bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Financial Viability of Olive Mills Enterprise in Jordan
Authors: Aldeseit Bassam
Published: March 2014

The main aim of this study was to evaluate financial viability of olive oil mills enterprise. Thirty olive mills were investigated. A questionnaire was designed to obtain information from mills owners. The information obtained was mainly related to costs and returns. Cash flows were derived from costs and returns items of the enterprise. Three main discounted measures of project worth were used; these were Net Present Value (NPV), the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and the Benefit Cost Ratio (B/C). The results of this study revealed that olive mills could be a viable encouraging, and profitable enterprise because of its capability to generate a highly positive and acceptable NPV (837966.05 JDs). The IRR (85%) and B/C ratio (2.3) values for this enterprise were economically accepted.
Anti-Nutrient, Phytochemical and Antiradical Evaluation of 10 Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) Varieties Before and After Flowering
Authors: Nyonje W. A. , Makokha A. O. , Abukutsa-Onyango M. O.
Published: March 2014

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) vegetable is widely consumed in Kenya and contributes to the alleviation of food insecurity. It is reported to have bioactive components such as antioxidants that help in protecting the body from long-term degenerative diseases. However, amaranth vegetable has also been shown to contain some anti-nutrients such as tannins, phytic acid, oxalates and nitrates which may bind nutrients and reduce their bioavailability in the body. There are many amaranth varieties and there is very little information about differences in the anti-nutrient and phytochemical levels among the varieties. The objective of this study was to determine the phytochemical and anti-nutrient content of ten amaranth varieties at two growth stages, before and after flowering. The study was in Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Ten amaranth varieties, eight of which are new varieties, were planted. Harvesting was done in two stages, at vegetative stage and post flowering stage. The leaves were analyzed for nitrates, vitamin C, total carotenoids, flavonoids and total antioxidant activity. Results showed decrease in nitrates which reduced by about 40% as the plants matured. The leaves also increased antioxidant activity as the plants matured with the concentration equivalent (IC50) with DPPH of 2 mg/mL at vegetative stage and about 1mg/mL after flowering. In conclusion, as the plants grow older, there was an increased accumulation of anti-nutrient and other plant chemicals. Antioxidant activity is however increased.
A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF PULMONARY NODULES IN LUNG CT IMAGES
Authors: Alilou Mehdi , Kovalev Vassili , Snezhko Eduard , Taimouri Vahid
Published: March 2014

Solitary pulmonary nodules may indicate an early stage of lung cancer. Hence, the early detection of nodules is the most efficient way for saving the lives of patients. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive Computer Aided Diagnosis (CADx) framework for detection of the lung nodules in computed tomography images. The four major components of the developed framework are lung segmentation, identification of candidate nodules, classification and visualization. The process starts with segmentation of lung regions from the thorax. Then, inside the segmented lung regions, candidate nodules are identified using an approach based on multiple thresholds followed by morphological opening and 3D region growing algorithm. Finally, a combination of a rule-based procedure and support vector machine classifier (SVM) is utilized to classify the candidate nodules. The proposed CADx method was validated on CT images of 60 patients, containing the total of 211 nodules, selected from the publicly available Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) image dataset. Comparing to the other state of the art methods, the proposed framework demonstrated acceptable detection performance (Sensitivity: 0.80; Fp/Scan: 3.9). Furthermore, we visualize a range of anatomical structures including the 3D lung structure and the segmented nodules along with the Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) volume rendering method that will enable the radiologists to accurately and easily estimate the distance between the lung structures and the nodules which are frequently difficult at best to recognize from CT images.
Racing Ratios
Authors: Hardy Michael D.
Published: March 2014

Using scale models of cars generates a need for unit conversion within realistic contexts.
Concise Review: Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Applications for Failing β-Cell Function
Authors: Holditch Sara J. , Terzic Andre , Ikeda Yasuhiro
Published: March 2014

Diabetes engenders the loss of pancreatic β-cell mass and/or function, resulting in insulin deficiency relative to the metabolic needs of the body. Diabetic care has traditionally relied on pharmacotherapy, exemplified by insulin replacement to target peripheral actions of the hormone. With growing understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetic disease, alternative approaches aiming at repair and restoration of failing β-cell function are increasingly considered as complements to current diabetes therapy regimens. To this end, emphasis is placed on transplantation of exogenous pancreas/islets or artificial islets, enhanced proliferation and maturation of endogenous β cells, prevention of β-cell loss, or fortified renewal of β-like-cell populations from stem cell pools and non-β-cell sources. In light of emerging clinical experiences with human embryonic stem cells and approval of the first in-human trial with induced pluripotent stem cells, in this study we highlight advances in β-cell regeneration strategies with a focus on pluripotent stem cell platforms in the context of translational applications.
Human Finger-Prick Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Facilitate the Development of Stem Cell Banking
Authors: Tan Hong-Kee , Toh Cheng-Xu Delon , Ma Dongrui , Yang Binxia , Liu Tong Ming , Lu Jun , Wong Chee-Wai , Tan Tze-Kai , Li Hu , Syn Christopher , Tan Eng-Lee , Lim Bing , Lim Yoon-Pin , Cook Stuart A. , Loh Yuin-Han
Published: March 2014

