bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lärande för hållbar utveckling i förskolan: Kunskapsinnehåll, delaktighet och aktörskap kommunicerat i text
Authors: Ärlemalm-Hagsér Eva
Published: April 2015

Title: Education for sustainable development - knowledge content, participation and agency Abstract: This article in educational science scrutinizes education for sustainable development in the Swedish preschool and the ways that young children are described as active participants and agents of change. A critical theory lens was applied in combination with content analysis. Data were derived from 18 applications from preschools to the Swedish National Agency for Education applying for a 'diploma of excellence' in sustainable development. The qualitative content analysis revealed two overarching themes: a) preschoolers’ sense of self and others, and b) preschoolers’ relationships with place, technologies and materials. Within these themes, nine knowledge content areas relevant to education for sustainable development were identified. In these contents children’s participation and agency was mostly seen as listening and taking part in’ and only in some extent children were seen as agents for change. Even if, the overall rhetoric in the texts had a child rights perspective children’s voices are not really recognised to any great extent as participants or as agents of change. An affirmative approach where detected, where underlying structures of knowledge, content or ways to work not was challenge or transformed.
Fysisk lek i barnehagens uterom: 5-åringers erfaring med kroppslig fysisk lek i barnehagens uterom
Authors: Bjørgen Kathrine
Published: April 2015

Title: Physical outdoors play in kindergarten. A phenomenological "travel" in bodily experience of outdoor physical play in 5 years old children. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess 5years old children in kindergartens about bodilyexperiences in physical outdoor play. Interview in groups was used to findout more about children’s experiences and understanding about topics related to bodilyphysical play, in outdoors area in kindergarten. Results tell that 5 years old children like to be outdoors in kindergarten. They argued that outdoors physical play gives them more freedom and experience in sensory motor activities. The child seems to attract to high sensory motor activities. Children have good reflection about bodily experiences. The children didn’t have reflected answer about preschool teacher’s role in outdoor activities. It needs more research on preschool teacher’s role in outdoor activities in kindergarten.
Early childhood education and care in Greece: In search of an identity
Authors: Petrogiannis Konstantinos
Published: April 2015

Despite the considerable improvements that have taken place in the field of early child care and education services the last two decades in Greece, the availability of such services, especially for children under 3 years of age, continues to be rather limited compared to other European countries. The paper briefly presents a set of issues that are linked to the current situation of ECCE in the country such as a number of socio-cultural elements that outline the connection between family structure and childcare coverage, the types of ECCE arrangements and participation rates, the issue of quality and the major problems linked with this. Finally, the major findings that have been revealed by the few research studies are presented including the link between quality and developmental outcomes.
Important themes in research on and education of young children in day care centres: Finnish viewpoints
Authors: Hännikäinen Maritta , Rutanen Niina
Published: April 2015

The aim of this article is to outline important themes, according to Finnish early childhood education researchers, that need to be addressed in researching and educating children under three years of age in Finland. To achieve this aim, the article divides into two parts. First, we present and discuss the results of a small-scale survey, conducted in Finland, on the views of key informants in the early childhood education units of Finnish universities. Second, the views presented in the survey are used as a starting point to introduce two ongoing qualitative case studies on the everyday life of toddlers in Finnish day care centres. In line with the survey findings, these case studies emphasize in particular the importance of the relational, social nature of children, the educational community, and the sensitivity of the adult for children’s wellbeing in day care groups.
Conditions to give children more freedom of movement
Authors: Pirard Florence
Published: April 2015

This article provides a discussion on the importance of knowledge in early childhood education and also the role of knowledge dissemination process in the field. From the question of giving more freedom of movement, knowledge about this topic used in a Belgian curriculum, the article illustrates the importance of considering practice not as an application of theory, but as a co-construct and complex process that combines it with other resources in context. It illustrates the importance of going further than the production of knowledge to create appropriate practice in service.
Opportunities knock: Mediation of peer-relations during meal-time in toddler groups
Authors: Os Ellen
Published: April 2015

According to socio-cultural perspectives, adults are seen as mediators of cultural believes, values and practices. Qualitative analyses of teachers’ mediation of peer relations based on video-recordings in 9 toddler-groups indicate that meal-time represents opportunities for teachers to facilitate togetherness and peer-relations between toddlers. The teachers might facilitate sharing, passing food, routinized practices such as singing, and conversations. The results indicate variations between child- and group-oriented approaches, and accomplishing meals in an effective way. The child- and group-oriented approaches are marked by encouragement of toddlers’ initiatives and teachers supporting peer-interactions. Raising teachers’ consciousness about their contributions to children’s development of peer-relations and togetherness in group settings might contribute to enhance reflected practices in working with toddlers in groups.
Cultural features of performance in Norwegian children’s narratives
Authors: Hoel Trude
Published: April 2015

