bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Éditorial
Authors: Rézeau Joseph
Published: January 2012

Éditorial du numéro 2, volume 5 de la revue Alsic. Ce numéro a été initialement publié sous un autre format, voir document attaché.
Guider des stratégies de compréhension de l'oral en ALAO : le cas de l'inférence
Authors: Poussard Cécile
Published: January 2012

L'inférence est une des stratégies à l'oeuvre dans le processus de compréhension de l'oral. Quelques exemples de tâches d'inférence extraites de la trame pédagogique que nous avons conçue pour un projet de didacticiel d'anglais, montrent comment on peut susciter l'activité interprétative de l'apprenant, en ciblant les tâches sur des passages opaques d'interviews et en guidant l'identification des obstacles (traits de l'oralité) et la combinaison d'éléments facilitateurs (éléments discursifs, prosodiques...) pour lui permettre de reconstruire ou compenser ce qui peut poser problème à l'écoute. En proposant un travail conscient et systématique de l'inférence, notre objectif est que cette capacité devienne opératoire chez l'apprenant, qu'elle soit largement automatisée.
Médiatisation dans l'enseignement supérieur : vers un nouveau paradigme éducatif ?
Authors: Barbot Marie-José
Published: January 2012

Le statut de service public de l'enseignement supérieur suffit-il à garantir que l'innovation en cours se situe dans une rationalité davantage au service de l'innovation pédagogique qu'à celui d'intérêts économiques ? Aussi est-il essentiel de poser la question du sens des transformations : s'agit-il du renforcement d'une pédagogie classique transmissive ou assiste-t-on au développement d'un autre paradigme de référence constructiviste et interactionniste ? En ce sens, nous présentons des réflexions qui proviennent d'une recherche-action en cours portant sur l'Université en ligne (Uel) qui correspond au DEUG I de sciences. Selon les universités, les changements s'inscrivent dans des configurations hétérogènes. C'est peut-être de cette mise en œuvre de dispositifs que dépend la réussite : on ne peut faire l'économie d'une ingénierie éducative s'inscrivant dans la complexité. Elle prend en compte des dimensions macro-éducatives (politique, finalités) méso (dispositif) et micro (ressources et écriture, apprentissages).
Représentations et construction des connaissances sur support électronique : l'apprentissage du français langue seconde par les forums de discussions électroniques
Authors: Gettliffe-Grant Nathalie
Published: January 2012

Les modèles interactionnistes pour l'acquisition des langues secondes tentent de démontrer une relation causale entre interaction et développement linguistique. Cependant, construits principalement dans le cadre d'échanges exolingues entre locuteurs natifs et non natifs, ces modèles restent à être testés dans le cadre des interactions en réseaux. Pour ce faire, nous avons élaboré des activités communicatives pour cinq classes (n =130) de français intermédiaire à l'université de Colombie-Britannique afin qu'elles participent à des échanges sur forums de discussions électroniques WebCT. Un questionnaire distribué à la fin du semestre révèle des relations encore non attestées entre développement linguistique et interaction en termes d'aisance à communiquer, de précision et de complexité linguistique. Une nouvelle modélisation des échanges en termes d'intrant, de processant étiré et de résultant est alors proposée pour l'étude des interactions sur réseaux électroniques.
Les escamots d'aide sur cédéroms sont-ils bien perçus par les apprenants de langue étrangère ?
Authors: Koulayan Nicole , Detey Sylvain , Sagaz Michel
Published: January 2012

Pour ceux qui s'intéressent aux outils multimédiatisés d'apprentissage, les menus en escamot (c'est-à-dire ceux qui n'apparaissent qu'à la demande de l'utilisateur) se présentent comme des dispositifs particulièrement spécifiques aux documents électroniques, relevant à la fois de l'hypertextualité et de l'interactivité. Encore peu d'études, notamment dans le domaine francophone, ont examiné l'influence de ces outils sur l'apprentissage des langues, même si certains résultats d'ordre ergonomique commencent à prendre assise. Dans les cédéroms d'apprentissage de langue étrangère, les escamots sont essentiellement des escamots d'aide, destinés à assister l'apprenant dans la réalisation de tâches d'apprentissage ou de navigation. En ce sens, l'appréciation subjective de ces outils par les apprenants constitue un facteur non négligeable dans le processus d'utilisation du didacticiel. Après avoir examiné la littérature concernée, nous avons donc réalisé une première enquête préliminaire, en favorisant l'aspect quantitatif, avec un échantillon d'apprenants vaste et non homogène. Les résultats de cette enquête semblent indiquer que les apprenants perçoivent effectivement et plutôt positivement ces escamots, ce qui invite à mettre en place une étude précise, destinée à observer si l'utilisation et le bénéfice effectifs de ces dispositifs correspondent ou non à cette perception.
Effects of Visible and Invisible Hyperlinks on Vocabulary Acquisition and Reading Comprehension for High- and Average-Foreign Language Achievers
Authors: Nikolova Ofelia R.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated the effects of visible and invisible links for annotated words in a computer module for learning French on the vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension of two types of students – high- and average- achievers. Two hundred and sixty-four second-semester students of French were identified as high- or average-achievers. Each type of students was then randomly assigned to two groups – with visible or invisible hyperlinks. All students were instructed to read a short passage in French (181 words) for general comprehension and allowed to consult the annotated words (made visible by bold face for the visible links group) as much as they needed. The students took a vocabulary pretest and an immediate and delayed (two weeks) vocabulary and reading comprehension posttest. The results of the study showed that average- achievers benefited more from the visible links for vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension than high- achievers. The results are discussed in light of second language acquisition and gifted-student theories and suggestions for future research are made.
Facteurs de développement de l’autonomie langagière en FLE / FLS
Authors: Germain Claude , Netten Joan
Published: January 2012

