bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of the density of the Near Threatened jaguarPanthera oncain Sonora, Mexico, using camera trapping and an open population model
Authors: Gutiérrez-González Carmina E. , Gómez-Ramírez Miguel Á. , López-González Carlos A.
Published: July 2012

Our objective in this study was to determine the density of the jaguarPanthera oncafrom camera-trap data, using an open population model, in a private protected natural area, the Northern Jaguar Reserve, and 10 adjoining cattle ranches in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The region is considered a long–term jaguar conservation unit. As well as being the most northerly recorded reproductive population of the jaguar, the arid habitat of this region is atypical for the species. During 16 months of sampling we identified 10 individual jaguars and the data met the three main assumptions of open population models. The estimated mean density was 1.05±SE 0.4 individuals per 100 km2, with a constant survival probability of 0.94 and capture probability of 0.23. This estimate of density is lower than reported in studies of the jaguar from more southerly locations in Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Bolivia and Brazil but cannot be attributed to a single factor even though in general there is an apparent relationship between jaguar density and precipitation. The main objectives of the management of the Northern Jaguar Reserve are to reduce the impact of cattle and restore jaguar habitat, with strategies focused on water retention, removal of invasive grass, reforestation and environmental education. Livestock have been gradually excluded since 2003 and, combined with the protection provided under the agreements with the surrounding ranches, the area is now a suitable place for long-term studies of the jaguar.
Reintroduction of Tigridiopalma magnifica, a rare and Critically Endangered herb endemic to China
Authors: Ren Hai , Zeng Songjun , Li Longna , Zhang Qianmei , Yang Long , Wang Jun , Wang Zhengfeng , Guo Qinfeng
Published: July 2012

Tigridiopalma magnifica, a perennial herb and the only species in the genus Tigridiopalma (Family Melastomataceae) is rare and endemic to China where it is categorized as Critically Endangered on the national Red List. Twelve locations with populations of T. magnifica have been identified (1 extinct, 11 extant). T. magnifica only grows in the surface soil on stone walls or rocks under the canopy of secondary forests and plantations and has no specific associated plant species. Canopy closure, soil water content and the distance to the closest stream are the main factors influencing the distribution of T. magnifica. We reintroduced T. magnifica plantlets produced by tissue culture into three locations: one within the species' original range, and 11.5 and 400 km from the species' original range. After 11 months survival rate was 40–58% but survival was higher and plantlet crowns were larger at the location within the species' original range than at the other two sites. The combination of advanced propagation techniques and ecological restoration could facilitate reintroduction and conservation of T. magnifica and other rare and threatened plants. This example of the successful reintroduction of a rare, threatened herb has implications for human-assisted migration and colonization of rare plant species under future climate change scenarios.
Status of the relict population of the Critically Endangered Madagascar spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides
Authors: Walker Ryan C. J. , Rafeliarisoa Tsilavo H.
Published: July 2012

The Madagascar spider tortoise Pyxis arachnoides is endemic to the coastal dry forests of south-west Madagascar. In recent years its range has been reduced by c. 71%, with the species now confined to eight fragmented populations occupying a total of 2,464 km2. These remaining populations are facing a significant threat of extinction because of habitat destruction and other anthropogenic pressures. We developed methodology for a line transect distance sampling survey and applied it systematically across the species' range. The resulting distance model estimated a mean density of 226.9 tortoises km−2 (95% confidence interval, CI, 168.1–306.3) and a total population of 664,980 (95% CI 492,680–897,550). Fragmentation of the species’ range suggests the current population could be <30% of the historical population. Of the remaining population 73.5% falls within protected areas. However, nine of these 12 protected areas are designated as IUCN category III, V or VI parks, allowing some extractive activities to be undertaken. The most effective strategy for the conservation of P. arachnoides would be to reduce the threats to this species and its habitat, and to develop and expand the current community-based conservation and poverty alleviation programmes in the region.
Differential utilization of cashew—a low-conflict crop—by sympatric humans and chimpanzees
Authors: Hockings Kimberley J. , Sousa Claudia
Published: July 2012

Modification of natural areas by human activities mostly has a negative impact on wildlife by increasing the geographical and ecological overlap between people and animals. This can result in escalating levels of competition and conflict between humans and wildlife, for example over crops. However, data on specific crops and crop parts that are unattractive to wildlife yet important for human livelihoods are surprisingly scarce, especially considering their potential application to reducing crop damage by wildlife. Here we examine the co-utilization of a nationally important and spatially abundant cash crop, cashewAnacardium occidentalis, by people and chimpanzeesPan troglodytes verusinhabiting a forested–agricultural matrix in Cantanhez National Park in Guinea-Bissau. In this Park people predominantly harvest the marketable cashew nut and discard the unprofitable fruit whereas chimpanzees only consume the fruit. Local farmers generally perceive a benefit of raiding by chimpanzees as they reportedly pile the nuts, making harvesting easier. By ensuring that conflict levels over crops, especially those with high economic importance, remain low, the costs of living in proximity to wildlife can potentially be reduced. Despite high levels of deforestation associated with cashew farming, these findings point to the importance of cashew as a low-conflict crop in this area.
Status and community-based conservation of marine turtles in the northern Querimbas Islands (Mozambique)
Authors: Garnier Julie , Hill Nicholas , Guissamulo Almeida , Silva Isabel , Witt Matthew , Godley Brendan
Published: July 2012

