bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sur le rôle de la fracturation dans l'organisation de certains phénomènes karstiques souterrains
Authors: Grillot J.-C. , Drogue C.
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

L'observation directe des galeries karstiques fossiles ou actives montre dans bien des cas que celles-ci s'alignent sur certaines fractures, ou qu'elles sont très proches, par leurs directions, des orientations de certaines familles de discontinuités.

Le problème qui se pose est donc de reconnaître si la nature spécifique d'une fracture a une influence sur son processus de karstification.

Sur ces bases, et à l'échelle régionale d'un système karstique, ont été analysées d'une part, les directions structurales (longueurs, nombre et nature structurale des familles de fractures, répartition spatiale des axes de déformation de chaque phase tectonique) et les directions des réseaux karstiques (développement linéaire des galeries selon leurs directions).

La confrontation de ces différentes données montre que le facteur prépondérant dans la sélection des fractures est leur réactivation mécanique au cours de mouvements tectoniques successifs. Ainsi, les fractures qui ont une direction suborlhogonale à l'allongement X de chaque phase (compression ou distension) bénéficieront de celle réactivation, ce qui aura pour conséquence :

— soit de maintenir une direction relativement constante aux axes de drainage du karsl au cours de son évolution (X constant en direction quelle que soit la phase) ;

— soit de modifier celte direction (X variable), auquel cas les directions préférentielles de creusement du karst varient au cours de l'évolution de ce dernier.

Il en résulte que les drains karstiques peuvent présenter des changements de direction, ce qui est le cas dans l'exemple traité (Bassin karstique du Haut-Vidourle, Gard) où les réseaux fossiles et actifs ont des directions variant de 90°.
La paroi subverticale, unité morphologique. Contribution à une réflexion épistémologique en géomorphologie
Authors: Schroeder Jacques
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

Comment se pose le problème de l'élude de la paroi subuerticale ? Influences a priori de l'insolalion, de l'humidilé et de la lithologie. Colonisation végétale de la paroi calcaire en climat océanique. Rapport végétation-érosion.
Les tufs de Touraine
Authors: Couderc Jean-Marie
Published: January 2011

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Tuffsiein ist eine Ablagerung aus Kalziumkarbonat, die sich am Ausfluß Kalk ablagernder Quellen bildet. In der Touraine sind dièse Quellen im we- sentlichen solche, die aus Kalkgestein austreten, das sich in Seen gebildel hat. (Alter : zwischen Eozân und Oligozàn). Die Ausfällung der Bikarbonate in Karbonale isl einerseils and physikalisch-chemische Fakloren und ander- erseits an die Chlorophyll-Assimilation einer ganz speziellen Vegetation gebun- den (vor allem Moospflanzen), die dem Wasser CO2 entnimmt.

Diese Ablagerungen nehmen gern die Form von « Pilzen », kleinen Wasser- fällen, übereinander liegenden Brunnenbecken, Krusten und Belagen an. Einige Gebiete mit luffbildenden Quellen, die einen wirksamen Schutz verdienten, sind durch Bebauung bedroht.
Phénomènes karstiques dans le Massif Armoricain (Bas-Maine)
Authors: Gautier Marcel
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

Les calcaires carbonifériens et cambriens du Bas-Maine présentent des formes karstiques exceptionnelles dans le Massif Armoricain. Si les formes de surface sont très rares, les grottes de la région de Saulges-Thorigné et des Coëvrons, dans la vallée de l'Erve, offrent les caractères habituels des karsts souterrains et apportent d'intéressants éléments aux préhistoriens, y compris des dessins rupeslres. Elles montrent que de telles formes peuvent se développer à basse altitude dans des roches résistantes aux affleurements peu étendus, malgré une structure vigoureusement plissée et une longue instabilité tectonique. Avec les fluctuations climatiques du Tertiaire et du début du Quaternaire, celle-ci peut d'ailleurs contribuer, en liaison avec les transgressions et régressiou qui affectèrent, depuis le Secondaire inclus, le massif ancien et le Bassin Parisien prohe, à l'explication de ces karsls.
Estrans calcaires et grésocalcaires à Madagascar et dans les îles voisines
Authors: Battistini René
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

Dans la zone intertropicale et méditerranéenne, les estrans calcaires et gréso-calcaires présentent une zonation des formes plus complexe que dans les autres zones climatiques. Les zonations les plus complètes du monde existent au Maroc et à Madagascar et cette dernière est décrite dans le présent article. Le facteur lithologique semble fondamental (grès-calcaires plus sensibles à la corrosion littorale que les autres types de calcaires). Le second fadeur important est i 'exposition à la grande houle. Le marnage n'intervient que secondairement.
Un phénomène karstique dans des grès siliceux (Pays de Galles méridional)
Authors: Battiau-Queney Yvonne
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

