bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Best Practices for Interdisciplinary Care Management by Hospital Glycemic Teams: Results of a Society of Hospital Medicine Survey Among 19 U.S. Hospitals
Authors: Rodriguez Annabelle , Magee Michelle , Ramos Pedro , Seley Jane Jeffrie , Nolan Ann , Kulasa Kristen , Caudell Kathryn Ann , Lamb Aimee , MacIndoe John , Maynard Greg
Published: August 2014

Objective. The Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM) conducted a survey of U.S. hospital systems to determine how nonphysician providers (NPPs) are utilized in interdisciplinary glucose management teams.

Methods. An online survey grouped 50 questions into broad categories related to team functions. Queries addressed strategies that had proven successful, as well as challenges encountered. Fifty surveys were electronically distributed with an invitation to respond. A subset of seven respondents identified as having active glycemic committees that met at least every other month also participated in an in-depth telephone interview conducted by an SHM Glycemic Advisory Panel physician and NPP to obtain further details. The survey and interviews were conducted from May to July 2012.

Results. Nineteen hospital/hospital system teams completed the survey (38% response rate). Most of the teams (52%) had existed for 1–5 years and served 90–100% of noncritical care, medical critical care, and surgical units. All of the glycemic control teams were supported by the use of protocols for insulin infusion, basal-bolus subcutaneous insulin orders, and hypoglycemia management. However, > 20% did not have protocols for discontinuation of oral hypoglycemic agents on admission or for transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin infusion. About 30% lacked protocols assessing A1C during the admission or providing guidance for insulin pump management. One-third reported that glycemic triggers led to preauthorized consultation or assumption of care for hyperglycemia.

Institutional knowledge assessment programs were common for nurses (85%); intermediate for pharmacists, nutritionists, residents, and students (40–45%); and uncommon for fellows (25%) and attending physicians (20%). Many institutions were not monitoring appropriate use of insulin, oral agents, or insulin protocol utilization. Although the majority of teams had a process in place for post-discharge referrals and specific written instructions were provided, only one-fourth were supported with written protocols to standardize medication, education, equipment, and follow-up instructions.

Conclusion. Inpatient glycemic control teams with NPPs often function in environments without a full set of measurement, education, standardization, transition, and order tools. Executive hospital leaders, community partners, and the glycemic control teams themselves need to address these deficiencies to optimize team effectiveness.
Factors Associated With Physical Therapists' Implementation of Physical Activity Interventions in the Netherlands
Authors: Huijg Johanna M. , Dusseldorp Elise , Gebhardt Winifred A. , Verheijden Marieke W. , van der Zouwe Nicolette , Middelkoop Barend J.C. , Duijzer Geerke , Crone Mathilde R.
Published: August 2014

Background

Physical therapists play an important role in the promotion of physical activity (PA) and the effectiveness of PA interventions. However, little is known about the extent to which they implement PA interventions following the intervention protocol and about the factors influencing their implementation behaviors.

Objective

The study objective was to investigate physical therapists' implementation fidelity regarding PA interventions, including completeness and quality of delivery, and influencing factors with a Theoretical Domains Framework–based questionnaire.

Design

The study was based on a cross-sectional design.

Methods

A total of 268 physical therapists completed the Determinants of Implementation Behavior Questionnaire. Questions about completeness and quality of delivery were based on components and tasks of PA interventions as described by the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy. Multilevel regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with completeness and quality of delivery.

Results

High implementation fidelity was found for the physical therapists, with higher scores for completeness of delivery than for quality of delivery. Physical therapists' knowledge, skills, beliefs about capabilities and consequences, positive emotions, behavioral regulation, and the automaticity of PA intervention delivery were the most important predictors of implementation fidelity. Together, the Theoretical Domains Framework accounted for 23% of the variance in both total completeness and total quality scores.

Limitations

The cross-sectional design precluded the determination of causal relationships. Also, the use of a self-report measure to assess implementation fidelity could have led to socially desirable responses, possibly resulting in more favorable ratings for completeness and quality.

Conclusions

This study enhances the understanding of how physical therapists implement PA interventions and which factors influence their behaviors. Knowledge about these factors may assist in the development of strategies to improve physical therapists' implementation behaviors.
Modeling the Propensity to Use a Sustainable Mode in the Context of a Program of Voluntary Change in Travel Behavior
Authors: di Teulada Benedetta Sanjust , Bhat Chandra R. , Meloni Italo
Published: August 2014