Situated in the northernmost part of Mozambique, the northern Querimbas Islands support some of the most diverse and pristine coral reefs in the Western Indian Ocean. The community-based turtle conservation programme that we developed on Vamizi Island has facilitated the identification and protection of a key nesting site for the green marine turtle Chelonia mydas in Mozambique, with a mean of 122 nests per year. The area is also used by nesting female and immature hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata. Nesting activity of green turtles was observed all year round, with a peak in the summer (February–March). Incubation periods of this species showed seasonal fluctuations inversely correlated with air temperature. Hatching success was high (87%) when nests were not lost through tidal overwash and erosion, which affected nearly 40% of all nests in 2007. Using satellite tracking of four green turtles nesting on Vamizi we identified foraging grounds in marine protected areas in Kenya, Tanzania and north-west Madagascar. Migratory routes of two individuals along the East African coast were generally neritic and all passed through the waters of multiple nations and as many as six marine conservation areas, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation. Awareness programmes were also conducted with resource users, and the development of a community-based management system triggered the creation of a marine sanctuary by the local community.
Benefits and Employment: How Problem Drug Users Experience Welfare and Routes into Work
Authors: BAULD LINDA , MCKELL JENNIFER , CARROLL COLIN , HAY GORDON , SMITH KATHERINE
Published: July 2012

Increasing the conditionality of welfare benefits is a growing trend in many developed countries, particularly in relation to some groups who may be perceived as undeserving of state support. Problem drug users (PDUs) are one such group, and in the UK most PDUs do not work and a high proportion claim benefits. Facilitating the movement of these individuals into employment is a policy aim, because it is believed to improve the circumstances of drug users (and promote future abstinence) and because moving all groups off benefits and into work is a primary purpose of recent welfare reforms. Yet little is known about the interactions of PDUs with the UK benefits system or how recent moves to increase the conditionality of benefits are likely to affect this vulnerable group. This paper begins to address this gap by exploring the perceptions that PDUs and relevant frontline staff have of drug users’ interactions with the welfare system and the factors affecting their prospects for employment. The findings suggest some aspects of recent welfare reforms, notably the simplification of benefits, may help PDUs interact with the system. However, the data also reinforce claims that the increased use of sanctions is unlikely to succeed in improving employment rates amongst this group without intensive support and demand-side interventions.
The 2010 UK Home Office ‘Sexualisation of Young People’ Review: A Discursive Policy Analysis
Authors: DUSCHINSKY ROBBIE
Published: July 2012

This paper offers a discursive policy analysis of the 2010 UK Home OfficeSexualisation of Young People Review, authored by Linda Papadopoulos (2010a). It will scrutinise the narrative presented by the text of the danger posed by cultural representations to healthy development, and trace the way that the text links this danger to catastrophic outcomes: child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Examining this narrative, the article will propose that the UK Review deploys spatial metaphors to naturalise a gendered account of childhood, sexuality and danger, evoking the creeping influence of a corrupting culture on a girl's most private self. The article will also demonstrate that this spatial narrative underpins the epistemological structure of the text – its separation of the primary from the secondary, the real from the artificial.
Towards Inclusive Social Citizenship? Rethinking China's Social Security in the Trend towards Urban–Rural Harmonisation
Authors: SHI SHIH-JIUNN
Published: July 2012

Urban–rural harmonisation has risen to prominence in recent social security reform in China. This article offers an account of the changing welfare institutions and social citizenship configurations unfolded by this particular policy approach. As social activism gained substantial weight as part of the regional developmental strategies of local governments, harmonisation efforts have led to a boundary shift of social citizenship largely defined by the within–without criterion rather than the urban–rural divide. In places where urban–rural harmonisation takes hold, the pivotal criterion for claiming social benefits is the possession of local resident status, regardless of whether this status is urban or rural. The heterogeneity of regional social security developments resulting from social decentralisation also calls attention to the ‘variable geometry’ of institutional change, i.e. various social policy domains manifest diverse degrees of institutional dynamics towards harmonisation. In this light, urban–rural harmonisation is likely to trigger competitive solidarity in terms of regional competition and emulation in economic development and social provision, leading to regional disparities that will shape the future contours of social policy and social citizenship in China.
Association of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and weather factors in Junan County, China: a case-crossover study
Authors: LIU J. , XUE F. Z. , WANG J. Z. , LIU Q. Y.
Published: July 2012

