bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Disaster Resilience of Megacities: The Case of Hong Kong
Authors: Sim Timothy , Wang Dongming , Han Ziqiang
Published: April 2018

Many megacities are facing potential threats from various disasters, especially in the face of climate change. However, evaluating the resilience of megacities is not well established in both the academia and practice field. Using Hong Kong, which is a megacity ranked as the city in Asia with the highest risk for natural disasters, as a case study, we demonstrated the effort of assessing the resilience of a megacity. The Sendai Framework Local Urban Indicators Tools that was developed by the United Nation Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) was adopted as the main tool in this study, and a mixed bottom-up participatory and top-down method was utilized in the evaluation process. This is an innovative and participatory approach that is not commonly adopted in assessing the resilience of cities. The study found that Hong Kong is disaster resilient in that it mainstreams disaster risk in its development and that it dedicates sufficient financial resources. However, Hong Kong may improve on its disaster governance and encourage cooperation between the government and society to identify disaster risk and share information, particularly in the face of climate change and calls for more sustainable development.
Determinants of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Vietnamese Life-Insurance Setting
Authors: Nguyen Ha , Nguyen Hoang , Nguyen Nhan , Phan Anh
Published: April 2018

Sustainable services are often regarded as sustainable strategies and operations producing goods and services that satisfy customer needs and significantly improve social and environmental performance. To be sustainable, service providers must satisfy consumers’ needs or otherwise they will become redundant and economically irrelevant. This paper presents the results of an empirical study on the determinants of customer satisfaction and loyalty in life-insurance services in Vietnam based on a database collected through a questionnaire survey of 1476 customers during 2017. A path analysis technique is applied to test the proposed framework on the direct and indirect relationship between variables. The results of statistical analysis indicate that customer satisfaction in life-insurance services is significantly explained by such factors as corporate image, service quality and perceived value. Our findings suggest that a life-insurance service provider should focus on enhancing service quality and corporate image in order to obtain customer satisfaction that leads to customer loyalty.
Predictive Statistical Diagnosis to Determine the Probability of Survival in Adult Subjects with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Saleh Mohammed , Saatchi Reza , Lecky Fiona , Burke Derek
Published: April 2018

Determining the probability of survival after injury is important as it can inform triage, clinical research and audit. A number of methods have been reported for determining the probability of survival after injury. However, these have shortcomings and thus further developments are needed to improve their reliability and accuracy. In this study, a Bayesian method called Predictive Statistical Diagnosis (PSD) was developed to determine probability of survival in 4124 adults (age: mean = 67.9 years, standard deviation = 21.6 years) with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In total, 86.2% of cases had survived and 13.8% of cases had not survived their injuries. The parameters considered as inputs to PSD were age, abbreviated injury score (AIS), Glasgow coma score (GCS), pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and respiration rate (RR). PSD statistically modeled the TBI cases and their associated injury outcomes, i.e., survived or not survived. The model was calibrated on randomly selected, roughly 2/3 (number 2676), of the cases and its performance was validated on the remaining cases (number 1448, i.e., validation dataset). The effectiveness of PSD in determining the probability of survival was compared with a method called Ps14 that uses regression modeling. With all parameters (i.e., age, AIS, GCS, SBP, RR and PR) included as inputs to PSD, it correctly identified 90.8% of survivors and 50.0% of non-survivors in the validation dataset while Ps14 identified 97.4% of survivors and 40.2% of non-survivors in the validation dataset. When age, AIS and GCS were used on their own as inputs to PSD, it correctly identified 82.4% of the survivors and 65.0% of non-survivors in the validation dataset. Age affected the performance of PSD in determining the survival outcomes. The number of non-surviving cases included in this study may have not been sufficiently high to indicate the full potential of PSD and a further study with a larger number of cases would be beneficial.
Cancer Mortality in Residents of the Cadmium-Polluted Jinzu River Basin in Toyama, Japan
Authors: Nishijo Muneko , Nakagawa Hideaki , Suwazono Yasushi , Nogawa Kazuhiro , Sakurai Masaru , Ishizaki Masao , Kido Teruhiko
Published: April 2018

After 26 years, we followed up 7348 participants in a 1979–1984 health screening survey in the Jinzu River basin, the heaviest cadmium-polluted area in Japan. We assessed the associations of cadmium exposure levels and mortality from cancer and renal damage, indicated by records of proteinuria and glucosuria in the original survey. Mortality risks (hazard ratios) were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model, stratified by sex, after adjusting for age, smoking status, and hypertension, as indicated in the original survey records. In men, the adjusted hazard ratio for mortality from lung cancer was significantly lower in individuals residing in an area of historically high cadmium exposure and in subjects with a historical record of proteinuria, glucosuria, and glucoproteinuria. The risk of mortality from prostate cancer was borderline higher in cadmium-exposed men. In women, historical cadmium exposure was not associated with an increased risk of mortality from malignant neoplasms, but the adjusted hazard ratios for death from total malignant neoplasms or from renal and uterine cancers were significantly higher in exposed subjects with a historical record of proteinuria, glucosuria, and glucoproteinuria. These findings suggest that women residing in cadmium-polluted areas who exhibit markers of renal damage may be at risk of dying of cancer.
Remnants of an Ancient Deltaretrovirus in the Genomes of Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophidae)
Authors: Hron Tomáš , Farkašová Helena , Gifford Robert , Benda Petr , Hulva Pavel , Görföl Tamás , Pačes Jan , Elleder Daniel
Published: April 2018