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from somatic cells of patients can be a good model for studying human diseases and for future therapeutic regenerative medicine. Current initiatives to establish human iPSC (hiPSC) banking face challenges in recruiting large numbers of donors with diverse diseased, genetic, and phenotypic representations. In this study, we describe the efficient derivation of transgene-free hiPSCs from human finger-prick blood. Finger-prick sample collection can be performed on a “do-it-yourself” basis by donors and sent to the hiPSC facility for reprogramming. We show that single-drop volumes of finger-prick samples are sufficient for performing cellular reprogramming, DNA sequencing, and blood serotyping in parallel. Our novel strategy has the potential to facilitate the development of large-scale hiPSC banking worldwide.
La compréhension d’inférences : comparaison des habiletés d’enfants de quatre et de cinq ans en lecture partagée
Authors: Desmarais Chantal , Archambault Marie-Claude , Filiatrault-Veilleux Paméla , Tarte Geneviève
Published: March 2014

La compréhension orale est l’un des fondements de la réussite éducative des jeunes enfants. Cette étude cible spécifiquement la compréhension d’inférences chez les enfants de quatre et cinq ans dans un contexte de lecture partagée. Les résultats permettent de distinguer les deux groupes d’âge. En effet, les enfants de quatre ans sont capables d’inférer l’émotion d’un personnage, mais ils sont moins habiles que ceux de cinq ans à prédire la prochaine étape du récit et à établir les liens menant à l’information nécessaire à la compréhension. Ces résultats invitent à cibler ces habiletés de façon explicite pour optimiser la préparation à l’école.
Recension des facteurs associés à l’établissement de relations enfant-éducateur au service du sain développement de l’enfant
Authors: Perreault Michelle , Brunet Luc
Published: March 2014

De 0 à 5 ans, l’enfant établit des liens socioaffectifs avec les adultes qui l’entourent, avec ses parents d’abord, mais également avec ses éducateurs. Puisque la qualité de ses relations influence son développement social, cognitif et comportemental ainsi que sa réussite scolaire, cette recherche documentaire tente de répertorier les facteurs associés à celle-ci. Parmi ces facteurs, on note certains attributs propres à l’enfant et à l’éducateur ainsi que des facteurs psychologiques et contextuels. Au terme de cette recension, les auteurs souhaitent que les chercheurs et les éducateurs puissent mieux cerner les facteurs susceptibles d’améliorer la qualité des relations enfant-éducateur.
L’institutionnalisation de la résistance : la politique québécoise de reconnaissance et de soutien de l’action communautaire
Authors: White Deena
Published: March 2014

Cet article fait l’analyse des processus de développement, d’adoption et de mise en oeuvre de la politique de reconnaissance et de soutien de l’action communautaire adoptée au Québec en 2001. À une époque où la nouvelle gestion publique était à l’essor, cette politique a institutionnalisé un ensemble d’arrangements résistant au modèle dominant de la gouvernance des rapports entre l’État et la société civile. À la place d’une culture de contrat et des énoncés de valeurs et objectifs en commun, elle institutionnalise des relations d’autonomie et de distance critique des organismes par rapport au gouvernement, en plus d’un financement stable de leurs missions propres. Nous analysons les processus du développement et de mise en oeuvre de la politique à l’aide de la théorie de l’acteur-réseau et nous interprétons les résultats en évoquant certains aspects paradoxaux de la gouvernance en réseau.
Fabrication of transparent p-type conductive BaCuSeF films by pulsed laser deposition and their application to CdS/CdTe solar cells
Authors: Yamamoto Koichi , Okamoto Hirokazu , Sakakima Hiroshi , Hayashi Ryoji , Ogawa Yohei , Okamoto Tamotsu , Wada Takahiro
Published: March 2014

Transparent p-type conductive BaCuSeF films prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) were studied for application to tandem configuration solar cells. The BaCuSeF films were deposited at low substrate temperatures (T
S) of 150, 200, 250, and 300 °C. The films prepared at T
S ≥ 200 °C showed considerably high transmittance in the visible light region. The highest transmittance of 63% was obtained for the film deposited at T
S = 300 °C. All of the films showed p-type conductivities of more than 1 S/cm. These BaCuSeF films were deposited on the CdTe surface of CdS/CdTe solar cells. A high conversion efficiency of 2.82% was obtained for the solar cell with the transparent p-type conductive BaCuSeF film deposited at T
S = 200 °C. The higher efficiency of 3.12% was obtained by inserting a thin Ni0.97Li0.03O buffer layer between the BaCuSeF and CdTe layers.
Alcohol additive effect in hydrogen generation from water with carbon by photochemical reaction
Authors: Maeda Kosuke , Ozaki Nobuhiko , Akimoto Ikuko
Published: March 2014

