bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization of High-Pressure Ultrasonic-Assisted Simultaneous Extraction of Six Major Constituents from Ligusticum chuanxiong Rhizome using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Liu Jin-Liang , Zheng Shun-Lin , Fan Qiao-Jia , Yuan Ji-Chao , Yang Shi-Min , Kong Fan-Lei
Published: February 2014

High-pressure ultrasound-assisted extraction technology was applied to extract ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide A, ligustilide and levistolide A from Ligusticum chuanxiong rhizomes. Seven independent variables, including solvent type, pressure, particle size, liquid-to-solid ratio, extraction temperature, ultrasound power, and extraction time were examined. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using a Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize the experimental conditions (extraction temperature, ultrasonic power, and extraction time) on the basis of the results of single factor tests for the extraction of these six major components in L. chuanxiong rhizomes. The experimental data were fitted to a second-order polynomial equation using multiple regression analysis and were also examined using appropriate statistical methods. The best extraction conditions were as follows: extraction solvent: 40% ethanol; pressure: 10 MPa; particle size: 80 mesh; liquid-to-solid ratio: 100:1; extraction temperature: 70 °C; ultrasonic power, 180 W; and extraction time, 74 min.
Is Five Percent Too Small? Analysis of the Overlaps between Disorder, Coiled Coil and Collagen Predictions in Complete Proteomes
Authors: Gáspári Zoltán
Published: February 2014

Identification of intrinsic disorder in proteins and proteomes has revealed important novel aspects of protein function and interactions. However, it has been pointed out that several oligomeric fibrillar protein motifs such as coiled coils and collagen triple helical segments can also identified as intrinsically disordered. This feature has not yet been investigated in more detail at the proteome level. The present work aims at the identification and quantification of such overlaps in full proteomes to assess their significance in large-scale studies of protein disorder. It was found that the percentage of cross-predicted residues is around 5% in the human proteome and is generally near that value in other metazoan ones but shows remarkable variation in different organisms. In particular, smaller proteomes are increasingly prone to such cross-predictions, thus, especially the analysis of viral proteomes requires the use of specific prediction tools.
Energy-Aware Topology Control Strategy for Human-Centric Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Meseguer Roc , Molina Carlos , Ochoa Sergio , Santos Rodrigo
Published: February 2014

The adoption of mobile and ubiquitous solutions that involve participatory or opportunistic sensing increases every day. This situation has highlighted the relevance of optimizing the energy consumption of these solutions, because their operation depends on the devices’ battery lifetimes. This article presents a study that intends to understand how the prediction of topology control messages in human-centric wireless sensor networks can be used to help reduce the energy consumption of the participating devices. In order to do that, five research questions have been defined and a study based on simulations was conducted to answer these questions. The obtained results help identify suitable mobile computing scenarios where the prediction of topology control messages can be used to save energy of the network nodes. These results also allow estimating the percentage of energy saving that can be expected, according to the features of the work scenario and the participants behavior. Designers of mobile collaborative applications that involve participatory or opportunistic sensing, can take advantage of these findings to increase the autonomy of their solutions.
Communicating Sustainability within Britain’s Hindu Community
Authors: Das Sita , Haigh Martin , Chauhan Sheila
Published: February 2014

Focusing on the UK’s Hindu community, this explores some modes for the communication of pro-sustainability messages and their affective strength. These campaigns employ the community-center role of many UK Hindu temples to connect Hindu congregations to the cause of environmental sustainability through the medium of Hindu scripture and tradition. The international Hindu Bhumi Project (and its larger “Many Heavens, One Earth” interfaith initiative) provide an umbrella for such pedagogic initiatives. Two are described. First is the festival-ground-based Karma to Climate Change (K2CC) campaign, which encourages pilgrims to pledge pro-sustainability lifestyle changes as part of their religious practice. The second, the Ahimsa Project, is devoted to the popularization and production of ethically pure, cruelty/slaughter free milk, which encourages people to develop greater empathy for the wellbeing of their fellow creatures and, ultimately, to abhor the casual slaughter of animals for meat. These projects are driven by the enthusiasm and concern of a younger generation of British-born Hindu people and their impacts are felt both through the campaigns themselves and the family structures of the volunteers who participate.
Local Control of Audio Environment: A Review of Methods and Applications
Authors: Kuutti Jussi , Leiwo Juhana , Sepponen Raimo
Published: February 2014

The concept of a local audio environment is to have sound playback locally restricted such that, ideally, adjacent regions of an indoor or outdoor space could exhibit their own individual audio content without interfering with each other. This would enable people to listen to their content of choice without disturbing others next to them, yet, without any headphones to block conversation. In practice, perfect sound containment in free air cannot be attained, but a local audio environment can still be satisfactorily approximated using directional speakers. Directional speakers may be based on regular audible frequencies or they may employ modulated ultrasound. Planar, parabolic, and array form factors are commonly used. The directivity of a speaker improves as its surface area and sound frequency increases, making these the main design factors for directional audio systems. Even directional speakers radiate some sound outside the main beam, and sound can also reflect from objects. Therefore, directional speaker systems perform best when there is enough ambient noise to mask the leaking sound. Possible areas of application for local audio include information and advertisement audio feed in commercial facilities, guiding and narration in museums and exhibitions, office space personalization, control room messaging, rehabilitation environments, and entertainment audio systems.
Deficient Glutathione in the Pathophysiology of Mycotoxin-Related Illness
Authors: Guilford Frederick , Hope Janette
Published: February 2014

