomas usually have a polycystic or microcystic (honeycomb) pattern consisting of collection of cysts (usually >6) that range from few millimetres up to 2 cm in size. Here we present a case of mucinous cystadenoma of pancreas showing an unusual appearance of honeycombing (which has not been described so far) using imaging studies such as endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography with histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis.
Pica and the radiologist – beyond the radiology report … digging deeper
Authors: Kalgaonkar Sameer R , Ramakantan Ravi
Published: October 2018

Pica is a psychological disorder of intentional and craving consumption of non-nutritive substances over a period of time. This is seen at an age when such a behavior is developmentally inappropriate. Substances such as wall paint, soil, hair, and feces have been reported as being consumed. Complications of this condition may range from being self-limiting to life-threatening. Radiological examinations play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of this condition. We present a case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with chronic abdominal pain with history of persistent consumption of pencil erasers. Abdominal radiographs showed radio-opaque foreign bodies, and etiological diagnosis was made when the radiologist obtained a detailed history from the patient's mother. We also discuss the radiographic evaluation of the pencil eraser and the reason why it is densely radio-opaque.
Interventional radiology-operated endoscopy using the LithoVue disposable endoscope: Approach, technical success, clinical outcomes, and complications
Authors: Patel Nishant , Chick Jeffrey Forris Beecham , Gemmete Joseph , Pampati Rudra , Johnson Evan , Srinivasa Ravi
Published: October 2018

Purpose: To report the approach, technical success, clinical outcomes, and complications of interventional radiology-operated endoscopy using the LithoVue disposable endoscope. Materials and Methods: 12 patients, 6 (50%) males and 6 (50%) females, underwent interventional radiology-operated endoscopy using the LithoVue disposable endoscope between April 2016 and August 2017. Presenting complaint, reason for endoscopic evaluation, technical success, clinical success, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, hospital length of stay, and complications were recorded. Results: Interventional radiology-operated endoscopy using the LithoVue disposable endoscope was used in 8 (67%) biliary, 2 (16.5%) urologic, and 2 (16.5%) gastrointestinal procedures. Five (42%) patients required endoscopy to locate an ostium that could not be cannulated under fluoroscopy. Five (42%) patients had a biliary-enteric anastomosis with postoperative anatomy of the bowel which precluded endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and underwent endoscopy for removal of calculi. One (8%) patient underwent treatment of a stricture and one (8%) underwent biopsy. Technical success was 92% (11/12). Clinical success was 83% (10/12). Two complications, a perinephric hematoma and sepsis, occurred. Conclusion: Disposable endoscopes, including the LithoVue, may be used in a variety of procedures to improve patient care and limit fluoroscopy.
Endovascular management of a large retroperitoneal haemorrhage resulting from dual testicular and intra-renal arterial injury after renal biopsy
Authors: Ahmed Munawwar , Keshava Shyamkumar Nidugala , Moses Vinu , Valson Anna T
Published: October 2018

Percutaneous renal biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure in the work up of a chronic kidney disease patient. However, it is not free from the complications. Hematuria and abdominal haemorrhage due to intra-renal artery injury are the common complications. We report and discuss the management of a rare case of retroperitoneal haemorrhage resulting from dual arterial injury involving left testicular artery and intra-renal artery.
Exploring symptom expressions according to different age groups in fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Keskindag Buse
Published: October 2018

Background

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder which mostly affects women. This study investigates whether the prediction of self-report based fatigue, stress, everyday memory and impact (the most affected components of health status, i.e., physical impairment, feeling good, doing work, pain, anxiety, etc.) differ between younger patients and older patients with fibromyalgia.

Participants and procedure

The current study included a community-based sample of 1,205 participants who had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Participants were categorized into four age groups (30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-90). Binary logistic regression was used to analyze whether there were differences between the youngest patients (30-39) and the older patients (40-49, 50-59 and 60-90) in the prediction of each variable (i.e., fatigue, impact, stress and memory deficits).

Results

When the youngest patients’ scores were compared with the older patients’ scores, there was at least one significant result for each dependent variable (i.e., fatigue, impact, perceived stress and everyday memory). The youngest patients reported more fatigue than the 50-59 age group and a greater impact than both the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups; furthermore, they exhibited lower everyday memory function than the 40-49 and 50-59 age groups. However, the youngest patients reported less perceived stress than the elderly patients (60-90).