D’entrée de jeu, les auteurs posent un certain nombre de distinctions conceptuelles, notamment entre autonomie générale, autonomie d’apprentissage et autonomie langagière, en montrant que les définitions les plus courantes de l’autonomie s’appliquent en particulier aux apprenants adultes et conviennent peu à un public de jeunes apprenants d’une langue seconde ou étrangère. En deuxième lieu, ils s’interrogent sur le sens des relations entre apprentissage et autonomie en montrant que le développement de l’autonomie langagière passe par le développement de l’autonomie d’apprentissage et conduit à l’autonomie générale. Ensuite, ils exposent les grandes lignes d’un nouveau régime pédagogique qu’ils ont conçu et implanté en milieu scolaire canadien, le français intensif. Puis, les auteurs s’attardent sur trois facteurs qui, au sein de ce régime pédagogique, permettent d’assurer le développement d’une autonomie langagière : un programme d’études centré sur les intérêts de l’élève, des stratégies d’enseignement axées sur l’interaction et la communication authentique, et un nombre minimal d’heures intensives. Enfin, ils examinent le rôle et la place des technologies dans le développement de l’autonomie langagière, en remettant en cause quelques présupposés actuels sous-jacents à l’utilisation des technologies.
Paramètres pour une efficacité accrue de la lecture hypertextuelle en langue seconde
Authors: Serres Linda de
Published: January 2012

Tant la lecture à l'écran que celle sur papier occupent une place importante dans nos activités quotidiennes. Toutefois, comme praticien*, les avons-nous déjà comparées ? Avons-nous tenté de circonscrire en quoi l'une peut différer de l'autre ? Sans prétendre à une quelconque exhaustivité des différences possibles entre ces deux supports de lecture, nous nous sommes prêtée à l'exercice. Il en ressort une vingtaine de différences. De là, nous nous interrogeons à savoir comment le praticien peut aider le lecteur-navigateur en langue seconde* à lire plus efficacement à l'écran ? À partir des protocoles oraux de huit étudiants francophones de 1er cycle ayant lu un hypertexte en anglais langue seconde (L2), nous dégagerons des éléments de réponse. Par le biais d'extraits des verbalisations introspectives des participants nous mettrons en évidence des paramètres à considérer dans cette tâche exigeante qu'est la lecture à l'écran en L2. Nous espérons que ces paramètres soutiennent le praticien désireux de poser des choix éclairés dans un cadre où il évolue avec des lecteurs en L2, dans un cadre où en ce début de XXIe siècle, la lecture à l'écran et la L2 font souvent tandem.
Weather Nowcasting Using Environmental Sensors Integrated to the Mobile
Authors: Srinivasa K.G. , R Harsha , Sunil Kumar N. , B Arhatha , Abhishek S.C. , Harish Raddi C.S. , Anil Kumar M.
Published: January 2012

With the vagaries of nature being unpredictable, it’s now more important to have access to weather forecast for short periods of time. Many businesses, including those in agriculture and the fishing industry, depend on an hourly update of the weather. The access to such weather nowcasting data has, until now, been through traditional media like the television, radio, et cetera, while new media of communication such as mobile devices, have been largely unexplored. The advancement in MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical System) technology has now brought forth various sensors that are miniaturized and can be integrated or embedded into various other systems used presently. Environmental sensors that measure weather parameters are miniaturized to fit the size of a mobile. The system aims to integrate these sensors along with a mobile device so as to provide the capability of data measurement to the vast population that use mobile devices and thus create regional grid networks. The system aims to use the mobile for updating weather parameters as well to be the focal point of communication of the weather nowcasting information. As a result, the mobile device would provide targeted distribution of the weather information, which is more advantageous than the traditional means of mass distribution of information; also, as mobile technology acts as a focal point of gathering weather related parameters, it provides a twofold advantage for setting up a low cost, region specific weather monitoring system.
Fuzzy Dynamic Groups
Authors: Mora José-Domingo
Published: January 2012

Television audiences have been shown to be a mixture of lone individuals and groups of viewers, with groups contributing at least 50% of total ratings. Viewing with others also makes the experience more enjoyable and has important effects on cognitive processing of programs and advertisements. A major problem for researchers and managers is that groups of viewers are dynamic entities difficult to define or measure. This study frames groups of television viewers as fuzzy sets and presents fuzzy measures of group size and composition. The effects of these characteristics on individual consumption of television are assessed using statistical models, which incorporate the arithmetic forms of the proposed measures.
Fuzzy Online Reputation Analysis Framework
Authors: Portmann Edy , Nguyen Tam , Sepulveda Jose , Cheok Adrian David
Published: January 2012