Endogenous retrovirus (ERV) sequences provide a rich source of information about the long-term interactions between retroviruses and their hosts. However, most ERVs are derived from a subset of retrovirus groups, while ERVs derived from certain other groups remain extremely rare. In particular, only a single ERV sequence has been identified that shows evidence of being related to an ancient Deltaretrovirus, despite the large number of vertebrate genome sequences now available. In this report, we identify a second example of an ERV sequence putatively derived from a past deltaretroviral infection, in the genomes of several species of horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae). This sequence represents a fragment of viral genome derived from a single integration. The time of the integration was estimated to be 11–19 million years ago. This finding, together with the previously identified endogenous Deltaretrovirus in long-fingered bats (Miniopteridae), suggest a close association of bats with ancient deltaretroviruses.
Predictors and Barriers to Full Vaccination among Children in Ethiopia
Authors: Tefera Yemesrach , Wagner Abram , Mekonen Eyoel , Carlson Bradley , Boulton Matthew
Published: April 2018

Predictors of immunization status outside of large cities in Ethiopia are not well known, and Muslims have lower vaccination coverage. The aim of this study is to assess factors associated with full immunization among children 12–23 months in Worabe, Ethiopia, a Muslim-majority community. A cross-sectional study is conducted in summer 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the significance of predictors of full immunization. Among 484 children, 61% are fully vaccinated. Children whose mothers had fewer antenatal care (ANC) visits have decreased odds of full vaccination (zero visits: odds ratio (OR) = 0.09; one visit: OR = 0.15; two visits: OR = 0.46; three visits: OR = 0.89). The most common reasons that the mother gave for not vaccinating the child are fear of side reactions (36%), being too busy (31%), or hearing rumors about vaccines (28%). Local interventions incorporating interventions with religious authorities could raise awareness in the community of the importance of childhood immunizations and ANC visits.
Resistance to Carbapenems in Non-Typhoidal Salmonella enterica Serovars from Humans, Animals and Food
Authors: Fernández Javier , Guerra Beatriz , Rodicio M.
Published: April 2018

Non-typhoidal serovars of Salmonella enterica (NTS) are a leading cause of food-borne disease in animals and humans worldwide. Like other zoonotic bacteria, NTS have the potential to act as reservoirs and vehicles for the transmission of antimicrobial drug resistance in different settings. Of particular concern is the resistance to critical “last resort” antimicrobials, such as carbapenems. In contrast to other Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter, which are major nosocomial pathogens affecting debilitated and immunocompromised patients), carbapenem resistance is still very rare in NTS. Nevertheless, it has already been detected in isolates recovered from humans, companion animals, livestock, wild animals, and food. Five carbapenemases with major clinical importance—namely KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase) (class A), IMP (imipenemase), NDM (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase), VIM (Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase) (class B), and OXA-48 (oxacillinase, class D)—have been reported in NTS. Carbapenem resistance due to the production of extended spectrum- or AmpC β-lactamases combined with porin loss has also been detected in NTS. Horizontal gene transfer of carbapenemase-encoding genes (which are frequently located on self-transferable plasmids), together with co- and cross-selective adaptations, could have been involved in the development of carbapenem resistance by NTS. Once acquired by a zoonotic bacterium, resistance can be transmitted from humans to animals and from animals to humans through the food chain. Continuous surveillance of resistance to these “last resort” antibiotics is required to establish possible links between reservoirs and to limit the bidirectional transfer of the encoding genes between S. enterica and other commensal or pathogenic bacteria.
Historical Streamflow Series Analysis Applied to Furnas HPP Reservoir Watershed Using the SWAT Model
Authors: De Souza Dias Viviane , Pereira da Luz Marta , M. Medero Gabriela , Tarley Ferreira Nascimento Diego , Nunes de Oliveira Wellington , Rodrigues de Oliveira Merelles Leonardo
Published: April 2018

Over the last few years, the operation of the Furnas Hydropower Plant (HPP) reservoir, located in the Grande River Basin, has been threatened due to a significant reduction in inflow. In the region, hydrological modelling tools are being used and tested to support decision making and water sustainability. In this study, the streamflow was modelled in the area of direct influence of the Furnas HPP reservoir, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model performance was verified for studies in the region. Analyses of sensitivity and uncertainty were undertaken using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting algorithm (SUFI-2) with a Calibration Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP). The hydrological modelling, at a monthly scale, presented good results in the calibration (NS 0.86), with a slight reduction of the coefficient in the validation period (NS 0.64). The results suggested that this tool could be applied in future hydrological studies in the region of study. With the consideration that special attention should be given to the historical series used in the calibration and validation of the models. It is important to note that this region has high demands for water resources, primarily for agricultural use. Water demands must also be taken into account in future hydrological simulations. The validation of this methodology led to important contributions to the management of water resources in regions with tropical climates, whose climatological and geological reality resembles the one studied here.
Predicting Sedimentation in Urban Sewer Conduits
Authors: Song Yang , Yun Rin , Lee Eui , Lee Jung
Published: April 2018

