bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contracts to the Detriment of a Third Party: Developing a Model Inspired by Jewish Law
Authors: Porat Benjamin
Published: July 2012

When two parties enter into a contract, a third party often incurs losses as a result of that contract. Are there circumstances in which the harm the contract causes to the third party’s interest is actionable? The phenomenon of contracts to the detriment of a third party presents a significant legal challenge. It is one of those interesting border-line cases that sharpens the problematic confrontation between the principle of freedom of contract and the need to protect the interests of third parties. This article argues that contemporary legal systems treat the phenomenon of contract to the detriment of a third party in piecemeal fashion by way of local arrangements in a number of specific areas of law. In contrast, Jewish law seems to offer a model for the principled and comprehensive treatment of the phenomenon as a whole. Therefore, Jewish law can profitably contribute to the modern legal discourse. At the same time, modern legal theories may enhance our understanding of Jewish law itself.
Culture and Competitive Resource Regulation: A Liberal Economic Alternative to Sui Generis Aboriginal Rights
Authors: Ilg Michael
Published: July 2012

The recognition of Aboriginal rights as sui generis is unique in its basis on a combination of past, culture, and place. This article maintains that the sui generis basis for Aboriginal rights has limited tangible improvements to Aboriginal quality of life, while commentators have also pointed to a number of difficulties with the justifications offered for sui generis rights. The present article proposes a theory of regulatory diversity that promises greater Aboriginal self-determination over regional resources and is both more conducive to development and justifiable on liberal grounds.
Biomechanical analysis of a novel hook-screw technique for C1–2 stabilization
Authors: Reis Marco Túlio , Nottmeier Eric W. , Reyes Phillip M. , Baek Seungwon , Crawford Neil R.
Published: July 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has not cleared the following medical devices for the use described in this study. The following medical devices are being discussed for an off-label use: cervical lateral mass screws.

Object

As an alternative for cases in which the anatomy and spatial relationship between C-2 and a vertebral artery precludes insertion of C-2 pedicle/pars or C1–2 transarticular screws, a technique that includes opposing laminar hooks (claw) at C-2 combined with C-1 lateral mass screws may be used. The biomechanical stability of this alternate technique was compared with that of a standard screw-rod technique in vitro.

Methods

Flexibility tests were performed in 7 specimens (occiput to C-3) in the following 6 different conditions: 1) intact; 2) after creating instability and attaching a posterior cable/graft at C1–2; 3) after removing the graft and attaching a construct comprising C-1 lateral mass screws and C-2 laminar claws; 4) after reattaching the posterior cable-graft at C1–2 (posterior hardware still in place); 5) after removing the posterior cable-graft and laminar hooks and placing C-2 pedicle screws interconnected to C-1 lateral mass screws via rod; and 6) after reattaching the posterior cable-graft at C1–2 (screw-rod construct still in place).

Results

All types of stabilization significantly reduced the range of motion, lax zone, and stiff zone compared with the intact condition. There was no significant biomechanical difference in terms of range of motion or lax zone between the screw-rod construct and the screw-claw-rod construct in any direction of loading.

Conclusions

The screw-claw-rod technique restricts motion much like the standard Harms technique, making it an acceptable alternative technique when aberrant arterial anatomy precludes the placement of C-2 pars/pedicle screws or C1–2 transarticular screws.
Wald und Waldbewirtschaftung im Kanton Zürich – erstaunlich vielfältig!
Authors: Noetzli Konrad
Published: July 2012

Forest and forest management in Canton Zurich – surprisingly varied!

The forest in Canton Zurich is surprisingly diversified. The demands made upon it are just as varied. In particular forests near towns combine the functions of protection, productivity and welfare. More than half the forest land is in private ownership. In these circumstances it is not easy to fulfil all functions of the forest, whilst ensuring its sustainable management and use. In order to do this, Canton Zurich uses two instruments: a locally based forestry service present on the terrain, and a solid forestry planning at various levels. The reinforcement and continuation of these institutions are decisive in order to maintain the forest as a habitat, an economic and a recreation area. Only a far-sighted treatment of our forests, an intensive dialogue between forest owners and those who benefit from the forest, and the negotiation of workable compromises can guarantee that we may profit from forest products and services in the future.
A propos d'Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763) en Suisse
Authors: Blanc Mickaël
Published: July 2012

About Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763) in Switzerland

The finding of fragments of Osmoderma eremita (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae) in September 2009, at the base of an oak (Quercus robur) in Geneva's countryside, suggests that this beetle of national importance still occurs in the canton of Geneva. The survival of this species relies on the availability of old hollow trees. These have largely disappeared with the intensification of land use and the changes in sylvopastoral practices. The creation and tending of hedge networks hosting large old trees would allow not only to preserve an emblematic species, but also the witnesses of ancient practices and cultural heritage.
Vibrational Spectra of β″-Type BEDT-TTF Salts: Relationship between Conducting Property, Time-Averaged Site Charge and Inter-Molecular Distance
Authors: Yamamoto Takashi
Published: July 2012