The fuzzy online reputation analysis framework, or “foRa” (plural of forum, the Latin word for marketplace) framework, is a method for searching the Social Web to find meaningful information about reputation. Based on an automatic, fuzzy-built ontology, this framework queries the social marketplaces of the Web for reputation, combines the retrieved results, and generates navigable Topic Maps. Using these interactive maps, communications operatives can zero in on precisely what they are looking for and discover unforeseen relationships between topics and tags. Thus, using this framework, it is possible to scan the Social Web for a name, product, brand, or combination thereof and determine query-related topic classes with related terms and thus identify hidden sources. This chapter also briefly describes the youReputation prototype (www.youreputation.org), a free Web-based application for reputation analysis. In the course of this, a small example will explain the benefits of the prototype.
A Fuzzy Logic Approach for the Assessment of Online Customers
Authors: Werro Nicolas , Stormer Henrik
Published: January 2012

A key challenge for companies in the e-business era is to manage customer relationships as an asset. In today’s global economy this task is becoming simultaneously more difficult and more important. In order to retain the potentially good customers and to improve their buying attitude, this chapter proposes a hierarchical fuzzy classification of online customers. A fuzzy classification, which is a combination of relational databases and fuzzy logic, allows customers to be classified into several classes at the same time and can therefore precisely determine the customers’ value for an enterprise. This approach allows companies to improve the customer equity, to launch loyalty programs, to automate mass customization, and to refine marketing campaigns in order to maximize the customers’ value and, this way, the companies’ profit.
The Change Equation
Authors: Duschinsky Peter
Published: January 2012

In this article, the author investigates the nature of complexity and its role in project failure. Also, the paper proposes a model to assess complexity. It draws some conclusions about the implications for change management interventions. The author finds that projects fail when the complexity exceeds the capability of the organisation to cope. The overall aim of the article is to offer an approach to reducing this number of failed change projects.
Free, Open, Online Help Forums
Authors: van de Sande Carla
Published: January 2012

In contrast to course delivery, help seeking has not advanced with the technological capabilities and preferences of today’s students. Help seeking in higher education remains primarily an individual, private, face-to-face activity. Open, online, help forums have the potential to transform help seeking into a public, social endeavor. These forums connect students with volunteer helpers who have the time, knowledge, and willingness to provide assistance with specific problems from coursework. Although many such forums currently exist and are a popular source of help seeking, they have remained largely off the radar of educational research. In this paper, a calculus help forum is examined for manifestations of convenience, connection, and control, which are commonly used to describe student expectations regarding information technology use. Results indicate that students can receive efficient, accessible, and self-regulated help. Two additional themes for student experience, comfort and communication, are proposed.
Achieving Best Practice Manufacturing Involving Tacit Knowledge through the Cautious Use of Mixed-Mode Modelling
Authors: Nicholls Miles G. , Cargill Barbara J.
Published: January 2012