We have found a novel photochemical activity of carbon powder to generate hydrogen-included gas by irradiating nanosecond laser pulse on carbon aqueous suspension at room temperature. In this study, we investigate alcohol additive effect to improve the gas generation efficiency in Bincho-tan charcoal aqueous suspension. We find that the generated gas volume with 50 wt % ethanol addition increases twice as much as that without ethanol. Components of the generated gas are analyzed to be 50% of hydrogen, 20% of carbon monoxide, and others, being similar to that generated with pure water suspension. Possible roles of ethanol are discussed as an agent in photochemical reactions and/or as a hole scavenger reagent in a photocatalytic reaction.
E region radar echoes from low‐latitude field‐aligned irregularities due to gravity waves and tides: A case study using radar, lidar, and radiosonde observations and simulations
Authors: Sridharan S. , Sandhya M.
Published: March 2014

On the night of 5 February 2011, the height‐time plot of echo from E region field‐aligned irregularities (FAI) received by the Indian mesosphere‐stratosphere‐troposphere radar at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) shows a slow‐descending layered structures separated by nearly 8 km in the height region 80–100 km and vertically elongated structures with quasiperiodic variations at higher heights. The stratospheric thermal structure also shows similar slowly descending structures with nearly 8 km separation. Hodograph of 7–9 km band‐pass filtered radiosonde zonal and meridional winds over Gadanki form clearly an ellipse, and the dominant period obtained from the ratio of major to minor axes of the ellipse is nearly 24 h indicating the presence of a nonmigrating diurnal tide with vertical wavelength of 8 km. The two‐dimensional spectrum of temperature perturbations, which are assumed to be due to gravity waves, shows dominant periods near 1 h and 1.5 h. The spectrum of FAI echo also shows similar dominant periods. Altitude‐time cross section of vertical ion velocity is computed using winds composed of observed gravity wave and tidal parameters. As the diurnal tide over Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E) shows weaker amplitudes above 90 km, the removal of tidal contribution clearly reveals the observed FAI echo structure of vertically slanting plasma blob structures at higher heights and slowly descending continuous structures separated by 8 km at lower heights. The present study clearly demonstrates the role of tides and gravity waves in the formation of descending echo structures and quasiperiodic echoes respectively.
Direct calculation of the ring current distribution and magnetic structure seen by Cluster during geomagnetic storms
Authors: Shen C. , Yang Y. Y. , Rong Z. J. , Li X. , Dunlop M. , Carr C. M. , Liu Z. X. , Baker D. N. , Chen Z. Q. , Ji Y. , Zeng G.
Published: March 2014

Magnetic disturbances caused by the Earth's ring current, particularly during storm time activity, have a dominant effect on the geomagnetic field. Strong currents and large kinetic and magnetic energies can change considerably local field geometry and depress the ground geomagnetic field. The multispacecraft magnetic measurements of Cluster allow extensive in situ coverage of the ring current. We select 48 storm time Cluster crossing events to investigate the variation of the local current density distribution and magnetic configuration of the ring current. We find direct evidence for the existence of an inner, eastward flowing current in addition to the dominant westward current, in the ring plane. The radius of curvature of the magnetic field lines (MFLs) is found to be increasingly reduced at all local times during increasing storm activity, changing the resulting ring current magnetic geometry considerably, where the MFL configuration and the azimuthal current density distribution are asymmetric with the local time. During similar storm activity the radius of curvature of the local MFLs, Rc, is smallest on the nightside to duskside, medium on the dawnside, and largest on the dayside. This change in geometry may have significant influence on the spatial distribution of the particles with various energies in the plasmasphere, ring current, and radiation belts.
The location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause: A comparison with Earth
Authors: Fuselier S. A. , Frahm R. , Lewis W. S. , Masters A. , Mukherjee J. , Petrinec S. M. , Sillanpaa I. J.
Published: March 2014

Data from the Cassini Electron Spectrometer are used to investigate the location of magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause. Heated, streaming electron distributions in the boundary layer on the magnetosheath side of the magnetopause are evidence of reconnection and an open magnetopause. A model for the location of reconnection is used to compare the modeled and observed streaming direction of the heated electron distributions. Magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause is predicted and observed to occur at locations similar to those at Earth's magnetopause. Although not conclusive, the results here are consistent with the expected importance of X‐line drifts in suppressing low‐shear reconnection. Because of different conditions at Saturn's magnetopause, this suppression is predicted to be more severe at Saturn than at Earth.
Pn anisotropy in Mesozoic western Pacific lithosphere
Authors: Shintaku Natsumi , Forsyth Donald W. , Hajewski Christina J. , Weeraratne Dayanthie S.
Published: March 2014