This article presents part of a research project whose aim is to investigate Norwegian 6–7-year-old children’s language use in story-telling. The data consist of the children’s oral texts based on a wordless picture book. By studying creative and stylistic features of the children’s narratives, I attempt to shed light on cultural interaction and socio-cultural factors as fundamental contributors to those narratives. The aim of this article is to contribute to the exploration of a culturally anchored perspective on narratives in light of the reading culture prevailing at Norwegian kindergartens.
Jakten på det kompetenta barnet
Authors: Emilsson Anette , Pramling Samuelsson Ingrid
Published: April 2015

Title: Looking for the competent childAbstract: From different documentation situation the aim of this study is to investigate the focus of the documentation as well as the communication between preschool teachers and children in these situations. The research questions are: What is the focus of the documentation? What characterizes the communication between the teachers and the children when these teachers at the same time are documenting? To interpret and understand this communication Habermas’ concepts of communicative and strategic action are used. Data consists of video observations, where 157 minutes of recordings have been analyzed. 30 children, 1–3 years, and their 7 preschool teachers have participated in the study. The results show that it is mainly children’s achievements that are documented and that the preschool teachers either become silent observers or eager advocators of a particular discovery. What is communicated and documented by the teachers have a high degree of abstraction, and the communication is of a strategic character.
Musikstunder i förskolepraktik: Samband mellan musikens mening, aktivitet och aktivitetsformer
Authors: Holmberg Ylva
Published: April 2015

Title: Music events in Swedish preschool: Connections between the meaning of music, activity and forms of activity Abstract: There has been, and still are a lot of music events in early childhood education settings. The way of looking at the meaning of music, content and form varies, partly over time, partly between researchers and between preschools. The aim of the article is to describe and analyze how music events appear. Over a period of five months music events in three Swedish preschools, with children between three and five years of age were observed. Result indicates that preschool teacher’s musicianship affects their way of looking at the meaning of music and their way of working with music in their preschool. Three main musical activities were identified singing, playing instruments and movement. The ways of working in the activities varies. Singing often has a character of reproducing, playing instrument has a character of investigating and that movement can be of reproductive as well as investigative character, depending on the context.
Fagsamtaler i barnehagen
Authors: Jansen Turid , Gjems Liv , Rydjord Tholin Kristin
Published: April 2015

Title: Issues of Educational Policy and Educational Activities in Norwegian kindergartensAbstract: The intention with this article is to develop knowledge about the potential in conversations about different subjects in early childhood education (ECE). The Research question is ”How can ECE teachers engage children to take active participants in conversations about different subjects”. Through language people share experiences and develop understanding for events and phenomena. We-observed spontaneous and planned conversations between children and ECE teachers. The observations reveal that the teachers ask many questions in subject conversations, and mainly talk to one child at a time. The children rarely asked questions to each other. The ECE teachers choices of pedagogical material are of importance for the children’s participation.
Different forms of assessment and documentation in Swedish preschools
Authors: Vallberg-Roth Ann-Christine
Published: April 2015

Abstract: The aim is to describe and discuss documentation and assessment practices in Swedish preschools from a didaktik perspective. What different forms of documentation and assessment are found in the preschools? Preschools in both urban and rural municipalities are included in the selection.  Document and textual analysis are used. A varied multi-documentation emerge. The multi-documentation at each preschool expose that preschool teachers seem to switch between different forms of documentation and assessment, including summative, formative and other assessments. The concept of transformative assessment may capture the different assessments interwoven in the multi-documentation. Transformative assessment is a concept focusing on reshaping and interplaying assessments that are intertwined in the registration and complex documentation at different levels and directions.
"Han går oppover mens han går nedover!" Femåringers refleksjoner om vertikal forflytning i klatrevegg
Authors: Sæbbe Per-Einar , Mosvold Reidar
Published: April 2015

Previous research has shown that children seem to have better ability to decenter than what the classical studies of Piaget indicated. Decentering can be connected with spatial understanding, and the development of spatial thinking has proven important for children’s mathematical ability. There is, however, little research about how children’s development of spatial thinking is connected with motor skills. In this article, we analyze the reflections of kindergarten children concerning a video of their own climbing activity in an indoor climbing wall. Content analysis of the transcriptions indicates that the children are conscious about direction and localization. The analysis also indicates that children are most concerned about whether or not they reach the top. Keywords; decentering, climbing, localization, direction
Från förväntningar till motstånd och anpassning. Fyra barns övergångar till och från förskoleklass
Authors: Ackesjö Helena
Published: April 2015

This article focuses the Swedish preschool class and the transitions from preschool to compulsory school, out from children’s perspectives. The study indicates that children, in these transitions, are constructing identities such as future pupils, Ex preschoolers, playful preschool class children and adjusted and responsible pupils. It’s indicated that children’s ways of defining themselves, and their markings of borders between the institutions, are changing over time and are depending on the current context. The study also highlights how Swedish children conduct two school entries where they have to reconstruct both their identities and their understanding of institutional borders.
Förskollärarens förtydligade ansvar - en balansgång mellan ett demokratiskt förhållningssätt och att utöva yrkeskunskap
Authors: Eriksson Anita
Published: April 2015