In the real world, ‘optimal’ solutions for many production process problems do not exist. In such circumstances, ‘best practice’ is the realistic outcome for which practitioners aim. The reasons for this stem from many causes, including that data associated with production processes are often corrupted and/or missing. These types of processes usually rely heavily on the subjective input of the process workers on the shop floor (tacit knowledge). This paper outlines how the use of mixed-mode modelling has been utilised to help solve these types of problems. The industry examples used in the paper incorporate the concept of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in the mixed-mode models that are developed as a means of capturing tacit knowledge and incorporating it into the solution process. Additionally, CoPs need to sit comfortably within the culture and values of the organisation and employee groups, and must be clearly owned and facilitated by the community of workers whose knowledge is to be shared. Finally, CoPs should be presented as opportunities to share, compare, and learn so that a ‘craft’ is not lost or diminished.
Aerosol concentration and size distribution measured below, in, and above cloud from the DOE G-1 during VOCALS-REx
Authors: Kleinman L. I. , Daum P. H. , Lee Y.-N. , Lewis E. R. , Sedlacek III A. J. , Senum G. I. , Springston S. R. , Wang J. , Hubbe J. , Jayne J. , Min Q. , Yum S. S. , Allen G.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. During the VOCALS Regional Experiment, the DOE G-1 aircraft was used to sample a varying aerosol environment pertinent to properties of stratocumulus clouds over a longitude band extending 800 km west from the Chilean coast at Arica. Trace gas and aerosol measurements are presented as a function of longitude, altitude, and dew point in this study. Spatial distributions are consistent with an upper atmospheric source for O3 and South American coastal sources for marine boundary layer (MBL) CO and aerosol, most of which is acidic sulfate. Pollutant layers in the free troposphere (FT) can be a result of emissions to the north in Peru or long range transport from the west. At a given altitude in the FT (up to 3 km), dew point varies by 40 °C with dry air descending from the upper atmospheric and moist air having a boundary layer (BL) contribution. Ascent of BL air to a cold high altitude results in the condensation and precipitation removal of all but a few percent of BL water along with aerosol that served as CCN. Thus, aerosol volume decreases with dew point in the FT. Aerosol size spectra have a bimodal structure in the MBL and an intermediate diameter unimodal distribution in the FT. Comparing cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) and pre-cloud aerosol (Dp>100 nm) gives a linear relation up to a number concentration of ~150 cm−3, followed by a less than proportional increase in CDNC at higher aerosol number concentration. A number balance between below cloud aerosol and cloud droplets indicates that ~25 % of aerosol with Dp>100 nm are interstitial (not activated). A direct comparison of pre-cloud and in-cloud aerosol yields a higher estimate. Artifacts in the measurement of interstitial aerosol due to droplet shatter and evaporation are discussed. Within each of 102 constant altitude cloud transects, CDNC and interstitial aerosol were anti-correlated. An examination of one cloud as a case study shows that the interstitial aerosol appears to have a background, upon which is superimposed a high frequency signal that contains the anti-correlation. The anti-correlation is a possible source of information on particle activation or evaporation.
From quantum chemical formation free energies to evaporation rates
Authors: Ortega I. K. , Kupiainen O. , Kurtén T. , Olenius T. , Wilkman O. , McGrath M. J. , Loukonen V. , Vehkamäki H.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Atmospheric new particle formation is an important source of atmospheric aerosols. Large efforts have been made during the past few years to identify which molecules are behind this phenomenon, but the actual birth mechanism of the particles is not yet well known. Quantum chemical calculations have proven to be a powerful tool to gain new insights into the very first steps of particle formation. In the present study we use formation free energies calculated by quantum chemical methods to estimate the evaporation rates of species from sulfuric acid clusters containing ammonia or dimethylamine. We have found that dimethylamine forms much more stable clusters with sulphuric acid than ammonia does. On the other hand, the existence of a very deep local minimum for clusters with two sulfuric acid molecules and two dimethylamine molecules hinders their growth to larger clusters. These results indicate that other compounds may be needed to make clusters grow to larger sizes (containing more than three sulfuric acid molecules).
Analysis of ozone and nitric acid in spring and summer Arctic pollution using aircraft, ground-based, satellite observations and MOZART-4 model: source attribution and partitioning
Authors: Wespes C. , Emmons L. , Edwards D. P. , Hannigan J. , Hurtmans D. , Saunois M. , Coheur P.-F. , Clerbaux C. , Coffey M. T. , Batchelor R. L. , Lindenmaier R. , Strong K. , Weinheimer A. J. , Nowak J. B. , Ryerson T. B. , Crounse J. D. , Wennberg P. O.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. In this paper, we analyze tropospheric O3 together with HNO3 during the POLARCAT (Polar Study using Aircraft, Remote Sensing, Surface Measurements and Models, of Climate, Chemistry, Aerosols, and Transport) program, combining observations and model results. Aircraft observations from the NASA ARCTAS (Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites) and NOAA ARCPAC (Aerosol, Radiation and Cloud Processes affecting Arctic Climate) campaigns during spring and summer of 2008 are used together with the Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers, version 4 (MOZART-4) to assist in the interpretation of the observations in terms of the source attribution and transport of O3 and HNO3 into the Arctic (north of 60° N). The MOZART-4 simulations reproduce the aircraft observations generally well (within 15%), but some discrepancies in the model are identified and discussed. The observed correlation of O3 with HNO3 is exploited to evaluate the MOZART-4 model performance for different air mass types (fresh plumes, free troposphere and stratospheric-contaminated air masses). Based on model simulations of O3 and HNO3 tagged by source type and region, we find that the anthropogenic pollution from the Northern Hemisphere is the dominant source of O3 and HNO3 in the Arctic at pressures greater than 400 hPa, and that the stratospheric influence is the principal contribution at pressures less 400 hPa. During the summer, intense Russian fire emissions contribute some amount to the tropospheric columns of both gases over the American sector of the Arctic. North American fire emissions (California and Canada) also show an important impact on tropospheric ozone in the Arctic boundary layer. Additional analysis of tropospheric O3 measurements from ground-based FTIR and from the IASI satellite sounder made at the Eureka (Canada) and Thule (Greenland) polar sites during POLARCAT has been performed using the tagged contributions. It demonstrates the capability of these instruments for observing pollution at northern high latitudes. Differences between contributions from the sources to the tropospheric columns as measured by FTIR and IASI are discussed in terms of vertical sensitivity associated with these instruments. The first analysis of O3 tropospheric columns observed by the IASI satellite instrument over the Arctic is also provided. Despite its limited vertical sensitivity in the lowermost atmospheric layers, we demonstrate that IASI is capable of detecting low-altitude pollution transported into the Arctic with some limitations.
Importance of biogenic precursors to the budget of organic nitrates during BEARPEX 2009: observations of multifunctional organic nitrates by CIMS and TD-LIF
Authors: Beaver M. R. , Clair J. M. St. , Paulot F. , Spencer K. M. , Crounse J. D. , LaFranchi B. W. , Min K. E. , Pusede S. E. , Woolridge P. J. , Schade G. W. , Park C. , Cohen R. C. , Wennberg P. O.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Alkyl and multifunctional organic nitrates, molecules of the chemical form RONO2, are products of chain terminating reactions in the tropospheric HOx and NOx catalytic cycles and thereby impact ozone formation locally. Many of the molecules in the class have lifetimes that are long enough that they serve as reservoir species that can be transported over large distances. If the RONO2 then react to deliver NOx to remote regions they affect ozone production rates in locations distant from the original NOx source. While measurements of total RONO2 (ΣANs) and small straight chain alkyl nitrates are routine, measurements of the specific multifunctional RONO2 molecules that are believed to dominate the total have rarely been reported and never reported in coincidence with ambient ΣANs measurements. Here we describe observations obtained during the BEARPEX 2009 experiment including ΣANs and a suite of multifunctional nitrates including isoprene derived hydroxynitrates, oxidation products of those nitrates, 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) derived hydroxynitrates, and monoterpene nitrates. At the BEARPEX field site, the sum of the individual biogenically derived nitrates account for two-thirds of the ΣANs, confirming predictions of the importance of biogenic nitrates to the NOy budget. Isoprene derived nitrates, transported to the site, are a much larger fraction of the ΣANs at the site than the nitrates derived from the locally emitted MBO. Evidence for additional nitrates from nocturnal chemistry of isoprene and α-pinene is presented.
Ground-based water vapor raman lidar measurements up to the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere for long-term monitoring
Authors: Leblanc T. , McDermid I. S. , Walsh T. D.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Recognizing the importance of water vapor in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) and the scarcity of high-quality, long-term measurements, JPL began the development of a powerful Raman lidar in 2005 to try to meet these needs. This development was endorsed by the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) and the validation program for the EOS-Aura satellite. In this paper we review the stages in the instrumental development, data acquisition and analysis, profile retrieval and calibration procedures of the lidar, as well as selected results from three validation campaigns: MOHAVE (Measurements of Humidity in the Atmosphere and Validation Experiments), MOHAVE-II, and MOHAVE 2009. In particular, one critical result from this latest campaign is the very good agreement (well below the reported uncertainties) observed between the lidar and the Cryogenic Frost-Point Hygrometer in the entire lidar range 3–20 km, with a mean bias not exceeding 2% (lidar dry) in the lower troposphere, and 3% (lidar moist) in the UTLS. Ultimately the lidar has demonstrated capability to measure water vapor profiles from ∼1 km above the ground to the lower stratosphere with a precision of 10% or better near 13 km and below, and an estimated accuracy of 5%. Since 2005, nearly 1000 profiles have been routinely measured, and since 2009, the profiles have typically reached 14 km for one-hour integration times and 1.5 km vertical resolution, and can reach 21 km for 6-h integration times using degraded vertical resolutions. These performance figures show that, with our present target of routinely running our lidar two hours per night, 4 nights per week, we can achieve measurements with a precision in the UTLS equivalent to that achieved if launching one CFH per month.
