bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Land and identity in South Africa: An immanent moral critique of dominant discourses in the debate on expropriation without compensation
Authors: Vorster Nico
Published: March 2019

Ownership is an important identity marker. It provides people with a sense of autonomy, rootedness and opportunity. This essay examines the oral submissions of civil organisations to the Joint Constitutional Review Committee (04–07 September 2018) about the issue of land expropriation without compensation. The discussion pays specific attention to the philosophical understandings of land and identity that emerged during the hearings. Three dominant trajectories came into play, namely land as commodity, land as social space and land as spiritual inheritance. Some submissions espoused more than one view, which indicates that the boundaries between the identified paradigms are permeable. However, even those presentations tended to prioritise one approach above the others. Besides identifying the main approaches to land and identity, this essay also provides an immanent critique of their moral assumptions. In contrast to a transcendental approach, an immanent critique asks questions from ‘within’ and evaluates paradigms in terms of their plausibility, universal applicability, ethical consistency and moral integrity.
Evaluating mentoring outcomes from the perspective of entrepreneurs and small business owners
Authors: Kunaka Cordelia , Moos Menisha N.
Published: March 2019

Background: Mentoring as support for both the business and the individual entrepreneur or small business owner is important for the continued perseverance of the entrepreneurial journey.Aim: Different mentoring outcomes were evaluated to establish what is being gained from the mentoring relationships to encourage other entrepreneurs and small business owners to pursue mentoring relationships.Setting: South African entrepreneurs and small business owners who were currently being mentored or had been mentored.Method: The study used a survey research design that consisted of 209 qualifying entrepreneurs and small business owners. An online questionnaire was used to collect the data.Results: The results show that there is a relationship between the different mentoring outcomes (skills transfer outcomes, knowledge transfer outcomes, entrepreneur resilience outcomes and business outcomes). In addition, it was established that as the mentoring relationship goes through the different phases of initiation, cultivation, separation and redefinition, mentoring outcomes such as skills transfer and entrepreneur resilience are independently attained.Conclusion: Understanding the outcomes of mentoring will encourage more participation in the field of mentoring for South African mentors, entrepreneurs and small business owners through awareness of the benefits thereof as well as how mentoring can form a strong supporting mechanism. This research makes a theoretical contribution by naming and grouping mentoring outcomes into four categories, such as skills transfer outcomes, knowledge transfer outcomes, entrepreneur resilience outcomes and business outcomes.
A proposal to integrate the legal definition and official delineation of watersheds in Mexico: eight model case studies
Authors: Rentería-Guevara Sergio Arturo , Sanhouse-García Antonio , Bustos-Terrones Yaneth , Rodriguez-Mata Abraham E. , Rangel-Peraza Jesus Gabriel
Published: March 2019

A hydrological basin is established as a geographic frame to officially determine surface water availability and is basic to confer or deny water rights. In Mexico, the legal definition of a hydrological basin is confusing and inconsistent with the official basin delineation published by the authority. This situation is demonstrated through the analysis of eight study cases located in Hydrological Region 10 Sinaloa. A proposal to define the legal term of hydrological basin, ensuring its consistency with official delineation of hydrological basins is presented. Geographic analysis was performed using QGIS software, by using official sources of Mexico and worldwide data bases. By law, in Mexico a water parting is defined as a borderline of maximum elevation. Nevertheless, the legal definition fails to explain hydrologic basin official boundaries where the basin limit is the location of a hydrometric station. Besides, the presence of this equipment does not mean that a waterbody exists in a hydrological basin, or that the delimited basin is an autonomous differentiated unit, as it is required by the legal definition. Other inconsistencies are presented dealing with the presence of inland water bodies as watershed limits and with groups of independent watersheds incongruously considered as a single basin. An amendment is proposed to harmonize this situation, with a minimum of changes in policy documents. The method proposed can be useful to analyze similar situations in other countries where discrepancies between the legal and official definitions of watershed delineation are also observed, or in countries where no official watershed definition has been established.
Seafloor pockmarks and gas seepages, northwestern Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada
Authors: Broster Bruce E. , Legere Christine L.
Published: March 2019

Bathymetric images of linear and circular pockmark depressions on the Bay of Fundy seafloor, offshore eastern Canada, are interpreted to have been caused by escaping gas from underlying sediment or bedrock. Shallow interstitial gas within marine sediments restricts seismic reflection imaging (acoustic masking) of sub-bottom units resulting in obscured reflections within seismic profiles, confirming that interstitial gas is present in the underlying units. Pockmark fields are frequent in several bays and shallow coastal areas along the northern coast of the Bay of Fundy. The largest field containing over 10 000 pockmarks occurs in Passamaquoddy Bay, an estuary underlain by igneous and metamorphic bedrock. These features are interpreted to be caused by generation of biogenic methane from the microbial breakdown of organic matter buried within Holocene-age sediments and along the underlying Pleistocene/Holocene unconformity. The unconformity is recorded as a distinctive horizon that represents a time when glacier recession resulted in exposure of parts of the bay to sub-aerial erosion and growth of terrestrial vegetation at locations subsequently submerged by post-glacial transgression. Three areas of potential thermogenic gas occurrence were identified in seismic profiles collected south and east of The Wolves islands, New Brunswick. The underlying bedrock has not yet been precisely mapped, although outliers of Carboniferous-age bedrock that is the major petroleum source in New Brunswick may extend into this area of the Bay of Fundy.
Granitoid plutons in peri-Gondwanaan terranes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: new U-Pb (zircon) age constraints
Authors: Barr Sandra M. , Van Rooyen Deanne , White Chris E.
Published: March 2019