Artikeln fokuserar hur det för förskoläraren förtydligade ansvaret för den pedagogiska verksamheten som trädde i kraft 2011, tolkas och omsätts på en övergripande kommunal nivå och kommer till uttryck i förskolans pedagogiska praktik. Utifrån intervjuer och kommunala policydokument beskrivs och problematiseras hur detta ansvar tolkas och implementeras i två kommuner. Av studien framgår att tolkningarna varierar liksom sättet att implementera detta ansvar på när det gäller innehåll, omfattning och genomförande. På en diskursiv nivå beskrivs förskollärarens förtydligade ansvar både av utvecklingsledare, förskolechef och förskollärare som motiverat utifrån skillnader i yrkeskunskap mellan förskollärare och annan personal. I arbetslag bestående av olika yrkeskategorier i förskolans sociala praktik, beskrivs det däremot som känsligt att diskutera förändringar i ansvars- och arbetsfördelning utifrån denna skillnad.
Den blivande förskollärarens formering. En studie av verksamhetsförlagda handledningssamtal, argumentationstraditioner och metaforik
Authors: Hjort Marie-Louise , Pramling Niklas
Published: April 2015

I denna studie analyserar vi hur erfarna förskollärare i rollen som handledare introducerar förskollärarstudenter i professionen. Studien genomförs mot bakgrund av ett delvis nytt uppdrag som förskolan fått under senare år, som bland annat yttrar sig i att förskolan nu är en del av utbildningssystemet. Med utgångspunkt i det teoretiska begreppet argumentationstraditioner och genom att analysera metaforiken i deltagarnas resonerande, studeras hur erfarna och blivande förskollärare navigerar spänningar centrala för professionen. Deltagarnas betoning av vissa argumentationstraditioner och användningen av viss metaforik diskuteras i termer av vad de implicerar för utvecklingen av de barn som deltar i en förskoleverksamhet som formas av dessa.
Barn og fysisk aktivitet i barnehagen: Hvordan kan aktivitetsnivået dokumenteres?
Authors: Stokke Anne , Weydahl Andi , Calogiuri Giovanna
Published: April 2015

Abstract: We monitored the physical activity levels of 42 children during a regular day in kindergarten, using various instruments. This study will provide knowledge about children’s activity levels in kindergarten. It also discusses whether children’s activity levels can be adequately evaluated by the teachers or if there is a need for technical measurements. In addition, we compared the different instruments used to evaluate the children. The employees in the kindergarten were asked to answer a questionnaire about the children’s physical activity level during the day, and a student or a researcher observed and registered one child each. During the same day, activity levels were monitored using actigraphy (AC; Actigraf GT3X) and continuous heart rate monitoring (HR; Team2 Polar ®) in 14 children (six boys and eight girls, 38 and 47 months old, respectively). The researcher-observations defined the observed children as “moderately active”, and AC-data showed that all children had more than 60 minutes of moderate - or high - intensity activity. According to our comparisons, the use of HR to assess the activity in kindergartens is not recommended. On average, the questionnaires reported similar physical activity levels for the same child, although the evaluations varied between employees. When comparing one active and one inactive child, the different methods showed similar results. We conclude that professionals can see a child’s physical activity level when asked to reflect upon it.Sammendrag: Vi målte det fysiske aktivitetsnivået til 42 barn i løpet av en vanlig dag i barnehagen ved hjelp av ulike instrumenter. Denne studien vil gi kunnskap om barns fysiske aktivitet i barnehagen, og om barnas aktivitetsnivå kan bli tilstrekkelig evaluert av lærerne eller om det er behov for tekniske målinger. Videre har vi sammenlignet de ulike instrumentene brukt i observasjonen. De ansatte i barnehagen ble bedt om å svare på et spørreskjema om barns fysiske aktivitetsnivå i løpet av dagen, og en student eller forsker observerte og registrerte ett barn hver. I løpet av samme dag, ble aktivitetsnivået overvåkt ved hjelp av actigraphy (AC; Actigraf GT3X) og kontinuerlig pulsmåling (HR, Team2 Polar ®) blant 14 barn (seks gutter og åtte jenter, 38- og 47-måneder gamle, henholdsvis). Forsker-observasjonene definerte de observerte barna som "moderat aktiv", og AC-data viste at alle barna hadde mer enn 60 minutter aktivitet med moderat eller høy intensitet. Våre sammenligninger viser at bruk av HR for å vurdere aktiviteten i barnehager er ikke anbefalt. I gjennomsnitt rapporterte spørreskjemaene lignende aktivitetsverdier for det samme barnet, selv om evalueringene varierte mellom ansatte. Når man sammenlignet et aktivt og et inaktivt barn, viste de ulike metodene lignende resultater. Vi konkluderer derfor at ansattes faglige blikk kan se barns fysiske aktivitetsnivå når de blir bedt om å vurdere det.
Children’s participation in Finnish pre-school education - Identifying, Describing and Documenting Children’s Participation
Authors: Leinonen Jonna , Brotherus Annu , Venninen Tuulikki
Published: April 2015