This paper proposes a modeling approach for evaluating the effect of a personalized travel plan on a sustainable mode choice. A panel binary probit was estimated by using the approach of composite marginal-likelihood estimation. The formulation modeled the choice of using a light rail service (versus that of not using it) by means of daily individual panel observations collected in the context of a program of voluntary travel behavior change (VTBC) before and after the provision of a personalized travel plan. In this regard, a VTBC program was a policy measure that used communication and information to encourage individuals to use more sustainable travel modes. In this study, the VTBC program was implemented by providing car users with personalized information about how to introduce the light rail service into their travel patterns.
Modeling Context-Sensitive, Dynamic Activity Travel Behavior by Linking Short- and Long-Term Responses to Accumulated Stress
Authors: Psarra Ifigenia , Liao Feixiong , Arentze Theo , Timmermans Harry
Published: August 2014

As existing activity-based models of travel demand simulate activity travel patterns for a typical day, dynamic models simulate behavioral response to endogenous or exogenous change along various time horizons. Prior research predominantly addressed a specific kind of change, which usually affected a specific time horizon. In contrast, the current study aims to develop a dynamic model of activity travel decisions that links short- and long-term adaptation decisions in a hierarchical manner. Specifically, this study focuses on the bottom-up process of influence, in which problems with rescheduling on a daily basis may induce a long-term change. The authors assume that travelers will first explore short-term adjustments of their habitual activity travel patterns so as to cope with change and increasing stress. Only when travelers recognize that such adaptation strategies are ineffective will they consider long-term decisions. The proposed framework integrates three key concepts: aspiration, activation, and expected utility. Moreover, both rational and emotional mechanisms are taken into account. The study demonstrates model properties by using numerical simulation. Individual travelers are represented as agents, each with their cognition of the environment, habits, preferences, and aspirations. The results offer insight into the dynamics of traveler learning–adaptation and into the evolution of long-term decisions.
Factors Influencing the Travel Scheduling of Driving Trips of Habitual Car Users
Authors: Ferrer Sheila , Ruiz Tomás
Published: August 2014

The paper presents an analysis of scheduling and rescheduling decisions that are associated with driving trips of habitual car users and that employs a new data set for processing of activity travel schedules collected in Valencia, Spain, in 2010. A bivariate probit model with sample selection is used to accommodate the influence of planning on the decision to execute a trip as planned or not. The explicative variables included in the model are socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, travel characteristics, and facets of the activity at origin and the activity executed at destination, including the scheduling process decisions associated with them. The results demonstrate that a significant correlation exists between the choice of planning and rescheduling a driving trip. Other findings suggest that characteristics of the activity at destination, including the scheduling process decisions, have a greater influence on the choice of planning or executing spontaneously than the characteristics of the activity at origin. In contrast, characteristics and scheduling of the activity at origin have significantly more influence on the decision of rescheduling or not rescheduling a planned driving trip than attributes of the activity at destination.
Development and Pilot Testing of a Healthy Eating Video-Supported Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Johnson Chwen
Published: August 2014

Video technology is a potentially effective means to teach individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) about healthy eating. Research in this area, however, is relatively unexplored. This study developed and tested a video intervention to teach healthy eating to adults with DD. A 5-segment educational video, an accompanying workbook, and a facilitator guide were developed to teach basic healthy eating concepts to adults with DD. Twelve adults with DD took part in a 5-week educational program led by trained facilitators using the materials created. Pre- and posttests were used to measure knowledge gained from participating in the intervention. Seventy-five percent (n = 9) of participants improved their knowledge scores, 8% (n = 1) maintained residue knowledge, and 17% (n = 2) had a decrease in their score. Video instructions can be an effective intervention modality to increase knowledge in adults with DD about healthy eating. Key enablers identified for participants’ knowledge gain included video content developed based on the learning need and cognitive level of intended users; program delivered by facilitators trained in effective teaching strategies; and engaging the participants’ staff, family, and caregivers to provide ongoing reinforcement about healthy eating.
Development of a Dietary Management Care Map for Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Royall Dawna , Brauer Paula , Bjorklund Laura , O'Young Olivia , Tremblay Angelo , Jeejeebhoy Khursheed , Heyland Daren , Dhaliwal Rupinder , Klein Doug , Mutch David M.
Published: August 2014

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to a particular cluster of metabolic abnormalities (hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and visceral fat deposition) that can lead to a 1.5- to 2-fold increased relative risk of cardiovascular disease. Various combinations of healthier eating patterns and increased physical activity have been shown to improve metabolic abnormalities and reduce MetS prevalence. Dietitians who counsel MetS patients are challenged to integrate guidance from various medical management guidelines and research studies with effective behavioural change strategies and specific advice on what food and eating pattern changes will be most effective, feasible, and acceptable to clients. As part of a demonstration project that is currently underway, we developed a care map (decision aid) that represents the key decision processes involved in diet counselling for MetS. The care map is based on evidence from both clinical and health behaviour change studies and expert consensus and has undergone limited dietitian review. It is being used to help project dietitians clearly articulate their specific food intake change goals. Additional studies to directly compare counselling strategies could inform future development of the map. In the meantime, dietitians may find this care map helpful in clarifying counselling goals and strategies in this client group.
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula: correlation between radiological and clinical findings
Authors: Yen Peggy P. W. , Ritchie Krista C. , Shankar Jai Jai Shiva
Published: August 2014

Object

The pathophysiology of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) results in perimedullary venous congestion and in turn central cord congestion. Clinically, this presents with progressive neurological dysfunctions that, if diagnosed in a timely fashion, can be at least halted and in part reversed.

