bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Internet of Things Governance Architecture with Applications in Healthcare
Authors: Copie Adrian , Manațe Bogdan , Munteanu Victor Ion , Fortiș Teodor-Florin
Published: March 2015

The astonishing expansion of Internet of Things has opened a lot of opportunities for related domains to employ strategies that were successfully used for the “things” governance. Furthermore, because of the technology blending in the most common household devices and wearable items, it becomes very easy for the computers to sense the surrounding environment and to collect information about the inhabitants, therefore transforming the intelligent house in a Home Care System (HCS). For medical conditions like dementia and its associated diseases, it is very convenient to monitor the patients in their living space because the patient will benefit from their home comfort. In addition, the costs for in hospital monitoring will decrease. This chapter proposes an Internet of Things Governance Architecture that can be used to sustain and monitor a complex e-health system, with application especially for patients with dementia and its associated diseases.
An Investigation into the Factors Affecting E-Commerce Adoption Decisions by SMEs
Authors: Al-Somali Sabah Abdullah , Gholami Roya , Clegg Ben
Published: March 2015

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has become an increasingly important initiative among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as both a great opportunity and as a source of competition. The factors affecting adoption decisions of e-commerce by SMEs have been well documented, but there is a paucity of empirical studies that examine the adoption of e-commerce in the Arab world. The aim of this chapter is to provide insights into the salient e-commerce adoption issues by focusing on Saudi Arabian businesses. This chapter investigates the state of e-commerce adoption and analyses the factors that determine the extent to which SMEs in Saudi Arabia are inclined towards deploying e-commerce technologies. This research was designed using a qualitative approach through exploratory case studies selected from firms in Saudi Arabia. The findings contribute towards a better conceptual and practical understanding of the main factors driving SMEs to adopt e-commerce. The study has found that the level of e-commerce implementation has yet to mature and customer readiness for Internet shopping has to improve before e-commerce reaches the levels of maturity seen in other regions of the world. This study highlights several directions for future inquiry and implications for policymakers and managers who are involved in efforts to introduce complex innovations such as e-commerce into their organisations or are interested in expanding their e-commerce applications and generating more revenue.
Flow Genres
Authors: Hrabec Ondřej , Chrz Vladimír
Published: March 2015

The goal of this theoretical study is to conceptually revise the flow theory formulated originally by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Concept of flow is one of the most frequently used terms that describe an optimal experience while performing activity and this does not apply only for video game industry. In this article we discuss the varieties of flow experience with respect to video games. Further, the authors emphasize relativity of the original concept of flow, understood as a universal experience of independent nature in terms of activity or personality of the participant. Following detailed analysis of existing literature and our previous empirical study, they define the concept of flow as a genre triad that portrays experience of climax, ilinx, and ludic trance. A further revision and extension of the original concept of flow is deemed necessary in order to map the variety of user experiences while playing video games with sufficient precision.
Assessing Organisational KM Performance Based on the Criteria of Total Quality Management
Authors: Pun Kit Fai , Yiu Man Yin Rebecca
Published: March 2015

Recent literature gives much prominence to emerging performance measurement (PM) systems for assessing performance in organisations. A major question for management is how well these systems support the core business functions and operations of organisations on one hand. Knowledge management (KM) has been gaining momentum as the means toward organisational survival and growth on the other hand. Measures of KM performance are thus to validate the effectiveness of KM/PM practices. This paper comprehends the concepts of integrating KM with PM, and in short, KM performance measures in organisations. It reviews the issues that surround KM/PM initiatives and discusses the assessment criteria that integrate the philosophy and the principles of total quality management (TQM) with KM performance measures. It then identifies five areas of KM/PM enablers and/or attributes, namely 1) Senior management leadership, 2) Management by processes, 3) People development, 4) Continuous improvement, and 5) Results orientation. The concepts and substances reviewed are important to measure organisational KM performance. They are used as key inputs to the development of a proposed model for integrating KM and PM efforts in organisations so as to attain performance improvement. It is anticipated that future research could evaluate the efficacy of the IKM model, validate the key KM/PM criteria, and develop an implementation framework to foster the KM/PM efforts in organisations in different sectors.
Who Tweets About Technology?
Authors: Kiss István Márton , Buzás Norbert
Published: March 2015

Due to the growing importance and influence of social media, it is timely to gain knowledge about the communication related to technological innovations in the cyberspace. The main goal of the present article is to shed light on the process and structure of information sharing about technologies on Twitter. It identifies the most relevant clusters of actors in the communication, and investigates the network structures existing among them in the case of two novel operation systems. The authors found disparate network properties from other topics, unexpectedly robust networks, unbalanced activity and centrality distribution of the users, and a useful strategy to increase efficiency of the communication in the system.
Navigation Route based Stable Connected Dominating Set for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Chen Yishun , Wu Weigang , Cao Hui
Published: March 2015

