bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining Social Adaptations in a Volatile Landscape in Northern Mongolia via the Agent-Based Model Ger Grouper
Authors: Clark Julia , Crabtree Stefani
Published: March 2015

The environment of the mountain-steppe-taiga of northern Mongolia is often characterized as marginal because of the high altitude, highly variable precipitation levels, low winter temperatures, and periodic droughts coupled with severe winter storms (known as dzuds). Despite these conditions, herders have inhabited this landscape for thousands of years, and hunter-gatherer-fishers before that. One way in which the risks associated with such a challenging and variable landscape are mitigated is through social networks and inter-family cooperation. We present an agent-based simulation, Ger Grouper, to examine how households have mitigated these risks through cooperation. The Ger Grouper simulation takes into account locational decisions of households, looks at fission/fusion dynamics of households and how those relate to environmental pressures, and assesses how degrees of relatedness can influence sharing of resources during harsh winters. This model, coupled with the traditional archaeological and ethnographic methods, helps shed light on the links between early Mongolian pastoralist adaptations and the environment. While preliminary results are promising, it is hoped that further development of this model will be able to characterize changing land-use patterns as social and political networks developed.
Composite Behavior of a Novel Insulated Concrete Sandwich Wall Panel Reinforced with GFRP Shear Grids: Effects of Insulation Types
Authors: Kim JunHee , You Young-Chan
Published: March 2015

A full-scale experimental program was used in this study to investigate the structural behavior of novel insulated concrete sandwich wall panels (SWPs) reinforced with grid-type glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) shear connectors. Two kinds of insulation-expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) with 100 mm thickness were incased between the two concrete wythes to meet the increasing demand for the insulation performance of building envelope. One to four GFRP shear grids were used to examine the degree of composite action of the two concrete wythes. Ten specimens of SWPs were tested under displacement control subjected to four-point concentrated loads. The test results showed that the SWPs reinforced with GFRP grids as shear connectors developed a high degree of composite action resulting in high flexural strength. The specimens with EPS foam exhibited an enhanced load-displacement behavior compared with the specimens with XPS because of the relatively stronger bond between insulation and concrete. In addition, the ultimate strength of the test results was compared to the analytical prediction with the mechanical properties of only GRFP grids. The specimens with EPS insulation presented higher strength-based composite action than the ones with XPS insulation.
Hybridisation Potential of 1',3'-Di-O-methylaltropyranoside Nucleic Acids
Authors: Venkatesham Akkaladevi , Kachare Dhuldeo , Schepers Guy , Rozenski Jef , Froeyen Mathy , Van Aerschot Arthur
Published: March 2015

In further study of our series of six-membered ring-containing nucleic acids, different 1',3'-di-O-methyl altropyranoside nucleoside analogs (DMANA) were synthesized comprising all four base moieties, adenine, cytosine, uracil and guanine. Following assembly into oligonucleotides (ONs), their affinity for natural oligonucleotides was evaluated by thermal denaturation of the respective duplexes. Data were compared with results obtained previously for both anhydrohexitol (HNAs) and 3'-O-methylated altrohexitol modified ONs (MANAs). We hereby demonstrate that ONs modified with DMANA monomers, unlike some of our previously described analogues with constrained 6-membered hexitol rings, did not improve thermodynamic stability of dsRNA complexes, most probably in view of an energetic penalty when forced in the required 1C4 pairing conformation. Overall, a single incorporation was more or less tolerated or even positive for the adenine congener, but incorporation of a second modification afforded a slight destabilization (except for A), while a fully modified sequence displayed a thermal stability of −0.3 °C per modification. The selectivity of pairing remained very high, and the new modification upon incorporation into a DNA strand, strongly destabilized the corresponding DNA duplexes. Unfortunately, this new modification does not bring any advantage to be further evaluated for antisense or siRNA applications.
Institutional Interplay in Natural Resources Governance: Toward a Sub-Sectoral Approach for Medicinal Plants Management in Bangladesh
Authors: Shahidullah A. , Mohiuddin Helal , Haque C.
Published: March 2015

Recognizing the significance of medicinal plants for rural livelihoods and primary healthcare, this paper attempted to analyze institutional interplays in medicinal plants management in Bangladesh. It assessed the governing process of natural resources by identifying cross-scale linkages of the institutions involved with managing medicinal plants. The study intended to delineate the interactional patterns and dynamics between existing formal and informal organizations toward exploring prospects of new medicinal plants governance institutions. Employing case study and participatory approaches to empirical field investigation, two intervention cases of the Livelihood and Agro-Forestry (LEAF) and Sustainable Environmental Management Program (SEMP) were assessed in two different social-ecological settings of the country. Involving 45 respondents in each site, Focus Group Discussions were carried out, and a total of 26 Key Informants were interviewed. The findings have revealed that undefined roles and responsibilities, inadequate coordination, and weak linkages among the cross-scale institutions resulted in ineffective management and relatively poor performance. Institutions with direct or indirect involvement in the process of managing medicinal plants interacted haphazardly, without much focus on the subsector and its local producers. Addressing the weaknesses, this study calls for formulating a national sub-sectoral approach focusing on strengthening and sustaining local producers and value addition to producer levels. Finally, this research offers a framework for developing a multi-stakeholder forum to govern medicinal plant resources coherently and effectively in Bangladesh.
Meeting the Electrical Energy Needs of a Residential Building with a Wind-Photovoltaic Hybrid System
Authors: Mohammadnezami Mohammad , Ehyaei Mehdi , Rosen Marc , Ahmadi Mohammad
Published: March 2015

