bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of sea salt emission parameterizations in Northwestern Europe using a chemistry transport model setup
Authors: Neumann Daniel , Matthias Volker , Bieser Johannes , Aulinger Armin , Quante Markus
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Atmospheric sea salt particles affect chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere. They provide surface area for condensation and reaction of nitrogen, sulfur, and organic species and are a vehicle of transport for these species. Additionally, HCl is released from sea salt. Hence, sea salt has a relevant impact on air quality, particularly in coastal regions with high anthropogenic emissions such as in the North Sea region. Therefore, the integration of sea salt emissions in modeling studies in these regions is necessary. However, it was found that sea salt concentrations are not represented with necessary accuracy in some situations. In this study, three sea salt emission parameterizations depending on different combinations of wind speed, salinity, sea surface temperature, and wave data were implemented and compared: GO03 (Gong, 2003), SP13 (Spada et al., 2013), and OV14 (Ovadnevaite et al., 2014). The aim is to improve modeled atmospheric sea salt concentrations by identifying the parameterization that predicts the sea salt PM10 mass concentrations at different distances to the source regions most accurately and that represents atmospheric sea salt particle size distributions most appropriately in the region under consideration. While the GO03 emissions yielded overestimations in the PM10 concentrations at coastal stations and underestimations of those at inland stations, OV14 emissions, vice versa, led to underestimations at coastal stations and overestimations at inland stations. Because of differently shaped particle size distributions of the GO03 and OV14 emission cases, the deposition velocity of the coarse particles differs between both cases which yields this distinct behavior at inland and coast stations. PM10 concentrations produced by the SP13 emissions generally overestimated measured concentrations. With respect to the size distribution, OV14 produced most accurate coarse particle concentrations, whereas GO03 produced most accurate fine particle concentrations. Overall, GO03 and OV14 produced most accurate results, but both parameterizations still reveal weaknesses in some situations.
Global atmospheric budget of simple monocyclic aromatic compounds
Authors: Cabrera-Perez David , Taraborrelli Domenico , Sander Rolf , Pozzer Andrea
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The global atmospheric budget and distribution of monocyclic aromatic compounds is estimated, using an atmospheric chemistry general circulation model. Simulation results are evaluated with an ensemble of surface and aircraft observations with the goal of understanding emission, production and removal of these compounds. Anthropogenic emissions represent the largest source of aromatics in the model (≃ 25 Tg/yr) and biomass burning the second largest (≃ 6 Tg/yr). The chemical production of aromatics accounts for ≃ 6 Tg/yr. The atmospheric burden of aromatics sums up to 0.3 Tg. The main removal process of aromatics is photochemical decomposition (≃ 32 Tg/yr), while wet and dry deposition are responsible for a removal of ≃ 4 Tg/yr. Simulated mixing ratios at the surface and elsewhere in the troposphere show good spatial and temporal agreement with the observations for benzene, although the model generally underestimates mixing ratios. Toluene is generally well reproduced by the model at the surface, but mixing ratios in the free troposphere are underestimated. Finally, larger discrepancies are found for xylenes: surface mixing ratios are not only overestimated but also a low temporal correlation is found with respect to in situ observations.
Changing seasonality of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Kahru Mati , Elmgren Ragnar , Savchuk Oleg P.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Changes in the phenology of physical and ecological variables associated with climate change are likely to have significant effect on many aspects of the Baltic ecosystem. We apply a set of phenological indicators to multiple environmental variables measured by satellite sensors for 17–36 years to detect possible changes in the seasonality in the Baltic Sea environment. We detect significant temporal changes, such as earlier start of the summer season and prolongation of the productive season, in several variables ranging from basic physical drivers to ecological status indicators. While increasing trends in the absolute values of variables like sea-surface temperature (SST), diffuse attenuation of light (Ked490) and satellite-detected chlorophyll concentration (CHL) are detectable, the corresponding changes in their seasonal cycles are more dramatic. For example, the cumulative sum of 30 000 W m−2 of surface incoming shortwave irradiance (SIS) was reached 23 days earlier in 2014 compared to the beginning of the time series in 1983. The period of the year with SST of at least 17 °C has almost doubled (from 29 days in 1982 to 56 days in 2014), and the period with Ked490 over 0.4 m−1 has increased from about 60 days in 1998 to 240 days in 2013 – i.e., quadrupled. The period with satellite-estimated CHL of at least 3 mg m−3 has doubled from approximately 110 days in 1998 to 220 days in 2013. While the timing of both the phytoplankton spring and summer blooms have advanced, the annual CHL maximum that in the 1980s corresponded to the spring diatom bloom in May has now shifted to the summer cyanobacteria bloom in July.
Atmospheric circulation patterns associated with the variability of River Ammer floods: evidence from observed and proxy data
Authors: Rimbu Norel , Czymzik Markus , Ionita Monica , Lohmann Gerrit , Brauer Achim
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The relationship between the frequency of River Ammer floods (southern Germany) and atmospheric circulation variability is investigated based on observational Ammer River discharge data back to 1926 and a flood layer time series from varved sediments of the downstream Lake Ammer for the pre-instrumental period back to 1766. A composite analysis reveals that, at synoptic timescales, observed River Ammer floods are associated with enhanced moisture transport from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean towards the Ammer region, a pronounced trough over western Europe as well as enhanced potential vorticity at upper levels. We argue that this synoptic-scale configuration can trigger heavy precipitation and floods in the Ammer region. Interannual to multidecadal increases in flood frequency, as detected in the instrumental discharge record, are associated with a wave train pattern extending from the North Atlantic to western Asia, with a prominent negative center over western Europe. A similar atmospheric circulation pattern is associated with increases in flood layer frequency in the Lake Ammer sediment record during the pre-instrumental period. We argue that the complete flood layer time series from Lake Ammer sediments covering the last 5500 years contains information about atmospheric circulation variability on interannual to millennial timescales.