Correcting spaceborne reflectivity measurements for application in solar ultraviolet radiation levels calculations at ground level
Authors: den Outer P. N. , van Dijk A. , Slaper H. , Lindfors A. V. , De Backer H. , Bais A. F. , Feister U. , Koskela T. , Josefsson W.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The Lambertian Equivalent Reflection (LER) produced by satellite-carried instruments is used to determine cloud effects on ground level UltraViolet (UV) radiation. The focus is on data use from consecutive operating instruments: the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometers (TOMS) flown on Nimbus 7 from 1979 to 1992, TOMS on Earth Probe from 1996 to 2005, and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) flown on Aura since 2004. The LER data produced by TOMS on Earth Probe is only included until 2002. The possibility to use the Radiative Cloud Fraction (RCF)-product of OMI is also investigated. A comparison is made with cloud effects inferred from ground-based pyranometer measurements at over 83 World Radiation Data Centre stations. Modelled UV irradiances utilizing LER data are compared with measurements of UV irradiances at eight European low elevation stations. The LER data set of the two TOMS instruments shows a consistent agreement, and the required corrections are of low percentage i.e. 2–3%. In contrast, the LER data of OMI requires correction of 7–10%, and a solar angle dependency therein is more pronounced. These corrections were inferred from a comparison with pyranometer data, and tested using the UV measurements. The RCF product of OMI requires a large correction but can then be implemented as a cloud effect proxy. However, a major drawback of RCF is the large number of clipped data, i.e. 18%, and results are not better than those obtained with the corrected LER product of OMI. The average reduction of UV radiation due to clouds for all sites together indicate a small trend: a diminishing cloudiness, in line with ground-based UV observations. Uncorrected implementation of LER would have indicated the opposite. An optimal field of view of 1.25° was established for LER data to calculate UV radiations levels. The corresponding area can be traversed within 5–7 h at the average wind speeds found for the West European continent.
Particle sizing calibration with refractive index correction for light scattering optical particle counters and impacts upon PCASP and CDP data collected during the Fennec campaign
Authors: Rosenberg P. D. , Dean A. R. , Williams P. I. , Minikin A. , Pickering M. A. , Petzold A.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Optical particle counters (OPCs) are used regularly for atmospheric research, measuring particle scattering cross sections to generate particle size distribution histograms. This manuscript presents two methods for calibrating OPCs with case studies based on a Passive Cavity Aerosol Spectrometer Probe (PCASP) and a Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP), both of which are operated on the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements BAe-146 research aircraft. A method is also provided for modification of OPC bin boundaries when the scattering properties of measured particles are different to those of the calibration particles due to differences in refractive index or shape. This method provides mean diameters and widths for OPC bins based upon Mie-Lorenz theory or any other particle scattering theory, without the need for smoothing, despite the highly nonlinear and non-monotonic relationship between particle size and scattering cross section. By calibrating an OPC in terms of its scattering cross section the optical properties correction can be applied with minimal information loss and full propagation of uncertainty. Analysis of multiple calibrations has shown that for the PCASP the bin centres differ by up to 30% from the manufacturer's nominal values and can change by approximately 20% when routine maintenance is performed. The CDP has been found to differ from the manufacturer's specification by 15–64% and over the course of the Fennec project in the Sahara the variability of calibration was always less than the 2-σ calibration uncertainty or 10%. As would be expected from Mie-Lorenz theory the impact of the refractive index corrections has been found to be largest for absorbing materials and the impact on Saharan dust measurements made as part of the Fennec project has been found to be up to a factor of 3 for the largest particles which could be measured by CDP. Software tools have been developed as part of this work and are now made available as open source resources for the community via the SourceForge repository.
An investigation of the calcification response of the scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata to elevated pCO2 and the effects of nutrients, zooxanthellae and gender
Authors: Holcomb M. , Cohen A. L. , McCorkle D. C.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. The effects of nutrients and pCO2 on zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate colonies of the temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia poculata (Ellis and Solander, 1786) were investigated at two different temperatures (16 °C and 24 °C). Corals exposed to elevated pCO2 tended to have lower relative calcification rates, as estimated from changes in buoyant weights. Experimental nutrient enrichments had no significant effect nor did there appear to be any interaction between pCO2 and nutrients. Elevated pCO2 appeared to have a similar effect on coral calcification whether zooxanthellae were present or absent at 16 °C. However, at 24 °C, the interpretation of the results is complicated by a significant interaction between gender and pCO2 for spawning corals. At 16 °C, gamete release was not observed, and no gender differences in calcification rates were observed – female and male corals showed similar reductions in calcification rates in response to elevated CO2 (15% and 19% respectively). Corals grown at 24 °C spawned repeatedly and male and female corals exhibited two different growth rate patterns – female corals grown at 24 °C and exposed to CO2 had calcification rates 39% lower than females grown at ambient CO2, while males showed a non-significant decline of 5% under elevated CO2. The increased sensitivity of females to elevated pCO2 may reflect a greater investment of energy in reproduction (egg production) relative to males (sperm production). These results suggest that both gender and spawning are important factors in determining the sensitivity of corals to ocean acidification, and considering these factors in future research may be critical to predicting how the population structures of marine calcifiers will change in response to ocean acidification.
Methanotrophic activity and diversity in different Sphagnum magellanicum dominated habitats in the southernmost peat bogs of Patagonia
Authors: Kip N. , Fritz C. , Langelaan E. S. , Pan Y. , Bodrossy L. , Pancotto V. , Jetten M. S. M. , Smolders A. J. P. , Op den Camp H. J. M.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Sphagnum peatlands are important ecosystems in the methane cycle. Methanotrophs living inside the dead hyaline cells or on the Sphagnum mosses are able to act as a methane filter and thereby reduce methane emissions. We investigated in situ methane concentrations and the corresponding activity and diversity of methanotrophs in different Sphagnum dominated bog microhabitats. In contrast to the Northern Hemisphere peat ecosystems the temperate South American peat bogs are dominated by one moss species; Sphagnum magellanicum. This permitted a species-independent comparison of the different bog microhabitats. Potential methane oxidizing activity was found in all Sphagnum mosses sampled and a positive correlation was found between activity and in situ methane concentrations. Substantial methane oxidation activity (23 μmol CH4 gDW−1 day−1) was found in pool mosses and could be correlated with higher in situ methane concentrations (>35 μmol CH4 l−1 pore water). Little methanotrophic activity (<0.5 μmol CH4 gDW−1 day−1) was observed in living Sphagnum mosses from lawns and hummocks. Methane oxidation activity was relatively high (>4 μmol CH4 gDW−1 day−1) in Sphagnum litter at depths around the water levels and rich in methane. The total bacterial community was studied using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the methanotrophic communities were studied using a pmoA microarray and a complementary pmoA clone library. The methanotrophic diversity was similar in the different habitats of this study and comparable to the methanotrophic diversity found in peat mosses from the Northern Hemisphere. The pmoA microarray data indicated that both alpha- and gammaproteobacterial methanotrophs were present in all Sphagnum mosses, even in those mosses with a low initial methane oxidation activity. Prolonged incubation of Sphagnum mosses from lawn and hummock with methane revealed that the methanotrophic community present was viable and showed an increased activity within 15 days. The high abundance of methanotrophic Methylocystis species in the most active mosses suggests that these might be responsible for the bulk of methane oxidation.
Internal and external variability in regional simulations of the Iberian Peninsula climate over the last millennium
Authors: Gómez-Navarro J. J. , Montávez J. P. , Jiménez-Guerrero P. , Jerez S. , Lorente-Plazas R. , González-Rouco J. F. , Zorita E.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. In this study we analyse the role of internal variability in regional climate simulations through a comparison of two regional paleoclimate simulations for the last millennium. They share the same external forcings and model configuration, differing only in the initial condition used to run the driving global model simulation. A comparison of these simulations allows us to study the role of internal variability in climate models at regional scales, and how it affects the long-term evolution of climate variables such as temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that, although temperature is homogeneously sensitive to the effect of external forcings, the evolution of precipitation is more strongly governed by random unpredictable internal dynamics. There are, however, some areas where the role of internal variability is lower than expected, allowing precipitation to respond to the external forcings. In this respect, we explore the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for it. This study identifies areas, depending on the season, in which a direct comparison between model simulations of precipitation and climate reconstructions would be meaningful, but also other areas where good agreement between them should not be expected even if both are perfect.
Tropical climate and vegetation changes during Heinrich Event 1: a model-data comparison
Authors: Handiani D. , Paul A. , Dupont L.
Published: January 2012