A complete hybrid system including a photovoltaic cell, a wind turbine, and battery is modeled to determine the best approach for sizing the system to meet the electrical energy needs of a residential building. In evaluating system performance, the city of Tehran is used as a case study. Matlab software is used for analyzing the data and optimizing the system for the given application. Further, the cost of the system design is investigated, and shows that the electrical cost of the hybrid system in Tehran is 0.62 US$/kWh, which is 78% less expensive than a wind turbine system and 34% less expensive than a photovoltaic system.
Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment: Evaluating Residential Development Sustainability in a Developing Country Context
Authors: Yigitcanlar Tan , Kamruzzaman Md. , Teriman Suharto
Published: March 2015

Rapid urbanization, improved quality of life, and diversified lifestyle options have collectively led to an escalation in housing demand in our cities, where residential areas, as the largest portion of urban land use type, play a critical role in the formation of sustainable cities. To date there has been limited research to ascertain residential development layouts that provide a more sustainable urban outcome. This paper aims to evaluate and compare sustainability levels of residential types by focusing on their layouts. The paper scrutinizes three different development types in a developing country context—i.e., subdivision, piecemeal, and master-planned developments. This study develops a “Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment” tool and applies it to compare their sustainability levels in Ipoh, Malaysia. The analysis finds that the master-planned development, amongst the investigated case studies, possesses the potential to produce higher levels of sustainability outcomes. The results reveal insights and evidence for policymakers, planners, development agencies and researchers; advocate further studies on neighborhood-level sustainability analysis, and; emphasize the need for collective efforts and an effective process in achieving neighborhood sustainability and sustainable city formation.
Exploring the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem in Spatial Water Assessments: A Case of Water Shortage in Monsoon Asia
Authors: Salmivaara Aura , Porkka Miina , Kummu Matti , Keskinen Marko , Guillaume Joseph , Varis Olli
Published: March 2015

Water shortage (availability per capita) is a key indicator of vulnerability to water scarcity. Spatial datasets enable the assessment of water shortage on multiple scales. The use of river basins and subbasins as analysis and management units is currently commonplace. An important but less acknowledged fact is that spatial assessments are strongly influenced by the choice of the unit of analysis due to the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). Climate conditions, agricultural activities, and access to groundwater also influence water availability and demand. In this study, a total of 21 different criteria were used to define areal units of analysis, i.e., zonings, for which water shortage was calculated. Focusing on Monsoon Asia, where water scarcity is a pressing problem, we found that zoning had a considerable impact, resulting in up to three-fold differences in the population under high water shortage (<1000 m3/cap/year), ranging from 782 million to 2.11 billion. In most zonings, however, the Indus and Yellow River Basins and northwest parts of India and China are under high water shortage. The study indicates that a multizonal and multiscale analysis is needed to minimize skewed or even misleading information that might be produced when using only one zoning.
La dynamique spatiale des populations marocaines (The movements of population in Morocco)
Authors: Escallier Robert
Published: March 2015

Le Maroc compte environ 21 millions d'habitants au dernier recensement de 1982. Cet article étudie d'abord la répartition et les mouvements de la population rurale (11,7 M) par types de régions. Il étudie ensuite l'augmentation de la population urbaine (43 % contre 35% en 1971) et discute la validité des chiffres officiels.
Methods for Ensuring High Quality of Coding of Cause of Death
Authors: Startsev N. , Dimov P. , Grosche B. , Tretyakov F. , Schüz J. , Akleyev A.
Published: March 2015

Background: To follow up populations exposed to several radiation accidents in the Southern Urals, a cause-of-death registry was established at the Urals Center capturing deaths in the Chelyabinsk, Kurgan and Sverdlovsk region since 1950.

Objectives: When registering deaths over such a long time period, quality measures need to be in place to maintain quality and reduce the impact of individual coders as well as quality changes in death certificates.

Methods: To ensure the uniformity of coding, a method for semi-automatic coding was developed, which is described here. Briefly, the method is based on a dynamic thesaurus, database-supported coding and parallel coding by two different individuals.

Results: A comparison of the proposed method for organizing the coding process with the common procedure of coding showed good agreement, with, at the end of the coding process, 70 – 90% agreement for the three-digit ICD -9 rubrics.