In SDAVFs, imaging features on MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) have not been studied in conjunction with clinical findings. The primary purpose of the present study was to test if severity of clinical presentation varies in relation to imaging.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study identified 12 patients treated for SDAVF at the authors' institution. The extent of venous congestion and cord edema was quantified by the number of vertebral levels shown to be affected on DSA and MRI. A modified Aminoff-Logue Scale (ALS) score was assigned at the time of diagnosis and again after definitive therapy. The patients were divided into one of two groups: those with venous congestion < 7 and ≥ 7 vertebral levels seen on DSA and MRI and with central cord edema < 6 and ≥ 6 levels. A t-test was used to assess for a difference in the presenting ALS score between the groups.

Results

Patients with ≥ 7 levels of venous congestion reported greater functional disability (DSA: p ≤ 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.509; and MRI: p ≤ 0.001, d = 0.632). Patients with a greater extent of cord edema also reported worse functional disability (p ≤ 0.001, d = 2.31). There was a strong linear correlation between the post- and pretreatment ALS scores (R2 = 0.86) for those with successful interventions (n = 9).

Conclusions

In patients with an SDAVF, the severity of the neurological dysfunction may be predicted by the extent of DSA- and MRI-documented venous congestion and cord edema. There was a strong positive relationship between initial and posttreatment neurological dysfunction.
Computed tomography–guided epidural patching of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks
Authors: Mihlon Frank , Kranz Peter G. , Gafton Andreia Roxana , Gray Linda
Published: August 2014

Object

Cerebrospinal fluid leaks due to unrecognized durotomy during spinal surgery are often managed with a second surgery for dural closure. CT-guided percutaneous patching targeted to the dural defect offers an alternative to surgery since it can be performed in a minimally invasive fashion without the need for general anesthesia. This case series describes the authors' experience using targeted CT-guided percutaneous patching to repair incidental durotomies incurred during spinal surgery.

Methods

This investigation is a retrospective case series involving patients who underwent CT-guided percutaneous patching of surgical incidental durotomies and were referred between January 2007 and June 2013. Their presenting clinical history, myelographic findings, and clinical outcomes, including the need for eventual surgical duraplasty, were reviewed.

Results

Nine cases were identified, including 7 durotomies incurred during lumbar discectomy, one due to a medial transpedicular screw breach, and one incurred during vertebrectomy for spinal osteosarcoma. All patients who had favorable outcomes with percutaneous intervention alone had 2 common features: dural defect of 4 mm or smaller and absence of a pseudomeningocele. Patients with CSF leaks complicated by pseudomeningocele and those with a dural defect of 6 mm or more all required eventual surgical management.

Conclusions

The authors' results suggest that findings on CT myelography may help predict which patients with postsurgical durotomy can be treated with percutaneous intervention. In particular, CT-guided patching may be more likely to be successful in those patients with dural defects of less than 5 mm and without pseudomeningocele. In patients with larger dural defects or pseudomeningoceles, percutaneous blood patching alone is unlikely to be successful.
Finite Element Method Modeling of Sensible Heat Thermal Energy Storage with Innovative Concretes and Comparative Analysis with Literature Benchmarks
Authors: Ferone Claudio , Colangelo Francesco , Frattini Domenico , Roviello Giuseppina , Cioffi Raffaele , Maggio Rosa
Published: August 2014

Efficient systems for high performance buildings are required to improve the integration of renewable energy sources and to reduce primary energy consumption from fossil fuels. This paper is focused on sensible heat thermal energy storage (SHTES) systems using solid media and numerical simulation of their transient behavior using the finite element method (FEM). Unlike other papers in the literature, the numerical model and simulation approach has simultaneously taken into consideration various aspects: thermal properties at high temperature, the actual geometry of the repeated storage element and the actual storage cycle adopted. High-performance thermal storage materials from the literatures have been tested and used here as reference benchmarks. Other materials tested are lightweight concretes with recycled aggregates and a geopolymer concrete. Their thermal properties have been measured and used as inputs in the numerical model to preliminarily evaluate their application in thermal storage. The analysis carried out can also be used to optimize the storage system, in terms of thermal properties required to the storage material. The results showed a significant influence of the thermal properties on the performances of the storage elements. Simulation results have provided information for further scale-up from a single differential storage element to the entire module as a function of material thermal properties.
Impact of Bisphenol A on the Cardiovascular System — Epidemiological and Experimental Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Gao Xiaoqian , Wang Hong-Sheng
Published: August 2014