Evidence for the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of mycotoxin-related illness is increasing. The glutathione antioxidant and detoxification systems play a major role in the antioxidant function of cells. Exposure to mycotoxins in humans requires the production of glutathione on an “as needed” basis. Research suggests that mycotoxins can decrease the formation of glutathione due to decreased gene expression of the enzymes needed to form glutathione. Mycotoxin-related compromise of glutathione production can result in an excess of oxidative stress that leads to tissue damage and systemic illness. The review discusses the mechanisms by which mycotoxin-related deficiency of glutathione may lead to both acute and chronic illnesses.
Targeting Host Factors to Treat West Nile and Dengue Viral Infections
Authors: Krishnan Manoj , Garcia-Blanco Mariano
Published: February 2014

West Nile (WNV) and Dengue (DENV) viruses are major arboviral human pathogens belonging to the genus Flavivirus. At the current time, there are no approved prophylactics (e.g., vaccines) or specific therapeutics available to prevent or treat human infections by these pathogens. Due to their minimal genome, these viruses require many host molecules for their replication and this offers a therapeutic avenue wherein host factors can be exploited as treatment targets. Since several host factors appear to be shared by many flaviviruses the strategy may result in pan-flaviviral inhibitors and may also attenuate the rapid emergence of drug resistant mutant viruses. The scope of this strategy is greatly enhanced by the recent en masse identification of host factors impacting on WNV and DENV infection. Excellent proof-of-principle experimental demonstrations for host-targeted control of infection and infection-induced pathogenesis have been reported for both WNV and DENV. These include exploiting not only those host factors supporting infection, but also targeting host processes contributing to pathogenesis and innate immune responses. While these early studies validated the host-targeting approach, extensive future investigations spanning a range of aspects are needed for a successful deployment in humans.
99mTc-MIBI-Szintigraphie hypo funktioneller Schilddrüsenknoten
Authors: Zimny M. , Rink T. , Stahl U. , Fritzel M. , Klett R. , Schenke S.
Published: February 2014

Zur Dignitätsabklärung hypofunktioneller Schilddrüsenknoten kann eine Szintigraphie mit 99mTc-MIBI erfolgen. Bei Minderspeiche- rung im Pertechnetat- und MIBI-Szintigramm lässt sich ein Schilddrüsenkarzinom relativ sicher ausschließen. Bei vermehrter MIBI-An- reicherung wird eine Operation empfohlen. Die Einstufung isointenser Knoten wird kontrovers gesehen. Untersucht wurde, welche Karzinomprävalenz isointense Knoten zeigen und ob sich durch SPECT-Technik ein diagnostischer Zugewinn ergibt. Patienten, Methodik: Retrospektive Auswertung von MIBI-Szintigraphien in planarer und SPECT- Technik. Die Szintigraphie erfolgte nach Applikation von 510 MBq 99mTc-MIBI eine Stunde p. i. Die Auswertung erfolgte visuell mit Einteilung der Knoten in hypo-, iso- und hy- perintens im Vergleich zum paranodulären Gewebe. Ergebnisse: Bei 83 von 225 Patienten mit MIBI-Szintigraphien erfolgte eine histologische Sicherung (Alter 48,6 ± 12,6 Jahre, 72% weiblich). Es fanden sich 12 papilläre Karzinome (14,5%). Bei planarer Aufnahme wurden 12, 34 bzw. 37 Knoten, in den SPECT- Aufnahmen 16, 21 bzw. 46 Knoten als hypo-, iso- bzw. hyperintens eingestuft. Unter den in planarer Technik als hypo-, iso- bzw. hyperin- tens eingestuften Knoten fanden sich 1, 5 bzw. 6 Karzinome und bei tomographischer Technik kein, 4 bzw. 8 Karzinome. Wurden die iso- und hyperintensen Knoten als malignom- supekt zusammengefasst, ergaben sich für Sensitivität, Spezifität, NPV und PPV bei planarer Aufnahme Werte von 91,7, 15,5, 91,7 bzw. 15,6% und bei tomographischer Aufnahme 100, 22,5, 100 bzw. 17,9%. Schlussfolgerung: Hypofunktionelle SD-Knoten mit iso- und hyperintenser MIBI-Speicherung zeigen eine vergleichbare Malignomprävalenz. Durch die Untersuchung in SPECT-Technik ergibt sich eine Verbesserung insbesondere von Sensitivi- tät und negativem Vorhersagewert.
The nature of serpentine endemism
Authors: Anacker Brian L.
Published: February 2014

