bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Faith-based organisations between service delivery and social change in contemporary China: The experience of Amity Foundation
Authors: Carino Theresa C.
Published: October 2016

China has undergone a profound paradigm shift in its approach to economic development since its policy of ‘opening and reform’ was first implemented in 1978. It has shifted rapidly from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one, speeding up its economic development through foreign investment, a more open market, access to advanced technologies and management experience. It is notable that its economic growth, marked by annual doubledigit rises in GDP over two decades, has lifted more than 400 million people out of extreme poverty. Today, the number of Chinese billionaires has ballooned, but so has the rich–poor gap. China’s ‘development’ has to address this urgent issue.This article examines, based on the experience of Amity Foundation, one of China’s largest faith-based organisations (FBOs), how religious organisations are being harnessed by the state to redress the wealth gap arising from ‘development’. The process of social engagement has empowered FBOs, made their presence more accepted and appreciated in Chinese society and contributed to the creation of more social and political space for a nascent civil society. The author argues that FBOs must provide visible, viable and replicable alternatives in their social practices that are firmly rooted in their faith, if they are to make any sustainable impact on the development debate.
Supply chain design approaches for supply chain resilience: A qualitative study of South African fast-moving consumer goods grocery manufacturers
Authors: Agigi Assilah , Niemann Wesley , Kotzé Theuns
Published: October 2016

Orientation: In today’s globalised and complex business environment, firms are ever more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, originating both internally and externally from the supply chain. Supply chain resilience minimises the impact of a disruption through design approaches, which allows the supply chain to respond appropriately to disruptive events.Research purpose: This article investigated the supply chain risks faced by grocery manufacturers in the South African fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry and explored supply chain design approaches that enable supply chain resilience.Motivation for the study: South African grocery manufacturers are faced with distinct risks. Whilst supply chain risk management studies have provided firms with certain guidelines to mitigate risk, supply chains are still vulnerable to unanticipated risks. Literature on supply chain resilience in the South African context is scant. The concept of supply chain resilience provides firms with strategies that are built into the supply chain that allow firms to react and recover swiftly from disruptions. Furthermore, supply chain resilience strategies assist firms in becoming less vulnerable to possible disruptions.Research design approach and method: This study was conducted by using a descriptive qualitative research design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior supply chain practitioners specifically within the South African FMCG grocery manufacturing industry.Main findings: The study found that labour unrest is the most common risk faced by the industry. Furthermore, strategic stock and supply chain mapping are of the most useful design approaches to enhance supply chain resilience.Practical/managerial implications: The study provides managers with new insights in guiding supply chain design decisions for resilient supply chains. Through the identification of risks and appropriate solutions linked to the various risks, the study allows managers an array of options to choose from when enforcing a resilient supply chain.Contribution/ value-add: The study contributes to the body of knowledge by being one of the first empirical studies conducted on supply chain design approaches for supply chain resilience in the South African context. The study also adds to the scarce literature on supply chain resilience in the FMCG industry, both globally and in a South African context.
Engaging with learners’ errors when teaching mathematics
Authors: Sapire Ingrid , Shalem Yael , Wilson-Thompson Bronwen , Paulsen Ronél
Published: October 2016

Teachers come across errors not only in tests but also in their mathematics classrooms virtually every day. When they respond to learners’ errors in their classrooms, during or after teaching, teachers are actively carrying out formative assessment. In South Africa the Annual National Assessment, a written test under the auspices of the Department of Basic Education, requires that teachers use learner data diagnostically. This places a new and complex cognitive demand on teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge. We argue that teachers’ involvement in, and application of, error analysis is an integral aspect of teacher knowledge. The Data Informed Practice Improvement Project was one of the first attempts in South Africa to include teachers in a systematic process of interpretation of learners’ performance data. In this article we analyse video data of teachers’ engagement with errors during interactions with learners in their classrooms and in one-on-one interviews with learners (17 lessons and 13 interviews). The schema of teachers’ knowledge of error analysis and the complexity of its application are discussed in relation to Ball’s domains of knowledge and Hugo’s explanation of the relation between cognitive and pedagogical loads. The analysis suggests that diagnostic assessment requires teachers to focus their attention on the germane load of the task and this in turn requires awareness of error and the use of specific probing questions in relation to learners’ diagnostic reasoning. Quantitative and qualitative data findings show the difficulty of this activity. For the 62 teachers who took part in this project, the demands made by diagnostic assessment exceeded their capacity, resulting in many instances (mainly in the classroom) where teachers ignored learners’ errors or dealt with them partially.
A narrative interpretation of the cultural impressions on water of the communities along the Vaal River, Parys, Free State
Authors: Mboweni Tribute J. , De Crom Engela P.
Published: October 2016

