bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Lesion Calcification in Patients with Solitary Cysticercus Granuloma and New-Onset Seizures
Authors: Mahajan Lalit , Malhotra Hardeep Singh , Garg Ravindra Kumar , Kumar Neeraj , Sharma Praveen Kumar , Verma Rajesh , Rizvi Imran
Published: July 2016

Solitary cysticercus granuloma is a common neuroimaging abnormality in Indian patients with new-onset epilepsy. Calcific transformation of cysticercus granuloma is frequently associated with seizure recurrence. We evaluated predictors of lesion calcification in patients with solitary cysticercus granuloma and new-onset seizures. One hundred twenty-two patients, with new-onset seizures and a solitary cysticercus granuloma of the brain, were enrolled. All patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated and were treated with antiepileptic drug drugs. No patient received albendazole or corticosteroids. The follow-up period was of 1 year. Follow-up computed tomography was performed after 3 and 6 months. In 68 (54.8%) patients, solitary cysticercus granuloma had transformed into a calcified lesion. On logistic regression analysis, moderate-to-severe edema was a significant factor that predicted calcific transformation of the cysticercus granuloma (odds ratio: 3.325; 95% confidence interval: 1.502–7.362). During 1 year of follow-up, 19 (15.6%) patients experienced seizure recurrence. In 16 patients with seizure recurrence, cysticercus granuloma had transformed in to a calcified lesion. In conclusion, in solitary cysticercus granuloma, calcification of the lesion can be predicted if larger amount of perilesional edema is present. Calcification of the granuloma significantly predicts seizure recurrence.
Multilocus Sequence Typing of Clinical Isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei Collected in Hainan, a Tropical Island of Southern China
Authors: Wang Xu-Ming , Zheng Xiao , Wu Hua , Zhou Xiao-Jun , Kuang Hui-Hui , Guo Hong-Li , Xu Kai , Li Tian-Jiao , Liu Ling-Li , Li Wei
Published: July 2016

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram-negative bacterium that causes melioidosis. In this study, we examined the sequence types (STs) of 60 clinical isolates from patients with melioidosis in Hainan, a tropical island in southern China. The 60 clinical isolates were resolved into 30 STs. Among the STs, ST562 was also reported in Australia, and ST90 was also reported in the United States, probably from a traveler who had previously visited Asia. In addition, six novel STs were found in this study, including ST1395, ST1396, ST1397, ST1398, ST1399, and ST1443, whereas the remaining STs were mostly shared with other southeast Asian regions. Phylogenetic analysis of 60 isolates conducted using the eBURST v3 software segregated the 30 STs into three groups and 18 singletons. Our study shows genetic diversity of 60 clinical isolates of B. pseudomallei in Hainan Island.
Augusto Graziani and general economic equilibrium: from statics to dynamics
Authors: Pomini Mario
Published: July 2016

Graziani has always maintained an attitude of great respect and admiration for the theory of general equilibrium. In his 1965 book, he managed to solve the problematic elements contained in the static part of the theory. Abandoning the original assumptions and introducing new specifications, he tried to demonstrate the logical consistency of all systems of equations. The real issue was posed by the dynamic part of the theory. Economic dynamics is a process of structural change and not the quiet path of some sort of steady-state process. The attempt proposed by Graziani in the 1960s to turn the static general equilibrium into a dynamic one produced an interesting result. Graziani's dynamic approach in many respects has the same logical structure as the endogenous growth literature that flourished in the 1980s and 1990s. Graziani's contribution is relevant not only from the point of view of the historical analysis of the evolution of economic ideas, but, most importantly, it can contribute to clarifying the roots of the new approach to economic growth.
Controls on phase composition and ice water content in a convection-permitting model simulation of a tropical mesoscale convective system
Authors: Franklin Charmaine N. , Protat Alain , Leroy Delphine , Fontaine Emmanuel
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Simulations of tropical convection from an operational numerical weather prediction model are evaluated with the focus on the model's ability to simulate the observed high ice water contents associated with the outflow of deep convection and to investigate the modelled processes that control the phase composition of tropical convective clouds. The 1 km horizontal grid length model that uses a single-moment microphysics scheme simulates the intensification and decay of convective strength across the mesoscale convective system. However, deep convection is produced too early, the OLR (outgoing longwave radiation) is underestimated and the areas with reflectivities > 30 dBZ are overestimated due to too much rain above the freezing level, stronger updraughts and larger particle sizes in the model. The inclusion of a heterogeneous rain-freezing parameterisation and the use of different ice size distributions show better agreement with the observed reflectivity distributions; however, this simulation still produces a broader profile with many high-reflectivity outliers demonstrating the greater occurrence of convective cells in the simulations. Examining the phase composition shows that the amount of liquid and ice in the modelled convective updraughts is controlled by the following: the size of the ice particles, with larger particles growing more efficiently through riming and producing larger IWC (ice water content); the efficiency of the warm rain process, with greater cloud water contents being available to support larger ice growth rates; and exclusion or limitation of graupel growth, with more mass contained in slower falling snow particles resulting in an increase of in-cloud residence times and more efficient removal of LWC (liquid water content). In this simulated case using a 1 km grid length model, horizontal mass divergence in the mixed-phase regions of convective updraughts is most sensitive to the turbulence formulation. Greater mixing of environmental air into cloudy updraughts in the region of −30 to 0 °C produces more mass divergence indicative of greater entrainment, which generates a larger stratiform rain area. Above these levels in the purely ice region of the simulated updraughts, the convective updraught buoyancy is controlled by the ice particle sizes, demonstrating the importance of the microphysical processes on the convective dynamics in this simulated case study using a single-moment microphysics scheme. The single-moment microphysics scheme in the model is unable to simulate the observed reduction of mean mass-weighted ice diameter as the ice water content increases. The inability of the model to represent the observed variability of the ice size distribution would be improved with the use of a double-moment microphysics scheme.
Turbulence kinetic energy budget during the afternoon
transition – Part 2: A simple TKE model
Authors: Nilsson Erik , Lothon Marie , Lohou Fabienne , Pardyjak Eric , Hartogensis Oscar , Darbieu Clara
Published: July 2016