Serpentine soils are a model system for the study of plant adaptation, speciation, and species interactions. Serpentine soil is an edaphically stressful, low productivity soil type that hosts stunted vegetation and a spectacular level of plant endemism. One of the first papers on serpentine plant endemism was by Arthur Kruckeberg, titled “Intraspecific variability in the response of certain native plant species to serpentine soil.” Published in the American Journal of Botany in 1951, it has been cited over 100 times. Here, I review the context and content of the paper, as well as its impact. On the basis of the results of reciprocal transplant experiments in the greenhouse, Kruckeberg made three important conclusions on the nature of serpentine plant endemism: (1) Plants are locally adapted to serpentine soils, forming distinct soil ecotypes; (2) soil ecotypes are the first stage in the evolutionary progression toward serpentine endemism; and (3) serpentine endemics are restricted from more fertile nonserpentine soils by competition. Kruckeberg's paper inspired a substantial amount of research, especially in the three areas reviewed here: local adaptation and plant traits, speciation, and the interaction of climate and soil in plant endemism. In documenting soil ecotypes, Kruckeberg identified serpentine soils as a potent selective factor in plant evolution and helped establish serpentine soils as a model system in evolution and ecology.
Diversification of C4 grasses (Poaceae) does not coincide with their ecological dominance
Authors: Bouchenak‐Khelladi Yanis , Slingsby Jasper A. , Verboom G. Anthony , Bond William J.
Published: February 2014

• Premise of the study: The radiation of a lineage and its rise to ecological dominance are distinct phenomena and driven by different processes. For example, paleoecological data has been used to show that the Cretaceous angiosperm radiation did not coincide with their rise to dominance. Using a phylogenetic approach, we here explored the evolution of C4 grasses and evaluated whether the diversification of this group and its rise to ecological dominance in the late Miocene were decoupled.

• Methods: We assembled a matrix including 675 grass species of the PACMAD clade and 2784 characters (ITS and ndhF) to run a molecular dating analysis using three fossils as reference calibrations. We coded species as C3 vs. C4 and reconstructed ancestral states under maximum likelihood. We used the program BiSSE to test whether rates of diversification are correlated with photosynthetic pathway and whether the radiation of C4 lineages preceded or coincided with their rise to ecological dominance from ∼10 Ma.

• Key results: C4 grass lineages first originated around 35 Ma at the time of the Eocene–Oligocene transition. Accelerated diversification of C4 lineages did not coincide with their rise to ecological dominance.

• Conclusions: C4‐dominated grasslands have expanded only since the Late Miocene and Pliocene. The initial diversification of their biotic elements can be tracked back as far as the Eocene–Oligocene transition. We suggest that shifts in taxonomic diversification and ecological dominance were stimulated by different factors, as in the case of the early angiosperms in the Cretaceous.
Floral structure and development in Rafflesiaceae with emphasis on their exceptional gynoecia
Authors: Nikolov Lachezar A. , Staedler Yannick M. , Manickam Sugumaran , Schönenberger Jürg , Endress Peter K. , Kramer Elena M. , Davis Charles C.
Published: February 2014

• Premise of the study: The holoparasitic plant family Rafflesiaceae include the world's largest flowers. Despite their iconic status, relatively little is known about the morphology and development of their flowers. A recent study clarified the organization of the outer (sterile) floral organs, surprisingly revealing that their distinctive floral chambers arose via different developmental pathways in the two major genera of the family. Here, we expand that research to investigate the structure and development of the reproductive organs of Rafflesiaceae.

• Methods: Serial sectioning, scanning electron microscopy, and x‐ray tomography of floral buds were employed to reconstruct the structure and development of all three Rafflesiaceae genera.

• Key results: Unlike most angiosperms, which form their shoot apex from the primary morphological surface, the shoot apex of Rafflesiaceae instead forms secondarily via internal cell separation (schizogeny) along the distal boundary of the host–parasite interface. Similarly, the radially directed ovarial clefts of the gynoecium forms via schizogeny within solid tissue, and no carpels are initiated from the floral apex.

• Conclusions: The development of the shoot apex and gynoecium of Rafflesiaceae are highly unusual. Although secondary formation of the morphological surface from the shoot apex has been documented in other plant groups, secondary derivation of the inner gynoecium surface is otherwise unknown. Both features are likely synapomorphies of Rafflesiaceae. The secondary derivation of the shoot apex may protect the developing floral shoot as it emerges from within dense host tissue. The secondary formation of the ovarial clefts may generate the extensive placental area necessary to produce hundreds of thousands of ovules.
La crítica de la poesía lírica en la obra periodística de Larra
Authors: Larrea Rubio Pedro
Published: February 2014

Este artículo estudia las ideas estéticas de Mariano José de Larra sobre la poesía lírica, a través de todos los artículos en que Larra expone sus opiniones sobre el género y a través de sus artículos sobre literatura y sus críticas de obras líricas de su época, como las Poesías de Francisco Martínez de la Rosa, las Poesías de Juan Bautista Alonso y Blanca de J.F. Díaz.
Quality of Care and Quality of Life: Convergence or Divergence?
Authors: Alonazi Wadi B. , Thomas Shane A.
Published: February 2014

