bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Danhe Granules against Hyperlipidemia by Means of Network Pharmacology and Verified by Preliminary Experiments
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Qing , Chen Ai-Ping , Yu Tong , Yang Shuang-Jie , Yu De-Shuai , Yang Ran , Chai Xin-Lou
Published: October 2021

Objective:

This study explored the multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway mechanism of Danhe granules (DG) against hyperlipidemia through network pharmacology. The relevant targets and pathways were verified by preliminary experiments.

Methods:

The active components of DG were selected by TCMSP and TCMIP database, and the component-target network diagram was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.1. The protein–protein interaction network of targets was constructed and core targets were screened out by STRING11.0 database. Metascape database and Cytoscape 3.7.1 were used to enrich the target and establish a hyperlipidemia model in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to detect blood lipid and oxidative stress indexes and observed pathological changes of aorta by H and E staining.

Results:

The results showed that a total of seven active components of DG were screened out, including quercetin, sitosterol, luteolin, kaempferol, etc. There were 127 corresponding targets, including AKT1, tumor necrosis factor, TP53, interleukin-6, RELA, vascular endothelial growth factor, superoxide dismutases, and catalase. It is mainly involved in biological processes such as drug response, regulation of apoptosis, redox reaction, and lipid reaction. There were 573 signal pathways corresponding to the target, including HIF-1 signal pathway, TNF signal pathway, VEGF signal pathway, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, etc. The experiment verified that DG can reduce the blood lipid of SD rats by regulating the process of oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

This study made a preliminary study on the pharmacological mechanism of DG against hyperlipidemia and laid the foundation for the research and development of new drugs and subsequent in-depth research.
“Disoriented Superpower”: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Post-Bipolar World
Authors: Rebro O. I. , Suchkov M. A.
Published: October 2021

This article seeks to fi ll the gap between well theorized upon constants of the U.S. strategic thinking and the divergent approaches of various administrations to practical actions on the international arena. Grounded in the concept developed by Christopher Hammer, the analysis presents the U.S. foreign policy as the product of a never-ending internal debate about the most optimal ways of promoting values, dealing with international institutions and prioritizing threats within a security perimeter. Taking stock of the choices made by consecutive presidents in each of the three areas the authors study the roots of foreign policy inertia of the sole superpower that resulted in unforced mistakes undermining its own political cohesion as well as hindering the emergence of lasting international architecture to replace the cold-war order. Thus, the article argues that the key feature of the last thirty years – the absence of an enemy as an organizing principle for the U.S. foreign policy – prompted the American public to pay less attention to global events which became the area of opportunistic decisions. Overall, the authors conclude that the mistakes were made precisely when the domestic debates in the U.S. about international relations were absent and note that the current divisions in the American society as an impetus for self-scrutiny and the emergence of China as a focal point for the American elites may result in a more coherent foreign policy and make the U.S. a more responsible international actor.
DNA Barcoding of Selected Medicinal Plant Species from Jordan Using matK, rbcL, and rpoC1 Genes
Authors: Alkaraki Almuthanna K. , Aldmoor Maisam A. , Lahham Jamil N. , Nusair Shreen D.
Published: October 2021

Medicinal plants play an essential role in preventing and treating several diseases. Classical taxonomic tools generally carry out medicinal plant identification and characterization. Unfortunately, conventional methods need well-trained taxonomists and could give a false identity for closely related species. Jordanian flora is rich in a variety of plant species. The phylogeographic architecture of Jordanian medicinal plant samples was not explored yet. This study aims to recruit DNA barcoding using matK, rbcL, and rpoC1 genes to identify different selected medicinal plants species from Jordan. These are Maerua crassifolia, Ziziphus spina-christi, Balanites aegyptiaca, Senna italica, and Moringa peregrina. Plant samples were collected from the Dead Sea area (Jordan), and three DNA barcode regions were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed using different bioinformatic tools. Twelve sequences were obtained and deposited in Genbank . These sequences showed a very good discrimination capacity with sequences retrieved from related species. The phylogenetic analysis illustrated that DNA barcoding could successfully identify the selected medicinal plant species using different chloroplast genes (rbcL, matK, and rpoC1). Further analysis for other plants species is recommended to explore the genetic relationship and the phylogeographic architecture for Jordanian flora.
A Website for Students to Choose their Graduate College on their Choice
Authors: D.Leela Dharani,; K.Swarupa Rani N. V. N. Vaishnavi & Sai Ravi Teja Nalam;
Published: October 2021

Students build the future society. What can help students to build a better society? Good education with
some ethics can support students to a greater extent. Is there any good education greater than self-learning?
Self-learning helps students to study what they want for themselves and that’s the point where students can
actually start their career. To choose a career they first need to choose a college which they can fit themselves
and have good education... how can they get to know about colleges...?is that necessary for a student to
study the terms that are used in graduating colleges? Definitely yes! Because these terms can help students
to choose a college for what they are eligible for. With the vast courses that are offered by different
universities or colleges students can really get confused in choosing a course that makes them successful. In
this kind of confused states, they need a platform where they can get some knowledge about different
colleges/universities. This self-learning in choosing a better college can help student to build their career. The
main motto of this website is to provide such platform for students to choose a better college.
Miopatias autoimunes sistêmicas
Authors: Shinjo Samuel Katsuyuki
Published: October 2021