Abstract. A simple model for turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) and the TKE budget is presented for sheared convective atmospheric conditions based on observations from the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign. It is based on an idealized mixed-layer approximation and a simplified near-surface TKE budget. In this model, the TKE is dependent on four budget terms (turbulent dissipation rate, buoyancy production, shear production and vertical transport of TKE) and only requires measurements of three available inputs (near-surface buoyancy flux, boundary layer depth and wind speed at one height in the surface layer) to predict vertical profiles of TKE and TKE budget terms.This simple model is shown to reproduce some of the observed variations between the different studied days in terms of near-surface TKE and its decay during the afternoon transition reasonably well. It is subsequently used to systematically study the effects of buoyancy and shear on TKE evolution using idealized constant and time-varying winds during the afternoon transition. From this, we conclude that many different TKE decay rates are possible under time-varying winds and that generalizing the decay with simple scaling laws for near-surface TKE of the form tα may be questionable.The model's errors result from the exclusion of processes such as elevated shear production and horizontal advection. The model also produces an overly rapid decay of shear production with height. However, the most influential budget terms governing near-surface TKE in the observed sheared convective boundary layers are included, while only second-order factors are neglected. Comparison between modeled and averaged observed estimates of dissipation rate illustrates that the overall behavior of the model is often quite reasonable. Therefore, we use the model to discuss the low-turbulence conditions that form first in the upper parts of the boundary layer during the afternoon transition and are only apparent later near the surface. This occurs as a consequence of the continuous decrease in near-surface buoyancy flux during the afternoon transition. This region of weak afternoon turbulence is hypothesized to be a “pre-residual layer”, which is important in determining the onset conditions for the weak sporadic turbulence that occur in the residual layer once near-surface stratification has become stable.
Assessment of cloud related fine mode AOD
enhancements based on AERONET SDA product
Authors: Arola A. , Eck T. F. , Kokkola H. , Pitkänen M. R. A. , Romakkaniemi S.
Published: July 2016