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that the youngest patients generally report having more symptoms than older patients in terms of fibromyalgia. There have been a limited number of studies examining symptom expressions in different age groups. Further research should clarify the differences in expression of symptoms between age groups by investigating coping skills and illness perceptions in fibromyalgia.
Positive orientation as a predictor of hedonicwell-being: mediating role of the self-concept
Authors: Laskowska Agnieszka Anna , Jankowski Tomasz , Oleś Piotr , Miciuk Łukasz
Published: October 2018

Background

Positive orientation (PO) is a hidden variable explaining a tendency to formulate global evaluations regarding one’s self, life and the future. It is inherited to a large degree and it could be considered a common base for numerous aspects of subjective well-being. The self-concept, in turn, is a basic adaptation formed during individual experiences that is responsible for adjustment. The primary aim of the current study was to verify hypotheses about the significant relationship between PO and a ‘core self’ (high self-concept clarity, low self-esteem contingency, low self-rumination), as well as the meditational role of the ‘core self’ in the relation between PO and hedonic balance.

Participants and procedure

A group of 200 participants completed several measures referring to PO, self-concept and emotions.

Results

The canonical correlation analysis revealed PO to be a strong predictor of the adaptive features of the self-concept. Moreover, the tested models suggest that (1) self-concept clarity is a significant mediator between PO and hedonic balance, and (2) PO directly predicts only self-concept clarity, whereas its relations with self-esteem contingency and rumination are mediated by the self-knowledge structure.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that PO is an important and independent factor enhancing adaptive features of the self-concept structure as well as well-being.
In quest of the longest-lasting and most annoying pain for patients and for dentists. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of temporomandibular myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome – a questionnaire study
Authors: Biegańska-Banaś Joanna M. , Gierowski Józef K. , Ferendiuk Ewa , Pihut Małgorzata , Adamczyk Katarzyna
Published: October 2018

Background

Dysfunctions in the face, due to the psychological importance of the structures in the face and head, have long been a subject of interest for researchers exploring issues concerning health-related quality of life. The surprising results of previous clinical trials for myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome of the temporomandibular joints encouraged the present authors to plan a study focused on obtaining systematic knowledge of the issue.

Participants and procedure

The study included 26 patients of the Masticatory System Disorders Laboratory of the Dental Prosthetic Clinic at the Jagiellonian University Medical College diagnosed with the painful form of muscle-related functional masticatory organ disorders. The study was part of a larger research project. The data to be analysed for this article was obtained in the course of a single questionnaire survey conducted prior to the start of the treatment process.

Results

The results showed the quantitative characteristics of pain experiences in the clinical group, observed in the context of the circadian dynamics, psychophysical factors, and the location of pain, as well as their quality characteristics. The analyses showed negative covariances of the quality of life perceived by patients and the length of periods without pain, pain intensifying factors, and emotional image of pain. The strongest pain experienced by the patients negatively correlated with the quality of life related to the sphere of physical pain and mental distress, whereas the weakest pain correlated with the quality of life related to the social sphere. The lower quality of life occurred together with the frontal, zygomatic, mental, parotideomasseteric, and occipital region.

Conclusions

It is necessary to further analyse the issue on a larger sample in order to explain and clarify the obtained results.
Can semi-volatile organic aerosols lead to fewer cloud particles?
Authors: Gao Chloe Y. , Bauer Susanne E. , Tsigaridis Kostas
Published: October 2018