Conclusions: The semi-automatic method ensures a sufficiently high quality of coding by at the same time providing an opportunity to reduce the labor intensity inherent in the creation of large-volume cause-of-death registries.
L'harmonisation des délais de préavis
Authors: Knaepen Pauline
Published: March 2015

Il existe de nombreuses différences de statut entre les employés et les ouvriers. Notamment, en cas de préavis, les premiers bénéficient d’un délai supérieur à celui qui s’applique aux seconds. Née il y a un siècle, cette situation est dénoncée par les syndicats depuis plusieurs décennies. Régulièrement, la question de l’harmonisation des statuts des deux catégories de travailleurs salariés revient à l’agenda du gouvernement fédéral ou des interlocuteurs sociaux. Depuis quelques années, le dossier a pris une importance accrue. La crise économique a amené tout à la fois à favoriser la compétitivité des entreprises en diminuant le coût du licenciement des employés et à augmenter la protection des ouvriers contre les risques de chômage. Surtout, par son arrêt du 7 juillet 2011, la Cour constitutionnelle a déclaré que la distinction établie en matière de délais de préavis est inconstitutionnelle. Elle a donc enjoint à l’Autorité fédérale d’intervenir, pour le 8 juillet 2013 au plus tard, afin de supprimer toute différence de traitement sur ce point. Le gouvernement Di Rupo a chargé les interlocuteurs sociaux d’élaborer une proposition de solution. Le processus s’avère complexe, syndicats et organisations patronales défendant des positions antagonistes. En outre, il devra tenir compte de diverses contraintes juridiques et trancher plusieurs débats sensibles, dont celui relatif à une éventuelle extension du régime de protection contre le licenciement abusif.
Y a-t-il une bonne échelle locale ?
Authors: Béhar Daniel , Lévy Jacques , Béja Alice , Padis Marc-Olivier
Published: March 2015

Chaque territoire est doté de ressources objectives (notamment économiques) et subjectives (identité, culture...) : mais à l’heure où nos vies quotidiennes se déroulent en réseaux, entre plusieurs lieux, plusieurs usages, existe-t-il un découpage territorial qui permette de fédérer ces ramifications ? Et qu’en est-il de la représentation politique, qui peut difficilement exister sans périmètre territorial ?
Le paysan et le philosophe : José Bové et Jacques Ellul
Authors: Jacob Jean
Published: March 2015

Figure marquante des altermondialistes, José Bové (né en 1953) a été très influencé par la pensée et l’action de l’universitaire français Jacques Ellul ( 1912-1994) dont on colporte paresseusement une image surfaite de penseur libertaire. Comme ce dernier, José Bové déplore la place prise par la technique dans le monde contemporain et ne croit guère au pouvoir des hommes politiques. Cependant, on omet généralement de rappeler que la position de Jacques Ellul sur le monde contemporain traduit surtout, en dépit des apparences sociologiques, l’exaspération d’un croyant qui ne tolère pas que l’homme veuille affirmer son autonomie sur terre. C’est pourquoi il condamne tout particulièrement le politique. Car, en effet, c’est au sein de cet espace que l’homme est le plus tenté d’affirmer sa subjectivité, sa pleine souveraineté, sans se soucier de Dieu. Dans quelle mesure retrouve-t-on cette défiance du politique chez José Bové?
Cybergéopolitique : de l'utilité des cybermenaces
Authors: Nieto Gómez Rodrigo
Published: March 2015

Les scénarios de cybersécurité aux États-Unis sont très influencés par les représentations géopolitiques de vulnérabilité et de menace qui sont un frein à l’esprit d’innovation très répandu sur le Net et, de ce fait, contrarient l’esprit d’entreprise propre aux États-Unis. Ces politiques de sécurisation ont été explicitement rejetées par de très nombreux membres de la communauté de la technologie d’information, qui voient le hacker comme l’archétype de la créativité sur Internet, et non comme un ennemi de l’État. Cet article développe les alternatives permettant de désécuriser le cyberespace, ce qui mènerait à une politique démocratique de cybersécurité. Cela rééquilibrerait l’écart entre les peurs et les faits, ce qui permettrait au citoyen-hacker de protéger les différents domaines du Net sans qu’il soit nécessaire de recourir à la politique de la terreur.
Ranger la Terre. Le nommage des domaines est-il l’expression d’une stratégie des États-Unis de domination des réseaux ?
Authors: Lacroix Dominique
Published: March 2015

Depuis la grande vague de libéralisation globale des années 1990, la stratégie états-unienne a consisté à pousser ses entreprises à conquérir le monde, par des moyens variés : standards, lois, facilités fiscales, commandes publiques (souvent militaires) et espionnage. En matière de nommage Internet, les entreprises états-uniennes, gagnantes au jeu dont elles ont inventé les règles, portent avec elles l’identité américaine projetée ainsi à travers le monde qu’elles tentent de réorganiser. Tout se passe pourtant comme si elles se heurtaient à des murs de résistance en Orient, des murs d’écritures.
Revendications sur le cyberespace et puissances émergentes
Authors: Ebert Hannes , Maurer Tim
Published: March 2015