Au Nord du Bassin Houiller du Pays de Galles méridional, les orthoquartzites du Millstone Grit (Namurien) présentent, à l'affleurement, des champs de dolines provoquées par l'effondrement local de masses gréseuses. L'explication classique, par affaissement de la voûte de cavités calcaires sous- facentes est rejetée. L'auteur propose d'y voir le résultat d'un ameublissement local des orihoquartzites, par suite de la dissolution et de la migration de la silice des quartz. Le processus, nécessitant un climat chaud et humide, n'a pu fonctionner qu'au Néogène ou au Quaternaire ancien, au plus tard. C'est un exemple, parmi d'autres, de la permanence du modelé pré-glaciaire dans cette région.
Les formes majeures du relief karstique dans la Sierra de Libar (Andalousie)
Authors: Lhenaff René
Published: January 2011

RÉSUMÉ

Les formes karstiques majeures de la Sierra de Libar (poljés, pertes et résurgences de rivières importantes) sont expliquées à partir d'une analyse des données structurales et de révolution géomorphologique en deux grandes étapes. Le rôle du « capital karstique » dans la genèse des formes est souligné.
Géomorphologie et préhistoire. Méthodologie pour une cartographie de l'environnement des sites préhistoriques : l'exemple de Lagoa Santa (Minas Gérais, Brésil)
Authors: Journaux André
Published: January 2011

RESUMO

A cartografia de « Environnement » prehistorico tern por finalidade pesquisar os provàveis silios. A metodologia consiste em definir, de inicio, os tipos de instalaçào dos caçadores e pescadores, segundo o estado de nossos conhecimentos ; depois, graças a um esludo das formaçoes superficiais e da geomorfologia da regiào, encontrar sitios analogos que exisliram outrora, levando em conta a evolucào das paisagens ; enfim, elaborar uma caria de « environnement » prehistorico dos locais conhecidos e dos sitios a prospector.
Herbal flavonoids inhibit the development of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice: proposed mechanisms of action in the example of PADMA 28
Authors: Weiss Lola , Barak Vivian , Raz Itamar , Or Reuven , Slavin Shimon , Ginsburg Isaac
Published: January 2011

Padma 28 is a multicompound herbal preparation based on the camphor formulas from traditional tibetan medicine (TTM). It contains a variety of different secondary plant substances, which include terpenes and polyphenols such as flavonoids and tannins. The formula is used in various chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether secondary plant substances as present in Padma 28 are able to prevent the development of autoimmune diabetes. Female NOD mice were administered an aqueous Padma 28 extract intraperitonneally (i.p.), subcutaneously (s.c.) or per os (p.o.) over a period of 13 weeks. The development of autoimmune diabetes mellitus type 1 was monitored over 24 weeks. Untreated and saline treated mice served as controls. After 24 weeks, 20% of the control groups were free of diabetes while 100% and 80% of the animals administered aqueous extracts from Padma 28 i.p. or s.c., respectively, were diabetes-free. In the p.o. group, 33% were diabetes-free. In controls, only a few pancreatic islets had survived. Animals treated i.p. with Padma 28 had preserved islets with minimal lymphocyte infiltrations. Spleen cells from animals treated i.p. or s.c. with Padma 28 and stimulated with concanavalin A showed significant elevations in the levels of interleukins (IL)-10, IL-6 and IL-4. In the plasma, the level of the Th1 cytokine IL-12 was decreased in the i.p. group. Padma 28 treatment by the i.p. route of administration showed a significant decrease in CD8 cytotoxic cells, which have been implicated in the destruction of the islets. The findings support the use of secondary plant substances such as flavonoids in inflammatory autoimmune diseases. The results suggest that Padma 28 has immuno­modulatory effects associated with a shift from Th1 to Th2 immune response and may have protective effects against autoimmune diabetes.
Natural products for treating or preventing influenza
Authors: Ulbricht Catherine , Chao Wendy , Costa Dawn
Published: January 2011

Natural products – including botanicals, minerals, and other substances produced by organisms – not only hold historical significance in various medical traditions, but they also form the basis of many modern-day drugs. On one hand, natural products are considered to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); as with many CAM therapies, natural products are often used for primary disease prevention and treatment – or as adjuncts to conventional therapies – despite uncertain effectiveness or safety. On the other hand, natural products have given rise to numerous conventional drugs, which are widely used in mainstream medicine and compose the primary therapeutic strategies for numerous conditions (including influenza). In this review, the available evidence on the use of select natural products for the treatment or prevention of influenza is discussed. Finally, a brief overview of an established influenza drug with botanical origins is provided.
Remembering the past and looking forward into the future
Authors: Grundmann Oliver
Published: January 2011

At the end of the passing year 2010 I would like to take a moment to thank all of the contributors and editors of the journal Alternative Medicine Studies. Over the past months since its inception in August 2010 a number of well written manuscripts have been submitted and published in the journal. We strive to increase our efforts and encourage researchers and scientists to consider submitting their manuscript to the journal.
Pre-clinical anticancer drugs screening: perspectives from emerging models of glioma biology
Authors: Yakisich Juan Sebastian
Published: January 2011