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a type of vector-borne zoonosis sensitive to climate change. To explore the short-term effect of air temperature and amount of precipitation on HFRS incidence, a total of 13 722 clinically confirmed HFRS cases from January 1977 to December 2001 in Junan County, China were included in this study. According to symmetric bidirectional case-crossover design, the hazard period (the three calendar months preceding the month when the case was diagnosed) and the control period (the same calendar month of the year before and the year after the hazard period) matched and conditional logistic regression was used to examine the effect of monthly mean temperature and precipitation on the risk of HFRS. The results showed the facilitating climatic conditions for HFRS included: condition with moderate mean air temperature (10–25 °C) and abundant precipitation (>120 mm) 3 months before [odds ratio (OR) 1·346, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·191–1·522] and 2 months before (OR 1·193, 95% CI 1·063–1·339); and condition with temperature >25 °C and abundant precipitation (>120 mm) 3 months before (OR 1·17, 95% CI 1·004–1·363). Temperature of 10–25 °C and moderate precipitation (10–120 mm) in the current month was the most favourable condition for HFRS incidence.
Pre-symptomatic transmission of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009: investigation of a family cluster, Brazil
Authors: FREITAS F. T. M. , CABRAL A. P. S. , BARROS E. N. C. , BURIGO M. J. O. , PROCHNOW R. D. , SILVA L. A. , WIDDOWSON M. A. , SOBEL J.
Published: July 2012

We investigated the first cluster of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 reported in Brazil in May 2009. The index case-patient had travelled from the USA and had contact with 11 relatives before she presented with symptoms. We conducted face-to-face or telephone interviews with the index case-patient and all suspect cases. We found evidence of pre-symptomatic transmission of the virus to four of her contacts. This finding has public health implications because it indicates that viral transmission in communities may not be prevented solely by isolating symptomatic case-patients.
The live bird trade in Brazil and its conservation implications: an overview
Authors: NÓBREGA ALVES RÔMULO ROMEU , DE FARIAS LIMA JOSÉ RIBAMAR , ARAUJO HELDER FARIAS P.
Published: July 2012

Brazil’s rich biological and cultural diversity makes it an exceptional location for examining the commerce in live wild birds and its implications for conservation. This paper catalogues the live bird species being traded in Brazil, characterises the trade in these animals, and discusses the implications for avian conservation. In spite of being illegal, capturing and selling birds is still a very common practice in Brazil and involves many actors who make up part of a large commercial network that distributes wild animals to every corner of the country. Our survey revealed that at least 295 bird species are illegally sold as pets in Brazil, with estimates derived from this data pointing to a total of more than 400 species - about 23% of the number of extant bird species in the country. Of the bird species recorded, two were classified as “Critically Endangered”, nine as “Endangered”, six as “Vulnerable”, and 19 as “Near Threatened” according to the most recent IUCN Red List. Most of the species recorded in this study as being widely bought and sold (including on the international market) are not listed by CITES even though many of them are in fact threatened. In light of the widespread illegal trade in wild birds in Brazil and the conservation implications for the species involved, there is an urgent need for actions that can control these activities. Steps should be taken to address the illegal traffic directly and these must include monitoring, law enforcement, effective sentencing (including deterrent sentences), targeting end-users, captive breeding, and education at all levels, taking into account the cultural, economic, social, and ecological aspects of the human populations involved.
COMPENDIUM: a text summarisation tool for generating summaries of multiple purposes, domains, and genres
Authors: LLORET ELENA , PALOMAR MANUEL
Published: July 2012

In this paper, we present a Text Summarisation tool,compendium, capable of generating the most common types of summaries. Regarding the input, single- and multi-document summaries can be produced; as the output, the summaries can be extractive or abstractive-oriented; and finally, concerning their purpose, the summaries can be generic, query-focused, or sentiment-based. The proposed architecture forcompendiumis divided in various stages, making a distinction between core and additional stages. The former constitute the backbone of the tool and are common for the generation of any type of summary, whereas the latter are used for enhancing the capabilities of the tool. The main contributions ofcompendiumwith respect to the state-of-the-art summarisation systems are that (i) it specifically deals with the problem of redundancy, by means of textual entailment; (ii) it combines statistical and cognitive-based techniques for determining relevant content; and (iii) it proposes an abstractive-oriented approach for facing the challenge of abstractive summarisation. The evaluation performed in different domains and textual genres, comprising traditional texts, as well as texts extracted from the Web 2.0, shows thatcompendiumis very competitive and appropriate to be used as a tool for generating summaries.
THE PRIORITY OF RESPECT OVER REPAIR
Authors: Keating Gregory C.
Published: July 2012