Les États-Unis ont acquis une influence croissante au sein du cyberespace et y ont donc toujours joué un rôle de premier plan. Pourtant, les puissances émergentes, dont les BRICS (Brésil, Russie, Inde, Chine, Afrique du Sud), contestent de plus en plus fortement l’ordre établi. En 2011, Chine et Russie ont soumis à l’Organisation des Nations unies une proposition conjointe sur la sécurité des informations. Depuis leur déclaration de Brasilia en 2003, Inde, Brésil et Afrique du Sud s’intéressent de plus en plus à la société de l’information. Ces initiatives démontrent que le cyberespace est de plus en plus disputé. Cependant, cette divergence reste à expliquer. Les puissances émergentes contestent-elles le rôle des États-Unis en raison de leurs intérêts nationaux et de leur empressement à maximiser leur sécurité ? Ou des facteurs tels que valeurs et structures politiques expliqueraient-ils les différences de trajectoires par rapport à cette hégémonie ? Cet article examine les politiques étrangères des BRICS, de 1995 à ce jour, afin d’expliquer l’influence de l’histoire spécifique à chaque pays, du type de système politique, de même que l’augmentation des pressions de la société civile.
Analyse du profil des dirigeants des pme à brazzaville : cas des entreprises de service
Authors: Olekalo Rolland
Published: March 2015

Le rôle du dirigeant d’une entreprise est devenu un facteur clé de réussite pour une entreprise moderne. Dans la littérature du management, la question du rôle est abondamment développée car elle est au cœur de l’efficacité du "top-management" qui se distingue par le style de commandement. L’étude du rôle des dirigeants des entreprises de service à Brazzaville a permis d’identifier les caractéristiques de ces dirigeants et de déceler, par rapport, aux modèles de profils connus, à travers le diagnostic interne utilisé, les faiblesses que présentent ces dirigeants.
La gestion de la relation client dans les compagnies aeriennes congolaises : cas de la SNAC
Authors: Nguinda–Oyah Juste Christana Chanty
Published: March 2015

Le transport aérien est caractérisé par une concurrence qui révèle les forces et les faiblesses des compagnies aériennes qui assurent le transport en République du Congo. La performance commerciale et la compétitivité de ces compagnies sont problématiques au regard de la manière dont les clients sont gérés. Le problème se situe dans la non maîtrise des outils du marketing, notamment, la gestion de la relation client ( GRC ). L’étude de la SNAC est un cas pour comprendre comment cet outil fonctionne. L’analyse des composantes multiples est une méthode statistique qui a été utilisée pour identifier les problèmes stratégiques majeurs. À cet égard, il apparaît des faiblesses au niveau des compagnies aériennes. Les suggestions faites portent essentiellement sur les bonnes pratiques en matière de gestion de la relation client.
Problématique de financement bancaire de l'économie : expérience du Congo-Brazzaville
Authors: Tchamba Gilles Wilème
Published: March 2015

Le financement de l’économie révèle l’expression de l’efficacité du système bancaire dans sa fonction d’intermédiation entre les agents économiques épargnants et ceux qui ont des besoins de financement. À travers les crédits à l’économie, le système économique trouve là, un levier fondamental pour l’amélioration du produit intérieur brut. Dans ce cadre, l’expérience de l’économie congolaise révèle une situation atypique caractérisée par un secteur bancaire qui dispose de liquidés excédentaires qu’il ne parvient à pas employer alors que l’économie réelle du Congo connaît de sérieux problèmes de financement. Pour sortir le système bancaire de ses contreperformances, il faut l’amener à savoir : (1) se prémunir du risque ; (2) et permettre aux entreprises de garantir la bancabilité de leurs projets.
Impact de la dollarisation sur les activités économiques en ville de Butembo
Authors: Kambale Kapitene Héritier
Published: March 2015

Ce texte démontre l’effet de la dollarisation sur les activités économiques à Butembo. De 2007 à 2011, les prix ont été 4,86305 fois ceux du premier trimestre 2007 en augmentant de 386,3 % par rapport au premier trimestre 2007 et ont augmenté de 266,1 % par rapport au premier trimestre. Le taux de dollarisation affecte le taux de change en 87,73 %. Le taux d’inflation est expliqué en 50,57 % par celui de dollarisation. Les mécanismes de variations des prix des produits tiennent à un certain seuil sur l’usage de l’une ou de l’autre monnaie, entre le dollar américain et le franc congolais.
Nursing homes as a case for assessing Serious Games
Authors: Cohard Philippe , Marciniak Rolande
Published: March 2015

L’évaluation des serious games de formation (SG) est une étape cruciale pour garantir le succès de ces logiciels qui suscitent de la part des organisations, un intérêt grandissant. Les Etablissements d’Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes (EHPAD) d’une part, pâtissent d’un déficit d’image et d’autre part, leurs personnels ont un rythme de travail élevé. Les SG peuvent alors représenter une solution intéressante de formation. Le SG étudié utilise les technologies de la simulation 3D pour trois situations de formation à destination des personnels hôteliers et soignants des EHPAD : (1) l’accueil du résident, (2) la prise de repas et (3) le refus de soins. L’évaluation du SG est basée sur une approche qualitative permettant d’appréhender, par l’observation, les modalités de l’utilisation du serious game par les personnels et d’opérer une comparaison entre ce SG et les facteurs rapportés par la littérature sur les SG.
Transposition Surgery for Inferior Rectus Fibrosis
Authors: Al-Haddad Christiane E. , Abdulaal Marwan
Published: March 2015

Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles is a rare hereditary strabismus disorder. A case of congenital fibrosis of the inferior rectus muscles with severe chin-up posture and bilateral limitation of up gaze is reported. Bilateral large recessions of the tight inferior rectus muscles provided only partial improvement. Residual head posture and hypotropia were successfully corrected with bilateral horizontal rectus muscle transpositions toward the superior rectus muscles, despite persistently tight inferior rectus muscles at the time of surgery.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2015;52:e1–e3.]
Prostaglandin Release During Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery: Main Inducer
Authors: Schultz Tim , Joachim Stephanie C. , Stellbogen Mathias , Dick H. Burkhard
Published: March 2015

PURPOSE:

To investigate a possible correlation between intraocular prostaglandin concentrations and partial steps of laser-assisted cataract surgery.