This article is about the significance of the Vaal River for the communities inhabiting the area. Using the interpretation of narratives and rituals, the extent of the connection or disconnection between the communities and the aquatic environment is described. Traditional rituals, religious practices and beliefs associated with the river form an important part of the lives of people living in the area. Results show that industrial development and urbanisation have direct implications not only on the environment but also on the cultural lives and practices of the communities in the areas where these occur. Because of its impact on the environment, development has a direct impact on the people who depend on the environment for both their physical and spiritual well-being. Any form of sustainable development needs to put these factors into consideration for development to truly be sustainable. In addition to forming a part of Environmental Impact Assessment prior to any development, the infringement of the cultural significance and the meanings that local communities have attached to aquatic landscapes should come with stringent legal consequences.Significance of work: Over the past years, the cultural connection between communities in Parys and the Vaal River area has been influenced by the effects of industrialisation, urbanisation and other anthropogenic factors that stem from these. This study found that there is a range of cultural rituals and beliefs that form part of the everyday lives of many residents of the communities in Parys. The significance of this study lies in recognising the importance of aquatic environments for the cultural health of communities and that, prior to development, developers who aim for sustainable development need to adhere to the National Heritage Resources Act, Act No. 25 of 1999. The Act includes the protection of sites of cultural significance to a community, and this involves the Vaal River. In addition to forming a part of the Environmental Impact Assessment prior to any development, infringement of the cultural significance and the meanings that local communities attach to aquatic landscapes should come with stringent legal consequences. The study also emphasises that it is important to realise that one cannot continue to isolate natural science from social science in debating what is sustainable.
La intervención en la Capilla de los Condes de Fuensaldaña. Estudio de un diálogo ejemplar entre antiguo y nuevo.
Authors: Bosch Roig Luis , Marcenac Valeria , Bosch Reig Ignacio
Published: October 2016

El presente artículo se centra en el análisis crítico de la intervención realizada por el arquitecto Juan Carlos Arnuncio sobre las ruinas de la Capilla de los Condes de Fuensaldaña, en Valladolid, empleando entre otros materiales el hormigón visto blanco. La propuesta busca, a través de un lenguaje moderno, establecer un diálogo entre antiguo y nuevo sin rendirse a la melancolía de la reconstrucción o a la fascinación de la ruina, proponiendo a través de la adición de un elemento, la configuración de un nuevo conjunto en equilibrio. En el artículo se trata de desentrañar las claves del éxito de la propuesta, con la finalidad de obtener respuestas trasladables a futuras intervenciones.
La basílica del Puy de Víctor EUSA, una obra en el legado religioso de O. Bartning y D. Böhm.
Authors: Caballero Lobera Andrés
Published: October 2016

La obra de D. Böhm y O. Bartning constituye un modelo en la búsqueda por dar al espacio religioso contemporáneo una nueva expresión. Ambos refirieron su forma arquitectónica al modelo gótico como inspirador del espacio litúrgico. Víctor Eusa en su obra de la Basílica del Puy completa la búsqueda de Böhm y Bartning basada en los tipos históricos del Renacimiento y Barroco con sus plantas centrales y bifocales, aportando a la caracterización de ese espacio la invención de formas derivadas de la tradición hispano-musulmana tan presente en la formación cultural de Eusa.
Entrevista a Juan Carlos Arnuncio. Reflexiones sobre el museo de arte Contemporáneo Español de Valladolid
Authors: Bosch Roig Luis
Published: October 2016

Toda intervención sobre una arquitectura preexistente supone una transformación en la que se debe valorar la preexistencia y su contexto, empleando el proceso metodológico del proyecto arquitectónico, con la mayor sensibilidad por parte del arquitecto, tratando de establecer un diálogo entre pasado, presente y futuro.

La intervención proyectual es la única herramienta adecuada para establecer un diálogo entre la arquitectura del pasado y la del presente, pero para lograr una buena solución es fundamental que la capacidad del arquitecto esté a la altura del valor de las preexistencias sobre las que se actúa. Retomando las palabras del arquitecto italiano Saverio Muratori, “el arquitecto restaurador debe ser todavía más arquitecto para poder tener la sensibilidad de dialogar con el pasado, hasta asumir la coincidencia entre proyecto de arquitectura y proyecto de restauración”.

La presente entrevista busca indagar en las reflexiones arquitectónicas de Juan Carlos Arnuncio, para tratar de entender las claves que le han permitido realizar obras de intervención de gran calidad. El texto hace hincapié en la actuación sobre los restos de la capilla gótica del Patio Herreriano, una obra en la que el arquitecto demuestra su gran sensibilidad y su capacidad para establecer un interesante diálogo entre antiguo y nuevo, empleando para ello el hormigón visto blanco.
John Dewey and the Future of Community College Education
Authors: Harbour Clifford P.
Published: October 2016

Today, community colleges enroll 40% of all undergraduates in the United States. In the years ahead, these institutions are expected to serve an even larger share of this student population. However, faced with increasing government pressure to significantly improve student completion rates, many community colleges will be forced to reconsider their traditional commitment to expand educational opportunity. Community colleges, therefore, are at a crossroads. Should they focus on improving student completion rates and divert resources from student recruitment programs? Should they improve completion rates by closing developmental studies programs and limiting enrollment to college-ready students? Or, can community colleges simultaneously expand educational opportunity and improve student completion?

