bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical composition, main sources and temporal variability of PM1 aerosols in southern African grassland
Authors: Tiitta P. , Vakkari V. , Croteau P. , Beukes J. P. , van Zyl P. G. , Josipovic M. , Venter A. D. , Jaars K. , Pienaar J. J. , Ng N. L. , Canagaratna M. R. , Jayne J. T. , Kerminen V.-M. , Kokkola H. , Kulmala M. , Laaksonen A. , Worsnop D. R. , Laakso L.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Southern Africa is a significant source region of atmospheric pollution, yet long-term data on pollutant concentrations and properties from this region are rather limited. A recently established atmospheric measurement station in South Africa, Welgegund, is strategically situated to capture regional background concentrations, as well as emissions from the major source regions in the interior of South Africa. We measured non-refractive submicron aerosols (NR-PM1) and black carbon over a one year period in Welgegund, and investigated the seasonal and diurnal patterns of aerosol concentration levels, chemical composition, acidity and oxidation level. Based on air mass back trajectories, four distinct source regions were determined for NR-PM1. Supporting data utilised in our analysis included particle number size distributions, aerosol absorption, trace gas concentrations, meteorological variables and the flux of carbon dioxide. The dominant submicron aerosol constituent during the dry season was organic aerosol, reflecting high contribution from savannah fires and other combustion sources. Organic aerosol concentrations were lower during the wet season, presumably due to wet deposition as well as reduced emissions from combustion sources. Sulfate concentrations were usually high and exceeded organic aerosol concentrations when air-masses were transported over regions containing major point sources. Sulfate and nitrate concentrations peaked when air masses passed over the industrial Highveld (iHV) area. In contrast, concentrations were much lower when air masses passed over the cleaner background (BG) areas. Air masses associated with the anti-cyclonic recirculation (ACBIC) source region contained largely aged OA. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis of aerosol mass spectra was used to characterise the organic aerosol (OA) properties. The factors identified were oxidized organic aerosols (OOA) and biomass burning organic aerosols (BBOA) in the dry season and low-volatile (LV-OOA) and semi-volatile (SV-OOA) organic aerosols in the wet season. The results highlight the importance of primary BBOA in the dry season, which represented 33% of the total OA. Aerosol acidity and its potential impact on the evolution of OOA are also discussed.
New emission factors for Australian vegetation fires measured using open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – Part 1: methods and Australian temperate forest fires
Authors: Paton-Walsh C. , Smith T. E. L. , Young E. L. , Griffith D. W. T. , Guérette É.-A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Biomass burning releases trace gases and aerosol particles that significantly affect the composition and chemistry of the atmosphere. Australia contributes approximately 8% of gross global carbon emissions from biomass burning, yet there are few previous measurements of emissions from Australian forest fires available in the literature. This paper describes the results of field measurements of trace gases emitted during hazard reduction burns in Australian temperate forests using open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In a companion paper, similar techniques are used to characterise the emissions from hazard reduction burns in the savanna regions of the Northern Territory. Details of the experimental methods are explained, including both the measurement set-up and the analysis techniques employed. The advantages and disadvantages of different ways to estimate whole-fire emission factors are discussed and a measurement uncertainty budget is developed.
Heterogeneous reaction of N2O5 with airborne TiO2 particles and its implication for stratospheric particle injection
Authors: Tang M. J. , Telford P. J. , Pope F. D. , Rkiouak L. , Abraham N. L. , Archibald A. T. , Braesicke P. , Pyle J. A. , McGregor J. , Watson I. M. , Cox R. A. , Kalberer M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Injection of aerosol particles (or their precursors) into the stratosphere to scatter solar radiation back into space, has been suggested as a solar-radiation management scheme for the mitigation of global warming. TiO2 has recently been highlighted as a possible candidate particle because of its high refractive index, but its impact on stratospheric chemistry via heterogeneous reactions is as yet unknown. In this work the heterogeneous reaction of airborne sub-micrometre TiO2 particles with N2O5 has been investigated for the first time, at room temperature and different relative humidities (RH), using an atmospheric pressure aerosol flow tube. The uptake coefficient of N2O5 onto TiO2, γ(N2O5), was determined to be ∼ 1.0 × 10−3 at low RH, increasing to ∼ 3 × 10−3 at 60% RH. The uptake of N2O5 onto TiO2 is then included in the UKCA chemistry climate model to assess the impact of this reaction on stratospheric chemistry. While the impact of TiO2 on the scattering of solar radiation is chosen to be similar to the aerosol from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the impact of TiO2 injection on stratospheric N2O5 is much smaller.
Recent advances in research on the aeolian geomorphology of China's Kumtagh Sand Sea
Authors: Dong Z. , Lv P.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The Kumtagh Sand Sea in the hyper-arid region of northwestern China remained largely unexplored until the last decade. It deserves study due to its significance in understanding the evolution of the arid environments in northwestern China, and even central Asia. Aeolian geomorphology in the sand sea has received unprecedented study in the last decade. Encouraging advances have been made in types of aeolian landforms, geological outlines, wind systems, the formation of aeolian landforms, several unique aeolian landforms, aeolian geomorphic regionalization, aeolian geomorphological heritages and tourism development, and aeolian sand hazards and their control. These advances expand our knowledge of aeolian geomorphology.
Retrieval of carbon dioxide vertical profiles from solar occultation observations and associated error budgets for ACE-FTS and CASS-FTS
Authors: Sioris C. E. , Boone C. D. , Nassar R. , Sutton K. J. , Gordon I. E. , Walker K. A. , Bernath P. F.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. An algorithm is developed to retrieve the vertical profile of carbon dioxide in the 5 to 25 km altitude range using mid-infrared solar occultation spectra from the main instrument of the ACE (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) mission, namely the Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS). The main challenge is to find an atmospheric phenomenon which can be used for accurate tangent height determination in the lower atmosphere, where the tangent heights (THs) calculated from geometric and timing information is not of sufficient accuracy. Error budgets for the retrieval of CO2 from ACE-FTS and the FTS on a potential follow-on mission named CASS (Chemical and Aerosol Sounding Satellite) are calculated and contrasted. Retrieved THs are typically within 60 m of those retrieved using the ACE version 3.x software after revisiting the temperature dependence of the N2 CIA (Collision-Induced Absorption) laboratory measurements and accounting for sulfate aerosol extinction. After correcting for the known residual high bias of ACE version 3.x THs expected from CO2 spectroscopic/isotopic inconsistencies, the remaining bias for tangent heights determined with the N2 CIA is −20 m. CO2 in the 5–13 km range in the 2009–2011 time frame is validated against aircraft measurements from CARIBIC, CONTRAIL and HIPPO, yielding typical biases of −1.7 ppm in the 5–13 km range. The standard error of these biases in this vertical range is 0.4 ppm. The multi-year ACE-FTS dataset is valuable in determining the seasonal variation of the latitudinal gradient which arises from the strong seasonal cycle in the Northern Hemisphere troposphere. The annual growth of CO2 in this time frame is determined to be 2.5 ± 0.7 ppm yr−1, in agreement with the currently accepted global growth rate based on ground-based measurements.