Abstract. The impact of condensing organic aerosols on activated cloud
number concentration is examined in a new aerosol microphysics box model,
MATRIX-VBS. The model includes the volatility basis set (VBS) framework
coupled with the aerosol microphysical scheme MATRIX (Multiconfiguration
Aerosol TRacker of mIXing state) that resolves aerosol mass and number
concentrations and aerosol mixing state. By including the condensation of
organic aerosols, the new model produces fewer activated particles compared to
the original model, which treats organic aerosols as nonvolatile. Parameters
such as aerosol chemical composition, mass and number concentrations, and
particle sizes that affect activated cloud number concentration are
thoroughly tested via a suite of Monte Carlo simulations. Results show that
by considering semi-volatile organics in MATRIX-VBS, there is a lower activated
particle number concentration, except in cases with low cloud updrafts, in
clean environments at above-freezing temperatures, and in polluted
environments at high temperatures (310 K) and extremely low-humidity
conditions.
Response of Early Winter Haze Days in the North China Plain to
Autumn Beaufort Sea Ice
Authors: Yin Zhicong , Li Yuyan , Wang Huijun
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Recently, early winter haze pollution in the North China Plain has been serious and disastrous, dramatically damaging human health and the social economy. In this study, we emphasized the close connection between early winter haze days in the North China Plain and the September-October sea ice in the west of the Beaufort Sea (R = 0.51). Due to efficient radiative cooling, the responses of atmospheric circulations partially manifested as reductions of surface wind speed over the Beaufort Sea and Gulf of Alaska, resulting in a warmer sea surface in the subsequent November. The sea surface temperature anomalies over the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska acted as a bridge. The warmer sea surface efficiently heated the above air and led to suitable atmospheric backgrounds to enhance the potential of haze weather (e.g., a weaker East Asia jet stream and a Rossby wave-like train propagated from North China and the Japan Sea, through the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, to the Cordillera Mountains). Near the surface, the weakening sea level pressure gradient stimulated anomalous southerlies over the coastal area of China and brought about a calm and moist environment for haze formation. The thermal inversion was also enhanced to restrict the underswing of clear and dry upper air. Thus, the horizontal and vertical dispersion were both limited, and the fine particles were apt to accumulate and cause haze pollution.
Tornado-Scale Vortices in the Tropical Cyclone Boundary Layer: Numerical Simulation with WRF-LES Framework
Authors: Wu Liguang , Liu Qingyuan , Li Yubing
Published: October 2018

Abstract. The tornado-scale vortex in the tropical cyclone (TC) boundary layer (TCBL) has been observed in intense hurricanes and the associated intense turbulence poses a severe threat to the manned research aircraft when it penetrates hurricane eyewalls at a lower altitude. In this study, a numerical experiment in which a TC evolves in a large-scale background over the western North Pacific is conducted using the Advanced Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model by incorporating the large eddy simulation (LES) technique. The simulated tornado-scale vortex shows the similar features as revealed with the limited observational data, including the updraft/downdraft couplet, the sudden jump of wind speeds, the favorable location, and the horizontal scale. It is suggested that the WRF-LES framework can successfully simulate the tornado-scale vortex with the grids at the resolution of 37 m that cover the TC eye and eyewall. The simulated tornado-scale vortex is a cyclonic circulation with a small horizontal scale of ~ 1 km in the TCBL. It is accompanied by strong updrafts (more than 15 m s−1) and large vertical components of relative vorticity (larger than 0.2 s−1). The tornado-scale vortex favorably occurs at the inner edge of the enhanced eyewall convection or rainband within the saturated, high-θe layer, mostly below the altitude of 2 km. Nearly in all the simulated tornado-scale vortices, the narrow intense updraft is coupled with the relatively broad downdraft, constituting one or two updraft/downdraft couplets or horizontal rolling vortices, as observed by the research aircraft. The presence of the tornado-scale vortex also leads to significant gradients in the near surface wind speed and wind gusts.
Development of a unit-based industrial emission inventory in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and resulting improvement in air quality modeling
Authors: Zheng Haotian , Cai Siyi , Wang Shuxiao , Zhao Bin , Chang Xing , Hao Jiming
Published: October 2018