Abstract. AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork), which is a network of ground-based sun photometers, produces a data product called the Aerosol Spectral Deconvolution Algorithm (SDA) that utilizes spectral total extinction AOD data to infer the component fine and coarse mode optical depths at 500 nm. Based on its assumptions, SDA identifies cloud optical depth as the coarse mode AOD component and therefore effectively computes the fine mode AOD also in mixed cloud-aerosol ob- servations. Therefore, it can be argued that the more representative AOD for fine mode fraction should be based on all direct sun measurements and not only on those cloud-screened for clear-sky conditions, in other words on those from Level 1 (L1) instead of Level 2 (L2). The objective of our study was to assess, including all the available AERONET sites, the magnitude of this cloud enhancement in fine mode AOD, in other words contrasting SDA L1 and L2 in our analysis. Assuming that the cloud-screening correctly separates the cloudy and clear-sky conditions, then the increases in fine mode AOD in can be due to various cloud-related processes, mainly by in-cloud processing, hygroscopic growth and new particle formation from gas-to-particle conversion in aqueous phase in cloud droplets. We estimated these cloud-related enhancements in fine mode AOD seasonally and found, for instance, than in June-August season the average over all the AERONET sites was 0.011, when total fine mode AOD from L2 data was 0.154, therefore the relative enhancement was 7 %. The enhancements were largest, both absolutely and relatively, in East-Asia; for example in June–August season the absolute and relative differences in fine mode AOD, between L1 and L2 measurements, were 0.022 and 10 %, respectively. Corresponding values in North-America and Europe were about 0.01 and 6–7 %. In some some highly polluted cities the enhancement is greater than these regional averages, e.g. in Beijing and in JJA season the corresponding absolute values were about 0.1. It is difficult to separate the fine mode AOD enhancements due to in-cloud processing and hygroscopic growth, but we attempted to get some understanding by conducting a similar analysis for SDA-based fine mode Angstrom Exponent (AE) patterns. Moreover, we exploited a cloud parcel model, in order to understand in more depth the relative role of the processes inducing the changes in the effective fine mode particle size, and thus the changes in fine mode AE.
Comparison of the Arctic upper-air temperatures from radiosonde
and radio occultation observations
Authors: Chang Liang , Guo Lixin , Feng Guiping , Wu Xuerui , Gao Guoping
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Air temperature is one of the most important parameters used for monitoring Arctic climate change. The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate and Formosa Satellite mission 3 (COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3) radio occultation (RO) "wet" temperature product (i.e., "wetPrf") was introduced to analyze the Arctic air temperature profiles at 925–200 hPa in 2007–2012. The "wet" temperatures were further compared with radiosonde (RS) observations. Results from the spatially and temporally synchronized RS and COSMIC observations showed that their temperatures were matched well with each other, especially at 400 hPa. Comparisons of seasonal temperatures and anomalies from COSMIC and homogenized RS observations suggested the limited number of COSMIC observations during the spatial matchup may be insufficient to describe the small-scale spatial structure of temperature variations. Furthermore, comparisons of seasonal temperature anomalies from RS and 5 × 5 degree gridded COSMIC observations at 400 hPa during the sea ice minimum (SIM) of 2007 and 2012 were also made. Results revealed that the widely covered COSMIC observations can provide more details than RS observations in describing the Arctic temperature variations. Therefore, despite COSMIC observations being unsuitable to describe the Arctic temperatures in the lowest level, they provide a complementary data source to study the Arctic upper-air temperature variations and related climate change.
A low-cost acoustic permeameter
Authors: Drake Stephen A. , Selker John S. , Higgins Chad W.
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Intrinsic permeability is an important parameter that regulates air exchange through porous media such as snow. Standard methods of measuring snow permeability are inconvenient to perform outdoors, fraught with sampling errors and require specialized equipment, while bringing intact samples back to the laboratory is also challenging. To address these issues, we designed, built, and tested a low-cost acoustic permeameter that allows computation of volume-averaged intrinsic permeability for a homogenous medium. Permeameter elements were designed for use in snow but the measurement methods are not snow-specific. The electronic components, consisting of a signal generator, amplifier, speaker, microphone and oscilloscope, are inexpensive and easily obtainable. The system is suitable for outdoor use when it is not precipitating but the electrical components require protection from the elements in inclement weather. The permeameter can be operated with a microphone either internally mounted or buried a known depth in the medium. The calibration method depends on choice of microphone positioning. For an externally located microphone, calibration was based on a low-frequency approximation applied at 500 Hz that provided an estimate of both intrinsic permeability and tortuosity. The low-frequency approximation that we used is valid up to 2 kHz but we chose 500 Hz because data reproducibility was maximized at this frequency. For an internally mounted microphone, calibration was based on attenuation at 50 Hz and returned only intrinsic permeability. We found that 50 Hz corresponded to a wavelength that minimized resonance frequencies in the acoustic tube and was also within the response limitations of the microphone. We used reticulated foam of known permeability (ranging from 2 × 10−7 m2 to 3 × 10−9 m2) and estimated tortuosity of 1.05 to validate both methods. For the externally mounted microphone the mean normalized standard deviation was 6 % for permeability and 2 % for tortuosity. The mean relative error from known measurements was 17 % for permeability and 2 % for tortuosity. For the internally mounted microphone the mean normalized standard deviation for permeability was 10 % and the relative error was also 10 %. Permeability determination for an externally mounted microphone is less sensitive to environmental noise than is the internally mounted microphone and is therefore the recommended method. The approximation using the internally mounted microphone was developed as an alternative for circumstances in which placing the microphone in the medium was not feasible. Environmental noise degrades precision of both methods and is recognizable as increased scatter for replicate data points.
On the propagation of diel signals in river networks using analytic solutions of flow equations
Authors: Fonley Morgan , Mantilla Ricardo , Small Scott J. , Curtu Rodica
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Several authors have reported diel oscillations in streamflow records and have hypothesized that these oscillations are linked to evapotranspiration cycles in the watershed. The timing of oscillations in rivers, however, lags behind those of temperature and evapotranspiration in hillslopes. Two hypotheses have been put forth to explain the magnitude and timing of diel streamflow oscillations during low-flow conditions. The first suggests that delays between the peaks and troughs of streamflow and daily evapotranspiration are due to processes occurring in the soil as water moves toward the channels in the river network. The second posits that they are due to the propagation of the signal through the channels as water makes its way to the outlet of the basin. In this paper, we design and implement a theoretical model to test these hypotheses. We impose a baseflow signal entering the river network and use a linear transport equation to represent flow along the network. We develop analytic streamflow solutions for the case of uniform velocities in space over all river links. We then use our analytic solution to simulate streamflows along a self-similar river network for different flow velocities. Our results show that the amplitude and time delay of the streamflow solution are heavily influenced by transport in the river network. Moreover, our equations show that the geomorphology and topology of the river network play important roles in determining how amplitude and signal delay are reflected in streamflow signals. Finally, we have tested our theoretical formulation in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, where oscillations are clearly observed in streamflow records. We find that our solution produces streamflow values and fluctuations that are similar to those observed in the summer of 2011.
Simultaneous calibration of hydrological models in geographical space
Authors: Bárdossy András , Huang Yingchun , Wagener Thorsten
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Hydrological models are usually calibrated for selected catchments individually using specific performance criteria. This procedure assumes that the catchments show individual behavior. As a consequence, the transfer of model parameters to other ungauged catchments is problematic. In this paper, the possibility of transferring part of the model parameters was investigated. Three different conceptual hydrological models were considered. The models were restructured by introducing a new parameter η which exclusively controls water balances. This parameter was considered as individual to each catchment. All other parameters, which mainly control the dynamics of the discharge (dynamical parameters), were considered for spatial transfer. Three hydrological models combined with three different performance measures were used in three different numerical experiments to investigate this transferability. The first numerical experiment, involving individual calibration of the models for 15 selected MOPEX catchments, showed that it is difficult to identify which catchments share common dynamical parameters. Parameters of one catchment might be good for another catchment but not the opposite. In the second numerical experiment, a common spatial calibration strategy was used. It was explicitly assumed that the catchments share common dynamical parameters. This strategy leads to parameters which perform well on all catchments. A leave-one-out common calibration showed that in this case a good parameter transfer to ungauged catchments can be achieved. In the third numerical experiment, the common calibration methodology was applied for 96 catchments. Another set of 96 catchments was used to test the transfer of common dynamical parameters. The results show that even a large number of catchments share similar dynamical parameters. The performance is worse than those obtained by individual calibration, but the transfer to ungauged catchments remains possible. The performance of the common parameters in the second experiment was better than in the third, indicating that the selection of the catchments for common calibration is important.
Hot-film and calorimetric thermal air flow sensors realized with printed board technology
Authors: Glatzl Thomas , Cerimovic Samir , Steiner Harald , Talic Almir , Beigelbeck Roman , Jachimowicz Artur , Sauter Thilo , Keplinger Franz
Published: July 2016