METHODS:

Aqueous humor was collected from 67 patients after laser-assisted cataract surgery pretreatment (only capsulotomy, only fragmentation, or both) and at the beginning of routine cataract surgery. Total prostaglandin levels were measured in all four groups using an enzyme-linked immunoassay.

RESULTS:

Significantly higher levels of aqueous humor prostaglandins were detected right after the full treatment (capsulotomy and fragmentation [330.6 ± 110.6 pg/mL;
P
= .01] or only laser capsulotomy [362.4 ± 117.5 pg/mL;
P
= .01]), whereas the control group showed lower values (52.5 ± 8.1 pg/mL). By itself, laser-assisted cataract surgery fragmentation did not lead to a prostaglandin increase (186.8 ± 114.0 pg/mL;
P
= .14).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study identified the anterior capsulotomy as the main trigger for an increase of prostaglandins in the aqueous humor immediately after laser-assisted cataract surgery. Optimized energy settings in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might help reduce the phenomenon of laser-induced miosis.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2015;31(2):78–81.]
Stem-group stick insects (Phasmatodea) in the early Eocene at McAbee, British Columbia, Canada, and Republic, Washington, United States of America
Authors: Archibald S. Bruce , Bradler Sven
Published: March 2015

Stem-group Phasmatodea, known as the Susumanioidea, are previously established from the Jurassic through the Paleocene. Here, we extend this record to the early Eocene with five new fossils: two forewings from the Klondike Mountain Formation exposures at Republic, Washington, United States of America, and three partially complete specimens from the McAbee locality in southern British Columbia, Canada. We assign both of the Republic specimens to the new genus and species Eoprephasma hichensinew genus, new species. Two of the McAbee fossils appear to represent two further new species, which we refer to as Susumanioidea species A and B for lack of clearly preserved diagnostic species-level character states. The third might belong to one of these two species, but this is unclear. In all three, the mesothorax and metathorax are not notably extended, the forewings are not shortened, the foreleg femur is straight, and species A possesses an extended, external ovipositor with an operculum (unknown in the other specimens). These conditions are rare and never found in combination in Euphasmatodea. All other stem-group Phasmatodea younger than the Early Cretaceous of China are only known from isolated wings.
Simultaneous Extratympanic Electrocochleography and Auditory Brainstem Responses Revisited
Authors: Minaya Carlos , Atcherson Samuel R.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this study was to revisit the two-channel, simultaneous click-evoked extratympanic electrocochleography and auditory brainstem response (ECoG/ABR) recording technique for clinical use in normal hearing participants. Recording the compound action potential (AP) of the ECoG simultaneously with ABR may be useful when Wave I of the ABR is small or diminished in patients with sensorineural or retrocochlear disorder and minimizes overall test time. In contrast to some previous studies that used the extratympanic electrode both as non-inverting electrode for the ECoG and inverting electrode for ABR, this study maintained separate recording channel montages unique to conventional click-evoked ECoG and ABR recordings. That is, the ABR was recorded using a vertical channel (Cz to ipsilateral earlobe), while the ECoG with custom extratympanic electrode was recorded using a horizontal channel (tympanic membrane to contralateral earlobe). The extratympanic electrode is easy to fabricate inhouse, or can be purchased commercially. Maintaining the conventional ABR montage permits continued use of traditional normative data. Broadband clicks at a fixed level of 85 dB nHL were presented with alternating polarity at stimulus rates of 9.3, 11.3, and 15.3/s. Different stimulation rates were explored to identify the most efficient rate without sacrificing time or waveform morphology. Results revealed larger ECoG AP than ABR Wave I, as expected, and no significant difference across stimulation rate and no interaction effect. Extratympanic electrode placement takes little additional clinic time and may improve the neurodiagnostic utility of the ABR.
Identifying the Most Sensitive and Specific Sign and Symptom Combinations for Cholera: Results from an Analysis of Laboratory-Based Surveillance Data from Haiti, 2012–2013
Authors: Lucien Mentor Ali Ber , Schaad Nicolas , Steenland Maria W. , Mintz Eric D. , Emmanuel Rossignol , Freeman Nicole , Boncy Jacques , Adrien Paul , Joseph Gerard A. , Katz Mark A.
Published: March 2015