Forming a virtual backbone has been always a significant technique for ad hoc networks to achieve high efficiency in various applications, including mobility management, broadcast based information dissemination, etc. This is especially true for Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET), because most of VANET applications rely on broadcasting messages. Among others, constructing the Connected Dominating Set (CDS) is a popular approach to forming virtual backbone in ad hoc networks, including VANETs. Although quite a lot of work has been done on CDS algorithms for ad hoc networks, almost all existing algorithms focus on minimizing the size of CDS, i.e. the number of nodes in CDS. In this paper, the authors consider to improve the stability of CDS, i.e. to reduce the changes of CDS during the runtime of a VANET. By making use of vehicle navigation route, the authors propose a new metric to selecting CDS node with high stability. Then, based on the new metric the authors design a CDS algorithm, which can construct a CDS with higher stability than the CDS by existing algorithms. Such advantage is validated via extensive simulations.
Re-invigorating the Spirit of Place of Kandy: Urban Design and City Planning Strategies
Authors: Wijesundara Janaka
Published: March 2015

Kandy – the royal capital established in the 14th Century AD is a city that has undergone constant physical and socio-economic changes while continuing to have unique cultural traditions and rituals over six centuries. As the capital of the central province of Sri Lanka, it embodies a great degree of meaningful conceptions and symbolic representations associated with Buddhist rituals and cultural life. It is a city in Sri Lanka that has a unique spirit of place.However, regardless of all the heritage conservation efforts, with the rapid socio-economic and ad-hoc urban structural changes, the spirit of place of the city is being disturbed, thus losing its unique experiential qualities. Recently, the city had begun to lose the essence, meaning and the sense due to the physical alterations and modifications. Hence it is necessary to understand what is to be retained in a historic place and how the issue of reinstating the spirit of the place can be managed in Kandy. This paper intends to reveal how the wide-ranging traditional urban design principles and built form strategies have contributed to generate the spirit of place of Kandy and re-evaluate them in the present context. It proposes a set of key determinant factors that should be considered in decision making processes of its future planning and urban development.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/besl.v11i2.7606Built-environment: Sri Lanka Vol.11(2) 2015: 1-11
Environmental flow in Sri Lanka: ancient anicuts versus modern dams
Authors: Silva E.I.L. , Manthrithilake Herath , Pitigala Dammika , Silva E.N.S.
Published: March 2015

Environmental flow describes the stream flow (quantity and regime) required to sustain upstream and downstream habitats, riparian vegetation, human livelihoods and wildlife. When natural rivers or tributaries are held back by weirs, anicuts, barrages or dams, for a variety of purposes such as diversion for irrigation, hydropower generation or flood control often the downstream flow requirement is ignored or neglected. Although there is no universally accepted definition, convention or law on environmental flow, it has been now recognized that environmental flow is essential for sustainability of riparian ecosystem and their services, which are essential for our own existence, livelihoods and many more. This paper looks at physical structures constructed across rivers and tributaries in Sri Lanka since ancient times to date (including mini-hydro power stations) with a view to understand whether simple ancient wisdoms are more appropriate than modern structures for nature conservation. There are tangible evidence to defend that the ancient anicuts known as “amuna” surged sufficient water in tributaries and rivers, to sustain the environment than modern engineering works which has created dead river beds immediately downstream in many streams and rivers.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljas.v19i0.7447Sri Lanka J. Aquat. Sci. 19 (2014): 3-14
A redefinition and review of the genus Myrmolimosina Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae), with morphological and molecular assessments of new species from Mexico and Guatemala
Authors: Marshall Stephen A. , Skevington Jeffrey H. , Kelso Scott , Zhou Claudia
Published: March 2015

The previously monotypic genus Myrmolimosina Marshall (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is expanded to include the new speciesM. batus Marshall from Guatemala and Mexico and M. llama Marshall from Mexico, and redefined to include specimens with and without the strongly petiolate abdomen reflected in the generic name. Myrmolimosina batus is known only from females and M. llama is known only from males. The possibility that these two putative species represent the same sexually dimorphic species is considered and rejected based on molecular data.
Collaborative Interactions between Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells and Antigen-Specific CD4+ Th2 Cells Exacerbate Murine Allergic Airway Diseases with Prominent Eosinophilia
Authors: Liu Bo , Lee Jee-Boong , Chen Chun-Yu , Hershey Gurjit K. Khurana , Wang Yui-Hsi
Published: March 2015

