bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modernización administrativa y difusión de innovaciones tecnológicas en la administración local
Authors: Criado Juan Ignacio
Published: October 2011

La Administración Local es usuaria de las últimas tecnologías desde hace décadas. En este artículo se presenta una investigación sobre las páginas web de los ayuntamientos de la Comunidad de Madrid, teniendo en cuenta los últimos procesos de modernización administrativa en éstos y las diferencias en los niveles de desarrollo de aquéllas. Los resultados de esta investigación exploratoria muestran que, si bien las páginas web ofrecen a los ayuntamientos una serie de potencialidades relacionadas con la modernización administrativa, las administraciones locales han desarrollado de forma muy desigual este tipo de posibles beneficios. Además, a través de la creación de un índice de desarrollo web se intenta profundizar en la relación de esta variable con determinados rasgos relacionados con los ayuntamientos y su contexto institucional. En suma, este artículo aborda algunos de los puntos esenciales para entender la adopción y difusión de las innovaciones tecnológicas en la Administración Local dentro de un contexto de modernización administrativa.
¿Sociedades artificiales? Una introducción a la simulación social
Authors: González Bailón Sandra
Published: October 2011

Estas líneas tienen un doble objetivo: introducir la simulación social como técnica de análisis y ofrecer una panorámica de sus usos y posibilidades. El artículo comienza con un par de ejemplos que ilustran la práctica de la simulación. Sigue con una exposición de los aspectos metodológicos que la definen para, después, señalar las ventajas (e inconvenientes) asociadas al uso de esta técnica de análisis. El propósito de la simulación social, como el de las ecuaciones estadísticas o el de los tipos ideales, es el de generar modelos de la realidad que permitan construir o validar teorías acerca de sus regularidades. Lo que hace de la simulación una estrategia analítica novedosa no son los propósitos, sino los medios: algoritmos de programación que contienen las reglas de actuación de unos agentes que interactúan entre ellos y con el entorno. Las ventajas de la simulación social no son sólo experimentales sino también, y sobre todo, teóricas: sus modelos permiten encontrar los mecanismos que modelos como los estadísticos son incapaces de proporcionar.
Argumentos Comestibles. La construcción retórica de la percepción pública de los alimentos transgénicos
Authors: Herrera Racionero Paloma
Published: October 2011

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar cómo se construyen los diferentes tipos de argumentos orientados a crear una u otra percepción pública de los alimentos transgénicos. No obstante la aparente novedad de este tipo de alimentos, dichos argumentos pueden asimilarse a dos tipos fundamentales de formaciones discursdivas de amplia tradición ante las diferentes aportaciones de la ciencia. Al modelar nuestro análisis sobre estas dos estrategias retóricas —que llamamos ilustrada y romántica—se ponen de manifiesto los presupuestos latentes de los agentes sociales y las preconcepciones que estos agentes tratan de inducir en la opinión pública, así como una serie de importantes matices y orientaciones que suelen escapar a un análisis en términos de 'pros* y 'contras' de los alimentos transgénicos.
¿Qué temas destacan los partidos? El discurso del PSOE y el PP durante las campañas de 1996 y 2000 en España
Authors: Criado Olmos Henar
Published: October 2011

En este artículo se analizan los temas que destacaron en su discurso electoral el Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) y el Partido Popular (PP) en las campañas de 1996 y 2000. Mediante un modelo teórico se analiza la lógica del debate electoral entre estos dos partidos. Las hipótesis del modelo se refieren a los criterios por los cuales se seleccionan unos temas en lugar de otros y las condiciones bajo las cuales hay convergencia en la politización de los temas por parte de ambos partidos. Las hipótesis se comprueban empíricamente mediante un modelo poisson.
Imaginario y Sociedad. Un acercamiento a la sociología de lo imaginario en la tradición francesa
Authors: Carretero Pasín Ángel Enrique
Published: October 2011

Este trabajo es una aproximación a los elementos fundamentales sobre los que gira la corriente sociológica francesa conocida como la sociología de lo imaginario. En primer lugar, fija su atención sobre el análisis de aquellas tradiciones teóricas que han contribuido a gestar esta corriente, en especial el pensamiento antropológico-sociológico de Gilbert Dürand y las aportaciones durkheimianas de la Escuela sociológica francesa. A continuación, plantea la relevancia sociológica de la noción de imaginario como un novedoso acercamiento a la comprensión de la realidad social, desglosando sintéticamente las directrices esenciales sobre las que esta corriente gravita e incidiendo en cinco aspectos: la persistencia del mito y lo sagrado, la implicación de lo imaginario en la cotidianeidad, la interpretación de la vida cotidiana, la ligazón entre lo imaginario y lo político y el fundamento imaginario de la utopía.
La teoría social de Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Authors: López Yáñez Aina D.
Published: October 2011

La interpretación de la obra de Rousseau desde las categorías propias de la teoría sociológica da lugar a una reconstrucción de las propuestas del autor basada en aquellos conceptos fundamentales de la disciplina que serían asentados después por los sociólogos clásicos del siglo XIX. Obviamente, estos conceptos no se encuentran en los escritos de Rousseau en los términos de una teoría formalizada, pero sí como nociones o ideas de gran valor intelectual. En el presente trabajo procedemos a mostrar las grandes líneas de la teoría social de Rousseau. Se expone de este modo nuestra reconstrucción de la visión rousseauniana de la historia humana, de la condición del hombre, de la acción social y de la sociedad como totalidad, teorías que conforman una ontología claramente atravesada por la creencia en la alienación y negatividad consustanciales a los fenómenos sociales.
The DNA Damage Response Induces IFN
Authors: Brzostek-Racine Sabrina , Gordon Chris , Van Scoy Sarah , Reich Nancy C.
Published: October 2011