Contemporary tort theory is dominated by a debate between legal economists and corrective-justice theorists. Legal economists suppose that tortfeasors and tortious wrongs are false targets for cheapest cost-avoiders and avoidable future losses. Corrective-justice theorists argue powerfully that the economic account of tort as search for cheapest cost-avoiders with respect to future accidents does not capture the most fundamental fact about tort adjudication, namely, that the reason we hold defendants liable in tort is that they have wronged their victims and should therefore repair the harm they have done. Deterring cheapest cost-avoiders from committing future harms no more justifies imposing liability in tort than deterring future crime justifies hanging the innocent. This is a powerful critique of the economic theory of tort, but it overshoots the mark. As an account of tort law, corrective justice puts the cart before the horse Tort is a law of wrongs, not just a law of redress for wrongs. Repairing harm wrongly done is the next best way of complying with an obligation not to do harm wrongly in the first place. Rights and remedies form a unity in which rights have priority. Corrective justice is thus an essential but subordinate aspect of tort. This paper develops this line of criticism of corrective-justice theory and offers an alternative account of tort that places primary norms of harm avoidance and respect for rights at its center. On this conception, tort is—as the corrective-justice theorists rightly insist—a law of wrongs, but its distinctiveness lies in the content and character of the wrongs with which it is concerned. At its core, tort is concerned with protecting essential conditions of individual agency.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for depression in advanced Parkinson's disease: a case illustration
Authors: Richardson Thomas , Marshall Ann
Published: July 2012

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with significant symptoms of depression. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective for depression in PD. However, much of the previous research focuses on working with younger adults in the earlier stages of the disease, despite evidence for greater risk of depression when PD symptoms are more severe. This paper provides a case illustration of using CBT for depression with an 84-year-old man with advanced PD. The results of an assessment are described and a psychological formulation is presented. The specific adaptations made to the therapy and illustrations of the content of therapy are discussed. This intervention resulted in improvements in global mental health and moderate reductions in depression. However, there was no effect on anxiety. This case highlights the complexity of conducting CBT with this population, and further research is needed to determine the modifications necessary to make such interventions effective.
Government quality, egalitarianism, and attitudes to taxes and social spending: a European comparison
Authors: Svallfors Stefan
Published: July 2012

The paper analyses how perceptions of government quality – in terms of impartiality and efficiency – impact on attitudes to taxes and social spending. It builds on data from the European Social Survey 2008 from 29 European countries. The paper shows a large degree of congruence between expert-based judgments and the general public's perceptions of the quality of government. It also shows that the quality of government has a clear, independent effect on attitudes to taxes and spending, so that people who perceive institutions as efficient and fair want higher taxes and spending. But government quality also conditions the impact of egalitarianism on attitudes to taxes and spending: in high-quality-of-government egalitarianism has a clearly stronger impact on these attitudes. It is concluded that government quality is an important and so far neglected factor in explaining attitudes to welfare policies.
The ocean in near equilibrium with atmospheric methyl bromide
Authors: Hu Lei , Yvon‐Lewis Shari , Liu Yina , Bianchi Thomas S.
Published: July 2012

Saturation‐anomaly measurements of methyl bromide (CH3Br) were made in the eastern Pacific (3/30–4/27, 2010) and the eastern Atlantic (10/25–11/26, 2010) to assess the oceanic saturation state as the phaseout of fumigation ‐ non‐Quarantine and Pre‐Shipment (non‐QPS) uses of CH3Br nears completion and atmospheric concentrations continue to decline. These cruises occurred 16 years after the Bromine Latitudinal Air‐Sea Transect (BLAST) cruises, which were conducted in the same regions and first established a global oceanic net sink of −12.6 Gg yr−1 for atmospheric CH3Br in 1994. Results from this study suggest saturation anomalies of CH3Br in the surface ocean have become less negative than those observed 16 years ago as the atmospheric burden has declined over the past decade. The global net sea‐to‐air flux was estimated at 0 to 3 Gg yr−1 in 2010, suggesting that the ocean may become a net small source to atmospheric CH3Br. There are no significant differences between this study and previous studies for measured biological loss rate constants and calculated annual production rates, suggesting that annual production rates and biological degradation rate constants for CH3Br in the surface ocean have likely remained relatively constant over the past 16 years. When including the biological loss rate constants from this study and all previous studies, the mean global biological loss rate constant is constrained to 0.05 ± 0.01 d−1 (at a 95% confidence level). Combining chemical and eddy degradation rate constants, and using an updated gas transfer velocity, we estimate the CH3Br partial atmospheric lifetime with respect to oceanic loss to be 3.1 (2.3 to 5.0) years. Although the new partial atmospheric lifetime is about 1.3 years longer than the best prior estimate, it does not change the overall atmospheric lifetime of CH3Br, 0.8 (0.7–0.9) years.
Runoff generation in a steep, tropical montane cloud forest catchment on permeable volcanic substrate
Authors: Muñoz‐Villers Lyssette E. , McDonnell Jeffrey J.
Published: July 2012