Type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and the acquired CD4+ Th2 and Th17 cells contribute to the pathogenesis of experimental asthma; however, their roles in Ag-driven exacerbation of chronic murine allergic airway diseases remain elusive. In this study, we report that repeated intranasal rechallenges with only OVA Ag were sufficient to trigger airway hyperresponsiveness, prominent eosinophilic inflammation, and significantly increased serum OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE in rested mice that previously developed murine allergic airway diseases. The recall response to repeated OVA inoculation preferentially triggered a further increase of lung OVA-specific CD4+ Th2 cells, whereas CD4+ Th17 and ILC2 cell numbers remained constant. Furthermore, the acquired CD4+ Th17 cells in Stat6−/−/IL-17–GFP mice, or innate ILC2s in CD4+ T cell–ablated mice, failed to mount an allergic recall response to OVA Ag. After repeated OVA rechallenge or CD4+ T cell ablation, the increase or loss of CD4+ Th2 cells resulted in an enhanced or reduced IL-13 production by lung ILC2s in response to IL-25 and IL-33 stimulation, respectively. In return, ILC2s enhanced Ag-mediated proliferation of cocultured CD4+ Th2 cells and their cytokine production, and promoted eosinophilic airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia driven by adoptively transferred Ag-specific CD4+ Th2 cells. Thus, these results suggest that an allergic recall response to recurring Ag exposures preferentially triggers an increase of Ag-specific CD4+ Th2 cells, which facilitates the collaborative interactions between acquired CD4+ Th2 cells and innate ILC2s to drive the exacerbation of a murine allergic airway diseases with an eosinophilic phenotype.
The TNF-Family Ligand TL1A and Its Receptor DR3 Promote T Cell–Mediated Allergic Immunopathology by Enhancing Differentiation and Pathogenicity of IL-9–Producing T Cells
Authors: Richard Arianne C. , Tan Cuiyan , Hawley Eric T. , Gomez-Rodriguez Julio , Goswami Ritobrata , Yang Xiang-Ping , Cruz Anthony C. , Penumetcha Pallavi , Hayes Erika T. , Pelletier Martin , Gabay Odile , Walsh Matthew , Ferdinand John R. , Keane-Myers Andrea , Choi Yongwon , O’Shea John J. , Al-Shamkhani Aymen , Kaplan Mark H. , Gery Igal , Siegel Richard M. , Meylan Françoise
Published: March 2015

The TNF family cytokine TL1A (Tnfsf15) costimulates T cells and type 2 innate lymphocytes (ILC2) through its receptor DR3 (Tnfrsf25). DR3-deficient mice have reduced T cell accumulation at the site of inflammation and reduced ILC2-dependent immune responses in a number of models of autoimmune and allergic diseases. In allergic lung disease models, immunopathology and local Th2 and ILC2 accumulation is reduced in DR3-deficient mice despite normal systemic priming of Th2 responses and generation of T cells secreting IL-13 and IL-4, prompting the question of whether TL1A promotes the development of other T cell subsets that secrete cytokines to drive allergic disease. In this study, we find that TL1A potently promotes generation of murine T cells producing IL-9 (Th9) by signaling through DR3 in a cell-intrinsic manner. TL1A enhances Th9 differentiation through an IL-2 and STAT5-dependent mechanism, unlike the TNF-family member OX40, which promotes Th9 through IL-4 and STAT6. Th9 differentiated in the presence of TL1A are more pathogenic, and endogenous TL1A signaling through DR3 on T cells is required for maximal pathology and IL-9 production in allergic lung inflammation. Taken together, these data identify TL1A–DR3 interactions as a novel pathway that promotes Th9 differentiation and pathogenicity. TL1A may be a potential therapeutic target in diseases dependent on IL-9.
IL-10/HMOX1 Signaling Modulates Cochlear Inflammation via Negative Regulation of MCP-1/CCL2 Expression in Cochlear Fibrocytes
Authors: Woo Jeong-Im , Kil Sung-Hee , Oh Sejo , Lee Yoo-Jin , Park Raekil , Lim David J. , Moon Sung K.
Published: March 2015

Cochlear inflammatory diseases, such as tympanogenic labyrinthitis, are associated with acquired sensorineural hearing loss. Although otitis media is extremely frequent in children, tympanogenic labyrinthitis is not commonly observed, which suggests the existence of a potent anti-inflammatory mechanism modulating cochlear inflammation. In this study, we aimed to determine the molecular mechanism involved in cochlear protection from inflammation-mediated tissue damage, focusing on IL-10 and hemoxygenase-1 (HMOX1) signaling. We demonstrated that IL-10Rs are expressed in the cochlear lateral wall of mice and rats, particularly in the spiral ligament fibrocytes (SLFs). The rat SLF cell line was found to inhibit nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)-induced upregulation of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2) in response to IL-10. This inhibition was suppressed by silencing IL-10R1 and was mimicked by cobalt Protoporphyrin IX and CO-releasing molecule-2. In addition, IL-10 appeared to suppress monocyte recruitment through reduction of NTHi-induced rat SLF cell line–derived chemoattractants. Silencing of HMOX1 was found to attenuate the inhibitory effect of IL-10 on NTHi-induced MCP-1/CCL2 upregulation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that IL-10 inhibits NTHi-induced binding of p65 NF-κB to the distal motif in the promoter region of MCP-1/CCL2, resulting in suppression of NTHi-induced NF-κB activation. Furthermore, IL-10 deficiency appeared to significantly affect cochlear inflammation induced by intratympanic injections of NTHi. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-10/HMOX1 signaling is involved in modulation of cochlear inflammation through inhibition of MCP-1/CCL2 regulation in SLFs, implying a therapeutic potential for a CO-based approach for inflammation-associated cochlear diseases.
Landskap van gemeentesang in die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk aan die begin van die een-en-twintigste eeu: Voorlopige verkenning
Authors: Calitz Coenie
Published: March 2015

