bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capacity reliability of water distribution systems
Authors: Vaabel J. , Koppel T. , Ainola L. , Sarv L.
Published: August 2015

Hydraulic power capacity of the water distribution network (WDN) is analyzed, and energetically maximum flows in pipes and networks are determined. The concept of hydraulic power for the analysis of WDN characteristics is presented. Hydraulic power capacity characterizes the WDN capacity to meet pressure and flow demands. A capacity reliability indicator called the surplus power factor is introduced for individual transmission pipes and for distribution networks. The surplus power factor s that characterizes the reliability of the hydraulic system can be used along with other measures developed to quantify the hydraulic reliability of water networks. The coefficient of the hydraulic efficiency ηn of the network is defined. A water distribution system in service is analyzed to demonstrate the s and ηn values in the water network in service under different demand conditions. In order to calculate the s factor for WDNs, a network resistance coefficient C was determined. The coefficient C characterizes overall head losses in water pipelines and is a basis for the s factor calculation. This paper presents a theoretical approach to determine the coefficient C through matrix equations.
Linearized analysis of X-ray stress measurement using the Debye–Scherrer ring
Authors: Miyazaki Toshiyuki , Sasaki Toshihiko
Published: August 2015

A linearized analysis of the Debye–Scherrer ring (D–S ring) is proposed in this paper. In our previous works, the authors reported on a technique to calculate stress from the Fourier series of the normal strain of a D–S ring and demonstrated a technique to calculate stress from an imperfect D–S ring. In fact, the same equation can be deduced by linearizing the equation for the D–S ring. We analyzed the data from our previous work to demonstrate this technique. In addition, we propose a data selection technique that uses the distance between the measured data and the hyperplane.
Molecular Targeted Intervention for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mohammed Altaf , Janakiram Naveena , Pant Shubham , Rao Chinthalapally
Published: August 2015

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the worst cancers, with almost uniform lethality. PC risk is associated with westernized diet, tobacco, alcohol, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and family history of pancreatic cancer. New targeted agents and the use of various therapeutic combinations have yet to provide adequate treatments for patients with advanced cancer. To design better preventive and/or treatment strategies against PC, knowledge of PC pathogenesis at the molecular level is vital. With the advent of genetically modified animals, significant advances have been made in understanding the molecular biology and pathogenesis of PC. Currently, several clinical trials and preclinical evaluations are underway to investigate novel agents that target signaling defects in PC. An important consideration in evaluating novel drugs is determining whether an agent can reach the target in concentrations effective to treat the disease. Recently, we have reported evidence for chemoprevention of PC. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of current updates on molecularly targeted interventions, as well as dietary, phytochemical, immunoregulatory, and microenvironment-based approaches for the development of novel therapeutic and preventive regimens. Special attention is given to prevention and treatment in preclinical genetically engineered mouse studies and human clinical studies.
Deformed Algebras and Generalizations of Independence on Deformed Exponential Families
Authors: Matsuzoe Hiroshi , Wada Tatsuaki
Published: August 2015

A deformed exponential family is a generalization of exponential families. Since the useful classes of power law tailed distributions are described by the deformed exponential families, they are important objects in the theory of complex systems. Though the deformed exponential families are defined by deformed exponential functions, these functions do not satisfy the law of exponents in general. The deformed algebras have been introduced based on the deformed exponential functions. In this paper, after summarizing such deformed algebraic structures, it is clarified how deformed algebras work on deformed exponential families. In fact, deformed algebras cause generalization of expectations. The three kinds of expectations for random variables are introduced in this paper, and it is discussed why these generalized expectations are natural from the viewpoint of information geometry. In addition, deformed algebras cause generalization of independences. Whereas it is difficult to check the well-definedness of deformed independence in general, the κ-independence is always well-defined on κ-exponential families. This is one of advantages of κ-exponential families in complex systems. Consequently, we can well generalize the maximum likelihood method for the κ-exponential family from the viewpoint of information geometry.
A New Adsorbent Composite Material Based on Metal Fiber Technology and Its Application in Adsorption Heat Exchangers
Authors: Wittstadt Ursula , Füldner Gerrit , Andersen Olaf , Herrmann Ralph , Schmidt Ferdinand
Published: August 2015

In order to achieve process intensification for adsorption chillers and heat pumps, a new composite material was developed based on sintered aluminum fibers from a melt-extraction process and a dense layer of silico-aluminophosphate (SAPO-34) on the fiber surfaces. The SAPO-34 layer was obtained through a partial support transformation (PST) process. Preparation of a composite sample is described and its characteristic pore size distribution and heat conductivity are presented. Water adsorption data obtained under conditions of a large pressure jump are given. In the next step, preparation of the composite was scaled up to larger samples which were fixed on a small adsorption heat exchanger. Adsorption measurements on this heat exchanger element that confirm the achieved process intensification are presented. The specific cooling power for the adsorption step per volume of composite is found to exceed 500 kW/m3 under specified conditions.
Refrigerated Shelf Life of a Coconut Water-Oatmeal Mix and the Viability of Lactobacillus Plantarum Lp 115-400B
Authors: Dharmasena Muthu , Barron Felix , Fraser Angela , Jiang Xiuping
Published: August 2015