No abstract
Impact of Child Obesity on Adipose Tissue Physiology: Assessment of Adipocytokines and Inflammatory Cytokines as Biomarkers of Obesity
Authors: Leoni Maria Chiara , Valsecchi Chiara , Mantelli Melissa , Marastoni Laura , Tinelli Carmine , Marchi Antonietta , Castellazzi Annamaria
Published: January 2011

Obesity could be interpreted as a low grade inflammatory state. The role of cytokines for innate and acquired immune response and adipocytokines in pathogenesis of obesity is not completely understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate anthropometric parameters, adipocytokines and inflammatory cytokine levels as biomarkers of childhood obesity. This investigation was designed as a longitudinal observational study. Forty-seven obese children (19 males and 28 females) were enrolled by Pediatric Clinic of the Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. For each patients a blood sample, used for other biochemical evaluations, was collected. Cytokines and adipocytokines plasmatic levels were determined using an ELISA method. Plasma leptin levels are in correlation with age (r=0.5; P<0.001) and BMI-z score (r=0.36; P<0.001), particularly in girls; plasma resistin levels are in inverse correlation with age, particularly in boys (r=-0.67; P<0.001) and in correlation with BMI-z score (r=0.52; P=0.002). Plasma leptin and resistin levels show a good correlation with antrophometric parameters of child obesity (sex and BMI z score). This study suggests that leptin and resistin can be considered as biomarker of childhood obesity and its comorbility. We observed a statistically significant correlation between plasma leptin and resistin levels and antrophometric parameters of child obesity (sex and BMI z score). This study suggests that adipocytokines, such as leptin and resistin, can be considered as biomarkers of childhood obesity.
Protein-Losing Enteropathy Associated with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
Authors: Nakamura Ayako , Fuchigami Tatsuo , Inamo Yasuji
Published: January 2011

The gastrointestinal manifestations of Henoch-Schönlein purpura include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, intussusception, and perforation. Protein-losing enteropathy is rarely associated with Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Two pediatric patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura who developed protein-losing enteropathy are reported. Tc-99m human serum albumin scintigraphy is useful in the detection of protein-losing enteropathy.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the setting of locally advanced olfactory neuroblastoma with intracranial extension
Authors: Aljumaily Raid M. , Nystrom John S. , Wein Richard O.
Published: January 2011

Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin. With only about 1,000 cases reported, there are no clear guidelines regarding management of this disease. Intracranial extension and orbital involvement have been shown to be independent risk factors associated with poorer outcomes. We hereby report a case of a 46-year old male presented with an 8-month history of progressive nasal obstruction and intermittent right-sided epistaxis associated with anosmia and increased pressure sensation in and around the right eye. Further evaluation revealed a large enhancing heterogeneous cystic and solid mass in the right nasal cavity measuring 5.0×5.3×4.6 cm with extension superiorly into the anterior cranial fossa and frontal lobes, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. A biopsy of this mass confirmed high grade olfactory neuroblastoma. Because of the intra-cranial extension, a decision was made to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. The patient had very good response to this treatment on a repeat imaging study and went on to have resection of this mass. Post-operatively, he received radiation therapy to the tumor bed and 2 more cycles of chemotherapy. He has been followed now for more than 8 months with no evidence of disease recurrence.
Resectable pancreatic small cell carcinoma
Authors: Winter Jordan M. , Narang Amol K. , Mansfield Aaron S. , Herman Joseph M. , Cameron John L. , Laheru Dan , Eckhauser Fred E. , Olson Mathew T. , Hruban Ralph H. , Miller Robert C. , Andersen Dana K.
Published: January 2011

Primary pancreatic small cell carcinoma (SCC) is rare, with just over 30 cases reported in the literature. Only 7 of these patients underwent surgical resection with a median survival of 6 months. Prognosis of SCC is therefore considered to be poor, and the role of adjuvant therapy is uncertain. Here we report two institutions’ experience with resectable pancreatic SCC. Six patients with pancreatic SCC treated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (4 patients) and the Mayo Clinic (2 patients) were identified from prospectively collected pancreatic cancer databases and re-reviewed by pathology. All six patients underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Clinicopathologic data were analyzed, and the literature on pancreatic SCC was reviewed. Median age at diagnosis was 50 years (range 27–60). All six tumors arose in the head of the pancreas. Median tumor size was 3 cm, and all cases had positive lymph nodes except for one patient who only had five nodes sampled. There were no perioperative deaths and three patients had at least one postoperative complication. All six patients received adjuvant therapy, five of whom were given combined modality treatment with radiation, cisplatin, and etoposide. Median survival was 20 months with a range of 9–173 months. The patient who lived for 9 months received chemotherapy only, while the patient who lived for 173 months was given chemoradiation with cisplatin and etoposide and represents the longest reported survival time from pancreatic SCC to date. Pancreatic SCC is an extremely rare form of cancer with a poor prognosis. Patients in this surgical series showed favorable survival rates when compared to prior reports of both resected and unresectable SCC. Cisplatin and etoposide appears to be the preferred chemotherapy regimen, although its efficacy remains uncertain, as does the role of combined modality treatment with radiation.
Herbicides increase the vulnerability of corals to rising sea surface temperature
Authors: Negri Andrew P. , Flores Florita , Röthig Till , Uthicke Sven
Published: January 2011