Abstract. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region is a metropolitan area with the most severe fine particle (PM2.5) pollution in China. Accurate emission inventory plays an important role in air pollution control policy making. In this study, we develop a unit-based emission inventory for industrial sectors in the BTH region, including power plants, industrial boilers, and steel, non-ferrous metal, coking, cement, glass, brick, lime, ceramics, refinery, and chemical industries, based on detailed information for each enterprise, such as location, annual production, production technology/process and air pollution control facilities. In the BTH region, the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm (PM10), PM2.5, black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) from industrial sectors are 869 kt, 1164 kt, 910 kt, 622 kt, 71 kt, 63 kt and 1390 kt in 2014, respectively, accounting for 61 %, 55 %, 62 %, 56 %, 58 %, 22 % and 36 %, respectively, of the total emissions. Compared with the traditional proxy-based emission inventory, much less emissions in the high-resolution unit-based inventory are allocated to the urban center because of the accurate positioning of industrial enterprises. We apply the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model simulation to evaluate the unit-based inventory. The simulation results show that the unit-based emission inventory gives better performance of both PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants than the proxy-based emission inventory. The normalized mean biases (NMBs) are 81 %, 21 %, 1 % and −7 % for concentrations of SO2, NO2, ozone and PM2.5, respectively, with the unit-based inventory, in contrast to 124 %, 39 %, −8 % and 9 % with the proxy-based inventory. Furthermore, the concentration gradients of PM2.5, which are defined as the ratio of urban concentration to suburban concentration, are 1.6, 2.1 and 1.5 in January and 1.3, 1.5 and 1.3 in July, for simulations with the unit-based inventory, simulations with the proxy-based inventory, and observations, respectively, in Beijing. For ozone, the corresponding gradients are 0.7, 0.5 and 0.9 in January and 0.9, 0.8 and 1.1 in July, implying that the unit-based emission inventory better reproduces the distributions of pollutant emissions between the urban and suburban areas.
Simulations of black carbon (BC) aerosol impact over Hindu-Kush Himalayan sites: validation, sources, and implications on glacier runoff
Authors: Santra Sauvik , Verma Shubha , Fujita Koji , Chakraborty Indrajit , Boucher Olivier , Takemura Toshihiko , Burkhart John F. , Matt Felix , Sharma Mukesh
Published: October 2018