Non-dairy probiotic products have the advantage of being lactose-free and can be manufactured to sustain the growth of probiotics. In this study, coconut water and oatmeal were used with the probiotic, Lactobacillus plantarum Lp 115-400B (L. plantarum) as a starter culture. Two separate treatments were carried out probiotic (P) and probiotic and prebiotic (PP) added. In both treatments, oatmeal-coconut water matrix was inoculated with 7 log CFU/g of L. plantarum and fermented at 27 °C for 10 h. For the PP treatment, 1 g of inulin/100 mL of the product was added additionally. The fermented products were then refrigerated (4 °C) and the viability of L. plantarum, pH, total acidity, and apparent viscosity of the matrix were monitored at selected time intervals. The shelf life to reach was defined by maintenance of L. plantarum count of 7 log CFU/g product. Refrigerated shelf life was determined to be seven-weeks for the P treatment and five-weeks for PP treatment. A significant reduction of pH was observed at the end of the considered shelf life; conversely, the apparent viscosity of the product did not change significantly.
Wnt3a Promotes the Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation of Colon Cancer via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Qi Lisha , Song Wangzhao , Liu Zhiyong , Zhao Xiulan , Cao Wenfeng , Sun Baocun
Published: August 2015

Our previous study provided evidence that non-canonical Wnt signaling is involved in regulating vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation. However, the functions of canonical Wnt signaling in VM formation have not yet been explored. In this study, we found the presence of VM was related to colon cancer histological differentiation (p < 0.001), the clinical stage (p < 0.001), and presence of metastasis and recurrence (p < 0.001). VM-positive colon cancer samples showed increased Wnt3a expression (p < 0.001) and β-catenin nuclear expression (p < 0.001) compared with the VM-negative samples. In vitro, over-regulated Wnt3a expression in HT29 colon cancer cells promoted the capacity to form tube-like structures in the three-dimensional (3-D) culture together with increased expression of endothelial phenotype-associated proteins such as VEGFR2 and VE-cadherin. The mouse xenograft model showed that Wnt3a-overexpressing cells grew into larger tumor masses and formed more VM than the control cells. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling antagonist Dickkopf-1(Dkk1) can reverse the capacity to form tube-like structures and can decrease the expressions of VEGFR2 and VE-cadherin in Wnt3a-overexpressing cells. Taken together, our results suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in VM formation in colon cancer and might contribute to the development of more accurate treatment modalities aimed at VM.
Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–associated Glomerulonephritis Complicated by Pneumatosis Intestinalis
Authors: Nakagawa Saki , Akimoto Tetsu , Takeda Shin-ichi , Okada Mari , Miki Atsushi , Yamamoto Hisashi , Muto Shigeaki , Kusano Eiji , Nagata Daisuke
Published: August 2015

Pneumatosis intestinalis is a characteristic imaging phenomenon indicating the presence of gas in the bowel wall. The link between pneumatosis intestinalis and various kinds of autoimmune diseases has been reported anecdotally, while information regarding the cases with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)–associated vasculitis complicated by concurrent pneumatosis intestinalis is lacking. In this report, we describe our serendipitous experience with one such case of pneumatosis intestinalis in a patient with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. We also discuss several therapeutic concerns that arose in the current case, which had an impact on the pathogenesis of the disease.
How Many Genes are Needed to Resolve Phylogenetic Incongruence?
Authors: Ai Bin , Kang Ming
Published: August 2015

The question how many genes are needed to resolve phylogenetic incongruence has been investigated at various taxonomic levels, yet few studies have investigated the minimum required numbers of selected genes based on single-gene tree performance at the genus level or lower. We conducted resampling analyses by compiling transcriptome-based single-copy nuclear gene sequences of 11 species of Primulina (Gesneriaceae) to investigate the minimum numbers of both random and selected genes needed to resolve the phylogeny. Only 8 of the 26 selected genes were sufficient for full resolution, while 175 genes were needed if all 830 random genes were used. Our results provided a baseline for future sampling strategies of gene numbers in molecular phylogenetic studies of speciose taxa. The gene selection strategies based on single-gene tree performance are strongly recommended in phylogenic analyses.
Review: Recent advances in evaluation of bags made from different textiles used in situ ruminal degradation
Authors: Valente Tiago Neves Pereira , Detmann Edenio , Sampaio Cláudia Batista
Published: August 2015