Abstract. This paper addresses the development of flow sensors optimized for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. The sensors are based on the printed circuit board technology facilitating robust, flexible (in terms of layout), and cost-effective devices. Two approaches for measuring fluid quantities like flow velocity over the whole cross section are investigated in this context. The first one relies on hot-film transduction and stands out for its simplicity, but also shows some severe limitations, which can be circumvented by the second approach based on calorimetric transduction. Supported by extensive numerical simulations, several sensor embodiments were investigated and fabricated. After experimental characterization, measurement and simulation results were compared, which turned out to be in good agreement.
Arctic sea-ice diffusion from observed and simulated Lagrangian trajectories
Authors: Rampal Pierre , Bouillon Sylvain , Bergh Jon , Ólason Einar
Published: July 2016

Abstract. We characterize sea-ice drift by applying a Lagrangian diffusion analysis to buoy trajectories from the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP) dataset and from two different models: the standalone Lagrangian sea-ice model neXtSIM and the Eulerian coupled ice–ocean model used for the TOPAZ reanalysis. By applying the diffusion analysis to the IABP buoy trajectories over the period 1979–2011, we confirm that sea-ice diffusion follows two distinct regimes (ballistic and Brownian) and we provide accurate values for the diffusivity and integral timescale that could be used in Eulerian or Lagrangian passive tracers models to simulate the transport and diffusion of particles moving with the ice. We discuss how these values are linked to the evolution of the fluctuating displacements variance and how this information could be used to define the size of the search area around the position predicted by the mean drift. By comparing observed and simulated sea-ice trajectories for three consecutive winter seasons (2007–2011), we show how the characteristics of the simulated motion may differ from or agree well with observations. This comparison illustrates the usefulness of first applying a diffusion analysis to evaluate the output of modeling systems that include a sea-ice model before using these in, e.g., oil spill trajectory models or, more generally, to simulate the transport of passive tracers in sea ice.
Mediação da informação e mediação pedagógica: discussões conceituais
Authors: Sacerdote Helena Célia de Souza , Fernandes Jorge Henrique Cabral
Published: July 2016

Introdução: Trata-se de sistematização de contribuições teórico-metodológicas relacionadas aos conceitos de mediação da informação e mediação pedagógica descritos na literatura.

Objetivo: Compreender possível intersecção entre a Ciência da Informação e a Educação online no que diz respeito a esses conceitos para verificar se ambos podem ser considerados como análogos em sua essência e práxis.

Metodologia: Revisão bibliográfica baseada na literatura especializada por meio de consulta a produções científicas selecionadas em busca nos bancos de dados do SciELO.ORG e EBSCO Host, no portal de periódicos CAPES/MEC e no Google Acadêmico.

Resultados: Os conceitos mais citados na Ciência da Informação e na Educação foram de Almeida Junior (2009) e de Masetto (2013), respectivamente.

Conclusão: Observa-se que o conceito de mediação pode transitar intercambiavelmente entre ambas as áreas. Isso por que as evidências encontradas nas produções dos últimos cinco anos indicam que o conceito de mediação de informação parece ter encontrado suas bases na área de Educação.
A experiência docente no ensino de história do livro e das bibliotecas na Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA)
Authors: Ferreira Rubens Da Silva
Published: July 2016

Introdução: O trabalho relata a experiência docente na disciplina História do Livro e das Bibliotecas do curso de Biblioteconomia da Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA). Presente no currículo do curso desde 1963, essa disciplina é basilar para a formação dos futuros bibliotecários, pois trabalha com três importantes elementos que são dinâmicos na história da profissão: o suporte (o livro), a instituição (a biblioteca) e o profissional (o bibliotecário).