Pn is the high‐frequency, scattered P phase guided for great distances within the old oceanic lithosphere. Two arrays of ocean bottom seismometers were deployed on old (150–160 Ma) seafloor in the northwestern Pacific south of Shatsky Rise for the Pacific Lithosphere Anisotropy and Thickness Experiment. We use Pn phases from 403 earthquakes during the 1 year of deployment to measure apparent velocities across the arrays. Each array was deployed on a separate limb of a magnetic bight, formed near a fast‐spreading, ridge‐ridge‐ridge triple junction. Using high‐frequency waves (5–10 Hz), we look at variations of Pn velocities as a function of azimuth. In the western array, we find Pn anisotropy with velocities ranging from ~8.7 km/s in the back azimuth (θ) direction of 310° to ~7.7 km/s at ~350°. In the eastern array, the velocity ranges from ~8.5 km/s in back azimuth direction of ~210° to ~7.7 km/s at 260° and ~310°. We observe rapid velocity changes with azimuth in the both arrays requiring sinusoidal variations of roughly equal amplitude as a function of both 2θ and 4θ, which is not expected for the orthorhombic symmetry of olivine or orthopyroxene. The fastest directions on the two limbs are roughly orthogonal to each other suggesting the dominance of fossil anisotropy, but the fast directions of the 2θ components are skewed counterclockwise from the spreading directions. We speculate that the rapid azimuthal variations may be caused by vertical stratification with changing anisotropy with depth in the oceanic lithosphere.
Active tectonics and earthquake potential of the Myanmar region
Authors: Wang Yu , Sieh Kerry , Tun Soe Thura , Lai Kuang‐Yin , Myint Than
Published: March 2014

This paper describes geomorphologic evidence for the principal neotectonic features of Myanmar and its immediate surroundings. We combine this evidence with published structural, geodetic, and seismic data to present an overview of the active tectonic architecture of the region and its seismic potential. Three tectonic systems accommodate oblique collision of the Indian plate with Southeast Asia and extrusion of Asian territory around the eastern syntaxis of the Himalayan mountain range. Subduction and collision associated with the Sunda megathrust beneath and within the Indoburman range and Naga Hills accommodate most of the shortening across the transpressional plate boundary. The Sagaing fault system is the predominant locus of dextral motion associated with the northward translation of India. Left‐lateral faults of the northern Shan Plateau, northern Laos, Thailand, and southern China facilitate extrusion of rocks around the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya. All of these systems have produced major earthquakes within recorded history and continue to present major seismic hazards in the region.
Postseismic pressure solution creep: Evidence and time‐dependent change from dynamic indenting experiments
Authors: Gratier Jean Pierre , Renard François , Vial Benjamin
Published: March 2014

Active faults in the Earth's upper crust can slide either steadily by aseismic creep or abruptly causing earthquakes. Seismic and aseismic processes are closely related: earthquakes are often followed by transient afterslip creep. Postseismic displacement rates progressively decrease with time over a period of years or decades. So seismic fracturing activates the creep rate, and various healing processes progressively reduce it. This article presents pressure solution indenter experiments on halite, calcite, and plaster that show how fracturing and comminution processes induced by dynamic stress loading (applied by dropping steel balls) drastically accelerate the displacement rates accommodated by pressure solution creep by decreasing the dissolution contact area and the diffusive mass transfer distance along this contact. However, as fractures progressively heal and dissolution contacts flatten, these effects disappear, and the displacement rates slow down. The time‐dependent change in indenter displacement after dynamic stress loading has been measured and is best fitted by power laws with exponents that change with time from 0.3 to 1 when healing is achieved. Natural postseismic (afterslip) displacement/time relationships have been analyzed and also show a power law change with a power law exponent in the range of 0.25–0.4. It is proposed that the variation in power law exponent with time is related to the change in morphology of the dissolution contact that is fractured or comminuted during the dynamic event and is then progressively healed and smoothed. In natural faults, monitoring the power law parameters could give access to the characteristic healing time in the fault.
Equations of state in the Fe‐FeSi system at high pressures and temperatures
Authors: Fischer Rebecca A. , Campbell Andrew J. , Caracas Razvan , Reaman Daniel M. , Heinz Dion L. , Dera Przemyslaw , Prakapenka Vitali B.
Published: March 2014

Earth's core is an iron‐rich alloy containing several weight percent of light element(s), possibly including silicon. Therefore, the high pressure‐temperature equations of state of iron‐silicon alloys can provide understanding of the properties of Earth's core. We performed X‐ray diffraction experiments using laser‐heated diamond anvil cells to achieve simultaneous high pressures and temperatures, up to ~200 GPa for Fe–9 wt % Si alloy and ~145 GPa for stoichiometric FeSi. We determined equations of state of the D03, hcp + B2, and hcp phases of Fe–9Si, and the B20 and B2 phases of FeSi. We also calculated equations of state of Fe, Fe11Si, Fe5Si, Fe3Si, and FeSi using ab initio methods, finding that iron and silicon atoms have similar volumes at high pressures. By comparing our experimentally determined equations of state to the observed core density deficit, we find that the maximum amount of silicon in the outer core is ~11 wt %, while the maximum amount in the inner core is 6–8 wt %, for a purely Fe‐Si‐Ni core. Bulk sound speeds predicted from our equations of state also match those of the inner and outer core for similar ranges of compositions. We find a compositional contrast between the inner and outer core of 3.5–5.6 wt % silicon, depending on the seismological model used. Theoretical and experimental equations of state agree at high pressures. We find a good match to the observed density, density profile, and sound speed of the Earth's core, suggesting that silicon is a viable candidate for the dominant light element.
Seismic noise correlations to image structural and mechanical changes associated with the Mw 7.9 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Authors: Obermann A. , Froment B. , Campillo M. , Larose E. , Planès T. , Valette B. , Chen J. H. , Liu Q. Y.
Published: March 2014