Most studies to date in the humid tropics have described a similar pattern of rapid translation of rainfall to runoff via overland flow and shallow subsurface stormflow. However, study sites have been few overall, and one particular system has received very little attention so far: tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) on volcanic substrate. While TMCFs provide critical ecosystem services, our understanding of runoff generation processes in these environments is limited. Here, we present a study aimed at identifying the dominant water sources and pathways and mean residence times of soil water and streamflow for a first‐order, TMCF catchment on volcanic substrate in central eastern Mexico. During a 6‐week wetting‐up cycle in the 2009 wet season, total rainfall was 1200 mm and storm event runoff ratios increased progressively from 11 to 54%. With the increasing antecedent wetness conditions, our isotope and chemical‐based hydrograph separation analysis showed increases of pre‐event water contributions to the storm hydrograph, from 35 to 99%. Stable isotope‐based mean residence times estimates showed that soil water aged only vertically through the soil profile from 5 weeks at 30 cm depth to 6 months at 120 cm depth. A preliminary estimate of 3 years was obtained for base flow residence time. These findings all suggest that shallow lateral pathways are not the controlling processes in this tropical forest catchment; rather, the high permeability of soils and substrate lead to vertical rainfall percolation and recharge of deeper layers, and rainfall‐runoff responses appeared to be dominated by groundwater discharge from within the hillslope.
A method to improve satellite soil moisture retrievals based on Fourier analysis
Authors: Du Jinyang
Published: July 2012

Knowledge of the spatial distribution and temporal changes of the global soil moisture for a long period of time is crucial to the understanding of climate changes and hydrological processes. By applying Fourier analysis to the time‐series observations from the space‐borne passive microwave sensors, this paper proposes a method to extract the high‐frequency part of the satellite observed signals that reflect the soil moisture changes and help to generate the historical soil moisture datasets with an improved accuracy. The method is applied to the observations from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR‐E). Validations using field sampled soil moisture from two watersheds in the U.S. indicate that the method can effectively improve the sensitivity of current National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) soil moisture products to the temporal changes of the surface soil moisture, with the correlation coefficients of the retrievals and measurements increased from 0.462 to 0.595 and 0.403 to 0.613 for the two watersheds, respectively.
Asymmetric magnetosphere deformation driven by hot flow anomaly(ies)
Authors: Šafránková J. , Goncharov O. , Němeček Z. , Přech L. , Sibeck D. G.
Published: July 2012

We present a case study of a large deformation of the magnetopause on November 26, 2008. The investigation is based on observations of five THEMIS spacecraft located at the dawn flank in the magnetosphere and magnetosheath, on Cluster measurements at the dusk magnetosheath, and is supported by ACE solar wind monitoring. The main revelation of our study is that the interaction of the IMF discontinuity with the bow shock creates either one very elongated hot flow anomaly (HFA) or a pair of them that is (are) simultaneously observed at both flanks. Whereas the dusk HFA is weak and does not cause observable deformation of the magnetopause, the pressure variations connected with the dawn HFA lead to a magnetopause displacement by ≈5 RE outward from its nominal position. This is followed by a rapid inward motion of the magnetopause ≈4 RE inward with respect to the model location. The surface deformation is so large that the outermost THEMIS spacecraft was in the magnetosphere, whereas the spacecraft located 9 RE inbound entered into the magnetosheath at the same time. The whole event lasted about 5 minutes.
Test of Shi et al. method to infer the magnetic reconnection geometry from spacecraft data: MHD simulation with guide field and antiparallel kinetic simulation
Authors: Denton R. E. , Sonnerup B. U. Ö. , Swisdak M. , Birn J. , Drake J. F. , Hesse M.
Published: July 2012

When analyzing data from an array of spacecraft (such as Cluster or MMS) crossing a site of magnetic reconnection, it is desirable to be able to accurately determine the orientation of the reconnection site. If the reconnection is quasi‐two dimensional, there are three key directions, the direction of maximum inhomogeneity (the direction across the reconnection site), the direction of the reconnecting component of the magnetic field, and the direction of rough invariance (the “out of plane” direction). Using simulated spacecraft observations of magnetic reconnection in the geomagnetic tail, we extend our previous tests of the direction‐finding method developed by Shi et al. (2005) and the method to determine the structure velocity relative to the spacecraft Vstr. These methods require data from four proximate spacecraft. We add artificial noise and calibration errors to the simulation fields, and then use the perturbed gradient of the magnetic field B and perturbed time derivative dB/dt, as described by Denton et al. (2010). Three new simulations are examined: a weakly three‐dimensional, i.e., quasi‐two‐dimensional, MHD simulation without a guide field, a quasi‐two‐dimensional MHD simulation with a guide field, and a two‐dimensional full dynamics kinetic simulation with inherent noise so that the apparent minimum gradient was not exactly zero, even without added artificial errors. We also examined variations of the spacecraft trajectory for the kinetic simulation. The accuracy of the directions found varied depending on the simulation and spacecraft trajectory, but all the directions could be found within about 10° for all cases. Various aspects of the method were examined, including how to choose averaging intervals and the best intervals for determining the directions and velocity. For the kinetic simulation, we also investigated in detail how the errors in the inferred gradient directions from the unmodified Shi et al. method (using the unperturbed gradient) depended on the amplitude of the calibration errors. For an accuracy of 3° for the maximum gradient direction, the calibration errors could be as large as 3% of reconnection magnetic field, while for the same accuracy for the minimum gradient direction, the calibration errors could only be as large as 0.03% of the reconnection magnetic field. These results suggest that the maximum gradient direction can normally be determined by the unmodified Shi et al. method, while the modified method or some other method must be used to accurately determine the minimum gradient direction. The structure velocity was found with magnitude accurate to 2% and direction accurate to within 5%.
Southern Ocean fronts: Controlled by wind or topography?
Authors: Graham Robert M. , de Boer Agatha M. , Heywood Karen J. , Chapman Mark R. , Stevens David P.
Published: July 2012