In John Dewey and the Future of Community College Education, Cliff Harbour argues that before these questions can be answered, community colleges must articulate the values and priorities that will guide them in the future. Harbour proposes that leaders across the institution come together and adopt a new democracy-based normative vision grounded in the writings of John Dewey, which would call upon colleges to do much more than improve completion rates and expand educational opportunity. It would look beyond the national economic measures that dominate higher education policy debates today and would prioritize individual student growth and the development of democratic communities. Harbour argues that this, in turn, would help community colleges contribute to the vital work of reconstructing American democracy.

John Dewey and the Future of Community College Education is essential reading for all community college advocates interested in taking a more active role in developing the community college of the future.
Surveillance and Film
Authors: Wise J. Macgregor
Published: October 2016

Surveillance is a common feature of everyday life. But how are we to make sense of or understand what surveillance is, how we should feel about it, and what, if anything, can we do? Surveillance and Film is an engaging and accessible book that maps out important themes in how popular culture imagines surveillance by examining key feature films that prominently address the subject. Drawing on dozens of examples from around the world, J. Macgregor Wise analyzes films that focus on those who watch (like Rear Window, Peeping Tom, Disturbia, Gigante, and The Lives of Others), films that focus on those who are watched (like The Conversation,Caché, and Ed TV), films that feature surveillance societies (like 1984, THX 1138, V for Vendetta, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Truman Show, and Minority Report), surveillance procedural films (from The Naked City, to Hong Kong’s Eye in the Sky, The Infernal Affairs Trilogy, and the Overheard Trilogy of films), and films that interrogate the aesthetics of the surveillance image itself (like Sliver, Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries), Der Riese, and Look). Wise uses these films to describe key models of understanding surveillance (like Big Brother, Panopticism, or the Control Society) as well as to raise issues of voyeurism, trust, ethics, technology, visibility, identity, privacy, and control that are essential elements of today’s culture of surveillance. The text features questions for further discussion as well as lists of additional films that engage these topics.
Emotional state of “young” fathers
Authors: Liberska Hanna , Deja Monika , Janicka Martyna , Dąbek Katarzyna
Published: October 2016

Background

The birth of the first child begins a new stage in family life, and the woman and the man must adopt new roles in society. However, adapting to the new conditions of life and the requirements of the new role can be difficult.

Participants and procedure

The main tools used in the study were the SUPIN scale, the STAI inventory and a questionnaire constructed by the authors. The participants were 90 men who became first time fathers in the period of 6 months prior to the study.

Results

The results indicate that the first time fathers show a medium level of state anxiety related to the current situation and a low level of trait anxiety understood as an enduring disposition. The level of anxiety is related to the age of the child, but only in the men who fathered a son: the older the son was, the greater was the intensity of state anxiety in the father.

Conclusions

The deep conviction that the father should be a role model for the son can be a source of anxiety about the ability to manage and the ability to meet the related responsibility. According to the tradition of our culture, the father has to prepare the son to be a man, to assume a man’s roles in society and teach him how to live. The lower intensity of positive emotions related to the birth of a daughter can be explained from the point of view of the true man stereotype – a daughter does not fulfil it.
Health locus of control as a psychological factor in improving treatment results in adolescents with primary hypertension and diabetes
Authors: Biernacka Marta Anna , Jakubowska-Winecka Anna
Published: October 2016

Background

The belief that an individual can influence and control the course of events is a factor which enables a person to overcome difficulties. Some studies, however, have questioned the universality of this statement. This study aims to investigate and explore the relationship between the self-health locus of control and the effectiveness of cooperation in the treatment process in adolescents with chronic diseases.

Participants and procedure

One hundred and sixty-four adolescent patients suffering from chronic diseases (61 girls and 103 boys) ranging from 11 to 17 years old participated in the study. Eighty-seven had primary hypertension and 77 had type 1 diabetes. To investigate their sense of health control we used the Health Locus of Control Scale (HLC). Cooperation in the treatment process was assessed using a 4-item scale completed by a doctor.

Results

Better results in the treatment were positively correlated with a better internal health locus of control. A negative correlation between the chance health locus of control and results in the treatment was found. Differences in the health locus of control proved to be dependent on gender, age and different clinical groups.