Sedimentation commonly occurs in urban drainage systems, disrupts flow, and is one of the major causes of inundation. The complicated phenomena that alter the cross-section of sewer conduits include transportation, precipitation, and sedimentation, and need to be analyzed for the proper design and efficient maintenance of urban drainage systems. In this study, the discharge capacity of urban drainage systems is simulated and analyzed by considering the pattern of flow of sediments in sewer conduits through a numerical analysis model. The sites of the highest and lowest accumulation of soil were examined as sedimentation occurred, as was discharge due to accumulation in sewer conduits. The purpose of this study is the examination of mathematical models for two-phase fluid flow analysis and the prediction of sedimentation in urban sewer conduits. An expression for the height of the sedimentation was obtained to assess the discharge capacity of urban drainage systems, and a model to predict accumulation in sewer conduits was developed using non-dimensional variables for inlet velocity, inlet particle volume fraction, and particle size. When subjected to linear regression analysis, the model yielded a high correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.899. This satisfied the aims of this study, to obtain a higher discharge capacity and a plan for the design of urban drainage systems.
Identifying Feasible Locations for Wetland Creation or Restoration in Catchments by Suitability Modelling Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Authors: Uuemaa Evelyn , Hughes Andrew , Tanner Chris
Published: April 2018

Wetlands play a key role in controlling flooding and non-point-source (diffuse) pollution. They are therefore an important tool for mitigating diffuse water pollution from farms. However, to use this tool, it is necessary to obtain detailed assessments and identification of potential wetland restoration or creation sites. This is complicated by the diversity of landscapes, environmental conditions, and land ownership. Site suitability for wetland restoration or creation depends on many factors: the underlying geology, soils, topography, hydrology, drainage, and land ownership. Local hydrology and soils are among the most important factors. However, the inventory and characterization of a site’s soils and hydrology often requires extensive, expensive, and time-consuming ground surveys, and it is therefore limited to small areas. Another possibility would be to consider topography, which strongly determines water movement patterns. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data provides detailed topographic information and can be acquired by remote sensing. Our study showed that terrain analysis using high-resolution topographical data can produce suitability maps for wetlands that can be easily used by decision makers and planners in watershed management. The rapid methodology reveals potential wetland creation or restoration sites at a reasonable cost; with the resulting spatially explicit suitability map, managers can plan for wetland creation or restoration without having to wait for field-data collection.
Electrostatic force spectroscopy revealing the degree of reduction of individual graphene oxide sheets
Authors: Shen Yue , Wang Ying , Zhou Yuan , Hai Chunxi , Hu Jun , Zhang Yi
Published: April 2018

Electrostatic force spectroscopy (EFS) is a method for monitoring the electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) phase with high resolution as a function of the electrical direct current bias applied either to the probe or sample. Based on the dielectric constant difference of graphene oxide (GO) sheets (reduced using various methods), EFS can be used to characterize the degree of reduction of uniformly reduced one-atom-thick GO sheets at the nanoscale. In this paper, using thermally or chemically reduced individual GO sheets on mica substrates as examples, we characterize their degree of reduction at the nanoscale using EFS. For the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets with a given degree of reduction (sample n), the EFS curve is very close to a parabola within a restricted area. We found that the change in parabola opening direction (or sign the parabola opening value) indicates the onset of reduction on GO sheets. Moreover, the parabola opening value, the peak bias value (tip bias leads to the peak or valley EFM phases) and the EFM phase contrast at a certain tip bias less than the peak value can all indicate the degree of reduction of rGO samples, which is positively correlated with the dielectric constant. In addition, we gave the ranking of degree for reduction on thermally or chemically reduced GO sheets and evaluated the effects of the reducing conditions. The identification of the degree of reduction of GO sheets using EFS is important for reduction strategy optimization and mass application of GO, which is highly desired owing to its mechanical, thermal, optical and electronic applications. Furthermore, as a general and quantitative technique for evaluating the small differences in the dielectric properties of nanomaterials, the EFS technique will extend and facilitate its nanoscale electronic devices applications in the future.
Impact of Shock Front Rippling and Self-reformation on the Electron Dynamics at Low-Mach-number Shocks
Authors: Yang Zhongwei , Lu Quanming , Liu Ying D. , Wang Rui
Published: April 2018

