bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ebb and Flow of Resistance: Analysis of the Squatters’ Movement and Squatted Social Centres in Brighton
Authors: Dee E.T.C.
Published: December 2016

This article analyses a database of 55 squatted social centres in Brighton. By virtue of their public nature, these projects provide a lens through which to examine the local political squatters’ movement, which was often underground, private and hidden (residential squatting in contrast is not profiled). Several relevant non-squatted spaces are also included since they were used as organisational hubs by squatters. The data was gathered from a mixture of participant observation, reference to archive materials, conversations with squatters past and present, academic sources and activist websites. The projects are assessed in turn by time period, duration, type of building occupied and location (by ward). Significant individual projects are described and two boom periods identified, namely the late 1990s and recent years. Reasons for the two peaks in activity are suggested and criticised. It is argued that social centres bloomed in the 1990s as part of the larger anti-globalisation movement and more recently as a tool of resistance against the criminalisation of squatting. Tentative conclusions are reached concerning the cycles, contexts and institutionalisation of the squatters’ movement. It is suggested that the movement exists in ebbs and flows, influenced by factors both internal (such as the small, transitory nature of the milieu) and external (such as frequent evictions). This research feeds into a larger research project (MOVOKEUR) analysing the various squatters’ movement in cities across Western Europe.
How Benefits Recipients Perceive Themselves through the Lens of the Mass Media - Some Observations from Germany
Authors: Fohrbeck Anna , Hirseland Andreas , Lobato Philipp Ramos
Published: December 2016

Dominant cultural representations of ‘the typical benefits recipient’ – notably in reality television and the tabloids – have been marked by an increasing focus on the character and alleged moral defects of individuals. Drawing on interviews from a large-scale German qualitative longitudinal study, this article explores how benefits recipients respond to such negative media images. Our analysis of interviewees’ ‘identity work’ finds that they have internalised and replicate negative public discourses to a surprising extent. The figure of the ‘typical’ benefits recipient constructed in the media emerges as both a threat to recipients’ self-identities, and as a central reference point in the strategies through which they attempt to defend their respectability. The article concludes with some thoughts on the relationship between such negative representations and the political legitimacy of welfare reform.
Fluorescent bioaerosol particle, molecular tracer, and fungal spore concentrations during dry and rainy periods in a semi-arid forest
Authors: Gosselin Marie Ila , Rathnayake Chathurika M. , Crawford Ian , Pöhlker Christopher , Fröhlich-Nowoisky Janine , Schmer Beatrice , Després Viviane R. , Engling Guenter , Gallagher Martin , Stone Elizabeth , Pöschl Ulrich , Huffman J. Alex
Published: December 2016