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of quality of care (QoC) on patients’ quality of life (QoL). In a cross-sectional study, two domains of QoC and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref questionnaire were combined to collect data from 1,059 pre-discharge patients in four accredited hospitals (ACCHs) and four non-accredited hospitals (NACCHs) in Saudi Arabia. Health and well-being are often restricted to the characterization of sensory qualities in certain settings such as unrestricted access to healthcare, effective treatment, and social welfare. The patients admitted to tertiary health care facilities are generally able to present themselves with a holistic approach as to how they experience the impact of health policy. The statistical results indicated that patients reported a very limited correlation between QoC and QoL in both settings. The model established a positive, but ultimately weak and insignificant, association between QoC (access and effective treatment) and QoL ( r = 0.349, P = 0.000; r = 0.161, P = 0.000, respectively). Even though the two settings are theoretically different in terms of being able to conceptualize, adopt, and implement QoC, the outcomes from both settings demonstrated insignificant relationships with QoL as the results were quite similar. Though modern medicine has substantially improved QoL around the world, this paper proposes that health accreditation has a very limited impact on improving QoL. This paper raises awareness of this topic with multiple healthcare professionals who are interested in correlating QoC and QoL. Hopefully, it will stimulate further research from other professional groups that have new and different perspectives. Addressing a transitional health care system that is in the process of endorsing accreditation, investigating the experience of tertiary cases, and analyzing deviated data may limit the generalization of this study. Global interest in applying public health policy underlines the impact of such process on patients’ outcomes. As QoC accreditation does not automatically produce improved QoL outcomes, the proposed study encourages further investigation of the value of health accreditation on personal and social well-being.
The Prevalence of Smoking among Karbala/Iraq University Students in Iraq in 2005
Authors: Mousawi Ali Al
Published: February 2014

Background

Tobacco use is considered one of the largest public health threats facing the world. The estimated number of current smokers in the world exceeds 1.3 billion, which means that one third of the world's population above 15 years are smokers. Smoking prevalence is increasing in the developing world but monitoring of this trend is poor in these countries. Studies on smoking in Iraq are scarce, with the current smoking prevalence rate reported to be 15–25% for males and 1–10% for females in surveys conducted in the past ten years.

Objectives

This study aimed to find the prevalence of smoking among Karbala University students in Iraq and determine its associations with participants' demographic and other related predictors, including other substance use behaviors, to help inform and develop future prevention and control programs.

Material and Methods

A categorical random sample included 2298 students at Karbala University in Iraq who answered a self-completed questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the Drug Abuse Program questionnaire and was piloted before implementation. Descriptive and analytic statistical tools (SPSS-20) were used to assess significant associations at P < 0.001 to compensate for multiple comparisons.

Results

The prevalence of current smoking among Karbala University students was 10.5%, shisha smoking 4.4% and previous smoking (having ceased smoking for more than 30 days) 1.0%. Approximately half of the smokers surveyed (45.7%) started smoking before the age of 18. Smoking was positively related to male gender, increasing age, being unmarried, college, drinking alcohol, having a positive attitude toward smoking and higher fathers' educational level.