Conclusions

Health locus of control in patients with chronic diseases seems to be a crucial factor in determining the results of the treatment process in such patients.
Esculetin reduces leukotriene B4 level in plasma of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis
Authors: Rzodkiewicz Przemysław , Gąsińska Emilia , Gajewski Michał , Bujalska-Zadrożny Magdalena , Szukiewicz Dariusz , Maśliński Sławomir
Published: October 2016

Objectives: Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) is a natural coumarin with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity. It acts as a potent inhibitor of lipoxygenases (5-LOX and 12-LOX) and decreases the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9). Because both inhibition of lipoxygenases and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases are effective strategies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, we investigated whether esculetin may be effective in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Material and methods: The study was performed on male Lewis rats, in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Rats were divided into two groups: control (treated with 1% methylcellulose) and experimental (treated with esculetin – 10 mg/kg ip.). The tested compound was administered for 5 consecutive days starting on the 21st day after induction of arthritis. Each group consisted of 7 animals. After 5 days of treatment, rats were anesthetized. The concentration of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in plasma was determined by a competitive enzyme immunoassay.

Results: The LTB4 level in plasma of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis is increased in comparison to rats without inflammation (362 ±34 vs. 274 ±15 pg/ml, p < 0.01, respectively). Five-day treatment with esculetin in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats decreases the LTB4 level to a level comparable with rats without inflammation (284 ±23 pg/ml, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: LTB4 is the most potent chemotactic agent influencing neutrophil migration into the joint. It is known that its level in serum of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis is increased and correlates with disease severity. Some other lipoxygenase inhibitors have already been tested as potential drug candidates in clinical and preclinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (Zileuton, PF-4191834). Because esculetin decreases the LTB4 level in plasma of rats in adjuvant-induced arthritis, it may also be considered as an attractive drug candidate for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors: the state-of-the-art – part two
Authors: Niklas Karolina , Niklas Arkadiusz A. , Majewski Dominik , Puszczewicz Mariusz J.
Published: October 2016

The majority of rheumatic diseases belong to the group of autoimmune diseases and are associated with autoantibody production. Their etiology is not fully understood. Certain medications and environmental factors may have an influence on the occurrence of rheumatic diseases. Establishing a cause-effect relationship between a certain factor and disease induction is not always simple. It is important to administer the drug continuously or monitor exposure to a given factor in the period preceding the onset of symptoms. The lack of early diagnosed autoimmune disease, or finally the lack of symptoms within a few weeks/months after discontinuation of the drug/cessation of exposure, is also important.

The most frequently mentioned rheumatic diseases caused by drugs and environmental factors include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, systemic vasculitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

The objective of this study is to summarize current knowledge on rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors.
Personalized medicine in rheumatology
Authors: Kłak Anna , Paradowska-Gorycka Agnieszka , Kwiatkowska Brygida , Raciborski Filip
Published: October 2016

In the era of the 21st century, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still poorly characterized. Rheumatoid

arthritis is a common but heterogeneous disease, not only in the course and clinical symptoms, but also in the clinical response to treatment. Now it is known that early, correct diagnosis and starting treatment with disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs), of which methotrexate (MTX) remains the gold standard in the treatment of RA, is crucial in order to prevent joint destruction, functional disability and an unfavourable disease outcome. Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is significant in so much as the primary treatment can be started better. Pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic studies, which help determine the genetic profile of individual patients, may bring us closer to personalized medicine. Further studies on RA should allow for the identification of disease-specific genes at the stage when their tolerance by the organism is still preserved (before auto-aggression develops).
Disorders of the spine. A major health and social problem
Authors: Raciborski Filip , Gasik Robert , Kłak Anna
Published: October 2016

According to the data published in The Lancet, in 2010 musculoskeletal disorders were the cause of nearly 166 million years lived with disability (YLDs), with neck and low back pain accounting for 69.9% of the total. In Poland, in 2014 low back pain was self-reported by 28.4% of women and 21.2% of men aged 15 years and over, neck pain by 21% of women and 13% of men, and middle back pain by 19% of women and 12.9% of men. In 2015, nearly 33 million man-days were lost due to spine disorders, and nearly 2.7 million medical certificates were issued for back pain (15% of the total). With the current demographic changes (population ageing) and lifestyle-related factors increasing the potential for back problems, the demand for a wide range of medical services to treat disorders of the spine and their symptoms may be expected to increase substantially over the coming years.
The use of magnetic fields in treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Review of the literature
Authors: Zwolińska Jolanta , Gąsior Monika , Śnieżek Elżbieta , Kwolek Andrzej
Published: October 2016

Magnetic fields are commonly used in therapies designed for subjects with rheumatic diseases, yet the effects of magnetotherapy are not entirely clear in these disorders.

This study is designed to examine the literature investigating applications of magnetotherapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The review focused on publications related to administering magnetotherapy in patients with RA. The databases Science Direct, SpringerLink, Medline, PubMed, and Polska Bibliografia Lekarska were searched for reports published since 2005.