Abstract. Abrupt climate changes from 18 to 15 thousand years before present (kyr BP) associated with Heinrich Event 1 (HE1) had a strong impact on vegetation patterns not only at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, but also in the tropical regions around the Atlantic Ocean. To gain a better understanding of the linkage between high and low latitudes, we used the University of Victoria (UVic) Earth System-Climate Model (ESCM) with dynamical vegetation and land surface components to simulate four scenarios of climate-vegetation interaction: the pre-industrial era, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and a Heinrich-like event with two different climate backgrounds (interglacial and glacial). We calculated mega-biomes from the plant-functional types (PFTs) generated by the model to allow for a direct comparison between model results and palynological vegetation reconstructions. Our calculated mega-biomes for the pre-industrial period and the LGM corresponded well with biome reconstructions of the modern and LGM time slices, respectively, except that our pre-industrial simulation predicted the dominance of grassland in southern Europe and our LGM simulation resulted in more forest cover in tropical and sub-tropical South America. The HE1-like simulation with a glacial climate background produced sea-surface temperature patterns and enhanced inter-hemispheric thermal gradients in accordance with the "bipolar seesaw" hypothesis. We found that the cooling of the Northern Hemisphere caused a southward shift of those PFTs that are indicative of an increased desertification and a retreat of broadleaf forests in West Africa and northern South America. The mega-biomes from our HE1 simulation agreed well with paleovegetation data from tropical Africa and northern South America. Thus, according to our model-data comparison, the reconstructed vegetation changes for the tropical regions around the Atlantic Ocean were physically consistent with the remote effects of a Heinrich event under a glacial climate background.
In Memoriam: Tom Budzynski, Friend and Colleague
Authors: Stoyva Johann , Peffer Kirk , Picchiottino John
Published: January 2012