In order to examine the potential interactive pressures of local pollution and global climate change, we exposed corals and crustose coralline algae (CCA) to three agricultural photosystem II (PSII) herbicides at four temperatures (26–32°C). The coral Acropora millepora was 3‐ to 10‐fold more sensitive to the three herbicides than the CCA Neogoniolithon fosliei. While the photosynthesis of CCA was not affected by the herbicide concentrations used (< 1 μg L−1), temperatures of 31°C and 32°C alone significantly inhibited photosynthetic efficiency (ΔF:F′m) and caused chronic photoinhibition (reduced Fv:Fm) and substantial bleaching. Environmentally relevant concentrations of each herbicide increased the negative effects of thermal stress on coral at 31°C and 32°C. Mixed model analyses of variance showed that the effects of elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) and herbicide on photosynthetic efficiency of coral symbionts were additive. Furthermore, the effect of either diuron or atrazine in combination with higher SST (31°C and 32°C) on chronic photoinhibition was distinctly greater than additive (synergistic). Reducing the herbicide concentration by 1 μg L−1 diuron above 30°C would protect photosynthetic efficiency by the equivalent of 1.8°C and reduce chronic photoinhibition by the equivalent of a 1°C reduction. Reduced water quality increases the vulnerability of corals to elevated SSTs, and effective management of local water quality can reduce negative effects of global stressors such as elevated SST.
Disentangling the spatial patterns in community composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic lake plankton
Authors: Soininen Janne , Korhonen Jenni J. , Karhu Johanna , Vetterli Adrien
Published: January 2011

We sampled 100 small lakes in Finland for bacterio‐, phyto‐, and zooplankton. The lakes were located in five drainage systems, 20 lakes for each system. We tested two main predictions: that the correlation between community similarity and geographical distance (spatial distance decay) is stronger at the across‐drainage than at the within‐drainage system scale, and that spatial distance decay is strongest for zooplankton and weakest for bacteria. We used a combination of direct ordination, multivariate statistical tests, and distance‐based approaches to examine spatial patterns in our data. Our analyses confirmed both of our predictions. Spatial distance decay was scale‐dependent; communities were overall weakly spatially structured within the drainage systems, yet distance decay was significant for all planktonic groups across drainage systems. Spatial distance decay was stronger for zooplankton, with higher slopes and shorter halving distances, than for phytoplankton and bacteria. These results provide evidence that distance decay of similarity is related to study scale, environment, and organism characteristics. Planktonic communities may be controlled by both dispersal‐driven assembly and local ecological determinism, with the balance between these two forces depending on study scale.
Contributions of fungi to carbon flow and nutrient cycling from standing dead Typha angustifolia leaf litter in a temperate freshwater marsh
Authors: Kuehn K. A. , Ohsowski B. M. , Francoeur S. N. , Neely R. K.
Published: January 2011

Standing dead plant litter often constitutes a large fraction of the detritus in many freshwater marshes and lake littoral habitats. Despite this evidence, microbial decay processes in standing litter and its contribution to wetland carbon and nutrient cycling have rarely been quantified. We examined the contribution of fungi to carbon flow and nutrient cycling from Typha angustifolia during senescence and standing litter decomposition. Naturally standing Typha leaves were collected in August and then periodically over 1 yr. We quantified losses in leaf carbon (C), fungal biomass, and fungal production rates and constructed a partial budget estimating C flow into fungal decomposers. Additionally, we determined leaf litter N and P concentrations to assess the effect of fungi on detrital nutrient dynamics. Significant losses in leaf C occurred during plant senescence and standing litter decay (∼ 55%). Fungal biomass increased during litter decay, reaching a maximum of 106 ± 7 mg C g−1 detrital C. Cumulative fungal production totaled 123 mg C g−1 initial detrital C, indicating that 22% of the Typha leaf C lost was assimilated into fungal biomass. Fungi also transformed and immobilized nutrients within Typha leaves, with fungal N and P accounting for > 50% of the total detrital N and P during later stages of leaf decay. Significant transformation and decomposition of emergent macrophyte litter occurs during the standing dead phase, and a large portion of the plant C and nutrients are channeled into and through fungal decomposers.
Linking diel patterns in community respiration to bacterioplankton in an oligotrophic high‐elevation lake
Authors: Sadro Steven , Nelson Craig E. , Melack John M.
Published: January 2011