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous plasticizing agent used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. There is well-documented and broad human exposure to BPA. The potential risk that BPA poses to the human health has attracted much attention from regulatory agencies and the general public, and has been extensively studied. An emerging and rapidly growing area in the study of BPA’s toxicity is its impact on the cardiovascular (CV) system. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that higher urinary BPA concentration in humans is associated with various types of CV diseases, including angina, hypertension, heart attack and coronary and peripheral arterial disease. Experimental studies have demonstrated that acute BPA exposure promotes the development of arrhythmias in female rodent hearts. Chronic exposure to BPA has been shown to result in cardiac remodeling, atherosclerosis, and altered blood pressure in rodents. The underlying mechanisms may involve alteration of cardiac Ca2+ handling, ion channel inhibition/activation, oxidative stress, and genome/transcriptome modifications. In this review, we discuss these recent findings that point to the potential CV toxicity of BPA, and highlight the knowledge gaps in this growing research area.
Berberine, an Epiphany Against Cancer
Authors: Guamán Ortiz Luis , Lombardi Paolo , Tillhon Micol , Scovassi Anna
Published: August 2014

Alkaloids are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases. These compounds are synthesized in plants as secondary metabolites and have multiple effects on cellular metabolism. Among plant derivatives with biological properties, the isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid berberine possesses a broad range of therapeutic uses against several diseases. In recent years, berberine has been reported to inhibit cell proliferation and to be cytotoxic towards cancer cells. Based on this evidence, many derivatives have been synthesized to improve berberine efficiency and selectivity; the results so far obtained on human cancer cell lines support the idea that they could be promising agents for cancer treatment. The main properties of berberine and derivatives will be illustrated.
Religion and Relationships in Muslim Families: A Qualitative Examination of Devout Married Muslim Couples
Authors: Alghafli Zahra , Hatch Trevan , Marks Loren
Published: August 2014

Since 11 September 2001, Islam has been the center of many debates, discussions, parodies and publications. Many Muslims feel that their religion has been portrayed unfairly in Western media. The topics that seem to generate the most criticism relate to gender roles and the treatment of women, both inside the home and in society. The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceived role of Islam on marital and familial relationships from an insider’s perspective and to present participants’ reflections on sensitive issues, including gender roles, women’s rights and marital unity. Content analysis of in-depth interviews of twenty diverse Shia and Sunni Muslim couples living in the U.S. (n = 40) yielded three emergent themes: (1) Islam as a way of life; (2) Islam as a unifying force; and (3) gender roles and the treatment of women. These data suggest that, as perceived by our religiously involved “insider” participants, Islam influences marriage relationships, unites families and (when understood and lived properly) protects women from abuse and oppression.
Improvements in Sample Selection Methods for Image Classification
Authors: Körting Thales , Fonseca Leila , Castejon Emiliano , Namikawa Laercio
Published: August 2014

Traditional image classification algorithms are mainly divided into unsupervised and supervised paradigms. In the first paradigm, algorithms are designed to automatically estimate the classes’ distributions in the feature space. The second paradigm depends on the knowledge of a domain expert to identify representative examples from the image to be used for estimating the classification model. Recent improvements in human-computer interaction (HCI) enable the construction of more intuitive graphic user interfaces (GUIs) to help users obtain desired results. In remote sensing image classification, GUIs still need advancements. In this work, we describe our efforts to develop an improved GUI for selecting the representative samples needed to estimate the classification model. The idea is to identify changes in the common strategies for sample selection to create a user-driven sample selection, which focuses on different views of each sample, and to help domain experts identify explicit classification rules, which is a well-established technique in geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA). We also propose the use of the well-known nearest neighbor algorithm to identify similar samples and accelerate the classification.
Challenges in Mucosal HIV Vaccine Development: Lessons from Non-Human Primate Models
Authors: Tuero Iskra , Robert-Guroff Marjorie
Published: August 2014

An efficacious HIV vaccine is urgently needed to curb the AIDS pandemic. The modest protection elicited in the phase III clinical vaccine trial in Thailand provided hope that this goal might be achieved. However, new approaches are necessary for further advances. As HIV is transmitted primarily across mucosal surfaces, development of immunity at these sites is critical, but few clinical vaccine trials have targeted these sites or assessed vaccine-elicited mucosal immune responses. Pre-clinical studies in non-human primate models have facilitated progress in mucosal vaccine development by evaluating candidate vaccine approaches, developing methodologies for collecting and assessing mucosal samples, and providing clues to immune correlates of protective immunity for further investigation. In this review we have focused on non-human primate studies which have provided important information for future design of vaccine strategies, targeting of mucosal inductive sites, and assessment of mucosal immunity. Knowledge gained in these studies will inform mucosal vaccine design and evaluation in human clinical trials.
Doubling down on genomes: Polyploidy and crop plants
Authors: Renny‐Byfield Simon , Wendel Jonathan F.
Published: August 2014