The location of fronts has a direct influence on both the physical and biological processes in the Southern Ocean. Here we explore the relative importance of bottom topography and winds for the location of Southern Ocean fronts, using 100 years of a control and climate change simulation from the high resolution coupled climate model HiGEM. Topography has primary control on the number and intensity of fronts at each longitude. However, there is no strong relationship between the position or spacing of jets and underlying topographic gradients because of the effects of upstream and downstream topography. The Southern Hemisphere Westerlies intensify and shift south by 1.3° in the climate change simulation, but there is no comparable meridional displacement of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current's (ACC) path or the fronts within its boundaries, even over flat topography. Instead, the current contracts meridionally and weakens. North of the ACC, the Subtropical Front (STF) shifts south gradually, even over steep topographic ridges. We suggest the STF reacts more strongly to the wind shift because it is strongly surface intensified. In contrast, fronts within the ACC are more barotropic and are therefore more sensitive to the underlying topography. An assessment of different methods for identifying jets reveals that maxima of gradients in the sea surface height field are the most reliable. Approximating the position of fronts using sea surface temperature gradients is ineffective at high latitudes while using sea surface height contours can give misleading results when studying the temporal variability of front locations.
Remote sensing observation and numerical modeling of an upwelling jet in Guangdong coastal water
Authors: Gu Yanzhen , Pan Jiayi , Lin Hui
Published: July 2012

An upwelling event that occurred in Guangdong coastal water on July 14–16, 2003 is observed by using satellite multisensor data including the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sea surface temperature (SST) and QuikSCAT ocean surface winds. Successive MODIS SST images reveal expansion process of a jet‐like upwelling cold water body in surface layer. The regional ocean model system (ROMS) is used to explore the upwelling dynamics. The modeling successfully reproduces the jet‐like shape of the surface upwelling water as well as the upwelling developing process. Analyses of modeling momentums reveal that the large offshore transport appeared on the west side of Honghai Bay as a result of high alongshore pressure gradient and nonlinear advections, and the enhanced horizontal advection also played an important role in developing the prominent upwelling in Honghai Bay. A numerical experiment is conducted to confirm that it was the wind driven upwelling rather than the wind‐induced vertical turbulent mixing that induced the surface cold water. Further numerical analyses suggest that strong internal tides occurred in Honghai Bay caused by the local bottom topography. The interaction between the upwelling and internal tides enhances the bottom water uplifting. The offshore expansion of the upwelling water is controlled by the cross‐shore topography slope: a gentle and offshore extended slope helps the bottom water climbing up to the surface in a wide range in cross‐shore direction, whereas a steep and narrow slope restricts the expansion of the upwelling water and confines the cold water in a narrow band along the shore.
The combined role of bay and shelf modes in tsunami amplification along the coast
Authors: Bellotti G. , Briganti R. , Beltrami G. M.
Published: July 2012

The role of free modes of oscillation of coastal areas in tsunami amplification at the coast is investigated here. A finite element numerical model for modal analysis was applied and the numerically calculated natural frequencies were compared to those resulting from the spectra of measured sea level time series. Two case studies have been selected: that of Poverty Bay (New Zealand); and that of Kuluk Bay (Adak Island, Alaska, USA). The natural modes of the sea areas that extend in front of these locations are shown to play an important role in tsunami amplification at both the considered bays. In fact, the enhancement of wave height is found to be related to both the small‐scale resonance controlled by the coastal shape, and the large‐scale one governed by the continental shelf bathymetry. In particular, the model application to Poverty Bay reveals that some of the continental shelf modes are more energetic and occur at frequencies higher than the bay fundamental one. These modes are identified as both cross‐shelf modes and trapped edge waves. On the other hand, the application to Kuluk Bay shows that geographical entrapment can be relevant for chain islands, making the bay and the continental shelf modes almost coincident.
Powering Ganymede's dynamo
Authors: Zhan X. , Schubert G.
Published: July 2012