The WACMOS-ET project – Part 1: Tower-scale evaluation of four remote-sensing-based evapotranspiration algorithms
Authors: Michel D. , Jiménez C. , Miralles D. G. , Jung M. , Hirschi M. , Ershadi A. , Martens B. , McCabe M. F. , Fisher J. B. , Mu Q. , Seneviratne S. I. , Wood E. F. , Fernández-Prieto D.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The WAter Cycle Multi-mission Observation Strategy – EvapoTranspiration (WACMOS-ET) project has compiled a forcing data set covering the period 2005–2007 that aims to maximize the exploitation of European Earth Observations data sets for evapotranspiration (ET) estimation. The data set was used to run four established ET algorithms: the Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory model (PT-JPL), the Penman–Monteith algorithm from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) evaporation product (PM-MOD), the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) and the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM). In addition, in situ meteorological data from 24 FLUXNET towers were used to force the models, with results from both forcing sets compared to tower-based flux observations. Model performance was assessed on several timescales using both sub-daily and daily forcings. The PT-JPL model and GLEAM provide the best performance for both satellite- and tower-based forcing as well as for the considered temporal resolutions. Simulations using the PM-MOD were mostly underestimated, while the SEBS performance was characterized by a systematic overestimation. In general, all four algorithms produce the best results in wet and moderately wet climate regimes. In dry regimes, the correlation and the absolute agreement with the reference tower ET observations were consistently lower. While ET derived with in situ forcing data agrees best with the tower measurements (R2  =  0.67), the agreement of the satellite-based ET estimates is only marginally lower (R2  =  0.58). Results also show similar model performance at daily and sub-daily (3-hourly) resolutions. Overall, our validation experiments against in situ measurements indicate that there is no single best-performing algorithm across all biome and forcing types. An extension of the evaluation to a larger selection of 85 towers (model inputs resampled to a common grid to facilitate global estimates) confirmed the original findings.
The WACMOS-ET project – Part 2: Evaluation of global terrestrial evaporation data sets
Authors: Miralles D. G. , Jiménez C. , Jung M. , Michel D. , Ershadi A. , McCabe M. F. , Hirschi M. , Martens B. , Dolman A. J. , Fisher J. B. , Mu Q. , Seneviratne S. I. , Wood E. F. , Fernández-Prieto D.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The WAter Cycle Multi-mission Observation Strategy – EvapoTranspiration (WACMOS-ET) project aims to advance the development of land evaporation estimates on global and regional scales. Its main objective is the derivation, validation, and intercomparison of a group of existing evaporation retrieval algorithms driven by a common forcing data set. Three commonly used process-based evaporation methodologies are evaluated: the Penman–Monteith algorithm behind the official Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) evaporation product (PM-MOD), the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM), and the Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory model (PT-JPL). The resulting global spatiotemporal variability of evaporation, the closure of regional water budgets, and the discrete estimation of land evaporation components or sources (i.e. transpiration, interception loss, and direct soil evaporation) are investigated using river discharge data, independent global evaporation data sets and results from previous studies. In a companion article (Part 1), Michel et al. (2016) inspect the performance of these three models at local scales using measurements from eddy-covariance towers and include in the assessment the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) model. In agreement with Part 1, our results indicate that the Priestley and Taylor products (PT-JPL and GLEAM) perform best overall for most ecosystems and climate regimes. While all three evaporation products adequately represent the expected average geographical patterns and seasonality, there is a tendency in PM-MOD to underestimate the flux in the tropics and subtropics. Overall, results from GLEAM and PT-JPL appear more realistic when compared to surface water balances from 837 globally distributed catchments and to separate evaporation estimates from ERA-Interim and the model tree ensemble (MTE). Nonetheless, all products show large dissimilarities during conditions of water stress and drought and deficiencies in the way evaporation is partitioned into its different components. This observed inter-product variability, even when common forcing is used, suggests that caution is necessary in applying a single data set for large-scale studies in isolation. A general finding that different models perform better under different conditions highlights the potential for considering biome- or climate-specific composites of models. Nevertheless, the generation of a multi-product ensemble, with weighting based on validation analyses and uncertainty assessments, is proposed as the best way forward in our long-term goal to develop a robust observational benchmark data set of continental evaporation.
Nitrate sinks and sources as controls of spatio-temporal water quality dynamics in an agricultural headwater catchment
Authors: Schuetz Tobias , Gascuel-Odoux Chantal , Durand Patrick , Weiler Markus
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Several controls are known to affect water quality of stream networks during flow recession periods, such as solute leaching processes, surface water–groundwater interactions as well as biogeochemical in-stream turnover processes. Throughout the stream network, combinations of specific water and solute export rates and local in-stream conditions overlay the biogeochemical signals from upstream sections. Therefore, upstream sections can be considered functional units which could be distinguished and ordered regarding their relative contribution to nutrient dynamics at the catchment outlet. Based on snapshot sampling of flow and nitrate concentrations along the stream in an agricultural headwater during the summer flow recession period, we determined spatial and temporal patterns of water quality for the whole stream. A data-driven, in-stream-mixing-and-removal model was developed and applied for analysing the spatio-temporal in-stream retention processes and their effect on the spatio-temporal fluxes of nitrate from subcatchments. Thereby, we have been able to distinguish quantitatively between nitrate sinks, sources per stream reaches, and subcatchments, and thus we could disentangle the overlay of nitrate sink and source signals. For nitrate sources, we determined their permanent and temporal impact on stream water quality and for nitrate sinks, we found increasing nitrate removal efficiencies from upstream to downstream. Our results highlight the importance of distinct nitrate source locations within the watershed for in-stream concentrations and in-stream removal processes, respectively. Thus, our findings contribute to the development of a more dynamic perception of water quality in streams and rivers concerning ecological and sustainable water resource management.