This study reveals a new complexity in the cellular response to DNA damage: activation of IFN signaling. The DNA damage response involves the rapid recruitment of repair enzymes and the activation of signal transducers that regulate cell-cycle checkpoints and cell survival. To understand the link between DNA damage and the innate cellular defense that occurs in response to many viral infections, we evaluated the effects of agents such as etoposide that promote dsDNA breaks. Treatment of human cells with etoposide led to the induction of IFN-stimulated genes and the IFN-α and IFN-λ genes. NF-κB, known to be activated in response to DNA damage, was shown to be a key regulator of this IFN gene induction. Expression of an NF-κB subunit, p65/RelA, was sufficient for induction of the human IFN-λ1 gene. In addition, NF-κB was required for the induction of IFN regulatory factor-1 and -7 that are able to stimulate expression of the IFN-α and IFN-λ genes. Cells that lack the NF-κB essential modulator lack the ability to induce the IFN genes following DNA damage. Breaks in DNA are generated during normal physiological processes of replication, transcription, and recombination, as well as by external genotoxic agents or infectious agents. The significant finding of IFN production as a stress response to DNA damage provides a new perspective on the role of IFN signaling.
Gluten-Specific T Cells Cross-React between HLA-DQ8 and the HLA-DQ2α/DQ8β Transdimer
Authors: Kooy-Winkelaar Yvonne , van Lummel Menno , Moustakas Antonis K. , Schweizer Joachim , Mearin M. Luisa , Mulder Chris J. , Roep Bart O. , Drijfhout Jan W. , Papadopoulos George K. , van Bergen Jeroen , Koning Frits
Published: October 2011

Because susceptibility to celiac disease is associated strongly with HLA-DQ2 (DQA1*05/DQB1*02) and weakly with HLA-DQ8 (DQA1*03/DQB1*03), a subset of patients carries both HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. As a result, these patients may express two types of mixed HLA-DQ2/8 transdimers (encoded by DQA1*05/DQB1*03 and DQA1*03/DQB1*02) in addition to HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. Using T cells from a celiac disease patient expressing HLA-DQ8trans (encoded by DQA*0501/DQB*0302), but neither HLA-DQ2 nor HLA-DQ8, we demonstrate that this transdimer is expressed on the cell surface and can present multiple gluten peptides to T cell clones isolated from the duodenum of this patient. Furthermore, T cell clones derived from this patient and HLA-DQ2/8 heterozygous celiac disease patients respond to gluten peptides presented by HLA-DQ8trans, as well as HLA-DQ8, in a similar fashion. Finally, one gluten peptide is recognized better when presented by HLA-DQ8trans, which correlates with preferential binding of this peptide to HLA-DQ8trans. These results implicate HLA-DQ8trans in celiac disease pathogenesis and demonstrate extensive T cell cross-reactivity between HLA-DQ8 and HLA-DQ8trans. Because type 1 diabetes is strongly associated with the presence of HLA-DQ8trans, our findings may bear relevance to this disease as well.
Ileal Peyer’s Patches Are Not Necessary for Systemic B Cell Development and Maintenance and Do Not Contribute Significantly to the Overall B Cell Pool in Swine
Authors: Sinkora Marek , Stepanova Katerina , Butler John E. , Francis David , Santiago-Mateo Kristina , Potockova Hana , Karova Kristyna , Sinkorova Jana
Published: October 2011

Based on studies of sheep, ileal Peyer’s patches (IPP) have been regarded as a type of primary lymphoid tissue similar to the bursa of Fabricius in chicken. Because bursectomy results in B cell deficiency, we wondered whether resection of the IPP of piglets would have a similar effect. Comparison of IPP-resected, surgical shams and untreated germ-free piglets, all of which were later colonized with a defined commensal flora, demonstrated that resection of the IPP did not alter the level and phenotype of B and T cells in lymphoid tissues and the blood 10 wk after surgery. Additionally, colonization of IPP caused a shift from the fetal type of lymphocyte distribution to the adult type that is characterized by prevalence of B cells, with many of them representing IgA+ switched B cells or displaying a more mature CD2−CD21+ and CD2−CD21− phenotype. Moreover, colonization leads to appearance of effector CD4+CD8+ αβ T helper and CD2+CD8− γδ T cells. Comparison of germ-free with colonized pigs and experiments utilizing surgical transposition of jejunal Peyer’s patch into terminal ileum or construction of isolated ileal loops indicated that lymphocyte development in IPP is dependent on colonization. Although our studies confirmed higher mitotic and apoptotic rates in IPP, they failed to identify any cell populations that resemble developing B lineage cells in the bone marrow. These results indicate that porcine IPP are not required for systemic B cell generation or maintenance, but they are secondary lymphoid tissue that appears important in immune responses to colonizing bacteria.
The Role of Neutral Endopeptidase in Caerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Koh Yung-Hua , Moochhala Shabbir , Bhatia Madhav
Published: October 2011

