bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE ROLE OF OBIDJON MAKHMUDOV`S ARTICLES AT THE "SADOYI FERGANA" NEWSPAPER IN THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY
Authors: Komilov Nodirbek
Published: March 2021

This paper is devoted to the Obidjon Makhmudov articles` role inthe history of Turkestan at the end of 19th - in the beginning of XXth century. Articleprovides information about the large-scale reforms of the scientist as a publisher ofthe "Sadoyi Fergana" newspaper and a reformator.
Integrating academic reading and writing skills development with core content in science and engineering
Authors: Amos Kathryn , McGowan Ursula
Published: March 2021

This paper presents the application of genre pedagogy as an approach to teaching academic reading and writing skills development to a class of undergraduate engineering students. This approach was designed so that it may be applied by core subject teachers in courses with students who typically do not engage well with these aspects of their studies. Our focus was specifically on the Ã¢â¬Ëbigger pictureÃ¢â¬â¢ of writing skills development by encouraging students to learn how to analyse for themselves a particular genre from their own discipline, and how to use this knowledge to develop an appropriately academic style in writing their own essay.Our approach involved combining the expertise of subject teacher and linguist in running four workshops in class time during the first half of a semesterised course. These workshops had associated homework tasks, designed incrementally to contribute to studentsÃ¢â¬â¢ understanding and application of the skills they need for academic writing. These were followed by the submission of a written report on the topics covered during the first six weeks of the semester, and was of direct relevance to their degree major. Assessment criteria focused on both technical content and academic literacy. With this integrated approach to literacy and content development it was intended to engage traditionally resistant students with the development of their academic language skills, and also to model a possible approach for the engagement of STEM academics in fostering this academic literacy development. Student participants in this programme agreed that this strategy improved both their writing skills and their understanding of course content.
Variety is the spice of mentoring life: a UK-US partnership highlights opportunities and benefits
Authors: Skoglund Kirk , Millard Luke , Francis Alisha , Nagle Luke , Brand Stuart
Published: March 2021

Peer-to-peer academic mentoring has the potential to contribute to retention and progression goals as programmes benefit mentors, mentees, and staff. Although there are necessarily common elements, programmes that include academic mentoring vary in their focus and structure. Each programme must also be deliberately designed to address the unique character of individual institutions. Programmes at two very different institutions Ã¢â¬â one in a rural town in the United States and one in a metropolis in the United Kingdom Ã¢â¬â provide models for applying peer mentoring across a variety of contexts. This discussion also illustrates the opportunities presented by institutional partnerships.
From students to leaders: evaluating the impact on academic performance, satisfaction and student empowerment of a pilot PAL programme among first year students and second year leaders
Authors: Scriver Stacey , Walsh Olesen Amber , Clifford Eoghan
Published: March 2021

This paper evaluates the pilot year of the CÃâ°IM PAL initiative at the National University of Ireland Galway through analysis of examination results, student surveys and the reflections of two students who participated as first year students in the pilot year and subsequently as student leaders in year two. The paper considers the impact of attendance at sessions on academic performance, student satisfaction with the programme, and evaluates the extent to which the initiative has assisted students to become more empowered learners as expressed through the development of self-directed learning, growth in educational self-efficacy, and confidence in navigating the learning environment. Recommendations are also made for developing the CÃâ°IM initiative, which may be relevant to other PAL programmes and for determining the direction of future research.
Whose wellbeing is it anyway?
Authors: Dhillon Sunny
Published: March 2021

In this opinion piece, I suggest the need for a critical examination of the ‘wellbeing’ agenda currently being developed throughout Higher Education (HE) in the UK. I suggest that problems arise when notions of ‘wellbeing’ are used without being sufficiently well-defined, and are then accepted as the barometer of student health. This approach will be elucidated by contextualising the situation students find themselves in contemporary neoliberal universities; situating the crucial intermediary role that learning developers and student support services fulfil between academics and students; and exploring different modes of engagement available to those in these roles. Drawing upon the critical pedagogy of Biesta (2013), I argue that the remit of cultivating critical thinking and independent study skills means that learning developers, through one-to-one meetings, may sometimes be as well-placed as those with specific wellbeing roles (such as counsellors or mental health workers) to acknowledge and explore students’ personal and social anxieties and concerns with compassion. This approach may seem to be at odds with wellbeing rhetoric, which, I argue, can act to detract from critical engagement with the explicit challenges facing students in the contemporary socio-political milieu. My aim is therefore to reintroduce the notion of criticality within the discussions taking place among academics and professional support staff, which in turn may inform practice. Central to my aim in this is to raise broader questions around the primary role of academics and professionals in HE; for example, is it to train students to passively ‘fit in’ within society or to educate them in a manner such that they will act agentively in society?
Driving learning development professionalism forward from within
Authors: Johnson Ian Paul
Published: March 2021