Granitoid plutons are a major component of pre-Carboniferous rocks in Cape Breton Island and knowledge of the time and tectonic setting of their emplacement is crucial for understanding the geological history of the island, guiding exploration for granite-related economic mineralization, and making along-orogen correlations. The distribution of these plutons and their petrological characteristics have been used in the past for recognizing both Laurentian and peri-Gondwanan components in Cape Breton Island, and for subdividing the peri-Gondwanan components into Ganderian and Avalonian terranes. However, ages of many plutons were assumed on the basis of field relations and petrological features compared to those of the relatively few reliably dated plutons. Seventeen new U–Pb (zircon) ages from igneous units reported here provide enhanced understanding of the distribution of pluton ages. Arc-related plutons in the Aspy terrane with ages of ca. 490 to 475 Ma likely record the Penobscottian tectonomagmatic event recognized in the Exploits subzone of central Newfoundland and New Brunswick but not previously recognized in Cape Breton Island. Arc-related Devonian plutonic activity in the same terrane is more widespread, continuous, and protracted (445 Ma to 395 Ma) than previously known. Late Devonian magmatism in the Ganderian Aspy terrane is similar in age to that in the Avalonian Mira terrane (380 to 360 Ma) but the tectonic settings are different. In contrast, magmatic activity in the Bras d’Or terrane is almost exclusively arc-related in the Late Ediacaran (580 to 540 Ma) and rift-related in the Late Cambrian (520 to 490 Ma). The new data support the terrane distinctions previously documented.
The fossil flora and age of the Wamsutta red beds (Middle Pennsylvanian), Narragansett Basin, southeastern Massachusetts, USA and correlation with the Cumberland Group of the Maritime Provinces of Canada
Authors: Lyons Paul C. , Sproule Robert G.
Published: March 2019

New collections of plant macrofossils provide a precise Middle Pennsylvanian age for the lower Wamsutta Formation red beds of the Narragansett Basin, southeastern Massachusetts, USA. The Wamsutta assemblage indicates strong correlation with the Cumberland Group of the Maritimes Provinces of Canada, which was earlier considered to be of late Langsettian to early Duckmantian age. This correlation is supported by the presence in the Wamsutta Formation of the following plant-fossil species: Neuralethopteris schlehanii, Neuropteris obliqua, Senftenbergia plumosa, Calamites suckowii, Annularia asteris, Annularia cf. microphylla,Asterophyllites charaeformis, Asterophyllites grandis, Asterophyllites lindleyanus, Sphenophyllum cuneifolium, and Sphenopteris valida. Moreover, the new fossil flora resembles the Middle Pennsylvanian florules of western Europe, such as the Laveineopteris loshii Subzone. The new flora is especially similar to those of the Iberian Peninsula, where there is a complete succession of Carboniferous macrofloral zones, and this similarity confirms a late Langsettian or early Duckmantian age for the lower Wamsutta macroflora. The new collections of Wamsutta Formation plant fossils, along with a smaller existing collection, represent the oldest known macroflora in the Narragansett Basin.
SHRIMP U–Pb zircon evidence for age, provenance, and tectonic history of early Paleozoic Ganderian rocks, east-central Maine, USA
Authors: Ludman Allan , Aleinikoff John , Berry IV Henry N. , Hopeck John T.
Published: March 2019

SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from Ganderia in eastern Maine clarify the ages and provenance of basement units in the Miramichi and St. Croix terranes and of cover rocks in the Fredericton trough and Central Maine/Aroostook-Matapedia basin (CMAM). These new data constrain timing of orogenic events and help understand the origin of the cover rock depocenters.Detrital zircon data generally confirm suggested ages of the formations sampled. Zircon grains with ages of ca. 430 Ma in both depocenters, only slightly older than their host rocks, were probably derived from the earliest volcanic eruptions in the Eastport-Mascarene belt. Their presence indicates that unnamed CMAM sandstone units may be as young as Pridoli and their absence from the Appleton Ridge and Digdeguash formations suggests that these formations are older than initial Eastport-Mascarene volcanism. Detrital and volcanic zircon ages confirm a Late Cambrian to Middle Ordovician age for the Miramichi succession and date Miramichi volcanism at 469.3 ± 4.6 Ma. In the St. Croix terrane, zircon grain with an age of 477.4 ± 3.7 Ma from an ashfall at the base of the Kendall Mountain Formation and age spectra and fossils from overlying quartz arenite suggest that the formation may span Floian to Sandbian time. The main source of CMAM and Fredericton sediment was recycled Ganderian basement from terranes emergent after Late Ordovician orogenesis, supplemented by Silurian tephra. Zircon barcodes and lithofacies and tectonic models suggest little, if any, input from Laurentia or Avalonia.Zircon- and fossil-based ages indicate coeval Upper Ordovician deformation in the St. Croix (ca. 453 to 442 Ma) and Miramichi (ca. 453 to 446 Ma) terranes. Salinic folding in the southeastern Fredericton trough is bracketed between the 421.9 ± 2.4 Ma age of the Pocomoonshine gabbro-diorite and 430 Ma detrital zircons in the Flume Ridge Formation. Zircon ages, lithofacies analysis, and paleontological evidence support the origin of the Fredericton trough as a Salinic foredeep. The CMAM basin cannot have been an Acadian foreland basin, as sedimentation began millions of years before Acadian subduction.
Congenital Malaria in Newborns Presented at Tororo General Hospital in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hangi Mumbere , Achan Jane , Saruti Aimé , Quinlan Jacklyn , Idro Richard
Published: March 2019