Polyploidy, or whole genome multiplication, is ubiquitous among angiosperms. Many crop species are relatively recent allopolyploids, resulting from interspecific hybridization and polyploidy. Thus, an appreciation of the evolutionary consequences of (allo)polyploidy is central to our understanding of crop plant domestication, agricultural improvement, and the evolution of angiosperms in general. Indeed, many recent insights into plant biology have been gleaned from polyploid crops, including, but not limited to wheat, tobacco, sugarcane, apple, and cotton. A multitude of evolutionary processes affect polyploid genomes, including rapid and substantial genome reorganization, transgressive gene expression alterations, gene fractionation, gene conversion, genome downsizing, and sub‐ and neofunctionalization of duplicate genes. Often these genomic changes are accompanied by heterosis, robustness, and the improvement of crop yield, relative to closely related diploids. Historically, however, the genome‐wide analysis of polyploid crops has lagged behind those of diploid crops and other model organisms. This lag is partly due to the difficulties in genome assembly, resulting from the genomic complexities induced by combining two or more evolutionarily diverged genomes into a single nucleus and by the significant size of polyploid genomes. In this review, we explore the role of polyploidy in angiosperm evolution, the domestication process and crop improvement. We focus on the potential of modern technologies, particularly next‐generation sequencing, to inform us on the patterns and processes governing polyploid crop improvement and phenotypic change subsequent to domestication.
Engaging Undergraduate Nursing Students in Research: The Students’ Experience of a Summer Internship Program Pilot Project
Authors: Cepanec Diane , Clarke Diana , Plohman James , Gerard Judy
Published: August 2014

Educators continue to struggle with ways to foster an interest in and a passion for nursing research among undergraduate students. The purpose of this article is to describe the introduction of undergraduate student internships at the Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, as an innovation in education that allowed students to be employed while engaging them in student learning, scientific inquiry, and scholarship through one-to-one faculty–student research mentorships. In this article, the key components of the summer internship program are described, along with five nursing students’ experiences of their participation in the program. [
J Nurs Educ.
2013;52(8):466–469.]
The Impact of Online News Consumption on Young People's Political Participation
Authors: Xiaoming Hao , Nainan Wen , George Cherian
Published: August 2014

The informational usage of media has been identified as one of the most important factors that facilitate citizens' participation in political activities. This relationship becomes exceptionally intriguing in the 21st century, which is characterized by a growing popularity of new media, and concurrently, a decline of political and civic engagement in many societies, particularly among young people. Research findings about the link between new media usage and political participation have been inconclusive, and specific processes through which new media usage, especially the informational usage of such media, may affect political participation remain less than lucid. In this study, we propose a theoretical framework under which political knowledge and political efficacy are used to explain the possible connection between online news consumption and political participation. Through a survey of university students in Singapore, this study shows that the young people's consumption of online news is directly related to both online and offline political participation. At the same time, the consumption of online news is also indirectly related to online and offline political participation via political efficacy. Political knowledge, however, is found to be a mediating factor between online news consumption and online political participation but not offline political participation. This study not only allows us a more holistic view of the impact of online news on young people's political and civic engagement but also contributes to the existing literature on the relationship between news consumption and political participation by incorporating both online and offline political activities in the proposed theoretical model.
Does the Minimum Wage Make Young Adult Labor More Attractive to Firms?
Authors: Snarr Hal W. , Romero Alfredo A.
Published: August 2014

Adverse effects of minimum wage policy on labor markets materialize only if the new rate is binding. Annual data from the Current Population Survey indicate that the minimum wage is effectively non-binding for young adults (19-29) who have at least one year of college and are not enrolled in school. Hence, a minimum wage hike would have no effect on young adult workers… or does it? The authors investigate this using dynamic panel data that accounts for spatial heterogeneity, which must be controlled for because minimum wage coefficients are biased otherwise (Allegretto, Dube, and Reich 2011). The authors find that accounting for spatial heterogeneity and the inertia that is present in labor market variables affects the results dramatically. Average unemployment in adjacent states has a large net positive cumulative impact on young adult male employment but a large negative cumulative effect on young adult female employment. Though both cohorts are sensitive to market wages and weekly earnings, males are more geographically mobile while female employment is negatively linked to having children, poverty, welfare participation, and urbanity but positively associated with welfare reform. While the minimum wage was insignificant in the young adult male employment model, its anticipatory effect is associated with higher young adult female employment. This is perhaps due to firms substituting teen (16-18) labor with young adult females who possess longer employment tenure, slightly better job skills, and greater personal responsibility.
Paradigm Shift
Authors: Schnackenberg Heidi L. , Vega Edwin S. , Simard Denise A.
Published: August 2014