Current conceptions view professions as negotiable, transient territories which are shaped by the discourses that describe them. The voices which influence how a profession evolves arise from both within and outside it. Theories on professionalism have been rigorously applied to teaching and academia. Learning Development exists within both spheres, yet its complex growth patterns have resulted in a fragmented and less theorised sense of professional identity. The rationales which create and fund Learning Development roles lean towards a model of fixing ‘deficits’ in students and their work; meanwhile, Learning Development’s professional association, ALDinHE, rejects those same deficit premises. In this article, using a theoretical framework and terminology from Evans (2008; 2011), I analyse the differences between those states of professionalism ‘demanded of’ and ‘enacted by’ Learning Developers. By coding various external and internal documents which frame job roles, I deduce how the two ‘professionalisms’ interact to resolve their inherent tensions; I identify a point of coalescence around Learning Development as a niche for mediation and demystification. I also explore how Learning Developers believe their profession can best evolve and sustain, via community-internal voices in literature and a survey of 14 ALDinHE members. Findings suggest that Learning Development remains a unique and valued activity, to which professional identity is attached. However, a precise sense among the ALDinHE community of what ‘equals’ a professional Learning Developer remains debated. More coherent is the community’s wish to see its values (Learning Development) permeate across the wider higher education landscape.
Engagement in higher education. Who’s not engaging?
Authors: Wilkinson James
Published: March 2021

Just as undergraduates need to develop critical capacities, so as to scrutinise and justify beliefs, decisions and actions (Barnett, 1997), higher education teachers need to consider critically their own assumptions about and orientations towards teaching (Gow and Kember, 1993). These are often unexamined and unchallenged, so teachers can remain unaware of implications for students’ learning (Mezirow, 1990; Larrivee, 2000). Regarding subject disciplinary literacy development, relevant assumptions concern several important challenges: the complexity and opaqueness of disciplinary reading and writing practices (Lea and Street, 1998; Meyer and Land, 2003; Haggis, 2003; Gourlay, 2009); issues concerning engagement and assumed student deficits (Mann, 2001; Haggis, 2003; 2006); and the potentially alienating environment, norms, values and practices of higher education (Mann, 2001; Haggis, 2006; Bryson and Hand, 2007).   This paper discusses these challenges and reports on a small-scale study investigating the context of students’ reading and writing difficulties at a London-based, Russell Group university. Methods included analysis of data from interviews with academics and student discussion groups, and from teaching observations. The findings suggest that the teaching orientations of learning facilitation and knowledge transmission, and their links to different learning approaches and outcomes, continue to shape many undergraduates’ experience, for better or worse.The paper contributes to understanding these links using Self-Determination Theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000). Accordingly, teaching oriented towards learning facilitation, but not knowledge transmission, fosters students’ feelings of competence, autonomy and relatedness, assisting internalisation of externally regulated behaviours, and increasing preparedness for engaged, self-directed learning (Niemiec and Ryan, 2009).
Evaluating retrospective experiential learning as process in scholarship on a work based professional doctorate
Authors: Fulton John , Hayes Catherine
Published: March 2021

Acknowledging retrospective experiential learning as a unique contribution to knowledge in the context of the workplace is the fundamental focus of the work-based professional doctorate. This report details an evaluation of a 'Second Generation' professional doctorate programme. The programme provides a mechanism for both learning development and the acknowledgement and development of pre-existing, discipline-specific, professional practice. Evaluation was used as a means of highlighting how the theory-praxis gap might be bridged via translational knowledge construction. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eleven doctoral candidates to explore their experiences and perceptions of the programme. The interviews were then transcribed and thematically analysed during which a 'base superstructure model' was identified. This model identified the underpinning skills of critical reflection, investigation and adaptive capacity necessary to inform and facilitate the research phase of the professional doctorate programme. The facilitation and upskilling of doctoral candidates in the use of emergent technology was identified as the basis for the development of professional and academic practice. The role of the doctoral supervisor, as a facilitator of the development of these skills, was also established as pivotal to learning development for doctoral candidates; in terms of developing their 'base super-structure' to become independent, reflective and adaptive learners.
Student perceptions of the effectiveness of self-editing on their writing: towards a self-regulated approach
Authors: Holbrook Gelareh , Park Victoria Justine
Published: March 2021