Comprehensive evaluation of high rocky slope safety through an integrated analytic hierarchy process and extension matter model
Authors: Su H. Z. , Yang M. , Wen Z. P.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. High rocky slope is an open complex giant system with contradiction among different influencing factors and coexistence of qualitative and quantitative information. This study presents a comprehensive intelligent evaluation method of high rocky slope safety by an integrated analytic hierarchy process, extension matter element model and entropy-weight to assess the safety behavior of the high rocky slope. The proposed intelligent evaluation integrates subjective judgments derived from the analytic hierarchy process with the extension matter model and entropy-weight into a multiple indexes dynamic safety evaluation approach. A combining subjective and objective comprehensive evaluation process, a more objective manner through avoiding subjective effects on the weights and a qualitative safety assessment and quantitative safety amount are presented in the proposed method. The detailed computational procedures were also provided to illustrate the integration process of the above methods. Safety analysis of one high rocky slope is conducted to illustrate that this approach can adequately handle the inherent imprecision and contradiction of the human decision-making process and provide the flexibility and robustness needed for the decision maker to better monitor the safety behavior of high rocky slope. This study was the first application of proposed integrated evaluation method to safety assessment of high rocky slope, which also indicated that it can also be applied to other similar problems.
Combining operational models and data into a dynamic vessel risk assessment tool for coastal regions
Authors: Fernandes R. , Braunschweig F. , Lourenço F. , Neves R.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The technological evolution in terms of computational capacity, data acquisition systems, numerical modelling and operational oceanography is supplying opportunities for designing and building holistic approaches and complex tools for newer and more efficient management (planning, prevention and response) of coastal water pollution risk events. A combined methodology to dynamically estimate time and space variable individual vessel accident risk levels and shoreline contamination risk from ships has been developed, integrating numerical metocean forecasts and oil spill simulations with vessel tracking automatic identification systems (AIS). The risk rating combines the likelihood of an oil spill occurring from a vessel navigating in a study area – the Portuguese continental shelf – with the assessed consequences to the shoreline. The spill likelihood is based on dynamic marine weather conditions and statistical information from previous accidents. The shoreline consequences reflect the virtual spilled oil amount reaching shoreline and its environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The oil reaching shoreline is quantified with an oil spill fate and behaviour model running multiple virtual spills from vessels along time, or as an alternative, a correction factor based on vessel distance from coast. Shoreline risks can be computed in real time or from previously obtained data. Results show the ability of the proposed methodology to estimate the risk properly sensitive to dynamic metocean conditions and to oil transport behaviour. The integration of meteo-oceanic + oil spill models with coastal vulnerability and AIS data in the quantification of risk enhances the maritime situational awareness and the decision support model, providing a more realistic approach in the assessment of shoreline impacts. The risk assessment from historical data can help finding typical risk patterns (“hot spots”) or developing sensitivity analysis to specific conditions, whereas real-time risk levels can be used in the prioritization of individual ships, geographical areas, strategic tug positioning and implementation of dynamic risk-based vessel traffic monitoring.
Estimations of soil fertility in physically degraded soils through selective accounting of fine earth
Authors: Nagaraja Mavinakoppa S. , Bhardwaj Ajay Kumar , Reddy G.V. Prabhakara , Srinivasamurthy Chilakunda A. , Kumar Sandeep
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Soil fertility and organic carbon (C) stock estimations are crucial to soil management especially that of degraded soils, for productive agricultural use and in soil C sequestration studies. Currently, estimations based on generalized soil mass (hectare-furrow basis) or bulk density (BD) basis are used which may be suitable for normal agricultural soils but not for degraded soils. We measured soil organic C, available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K), and estimated stocks using three methods: (i) generalized soil mass (GSM, 2 million kg ha−1 furrow soil), ii) bulk density based soil mass (BDSM) and (iii) the proportion of fine earth volume (FEV) method, for soils sampled from physically degraded lands in Eastern Dry Zone of Karnataka State in India. Comparative analyses using these methods revealed that the soil organic C, and N, P and K stocks determined by using BDSM were higher than those by GSM method. The soil organic C values were the lowest in the FEV method compared to the other two methods. The GSM method overestimated soil organic C, N, P and K by 9.3–72.1 %, 9.5–72.3 %, 7.1–66.6 % and 9.2–72.3 %, respectively, compared to FEV based estimations for physically degraded soils. The differences among the three methods of determinations were lower in soils with low gravel content and increased with increase in gravel volume. There was overestimation of soil organic C and soil fertility with GSM and BDSM methods. A reassessment of methods of estimation was, therefore, attempted to provide fair estimates for land development projects in degraded lands.
Idiosyncratic Volatility and Cross-section of Stock Returns: Evidences from India
Authors: Sharma Prashant , Kumar Brajesh
Published: February 2016