Electron dynamics at low-Mach-number collisionless shocks are investigated by using two-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations with various shock normal angles. We found: (1) The reflected ions and incident electrons at the shock front provide an effective mechanism for the quasi-electrostatic wave generation due to the charge-separation. A fraction of incident electrons can be effectively trapped and accelerated at the leading edge of the shock foot. (2) At quasi-perpendicular shocks, the electron trapping and reflection is nonuniform due to the shock rippling along the shock surface and is more likely to take place at some locations accompanied by intense reflected ion-beams. The electron trapping process has a periodical evolution over time due to the shock front self-reformation, which is controlled by ion dynamics. Thus, this is a cross-scale coupling phenomenon. (3) At quasi-parallel shocks, reflected ions can travel far back upstream. Consequently, quasi-electrostatic waves can be excited in the shock transition and the foreshock region. The electron trajectory analysis shows these waves can trap electrons at the foot region and reflect a fraction of them far back upstream. Simulation runs in this paper indicate that the micro-turbulence at the shock foot can provide a possible scenario for producing the reflected electron beam, which is a basic condition for the type II radio burst emission at low-Mach-number interplanetary shocks driven by Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
Correction of ischemic optic neuropathy in rats by carbamylated darbepoetin
Authors: Peresypkina Anna A.
Published: April 2018

Introduction: The protective effects of carbamylated darbepoetin on the model of ischemic optic neuropathy in rats were revealed.

Objectives: To increase the effectiveness of pharmacological correction of experimental ischemic optic neuropathy in an experiment by using carbamylated darbepoetin.

Methods: Measuring the microcirculation level in the retina of rats was carried out using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Registration was done by the data acquisition system Biopac-systems MP-150 and AcqKnowledge 4.2 programme.

For microscopy and morphometry, the prepared microslides were scanned using Mirax Desk, a computerised archiving and image analysis system. Image analysis and morphometry were carried out by Pannoramic Viewer 1.15.4.

Results and discussion: In the group with correction of ischemic optic neuropathy by carbamylated darbepoetin, 300 μg/kg, the microcirculation level increases by 41.9%, p<0.05 in comparison with the control group, but also below the norm values by 20.3%, p<0.05. In the group with correction by recombinant erythropoietin, 50 IU/kg, the microcirculation rate increases by 36.7%, p<0.05 in comparison with the control group and significantly lower - by 23.3%, p<0.05 - in comparison with the group of intact animals. Qualitative and quantitative morphological indices (thickness of retinal layers) helped to reveal a neuroprotective effect of carbamylated darbepoetin to a greater extent than that of recombinant erythropoietin.

Conclusion: The obtained data allow drawing a conclusion about partial restoration of blood flow and preservation of neuronal retinal structures when correcting ischemic optic neuropathy in rats with carbamylated darbepoetin to a greater extent than with recombinant erythropoietin.
Information management and ante-mortem inspection procedures for the emerging diseases control: Experiences acquired in the epidemiological surveillance of bluetongue and lumpy skin disease
Authors: Corradini Alessandra , Trevisani Marcello , Dosa Geremia , Padovani Anna
Published: April 2018

The spread of exotic, emerging and reemerging diseases, has become, in the last years, one of the most important threats to the animal productions and public health, representing a new challenge for the European Community. In a global-market framework, where trade and contacts between countries are simplified, effective and well-developed surveillance systems are necessary. Multiple factors are, in fact, associated with the emergence of new, known or exotic diseases in this new economic panorama and for these reasons controls on animal imports, traceability and timeliness detection of infected animals should be considered the basis of a sound surveillance. In this work, we focused our attention on the management of Bluetongue and on the risk of introduction of the Lumpy Skin Disease in Italy, in order to describe the national and European surveillance systems for these diseases. In particular, we underlined the crucial role of information that reach the Official Veterinarian at the slaughterhouse concerning the epidemiological situation of the sending countries. Information that are important for the management of the ante-mortem inspection and for increasing the awareness of the Veterinary Inspectors of their role in the surveillance.
Salmonella Brandenburg in the pork chain in Italy: Genetic comparison with the human isolates
Authors: Bonardi Silvia , Morganti Marina , Pupillo Giovanni , Brindani Franco
Published: April 2018

Salmonella Brandenburg ranked 16th among the serovars responsible for human infections in EU in 2015 and it was found to be associated with swine. In Emilia- Romagna and Lombardy regions of northern Italy, S. Brandenburg was isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes, fecal matter, carcasses and conveyor belts at pig slaughterhouses in 2014 and 2015. In the same area, S. Brandenburg was detected in pork salami in 2015. In the present study, 12 isolates of S. Brandenburg recovered from the pork food-chain were typed by XbaI PFGE and their three profiles were compared to all human S. Brandenburg isolates processed by the Surveillance System of Emilia-Romagna region from 2012 to 2017 (105 isolates). The most frequent pulsotype of porcine origin (6/12) was the second most frequent in humans (16/105). Of the other two pulsotypes of porcine origine (3/12 each), one was the most frequent in humans (41/105), the other was undetected among human isolates.
Attitudes and perceptions of Sudanese high-school students and their parents towards spectacle wear
Authors: Alrasheed Saif H. , Naidoo Kovin S. , Clarke-Farr Peter C.
Published: April 2018