We locate temporal changes of seismic wave speed and scattering properties of the crust associated with the 2008 Mw7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. To that end, we analyze ambient seismic noise records from 2007 until the end of 2008 in the 1–3 s period band and in the 12–20 s period band measured in a region that covers the southern two thirds of the fault activated during the earthquake. To locate the changes, we use a refined imaging procedure based on the sensitivity of scattered waves to weak perturbations. This inverse method uses the radiative transfer approximation to describe the intensity of the noise correlation coda. Our results show that the largest structural changes are observed northeast of the Wenchuan epicenter, around the fault zone where aftershocks are distributed. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the behavior of the crust at depth around the Wenchuan earthquake suggest a postseismic and geology‐dependent signature of the middle crust. We also observe a clear seasonal signature within the Sichuan basin at depth that we relate to the heavy rainfalls during the monsoon season. This seasonality can also be observed at the surface in form of a waveform decoherence. Our study highlights that seismic velocity changes, and waveform decoherence are independent measurements that are sensitive to different parameters and can thus give complementary information. In our study we also point out the value of studying the evolution of the changes at different times in the coda.
Coordinated investigation of midlatitude upper mesospheric temperature inversion layers and the associated gravity wave forcing by Na lidar and Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper in Logan, Utah
Authors: Yuan Tao , Pautet P.‐D. , Zhao Y. , Cai X. , Criddle N. R. , Taylor M. J. , Pendleton W. R.
Published: March 2014

Mesospheric inversion layers (MIL) are well studied in the literature but their relationship to the dynamic feature associated with the breaking of atmospheric waves in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region are not well understood. Two strong MIL events (ΔT ~30 K) were observed above 90 km during a 6 day full diurnal cycle Na lidar campaign conducted from 6 August to 13 August Logan, Utah (42°N, 112°W). Colocated Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper observations provided key information on concurrent gravity wave (GW) events and their characteristics during the nighttime observations. The study found both MILs were well correlated with the development and presence of an unstable region ~2 km above the MIL peak altitudes and a highly stable region below, implicating the strengthening of MIL is likely due to the increase of downward heat flux by the enhanced saturation of gravity wave, when it propagates through a highly stable layer. Each MIL event also exhibited distinct features: one showed a downward progression most likely due to tidal‐GW interaction, while the peak height of the other event remained constant. During further investigation of atmospheric stability surrounding the MIL structure, lidar measurements indicate a sharp enhancement of the convective stability below the peak altitude of each MIL. We postulate that the sources of these stable layers were different; one was potentially triggered by concurrent large tidal wave activity and the other during the passage of a strong mesospheric bore.
ECMWF and GFS model forecast verification during DYNAMO: Multiscale variability in MJO initiation over the equatorial Indian Ocean
Authors: Kerns Brandon W. , Chen Shuyi S.
Published: March 2014

Improving understanding and prediction of the initiation of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) over the equatorial Indian Ocean (IO) was a main objective of the Dynamics of the MJO (DYNAMO) field campaign. This study evaluates the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Global Forecast System (GFS) operational global model forecasts of MJO‐2 in DYNAMO (November–December 2011). The model rainfall and 850 hPa zonal winds are compared with the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) rainfall and operational analysis in the equatorial IO. The ECMWF forecasts of the total equatorial rainfall were more consistent with TRMM observations. The GFS did not accurately predict the onset of equatorial convection beyond 5 day lead time. Instead, the GFS rainfall was mainly off the Equator in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The GFS did not capture synoptic scale systems that bring in dry air intrusions from the subtropics and disrupt convection in the ITCZ which is favorable for equatorial convection associated with the MJO initiation. DYNAMO observations suggest that multiscale interactions among convection, synoptic systems, and the MJO large‐scale circulations were important for the initiation of MJO‐2. The model forecasts and analysis of 850 hPa zonal wind are decomposed into mesoscale, synoptic, and large‐scale flows. Results show that (1) both models have good initial conditions and 1–2 day forecasts and (2) the ECMWF has significantly better skill than the GFS in terms of forecasting equatorial convection, synoptic systems, and the large‐scale MJO circulation at 5–15 day lead times.
Interannual variability of the Earth's spectral solar reflectance from measurements and simulations
Authors: Jin Zhonghai , Lukachin Constantin , Roberts Yolanda , Wielicki Bruce , Feldman Daniel , Collins William
Published: March 2014