The relationship between the conducting behavior and the degree of charge fluctuation in the β″-type BEDT-TTF salts is reviewed from the standpoints of vibrational spectroscopy and crystal structure. A group of β″-type ET salts demonstrates the best model compounds for achieving the above relationship because the two-dimensional structure is simple and great diversity in conducting behavior is realized under ambient pressure. After describing the requirement for the model compound, the methodology for analyzing the results of the vibrational spectra is presented. Vibrational spectroscopy provides the time-averaged molecular charge, the charge distribution in the two-dimensional layer, and the inter-molecular interactions, etc. The experimental results applied to 2/3-filled and 3/4-filled β″-type ET salts are reported. These experimental results suggest that the conducting property, the difference in the time-averaged molecular charges between the ionic and neutral-like sites, the alternation in the inter-molecular distances and the energy levels in the charge distributions are relevant to one another. The difference in the time-averaged molecular charges, ∆ρ, is a useful criterion for indicating conducting behavior. All superconductors presented in this review are characterized as small but finite ∆ρ.
Regulating the Sustainability of Forest Management in the Americas: Cross-Country Comparisons of Forest Legislation
Authors: McGinley Kathleen , Alvarado Raquel , Cubbage Frederick , Diaz Diana , Donoso Pablo J. , Jacovine Laércio Antônio Gonçalves , De Silva Fabiano Luiz , MacIntyre Charles , Zalazar Elizabeth Monges
Published: July 2012

Based on theoretical underpinnings and an empirical review of forest laws and regulations of selected countries throughout the Americas, we examine key components of natural forest management and how they are addressed in the legal frameworks of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the U.S. We consider forest policy directives in terms of legislative, planning, operational, environmental/ecological, social, and economic aspects and classify them by the type of policy obligation: (1) non-discretionary laws or rules; or (2) discretionary, voluntary directives; and, further, by the type of policy approach: (1) a specific technology or practice required or recommended; (2) a process or system requirement or recommendation; or (3) a performance or outcome based requirement or recommendation. Protection of at-risk species and riparian buffers are required in all countries and include specific prescriptions in most; forest management planning and secure, legal land title or tenancy are commonly required; and mandatory processes to protect soil and water quality are customary. Less common requirements include forest monitoring and social and economic aspects, and, when in place, they are usually voluntary. Implications for improved policies to achieve sustainable forest management (SFM) are discussed.
Function and 3D Structure of the N-Glycans on Glycoproteins
Authors: Nagae Masamichi , Yamaguchi Yoshiki
Published: July 2012

Glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications in eukaryotic cells and plays important roles in many biological processes, such as the immune response and protein quality control systems. It has been notoriously difficult to study glycoproteins by X-ray crystallography since the glycan moieties usually have a heterogeneous chemical structure and conformation, and are often mobile. Nonetheless, recent technical advances in glycoprotein crystallography have accelerated the accumulation of 3D structural information. Statistical analysis of “snapshots” of glycoproteins can provide clues to understanding their structural and dynamic aspects. In this review, we provide an overview of crystallographic analyses of glycoproteins, in which electron density of the glycan moiety is clearly observed. These well-defined N-glycan structures are in most cases attributed to carbohydrate-protein and/or carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions and may function as “molecular glue” to help stabilize inter- and intra-molecular interactions. However, the more mobile N-glycans on cell surface receptors, the electron density of which is usually missing on X-ray crystallography, seem to guide the partner ligand to its binding site and prevent irregular protein aggregation by covering oligomerization sites away from the ligand-binding site.
An UPLC-ESI-MS/MS Assay Using 6-Aminoquinolyl-N-Hydroxysuccinimidyl Carbamate Derivatization for Targeted Amino Acid Analysis: Application to Screening of Arabidopsis thaliana Mutants
Authors: Salazar Carolina , Armenta Jenny M. , Shulaev Vladimir
Published: July 2012

In spite of the large arsenal of methodologies developed for amino acid assessment in complex matrices, their implementation in metabolomics studies involving wide-ranging mutant screening is hampered by their lack of high-throughput, sensitivity, reproducibility, and/or wide dynamic range. In response to the challenge of developing amino acid analysis methods that satisfy the criteria required for metabolomic studies, improved reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RPHPLC-MS) methods have been recently reported for large-scale screening of metabolic phenotypes. However, these methods focus on the direct analysis of underivatized amino acids and, therefore, problems associated with insufficient retention and resolution are observed due to the hydrophilic nature of amino acids. It is well known that derivatization methods render amino acids more amenable for reverse phase chromatographic analysis by introducing highly-hydrophobic tags in their carboxylic acid or amino functional group. Therefore, an analytical platform that combines the 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) pre-column derivatization method with ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) is presented in this article. For numerous reasons typical amino acid derivatization methods would be inadequate for large scale metabolic projects. However, AQC derivatization is a simple, rapid and reproducible way of obtaining stable amino acid adducts amenable for UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and the applicability of the method for high-throughput metabolomic analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana is demonstrated in this study. Overall, the major advantages offered by this amino acid analysis method include high-throughput, enhanced sensitivity and selectivity; characteristics that showcase its utility for the rapid screening of the preselected plant metabolites without compromising the quality of the metabolic data. The presented method enabled thirty-eight metabolites (proteinogenic amino acids and related compounds) to be analyzed within 10 min with detection limits down to 1.02 × 10−11 M (i.e., atomole level on column), which represents an improved sensitivity of 1 to 5 orders of magnitude compared to existing methods. Our UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method is one of the seven analytical platforms used by the Arabidopsis Metabolomics Consortium. The amino acid dataset obtained by analysis of Arabidopsis T-DNA mutant stocks with our platform is captured and open to the public in the web portal PlantMetabolomics.org. The analytical platform herein described could find important applications in other studies where the rapid, high-throughput and sensitive assessment of low abundance amino acids in complex biosamples is necessary.
Effect of Cross-Linking and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Composite Modification on the Properties of Rice Starches
Authors: Xiao Huaxi , Lin Qinlu , Liu Gao-Qiang
Published: July 2012