Coccolithophores on the north-west European shelf: calcification rates and environmental controls
Authors: Poulton A. J. , Stinchcombe M. C. , Achterberg E. P. , Bakker D. C. E. , Dumousseaud C. , Lawson H. E. , Lee G. A. , Richier S. , Suggett D. J. , Young J. R.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Coccolithophores are a key functional group in terms of the pelagic production of calcium carbonate (calcite), although their contribution to shelf-sea biogeochemistry, and how this relates to environmental conditions, is poorly constrained. Measurements of calcite production (CP) and coccolithophore abundance were made on the north-west European shelf to examine trends in coccolithophore calcification along natural gradients of carbonate chemistry, macronutrient availability and plankton composition. Similar measurements were also made in three bioassay experiments where nutrient (nitrate, phosphate) and pCO2 levels were manipulated. Nanoflagellates (< 10 μm) dominated chlorophyll biomass and primary production (PP) at all but one sampling site, with CP ranging from 0.6–9.6 mmol C m−2d−1. Highest CP and coccolithophore cell abundance occurred in a diatom bloom in fully mixed waters off Helgoland, rather than in two distinct coccolithophore blooms in the central North Sea and Western English Channel. Estimates of coccolithophore contributions to total PP and nanoplankton PP were generally < 5%, apart from in a coccolithophore bloom at the Western English Channel Observatory (E1) where coccolithophores contributed up to 11% and at Helgoland where they contributed ~23% to nanoplankton PP. Variability in CP was influenced by cell numbers, species composition and cell-normalised calcification rates under both in situ conditions and in the experimental bioassays. Water column structure and light availability had a strong influence on cellular calcification, whereas nitrate (N) to phosphate (P) ratios influenced bulk CP. Coccolithophore communities in the northern North Sea and over the Norwegian Trench showed responses to N and P addition whereas oceanic communities in the Bay of Biscay showed no response. Sharp decreases in pH and a rough halving of calcite saturation states in the bioassay experiments led to decreased CP in the Bay of Biscay and Northern North Sea, but not over the Norwegian Trench. These variable relationships to nutrient availability and changes in carbonate chemistry highlight the complex response of coccolithophore physiology to growth environment.
Summer upwelling at the Boknis Eck time series station (1982 to 2012) – a combined glider and wind data analysis
Authors: Karstensen J. , Liblik T. , Fischer J. , Bumke K. , Krahmann G.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Two consecutive summer upwelling events, each lasting for less than 24 h, where surveyed in high temporal and vertical resolution at the Boknis Eck time series station (BE) in the western Belt Sea (Baltic Sea) in summer 2010 with an autonomous glider. Driven only by moderate offshore winds, both events resulted in strong cooling of surface waters (up to 5 K). Only for the second event, significant irreversible changes in the vertical stratification were observed and the appearance of low oxygen waters at the bottom indicated that the upwelling had an impact on the water column as a whole. A combination of wind and seasurface temperature data revealed that summer (June to September) upwelling at BE occurs for wind directions between 190 ° to 260 ° and with hourly averaged wind speed exceeding 4 m s−1. For the period 1982 to 2012 BE experience about 18 days of upwelling favourable wind conditions on average. Large interannual variability exist ranging from only 7.7 days in 2006 to more than 28 days in 1985. Surface (1 m depth) and deep water (below 25 m depth) anomalies of salinity and oxygen at the BE follow extended periods of strong upwelling favourable winds. Although seasurface temperature is good indicator for the existence of summer upwelling, the upwelling intensity does not correlate with the temperature anomaly.
Sediment dynamics on a steep, megatidal, mixed sand-gravel-cobble beach
Authors: Hay A. E. , Zedel L. , Stark N.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Results are presented from a pilot study of shoreface sediment dynamics on a steep, poorly sorted, coarse-grained, mega-tidal beach at the head of the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada. The experiment involved the first field deployment of a prototype wide- band, pulse-coherent, bistatic acoustic Doppler profiling system. Measurements of the vertical structure of flow and turbulence above a sloping bed, as well as bed material velocity, demonstrate the capabilities of this instrument vis-a-vis studies of nearshore sediment dynamics at the field scale. The second focus of the paper is the surprising observation that the surficial sediment median diameter, across the lower two-thirds of the intertidal zone, underwent a pronounced decrease when wave forcing was more energetic, compared to values observed during calmer conditions. The explanation for this result appears to involve the formation – in wave-dominated conditions – of O(1 m)-wavelength, 20 cm high ripples on the rising tide, which are then planed flat by the swash and/or the shorebreak on the subsequent ebb.
Understanding the performance of the FLake model over two African Great Lakes
Authors: Thiery W. , Martynov A. , Darchambeau F. , Descy J.-P. , Plisnier P.-D. , Sushama L. , van Lipzig N. P. M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The ability of the one-dimensional lake model FLake to represent the mixolimnion temperatures for tropical conditions was tested for three locations in East Africa: Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika's northern and southern basins. Meteorological observations from surrounding automatic weather stations were corrected and used to drive FLake, whereas a comprehensive set of water temperature profiles served to evaluate the model at each site. Careful forcing data correction and model configuration made it possible to reproduce the observed mixed layer seasonality at Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika (northern and southern basins), with correct representation of both the mixed layer depth and water temperatures. At Lake Kivu, mixolimnion temperatures predicted by FLake were found to be sensitive both to minimal variations in the external parameters and to small changes in the meteorological driving data, in particular wind velocity. In each case, small modifications may lead to a regime switch, from the correctly represented seasonal mixed layer deepening to either completely mixed or permanently stratified conditions from ~ 10 m downwards. In contrast, model temperatures were found to be robust close to the surface, with acceptable predictions of near-surface water temperatures even when the seasonal mixing regime is not reproduced. FLake can thus be a suitable tool to parameterise tropical lake water surface temperatures within atmospheric prediction models. Finally, FLake was used to attribute the seasonal mixing cycle at Lake Kivu to variations in the near-surface meteorological conditions. It was found that the annual mixing down to 60 m during the main dry season is primarily due to enhanced lake evaporation and secondarily to the decreased incoming long wave radiation, both causing a significant heat loss from the lake surface and associated mixolimnion cooling.