Substance P (SP) is well known to promote inflammation in acute pancreatitis (AP) by interacting with neurokinin-1 receptor. However, mechanisms that terminate SP-mediated responses are unclear. Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a cell-surface enzyme that degrades SP in the extracellular fluid. In this study, we examined the expression and the role of NEP in caerulein-induced AP. Male BALB/c mice (20–25 g) subjected to 3–10 hourly injections of caerulein (50 μg/kg) exhibited reduced NEP activity and protein expression in the pancreas and lungs. Additionally, caerulein (10−7 M) also downregulated NEP activity and mRNA expression in isolated pancreatic acinar cells. The role of NEP in AP was examined in two opposite ways: inhibition of NEP (phosphoramidon [5 mg/kg] or thiorphan [10 mg/kg]) followed by 6 hourly caerulein injections) or supplementation with exogenous NEP (10 hourly caerulein injections, treatment of recombinant mouse NEP [1 mg/kg] during second caerulein injection). Inhibition of NEP raised SP levels and exacerbated inflammatory conditions in mice. Meanwhile, the severity of AP, determined by histological examination, tissue water content, myeloperoxidase activity, and plasma amylase activity, was markedly better in mice that received exogenous NEP treatment. Our results suggest that NEP is anti-inflammatory in caerulein-induced AP. Acute inhibition of NEP contributes to increased SP levels in caerulein-induced AP, which leads to augmented inflammatory responses in the pancreas and associated lung injury.
Somatic Embryogenesis and Massive Shoot Regeneration from Immature Embryo Explants of Tef
Authors: Gugsa Likyelesh , Kumlehn Jochen
Published: October 2011

Tef (Eragrostis tef) provides a major source of human nutrition in the Horn of Africa, but biotechnology has had little impact on its improvement to date. Here, we report the elaboration of an in vitro regeneration protocol, based on the use of immature zygotic embryos as explant. Explant size was an important determinant of in vitro regeneration efficiency, as was the formulation of the culture medium. Optimal results were obtained by culturing 0.2–0.35 mm embryo explants on a medium containing KBP minerals, 9.2–13.8 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 6 mM glutamine, and 0.5% Phytagel. Although this protocol was effective for both the improved cultivar “DZ-01-196” and the landrace “Fesho”, the former produced consistently more embryogenic tissue and a higher number of regenerants. An average of more than 2,800 shoots could be obtained from each “DZ-01-196” explant after 12 weeks of in vitro culture. These shoots readily formed roots, and plantlets transferred to soil were able to develop into morphologically normal, fertile plants. This regeneration and multiplication system should allow for the application of a range of biotechnological methods to tef.
Biomarkers to Measure Treatment Effects in Alzheimer′s Disease: What Should We Look for?
Authors: Rockwood Kenneth
Published: October 2011

It is often surprisingly difficult to tell whether a treatment for Alzheimer′s disease is effective. Biomarkers might offer the potential of a quantifiable objective measure of treatment effectiveness. This paper suggests several criteria by which biomarkers might be evaluated as outcomes measures. These include biological plausibility, statistical significance, dose dependence, convergence across measures, and replicability. If biomarkers can meet these criteria, then, pending regulatory approval, they may have a role in the evaluation of treatment effectiveness in Alzheimer′s disease. If not, their usefulness may be in supplementing, but not supplanting, clinical profiles of treatment effects.
Ezogabine for the Adjunctive Treatment of Partial Onset Seizures in Adults with Epilepsy
Authors: Faulkner Michele A.
Published: October 2011

Partial seizures are frequently resistant to pharmacologic treatment. There are a plethora of medications currently approved for use in partial epilepsy. However, despite the large number of medications available, seizure control often remains elusive. A new medication with a unique mechanism of action has recently been approved for the adjunctive treatment of partial seizures in adults. Ezogabine (retigabine) exerts its actions at the level of voltage-gated potassium channels. In clinical trials it has demonstrated efficacy similar to that of other agents approved for resistant partial epilepsy. Adverse events tend to be central nervous system related. However, significant urinary retention has been noted in some persons exposed to the drug. A Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy is being implemented to minimize urinary adverse events. Ezogabine represents an important addition to the partial epilepsy medication arsenal.
Growth, gas exchange and competitive ability of Sorghum halepense populations under different soil water availability
Authors: Leguizamón Eduardo , Yanniccari Marcos , Guiamet Juan , Acciaresi Horacio
Published: October 2011

Leguizamón, E. S., Yanniccari, M. E., Guiamet, J. J. and Acciaresi, H. A. 2011. Growth, gas exchange and competitive ability of Sorghum halepense populations under different soil water availability. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 1011–1025. Different studies have determined that environmental variation is a key factor determining the outcome of competition within plant communities. Considering the importance of the resource water in non-irrigated lands of Argentina, the aim was to determine the effects of water deficit on relative growth rate (RGR), root length ratio (RLR), gas exchange and competitive ability of Sorghum halepense populations collected in humid and subhumid regions of the Pampa plains. Under semi-controlled conditions, we compared plants of seven S. halepense populations subjected to three different levels of soil water availability during 3 wk: Field capacity (FC), 75% FC and drought (D). Moreover, total above-ground biomass of S. halepense and Zea mays plants growing together in competition was determined. It was found that those plants collected in humid or subhumid regions had greater RGR, gas exchange and RLR under FC and D, respectively. Zea mays achieved a higher competitive ability than S. halepense under FC, but plants collected in humid regions out-competed the crop when grown at 75% FC. Sorghum halepense plants collected in subhumid regions dominated under D. Root length ratio may have favored the maintenance of high levels of gas exchange and also high RGR, thus contributing to sustain a competitive hierarchy under soil water stress.
Soil treatments and amendments for amelioration of clubroot of canola
Authors: Hwang S. F. , Strelkov S. E , Gossen B. D. , Turnbull G. D. , Ahmed H. U. , Manolii V. P.
Published: October 2011