We examined the role of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in structuring diel patterns in community respiration (CR) in an oligotrophic alpine lake. We used continuous measurements of dissolved oxygen from both free‐water and in situ incubation chambers to characterize a consistent diel pattern in oxygen drawdown with two distinct phases. CR rates averaged 15.4 times higher during the late afternoon to early night phase, which lasted for up to 5 h past dusk before rapidly transitioning to the lower rate phase, which lasted through dawn. Bacterioplankton always accounted for the majority of CR (73% seasonally averaged). We examined patterns in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and bacterial growth to determine the degree to which bacterioplankton were affecting diel variability in respiration rates. There was a diel pattern in DOC accumulation, with the magnitude of overnight drawdown of DOC (2.0 ± 0.8 μmol L−1) matching our oxygen‐based estimates of the amount of DOC required to sustain higher CR rates (2.4 ± 1.3 μmol L−1). Bacterioplankton communities cultured on dusk water had growth‐rate constants two times higher than those cultured on dawn water and removed the excess DOC in dusk water. Our results indicate that higher daytime CR of bacterioplankton is directly coupled to daily production of DOC at a timescale of hours, likely through phytoplankton exudation. Ignoring diel variability in CR may result in substantial underestimation of daily CR and gross primary production.
Seasonality and depth distribution of a mesopelagic foraminifer, Hastigerinella digitata, in Monterey Bay, California
Authors: Hull Pincelli M. , Osborn Karen J. , Norris Richard D. , Robison Bruce H.
Published: January 2011

We investigated the habitat depth and population dynamics of mesopelagic foraminifera in Monterey Bay, California, using 12 yr of video surveys and specimens from live collections. The water column over Monterey Canyon continuously supports two distinct species of mesopelagic foraminifera, Hastigerinella digitata and a previously unknown species referred to as Hastigerina sp., with H. digitata dominating the planktonic foraminiferal assemblage at mesopelagic depths. H. digitata populations live within a narrow depth horizon that lies above the core of the regional oxygen minimum zone at a depth of 280–358 m and O2 concentrations of 1–1.3 mL L−1. Our observations provide a modern calibration for understanding fossil digitate planktonic foraminifera. We observed numerous copepods in various stages of ingestion on the spines of H. digitata and a conspicuous lack of detritus attached to the spine network, providing support for the hypothesis that H. digitata is an obligate carnivore. H. digitata populations did not show the strong two‐phase seasonality that characterizes the population dynamics of many mesopelagic species that live above the Monterey Canyon, although H. digitata was generally more abundant in cooler waters on seasonal and interannual timescales.
Urban Sprawl and the Cost of Public Services: An Evaluation of Spanish Local Governments
Authors: Benito Bernardino , Bastida Francisco , Guillamón María-Dolores
Published: January 2011

This paper evaluates the impact of urban sprawl on municipal expenditures, considering all the 3,179 Spanish municipalities with more than 1,000 inhabitants in 2005. We have ascertained that there is an influence of urban sprawl on per capita spending: the higher the population density, the lower the total investment and current expenditures per capita. This result supports the claims in favour of smart growth in municipalities. Furthermore, the economic level exerts a positive influence on expenditures per capita. Concerning social factors, our data show that population yields economies of scale to a limit (the function presents a U-shape): from the point of the minimum per-capita spending, if the population keeps on growing, per-capita spending rises.

KEYWORDS: • urban sprawl • municipal spending • public services • smart growth • Spain
Accounting Aspects of Reporting Business Relationships between Public Enterprises and Municipalities in Slovenia, Individual Comparisons with Italy and Austria, and International Guidelines
Authors: Novak Aleš , Kokotec-Novak Majda , Halužan Nives
Published: January 2011

Adequate accounting information is the foundation of an efficient public sector. As of 2010, the accounting aspect of business relationships between public enterprises and municipalities in Slovenia had to be redefined due to the abandonment of ‘assets under management’ reporting. The regulation recommending municipalities to hand over infrastructure to public enterprises in the form of an operating lease has resulted in the need for different accounting information on the part of the municipalities. Regarding the water sector of municipalities in Austria and Italy, the need for more comprehensive accounting information exists as well. Due to the application of New Public Management concepts, many countries have adopted or committed to adopt some variant of accrual accounting also for the public sector. The large-scale adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (the IPSASs) would significantly enhance the international public sector comparability.

KEYWORDS: • accrual basis accounting • cash basis accounting • municipality • public enterprise • Slovenia • Italy • Austria
Public-Public Partnerships: The Role of Slovenian Local Authorities in Carrying out the Joint Tasks
Authors: Škof Bojan , Bradaschia Neli
Published: January 2011

Despite the clearly specified conditions laid down in the Slovenian Local Self-Government Act, both in theory and practice, the question often arises whether or not the Slovene municipalities are able to perform original tasks. In this regard, it must be noted that the local communities, i.e., municipalities and wider self-governing local communities, are not formed on the basis of certain criteria of rationality according to which it would be possible to prejudge whether or not they are capable of performing the tasks that they must perform, namely, the local public services. Today's municipalities are mostly the result of the historical development, traditions, political compromises, geographical and other factors that have nothing to do with the criteria of rationality with regard to the tasks and needs they must carry out and satisfy. Due to a large number of relatively weak local communities in Slovenia, the cooperation between them is important in carrying out the functions that are common to municipalities, to the state or to the EU. It is about public-public partnerships where local communities can play a key role because they know the needs of the local population.