Musiek en sang binne die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NG Kerk) is in ’n proses van radikale verandering. Binne ’n ‘global village’ kan die ses strominge van kerkmusiek soos Paul Basden (2004) dit beskryf het, van groot waarde wees om die huidige prosesse in die NG Kerk te identifiseer en te beskryf. Hierdie prosesse word dikwels oorvereenvoudig deur die gebruik van die term ‘blended worship’. ’n Dieper kyk na die bedoeling en betekenis van die term ‘blended worship’ wys dat die term in baie gevalle nie vir die huidige situasie of prosesse in die NG Kerk geskik is nie. Die huidige situasie veronderstel nie net die gebruik van nuwe vorms van musiek naas die oue nie, maar in baie gemeentes impliseer dit ’n wegbeweeg van die oue na die nuwe. Die uitdaging bly steeds om binne hierdie situasie getrou aan die Woord van God te bly, maar ook om effektief na die behoefte van die mense van ons tyd te handel.Landscape of congregational singing in the Dutch Reformed Church at the beginning of the 21th century: Preliminary exploration. Music and singing in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) is in a process of radical change. Within a global village, the six views of worship as identified by Paul Basden (2004) could be of great value in understanding die processes and streams within the music of the DRC. Variations and combinations of these views (streams) could be observed within the present-day liturgical singing within the DRC. This process is often oversimplified by using the term blended worship; a closer look at blended worship illustrates that the term blended worshipin its original intention does not fit the current situation or process. The current situation does not only imply new forms of music combined with the old forms, it often implies a move away from the old in the direction of the new. Within this process the challenge of the DRC will be to stay faithful to the Word of God as well as contemporary society.
Die tema van God se spraak in Hebreërs se inleidingsformules
Authors: Coetsee Albert J. , Jordaan Gert J.C.
Published: March 2015