Miopatias autoimunes sistêmicas (ou miopatias inflamatórias idiopáticas) são um grupo heterogêneo de doenças sistêmicas raras que acometem primariamente a musculatura esquelética. Entretanto, envolvimento cutâneo, cardíaco, pulmonar e/ou do trato gastrintestinal também pode ser visto.
Trata-se, portanto, de uma entidade com manifestação sistêmica, com melhor compreensão da fisiopatogênese, descoberta de novos autoanticorpos, melhor caracterização fenotípica.
O termo “idiopático” passou a ser inapropriado. Do mesmo modo, a sentença “miopatias inflamatórias” ou simplesmente “miosites” passou a ser inadequada, pois não abrangeria as “miopatias necrosantes imunomediadas”, conforme observaremos mais adiante.
Economic Implications of Land Degradation in Rajasthan: An Assessment
Authors: P. Thanuja,
Published: October 2021

This study was carried out to estimate the economic losses caused by land degradation in different agro-climatic zones of Rajasthan. The economic losses were calculated by using an estimation model based on the amount of degraded land in each zone multiplied by the total value of output per hectare. Economic losses due to land degradation in the state as a whole ` 55.24 billion per year at 2017-18 prices. The highest losses were reported in the flood-prone eastern plain (` 10.67 billion) and the lowest in the Luni basin transitional plain (` 1.37 billion). The magnitude of economic losses in Rajasthan varied according to the severity of degradation, climatic factors, farming activities (including the number of crops cultivated and crop productivity) across agro-climatic zones
Changes in patterns and outcomes of trauma patients after betterment in law and order situation of the city
Authors: Saqib Sabah Uddin , Zafar Hasnain
Published: October 2021

Objective: To assess the impact of the law and order situation of a city on the pattern of traumatic injuries and the overall outcomes of trauma victims.
Method: The retrospective study of prospective trauma surgery data was done at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients with torso injuries before the improvement of law and order situation from January 2012 to March 2013 in Group A, and of those with similar injuries after the law and order situation improved in the city from January 2018 to March 2019 in Group B. The required data was collected by a single researcher using a predesigned questionnaire. Inter-group comparison was done to see the difference in patterns of injuries and outcomes. Data were analysed using SPSS 22.
Results: Of the 676 cases reviewed, Group A had 416(61.5%); 363(87%) males and 53(13%) females with overall mean age of 37+/-13 years. Group B had 260(38.5%); 219(84%) males and 41(16%) females with overall mean age of 36+/-13 years (p>0.05). Penetrating trauma alone or combined with blunt force was the most common mechanism in Group A i.e. 245 patients (59%), while in group B blunt trauma was the commonest cause 209 patients (80.4%). There was an overall 37.5% (156 cases) reduction in torso trauma cases. Mortality in Group A was 22(5.3%) and in Group B it was 7(2.7%).
Conclusion:  With the improvement in the law and order situation, there was reduction in overall trauma cases and the pattern of trauma shifted from penetrating
Continuous...
Irrigation Energy Sources and Profit Efficiency of Vegetable Farming in the Keta Municipality, Volta Region
Authors: Dotse Mawuli Antwi , Mabe Franklin Nantui , Awuni Joseph A.
Published: October 2021

This study estimated and compared profit and profit efficiency levels of energy sources for irrigation in the Keta Municipality of Ghana. The data was analysed using profit and Stochastic Frontier Analyses. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to sample 250 respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire was used via face-to-face interview to collect data from the respondents. The most profitable energy source for irrigated vegetable production is solar energy while the least profitable is petrol energy. On average, farmers had a profit efficiency of 59%. The study concluded that energy sources have significant effects on the profit levels of vegetable production as well as the profit efficiency level of the farmer. Solar-powered irrigation facilities should be promoted in the study area and Ghana as a whole.
Effects of hardening off on Growth, Yield and Quality of some Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Cultivars
Authors: Shu-aib Jakpa S. , Hardi A. N.
Published: October 2021

Research findings attribute field performance of crops to factors such as hardening off. As a result, an experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture Experimental Field of the University for Development Studies (UDS) Nyankpala Campus to assess the effects of hardening off on the growth, yield and quality of Cayenne chilli, Scotch bonnet and Sweet pepper cultivars. The treatments were: Cayenne chili pepper hardened off (C1), Cayenne chilli pepper non-hardened off (C2), Scotch bonnet pepper hardened off (SB1), Scotch bonnet pepper non-hardened off (SB2), Sweet pepper hardened off (SW1) and Sweet pepper non-hardened off (SW2). These were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) using a 2 x 3 factorial combination with three replications. The results indicate that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the hardened off and non-hardened off pepper cultivars in all the growth and yield parameters studied, except fruit diameter and fruit length. The interactions of the two factors (hardening off and the pepper varieties) produced significant effects in all the growth and yield parameters studied. Hardening off produced taller plants [C1 (25.56 cm), SB1 (21.14 cm) and SW1 (13.64 cm)], broader leaves [C1 (20.25 cm2); SB1 (24.53 cm2) and SW1 (26.11 cm2)], more fruits [SW1 (39); C1 (35) and SB1 (16)], bigger fruits [C1 (126.21 cm2), SW1 (86.54 cm2) and SB1 (40.14 cm2)] and higher yields [C1 (3.40 t ha-1); SW1 (3.22 t ha-1); and SB1 (1.82 t ha-1)]. Hardening off also improved fruit quality in terms of freshness/firmness but did not influence colour change of the fruits.
Biosynthesis of Fe nanoparticles using Alhagi sparsifolia extract for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma in the in vitro condition: A pre-clinical trial study
Authors: Zhou Yadong , Dou Fafu , Alahmadi Tahani Awad , Alharbi Sulaiman Ali , Wainwright Milton
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The preparation and formulation of new chemotherapeutic supplements and drugs with remarkable effects for the treatment of cancer are in the priority of both developing and developed countries. Recently, iron nanoparticles have been used as modern chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of several cancers such as leukemia, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc. In the present study, iron nanoparticles were green-synthesized using the aqueous extract of Alhagi sparsifolia leaf aqueous extract.