A number of studies have highlighted the importance of teaching students to self-edit their work. Self-editing within higher education has been demonstrated to support students' academic writing skills. It also capitalises on lecturers' written corrective feedback on students' essay-based assignments making it more effective and meaningful. Utilising a collaborative approach between the Study Support and the School of Health Sciences at a UK-based university, this research evaluated the usefulness of a self-editing worksheet based on the perspectives of students, writing tutors, and the subject lecturer (staff) feedback. Students' perspectives were investigated by content analysing their responses provided in the reflection section of the self-editing worksheet. Qualitative analysis of staff feedback on pre- and post-edit writing was also evaluated. The results show that 65% of students found the worksheet useful and the worksheet helped them make some positive changes to their essays. Evidence would suggest that this pedagogical model is effective in improving levels of academic writing. Implications and suggestions for effective teaching practice and future research are provided in this paper.
Achieving transformation through collaboration: the role of academic literacies
Authors: Wingate Ursula
Published: March 2021

The academic literacies model has been transformative in the sense that it offered a new perspective for research into students' writing as well as pedagogic principles that have influenced writing practitioners in many contexts. In this paper I discuss why a more wide-ranging transformation is needed to provide adequate academic literacy support to all students. This transformation would entail the integration of academic literacy instruction into study programmes, delivered as part of subject lecturers’ regular teaching and assessment practices. This would require collaboration between writing/learning development practitioners and subject lecturers, which in turn would need to be facilitated by changes in institutional policies and practices. I argue that the academic literacies model provides both the rationale and the principles for this kind of transformation.
Student voices in academic writing: PsychLiverpool a community for meaning making
Authors: Forsythe Alexandra , Demirbag Emir , Warren Jasmine
Published: March 2021

The practice and expectations of academic communication are changing, and blogging provides a socially liberating mechanism by which to support the development of student writing and literacy. The study reported here examines the impact of an academic–student partnership in supporting the development of student discourse. Anonymous feedback gathered from both the contributors and readers of the student blog, PsychLiverpool was analysed using automated text analysis. The analysis identified that high levels of positive emotion were associated with PsychLiverpool. Students valued its capacity to trigger thinking and insight, and the social and networking relationships the blog offered. PsychLiverpool empowered students to expand their learning networks outside of their classroom and peer network by connecting them with like-minded students and academics.  By providing students with safe opportunities to develop their skills and networks, it fulfilled their needs for affiliation and achievement, power and reward. The particular advantage of PsychLiverpool was that in operating outside of traditional university processes of assessment and feedback, students were more motivated to write about and engage with academic language on their own terms.
Using the exploration of a story to consider the meaning of becoming older
Authors: Jack Kirsten
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to explore the use of a creative teaching method to facilitate learning about becoming older. An excerpt from a story was shared with a group of first year undergraduate student nurses. This was followed by a discussion of the holistic aspects of ageing. Use of this method encouraged a more critical discussion of ageing when compared to didactic teaching methods, and this approach is not restricted to nursing practice. This method can guide similar work in any subject in which assumptions can be challenged, and where meaningful discourse needs to be encouraged. ÃÂ ÃÂ
Why is research still invisible in further education
Authors: Solvason Carla , Elliott Geoffrey
Published: March 2021

This article takes as its starting point earlier research reported by Geoffrey Elliott in 1996. That study found that research was consistantly marginalised in the FE sector, and identified a number of structural factors that contributed to this Ã¢â¬ËinvisibilityÃ¢â¬â¢. This new study draws upon a small sample of lecturers who belong to a Further and Higher Education Early Years Partnership. Through the participantsÃ¢â¬â¢ voices and perspectives, the authors identify continuing dissonance and issues of research marginalisation. The discussion also highlights contemporary educational discourse, with its predominant focus upon measurable value at the expense of values, as a key factor in sustaining a culture that is antithetic to thoughtful reflection and research. The authors identify the development of a Ã¢â¬Ëcollaborative centralisedÃ¢â¬â¢ research community as critical to an alternative possibility for research in further education.
The Social Hubs Project: Exploratory real-world research - students as researchers and experiential learning.
Authors: Tunaker Carin , Bride Ian , Peluso Daniela
Published: March 2021

This case study piece describes an approach to teaching and learning that has been successfully employed at the University of Kent, Canterbury. It offers a way of engaging students in real-world research and learning experiences that allow them to build skills, take on responsibility, and, at the same time, feel that they are making a valuable contribution to their University community. It is hoped that the story told here will inspire others to take similar initiatives in their own institutions.
Election Management Bodies in East Africa
Authors: Makulilo B. , Ntaganda Eugene , Sekaggya Margaret , Osodo Patrick
Published: March 2021