This article describes, analyzes, and evaluates children’s participatory in Finnish pre-school groups. Children’s participation is viewed in the context of the Core Curriculum for Pre-school Education in Finland (2010), in which children are considered active subjects, who interact with both other people and the environment. However, in practical data, collected via survey from pre-school educators, this ideology is restricted and the educators in pre-school groups focus on children’s participation from a narrow point of view that reflects a lack of connection between the Core Curriculum goals for pre-school education and the actual participatory practices children face.
Improvisation – om pædagogens møde med barnet i æstetiske processer
Authors: Svendsen Sonja
Published: April 2015

Abstract: The article is about the concept of improvising in aesthetical pedagogical praxis, in kindergartens. The main theme is that improvised proficiencies/skills can be developed through an awareness of the dynamic relationship between preparatory work in relation to planned frameworks and special attention on the pedagogue’s different ways of relating to pedagogical praxis. In the article it is discussed how the pedagogue by being attentive and aware of the above relationship can contribute to promoting children’s own expressions in aesthetical processes. The topic is discussed with reference to a two year action research project about aesthetical pedagogical praxis in three different kindergartens.Resumé: Artiklen handler om begrebet improvisation i æstetisk pædagogisk praksis i børnehaven. Temaet i artiklen er, at improvisatoriske færdigheder kan udvikles gennem en bevidsthed om det dynamiske forhold mellem det forberedende arbejde med rammesætning og en særlig opmærksomhed på pædagogens forholdemåder. I artiklen diskuteres det, hvordan pædagogen, med en opmærksomhed på en improvisatorisk forholdemåde, kan medvirke til at fremme børns egne udtryk i æstetiske processer. Gennem henvisninger til et toårigt aktionsforskningsprojekt om æstetisk pædagogisk praksis i tre børnehaver, drøftes dette tema.
Potensialer i ubestemmelige øyeblikk
Authors: Larsen Ann sofi
Published: April 2015

Abstract: Based on narratives from early childhood educators in three Norwegian kindergartens, this article explore how doubt and undecidable moments might actuate ethical thinking in pedagogical settings. To deal with or to withstand undecidability, paradoxes and complexities is, according to Jacques Derrida, a premise for ethical and responsible acting. Undecidability invites us to direct our attention towards uniqueness and alterity in each situation. This involves ethics which goes beyond habitual applying rules and guidelines. Rather it might invites to see potentials in the unpredictable. Undecidable moments do not then merely paralyze decision, but instead gives it its very chance or possibility.Sammendrag: Med utgangspunkt i materiale fra samtaler med personalet i tre norske barnehager retter denne artikkelen et blikk på hvordan ubestemmelighet kan betraktes som nødvendig vilkår for å kunne gjøre etiske vurderinger og valg i pedagogisk arbeid. Å forholde seg til det ubestemmelige, til paradokser og kompleksiteter er, ifølge den franske filosofen Jacques Derrida, premisser for å kunne handle etisk og ansvarlig. Det ubestemmelige ses som vilkår for å kunne handle etisk og ansvarlig. I en relasjonell tilnærming, hvor etikken settes i forgrunn i relasjoner mellom mennesker, er interesser for det/den andre, for forskjeller og for det uforutsigbare vesentlige aspekt. Ubestemmelighet inviterer til å rette oppmerksomhet mot det unike og mot det som er annerledes og nytt i et hvert møte. Artikkelen bidrar med kunnskap om hvordan personalet håndterer, verdsetter og viser respekt for den usikkerheten som trenger seg på gjennom ubestemmelige øyeblikk.
The time scale of the silicate weathering negative feedback on atmospheric CO2
Authors: Colbourn G. , Ridgwell A. , Lenton T. M.
Published: April 2015

The ultimate fate of CO2 added to the ocean‐atmosphere system is chemical reaction with silicate minerals and burial as marine carbonates. The time scale of this silicate weathering negative feedback on atmospheric pCO2 will determine the duration of perturbations to the carbon cycle, be they geological release events or the current anthropogenic perturbation. However, there has been little previous work on quantifying the time scale of the silicate weathering feedback, with the primary estimate of 300–400 kyr being traceable to an early box model study by Sundquist (1991). Here we employ a representation of terrestrial rock weathering in conjunction with the “GENIE” (Grid ENabled Integrated Earth system) model to elucidate the different time scales of atmospheric CO2 regulation while including the main climate feedbacks on CO2 uptake by the ocean. In this coupled model, the main dependencies of weathering—runoff, temperature, and biological productivity—were driven from an energy‐moisture balance atmosphere model and parameterized plant productivity. Long‐term projections (1 Myr) were conducted for idealized scenarios of 1000 and 5000 PgC fossil fuel emissions and their sensitivity to different model parameters was tested. By fitting model output to a series of exponentials we determined the e‐folding time scale for atmospheric CO2 drawdown by silicate weathering to be ∼240 kyr (range 170–380 kyr), significantly less than existing quantifications. Although the time scales for reequilibration of global surface temperature and surface ocean pH are similar to that for CO2, a much greater proportion of the peak temperature anomaly persists on this longest time scale; ∼21% compared to ∼10% for CO2.
Climate variability and relationships between top‐of‐atmosphere radiation and temperatures on Earth
Authors: Trenberth Kevin E. , Zhang Yongxin , Fasullo John T. , Taguchi Shoichi
Published: April 2015