Background: Uncorrected refractive error is a major cause of avoidable vision impairment and may have significant impact on social life, education and economic prospects of people. This condition could be easily treated by wearing spectacles, but because of attitudes and misconceptions of some communities towards spectacle wear and eye care, such methods are underutilised.Aim: To assess the attitudes and perceptions of Sudanese high-school students and their parents towards spectacle wear.Setting: The study was conducted in eight randomly selected high schools from the South Darfur state of Sudan.Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study comprising 387 high-school students with age ranging from 12 to 17 years together with 47 students’ parents with age ranging from 32 to 52 years. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data from eight high schools. Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to collect the quantitative data, and seven focus group meetings were held in the schools with students’ parents to derive the qualitative data.Results: The findings revealed that 39%, 32% and 27.1% of the students believed that wearing spectacles affected their opportunities for education, employment and marriage, respectively. A total of 36.4% of the students believed that wearing spectacles could lead to making the eyes weaker or could damage the eyes, resulting in early blindness, and 22.5% of the respondents believed that spectacles were only for older people. In general, the perception towards spectacle wear was different between genders, with females appearing to be more vulnerable to social and psychological distress when wearing spectacles compared to males. A total of 79% of the parents were aware that wearing spectacles would improve vision if an eye doctor prescribed the spectacles. However, parents reported that the disadvantages of wearing spectacles were that they reduced the power of the eyes and spectacle wear had psychological effects, particularly among females. Parents felt that their children had lost an important asset, that the community looked at them as handicapped and that their children would be blind in future.Conclusion: The fear and stigma related to the use of spectacles are widely experienced among students and their parents in Sudan, and particularly among females. Eye health education programmes should be broadcast through the public media to promote awareness and benefits about spectacle wear and eye care.
Practical consensus recommendations for tumor margins and breast conservative surgery
Authors: Sarin R. , Somsekhar S. P. , Kumar R. , Pawan Gupta , Sumeet Jain , Pramoj Jindal , Vaishali Zamre , Firoz Pasha , Parikh P. M. , Aggarwal S. , Koul R.
Published: April 2018

My suggestion: There is no difference in survival of breast cancer patients treated with either mastectomy or with breast conservation therapy combined with external beam radiotherapy. A positive margin (s) is an important factor contributing to the increased risk of local recurrence. However, in published literature, there is a lack of consensus on the definition of acceptable margin (s). As a result decision process about need for re-excision after positive margins remains uncrear.
Practical consensus recommendations regarding the management of HER2 neu positive early breast cancer
Authors: Bahl A. , Singh R. , Wadhwa J. , Gupta S. , Ahmed M. , Uppal P. N. , Parikh Purvish M. , Aggarwal S.
Published: April 2018

Over-expression of HER2 is generally considered to be a negative prognostic feature because it accompanies an increase in breast cancer mortality. However, the development of agents that specifically target HER2 has improved the management of patients with these tumours. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at these practical consensus recommendations with regards to the use of these agents and the management of HER2 neu early breast cancer for the benefit of community oncologists.
Practical consensus recommendations on management of triple-negative metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Rangarao R. , Smruti B. K. , Singh K. , Gupta A. , Batra S. , Choudhary R. K. , Gupta A. , Sahani S. , Kabra Vedant , Parikh Purvish M. , Aggarwal S.
Published: April 2018

Patients with breast cancer along with metastatic estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR)- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumors are referred to as having metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) disease. Resistance to current standard therapies such as anthracyclines or taxanes limits the available options for previously treated patients with metastatic TNBC to a small number of non-cross-resistant regimens, and there is currently no preferred standard chemotherapy. Clinical experience suggests that many women with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) relapse quickly. Expert oncologist discussed about new chemotherapeutic strategies and agents used in treatment of mTNBC and the expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.
DE QUE FORMA OS GESTORES PERCEBEM AS CRÍTICAS AO ORÇAMENTO EMPRESARIAL?
Authors: Mucci Daniel Magalhães , Frezatti Fabio
Published: April 2018

O objetivo do estudo é explorar a percepção de gestores de diversas áreas de uma organização de grande porte do setor elétrico brasileiro sobre as críticas ao orçamento tradicional. As críticas abrangem quatro grupos: efeitos perversos sobre os comportamentos dos gestores, inadaptação ao ambiente, ritual e foco excessivo no curto prazo. A pesquisa consiste em um estudo de caso que adota o nível de análise do indivíduo e área, e cujo foco são gestores que participam do processo orçamentário, compondo uma população de 180 gestores. Foram realizadas 9 entrevistas e aplicado um questionário eletrônico em que foi obtida uma amostra de 75 respondentes. Para análise de dados, utilizamos a estatística descritiva, o teste de diferença de médias e a análise do discurso. Os resultados indicam para um baixo nível de críticas ao processo orçamentário, o que converge com os resultados de pesquisas empíricas anteriores desenvolvidas no ambiente nacional e internacional. As críticas com maior concordância no questionário foram o foco excessivo no curto prazo e os efeitos perversos sobre os comportamentos das pessoas. Também identificamos que certas críticas estão associadas à área de formação e à área de atuação do gerente. Através das entrevistas pudemos nos aprofundar na discussão das críticas, por meio dos fragmentos dos discursos dos gestores. Dentre as contribuições destaca-se o olhar para as críticas no contexto profissional e abrangendo as percepções de executivos que não são da área financeira dentro de um único ambiente organizacional. Nesse sentido, propomos que as críticas ao orçamento sejam interpretadas em função do interesse e que as insatisfações sejam tratadas a partir de diferentes perspectivas e ações nas diversas áreas da empresa.
Primary aerosol and secondary inorganic aerosol budget over the Mediterranean Basin during 2012 and 2013
Authors: Guth Jonathan , Marécal Virginie , Josse Béatrice , Arteta Joaquim , Hamer Paul
Published: April 2018