Despite the numerous reports showing an impact of magnetic field in subjects with RA, the effectiveness of magnetotherapy has not been explicitly confirmed. Given the above, further research appears to be necessary to clarify the impact of magnetic fields on biological systems, and the relationship between magnetic field intensity and the obtained results as well as their durability. The majority of clinical trials have failed to identify any undesirable outcomes or side effects of this physical therapeutic factor.
Transformation of logwood combustion emissions in a smog chamber: formation
of secondary organic aerosol and changes in the primary organic aerosol upon
daytime and nighttime aging
Authors: Tiitta Petri , Leskinen Ari , Hao Liqing , Yli-Pirilä Pasi , Kortelainen Miika , Grigonyte Julija , Tissari Jarkko , Lamberg Heikki , Hartikainen Anni , Kuuspalo Kari , Kortelainen Aki-Matti , Virtanen Annele , Lehtinen Kari E. J. , Komppula Mika , Pieber Simone , Prévôt André S. H. , Onasch Timothy B. , Worsnop Douglas R. , Czech Hendryk , Zimmermann Ralf , Jokiniemi Jorma , Sippula Olli
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Organic aerosols (OA) derived from small-scale wood combustion emissions are not well represented by current emissions inventories and models, although they contribute substantially to the atmospheric particulate matter (PM) levels. In this work, a 29 m3 smog chamber in the ILMARI facility of the University of Eastern Finland was utilized to investigate the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from a small-scale modern masonry heater commonly used in northern Europe. Emissions were oxidatively aged in the smog chamber for a variety of dark (i.e., O3 and NO3) and UV (i.e., OH) conditions, with OH concentration levels of (0.5–5)  ×  106 molecules cm−3, achieving equivalent atmospheric aging of up to 18 h. An aerosol mass spectrometer characterized the direct OA emissions and the SOA formed from the combustion of three wood species (birch, beech and spruce) using two ignition processes (fast ignition with a VOC-to-NOx ratio of 3 and slow ignition with a ratio of 5).Dark and UV aging increased the SOA mass fraction with average SOA productions 2.0 times the initial OA mass loadings. SOA enhancement was found to be higher for the slow ignition compared with fast ignition conditions. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to separate SOA, primary organic aerosol (POA) and their subgroups from the total OA mass spectra. PMF analysis identified two POA and three SOA factors that correlated with the three major oxidizers: ozone, the nitrate radical and the OH radical. Organonitrates (ONs) were observed to be emitted directly from the wood combustion and additionally formed during oxidation via NO3 radicals (dark aging), suggesting small-scale wood combustion may be a significant ON source. POA was oxidized after the ozone addition, forming aged POA, and after 7 h of aging more than 75 % of the original POA was transformed. This process may involve evaporation and homogeneous gas-phase oxidation as well as heterogeneous oxidation of particulate organic matter. The results generally prove that logwood burning emissions are the subject of intensive chemical processing in the atmosphere, and the timescale for these transformations is relatively short, i.e., hours.
Simple proxies for estimating the concentrations of monoterpenes and their
oxidation products at a boreal forest site
Authors: Kontkanen Jenni , Paasonen Pauli , Aalto Juho , Bäck Jaana , Rantala Pekka , Petäjä Tuukka , Kulmala Markku
Published: October 2016

Abstract. The oxidation products of monoterpenes likely have a crucial role in the formation and growth of aerosol particles in boreal forests. However, the continuous measurements of monoterpene concentrations are usually not available on decadal timescales, and the direct measurements of the concentrations of monoterpene oxidation product have so far been scarce. In this study we developed proxies for the concentrations of monoterpenes and their oxidation products at a boreal forest site in Hyytiälä, southern Finland. For deriving the proxies we used the monoterpene concentration measured with a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) during 2006–2013. Our proxies for the monoterpene concentration take into account the temperature-controlled emissions from the forest ecosystem, the dilution caused by the mixing within the boundary layer and different oxidation processes. All the versions of our proxies captured the seasonal variation of the monoterpene concentration, the typical proxy-to-measurements ratios being between 0.8 and 1.3 in summer and between 0.6 and 2.6 in winter. In addition, the proxies were able to describe the diurnal variation of the monoterpene concentration rather well, especially in summer months. By utilizing one of the proxies, we calculated the concentration of oxidation products of monoterpenes by considering their production in the oxidation and their loss due to condensation on aerosol particles. The concentration of oxidation products was found to have a clear seasonal cycle, with a maximum in summer and a minimum in winter. The concentration of oxidation products was lowest in the morning or around noon and highest in the evening. In the future, our proxies for the monoterpene concentration and their oxidation products can be used, for example, in the analysis of new particle formation and growth in boreal environments.
The climatology of planetary boundary layer height in China derived from
radiosonde and reanalysis data
Authors: Guo Jianping , Miao Yucong , Zhang Yong , Liu Huan , Li Zhanqing , Zhang Wanchun , He Jing , Lou Mengyun , Yan Yan , Bian Lingen , Zhai Panmao
Published: October 2016