The monthly global and regional variability in Earth's radiation balance is examined using correlations and regressions between atmospheric temperatures and water vapor with top‐of‐atmosphere outgoing longwave (OLR), absorbed shortwave (ASR), and net radiation (RT = ASR − OLR). Anomalous global mean monthly variability in the net radiation is surprisingly large, often more than ±1 W m−2, and arises mainly from clouds and transient weather systems. Relationships are strongest and positive between OLR and temperatures, especially over land for tropospheric temperatures, except in the deep tropics where high sea surface temperatures are associated with deep convection, high cold cloud tops and thus less OLR but also less ASR. Tropospheric vertically averaged temperatures (surface = 150 hPa) are thus negatively correlated globally with net radiation (−0.57), implying 2.18 ± 0.10 W m−2 extra net radiation to space for 1°C increase in temperature. Water vapor is positively correlated with tropospheric temperatures and thus also negatively correlated with net radiation; however, when the temperature dependency of water vapor is statistically removed, a significant positive feedback between water vapor and net radiation is revealed globally with 0.87 W m−2 less OLR to space per millimeter of total column water vapor. The regression coefficient between global RT and tropospheric temperature becomes −2.98 W m−2 K−1 if water vapor effects are removed, slightly less than expected from blackbody radiation (−3.2 W m−2 K−1), suggesting a positive feedback from clouds and other processes. Robust regional structures provide additional physical insights. The observational record is too short, weather noise too great, and forcing too small to make reliable estimates of climate sensitivity.
Western Disturbances: A review
Authors: Dimri A. P. , Niyogi D. , Barros A. P. , Ridley J. , Mohanty U. C. , Yasunari T. , Sikka D. R.
Published: April 2015

Cyclonic storms associated with the midlatitude Subtropical Westerly Jet (SWJ), referred to as Western Disturbances (WDs), play a critical role in the meteorology of the Indian subcontinent. WDs embedded in the southward propagating SWJ produce extreme precipitation over northern India and are further enhanced over the Himalayas due to orographic land‐atmosphere interactions. During December, January, and February, WD snowfall is the dominant precipitation input to establish and sustain regional snowpack, replenishing regional water resources. Spring melt is the major source of runoff to northern Indian rivers and can be linked to important hydrologic processes from aquifer recharge to flashfloods. Understanding the dynamical structure, evolution‐decay, and interaction of WDs with the Himalayas is therefore necessary to improve knowledge which has wide ranging socioeconomic implications beyond short‐term disaster response including cold season agricultural activities, management of water resources, and development of vulnerability‐adaptive measures. In addition, WD wintertime precipitation provides critical mass input to existing glaciers and modulates the albedo characteristics of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, affecting large‐scale circulation and the onset of the succeeding Indian Summer Monsoon. Assessing the impacts of climate variability and change on the Indian subcontinent requires fundamental understanding of the dynamics of WDs. In particular, projected changes in the structure of the SWJ will influence evolution‐decay processes of the WDs and impact Himalayan regional water availability. This review synthesizes past research on WDs with a perspective to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state of knowledge to assist both researchers and policymakers, and context for future research.
Coupled and uncoupled hydrogeophysical inversions using ensemble Kalman filter assimilation of ERT‐monitored tracer test data
Authors: Camporese Matteo , Cassiani Giorgio , Deiana Rita , Salandin Paolo , Binley Andrew
Published: April 2015

Recent advances in geophysical methods have been increasingly exploited as inverse modeling tools in groundwater hydrology. In particular, several attempts to constrain the hydrogeophysical inverse problem to reduce inversion errors have been made using time‐lapse geophysical measurements through both coupled and uncoupled (also known as sequential) inversion approaches. Despite the appeal and popularity of coupled inversion approaches, their superiority over uncoupled methods has not been proved conclusively; the goal of this work is to provide an objective comparison between the two approaches within a specific inversion modeling framework based on the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). Using EnKF and a model of Lagrangian transport, we compare the performance of a fully coupled and uncoupled inversion method for the reconstruction of heterogeneous saturated hydraulic conductivity fields through the assimilation of ERT‐monitored tracer test data. The two inversion approaches are tested in a number of different scenarios, including isotropic and anisotropic synthetic aquifers, where we change the geostatistical parameters used to generate the prior ensemble of hydraulic conductivity fields. Our results show that the coupled approach outperforms the uncoupled when the prior statistics are close to the ones used to generate the true field. Otherwise, the coupled approach is heavily affected by “filter inbreeding” (an undesired effect of variance underestimation typical of EnKF), while the uncoupled approach is more robust, being able to correct biased prior information, thanks to its capability of capturing the solute travel times even in presence of inversion artifacts such as the violation of mass balance. Furthermore, the coupled approach is more computationally intensive than the uncoupled, due to the much larger number of forward runs required by the electrical model. Overall, we conclude that the relative merit of the coupled versus the uncoupled approach cannot be assumed a priori and should be assessed case by case.
Assimilation of stream discharge for flood forecasting: Updating a semidistributed model with an integrated data assimilation scheme
Authors: Li Yuan , Ryu Dongryeol , Western Andrew W. , Wang Q. J.
Published: April 2015

