bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast descent routes from within or near the stratosphere to Earth's surface
Authors: Itoh H. , Narazaki Y.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. By using high concentrations of 7Be as an indicator, we clarify fast descent routes from within or near the stratosphere to Earth's surface, with the study site being in Fukuoka, Japan. Most routes arise from high latitudes through the following processes. First, the descent associated with a tropopause fold occurs, followed by southward movement with slow descent at the rear side of a strong trough. Because this motion occurs along an isentropic surface, the descending air parcels nearly conserve the potential temperature. As an extension, a strong descent associated with a sharp drop in the isentropic-surface height occurs at the south edge of the trough; this transports air parcels to low altitudes. This process involves irreversible phenomena such as filamentation and cutoff of potential vorticity. Finally, upon meeting appropriate near-surface disturbances, parcels at low altitudes are transported to Earth's surface. In some cases, parcels descend within mid-latitudes. In such routes, because the potential temperature is much higher at high altitudes than at low altitudes, strong descent with conservation of the potential temperature is impossible, and the potential temperature decreases. In these cases, the entire flow does not move downward; instead, only part of the flow in a diffluent field descends. When parcels descend, they push low isentropic surfaces, and their potential temperature decreases upon mixing with parcels having low potential temperature in the lower layers. The prevalence of the high-latitude route is explained as follows. In the mid-latitude route, because parcels at high and relatively low altitudes mix, the high concentrations of 7Be included in high-altitude parcels are difficult to maintain. Therefore, for parcels to arrive at low altitudes in the mid-latitude while maintaining high concentrations of 7Be, i.e., conserving the potential temperature, their area of origin should be high altitudes in high latitudes where the potential temperature is almost the same as that in the arrival area. Moreover, the initial descent must occur, because parcels cannot descend in the stratosphere when moving from high to mid-latitudes; parcels must already have descended from the stratosphere to the troposphere in high latitudes for effective descent with the movement to mid-latitudes. In spring, tropopause folds are frequent in high latitudes, disturbances in the southward transport of parcels are strong, and disturbances occur by which parcels descend to the surface. Therefore, high concentrations of 7Be occur most frequently in spring.
Microwave signatures of ice hydrometeors from ground-based observations above Summit, Greenland
Authors: Pettersen C. , Bennartz R. , Kulie M. S. , Merrelli A. J. , Shupe M. D. , Turner D. D.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Multi-instrument, ground-based measurements provide unique and comprehensive datasets of the atmosphere for a specific location over long periods of time and resulting data compliments past and existing global satellite observations. This paper explores the effect of ice hydrometeors on ground-based, high frequency passive microwave measurements and attempts to isolate an ice signature for summer seasons at Summit, Greenland from 2010–2013. Data from a combination of passive microwave, cloud radar, radiosonde, and ceilometer were examined to isolate the ice signature at microwave wavelengths. By limiting the study to a cloud liquid water path of 40 g m−2 or less, the cloud radar can identify cases where the precipitation was dominated by ice. These cases were examined using liquid water and gas microwave absorption models, and brightness temperatures were calculated for the high frequency microwave channels: 90, 150, and 225 GHz. By comparing the measured brightness temperatures from the microwave radiometers and the calculated brightness temperature using only gas and liquid contributions, any residual brightness temperature difference is due to emission and scattering of microwave radiation from the ice hydrometeors in the column. The ice signature in the 90, 150, and 225 GHz channels for the Summit Station summer months was isolated. This measured ice signature was then compared to an equivalent brightness temperature difference calculated with a radiative transfer model including microwave single scattering properties for several ice habits. Initial model results compare well against the four years of summer season isolated ice signature in the high-frequency microwave channels.
Variability of phenology and fluxes of water and carbon with observed and simulated soil moisture in the Ent Terrestrial Biosphere Model (Ent TBM version 1.0.1.0.0)
Authors: Kim Y. , Moorcroft P. R. , Aleinov I. , Puma M. J. , Kiang N. Y.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Ent Terrestrial Biosphere Model (Ent TBM) is a mixed-canopy dynamic global vegetation model developed specifically for coupling with land surface hydrology and general circulation models (GCMs). This study describes the leaf phenology submodel implemented in the Ent TBM version 1.0.1.0.0 coupled to the carbon allocation scheme of the Ecosystem Demography (ED) model. The phenology submodel adopts a combination of responses to temperature (growing degree days and frost hardening), soil moisture (linearity of stress with relative saturation) and radiation (light length). Growth of leaves, sapwood, fine roots, stem wood and coarse roots is updated on a daily basis. We evaluate the performance in reproducing observed leaf seasonal growth as well as water and carbon fluxes for four plant functional types at five Fluxnet sites, with both observed and prognostic hydrology, and observed and prognostic seasonal leaf area index. The phenology submodel is able to capture the timing and magnitude of leaf-out and senescence for temperate broadleaf deciduous forest (Harvard Forest and Morgan–Monroe State Forest, US), C3 annual grassland (Vaira Ranch, US) and California oak savanna (Tonzi Ranch, US). For evergreen needleleaf forest (Hyytiäla, Finland), the phenology submodel captures the effect of frost hardening of photosynthetic capacity on seasonal fluxes and leaf area. We address the importance of customizing parameter sets of vegetation soil moisture stress response to the particular land surface hydrology scheme. We identify model deficiencies that reveal important dynamics and parameter needs.
Predicting future US water yield and ecosystem productivity by linking an ecohydrological model to WRF dynamically downscaled climate projections
Authors: Sun S. , Sun G. , Cohen E. , McNulty S. G. , Caldwell P. , Duan K. , Zhang Y.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Quantifying the potential impacts of climate change on water yield and ecosystem productivity (i.e., carbon balances) is essential to developing sound watershed restoration plans, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. This study links an ecohydrological model (Water Supply and Stress Index, WaSSI) with WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting Model) dynamically downscaled climate projections of the HadCM3 model under the IPCC SRES A2 emission scenario. We evaluated the future (2031–2060) changes in evapotranspiration (ET), water yield (Q) and gross primary productivity (GPP) from the baseline period of 1979–2007 across the 82 773 watersheds (12 digit Hydrologic Unit Code level) in the conterminous US (CONUS), and evaluated the future annual and monthly changes of hydrology and ecosystem productivity for the 18 Water Resource Regions (WRRs) or 2-digit HUCs. Across the CONUS, the future multi-year means show increases in annual precipitation (P) of 45 mm yr−1 (6 %), 1.8 °C increase in temperature (T), 37 mm yr−1 (7 %) increase in ET, 9 mm yr−1 (3 %) increase in Q, and 106 g C m−2 yr−1 (9 %) increase in GPP. Response to climate change was highly variable across the 82, 773 watersheds, but in general, the majority would see consistent increases in all variables evaluated. Over half of the 82 773 watersheds, mostly found in the northeast and the southern part of the southwest would have an increase in annual Q (>100 mm yr−1 or 20 %). This study provides an integrated method and example for comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on watershed water balances and ecosystem productivity at high spatial and temporal resolutions. Results will be useful for policy-makers and land managers in formulating appropriate watershed-specific strategies for sustaining water and carbon sources in the face of climate change.
3-D numerical approach to simulate the overtopping volume caused by an impulse wave comparable to avalanche impact in a reservoir
Authors: Gabl R. , Seibl J. , Gems B. , Aufleger M.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The impact of an avalanche in a reservoir induces impulse waves, which pose a threat to population and infrastructure. For a good approximation of the generated wave height and length as well as the resulting overtopping volume over structures and dams, formulas, which are based on different simplifying assumptions, can be used. Further project-specific investigations by means of a scale model test or numerical simulations are advisable for complex reservoirs as well as the inclusion of hydraulic structures such as spillways. This paper presents a new approach for a 3-D numerical simulation of the avalanche impact in a reservoir. In this model concept the energy and mass of the avalanche are represented by accelerated water on the actual hill slope. Instead of snow, only water and air are used to simulate the moving avalanche with the software FLOW-3D. A significant advantage of this assumption is the self-adaptation of the model avalanche onto the terrain. In order to reach good comparability of the results with existing research at ETH Zürich, a simplified reservoir geometry is investigated. Thus, a reference case has been analysed including a variation of three geometry parameters (still water depth in the reservoir, freeboard of the dam and reservoir width). There was a good agreement of the overtopping volume at the dam between the presented 3-D numerical approach and the literature equations. Nevertheless, an extended parameter variation as well as a comparison with natural data should be considered as further research topics.
Brief Communication: On direct impact probability of landslides on vehicles
Authors: Nicolet P. , Jaboyedoff M. , Cloutier C. , Crosta G. B. , Lévy S.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. When calculating the risk of railway or road users to be killed by a natural hazard, one has to calculate a "spatio-temporal probability", i.e. the probability for a vehicle to be in the path of the falling mass when the mass falls, or the expected number of affected vehicles in case of an event. To calculate this, different methods are used in the literature, and, most of the time, they consider only the dimensions of the falling mass or the dimensions of the vehicles. Some authors do however consider both dimensions at the same time, and the use of their approach is recommended. Finally, a method considering an impact on the front of the vehicle in addition is discussed.
High-grade deformation in quartzo-feldspathic gneisses during the early Variscan exhumation of the Cabo Ortegal nappe, NW of Iberia
Authors: Fernández F. J. , Llana-Fúnez S. , Marcos A. , Castiñeiras P. , Valverde-Vaquero P.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. High-grade highly deformed gneisses crop out continuously along the Masanteo peninsula in the Cabo Ortegal nappe (NW Spain). The rock sequence formed by quartzo-feldspathic gneisses and mafic rocks records two partial melting events: during the Early Ordovician (ca. 480–488 Ma.), at the base of the Qz-Fsp gneisses, and immediately after eclogization (ca. 390.4 ± 1.2 Ma), during its early Variscan exhumation. Despite the strain accumulated during their final exhumation in which a pervasive blastomylonitic S2 foliation was developed, primary sedimentary layering in Qz-Fsp gneisses is well preserved locally at the top of the sequence. This first stage of the exhumation process occurred in ~ 10 Ma, during which bulk flattening of the high-grade rock sequence was accommodated by anastomosing shear bands that evolved to planar shear zones. Strain was progressively localized along the boundaries of the migmatitic Qz-Fsp gneisses. A SE-vergent ductile thrust constitutes the base of gneisses, incorporating eclogite blocks-in-matrix. A NW-vergent detachment placed the metasedimentary Qz-Fsp gneisses over the migmatitic Qz-Fsp gneisses. A difference in metamorphic pressure of ca. 0.5 GPa is estimated between both gneissic units. The high-grade deformation reduced substantially the thickness of the gneissic rock sequence during the process of exhumation controlled by change in the strain direction and the progressive localization of strain. The combined movement of the top detachment and basal thrust resulted in an extrusion of the migmatites within the nappe, directed to the SE in current coordinates.
Small-scale variation of snow in a regional permafrost model
Authors: Gisnås K. , Westermann S. , Schuler T. V. , Melvold K. , Etzelmüller B.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The strong winds prevalent in high altitude and arctic environments heavily redistribute the snow cover, causing a small-scale pattern of highly variable snow depths. This has profound implications for the ground thermal regime, resulting in highly variable near-surface ground temperatures on the meter scale. Asymmetric snow distributions combined with the non-linear insulating effect of snow also mean that the spatial average ground temperature in a 1 km2 area can not necessarily be determined based on the average snow cover for that area. Land surface or permafrost models employing a coarsely classified average snow depth will therefore not yield a realistic representation of ground temperatures. In this study we employ statistically derived snow distributions within 1 km2 grid cells as input to a regional permafrost model in order to represent sub-grid variability of ground temperatures. This is shown to improve the representation of both the average and the total range of ground temperatures: the model results show that we reproduce observed sub-grid ground temperature variations of up to 6 °C, with 98 % of borehole observations within the modelled temperature range. Based on this more faithful representation of ground temperatures, we find the total permafrost area of mainland Norway to be nearly twice as large as what is modelled without a sub-grid approach.
A Benefit-Maximization Solution to Our Faculty Promotion and Tenure Process
Authors: Barat Somjit , Harvey Hanafiah
Published: December 2015

Tenure-track/tenured faculty at higher education institutions are expected to teach, conduct research and provide service as part of their promotion and tenure process, the relative importance of each component varying with the position and/or the university. However, based on the author’s personal experience, feedback received from several colleagues, and review of research on this topic, the authors note that there is considerable concern among many faculty members as to what constitutes an optimal mix of the critical components of evaluation.

Consequently, the authors present a cost-benefit utilitarian model using which, the faculty member can objectively allocate his/her limited resources, such as time commitment and effort, between teaching and research activities. The authors believe that such a blueprint will prove to be a critical tool for the tenure-track candidate, as well as for the university administration. One of the notable features of the proscribed tool is that it is not discipline-specific and therefore, has a wide application in university governance.
Al-Miknāsī's Mediterranean Mission: Negotiating Moroccan Temporal and Spiritual Sovereignty in the Late Eighteenth Century
Authors: Kitlas Peter
Published: December 2015

In 1779 the sultan of Morocco, Muḥammad bin ʿAbdallah (Muḥammad III, r. 1757–90), sent an ambassadorial delegation to Spain to ransom Ottoman-Algerian prisoners. The delegation was led by Muḥammad bin ʿUthman al-Miknāsī (d. 1799), who left a detailed account of the mission in his extant text Al-Iksīr fī fikāk al-asīr (The Elixir That Will Liberate the Prisoner). When juxtaposed on the historical record, al-Miknāsī's travelogue illustrates how Muḥammad III and the Moroccan religio-political elite navigated the complex Mediterranean web of religious identity, political allegiance, and ethnicity. Positing a division between “temporal” and “spiritual” sovereignty increases our understanding of how Muḥammad III substantiated his authority on multiple levels in relation to Spain, Ottoman-Algeria, and the Sublime Porte in Istanbul. While previous scholarship has focused on a religio-political aggression against the Christian Europeans, this article employs al-Miknāsī's travelogue to demonstrate how Muḥammad III halted religio-political aggression against Dār al-Ḥarb (Abode of War) and questioned the unity within Dār al-Islām (Abode of Islam).
Writing with the Mediterranean in the Twentieth Century: The Advent of the Fisherman of Halicarnassus
Authors: Özveren Eyüp
Published: December 2015

This article introduces the Turkish humanist writer, Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (1890–1973), who adopted the penname of “Halikarnas Balıkçısı” (the Fisherman of Halicarnassus), as a tribute to the ancient historian, Herodotus of Halicarnassus. He contributed to the genesis and spread of Turkish Mediterraneanism at a time when Fernand Braudel's influence among Turkish historians was significant yet fell short of producing a similar effect. After a biographical sketch of the author, this article explains how Cevat Şakir's Mediterranean journeys affected his life, so that the Mediterranean is seen as a formative influence. Finally, the article summarizes his multifaceted contributions to Mediterranean studies.
Marine collection in Qatar - basis for biodiversity management
Authors: Giraldes Bruno Welter , Al-Maslamani Ibrahim , Chatting Mark , Smyth David
Published: December 2015

Biological Collections, which deal directly with identifying and documenting biodiversity, have a major role in assisting biodiversity management. They form the basis for research, documenting flora and fauna and creating repositories of biological information. Without taxonomic research the biological collections would be merely a collection of curious objects, of limited value to our understanding of the natural world. The Environmental Scientific Centre of Qatar University has created a Marine Collection to house the species collected in the region. The species are being identified by taxonomists and deposited in the Marine Collection with a Collection Number and accompanied by descriptive characteristics. The Specify Software Project, a database platform for museum and herbarium research data, is being used concomitantly for registration of each species. The collection includes marine animals from coastal and offshore waters of Qatar, such as invertebrates (poriferas, cnidarians, crustaceans, gastropods, molluscs, echinoderms and others) and vertebrate specimens (urochordata, cephalochordate, Condrictyes, Osteicties and Reptiles). A total of 4830 specimens was collected and are being deposited in the Collection, as well as subsequent samples from new projects, including species for articles in preparation which are currently listed as a new occurrence in Qatar such as; Coeloplana (Benthoplan) meteoris,Branchyostoma arabia, Paranchystus pictodontaeamong several other species. Furthermore the collection houses a new systematic ofPortunus segnis, and the biodiversity of benthic organisms from offshore oyster beds and crabs from the mangrove ecosystem. It is well recognized for any impending assessment of biodiversity indices a baseline of existing data is required and the marine collection at the ESC will be a crucial tool in any future research or environmental monitoring programs that might be undertaken in not only Qatar but the Arabian Gulf.
Presentación Vol.11
Authors: Zelaya Ochoa Marysabel
Published: December 2015

Revista Población y Desarrollo: Argonautas y Caminantes, Vol. 11, 2015
Fiebre Chikungunya
Authors: Quintanilla Sergio Daniel , Barruetos Emilio
Published: December 2015

Antecedentes: La fiebre Chikungunya es causada por un alfavirus (CHIKV) ARN perteneciente a la familia Togaviridae. Fue descrito en 1953, a partir de entonces se han presentado epidemias desde África, Asia y últimamente casos en las Antillas en América. Ante el riesgo de importación y transmisión del virus, esta entidad ha adquirido importancia, antes poco conocida en nuestro continente. La presente revisión bibliográfica tiene como objetivo la actualización de conocimientos acerca de la fiebre Chikungunya. El CHIKV es transmitido por dos vectores, Aedes aegypti y albopictus, los humanos son el reservorio principal en los periodos epidémicos. Después de 3 a 7 días de incubación, aparece la fiebre, artralgias, cefalea. Laboratorialmente, se observa trombocitopenia leve, leucopenia con linfopenia. Los individuos no infectados previamente están en riesgo de adquirir la infección y desarrollar la enfermedad, siendo los neonatos y los ancianos más propensos a desarrollar formas más graves. La transmisión de madre a hijo es frecuente en la viremia materna intraparto, y conduce a la infección. La mortalidad es baja, pero la artralgia inflamatoria con artropatía/artritis destructiva puede comprometer la calidad de vida del paciente afectado. Dada la introducción del CHIKV en la Región, la detección oportuna, una respuesta apropiada y rápida, son necesarias para minimizar el riesgo de importación y transmisión del CHIKV.Acta Pediátrica Hondureña, Vol. 5, No. 1 y 2 / Abril 2014 a Marzo 2015: 371-377
Dispensing errors and uncertainty: Perspectives of pharmacists in a tertiary health facility in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Anyika Emmanuel N. , Omosebi Omolara Y.
Published: December 2015

Introduction: Dispensing errors (DE) and health care uncertainty impact on health outcomes in a variety of ways. The aim of initiating therapy is to enhance patient wellness but human error probabilities sometimes cause harm or even fatalities and litigations.Objective: The aims of this study are to discuss the underlying factors in dispensing errors, health care uncertainty and therapeutic outcomes, and to identify the extent of human- and system-based sources of errors by exploring hospital pharmacists’ attitudes and dispositions to DE and uncertainties; and the implications for patient safety in a tertiary hospital.Methods: The study involved a sample of 44 pharmacists who were administered a survey research inventory designed to assess pharmacists’ attitudes and involvement in DE and uncertainty on a variety of important dimensions.Results: Overall the survey research data showed high rating of five human-based dimensions that would minimize dispensing errors, two human-system based, while three system-based (structural) issues were rated as dimensions that would aggravate DE in uncertain health care scenarios.Conclusions: The practical importance of the results for pharmacy practice and therapeutic outcomes are discussed and some suggestions made on how to minimize DE and uncertainty and the policy implications in the hospital pharmacy setting.
Skin Cancer and Its Correlates: A Study of Knowledge and Preventive Behavior in Riyadh
Authors: Alamri Fahad , Saeedi Mohammed Y. , Alharbi Muslet , Ali Arwa M. , Ibrahim Ahmed K. , Kassim Kassim A.
Published: December 2015

Background: Worldwide, the incidence of skin cancer has increased due to increased UV exposure to solar and artificial sources. In Saudi Arabia, skin cancer ranked the 9th most common cancer for both sexes. However, it is considered to be a preventable disease. WHO has proposed several preventive methods to avoid the damaging effects of excessive exposure to UV rays including; social education and adopting positive behavioral changes. The present study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of people in Riyadh city towards skin cancer. Results: The mean respondent's age was 35 years (12-65 years). Females represented about two-thirds of the 341 respondent. A statistically significant associations were detected between awareness about skin cancer with the age (Beta =0.03, p =0.047), educational level (Beta =0.63, p =0.042) and skin color (Beta =-2.14, p<0.001) being significant predictors for disease. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this was the first study to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding skin cancer in Saudi Arabia. Despite the limitations, the present study’s findings suggested that Saudis lack the sufficient knowledge to understand and assess the importance of skin cancer risk. In addition, the level of knowledge, attitude and behaviors are influenced by several factors as age, education level and skin color.
Exploring Writing Anxiety and Self-Efficacy among EFL Graduate Students in Taiwan
Authors: Ho Mei-ching
Published: December 2015

This study investigates research writing anxiety and self-efficacy beliefs among English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) graduate students in engineering-related fields. The relationship between the two writing affective constructs was examined and students’ perspectives on research writing anxiety were also explored. A total of 218 survey responses from engineering graduate students at Taiwanese universities were analyzed, along with qualitative data from open-ended questions and semi-structured interviews. The findings show that while master’s and doctoral students felt a similar moderate level of writing anxiety, senior doctoral students were more self-efficacious about writing research papers in English than their junior counterparts. Overall, students with higher writing self-efficacy felt less apprehensive. Additionally, among the individual variables, experience in writing for publication better predicted writing anxiety and self-efficacy than students’ self-reported English proficiency and the number of writing courses taken. The qualitative findings indicated various sources of graduate-level writing anxiety, including insufficient writing skills in English, time constraints, and fear of negative comments. Furthermore, composing different sections of a research paper provoked different levels of anxiety due to the variations in the rhetorical purposes and discourse structures of particular sections. Implications on dealing with research writing anxiety are also discussed.
Impact of Oil Palm Expansion on Farmers’ Crop Income and Poverty Reduction in Indonesia: An Application of Propensity Score Matching
Authors: Alwarritzi Widya , Nanseki Teruaki , Chomei Yosuke
Published: December 2015

In order to solve serious problem on the lack of job opportunity and poverty in Indonesia, oil palm expansion driven by smallholders have been taken into the economic development agenda. The evidence shows that oil palm expansion by smallholders have a great performance for improving livelihood of rural community. Thus, this study aims to estimate the causal effect of oil palm expansion on farmers’ livelihoods in Indonesia. Using cross-sectional data from 271 households in Riau Province, the determinants of farmers’ decisions to expand oil palm farm size and the impacts of expansion are analyzed. Propensity Score Matching was employed in order to deal with self-selection biased in the evaluation of oil palm expansion impact. In the first step, logit model was applied to analyze the determinant of oil palm expansion. In the second step, each observation is matched with a similar propensity score value in order estimate the average treatment effect for the treated (ATT). Empirical results show that number of family members actively involved in oil palm cultivation, farmers’ financial assets, contract farming, and distance to the market are significantly associated with likelihood for expanding farm size. Positive and significant impacts of crop income from oil palm and per capita expenditures, confirms that oil palm expansion help reducing the problem of job opportunity and poverty in Indonesia. This study implicates that, to improve oil palm expansion practice in Indonesia, several schemes must be considered: enhancing human resources development, integrating oil palm marketing schemes, and improving infrastructure facilities.
Methane Emission of Cattle Fed Urochloa brizantha Hay Harvested at Different Stages
Authors: Nascimento C. F. M. , Berndt A. , Romero Solorzano L. A. , Meyer P. M. , Frighetto R. T. S. , Demarchi J. J. A. A. , Rodrigues P. H. M.
Published: December 2015

The objective of this trial was to assess the methane emission rate, as well as the digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters in animals fed Urochloa brizantha hay harvested at different stages of growth. Six Nellore rumen-cannulated steers (402.0 ± 51.62 kg) were assigned to a replicated 3×3 Latin square (18 experimental units). Treatments differed according to three growth stages of the forage: 15 - hay with 15 days of growth, 45 - hay with 45 days of growth and 90 - hay with 90 days of growth. Each experimental period lasted 21 days. From the 8th day, feces were sampled during 5 days to determine apparent total digestibility of dry matter and its fractions. Beginning on the 13th day and running for 7 days, methane production was evaluated using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique. On the 20th day, ruminal fluid was sampled prior to and after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 hours post-morning feeding for evaluating pH, ammonia-N and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). As the stage of forage growth for harvesting advanced in days, the digestibility coefficient of crude protein decreased and non-fibrous carbohydrate values increased. Methane production was affected not only by the stage of forage growth, but also by quality of its conservation after harvesting. There were significant differences among treatments when methane was expressed in g kg-1 DMI, g kg-1 OMI, % GE and % DE, with non-linear effect. The stage of forage growth did not influence ruminal pH, total concentration or molar proportion of SCFA, but decreased NH3-N concentration.
Prevalence and Eco-Friendly Management of Some Important Nursery Diseases of Mango in Bangladesh
Authors: Sarker Suchana Rani , Islam Md. Rashidul , Hossain Ismail
Published: December 2015

A survey was carried out to record the prevalence of the nursery diseases in four mango varieties (Gopalbhog, Langra, Amropali and Seedless) in some selected growing areas viz. Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Mymensingh in Bangladesh. Altogether nine different diseases viz. anthracnose, die-back, malformation, scab, powdery mildew, sooty mould, red rust, gummosis and bacterial leaf spot were recorded during the period of survey. All the diseases were found in the nurseries of Chapai Nawabganj, but Gummosis was not observed in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Mymensingh and die-back was also not found in Dinajpur. Only anthracnose was recorded in Kajla sinduri in Rajshahi and Kancha mithi in Dinajpur. Out of the 40 mango varieties surveyed occurrence of higher number of diseases were recorded in Amropali (9), Mollica (7), Langra (8), Aswina (8), Khirsapat (8), Fazli (8), Vustara (6), Bogra gooti (6), BARI Aam-2 (6), BARI Aam-4 (6), Mohananda (5), Polyembryony (7), Gopalbhog (7), Hybrid 10 (6), Nilambari (6), Mixed special (6) and Seedless (7). The efficacy of BAU-Biofungicide and four different fungicides viz. Amistar, Tilt 250 EC, Bavistin and Dithane M-45 in the nursery of four mango varieties (Gopalbhog, Langra, Amropali and Seedless) were evaluated in FTIP, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. BAU-Biofungicide showed good effect in controlling anthracnose, die-back, powdery mildew, bacterial leaf spot and sooty mould of mango whereas Dithane M-45 was found best for controlling red rust of mango. Dithane M-45 followed by BAU-Biofungicide and Bavistin resulted reduction of powdery mildew incidence over control while the severity of powdery mildew was lowest in Bavistin followed by Dithane M-45 and BAU-Biofungicide.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Modern Applied Science, Vol. 9, No. 12
Authors: Lee Sunny
Published: December 2015

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Modern Applied Science, Vol. 9, No. 12
Exploring the Potential (Contribution) of Multi-Disciplinary Legal Research for the Analysis of Minorities’ Rights
Authors: Henrard Kristin
Published: December 2015

Exploring the Potential (Contribution) of Multi-Disciplinary Legal Research for the Analysis of Minorities’ Rights

This article sets out to contribute to the special issue devoted to multi-disciplinary legal research by discussing first the limits of purely doctrinal legal research in relation to a particular topic and second the relevant considerations in devising research that (inter alia) draws on non-legal, auxiliary disciplines to ‘fill in’ and guide the legal framework. The topic concerned is the (analysis of the) fundamental rights of minorities.

The article starts with a long account of the flaws in the current legal analysis of the European Court of Human Rights regarding minorities’ rights, particularly the reduction in its analysis and the related failure to properly identify and weigh all relevant interests and variables. This ‘prelude’ provides crucial insights in the causes of the flaws in the Court’s jurisprudence: lack of knowledge (about the relevant interests and variables) and concerns with the Court’s political legitimacy.

The article goes on to argue for the need for multi-disciplinary legal research to tackle the lack of knowledge: more particularly by drawing on sociology (and related social sciences) and political philosophy as auxiliary disciplines to identify additional interests and variables for the rights analysis. The ensuing new analytical framework for the analysis of minorities’ rights would benefit international courts (adjudicating on human rights) generally. To operationalise and refine the new analytical framework, the research should furthermore have regard to the practice of (a selection of) international courts and national case studies.
Inland water transport development possibilities – case study of lower Vistula river
Authors: Nowakowski Tomasz , Kulczyk Jan , Skupień Emilia , Tubis Agnieszka , Werbińska-Wojciechowska Sylwia
Published: December 2015

Among different transportation modes, inland water transport is recognized as a low-cost, environmentally friendly way of transporting. The use of this mode in Poland encounters many challenges. Thus, the investigation of development possibilities by analysing the revitalization profitability and navigability restoration of Lower Vistula river should be explored. Following this, the article includes the summary of obtained results of the project INWAPO carrying out and regards development of infrastructure and sea/river ports, demand forecast for transportation, external costs estimation and the main benefits from lower Vistula river revitalization. The main analysis is done with the assumption of IV (or higher) navigable class of the Vistula river.
Improvement of the regenerating energy accounting system on the direct current railways
Authors: Kuznetsov Valeriy G. , Sablin Oleg I. , Chornaya Alenka V.
Published: December 2015

Purpose. Monitoring of current state of quantitative indices of regenerative energy in the suburban movement, the analysis of the factors influencing its volumes and improvement the principles of the train regenerative energy accounting on the basis of it. Relevance. Development of effective measures of increase the regeneration efficiency of the electric power in system of electric traction demands comprehensive completeness of information on quantitative indices of regeneration energy volumes at all possible levels of its analysis, in particular on the corresponding sections of RS movement that will allow to establish the influence on the level of regeneration of various factors, such as parameters of traction power supply and the organization of train service. As the existing system of the regenerative energy accounting does not allow to consider the specified factors, development of the principles for increasing the efficiency of the analysis of volumes of return energy to a contact line during regenerative braking on DC rolling stock is the actual direction of researches. Collective monitoring of regeneration energy volumes by specialists of locomotive service, power supply and traffic operating departments will be essentially new approach to definition of real factors and taking effective decisions for increasing of using of regenerative energy. Scientific novelty. It’s offered to consider the influence on quantitative indices of regenerative energy the parameters of traction power supply and the organization (sizes) of traffic service on sections. Practical importance. Increasing the efficiency of the regeneration energy accounting is an important element in drawing up the balance of energy for electric traction system, development of the effective methods for improvement of the conditions of regeneration in it and in estimation of its power indicators in general.
Election Pledges in the Czech Republic (2010–2013)
Authors: Škvrňák Michael
Published: December 2015

The theory of democracy states that political parties attract voters through election programs which they intend to implement upon election. This article examines the programme-to-policy fulfilment of election pledges in the Czech Republic in 2010–2013. It explores the factors that should influence the fulfilment of pledges. The article concludes that Czech political parties try to fulfil their election pledges, although the rate of fulfilment is not high because of the way the party system is structured. In addition, five factors influencing outcomes are tested. Consensus among parties, inclusion of the pledge in the Programmatic Declaration of the Government and whether pledges maintain the status quo influence the probability of pledge fulfilment. On the other hand, there appears to be no relation between pledge fulfilment and participation by a party in the government or its control of a ministry.
The Market Metaphor As an Issue of Political Language and Practice
Authors: Augustín Michael
Published: December 2015

This paper focuses on the problem of analogies and metaphors in politics, concretely the metaphor of the market and the various analogies it encompasses applied to the political sphere, as a phenomenon of political language and practice. The inspiration behind this article is a sociological critique of the economic theory of politics by Lars Udehn. After forming a basic theoretical framework for the terms analogy and metaphor, the author discusses the problem of methodological inconsistency in the social sciences. The discussion of metaphor is presented in three parts: the inherence of homo economicus in politics, politics as exchange and politics as competition. The crucial thesis of this paper is that there are limitations on the extent to which political processes and phenomena may be understood in market terms, and individual analogies that have emerged from this metaphor are by definition only partially applicable. The conclusion is that the market metaphor presents specific difficulties and is an oversimplification which will lead sooner or later to significant misunderstandings and misinterpretations of politics.
What the Public Librarian Wishes the School Librarian Knew
Authors: Nelson Judy T. , Dwyer Janet Ingraham
Published: December 2015

When it comes to serving children and teens, schools and public libraries share a mission—to support them and help them succeed. How we each carry this out differs widely, but when we work together, all our families and children have the support and encouragement they need to be successful both in school and in life.
What the School Librarian Wishes the Public Librarian Knew
Authors: Saia David C.
Published: December 2015

School and public librarians have commonalities that unite us in our work. Among them are the love of books and kids, a strong service ethic, and a desire to help kids grow and achieve. However, our daily lives can be something of a mystery, and by exploring them, we can hopefully get a better understanding of one another.
Everyday Advocacy: Finding Fresh Starts
Authors: Nemec-Loise Jenna
Published: December 2015

If you’re of a certain age like I am, surely you remember one of the most dashing and debonair gents in all of television history: Ricardo Montalbán’s Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island. (Just Google “Smiles, everyone! Smiles!” You know you want to.)
Análise paleopalinológica do albiano na Bacia de Campos
Authors: Nascimento Clara Rodrigues , Perinotto José Alexandre de Jesus , Arai Mitsuru
Published: December 2015

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar os conjuntos palinológicos marinhos e continentais da Bacia de Campos e analisar a sua distribuição ao longo das seções geológicas, a fim de testar modelos paleoambientais e paleobiogeográficos. O material palinológico estudado é proveniente dos poços Bonito e Pampo, Albiano, Grupo Macaé. Os grãos de pólen gimnospérmicos Classopollis classoides, Gnetaceapollenites spp. e Equisetosporites spp., todos de caráter xeromórfico, têm alta freqüência no material analisado. As espécies de dinoflagelados mais abundantes foram as cosmopolitas Spiniferites ramosus, Odontochitina operculata e Trichodinium castanea. Quatro espécies de dinoflagelados tipicamente tetianas (Codoniella campanulata, Cyclonephelium vannophorum, Endoceratium dettmanniae e Tehamadinium mazaganense) foram identificadas. Constatou-se aumento na proporção de elementos continentais nos estratos correspondentes ao final do Albiano, concomitantemente à passagem de uma litologia carbonática para uma outra composta por folhelhos e margas. Houve aumento na riqueza de palinomorfos marinhos - da base para o topo - nas seções estudadas, passando de uma biota com baixa diversidade - dominada por palinoforaminíferos - para outra biota mais diversa e com diferentes espécies de dinoflagelados. A integração dos dados micropaleontológicos permite inferir que durante o estabelecimento do Oceano Atlântico Sul a Bacia de Campos recebeu águas provenientes do Mar de Tétis, fato que refuta o modelo clássico da entrada de águas austrais acompanhando a abertura tectónica de sul para norte.
Cooper, H. (ed.) (2013). Teaching History Creatively. Londres: Routledge. 185 págs
Authors: Gil de Sola Bellas Marta
Published: December 2015

Teaching History Creatively es un libro orientado a los docentes cuya labor se desempeña principalmente durante los primeros años de la educación escolar, más concretamente los últimos años de Educación Infantil y toda la Educación Primaria, aunque también podría adaptarse a los niveles de enseñanza superiores. A través del mismo se pretende introducir a los docentes a la enseñanza de la historia de manera creativa a partir de la realización de investigaciones históricas aptas para el alumnado, de forma que se desarrolle su pensamiento histórico. Esto dotará a los alumnos de una serie de recursos esenciales para el adecuado aprendizaje de la historia, y permitiendo que éstos realicen su propia representación del pasado yanalizar los hechos históricos desde un punto de vista crítico.
El arte paleolítico en El Carnicero de Chabrol
Authors: Lombo Montañés Alberto
Published: December 2015

El Carnicero (Le Boucher, 1969). Guión y diálogos: Claude Chabrol. Fotografía: Jean Rabier. Música: Pierre Jansen. Sonido: Guy Chichignoud. Montaje: Lacques Gaillard. Intérpretes: Stéphane Audran (señorita Hélène, la maestra), Jean Yanne (Popaul, el carnicero), Roger Rudel (comisario). Producción Les Films La Boétie (París), Euro-International (Roma). Rodaje: septiembre-octubre de 1969 en Trémolant (Périgord) y gruta de Cougnac (Lot).
Technical and Economic Feasibility of Storing CO2 in Mature Fractured Monterey Reservoirs of Offshore California
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxi , Ershaghi Iraj
Published: December 2015

In this paper we present a study on the feasibility of utilizing the mature Monterey oilfields of offshore California for sequestering carbon dioxide while potentially enhancing crude oil recovery from the tight matrix.

An important characteristic of these fields is that, because of natural fractures, well productivities have been high and as a result, a significant amount of reservoir voidage has been generated in each field by production of more than 780 million barrels of oil and more than a TCF of natural gas during the last three decades. These productions translate into a computed voidage of about a billion barrels allowing storage of more than 90 Million tons of CO2. This is roughly equivalent to storing 50 years of CO2 from a 400 MW Power plant. Another important observation discussed in the paper is the cap rock sealing nature of these fields allowing preservation of the oil and initial pressure as evidenced from the analyses of the initial GOR data. Furthermore many of these fields will be at the verge of abandonment during the next two decades unless steps are taken to enhance recovery by extracting oil from the tight matrix. CO2 extraction from tight rocks is a technically feasible process and our analysis indicate that CO2 storage can indeed prolong the life of many of these fields and enhance matrix oil recovery. An important infrastructure requirement for CO2 transportation into these offshore fields is the cost of building offshore pipelines. Availability of existing multiple pipelines connecting the fields to their corresponding onshore treatment facilities solves this transportation of CO2 to the offshore fields. Finally, these fields are under active water influx, where aquifers may provide additional CO2 storage possibilities.
Generation of contractile actomyosin bundles depends on mechanosensitive actin filament assembly and disassembly
Authors: Tojkander Sari , Gateva Gergana , Husain Amjad , Krishnan Ramaswamy , Lappalainen Pekka
Published: December 2015

Adhesion and morphogenesis of many non-muscle cells are guided by contractile actomyosin bundles called ventral stress fibers. While it is well established that stress fibers are mechanosensitive structures, physical mechanisms by which they assemble, align, and mature have remained elusive. Here we show that arcs, which serve as precursors for ventral stress fibers, undergo lateral fusion during their centripetal flow to form thick actomyosin bundles that apply tension to focal adhesions at their ends. Importantly, this myosin II-derived force inhibits vectorial actin polymerization at focal adhesions through AMPK-mediated phosphorylation of VASP, and thereby halts stress fiber elongation and ensures their proper contractility. Stress fiber maturation additionally requires ADF/cofilin-mediated disassembly of non-contractile stress fibers, whereas contractile fibers are protected from severing. Taken together, these data reveal that myosin-derived tension precisely controls both actin filament assembly and disassembly to ensure generation and proper alignment of contractile stress fibers in migrating cells.