Abstract. In the frame of the Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment (ChArMEx), we analyse the budget of primary aerosols and secondary inorganic aerosols over the Mediterranean Basin during the years 2012 and 2013. To do this, we use two year-long numerical simulations with the chemistry-transport model MOCAGE validated against satellite- and ground-based measurements. The budget is presented on an annual and a monthly basis on a domain covering 29 to 47° N latitude and 10° W to 38° E longitude. The years 2012 and 2013 show similar seasonal variations. The desert dust is the main contributor to the annual aerosol burden in the Mediterranean region with a peak in spring, and sea salt being the second most important contributor. The secondary inorganic aerosols, taken as a whole, contribute a similar level to sea salt. The results show that all of the considered aerosol types, except for sea salt aerosols, experience net export out of our Mediterranean Basin model domain, and thus this area should be considered as a source region for aerosols globally. Our study showed that 11 % of the desert dust, 22.8 to 39.5 % of the carbonaceous aerosols, 35 % of the sulfate and 9 % of the ammonium emitted or produced into the study domain are exported. The main sources of variability for aerosols between 2012 and 2013 are weather-related variations, acting on emissions processes, and the episodic import of aerosols from North American fires. In order to assess the importance of the anthropogenic emissions of the marine and the coastal areas which are central for the economy of the Mediterranean Basin, we made a sensitivity test simulation. This simulation is similar to the reference simulation but with the removal of the international shipping emissions and the anthropogenic emissions over a 50 km wide band inland along the coast. We showed that around 30 % of the emissions of carbonaceous aerosols and 35 to 60 % of the exported carbonaceous aerosols originates from the marine and coastal areas. The formation of 23, 27 and 27 %, respectively of, ammonium, nitrate and sulfate aerosols is due to the emissions within the marine and coastal area.
The Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC): history, status and perspectives
Authors: De Mazière Martine , Thompson Anne M. , Kurylo Michael J. , Wild Jeannette D. , Bernhard Germar , Blumenstock Thomas , Braathen Geir O. , Hannigan James W. , Lambert Jean-Christopher , Leblanc Thierry , McGee Thomas J. , Nedoluha Gerald , Petropavlovskikh Irina , Seckmeyer Gunther , Simon Paul C. , Steinbrecht Wolfgang , Strahan Susan E.
Published: April 2018