Despite recent large-scale investments, malaria remains a major public health concern. Few studies have examined congenital malaria, defined as the presence of malaria parasitemia within the first 7 days of life, in endemic areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, to describe the clinical presentation, and to examine factors associated with congenital malaria in newborns aged up to 7 days attending Tororo General Hospital in Uganda. A total of 261 mother/baby pairs were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Giemsa-stained thick blood smears for malaria parasites and rapid malaria diagnostic tests were performed on capillary blood samples from all newborns and mothers, as well as on placental and cord samples from newborns delivered in the hospital. The prevalence of congenital malaria in the newborns was 16/261 (6.1%). No single clinical feature was associated with congenital malaria. However, there were associations between congenital malaria and maternal parasitemia (P < 0.001), gravidity of one (P = 0.03), maternal age < 19 years (P = 0.01), cord blood parasitemia (P = 0.01), and placental malaria (P = 0.02). In conclusion, congenital malaria is not rare in Uganda and there are no obvious clinical features associated with it in the newborn. Based on these findings, we recommend strengthening malaria prevention during pregnancy to reduce the occurrence of congenital malaria in newborns.
Forest Goers and Multidrug-Resistant Malaria in Cambodia: An Ethnographic Study
Authors: Bannister-Tyrrell Melanie , Gryseels Charlotte , Sokha Suon , Dara Lim , Sereiboth Noan , James Nicola , Thavrin Boukheng , Ly Po , Soy Ty Kheang , Peeters Grietens Koen , Sovannaroth Siv , Yeung Shunmay
Published: March 2019

Multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria on the Cambodia–Thailand border is associated with working in forested areas. Beyond broad recognition of “forest-going” as a risk factor for malaria, little is known about different forest-going populations in this region. In Oddar Meanchey Province in northwestern Cambodia, qualitative ethnographic research was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of how different populations, mobility and livelihood patterns, and activities within the forest intersect with potentiate malaria risk and impact on the effectiveness of malaria control and elimination strategies. We found that most forest-going in this area is associated with obtaining precious woods, particularly Siamese rosewood. In the past, at-risk populations included large groups of temporary migrants. As timber supplies have declined, so have these large migrant groups. However, groups of local residents continue to go to the forest and are staying for longer. Most forest-goers had experienced multiple episodes of malaria and were well informed about malaria risk. However, economic realities mean that local residents continue to pursue forest-based livelihoods. Severe constraints of available vector control methods mean that forest-goers have limited capacity to prevent vector exposure. As forest-goers access the forest using many different entry and exit points, border screening and treatment interventions will not be feasible. Once in the forest, groups often converge in the same areas; therefore, interventions targeting the mosquito population may have a potential role. Ultimately, a multisectoral approach as well as innovative and flexible malaria control strategies will be required if malaria elimination efforts are to be successful.
Case Report: Rare Presentation of Multivisceral Echinococcosis
Authors: Cai Xiao , Cai Huixia , Gan Qing , Chang Wenxu , Yuan Fang , Luo Wei , Sun Jie , An Jing
Published: March 2019

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common, chronic, and endemic zoonotic disease usually localized in a single organ; multivisceral cases are rare, especially outside the liver or lung. Here, we describe an unusual case of a 43-year-old Tibetan man with echinococcosis of the infratemporal fossa, heart, liver, pancreas, abdomen, and pelvic cavity. He only presented with diminished vision of the left eye, especially when chewing. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multivisceral CE. The patient underwent surgery for the excision of a cyst in the infratemporal fossa, as well as chemotherapy, and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. The diagnosis, clinical features, treatment, and follow-up in this case are discussed. In areas with high echinococcosis prevalence, examination by full imaging is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, especially in cases of atypical localization. Chemotherapy for treatment, as well as prophylaxis against recurrence, can be effective when surgery is not possible.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Determined Plasmodium falciparum Positivity on Day 3 after Initiation of Artemether–Lumefantrine Treatment for Uncomplicated Malaria in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania
Authors: Mwaiswelo Richard , Ngasala Billy , Jovel Irina , Xu Weiping , Larsson Erik , Malmberg Maja , Gil Jose Pedro , Premji Zul , Mmbando Bruno P. , Mårtensson Andreas
Published: March 2019