A database and tool for boundary conditions for regional air quality modeling: description and evaluation
Authors: Henderson B. H. , Akhtar F. , Pye H. O. T. , Napelenok S. L. , Hutzell W. T.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Transported air pollutants receive increasing attention as regulations tighten and global concentrations increase. The need to represent international transport in regional air quality assessments requires improved representation of boundary concentrations. Currently available observations are too sparse vertically to provide boundary information, particularly for ozone precursors, but global simulations can be used to generate spatially and temporally varying lateral boundary conditions (LBC). This study presents a public database of global simulations designed and evaluated for use as LBC for air quality models (AQMs). The database covers the contiguous United States (CONUS) for the years 2001–2010 and contains hourly varying concentrations of ozone, aerosols, and their precursors. The database is complemented by a tool for configuring the global results as inputs to regional scale models (e.g., Community Multiscale Air Quality or Comprehensive Air quality Model with extensions). This study also presents an example application based on the CONUS domain, which is evaluated against satellite retrieved ozone and carbon monoxide vertical profiles. The results show performance is largely within uncertainty estimates for ozone from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument and carbon monoxide from the Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT), but there were some notable biases compared with Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) ozone. Compared with TES, our ozone predictions are high-biased in the upper troposphere, particularly in the south during January. This publication documents the global simulation database, the tool for conversion to LBC, and the evaluation of concentrations on the boundaries. This documentation is intended to support applications that require representation of long-range transport of air pollutants.
Historical trends in precipitation and stream discharge at the Skjern River catchment, Denmark
Authors: Karlsson I. B. , Sonnenborg T. O. , Jensen K. H. , Refsgaard J. C.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. A 133 yr data set from the 1055 km2 Skjern River catchment in western Denmark has been analysed with respect to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and discharge. The precipitation series have been tested and corrected using the standard normal homogeneity test and subsequently corrected for undercatch. The degree of change in the climatic variables is examined using the non-parametric Mann–Kendall test. During the last 133 yr the area has experienced a significant change in precipitation of 26% and a temperature change of 1.4°C, leading to increases in river discharge of 52% and groundwater recharge of 86%. A lumped conceptual hydrological model, NAM, was calibrated on the period 1951–1980 and showed generally an excellent match between simulated and observed discharge. The capability of the hydrological model to predict climate change impact was investigated by looking at performances outside the calibration period. The results showed a reduced model fit, especially for recent time periods (after the 1980s), and not all hydrological changes could be explained. This might indicate that hydrological models cannot be expected to predict climate change impacts on discharge as accurately in the future, compared to the performance under present conditions, where they can be calibrated. The (simulated) stream discharge was subsequently analysed using high flow and drought indices based on the threshold method. The extreme signal was found to depend highly on the period chosen as reference to normal. The analysis indicated that no significant amplitude increase of the hydrograph for both wet and dry extremes could be found superimposed on the overall discharge increase.
Forecasting droughts in East Africa
Authors: Mwangi E. , Wetterhall F. , Dutra E. , Di Giuseppe F. , Pappenberger F.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The humanitarian crises caused by the recent droughts (2008–2009 and 2010–2011) in East Africa have illustrated that the ability to make accurate drought forecasts with sufficient lead time is essential. The use of dynamical model precipitation forecasts in combination with drought indices, such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), can potentially lead to a better description of drought duration, magnitude and spatial extent. This study evaluates the use of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) products in forecasting droughts in East Africa. ECMWF seasonal precipitation shows significant skill for March–May and October–December rain seasons when evaluated against measurements from the available in situ stations from East Africa. The forecast for October–December rain season has higher skill than for the March–May season. ECMWF forecasts add value to the consensus forecasts produced during the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF), which is the present operational product for precipitation forecast over East Africa. Complementing the original ECMWF precipitation forecasts with SPI provides additional information on the spatial extent and intensity of the drought event.
Damage costs due to bedload transport processes in Switzerland
Authors: Badoux A. , Andres N. , Turowski J. M.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. In Alpine regions, floods are often associated with erosion, transport and deposition of coarse sediment along the streams. These processes are related to bedload transport and pose a hazard in addition to the elevated water discharge. However, it is unclear to what extent they contribute to total damage caused by natural hazards. Using the Swiss flood and landslide damage database – which collects financial damage data of naturally triggered floods, debris flows and landslides – we estimated the contribution of fluvial bedload transport processes to total damage costs in Switzerland. For each database entry an upper and lower limit of financial losses caused by or related to bedload transport processes was estimated, and the quality of the estimate was judged. When compared to total damage, the fraction of bedload transport damage in the 40 yr study period lies between 0.32 and 0.37. However, this value is highly variable for individual years (from 0.02 to 0.72). Bedload transport processes have induced cumulative financial losses between CHF 4.3 and 5.1 billion. Spatial analysis revealed a considerable heterogeneous distribution with largest damage for mountainous regions. The analysis of the seasonal distribution shows that more than 75% of the bedload damage costs occurs in summer (June–August), and ~ 23% in autumn (September– November). With roughly 56%, by far most of the damage has been registered in August. Bedload transport processes are presently still inadequately understood, and the predictive quality of common bedload equations is often poor. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of bedload transport as a natural hazard and financial source of risk, and thus the need for future structured research on transport processes in steep streams.
Marking Minimalism: Minimal Music as a Sign of Machines and Mathematics in Multimedia
Authors: Eaton Rebecca M. Doran
Published: February 2014