Real‐time discharge observations can be assimilated into flood models to improve forecast accuracy; however, the presence of time lags in the routing process and a lack of methods to quantitatively represent different sources of uncertainties challenge the implementation of data assimilation techniques for operational flood forecasting. To address these issues, an integrated error parameter estimation and lag‐aware data assimilation (IEELA) scheme was recently developed for a lumped model. The scheme combines an ensemble‐based maximum a posteriori (MAP) error estimation approach with a lag‐aware ensemble Kalman smoother (EnKS). In this study, the IEELA scheme is extended to a semidistributed model to provide for more general application in flood forecasting by including spatial and temporal correlations in model uncertainties between subcatchments. The result reveals that using a semidistributed model leads to more accurate forecasts than a lumped model in an open‐loop scenario. The IEELA scheme improves the forecast accuracy significantly in both lumped and semidistributed models, and the superiority of the semidistributed model remains in the data assimilation scenario. However, the improvements resulting from IEELA are confined to the outlet of the catchment where the discharge observations are assimilated. Forecasts at “ungauged” internal locations are not improved, and in some instances, even become less accurate.
SAHKE seismic‐scatter imaging of subduction beneath Wellington, North Island, New Zealand
Authors: Kurashimo Eiji , Henrys Stuart , Sato Hiroshi , Iwasaki Takaya , Okaya David , Sutherland Rupert , Stern Tim , Iidaka Takashi , Ishiyama Tatsuya , Savage Martha
Published: April 2015

Scattering reflectivity analysis of onshore seismic data (Seismic Array HiKurangi Experiment) images slab geometry and crustal structure at a geodetically locked subduction boundary. A broad seismic scattering zone (BSZ) up to 10 km thick above the subduction interface at depths of 16–30 km has seismic properties (Vp, Vp/Vs, and Q) that imply high fluid pressures, probably associated with underplated sediments. The listric strike‐slip Wairarapa Fault and other splay faults that sole into the BSZ imply long‐term weakness. High rates of intraslab seismicity with low rates above the slab imply stress decoupling across the BSZ. Association of high fluid pressures and long‐term weakness with geodetic locking is in contrast to similar observations at zones of slow slip at the northern Hikurangi margin and suggest that either (1) pore fluid pressure or locking behavior may cycle over times longer than two decades or (2) local material properties play a significant role in determining if slow slip or locking occurs.
Lunar semidiurnal tide in the terrestrial airglow
Authors: von Savigny C. , Lednyts'kyy O. , Forbes J. M. , Zhang X.
Published: April 2015

We report on lunar semidiurnal tidal signatures in several parameters of the terrestrial airglow, including OI green line emission rates, OH(3‐1) emission rates, as well as OH emission altitude, atomic oxygen, and OH(3‐1) rotational temperature in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere region. The parameters were retrieved from spaceborne measurements of nightglow emissions at low latitudes with the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography instrument on the Envisat satellite. The identified lunar tidal signatures in airglow emissions have amplitudes of a few percent and are highly significant statistically. Moreover, the signatures observed in the different parameters analyzed show a coherent behavior consistent with the view that they are caused by vertical motions associated with vertical transport of atomic oxygen and adiabatic cooling/heating. The observed lunar semidiurnal tidal signature in temperature is in good agreement with model simulations with the global scale wave model.
Watershed geomorphology and snowmelt control stream thermal sensitivity to air temperature
Authors: Lisi Peter J. , Schindler Daniel E. , Cline Timothy J. , Scheuerell Mark D. , Walsh Patrick B.
Published: April 2015

How local geomorphic and hydrologic features mediate the sensitivity of stream thermal regimes to variation in climatic conditions remains a critical uncertainty in understanding aquatic ecosystem responses to climate change. We used stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen to estimate contributions of snow and rainfall to 80 boreal streams and show that differences in snow contribution are controlled by watershed topography. Time series analysis of stream thermal regimes revealed that streams in rain‐dominated, low‐elevation watersheds were 5–8 times more sensitive to variation in summer air temperature compared to streams draining steeper topography whose flows were dominated by snowmelt. This effect was more pronounced across the landscape in early summer and less distinct in late summer. Thus, the impact of climate warming on freshwater thermal regimes will be spatially heterogeneous across river basins as controlled by geomorphic features. However, thermal heterogeneity may be lost with reduced snowpack and increased ratios of rain to snow in stream discharge.
Circulation of modified Circumpolar Deep Water and basal melt beneath the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica
Authors: Herraiz‐Borreguero Laura , Coleman Richard , Allison Ian , Rintoul Stephen R. , Craven Mike , Williams Guy D.
Published: April 2015