Valente, T. N. P., Detmann, E. and Sampaio, C. B. 2015. Review: Recent advances in evaluation of bags made from different textiles used in situ ruminal degradation. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 95: 493–498. Textile bags are used in the laboratory to analyze the indigestible contents (internal markers) of feedstuffs after in situ ruminal incubation. Information is needed on the rate and extent of degradation in the rumen using bags made from different materials. In situ techniques have been used extensively to measure the degradation of feedstuffs in the rumen. However, in situ techniques are prone to variability. This paper reviews the effects of particle size, the material from which bags are made, pore size, tensile strength of the bags, in situ estimation of the levels of indigestible compounds [indigestible dry matter (iDM), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF)], rumen degradation profiles, and the use of bags made from nylon (50 µm), F57 (Ankom®), and non-woven textile (100 g m−2).
Integrable Systems and Torelli Theorems for the Moduli Spaces of Parabolic Bundles and Parabolic Higgs Bundles
Authors: Biswas Indranil , Gómez Tomás L. , Logares Marina
Published: August 2015

We prove a Torelli theorem for the moduli space of semistable parabolic Higgs bundles over a smooth complex projective algebraic curve under the assumption that the parabolic weight
systemis generic. When the genus is at least two, using this result we also prove a Torelli theoremfor the moduli space of semistable parabolic bundles of rank at least two with generic parabolic weights.
The key input in the proofs is a method of J.C. Hurtubise.
Contrail life cycle and properties from 1 year of MSG/SEVIRI rapid-scan images
Authors: Vázquez-Navarro M. , Mannstein H. , Kox S.
Published: August 2015