The mean solar spectral reflectance averaged over large spatiotemporal scales is an important climate benchmark data product proposed for the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory mission. The interannual variability of these reflectances over the ocean is examined through satellite‐measured hyperspectral data and through satellite instrument emulation based on model simulation. Such large domain‐averaged reflectances show small interannual variation, usually under few percent, depending on the latitude region and spatiotemporal scale used for averaging. Although the interannual variation is usually less than the absolute accuracy of model calculation, the model simulated interannual variations are consistent with the measurements because most of the modeling errors in the reflectance averaged in large climate domains are systematic and are canceled out in the interannual difference spectra. The interannual variability is also shown to decrease as the temporal and spatial scales increase. Both the observational data and the model simulations show that the natural variability in the annual mean reflectance is about 50% lower than that in the monthly mean over all spectra. The interannual variability determined from observations in large climate domains also compares favorably with that from the climate Observing System Simulation Experiment based on climate model simulations; both show a standard deviation of less than 1% of the mean reflectance across all spectra for global and annual average over the ocean.
Intermediate frequency atmospheric disturbances: A dynamical bridge connecting western U.S. extreme precipitation with East Asian cold surges
Authors: Jiang Tianyu , Evans Katherine J. , Deng Yi , Dong Xiquan
Published: March 2014

In this study, an atmospheric river (AR) detection algorithm is developed to investigate the downstream modulation of the eastern North Pacific ARs by another weather extreme, known as the East Asian cold surge (EACS), in both reanalysis data and high‐resolution global model simulations. It is shown that following the peak of an EACS, atmospheric disturbances of intermediate frequency (IF; 10–30 day period) are excited downstream. This leads to the formation of a persistent cyclonic circulation anomaly over the eastern North Pacific that dramatically enhances the AR occurrence probability and the surface precipitation over the western U.S. between 30°N and 50°N. A diagnosis of the local geopotential height tendency further confirms the essential role of IF disturbances in establishing the observed persistent anomaly. This downstream modulation effect is then examined in the two simulations of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate System Model version 4 with different horizontal resolutions (T85 and T341) for the same period (1979–2005). The connection between EACS and AR is much better captured by the T341 version of the model, mainly due to a better representation of the scale interaction and the characteristics of IF atmospheric disturbances in the higher‐resolution model. The findings here suggest that faithful representations of scale interaction in a global model are critical for modeling and predicting the occurrences of hydrological extremes in the western U.S. and for understanding their potential future changes.
Effects of substrate on cracking patterns and dynamics in desiccating clay layers
Authors: DeCarlo Keita F. , Shokri Nima
Published: March 2014

Desiccation cracking is ubiquitous in many materials of practical importance, such as in mud, clay soil, pavement, and concrete, and understanding its dynamics and formation is essential for developing an effective means of its prevention or utilization. We report on a phenomenological investigation aimed at delineating the effect of a coarse‐textured substrate on the cracking dynamics and morphology of an overlying kaolinite clay layer. Drying experiments were carried out using a glass container mounted on a digital balance, packed with a thin layer of kaolinite clay overlying seven types of sand that differed in their particle size distributions. An automatic imaging system recorded the dynamics of cracking at the evaporating surface. Dynamic analysis suggests a decreased duration of cracking with increased substrate particle size and substrate‐independent initial crack propagation. Analysis of the cracking morphology indicates a decreased crack density and larger crack length, and an increased crack width mean and standard deviation with increased substrate particle size. Scanning electron microscopy results, used to study the extent of cracking over various length scales, indicate that only macroscopic cracks formed on the kaolinite clay surface. Fractal and density correlation function analysis of the final crack networks indicate the dependency of the fractal dimension on the substrate particle size, and a crossover length scale ξ that separates the fractal regime from the uniform crack density regime. For length scales greater than ξ, the density correlation function asymptotically approaches the crack density at the surface of the clay.
Real‐time global flood estimation using satellite‐based precipitation and a coupled land surface and routing model
Authors: Wu Huan , Adler Robert F. , Tian Yudong , Huffman George J. , Li Hongyi , Wang JianJian
Published: March 2014

A widely used land surface model, the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, is coupled with a newly developed hierarchical dominant river tracing‐based runoff‐routing model to form the Dominant river tracing‐Routing Integrated with VIC Environment (DRIVE) model, which serves as the new core of the real‐time Global Flood Monitoring System (GFMS). The GFMS uses real‐time satellite‐based precipitation to derive flood monitoring parameters for the latitude band 50°N–50°S at relatively high spatial (∼12 km) and temporal (3 hourly) resolution. Examples of model results for recent flood events are computed using the real‐time GFMS (http://flood.umd.edu). To evaluate the accuracy of the new GFMS, the DRIVE model is run retrospectively for 15 years using both research‐quality and real‐time satellite precipitation products. Evaluation results are slightly better for the research‐quality input and significantly better for longer duration events (3 day events versus 1 day events). Basins with fewer dams tend to provide lower false alarm ratios. For events longer than three days in areas with few dams, the probability of detection is ∼0.9 and the false alarm ratio is ∼0.6. In general, these statistical results are better than those of the previous system. Streamflow was evaluated at 1121 river gauges across the quasi‐global domain. Validation using real‐time precipitation across the tropics (30°S–30°N) gives positive daily Nash‐Sutcliffe Coefficients for 107 out of 375 (28%) stations with a mean of 0.19 and 51% of the same gauges at monthly scale with a mean of 0.33. There were poorer results in higher latitudes, probably due to larger errors in the satellite precipitation input.
Hydrologic controls on basin‐scale distribution of benthic invertebrates
Authors: Ceola Serena , Bertuzzo Enrico , Singer Gabriel , Battin Tom J. , Montanari Alberto , Rinaldo Andrea
Published: March 2014