Conclusion

Lifetime smoking prevalence was found to be approximately two out of ten students. Significant positive association was found between smoking and other substance use behaviours. Additionally it was associated with positive attitudes toward substance use. Significant predictors were determined. Further studies are needed to explore the prevalence of smoking among Iraqi youths to find trends and help to guide the implementation scientifically based control and prevention programs.
Reconstruction of Northern Hemisphere 1950–2010 atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons
Authors: Helmig D. , Petrenko V. , Martinerie P. , Witrant E. , Röckmann T. , Zuiderweg A. , Holzinger R. , Hueber J. , Thompson C. , White J. W. C. , Sturges W. , Baker A. , Blunier T. , Etheridge D. , Rubino M. , Tans P.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The short-chain non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) are mostly emitted into the atmosphere by anthropogenic processes. Recent studies have pointed out a tight linkage between the atmospheric mole fractions of the NMHC ethane and the atmospheric growth rate of methane. Consequently, atmospheric NMHC are valuable indicators for tracking changes in anthropogenic emissions, photochemical ozone production, and greenhouse gases. This study investigates the 1950–2010 Northern Hemisphere atmospheric C2–C5 NMHC ethane, propane, i-butane, n-butane, i-pentane, and n-pentane by (a) reconstructing atmospheric mole fractions of these trace gases using firn air extracted from three boreholes in 2008 and 2009 at the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) site and applying state-of-the-art models of trace gas transport in firn, and by (b) considering eight years of ambient NMHC monitoring data from five Arctic sites within the NOAA Global Monitoring Division (GMD) Cooperative Air Sampling Network. Results indicate that these NMHC increased by ~40–120% after 1950, peaked around 1980 (with the exception of ethane, which peaked approximately 10 yr earlier), and have since dramatically decreased to be now back close to 1950 levels. The earlier peak time of ethane vs. the C3–C5 NMHC suggests that different processes and emissions mitigation measures contributed to the decline in these NMHC. The 60 yr record also illustrates notable increases in the ratios of the isomeric iso-/n-butane and iso-/n-pentane ratios. Comparison of the reconstructed NMHC histories with 1950–2000 volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions data and with other recently published ethane trend analyses from ambient air Pacific transect data showed (a) better agreement with North America and Western Europe emissions than with total Northern Hemisphere emissions data, and (b) better agreement with other Greenland firn air data NMHC history reconstructions than with the Pacific region trends. These analyses emphasize that for NMHC, having atmospheric lifetimes on the order of < 2 months, the Greenland firn air records are primarily a representation of Western Europe and North America emission histories.
Classification of clouds sampled at the puy de Dôme (France) based on 10 yr of monitoring of their physicochemical properties
Authors: Deguillaume L. , Charbouillot T. , Joly M. , Vaïtilingom M. , Parazols M. , Marinoni A. , Amato P. , Delort A.-M. , Vinatier V. , Flossmann A. , Chaumerliac N. , Pichon J. M. , Houdier S. , Laj P. , Sellegri K. , Colomb A. , Brigante M. , Mailhot G.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Long-term monitoring of the chemical composition of clouds (73 cloud events representing 199 individual samples) sampled at the puy de Dôme (pdD) station (France) was performed between 2001 and 2011. Physicochemical parameters, as well as the concentrations of the major organic and inorganic constituents, were measured and analyzed by multicomponent statistical analysis. Along with the corresponding back-trajectory plots, this allowed for distinguishing four different categories of air masses reaching the summit of the pdD: polluted, continental, marine and highly marine. The statistical analysis led to the determination of criteria (concentrations of inorganic compounds, pH) that differentiate each category of air masses. Highly marine clouds exhibited high concentrations of Na+ and Cl−; the marine category presented lower concentration of ions but more elevated pH. Finally, the two remaining clusters were classified as "continental" and "polluted"; these clusters had the second-highest and highest levels of NH4+, NO3−, and SO24−, respectively. This unique data set of cloud chemical composition is then discussed as a function of this classification. Total organic carbon (TOC) is significantly higher in polluted air masses than in the other categories, which suggests additional anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of carboxylic acids and carbonyls represent around 10% of the organic matter in all categories of air masses and are studied for their relative importance. Iron concentrations are significantly higher for polluted air masses and iron is mainly present in its oxidation state (+II) in all categories of air masses. Finally, H2O2 concentrations are much more varied in marine and highly marine clouds than in polluted clouds, which are characterized by the lowest average concentration of H2O2. This data set provides concentration ranges of main inorganic and organic compounds for modeling purposes on multiphase cloud chemistry.
Results from the International Halocarbons in Air Comparison Experiment (IHALACE)
Authors: Hall B. D. , Engel A. , Mühle J. , Elkins J. W. , Artuso F. , Atlas E. , Aydin M. , Blake D. , Brunke E.-G. , Chiavarini S. , Fraser P. J. , Happell J. , Krummel P. B. , Levin I. , Loewenstein M. , Maione M. , Montzka S. A. , O'Doherty S. , Reimann S. , Rhoderick G. , Saltzman E. S. , Scheel H. E. , Steele L. P. , Vollmer M. K. , Weiss R. F. , Worthy D. , Yokouchi Y.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The International Halocarbons in Air Comparison Experiment (IHALACE) was conducted to document relationships between calibration scales among various laboratories that measure atmospheric greenhouse and ozone depleting gases. This study included trace gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as well as nitrous oxide, methane, sulfur hexafluoride, very short-lived halocompounds, and carbonyl sulfide. Many of these gases are present in the unpolluted atmosphere at pmol mol−1 (parts per trillion) or nmol mol−1 (parts per billion) levels. Six stainless steel cylinders containing natural and modified natural air samples were circulated among 19 laboratories. Results from this experiment reveal relatively good agreement (within a few percent) among commonly used calibration scales. Scale relationships for some gases, such as CFC-12 and CCl4, were found to be consistent with those derived from estimates of global mean mole fractions, while others, such as halon-1211 and CH3Br, revealed discrepancies. The transfer of calibration scales among laboratories was problematic in many cases, meaning that measurements tied to a particular scale may not, in fact, be compatible. Large scale transfer errors were observed for CH3CCl3 (10–100%) and CCl4 (2–30%), while much smaller scale transfer errors (< 1%) were observed for halon-1211, HCFC-22, and HCFC-142b. These results reveal substantial improvements in calibration over previous comparisons. However, there is room for improvement in communication and coordination of calibration activities with respect to the measurement of halogenated and related trace gases.
Summer and winter living coccolithophores in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea
Authors: Sun J. , Gu X. Y. , Feng Y. Y. , Jin S. F. , Jiang W. S. , Jin H. Y. , Chen J. F.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. This paper describes the distribution of living coccolithophores (LCs) in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in summer and winter, and its relationship with environmental factors by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). We carried out a series of investigations on LCs distribution in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in July and December 2011. 210 samples from different depths were collected from 44 stations in summer and 217 samples were collected from 45 stations in winter. Totally 20 taxa belonging to coccolithophyceae were identified using a polarized microscope at the 1000 × magnification. The dominant species of the two seasons were Gephyrocapsa oceanica, Emiliania huxleyi, Helicosphaera carteri, and Algirosphaera robusta. In summer the abundance of coccolithophore cells and coccoliths ranged 0–176.40 cells mL−1, and 0–2144.98 coccoliths mL−1, with the average values of 8.45 cells mL−1, and 265.42 coccoliths mL−1, respectively. And in winter the abundance of cells and coccoliths ranged 0–71.66 cells mL−1, and 0–4698.99 coccoliths mL−1, with the average values of 13.91 cells mL−1 and 872.56 coccoliths mL−1, respectively. In summer, the LCs in surface layer were mainly observed on the coastal belt and southern part of the survey area. In winter, the LCs in surface layer had high value in the continental shelf area of section P. The comparison among section A, section F, section P and section E indicated lower species diversity and less abundance in the Yellow Sea than those in the East China Sea in both seasons. Temperature and the nitrate concentration may be the major environmental factors controlling the distribution and species composition of LCs in the studying area based on CCA. Abbreviations: LCs: Living Coccolithophores; CCA: canonical correspondence analysis; DCM: Deep Chlorophyll Maximum
The implications of microbial and substrate limitation for the fates of carbon in different organic soil horizon types: a mechanistically based model analysis
Authors: He Y. , Zhuang Q. , Harden J. W. , McGuire A. D. , Fan Z. , Liu Y. , Wickland K. P.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The large magnitudes of soil carbon stocks provide potentially large feedbacks to climate changes, highlighting the need to better understand and represent the environmental sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition. Most soil carbon decomposition models rely on empirical relationships omitting key biogeochemical mechanisms and their response to climate change is highly uncertain. In this study, we developed a multi-layer mechanistically based soil decomposition model framework for boreal forest ecosystems. A global sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify dominating biogeochemical processes and to highlight structural limitations. Our results indicate that substrate availability (limited by soil water diffusion and substrate quality) is likely to be a major constraint on soil decomposition in the fibrous horizon (40–60% of SOC pool size variation), while energy limited microbial activity in the amorphous horizon exerts a predominant control on soil decomposition (>70% of SOC pool size variation). Elevated temperature alleviated the energy constraint of microbial activity most notably in amorphous soils; whereas moisture only exhibited a marginal effect on dissolved substrate supply and microbial activity. Our study highlights the different decomposition properties and underlying mechanisms of soil dynamics between fibrous and amorphous soil horizons. Soil decomposition models should consider explicitly representing different boreal soil horizons and soil-microbial interactions to better characterize biogeochemical processes in boreal ecosystems. A more comprehensive representation of critical biogeochemical mechanisms of soil moisture effects may be required to improve the performance of the soil model we analyzed in this study.
Deglacial intermediate water reorganization: new evidence from the Indian Ocean
Authors: Romahn S. , Mackensen A. , Groeneveld J. , Pätzold J.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The importance of intermediate water masses in climate change and ocean circulation has been emphasized recently. In particular, Southern Ocean Intermediate Waters (SOIW), such as Antarctic Intermediate Water and Subantarctic Mode Water, are thought to have acted as active interhemispheric transmitter of climate anomalies. Here we reconstruct changes in SOIW signature and spatial and temporal evolution based on a 40 kyr time series of oxygen and carbon isotopes as well as planktic Mg/Ca based thermometry from Site GeoB12615-4 in the western Indian Ocean. Our data suggest that SOIW transmitted Antarctic temperature trends to the equatorial Indian Ocean via the "oceanic tunnel" mechanism. Moreover, our results reveal that deglacial SOIW carried a signature of aged Southern Ocean deep water. We find no evidence of increased formation of intermediate waters during the deglaciation.
Arctic-alpine blockfields in northern Sweden: Quaternary not Neogene
Authors: Goodfellow B. W. , Stroeven A. P. , Fabel D. , Fredin O. , Derron M.-H. , Bintanja R. , Caffee M. W.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Slowly-eroding, blockfield-mantled, non-glacial surface remnants may serve as markers against which to determine Quaternary glacial erosion volumes in high latitude mountain settings. To investigate this potential utility of these surfaces, chemical weathering, erosion rates, and origins of mountain blockfields are investigated in northern Sweden. This is done, firstly, by assessing the intensity of regolith chemical weathering along altitudinal transects descending from three blockfield-mantled summits. Clay/silt ratios, secondary mineral assemblages determined through X-ray diffraction, and the presence of chemically weathered grains visible on scanning electron microscopy, in fine matrix samples collected from pits excavated along the transects are each used for this purpose. Secondly, erosion rates and total surface histories of two of the summits are inferred from concentrations of in situ-produced cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al in quartz at the blockfield surface. An interpretative model is adopted that includes temporal variations in nuclide production rates through surface burial by glacial ice and glacial isostasy-induced elevation changes of the blockfield surfaces. Together, our data indicate that these blockfields are not derived from remnants of intensely weathered Neogene weathering profiles, as is commonly considered. Evidence for this interpretation includes minor chemical weathering in each of the three examined blockfields, despite some differences according to slope position. In addition, average erosion rates of ∼16.2 mm ka−1 and ∼6.7 mm ka−1, calculated for two blockfield-mantled summits, are low but of sufficient magnitude to remove present blockfield mantles, of up to a few meters in thickness, within a late-Quaternary timeframe. Hence, blockfield mantles appear to be replenished by regolith formation through, primarily physical, weathering processes that have operated during the Quaternary. Erosion rates remain low enough, however, for blockfield-mantled, non-glacial surface remnants to provide reasonable landscape markers against which to contrast Quaternary erosion volumes in surrounding glacial landscape elements. The persistence of blockfield mantles over a number of glacial-interglacial cycles and an apparently low likelihood that they can re-establish on glacially eroded bedrock, also discounts the operation of a "glacial buzz-saw" on surface remnants that are presently perceived as non-glacial. These interpretations are tempered though by outstanding questions concerning the composition of preceding Neogene regoliths and why they have apparently been comprehensively removed from these remnant non-glacial surfaces. It remains possible that periglacial erosion of perhaps more intensely weathered Neogene regoliths was high during the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition to colder conditions and that periglacial processes reshaped non-glacial surface remnants largely before the formation of blockfield armours.
An investigation into the performance of three cloud droplet activation parameterisations