In order to meet the demands of an overcrowded computer lab, a technology instructor designs a plan that is outside the paradigm of what is considered to be “standard operating procedure” for implementing and integrating technology into a course in a teacher education program. To accommodate 125 students in a computer classroom that only has 20 seats and computers, portable media devices with Web 2.0 technology, micro-blogging and a social media network were incorporated as part of the course curriculum. These solutions were chosen because most social media networks are easily accessible via portable media devices and virtually every college-aged student already knows how to use them with little-to-no training. Additionally, Web 2.0 allows for on-line collaboration and sharing, and website interfaces behave like software, thus enabling students to work and communicate easily outside of class. Although the use of technology did facilitate innovation in course activities, there were many challenges throughout the semester and suggestions for improvement in the future.
Variability of summer humidity during the past 800 years on the eastern Tibetan Plateau inferred from δ18O of tree-ring cellulose
Authors: Wernicke J. , Grießinger J. , Hochreuther P. , Bräuning A.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. We present an 800 years long δ18O chronology from the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). The chronology dates back to 1193 AD and was sampled in 1996 AD from living Juniperus tibetica trees. The chronology is unique for eastern Tibet and provides a reliable archive for hydroclimatic reconstructions. Highly significant correlations were obtained with air moisture (relative humidity, vapour pressure and precipitation) during the summer season. We applied a linear transfer model to reconstruct the summer season relative humidity variation over the past 800 years. We identified more moist conditions at the termination of the Medieval Warm Period, an oscillating air humidity around the mean during the Little Ice Age and a sudden decrease of relative humidity since the 1870s. The late 19th century humidity decrease is in good accordance with several multiproxy hydroclimate reconstructions for south Tibet. On the other hand, since the end of the 19th century strong evidences for an increase in humidity on the northern TP is exhibited. Spatial correlation analysis with the North Atlantic Oscillation index (NAO) and the sea surface temperature (SST) of Niño region 3.4 reveal a weak and nonstationary relationship to the δ18O chronology. Instead, spatial correlations expose a dominating convective influence to the relative humidity reconstruction. Furthermore, wavelength analysis reveal good agreements between the significant cyclicities in our δ18O chronology and several moisture sensitive proxy archives.
Assimilation of surface NO2 and O3 observations into the SILAM chemistry transport model
Authors: Vira J. , Sofiev M.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. This paper describes assimilation of trace gas observations into the chemistry transport model SILAM using the 3D-Var method. Assimilation results for year 2012 are presented for the prominent photochemical pollutants ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Both species are covered by the Airbase observation database, which provides the observational dataset used in this study. Attention is paid to the background and observation error covariance matrices, which are obtained primarily by iterative application of a posteriori diagnostics. The diagnostics are computed separately for two months representing summer and winter conditions, and further disaggregated by time of day. This allows deriving background and observation error covariance definitions which include both seasonal and diurnal variation. The consistency of the obtained covariance matrices is verified using χ2 diagnostics. The analysis scores are computed for a control set of observation stations withheld from assimilation. Compared to a free-running model simulation, the correlation coefficient for daily maximum values is improved from 0.8 to 0.9 for O3 and from 0.53 to 0.63 for NO2.
Quantification of anthropogenic impact on groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystem using geochemical and isotope tools combined with 3-D flow and transport modeling
Authors: Zurek A. J. , Witczak S. , Dulinski M. , Wachniew P. , Rozanski K. , Kania J. , Postawa A. , Karczewski J. , Moscicki W. J.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. A dedicated study was launched in 2010 with the main aim to better understand the functioning of groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystem (GDTE) located in southern Poland. The GDTE consists of a valuable forest stand (Niepolomice Forest) and associated wetland (Wielkie Bloto fen). A wide range of tools (environmental tracers, geochemistry, geophysics, 3-D flow and transport modeling) was used. The research was conducted along three major directions: (i) quantification of the dynamics of groundwater flow in various parts of the aquifer associated with GDTE, (ii) quantification of the degree of interaction between the GDTE and the aquifer, and (iii) 3-D modeling of groundwater flow in the vicinity of the studied GDTE and quantification of possible impact of enhanced exploitation of the aquifer on the status of GDTE. Environmental tracer data (tritium, stable isotopes of water) strongly suggest that upward leakage of the aquifer contributes significantly to the present water balance of the studied wetland and associated forest. Physico-chemical parameters of water (pH, conductivity, Na / Cl ratio) confirm this notion. Model runs indicate that prolonged groundwater abstraction through the newly-established network of water supply wells, conducted at maximum permitted capacity (ca. 10 000 m3 d−1), may trigger drastic changes in the ecosystem functioning, eventually leading to its degradation.
Spatiotemporal multifractal characteristics of electromagnetic radiation in response to deep coal rock bursts
Authors: Hu S. , Wang E. , Liu X.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Dynamic collapses of deeply mined coal rocks are severe threats to miners; in order to predict collapses more accurately using electromagnetic radiation (EMR), we investigate the spatiotemporal multifractal characteristics and formation mechanism of EMR induced by underground coal mining. Coal rock in the burst-prone zone often exchanges materials (gas, water and coal) and energy with its environment and gradually transitions from its original stable equilibrium structure to a nonequilibrium dissipative structure with implicit spatiotemporal complexity or multifractal structures, resulting in temporal variation in multifractal EMR. The inherent law of EMR time series during damage evolution was analyzed by using time-varying multifractal theory. Results show that the time-varying multifractal characteristics of EMR are determined by damage evolution processes. Moreover, the dissipated energy caused by the damage evolutions, such as crack propagation, fractal sliding and shearing, can be regarded as the fingerprint of various EMR micro-mechanics. The dynamic spatiotemporal multifractal spectrum of EMR considers both spatial (multiple fractures) and temporal (dynamic evolution) characteristics of coal rocks and records the dynamic evolution processes of rock bursts. Thus, it can be used to evaluate the coal deformation and fracture process. The study is of significance for us to understand the EMR mechanism in detail and to increase the accuracy of the EMR method in forecasting dynamic disasters.
Features of the Earth surface deformations in Kamchatka peninsula and their relation with geoacoustic emission
Authors: Larionov I. A. , Marapulets Yu. V. , Shevtsov B. M.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. The paper presents the results of investigations of deformation process in the near surface sedimentary rocks, which has been carried out in a seismically active region of Kamchatka peninsular since 2007. The peculiarity of the experiments on registration of geodeformations is the application of a laser strainmeter-interferometer constructed according to the Michelson interferometer scheme. Besides rock deformations, geoacoustic emission in the frequency range from several hertz to the first tens of kilohertz is under the investigation. Piezoceramic hydrophones installed in artificial water reservoirs are applied. It is shown that periods of primary rock compression and tension with the duration up to several months are distinguished in the geodeformation process at the observation site. During the direction change in the deformations, when geodeformation process rate grows, the increase of geoacoustic radiation is observed.
Justiça e Eficácia no conflito possessório: o problema da ordem e da decisão Posse – conflito – Direito Privado - função social
Authors: Ferreira Gilson
Published: August 2014