Abstract. We estimated the black carbon (BC) concentration over the Hindu Kush Himalayan region (HKH), its impact on snow-albedo reduction and sensitivity on annual glacier runoff over the identified glaciers. These estimates were based on free-running aerosol simulations (freesimu) and constrained aerosol simulations (constrsimu) from an atmospheric general circulation model, combined with numerical simulations of glacial mass balance model. BC concentration estimated from freesimu performed better over higher altitude (HA) HKH stations than that over lower altitude (LA) stations. The estimates from constrsimu mirrored well the measurements when implemented for LA stations. Estimates of the spatial distribution of BC concentration in the snowpack (BCc) over the HKH region led to identifying a hot-spot zone located around Manora peak. Among glaciers over this zone, BCc (> 60 μg kg−1) and BC-induced snow-albedo reduction (≈ 5 %) were estimated explicitly being high during the pre-monsoon for Pindari, Poting, Chorabari, and Gangotri glaciers (which are major sources of fresh water for the Indian sub-continent). The rate of increase of BCc in recent years (i.e. over the period 1961–2010) was, however, estimated being the highest for the Zemmu glacier. Sensitivity analysis with glacial mass balance model indicated the increase in annual runoff from debris-free glacier area due to BC-induced snow albedo reduction (SAR) corresponding to BCc estimated for the HKH glaciers was 4 %–18 %, with the highest being for the Milam and Pindari glacier. The rate of increase in annual glacier runoff per unit BC-induced percentage SAR was specifically high for Milam, Pindari, and Shunkalpa glacier. The source-specific contribution to atmospheric BC aerosols by emission sources led to identifying the potential emission source being primarily from the biofuel combustion in the Indo-Gangetic plain south to 30° N, but also from open burning in a more remote region north to 30° N.
Experimental study of the aerosol impact on fog microphysics
Authors: Mazoyer Marie , Burnet Frederic , Roberts Greg , Haeffelin Martial , Dupont Jean-Charles , Elias Thierry
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Comprehensive field campaigns dedicated to fog life cycle observation were conducted during the winters of 2010–2013 at the SIRTA observatory in the suburb of Paris. In order to document their properties, in situ microphysical measurements collected during 23 fog events are examined here. They reveal large variability in number, concentration and size of both aerosol background before the fog onset and fog droplets according to the different cases. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of aerosol particles on the fog microphysics. To derive an accurate estimation of the actual activated fog droplet number concentration Nact we determine the hygro-scopicity parameter κ, the dry and the wet critical diameter and the critical supersaturation for each case by using an iterative procedure based on the κ-Köhler theory that combines cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), dry particle and droplet size distribution measurements. Resulting values of κ = 0.17 ± 0.05 were found typical of continental aerosols. Our study reveals low values of the derived critical supersaturation with a median of 0.043 % and large values for both wet and dry activation diameters. Consequently, the corresponding Nact values are low with median concentrations of 53.5 cm−3 and 111 cm−3 within the percentile 75th. No detectable trend between the concentration of aerosol particles with diameter > 200 nm and Nact was observed. In contrast the CCN data at 0.1 % supersaturation exhibits a strong correlation with these aerosol concentrations. We therefore conclude that the actual supersaturations reached during these fog episodes are too low and no simultaneous increase of aerosols > 200 nm and droplet concentrations can be observed. Moreover our analysis suggests that a high aerosol loading limits the supersaturation values. It is also found that the activated fraction mainly depends on the aerosol size while the hygroscopicity appears to be of a secondary importance. Although radiative fogs are usually associated with higher aerosol loading rather than to stratus lowering events, our analysis reveals that the activated particle concentrations at the beginning of the event are similar for both types of fog. However the evolution of the droplet concentration during the fog life cycle shows significant differences between both types of fog.
Statistical study of ULF waves in the magnetotail by THEMIS observations
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Tian Anmin , Shi Quanqi , Li Hanlin , Degeling Alexander W. , Rae I. Jonathan , Forsyth Colin , Wang Mengmeng , Shen Xiaochen , Sun Weijie , Bai Shichen , Guo Ruilong , Wang Huizi , Fazakerley Andrew , Fu Suiyan , Pu Zuyin
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves are ubiquitous in the magnetosphere. Previous
studies mostly focused on ULF waves in the dayside or near-Earth region (with
radial distance R<12 RE). In this study, using the
data of the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during
Substorms (THEMIS) mission during the period from 2008 to 2015, the Pc5–6
ULF waves in the tail region with
XGSM∗<0, 8 RE<R<32 RE (mostly on the stretched magnetic field lines) are
studied statistically. A total of 1089 azimuthal oscillating events and
566 radial oscillating events were found. The statistical results show that
both the azimuthal and radial oscillating events in the magnetotail region
(12 RE<R<32 RE) are more
frequently observed in the post-midnight region. The frequency decreases with
increasing radial distance from Earth
for both azimuthal oscillating events (8 RE<R<16 RE) and radial oscillating events (8 RE<R<14 RE), which is consistent with the
field line resonances theory. About 52 % of events (including the
azimuthal and radial oscillating events) are standing waves in the region of
8–16 RE, while only 2 % are standing waves in the region of
16–32 RE. There is no obvious dawn–dusk asymmetry of ULF wave
frequency for events in 8 RE<R<32 RE, which contrasts with the obvious dawn–dusk asymmetry
found by previous studies in the inner magnetosphere (4 RE<R<9 RE). An examination for possible
statistical relationships between the ULF wave parameters and substorm
occurrences is carried out. We find that the wave frequency is higher after
the substorm onset than before it, and the frequency differences are more
obvious in the midnight region than in the flank region.
Distribution, seasonality, optical characteristics, and fluxes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Pearl River (Zhujiang) estuary, China
Authors: Li Yang , Song Guisheng , Massicotte Philippe , Yang Fangming , Li Ruihuan , Xie Huixiang
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Dissolved organic carbon concentration in the Pearl River estuary (PRE) of China was measured in May, August, and October 2015 and January 2016. Chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (CDOM and FDOM) in the latter three seasons were characterized by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Parallel factor analysis of the fluorescence spectra identified two protein-like, two humic-like, and one oxidized quinone-like FDOM components. The seasonality of average DOM abundance varied as follows: DOC: May (156 μmol L−1) > January (114 μmol L−1) ≈ August (112 μmol L−1) > November (86 μmol L−1); CDOM absorption at 330 nm: August (1.76 m−1) > November (1.39 m−1) ≈ January (1.30 m−1); FDOM expressed as the sum of the maximum fluorescence intensities of all FDOM components: November (1.77 R.U.) > August (1.54 R.U.) ≈ January (1.49 R.U.). Average DOM abundance in surface water was higher than in bottom water, their difference being marginal (0.1–10 %) for DOC in all seasons and for CDOM and FDOM in November and January, and moderate (16–21 %) for CDOM and FDOM in August. DOC showed little cross-estuary variations in all seasons while CDOM and FDOM in January were higher on the west side of the estuary than in the middle and on the east side. All three variables exhibited large variations and/or rapid drawdowns at the head of the estuary (salinity
The El Niño event of 2015–16: Climate anomalies and their impact on groundwater resources in East and Southern Africa
Authors: Kolusu Seshagiri Rao , Shamsudduha Mohammad , Todd Martin C. , Taylor Richard G. , Seddon David , Kashaigili Japhet J. , Ebrahim Girma Y. , Cuthbert Mark O. , Sorensen James P. R. , Villholth Karen G. , MacDonald Alan M. , MacLeod Dave A.
Published: October 2018