Native rice starch lacks the versatility necessary to function adequately under rigorous industrial processing, so modified starches are needed to meet the functional properties required in food products. This work investigated the impact of enzymatic hydrolysis and cross-linking composite modification on the properties of rice starches. Rice starch was cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (EPI) with different concentrations (0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9% w/w, on a dry starch basis), affording cross-linked rice starches with the three different levels of cross-linking that were named R1, R2, and R3, respectively. The cross-linked rice starches were hydrolyzed by α-amylase and native, hydrolyzed, and hydrolyzed cross-linked rice starches were comparatively studied. It was found that hydrolyzed cross-linked rice starches showed a lower the degree of amylase hydrolysis compared with hydrolyzed rice starch. The higher the degree of cross-linking, the higher the capacity to resist enzyme hydrolysis. Hydrolyzed cross-linked rice starches further increased the adsorptive capacities of starches for liquids and decreased the trend of retrogradation, and it also strengthened the capacity to resist shear compared to native and hydrolyzed rice starches.
Evaluation of Black Tea Polyphenol Extract Against the Retrogradation of Starches from Various Plant Sources
Authors: Xiao Huaxi , Lin Qinlu , Liu Gao-Qiang , Yu Fengxiang
Published: July 2012

The effects of black tea polyphenol extract (BTPE) on the retrogradation of starches from different plant sources were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). DSC analysis shows that the gelatinization temperature of maize starch and starches from different rice varieties increased with increasing BTPE level. After storage at 4 °C, BTPE at a concentration of 15% markedly retarded the retrogradation of maize starch and starches from different rice varieties. Native maize starch and starches from different rice varieties showed typical A-type X-ray diffraction patterns, while native potato starch showed a typical B-type X-ray diffraction pattern. Adding BTPE significantly affected the crystalline region and intensities of X-ray diffraction peaks of maize and rice starch granules. It is concluded that adding BTPE markedly inhibits the retrogradation of maize starch and starches from different rice varieties, but has no significant influence on the gelatinization and retrogradation characteristics of potato starch.
The Impacts of Rapid Urbanization on the Thermal Environment: A Remote Sensing Study of Guangzhou, South China
Authors: Xiong Yongzhu , Huang Shaopeng , Chen Feng , Ye Hong , Wang Cuiping , Zhu Changbai
Published: July 2012

The effect of urbanization on the urban thermal environment (UTE) has attracted increasing research attention for its significant relationship to local climatic change and habitat comfort. Using quantitative thermal remote sensing and spatial statistics methods, here we analyze four Landsat TM/ETM+ images of Guangzhou in South China acquired respectively on 13 October 1990, 2 January 2000, 23 November 2005, and 2 January 2009, to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in the land surface temperature (LST) over five land use/land cover (LULC) types and over different urban/rural zones. The emphases of this study are placed on the urban heat island (UHI) intensity and the relationships among LST, the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Results show that: (1) the UHI effect existed obviously over the period from 1990 to 2009 and high temperature anomalies were closely associated with built-up land and densely populated and heavily industrialized districts; (2) the UHI intensities represented by the mean LST difference between the urban downtown area and the suburban area were on average 0.88, 0.49, 0.90 and 1.16 K on the four dates, at the 99.99% confidence level; and (3) LST is related positively with NDBI and negatively with NDVI. The spatiotemporal variation of UTE of Guangzhou could be attributed to rapid urbanization, especially to the expanding built-up and developing land, declining vegetation coverage, and strengthening of anthropogenic and industrial activities which generate increasing amounts of waste heat. This study provides useful information for understanding the local climatic and environment changes that occur during rapid urbanization.
Model-Driven Methodology for Rapid Deployment of Smart Spaces Based on Resource-Oriented Architectures
Authors: Corredor Iván , Bernardos Ana M. , Iglesias Josué , Casar José R.
Published: July 2012