Prevalence of and risk factors associated with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-determined Plasmodium falciparum positivity were assessed on day 3 after initiation of treatment, pre-implementation and up to 8 years post-deployment of artemether–lumefantrine as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania. Samples originated from previously reported trials conducted between 2006 and 2014. Cytochrome b-nested PCR was used to detect malaria parasites from blood samples collected on a filter paper on day 3. Chi-square and McNemar chi-squared tests, logistic regression models, and analysis of variance were used as appropriate. Primary outcome was based on the proportion of patients with day 3 PCR-determined P. falciparum positivity. Overall, 256/584 (43.8%) of screened patients had day 3 PCR-determined positivity, whereas only 2/584 (0.3%) had microscopy-determined asexual parasitemia. Day 3 PCR-determined positivity increased from 28.0% (14/50) in 2006 to 74.2% (132/178) in 2007–2008 and declined, thereafter, to 36.0% (50/139) in 2012–2013 and 27.6% (60/217) in 2014. When data were pooled, pretreatment microscopy-determined asexual parasitemia ≥ 100,000/µL, hemoglobin < 10 g/dL, age < 5 years, temperature ≥ 37.5°C, and year of study 2007–2008 and 2012–2013 were significantly associated with PCR-determined positivity on day 3. Significant increases in P. falciparum multidrug resistance gene 1 N86 and P. falciparum chloroquine resistant transporter K76 across years were not associated with PCR-determined positivity on day 3. No statistically significant association was observed between day 3 PCR-determined positivity and PCR-adjusted recrudescence. Day 3 PCR-determined P. falciparum positivity remained common in patients treated before and after implementation of artemether–lumefantrine in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania. However, its presence was associated with pretreatment characteristics. Trials registration numbers: NCT00336375, ISRCTN69189899, NCT01998295, and NCT02090036.
Case Report: Hyperreactive Malarial Splenomegaly Syndrome Diagnosed with Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification and Treated with Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy
Authors: Genderini Francesco G. , Haeseleer Cecile , Cantinieaux Brigitte , Martin Charlotte
Published: March 2019

Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly syndrome (HMSS) is a rare cause of splenomegaly in the Western world. Hyperreactive malarial splenomegaly syndrome is caused by an aberrant immunological response to chronic malaria exposure in endemic areas. Revised Fakunle’s criteria may be helpful for diagnosis: persistent splenomegaly (> 10 cm below the costal margin), increased anti-Plasmodium antibodies, increased IgM levels, exclusion of other causes of splenomegaly or malignancy, and a favorable response to antimalarial treatment. We describe the case of a 16-year-old patient, who recently arrived in Belgium from Guinea with a history of splenomegaly and B symptoms in whom HMSS diagnosis was achieved, thanks to the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method. To our knowledge, this is also the first described case treated by dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine.
Cardiac Involvement in Travelers with Enteric Fever
Authors: Biber Asaf , Nof Eyal , Schwartz Eli
Published: March 2019

Data regarding cardiac involvement in enteric fever among travelers are scarce. In this retrospective study, 59 patients were hospitalized with enteric fever during 2004–2017 and 28 had cardiac workups. Among those, four had evidence of cardiac involvement, including clinical myocarditis, electrocardiogram changes, or troponin elevation. Cardiac involvement was higher among patients infected with Salmonella Typhi than with Salmonella Paratyphi A (P = 0.08), with a significant relative risk of 6 (95% CI: 1.15–31.22, P = 0.03). Time from symptoms onset to effective treatment was longer for patients with cardiac involvement (13 versus 7.15 days, P < 0.05). It seems that cardiac involvement in enteric fever is not uncommon in travelers. Such involvement seems to be more common in patients with delay of effective treatment to the second week of illness. Although fatal or complicated cases are rare in travelers, the cardiac complication may be an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in this group.
Efficacy of the SuperTowel®: An Alternative Hand-washing Product for Humanitarian Emergencies
Authors: Torondel Belen , Khan Rummana , Holm Larsen Torben , White Sian
Published: March 2019

Handwashing with soap reduces the transmission of diarrheal pathogens, but access to hand-washing facilities, water, and soap in humanitarian emergencies is limited. The SuperTowel® (ST) is a fabric treated with permanent antimicrobial bonding and has been designed as a soap alternative in emergency situations. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of the ST as a hand-cleaning product. Two sets of laboratory tests, with 16 volunteers in each, were conducted to test the efficacy of different prototypes of the ST. Volunteers pre-contaminated their hands with nonpathogenic Escherichia coli. Comparisons were made between hand cleaning with the ST and handwashing with the reference soap, using a crossover design. Participants also completed a questionnaire about product perceptions. Three of the prototypes of the ST were more efficacious at removing E. coli from pre-contaminated hands than handwashing with soap (mean log10 reduction of 4.11 ± 0.47 for ST1, 3.84 ± 0.61 for ST2, and 3.71 ± 0.67 for ST3 versus 3.01 ± 0.63 for soap [P < 0.001, P = 0.002, and P = 0.005, respectively]). The ST prototypes used less water than handwashing with soap, were well accepted, and were considered preferable in communal settings. The ST has the potential to be a suitable complementary hand-cleaning product for humanitarian emergencies.
Global Outbreaks and Origins of a Chikungunya Virus Variant Carrying Mutations Which May Increase Fitness for Aedes aegypti: Revelations from the 2016 Mandera, Kenya Outbreak
Authors: Maljkovic Berry Irina , Eyase Fredrick , Pollett Simon , Konongoi Samson Limbaso , Joyce Michael Gordon , Figueroa Katherine , Ofula Victor , Koka Helen , Koskei Edith , Nyunja Albert , Mancuso James D. , Jarman Richard G. , Sang Rosemary
Published: March 2019