Since October 2010, over 700,000 cholera cases have been reported in Haiti. We used data from laboratory-based surveillance for diarrhea in Haiti to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of the cholera case definitions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). From April 2012 to May 2013, we tested 1,878 samples from hospitalized patients with acute watery diarrhea; 1,178 (62.7%) yielded Vibrio cholerae O1. The sensitivity and specificity of the WHO case definition for cholera in an epidemic setting were 91.3% and 43.1%, respectively, and the PPV and NPV were 72.8% and 74.8%, respectively. The WHO case definition for cholera in an area where cholera is not known to be present had lower sensitivity (63.1%) and NPV (55.1%) but higher specificity (74.2%) and PPV (80.0%). When laboratory diagnostic testing is not immediately available, clinicians can evaluate signs and symptoms to more accurately identify cholera patients.
Global-scale remote sensing of water isotopologues in the troposphere: representation of first-order isotope effects
Authors: Sutanto S. J. , Hoffmann G. , Scheepmaker R. A. , Worden J. , Houweling S. , Yoshimura K. , Aben I. , Röckmann T.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Over the last decade, global-scale data sets of atmospheric water vapor isotopologues (HDO) have become available from different remote sensing instruments. Due to the observational geometry and the spectral ranges that are used, few satellites sample water isotopologues in the lower troposphere, where the bulk of hydrological processes within the atmosphere take place. Here, we compare three satellite HDO data sets, two from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES retrieval version 4 and 5) and one from SCIAMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY), with results from the atmospheric global circulation model ECHAM4 (European Centre HAMburg 4). We examine a list of known isotopologue effects to qualitatively benchmark the various observational data sets. TES version 5 (TESV5), TES version 4 (TESV4), SCIAMACHY, ECHAM, and ECHAM convolved with averaging kernels of TES version 5 (ECHAMAK5) successfully reproduced a number of established isotopologue effects such as the latitude effect, the amount effect, and the continental effect. The improvement of TESV5 over TESV4 is confirmed by the steeper latitudinal gradient at higher latitudes in agreement with SCIAMACHY. Also the representation of other features of the water isotopologue cycle, such as the seasonally varying signal in the tropics due to the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is improved in TESV5 and SCIAMACHY compared to TESV4. A known humidity bias due to the cross correlation of H2O and HDO measurements, which is of particular importance for instruments with low sensitivity close to the surface, was analyzed by applying either a humidity bias correction or a suitable a posteriori analysis. We suggest that the qualitative and quantitative tests carried out in this study could become benchmark tests for evaluation of future satellite isotopologue data sets.
A parallelization scheme to simulate reactive transport in the subsurface environment with OGS#IPhreeqc
Authors: He W. , Beyer C. , Fleckenstein J. H. , Jang E. , Kolditz O. , Naumov D. , Kalbacher T.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. This technical paper presents an efficient and performance-oriented method to model reactive mass transport processes in environmental and geotechnical subsurface systems. The open source scientific software packages OpenGeoSys and IPhreeqc have been coupled, to combine their individual strengths and features to simulate thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical coupled processes in porous and fractured media with simultaneous consideration of aqueous geochemical reactions. Furthermore, a flexible parallelization scheme using MPI (Message Passing Interface) grouping techniques has been implemented, which allows an optimized allocation of computer resources for the node-wise calculation of chemical reactions on the one hand, and the underlying processes such as for groundwater flow or solute transport on the other hand. The coupling interface and parallelization scheme have been tested and verified in terms of precision and performance.
Brief Communication: Statistical detection and modeling of the over-dispersion of winter storm occurrence
Authors: Raschke M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In this communication, I discuss and improve the detection and modeling of the over-dispersion of winter storm occurrence using the example of Germany. For this purpose, the generalized Poisson distribution and information criterions for the model selection are introduced. Correct statistical model selection ensures the statistical significance of the model, including a possible over-dispersion. Moreover, I derive the relation between expectation and variance of a thinned inhomogeneous Poisson process. This is also applied to well detect the over-dispersion in winter storm data for Germany of Karremann et al. (2014).
Using satellite altimetry and tide gauges for storm surge warning
Authors: Andersen O. B. , Cheng Y. , Deng X. , Steward M. , Gharineiat Z.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The combination of the coarse temporal sampling by satellite altimeters in the deep ocean with the high temporal sampling at sparsely located tide gauges along the coast has been used to improve the forecast of high water for the North Sea along the Danish Coast and for the northeast coast of Australia. For both locations we have tried to investigate the possibilities and limitations of the use of satellite altimetry to capture high frequency signals (surges) using data from the past 20 years. The two regions are chosen to represent extra-tropical and tropical storm surge conditions. We have selected several representative high water events on the two continents based on tide gauge recordings and investigated the capability of satellite altimetry to capture these events in the sea surface height data. Due to the lack of recent surges in the North Sea we focused on general high water level and found that in the presence of two or more satellites we could capture more than 90% of the high water sea level events. In the Great Barrier Reef section of the northeast Australian coast, we have investigated several large tropical cyclones; one of these being Cyclone Larry, which hit the Queensland coast in March 2006 and caused both loss of lives as well as huge devastation. Here we demonstrate the importance of integrating tide gauges with satellite altimetry for forecasting high water at the city of Townsville in northeast Australia.