Advances in electronics nowadays facilitate the design of smart spaces based on physical mash-ups of sensor and actuator devices. At the same time, software paradigms such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Web of Things (WoT) are motivating the creation of technology to support the development and deployment of web-enabled embedded sensor and actuator devices with two major objectives: (i) to integrate sensing and actuating functionalities into everyday objects, and (ii) to easily allow a diversity of devices to plug into the Internet. Currently, developers who are applying this Internet-oriented approach need to have solid understanding about specific platforms and web technologies. In order to alleviate this development process, this research proposes a Resource-Oriented and Ontology-Driven Development (ROOD) methodology based on the Model Driven Architecture (MDA). This methodology aims at enabling the development of smart spaces through a set of modeling tools and semantic technologies that support the definition of the smart space and the automatic generation of code at hardware level. ROOD feasibility is demonstrated by building an adaptive health monitoring service for a Smart Gym.
Les actions d'éradication des cultures considérées illicites en Amérique latine et au Brésil
Authors: Pontes Fraga Paulo Cesar
Published: July 2012

Cet article a pour objectif de discuter des actions et programmes pour l’éradication des cultures illégales qui ont été mis en place dans certains pays, ainsi que de leurs conséquences négatives pour les agriculteurs qui participent, ou non, à ces activités, en particulier dans les pays d’Amérique latine, et plus particulièrement le Brésil. Il s’agit d’aborder la question de la culture de certaines plantes comme le cannabis, considérées comme un autre type d’illégalité. Elle englobe une quantité significative de personnes dans une activité qui, dans la chaîne de production de drogues, n’est pas violente au sens traditionnel de la criminalité bien qu’il y ait une exploitation du travail en dehors de la réglementation.
Délinquance, victimation et facteurs de risque : différences et similitudes entre les filles et les garçons
Authors: Lucia Sonia , Jaquier Véronique
Published: July 2012

La délinquance et la victimation des filles et des garçons sont comparées à l’aide des données du sondage national suisse de délinquance autoreportée. Si les garçons sont plus nombreux à indiquer un acte délinquant commis au cours des 12 derniers mois, cette différence est attribuable aux délits violents, la prévalence des vols ne différant pas selon le sexe. De même, les garçons signalent davantage de victimations violentes. La délinquance et la victimation se révèlent des expériences statistiquement corrélées chez les filles comme chez les garçons. Une analyse des facteurs associés met en évidence des divergences selon le sexe, mais également des divergences selon la nature des actes de délinquance et de victimation.
Le concept lefortien du pouvoir comme lieu vide
Authors: Demelemestre Gaëlle
Published: July 2012

Résumé Dans l'introduction qu'il fait à la traduction française de l'ouvrage de Gordon Wood, La création de la république américaine 1776-1787, Claude Lefort signale la proximité des analyses qui y sont faites avec sa propre lecture du phénomène démocratique moderne. Loin de voir dans la démocratie moderne un simple changement de gouvernement, Claude Lefort la décrit comme inventant une nouvelle forme de société dans laquelle le pouvoir ne peut plus s'incarner en un point défini. Mais ce faisant, les deux références à la loi (ou au droit) et au bien commun qui s'y trouvaient cristallisées pour constituer le triptyque monarchique s'en trouvent aussi détachées. La société démocratique moderne inaugure ainsi une vie politique dans laquelle le pouvoir, la compétence législative et la capacité à formuler l'intérêt général ne renvoient plus à une origine précisément identifiable et déterminée. En reprenant les arguments déterminants ayant conduit les Américains à choisir une Constitution fédérale, nous souhaitons illustrer concrètement, grâce aux analyses lefortiennes, la façon dont la modernité a procédé à la dématérialisation du pouvoir.
L'ambivalence politique du « social » dans les sociétés capitalistes : Arendt avec Castel
Authors: Disselkamp Annette , Sobel Richard
Published: July 2012

Résumé Le présent article interroge les limites du concept de « social » chez Hannah Arendt à l'aide de la sociologie historique du salariat de Robert Castel. Il ne s'agit pas simplement de critiquer le « purisme politique » d'Arendt qui met les citoyens en apesanteur institutionnelle et stigmatise tout ce qui est « social », ce dernier se réduisant au déploiement apolitique de l'ordre domestique au sein de l'espace public. Il s'agit d'esquisser une théorie politique qui soit pertinente pour nos sociétés capitaliste-démocratiques. Or, pour ce faire, il manque à Arendt l'idée de supports institutionnel et collectif à l'exercice effectif de la démocratie par le plus grand nombre, ce sur quoi précisément ont mis l'accent les analyses historiques de Castel à travers le concept de « propriété sociale ».
B Cell Tolerance and Positive Selection in Lupus
Authors: Eilat Dan , Wabl Matthias
Published: July 2012

Systemic lupus erythematosus is considered a prototype of systemic autoimmune diseases; however, despite considerable advances in recent years in the understanding of basic mechanisms in immunology, little progress has been made in elucidating the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. This even holds for inbred mice, such as the lupus-prone New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 mice, which are all genetically programmed to develop lupus at a predetermined age. This frustrating state of affairs calls for a fundamental change in our scientific thinking and the opening of new directions in lupus research. In this study, we suggest that intrinsic B cell tolerance mechanisms are not grossly impaired in lupus-prone mice, but that an unusually strong positive selection event recruits a small number of autoreactive B cells to the germinal centers. This event could be facilitated by nucleic acid–protein complexes that are created by somatic changes in the susceptible animal.
Reliable Phylogenetic Trees Building: A New Web Interface for FIGENIX
Authors: Paganini Julien , Gouret Philippe
Published: July 2012