The automatic contrail tracking algorithm (ACTA) – developed to automatically follow contrails as they age, drift and spread – enables the study of a large number of contrails and the evolution of contrail properties with time. In this paper we present a year's worth of tracked contrails, from August 2008 to July 2009 in order to derive statistically significant mean values. The tracking is performed using the 5 min rapid-scan mode of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on board the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites. The detection is based on the high spatial resolution of the images provided by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on board the Terra satellite (Terra/MODIS), where a contrail detection algorithm (CDA) is applied. The results show the satellite-derived average lifetimes of contrails and contrail-cirrus along with the probability density function (PDF) of other geometric characteristics such as mean coverage, distribution and width. In combination with specifically developed algorithms (RRUMS; Rapid Retrieval of Upwelling irradiance from MSG/SEVIRI and COCS (Cirrus Optical properties derived from CALIOP and SEVIRI), explained below) it is possible to derive the radiative forcing (RF), energy forcing (EF), optical thickness (τ) and altitude of the tracked contrails. Mean values here retrieved are duration, 1 h; length, 130 km; width, 8 km; altitude, 11.7 km; optical thickness, 0.34. Radiative forcing and energy forcing are shown for land/water backgrounds in day/night situations.
Source attribution and process analysis for atmospheric mercury in eastern China simulated by CMAQ-Hg
Authors: Zhu J. , Wang T. , Bieser J. , Matthias V.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The contribution from different emission sources and atmospheric processes to gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), particulate bound mercury (PBM) and mercury deposition in eastern China were quantified using the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ-Hg) modeling system run with a nested domain. Natural sources (NAT) and six categories of anthropogenic mercury sources (ANTH) including cement production (CEM), domestic life (DOM), industrial boilers (IND), metal production (MET), coal-fired power plants (PP) and traffic (TRA) were considered for source apportionment. NAT were responsible for 36.6 % of annual averaged GEM concentration, which was regarded as the most important source for GEM in spite of obvious seasonal variation. Among ANTH, the influence of MET and PP on GEM were most evident especially in winter. ANTH dominated the variations of GOM and PBM concentrations with contributions of 86.7 and 79.1 %, respectively. Among ANTH, IND were the largest contributor for GOM (57.5 %) and PBM (34.4 %) so that most mercury deposition came from IND. The effect of mercury emitted from out of China was indicated by a > 30 % contribution to GEM concentration and wet deposition. The contributions from nine processes – consisting of emissions (EMIS), gas-phase chemical production/loss (CHEM), horizontal advection (HADV), vertical advection (ZADV), horizontal advection (HDIF), vertical diffusion (VDIF), dry deposition (DDEP), cloud processes (CLDS) and aerosol processes (AERO) – were calculated for process analysis with their comparison in urban and non-urban regions of the Yangtze River delta (YRD). EMIS and VDIF affected surface GEM and PBM concentrations most and tended to compensate each other all the time in both urban and non-urban areas. However, DDEP was the most important removal process for GOM with 7.3 and 2.9 ng m−3 reduced in the surface of urban and non-urban areas, respectively, in 1 day. The diurnal profile variation of processes revealed the transportation of GOM from urban area to non-urban areas and the importance of CHEM/AERO in higher altitudes which partly caused diffusion of GOM downwards to non-urban areas. Most of the anthropogenic mercury was transported and diffused away from urban areas by HADV and VDIF and increased mercury concentrations in non-urban areas by HADV. Natural emissions only influenced CHEM and AERO more significantly than anthropogenic. Local emissions in the YRD contributed 8.5 % more to GEM and ~ 30 % more to GOM and PBM in urban areas compared to non-urban areas.
Seasonal variation of secondary organic aerosol tracers in Central Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Shen R.-Q. , Ding X. , He Q.-F. , Cong Z.-Y. , Yu Q.-Q. , Wang X.-M.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) affects the earth's radiation balance and global climate. High-elevation areas are sensitive to global climate change. However, at present, SOA origins and seasonal variations are understudied in remote high-elevation areas. In this study, particulate samples were collected from July 2012 to July 2013 at the remote Nam Co (NC) site, Central Tibetan Plateau and analyzed for SOA tracers from biogenic (isoprene, monoterpenes and β-caryophyllene) and anthropogenic (aromatics) precursors. Among these compounds, isoprene SOA (SOAI) tracers represented the majority (26.6 ± 44.2 ng m−3), followed by monoterpene SOA (SOAM) tracers (0.97 ± 0.57 ng m−3), aromatic SOA (SOAA) tracer (2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, DHOPA, 0.25 ± 0.18 ng m−3) and β-caryophyllene SOA tracer (β-caryophyllenic acid, 0.09 ± 0.10 ng m−3). SOAI tracers exhibited high concentrations in the summer and low levels in the winter. The similar temperature dependence of SOAI tracers and isoprene emission suggested that the seasonal variation of SOAI tracers at the NC site was mainly influenced by the isoprene emission. The ratio of high-NOx to low-NOx products of SOAI (2-methylglyceric acid to 2-methyltetrols) was highest in the winter and lowest in the summer, due to the influence of temperature and relative humidity. The seasonal variation of SOAM tracers was impacted by monoterpenes emission and gas-particle partitioning. During the summer to the fall, temperature effect on partitioning was the dominant process influencing SOAM tracers' variation; while the temperature effect on emission was the dominant process influencing SOAM tracers' variation during the winter to the spring. SOAM tracer levels did not elevate with increased temperature in the summer, probably resulting from the counteraction of temperature effects on emission and partitioning. The concentrations of DHOPA were 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than those reported in the urban regions of the world. Due to the transport of air pollutants from the adjacent Bangladesh and northeastern India, DHOPA presented relatively higher levels in the summer. In the winter when air masses mainly came from northwestern India, mass fractions of DHOPA in total tracers increased, although its concentrations declined. The SOA-tracer method was applied to estimate secondary organic carbon (SOC) from these four precursors. The annual average of SOC was 0.22 ± 0.29 μgC m−3, with the biogenic SOC (sum of isoprene, monoterpenes and β-caryophyllene) accounting for 75 %. In the summer, isoprene was the major precursor with its SOC contributions of 81 %. In the winter when the emission of biogenic precursors largely dropped, the contributions of aromatic SOC increased. Our study implies that anthropogenic pollutants emitted in the Indian subcontinent could be transported to the TP and have an impact on SOC over the remote NC.
Measurement-based direct radiative effect by brown carbon over Indo-Gangetic Plain
Authors: Arola A. , Schuster G. L. , Pitkänen M. R. A. , Dubovik O. , Kokkola H. , Lindfors A. V. , Mielonen T. , Raatikainen T. , Romakkaniemi S. , Tripathi S. N. , Lihavainen H.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The importance of light absorbing organic aerosols, often called brown carbon (BrC), has become evident in recent years. However, there are relatively few measurement-based estimates for the direct radiative effect of BrC so far. In those earlier studies, the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) measured Aerosol Absorption Optical Depth (AAOD) and Absorption Angstrom Exponent (AAE) have been exploited. However, these two pieces of information are clearly not sufficient to separate properly carbonaceous aerosols from dust, while imaginary indices of refraction would contain more and better justified information for this purpose. This is first time that the direct radiative effect (DRE) of BrC is estimated by exploiting the AERONET-retrieved imaginary indices. We estimated it for four sites in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), Karachi, Lahore, Kanpur and Gandhi College. We found a distinct seasonality, which was generally similar among all the sites, but with slightly different strengths. The monthly warming effect up to 0.5 W m-2 takes place during spring season. On the other hand, BrC results in overall cooling effect in the winter season, which can reach levels close to −1W m-2. We then estimated similarly also DRE of black carbon and total aerosol, in order to assess the relative significance of BrC radiative effect in the radiative effects of other components. Even though BrC impact seems minor in this context, we demonstrated that it is not insignificant and moreover that it is crucial to perform spectrally resolved radiative transfer calculations to obtain good estimates for DRE of BrC.
Size distribution and optical properties of mineral dust aerosols transported in the western Mediterranean
Authors: Denjean C. , Cassola F. , Mazzino A. , Triquet S. , Chevaillier S. , Grand N. , Bourrianne T. , Momboisse G. , Sellegri K. , Schwarzenbock A. , Freney E. , Mallet M. , Formenti P.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. This study presents in situ aircraft measurements of Saharan mineral dust transported over the western Mediterranean basin in June–July 2013 during the ChArMEx/ADRIMED (the Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment/Aerosol Direct Radiative Impact on the regional climate in the MEDiterranean region) airborne campaign. Dust events differing in terms of source region (Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco), time of tranport (1–5 days) and height of transport were sampled. Mineral dust were transported above the marine boundary layer, which conversely was dominated by pollution and marine aerosols. The dust vertical structure was extremely variable and characterized by either a single layer or a more complex and stratified structure with layers originating from different source regions. Mixing of mineral dust with pollution particles was observed depending on the height of transport of the dust layers. Dust layers carried higher concentration of pollution particles at intermediate altitude (1–3 km) than at elevated altitude (> 3 km), resulting in scattering Angstrom exponent up to 2.2 within the intermediate altitude. However, the optical properties of the dust plumes remained practically unchanged with respect to values previously measured over source regions, regardless of the altitude. Moderate light absorption of the dust plumes was observed with values of aerosol single scattering albedo at 530 nm ranging from 0.90 to 1.00 ± 0.04. Concurrent calculations from the aerosol chemical composition revealed a negligible contribution of pollution particles to the absorption properties of the dust plumes that was due to a low contribution of refractory black carbon in regards to the fraction of dust and sulfate particles. This suggests that, even in the presence of moderate pollution, likely a persistent feature in the Mediterranean, the optical properties of the dust plumes could be assimilated to those of native dust in radiative transfer simulations, modeling studies and satellite retrievals over the Mediterranean. Measurements also showed that the coarse mode of mineral dust was conserved even after 5 days of transport in the Mediterranean, which contrasts with the gravitational depletion of large particles observed during the transport of dust plumes over the Atlantic. Simulations with the WRF mesoscale meteorological model highlighted a strong vertical turbulence within the dust layers that could prevent deposition of large particles during their atmospheric transport. This has important implications for the dust radiative effects due to surface dimming, atmospheric heating and cloud formation. The results presented here add to the observational dataset necessary for evaluating the role of mineral dust on the regional climate and rainfall patterns in the western Mediterranean basin.