In 2016, a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak was reported in Mandera, Kenya. This was the first major CHIKV outbreak in the country since the global reemergence of this virus in Kenya in 2004. We collected samples and sequenced viral genomes from this outbreak. All Kenyan genomes contained two mutations, E1:K211E and E2:V264A, recently reported to have an association with increased infectivity, dissemination, and transmission in the Aedes aegypti vector. Phylogeographic inference of temporal and spatial virus relationships showed that this variant emerged within the East, Central, and South African lineage between 2005 and 2008, most probably in India. It was also in India where the first large outbreak caused by this virus appeared, in New Delhi, 2010. More importantly, our results also showed that this variant is no longer contained to India. We found it present in several major outbreaks, including the 2016 outbreaks in Pakistan and Kenya, and the 2017 outbreak in Bangladesh. Thus, this variant may have a capability of driving large CHIKV outbreaks in different regions of the world. Our results point to the importance of continued genomic-based surveillance and prompt urgent vector competence studies to assess the level of vector susceptibility and virus transmission, and the impact this might have on this variant’s epidemic potential and global spread.
Falsified and Substandard Drugs: Stopping the Pandemic
Authors: Nayyar Gaurvika M. L. , Breman Joel G. , Mackey Tim K. , Clark John P. , Hajjou Mustapha , Littrell Megan , Herrington James E.
Published: March 2019

Falsified and substandard medicines are associated with tens of thousands of deaths, mainly in young children in poor countries. Poor-quality drugs exact an annual economic toll of up to US$200 billion and contribute to the increasing peril of antimicrobial resistance. The WHO has emerged recently as the global leader in the battle against poor-quality drugs, and pharmaceutical companies have increased their roles in assuring the integrity of drug supply chains. Despite advances in drug quality surveillance and detection technology, more efforts are urgently required in research, policy, and field monitoring to halt the pandemic of bad drugs. In addition to strengthening international and national pharmaceutical governance, in part by national implementation of the Model Law on Medicines and Crime, a quantifiable Sustainable Development Goal target and an international convention to insure drug quality and safety are urgent priorities.
Policy and Payment Changes Create New Opportunities for Occupational Therapy in Acute Care
Authors: Pritchard Kevin T. , Fisher Gail , McGee Rudnitsky Kay , Ramirez Ricardo D.
Published: March 2019

Importance: Changes in health care policy and payment over the past decade have resulted in a greater emphasis on cost effectiveness, quality outcomes, and the health care consumer’s experience. Payers’ response to the new policies and their expectations have created expanded opportunities for occupational therapy practitioners in health care overall but particularly in acute care hospitals.

Objective: The objective of this article is to empower occupational therapy directors, practitioners, educators, and students to be proactive in a rapidly changing acute care setting.

Evidence Review: Research on policy and payment changes since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148) was synthesized with evidence related to occupational therapy practice and education.

Findings: Occupational therapy practitioners in acute care environments are experiencing expanded roles in optimizing patient readiness for safe community discharge, decreasing lengths of stay, and protecting them from hospital-acquired conditions.

Conclusions and Relevance: Policy and payment initiatives reward health care organizations for the added value occupational therapy practitioners bring to acute care teams.