Minimalist music’s ubiquity in multimedia may be owed to the encoding of minimalism as a sign for the machine and rationality, an enculturation afforded by minimalism’s characteristics and its prior use in film and concert works. This paper traces these signs through multimedia including Koyaanisqatsi, Pepsi’s "No Brainer," and Proof.
"With my freeze ray, I will stop-:" carnival incompleteness in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and "Once More, With Feeling"
Authors: Baltimore Sam
Published: February 2014

This paper applies Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories of carnival and reduced laughter to Dr. Horrible and "Once More," demonstrating both works’ insistence on musical inconclusiveness. Bakhtin’s "gay and free laughing aspect of the world, with its unfinished and open character" invites audiences to create meanings through interaction with musical comedies, partially explaining the appeal of musicals for audience members who feel themselves "unfinished and open."
Hemodynamically significant atrial fibrillation in a previously healthy man with ethylene glycol toxicity
Authors: Thompson Ryan , Mottram Allan R.
Published: February 2014

Ethylene glycol ingestion is a well-described phenomenon that results in altered mental status, anion gap metabolic acidosis, and renal failure. Cardiac sequelae of ethylene glycol ingestion have not been well described in the literature. We report a case of a young, previously healthy man who developed atrial fibrillation successfully treated with electrical cardioversion in the setting of a large ethylene glycol ingestion with a late presentation.
Municipal Advisor Registration: What You Need to Know
Authors: Kreps Bart , Warmath Alexis
Published: February 2014

The Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is reshaping the financial markets of the United States and affects any municipal entity that is seeking to borrow money in the public market. With regard to issuing debt to address water or wastewater capital investment needs, any government‐owned utility falls under the definition of a municipal entity (as defined under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 §15B(e)(8)) and will be required to comply with the new rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
New USEPA Report on Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands May Affect CWA Jurisdiction
Authors: Malefatto Alfred J. , Diffenderfer Michelle
Published: February 2014

In an effort to better define the scope of regulatory jurisdiction over non‐navigable upstream waters and wetlands, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA's) Scientific Advisory Board has released a draft report titled Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence. The draft report is focused on small or temporary nontidal streams, wetlands, and open waters, and “will inform an upcoming joint EPA/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rulemaking to enhance protection of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of our nation's waters by clarifying Clean Water Act jurisdiction,” according to USEPA's Sept. 25, 2013, notice announcing release of the draft report.
Lactic Acid Bacteria in Pharmaceutical Formulations: Presence and Viability of “Healthy Microorganisms”
Authors: Mariantonietta Succi  , Elena Sorrentino  , Tiziana Di Renzo  , Patrizio Tremonte  , Anna Reale  , Luca Tipaldi  , Gianfranco Pannella  , Antonio Russo  , Raffaele Coppola
Published: February 2014

Many probiotic formulations are available in the market and are advertised for several preventive or curative roles. The aim of this study was the identification of microorganisms composing different lactic acid bacteria based pharmaceutical formulations and the ascertainment of their ability to survive gastro-intestinal (GI) stresses, the main requisite to produce beneficial effects. For this purpose, viable bacteria were enumerated by plate counts in different media. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR-DGGE) analysis was applied on pure isolates and on crude formulations to confirm the composition in species. Also, crude formulations were subjected to stresses characteristic of the GI tract (GIT) to assess cell survival. Results highlighted concentrations lower than those reported in the labels in almost all the formulations. Moreover, some discrepancies were observed between reported species and those ascertained through the identification, and the use of an erroneous nomenclature was highlighted. The GI stress test revealed that bacteria are strongly injured, and this fact was evidenced by a marked reduction in viable counts after the stress. In conclusion, a widespread number of lactic acid bacteria based formulations are sold as probiotics, but their probiotic requisites are not adequately observed.
Preoperative Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab and Morbidity after Resection of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Authors: Mª José Safont  , Jorge Aparicio  , Alejandra Giménez Ortiz  , José Mir  , Eva Montalvá  , Miriam Cantos Pallarés
Published: February 2014

Aims and background: The addition of bevacizumab to preoperative chemotherapy is a common therapeutic practice in patients with colorectal liver metastases. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of bevacizumab on postoperative complications after liver resection. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed including patients who underwent liver resection for colorectal liver metastases after receiving chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in two hospitals. Univariate logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of postoperative morbidity in both groups of patients. Results: A total of 76 patients were analyzed: 22 patients did not receive preoperative chemotherapy (control group), 21 patients received preoperative chemotherapy alone and 33 patients received preoperative chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab. The median number of chemotherapy cycles received was 4 (range, 1-23) for the chemotherapy group and 7 (range, 2-36) for the chemotherapy plus bevacizumab group Morbidity rate was similar in the three groups of patients considered: 54.5 %, 47.6% and 39.4, respectively. The most common complications were infections and wound complications. The number of preoperative chemotherapy cycles received was the only clinical variable that was significantly correlated with postoperative comorbidity. Conclusions: Our results support the evidence that the addition of bevacizumab to preoperative chemotherapy does not increase the risk of complications following surgery of colorectal liver metastases.
99mTc-Labeled Bevacizumab via HYNIC for Imaging of Melanoma
Authors: Ximena Camacho  , María Fernanda García  , Victoria Calzada  , Marcelo Fernandez  , Omar Alonso  , Juan Pablo Gambini  , Rodrigo Barbosa de Aguiar  , Camila Maria Longo Machado  , Roger Chammas  , Williams Porcal  , Pablo Cabral
Published: February 2014