Alhoewel die voorkoms en gebruik van die Ou Testament in die meeste navorsing oor Hebreërs besonder baie aandag geniet, is dit nie die geval met die Hebreërskrywer se gebruik van inleidingsformules vir sy Ou-Testamentiese aanhalings nie. Die gevolg is dat daar tot op hede betreklik min selfstandige navorsing oor die Hebreërskrywer se tema van God se spraak by sy inleidingsformules gedoen is. In hierdie artikel word Hebreërs se inleidingsformules in besonderhede nagegaan om te bepaal wat die aard en inhoud van die Hebreërskrywer se verwysings na die tema van God se spraak in sy inleidingsformules is. Daar word onder andere bepaal dat Hebreërs 38 direkte aanhalings vanuit die Ou Testament bevat, dat die Hebreërskrywer, met slegs een uitsondering, elke inleidingsformule met ’n werkwoord van sêinlei, dat ’n Persoon van die Drie-eenheid in 34 van die 38 direkte aanhalings (± 89%) die onderwerp en gevolglike Spreker van die Ou-Testamentiese woorde is, dat die Hebreërskrywer al drie Persone van die Drie-eenheid as God beskou, en dat die Hebreërskrywer oortuig is dat die Ou Testament geïnspireer is en God se geldige en relevante openbaring bly.The theme of God’s speech in Hebrews’ introduction formulae. Whilst the occurance and function of the Old Testament in research on Hebrews enjoys a lot of attention, this is not the case for the writer of Hebrews’ use of introduction formulae for his Old Testament quotations. The result is that up to date relatively few independent studies have been made on the writer of Hebrews’ theme of God’s speech in his introduction formulae. In this article the introduction formulae in Hebrews are researched in detail to determine the nature and content of the writer of Hebrews’ reference to the theme of God’s speech in his introduction formulae. Amongst other things it is determined that Hebrews has 38 direct quotations from the Old Testament, that with the exception of one introduction formula the writer of Hebrews introduces each direct quotation with a verb of saying, that a Person of the Trinity is the subject and consequential Speaker of the Old Testament words in 34 of the 38 direct quotations (± 89%), that the writer of Hebrews views all three Persons of the Trinity as God, and that the writer of Hebrews is convinced that the Old Testament is divinely inspired and remains God’s valid and relevant revelation.
Assessment of Rectocolonic Morphology and Function in Patients with Chagas Disease in Barcelona (Spain)
Authors: Salvador Fernando , Mego Marianela , Sánchez-Montalvá Adrián , Morís María , Ramírez Kathleen , Accarino Ana , Malagelada Juan-Ramon , Azpiroz Fernando , Molina Israel
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between colonic symptoms, radiological abnormalities, and anorectal dysfunction in patients with Chagas disease. We performed a cross-sectional study of untreated patients diagnosed with Chagas disease. All patients were evaluated clinically (by a questionnaire for colonic symptoms based on Rome III criteria) and underwent a barium enema and anorectal manometry. A control group of patients with functional constipation and without Chagas disease was included in the study. Overall, 69 patients were included in the study: 42 patients were asymptomatic and 27 patients had abdominal symptoms according to Rome III criteria. Anorectal manometry showed a higher proportion of abnormalities in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones (73% versus 21%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Megarectum was detected in a similar proportion in the different subgroups regardless of the presence of symptoms or abnormalities in anorectal functions. Among non-Chagas disease patients with functional constipation, 90% had an abnormal anorectal manometry study. Patients with Chagas disease present a high proportion of constipation with dyssynergic defecation in anorectal manometry but a low prevalence of impaired rectoanal inhibitory reflex, although these abnormalities may be nonspecific for Chagas disease. The presence of megarectum is a nonspecific finding.
Regional-scale transport of air pollutants: impacts of southern California emissions on Phoenix ground-level ozone concentrations
Authors: Li J. , Georgescu M. , Hyde P. , Mahalov A. , Moustaoui M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. In this study, WRF-Chem is utilized at high-resolution (1.333 km grid spacing for the innermost domain) to investigate impacts of southern California anthropogenic emissions (SoCal) on Phoenix ground-level ozone concentrations ([O3]) for a pair of recent exceedance episodes. First, WRF-Chem Control simulations are conducted to evaluate model performance. Compared with surface observations of hourly ozone, CO, NOx, and wind fields, the Control simulations reproduce observed variability well. Simulated [O3] are within acceptance ranges recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that characterize skillful experiments. Next, the relative contribution of SoCal and Arizona local anthropogenic emissions (AZ) to ozone exceedance within the Phoenix metropolitan area is investigated via a trio of sensitivity simulations: (1) SoCal emissions are excluded, with all other emissions as in Control; (2) AZ emissions are excluded with all other emissions as in Control; and (3) SoCal and AZ emissions are excluded (i.e., all anthropogenic emissions are eliminated) to account only for biogenic emissions [BEO]. Results for the selected events indicate the impacts of AZ emissions are dominant on daily maximum 8 h average (DMA8) [O3] in Phoenix. SoCal contributions to DMA8 [O3] for the Phoenix metropolitan area range from a few ppbv to over 30 ppbv (10–30% relative to Control experiments). [O3] from SoCal and AZ emissions exhibit the expected diurnal characteristics that are determined by physical and photochemical processes, while BEO contributions to DMA8 [O3] in Phoenix also play a key role. Finally, ozone transport processes and pathways within the lower troposphere are investigated. During daytime, pollutants (mainly ozone) near the southern California coasts are pumped into the planetary boundary-layer over the southern California desert through the mountain chimney and pass channel effects, aiding eastward transport along the desert air basins in southern California and finally, northeastward along the Gila River basin in Arizona, thereby affecting Phoenix air quality during subsequent days. This study indicates that local emission controls in Phoenix need to be augmented with regional emission reductions to attain the federal ozone standard, especially if a more stringent standard is adopted in future years.
Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) satellite observations of tropospheric ammonia
Authors: Shephard M. W. , Cady-Pereira K. E.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Observations of atmospheric ammonia are important in understanding and modelling the impact of ammonia on both human health and the natural environment. We present a detailed description of a robust retrieval algorithm that demonstrates the capabilities of utilizing Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) satellite observations to globally retrieval ammonia concentrations. Initial ammonia retrieval results using both simulated and real observations show that (i) CrIS is sensitive to ammonia in the boundary layer with peak vertical sensitivity typically around ~ 850–750 hPa (~ 1.5 to 2.5 km), which can dip down close to the surface (~ 900 hPa) under ideal conditions, (ii) it has a minimum detection limit of ~ 1 ppbv (peak profile value typically at the surface), and (iii) the information content can vary significantly with maximum values of ~ 1 degree-of-freedom for signal. Comparisons of the retrieval with simulated "true" profiles show a small positive retrieval bias of 6% with a standard deviation of ~ ± 20% (ranging from ± 12 to ± 30% over the vertical profile). Note that these uncertainty estimates are considered as lower bound values as no potential systematic errors are included in the simulations. The CrIS NH3 retrieval applied over the Central Valley in CA, USA, demonstrates that CrIS correlates well with the spatial variability of the boundary layer ammonia concentrations seen by the nearby Quantum Cascade-Laser (QCL) in situ surface and the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) satellite observations as part of the DISCOVER-AQ campaign. The CrIS and TES ammonia observations show quantitatively similar retrieved boundary layer values that are often within the uncertainty of the two observations. Also demonstrated is CrIS's ability to capture the expected spatial distribution in the ammonia concentrations, from elevated values in the Central Valley from anthropogenic agriculture emissions, to much lower values in the unpolluted or clean surrounding mountainous regions. These initial results demonstrate the capabilities of the CrIS satellite to measure ammonia.
Potential of the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Sentinel-5 Precursor for the monitoring of terrestrial chlorophyll fluorescence
Authors: Guanter L. , Aben I. , Tol P. , Krijger J. M. , Hollstein A. , Köhler P. , Damm A. , Joiner J. , Frankenberg C. , Landgraf J.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Global monitoring of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is improving our knowledge about the photosynthetic functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The feasibility of SIF retrievals from spaceborne atmospheric spectrometers has been demonstrated by a number of studies in the last years. In this work, we investigate the potential of the upcoming TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite mission for SIF retrieval. TROPOMI will sample the 675–775 nm spectral window with a spectral resolution of 0.5 nm and a pixel size of 7 km × 7 km. We use an extensive set of simulated TROPOMI data in order to assess the uncertainty of single SIF retrievals and subsequent spatio-temporal composites. Our results illustrate the enormous improvement in SIF monitoring achievable with TROPOMI with respect to comparable spectrometers currently in-flight, such as the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) instrument. We find that TROPOMI can reduce global uncertainties in SIF mapping by more than a factor of 2 with respect to GOME-2, which comes together with an approximately 5-fold improvement in spatial sampling. Finally, we discuss the potential of TROPOMI to map other important vegetation parameters at a global scale with moderate spatial resolution and short revisit time. Those include leaf photosynthetic pigments and proxies for canopy structure, which will complement SIF retrievals for a self-contained description of vegetation condition and functioning.
Oxygen and carbon isotope composition of modern planktic foraminifera and near-surface waters in the Fram Strait (Arctic Ocean) – a case study
Authors: Pados T. , Spielhagen R. F. , Bauch D. , Meyer H. , Segl M.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. The upper 500 m of the water column and the sediment surface along an E–W transect in the Fram Strait were sampled for recent planktic foraminifera. The δ18O and δ13C values of the tests are compared to the stable isotope composition of the water samples taken from the same depths, and related to the characteristics of the water column. The polar species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma clearly dominates the species assemblage in the Fram Strait in the early summer, while the subpolar Turborotalita quinqueloba accounts only for 5–23%. In this area the average depth of calcification of N. pachyderma lies between 70–150 m water depth, T. quinqueloba shows a similar range with 50–120 m water depth. The δ18O values of N. pachyderma show an average vital effect of about −1.5‰ compared to calculated equilibrium calcite values. Except for the upper ∼75 m, the vertical profiles of δ13C of the net-sampled shells are nearly parallel to the values measured in the water column with an average offset of −1.6‰ and −3.6‰ for N. pachyderma and T. quinqueloba, respectively. The discrepancy found in the upper ~75 m might indicate an influence of the "carbonate ion effect" on the carbon isotope incorporation in the tests. Oxygen and carbon isotopes from the sediment surface yield higher values than those from the water column for both species. This may be because specimens from the water column reflect a modern snapshot only, while tests from surface sediments record environmental parameters from the past ~1000 years.
Early Paleogene variations in the calcite compensation depth: new constraints using old borehole sediments from across Ninetyeast Ridge, central Indian Ocean
Authors: Slotnick B. S. , Lauretano V. , Backman J. , Dickens G. R. , Sluijs A. , Lourens L.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Major variations in global carbon cycling occurred between 62 and 48 Ma, and these very likely related to changes in the total carbon inventory of the ocean-atmosphere system. Based on carbon cycle theory, variations in the mass of the ocean carbon should be reflected in contemporaneous global ocean carbonate accumulation on the seafloor and, thereby, the depth of the calcite compensation depth (CCD). To better constrain the cause and magnitude of these changes, the community needs early Paleogene carbon isotope and carbonate accumulation records from widely separated deep-sea sediment sections, especially including the Indian Ocean. Several CCD reconstructions for this time interval have been generated using scientific drill sites in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; however, corresponding information from the Indian Ocean has been extremely limited. To assess the depth of the CCD and the potential for renewed scientific drilling of Paleogene sequences in the Indian Ocean, we examine lithologic, nannofossil, carbon isotope, and carbonate content records for late Paleocene – early Eocene sediments recovered at three sites spanning Ninetyeast Ridge: Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites 213 (deep, east), 214 (shallow, central), and 215 (deep, west). The disturbed, discontinuous sediment sections are not ideal, because they were recovered in single holes using rotary coring methods, but remain the best Paleogene sediments available from the central Indian Ocean. The δ13C records at Sites 213 and 215 are similar to those generated at several locations in the Atlantic and Pacific, including the prominent high in δ13C across the Paleocene carbon isotope maximum (PCIM) at Site 215, and the prominent low in δ13C across the early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) at both Site 213 and Site 215. The Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) and the K/X event are found at Site 213 but not at Site 215, presumably because of coring gaps. Carbonate content at both Sites 213 and 215 drops to <5% shortly after the first occurrence of Discoaster lodoensis and the early Eocene rise in δ13C (~52 Ma). This reflects a rapid shoaling of the CCD, and likely a major decrease in the net flux of 13C-depleted carbon to the ocean. Our results support ideas that major changes in net fluxes of organic carbon to and from the exogenic carbon cycle occurred during the early Paleogene. Moreover, we conclude that excellent early Paleogene carbonate accumulation records might be recovered from the central Indian Ocean with future scientific drilling.
Improving the global applicability of the RUSLE model – adjustment of the topographical and rainfall erosivity factors
Authors: Naipal V. , Reick C. , Pongratz J. , Van Oost K.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. Large uncertainties exist in estimated rates and the extent of soil erosion by surface runoff on a global scale, and this limits our understanding of the global impact that soil erosion might have on agriculture and climate. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model is due to its simple structure and empirical basis a frequently used tool in estimating average annual soil erosion rates at regional to global scales. However, large spatial scale applications often rely on coarse data input, which is not compatible with the local scale at which the model is parameterized. This study aimed at providing the first steps in improving the global applicability of the RUSLE model in order to derive more accurate global soil erosion rates. We adjusted the topographical and rainfall erosivity factors of the RUSLE model and compared the resulting soil erosion rates to extensive empirical databases on soil erosion from the USA and Europe. Adjusting the topographical factor required scaling of slope according to the fractal method, which resulted in improved topographical detail in a coarse resolution global digital elevation model. Applying the linear multiple regression method to adjust rainfall erosivity for various climate zones resulted in values that are in good comparison with high resolution erosivity data for different regions. However, this method needs to be extended to tropical climates, for which erosivity is biased due to the lack of high resolution erosivity data. After applying the adjusted and the unadjusted versions of the RUSLE model on a global scale we find that the adjusted RUSLE model not only shows a global higher mean soil erosion rate but also more variability in the soil erosion rates. Comparison to empirical datasets of the USA and Europe shows that the adjusted RUSLE model is able to decrease the very high erosion rates in hilly regions that are observed in the unadjusted RUSLE model results. Although there are still some regional differences with the empirical databases, the results indicate that the methods used here seem to be a promising tool in improving the applicability of the RUSLE model on a coarse resolution on global scale.
Diagnostic and model dependent uncertainty of simulated Tibetan permafrost area
Authors: Wang W. , Rinke A. , Moore J. C. , Cui X. , Ji D. , Li Q. , Zhang N. , Wang C. , Zhang S. , Lawrence D. M. , McGuire A. D. , Zhang W. , Delire C. , Koven C. , Saito K. , MacDougall A. , Burke E. , Decharme B.
Published: March 2015