It is generally believed that Ganymede's core is composed of an Fe‐FeS alloy and that convective motions inside it are responsible for generating the satellite's magnetic field. Analysis of the melting behavior of Fe‐FeS alloys at Ganymede's core pressures suggests that, besides the growth of a solid inner core, convection can be driven by two novel mechanisms: Fe snow and FeS flotation. To advance our understanding of magnetic field generation in Ganymede, we construct dynamo models in which deep inner core growth, Fe‐snow and FeS flotation drive convection. Although a dynamo can be found in each of these cases, the dynamos have different characteristics. For example, some dynamos are dipole dominant and others are not. It is found that multipole‐dominant magnetic fields are generated in all Fe‐snow cases, while dipole dominant dynamos are found in FeS flotation cases and in inner core growth cases. Ganymede's present dipole‐dominant magnetic field suggests that the Fe‐snow process does not play a primary role in driving Ganymede's core convection. The reason that Fe‐snow driven convection does not produce a dipole‐dominant dynamo can be related to the buoyancy flux. In Fe‐snow cases, the buoyancy source is located at the core‐mantle boundary (CMB), and the buoyancy flux peaks there, while in the other two cases, the buoyancy source is located at the inner core boundary where the buoyancy flux peaks.
Influence of temperature, composition, and grain size on the tensile failure of water ice: Implications for erosion on Titan
Authors: Litwin Kimberly L. , Zygielbaum Beth R. , Polito Peter J. , Sklar Leonard S. , Collins Geoffrey C.
Published: July 2012

Ice resistance to tensile fracture influences surface morphodynamics on outer planetary satellites such as Titan, yet measurements of tensile strength and fracture toughness of polycrystalline water ice at temperatures below terrestrial conditions (<220 K) have not been previously reported. We investigated these parameters from 260 K to 110 K using a walk‐in freezer, and chilling by dry ice and liquid nitrogen. We also investigated the influence of solid impurity concentration and the spread in crystal grain size distribution. Although fracture toughness showed no sensitivity to temperature, we find that tensile strength increases with decreasing temperature at 7 kPa K−1for all ice types tested. For pure water ice, samples made from uniform‐sized seed crystals were stronger than mixed‐grain‐size ice, suggesting that strength is limited by the coarse tail of the size distribution. Samples tested submerged in liquid ethanol were 0.45 MPa weaker than in air; increasing porosity reduced tensile strength. Tensile strength increased linearly with concentration of urea, basalt and ammonium sulfate. These results suggest that on Titan and other icy satellites, the tensile strength of fine‐grained polycrystalline water ice containing solid impurities may be several times greater than the 1 MPa value commonly used in modeling. For low strain rate processes where fracture propagation rather than fracture initiation limits strength, a temperature invariant fracture toughness of 0.15 MPa m1/2 is appropriate. Understanding ice diagenesis on Titan, and the resulting composition, grain size distribution, and porosity, is needed to accurately model surface processes that are limited by ice resistance to fracture.
On the importance of synthetic organic chemistry in drug discovery: reflections on the discovery of antidiabetic agent ertugliflozin
Authors: Mascitti Vincent , Thuma Benjamin A. , Smith Aaron C. , Robinson Ralph P. , Brandt Thomas , Kalgutkar Amit S. , Maurer Tristan S. , Samas Brian , Sharma Raman
Published: July 2012

The discovery of antidiabetic agent ertugliflozin is described. In this article, emphasis is placed on the critical role that organic synthesis played in influencing our medicinal chemistry strategy.
Evaluation of green tea by-product and green tea plus probiotics on the growth performance, meat quality and immunity of growing–finishing pigs
Authors: Hossain M. E. , Ko S. Y. , Park K. W. , Firman J. D. , Yang C. J.
Published: July 2012

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of green tea by-product (GTB) and green tea plus probiotics (GT+P) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood parameters and immunity of growing–finishing pigs. In total, 80 crossbreed growing pigs were assigned to receive four dietary treatments for a period of 8 weeks. The dietary treatments were a basal diet (control), basal diet supplemented with 0.003% chlortetracycline (antibiotic), basal diet with 0.5% GTB (GTB) and basal diet containing 0.5% GT+P (GT+P). The results of our study indicated that bodyweight gain increased (P < 0.05) in response to the addition of GT+P to the basal diet. Crude protein and crude ash content, and shear values of loin meat were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the GT+P group, although moisture and juiciness were decreased (P < 0.05). The GTB group had higher (P < 0.05) serum glucose concentrations, whereas the GT+P exhibited lower (P < 0.05) insulin concentrations. The values of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances of fresh loin meat and meat that had been preserved for 1 week were lower (P < 0.05) in the GT+P group than those of the control and GTB groups. The growth of spleen cells incubated in concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) medium was statistically higher (P < 0.05) for the GT+P group than for the GTB or antibiotic group. IL-6 and TNF-α production by spleen cells induced by Con A and LPS was increased in the GTB and GT+P group (P < 0.05) compared with the antibiotic group. Taken together, the results of the present study indicated that GT+P exerts positive effects on weight gain, meat composition, blood parameters and immunity in pigs, and could be used as an alternative to antibiotics for growing–finishing pig feeds.
A comparison of slaughter performance and meat quality of pigs immunised with a gonadotrophin-releasing factor vaccine against boar taint with physically castrated pigs
Authors: Yuan Y. L. , Li J. L. , Zhang W. H. , Li C. , Gao F. , Zhou G. H.
Published: July 2012