Objetivo: Reúne, sistematiza e socializa estratégias utilizadas no processo ensino-aprendizagem no contexto da disciplina História do Livro e das Bibliotecas.

Metodologia: Ao longo de dois anos (2010-2012), para além das aulas expositivas, o processo ensino-aprendizagem foi dinamizado com a realização de visitas técnicas, a introdução de textos para leitura complementar em língua estrangeira e a construção de um site com o auxílio de monitores, a fim de associar as novidades tecnológicas a uma disciplina em que os elementos “livro” e “biblioteca” suscitam, nos discentes, a ideia de tradição.

Resultados: A estratégia usada mostra ser satisfatória quanto ao desempenho dos alunos. O principal desafio reside na necessidade do desenvolvimento das competências de leitura e de escrita, aspectos essenciais a serem considerados para uma formação profissional qualitativa, sobretudo porque os futuros egressos atuarão na área da documentação/informação.

Conclusões: Os aspectos negativos da experiência: (1) as dificuldades de alunos das turmas noturnas para participarem de visitas técnicas; e (2) os estágios acumulados pelos alunos que afetam o desempenho na disciplina. Os aspectos positivos da experiência: (1) a melhora da habilidade de escrita; (2) o crescimento de interesse pela produção científica; (3) o crescimento de interesse por cursos de idioma; (4) o contato dos monitores de classe com a prática docente; e (5) uma melhor assimilação dos conteúdos trabalhados na disciplina.
Ação cultural para reinvenção das práticas em bibliotecas: criação de outros meios e outros fins: as contribuições do Coletivo Estopô Balaio
Authors: Passos Marcos Paulo de
Published: July 2016

Introdução: A Ação Cultural é campo conceitual e de prática experimental do campo das Artes, presente, também, nas práticas profissionais de bibliotecários em bibliotecas públicas. Objetivos: Assinala a importância do diálogo de diferentes profissionais, dentro e fora das bibliotecas, que possam conferir articulação e autonomia expressiva para grupos culturais locais, redimensionar práticas e possibilidades de experimentação diversa nos dispositivos culturais da cidade. Este relato pretende indicar a biblioteca como dispositivo para afirmação de expressividades locais, articulação entre sujeitos e apropriação (cultural e simbólica) de espaços públicos. Ademais, procura suscitar reflexões sobre a atuação profissional do bibliotecário em âmbitos educativo-culturais, sobretudo, concernentes à Ação Cultural. Metodologia. Relato de experiência que recupera parcerias, aborda e apresenta projetos realizados pelo Coletivo Estopô Balaio, no extremo leste de São Paulo. Nesse sentido, foi realizada pesquisa documental, a partir da produção do próprio grupo, com aporte teórico do campo da Ação Cultural, que sustenta a narrativa. Resultados: A parceria entre bibliotecários e artistas-educadores mostra que é preciso redefinir e ampliar ações dentro da Biblioteca Pública, numa perspectiva de atuação sociocultural. Conclusão: A Ação Cultural, numa perspectiva articulada, reúne aspectos para afirmação expressiva de grupos e atores sociais locais, ressignificação de dispositivos culturais e práticas profissionais, aproximação entre os campos das Artes e da Biblioteconomia.
Mechanisms, Determinants and Model of Early Succession on the Lateritic Plateau of the Sahelian Part of Western Niger
Authors: Idrissa Soumana , Guimbo Iro Dan , Abasse Tougiani , Yadji Guero , Ali Mahamane
Published: July 2016

Western Niger lateritic plateaux formally occupied by tiger bush are mainly secondary ecosystems affected by crusting and soil compaction that impedes infiltration and induces intense erosion, which hampered lowlands millet fields. Restoration of these plateaux is essential, but, failure is frequently reported about early species establishment. It’s therefore necessary to examine the mechanisms and factors of early plants recovery which are important for vegetation restoration. Vegetation data have been recorded in 31 plots, at four sites with similar environmental characteristics and different land use histories: Unrevegetated area, 1-3-years old revegetated area, 6-years old revegetated area and 14-years old revegetated area. We also measured 16 environmental variables in each plot to examine the driving forces of succession and the vegetation-environment relationships. TWINSPAN results revealed that plant species could be classified into six plant communities representing 4 succession stages. The DCA confirm TWINSPAN classification and indicated two gradients of succession: land condition and successional age. According to the CCA and the Monte Carlo tests, the determinants of succession are succession age, covers of gravel crusts, erosive crusts, barren soil, plants and litter, soil pH, soil contents of organic carbon, organic matter, available phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, total of basic cations and Cation exchange capacity. The chronological changes in plant communities associated with environmental variables contribute to plant assemblage and vegetation development. Since, the environmental variables are able to change with succession age, succession pathways can be divergent, but in the present study it becomes convergent at late stage. As each stage can be structured by more than one plant community, the model of restoring degraded lateritic is closer to alternative stable states model.
The Theory of Planned Behaviour as a Framework for Whistle-Blowing Intentions
Authors: Zakaria Maheran , Abd Razak Siti Noor Azmawaty , Yusoff Muhammad Saiful Anuar
Published: July 2016