Hwang, S. F., Strelkov, S. E., Gossen, B. D., Turnbull, G. D., Ahmed, H. U. and Manolii, V. P. 2011. Soil treatments and amendments for amelioration of clubroot of canola. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 999–1010. Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, has become a long-term challenge to canola production in central Alberta, Canada. Trials were established in P. brassicae infested commercial fields near Leduc, Edmonton, and St. Albert, AB, to examine the effects of fungicidal soil treatments and soil amendments on crop damage caused by clubroot. Treatment of the soil with Terraclor (quintozene) reduced clubroot severity and increased plant growth (canopy coverage and plant height) and seed yield in severely infested soils. Ranman (cyazofamid) at 7.5 L ha−1increased canopy coverage and height in 2 of 4 site years, and yield in 1 of 4 site years. Among the soil amendment treatments, wood ash at 7.5 t ha−1or ground limestone (calcium carbonate) at 5.0 or 7.5 t ha−1increased plant height and yield in severely infested soils at Leduc. Limestone at 7.5 t ha−1reduced clubroot severity at both sites and at 5.0 t ha−1reduced clubroot at St. Albert. Wood ash at 7.5 t ha−1reduced clubroot severity at Leduc in both years and all rates of wood ash reduced clubroot severity at St. Albert in 2008. Canopy coverage was increased by limestone at 7.5 t ha−1in both years at Leduc and by wood ash at 7.5 t ha−1in one of the site-years at Leduc. In 2009 and 2010, in-row treatments with Terraclor (quintozene), calcium carbonate, wood ash or quintozene+calcium carbonate or wood ash reduced clubroot severity at the Edmonton site, but yield was unaffected. We conclude that quintozene and/or high levels of limestone or wood ash can reduce the impact of P. brassicae on canola. However, in-row assessment at application rates that might be economically feasible showed little potential to increase yield in infested commercial fields.
Short Communication: Influence of manganese on efficacy of glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant soybean
Authors: Soltani Nader , Shropshire Christy , Sikkema Peter
Published: October 2011

Soltani, N., Shropshire, C. and Sikkema, P. H. 2011. Short Communication: Influence of manganese on efficacy of glyphosate in glyphosate-resistant soybean. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 1061–1064. Four field trials were conducted from 2007 to 2010 in Ontario to evaluate the effect of various manganese (Mn) formulations (Mn1, Ecoman 5% Mn; Mn2, MangaMax 5.5% Mn; Mn3, ManMax 5.5% Mn; Mn4, Superman 5% Mn; Mn5, Stoller This 5% Mn; Mn6, Nortrace 6% Mn-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate); Mn7, Nortrace 22% Mn and Mn8, WolfTrax 33% Mn) applied at 2.0 kg actual Mn ha−1 on glyphosate efficacy at 900 g a.e. ha−1 in glyphosate-resistant soybean. The tank mix of glyphosate plus Mn4, Mn6 or Mn8 caused as much as 6, 17 and 4% injury in soybean, respectively. There was minimal crop injury (0–1.4%) with other Mn tank mixes. The addition of Mn4 or Mn6 to glyphosate did not antagonize glyphosate efficacy on the weeds evaluated (AMARE, AMBEL, CHEAL and SETVI). The other Mn formulations antagonized glyphosate efficacy for the control of AMARE, AMBEL, CHEAL or SETVI under some environments. The addition of Mn3 or Mn6 to glyphosate reduced soybean yield as much as 15 and 10% compared with glyphosate alone, respectively. Based on these results, it is recommended that glyphosate and manganese applications be applied sequentially to avoid weed control antagonism and maximize soybean yield.
Complications of Medialization Laryngoplasty (Thyroplasty Type-I)
Authors: Kartha S , Young K , Mohan S
Published: October 2011

Objective

Medialization laryngoplasty (formally type 1 thyroplasty) is an accepted treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis or paresis. The objective of this paper is to ascertain the complications following medialization laryngoplasty in patients with particular reference to implant extrusion.

Study design

The records of 85 patients who underwent medialization laryngoplasty were retrospectively reviewed from January 2001 to July 2009.

Results

There were 3 implant extrusions noted only in female patients with cartilage removal technique.

Conclusions

Implant extrusion rate following medialization laryngoplasty in our institution is comparable to published literature.
Correlation between Rigid Laryngoscopy and Histopathology of Laryngeal Lesions at Our Voice Clinic
Authors: Garg Sunil
Published: October 2011

Introduction

In today's world of rapid technological advances, the medical field is developing at a rapid speed. Various sophisticated tools are available for the diagnostic work-up of patients with voice disorders. These are stroboscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), contact endoscopy and laryngeal USG, which gives sophisticated details of the larynx. However, at present most of these modalities are expensive and available only at few research centers. Rigid laryngoscopy is a noninvasive, easily available and fairly accurate diagnostic tool in patients with voice disorders.