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) on carcass characteristics and meat quality and back fat quality. In total, 400 healthy male pigs were randomly assigned into two treatment groups: physically castrated males (CM) and vaccinated males (IM). CM pigs were physically castrated within 3 days of age. IM pigs received the GnRF vaccine twice, at 14 and 21 weeks of age. At the end of the experiment, 20 pigs of each treatment were weighed individually and slaughtered at 25 weeks of age. The longissimus muscle was collected to evaluate the meat quality including pH, drip loss, shear force, cooking loss, intramuscular fat, fatty acid composition and inosine monophosphate. Subcutaneous fat was sampled to evaluate fatty acid composition. IM pigs had a lower dressing percentage and were leaner (P < 0.01). The inosine monophosphate content was higher in pork from IM pigs than from CM pigs (P < 0.05). IM pigs had a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in longissimus muscles than CM pigs (P < 0.01), mostly because of the higher linoleic acid content (P < 0.01). IM pigs had higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids in subcutaneous fat than CM pigs (P < 0.01), mostly because of the higher linoleic acid and linolenic acid (P < 0.01) and the lower myristic acid content (P < 0.01). There were no adverse effects of the GnRF vaccine on slaughter performance and meat quality of pigs. These results suggest that GnRF vaccine administered to pigs increases the inosine monophosphate content in longissimus muscles and the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in longissimus muscles and back fat. Consequently, vaccination with Improvac for boar taint control will provide a good alternative to physical castration of male pigs.
The structure of a cattle stud determined using a medium density single nucleotide polymorphism array
Authors: Harrison Blair E. , Bunch Rowan J. , McCulloch Russell , Williams Paul , Sim Warren , Corbet Nick J. , Barendse William
Published: July 2012

Genetic progress depends on accurate knowledge of the genetic composition of a population or herd including level of inbreeding and parentage. However, in many circumstances, such as at an individual property level, the relationships between animals may be unknown, or at best, only partly known. In this study, we used DNA from 938 animals and genotypes from ~54 000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) to determine the genetic structure of a stud from Central Queensland. Animals on the study were bred using multi-sire mating in mobs of composite tropically adapted cattle of the Senepol, Belmont and Bonsmara breeds. Following genotyping using an array of 54 000 SNP, we were able to separate animals into breed groups using principal components and show that ~400 SNP were sufficient to separate animals into stable groups if the sample was genetically diverse. However, precise principal component values were only achieved when a few thousand SNP were used. We characterised the pedigree relationships between individuals using a genome relationship matrix. At least 3000 SNP were required to calculate accurate relationship coefficients between individuals. Around 19% of paired comparisons between animals showed similarity equivalent to sharing a great-grandparent or 1/64 shared ancestry. Approximately 8% of the individuals showed more than 10% inbreeding. To demonstrate the utility of calculating the relationship coefficients, we counted the tick burden on each animal at more than one time and then calculated the heritability of tick burden of h2 = 0.46 (±0.08). There was no significant genetic difference in tick burden between Belmont and Bonsmara cattle compared with Senepol on this property once a genetic relationship matrix was included to account for co-ancestry of individuals.
Adding condensed tannins to the diet increases ovulation rate in sheep
Authors: Banchero G. , Vázquez A. , Vera M. , Quintans G.
Published: July 2012

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether adding condensed tannins (T) to the diet of sheep increases ovulation rate (OR). In all, 281 mature Polwarth ewes (49.9 ± 6.0 kg and body condition score (BCS) of 2.02 ± 0.24 units) were heat-synchronised (oestrus = Day 1) and sorted in the following four treatment diets: (1) native pasture alone (82.6 g of CP and 8.4 MJ metabolisable energy (ME)/kg DM) (NP; n = 70); (2) native pasture (NP) plus a supplement of 0.45 kg of soybean meal (S) from Day 10 to Day 14 (NP+S; n = 71); (3) NP plus a supplement of 0.45 kg S and 25 g of T, to get an estimated concentration of T in the diet of 1.5% (NP+S+1.5T; n = 69); and (4) NP plus a supplement of 0.45 kg S and 42 g of T, to get a concentration of T of 2.5% (NP+S+2.5T; n = 71). OR was measured 8 days after the second heat by rectal ultrasound (Day 25). The estimated consumption of crude protein (CP) during the supplementation period was 129, 261, 237 and 200 g/ewe.day for NP, NP+S, NP+S+1.5T and NP+S+2.5T ewes, respectively. NP+S+1.5T ewes had an OR of 1.90, which was higher (P < 0.05) than those for NP+S+2.5T and NP+S ewes (1.68 and 1.70, respectively). All supplemented ewes had a higher OR than did NP ewes (1.48, P < 0.05). Although NP+S+1.5T ewes ate less protein than did NP+S ewes, their OR was higher, as a result of a more effective use of the protein. The higher concentrations of 2.5% T in the diet might have not evoked a response in OR.