This study adopts the Theory of Planned Behaviour as an underlying model to investigate its relevance, by examining the link between attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control to account for whistle-blowing intentions. The data were analysed using a structural equation modelling (SEM) technique with the use of Partial Least Square approach (PLS). Using a sample of 262 Malaysian police officers, the analysis showed that TPB provides a sound framework for predicting both internal and external whistle-blowing intentions. Additionally, both internal and external whistle-blowing intentions are significantly influenced by attitude. Subjective norm is found to positively influence internal whistle-blowing intentions, while perceived behavioural control positively influences external whistle-blowing intentions. Hence, it is hoped that the results of this study will be a useful source of information to law makers, policy makers, institutions, management and the like in supporting whistle-blowing practices and thus enhancing accountability and strengthening good corporate governance in work places.
Ações afirmativas e o horizonte normativo da democracia racial (Affirmative actions and the normative horizon of racial democracy)
Authors: Delgado Ignacio José Godinho
Published: July 2016

Este artigo faz uma síntese das percepções intelectuais sobre as relações raciais no Brasil e avalia o impacto das políticas de ação afirmativa ao longo do século em curso. Assinala, também, que o caráter plural da tácita coalizão que sustentou o fortalecimento das políticas de ação afirmativa na agenda política brasileira nos últimos anos sugere a possibilidade de constituição de uma nova crença compartilhada, em que a noção de democracia racial afaste-se de seu paradigma descritivo e ideológico, para converter-se num horizonte normativo, que não mascare o racismo e as desigualdades raciais, mas sim defina os objetivos a perseguir na luta para sua superação e os caminhos para alcançá-los.

 

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the intellectual perceptions of race relations in Brazil and evaluates the impact of affirmative action policies over the current century. Points out, finally, that the plural character of tacit coalition that supported the strengthening of affirmative action policies in the Brazilian political agenda in recent years suggests the possibility of setting up a new shared belief in the notion of racial democracy move away from its descriptive and ideological paradigm, to become a normative horizon that does not mask racism and racial inequalities, but set the objectives to be pursued in the fight to overcome it and the ways to achieve them.

Keywords: History. Policy. Racism. Affirmative action. Racial democracy.
De memória, trauma e ficção: um olhar sobre a narrativa de Bernardo Kucinski
Authors: Xavier Joelma Rezende
Published: July 2016

Muitos são os contratempos e prejuízos humanos associados ao período da ditadura militar no Brasil. Os processos de enrijecimento de controle estatal, as estratégias de domínio político-cultural e as tentativas de apagamento da memória marcaram o cotidiano da sociedade durante os anos que envolveram o estado de exceção. Apesar dessa realidade, os relatos de tortura e de denúncia testemunham diferentes versões para os fatos e contêm o poder de ressignificação da memória, especialmente por meio da escrita literária. Este artigo visa a propor uma breve discussão sobre os temas memória e trauma na construção ficcional, a partir da análise de contos publicados na antologia Você vai voltar pra mim e outros contos, de Bernardo Kucinski (2014).
O teor testemunhal no romance Parque Industrial
Authors: Bordini Maria Isabel da Silveira
Published: July 2016

Este artigo realiza uma leitura do romance Parque Industrial, de Patrícia Galvão, aproximando-o da tradição latino-americana do testimonio. A partir de certas especificidades do contexto de escrita do romance, quais sejam, a condição feminina da autora, sua militância político-partidária, sua experiência de proletarização e sua inadequação intelectual, social e pessoal aos ditames da organização em que militava, propõe-se a presença de um teor testemunhal na obra. Os aspectos testemunhais se iluminam, no texto de ficção, a partir da leitura contrastada com o texto autobiográfico Paixão Pagu. Acredita-se que, para além da inserção na estética modernista, o resgate do teor testemunhal desse romance permite melhor compreender e localizar aquela que já foi considerada “estrela menor do anedotário modernista”.
Violência e apagamento da voz indígena no Brasil - O caso Yanomami
Authors: Borges Priscila Maria de Barros
Published: July 2016

O presente texto apresenta discussão sobre a lacuna na História Oficial brasileira que corresponde à voz indígena, ainda hoje silenciada. Pretende demonstrar que este silenciamento foi/é construído através de violências de várias ordens ao longo da constituição de nossa historiografia. Na atualidade as diversas minorias têm promovido um movimento de contar sua própria versão da História, através da publicação de livros e produção de documentários. Entre os povos indígenas não é diferente, exemplo disso é o livro A queda do céu, assinado pelo xamã e líder yanomami Davi Kopenawa em parceria com o antropólogo Bruce Albert. A obra A queda do céu, é aqui brevemente interpretada à luz dos conceitos de memória e testemunho, dando destaque à necessidade de que a voz indígena seja disseminada e ouvida, principalmente entre a sociedade não-indígena.
Smėlio tyrimai patobulintu dinaminiu penetrometru
Authors: Žaržojus Gintaras , Kelevišius Kęstutis
Published: July 2016