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the classic factors to tumour-induced angiogenesis in several types, including melanoma. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody anti-VEGF, could be used as an imaging tool in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to radiolabeled Bevacizumab with 99mTc and evaluate it in vivoimaging properties. Bevacizumab was derivatized with the activated ester succinimidyl-hydrazinonicotinamide hydrochloride (Suc-HYNIC) as a bifunctional coupling agent. A mixture of Tricine/SnCl2.2H2O was added to Bevacizumab-HYNIC and radiolabeled with 99mTcO4-. The radiochemical stability of the radiolabeled sntibody was assessed. Biodistribution studies and SPECT-CT imaging were evaluated in healthy and tumor-bearing C57BL/6J mice at 1, 4 and 24 h (n =5). We demonstrated that 99mTc-HYNIC-Bevacizumab was stable over 24 h in solution and serum. In vivo biodistribution studies revealed tumor-to-muscle ratios of 99mTc-HYNIC-Bevacizumab was 9.28, 17.19 and 8.51 at 1, 4 and 24 h p.i. SPECT/CT imaging of tumor-bearing C57BL/6J mice showed tumor selective uptake of 99mTc-HYNIC-Bevacizumab. 99mTc-HYNIC-Bevacizumab could become a potential radiopharmaceutical to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in solid tumors and could be seen as a clinic tool for the screening of solid tumors that might respond to the Bevacizumab chemotherapy.
Auditory synapses to song premotor neurons are gated off during vocalization in zebra finches
Authors: Hamaguchi Kosuke , Tschida Katherine A , Yoon Inho , Donald Bruce R , Mooney Richard
Published: February 2014

Songbirds use auditory feedback to learn and maintain their songs, but how feedback interacts with vocal motor circuitry remains unclear. A potential site for this interaction is the song premotor nucleus HVC, which receives auditory input and contains neurons (HVCX cells) that innervate an anterior forebrain pathway (AFP) important to feedback-dependent vocal plasticity. Although the singing-related output of HVCX cells is unaltered by distorted auditory feedback (DAF), deafening gradually weakens synapses on HVCX cells, raising the possibility that they integrate feedback only at subthreshold levels during singing. Using intracellular recordings in singing zebra finches, we found that DAF failed to perturb singing-related synaptic activity of HVCX cells, although many of these cells responded to auditory stimuli in non-singing states. Moreover, in vivo multiphoton imaging revealed that deafening-induced changes to HVCX synapses require intact AFP output. These findings support a model in which the AFP accesses feedback independent of HVC.
Stable electron emission from ZnO nanoemitters grown with pseudo-catalyst
Authors: Yang Su-Hua , Hsu Yi-Ming , Tsai Ming-Wei , Hsueh Ting-Jen
Published: February 2014

A stable electron emission was obtained from ZnO nanoemitters with catalyst-free vapor phase transport to avoid impurity doping from the catalyst itself. The shape of nanoemitters were related to the growth conditions. Nanoemitters with a hexagonal dipyramidal structure and a bead-chain-like shape were vertically grown; the wedged-thread shaped nanoemitters were also found. The estimated angle of the wedge was approximately 120°. Hexagonal-prismatic tapered nanoemitters appeared while lateral

surfaces were grown. The growth of cylindrical round-top nanoemitters was observed as well. High aspect ratio of sheet- and leaf-shaped nanoemitters were grown at a high O2/N2 flow ratio of 60 : 70. The formation mechanisms of nanoemitters were investigated, and the electron emission properties were discussed as well. The turn-on electric field at an emission current density of 0.1 µA/cm2 was 0.18 MV/m. The variation of emission current was less than 14% during 5 h of measurement time, showing good stable in electron emission.
Efficient energy transfer from 1,3,5-tris(N-phenylbenzimidazol-2,yl) benzene to Mn:CdS quantum dots
Authors: Cao Sheng , Jia Long , Wang Lin , Gao Fengmei , Wei Guodong , Zheng Jinju , Yang Weiyou
Published: February 2014

In this work, we reported the energy transfer between Mn doped CdS quantum dots (Mn:CdS QDs) with the core–shell structure of MnS/ZnS/CdS and 1,3,5-tris(N-phenylbenz-imidazol-2,yl) benzene (TPBI) in inorganic/organic blend films by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The changes in PL excitation intensity of the Mn:CdS QDs and PL lifetime of the TPBI clearly demonstrate an efficient energy transfer process from TPBI to QDs in the blend films. Further, it is found that the efficiency of Förster resonance energy transfer increases with the increasing of the thicknesses of CdS shell. These results highlight the potential of Mn doped QDs for fabricating high-performance QD light-emitting diodes.
Knowledge, Technology and the Professional Learning of Localisers
Authors: Malcolm Irene , Plowman Lydia
Published: February 2014

A study of the software localisation industry examines learning in digital society by describing localisers’ knowledge practices. The shortcomings of stand- ard models of professional learning that assume shared goals, codified knowledge and workers’ co-location are considered, along with the problem of learning in distributed and technologically mediated work contexts. The paper uses Knorr Cetina’s concept of macro-epistemics to highlight the need for theoretical develop- ment in relation to two questions: i) How do ways of organising localisers' work constitute opportunities and constraints for shared knowledge practices? ii) How does technology disrupt macro-epistemic potential and personal learning trajectories?
Performance of the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) products
Authors: Flynn L. , Long C. , Wu X. , Evans R. , Beck C. T. , Petropavlovskikh I. , McConville G. , Yu W. , Zhang Z. , Niu J. , Beach E. , Hao Y. , Pan C. , Sen B. , Novicki M. , Zhou S. , Seftor C.
Published: February 2014