The community needed a reliable and user friendly tool to quickly produce robust phylogenetic trees which are crucial in evolutionary studies and genomes' functional annotation. FIGENIX is software dedicated to this and was published in 2005. Several laboratories around the world use it in their research, but it was difficult to use for non-expert users, thus we developed a new graphical user interface for the benefit of all biologists.
On Surfaces in Three Dimensional Contact Manifolds
Authors: Lee Paul W. Y.
Published: July 2012

In this paper, we introduce two quantities defined on a surface in a contact manifold. The first one is called degree of transversality (DOT), which measures the transversality between the tangent spaces of a surface and the contact planes. The second quantity, called curvature of transversality (COT), is designed to give a comparison principle for DOT along characteristic curves under bounds on COT. In particular, this gives estimates on lengths of characteristic curves, assuming COT is bounded below by a positive constant. We show that surfaces with constant COT exist, and we classify all graphs in the Heisenberg group with vanishing COT. This is accomplished by showing that the equation for graphs with zero COT can be decomposed into two first order PDEs, one of which is the backward invisicid Burgers’ equation. Finally we show that the p-minimal graph equation in the Heisenberg group also has such a decomposition. Moreover, we can use this decomposition to write down an explicit formula of a solution near a regular point.
On the representation of immersion and condensation freezing in cloud models using different nucleation schemes
Authors: Ervens B. , Feingold G.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Ice nucleation in clouds is often observed at temperatures >235 K, pointing to heterogeneous freezing as a predominant mechanism. Many models deterministically predict the number concentration of ice particles as a function of temperature and/or supersaturation. Several laboratory experiments, at constant temperature and/or supersaturation, report heterogeneous freezing as a stochastic, time-dependent process that follows classical nucleation theory; this might appear to contradict deterministic models that predict singular freezing behavior. We explore the extent to which the choice of nucleation scheme (deterministic/stochastic, single/multiple contact angles θ) affects the prediction of the fraction of frozen ice nuclei (IN) and cloud evolution for a predetermined maximum IN concentration. A box model with constant temperature and supersaturation is used to mimic published laboratory experiments of immersion freezing of monodisperse (800 nm) kaolinite particles (~243 K), and the fitness of different nucleation schemes. Sensitivity studies show that agreement of all five schemes is restricted to the narrow parameter range (time, temperature, IN diameter) in the original laboratory studies, and that model results diverge for a wider range of conditions. The schemes are implemented in an adiabatic parcel model that includes feedbacks of the formation and growth of drops and ice particles on supersaturation during ascent. Model results for the monodisperse IN population (800 nm) show that these feedbacks limit ice nucleation events, often leading to smaller differences in number concentration of ice particles and ice water content (IWC) between stochastic and deterministic approaches than expected from the box model studies. However, because the different parameterizations of θ distributions and time-dependencies are highly sensitive to IN size, simulations using polydisperse IN result in great differences in predicted ice number concentrations and IWC between the different schemes. The differences in IWC are mostly due to the different temperatures of the onset of freezing in the nucleation schemes that affect the temporal evolution of the ice number concentration. The growth rates of ice particles are not affected by the choice of the nucleation scheme, which leads to very similar particle sizes. Finally, since the choice of nucleation scheme determines the temperature range over which ice nucleation occurs, at habit-prone temperatures (~253 K), there is the potential for variability in the initial inherent growth ratio of ice particles, which can cause amplification or reduction in differences in predicted IWC.
Analysis of secondary organic aerosol formation and aging using positive matrix factorization of high-resolution aerosol mass spectra: application to the dodecane low-NOx system
Authors: Craven J. S. , Yee L. D. , Ng N. L. , Canagaratna M. R. , Loza C. L. , Schilling K. A. , Yatavelli R. L. N. , Thornton J. A. , Ziemann P. J. , Flagan R. C. , Seinfeld J. H.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) of high-resolution laboratory aerosol mass spectra is applied for the first time, the results of which are consistent with molecular level MOVI-HRToF-CIMS aerosol-phase and CIMS gas-phase measurements. Secondary organic aerosol was generated by photooxidation of dodecane under low-NOx conditions in the Caltech environmental chamber. The PMF results exhibit three factors representing a combination of gas-particle partitioning, chemical conversion in the aerosol, and wall deposition. The slope of the measured high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) composition data on a Van Krevelen diagram is consistent with that of other low-NOx alkane systems in the same O:C range. Elemental analysis of the PMF factor mass spectral profiles elucidates the combinations of functionality that contribute to the slope on the Van Krevelen diagram.
Technical Note: Spectral representation of spatial correlations in variational assimilation with grid point models and application to the belgian assimilation system for chemical observations (BASCOE)
Authors: Errera Q. , Ménard R.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. The formulation of the background error covariances represented in the spectral space is discussed in the context of univariate assimilation relying on a grid point model, leaving out all the aspects of balances between the different control variables needed in meteorological assimilation. The spectral transform operations are discussed in the case of a spherical harmonics basis and we stress that there is no need for an inverse spectral transform and of a Gaussian grid. The analysis increments are thus produced directly on the model grid. The practice of producing analysis increments on a horizontal Gaussian grid and then interpolating on a equally spaced grid is also shown to produce a degradation of the analysis. The method discussed in this paper allows the implementation of separable and non-separable spatial correlations. The separable formulation has been implemented in the Belgian Assimilation System for Chemical ObsErvations (BASCOE) and its impact on the assimilation of O3 observed by the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) is shown. To promote the use of this method by other non-meteorological variational systems and in particular chemistry, the Fortran code developed is made available to the community.
Characteristics and sources of carbonaceous aerosols from Shanghai, China
Authors: Cao J.-J. , Zhu C.-S. , Tie X.-X. , Geng F.-H. , Xu H.-M. , Ho S. S. H. , Wang G.-H. , Han Y.-M. , Ho K.-F.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. An intensive investigation of carbonaceous PM2.5 and TSP from Pudong (China) was conducted as part of the MIRAGE-Shanghai Experiment in 2009. Data for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), organic species, including C17 to C40 n-alkanes and 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and stable C isotopes OC (δ13COC) and EC (δ13CEC) were used to evaluate the aerosols' temporal variations and identify presumptive sources. High OC/EC ratios indicated a large fraction of secondary organic aerosol (SOA); high char/soot ratios indicated stronger contributions to EC from motor vehicles and coal combustion than biomass burning. Diagnostic ratios of PAHs indicated that much of the SOA was produced via coal combustion. Isotope abundances (δ13COC = −24.5 ± 0.8‰ and δ13CEC = −25.1 ± 0.6‰) indicated that fossil fuels were the most important source for carbonaceous PM2.5, with lesser impacts from biomass burning and natural sources. An EC tracer system and isotope mass balance calculations showed that the relative contributions to total carbon from coal combustion, motor vehicle exhaust, and SOA were 41%, 21%, and 31%: other primary sources such as marine, soil and biogenic emissions contributed 7%. Combined analyses of OC and EC, n-alkanes and PAHs, and stable carbon isotopes provide a new way to apportion the sources of carbonaceous particles.