Distribution and sources of suspended particulate matter in the Kara Sea
Authors: Kravchishina M. , Lein A. , Burenkov V. , Artem'ev V. , Novigatsky A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The distribution of suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration in the Kara Sea was analysed based on ship and satellite data during the lowest ice cover periods in the Arctic (2007 and 2011). The distance of the river runoff with terrigenous SPM was recognized up to at least 76–76.5° N on the basis of isotope data and SPM concentrations and composition. The complex studies of SPM in the water column and in the benthic boundary layer provided new information about the supply and transformation of particles in the marine ecosystem.
From submarine to lacustrine groundwater discharge
Authors: Lewandowski J. , Meinikmann K. , Pöschke F. , Nützmann G. , Rosenberry D. O.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and its role in marine nutrient cycling are well known since the last decade. The freshwater equivalent, lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD), is often still disregarded, although first reports of LGD are more than 50 years old. We identify nine different reasons why groundwater has long been disregarded in both freshwater and marine environments such as invisibility of groundwater discharge, the size of the interface and its difficult accessibility. Although there are some fundamental differences in the hydrology of SGD and LGD, caused primarily by seawater recirculation that occurs only in cases of SGD, there are also a lot of similarities such as a focusing of discharge to near-shore areas. Nutrient concentrations in groundwater near the groundwater–surface water interface might be anthropogenically enriched. Due to spatial heterogeneity of aquifer characteristics and biogeochemical processes, the quantification of groundwater-borne nutrient loads is challenging. Both nitrogen and phosphorus might be mobile in near-shore aquifers and in a lot of case studies large groundwater-borne nutrient loads have been reported.
Erosion depth of sand from an immobile gravel bed
Authors: Kuhnle R. , Wren D. , Langendoen E.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. This study was conducted to improve prediction of the depth of erosion of sand (D50 = 0.3–0.9 mm) from immobile gravel (D50 = 36.1 mm) under steady uniform flows with bed shear stresses from 0.1 to 0.9 of that required to entrain the gravel. This situation, often encountered downstream of dams, has important implications for habitat restoration. Steady uniform flows were imposed on a flume channel containing a mixture of sand and gravel until sediment concentrations in the flow exiting the channel became small. The elevation of sand relative to gravel was measured after each experiment and compared poorly to calculated depths from published relationships whose predictions were based in part on the equivalent grain roughness of the bed. An improved predictive relationship was developed by using the cumulative distribution function of the surface gravel elevations to scale the shear velocity available for transporting sand from the gravel substrate.
Evaluating sediment transport capacity relationships for use in ephemeral gully erosion models
Authors: Langendoen E. J. , Wells R. R. , Ursic M. E. , Vieira D. A. N. , Dabney S. M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. On cropland, ephemeral gully erosion in the USA may contribute up to 40% of the sediment delivered to the edge of the field. Well-tested, physically- and process-based tools for field and watershed scale prediction of gully erosion are lacking due to the fact that the complex nature of migrating headcuts is poorly understood. Understanding sediment transport capacity downstream of migrating headcuts is essential, as sediment deposition often leads to temporary storage that controls downstream water elevation, which in turn affects the rate of headcut migration. Current process-based gully erosion prediction technology used by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is based on characterizing the headcut migration rate, which requires the deposition depth as input to the model. Alternatively, the deposition depth can be calculated if downstream sediment transport capacity can be predicted. Data collected at the ARS-National Sedimentation Laboratory were used to test existing sediment transport relationships for the five sediment size classes (clay, silt, sand, small aggregates, large aggregates) typically used in ARS soil erosion models. The results show that the transport rate can be satisfactorily predicted for sand and large aggregate size fractions using common transport relationships based on unit stream power theory. The fractional content of the sand and large aggregate size classes can be computed using standard relationships, which are based on soil texture, previously developed by ARS. The transport of clays, silts and small aggregates is detachment limited and must therefore be computed using improved soil detachment relationships for ephemeral gullies.
Measurement of light attenuation extends the application of suspended sediment monitoring in rivers
Authors: Hughes A. O. , Davies-Colley R. J. , Elliott A. H.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Turbidity is often monitored continuously as a proxy for suspended sediment in catchment sediment load studies, but is less often applied to measuring optical ‘loads’ as they affect water quality in downstream waters. We added measurements of visual clarity, from which light (beam) attenuation can be estimated, to auto-sampler monitoring over storm events in tributary rivers of the Kaipara Harbour, a large barrier enclosed estuary complex in northern New Zealand. This paper presents, for the first time, evidence of the mutual relationships between turbidity, total suspended sediment (TSS), and visual clarity, from water samples collected under event flow conditions. The mutual relationships between turbidity, TSS and visual clarity for our monitoring sites were fairly close over about three orders of magnitude (TSS ranging from about 1–1000 mg L−1). Our results show that visual clarity (and hence light attenuation) can be predicted from turbidity, at least as precisely as more traditional predictions of TSS from turbidity. The estimation of light attenuation and corresponding load estimates from visual clarity measurements, for relatively little marginal extra effort, extends the environmental relevance and application of suspended sediment monitoring.