Grunto tyrimai atlikti ypač sunkiu DPSH-B tipo dinaminiu penetrometru. Šiuo penetrometru galima tirti įvairios granuliometrinės sudėties gruntų fizinę būklę, tačiau inžineriniuose geologiniuose tyrimuose daugiausia tiriami birūs gruntai. Bandymo metu gautų duomenų analizė yra sudėtinga, ypač tyrinėjant rišlius gruntus. Duomenų patikimumas priklauso nuo naudojamos įrangos savybių, zondavimo strypų ir grunto tarpusavio sąveikos bei nuo grunto reakcijos į smūgį. Tam, kad būtų galima įvertinti įrangos įtaką rezultatų patikimumui ir grunto reakciją į smūgį, dinaminės penetracijos metodą reikia tobulinti. Šiam tikslui dinaminio penetrometro kūgyje sumontuoti pagreičių matuokliai, o prie plakto pritvirtinta smūgio parametrus registruojanti įranga. Minėti įrangos patobulinimai leido detaliau analizuoti bandymo rezultatus. Šiame straipsnyje pateikiami pirmųjų tyrimų rezultatai ir gairės tolimesniems darbams.
Seisminės skersinės bangos greičio modeliavimas grunte panaudojus ekstremalųjį apmokymo algoritmą
Authors: Urbaitis Donatas , Indriulionis Audrius , Mokrik Robert , Dundulis Juozas Kastytis
Published: July 2016

Dirbtiniai neuroniniai tinklai vis dažniau taikomi ne tik diagnostikos, finansų, kontrolės, kompiuterinės grafikos srityse, bet ir inžinerinėje geologijoje. Šiame darbe tyrinėjant Lietuvos gruntų stipruminių savybių rodiklius pirmą kartą buvo panaudotas dirbtinių neuroninių tinklų apmokymo metodas. Tyrimui pasirinktas Stabatiškės aikštelės moreninis molinis gruntas. Aikštelėje atlikti statinio zondavimo bandymai, skirti nustatyti sąlyginį gruntų stiprumą. Taip pat įvertinti gruntų skersinės bangos greičiai (Vs). Apmokant neuroninį tinklą buvo panaudotas ekstremalaus apmokymo algoritmas ELM (Extreme learning machine), optimizuojant duomenis – stochastiniai paieškos metodai, kuriais randamas globalus funkcijos minimumas ar maksimumas. Modeliuojant panaudotas diferencialinio skirtumo (DE) algoritmas. Pradiniai įvesties į modelį duomenys: koreguotas kūginis stipris (qt), šoninės trinties stipris (fs), trinties santykis (Rf), vertikalus geostatinis slėgis (σ), vertikalus efektyvus geostatinis slėgis (σ’) ir poringumo koeficientas (e), o ieškomas parametras – skersinės bangos greičiai (Vs). Atlikus modeliavimą sudaryti prognoziniai seisminių bangų greičių analogai, kurie leidžia įvertinti gruntų dinaminių savybių rodiklius neatliekant pačio seisminio bandymo.
Water Management at Pueblo Bonito: Evidence from the National Geographic Society Trenches
Authors: Wills W. H. , Love David W. , Smith Susan J. , Adams Karen R. , Palacios-Fest Manuel R. , Dorshow Wetherbee B. , Murphy Beau , Sturm Jennie O. , Mattson Hannah , Crown Patricia L.
Published: July 2016

Recent archaeological investigations at Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon reveal that residents constructed a large diversion channel during the eleventh century A.D. as dramatic growth resulted in the expansion of the building onto the main valley floor. Sediments in the diversion channel reflect repeated episodes of flooding, rather than slow moving water typically found in irrigation canals, and archaeobotanical data indicate deposition during late summer or early fall. Although an agricultural function is possible, the channel may have been built primarily to divert floodwaters away from Pueblo Bonito while providing a nearby water source for construction and domestic use. The diversion channel was destroyed by the entrenchment of the “Bonito paleo-channel” in the late A.D. 1000s, and then buried by a combination of cultural debris and valley flooding. Although the canyon stream system changed throughout the occupation of Pueblo Bonito, there is no evidence that the formation of a deep natural channel in the floodplain had any negative effect on the growth of the great house
Indigenous Values and Methods in Archaeological Practice: Low-Impact Archaeology Through the Kashaya Pomo Interpretive Trail Project
Authors: Gonzalez Sara L.
Published: July 2016

As federally and non-federally recognized tribal communities assert control over the management of tribal heritage, there is a significant opportunity to work with these nations to further refine and develop approaches to archaeological practice that work for the long-term care and protection of tribal heritage. This article evaluates the methodological implications of integrating indigenous values and cultural protocols into archaeological practice and tribal historic preservation. Drawing upon the example of the Kashaya Pomo Interpretive Trail Project at Fort Ross State Historic Park, I examine how respectful, engaged, community-based dialogue with the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians led to the development of a lowimpact archaeological methodology that contributes to the capacity of the Kashia Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) to employ archaeology as a tool of historic preservation. Although this methodology was developed with specific reference to the needs and cultural protocols of the Kashaya Pomo, it provides a salient model of a sovereignty-based approach to tribal historic preservation that may be relevant to other tribal heritage managers. The application of a suite of low-impact survey methods, including the catch-and-release surface collection strategy, also provides tribal and nontribal heritage professionals with additional tools for recovering data from cultural resources with minimal impact.
Structural mechanism of ligand activation in human calcium-sensing receptor
Authors: Geng Yong , Mosyak Lidia , Kurinov Igor , Zuo Hao , Sturchler Emmanuel , Cheng Tat Cheung , Subramanyam Prakash , Brown Alice P , Brennan Sarah C , Mun Hee-chang , Bush Martin , Chen Yan , Nguyen Trang X , Cao Baohua , Chang Donald D , Quick Matthias , Conigrave Arthur D , Colecraft Henry M , McDonald Patricia , Fan Qing R
Published: July 2016