Aims and objectives

The aim of our study was to assess the diagnostic potential of rigid laryngoscopy in different laryngeal lesions and its correlation with histopathology. This is a one year retrospective study at our voice clinic at Bombay Hospital, Mumbai.

Patients and methods

We examined 720 patients at our voice clinic from January 2008 to December 2008. Microlaryngeal surgery was performed on 59 of these. The clinical diagnosis was made after detailed history taking and clinical examination by a 70 degree Hopkins rod telescope.

Results

In our study, clinical diagnosis was 100% accurate in vocal fold subepithelial cyst, vocal fold nodules, laryngeal papilloma and contact granuloma. The clinical diagnosis had a reliability of 30% for Vocal fold polyps, 50% for leukoplakia, and 66% for malignant lesion. In suspected laryngeal polyps, leukoplakia and malignancy, our study indicates that we need to excise the lesion surgically and prove the histopathology.

Conclusion

Every tissue removed during laryngeal surgery should be sent for histopathology. Rigid Laryngoscopy is a safe and accurate tool to diagnose nodules and cysts.
Modelling of sea salt concentrations over Europe: key uncertainties and comparison with observations
Authors: Tsyro S. , Aas W. , Soares J. , Sofiev M. , Berge H. , Spindler G.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Sea salt aerosol can significantly affect the air quality. Sea salt can cause enhanced concentrations of particulate matter and change particle chemical composition, in particular in coastal areas, and therefore should be accounted for in air quality modelling. We have used an EMEP Unified model to calculate sea salt concentrations and depositions over Europe, focusing on studying the effects of uncertainties in sea salt production and lifetime on calculation results. Model calculations of sea salt have been compared with EMEP observations of sodium concentrations in air and precipitation for a four year period, from 2004 to 2007, including size (fine/coarse) resolved EMEP intensive measurements in 2006 and 2007. In the presented calculations, sodium air concentrations are between 8% and 46% overestimated, whereas concentrations in precipitation are systematically underestimated by 65–70% for years 2004–2007. A series of model tests have been performed to investigate the reasons for this underestimation, but further studies are needed. The model is found to reproduce the spatial distribution of Na+ in air and precipitation over Europe fairly well, and to capture most of sea salt episodes. The paper presents the main findings from a series of tests in which we compare several different sea spray source functions and also look at the effects of meteorological input and the efficiency of removal processes on calculated sea salt concentrations. Finally, sea salt calculations with the EMEP model have been compared with results from the SILAM model and observations for 2007. While the models produce quite close results for Na+ at the majority of 26 measurement sites, discrepancies in terms of bias and temporal correlation are also found. Those differences are believed to occur due to differences in the representation of source function and size distribution of sea salt aerosol, different meteorology used for model runs and the different models' resolution. This study contributes to getting a better insight on uncertainties associated with sea salt calculations and thus facilitates further improvement of aerosol modelling on both regional and global scales.
A new real-time Lagrangian diagnostic system for stratosphere-troposphere exchange: evaluation during a balloon sonde campaign in eastern Canada
Authors: Bourqui M. S. , Yamamoto A. , Tarasick D. , Moran M. D. , Beaudoin L.-P. , Beres I. , Davies J. , Elford A. , Hocking W. , Osman M. , Wilkinson R.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. A new real-time Lagrangian diagnostic system for stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) developed for Environment Canada (EC) has been delivering daily archived data since 20 July 2010. The STE calculations are performed globally following the Lagrangian approach proposed in Bourqui (2006) using medium-range, high-resolution operational global weather forecasts. Following every weather forecast, trajectories are started from a dense three-dimensional grid covering the globe, and are calculated for six days of the forecast. All trajectories crossing either the dynamical tropopause (±2 PVU) or the 380 K isentrope and having a residence time greater than 12 h are archived, and also used to calculate several diagnostics. This system provides daily global STE forecasts that can be used to guide field campaigns, among other applications. The archived data set offers unique high-resolution information on transport across the tropopause for both extra-tropical hemispheres and the tropics. This will be useful for improving our understanding of STE globally, and as a reference for the evaluation of lower-resolution models. This new data set is evaluated here against measurements taken during a balloon sonde campaign with daily launches from three stations in eastern Canada (Montreal, Egbert, and Walsingham) for the period from 12 July to 4 August 2010. The campaign found an unexpectedly high number of observed stratospheric intrusions: 79% (38%) of the profiles appear to show the presence of stratospheric air below 500 hPa (700 hPa). An objective identification algorithm developed for this study is used to identify layers in the balloon-sonde profiles affected by stratospheric air and to evaluate the Lagrangian STE forecasts. We find that the predictive skill for the overall intrusion depth is excellent for intrusions penetrating down to 300 and 500 hPa, while it becomes negligible for intrusions penetrating below 700 hPa. Nevertheless, the statistical representation of these deep intrusions is reasonable, with an average bias of 24%. Evaluation of the skill at representing the detailed structures of the stratospheric intrusions shows good predictive skill down to 500 hPa, reduced predictive skill between 500 and 700 hPa, and none below. A significant low statistical bias of about 30% is found in the layer between 500 to 700 hPa. However, analysis of missed events at one site, Montreal, shows that 70% of them coincide with candidate clusters of trajectories that pass through Montreal, but that are too dispersed to be detected in the close neighbourhood of the station. This allows us to expect a negligible bias throughout the troposphere in the spatially averaged STE frequency derived from this data set, for example in climatological maps of STE mass fluxes.
Observed temporal evolution of global mean age of stratospheric air for the 2002 to 2010 period