Material and methods

The synthesized FeNPs were characterized by analytical techniques including SEM, TEM, UV-Vis., and FT-IR. The anti-human colorectal carcinoma activity of FeNPs was evaluated using MTT assay. In the cellular and molecular part of the recent study, the treated cells with FeNPs were assessed by MTT assay for 48h about the cytotoxicity and anti-human colorectal carcinoma properties on normal (HUVEC) and colorectal carcinoma cell lines i.e. HT-29, HCT 116, HCT-8, and Ramos.2G6.4C10.

Results

The nanoparticles were formed in a spherical shape in the average size of 47.24 nm. In the antioxidant test, the IC50 of FeNPs and BHT against DPPH free radicals were 161 and 134 µg/mL, respectively. The viability of malignant colorectal cell line reduced dose-dependently in the presence of FeNPs. The IC50 of FeNPs were 250, 293, 276, and 344 µg/mL against HT-29, HCT 116, HCT-8, and Ramos.2G6.4C10 cell lines, respectively.

Conclusions

After clinical study, iron nanoparticles containing Alhagi sparsifolia leaf aqueous extract may be used to formulate a new chemotherapeutic drug or supplement to treat the several types of human colorectal carcinoma.
IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE PARTÍCULAS DE CORONAVÍRUS EM EQUINOS, ATRAVÉS DE TÉCNICA DE MICROSCOPIA ELETRÔNICA DE TRANSMISSÃO
Authors: Santos Edson Moura dos , Catroxo Marcia Helena Braga
Published: October 2021

Introdução: O coronavírus equino (ECoV), vírus RNA de fita positiva, é classificado na família Coronaviridae, gênero Betacoronavirus, que juntamente com outros coronavírus são patogênicos para humanos. A infecção pelo ECoV acomete principalmente a mucosa do intestino delgado onde tende a danificar as microvilosidades levando a má absorção, diarreia aquosa e profusa, causando severa enterite. Outros sinais clínicos descritos para a infecção destacam-se febre, anorexia, apatia, depressão, letargia acarretando prejuízos na equinocultura. A rota fecal-oral é considerada a principal fonte de infecção para outros equinos. Objetivo: Detectar a presença de partículas de coronavírus em amostras de fezes ou de fragmentos de intestino delgado de equinos por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Material e métodos: No período de 2011 a 2021, aproximadamente 83 amostras de fezes ou fragmentos de intestino delgado de equinos, de casos clínicos foram enviadas ao Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica do Instituto Biológico de São Paulo, SP, Brasil, para diagnóstico viral. Os animais com idade variando entre 2 dias a 3 anos, apresentavam sinais clínicos diversos, entre eles, desconforto abdominal, febre, diarreia persistente amarelada ou sanguinolenta e pneumonia. Cerca de 10 animais morreram. As amostras foram processadas para microscopia eletrônica de transmissão utilizando a técnica de contrastação negativa (preparo rápido). Nesta técnica, as amostras são suspensas em tampão fosfato 0,1 M e pH 7,0, colocadas em contato com grades metálicas e contrastadas negativamente com molibdato de amônio a 2%. Resultados: Ao microscópio eletrônico de transmissão, foi visualizado um grande número de partículas com morfologia semelhante à coronavírus, pleomórficas, envelopadas, contendo projeções radiais típicas, em forma de coroa solar, medindo em média, 140 nm de diâmetro em 60 amostras (72,29%). Conclusão: A técnica utilizada foi eficiente para o diagnóstico rápido dos coronavírus equino.
The Mediating Effect of the Islamic Religious Personality on the Relationship between the Islamic Worldview and Intercultural Sensitivity among Students
Authors: Noorfuad Noorhannah , Wok Saodah
Published: October 2021

AbstractMuslims consider themselves to be a â€˜family of believersâ€™ (Samovar, 2009) as Islam emphasizes the importance of perceiving and treating other Muslims beyond the differences of appearance and culture. This study examines the relationships of the Islamic worldview and Islamic religious personality with intercultural sensitivity, as well as the mediating effect of the Islamic religious personality on the relationship between the Islamic worldview and intercultural sensitivity in an international learning institution. Religion has an essential role in culture and thus affects our beliefs and behavior. A survey method is used with questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. A sample of 221 undergraduate studentsof the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) participated in the study. The results show that the Islamic worldview and the Islamic religious personality positively influence intercultural sensitivity among Muslim students, and that the Islamic religious personality acts as a mediator in the relationship between the Islamic worldview and intercultural sensitivity.