The management of elections is increasingly generating impassioned debate in these East African nations - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The bodies that manage and conduct elections are, therefore, coming under intense citizen and stakeholder scrutiny for the manner in which they are composed, how they organise and perform their mandates, and the outcomes they achieve. The effectiveness of electoral management bodies (EMBs) has largely been influenced by the impact of political violence on election management reforms in East Africa. Even in countries where EMBs are the products of reforms initiated in the aftermath of violent disputes over elections, they still face enormous challenges in dealing with electoral disputes and anticipating election-related crises. Although changes to constitutions and the laws in these countries have sought to make EMBs independent and, therefore, more inclined to deliver free, fair and credible elections, there are many issues that determine their impartiality and their ability to allow for the aggregation and free expression of the will of the people. These shortcomings negatively impact on democracy. This volume assembles case studies on the capacity of EMBs in these five East African countries to deliver democratic and transparent elections.
Citizenship Law in Africa
Authors: Manby Bronwen
Published: March 2021

Few African countries provide for an explicit right to a nationality. Laws and practices governing citizenship effectively leave hundreds of thousands of people in Africa without a country. These stateless Africans can neither vote nor stand for office; they cannot enrol their children in school, travel freely, or own property; they cannot work for the government; they are exposed to human rights abuses. Statelessness exacerbates and underlies tensions in many regions of the continent. Citizenship Law in Africa, a comparative study by two programs of the Open Society Foundations, describes the often arbitrary, discriminatory, and contradictory citizenship laws that exist from state to state and recommends ways that African countries can bring their citizenship laws in line with international rights norms. The report covers topics such as citizenship by descent, citizenship by naturalisation, gender discrimination in citizenship law, dual citizenship, and the right to identity documents and passports. It is essential reading for policymakers, attorneys, and activists. This second edition includes updates on developments in Kenya, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan and Zimbabwe, as well as minor corrections to the tables and other additions throughout.
Motivação discente frente às diferentes composições de turmas (des)seriadas para a Educação Física do ensino médio
Authors: Andrade Eduardo Azevedo de , Lettnin Carla da Conceição
Published: March 2021

A (Des)seriação, proposta de estruturação das turmas para Educação Física do Ensino Médio, baseada na Teoria da Autodeterminação, foi elaborada com o intuito de motivar os estudantes para as aulas. Neste estudo, do tipo misto, discentes do Ensino Médio em 2012, 2014, 2015 e 2016, responderam ao questionário Bem Estar Discente na Educação Física acrescido de uma questão aberta. A análise por estatística descritiva e comparação entre grupos revelou que a motivação intrínseca dos estudantes não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significativas, mas modificou a auto percepção das Necessidades Psicológicas Básicas. Já a análise de conteúdo apresentou visão negativa dos estudantes (54,6%) relacionada aos Aspectos estruturais do projeto. A crítica relacionada às turmas pares e impares, em 2016, pode ter engessado as escolhas dos alunos e os distanciado de seus objetivos ou interesses, trazendo descontentamento e prejudicando a frequência/permanência discente nas aulas de Educação Física.
The effect of Angelica dahurica extract on breast carcinogenesis in mouse
Authors: Zhang Ruihong , Liu Teng , Zhang Xiangli , Liu Yuan
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Angelica dahurica extract (ADE) has been demonstrated to possess functions of immune response modulation, breast injury and fibrosis amelioration, breast regeneration regulation, and suppression of breast cancer.

Material and methods

To explore the effect of the ADE on breast cancer generation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo, a breast cancer mouse model was established. Chinese traditional medicine ADE was administered to mice bearing breast cancer, which were randomly divided into a negative group, ADE group (two doses), and model group. The breast tissue of the mouse model was fixed and H&E staining was performed for subsequent histological observation. Immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemical staining were performed to examine the breast cancer related proteins, SNCG and BCRP in breast tissue; Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to detect proteins and gene expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, transforming growth factor  (TGF-), and SNAIL, as well as signals in the MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.

Results

Pathological manifestation of breast tissues in ADE-treated mouse was clearly reduced in both visual inspection and H&E staining. Breast cancer specific SNCG and BCRP expression significantly decreased after ADE administration. Furthermore, increased E-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin, vimentin, SNAIL and TGF- expression might be associated with the anti-EMT property of ADE. Both MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways were observed to be inactivated after ADE treatment.

Conclusions

Collectively, the evidence showed that ADE restrained breast cancer development in vivo through blocking the EMT process, probably by down-regulation of MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.
Adipokine signatures of subcutaneous and visceral abdominal fat in normal-weight and obese women with different metabolic profiles
Authors: Korac Aleksandra , Srdic-Galic Biljana , Stancic Ana , Otasevic Vesna , Korac Bato , Jankovic Aleksandra
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome arises from abnormal adipose function accompanied by insulin resistance. As early factors reflecting/impacting lipid storage dysfunction of adipose tissues, we sought to determine adipokine levels in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues (SAT and VAT).