Tom Budzynski's background and professional life are described. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tom earned his electrical engineering degree at the University of Detroit, then worked for the aerospace industry in Southern California for several years, a period that included work on the Blackbird spy plane. Later, while a graduate student at the University of Colorado, he developed the first practical surface electromyogram feedback device, receiving his PhD in experimental psychology in 1969. In his biofeedback studies, he worked extensively with stress-related disorders, pioneering many widely used techniques. In his later years, he carried out research and clinical studies using electroencephalogram brain wave feedback. We recognize Tom both as a major innovator in biofeedback and as a great friend.
Tom Budzynski: The Hero of Neurofeedback
Authors: Birbaumer Niels
Published: January 2012

The author provides a personal account of the scientific contributions of Thomas Budzynski, including the conceptualization of a psychophysiological foundation for psychotherapy, the development of a prototype neurofeedback training instrument, and the exploration of the potential therapeutic applications of twilight brain states.
Discovering Neurotechnology with Tom Budzynski
Authors: Austin Robert
Published: January 2012

This article summarizes projects and experiences the author shared with Thomas Budzynski over two decades of friendship and collaboration. Examples include a variety of sound and light stimulation systems, including Budzynski's use of such devices in a clinical context; his Hemifield project; and subliminal audio techniques. The author discusses Budzynski's role as director of research for SynchroMed, LLC, a small Seattle-based neurotechnology research and development company. His work there culminated in a two-university study of the effects of light and sound stimulation and GSR biofeedback on the academic performance of college students. Finally, some of Budzynski's ongoing preliminary research ideas are described. These include high/low alpha ratios and their potential application to the enhancement of cognitive skills and Budzynski's “brain brightening” concept, which used multifrequency flicker stimulation intended to evoke broadband shifts in electroencephalogram spectral activation.
The Use of ISSR and RAPD Markers for Genetic Diversity among South Tunisian Barley
Authors: Guasmi Ferdaous , Elfalleh Walid , Hannachi Hédia , Fères Khadija , Touil Leila , Marzougui Nidhal , Triki Tebra , Ferchichi Ali
Published: January 2012