Keywords: Intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, Islam, religiosity and worldview.
Tahap Pengetahuan Dan Kepentingan Kepada Penduduk Terhadap Kriteria Dan Kelayakan Permohonan Program Penempatan Semula Di Kudat, Sabah
Authors: Mapjabil Jabil , Zainal Abidin Mohammad Kadir , Marzuki Mazdi , M. Z. Rosmiza
Published: October 2021

Isu program penempatan semula penduduk dari kawasan setinggan ke sesebuah lokasi lain adalah antara isu sosial yang signifikan di negeri Sabah. Kurangnya kecekapan penyampaian maklumat daripada pihak berkuasa tempatan telah menimbulkan masalah kepada penduduk setempat berhubung dengan program penempatan berkenaan. Justeru, kajian ini meneliti tahap pengetahuan dan kepentingan kepada penduduk terhadap kriteria dan kelayakan permohonan program penempatan semula di Kampung Tanjung Kapor Kudat, Sabah. Untuk itu, kajian ini melibatkan kaedah kuantitatif melalui temu bual menggunakan borang soal selidik. Seramai 219 orang penduduk Kampung Tanjung Kapor terlibat sebagai responden dalam kajian ini. Hasil kajian menunjukkan tahap pengetahuan responden terhadap program penempatan semula ini adalah sederhana sahaja. Manakala untuk penerimaan komuniti terhadap kriteria dan kelayakan pula, terdapat tiga pernyataan yang mencatatkan peratusan ‘penting’ dan ‘sangat penting’ yang tertinggi, iaitu perlu mengambil kira aspek kewarganegaraan, pemohon yang tidak ada kediaman lain dan mereka yang berpendapatan rendah. Selain itu, terdapat dua pernyataan yang mencatatkan peratusan ‘penting’ dan ‘sangat penting’ yang tinggi, iaitu penduduk setinggan yang ditimpa musibah kebakaran dan mengikut status perkahwinan dengan keutamaan kepada mereka yang banyak menanggung beban keluarga. Namun begitu, terdapat tiga pernyataan yang mencatatkan peratusan ‘penting’ dan ‘sangat penting’ yang agak rendah, iaitu sesiapa sahaja yang menetap di kampung setinggan adalah layak, mengikut tempoh lama menetap di perkampungan setinggan dan mereka yang mendirikan rumah di atas air laut perlu diberi keutamaan berbanding mereka yang di darat. Sebagai rumusannya, tahap keberkesanan penyampaian awam terhadap pelaksanaan dasar kerajaan perlu dipertingkat dan diperluaskan. Ia sekali gus sebagai suatu petanda terhadap perlunya langkah penambahbaikan polisi yang berkaitan dengan isu setinggan dan program penempatan semula.
TINJAUAN YURIDIS TANGGUNG JAWAB PENGEMUDI DAN PERUSAHAAN ANGKUTAN ATAS DALAM PENGANGKUTAN BARANG MELALUI ANGKUTAN DARAT (Studi CV. Belawan Indah)
Authors: Sidauruk Jinner , Lumbantobing Grace M. C.
Published: October 2021

CV Belawan Indah as a company engaged in the field of freight services is also not free from problems arising from mistakes of drivers and transport companies. In discussing the problems in this thesis needed a method of data collection, to obtain data with research. The research in question is the research method of library research and interviews that is collecting material obtained from primary data and secondary data. The data obtained will be analyzed normatively which is descriptive qualitative so that it illustrates the reality. Based on research results obtained at CV. Belawan Indah that the driver and the transport company are jointly responsible by disadvantage arising in the freightage via truck transportation to delays, damage, and lose the goodsin each operation of transportation and efforts of the owner of the disadvantage in the freightage the goods can file a claim for compensation through a consumer and business dispute resolution agency or the so-called BPSK or through a court of law within the general court.
DIFUSI INOVASI MANAJEMEN PERUBAHAN MODEL KURT LEWIN PADA MADRASAH DENGAN PENDEKATAN PRINSIP TRINGA
Authors: SA’IDU NUR
Published: October 2021