Operation of the Airmodus A11 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter at various inlet pressures, various operation temperatures and design of a new inlet system
Authors: Kangasluoma J. , Franchin A. , Duplissy J. , Ahonen L. , Korhonen F. , Attoui M. , Mikkilä J. , Lehtipalo K. , Vanhanen J. , Kulmala M. , Petäjä T.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Measuring sub-3 nm particles outside of controlled laboratory conditions is a challenging task, as many of the instruments are operated at their limits and are subjected to changing ambient conditions. In this study, we advance the current understanding on the operation of Airmodus A11 nano Condensation Nucleus Counter (nCNC), which consists of a A10 Particle Size Magnifier (PSM) and A20 condensation particle counter (CPC). We explore the effect of the inlet line pressure on the measured particle concentration. We identify two different regions inside the instrument where supersaturation of working fluid can take place. We show the possibility of varying the cut-off of the instrument from 1 to 6 nm, a wider size range than the one usually covered by the PSM. We also present a new inlet system, which allows automated measurements of the background, minimizes the diffusion losses in the sampling line and is equipped with an electrostatic filter to remove ions. Finally, our view of the guidelines for optimal use of the Airmodus nCNC are provided.
Known and unknown unknowns: the application of ensemble techniques to uncertainty estimation in satellite remote sensing data
Authors: Povey A. C. , Grainger R. G.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. This paper discusses a best-practice representation of uncertainty in satellite remote sensing data. An estimate of uncertainty is necessary to make appropriate use of the information conveyed by a measurement. Traditional error propagation quantifies the uncertainty in a measurement due to well-understood perturbations in a measurement and auxiliary data – known, quantified "unknowns". The underconstrained nature of most satellite remote sensing observations requires the use of various approximations and assumptions that produce non-linear systematic errors that are not readily assessed – known, unquantifiable "unknowns". Additional errors result from the inability to resolve all scales of variation in the measured quantity – unknown "unknowns". The latter two categories of error are dominant in underconstrained remote sensing retrievals and the difficulty of their quantification limits the utility of existing uncertainty estimates, degrading confidence in such data. This paper proposes the use of ensemble techniques to present multiple self-consistent realisations of a data set as a means of depicting unquantified uncertainties. These are generated using various systems (different algorithms or forward models) believed to be appropriate to the conditions observed. Benefiting from the experience of the climate modelling community, an ensemble provides a user with a more complete representation of the uncertainty as understood by the data producer and greater freedom to consider different realisations of the data.
Space-borne observation of methane from atmospheric infrared sounder version 6: validation and implications for data analysis
Authors: Xiong X. , Weng F. , Liu Q. , Olsen E.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Atmospheric Methane (CH4) is generated as a standard product in recent version of the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS-V6) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite at the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (NASA/GES/DISC). Significant improvements in AIRS-V6 was expected but without a thorough validation. This paper first introduced the improvements of CH4 retrieval in AIRS-V6 and some characterizations, then presented the results of validation using ~ 1000 aircraft profiles from several campaigns spread over a couple of years and in different regions. It was found the mean biases of AIRS CH4 at layers 343–441 and 441–575 hPa are −0.76 and −0.05 % and the RMS errors are 1.56 and 1.16 %, respectively. Further analysis demonstrates that the errors in the spring and in the high northern latitudes are larger than in other seasons or regions. The error is correlated with Degree of Freedoms (DOFs), particularly in the tropics or in the summer, and cloud amount, suggesting that the "observed" spatiotemporal variation of CH4 by AIRS is imbedded with some artificial impact from the retrieval sensitivity in addition to its variation in reality, so the variation of information content in the retrievals needs to be taken into account in data analysis of the retrieval products. Some additional filtering (i.e. rejection of profiles with obvious oscillation as well as those deviating greatly from the norm) for quality control is recommended for the users to better utilize AIRS-V6 CH4, and their implementation in the future versions of the AIRS retrieval algorithm is under consideration.
Mitigation of agricultural emissions in the tropics: comparing forest land-sparing options at the national level
Authors: Carter S. , Herold M. , Rufino M. C. , Neumann K. , Kooistra L. , Verchot L.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation are of global concern, but forest land-sparing interventions such as agricultural intensification and utilization of available non-forest land offer opportunities for mitigation. In many tropical countries, where agriculture is the major driver of deforestation, interventions in the agriculture sector could reduce deforestation emissions as well as reduce emissions in the agriculture sector. Our study uses a novel approach to quantify agriculture-driven deforestation and associated emissions in the tropics between 2000 and 2010. Emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation in the tropics (97 countries) are 4.3 GtCO2e yr−1. We investigate the national potential to mitigate these emissions through forest land-sparing interventions, which can potentially be implemented under REDD+. We consider intensification and utilization of available non-forested land as forest land-sparing opportunities since they avoid the expansion of agriculture into forested land. In addition, we assess the potential to reduce agricultural emissions on existing agriculture land. The use of a systematic framework demonstrates the selection of mitigation interventions by considering sequentially the level of emissions, mitigation potential of various interventions, enabling environment and associated risks to livelihoods at the national level. Our results show that considering only countries with high emissions from agriculture-driven deforestation, with potential for forest-sparing interventions and a good enabling environment (e.g. effective governance or engagement in REDD+), there is a potential to mitigate 1.3 GtCO2e yr−1 (20 countries of 78 with sufficient data). For countries where we identify agricultural emissions as a priority for mitigation, up to 1 GtCO2e yr−1 could be reduced from the agriculture sector including livestock. Risks to livelihoods from implementing interventions based on national level data call for detailed investigation at the local level to inform decisions on mitigation interventions. Three case studies demonstrate the use of the analytical framework. The inherent link between the agriculture and forestry sectors due to competition for land suggests that these sectors cannot be considered independently. Our findings highlight the need to include the forest and the agricultural sectors in the decision-making process to mitigate deforestation.
Nonlinear effects of locally heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity fields on regional stream–aquifer exchanges
Authors: Zhu J. , Winter C. L. , Wang Z.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Computational experiments are performed to evaluate the effects of locally heterogeneous conductivity fields on regional exchanges of water between stream and aquifer systems in the Middle Heihe River Basin (MHRB) of northwestern China. The effects are found to be nonlinear in the sense that simulated discharges from aquifers to streams are systematically lower than discharges produced by a base model parameterized with relatively coarse effective conductivity. A similar, but weaker, effect is observed for stream leakage. The study is organized around three hypotheses: (H1) small-scale spatial variations of conductivity significantly affect regional exchanges of water between streams and aquifers in river basins, (H2) aggregating small-scale heterogeneities into regional effective parameters systematically biases estimates of stream–aquifer exchanges, and (H3) the biases result from slow-paths in groundwater flow that emerge due to small-scale heterogeneities. The hypotheses are evaluated by comparing stream–aquifer fluxes produced by the base model to fluxes simulated using realizations of the MHRB characterized by local (grid-scale) heterogeneity. Levels of local heterogeneity are manipulated as control variables by adjusting coefficients of variation. All models are implemented using the MODFLOW simulation environment, and the PEST tool is used to calibrate effective conductivities defined over 16 zones within the MHRB. The effective parameters are also used as expected values to develop log-normally distributed conductivity (K) fields on local grid scales. Stream-aquifer exchanges are simulated with K fields at both scales and then compared. Results show that the effects of small-scale heterogeneities significantly influence exchanges with simulations based on local-scale heterogeneities always producing discharges that are less than those produced by the base model. Although aquifer heterogeneities are uncorrelated at local scales, they appear to induce coherent slow-paths in groundwater fluxes that in turn reduce aquifer–stream exchanges. Since surface water–groundwater exchanges are critical hydrologic processes in basin-scale water budgets, these results also have implications for water resources management.
Leisure time physical activity, smoking and risk of recent symptomatic urolithiasis: Survey of stone clinic patients
Authors: Soueidan Michael , Bartlett Susan J. , Noureldin Yasser A. , Andersen Ross E. , Andonian Sero
Published: August 2015