Using residual analysis, auto- and cross-correlations to identify key processes for the calibration of the SWAT model in a data scarce region
Authors: Bieger K. , Hörmann G. , Fohrer N.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Hydrological modeling poses a particular challenge in data scarce regions, which are often subject to dynamic change and thus of specific interest to hydrological modeling studies. When a small amount of data available for a catchment is opposed by extensive data requirements by the chosen hydrologic model, ways have to be found to extract as much information from the available data as possible. In a study conducted in the Xiangxi Catchment in the Three Gorges Region in China, the use of residual analysis as well as auto- and cross-correlations for enhanced model evaluation and for the identification of key processes governing the hydrological behavior of the catchment prior to model calibration was tested. The residuals were plotted versus various variables such as time, discharge and precipitation. Also, auto-correlations were calculated for measured and simulated discharge and cross-correlations of measured and simulated discharge with precipitation were analyzed. Results show that the analysis of residuals as well as auto- and cross-correlations can provide valuable information about the catchment response to rainfall events, which can be very helpful for calibration of hydrologic models in data scarce regions.
Observing ice clouds in the submillimeter spectral range: the CloudIce mission proposal for ESA's Earth Explorer 8
Authors: Buehler S. A. , Defer E. , Evans F. , Eliasson S. , Mendrok J. , Eriksson P. , Lee C. , Jiménez C. , Prigent C. , Crewell S. , Kasai Y. , Bennartz R. , Gasiewski A. J.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Passive submillimeter-wave sensors are a way to obtain urgently needed global data on ice clouds, particularly on the so far poorly characterized "essential climate variable" ice water path (IWP) and on ice particle size. CloudIce was a mission proposal to the European Space Agency ESA in response to the call for Earth Explorer 8 (EE8), which ran in 2009/2010. It proposed a passive submillimeter-wave sensor with channels ranging from 183 GHz to 664 GHz. The article describes the CloudIce mission proposal, with particular emphasis on describing the algorithms for the data-analysis of submillimeter-wave cloud ice data (retrieval algorithms) and demonstrating their maturity. It is shown that we have a robust understanding of the radiative properties of cloud ice in the millimeter/submillimeter spectral range, and that we have a proven toolbox of retrieval algorithms to work with these data. Although the mission was not selected for EE8, the concept will be useful as a reference for other future mission proposals.
Fate of N in a peatland, Whim bog: N immobilisation in the vegetation and peat, leakage into pore water and losses as N2O depend on the form of N
Authors: Sheppard L. J. , Leith I. D. , Leeson S. R. , van Dijk N. , Field C. , Levy P.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Peatlands' vast carbon reserves accumulated under low nitrogen availability. Carbon and nitrogen cycling are inextricably linked, so what are the consequences of increased reactive nitrogen deposition for the sustainability and functioning of peatlands, and does the form of the nitrogen deposition make a difference? We have addressed these questions for an ombrotrophic peatland, Whim bog in SE Scotland, using a globally unique field simulation of reactive N deposition as dry deposited ammonia and wet deposited reduced N, ammonium and oxidised N, nitrate, added as ammonium chloride or sodium nitrate. The effects of 10 yr of reactive N additions, 56 kg N ha−1 yr−1, depended on the N form. Ammonia-N deposition caused the keystone Sphagnum species, together with the main shrub Calluna and the pleurocarpous mosses to disappear, exposing up to 30% of the peat surface. This led to a significant increase in soil water nitrate and nitrous oxide emissions. By contrast wet deposited N, despite significantly reducing the cover of Sphagnum and Pleurozium moss, did not have a detrimental effect on Calluna cover nor did it significantly change soil water N concentrations or nitrous oxide emissions. Importantly 10 yr of wet deposited N did not bare the peat surface nor significantly disrupt the vegetation, enabling the N to be retained within the carbon rich peatland ecosystems. However, given the significant role of Sphagnum in maintaining conditions that retard decomposition this study suggests that all nitrogen forms will eventually compromise carbon sequestration by peatlands through loss of some keystone Sphagnum species.
Coupled daily streamflow and water temperature modelling in large river basins
Authors: van Vliet M. T. H. , Yearsley J. R. , Franssen W. H. P. , Ludwig F. , Haddeland I. , Lettenmaier D. P. , Kabat P.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. Realistic estimates of daily streamflow and water temperature are required for effective management of water resources (e.g. electricity and drinking water production) and freshwater ecosystems. Although hydrological and process-based water temperature modelling approaches have been successfully applied to small catchments and short time periods, much less work has been done at large spatial and temporal scales. We present a physically-based modelling framework for daily river discharge and water temperature simulations applicable to large river systems on a global scale. Model performance was tested globally at 1/2° × 1/2° spatial resolution and a daily time step for the period 1971–2000. We made specific evaluations on large river basins situated in different hydro-climatic zones and characterized by different anthropogenic impacts. Effects of anthropogenic heat discharges on simulated water temperatures were incorporated by using global gridded thermoelectric water use data sets and representing thermal discharges as point sources into the heat-advection equation. This resulted in a significant increase in the quality of the water temperature simulations for thermally polluted basins (Rhine, Meuse, Danube and Mississippi). Due to large reservoirs in the Columbia which affect streamflow and thermal regimes, a reservoir routing model was used. This resulted in a significant improvement in the performance of the river discharge and water temperature modelling. Overall, realistic estimates were obtained at daily time step for both river discharge (median normalized BIAS = 0.3; normalized RMSE = 1.2; r = 0.76) and water temperature (median BIAS = −0.3 °C; RMSE = 2.8 °C; r = 0.91) for the entire validation period, with similar performance during warm, dry periods. Simulated water temperatures are sensitive to headwater temperature, depending on resolution and flow velocity. A high sensitivity of water temperature to river discharge (thermal capacity) was found during warm, dry conditions. The modelling approach has potential to be used for risk analyses and studying impacts of climate change and other anthropogenic effects (e.g. thermal pollution, dams and reservoir regulation) on large rivers.
Subduction to the lower mantle – a comparison between geodynamic and tomographic models
Authors: Steinberger B. , Torsvik T. H. , Becker T. W.
Published: July 2012