Antarctic ice sheet mass loss has been linked to an increase in oceanic heat supply, which enhances basal melt and thinning of ice shelves. Here we detail the interaction of modified Circumpolar Deep Water (mCDW) with the Amery Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in East Antarctica, and provide the first estimates of basal melting due to mCDW. We use subice shelf ocean observations from a borehole site (AM02) situated ∼70 km inshore of the ice shelf front, together with open ocean observations in Prydz Bay. We find that mCDW transport into the cavity is about 0.22 ± 0.06 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1). The inflow of mCDW drives a net basal melt rate of up to 2 ± 0.5 m yr−1 during 2001 (23.9 ± 6.52 Gt yr−1 from under about 12,800 km2 of the north‐eastern flank of the ice shelf). The heat content flux by mCDW at AM02 shows high intra‐annual variability (up to 40%). Our results suggest two main modes of subice shelf circulation and basal melt regimes: (1) the “ice pump”/high salinity shelf water circulation, on the western flank and (2) the mCDW meltwater‐driven circulation in conjunction with the “ice pump,” on the eastern flank. These results highlight the sensitivity of the Amery's basal melting to changes in mCDW inflow. Improved understanding of such ice shelf‐ocean interaction is crucial to refining projections of mass loss and associated sea level rise.
Fast Food
Authors: Bugge Annechen Bahr
Published: April 2015

Fast food is often described as simple snacks served from restaurants, snack bars, kiosks, bars or shops. A characteristic of these types of dishes is that they are quick to prepare, serve, and eat. Also often known as “street food,” due to portability and informality, fast food can be traced back to the ancient Roman cities and so is not exclusively tied to the hamburger, pizza, and hot dog meals arising in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Obesity
Authors: Kumanyika Chenjerai
Published: April 2015

In addition to the strict scientific definition denoting the condition as an important risk factor for other diseases, the term “obesity” has come to be associated with a variety of other cultural meanings related to both moral character and consumption. Factors such as dramatic changes in food production and the marketing of food products, more sedentary modern lifestyles, the proliferation of public and private sector intervention strategies, cultural influences, and representations of obesity in the mass media have influenced societal understandings of the relationship between obesity and consumption.
Theming
Authors: Strömberg Per
Published: April 2015

Over the past several decades, a number of scholars have observed an increased use of overarching themes. Theming involves the use of an overarching theme as an added value to create a holistic and cohesive spatial, cultural, and social organization of a consumer venue. Theming as a method is mostly defined in relation to themed environments, for example, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, shopping malls, or any other servicescape based on a thematic concept, which serves as a narrative stage for human interaction in a commercial context. Due to the homogenization, surplus, and standardization of goods and services, theming has thus become a widely used tool for distinguishing one service, good, tourist destination, or context from another in order to stand out from the competition. It is also being applied as a management tool for structuring the business concept which includes merchandising, acting personnel, and other forms of commercial activities that are possible to generate from a theme.
Consumers, Failed
Authors: Muñoz Isaac I.
Published: April 2015

A consumer society is one in which participants adhere to the idea of consuming products and services rather than producing them. This type of contemporary society, with its unspoken but understood moral rules, expects its members to give in to the temptations of the marketplace. In fact, its members (consumers) are expected to participate regularly, as consumption offers a means of re‐establishing normalcy, especially during economic downturns. This consumer‐driven economic re‐investment is what sociologist Zygmunt Bauman calls “consumer‐led recovery.” At the center of the consumer psyche lies one of the core tenets of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, self‐improvement. Out of this ideology of self‐improvement the paradox of choice emerges: in other words, fashion, which subsequently begets obsolescence. Understanding the difference between fashion and obsolescence in such a society necessitates an understanding of its passive participants, those flawed consumers, collateral casualties of consumerism, and underclass or failed consumers. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, measuring their distinctions yields more meaningful insights by which to evaluate these nonconsumers.
Sequence Programmable Peptoid Polymers for Diverse Materials Applications
Authors: Knight Abigail S. , Zhou Effie Y. , Francis Matthew B. , Zuckermann Ronald N.
Published: April 2015