NOAA, through the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program, in partnership with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, launched the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (S‐NPP) satellite, a risk reduction and data continuity mission, on 28 October 2011. The JPSS program is executing the S‐NPP Calibration and Validation program to ensure that the data products comply with the requirements of the sponsoring agencies. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) consists of two telescopes feeding three detectors measuring solar radiance scattered by the Earth's atmosphere directly and solar irradiance by using diffusers. The measurements are used to generate estimates of total column ozone and vertical ozone profiles for use in near‐real‐time applications and extension of ozone climate data records. The calibration and validation efforts are progressing well, and both Level 1 (Sensor Data Records) and Level 2 (Ozone Environmental Data Records) have advanced to release at Provisional Maturity. This paper provides information on the product performance over the first 22 months of the mission. The products are evaluated through the use of internal consistency analysis techniques and comparisons to other satellite instrument and ground‐based products. The initial performance finds total ozone showing negative bias of 2 to 4% with respect to correlative products and ozone profiles often within ±5% in the middle and upper stratosphere of current operational products. Potential improvements in the measurements and algorithms are identified. These will be implemented in coming months to reduce the differences further.
A global survey of the instantaneous linkages between cloud vertical structure and large‐scale climate
Authors: Li Ying , Thompson David W. J. , Stephens Graeme L. , Bony Sandrine
Published: February 2014

The instantaneous linkages between cloud vertical structure and various large‐scale meteorological parameters are investigated using 5 years of data from the CloudSat/CALIPSO instruments. The linkages are systemically explored and quantified at all vertical levels and throughout the global ocean in both the long‐term mean and on month‐to‐month timescales. A number of novel large‐scale meteorological parameters are used in the analysis, including tropopause temperatures, upper tropospheric stability, and storm track activity. The results provide a baseline for evaluating physical parameterizations of clouds in GCMs and a reference for interpreting the signatures of large‐scale atmospheric phenomena in cloud vertical structure. In the long‐term mean, upper tropospheric cloud incidence throughout the globe increases with (1) decreasing tropopause temperature (at a rate of ∼2–4% K−1), (2) decreasing upper tropospheric stability (∼5–10% per K km−1), and (3) increasing large‐scale vertical motion (∼1–4% per 10 hPa d−1). In contrast, lower tropospheric cloud incidence increases with (1) increasing lower tropospheric stability (10% per K km−1) and descending motion (1% per 10 hPa d−1) in regions of subtropical regime but (2) decreasing lower tropospheric stability (4% per K km−1) and ascending motion (2% per 10 hPa d−1) over the Arctic region. Variations in static stability and vertical motion account for ∼20–35% of the month‐to‐month variance in upper tropospheric cloudiness but less than 10% of the variance in lower tropospheric clouds. Upper tropospheric cloud incidence in the storm track regions is strongly linked to the variance of large‐scale vertical motion and thus the amplitude of baroclinic waves.
Ice melting and downward transport of meltwater by two‐phase flow in Europa's ice shell
Authors: Kalousová Klára , Souček Ondřej , Tobie Gabriel , Choblet Gaël , Čadek Ondřej
Published: February 2014

With its young surface, very few impact craters, and the abundance of tectonic and cryovolcanic features, Europa has likely been subjected to relatively recent endogenic activity. Morphological analyses of chaos terrains and double ridges suggest the presence of liquid water within the ice shell a few kilometers below the surface, which may result from enhanced tidal heating. A major issue concerns the thermal/gravitational stability of these water reservoirs. Here we investigate the conditions under which water can be generated and transported through Europa's ice shell. We address particularly the downward two‐phase flow by solving the equations for a two‐phase mixture of water ice and liquid water in one‐dimensional geometry. In the case of purely temperate ice, we show that water is transported downward very efficiently in the form of successive porosity waves. The time needed to transport the water from the subsurface region to the underlying ocean varies between ∼1 and 100 kyr, depending mostly on the ice permeability. We further show that water produced in the head of tidally heated hot plumes never accumulates at shallow depths and is rapidly extracted from the ice shell (within less than a few hundred kiloyears). Our calculations indicate that liquid water will be largely absent in the near subsurface, with the possible exception of cold conductive regions subjected to strong tidal friction. Recently active double ridges subjected to large tidally driven strike‐slip motions are perhaps the most likely candidates for the detection of transient water lenses at shallow depths on Europa.
Straight thinking about groundwater recession
Authors: Cuthbert M. O.
Published: February 2014

While in catchment and hillslope hydrology a more nuanced approach is now taken to streamflow recession analysis, in the context of major aquifers it is commonly still assumed that the groundwater head recession rate will take exponential form, an idea originally proposed in the 19th Century. However it is shown here that, in early times, the groundwater head recession in a major aquifer should take an almost straight line form with a rate approximately equal to the long‐term recharge rate divided by the aquifer storage coefficient. The length of this phase can be estimated from an analytical expression derived in the paper which depends on the aquifer diffusivity, length scale, and the position of the monitoring point. A transitional phase then leads to an exponential phase after some critical time which is independent of the position of the monitoring point. Major aquifers in a state of periodic quasi‐steady state are expected to have rates of groundwater flux recession which deviate little from the average rate of groundwater recharge. Where quasi‐exponential groundwater declines are observed in nature, their form may be diagnostic of particular types of aquifer properties and/or boundary effects, such as proximity to drainage boundaries, variations in transmissivity with hydraulic head, storage changes due to pumping, nonequilibrium flow at a range of spatial and temporal scales, and variations in specific yield with depth. Recession analysis has applicability to a range of groundwater problems and is powerful way of gaining insight into the hydrologic functioning of an aquifer.
Emerging Ideas and Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change
Authors: Livneh Ben , Marino Elizabeth , Ten Hoeve John E.
Published: February 2014