Authors: Simpson E. , Connolly P. , McFiggans G.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Cloud droplet number concentration prediction is central to large scale weather and climate modelling. The benchmark cloud parcel model calculation of aerosol particle growth and activation, by diffusion of vapour to aerosol particles in a rising parcel of air experiencing adiabatic expansion, is too computationally expensive for use in large scale global models. Therefore the process of activation of aerosol particles into cloud droplets is parameterised with an aim to strike the optimum balance between numerical expense and accuracy. We present the first systematic evaluation of three cloud droplet activation parameterisations that are widely used in large-scale models. In all cases, it is found that there is a tendency to overestimate the fraction activated aerosol particles when the aerosol particle "median diameter" is large in a single lognormal mode simulations. This is due to an infinite "effective simulation time" of the parameterisations compared to a prescribed simulation time in the parcel model. In some cases when the "median diameter" is small in a single lognormal mode the fraction of activated drops is underestimated by the parameterisations. Secondly it is found that in dual-mode cases there is a systematic tendency towards underestimation of the fraction of activated drops, which is due the methods used by the parameterisations to approximate the maximum supersaturation with respect to water vapour.
Analyzing streamflow changes: irrigation-enhanced interaction between aquifer and streamflow in the Republican River basin
Authors: Zeng R. , Cai X.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Groundwater-fed irrigation has altered surface and groundwater interactions in the Republic River basin (RRB) in the midwestern United States, where agriculture heavily depends on irrigation. The decreasing flow trend recorded at the RRB gauging station since the 1950s reflects the synthetical effect of dynamic interactions between surface water and groundwater systems, which has been enhanced by groundwater pumping and irrigation return flow. This study uses a systematic modeling approach to analyze the conjunctive effects of pumping and return flow on streamflow. A watershed management model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), is modified and established for the Frenchman Creek basin (FCB), a subbasin of RRB, to examine the causes of streamflow changes. The baseflow component in SWAT is linked to aquifer storage so that the model can simulate the combined effects of groundwater pumping and irrigation return flow on natural streamflow. Results show that irrigation has not only depleted streamflow but also changed the flow pattern and seasonal variability. The changes can be decomposed into decrease in the slow component (baseflow) and increase in the fast components (surface and subsurface flow). Since the fast components are subject to higher variability than the slow component, the annual streamflow variability is amplified. Agricultural water use in this region also has changed the groundwater storage seasonal regime from the pattern of "summer recharge and winter discharge" in the past to "summer discharge and winter recharge" at present. This challenges the existing groundwater modeling, which usually assumes fixed recharge pattern and rates.
Landslides triggered by the 12 January 2010 Mw 7.0 Port-au-Prince, Haiti, earthquake: visual interpretation, inventory compiling and spatial distribution statistical analysis
Authors: Xu C. , Shyu J. B. H. , Xu X.-W.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The 12 January 2010 Port-au-Prince, Haiti, earthquake (Mw 7.0) triggered tens of thousands of landslides. The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlations of the occurrence of landslides and their erosion thicknesses with topographic factors, seismic parameters, and their distance from roads. A total of 30 828 landslides triggered by the earthquake covered a total area of 15.736 km2, distributed in an area more than 3000 km2, and the volume of landslide accumulation materials is estimated to be about 29 700 000 m3. These landslides are of various types, mostly belonging to shallow disrupted landslides and rock falls, but also include coherent deep-seated landslides and rock slides. These landslides were delineated using pre- and post-earthquake high-resolutions satellite images. Spatial distribution maps and contour maps of landslide number density, landslide area percentage, and landslide erosion thickness were constructed in order to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of co-seismic landslides. Statistics of size distribution and morphometric parameters of co-seismic landslides were carried out and were compared with other earthquake events in the world. Four proxies of co-seismic landslide abundance, including landslides centroid number density (LCND), landslide top number density (LTND), landslide area percentage (LAP), and landslide erosion thickness (LET) were used to correlate co-seismic landslides with various landslide controlling parameters. These controlling parameters include elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, slope curvature, topographic position, distance from drainages, lithology, distance from the epicenter, distance from the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault, distance along the fault, and peak ground acceleration (PGA). A comparison of these impact parameters on co-seismic landslides shows that slope angle is the strongest impact parameter on co-seismic landslide occurrence. Our co-seismic landslide inventory is much more detailed than other inventories in several previous publications. Therefore, we carried out comparisons of inventories of landslides triggered by the Haiti earthquake with other published results and proposed possible reasons of any differences. We suggest that the empirical functions between earthquake magnitude and co-seismic landslides need to update on the basis of the abundant and more complete co-seismic landslide inventories recently available.
Assessment of rockfall hazards using databases and considering triggering meteorological events
Authors: Delonca A. , Gunzburger Y. , Verdel T.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Rockfalls are major and essentially unpredictable sources of danger, particularly along transportation routes (roads and railways). Thus, assessment of their probabilities of occurrence is a major challenge for risk management. From a qualitative perspective, experience has shown that rockfalls occur mainly during periods of rain, snowmelt, or freeze–thaw. Nevertheless, from a quantitative perspective, these generally assumed correlations between rockfalls and their possible meteorological triggering events are often difficult to identify because (i) rockfalls are too rare for the use of classical statistical analysis techniques and (ii) all intensities of triggering factors do not have the same probability. In this study, we propose a new approach to investigate the correlation of rockfalls with rain, freezing periods, and strong temperature variations. This approach is tested on three French rockfall databases, the first of which exhibited a high frequency of rockfalls (approximately 950 events over 11 yr), whereas the other two databases were more common (approximately 140 events over 11 yr). These databases were for (1) the national highway RN1 on La-Réunion Island, (2) a railway in the Bourgogne region, and (3) a railway in the Auvergne region. Whereas a basic correlation analysis is only able to highlight an already obvious correlation in the case of the "rich" database, the newly suggested method appears to detect correlations in the "poor" databases. This new approach, easy to use, leads to identify the conditional probability of rockfall, according to the selected meteorological factor. It will help to optimize risk management in the considered areas with respect to their meteorological conditions.
The Architecture of Decision-Making Processes: A Game of Chess in the Spatial Configuration of the River Thames London
Authors: Narvaez Laura
Published: February 2014