Authors: Stiller G. P. , von Clarmann T. , Haenel F. , Funke B. , Glatthor N. , Grabowski U. , Kellmann S. , Kiefer M. , Linden A. , Lossow S. , López-Puertas M.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. An extensive observational data set, consisting of more than 106 SF6 vertical profiles distributed globally from MIPAS measurements has been condensed into monthly zonal means of mean age of air for the period September 2002 to January 2010, binned at 10° latitude and 1–2 km altitude. The data were analysed with respect to their temporal variation by fitting a regression model consisting of a constant and a linear increase term, 2 proxies for the QBO variation, sinusoidal terms for the seasonal and semi-annual variation and overtones for the correction of the shapes to the observed data set. The impact of subsidence of mesospheric SF6-depleted air and in-mixing into non-polar latitudes on mid-latitudinal absolute age of air and its linear increase was assessed and found to be small. The linear increase of mean age of stratospheric air was found to be positive and partly larger than the trend derived by Engel et al. (2009) for most of the Northern mid-latitudes, the middle stratosphere in the tropics, and parts of the Southern mid-latitudes, as well as for the Southern polar upper stratosphere. Multi-year decrease of age of air was found for the lowermost and the upper stratospheric tropics, for parts of Southern mid-latitudes, and for the Northern polar regions. Analysis of the amplitudes and phases of the seasonal variation shed light on the coupling of stratospheric regions to each other. In particular, the Northern mid-latitude stratosphere is well coupled to the tropics, while the Northern lowermost mid-latitudinal stratosphere is decoupled, confirming the separation of the shallow branch of the Brewer-Dobson circulation from the deep branch. We suggest an overall increased tropical upwelling, together with weakening of mixing barriers, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, as a hypothetical model to explain the observed pattern of linear multi-year increase/decrease, and amplitudes and phase shifts of the seasonal variation.
Issues faced in digitally re-purposing printed archival material
Authors: Dart T. M.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. The Seeing Ear On-Line Library (http://www.seeingear.org) is the first general on-line library in the UK and has been providing books in an electronic format to EU users for more than 5 yr. While this provision has been within the context of print-disability, the challenges that the Library has faced and is facing are common to everyone re-purposing printed archival material. Key issues faced by anyone contemplating such a project are the choices of hardware and software, error rates and reduction, feature analysis and extraction, and archival (meta)format. This paper presents an approach to these questions to facilitate the on-line presentation of popular climatological material. This work was supported by the Big Lottery Fund UK.
Seasonal variation in marine C:N:P stoichiometry: can the composition of seston explain stable Redfield ratios?
Authors: Frigstad H. , Andersen T. , Hessen D. O. , Naustvoll L.-J. , Johnsen T. M. , Bellerby R. G. J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Seston is suspended particulate organic matter, comprising a mixture of autotrophic, heterotrophic and detrital material. Despite variable proportions of these components, marine seston often exhibits relatively small deviations from the Redfield ratio (C:N:P = 106:16:1). Two time-series from the Norwegian shelf in Skagerrak are used to identify drivers of the seasonal variation in seston elemental ratios. An ordination identified water mass characteristics and bloom dynamics as the most important drivers for determining C:N, while changes in nutrient concentrations and biomass were most important for the C:P and N:P relationships. There is no standardized method for determining the functional composition of seston and the fractions of POC, PON and PP associated with phytoplankton, therefore any such information has to be obtained by indirect means. In this study, a generalized linear model was used to differentiate between the live autotrophic and non-autotrophic sestonic fractions, and for both stations the non-autotrophic fractions dominated with respective annual means of 76 and 55%. This regression model approach builds on assumptions (e.g. constant POC:Chl-a ratio) and the robustness of the estimates were explored with a bootstrap analysis. In addition the autotrophic percentage calculated from the statistical model was compared with estimated phytoplankton carbon, and the two independent estimates of autotrophic percentage were comparable with similar seasonal cycles. The estimated C:nutrient ratios of live autotrophs were, in general, lower than Redfield, while the non-autotrophic C:nutrient ratios were higher than the live autotrophic ratios and above, or close to, the Redfield ratio. This is due to preferential remineralization of nutrients, and the P content mainly governed the difference between the sestonic fractions. Despite the seasonal variability in seston composition and the generally low contribution of autotrophic biomass, the variation observed in the total seston ratios was low compared to the variation found in dissolved and particulate pools. Sestonic C:N:P ratios close to the Redfield ratios should not be used as an indicator of phytoplankton physiological state, but could instead reflect varying contributions of sestonic fractions that sum up to an elemental ratio close to Redfield.
The key role of topography in altering North Atlantic atmospheric circulation during the last glacial period
Authors: Pausata F. S. R. , Li C. , Wettstein J. J. , Kageyama M. , Nisancioglu K. H.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 21 000 yr before present) was a period of low atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, when vast ice sheets covered large parts of North America and Europe. Paleoclimate reconstructions and modeling studies suggest that the atmospheric circulation was substantially altered compared to today, both in terms of its mean state and its variability. Here we present a suite of coupled model simulations designed to investigate both the separate and combined influences of the main LGM boundary condition changes (greenhouse gases, ice sheet topography and ice sheet albedo) on the mean state and variability of the atmospheric circulation as represented by sea level pressure (SLP) and 200-hPa zonal wind in the North Atlantic sector. We find that ice sheet topography accounts for most of the simulated changes during the LGM. Greenhouse gases and ice sheet albedo affect the SLP gradient in the North Atlantic, but the overall placement of high and low pressure centers is controlled by topography. Additional analysis shows that North Atlantic sea surface temperatures and sea ice edge position do not substantially influence the pattern of the climatological-mean SLP field, SLP variability or the position of the North Atlantic jet in the LGM.