Material and methods

Gene and protein expression of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were analyzed in SAT and VAT of normal-weight and overweight/obese women, subclassified according to insulin resistance index, triglyceride, total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol levels into metabolically healthy and “at risk” groups.

Results

Compared with normal-weight women, obese women had higher serum leptin levels (P<0.05), as well as increased leptin gene and protein expression in VAT. Conversely, expression levels of leptin were lower in SAT of obese women, and minor in the SAT of “at risk” groups of women, compared with weight-matched healthy groups. In addition, lower adiponectin levels were detected in SAT of metabolically healthy obese women (P<0.01), and lower in SAT and VAT (P<0.05) of “at risk” obese women compared to healthy, obese women. Significant differences in resistin levels were only observed in obese women; resistin gene expression was higher in VAT and SAT of obese, compared to normal-weight women. However, higher gene expression was not consistent with protein expression of resistin.

Conclusions

Low adiponectin in both examined adipose tissues and inappropriate leptin expression levels in SAT appear to be important characteristics of obesity-related metabolic syndrome. Intriguingly, this adipokine dysregulation is primary seen in SAT, suggesting that endocrine dysfunction in this abdominal depot may be an early risk sign of metabolic syndrome.
PENGARUH PROMOSI DAN KUALITAS PELAYANAN TERHADAP INTENTION TO USE JASA TRANSPORTASI PT. BATAM FAST FERRY DI KOTA BATAM
Authors: Edy Wibowo Agung , Silitonga Frangky
Published: March 2021

Dalam penelitian ini desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah eksplanatori dengan tujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan antar variabel melalui uji hipotesis yang telah dibangun. Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebanyak  100 responden. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah analisis regresi linier berganda yang bertujuan untuk menguji  hubungan dan pengaruh antara variabel bebas dan variabel terikat. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah : 1) Variabel promosi secara parsial memiliki pengaruh terhadap intention to use jasa transportasi PT Batam Fast Ferry. 2) Variabel kualitas pelayanan secara parsial memiliki pengaruh terhadap intention to use jasa transportasi PT Batam Fast Ferry. 3) Variabel kualitas pelayanan memiliki pengaruh lebih dominan terhadap intention to use jasa transportasi PT Batam Fast Ferry.
Limites para institucionalização de uma estratégia nacional de desenvolvimento no Brasil: uma análise das propostas “novo” e “social” desenvolvimentistas
Authors: Castigilone Lopes Herton , Camargo Conceição Octávio , José Pereira Adriano
Published: March 2021

O trabalho objetiva discutir a dificuldade de institucionalização de uma estratégia nacional de desenvolvimento no Brasil. A partir do conceito de instituições presente nas abordagens institucionalistas, observa-se que a institucionalização de uma estratégia novo ou social desenvolvimentista foi comprometida pelos problemas macroeconômicos que vêm prejudicando a indústria, principalmente a de maior conteúdo tecnológico. Sugere-se que os governos do Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) procuraram estabelecer uma estratégia social desenvolvimentista, mas não conseguiram superar os problemas estruturais, de regulação e da indústria nacional, que vem sofrendo graves prejuízos ao longo dos últimos anos.
Factors controlling the productivity of tropical Andean forests: climate and soil are more important than tree diversity
Authors: Homeier Jürgen , Leuschner Christoph
Published: March 2021

Abstract. Theory predicts positive effects of species richness on
the productivity of plant communities through complementary resource use and
facilitative interactions between species. Results from manipulative
experiments with tropical tree species indicate a positive
diversity–productivity relationship (DPR), but the existing evidence from
natural forests is scarce and contradictory. We studied forest aboveground
productivity in more than 80 humid tropical montane old-growth forests in
two highly diverse Andean regions with large geological and topographic
heterogeneity and related productivity to tree diversity and climatic,
edaphic and stand structural factors with a likely influence on productivity.
Main determinants of wood production in the perhumid study regions were
elevation (as a proxy for temperature), soil nutrient (N, P and base cation)
availability and forest structural parameters (wood specific gravity,
aboveground biomass). Tree diversity had only a small positive influence on
productivity, even though tree species numbers varied largely (6–27 species
per 0.04 ha). We conclude that the productivity of highly diverse
Neotropical montane forests is primarily controlled by thermal and edaphic
factors and stand structural properties, while tree diversity is of minor
importance.
High greenhouse gas fluxes from peatlands under various
disturbances in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Pärn Jaan , Soosaar Kaido , Schindler Thomas , Machacova Katerina , Alegría Muñoz Waldemar , Fachín Lizardo , Jibaja Aspajo José Luis , Negron-Juarez Robinson I. , Maddison Martin , Rengifo Jhon , Dinis Danika Journeth Garay , Oversluijs Adriana Gabriela Arista , Fucos Manuel Calixto Ávila , Vásquez Rafael Chávez , Huaje Wampuch Ronal , Peas García Edgar , Sohar Kristina , Cordova Horna Segundo , Gómez Tedi Pacheco , Urquiza Muñoz Jose David , Tello Espinoza Rodil , Mander Ülo
Published: March 2021