Pandemi Covid-19 sangat berdampak besar dalam dunia pendidikan, salah satu efek yang sangat terkena adalah sistem pembelajaran dalam keberlangsungan mutu pendidikan. Tingkat resiliensi pendidikan menumbuhkan sikap optimisme dengan manajemen perubahan. Salah satu model manajemen perubahan yang adaftif dengan kondisi pendidikan di masa Pandemi Covid -19 adalah pendekatan manajemen perubahan Model Kurt Lewin (Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze) dengan pendekatan humanis Prinsip “ Tringa” (Ngarti, Ngrasa, Nglakoni) Kihajar Dewantara. .Berbagai regulasi pemerintah dalam pencegahan coronavirus disease Covid-19 telah ditebitkan sebagai panduan pnyelenggraan pembelajaran di masa pandemi covid19, yang memunculkan pendekatan baru dalam pembelajaran dengan PJJ (daring, luring, blended) dengan mengdaptasikan berbagai aplikasi LMS (Learning Manajemen System) baik dengan syncronous asyncronous, memaksa pelaku pendidikan untuk meningkatkan kompetensi penguasaan teknologi digital. Untuk menjaga mutu pendidikan perlu adanya kontrol terhadap penjaminan mutu melalui supervisi pendidikan Pengawas dalam melaksanakan supervisi akademik dan manajerial dalam pembinaan, pemantauan dan evaluasi tehadap Kepala Madrasah, Guru dan Tenaga Kependidikan. Kepala madrasah mempunyai posisi sangat penting dalam pengelolaan majemen perubahan dengan melakukan supervisi akademik sebagai upaya pembinaan dalam meningkatkan kinerja guru dalam proses pembelajaran dan menciptakan proses pembelajaran yang efektif . Sedangkan pendekatan supervisi klinis digunakan kepala madrasah untuk mengembangkan kemampuan guru agar bertanggung jawab terhadap kinerja guru dan terbuka adanya manajemen perubahan. Madrasah sebagai institusi pendidikan hendaknya dapat mengadopsi manajemen perubahan pendidikan untuk menata ulang strategi pendekatan pelaksanaan pendidikan pada tahapan normalisasi Madrasah teruitama pada tatanan pendidikan menuju kenormalan baru dengan berbagai pembenanahan kurkulum yang ada dan memodifikasi internalisasi promosi pendidikan kesehatan dapat diterapkan pada madrasah sebagai antisipasi perubahan pendidikan dalam kerentanan resiko kesehatan global dimasa mendatang.
Post-flight analysis of detailed size distributions of warm cloud droplets, as determined in situ by cloud and aerosol spectrometers
Authors: Vâjâiac Sorin Nicolae , Calcan Andreea , David Robert Oscar , Moacă Denisa-Elena , Iorga Gabriela , Storelvmo Trude , Vulturescu Viorel , Filip Valeriu
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Warm clouds, consisting of liquid cloud
droplets, play an important role in modulating the amount of incoming solar
radiation to Earth's surface and thus the climate. The size and number
concentration of these cloud droplets control the reflectance of the cloud,
the formation of precipitation and ultimately the lifetime of the cloud.
Therefore, in situ observations of the number and diameter of cloud droplets
are frequently performed with cloud and aerosol spectrometers, which
determine the optical diameters of cloud particles (in the range of up to a
few tens of micrometers) by measuring their forward-scattering cross sections in
visible light and comparing these values with Mie theoretical computations.
The use of such instruments must rely on a fast working scheme consisting of
a limited pre-defined uneven grid of cross section values that corresponds
to a theoretically derived uneven set of size intervals (bins). However, as
more detailed structural analyses of warm clouds are needed to improve
future climate projects, we present a new numerical post-flight methodology
using recorded particle-by-particle sample files. The Mie formalism produces
a complicated relationship between a particle's diameter and its forward-scattering cross section. This relationship cannot be expressed in an
analytically closed form, and it should be numerically computed point by
point, over a certain grid of diameter values. The optimal resolution
required for constructing the diagram of this relationship is therefore
analyzed. Cloud particle statistics are further assessed using a fine grid
of particle diameters in order to capture the finest details of the cloud
particle size distributions. The possibility and the usefulness of using
coarser size grids, with either uneven or equal intervals, is also discussed.
For coarse equidistant size grids, the general expressions of cloud
microphysical parameters are calculated and the ensuing relative errors are
discussed in detail. The proposed methodology is further applied to a subset
of measured data, and it is shown that the overall uncertainties in computing
various cloud parameters are mainly driven by the measurement errors of the
forward-scattering cross section for each particle. Finally, the influence
of the relatively large imprecision in the real and imaginary parts of the
refractive index of cloud droplets on the size distributions and on the
ensuing cloud parameters is analyzed. It is concluded that, in the presence
of high atmospheric loads of hydrophilic and light-absorbing aerosols, such
imprecisions may drastically affect the reliability of the cloud data
obtained with cloud and aerosol spectrometers. Some complementary
measurements for improving the quality of the cloud droplet size
distributions obtained in post-flight analyses are suggested.
Bayesian uncertainty quantification in aerosol optical depth retrieval applied to TROPOMI measurements
Authors: Kauppi Anu , Kukkurainen Antti , Lipponen Antti , Laine Marko , Arola Antti , Lindqvist Hannakaisa , Tamminen Johanna
Published: October 2021