The present study examines the cross-sectional pricing ability of idiosyncratic volatility (IV) in Indian stock market and investigates the relationship amongst expected idiosyncratic volatility (EI), unexpected idiosyncratic volatility (UI), and cross-section of stocks returns. The study uses ARIMA (2, 0, 1) model to IV into EI and UI. The stocks returns are regressed on IV, EI and UI using Newey-West (1987) corrections, in order to investigate their empirical relationship.  The study finds that IV is positively related with stock returns. Further the IV significantly explains the cross-section of stock returns in Indian context. After imposing control over UI, as it is highly correlated with unexpected returns, the inter-temporal relationship between EI and expected returns turns out to be positive.
Structural Inertia, Social Media and Organizational Change
Authors: Ababneh Musab
Published: February 2016

The paper addresses structural inertia and radical change in countries which have suffered from stagnant inertial forces. In light of the punctuated equilibrium model, the paper introduces two propositions which suggest that such forces have established the necessary conditions for radical change. Also, social media networks have been a factor in creating such change by galvanizing protestors and by allowing them to share information, to organize, and to build support and momentum for the change process.      
Studying at UCL Institute of Archaeology
Authors: Frearson Charlotte , Rando Carolyn
Published: February 2016

Ranked first in the UK for archaeology, for the fifth year in a row, in The Guardian University Guide League Tables, with a top score of 100/100.

Ranked in the top five for student satisfaction in The Complete University Guide 2016 League Table of UK archaeology departments (published in May 2015).