Heavy metal enrichment in the riparian sediments and soils of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Authors: Tang Q. , Bao Y. , He X. , Wen A.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The Three Gorges Reservoir encompasses a riparian zone with a vertical height of 30 m and a total area of 349 km2 that has been subjected to alternate inundation and exposure due to regular impoundment. Sedimentation on the riparian landforms constitutes an important pathway for riverine contaminant redistribution. In an attempt to understand heavy metal enrichment since water inundation, riparian sediments and soils were sampled along five transects in a typical riparian zone composed of cultivated bench terraces in the middle reaches. Heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) were determined to characterize the lateral distribution and vertical transfer ratio. The results indicated that all heavy metals were enriched to varying extents both in the riparian sediments and soils, compared with regional background contents in soils and the reference levels in sediments. However, heavy metal levels in the riparian sediments were generally higher than those in the riparian soils, while those in the upper riparian soils (0–5 cm) were overall slightly higher than those in the lower riparian soils (5–10 cm). There was a decreasing trend of heavy metal contents with increasing elevation. The elevated levels of heavy metals in the riparian sediments may be attributed to sediment yields from upstream anthropogenic sources, especially during major rainstorms in the wet season when large loads of contaminated sediment may be produced from diffuse source areas. Heavy metals can also be adsorbed to pure sediment in the course of mobilization or after deposition. Considering that the riparian soils are local weathering products without mobilization, the enrichment of heavy metals may principally be ascribed to chemical adsorption from dissolved fractions or vertical transfer from overlaid sediments. Heavy metal enrichment may further be affected by the specific type of hydrologic regime such that relatively long flooding duration caused by water impoundment and natural floods was responsible for the relatively higher levels of heavy metals in the lower portions of the riparian zone.
Simulation of hydrosedimentological impacts caused by climate change in the Apucaraninha River watershed, southern Brazil
Authors: Ramos Iensen I. R. , Bauer Schultz G. , Dos Santos I.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Climate change can cause significant modifications in hydrosedimentological processes. Climate projections indicate the occurrence of extreme events, in terms of precipitation, droughts, floods and temperature. By increasing temperatures and altering precipitation regimes, climate change is expected to affect sediment dynamics. Predictions of the effects of climate change on streamflow and sediment yield vary widely, depending on the geographical location and climate scenarios used. Mathematical modelling can be used to simulate the hydrosedimentological processes in watersheds and enable the simulation of climate change effects on sediment yield. This paper aims to simulate the impacts of climate change hydrosedimentological dynamics in the Apucaraninha River watershed (504 km²), southern Brazil, considering the climate change scenarios A2 (pessimistic about the emissions of greenhouse gases) and B2 (optimistic about the emissions of greenhouse gases), developed by the IPCC. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to evaluate the impacts of climate projections on the sediment yield in the Apucaraninha River watershed. The model was calibrated and validated using daily streamflow and sediment data from 1987 to 2012. The model presented satisfactory fit to the observed data allowing the reproduction of the current hydrological conditions of the watershed. Based on the satisfactory results in calibration and validation, the climate scenarios A2 and B2 were inserted to simulate streamflow and sediment conditions for the period 2071–2100. The results for both scenarios indicate that simulations of both climate scenarios resulted in changes in hydrosedimentological dynamics in the Apucaraninha River watershed, mainly in terms of decrease in average sediment yield due to the reduction in precipitation amount and increase in evapotranspiration. Our results also indicate that every 1% change in precipitation has resulted in 2.8% change in soil erosion and 1.6% change in runoff under scenario A2, and 2.3% change in erosion and 1.1% in runoff under scenarios B2, thus suggesting that climate change tends to affect sediment yield more than streamflow, although seasonally both could be impacted in similar ways.
Investigating transport capacity equations in sediment yield modelling for the Cariri semi-arid region of Paraiba-PB/Brazil
Authors: De Figueiredo E. E. , Souto C. C. R. A. , Vieira Z. C.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In the semi arid Cariri region of the state of Paraiba, Brazil, runoff is of the Hortonian type generated by excess of rainfall over infiltration capacity, and soil erosion is governed by rainfall intensity and sediment size. However, the governing sediment transport mechanism is not well understood. Sediment transport generally depends on the load of sediment provided by soil erosion and on the transport capacity of the flow. The latter is mainly governed by mechanisms such as water shear stress, or stream power. Accordingly, the load of sediment transported by the flow may vary depending on the mechanism involved in the equation of estimation. Investigation of the sediment transport capacity of the flow via a distributed physically-based model is an important and necessary task, but quite rare in semi-arid climates, and particularly in the Cariri region of the state of Paraíba/Brazil. In this study, the equations of Yalin, Engelund & Hansen, Laursen, DuBoys and Bagnold have been coupled with the MOSEE distributed physically based model aiming at identifying the mechanisms leading to the best model simulations when compared with data observed at various basin scales and land uses in the study region. The results obtained with the investigated methods were quite similar and satisfactory suggesting the feasibility of the mechanisms involved, but the observed values were better represented with Bagnold’s equation, which is physically grounded on the stream power, and we recommend it for simulations of similar climate, runoff generation mechanisms and sediment characteristics as in the study region.