Introduction: We explore relationships between selected lifestyle factors and recent (≤6 months) symptomatic urolithiasis (RSU).Methods: Surveys querying socio-demographic, medical history, physical activity, diet and smoking were administered to a convenience sample of stone clinic patients at a tertiary care hospital. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long form). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associations between risk factors and RSU.Results: Of the 163 participants, most were male (64%) and white (78%), with a mean (standard deviation) age of 56.3 (14.2) years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.3 (5.4) kg/m2 and 57 (35%) patients reported RSU. No significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed between participants with and without RSU in age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, or diet. Of the cohort, 52 (35%) participants met physical activity guidelines for walking (29%), moderate (27%) or vigorous activity (29%). LTPA did not differ significantly by RSU status. Compared to those without RSU, participants with RSU had higher rates of smoking (7% vs. 21%, p = 0.02 and had 8.5 (95% confidence interval 2.2–32.2) times the odds of being current smokers after controlling for sex, diet, and LTPA.Conclusions: Physical inactivity and smoking are common among stone clinic patients, though LPTA was not associated with RSU. Study limitations include its small sample size, selection bias, and reliance on self-reported RSU (recall bias). In addition, participants may have already been following dietary recommendations to prevent urolithiasis recurrence. Nonetheless, current smoking was a potent predictor of RSU. When desired, smokers should be referred for smoking cessation.
The Visible Hand: Ensuring Optimal Investment in Electric Power Generation
Authors: Léautier Thomas-Olivier
Published: August 2015