Constrói-se o Estado Liberal a partir da atomização dos sujeitos e da sua libertação do modelo transcendental da Idade Média e do Antigo Regime. Com a secularização da sociedade, torna-se possível a autonomia do indivíduo e o exercício da liberdade pressuposta a partir da limitação do próprio Estado, que para isso, precisava garantir aos indivíduos não apenas a sua liberdade, senão também e igualmente, a propriedade.
Como uma decorrência lógica de todo esse redesenho principiológico, a intervenção do Estado na estrutura e economia, não se opera apenas no espaço do Estado-Legislador, ou seja, no plano normativo com a edição de sucessivas normas que impliquem, no plano da concretude da vida, os princípios orientadores, mas igual e especialmente, no espaço de atuação do Estado-juiz, que se estende para além das fronteiras da vida privada, porque em quando se trata do fenômeno possessório, as decisões do Estado-Legislador e do Estado-Juiz estendem seus efeitos para muito além desses umbrais e interstícios do público e do privado.
Princípio da precaução ambiental e desenvolvimento econômico
Authors: Conforti Natalia Celina
Published: August 2014

O princípio da precaução surge devido ao risco de os recursos naturais, dada a falta de certeza sobre as atividades que são praticadas e avanço econômico excessivo. A partir disso, o trabalho analisa os problemas gerados em torno de princípio da precaução e do desenvolvimento econômico. Em primeiro lugar, vamos definir o princípio da precaução, que rever a sua origem, evolução e aplicação. Então, nós recuperamos os componentes do princípio fundamental para a doutrina, e também a crítica de desenvolvedores para com o princípio da precaução. Em segundo lugar, rever várias teorias econômicas que foram abordados e planejou como usar mais eficientemente os recursos naturais, mostrando a relação entre o homem eo meio ambiente. Finalmente, discute-se a tensão entre o princípio da precaução e do desenvolvimento econômico, considerando a segurança humana.
The role of atmospheric rivers in anomalous snow accumulation in East Antarctica
Authors: Gorodetskaya Irina V. , Tsukernik Maria , Claes Kim , Ralph Martin F. , Neff William D. , Van Lipzig Nicole P. M.
Published: August 2014