Abstract. It is generally believed that subduction of lithospheric slabs is a major contribution to thermal heterogeneity in Earth's entire mantle and provides a main driving force for mantle flow. Mantle structure can, on the one hand, be inferred from plate tectonic models of subduction history and geodynamic models of mantle flow. On the other hand, seismic tomography models provide important information on mantle heterogeneity. Yet, the two kinds of models are only similar on the largest (1000s of km) scales and are quite different in their detailed structure. Here, we provide a quantitative assessment how good a fit can be currently achieved with a simple viscous flow geodynamic model. The discrepancy between geodynamic and tomography models can indicate where further model refinement could possibly yield an improved fit. Our geodynamical model is based on 300 Myr of subduction history inferred from a global plate reconstruction. Density anomalies are inserted into the upper mantle beneath subduction zones, and flow and advection of these anomalies is calculated with a spherical harmonic code for a radial viscosity structure constrained by mineral physics and surface observations. Model viscosities in the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere are ~1020 Pas, and viscosity increases to ~1023 Pas in the lower mantle above D". Comparison with tomography models is assessed in terms of correlation, both overall and as a function of depth and spherical harmonic degree. We find that, compared to previous geodynamic and tomography models, correlation is improved significantly, presumably because of improvements in both plate reconstructions and mantle flow computation. However, high correlation is still limited to lowest spherical harmonic degrees. An important ingredient to achieve high correlation – in particular at spherical harmonic degree two – is a basal chemical layer. Subduction shapes this layer into two rather stable hot but chemically dense "piles", corresponding to the Pacific and African Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces. Visual comparison along cross sections indicates that sinking speeds in the geodynamic model are somewhat too fast, and should be 2±0.8 cm yr−1 to achieve a better fit.
Improved Security Detection Strategy in Quantum Secure Direct Communication Protocol Based on Four-Particle Green–Horne– Zeilinger State
Authors: Li Jian , Nie Jin-Rui , Li Rui-Fan , Jing Bo
Published: July 2012