Abstract. The important roles of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) in climate, weather and air quality have long been recognized, but little is known about the PBL climatology in China. Using the fine-resolution sounding observations made across China and reanalysis data, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the PBL in China from January 2011 to July 2015. The boundary layer height (BLH) is found to be generally higher in spring and summer than that in fall and winter. The comparison of seasonally averaged BLHs derived from observations and reanalysis, on average, shows good agreement, despite the pronounced inconsistence in some regions. The BLH, derived from soundings conducted three or four times daily in summer, tends to peak in the early afternoon, and the diurnal amplitude of BLH is higher in the northern and western subregions of China than other subregions. The meteorological influence on the annual cycle of BLH is investigated as well, showing that BLH at most sounding sites is negatively associated with the surface pressure and lower tropospheric stability, but positively associated with the near-surface wind speed and temperature. In addition, cloud tends to suppress the development of PBL, particularly in the early afternoon. This indicates that meteorology plays a significant role in the PBL processes. Overall, the key findings obtained from this study lay a solid foundation for us to gain a deep insight into the fundamentals of PBL in China, which helps to understand the roles that the PBL plays in the air pollution, weather and climate of China.
Analysis of the latitudinal variability of tropospheric ozone in the Arctic using
the large number of aircraft and ozonesonde observations in early summer 2008
Authors: Ancellet Gerard , Daskalakis Nikos , Raut Jean Christophe , Tarasick David , Hair Jonathan , Quennehen Boris , Ravetta François , Schlager Hans , Weinheimer Andrew J. , Thompson Anne M. , Johnson Bryan , Thomas Jennie L. , Law Katharine S.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. During the 2008 International Polar Year, the POLARCAT (Polar Study using Aircraft, Remote Sensing, Surface Measurements, and Models of Climate Chemistry, Aerosols, and Transport) campaign, conducted in summer over Greenland and Canada, produced a large number of measurements from three aircraft and seven ozonesonde stations. Here we present an observation-integrated analysis based on three different types of O3 measurements: airborne lidar, airborne UV absorption or chemiluminescence measurement, and intensified electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesonde profiles. Discussion of the latitudinal and vertical variability of tropospheric ozone north of 55° N during this period is performed with the aid of a regional model (WFR-Chem). The model is able to reproduce the O3 latitudinal and vertical variability but with a negative O3 bias of 6–15 ppbv in the free troposphere above 4 km, especially over Canada. For Canada, large average CO concentrations in the free troposphere above 4 km ( >  130 ppbv) and the weak correlation (<  30 %) of O3 and PV suggest that stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE) is not the major contributor to average tropospheric ozone at latitudes less than 70° N, due to the fact that local biomass burning (BB) emissions were significant during the 2008 summer period. Conversely, significant STE is found over Greenland according to the better O3 vs. PV correlation ( >  40 %) and the higher values of the 75th PV percentile. It is related to the persistence of cyclonic activity during the summer over Baffin Bay. Using differences between average concentration above Northern and Southern Canada, a weak negative latitudinal summer ozone gradient of −6 to −8 ppbv is found in the mid-troposphere between 4 and 8 km. This is attributed to an efficient O3 photochemical production from BB emissions at latitudes less than 65° N, while the STE contribution is more homogeneous in the latitude range 55–70° N. A positive ozone latitudinal gradient of 12 ppbv is observed in the same altitude range over Greenland not because of an increasing latitudinal influence of STE, but because of different long-range transport from multiple mid-latitude sources (North America, Europe, and even Asia for latitudes higher than 77° N). For the Arctic latitudes (>  80° N), free tropospheric O3 concentrations during summer 2008 are related to a mixture of Asian pollution and stratospheric O3 transport across the tropopause.
Benzene and Toluene in the surface air of North Eurasia from
TROICA-12 campaign along the Trans-Siberian railway
Authors: Skorokhod Andrey I. , Berezina Elena V. , Moiseenko Konstantin B. , Elansky Nikolai F. , Belikov Igor B.
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured by proton transfer reaction – mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) on a mobile laboratory in a transcontinental TROICA-12 (21.07.2008–04.08.2008) campaign along the Trans-Siberian railway from Moscow to Vladivostok. Surface concentrations of benzene (C6H6) and toluene (C7H8) along with non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), CO, O3, SO2, NO, NO2 and meteorology are analyzed in this study to identify the main sources of benzene and toluene along the Trans-Siberian railway. The most measurements in the TROICA-12 campaign were conducted under low-wind/stagnant conditions in moderately (~ 78 % of measurements) to weakly polluted (~ 20 % of measurements) air directly affected by regional anthropogenic sources adjacent to the railroad. Only 2 % of measurements were identified as characteristic of highly polluted urban atmosphere. Maximum values of benzene and toluene during the campaign reached 36.5 ppb and 45.6 ppb, correspondingly, which is significantly less than their one-time maximum permissible concentrations (94 and 159 ppb for benzene and toluene, correspondingly). About 90 % of benzene and 65 % of toluene content is attributed to motor vehicle transport and 10 % and 20 %, correspondingly, provided by the other local and regional-scale sources. The highest average concentrations of benzene and toluene are measured in the industrial regions of the European Russia (up to 0.3 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and toluene, correspondingly) and south Siberia (up to 0.2 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and toluene, correspondingly). Total contribution of benzene and toluene to photochemical ozone production along the Trans-Siberian railway is about 16 % compared to the most abundant biogenic VOC – isoprene. This contribution, however, is found to be substantially higher (up to 60–70 %) in urbanized areas along the railroad suggesting important role of anthropogenic pollutant sources in regional ozone photochemistry and air quality.
Assessing the performance of troposphere tomographic modeling using
multi-source water vapor data during Hong Kong's rainy season from May to
October 2013
Authors: Chen Biyan , Liu Zhizhao
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Acquiring accurate atmospheric water vapor spatial information remains one of the most challenging tasks in meteorology. The tomographic technique is a powerful tool for modeling atmospheric water vapor and monitoring the water vapor spatial and temporal distribution/variation information. This paper presents a study on the monitoring of water vapor variations using tomographic techniques based on multi-source water vapor data, including GPS (Global Positioning System), radiosonde, WVR (water vapor radiometer), NWP (numerical weather prediction), AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) sun photometer and synoptic station measurements. An extensive investigation has been carried out using multi-source data collected from May to October 2013 in Hong Kong. With the use of radiosonde observed profiles, five different vertical a priori information schemes were designed and examined. Analysis results revealed that the best vertical constraint is to employ the average radiosonde profiles over the 3 days prior to the tomographic time and that the assimilation of multi-source data can increase the tomography modeling accuracy. Based on the best vertical a priori information scheme, comparisons of slant wet delay (SWD) measurements between GPS data and multi-observational tomography showed that the root mean square error (RMSE) of their differences is 10.85 mm. Multi-observational tomography achieved an accuracy of 7.13 mm km−1 when compared with radiosonde wet refractivity observations. The vertical layer tomographic modeling accuracy was also assessed using radiosonde water vapor profiles. An accuracy of 11.44 mm km−1 at the lowest layer (0–0.4 km) and an RMSE of 3.30 mm km−1 at the uppermost layer (7.5–8.5 km) were yielded. At last, a test of the tomographic modeling in a torrential storm occurring on 21–22 May 2013 in Hong Kong demonstrated that the tomographic modeling is very robust, even during severe precipitation conditions.
Boreal fire records in Northern Hemisphere ice cores: a review
Authors: Legrand Michel , McConnell Joseph , Fischer Hubertus , Wolff Eric W. , Preunkert Susanne , Arienzo Monica , Chellman Nathan , Leuenberger Daiana , Maselli Olivia , Place Philip , Sigl Michael , Schüpbach Simon , Flannigan Mike
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Here, we review different attempts made since the early 1990s to reconstruct past forest fire activity using chemical signals recorded in ice cores extracted from the Greenland ice sheet and a few mid-northern latitude, high-elevation glaciers. We first examined the quality of various inorganic (ammonium, nitrate, potassium) and organic (black carbon, various organic carbon compounds including levoglucosan and numerous carboxylic acids) species proposed as fire proxies in ice, particularly in Greenland. We discuss limitations in their use during recent vs. pre-industrial times, atmospheric lifetimes, and the relative importance of other non-biomass-burning sources. Different high-resolution records from several Greenland drill sites and covering various timescales, including the last century and Holocene, are discussed. We explore the extent to which atmospheric transport can modulate the record of boreal fires from Canada as recorded in Greenland ice. Ammonium, organic fractions (black and organic carbon), and specific organic compounds such as formate and vanillic acid are found to be good proxies for tracing past boreal fires in Greenland ice. We show that use of other species – potassium, nitrate, and carboxylates (except formate) – is complicated by either post-depositional effects or existence of large non-biomass-burning sources. The quality of levoglucosan with respect to other proxies is not addressed here because of a lack of high-resolution profiles for this species, preventing a fair comparison. Several Greenland ice records of ammonium consistently indicate changing fire activity in Canada in response to past climatic conditions that occurred during the last millennium and since the last large climatic transition. Based on this review, we make recommendations for further study to increase reliability of the reconstructed history of forest fires occurring in a given region.
One-chip analogue circuits for a new type of plasma wave receiver
onboard space missions
Authors: Zushi Takahiro , Kojima Hirotsugu , Yamakawa Hiroshi
Published: October 2016