Abstract. We present here an aerosol model selection based statistical method in Bayesian framework for retrieving atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) and pixel-level uncertainty. Especially, we focus on to provide more realistic uncertainty estimate by taking into account a model selection problem when searching for the solution by fitting look-up table (LUT) models to a satellite measured top-of-atmosphere reflectance. By means of Bayesian model averaging over the best-fitting aerosol models we take into account an aerosol model selection uncertainty and get also a shared inference about AOD. Moreover, we acknowledge model discrepancy, i.e. forward model error, arising from approximations and assumptions done in forward model simulations. We have estimated the model discrepancy empirically by a statistical approach utilizing residuals of model fits. We use the measurements from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Sentinel-5 Precursor in ultraviolet and visible bands, and in one wavelength band 675 nm in near-infrared, in order to study the functioning of the retrieval in a broad wavelength range. We exploit a fundamental classification of the aerosol models as weakly absorbing, biomass burning and desert dust aerosols. For experimental purpose we have included some dust type of aerosols having non-spherical particle shapes. For this study we have created the aerosol model LUTs with radiative transfer simulations using the libRadtran software package. It is reasonably straightforward to experiment with different aerosol types and evaluate the most probable aerosol type by the model selection method. We demonstrate the method in wildfire and dust events in a pixel level. In addition, we have evaluated in detail the results against ground-based remote sensing data from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET). Based on the case studies the method has ability to identify the appropriate aerosol types, but in some wildfire cases the AOD is overestimated compared to the AERONET result. The resulting uncertainty when accounting for the model selection problem and the imperfect forward modelling is higher compared to uncertainty when only measurement error is included in an observation model, as can be expected.
Intercomparison of Vaisala RS92 and RS41 radiosonde temperature sensors under controlled laboratory conditions
Authors: Rosoldi Marco , Coppa Graziano , Merlone Andrea , Musacchio Chiara , Madonna Fabio
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Radiosounding profiles are essential for weather and climate applications, as well as for the calibration and validation of remote sensing measurements. Vaisala RS92 radiosondes have been widely used on a global scale until 2016, although in the fall of 2013 Vaisala introduced the RS41 model to progressively replace the RS92. To ensure homogeneity and the highest quality of data records following the transition from RS92 to RS41, intercomparisons of the two radiosonde models are needed. An intercomparison experiment has been performed where, for the first time and independently of the manufacturer, RS92 and RS41 radiosondes have been simultaneously tested and compared inside climatic chambers in order to characterize the noise, the calibration accuracy and the bias of their temperature measurements. A pair of RS41 and RS92 radiosondes has been tested at ambient pressure under very different temperature and humidity conditions. The results reveal that the temperature sensor of RS41 is less affected by noise and more accurate than that of RS92, with noise values less than 0.06 °C for RS41 and less than 0.1 °C for RS92. The error corrected by means of calibration, evaluated as the deviation from a reference value and referred as calibration error, is within ±0.1 °C for RS41 and the related uncertainty (hereafter with coverage factor k = 1) is less than 0.06 °C, while RS92 is affected by a cold bias in the calibration, which ranges from 0.1 °C up to a few tenths of a degree, with a calibration uncertainty less than 0.1 °C. Under conditions similar to those that radiosondes meet at the ground in nighttime radiosoundings, the temperature bias between RS41 and RS92 is within ±0.1 °C, while its uncertainty is less than 0.1 °C. The radiosondes have also been tested before and after fast (within ≈ 10 s) temperature changes of about ±20 °C, simulating a scenario similar to steep thermal changes that radiosondes may meet when passing from indoor to outdoor environment during the pre-launch phase. The results reveal that such thermal changes may increase the noise of temperature sensors during radiosoundings, up to 0.1 °C for the RS41 and up to 0.3 °C for the RS92, with a similar increase in the calibration uncertainty of temperature sensors, as well as an increase in the uncertainty of their bias up to 0.3 °C. However, the thermal changes do not appear to affect sensors’ calibration error and temperature bias.
Strong influence of trees outside forest in regulating microclimate of intensively modified Afromontane landscapes
Authors: Aalto Iris Johanna , Maeda Eduardo Eiji , Heiskanen Janne , Aalto Eljas Kullervo , Pellikka Petri Kauko Emil
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Climate change is expected to have detrimental consequences on fragile ecosystems, threatening biodiversity as well as food security of millions of people. Trees are likely to play a central role in mitigating these impacts. The microclimatic conditions below tree canopies usually differ substantially from the ambient macroclimate, as vegetation can buffer temperature changes and variability. Trees cool down their surroundings through several biophysical mechanisms, and the cooling benefits occur also with trees outside forest. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of canopy cover on microclimate in an intensively modified Afromontane landscape in Taita Taveta, Kenya. We studied temperatures recorded by 19 microclimate sensors under different canopy covers, and land surface temperature (LST) estimated by Landsat 8 thermal infrared sensor. We combined the temperature records with high–resolution airborne laser scanning data to untangle the combined effects of topography and canopy cover on microclimate. We developed four multivariate regression models to study the joint impacts of topography and canopy cover on LST. The results showed a negative linear relationship between canopy cover percentage and daytime mean (R2 = 0.65) and maximum (R2 = 0.75) temperatures. Any increase in canopy cover contributed to reducing temperatures. The average difference between 0 % and 100 % canopy cover sites was 5.7 °C in mean temperatures and 10.2 °C in maximum temperatures. Canopy cover reduced LST on average by 0.05 °C/%CC. The influence of canopy cover on microclimate was shown to vary strongly with elevation and ambient temperatures. These results demonstrate that trees have substantial effect on microclimate, but the effect is dependent on macroclimatic conditions, highlighting the importance of maintaining tree cover particularly in warmer conditions. Hence, we demonstrate that trees outside forests can increase climate change resilience in fragmented landscapes, having strong potential for regulating regional and local temperatures.
The Greenland Firn Compaction Verification and Reconnaissance (FirnCover) Dataset, 2013–2019
Authors: MacFerrin Michael J. , Stevens C. Max , Vandecrux Baptiste , Waddington Edwin D. , Abdalati Waleed
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Assessing changes in the density of snow and firn is vital to convert volume changes into mass changes on glaciers and ice sheets. Firn models simulate this process but typically rely upon steady-state assumptions and geographically and temporally limited sets of field measurements for validation. Given rapid changes recently observed in Greenland’s surface mass balance, a contemporary dataset measuring firn compaction in a range of climate zones across the Greenland ice sheet’s accumulation zone is needed. To fill this need, the Firn Compaction Verification and Reconnaissance (FirnCover) dataset comprises daily measurements from 50 strainmeters installed in boreholes at eight sites on the Greenland ice sheet between 2013 and 2019. The dataset also includes daily records of two-meter air temperature, snow height, and snow temperature from each station. The majority of the FirnCover stations were installed in close proximity to automated weather stations that measure a wider suite of meteorological measurements, allowing the user access to auxiliary datasets for model validation studies using FirnCover data. The dataset can be found here: https://www.doi.org/10.18739/A25X25D7M (MacFerrin et al., 2021).
A 500-year runoff reconstruction for European catchments
Authors: Nasreen Sadaf , Součková Markéta , Vargas Godoy Mijael Rodrigo , Singh Ujjwal , Markonis Yannis , Kumar Rohini , Rakovec Oldrich , Hanel Martin