KEYWORDS: • local authorities • local self-government • joint tasks public-public partnership • Slovenia
Customer-Oriented Public Service in Township Administration: Enabling Quick Response
Authors: Yu Hui-Fun , Wang Kuo-Yan , Shen Chun-Ying
Published: January 2011

The quality reliability and maintenance of a street lighting system are highly related to society, which reflect the administrative performance of a local government. However, the existing published studies seldom discuss the specific civil customer-oriented street lighting system, which is the key factor of both the local administration performance indicators and resident’s satisfaction. This study proposes a management conclusion based on an empirical electronic street lighting system (ESLS) and the 280 resident questionnaire surveys in Taiwan. The implication of the existing perspective on management concept is that electronic governance (e-governance) systems emerging in Eastern Europe are going to meet the needs of local governments in terms of the experience level of townships that practice e-governance in Taiwan.

KEYWORDS: • electronic governance • e-governance • quick response • township office management • new public management • NPM
Citizen support for Increasing the Responsibilities of Local Government in European Countries: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Baker Keith , Van de Walle Steven , Skelcher Chris
Published: January 2011

The transfer of responsibilities from central to local government has often been justified on the grounds of efficiency and democracy under the principle of subsidiarity. The existing models for mapping local government power in Europe, however, are often insufficiently detailed to allow an in-depth comparison, and little is known about the level of citizen support for increasing the responsibilities of local government. This paper attempts to expand this knowledge base by using financial local government data and opinion data from the European Values Study to analyse these questions. It relates the level of local government responsibilities in Europe to the level of citizen support for increasing local government responsibilities. These findings are then used to develop a research agenda on local government measurement, and to reflect on the difficulties facing the European comparative local government researcher.

Keywords: • comparative local government • citizen attitudes • local government power • decentralisation • local government spending
Strengthening Local Democracy or Neo-Liberal Conversions? New Local Governmental Legislation in Turkey
Authors: Alkan Ayten
Published: January 2011

Among numerous transformation processes of the globalized neo-liberal era, governmental restructuring and decentralisation of the State have been distinctive and prevalent features, particularly in the countries characterized by highly centralised traditions. This transformation has resulted in rather complex and contradictory reforms at the local level: On the one hand, local community members have begun to be seen as ‘customers’ instead of citizens. But on the other hand, local autonomy and subsidiarity have gained more importance than before. In parallel with the redefinition of local identities, differences, local potentials and decision-making processes, the emphasis on local citizenship and local democracy has become sharper. After coming into force, the new Turkish (local) governmental legislation (2004-2006) has cloven these paradoxical processes and relations. This paper aims to question how far these paradoxes are embedded in the new legislation, and whether, in these circumstances, ‘governmental decentralisation’ directly connotes ‘the empowerment of local governments and local communities’.

Keywords: • Turkish Local Governmental System • (Local) Governmental Restructuring • Local Democracy • Neo-liberalism
Retaining Public Enterprise Status Through Own Shares
Authors: Kocbek Marijan
Published: January 2011

The paper deals with the transitory provisions of the Public-Private Partnership Act that strongly interferes with the legal status of the public enterprises in Slovenia. According to this Act, there are merely two options for public enterprises in which there are private equity stakes. A public enterprise can be transformed into a company in accordance with the Companies Act, or the public enterprise status can be retained, provided that the private equity stakes are in a way nullified in the public enterprise, and that only the equity stakes owned by the Republic of Slovenia or local communities remain. The Act expressly refers to an option of terminating the private equity stakes through an own shares fund. By analysing the Companies Act, the author states that in practice, the procedure for acquiring own shares is most relevant due to their withdrawal. Thus, the share capital is reduced. In this case, the companies have two options. In the first option, the companies may withdraw their shares by following a simplified procedure. When doing so, they must have reserved profits at their disposal to use them for this purpose instead of dividing them among shareholders. In the second option, the companies may also withdraw their shares chargeable to quality funds, i.e., fixed-term categories of capital. However, in so doing, they must carry out all the necessary procedures for protecting creditors, which delays the whole transaction.