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) were assayed to determine the genetic diversity of 80 barley specimens from South Tunisia. The ISSR primers showed variation in the percentage of polymorphism, band informativeness (Ib), and resolving power (Rp). The percentage of polymorphism is 66.67%, the average Ib ranged from 0.24 to 0.39, while Rp ranged from 0.74 to 1.16. In RAPD analysis, three primers yielded a total of 17 scorable bands, which are all polymorphic. The three polymorphic primers exhibited variation with regard to average band informativeness (AvIb) and resolving power (Rp). RAPD and ISSR marker systems were found to be useful for the genetic diversity among the barley specimens. The two dendrograms obtained through these markers show different clustering of 80 barely specimens, but we noted that some clusters were similar in some cases. A poor correlation () was found between both sets of genetic similarity data, suggesting that both sets of markers revealed unrelated estimates of genetic relationships. Therefore, the ISSR and RAPD molecular markers show two genetic grouping of studied barely specimens.
Inter‐annual variability and climate control of terrestrial net primary productivity over India
Authors: Nayak R. K. , Patel N. R. , Dadhwal V. K.
Published: January 2012

Using satellite observations of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index together with climate data from other sources in a terrestrial biosphere model, inter‐annual variability of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) over India during 1981–2006 was studied. It is revealed that the variability is large over mixed shrub and grassland (MGL), moderate over cropland and small over the forest regions. Inter‐annual variability of NPP exhibits strong positive coherence with the variability of precipitation, and weak coherence with the variability of temperature and solar radiation. Estimated linear growth rate of annual NPP is 0.005 Pg C Yr−2 which is equivalent to 8.5% over the country during past 25 years. This increase is primarily due to the enhancement of productivity over agricultural lands in the country. NPP has increased over most parts of the country during the early 15‐year period (1981–1995) resulting in a 10% growth rate of national NPP budget. On the other hand, the NPP growth rate has been reduced to 2.5% during later 15 years period (1991–2005) owing to large decline of NPP over the Indo‐Gangetic plains. Climate had a strong control on NPP growth rate during both the periods. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Recent mean temperature trends in Pakistan and links with teleconnection patterns
Authors: del Río S. , Anjum Iqbal M. , Cano‐Ortiz A. , Herrero L. , Hassan A. , Penas A.
Published: January 2012

Monthly, seasonal and annual trends in mean temperatures have been analysed in this study using data from 37 weather stations from the Pakistan Meteorological Department with records from 1952 to 2009. Statistical tests including Sen's slope and Mann‐Kendall were applied to each of the 37 stations in order to determine the sign and slopes of trends and their statistical significance. The study reveals that the temperature has generally increased in Pakistan at all time scales analysed over the past few decades. March and the pre‐monsoon season were the periods with the highest number of weather stations showing statistical significance, and also with the highest magnitudes of trends. Mean annual temperature increased around 0.36 °C/decade. This rise in temperature is slightly higher than other results found for Pakistan. The association between temperatures and certain teleconnection patterns, as well as the influence of the urban effect, might be among the causes of the trends found in this study. The largest number of correlations between mean temperatures and teleconnection patterns was found in March, April and May with NAO, ENSO and NCP, respectively. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) may also have an influence on the temperatures of certain months in the monsoon season and particularly in August. At a seasonal resolution, NAO and NCP may control temperatures in the pre‐monsoon season. The lowest number of sites exhibiting correlations was found in winter and in the post‐monsoon seasons. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Adaptive calibration of (u,v)‐wind ensemble forecasts
Authors: Pinson Pierre
Published: January 2012

Ensemble forecasts of (u,v)‐wind are of crucial importance for a number of decision‐making problems related to e.g. air traffic control, ship routeing and energy management. The skill of these ensemble forecasts as generated by NWP‐based models can be maximised by correcting for their lack of sufficient reliability. The original framework introduced here allows for an adaptive bivariate calibration of these ensemble forecasts. The originality of this methodology lies in the fact that calibrated ensembles still consist of a set of (space–time) trajectories, after translation and dilation. In parallel, the parameters of the models employed for improving the stochastic properties of the generating processes involved are adaptively and recursively estimated to accommodate smooth changes in the process characteristics and to lower computational costs. The approach is applied and evaluated based on the adaptive calibration of ECMWF ensemble forecasts of (u,v)‐wind at 10 m above ground level over Europe over a three‐year period between December 2006 and December 2009. Substantial improvements in (bivariate) reliability and in various deterministic/probabilistic scores are observed. Finally, the maps of translation and dilation factors are discussed. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society