Twitter: @UCLarchaeology

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCLArchaeology_
String Teachers’ Practices and Attitudes Regarding Their Primary String Instrument in Settings Inside and Outside the Classroom
Authors: Pellegrino Kristen , Russell Joshua A.
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine string teachers’ (kindergarten-12th grade [K-12] school teachers, private lesson teachers, and collegiate teachers) practices and attitudes regarding their primary string instrument. Research questions included string teachers’ practices and attitudes regarding modeling on their primary string instrument inside the classroom and string teachers’ practices and attitudes regarding playing their primary string instrument outside the classroom. American String Teachers Association members (K-12 string teachers, private lesson teachers, and college-level string teachers) responded to a researcher-constructed questionnaire (N = 419, response rate = 37%). We found that most participants: (a) claimed to model for students many times a week to many times a day (86.04%); (b) believed benefits of modeling include being an effective teaching tool and positively affecting student motivation and student engagement; (c) reported playing their instrument outside the classroom at least a couple of times a week (75%); (d) reported performing at least one concert a year (94%), with 54% performing over 11 times a year; and (e) reported continuing music making because it was part of their identity (76%) and to keep skills sharp in order to model for students (59%). Findings from this study suggest that music making is an important aspect of string teachers’ (K-12 inservice teachers, private lesson teachers, and college teachers) personal and professional lives, connecting music making with their identity and perceptions of string student learning.
Three Beginning Music Teachers’ Understandings and Self-Perceptions of Micropolitical Literacy
Authors: Conway Colleen , Rawlings Jared
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine beginning music teachers’ understandings and selfperceptions of micropolitical literacy (Curry, Jaxon, Russell, Callahan, & Bicals, 2008). Using a qualitative interview design (Seidman, 2013), data included: (a) an initial e-mail survey completed by each participant, (b) two individual interviews with each participant, (c) an observation of the beginning music teacher, (d) one interview with a principal, (e) a focus group interview with all participating beginning music teachers, and (f) the researchers’ logs. Findings are presented in the following categories: (a) typical beginning music teacher challenges, (b) questions beginning teachers ask, (c) beginning teachers seek collegial assistance, (d) beginning teachers have a growing awareness of the need for micropolitical literacy, and (e) accountability and assessment. A discussion of each finding with connections to past literature is included after the presentation of findings.
Collegiate Musicians Learning to Improvise
Authors: Snell Alden H. , Azzara Christopher D.
Published: February 2016

To continue our profession’s ongoing dialogue about the centrality of improvisation to music learning (State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education, 2014; National Association of Schools of Music, 2013; Task Force on the Undergraduate Music Major, 2014), we documented experiences of collegiate musicians learning to improvise. In this case study, we asked 4 participants enrolled in a 7-week improvisation course to (a) complete a brief demographic survey, (b) describe their experiences learning to improvise during 2 interviews, and (c) perform 2 improvisation course assignments. To establish validity, we triangulated findings from all 3 data sources. Participants (a) recalled few meaningful improvisation experiences prior to this course; (b) felt the process of learning to improvise taught in this course was sequential and logical; (c) perceived a positive effect of improvisation on their personal musicianship; and (d) identified the importance of overcoming fear of improvisation, becoming more open to the creative process and finding ways to improvise on a more regular basis. To improve their ability to improvise, participants identified the need to be less inhibited, less afraid of making mistakes, more willing to take musical chances, and willing to immerse themselves further in the improvisation process. Additional research is recommended to illuminate findings from this study.
Clinical Result of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in Achilles Tendinitis
Authors: Ip David
Published: February 2016

Objective: to study the clinical effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the clinical management of heel pain in sportsman having Achilles tendinitis

Materials and Methods: this is a prospective cohort study of 35 consecutive patients having Achilles tendinitis being referred to our pain centre after various sports, who did not respond to an initial minimum of 4 weeks of conventional physical therapy, and managed with low-level laser therapy for six consecutive weeks

Results: There was statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction of pain with respect to VAS scale, and pressure pain threshold, the post-treatment color Doppler revealed improved tendon vascularity, the clinical follow up was eight weeks

Conclusion: It is concluded that LLLT has clinical efficacy in the short-term treatment of Achilles tendinitis in sportsman
Factors Influencing the Labor Force Participation of Married Women in the United States
Authors: Thamma-Apiroam Rewat
Published: February 2016

This paper examines the factors that influence the labor force participation of married women in the United States during 1975-2002, using multiple regressions with log specification. The results show that women earnings and life expectancy of women are not satisfactory indicators of whether married women should join the labor force. Nonetheless, there exist strong relationships between the decisions to work and men’s income, unemployment rate, consumer durable goods to GDP ratio, women’s schooling as well as divorce rate. 
Fashion Design from Woven Fabrics of Community Enterprise Group
Authors: Soodsang Nirat
Published: February 2016

The objectives of this study were to 1) design fashion and bags from woven fabrics of the community enterprise group in Pitsanulok province 2) compare the quality of products based on the criteria used to measure community products classified by features, genders, level of income and 3) present a prototype from local woven fabrics in Pitsanulok province. The research procedure includes the sample group which incorporates 67 consumers in their working ages. Accidental sampling design was implemented. The instruments were modified and validated by the standard of community products scp. 196/2003 entitled handmade products from fabrics quality assured in terms of the product neatness, benefits, materials, and manufacturing processes as well as marketing possibility and career advancement. The results were that the fashion design and bags from the local woven fabrics proposed as the prototype had their own valued adding and could be able to market. As regards the quality assurance, the satisfactory level was good. Also, when the satisfactory level of the consumers towards the products were compared regarding genders and level of income, there was no significant differences found.
Self-disturbance in the National Medium after 36 Years of the Islamic Revolution
Authors: Dehaghi Ali Asghar Amini
Published: February 2016