Streamflow variability is a major determinant of basin‐scale distributions of benthic invertebrates. Here we present a novel procedure based on a probabilistic approach aiming at a spatially explicit quantitative assessment of benthic invertebrate abundance as derived from near‐bed flow variability. Although the proposed approach neglects ecological determinants other than hydraulic ones, it is nevertheless relevant in view of its implications on the predictability of basin‐scale patterns of organisms. In the present context, aquatic invertebrates are considered, given that they are widely employed as sensitive indicators of fluvial ecosystem health and human‐induced perturbations. Moving from the analytical characterization of site‐specific probability distribution functions of streamflow and bottom shear stress, we achieve a spatial extension to an entire stream network. Bottom shear stress distributions, coupled with habitat suitability curves derived from field studies, are used to produce maps of invertebrate suitability to shear stress conditions. Therefore, the proposed framework allows one to inspect the possible impacts on river ecology of human‐induced perturbations of streamflow variability. We apply this framework to an Austrian river network for which rainfall and streamflow time series, river network hydraulic properties, and local information on invertebrate abundance for a limited number of sites are available. A comparison between observed species density versus modeled suitability to shear stress is also presented. Although the proposed strategy focuses on a single controlling factor and thus represents an ecological minimal model, it allows derivation of important implications for water resource management and fluvial ecosystem protection.
‘Remember Who You Are Designing For’: An Interview with Baroness Sally Greengross OBE
Authors: Greengross Baroness Sally , Castle Helen
Published: March 2014

Baroness Sally Greengross has a long and deep knowledge of issues surrounding ageing. Until 2000 she was Director General of Age Concern for 13 years, and also joint Chair of the Institute of Gerontology at King's College London and Secretary General of Eurolink Age. She is now President/Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre‐UK (ILC‐UK), an influential think‐tank impacting policy on longevity, ageing and population change. Since 2000, she has been a crossbench (independent) member of the House of Lords and she chairs five All‐Party Parliamentary Groups: Dementia, Corporate Responsibility, Intergenerational Futures, Continence Care, and Ageing and Older People (Co‐Chair). Here, the Editor of AD, Helen Castle, interviews her on shifting attitudes to ageing and the importance of designing for the older population.
‘New Aging’: Designing Architecture for All Ages
Authors: Hollwich Matthias , Hoffman Matthew
Published: March 2014

The US is on the brink of demographic transformation, with the bulging generation of baby boomers about to reach retirement. In 2008, New York‐based architects Hollwich Kushner (HWKN) anticipated this shift by instigating a ‘New Aging’ initiative that set out to explore imaginative solutions in architecture and urbanism to age‐related challenges. Here Matthias Hollwich with Matthew Hoffman of HWKN explain why attitudes and approaches to ageing have to change; and why old age needs to be ‘acknowledged as a state of human existence’ that fully ‘deserves preparation, anticipation and excitement’.
Designing for a Lifetime in New York and Other US Cities
Authors: Maltz Jerry , Hunter Christine , Cohen Eric , Wright Susan
Published: March 2014

In the next 30 years, the number of senior citizens in the US will increase to become larger than any other single age group. How are cities starting to prepare for this huge expansion in the numbers of over‐65s? Jerry Maltz and Christine Hunter of the Design for Aging Committee of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANY), aided by Eric Cohen and Susan Wright, describe how New York and other US cities are laying the necessary groundwork through the World Health Organization's Age‐Friendly Cities programme, while also setting up innovative centres for senior citizens, making much‐needed modifications to the physical environment and developing new approaches to affordable housing.
Socially Inclusive Design in Denmark: The Maturing Landscape
Authors: Peters Terri
Published: March 2014

With a tradition of social inclusion and innovative contemporary design, Denmark leads the way internationally in its architectural provision for an older population. Architect, author and researcher Terri Peters highlights some pioneering housing schemes in Denmark that use architecture to reduce the stigma of old age in the creation of environments that are overtly ‘homey’ or domestic – breaking away from the sanitised environment of the ‘nursing home’ – and that employ nature and landscape to positive effect, as a means of promoting healing and health.
Ageing in Suburbia: Designing for Demographic Change in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Taylor Mark , Buys Laurie
Published: March 2014

In the next half‐century, Australia's population of people aged over 65 is set to almost double. As a consequence, there is an urgent need in both Australia and New Zealand, where older people value their independence, for housing that fully supports them in their own suburban homes. With only a handful of models in place, Mark Taylor, Professor of Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and Laurie Buys, a Professor in the School of Design at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, have tracked down some promising precedents for suburban living in adapted homes and within community‐based shared housing.
Housing for the Elderly: The Changing Scenario in India
Authors: Vaidya Radhika , Raje Anjali
Published: March 2014