Urban forms emerge from the interplay of social, economic, political and cultural forces, which are partly attributed to decision-making processes of urban planning and design. However, decision-making involves the everyday life of using and navigating in the built environment to the management of urban space. This paper seeks to understand the basic notion of how pedestrian movement is related to land use choices in the built form. The hypothesis is that movement itself involves a choice; that is, a decision-making of direction and destination, of passing through or of static behaviour. The density of movement flow is seen as a result of locations that potentially become attractors that have a rich distribution of land use. How we accommodate and modulate movement is thus important in helping us understand the multiple effects of everyday use that arises from decision-making processes and its subsequent effectuation in the configuration of urban space. Therefore, two key questions are addressed: first, how the types of movement choices influence and are influenced by the spatial layout; and second, how the distribution of land uses is affected by such choices. The paper uses Space Syntax and Game theory as a combination of theoretical frameworks that study independent and interdependent decision-making processes in urban space, to answer these questions. Taking the River Thames Path as an example, the research project focuses on the unconnected section of the river walk between London Bridge and Southwark Bridge. In analogy with a game of chess, the results demonstrate how different kinds of choices are ruled primarily by the location of commercial uses in the urban grid.
The Ordered Network Structure of M≥8 Earthquakes and its Prediction for the Ordered Pair Great Earthquakes in Mainland China
Authors: Men Ke-Pei , Zhao Kai
Published: February 2014

According to the statistical data, a total of 23 M ≥ 8 earthquakes occurred in Mainland China from 1303 to 2012. The seismic activity of M ≥ 8 earthquakes has showed an obvious self-organized orderliness. It should be remarked especially that there were three ordered pairs of M ≥8 earthquakes occurred in West China during 1902 - 2001, of which the time interval in each pair of two earthquakes was four years. This is a unique and rare earthquake example in earthquake history of China and the world. In the guidance of the information forecasting theory of Wen-Bo Weng, based on previous research results, combining ordered analysis with complex network technology, this paper focuses on the summary of the ordered network structure of M ≥ 8 earthquakes, supplements new information, constructs and further optimizes the 2D- and 3D-ordered network structure of M ≥ 8 earthquakes to make prediction research. At last, a new prediction opinion is presented that the future ordered pair of great earthquakes will probably occur around 2022 and 2026 in Mainland China.