Abstract. Amazonian peat swamp forests remove large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) but anaerobic decomposition of the peat produces methane (CH4). Drought or cultivation cuts down on the CH4 production but may increase the CO2 emission. Varying oxygen content in nitrogen-rich peat produces nitrous oxide (N2O). Despite the potentially tremendous changes, greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands under various land uses and environmental conditions have rarely been compared in the Amazon. We measured CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from the soil surface with manual opaque chambers, and environmental characteristics in three sites around Iquitos, Peru from September 2019 to March 2020: a pristine peat swamp forest, a young forest and a slash-and-burn manioc field. The manioc field showed moderate peat respiration and N2O emission. The swamp forests under slight water table drawdown emitted large amounts of CO2 and N2O while retaining their high CH4 emissions. Most noticeably, a heavy shower after the water-table drawdown in the pristine swamp forest created a hot moment of N2O. Nitrifier denitrification was the likely source mechanism, as we rule out nitrification and heterotrophic denitrification. We base the judgement on the lack of nitrate and oxygen, and the suppressed denitrification potential in the topsoil. Overall, our study shows that even moderate drying in Peruvian palm swamps may create a devastating feedback on climate change through CO2 and N2O emissions.
Dependence of global monsoon response to volcanic eruptions on the background oceanic states
Authors: Zuo Meng , Zhou Tianjun , Man Wenmin
Published: March 2021

Both proxy data and climate modeling show divergent responses of global monsoon precipitation to volcanic eruptions. The reason is however unknown. Here, based on analysis of the CESM Last Millennium Ensemble simulation, we show evidences that the divergent responses are dominated by the pre-eruption background oceanic states. We found that under El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral and warm phases initial conditions, the Pacific favors an El Niño-like anomaly after volcanic eruptions, while La Niña-like SST anomalies tend to occur following eruptions under ENSO cold phase initial condition, especially after southern eruptions. The cold initial condition is associated with stronger upper ocean temperature stratification and shallower thermocline over the eastern Pacific than normal. The easterly anomalies triggered by surface cooling over the tropical South America continent can generate changes in SST through anomalous advection and the ocean subsurface upwelling more efficiently, causing La Niña-like SST anomalies. Whereas under warm initial condition, the easterly anomalies fail to develop and the westerly anomalies still play a dominant role, thus forms an El Niño-like SST anomaly. Such SST response further regulates the monsoon precipitation changes through atmospheric teleconnection. The contribution of direct radiative forcing and indirect SST response to precipitation changes show regional differences, which will further affect the intensity and sign of precipitation response in submonsoon regions. Our results imply that attention should be paid to the background oceanic state when predicting the global monsoon precipitation responses to volcanic eruptions.
Projecting conflict risk following the Shared Socioeconomic pathways: what role for water stress and climate?
Authors: de Bruin Sophie , Hoch Jannis , von Uexkull Nina , Buhaug Halvard , Wanders Nico
Published: March 2021

The socioeconomic impacts of changes in climate-related and hydrology-related factors are increasingly acknowledged to affect the on-set of violent conflict. Full consensus upon the general mechanisms linking these factors with conflict is, however, still limited. The absence of full understanding of the non-linearities between all components and the lack of sufficient data make it therefore hard to address violent conflict risk on the long-term. 

Although it is neither desirable nor feasible to make exact predictions, projections are a viable means to provide insights into potential future conflict risks and uncertainties thereof. Hence, making different projections is a legitimate way to deal with and understand these uncertainties, since the construction of diverse scenarios delivers insights into possible realizations of the future.  

Through machine learning techniques, we (re)assess the major drivers of conflict for the current situation in Africa, which are then applied to project the regions-at-risk following different scenarios. The model shows to accurately reproduce observed historic patterns leading to a high ROC score of 0.91. We show that socio-economic factors are most dominant when projecting conflicts over the African continent. The projections show that there is an overall reduction in conflict risk as a result of increased economic welfare that offsets the adverse impacts of climate change and hydrologic variables. It must be noted, however, that these projections are based on current relations. In case the relations of drivers and conflict change in the future, the resulting regions-at-risk may change too.   By identifying the most prominent drivers, conflict risk mitigation measures can be tuned more accurately to reduce the direct and indirect consequences of climate change on the population in Africa. As new and improved data becomes available, the model can be updated for more robust projections of conflict risk in Africa under climate change.
Candlestick stalagmite’s eigenfrequency characterisation with ambient seismic noise and 3D scan, a step to support seismic hazard assessment
Authors: Martin Aurélie , Lecocq Thomas , Hinzen Klaus-G. , Camelbeeck Thierry , Quinif Yves , Fagel Nathalie
Published: March 2021