Like many other countries in the world, a rise in life expectancy means that India is now facing a sharp increase in the older population; a situation that is exacerbated by other social and economic changes such as urbanisation and the erosion of the extended family that leads to greater numbers of older people living alone. Here Radhika Vaidya, an architect and town planner based in Pune, and Anjali Raje, an executive director of the International Longevity Centre – India (ILC‐I), combine their expert knowledge to profile the situation in India and to showcase some new housing solutions.
China's Concealed Crisis
Authors: Denison Edward , Ren Guang Yu
Published: March 2014

Architectural historian and author Edward Denison and architect and researcher Guang Yu Ren lift the lid on the complex and urgent matter of China's ageing population. The impending crisis is not only a matter of numbers – a third of China's population are projected to be over 60 by 2050 – but also one of shifting social responsibility. Whereas the care of ageing relatives has traditionally been the individual family's responsibility – filial obligation being written into the constitution – urban migration and economic development and the legacy of the One Child Policy are disrupting this, creating a greater need for state and private housing provision for the elderly.
Mediating Change: A Japanese Perspective on Adaptable Architecture
Authors: Schmidt Robert , Eguchi Toru
Published: March 2014

Adaptable buildings that are effectively left open, in a perpetual state of making, have the greatest potential to cater for society's needs in the face of demographic change. Here Robert Schmidt III, architect and researcher, and Toru Eguchi, associate professor at Yokohama National University in Japan, explore how Japan, which has a rich tradition of adaptable architecture and also the highest life expectancy in the world, has embraced this approach.
Redesigning Domesticity: Creating Homes for the Elderly
Authors: Stewart Sally
Published: March 2014

Sally Stewart, Deputy Head of the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, highlights how nurturing a sense of ‘home’ can be a key ingredient in the creation of successful accommodation for the elderly and those with dementia. What, however, sets a ‘home’ apart from mere housing provision, and how can architects engender it? Stewart looks at some recent projects in the UK, Japan and the Netherlands in search of the answer.
Regeneration for All Generations: The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Authors: Firth Kathryn , Patel Manisha
Published: March 2014

Kathryn Firth, Chief of Design at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), and Manisha Patel, a director at PRP Architects, describe how the London 2012 bid's promise to promote wellbeing and social inclusion in the Stratford area of East London is now being borne out in urban design and housing that meet ‘the evolving needs and desires of people throughout their lifetimes’. A key scheme is PRP Architects' design for multi‐generation houses at Chobham Manor, on the eastern side of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
‘Happy Meals’: Finding Happiness with Hans Becker and the Humanitas Care Model
Authors: Birkbeck David
Published: March 2014

Hans Becker, originally a professor at the Erasmus School of Economics in Rotterdam, is a seemingly unlikely guru for elderly care. In 1992 he was appointed Chair of the Rotterdam‐based housing association Humanitas with the task of overturning the outmoded and failing commercial model of its nursing homes. He set about replacing them with ‘apartments for life’ that promoted independent living. In order to understand more about the successful Humanitas model, David Birkbeck, Chief Executive of Design for Homes in the UK, interviewed Becker and found out how the move to a new housing type was enabled by a philosophical shift that placed an emphasis on the engendering of happiness among its residents – with food and the creation of convivial on‐site restaurant facilities proving a critical tool.
Customised ‘Care‐Ready’ Living: A HAPPI‐Inspired Design for Evolutionary Housing by Walter Menteth Wren Architects
Authors: Menteth Walter
Published: March 2014

In 2013, Walter Menteth Architects entered the 2013 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Re‐imagine Ageing Design Competition with an entry that focused on the delivery of customised housing to suit individual specifications. Here Walter Menteth, a director of the practice, describes the research the office undertook as part of the project and how it led to a solution that radically questioned the current procurement process for development‐led retirement housing by proposing a new, distinctively ‘branded’ delivery vehicle that improves access to consumers while expanding buyer choice and engagement.
Sense‐Sensitive Design for the Ageing
Authors: Mazuch Richard
Published: March 2014

When designing retirement housing and socially inclusive urban spaces, there is a great deal of emphasis on mobility and accessibility. Physical decline is, however, only one important dimension of old age. Richard Mazuch, Director of Design Research and Innovation for IBI/Nightingale, an architect with specialist expertise in evidence‐based design and healthcare, here describes how architects and designers need to be mindful of how the senses wane with age when designing environments for older people.
New Visions: Re‐imagine Ageing RIBA Design Competition 2013
Authors: Farrelly Lorraine
Published: March 2014

Lack of public funding and commercial constraints often restrict fresh thinking coming to the fore when designing housing for older people, as the potential for architects to respond innovatively in practice remains limited. In 2013, developer McCarthy & Stone and the RoyalInstitute of British Architects (RIBA) paired up to launch the Re‐imagine Ageing design competition, which asked architects to provide visionary responses to designing proposals for a typical retirement site on a brownfield plot in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire. Guest‐Editor Lorraine Farrelly describes the work of the award‐winners and explains how this unique chance to develop and research more far‐reaching approaches to retirement housing has gone on to inform their work.