What This Article Adds: This article details how occupational therapy practitioners can advance consumer satisfaction, outcomes, and efficiency in acute care, which can lead to increased recognition of the vital role that occupational therapy can play, thus leading to expanded opportunities.
Complex refractive indices and single scattering albedo of global dust
aerosols in the shortwave spectrum and relationship to iron content and size
Authors: Di Biagio Claudia , Formenti Paola , Balkanski Yves , Caponi Lorenzo , Cazaunau Mathieu , Pangui Edouard , Journet Emilie , Nowak Sophie , Andreae Meinrat O. , Kandler Konrad , Saeed Thuraya , Piketh Stuart , Seibert David , Williams Earle , Doussin Jean-Francois
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The optical properties of airborne mineral dust depend on its mineralogy, size distribution, shape, and might vary between different source regions. To date, large differences in refractive index values found in the literature have not been fully explained. In this paper we present a new dataset of complex refractive indices (m=n‒ik) and single scattering albedos (SSA) for 19 mineral dust aerosols over the 370–950 nm range in dry conditions. Dust aerosols were generated from natural parent soils from eight source regions (Northern Africa, Sahel, Middle East, Eastern Asia, North and South America, Southern Africa, and Australia). These were selected to represent the global scale variability of the dust mineralogy. Dust was re‒suspended into a 4.2 m3 smog chamber where its spectral shortwave scattering (βsca) and absorption (βabs) coefficients, number size distribution, and bulk composition were measured. The complex refractive index was estimated by Mie calculations combining optical and size data, while the spectral SSA was directly retrieved from βsca and βabs measurements. Our results show that the imaginary part of the refractive index (k) and the SSA largely vary from sample to sample, with values for k in the range 0.001 to 0.009 at 370 nm and 0.0003 to 0.002 at 950 nm, and values for SSA in the range 0.70 to 0.96 at 370 nm and 0.95 to 0.99 at 950 nm. In contrast, the real part of the refractive index (n) is mostly source (and wavelength) independent, with an average value between 1.48 and 1.55. The sample‒to‒sample variability in our dataset of k and SSA is mostly related to differences in the dust’s iron content. In particular, a wavelength‒dependent linear relationship is found between the magnitude of k and SSA and the mass concentrations of both iron oxide and total elemental iron. As an intrinsic property of matter, k is independent of size. When the iron oxide content exceeds > 3 %, the SSA linearly decreases with increasing fraction of coarse particles at short wavelengths (
Detecting cloud contamination in passive microwave satellite measurements over land
Authors: Favrichon Samuel , Prigent Catherine , Jimenez Carlos , Aires Filipe
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Remotely sensed brightness temperatures from passive observations in the
microwave (MW) range are used to retrieve various geophysical parameters,
e.g. near-surface temperature. Cloud contamination, although less of an
issue at MW than at visible to infrared wavelengths, may adversely affect
retrieval quality, particularly in the presence of strong cloud formation
(convective towers) or precipitation. To limit errors associated with cloud
contamination, we present an index derived from stand-alone MW brightness
temperature observations, which measure the probability of residual cloud
contamination. The method uses a statistical neural network model trained
with the Global Precipitation Microwave Imager (GMI) observations and a
cloud classification from Meteosat Second Generation-Spinning Enhanced
Visible and Infrared Imager (MSG-SEVIRI). This index is available over land
and ocean and is developed for multiple frequency ranges to be applicable to
successive generations of MW imagers. The index confidence increases with the
number of available frequencies and performs better over the ocean, as
expected. In all cases, even for the more challenging radiometric signatures
over land, the model reaches an accuracy of ≥70 % in detecting contaminated
observations. Finally an application of this index is shown that eliminates grid cells
unsuitable for land surface temperature estimation.
Wind speed measurements using distributed fiber optics: a windtunnel study
Authors: van Ramshorst Justus G. V. , Coenders-Gerrits Miriam , Schilperoort Bart , van de Wiel Bas J. H. , Izett Jonathan G. , Selker John S. , Higgins Chad W. , Savenije Hubert H. G. , van de Giesen Nick C.
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Near-surface wind speed is typically only measured by point observations. The Actively Heated Fiber-Optic (AHFO) technique, however, has the potential to provide high-resolution distributed observations of wind speeds, allowing for better characterization of fine-scale processes. Before AHFO can be widely used, its performance needs to be tested in a range of settings. In this work, experimental results on this novel observational wind-probing technique are presented. We utilized a controlled wind-tunnel setup to assess both the accuracy and the precision of AHFO under a range of operational conditions. The technique allows for wind speed characterization with a spatial resolution of 0.3 m on a 1 s time scale. The flow in the wind tunnel was varied in a controlled manner, such that the mean wind, ranged between 1 and 17 m/s. The AHFO measurements are compared to sonic anemometer measurements and show a high overall correlation (0.85–0.98). Both the precision and accuracy of the AHFO measurements were also greater than 95 %. We conclude that the AHFO has potential to be employed as an outdoor observational technique. It allows for characterization of spatially varying fields of mean wind in complex terrain, such as in canopy flows or in sloping terrain. In the future, the technique could be combined with conventional Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) for turbulent heat flux estimation in micrometeorological/hydrological applications.
Reviews and syntheses: Insights into deep-sea food webs and global environmental gradients revealed by stable isotopes (δ15N, δ13C) and fatty acids trophic biomarkers
Authors: Parzanini Camilla , Parrish Christopher C. , Hamel Jean-François , Mercier Annie
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Biochemical markers developed initially for food-web studies of terrestrial and shallow-water environments have only recently been applied to deep-sea ecosystems (i.e. in the early 2000s). For the first time since their implementation, this review took a close look at the existing literature in the field of deep-sea trophic ecology to synthesize current knowledge. Furthermore, it provided an opportunity for a preliminary analysis of global geographic (i.e. latitudinal, along a depth gradient) trends in the isotopic (δ15N, δ13C) and fatty acid composition of deep-sea taxa. Results revealed significant relationships along the latitudinal and bathymetric gradients. Deep-sea animals sampled at temperate and polar latitudes displayed lower isotopic ratios and greater proportions of essential ω3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) than did tropical counterparts. Furthermore, δ15N and δ13C ratios as well as proportions of arachidonic acid increased with increasing depth. Since similar latitudinal trends in the isotopic and fatty acid composition were found in surface water phytoplankton and particulate organic matter, these results highlight the link across latitudes between surface primary production and deep-water communities. Because global climate change may affect quantity and quality (e.g. levels of essential ω3 PUFA) of surface primary productivity, and by extension those of its downward flux, the dietary intake of deep-sea organisms may likely be altered. In addition, because essential ω3 PUFA play a major role in the response to temperature variations, climate change may interfere with the ability of deep-sea species to cope with potential temperature shifts. Importantly, methodological disparities were highlighted that prevented in-depth analyses, indicating that further studies should be conducted using standardized methods in order to generate more reliable global predictions.
ATAT 1.1, the Automated Timing Accordance Tool for comparing ice-sheet model output with geochronological data
Authors: Ely Jeremy C. , Clark Chris D. , Small David , Hindmarsh Richard C. A.
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Earth's extant ice sheets are of great societal importance given
their ongoing and potential future contributions to sea-level rise. Numerical
models of ice sheets are designed to simulate ice-sheet behaviour in response
to climate changes but to be improved require validation against
observations. The direct observational record of extant ice sheets is limited
to a few recent decades, but there is a large and growing body of
geochronological evidence spanning millennia constraining the behaviour of
palaeo-ice sheets. Hindcasts can be used to improve model formulations and
study interactions between ice sheets, the climate system and landscape.
However, ice-sheet modelling results have inherent quantitative errors
stemming from parameter uncertainty and their internal dynamics, leading many
modellers to perform ensemble simulations, while uncertainty in
geochronological evidence necessitates expert interpretation. Quantitative
tools are essential to examine which members of an ice-sheet model ensemble
best fit the constraints provided by geochronological data. We present the
Automated Timing Accordance Tool (ATAT version 1.1) used to quantify
differences between model results and geochronological data on the timing of
ice-sheet advance and/or retreat. To demonstrate its utility, we perform
three simplified ice-sheet modelling experiments of the former British–Irish
ice sheet. These illustrate how ATAT can be used to quantify model
performance, either by using the discrete locations where the data originated
together with dating constraints or by comparing model outputs with
empirically derived reconstructions that have used these data along with
wider expert knowledge. The ATAT code is made available and can be used by
ice-sheet modellers to quantify the goodness of fit of hindcasts. ATAT may
also be useful for highlighting data inconsistent with glaciological
principles or reconstructions that cannot be replicated by an ice-sheet
model.
A new method (M3Fusion v1) for combining observations and multiple model output for an improved estimate of the global surface ozone distribution
Authors: Chang Kai-Lan , Cooper Owen R. , West J. Jason , Serre Marc L. , Schultz Martin G. , Lin Meiyun , Marécal Virginie , Josse Béatrice , Deushi Makoto , Sudo Kengo , Liu Junhua , Keller Christoph A.
Published: March 2019