Intact speleothems can be used as indicators for an upper limit of the level of horizontal ground motions of past earthquakes which affected the cave. Candlestick stalagmites have eigenfrequencies well in the frequency-band of regional earthquake ground motions. An earthquake can therefore break such elongated structures if the ground movement is strong enough. In the study of the response of speleothems to earthquakes, eigenfrequencies are a fundamental parameter. A study was carried out at Han-sur-Lesse (Belgium Ardennes) to estimate these frequencies for the so called Minaret stalagmite, an imposing 4.5 m tall structure.

Three-component seismic sensors were used to record the ambient noise during a period of 22 days on the stalagmite, at its base on the cave floor, and at Earth’s surface. This technique allows a precise determination of the first eigenfrequencies of the stalagmite (two firsts mode shapes) and the polarization of the motions associated with the frequencies. The use of three-component seismic sensors is a precondition to identifying these polarizations. Moreover, the horizontal motions recorded on the stalagmite show significant amplification (4 and 14 times depending on the orientation) compared to those recorded at the free surface outside the cave. The long recording period allows the measurement of transient events like earthquakes or quarry blasts.

In addition, a 3D laser scan of the stalagmite’s shape has been used to construct numerical models. The dynamic behaviour of the models is in good agreement with the measured parameters. The use of the 3D scans clearly increased accordance between model and measurements compared to simply shaped approximations of the stalagmite. The combination of measured and modelled data clearly show that the shape of the stalagmite (elliptical cross-section and shape irregularities) influences the eigenfrequencies and the polarization of the modes while also causing a near-orthogonal split of the natural frequencies.

Knowing that the shape and the height of the stalagmites evolve over time, further steps in this study will be to date the candlestick stalagmites in order to have an approximation of their height (and therefore their eigenfrequencies) during their history and to model their eigenfrequency evolution with time.
Lithospheric-scale anisotropies control first-order stress orientation during Cretaceous-Cenozoic plate kinematics in Western-Central Europe
Authors: Stephan Tobias , Kroner Uwe , Köhler Saskia , Koehn Daniel , Bauer Wolfgang , Stollhofen Harald
Published: March 2021

Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic plate convergence led to widespread intraplate deformation in Western-Central Europe during the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene and the Miocene until today reflecting the collision of Eurasia with Iberia-Africa and Adria, respectively. The resulting complex deformation pattern inside the plate boundary zone contrasts with a rather uniform orientation adjacent to the north. Although there is broad consensus that the orientation of the first-order stress is controlled by plate kinematics, there is no sufficient explanation for the variation of the stress field across the plate boundary. We model plate kinematic trajectories and analyze the spatial distribution of paleostress data from fault-slip inversion and tectonic stylolites. The comparison reveals the coexistence of two contrasting stress provinces in Europe throughout the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic. Inside the diffuse plate boundary zone, trajectories of plate motion fit deformation patterns. Outside of that zone, however, there is significant deviation. Here deformation is mainly accommodated by the reactivation of Paleozoic shear zones. Thus, we argue that lithospheric-scale structural inheritance from the Pangea assemblage controls the stress-strain pattern of Western-Central Europe between the active plate boundary zone and the East European Craton since the Late Mesozoic.
Combination of GNSS orbits using variance component estimation
Authors: Mansur Gustavo , Sakic Pierre , Brack Andreas , Männel Benjamin , Schuh Harald
Published: March 2021

The International GNSS Service (IGS) publishes operationally GPS and GLONASS orbit and clock products with the highest accuracy. These final products result from a combination using as input products determined by the IGS Analysis Centers (ACs). The method to perform the combination was developed in the early nineties by Springer and Beutler and is used until nowadays despite some updates made over the years mainly to improve the clock combination and the alignment with the current ITRF. Over the past years, towards the Multi-GNSS Experiment and Pilot Project (MGEX) the IGS has been putting efforts into extending its service. Several MGEX ACs contribute by providing solutions containing not only GPS and GLONASS but also Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS. For MGEX an orbit and clock combination is still not consolidated inside the IGS and requires studies in order to provide a consistent solution.