Abstract. We perform a land surface model intercomparison to investigate how the simulation of permafrost area on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) varies between 6 modern stand-alone land surface models (CLM4.5, CoLM, ISBA, JULES, LPJ-GUESS, UVic). We also examine the variability in simulated permafrost area and distribution introduced by 5 different methods of diagnosing permafrost (from modeled monthly ground temperature, mean annual ground and air temperatures, air and surface frost indexes). There is good agreement (99–135 x 104 km2) between the two diagnostic methods based on air temperature which are also consistent with the best current observation-based estimate of actual permafrost area (101 x 104 km2). However the uncertainty (1–128 x 104 km2) using the three methods that require simulation of ground temperature is much greater. Moreover simulated permafrost distribution on TP is generally only fair to poor for these three methods (diagnosis of permafrost from monthly, and mean annual ground temperature, and surface frost index), while permafrost distribution using air temperature based methods is generally good. Model evaluation at field sites highlights specific problems in process simulations likely related to soil texture specification and snow cover. Models are particularly poor at simulating permafrost distribution using definition that soil temperature remains at or below 0°C for 24 consecutive months, which requires reliable simulation of both mean annual ground temperatures and seasonal cycle, and hence is relatively demanding. Although models can produce better permafrost maps using mean annual ground temperature and surface frost index, analysis of simulated soil temperature profiles reveals substantial biases. The current generation of land surface models need to reduce biases in simulated soil temperature profiles before reliable contemporary permafrost maps and predictions of changes in permafrost distribution can be made for the Tibetan Plateau.
Análise de um Processo de Inovação a Partir da Ótica de Gestão de Projetos
Authors: Goelzer Viviane , Nodari Cristine Hermann , Soccol Leandro , Severo Eliana
Published: March 2015