Abstract. We have developed a new statistical approach (M3Fusion) for combining
surface ozone observations from thousands of monitoring sites around the
world with the output from multiple atmospheric chemistry models to produce a
global surface ozone distribution with greater accuracy than can be provided
by any individual model. The ozone observations from 4766 monitoring sites
were provided by the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) surface
ozone database, which contains the world's largest collection of surface
ozone metrics. Output from six models was provided by the participants of the
Chemistry-Climate Model Initiative (CCMI) and NASA's Global Modeling and
Assimilation Office (GMAO). We analyze the 6-month maximum of the maximum
daily 8 h average ozone value (DMA8) for relevance to ozone health impacts.
We interpolate the irregularly spaced observations onto a fine-resolution
grid by using integrated nested Laplace approximations and compare the ozone
field to each model in each world region. This method allows us to produce a
global surface ozone field based on TOAR observations, which we then use to
select the combination of global models with the greatest skill in each of
eight world regions; models with greater skill in a particular region are
given higher weight. This blended model product is bias corrected within
2∘ of observation locations to produce the final fused surface ozone
product. We show that our fused product has an improved mean squared error
compared to the simple multi-model ensemble mean, which is biased high in
most regions of the world.
"Roads of Kiarostami". Laboratorio intermedial
Authors: González-García Fernando
Published: March 2019

Roads of Kiarostami (Abbas Kiarostami, 2005), es un ensayo audiovisual en el que su autor combina la imagen de vídeo digital, la fotografía, la prosa, la poesía, la oralidad, la escritura y la música. Hasta ahora, sin embargo, solo se había prestado atención a las relaciones entre imagen estática e imagen en movimiento. Desde la perspectiva de los estudios intermediales, este artículo quiere profundizar, analizando también el papel del texto oral y la música, en su carácter de laboratorio, donde Kiarostami investiga el modo de entrelazar artes, géneros y medios muy diferentes. Por estas fechas, Kiarostami había diversificado ya su trabajo en medios e instituciones distintas: cine, sistema del arte y literatura. El reconocimiento del autor en cada una de ellas, es condición de posibilidad para una película que alude a esas experiencias y las incorpora, jugando a mantener las diferencias genéricas y mediales y a la vez a romper sus límites.
CPEC and Food Security: Empirical Evidence From Pakistan
Authors: Baig Nida , He Chen , Khan Shahbaz , Shah Salman Ali
Published: March 2019