This article formally analyzes the various corrective mechanisms that have been proposed and implemented to alleviate underinvestment in electric power generation. It yields three main analytical findings. First, physical capacity certificates markets implemented in the United States restore optimal investment if and only if they are supplemented with a “no short sale” condition, i.e., producers can not sell more certificates than they have installed capacity. Then, they raise producers’ profits beyond the imperfect competition level. Second, financial reliability options, proposed in many markets, are effective at curbing market power, although they fail to fully restore investment incentives. If “no short sale” conditions are added, both physical capacity certificates and financial reliability options are equivalent. Finally, a single market for energy and operating reserves subject to a price cap is isomorphic to a simple energy market. Standard peak-load pricing analysis applies: under-investment occurs, unless production is perfectly competitive and the cap is never binding.
Digitale identificatie
Authors: Zwanikken G.G.
Published: August 2015

Digitale identificatie. Reactie op ‘De overheid als verschaffer en beschermer van digitale identiteiten’

Het toerekenen van rechtshandelingen blijkt uit de ondertekening. Voor de opkomst van de digitale werkelijkheid was een handtekening ‘de ouderwetse krabbel op een stuk papier’. Digitaal is die natte handtekening niet mogelijk; een scan, kopie of faxafdruk van een natte handtekening is geen echte handtekening en fraudegevoelig. Richting overheid wordt de digitale authenticiteit thans gewaarborgd door DigiD. DigiD is helaas zo lek als een mandje. De overheid werkt zelf de identiteitsfraude in de hand. Nederland loopt achter in het verschaffen van een digitale identiteit aan zijn burgers. De oplossing is de elektronische identiteitskaart in te voeren. Met een blik naar de Belgische regelgeving lijkt het een klusje van niks. De Belgische wetgeving is luid en duidelijk, is opgesteld in de Nederlandse taal en is mede gebaseerd op meer dan tien jaar ervaring met die elektronische identiteitskaart. Onder de noemer ‘beter goed gejat dan slecht verzonnen’ behoeft slechts artikel 3 van de Paspoortuitvoeringsregeling Nederland 2001 te worden aangevuld met de bepalingen zoals geregeld in België. Het kabinet dient de elektronische identiteitskaart in te voeren.
Bemiddeling bij Belgische class actions
Authors: Taeymans Marc
Published: August 2015

Mediation in Belgian class actions

The author discusses the details of the new Belgian statute on class actions. An intriguing part of the new legislation is that friendly negotiations between the disputing parties are strongly encouraged, yet the intervention of a professional mediator is wholly absent from the law. This is surprising, as the author emphasizes, in view of the procedural safeguards that mediation entails, safeguards that could also be of use in mass litigation.
The path from ‘calculating the cost of conflicts’ towards ‘cooperation controlling’
Authors: Hauska Elvira , Exenberger Berndt
Published: August 2015

The path from ‘calculating the cost of conflicts’ towards ‘cooperation controlling’

In this contribution the author(s) contend that controlling cooperation is a better appraoch to succesfully meet the mediation paradox (discussed a.o. by De Palo et al. in the European Parliament Rebooting study) and the conflict management paradox, than merely calculating the costs of conflicts. The author(s) discuss the phenomenon of denial gap, and summarize some of the results they achieved with their team spirit barometer in surveys among Austrian managers during the past few years.
Dynamics of thermally induced ice streams simulated with a higher‐order flow model
Authors: Brinkerhoff D. J. , Johnson J. V.
Published: August 2015