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Since the beginning of this century, Europe has been experiencing severe drought events (2003, 2007, 2010, 2018, and 2019) which have had adverse impacts on various sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, water management, health, and ecosystems. During the last few decades, projections of the impact of climate change on hydroclimatic extremes were often capable of reproducing changes in the characteristics of these extremes. Recently, the research interest has been extended to include reconstructions of hydro-climatic conditions to provide historical context for present and future extremes. While there are available reconstructions of temperature, precipitation, drought indicators, or the 20th century runoff for Europe, long-term runoff reconstructions are still lacking (e.g, monthly or daily runoff series for short periods are commonly available). Therefore, we considered reconstructed precipitation and temperature fields for the period between 1500 and 2000 together with reconstructed scPDSI, natural proxy data, and observed runoff over 14~European catchments to calibrate and validate the semi-empirical hydrological model GR1A and two data-driven models (Bayesian recurrent and long short-term memory neural network). The validation of input precipitation fields revealed an underestimation of the variance across most of Europe. On the other hand, the data-driven models have been proven to correct this bias in many cases, unlike the semi-empirical hydrological model GR1A. The comparison to observed historical runoff data has shown a good match between the reconstructed and observed runoff and between the runoff characteristics, particularly deficit volumes. The reconstructed runoff is available via ﬁgshare, an open source scientiﬁc data repository under the DOI https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.15178107, (Sadaf et al., 2021).
Elevation Change of the Antarctic Ice Sheet: 1985 to 2020
Authors: Nilsson Johan , Gardner Alex , Paolo Fernando
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The largest uncertainty in future projections of sea level change comes from the uncertain response of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to the warming oceans and atmosphere. The ice sheet gains roughly 2000 km3 of ice from precipitation each year and losses a similar amount through solid ice discharge into the surrounding oceans. Numerous studies have shown that the ice sheet is currently out of long-term equilibrium, losing mass at an accelerated rate and increasing sea levels rise. Projections of sea-level change rely on accurate estimates of the contribution of land ice to the contemporary sea level budget. The longest observational record available to study the mass balance of the Earth’s ice sheets comes from satellite altimeters. This record, however, consists of multiple satellite missions with different life-spans, inconsistent measurement types (radar and laser) and of varying quality. To fully utilize these data, measurements from different missions must be cross-calibrated and integrated into a consistent record of change. Here, we present a novel approach for generating such a record. We describe in detail the advanced geophysical corrections applied and the processes needed to derive elevation change estimates. We processed the full archive record of satellite altimetry data, providing a seamless record of elevation change for the Antarctic Ice Sheet that spans the period 1985 to 2020. The data are produced and distributed as part of the NASA MEaSUREs ITS_LIVE project (Nilsson et al., 2021).
Decreased virtual water outflows from the Yellow River Basin are increasingly critical to China
Authors: Song Shuang , Wang Shuai , Wu Xutong , Huang Yongyuan , Fu Bojie
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Water scarcity is an emerging threat to food security and socioeconomic prosperity, and it is crucial to assess the response of crop production to water scarcity in large river basins. The water footprint, which takes into account water use in supply chains, provides a powerful tool for assessing the contributions of water resources within a certain region, by tracking the volume and structure of virtual water flows. In this study of the structure of the water footprint network from a complexity perspective, we reassessed the significance of water resources for crop services in a large river basin with a severe water shortage -the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China. The temporal increase of the complexity index indicated that the Virtual Water out-Flows (VWF) from the YRB were becoming increasingly critical to China; i.e., the ability of YRB to produce crops boosted difficulty of its water being replaced by water exporting from other basins. Decomposition of complexity suggested that during the 1980s to 2000s, the temporally increased complexity was due mainly to the paucity of competitors and the increasing uniqueness of crops supporting VWF. This complexity deeply embedded the YRB into the footprints of a water network that facilitated further development with constrained water resources, but it also reinforced reliance from other regions on YRB’s scarce water. Based on this analysis, we therefore suggest that resource regulation should be carried out at an appropriate time to ensure both the ecological sustainability and high-quality development of river basins.
A system dynamic model to quantify the impacts of water resources allocation on water-energy-food-society (WEFS) nexus
Authors: Zeng Yujie , Liu Dedi , Guo Shenglian , Xiong Lihua , Liu Pan , Yin Jiabo , Wu Zhenhui
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Sustainable management of water-energy-food (WEF) nexus remains an urgent challenge, as interactions between WEF and community sensitivity and reservoir operation in water system are often neglected. This paper aims to provide a new approach for modeling WEF nexus by incorporating community sensitivity and reservoirs operation into the system. The co-evolution behaviors of the nexus across water, energy, food and society (WEFS) were simulated by the system dynamic model. The reservoirs operation was simulated to determine water supply for energy and food systems by the Interactive River-Aquifer Simulation water resources allocations model. Shortage rates for water, energy and food resulted from the simulations were used to qualify their impacts on WEFS nexus through environmental awareness (EA) in society system. Community sensitivity indicated by EA can adjust the co-evolution behaviors of WEFS nexus through feedback loops. The proposed approach was applied to the mid-lower reaches of Hanjiang river basin in China as a case study. Results show that EA accumulation is mainly from shortages of water and energy, and the available water and energy are the vital resources to sustain WEFS nexus. Feedback driven by EA effectively keeps the system from collapsing and contributes to the concordant development of WEFS nexus. Water resources allocation can remarkably ensure water supply through reservoirs operation, decreasing water shortage rate from 16.60 % to 7.53 %. The resource constraining the WEFS nexus is transferred from water to energy. This paper therefore contributes to the understanding of interactions across WEFS system and helps the efficiency improving of resources management.
Brief Communication: A case study of risk assessment for facilities associated with earthquake-induced liquefaction potential in Kimhae City, South Korea
Authors: Jeon Sang-Soo , Heo Daeyang , Lee Sang-Seung
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Liquefaction causes secondary damage after earthquakes; however, liquefaction related phenomena were rarely reported until after the Mw = 5.4 November 15, 2017 Pohang earthquake in Korea. Both the Mw = 5.8 September 12, 2016 Gyeongju earthquake and Mw = 5.4 November 15, 2017 Pohang earthquake occurred in the fault zone of Yangsan City (located in the south-eastern part of Korea), and both of these earthquakes induced liquefaction. Moreover, they demonstrated that Korea is not safe against the liquefaction induced by earthquakes. In this study, estimations and calculations were performed based on the distances between the centroids of administrative districts and an epicenter located at the Yangsan Fault, the peak ground accelerations (PGAs) induced by Mw = 5.0 and 6.5 earthquakes, and a liquefaction potential index (LPI) calculated based on groundwater level and standard penetration test results from 274 locations in Kimhae City (adjacent to the Nakdong river and across the Yangsan Fault). Then, a kriging method using geographical information systems was used to evaluate the liquefaction effects on the risk levels of facilities. The results indicate that a Mw = 5.0 earthquake induces a small and low level of liquefaction, resulting in slight risk for facilities, but a Mw = 6.5 earthquake induces a large and high level of liquefaction, resulting in a severe risk for facilities.
A generalized photon-tracking approach to simulate spectral snow albedo and transmissivity using X-ray microtomography and geometric optics
Authors: Letcher Theodore , Parno Julie , Courville Zoe , Farnsworth Lauren , Olivier Jason
Published: October 2021