Effects of antecedent soil moisture on runoff modeling in small semiarid watersheds of southeastern Arizona
Authors: Zhang Y. , Wei H. , Nearing M. A.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. This study presents unique data on the effects of antecedent soil moisture on runoff generation in a semi-arid environment, with implications for process-based modeling of runoff. The data were collected from four small watersheds measured continuously from 2002 through 2010 in an environment where evapo-transpiration approaches 100% of the infiltrated water on the hillslopes. Storm events were generally intense and of short duration, and antecedent volumetric moisture conditions were dry, with an average in the upper 5 cm soil layer over the nine year period of 8% and a standard deviation of 3%. Sensitivity analysis of the model showed an average of 0.05 mm change in runoff for each 1% change in soil moisture, indicating an approximate 0.15 mm average variation in runoff accounted for by the 3% standard deviation of measured antecedent soil moisture. This compared to a standard deviation of 4.7 mm in the runoff depths for the measured events. Thus the low variability of soil moisture in this environment accounts for a relative lack of importance of storm antecedent soil moisture for modeling the runoff. Runoff characteristics simulated with a nine year average of antecedent soil moisture were statistically identical to those simulated with measured antecedent soil moisture, indicating that long term average antecedent soil moisture could be used as a substitute for measured antecedent soil moisture for runoff modeling of these watersheds. We also found no significant correlations between measured runoff ratio and antecedent soil moisture in any of the four watersheds.
Transient drawdown solution for a constant pumping test in finite two-zone confined aquifers
Authors: Wang C.-T. , Yeh H.-D. , Tsai C.-S.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. The drawdown solution has been widely used to analyze pumping test data for the determination of aquifer parameters when coupled with an optimization scheme. The solution can also be used to predict the drawdown due to pumping and design the dewatering system. The drawdown solution for flow toward a finite-radius well with a skin zone in a confined aquifer of infinite extent in radial direction had been developed before. To our best knowledge, the drawdown solution in confined aquifers of finite extent so far has never before been presented in the groundwater literature. This article presents a mathematical model for describing the drawdown distribution due to a constant-flux pumping from a finite-radius well with a skin zone in confined aquifers of finite extent. The analytical solution of the model is developed by applying the methods of Laplace transforms and Bromwich contour integral. This solution can be used to investigate the effects of finite boundary and conductivity ratio on the drawdown distribution. In addition, the inverse relationship between Laplace- and time-domain variables is used to develop the large time solution which can reduce to the Thiem solution if there is no skin zone.
Refreezing on the Greenland ice sheet: a comparison of parameterizations
Authors: Reijmer C. H. , van den Broeke M. R. , Ettema J. , Stap L. B.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Retention and refreezing of meltwater are acknowledged to be important processes for the mass budget of polar glaciers and ice sheets. Several parameterizations of these processes exist for use in energy and mass balance models. Due to a lack of direct observations, validation of these parameterizations is difficult. In this study we compare a set of 6 refreezing parameterizations against output of the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO2), applied to the Greenland ice sheet. In RACMO2, refreezing is explicitly calculated in a snow model that calculates vertical profiles of temperature, density and liquid water content. For consistency, the parameterizations are forced with output (surface temperature, precipitation and melt) of RACMO2. For the ice sheet-integrated amount of refreezing and its inter-annual variations, all parameterizations give similar results, especially after some tuning. However, the spatial distributions differ significantly. Results are especially sensitive to the choice of the depth of the thermally active layer, which determines the cold content of the snow in most parameterizations.
Influence of leads widths distribution on turbulent heat transfer between the ocean and the atmosphere
Authors: Marcq S. , Weiss J.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. Leads are linear-like structures of open water within the sea ice cover that develop as the result of fracturing due to divergence or shear. Through leads, air and water come into contact and directly exchange latent and sensible heat through convective processes driven by the large temperature and moisture differences between them. In the central Arctic, leads only cover 1 to 2% of the ocean during winter, but account for more than 80% of the heat fluxes. Furthermore, narrow leads (several meters) are more than twice as efficient at transmitting turbulent heat than larger ones (several hundreds of meters). We show that lead widths are power law distributed, P(X)~X−a with a>1, down to very small spatial scales (20 m or below). This implies that the open water fraction is by far dominated by very small leads. Using two classical formulations, which provide first order turbulence closure for the fetch-dependence of heat fluxes, we find that the mean heat fluxes (sensible and latent) over open water are up to 55 % larger when considering the lead width distribution obtained from a SPOT satellite image of the ice cover, compared to the situation where the open water fraction constitutes one unique large lead and the rest of the area is covered by ice, as it is usually considered in climate models at the grid scale. This difference may be even larger if we assume that the power law scaling of lead widths extents down to smaller (~1 m) scales. Such estimations may be a first step towards a subgrid scale parameterization of the spatial distribution of open water for heat fluxes calculations in ocean/sea ice coupled models.
Aggressive versus Low Dose Inhibition of the Renin-Angiotensin System for the Treatment of Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Davidson M. B. , Tareen N. , Duran P. , Aguilar V. , Lee M. L.
Published: October 2011