The challenges posed by global climate change require basic scientific knowledge and management strategies drawn from tools, techniques, and insights from across the social, natural, and engineering sciences. The Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research (DISCCRS) was formed in 2002 to prepare recent Ph.D. recipients for successful interdisciplinary collaborations. Since its inception, more than 2400 early‐career scientists representing nearly 600 institutions and 69 countries have logged on to the DISCCRS website (http://disccrs.org/) and signed up for its e‐newsletter. In addition, DISCCRS has hosted eight symposia, gathering 279 scholars from 28 countries to catalyze interdisciplinary climate research.
Statistical significance of climate sensitivity predictors obtained by data mining
Authors: Caldwell Peter M. , Bretherton Christopher S. , Zelinka Mark D. , Klein Stephen A. , Santer Benjamin D. , Sanderson Benjamin M.
Published: February 2014

Several recent efforts to estimate Earth's equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) focus on identifying quantities in the current climate which are skillful predictors of ECS yet can be constrained by observations. This study automates the search for observable predictors using data from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. The primary focus of this paper is assessing statistical significance of the resulting predictive relationships. Failure to account for dependence between models, variables, locations, and seasons is shown to yield misleading results. A new technique for testing the field significance of data‐mined correlations which avoids these problems is presented. Using this new approach, all 41,741 relationships we tested were found to be explainable by chance. This leads us to conclude that data mining is best used to identify potential relationships which are then validated or discarded using physically based hypothesis testing.
Mixed‐Charge Nanoparticles for Long Circulation, Low Reticuloendothelial System Clearance, and High Tumor Accumulation
Authors: Liu Xiangsheng , Li Huan , Chen Yangjun , Jin Qiao , Ren Kefeng , Ji Jian
Published: February 2014

Mixed‐charge zwitterionic surface modification shows great potential as a simple strategy to fabricate nanoparticle (NP) surfaces that are nonfouling. Here, the in vivo fate of 16 nm mixed‐charge gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is investigated, coated with mixed quaternary ammonium and sulfonic groups. The results show that mixed‐charge AuNPs have a much longer blood half‐life (≈30.6 h) than do poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, = 2000) ‐coated AuNPs (≈6.65 h) and they accumulate in the liver and spleen far less than do the PEGylated AuNPs. Using transmission electron microscopy, it is further confirmed that the mixed‐charge AuNPs have much lower uptake and different existing states in liver Kupffer cells and spleen macrophages one month after injection compared with the PEGylated AuNPs. Moreover, these mixed‐charge AuNPs do not cause appreciable toxicity at this tested dose to mice in a period of 1 month as evidenced by histological examinations. Importantly, the mixed‐charge AuNPs have higher accumulation and slower clearance in tumors than do PEGylated AuNPs for times of 24–72 h. Results from this work show promise for effectively designing tumor‐targeting NPs that can minimize reticuloendothelial system clearance and circulate for long periods by using a simple mixed‐charge strategy.
Distinct Solid‐Electrolyte‐Interphases on Sn (100) and (001) Electrodes Studied by Soft X‐Ray Spectroscopy
Authors: Qiao Ruimin , Lucas Ivan T. , Karim Altaf , Syzdek Jaroslaw , Liu Xiaosong , Chen Wei , Persson Kristin , Kostecki Robert , Yang Wanli
Published: February 2014

Soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy with different probe depth was employed to characterize the solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) formed on β‐Sn single crystals with two different surface orientations. Based on comparative studies of C‐K, O‐K, and F‐K absorption spectra between the SEIs and reference samples, SEI on Sn (100) mainly consists of porous Li2CO3 species with electrolyte uptake, while SEI on Sn (001) essentially consists of LiF and organic molecules, with a small amount of –CO3 and electrolyte buried inside. Theoretical calculation suggests that Sn (001) surface is more reactive than (100), especially after air exposure. The reactive (001) surface facilitates the decomposition of LiPF6 to form a LiF layer. In contrast, SEI on (100) surface is predominately from the typical decomposition of carbonate‐based electrolyte. While the LiF passivates Sn (001) electrode after one cycle, the porous carbonate layer on (100) surface does not prevent further decomposition of electrolyte after many cycles. This leads to drastically different electrochemical behavior and morphology of the two SEIs. The result is a direct proof that surface properties of active materials could strongly impact the SEI formation on electrodes even with the same electrolyte. Such effect could lead to distinct SEI formation and electrochemical performance.