Among the various major issues, food insecurity is one with which Pakistan has to encounter with. According to a report by WFP (2017), about sixty percent of the population in Pakistan is food insecure, access to food is limited or uneven, and malnutrition is widespread. Having an emerging geopolitical prestige, it is expected that through CPEC, Pakistan can get a better foundation of infrastructural -and agricultural economic zones in collaboration with Chinese counterparts which may further support to perk up the food security. Accordingly, the study tries to examine the impact of various CPEC initiatives on food security of Pakistan. The data is randomly collected from stakeholders working in various government sector organizations of Pakistan. The results show that CPEC initiatives would tend to improve the food security status in Pakistan. The research may suggest that developing countries like Pakistan may use economic corridors such as CPEC as a strategic tool to improve the food security situation.
Empirical Investigation of the Factors Affecting Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Performance in Borno State, Nigeria
Authors: Tahir Fatima Alfa , Inuwa Fatimah Usman
Published: March 2019

Past studies have documented the relevance of strong industrial base to economic development. Although several measures have been put in place to develop the industrial sector, the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Businesses (MSMEs) leaves much to be desired. This study examines socio-economic factors affecting Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Performance in Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria. Data was generated from a survey of 84 Micro Small Medium Enterprises operators in Maiduguri and analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The results from the Exploratory Factor Analysis, Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis show that insecurity and inadequate infrastructural facilities are the most significant factors affecting MSMEs performance in Borno state. The study therefore recommends that government should provide better security and improve infrastructural facilities such as power supply in order to enhance MSMEs performance.
APPLICATION OF AIRBORNE LASER SCANNING IN MONITORING OF SECONDARY INFLUENCES CAUSED BY UNDERGROUND MINING EXPLOITATION
Authors: Kuzia Kamila
Published: March 2019

This article presents a method of use of measurements based on airborne laser scanning to monitoring secondary influences caused by underground exploitation of coal deposits. The issue of secondary influences is still current topic in underground mining, especially in areas with a long mining history. The article presents, on the example of mining exploitation in the city of Bytom, the method of acquiring and processing data from the measurement of airborne laser scanning and interpretation of the obtained results.
USAGE OF CALCIUM CARBONATE BIODEPOSITION IN MODIFICATION OF CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITES
Authors: Zawal Daniel , Górski Krzysztof , Dobosz Agnieszka
Published: March 2019

Biodeterioration of construction materials is an undesired phenomenon, generating high costs of constraction repairs. On the other hand, occurrence of some bacteria can affect prevention and self repair of fractures formed in concrete. Biodeposition is an effective solution for increasing compressive strength of concrete, extending durability of concrete constructions and renovating limestone elements in facades of historic buildings.
Performance Enhancement by Using Wet Pad in Vapor Compression Cooling System
Authors: Zaidan Maki H. , Ibrahim Thamir K. , Alkumait Aadel A. R.
Published: March 2019

Vapor compression cooling systems are widely used in hot and dry climates where the atmospheric temperature in summer reaches around 48 °C and the relative humidity can be below 20%. These cooling systems normally use environmentally friendly gases that do not harm the ozone layer. These systems work with high gas pressure, which consumes high energy and leads to a low coefficient of performance when compared to cooling systems that do not use an environmentally friendly gas. Theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted to find a suitable solution for the performance improvement of this type of cooling system. A possible solution is to lower the temperature of the air before it enters the condenser of the compression cooling system by passing it through a wet pad. The water evaporates due to the latent heat that is withdrawn from the wet pad. The air temperature is reduced to about 11 °C before it enters the condenser of the compression cooling system. This enhancement increases the cooling capacity of the vapor compression cycle by nearly 20% and increases the coefficient of performance by 15%, in addition to reducing the consumed electricity up to 15%. In conclusion, the proposed method of adding a wet pad can significantly enhance the performance of the vapor compression cooling system.
A CONSTRUÇÃO DAS IDENTIDADES DOS PROFISSIONAIS DA EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Albuquerque Gomes Alberto
Published: March 2019

This article results from reflections during my post-doctoral training at the Lusophone University
of Humanities and Technology, in Lisbon. I was intrigued that mechanisms or factors were decisive
/ decisive in the construction of the identity of the teaching profession. Here I present a small cut
considering aspects related to the construction of professional identities. Among the questions
that emerged from our reflection: what can be enumerated: 1. The enormous dispersion of
courses and initial training is an important component, although it is not enough to explain the
panorama of the identity crisis of teachers; 2. The low quality of the initial formation can attribute
this inconsistency of the professional identity; 3. The indefinition of a field and an object of
pedagogy contributes to this fragility; 4. We are faced with a rapid process of resizing the world of
work where functions and roles undergo rapid transformations, characterizing the professions
without the constitution of new identities