Objective. This study compares low dose versus aggressive inhibition of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) to treat microalbuminuria (MA). Methods. Patients with MA after a run-in period to control BP to <130/80 mm Hg with 10 mg benazepril plus other drugs and HbA1c levels to <8.0% were randomized to either continue 10 mg benazepril (N=12) or to take maximal doses of benazepril plus losartan in monthly stepwise increases to achieve normoalbuminuria (N=11). Because MA is associated with CVD and inflammation, carotid intima medial thickness (CIMT) and endothelial function by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) as surrogate indices of atherosclerosis and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to assess inflammation were measured every six months. Results. BP, HbA1c levels, albumin : creatinine ratios, CIMT, PAT, and hs-CRP did not differ over a mean of 12 months between the two groups. Conclusions. Aggressive inhibition of the RAS is unnecessary to treat MA.
On the Anisotropy of Lotus‐Type Porous Copper
Authors: Fiedler Thomas , Veyhl Christoph , Belova Irina Veniaminovna , Tane Masakazu , Nakajima Hideo , Bernthaler Timo , Merkel Markus , Öchsner Andreas , Murch Graeme Elliott
Published: October 2011

This paper addresses the thermal and mechanical properties of lotus‐type porous copper. Due to their cellular metal characteristics in combination with strong anisotropy, lotus‐type materials exhibit unique properties. As an example, directional thermal conduction enables the controlled transport of thermal energy in the pore direction without the need of strong thermal insulation. In this paper, thermal and mechanical finite element analyses are performed. The effective thermal conductivity, Young's modulus, and the 0.2%‐offset yield strength are determined. Special consideration is given to the anisotropy of the material. In order to guarantee accurate discretization of the complex material geometry, calculation models are directly based on computed microtomography data. Elastic properties are compared to experimental data and good agreement is found. For the characterization of the thermal anisotropy, a second numerical approach, called the Lattice Monte Carlo method, is used along with thermal finite element analysis. In addition to the numerical methods, the analytical Maxwell, Dulynev, and Bruggeman models are applied. Good agreement for the application of two‐dimensional versions of Dulynev's and Bruggeman models is observed whereas the Maxwell model significantly overestimates the material properties.
Mesomorphic Organization and Thermochromic Luminescence of Dicyanodistyrylbenzene‐Based Phasmidic Molecular Disks: Uniaxially Aligned Hexagonal Columnar Liquid Crystals at Room Temperature with Enhanced Fluorescence Emission and Semiconductivity
Authors: Yoon Seong‐Jun , Kim Jong H. , Kim Kil Suk , Chung Jong Won , Heinrich Benoît , Mathevet Fabrice , Kim Pyosang , Donnio Bertrand , Attias André‐Jean , Kim Dongho , Park Soo Young
Published: October 2011

A new dicyanodistyrylbenzene‐based phasmidic molecule, (2Z,2′Z)‐2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bis(3‐(3,4,5‐tris(dodecyloxy)phenyl)acrylonitrile), GDCS, is reported, which forms a hexagonal columnar liquid crystal (LC) phase at room temperature (RT). GDCS molecules self‐assemble into supramolecular disks consisting of a pair of molecules in a side‐by‐side disposition assisted by secondary bonding interactions of the lateral polar cyano group, which, in turn, constitute the hexagonal columnar LC structure. GDCS shows very intense green/yellow fluorescence in liquid/solid crystalline states, respectively, in contrast to the total absence of fluorescence emission in the isotropic melt state according to the characteristic aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) behavior. The AIEE and two‐color luminescence thermochromism of GDCS are attributed to the peculiar intra‐ and intermolecular interactions of dipolar cyanostilbene units. It was found that the intramolecular planarization and restricted molecular motion associated with a specific stacking situation in the liquid/solid crystalline phases are responsible for the AIEE phenomenon. The origin of the two‐color luminescence was elucidated to be due to the interdisk stacking alteration in a given column driven by the specific local dipole coupling between molecular disks. These stacking changes, in turn, resulted in the different degree of excited‐state dimeric coupling to give different emission colors. To understand the complicated photophysical properties of GDCS, temperature‐dependent steady‐state and time‐resolved PL measurements have been comprehensively carried out. Uniaxially aligned and highly fluorescent LC and crystalline microwires of GDCS are fabricated by using the micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) method. Significantly enhanced electrical conductivity (0.8 × 10−5 S•cm−1/3.9 × 10−5 S•cm−1) of the aligned LC/crystal microwires were obtained over that of multi‐domain LC sample, because of the almost perfect shear alignment of the LC material achieved in the MIMIC mold.