Abstract. The Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) is an international global network of more than 90 stations making high-quality measurements of atmospheric composition that began official operations in 1991 after 5 years of planning. Apart from sonde measurements, all measurements in the network are performed by ground-based remote-sensing techniques. Originally named the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC), the name of the network was changed to NDACC in 2005 to better reflect the expanded scope of its measurements. The primary goal of NDACC is to establish long-term databases for detecting changes and trends in the chemical and physical state of the atmosphere (mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere) and to assess the coupling of such changes with climate and air quality. NDACC's origins, station locations, organizational structure, and data archiving are described. NDACC is structured around categories of ground-based observational techniques (sonde, lidar, microwave radiometers, Fourier-transform infrared, UV-visible DOAS (differential optical absorption spectroscopy)-type, and Dobson–Brewer spectrometers, as well as spectral UV radiometers), timely cross-cutting themes (ozone, water vapour, measurement strategies, cross-network data integration), satellite measurement systems, and theory and analyses. Participation in NDACC requires compliance with strict measurement and data protocols to ensure that the network data are of high and consistent quality. To widen its scope, NDACC has established formal collaborative agreements with eight other cooperating networks and Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW). A brief history is provided, major accomplishments of NDACC during its first 25 years of operation are reviewed, and a forward-looking perspective is presented.
Formation and growth of atmospheric nanoparticles in the eastern Mediterranean: Results from long-term measurements and process simulations
Authors: Kalivitis Nikos , Kerminen Veli-Matti , Kouvarakis Giorgos , Stavroulas Iasonas , Tzitzikalaki Evaggelia , Kalkavouras Panayiotis , Daskalakis Nikos , Myriokefalitakis Stelios , Bougiatioti Aikaterini , Manninen Hanna Elina , Roldin Pontus , Petäjä Tuukka , Boy Michael , Kulmala Markku , Kanakidou Maria , Mihalopoulos Nikolaos
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Atmospheric New Particle Formation (NPF) is a common phenomenon all over the world. In this study we present the longest time series of NPF records in the eastern Mediterranean region by analyzing seven years of aerosol number size distribution data obtained with a mobility particle sizer. The measurements were performed at the Finokalia environmental research station on Crete, Greece during the period June 2008–June 2015. We found that NPF took place 29 % of the available days, undefined days were 26 % and non-event days 45 %. NPF is more frequent in April and May probably due to the biogenic activity and is less frequent in August and November. The NPF frequency increased during the measurement period, while particle growth rates showed a decreasing trend, indicating possible changes in the ambient sulfur dioxide concentrations in the area. Throughout the period under study, we frequently observed production of particles in the nucleation mode during night-time, a feature rarely observed in the ambient atmosphere. Nucleation mode particles had the highest concentration in winter, mainly because of the minimum sinks, and their average contribution to the total particle number concentration was 9 %. Nucleation mode particle concentrations were low outside periods of active NPF and growth, so there are hardly any other local sources of sub-25 nm particles. Additional atmospheric ion size distribution data simultaneously collected for more than two years period were also analyzed. Classification of NPF events based on ion measurements differed from the corresponding classification based on mobility spectrometer measurements, possibly indicating a different representation of local and regional NPF events between these two measurement data sets. We used MALTE-box model for a simulation case study of NPF in the eastern Mediterranean region. Monoterpenes contributing to NPF can explain a large fraction of the observed NPF events according to our model simulations. However the parametrization that resulted after sensitivity tests was significantly different from the one applied for the boreal environment.
Long-range Transport Impacts on Surface Aerosol Concentrations and the Contributions to Haze Events in China: an HTAP2 Multi-Model Study
Authors: Dong Xinyi , Fu Joshua S. , Zhu Qingzhao , Sun Jian , Tan Jiani , Keating Terry , Sekiya Takashi , Sudo Kengo , Emmons Louisa , Tilmes Simone , Jonson Jan Eiof , Schulz Michael , Bian Huisheng , Chin Mian , Davila Yanko , Henze Daven , Takemura Toshihiko , Benedictow Anna Maria Katarina , Huang Kan
Published: April 2018

Abstract. Haze has been severely affecting the densely populated areas in China during recent years. While many of the pilot studies have been devoted to investigate the contributions from local anthropogenic emission, limited attention has been paid to the influence from long-range transport. In this study, we use simulations from 6 participating models supplied through the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Phase 2 (HTAP2) exercise to investigate the long-range transport impact of Europe and Russia/Belarussia/Ukraine on the surface air quality in East Asia, with special focus on their contributions during the haze episodes over China. The impact of 20 % anthropogenic emission perturbation from the source region is extrapolated by a factor of 5 to estimate the full impact. We find that the full impacts from EUR and RBU are 0.99 µg/m3 (3.1 %) and 1.32 µg/m3 (4.1 %) respectively during haze episodes, while the annual averaged full impacts are only 0.35 µg m3 (1.7 %) and 0.53 µg/m3 (2.6 %) respectively. By estimating the aerosol response within and above the planetary boundary layer (PBL), we find that long-range transport within the PBL contributes to 22–38 % of the total column density of aerosol response. Comparison with the HTAP Phase 1 (HTAP1) assessment reveals that from 2000 to 2010, the long-range transport from Europe to East Asia has decreased significantly by a factor of 2–10 for surface aerosol mass concentration due to the simultaneous emission reduction in source region and emission increase in the receptor region. By investigating the visibility response, we find that the long-range transport from the Europe and RBU region increases the number of haze events in China by 0.15 % and 0.11 % respectively, and the North China Plain and southeast China receives 1–3 extra haze days. This study is the first investigation into the contribution of long-range transport to haze in China with multiple model experiments.
Evaluation of the IAGOS-Core GHG Package H2O measurements
during the DENCHAR airborne inter-comparison campaign in 2011
Authors: Filges Annette , Gerbig Christoph , Rella Chris W. , Hoffnagle John , Smit Herman , Krämer Martina , Spelten Nicole , Rolf Christian , Bozóki Zoltán , Buchholz Bernhard , Ebert Volker
Published: April 2018