Human calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that maintains extracellular Ca2+ homeostasis through the regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion. It functions as a disulfide-tethered homodimer composed of three main domains, the Venus Flytrap module, cysteine-rich domain, and seven-helix transmembrane region. Here, we present the crystal structures of the entire extracellular domain of CaSR in the resting and active conformations. We provide direct evidence that L-amino acids are agonists of the receptor. In the active structure, L-Trp occupies the orthosteric agonist-binding site at the interdomain cleft and is primarily responsible for inducing extracellular domain closure to initiate receptor activation. Our structures reveal multiple binding sites for Ca2+ and PO43- ions. Both ions are crucial for structural integrity of the receptor. While Ca2+ ions stabilize the active state, PO43- ions reinforce the inactive conformation. The activation mechanism of CaSR involves the formation of a novel dimer interface between subunits.
Small-molecule inhibitors identify the RAD52-ssDNA interaction as critical for recovery from replication stress and for survival of BRCA2 deficient cells
Authors: Hengel Sarah R , Malacaria Eva , Folly da Silva Constantino Laura , Bain Fletcher E , Diaz Andrea , Koch Brandon G , Yu Liping , Wu Meng , Pichierri Pietro , Spies M Ashley , Spies Maria
Published: July 2016

The DNA repair protein RAD52 is an emerging therapeutic target of high importance for BRCA-deficient tumors. Depletion of RAD52 is synthetically lethal with defects in tumor suppressors BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2. RAD52 also participates in the recovery of the stalled replication forks. Anticipating that ssDNA binding activity underlies the RAD52 cellular functions, we carried out a high throughput screening campaign to identify compounds that disrupt the RAD52-ssDNA interaction. Lead compounds were confirmed as RAD52 inhibitors in biochemical assays. Computational analysis predicted that these inhibitors bind within the ssDNA-binding groove of the RAD52 oligomeric ring. The nature of the inhibitor-RAD52 complex was validated through an in silico screening campaign, culminating in the discovery of an additional RAD52 inhibitor. Cellular studies with our inhibitors showed that the RAD52-ssDNA interaction enables its function at stalled replication forks, and that the inhibition of RAD52-ssDNA binding acts additively with BRCA2 or MUS81 depletion in cell killing.
Development of pacemaker properties and rhythmogenic mechanisms in the mouse embryonic respiratory network
Authors: Chevalier Marc , Toporikova Natalia , Simmers John , Thoby-Brisson Muriel
Published: July 2016

Breathing is a vital rhythmic behavior generated by hindbrain neuronal circuitry, including the preBötzinger complex network (preBötC) that controls inspiration. The emergence of preBötC network activity during prenatal development has been described, but little is known regarding inspiratory neurons expressing pacemaker properties at embryonic stages. Here, we combined calcium imaging and electrophysiological recordings in mouse embryo brainstem slices together with computational modeling to reveal the existence of heterogeneous pacemaker oscillatory properties relying on distinct combinations of burst-generating INaP and ICAN conductances. The respective proportion of the different inspiratory pacemaker subtypes changes during prenatal development. Concomitantly, network rhythmogenesis switches from a purely INaP/ICAN-dependent mechanism at E16.5 to a combined pacemaker/network-driven process at E18.5. Our results provide the first description of pacemaker bursting properties in embryonic preBötC neurons and indicate that network rhythmogenesis undergoes important changes during prenatal development through alterations in both circuit properties and the biophysical characteristics of pacemaker neurons.
Ring-like oligomers of Synaptotagmins and related C2 domain proteins
Authors: Zanetti Maria N , Bello Oscar D , Wang Jing , Coleman Jeff , Cai Yiying , Sindelar Charles V , Rothman James E , Krishnakumar Shyam S
Published: July 2016

We recently reported that the C2AB portion of Synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1) could self-assemble into Ca2+-sensitive ring-like oligomers on membranes, which could potentially regulate neurotransmitter release. Here we report that analogous ring-like oligomers assemble from the C2AB domains of other Syt isoforms (Syt2, Syt7, Syt9) as well as related C2 domain containing protein, Doc2B and extended Synaptotagmins (E-Syts). Evidently, circular oligomerization is a general and conserved structural aspect of many C2 domain proteins, including Synaptotagmins. Further, using electron microscopy combined with targeted mutations, we show that under physiologically relevant conditions, both the Syt1 ring assembly and its rapid disruption by Ca2+ involve the well-established functional surfaces on the C2B domain that are important for synaptic transmission. Our data suggests that ring formation may be triggered at an early step in synaptic vesicle docking and positions Syt1 to synchronize neurotransmitter release to Ca2+ influx.
A Note from the New JLSC Editors
Authors: Newton Mark , Schlosser Melanie
Published: July 2016

A note from the new JLSC editors on the publication of the 2016 general issue.