To enhance the efficiency of eavesdropping detection in the quantum secure direct communication protocol, an improved quantum secure direct communication protocol based on a four-particle Green-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state is presented. In the protocol, the four-particle GHZ state is used to detect eavesdroppers, and quantum dense coding is used to encode the message. In the security analysis, the method of entropy theory is introduced, and two detection strategies are compared quantitatively by using the constraint between the information that the eavesdroppers can obtain and the interference that has been introduced. If the eavesdropper wants to obtain all the information, the detection rate of the quantum secure direct communication using an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) pair block will be 50% and the detection rate of the presented protocol will be 87%. At last, the security of the proposed protocol is discussed. The analysis results indicate that the protocol proposed is more secure than the others
Tunnelling Effects of Solitons in Optical Fibers with Higher-Order Effects
Authors: Dai Chao-Qing , Zhu Hai-Ping , Zheng Chun-Long
Published: July 2012

We construct four types of analytical soliton solutions for the higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation with distributed coefficients. These solutions include bright solitons, dark solitons, combined solitons, and M-shaped solitons. Moreover, the explicit functions which describe the evolution of the width, peak, and phase are discussed exactly.We finally discuss the nonlinear soliton tunnelling effect for four types of femtosecond solitons
Eine elektrochemische und strukturelle Studie an den Eisensilylamiden Fe[N(SiMe3)2]2 und Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3 / An Electrochemical and Structural Study of the Iron Silylamides Fe[N(SiMe3)2]2 and Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3
Authors: Margraf Günter , Schödel Frauke , Sänger Inge , Bolte Michael , Wagner Matthias , Lerner Hans-Wolfram
Published: July 2012

The bis(trimethyl)silylamido complex Na(THF){Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3} and the disilane tBu3SiSitBu3 were obtained from the reaction of Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3 with the sodium silanide Na(THF)2[SitBu3] in a mixture of benzene and THF. Single crystals of Na(THF){Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3} suitable for X-ray diffraction were grown from the reaction solution at ambient temperature (orthorhombic, C2221, Z = 4). The solid-state structure features a contact-ion pair with two short N-Na contacts. The THF adducts {M(THF)2[N(SiMe3)2]2} reacted with 2,2´-bipyridine to give the corresponding complexes {M(2,2´bipy)[N(SiMe3)2]2} (M= Mn; Fe). Their structures (M= Fe: orthorhombic, Pca21, Z = 8; M = Mn: orthorhombic, Pbca, Z = 8) feature monomeric units. The cyclic voltammogram of Fe[N(SiMe3)2]3 revealed a reversible redox transition with the potential of -0;523 V (E½), which was assigned to the Fe(III)[N(SiMe3)2]3 → Fe(II)[N(SiMe3)2]-
3 redox transition, whereas the compounds {Fe(THF)2[N(SiMe3)2]2} (Eox = -0;379 V) and {Fe(2,2´bipy)[N(SiMe3)2]2} (Eox = -0;436 V) featured irreversible oxidation waves. The related manganese bis(trimethylsilyl)amido complexes {Mn(THF)2[N(SiMe3)2]2} (Eox = -0;458 V) and {Mn(2,2´bipy)[N(SiMe3)2]2} (Eox = -0513 V) also underwent irreversibile electron transfer processes.
1-Amino-3-nitroguanidine (ANQ) in High-performance Ionic Energetic Materials
Authors: Fischer Niko , Klapötke Thomas M. , Stierstorfer Jörg
Published: July 2012

1-Amino-3-nitroguanidine (ANQ, 2) was synthesized via hydrazinolysis of nitroguanidine (1). An appropriate Lewis structure of ANQ is drawn based on VB calculations. Due to its basicity, it can be protonated by strong mineral acids or acidic heterocycles. In order to synthesize new energetic materials the nitrate (3) and perchlorate (4) salts of 1-amino-3-nitroguanidine were synthesized by protonation of 2 with 40% nitric acid and 60% perchloric acid, respectively. 5-Nitrimino-1,4H-tetrazole obtained by reacting 5-amino-1H-tetrazole with 100% HNO3 was used to synthesize the nitriminotetrazolate salt 5. Furthermore, the dinitramide salt 6 of 1-amino-3-nitroguanidine was synthesized by metathesis reaction of silver dinitramide and 1-amino-3-nitroguanidinium chloride. The dinitroguanidinate salt 7 was synthesized by protonation of 2 with 1,3-dinitroguanidine, which was prepared from nitroguanidine in anhydrous nitric acid/N2O5. All compounds were fully characterized by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman), multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and DSC measurements. The heats of formation of 2 - 7 were calculated using the atomization method based on CBS-4M enthalpies. With these values and the experimental (X-ray) densities several detonation parameters such as the detonation pressure, velocity, energy, and temperature were computed using the EXPLO5 code. In addition, the sensitivities towards impact, friction and electrical discharge were tested using the BAM drophammer, friction tester as well as a small-scale electrical discharge device. A Koenen test with 1-amino-3-nitroguanidinium nitrate (3) was carried out in order to evaluate its explosive performance and shipping classification.