We use a new discretization technique to solve the higher‐order thermomechanically coupled equations of glacier evolution. We find that under radially symmetric continuum equations, small perturbations in symmetry due to the discretization are sufficient to produce the initiation of nonsymmetric thermomechanical instabilities which we interpret as ice streams, in good agreement with previous studieswhich have indicated a similar instability. We find that the inclusion of membrane stresses regularizes the size of predicted streams, eliminating the ill‐posedness evident in previous investigations of ice stream generation through thermomechanical instability. Ice streams exhibit strongly irregular periodicity which is influenced by neighboring ice streams and the synoptic state of the ice stream. Ice streams are not always the same size but instead appear to follow a temperature‐dependent distribution of widths that is robust to grid refinement. The morphology of the predicted ice streams corresponds reasonably well to extant ice streams in physically similar environments.
Best Practice Recommendations Still Fail to Result in Action: A National 10‐Year Follow‐up Study of Investigative Interviews in CSA Cases
Authors: Johnson Miriam , Magnussen Svein , Thoresen Christian , Lønnum Kyrre , Burrell Lisa Victoria , Melinder Annika
Published: August 2015

The present study examined a national sample of Norwegian investigative interviews in alleged child sexual abuse cases (N = 224) across a 10‐year period (2002–2012), in order to decide whether practice had improved over the decade in terms of the types of questions asked. The results indicate that the frequency of open‐ended, directive, option‐posing, and suggestive questions asked was unchanged during the 10‐year period, but that the frequency of repeated questions had increased significantly. When analyzed together with the results from a previous study of interview practice covering the period of 1990–2002, long‐term trends were found to be similarly stable, with no change in the frequency of open‐ended and suggestive questions asked over a 22‐year perspective. However, a decreasing frequency of option‐posing questions observed accompanied by an increasing frequency of directive questions may be considered a positive trend. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile synthesis of functional copolymers with pendant vinyl groups by using asymmetrical divinyl monomers
Authors: Yang Hongjun , Bai Tao , Xue Xiaoqiang , Huang Wenyan , Chen Jianhai , Qian Xiaolei , Jiang Bibiao
Published: August 2015

Polymers bearing pendant vinyl groups have attracted significant attraction because they can be further modified for required applications, but their syntheses are still a big challenge. Herein, allyl methacrylate was catalyzed using a phosphazene base to homopolymerize or copolymerize with 2‐(N, N‐dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate, affording vinyl functional polymers, which were further successfully tailored by the thiol–ene coupling reaction. The result showed that both the homopolymerizations and copolymerizations could proceed at room temperature with very high monomer conversions. The contents of pendant double bonds in the copolymers were approximately equal to the monomer feeds, but the LCST of the statistical copolymers linearly decreased with increasing AMA content. This strategy offered a new scalable and facile strategy for vinyl functional polymers, would have a wide practical application in many fields. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42758.
Preparation of WO3 Thin Film by Successive Dip Coating for Electrochromic and Photoelectrochromic Devices
Authors: Park Jae‐Hyuk , Kang Jin Soo , Cha In Young , Kim Jin , Lee Kyung Jae , Sung Yung‐Eun
Published: August 2015

Here we report the superiority of WO3
thin films prepared by successive dip coating in electrochromic devices. Dip coatings were done on transparent conducting oxide substrates in the WO3
precursor solution a number of times without drying in between the coating steps. This process enabled the fabrication of WO3
films with optimum thickness and large roughness, which led to enhanced performance when they were employed as the electrode in electrochromic devices. We made a further observation by applying these electrodes in photoelectrochromic devices and verified the excellent properties of the successively dip‐coated WO3
films.
Scalable Preparation of LiFePO4/C Nanocomposites with sp2‐Coordinated Carbon Coating as High‐Performance Cathode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kretschmer Katja , Sun Bing , Su Dawei , Zhao Yufei , Wang Guoxiu
Published: August 2015

We hereby report carbon‐coated LiFePO4 cathode materials prepared by industrial ball milling and a solid‐state reaction with Li2CO3, NH4H2PO4, and FeC2O4⋅2 H2O as starting materials. Soluble starch as the primary carbon source was investigated for its capability of generating a highly graphitic carbon coating, whilst sufficiently controlling the crystal growth of LiFePO4. XRD analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical testing revealed the significant impact of the amount of starch added to the pre‐sintered precursor on phase purity, carbon quality, and electrochemical performance of the final LiFePO4/C composite. The optimum soluble starch content to achieve a highly sp2‐coordinated carbon coating is 10 wt %, which enabled our LiFePO4/C composite to achieve competitive reversible capacities as well as improved rate performance.
4,5‐Dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxadiazole: A Very Elusive Key Intermediate in Various Important Chemical Transformations
Authors: Banert Klaus , Singh Neeraj , Fiedler Benjamin , Friedrich Joachim , Korb Marcus , Lang Heinrich
Published: August 2015

4,5‐Dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxadiazoles are postulated to be key intermediates in the industrial synthesis of ketones from alkenes, in the alkylation of DNA in vivo, and in the decomposition of N‐nitrosoureas; they are also a subject of great interest for theoretical chemists. In the presented report, the formation of 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxadiazole and the subsequent decay into secondary products have been studied by NMR monitoring analysis. The elusive properties evading characterization have now been confirmed by 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy, and relevant 2D experiments at very low temperatures. Our experiments with suitably substituted N‐nitrosoureas using thallium(I) alkoxides as bases under apolar conditions answer important questions on the existence and the secondary products of 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐oxadiazole.