bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying Bald Versus Golden Eagle Bones: A Primer for Wildlife Biologists and Law Enforcement Officers
Authors: Trail Pepper W.
Published: July 2017

Remains of bald eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus and golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos are regularly encountered in avian mortality surveys and wildlife crime investigations. These species exhibit well-documented plumage differences, allowing identification in most instances when feathers are present. However, skeletal remains are much more difficult to identify and may be the only material available after mortality events (e.g., decomposed remains associated with power lines or wind turbines). Eagle bones are also sometimes incorporated into crafted items without other associated remains. I describe and illustrate shape-based osteological characters that have been determined to be reliable for distinguishing most major bones of bald versus golden eagles. Using the annotated photographs provided as a guide, nonspecialists will be able to identify eagle skeletal remains with high accuracy. This information will be of interest to wildlife law enforcement officers; state, federal, and tribal wildlife biologists documenting avian mortality; and anthropologists and archaeologists.
Le marché de Sabra à Beyrouth par l’image et le son. Retour sur une enquête intensive
Authors: Kassatly Houda , Puig Nicolas , Tabet Michel
Published: July 2017

Ce texte a pour ambition d’apporter une contribution méthodologique aux études sur les formes de coprésence dans les lieux de densité et d’hétérogénéité humaines. Il décrit les dispositifs audio-visuels déployés sur un marché de Beyrouth situé dans le quartier de Sabra, leur réception par les acteurs et les effets de connaissance attendus. Tous les dimanches, des outsiders migrants asiatiques principalement originaires du Bangladesh insèrent leurs propres activités sociables et commerciales sur ce marché occupé par des installés arabes (Palestiniens, Syriens et Libanais). L’objectif est d’approcher l’expérience sensorielle et relationnelle des acteurs en présence à partir de séquences de diverses natures, photographiques, filmiques et sonores. Sabra représente un espace social où des acteurs immergés dans un environnement sensoriel, dont ils sont aussi les producteurs, imaginent les formules communicationnelles de la coprésence.
« Le cinéma a besoin de l’individu, les migrants ont besoin du cinéma pour redevenir des individus ». Entretien avec Andrea Segre
Authors: De Gourcy Constance
Published: July 2017

Depuis quelques décennies, les questions migratoires sont devenues un sujet majeur des sociétés contemporaines dont le cinéma se fait le relais. Considéré comme source et outil d’analyse, celui-ci contribue à la connaissance de l’histoire des migrations et souligne la façon dont une société construit son rapport à l’altérité en mobilisant la figure de l’étranger. L’entretien mené auprès d’Andrea Segre, réalisateur et scénariste italien de documentaires et de films internationalement reconnus et primés, met en lumière la capacité du cinéma à ouvrir des mondes possibles – et non seulement à refléter ceux existants –, des mondes où les différences sont moins un obstacle à la commune humanité qu’un de ses fondements.
Les artistes urbains belges, la « crise migratoire » et le terrorisme. Entretiens avec Kaer, Gioia Kayaga, Giacomo Lariccia, David Mendez Yepez, Tutu Puoane et Rival
Authors: Martiniello Marco
Published: July 2017

Basé sur des entretiens menés avec six artistes de la scène musicale urbaine de trois grandes villes belges (Anvers, Bruxelles et Liège), l’article aborde trois questions : la « crise migratoire » actuelle, l’impact des attaques terroristes qui ont secoué le pays et les politiques mises en œuvre pour y répondre et enfin, la manière dont les artistes conçoivent leur rôle en tant qu’artistes dans la période très délicate que nos sociétés traversent. L’intérêt de ces conversations entre un sociologue des migrations et des artistes urbains dont l’histoire personnelle est directement marquée par les migrations repose sur l’idée que ces derniers sont des acteurs-clés dans les dynamiques urbaines post-migratoires et interculturelles.
Cartographier les mouvements migratoires
Authors: Bacon Lucie , Clochard Olivier , Honoré Thomas , Lambert Nicolas , Mekdjian Sarah , Rekacewicz Philippe
Published: July 2017

À partir de diverses réalisations conventionnelles en géographie et/ou artistiques, parmi lesquels des travaux réalisés par les auteurs, cet article s’intéresse à la manière dont la cartographie des migrations internationales a évolué depuis le début des années 1990. La représentation des mouvements migratoires, qui oscille entre des flèches, des mesures de stocks et diverses formes de dessin, soulève autant d’enjeux scientifiques et politiques posés à la cartographie et géographie des migrations. Après un bref rappel des changements qu’a connus la cartographie des flux migratoires, depuis ses origines, au XIXe siècle, jusqu’à aujourd’hui, les auteurs évoquent les principaux défis techniques et épistémologiques que les cartes de flux ou représentant des itinéraires ne cessent de poser. Puis pour terminer, sont présentées de nouvelles formes cartographiques, ayant émergé depuis le début des années 2000, dans les domaines croisés de la science, de l’art et du militantisme.
Du social au biologique : les habits neufs de la « race » ? Entretien avec Magali Bessone et Claude-Olivier Doron
Authors: Grossi Élodie , Poiret Christian
Published: July 2017

Il est communément admis en France que la notion biologique de race est scientifiquement invalidée depuis les années 1950. Pourtant, la « race », comme catégorie biologique, est loin d’être sortie des pratiques scientifiques. Au contraire, ces usages sont multiples et fragmentaires. La notion de race se transforme ainsi au fil de sa circulation entre disciplines des sciences « dures » et entre contextes nationaux. Et surtout, son usage comme notion biologique n’est pas cantonné aux seuls professionnels de la santé et des sciences naturelles. Aux États-Unis, les particuliers recourent à des tests génétiques pour s’affilier à des « races-ascendances bio-géographiques ». Des sociologues et historiens analysent les usages de la « race » en sciences « dures » et en médecine dans le contexte étatsunien, depuis une vingtaine d’années. Au regard de ce foisonnement nord-américain, les recherches en sciences sociales se font rares sur le sujet en France. Dans cet entretien, Magali Bessone et Claude-Olivier Doron proposent des lectures novatrices des modalités de construction et des usages des catégories ethniques et raciales dans le champ des sciences naturelles et de la médecine. Ils reviennent sur la pertinence de l’opposition entre constructivisme social et naturalisme lorsque ces paradigmes sont appliqués à la « race ». Enfin, ils invitent à déconstruire les usages parfois complexes de cette notion, en produisant des enquêtes empiriquement fondées dans le contexte français.
American Immigration Politics: An Unending Controversy
Authors: Hollifield James F.
Published: July 2017

Immigration has been a controversial issue throughout American political history from the colonial period to the present. In this article I argue that we must understand how the issue of immigration is framed whether in terms of economics (markets), rights, security or culture, and we must be attentive always to place the controversy in historical context. In the period since 1945 until the 2001 terrorist attacks, immigration policy was driven by a rights-markets dynamic. But in the first decades of the 21st century the immigration debate is framed primarily in terms of culture (religion and race) as well as national security. This framing has heightened the “liberal paradox” making immigration policy reform more difficult.
La renaissance de la « Route de la soie » : un mythe qui occulte les migrations internationales
Authors: Thorez Julien
Published: July 2017

La « Route de la soie » est désormais l’une des principales notions utilisées par les acteurs politiques et quelquefois académiques pour décrire l’insertion des pays d’Asie centrale dans la mondialisation. Cette idée développée au XIXe siècle par le géographe allemand Ferdinand von Richtofen pour dépeindre les réseaux commerciaux reliant la Chine et l’Europe aux périodes antiques et médiévales est pourtant invalidée par la réalité des échanges internationaux de personnes et de marchandises. Les flux qui transitent par l’Asie centrale entre l’Europe et l’Asie restent en effet modestes au regard de la circulation mondiale, en raison de la primauté de la voie maritime. Par ailleurs, cette idée occulte les migrations internationales, alors même que la région a connu depuis une trentaine d’années des transformations considérables de son système migratoire qui bouleversent les sociétés et les territoires de l’Asie centrale.
JAVA Jigsaw Puzzle
Authors: Zhang Xuewei , Liu XiaoJie
Published: July 2017

With the development of society, the computer has become an indispensable part of people's daily life, especially in the study, and it plays an important role in their respective fields. Under the influence of the rapid development of computer, computer games are also thriving. Jigsaw puzzle is one of them. It has a wide range of applications, but also for young and old. The game can not only exercise manual ability, observation ability, but also cultivate the ability of cooperation between people.
Validation of peritoneal adhesion index as a standardized classification to universalize peritoneal adhesions definition
Authors: Fugazzola Paola , Coccolini Federico , Nita Gabriela E. , Montori Giulia , Corbella Davide , Adesunkanmi Abdulrasheed R.K. , Aluffi Alessandro , Baiocchi Gianluca , Biffl Walter , Catena Fausto , Celotti Andrea , Cheynel Nicolas , Colledan Michele , Cui Yunfeng , Di Saverio Salomone , Faro Mario Paulo Jr. , Faruk Karateke , Fraga Gustavo Pereira , Gerych Igor , Gomes Carlos Augusto , Guercioni Gianluca , Isik Arda , Khokha Vladimir , Kluger Yoram , Kong Victor , Leppaniemi Ari , Manfredi Roberto , Massalou Damien , Moore Eugeene , Naidoo Noel , Pereira Bruno Monteiro Tavares , Piazzalunga Dario , Pisano Michele , Poiasina Elia , Poletti de Chaurand Eugenio , Rat Patrick , Sakakushev Boris , Sartelli Massimo , Siribumrungwong Boonying , Solaini Leonardo , Tomasoni Matteo , Vettoretto Nereo , Yuan Kuo-Ching , Ansaloni Luca
Published: July 2017

Peritoneal adhesion index (PAI) is a score based on appearance and distribution of peritoneal adhesions. The study aims to assess the validity of PAI in order to standardize the definition of peritoneal adhesions. The study includes an expert survey to assess the feasibility of the score and a prospective observational and multicenter trial to assess its validity. 96% of surgeons of the survey consider PAI a useful tool. From January 2013 to March 2015, 205 patients were enrolled to undergo a surgical intervention for bowel obstruction caused by peritoneal adhesions in 21 centers. PAI was significantly higher in the population with previous surgery (P=0.043) and in patients who underwent two previous surgical interventions, if compared to those with only one previous intervention (P=0.012). Length of surgery was significantly longer in patients with higher PAI (P<0.001). Patients with a higher PAI showed a clinically higher risk for early bowel re-obstruction and for early re-intervention. The AUC of the ROC curve for early re-occlusion is 0.8. PAI can be considered a feasible and useful score.
Supply chain integration in the product return process: A study of consumer electronics retailers
Authors: Niemann Wesley , Kotzé Theuns , Mostert Wynand
Published: July 2017

Background: The increasing complexity and levels of competition facing firms have reiterated the need to integrate the flow of goods and information within and between firms. Limited research has, however, been done regarding this integration in terms of reverse logistics.Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of retailers regarding supply chain integration in the context of product returns for consumer electronics.Method: A generic qualitative research strategy was used for this purpose. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with managerial staff involved with the product returns process at large retailers.Findings: The main findings indicate that the retailers made efforts to increase internal integration relating to improving information availability, aligning cross functional processes and improving inter-firm relationships. External integration efforts attempted to improve the intra-firm flow of information, reduce the number products returned to suppliers, expedite the returns process in specific instances and align processes. A narrow supplier-orientated span of integration was identified in this context, with integration efforts mainly targeting the start of the returns process to reduce return volumes. The study identified benefits attributed to both internal and external integration and barriers to internal and external integration relating to transactional relationships and suppliers who are incapable of integration.Contribution: Academically, this study expands the literature on supply chain integration in an unexplored context. For managers, this study identifies various reverse logistics integration barriers and details what practices and strategies improve the probability of successful integration efforts.
Challenges faced by parents of children with learning disabilities in Opuwo, Namibia
Authors: Taderera Clever , Hall Herna
Published: July 2017

Background: Parenting children with learning disabilities requires a high level of knowledge and access to resources, information and services. In developing countries, however, these resources and services are not always available. Parents in Namibia, a developing country, therefore face challenges addressing children’s learning and other developmental disabilities, including challenges related to preventative and supportive interventions.Objective: This research focuses on challenges faced by parents as they parent children with learning disabilities in Opuwo, Namibia.Method: In-depth interviews were conducted with eight parents regarding the challenges they face in parenting their children with learning disabilities. Thematic analysis enabled the researchers to identify, analyse and report on themes that emerged from the qualitative interview data.Results: Analysis of the interviews indicated that some participants had only a vague understanding of learning disabilities, as they did not have access to essential knowledge about this phenomenon. They also lacked an awareness of the availability of programmes, services and policies meant to benefit their children with learning disabilities. Participants voiced that they, their children with learning disabilities and community members have stereotypes and prejudices regarding learning disabilities. In this study, most of the children with learning disabilities were raised by single, unemployed parents who seemed to have access to less support from external sources than married couples parenting children with learning disabilities. These single parents are usually not married and because of lack of financial support from the other parent, the majority of them indicated that they struggle to meet the financial and material needs of their children.Conclusion: The researchers concluded that the participants in this study experience a range of challenges in parenting their children with learning disabilities. The main challenges emanate from financial instability, as well as lack of knowledge regarding services and programmes for children with learning disabilities. This lack of knowledge on the part of participants could indicate poor policy education by policy implementers at grass-roots level.
Religion and culture: Revisiting a close relative
Authors: Beyers Jaco
Published: July 2017

Religion and culture always exist in a close relation. Together with aesthetics and ethics, religion constitutes culture. As ethnicity becomes part of the related concepts, the relation with religion needs explanation. This article wants to emphasise that when studying religion, a  study of culture is necessary. This statement is argued from three positions: (1) cultural migrations occurring worldwide, (2) religion as cultural identity marker causing the borders between culture and religion to blur and (3) the location of religion within culture causing religion to act as custodian of culture. This results in a situation where any signs of animosity towards culture are interpreted as opposition towards religion. All three arguments necessitate studying ethnicity when studying religion.
Editorial foreword
Authors: Joubert Stephan
Published: July 2017

No abstract available.
Rural-origin health professional students’ perceptions of a support programme offered by Umthombo Youth Development Foundation
Authors: Gumede Dumisani M. , Ross Andrew J. , Campbell Laura M. , MacGregor Richard G.
Published: July 2017

Background: Staffing of rural healthcare facilities is a challenge, with literature supporting the selection and training of rural-origin students. The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) scholarship scheme supports rural students to train as healthcare professionals and offers a unique support programme. This programme has not been evaluated, and this study sought UYDF-supported students’ perceptions of the programme.Aim: The aim of the study was to assess students’ perceptions of the UYDF support programme.Methods: This was an observational descriptive study. Participants were students supported by UYDF and data were collected by a questionnaire with a Likert scale to assess perceptions of various aspects of the support programme.Results: Students’ perceptions about the UYDF support programme were generally positive, with initial orientation and information sharing perceived as useful. Some respondents did not perceive value in holding discussions around English proficiency. The support required appeared to diminish with increasing years of study.Conclusion: A comprehensive, proactive compulsory support system that provides both academic and social support was perceived as useful by the UYDF students. Further research is required around aspects such as encouraging English proficiency. In future, the support programme could prioritise students in the early years of their study.
Development of a Hypertension Health Literacy Assessment Tool for use in primary healthcare clinics in South Africa, Gauteng
Authors: Mafutha Nokuthula G. , Mogotlane Sophie , De Swardt Hester C.
Published: July 2017

Background: Hypertension is a universal risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in both the ageing and obese populations and patients must be literate in hypertension health issues to participate actively in the management of their disease. Little research has been done to investigate hypertension health literacy levels among South Africans.Aim: To develop a Hypertension Heath Literacy Assessment Tool to establish patients’ comprehension of the health education they receive in primary healthcare (PHC) clinics in Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa.Setting: PHC clinics in Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa.Methods: The design was quantitative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The study population comprised health promoters who were experts in the field of health, documents containing hypertension health education content and individuals with hypertension. Participants were conveniently and purposefully selected. A modified Delphi technique was used to develop and validate the Hypertension Health Literacy Assessment Tool (HHLAT). To ensure validity and reliability of the HHLAT, the tool was administered to 195 participants concurrently with the Learning Ability Battery (LAB).Results: There was a strong positive (F = 76.0, p < 0.0001, R2 = 28.25%) correlation between the LAB and the HHLAT. The HHLAT indicated that only 37 (19%) of the patients with hypertension had poor hypertension health literacy levels.Conclusion: The HHLAT is a valid tool that can be used in busy PHC clinics as it takes less than two minutes to administer. This tool can inform the healthcare worker on the depth of hypertension health education to be given to the patient, empowering the patient and saving time in PHC facilities.
Why seek a second consultation at an emergency centre? A qualitative study
Authors: Crafford Lize , Jenkins Louis S.
Published: July 2017

Background: The inappropriate use of emergency centres (ECs) is an expanding problem globally. The high attendance of non-urgent return presentations to ECs is recognised as part of the problem, placing an unnecessary demand on limited staff and resources. Of unscheduled returns 34% of cases had no change to diagnosis or treatment with the conclusion that 80% of re-attendance could be attributed to deficiencies in the initial consultation. This study aimed to evaluate the reasons why patients sought an early second consultation for the same complaint at a hospital EC in South Africa, by exploring the patient’s experience and shortcomings in the first consultation.Method: A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 purposively selected participants who presented to a rural regional provincial hospital’s EC within 7 days of a prior consultation for the same complaint. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using the framework method.Results: The main reasons for a second consultation were symptom related factors and the need for diagnostic certainty. The major themes around patient experience of the initial consultation were shortcomings in effective evaluation and management of pain, diagnostic uncertainty including poor examination, poor explanation, uncertain access and follow-up and societal encouragement to utilise a hospital EC.Conclusion: Further interventions should explore pain as a presenting symptom of the illness experience, and promote competence in addressing physical and psychological causative factors within a patient-centred approach for all health staff, especially in primary care services.
Critical reflections on a visit to an inner-city primary health care clinic in Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Jenkins Louis S. , Goldraich Marcos A.
Published: July 2017

Introduction: Brazil and South Africa share many sociodemographic and health features that provide many learning opportunities. Brazil’s national health system, the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) prioritises primary health care since 1994, the year democracy came to South Africa. Two family physicians from these countries met in Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, a densely populated area where poverty, danger, drugs, tuberculosis and mental illness are the focus of the health system.Maria do Socorro Family Clinic: Central to the SUS are the Family Health Teams, consisting of community health workers, nurses, doctors and allied health workers. This clinic in Rocinha has 11 teams, caring for 2700 people each, all visited monthly, preventing illness and promoting health. Patients with mental illness are cared for in a therapeutic residency, with an onsite psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker. The relationships between the health carers and the clinic and the community are collegial and equal, sharing care. Larger than life photos of patients from the community line the walls.Training: A culture of learning is evident, with 18 family medicine residents, student nurses, a small library and a learning centre at the clinic. Local authorities compensate trainees in family medicine more than traditional specialties.Conclusion: Brazil has made massive progress in providing universal health coverage over the last 20 years. South Africa, with not too dissimilar challenges, is embarking on this road more recently. The lessons learnt at clinic and community level in this inner-city clinic could be very useful for similar settings in South Africa and other countries.
The impact of monetary policy on household consumption in South Africa: Evidence from vector autoregressive techniques
Authors: Owusu-Sekyere Emmanuel
Published: July 2017

Background: This article adds to scarce sub-Saharan African and South African literature on monetary policy transmission mechanisms by looking into: (1) the Keynesian interest rate channel of monetary policy transmission in South Africa, focussing on the behaviour of household credit and household consumption; (2) using the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (VAR) techniques with stochastic volatility to capture the time-varying nature of the underlying structure of the South African economy to see whether it performs better than the constant parameter VAR in so doing and (3) policy implications emerging from the findings of the study.Aim: In testing the hypotheses of the interest rate channel of monetary policy transmission, the aim is to see how household credit and ultimately household consumption have evolved in South Africa: (1) before inflation targeting (1994–1999), (2) after inflation targeting (2000–2007) and (3) during the global financial crisis (2007–2012) in response to different monetary policy positioning.Setting: We focus on three periods: post transition from apartheid, during inflation targeting and during the global financial crisis, periods which saw changes in the monetary policy stance in South Africa.Methods: Quarterly data from 1994Q1 to 2012Q4, constant parameter VAR and time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) techniques are used in this study. The use of the TVP-VAR is to capture the time-varying nature of the underlying structure of the South African economy and also to investigate whether it performs better than the constant parameter VAR in so doing.Results: The results show that household credit and consumption declined and stayed negative post transition and after inflation targeting – periods of monetary tightening in South Africa - but increased during the global financial crisis, which saw expansionary monetary policy measures aimed at mitigating the negative output gap in South Africa.Conclusion: These changes in household credit and consumption across the different time periods show evidence of the cost of credit effect of monetary policy on household consumption in South Africa. They further reflect the impact of different structural changes and exogenous shocks on monetary policy conduct in South Africa and its pass through effect on household consumption in South Africa. We further conclude that the time TVP-VAR with stochastic volatility performs better than the constant parameter VAR in capturing the time-varying nature of the underlying structure of the South African economy.
HIV epidemic drivers in South Africa: A model-based evaluation of factors accounting for inter-provincial differences in HIV prevalence and incidence trends
Authors: Johnson Leigh F. , Dorrington Rob E. , Moolla Haroon
Published: July 2017

Background: HIV prevalence differs substantially between South Africa’s provinces, but the factors accounting for this difference are poorly understood.Objectives: To estimate HIV prevalence and incidence trends by province, and to identify the epidemiological factors that account for most of the variation between provinces.Methods: A mathematical model of the South African HIV epidemic was applied to each of the nine provinces, allowing for provincial differences in demography, sexual behaviour, male circumcision, interventions and epidemic timing. The model was calibrated to HIV prevalence data from antenatal and household surveys using a Bayesian approach. Parameters estimated for each province were substituted into the national model to assess sensitivity to provincial variations.Results: HIV incidence in 15–49-year-olds peaked between 1997 and 2003 and has since declined steadily. By mid-2013, HIV prevalence in 15–49-year-olds varied between 9.4% (95% CI: 8.5%–10.2%) in Western Cape and 26.8% (95% CI: 25.8%–27.6%) in KwaZulu-Natal. When standardising parameters across provinces, this prevalence was sensitive to provincial differences in the prevalence of male circumcision (range 12.3%–21.4%) and the level of non-marital sexual activity (range 9.5%–24.1%), but not to provincial differences in condom use (range 17.7%–21.2%), sexual mixing (range 15.9%–19.2%), marriage (range 18.2%–19.4%) or assumed HIV prevalence in 1985 (range 17.0%–19.1%).Conclusion: The provinces of South Africa differ in the timing and magnitude of their HIV epidemics. Most of the heterogeneity in HIV prevalence between South Africa’s provinces is attributable to differences in the prevalence of male circumcision and the frequency of non-marital sexual activity.
Design of a virtual tour for the enhancement of Llíria’s architectural and urban heritage and its surroundings
Authors: Maícas José Miguel , Viñals María José
Published: July 2017

The Information Technology and Communications (ICT) have revolutionized the way to present and promote the heritage sites. These ICT also offer scholars, students and visitors unprecedented access to architectural, historical, geographical, archaeological, iconographical and anthropological data, among other. It is noted also that virtual heritage environments are inherently fascinating and possess essential properties to have a positive effect on supporting heritage conservation and education. This paper is concerned with the potential of these ICT developments for improving the enhancement of the heritage sites of the town of Llíria and its surroundings (Valencia, Spain) by mean of a virtual tour (“Edeta 360º”) based on 360º panorama photos. The “Edeta 360º” virtual tour is an immersive application that places the viewers inside the image, enabling them to significantly enhance position awareness and providing the highest level of functionality for viewing, capturing and analysing virtual data. It can appropriately and effectively be utilised to facilitate intellectual and physical access to public by bringing knowledge, awareness and appreciation about the heritage of Llíria while, at the same time, authenticity is preserved. The undertaking method to create this interactive virtual tour is based on an easy procedure with off-the-shelf equipment and using both freely available software to address the process of photo stitching that combines multiple photographic images with overlapping fields of view to produce a segmented panorama or high-resolution image. Each panorama contains hotspots that enable the users to further explore the surroundings. The virtual tour provides the user the ability to navigate a scene through the rotation and zoom functions. This application results very appealing and has been adopted as a mean for information, dissemination, education and tourism purposes.
Historical imprints and virtual representation issues in Mid-Byzantine Acrocorinth Castle
Authors: Athanasoulis Demetrios , Simou Xeni , Zirogianni Theodora
Published: July 2017

Fortified architecture of medieval times in Greece is a research field with several challenges for the scholars such as the absent of plans and written sources. The current study investigates how digital documentation methods can contribute to the extraction of archaeological information from the actual material sources -the various building traces. This relation between survey and interpretation will be presented through the case of Acrocorinth Castle. The survey of a smaller area of the fortification between the 2nd and 3rd defence line of Acrocorinth was executed in order to create a three dimensional (3D) representation for the Middle-Byzantine Phase of the castle. The project was implicated in the frame of the creation of the web-platform ecastles.culture.gr for the promotion of fortified architecture in Peloponnese under the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (25th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, Argolid Ephorate of Antiquities). In the present study the surveying method and the step by step graphic reconstruction will be initially presented. Subsequently, it will be analysed how the digital survey led to the gradual modulation of the castle's historic form and how the scenarios of building phases' evolution were made.
Delivering and using 3D models on the web: are we ready?
Authors: Scopigno Roberto , Callieri Marco , Dellepiane Matteo , Ponchio Federico , Potenziani Marco
Published: July 2017

Digital technologies are now mature for producing high quality digital replicas of Cultural Heritage (CH) assets. The research results produced in the last decade ignited an impressive evolution and consolidation of the technologies for acquiring high-quality digital three-dimensional (3D) models, encompassing both geometry and color. What remains still an open problem is how to deliver those data and related knowledge to our society. The web is nowadays the main channel for the dissemination of knowledge. Emerging commercial solutions for web-publishing of 3D data are consolidating and becoming a de-facto standard for many applications (e-commerce, industrial products, education, etc.). In this framework, CH is a very specific domain, requiring highly flexible solutions. Some recent experiences are presented, aimed at providing a support to the archival of archaeological 3D data, supporting web-based publishing of very high-resolution digitization results and finally enabling the documentation of complex restoration actions. All those examples have been recently implemented on the open-source 3D Heritage Online Presenter (3DHOP) platform, developed at CNR-ISTI.
Impacts of Export-platform FDI on the production of upstream industries - Do third country size, trade agreements and local content requirement matter? Evidence from the Vietnamese supporting industries
Authors: Nguyen-Huu Thanh Tam , Nguyen-Khac Minh
Published: July 2017

This paper investigates the impacts of Export-platform foreign direct investment on the production of upstream industries through backward linkages. First, in a threecountry model, these impacts are explained through a competition effect and a demand effect. Otherwise, such production is also affected by third country size, local content requirement, and power of trade agreements between the host and the third countries. Second, in the case of the Vietnamese supporting industries between 2000 and 2012, Export-platform FDI generates a negative effect. Moreover, local content requirement, and trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries positively impacts the production level of these industries whereas third countries size has an ambiguous impact.
Nutritional modification of SCD, ACACA and LPL gene expressions in different ovine tissues
Authors: Ropka-Molik Katarzyna , Knapik Jan , Pieszka Marek , Szmatoła Tomasz , Piórkowska Katarzyna
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Fatty acid composition is one of the main factors affecting health benefits of food. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD), acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) have been considered as the rate-limiting enzymes in the biosynthesis of different fatty acids critical in lipid metabolism. The aim of our study was the analysis of differences in expression profiles of three ovine genes related to lipid metabolism (LPL, ACACA, SCD) depending on feeding system and tissue type. The gene expression measurement was performed using a real-time PCR method on 60 old-type Polish Merino Sheep, which were divided into three feeding groups (I – complete pellet mixture, n =  12; II – complete mixture with addition of fresh grass, n =  24; III – complete mixture with addition of fresh red clover, n =  24). From all lambs, tissue samples – subcutaneous fat, perirenal fat and liver – were collected immediately after slaughter and LPL, ACACA and SCD expression was estimated based on two endogenous controls (RPS2 – ribosomal protein S2; ATP5G2 – H(+)-transporting ATP synthase). Our research indicated that supplementation of diet with an addition of fresh grass or red clover significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the expression of SCD, ACACA and LPL genes in fat tissue compared to standard complete pelleted mixture. On the other hand, the highest expression of ACACA was detected in liver tissue collected from sheep fed a diet with an addition of fresh red clover (P < 0.05). In turn, the highest expression of the SCD gene was detected in animals fed with grass supplementation (P < 0.05). Regardless of diet supplementation, the highest SCD transcript abundance was detected in perirenal fat, while LPL and ACACA expression was the highest in both perirenal and subcutaneous fat. The ability of nutrigenomic regulation of transcription of analyzed genes confirmed that these genes play a critical role in regulation of lipid metabolism processes in sheep and could be associated with fatty acid profiles in milk and meat.
Source attribution using FLEXPART and carbon monoxide
emission inventories: SOFT-IO version 1.0
Authors: Sauvage Bastien , Fontaine Alain , Eckhardt Sabine , Auby Antoine , Boulanger Damien , Petetin Hervé , Paugam Ronan , Athier Gilles , Cousin Jean-Marc , Darras Sabine , Nédélec Philippe , Stohl Andreas , Turquety Solène , Cammas Jean-Pierre , Thouret Valérie
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Since 1994, the In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS) program has produced in-situ measurements of the atmospheric composition during more than 51000 commercial flights. In order to help analyzing these observations and understanding the processes driving the observed concentration distribution and variability, we developed the SOFT-IO tool to quantify source/receptor links for all measured data. Based on the FLEXPART particle dispersion model (Stohl et al., 2005), SOFT-IO simulates the contributions of anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions from the ECCAD emission inventory database for all locations and times corresponding to the measured carbon monoxide mixing ratios along each IAGOS flight. Contributions are simulated from emissions occurring during the last 20 days before an observation, separating individual contributions from the different source regions. The main goal is to supply added-value products to the IAGOS database by evincing the geographical origin and emission sources driving the CO enhancements observed in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. This requires a good match between observed and modeled CO enhancements. Indeed, SOFT-IO detects more than 95 % of the observed CO anomalies over most of the regions sampled by IAGOS in the troposphere. In the majority of cases, SOFT-IO simulates CO pollution plumes with biases lower than 10–15 ppbv. Differences between the model and observations are larger for very low or very high observed CO values. The added-value products will help in the understanding of the trace-gas distribution and seasonal variability. They are available in the IAGOS data base via http://www.iagos.org. The SOFT-IO tool could also be applied to similar data sets of CO observations (e.g. ground-based measurements, satellite observations). SOFT-IO could also be used for statistical validation as well as for inter-comparisons of emission inventories using large amounts of data.
High-resolution quantification of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada
Authors: Pugliese Stephanie C. , Murphy Jennifer G. , Vogel Felix R. , Moran Michael D. , Zhang Junhua , Zheng Qiong , Stroud Craig A. , Ren Shuzhan , Worthy Douglas , Broquet Gregoire
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Many stakeholders are seeking methods to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in urban areas, however reliable, high-resolution inventories are required to guide these efforts. We present the development of a high-resolution CO2 inventory available for the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding region in southern Ontario, Canada (area of ~ 2.8 × 105 km2, 26 % of the province of Ontario). The new SOCE (Southern Ontario CO2 Emissions) inventory is available at the 2.5 × 2.5 km spatial and hourly temporal resolution and characterizes emissions from seven sectors: Area, Residential natural gas combustion, Commercial natural gas combustion, Point, Marine, On-road and Off-road. To assess the accuracy of the SOCE inventory, we developed an observation-model framework using the GEM-MACH chemistry-transport model run on a high-resolution grid with 2.5 km grid spacing coupled to the Fossil Fuel Data Assimilation System (FFDAS) v2 inventories for anthropogenic CO2 emissions and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) land carbon model C-TESSEL for biogenic fluxes. A run using FFDAS for the southern Ontario region was compared to a run in which its emissions were replaced by the SOCE inventory. Simulated CO2 mixing ratios were compared against in situ measurements made at four sites in southern Ontario, Downsview, Hanlan's Point, Egbert and Turkey Point, in three winter months, January–March, 2016. Model simulations had better agreement with measurements when using the SOCE inventory emissions versus other inventories, quantified using a variety of statistics such as Correlation Coefficient, root mean square error and mean bias. Furthermore, when run with the SOCE inventory, the model had improved ability to capture the typical diurnal pattern of CO2 mixing ratios, particularly at the Downsview, Hanlan's Point and Egbert sites. In addition to improved model-measurement agreement, the SOCE inventory offers a sectoral breakdown of emissions, allowing estimation of average time-of-day and day-of-week contributions of different sectors. Our results show that at night, emissions from Residential and Commercial natural gas combustion and other Area sources can contribute > 80 % of the CO2 enhancement while during the day emissions from the On-road sector dominate, accounting for > 70 % of the enhancement.
Abundances of isotopologues and calibration of CO2 greenhouse gas measurements
Authors: Tans Pieter P. , Crotwell Andrew M. , Thoning Kirk W.
Published: July 2017

Abstract. We have developed a method to calculate the fractional distribution of CO2 across all of its component isotopologues based on measured δ13C and δ18O values. The fractional distribution can be used with known total CO2 to calculate the amount of substance fraction (mole fraction) of each component isotopologue in air individually. The technique is applicable to any molecule where isotopologue-specific values are desired. We used it with a new CO2 calibration system to account for isotopic differences among the primary CO2 standards that define the WMO X2007 CO2-in-air calibration scale and between the primary standards and standards in subsequent levels of the calibration hierarchy. The new calibration system uses multiple laser spectroscopic techniques to measure mole fractions of the three major CO2 isotopologues (16O12C16O, 16O13C16O, and 16O12C18O) individually. The three measured values are then combined into total CO2 (accounting for the rare unmeasured isotopologues), δ13C, and δ18O values. The new calibration system significantly improves our ability to transfer the WMO CO2 calibration scale with low uncertainty through our role as the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch Central Calibration Laboratory for CO2. Our current estimates for reproducibility of the new calibration system are ±0.01 µmol mol−1 CO2, ±0.2 ‰ δ13C, and ±0.2 ‰ δ18O, all at 68 % confidence interval (CI).
Retrieval of Water Vapor using Ground-based Observations from a Prototype ATOMMS Active cm- and mm- Wavelength Occultation Instrument
Authors: Ward Dale M. , Kursinski E. Robert , Otarola Angel C. , Stovern Michael , McGee Josh , Young Abe , Hainsworth Jared , Hagen Jeff , Sisk William , Reed Heather
Published: July 2017

Abstract. A fundamental goal of satellite weather and climate observations is profiling the atmosphere with in situ-like precision and resolution with absolute accuracy and unbiased, all-weather, global coverage. While GPS radio occultation (RO) has come perhaps closest in terms of profiling the gas state from orbit, it does not provide sufficient information to simultaneously profile water vapor and temperature. We have been developing the Active Temperature, Ozone and Moisture Microwave Spectrometer (ATOMMS) RO system that probes the 22 and 183 GHz water vapor absorption lines to simultaneously profile temperature and water vapor from the lower troposphere to the mesopause. Using an ATOMMS instrument prototype between two mountaintops, we have demonstrated its ability to penetrate through water vapor, clouds and rain up to optical depths of 17 (7 orders of magnitude reduction in signal power) and still isolate the vapor absorption line spectrum to retrieve water vapor with a precision better than 1 %. This demonstration represents a key step toward an orbiting ATOMMS system for weather, climate and constraining processes.
Leveraging 35 years of Pinus taeda research in the southeastern US to constrain forest carbon cycle predictions: regional data assimilation using ecosystem experiments
Authors: Thomas R. Quinn , Brooks Evan B. , Jersild Annika L. , Ward Eric J. , Wynne Randolph H. , Albaugh Timothy J. , Dinon-Aldridge Heather , Burkhart Harold E. , Domec Jean-Christophe , Fox Thomas R. , Gonzalez-Benecke Carlos A. , Martin Timothy A. , Noormets Asko , Sampson David A. , Teskey Robert O.
Published: July 2017

Abstract. Predicting how forest carbon cycling will change in response to climate change and management depends on the collective knowledge from measurements across environmental gradients, ecosystem manipulations of global change factors, and mathematical models. Formally integrating these sources of knowledge through data assimilation, or model–data fusion, allows the use of past observations to constrain model parameters and estimate prediction uncertainty. Data assimilation (DA) focused on the regional scale has the opportunity to integrate data from both environmental gradients and experimental studies to constrain model parameters. Here, we introduce a hierarchical Bayesian DA approach (Data Assimilation to Predict Productivity for Ecosystems and Regions, DAPPER) that uses observations of carbon stocks, carbon fluxes, water fluxes, and vegetation dynamics from loblolly pine plantation ecosystems across the southeastern US to constrain parameters in a modified version of the Physiological Principles Predicting Growth (3-PG) forest growth model. The observations included major experiments that manipulated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, water, and nutrients, along with nonexperimental surveys that spanned environmental gradients across an 8.6  ×  105 km2 region. We optimized regionally representative posterior distributions for model parameters, which dependably predicted data from plots withheld from the data assimilation. While the mean bias in predictions of nutrient fertilization experiments, irrigation experiments, and CO2 enrichment experiments was low, future work needs to focus modifications to model structures that decrease the bias in predictions of drought experiments. Predictions of how growth responded to elevated CO2 strongly depended on whether ecosystem experiments were assimilated and whether the assimilated field plots in the CO2 study were allowed to have different mortality parameters than the other field plots in the region. We present predictions of stem biomass productivity under elevated CO2, decreased precipitation, and increased nutrient availability that include estimates of uncertainty for the southeastern US. Overall, we (1) demonstrated how three decades of research in southeastern US planted pine forests can be used to develop DA techniques that use multiple locations, multiple data streams, and multiple ecosystem experiment types to optimize parameters and (2) developed a tool for the development of future predictions of forest productivity for natural resource managers that leverage a rich dataset of integrated ecosystem observations across a region.