Keywords: • public-private partnership • public enterprise • own shares • Slovenia
Residual circulation trajectories and transit times into the extratropical lowermost stratosphere
Authors: Birner T. , Bönisch H.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Transport into the extratropical lowermost stratosphere (LMS) can be divided into a slow part (time-scale of several months to years) associated with the global-scale stratospheric residual circulation and a fast part (time-scale of days to a few months) associated with (mostly quasi-horizontal) mixing (i.e. two-way irreversible transport, including extratropical stratosphere-troposphere exchange). The stratospheric residual circulation may be considered to consist of two branches: a deep branch more strongly associated with planetary waves breaking in the middle to upper stratosphere, and a shallow branch associated with synoptic and planetary scale waves breaking in the subtropical lower stratosphere. In this study the contribution due to the stratospheric residual circulation alone to transport into the LMS is quantified using residual circulation trajectories, i.e. trajectories driven by the (time-dependent) residual mean meridional and vertical velocities. This contribution represents the advective part of the overall transport into the LMS and can be viewed as providing a background onto which the effect of mixing has to be added. Residual mean velocities are obtained from a comprehensive chemistry-climate model as well as from reanalysis data. Transit times of air traveling from the tropical tropopause to the LMS along the residual circulation streamfunction are evaluated and compared to recent mean age of air estimates. A time-scale separation with much smaller transit times into the mid-latitudinal LMS than into polar LMS is found that is indicative of a separation of the shallow from the deep branch of the residual circulation. This separation between the shallow and the deep circulation branch is further manifested in a distinction in the aspect ratio of the vertical to meridional extent of the trajectories, the integrated mass flux along the residual circulation trajectories, as well as the stratospheric entry latitude of the trajectories. The residual transit time distribution reproduces qualitatively the observed seasonal cycle of youngest air in the extratropical LMS in fall and oldest air in spring.
A regional chemical transport modeling to identify the influences of biomass burning during 2006 BASE-ASIA
Authors: Fu J. S. , Hsu N. C. , Gao Y. , Huang K. , Li C. , Lin N.-H. , Tsay S.-C.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. To evaluate the impact of biomass burning from Southeast Asia to East Asia, this study conducted numerical simulations during NASA's 2006 Biomass-burning Aerosols in South-East Asia: Smoke Impact Assessment (BASE-ASIA). Two typical episode periods (27–28 March and 13–14 April) were examined. Two emission inventories, FLAMBE and GFED, were used in the simulations. The influences during two episodes in the source region (Southeast Asia) contributed to CO, O3 and PM2.5 concentrations as high as 400 ppbv, 20 ppbv and 80 μg/m3, respectively. The perturbations with and without biomass burning of the above three species were in the range of 10 to 60%, 10 to 20% and 30 to 70%, respectively. The impact due to long-range transport could spread over the southeastern parts of East Asia and could reach about 160 to 360 ppbv, 8 to 18 ppbv and 8 to 64 μg/m3 on CO, O3 and PM2.5, respectively; the percentage impact could reach 20 to 50% on CO, 10 to 30% on O3, and as high as 70% on PM2.5. An impact pattern can be found in April, while the impact becomes slightly broader and goes up to Yangtze River Delta. Two cross-sections at 15° N and 20° N were used to compare the vertical flux of biomass burning. In the source region (Southeast Asia), CO, O3 and PM2.5 concentrations had a strong upward tendency from surface to high altitudes. The eastward transport becomes strong from 2 to 8 km in the free troposphere. The subsidence contributed 60 to 70%, 20 to 50%, and 80% on CO, O3 and PM2.5, respectively to surface in the downwind area. The study reveals the significant impact of Southeastern Asia biomass burning on the air quality in both local and downwind areas, particularly during biomass burning episodes. This modeling study might provide constraints of lower limit. An additional study is underway for an active biomass burning year to obtain an upper limit and climate effects.
Size-resolved aerosol water uptake and cloud condensation nuclei measurements as measured above a Southeast Asian rainforest during OP3
Authors: Irwin M. , Robinson N. , Allan J. D. , Coe H. , McFiggans G.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. The influence of the properties of fine particles on the formation of clouds and precipitation in the tropical atmosphere is of primary importance to their impacts on radiative forcing and the hydrological cycle. Measurements of aerosol number size distribution, hygroscopicity in both sub- and supersaturated regimes and composition were taken between March and July 2008 in the tropical rainforest in Borneo, Malaysia, marking the first study of this type in an Asian tropical rainforest. Hygroscopic growth factors (GF) at 90% relative humidity (RH) for the dry diameter range D0=32–258 nm, supersaturated water uptake behaviour for the dry diameter range D0=20–300 nm and aerosol chemical composition were simultaneously measured using a Hygroscopicity Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser (HTDMA), a Droplet Measurement Technologies Cloud Condensation Nuclei counter (CCNc) and an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS), respectively. The derived hygroscopicty parameter κ ranged from between 0.05–0.37 for the supersaturation range 0.11–0.73% compared to those between 0.17–0.37 for measurements performed at a relative humidity of 90%. In contrast, results from a study with similar methodology performed in the Amazon basin report more similar values for κ, indicating that the aerosol as measured from both sites shows similar hygroscopic properties. However, the derived number of cloud condensation nuclei (NCCN) were much higher than those measured in the Amazon, due to the higher particle number concentrations in the rainforests of Borneo. This first contrast between the two environments may be of substantial importance in describing the impacts of particles in the tropical atmosphere.
Seasonal variation of trans-Pacific transport of carbon monoxide (CO) in the upper troposphere: MLS observations and GEOS-Chem and GEM-AQ simulations
Authors: Jin J. J. , Livesey N. J. , Jiang J. H. , Lupu A. , Kaminski J. W. , McConnell J. C.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. Multi-year Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) carbon monoxide (CO) measurements at 215 hPa are employed to present a climatological view of seasonal variation of upper tropospheric trans-Pacific transport of Asian air pollution. The measurements show that the transport peaks in late boreal spring and early boreal summer. Although the strongest Asian air pollution outflow occurs in boreal summer, the "transport pathway" over the northeast Pacific is narrower in summer than in spring. Results from two tropospheric chemistry models GEOS-Chem and GEM-AQ are compared to MLS observations. Both models reproduce the strong trans-Pacific transport in boreal spring and summer well, but show different morphologies over Southeast Asia in winter and fall. A tagged CO simulation using GEOS-Chem indicates that Asian fossil fuel is the biggest source of upper tropospheric CO over the north Pacific in all seasons, excepting methane (CH4) and non-methane hydrocarbons, although there are large fires in Southeast Asia in boreal spring and fall. A sensitivity test indicates that deep convection has a large effect on upper tropospheric CO abundances, increasing the abundances by more than 40%, over the north Pacific in boreal spring. In boreal summer, however, the increase is not significant over the north Pacific although it is large over continental Asia.
Mechanisms of vegetation uprooting by flow in alluvial non-cohesive sediment
Authors: Edmaier K. , Burlando P. , Perona P.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. The establishment of riparian pioneer vegetation is of crucial importance within river restoration projects. After germination or vegetative reproduction on river bars juvenile plants are often exposed to mortality by uprooting caused by floods. At later stages of root development vegetation uprooting by flow is seen to occur as a consequence of a marked erosion gradually exposing the root system and accordingly reducing the mechanical anchoring. How time scales of flow-induced uprooting do depend on vegetation stages growing in alluvial non-cohesive sediment is currently an open question that we conceptually address in this work. After reviewing vegetation root issues in relation to morphodynamic processes, we then propose two modelling mechanisms (Type I and Type II), respectively concerning the uprooting time scales of early germinated and of mature vegetation. Type I is a purely flow-induced drag mechanism, which causes alone a nearly instantaneous uprooting when exceeding root resistance. Type II arises as a combination of substantial sediment erosion exposing the root system and resulting in a decreased anchoring resistance, eventually degenerating into a Type I mechanism. We support our conceptual models with some preliminary experimental data and discuss the importance of better understanding such mechanisms in order to formulate sounding mathematical models that are suitable to plan and to manage river restoration projects.
Semi-automatic extraction of lineaments from remote sensing data and the derivation of groundwater flow-paths
Authors: Mallast U. , Gloaguen R. , Geyer S. , Rödiger T. , Siebert C.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. We describe a semi-automatic method to objectively and reproducibly extract lineaments based on the global one arc-second ASTER GDEM. The combined method of linear filtering and object-based classification ensures a high degree of accuracy resulting in a lineament map. Subsequently lineaments are differentiated into geological and morphological lineaments to assign a probable origin and hence a hydro-geological significance. In the western catchment area of the Dead Sea (Israel) the orientation and location of the differentiated lineaments are compared to characteristics of known structural features. The authors demonstrate that a strong correlation between lineaments and structural features exist, being either influenced by the Syrian Arc paleostress field or the Dead Sea stress field or by both. Subsequently, we analyse the distances between lineaments and wells thereby creating an assessment criterion concerning the hydraulic significance of detected lineaments. Derived from this analysis the authors suggest that the statistic analysis of lineaments allows a delineation of flow-paths and thus significant information for groundwater analysis. We validate the flow-path delineation by comparison with existing groundwater model results based on well data.
Simultaneous estimation of land surface scheme states and parameters using the ensemble Kalman filter: idealized twin experiments
Authors: Nie S. , Zhu J. , Luo Y.
Published: January 2011