Self-disturbance of the Iranian national medium, after 36 years of the Islamic Revolution, could be due to the structural and software effects of the political-religious culture ruling the community. In particular, the structural effect of bureaucracy on the structural system of the national medium has created self-disturbance in this medium. The content and meaning of this medium is, more than any other thing, dominated by the traditional media such as mosques, Hossainies, clergymen, and the descendants of Imams Etc. which are mostly provided by religious clergymen. In addition, the presence of the clergy on top of the pyramid of power has caused the procedure of the national medium which moves based on the patterns of modernity to be manifested as its religious-traditional content and meaning being influenced by and against secularism. This is why the national medium, in spite of the lack of any serious domestic rival, is incapable of global competition in the field of plurality of Persian speaking media. As a result several factors arising from the cultural-religious as well as political spheres have provided self-disturbance in the Iranian national medium. 
Introducing an Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management System: Assessment in Jordan
Authors: Ikhlayel Mahdi , Higano Yoshiro , Yabar Helmut , Mizunoya Takeshi
Published: February 2016

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is considered one of the challenging environmental problems in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Municipal solid waste increased significantly due to rapid population growth and fast urbanization, change in lifestyles and consumption patterns. Major problems associated with MSWM are poor collection rates, open dumping, and improper recycling that pose environmental damages. An environmental impact analysis of Jordan’s MSWM was required to look into opportunities for bringing in an integrated solid waste management (ISWM). In this paper, we analyzed the country’s MSWM as a case study in the MENA region. Our goal was to identify the most environmentally-friendly and economically-viable alternative to the current situation. Based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we evaluated the potential environmental and economic impacts of 10 MSWM scenarios adopting different waste treatment technologies. Indicators of the environmental performance used were four impact categories of EDIP 2003 assessment method: Climate Change (GWP 100a), Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential and Human Toxicity. The results showed that improving the current MSWM with 72% of sanitary landfills with energy recovery and 28% of dry recyclable materials was the best scenario in terms of environmental impacts and economic cost. The cost recovery of this scenario was 155% compared to an average of 55.5% of the current cost recovery. The study also revealed that the materials recycled could be increased by 33.5% if the waste separation was applied at the source of generation.
Towards a Cybernetic Model of Human Movement
Authors: Hemami Hooshang , Tarr Eric , Li Boren , Krishnamurthy Ashok , Clymer Bradley , Dariush Behzad
Published: February 2016

An elementary computational framework, as a ﬁrst step to an eventual comprehensive model of human movement, is presented. Such a model in conjunction with anatomical, physiological and experimental studies should provide a means of verifying theoretical, experimental, and heuristic models of human movement. For this purpose, a three-dimensional three link humanoid model and a two-link planar arm model are presented to explore responses to simple external forces. Such models are useful for a variety of current applications in art, science, engineering, sports, and medicine. The models are subjected to kinesthetic, auditory, and visual inputs. Creating desired behavior is the goal. The models are ﬂexible, modular, and expandable for inclusion of more segments, muscles, and sensory and central nervous system (CNS) processing. Three computer simulations are presented: rhythmic maneuvers of the three link model, in response to periodic motion of a platform, the planar arm producing visually observed alphabet-like characters in response to visual inputs, and processing of music to provide rhythms for a three-link dance.
STEREO MATCHING ALGORITHM BASED ON ILLUMINATION CONTROL TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY
Authors: Hamzah Rostam Affendi , Ibrahim Haidi , Abu Hassan Anwar Hasni
Published: February 2016

This paper presents a new method of pixel based stereo matching algorithm using illumination control. The state of the art algorithm for absolute difference (AD) works fast, but only precise at low texture areas. Besides, it is sensitive to radiometric distortions (i.e., contrast or brightness) and discontinuity areas. To overcome the problem, this paper proposes an algorithm that utilizes an illumination control to enhance the image quality of absolute difference (AD) matching. Thus, pixel intensities at this step are more consistent, especially at the object boundaries. Then, the gradient difference value is added to empower the reduction of the radiometric errors. The gradient characteristics are known for its robustness with regard to the radiometric errors. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs much better when using a standard benchmarking dataset from the Middlebury Stereo Vision dataset. The main contribution of this work is a reduction of discontinuity errors that leads to a significant enhancement on matching quality and accuracy of disparity maps.
Diatoms in cryoconite holes and adjacent proglacial freshwater sediments, Nordenskiöld glacier (Spitsbergen, High Arctic)
Authors: Vinšová Petra , Pinseel Eveline , Kohler Tyler J. , De Vijver Bart Van , Žárský Jakub D. , Kavan Jan , Kopalová Kateřina
Published: February 2016