Abstract. Plasma waves are important observational targets for scientific missions investigating space plasma phenomena. Conventional fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based spectrum plasma wave receivers have the disadvantages of a large size and a narrow dynamic range. This paper proposes a new type of FFT-based spectrum plasma wave receiver that overcomes the disadvantages of conventional receivers. The receiver measures and calculates the whole spectrum by dividing the observation frequency range into three bands: bands 1, 2, and 3, which span 1 Hz to 1 kHz, 1 to 10 kHz, and 10 to 100 kHz, respectively. To reduce the size of the receiver, its analog section was realized using application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) technology, and an ASIC chip was successfully developed. The dimensions of the analog circuits were 4.21 mm x 1.16 mm. To confirm the performance of the ASIC, a test system for the receiver was developed using the ASIC, an analog-to-digital converter, and a personal computer. The frequency resolutions for bands 1, 2, and 3 were 3.2, 32, and 320 Hz respectively, and the average time resolution was 384 ms. These frequency and time resolutions are superior to those of conventional FFT-based receivers.
An aerosol activation metamodel of v1.2.0 of the pyrcel cloud parcel
model: Development and offline assessment for use in an
aerosol-climate model
Authors: Rothenberg Daniel , Wang Chien
Published: October 2016

Abstract. In order to simulate an aerosol indirect effect, most global aerosol-climate models utilize an activation scheme to physically relate the ambient aerosol burden to the droplet number nucleated in newly-formed clouds. While successful in this role, activation schemes are becoming frequently called upon to handle chemically-diverse aerosol populations of ever-increasing complexity. As a result, there is a need to evaluate the performance of existing schemes when interfacing with these complex aerosol populations and to consider ways to incorporate additional processes within them. We describe an emulator of a detailed cloud parcel model which can be used to assess aerosol activation, and compare it with two activation parameterizations used in global aerosol models. The emulator is constructed using a sensitivity analysis approach (polynomial chaos expansion) which reproduces the behavior of the parent parcel model across the full range of aerosol properties simulated by an aerosol-climate model. Using offline, iterative calculations with aerosol fields from the Community Earth System Model/Model of Aerosols for Research of Climate (CESM/MARC), we identify subsets of aerosol parameters to which diagnosed aerosol activation is most sensitive, and use these to train metamodels including and excluding the influence of giant CCN for coupling with the model. Across the large parameter space used to train them, the metamodels estimate droplet number concentration with a mean relative error of 9.2 % for aerosol populations without giant CCN, and 6.9 % when including them. Using offline activation calculations with CESM/MARC aerosol fields, the best-performing metamodel has a mean relative error of 4.6 %, which is comparable with the two widely-used activation schemes considered here (which have mean relative errors of 2.9 % and 6.7 %, respectively). We identify the potential for regional biases to arise when estimating droplet number using different activation schemes, particularly in oceanic regimes where our best-performing emulator tends to over-predict by 7 %, whereas the reference activation schemes range in mean relative error from −3 % to 7 %. In these offline calculations, the metamodels which include the effects of giant CCN are accurate in continental regimes (mean relative error of 0.3 %), but strongly over-estimate droplet number in oceanic regimes by up to 22 %, particularly in the Southern Ocean. The biases in cloud droplet number resulting from the subjective choice of activation scheme could potentially influence the magnitude of the indirect effect diagnosed from the model incorporating it.
Combined assimilation of streamflow and snow water equivalent for mid-term
ensemble streamflow forecasts in snow-dominated regions
Authors: Bergeron Jean M. , Trudel Mélanie , Leconte Robert
Published: October 2016

Abstract. The potential of data assimilation for hydrologic predictions has been demonstrated in many research studies. Watersheds over which multiple observation types are available can potentially further benefit from data assimilation by having multiple updated states from which hydrologic predictions can be generated. However, the magnitude and time span of the impact of the assimilation of an observation varies according not only to its type, but also to the variables included in the state vector. This study examines the impact of multivariate synthetic data assimilation using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) into the spatially distributed hydrologic model CEQUEAU for the mountainous Nechako River located in British Columbia, Canada. Synthetic data include daily snow cover area (SCA), daily measurements of snow water equivalent (SWE) at three different locations and daily streamflow data at the watershed outlet. Results show a large variability of the continuous rank probability skill score over a wide range of prediction horizons (days to weeks) depending on the state vector configuration and the type of observations assimilated. Overall, the variables most closely linearly linked to the observations are the ones worth considering adding to the state vector due to the limitations imposed by the EnKF. The performance of the assimilation of basin-wide SCA, which does not have a decent proxy among potential state variables, does not surpass the open loop for any of the simulated variables. However, the assimilation of streamflow offers major improvements steadily throughout the year, but mainly over the short-term (up to 5 days) forecast horizons, while the impact of the assimilation of SWE gains more importance during the snowmelt period over the mid-term (up to 50 days) forecast horizon compared with open loop. The combined assimilation of streamflow and SWE performs better than their individual counterparts, offering improvements over all forecast horizons considered and throughout the whole year, including the critical period of snowmelt. This highlights the potential benefit of using multivariate data assimilation for streamflow predictions in snow-dominated regions.