Os projetos ocorrem em praticamente todas as organizações variando em termos de finalidade, complexidade e volume de recursos empregados, gerando produtos ou serviços para clientes internos e externos. Quando uma empresa decide inovar, está, em maior ou menor grau, tomando uma decisão organizacional e assumindo os riscos de mudança. Neste contexto, o estudo teve por objetivo analisar o gerenciamento de projetos e sua aplicação para a inovação, como perspectiva da obtenção de resultados positivos. Tratou-se de uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, tendo como método de trabalho o estudo de caso Os resultados observados foram a oportunidade da empresa, conhecer e praticar as ferramentas de gerenciamento de projetos a fim de aperfeiçoar seus recursos e viabilizar suas ideias através de tecnologias e inovações oferecidas a seus clientes, bem como apresentar a aproximação das teorias de gerenciamento de projetos a partir da gestão de ideias e implementação de inovação em seus produtos e serviços. Por fim, ressaltou-se as limitações da pesquisa e oportunidades de trabalhos futuros.
Análise de Riscos pelo Uso de Métodos Ágeis na Gestão de Projetos de Desenvolvimento de Software
Authors: Oliveira Leonardo Rocha de , Gomes Geraldo Santoro , Lima Fernando Policarpo de
Published: March 2015

Métodos Ágeis (MA) têm promovido melhorias em diversos aspectos da gestão de projetos de desenvolvimento de software. No entanto, sua aplicação envolve riscos, que podem ser maiores em certas organizações ou contextos de projetos de software. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar os principais riscos pela utilização de MA em empresas desenvolvedoras de software. O trabalho foi desenvolvido como pesquisa exploratória e qualitativa, com entrevistas abertas e semiestruturadas, com líderes de projetos de software. Resultados do trabalho mostram que diferentes tipos de riscos e impactos podem ocorrer em projetos ágeis. No entanto, as conclusões indicam que são apenas duas as principais causas de riscos: (i) engajamento de clientes e (ii) experiência e conhecimento com práticas ágeis.
How a river course influences the species richness and ecological requirements on two opposite riverbanks in a forest area
Authors: Czarnecka Bożenna , Rysiak Anna , Chabudziński Łukasz
Published: March 2015