Abstract. As part of the DENCHAR (Development and Evaluation of Novel Compact Hygrometer for Airborne Research) inter-comparison campaign in North-Germany in 2011, a commercial cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) based gas analyzer (G2401-m, Picarro Inc., US) was installed on a Learjet to measure atmospheric water vapor, CO2, CH4 and CO. The CRDS components were identical to those chosen for integration aboard commercial airliners within the IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System) project. Thus, the campaign allowed for an initial assessment validation of the long-term IAGOS water vapor measurements by CRDS against reference instruments with a long performance record (Fast In-situ Stratospheric Hygrometer (FISH), CR-2 frost point hygrometer (Buck Research Instruments L.L.C., US), both operated by research centre Juelich). The inlet system, a 50 cm long 1/8" FEP-tube connected to a Rosemount TAT housing (model 102BX, deiced) installed on a window plate of the aircraft, was designed to eliminate sampling of larger aerosols, ice particles, and water droplets, and provided additional ram-pressure. In combination with a low sample flow of 100 sccm, corresponding to a 4 second response time, this ensured a fully controlled pressure in the sample cell of 186.65 hPa (140 Torr) throughout the aircraft altitude operating range up to 12.5 km without the need of an upstream sampling pump. This setup ensures full compatibility with the deployment of the analyzer within IAGOS. For the initial water calibration of the instrument it was compared against a dew point mirror (Dewmet TDH, Michell instruments Ltd., UK) in the range from 0.7 to 2.5 % water vapor mole fraction. During the inter-comparison campaign the analyzer was compared on ground against a dew point hygrometer, which is used for calibrating the reference instrument FISH, in the range from 2 to 600 ppm. Furthermore, a new independent calibration method, based on the dilution effect of water vapor on CO2, was tested. Comparison of the in-flight data against the reference instruments showed that the analyzer is reliable and has a good long-term stability. The flight data suggest a conservative precision estimate for measurements made at 0.4 Hz (2.5 seconds measurement interval) of 4 ppm or 5 % (relative) (whichever is greater) for H2O < 100 ppm, and 5 % (relative) or 30 ppm (whichever is smaller) for H2O > 100 ppm. Accuracy of the CRDS instrument was estimated, based on laboratory calibrations, as 1 % (relative) for the water vapor range from 2.5 % down to 0.7 %, than increasing to 5 % (relative) at 50 ppm water vapor. Accuracy at water vapor mole fractions below 50 ppm was difficult to assess, as the reference systems suffered from lack of data availability.
Trichodesmium physiological ecology and phosphate reduction in the western Tropical South Pacific
Authors: Frischkorn Kyle R. , Krupke Andreas , Rouco Mónica , Salazar Estrada Andrés E. , Van Mooy Benjamin A. S. , Dyhrman Sonya T.
Published: April 2018

Abstract. N2 fixation by the genus Trichodesmium is predicted to support a large proportion of the primary productivity across the oligotrophic oceans, regions that are considered among the largest biomes on Earth. Many of these environments remain poorly sampled, limiting our understanding of Trichodesmium physiological ecology in these critical oligotrophic regions. Trichodesmium colonies, communities that consisted of the Trichodesmium host and their associated microbiome, were collected across the oligotrophic western tropical South Pacific (WTSP). These samples were used to assess host clade distribution, host and microbiome (holobiont) metabolic potential, and functional gene expression, with a focus on identifying Trichodesmium physiological ecology in this region. Expression dynamics across the WTSP transect indicated potential co-limitation of Trichodesmium for phosphorus and iron. A gene cassette for phosphonate biosynthesis was detected in Trichodesmium, the expression of which co-varied with the abundance of Trichodesmium Clade III, which was unusually abundant relative to Clade I in this environment. Coincident with the expression of the gene cassette, phosphate reduction to phosphite and low molecular weight phosphonate compounds was measured in Trichodesmium colonies as well as genes that enable use of this reduced phosphorus in both Trichodesmium and the microbiome. Overall, these results highlight physiological strategies for survival by the Trichodesmium holobiont in the oligotrophic ocean, revealing mechanisms with the potential to influence the cycling of resources like nitrogen and phosphorus.
LakeSST: Lake Skin Surface Temperature in French inland water bodies for 1999–2016 from Landsat archives
Authors: Prats Jordi , Reynaud Nathalie , Rebière Delphine , Peroux Tiphaine , Tormos Thierry , Danis Pierre-Alain
Published: April 2018

Abstract. The spatial and temporal coverage of the Landsat satellite imagery make it an ideal resource for the monitoring of water temperature over large territories at a moderate spatial and temporal scale at a low cost. We used Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 archive images to create the Lake Skin Surface Temperature (LakeSST) data set, which contains skin water surface temperature data for 442 French water bodies (natural lakes, reservoirs, ponds, gravel pit lakes and quarry lakes) for the period 1999–2016. We assessed the quality of the satellite temperature measurements by comparing them to in situ measurements and taking into account the cool skin and warm layer effects. To estimate these effects and to investigate the theoretical differences between the freshwater and seawater cases, we adapted the COARE 3.0 algorithm to the freshwater environment. We also estimated the warm layer effect using in situ data. At the reservoir of Bimont, the estimated cool skin effect was about −0.3 and −0.6 °C most of time, while the warm layer effect at 0.55 m was negligible on average, but could occasionally attain several degrees, and a cool layer was often observed in the night. The overall RMSE of the satellite-derived temperature measurements was about 1.2 °C, similar to other applications of satellite images to estimate freshwater surface temperatures. The LakeSST data can be used for studies on the temporal evolution of lake water temperature and for geographical studies of temperature patterns. The LakeSST data are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1193745.