Abstract. The impact of climate variability on groundwater storage has received limited attention despite widespread dependence on groundwater as a resource for drinking water, agriculture and industry. Here, we assess the climate anomalies that occurred over Southern Africa (SA) and East Africa, south of the equator (EASE), during the major El Niño event of 2015–16, and their associated impacts on groundwater storage, across scales, through analysis of in situ groundwater piezometry and GRACE satellite data. At the continental scale, the El Niño of 2015–16 was associated with a pronounced dipole of opposing rainfall anomalies over EASE and Southern Africa, north/south of ~12° S, a characteristic pattern of ENSO. Over Southern Africa the most intense drought event in the historical record occurred, based on an analysis of the cross-scale areal intensity of surface water balance anomalies (as represented by the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index, SPEI), with an estimated return period of at least 200 years and a best estimate of 260 years. Climate risks are changing and we estimate that anthropogenic warming only (ignoring changes to other climate variables e.g. precipitation) has approximately doubled the risk of such an extreme SPEI drought event. These surface water balance deficits suppressed groundwater recharge, leading to a substantial groundwater storage decline indicated by both GRACE satellite and piezometric data in the Limpopo basin. Conversely, over EASE during the 2015–16 El Niño event, anomalously wet conditions were observed with an estimated return period of ~10 years, likely moderated by the absence of a strongly positive Indian Ocean Zonal Mode phase. The strong but not extreme rainy season increased groundwater storage as shown by satellite GRACE data and rising groundwater levels observed at a site in central Tanzania. We note substantial uncertainties in separating groundwater from total water storage in GRACE data and show that consistency between GRACE and piezometric estimates of groundwater storage is apparent when spatial averaging scales are comparable. These results have implications for sustainable and climate-resilient groundwater resource management, including the potential for adaptive strategies, such as managed aquifer recharge during episodic recharge events.
Natural hazard risk of complex systems – the whole is more than
the sum of its parts: I. A holistic modelling approach based on
Graph Theory
Authors: Arosio Marcello , Martina Mario L. V. , Figueiredo Rui
Published: October 2018

Abstract. Assessing the risk of complex systems to natural hazards is an important and challenging problem. In today’s intricate socio-technological world, characterized by strong urbanization and technological trends, the connections, interdependencies and interactions between exposed elements are crucial. These complex relations call for a paradigm shift in collective risk assessments, from a reductionist approach to a holistic one. Most commonly, the risk of a system is estimated through a reductionist approach, based on the sum of the risk of its elements individually. In contrast, a holistic approach considers the whole system as a unique entity of interconnected elements, where those connections are taken into account in order to more thoroughly assess risk. To support this paradigm shift, this paper proposes a new holistic approach to assess the risk in complex systems based on Graph Theory. The paper is organized in two parts: part I describes the proposed approach, and part II presents an application to a pilot study in Mexico City. In part I, we demonstrate that by representing a complex system such as an urban settlement by means of a network (i.e. a graph), it is possible to take advantage of the techniques made available by the branch of mathematics called Graph Theory to analyse its properties. Moreover, it is possible to establish analogies between certain graph metrics (e.g. authority, degree, hub values) and risk variables (exposure, vulnerability and resilience). Leveraging these analogies, one can not only obtain a deeper knowledge of the system (structure, weaknesses, etc.), but also understand its risk mechanisms (how the impacts of a single or multiple natural hazards are propagated, where they are exacerbated), and therefore assess the disaster risk of the system as a whole, including second-order impacts and cascade effects.