We will present a least-squares framework for a multi-GNSS orbit combination, where the weights used to combine the ACs' orbits are determined by least-squares variance component estimation.  In this contribution, we will introduce and compare two weighting strategies, where either AC specific weights or AC plus constellation specific weights are used. Both strategies are tested using MGEX orbit solutions for a period of two and a half years. They yield similar results where the agreement between combined and individual products is around one centimeter for GPS and up to a few centimeters for the other constellations. The agreement is generally slightly better using the AC plus constellation weighting. A comparison of our combination approach with the official combined IGS final solution using three years of GPS, and GLONASS orbits from the regular IGS processing show an agreement of better than 5 mm and 12 mm for GPS and GLONASS, respectively. An external validation using Satellite Laser Ranging is performed for our combined MGEX orbit solutions with both weighting schemes and shows offsets values in the millimeter level for all constellations except to QZSS where the values reach a few centimeters.
CIANOMOD Project. A data gathering and analysis structure for the remote monitoring of algae blooms in inland waters based on Internet of Things
Authors: Pascual-Aguilar Juan Antonio , Morón-López Jesús , Rodríguez-Sánchez Cristina , Carreño Francisco , Vaquero Joaquín , Pompa-Pernía Ángel G. , Mateos-Fernández Myriam
Published: March 2021

Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB) are now a topic of increasing interest due to the consequences they trigger on the quality of aquatic ecosystems and human health. Cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) proliferation, recurrence and distribution in water bodies around the world is caused by the sum of different climatic and anthropic factors. Manual sampling techniques are not sufficient to satisfy an adequate monitoring; hence, new strategies are needed to its continuous monitoring and possible prediction in affected areas. Real-time sampling techniques provide continuous recording and immediate data reception, which facilitates HABs monitoring with a very fine spatial-temporal resolution. However, these emerging tools are in their very early development stage and some relevant issues still constrain their applicability by many water management agencies. The objective of this work is to implement the same Remote Monitoring System (RMS) architecture in two different water bodies in Iberian Peninsula and to test its suitability for HABs monitoring. To this end, we deployed two plug-and-play nodes based on YSI technologies, two customised nodes based-on Libelium Waspmote and one Libelium weather station in the freshwater As Conchas reservoir, in NW Spain, and the shallow L'Albufera brackish water lagoon in Eastern Mediterranean shoreline.  After that, we evaluate the representativeness of the collected data by performing a Pearson correlation test between the deployed nodes and satellite images. The results show that the more heterogeneous the environment is, the more nodes must be deployed in different areas for a longer time to obtain a realistic view of the water body status. Therefore, this study provides critical and empirical data to implement a profitable and effective real-time monitoring system in other HAB-affected areas.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Spanish Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (CianoMOD Project, CA_CC_2018).
The behaviour of MgO in a giant impact setting
Authors: Bögels Tim , Caracas Razvan
Published: March 2021

The Earth-Moon system and its formation is a topic of great scientific interest, and great debate over the past decades. The giant impact hypothesis is the currently accepted model to explain the formation of our moon. Accordingly, a mars-sized impactor collides with the proto-earth. This giant impact vaporized a significant portion of the impactor and the proto-earth, creating a large accretionary disk from which the moon subsequently formed. Currently, there is a large effort to build reliable thermodynamic descriptors for the building materials of the two bodies involved in the impact. Understanding the behavior of major rock-forming minerals under these extreme conditions is vital for increasing the accuracy of these models.

Magnesium oxide, MgO, is one of the fundamental building blocks for rocky planets. It is an archetype material of ionic solids and a well-known refractory material. Because of its relevance it has been studied extensively; experimental and theoretical results have been produced up to pressures of 800 GPa and temperatures reaching 20000 K. These pressure and temperature regions are of great interest for the planetary sciences, studying planetary interiors. The transformation of the face-centered B1 phase to the body-centered B2 phase and the associated melting curve have been modelled numerous times. In contrast, we know very little of the liquid behaviour of MgO under pressure, let alone at the low pressures found in accretionary disks.

Here we investigate the low-density high-temperature regime characteristic of after-shock isentropic release. We explore the subcritical and the supercritical regimes of MgO using ab initio molecular dynamics. We determine the position of the critical point and examine the structural and transport properties in the sub- and supercritical regimes. We find an elevated critical temperature in comparison with previously studied magnesium-silicates, in agreement to the refractory nature of MgO. Furthermore, we provide insight into the speciation of liquid MgO and the liquid-gas separation. We see a shift in Mg-O speciation towards lower degrees of coordination as the temperature is increased from 4000K to 10000K. This shift in speciation is less pronounced at higher densities. The majority of the chemical species forming the incipient gas phase consist of isolated Mg and O ions and some MgO and O2.

This research was supported by the European Research Council under EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement 681818 – IMPACT to RC). We acknowledge access to supercomputing facilities via eDARI stl2816, PRACE RA4947, and Uninet2 NN9697K grants.