Recent, heavy snow accumulation events over Dronning Maud Land (DML), East Antarctica, contributed significantly to the Antarctic ice sheet surface mass balance (SMB). Here we combine in situ accumulation measurements and radar‐derived snowfall rates from Princess Elisabeth station (PE), located in the DML escarpment zone, along with the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts Interim reanalysis to investigate moisture transport patterns responsible for these events. In particular, two high‐accumulation events in May 2009 and February 2011 showed an atmospheric river (AR) signature with enhanced integrated water vapor (IWV), concentrated in narrow long bands stretching from subtropical latitudes to the East Antarctic coast. Adapting IWV‐based AR threshold criteria for Antarctica (by accounting for the much colder and drier environment), we find that it was four and five ARs reaching the coastal DML that contributed 74–80% of the outstanding SMB during 2009 and 2011 at PE. Therefore, accounting for ARs is crucial for understanding East Antarctic SMB.
Observational evidence for temporary planetary wave forcing of the MLT during fall equinox
Authors: Stray Nora H. , de Wit Rosmarie J. , Espy Patrick J. , Hibbins Robert E.
Published: August 2014

We present direct observations of zonal wave numbers 1 and 2 planetary wave activity in the mesopause region derived from a longitudinal chain of high‐latitude Northern Hemisphere (51–66°N) Super Dual Auroral Radar Network radars. Over a 9 year period (2000–2008), the planetary wave activity observed shows a consistent increase around the fall equinox. This is shown to be coincident with a minimum in the magnitude of the stratospheric winds and consequently a minimum in the stratospheric gravity wave filtering and the subsequent momentum deposition in the mesopause region. Despite this, the observed meridional winds are shown to be perturbed poleward and mesopause temperatures rise temporarily, suggesting that westward momentum deposition from planetary waves temporarily becomes the dominant forcing on the mesopause region each fall equinox.
Antidipolarization fronts observed by ARTEMIS
Authors: Li S.‐S. , Liu Jiang , Angelopoulos V. , Runov A. , Zhou X.‐Z. , Kiehas S. A.
Published: August 2014

Near‐Earth reconnection on closed plasma sheet field lines is thought to generate plasmoids. A plasmoid is usually described as a plasma sheet expansion into the lobe, encompassed by closed magnetic loops or the helical fields of a flux rope (in this paper we do not distinguish plasmoids from flux ropes; rather we use the term plasmoid generically). Recently, sharp, highly asymmetric north‐then‐south bipolar variations (with a larger southward portion) in the magnetic field BZ component have been noted in midtail (XGSM ~ −60 RE) plasmoids. These variations do not fit the classical plasmoid model but are mirror images of earthward moving dipolarization fronts (DFs), which show asymmetric south‐then‐north BZ bipolar variations with a larger northward portion. Using case and statistical studies from 3 years of Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) data (at XGSM ~ −60 RE), we show that magnetic and particle properties of these typically tailward moving fronts, which we refer to as “antidipolarization fronts” (ADFs), are very similar to those of classical, typically earthward moving DFs, except for their BZ polarity and flow direction. First, like DFs and plasmoids, ADFs are associated with auroral electrojet enhancements. Second, like DFs, ADFs exhibit a sharp density decrease, plasma pressure increase, magnetic pressure increase, and particle heating immediately following the sharp BZ change. Third, particle spectra indicate that, as with DFs, there are two distinctly different magnetically separated populations ahead of and behind ADFs. The energy spectrograms of plasmoids, however, indicate a single hot population at the plasmoid center. We conclude that midtail ADFs are likely products of fast reconnection, observed on the tailward side of the reconnection site, just as DFs are products of fast reconnection seen on the earthward side. ADFs are observed at ARTEMIS much less frequently (~10%) than typical plasmoids but twice as frequently as DFs at the same distance. We suggest that ADFs are protoplasmoids that emerge from near‐Earth reconnection and evolve quickly into plasmoids as they propagate down the tail.
Nonlinear interaction of 3D kinetic Alfvén wave and whistler wave in solar wind plasmas
Authors: Sharma R. P. , Gaur Nidhi
Published: August 2014

In the present work, the nonlinear evolution of 3D kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) has been investigated in solar wind plasmas. By taking the adiabatic response of background density the nonlinearity arises because of ponderomotive effects. The dynamical equations governing the dynamics of 3D KAW and whistler are obtained. We have performed the numerical simulation using pseudospectral method to study the evolution of the nonlinear localized structures of KAW in the solar wind at 1 AU. The interaction between 3D KAW and the amplification of weak whistler signal propagating in the localized structures of KAW has also been studied semi‐analytically to have an insight of the localization process. The relevance of the present work to the solar wind turbulence is discussed.