The goal of the present research was to find correlations between the topographic attributes of a river valley and local ground-floor vegetation and its habitat requirements expressed by ecological indicator values (EIV), using the geographical information systems (GIS), digital elevation model (DEM), and multivariate statistical analysis. We paid special attention to the river course, which determines the differentiation in slope aspects and the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground surface. The model object was an almost latitudinal, ca. 4-km-long break section of the Sopot river, crossing the escarpment zone of the Central Roztocze Highlands, southeastern Poland. The main material comprised species lists (with estimated abundance) for each ca. 200-m-long section, according to the river valley course, separately for the left and right riverbanks, 40 sections altogether, ca. 15 000 vegetation records, and physical and chemical soil measurements. A 3-meter resolution DEM was derived from a 1:10 000 topographic map. We calculated the correlations between the topographic attributes of the valley, species richness, and the EIVs for all the species recognized in each section of the valley. We found 241 herb plant species in the ground-floor vegetation of the study area. We did not find significant differences between the two riversides (61 ±13 species per one section for the left and 63 ±17 for the right side). Thus, the parallel course of the river valley does not change the species richness on a more “sunny” and more “shiny” riverbank. However, this factor “cooperating” with other topographic attributes of the valley significantly differentiates the shape of species showing various requirements for basic habitat resources: light, moisture, soil trophy, reaction, dispersion, and organic-matter content.
Incidental Merkel cell carcinoma in a cutaneous horn: a case report.
Authors: Schick Brian A. , Tobe Joshua S. , Joseph Mariamma G. , Rouse Tyler B. , Gabril Manal Y.
Published: March 2015

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy, which usually presents as an asymptomatic, rapidly growing, firm nodule on sun-damaged skin. We present a 93-year-old female who presented with a “cutaneous horn” on the face. On excision, histologic examination revealed a combined squamous cell carcinoma in situ with underlying MCC. Merkel cell polyomavirus immunohistochemistry was negative in this lesion. This case report highlights the significant association between MCC and squamous cell carcinoma and the uncommon clinical presentation of this combined tumor in the form of a cutaneous horn.
Dermatoscopic findings of atrophic dermatofibroma protuberans
Authors: Akay Bengu Nisa , Unlu Ezgi , Erdem Cengizhan , Okcu Heper Aylin
Published: March 2015

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon locally aggressive mesenchymal tumor with a high local recurrence rate. Atrophic DFSP is a rare variant of DFSP characterized by a non-protuberant lesion. We report on a 23-year-old female, who presented with an atrophic, asymptomatic macule on the right side of her back 2 cm in diameter. Dermatoscopic examination revealed homogenous pigment network on a purplish erythematous background. The histopathological finding of the incisional biopsy material was consistent with DFSP. To our knowledge, this is the second case of atrophic DFSP discussing the dermatoscopic features of this relatively rare condition.
L’art actuel au Québec vu de la francophonie canadienne. Réseaux et influences1
Authors: Robineau Anne
Published: March 2015

Ce texte a pour but de saisir les réseaux et les influences qui lient les artistes franco-canadiens en art actuel au milieu artistique québécois et comment est perçue la réussite professionnelle d’artistes franco-canadiens qui exposent au Québec. Nous espérons montrer comment l’institutionnalisation de l’art actuel au Québec a joué un rôle important dans la carrière d’artistes franco-canadiens, mais aussi dans l’ensemble du réseau des arts visuels de la francophonie canadienne. Vu de l’extérieur du Québec, au sein de la francophonie canadienne, l’art actuel au Québec est un pôle important auquel les artistes franco-canadiens peuvent participer tout en cherchant à se démarquer. Notre hypothèse est que la taille restreinte du réseau de l’art actuel dans la francophonie canadienne conditionne la réussite professionnelle de ses artistes, tout en leur permettant, paradoxalement, de se distinguer par leur appartenance linguistique et identitaire à leur communauté francophone respective. Cette distinction fondée sur l’appartenance linguistique et identitaire peut se traduire dans le propos esthétique de leurs oeuvres, mais aussi par la médiatisation qui est faite de leur pratique artistique et de leur carrière au sein de leur communauté, au Québec et ailleurs. Cette médiatisation a un impact sur le renforcement de l’identité collective. Cette identité collective, qui peut être associée, par ailleurs, à une identité nationale dans le cas du Québec ou « nationalitaire » dans le cas de la francophonie canadienne, s’inscrit également dans le discours sur la diversité culturelle au sein des sociétés globalisées. D’après ce discours, le caractère distinctif de l’appartenance francophone représenterait donc un atout lié à sa spécificité culturelle et linguistique, car il peut augmenter l’intérêt de l’individu qui s’en réclame envers sa propre culture et des activités qu’il entreprend au sein de celle-ci.