Cryoconite holes are small, extreme habitats, widespread in the ablation zones of gla-ciers worldwide. They can provide a suitable environment for microorganisms including bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, and invertebrates. Diatoms have been previously recovered from cryoconite holes of Greenland and of Svalbard, and recent findings from Antarctica suggest that cryoconite holes may harbor a unique diatom flora distinct from other aquatic habitats nearby. In the present study, we characterize the diatom communi-ties of Nordenskiöld glacier cryoconite holes in Billefjorden (Svalbard, Spitsbergen), and multivariate approaches were used to compare them with three freshwater localities in the immediate vicinity to investigate possible sources of the species pool. We found cryoconite holes to have similar or greater average genus-richness than adjacent lake/ ponds habitats, even though lower numbers of valves were recovered. Overall, cryoconite hole diatom communities differed significantly from those observed in lakes, suggesting that other sources actively contribute to these communities than nearby lakes alone. This further suggests that (i) diatoms present in cryoconite might not exclusively originate from aquatic habitats, but also from (semi-) terrestrial ones; and (ii) that a much wider area than the immediate surroundings should be considered as a possible source for cryoconite diatom flora.
Long-term variability of Atlantic water temperature in the Svalbard fjords in conditions of past and recent global warming
Authors: Tislenko Daniil I. , Ivanov Boris V.
Published: February 2016

Within last decades, the climate of our planet has underwent remarkable changes. The most notable are those called "Arctic amplification." is the changes comprise a decrease in the area of ​​multi-years ice in 2007 and 2012 in polar regions of the Northern hemisphere, accompanied by the temperature rise of intermediate Atlantic waters, increasing surface temperature. In this paper, an analysis of long-term variability of temperature transformed Atlantic waters (TAW) in the fjords of the West-Spitsbergen island (Isfjorden, Grnfjorden, Hornsund and Kongsfjorden) in the first period (1920–1940) and modern (1990–2009) warming in the Arctic is reported. It is shown that the instrumental observation data corresponds to the periods of rise in temperature in the layer of the TAW and surface air temperature (SAT) for the area of ​​the Svalbard.
Dwarf tundra shrubs growth as a proxy for late Holocene climate change
Authors: Lehejček Jiří
Published: February 2016

The Arctic is the most sensitive zone to climate changes and the impacts are reflected in local ecosystems. In order to extract information of the past from proxy archives the detailed knowledge of such archive is crucial. The paper summarizes modern approaches of tundra dwarf shrub research for the purposes of paleoclimatology. Dwarf tundra shrubs as still relatively untapped archive are believed to contain valuable proxy data in their annual growth increments. Field sampling, and laboratory work are reviewed in detail. Constraints of dwarf tundra shrub research are discussed as well. The relationship between climate and growth is addressed to find a link between them depending on location and species. Majority of investigations found the strongest relationship between summer temperatures and ring widths, although exceptions are not rare. Dwarf tundra shrubs can fully serve as valuable proxy archive only if those are understood. Finally, the factors influencing the length of dwarf tundra shrub life are studied in order to sample the oldest living individuals in the field. Despite the field collection should aim to sample various sizes and ages of plants to make the dataset robust, the longest living individuals which are important to prolong chronologies are usually inhabiting rather nutrient poor and undisturbed sites close to their survival limits. The paper indicates the most suitable dwarf tundra shrub research designs for the purposes of paleoclimatology. As such it can help to harvest the benefits of dendrochronology from the vast and new territories.
Bone Marrow Synoptic Reporting for Hematologic Neoplasms: Guideline From the College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center
Authors: Sever Cordelia , Abbott Charles L. , de Baca Monica E. , Khoury Joseph D. , Perkins Sherrie L. , Reichard Kaaren Kemp , Taylor Ann , Terebelo Howard R. , Colasacco Carol , Rumble R. Bryan , Thomas Nicole E.
Published: February 2016

Context.—There is ample evidence from the solid tumor literature that synoptic reporting improves accuracy and completeness of relevant data. No evidence-based guidelines currently exist for synoptic reporting for bone marrow samples.

Objective.—To develop evidence-based recommendations to standardize the basic components of a synoptic report template for bone marrow samples.

Design.—The College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center convened a panel of experts in hematopathology to develop recommendations. A systematic evidence review was conducted to address 5 key questions. Recommendations were derived from strength of evidence, open comment feedback, and expert panel consensus.

Results.—Nine guideline statements were established to provide pathology laboratories with a framework by which to develop synoptic reporting templates for bone marrow samples. The guideline calls for specific data groups in the synoptic section of the pathology report; provides a list of evidence-based parameters for key, pertinent elements; and addresses ancillary testing.

Conclusion.—A framework for bone marrow synoptic reporting will improve completeness of the final report in a manner that is clear, succinct, and consistent among institutions.
What Keys are the Most Important to Success for Small Systems?
Authors: Marko Chris
Published: February 2016

Many small water systems struggle with aging or inadequate infrastructure, recruiting or retaining qualified staff, growing or establishing financial reserves, and setting appropriate rates.
What's Connectionism got to do with IT?!
Authors: Abolfazlian A. R. Kian
Published: February 2016

In this paper, I shall prove, why the old fashioned Artificial Intelligence cannot be the right answer.