Polymer sequence programmability is required for the diverse structures and complex properties that are achieved by native biological polymers, but efforts towards controlling the sequence of synthetic polymers are, by comparison, still in their infancy. Traditional polymers provide robust and chemically diverse materials, but synthetic control over their monomer sequences is limited. The modular and step‐wise synthesis of peptoid polymers, on the other hand, allows for precise control over the monomer sequences, affording opportunities for these chains to fold into well‐defined nanostructures. Hundreds of different side chains have been incorporated into peptoid polymers using efficient reaction chemistry, allowing for a seemingly infinite variety of possible synthetically accessible polymer sequences. Combinatorial discovery techniques have allowed the identification of functional polymers within large libraries of peptoids, and newly developed theoretical modeling tools specifically adapted for peptoids enable the future design of polymers with desired functions. Work towards controlling the three‐dimensional structure of peptoids, from the conformation of the amide bond to the formation of protein‐like tertiary structure, has and will continue to enable the construction of tunable and innovative nanomaterials that bridge the gap between natural and synthetic polymers.
Bortezomib‐based therapy combined with high cut‐off hemodialysis is highly effective in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with severe renal impairment
Authors: Zannetti Beatrice Anna , Zamagni Elena , Santostefano Marisa , De Sanctis Lucia Barbara , Tacchetti Paola , Mancini Elena , Pantani Lucia , Brioli Annamaria , Rizzo Raffaella , Mancuso Katia , Rocchi Serena , Pezzi Annalisa , Borsi Enrica , Terragna Carolina , Marzocchi Giulia , Santoro Antonio , Cavo Michele
Published: April 2015

Multiple myeloma (MM) is often associated with renal insufficiency (RI) which adversely influences the prognosis. Several studies demonstrated that bortezomib can improve both renal function and outcome. We prospectively evaluated 21 newly diagnosed MM patients with severe renal impairment secondary to tubular‐interstitial damage, most of them due to myeloma kidney, who were primarily treated with bortezomib‐based therapy combined with high cut‐off hemodialysis (HCOD). The median serum creatinine level at baseline was 6.44 mg dL−1 and calculated median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), according to Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD‐EPI) creatinine equation, was 8 mL/min/1.73 m2. Serum free light chain (sFLC) median concentration was 6,040 mg L−1. Post induction and best stringent complete response rates were 19 and 38%, respectively. Responses were fast, occurring within a median of 1.4 months. The combination of bortezomib and HCOD led to a prompt and remarkable (>90%) decrease in sFLC levels. Sixteen patients (76%) became dialysis independent within a median of 32 days. With a median follow up of 17.2 months, the 3‐year PFS and OS were 76 and 67%, respectively. No early deaths were observed. This study demonstrates that incorporation of bortezomib into induction therapy combined with HCOD is a highly effective strategy in rescuing renal function and improving outcomes in patients with MM and RI. Am. J. Hematol. 90:647–652, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Computer‐assisted staging of chronic rhinosinusitis correlates with symptoms
Authors: Garneau Jonathan , Ramirez Michael , Armato Samuel G. , Sensakovic William F. , Ford Megan K. , Poon Colin S. , Ginat Daniel T. , Starkey Adam , Baroody Fuad M. , Pinto Jayant M.
Published: April 2015

Background

The Lund‐Mackay (LM) staging system for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) does not correlate with clinical parameters, likely due to its coarse scale. We developed a “Modified Lund Mackay” (MLM) system, which uses a three‐dimensional (3D), computerized method to quantify the volume of mucosal inflammation in the sinuses, and sought to determine whether the MLM would correlate with symptoms and disease‐specific quality of life.

Methods

We obtained Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) data from 55 adult subjects immediately prior to sinus imaging. The volume of each sinus occupied by mucosal inflammation was measured using MATLAB algorithms created using customized, image analysis software after manual outlining of each sinus. Linear regression was used to model the relationship between the MLM and the SNOT‐22 and TNSS. Correlation between the LM and MLM was tested using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

Results

Adjusting for age, gender, and smoking, a higher symptom burden was associated with increased sinonasal inflammation as captured by the MLM (β = 0.453, p < 0.013). As expected due to the differences in scales, the LM and MLM scores were significantly different (p < 0.011). No association between MLM and SNOT‐22 scores was found.

Conclusion

The MLM is one of the first imaging‐based scoring systems that correlates with sinonasal symptoms. Further development of this custom software, including full automation and validation in larger samples, may yield a biomarker with great utility for both treatment of patients and outcomes assessment in clinical trials.
Copper‐Catalyzed Radical/Radical CH/PH Cross‐Coupling: α‐Phosphorylation of Aryl Ketone O‐Acetyloximes
Authors: Ke Jie , Tang Yuliang , Yi Hong , Li Yali , Cheng Yongde , Liu Chao , Lei Aiwen
Published: April 2015

The selective radical/radical cross‐coupling of two different organic radicals is a great challenge due to the inherent activity of radicals. In this paper, a copper‐catalyzed radical/radical CH/PH cross‐coupling has been developed. It provides a radical/radical cross‐coupling in a selective manner. This work offers a simple way toward β‐ketophosphonates by oxidative coupling of aryl ketone o‐acetyloximes with phosphine oxides using CuCl as catalyst and PCy3 as ligand in dioxane under N2 atmosphere at 130 °C for 5 h, and yields ranging from 47 % to 86 %. The preliminary mechanistic studies by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) showed that, 1) the reduction of ketone o‐acetyloximes generates iminium radicals, which could isomerize to α‐sp3‐carbon radical species; 2) phosphorus radicals were generated from the oxidation of phosphine oxides. Various aryl ketone o‐acetyloximes and phosphine oxides were suitable for this transformation.