Abstract. The performance of the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) in soil moisture assimilation applications is investigated in the context of simultaneous state-parameter estimation in the presence of uncertainties from model parameters, initial soil moisture condition and atmospheric forcing. A physically-based land surface model is used for this purpose. Using a series of idealized twin experiments, model generated near-surface soil moisture observations are assimilated to estimate soil moisture state and three hydraulic parameters (the saturated hydraulic conductivity, the saturated soil moisture suction and a soil texture empirical parameter) in the model. The single imperfect parameter can be successfully estimated using the EnKF. Results show that all the three estimated parameters converge toward their respective true values, while the root mean squared errors (RMSE) of soil moisture associated with these parameters is on average reduced by 54% and 53% comparing with the non-parameter-estimation benchmark RMSE for near-surface layer and root zone layer, respectively. The performance of simultaneous multi-parameter estimation is significant degraded, mainly because the inherent balance relationship of these parameters is broken and the degree of freedom increases in assimilation processes. By introducing constraints between estimated parameters, the performance of the constraint-based simultaneous multi-parameter estimations are as good as that of single-parameter cases even assimilating temporal-sparse observations. In terms of the relative root mean squared error (RRE), the constraint-based estimation cases can achieve 36% to 53% in near-surface layer and 25% to 50% in root zone layer for different assimilation intervals ranging from 1-day to 40-days. This result suggests that the greatest advantage of this method can be displayed with a proper temporal-sparse assimilation interval of 10-days as actual measurement interval of conventional in situ soil moisture observations. As these obtained constraints are mostly in statistical sense, this constraint-based simultaneous state-parameter estimation scheme is supposed to be suitable for other land surface models in soil moisture assimilation applications.