Abstract. A majority of snow radiative transfer models (RTM) treat snow as a collection of idealized grains rather than a semi-organized ice-air matrix. Here we present a generalized multi-layer photon-tracking RTM that simulates light transmissivity and reflectivity through snow based on x-ray microtomography, treating snow as a coherent structure rather than a collection of grains. Notably, the model uses a blended approach to expand ray-tracing techniques applied to sub-1 cm3 snow samples to snowpacks of arbitrary depths. While this framework has many potential applications, this study's effort is focused on simulating light transmissivity through thin snowpacks as this is relevant for surface energy balance applications and sub-nivean hazard detection. We demonstrate that this framework capably reproduces many known optical properties of a snow surface, including the dependence of spectral reflectance on snow grain size and incident zenith angle and the surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). To evaluate how the model simulates transmissivity, we compare it against spectroradiometer measurements collected at a field site in east-central Vermont. In this experiment, painted panels were inserted at various depths beneath the snow to emulate thin snow. The model compares remarkably well against the spectroradiometer measurements. Sensitivity simulations using this model indicate that snow transmissivity is greatest in the visible wavelengths and is limited to the top 5 cm of the snowpack for fine-grained snow, but can penetrate as deep as 8 cm for coarser grain snow. An evaluation of snow optical properties generated from a variety of snow samples suggests that coarse grained low density snow is most transmissive.