Keywords: GOFAI, Fodor, Pylyshyn, Connectionism, Turing machines, Turing-undecidability, Universal Turing machines.
Adaptive Performance Network?: Is it the Answer to our Prayers?
Authors: Abolfazlian A. R. Kian
Published: February 2016

In the article ``A Simple Model of Brain´´ P. Bak & D. Stassinopolus have introduced a new class of adaptive networks, which tries to function in a volatile environment. The resulting dynamics, called  adaptive performance networks, show fluctuation over a wide range of time scales. We introduce some guide lines for training and testing this new type of networks, which will be used to examine the power of these networks.
Block Ciphers: Analysis, Design and Applications
Authors: Knudsen Lars Ramkilde
Published: February 2016

In this thesis we study cryptanalysis, applications and design of secret key block ciphers. In particular, the important class of  Feistel ciphers is studied, which has a number of rounds, where in each round one applies a cryptographically weak function.
Termination analysis based on operational semantics
Authors: Nielson Flemming , Nielson Hanne Riis
Published: February 2016

In principle termination analysis is easy: find a well-founded partial order and prove that calls decrease with respect to this order. In practice this often requires an oracle (or a theorem prover) for determining the well-founded order and this oracle may not be easily implementable. Our approach circumvents some of these problems by exploiting the inductive definition of algebraic data types and using pattern matching as in functional languages. We develop a termination analysis for a higher-order functional language; the analysis incorporates and extends polymorphic type inference and axiomatizes a class of well-founded partial orders for multiple-argument functions (as in Standard ML and Miranda). Semantics is given by means of operational (natural-style) semantics and soundness is proved; this involves making extensions to the semantic universe and we relate this to the techniques of denotational semantics. For dealing with the partiality aspects of the soundness proof, it suffices to incorporate approximations to the desired fixed points; for dealing with the totality aspects of the soundness proof, we also have to incorporate functions that are forced to terminate (in a way that might violate the monotonicity of denotational semantics).
Type and Behaviour Reconstruction for Higher-Order Concurrent Programs
Authors: Amtoft Torben , Nielson Flemming , Nielson Hanne Riis
Published: February 2016

In this paper we develop a sound and complete type and behaviour inference algorithm for a fragment of CML (Standard ML with primitives for concurrency). Behaviours resemble terms of a process algebra and yield a concise representation of the communications taking place during execution; types are mostly as usual except that function types and ``delayed communication types'' are labelled by behaviours expressing the communications that will take place if the function is applied or the delayed action is activated. The development of the present paper improves a previously published algorithm in achieving completeness as well as soundness; this is due to an alternative strategy for generalising over types and behaviours.
Automated Design of Neural Network Architecture for Classification
Authors: Depenau Jan
Published: February 2016

This Ph.D. thesis deals with finding a good architecture of a neural network classifier. The focus is on methods to improve the performance of existing architectures (i.e. architectures that are initialised by a good academic guess) and automatically building neural networks. An introduction to the Multi-Layer feed-forward neural network is given and the most essential properties for neural networks; there ability to learn from examples is discussion. Topics like traning and generalisation are treated in more explicit. On the basic of this dissuscion methods for finding a good architecture of the network described. This includes methods like; Early stopping, Cross validation, Regularisation, Pruning and various constructions algorithms (methods that successively builds a network). New ideas of combining units with different types of transfer functions like radial basis functions and sigmoid or threshold functions led to the development of a new construction algorithm for classification. The algorithm called "GLOCAL" is fully described. Results from these experiments real life data from a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) are provided.

The thesis was written so people from the industry and graduate students who are interested in neural networks hopeful would find it useful.

Key words: Neural networks, Architectures, Training, Generalisation deductive and construction algorithms.
Polymorphic Subtyping for Effect Analysis: The Semantics
Authors: Amtoft Torben , Nielson Flemming , Nielson Hanne Riis , Ammann Jürgen
Published: February 2016

We study an annotated type and effect system that integrates let-polymorphism, effects, and subtyping into an annotated type and effect system for a fragment of Concurrent ML. First a small step operational semantics is defined for concurrent ML and next the annotated type and effect system is proved semantically sound. This provides insights into the rule for generalisation in the annotated type and effect system.
Dynamically Extensible Objects in a Class-Based Language
Authors: Schmidt Rene Wenzel
Published: February 2016

Object-oriented programming techniques allow the construction of reusable and extensible code. However, class-based languages have poor support for implementing type-orthogonal behaviour and extending nonleaf classes, which result in implementations with poor performance or limited functionality. This paper presents dynamic slots, a mechanism used to build efficient implementations of type-orthogonal abstractions. Dynamic slots can be statically type-checked and have been integrated into the BETA programming language. Measurements of a persistent store show that they significantly improve performance.