Abstract. Bioaerosols pose risks to human health and agriculture and may influence the evolution of mixed-phase clouds and the hydrological cycle on local and regional scales. The availability and reliability of methods and data on the abundance and properties of atmospheric bioaerosols, however, are rather limited. Here we analyze and compare data from different real-time ultraviolet laser/light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) instruments with results from a culture-based spore sampler and offline molecular tracers for airborne fungal spores in a semi-arid forest in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Commercial UV-APS (ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer) and WIBS-3 (wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor, version 3) instruments with different excitation and emission wavelengths were utilized to measure fluorescent aerosol particles (FAPs) during both dry weather conditions and periods heavily influenced by rain. Seven molecular tracers of bioaerosols were quantified by analysis of total suspended particle (TSP) high-volume filter samples using a high-performance anion-exchange chromatography system with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). From the same measurement campaign, Huffman et al. (2013) previously reported dramatic increases in total and fluorescent particle concentrations during and immediately after rainfall and also showed a strong relationship between the concentrations of FAPs and ice nuclei (Huffman et al., 2013; Prenni et al., 2013). Here we investigate molecular tracers and show that during rainy periods the atmospheric concentrations of arabitol (35.2 ± 10.5 ng m−3) and mannitol (44.9 ± 13.8 ng m−3) were 3–4 times higher than during dry periods. During and after rain, the correlations between FAP and tracer mass concentrations were also significantly improved. Fungal spore number concentrations on the order of 104 m−3, accounting for 2–5 % of TSP mass during dry periods and 17–23 % during rainy periods, were obtained from scaling the tracer measurements and from multiple analysis methods applied to the UV-LIF data. Endotoxin concentrations were also enhanced during rainy periods, but showed no correlation with FAP concentrations. Average mass concentrations of erythritol, levoglucosan, glucose, and (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan in TSP samples are reported separately for dry and rainy weather conditions. Overall, the results indicate that UV-LIF measurements can be used to infer fungal spore concentrations, but substantial development of instrumental and data analysis methods appears to be required for improved quantification.
Physical and optical properties of aged biomass burning aerosol from wildfires in Siberia and the Western USA at the Mt. Bachelor Observatory
Authors: Laing James R. , Jaffe Daniel A. , Hee Jonathan R.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. The summer of 2015 was an extreme forest fire year in the Pacific Northwest. Our sample site at the Mt. Bachelor Observatory (MBO, 2.7 km a.s.l.) in central Oregon observed biomass burning (BB) events more than 50 % of the time during August. In this paper we characterize the aerosol physical and optical properties of 19 aged BB events during August 2015. Six of the 19 events were influenced by Siberian fires originating near Lake Baikal that were transported to MBO over 4–10 days. The remainder of the events resulted from wildfires in Northern California and Southwestern Oregon with transport times to MBO ranging from 3 to 35 h. Fine particulate matter (PM1), carbon monoxide (CO), aerosol light scattering coefficients (σscat), aerosol light absorption coefficients (σabs), and aerosol number size distributions were measured throughout the campaign. We found that the Siberian events had a significantly higher Δσabs∕ΔCO enhancement ratio, higher mass absorption efficiency (MAE; Δσabs∕ΔPM1), lower single scattering albedo (ω), and lower absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) when compared with the regional events. We suggest that the observed Siberian events represent that portion of the plume that has hotter flaming fire conditions and thus enabled strong pyroconvective lofting and long-range transport to MBO. The Siberian events observed at MBO therefore represent a selected portion of the original plume that would then have preferentially higher black carbon emissions and thus an enhancement in absorption. The lower AAE values in the Siberian events compared to regional events indicate a lack of brown carbon (BrC) production by the Siberian fires or a loss of BrC during transport. We found that mass scattering efficiencies (MSE) for the BB events ranged from 2.50 to 4.76 m2 g−1. We measured aerosol size distributions with a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). Number size distributions ranged from unimodal to bimodal and had geometric mean diameters (Dpm) ranging from 138 to 229 nm and geometric standard deviations (σg) ranging from 1.53 to 1.89. We found MSEs for BB events to be positively correlated with the geometric mean of the aerosol size distributions (R2 = 0.73), which agrees with Mie theory. We did not find any dependence on event size distribution to transport time or fire source location.
Interannual variations of early winter Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud formation and nitric acid observed by CALIOP and MLS
Authors: Lambert Alyn , Santee Michelle L. , Livesey Nathaniel J.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. We use satellite-borne measurements collected over the last decade (2006–2015) from the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) to investigate the nitric acid distribution and the properties of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) in the early winter Antarctic vortex. Frequently, at the very start of the winter, we find that synoptic-scale depletion of HNO3 can be detected in the inner vortex before the first lidar detection of geophysically associated PSCs. The generation of "sub-visible" PSCs can be explained as arising from the development of a solid particle population with low number densities and large particle sizes. Assumed to be composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT), the sub-visible PSCs form at ambient temperatures well above the ice frost point, but also above the temperature at which supercooled ternary solution (STS) grows out of the background supercooled binary solution (SBS) distribution. The temperature regime of their formation, inferred from the simultaneous uptake of ambient HNO3 into NAT and their Lagrangian temperature histories, is at a depression of a few kelvin with respect to the NAT existence threshold, TNAT. Therefore, their nucleation requires a considerable supersaturation of HNO3 over NAT, and is consistent with a recently described heterogeneous nucleation process on solid foreign nuclei immersed in liquid aerosol. We make a detailed investigation of the comparative limits of detection of PSCs and the resulting sequestration of HNO3 imposed by lidar, mid-infrared, and microwave techniques. We find that the temperature history of air parcels, in addition to the local ambient temperature, is an important factor in the relative frequency of formation of liquid/solid PSCs. We conclude that the initiation of NAT nucleation and the subsequent development of large NAT particles capable of sedimentation and denitrification in the early winter do not emanate from an ice-seeding process. Finally, we investigate the patterns of interannual variability and compare the relative formation frequency of liquid and solid PSCs in the Antarctic lower polar stratosphere using the results of a cluster analysis to synthesize the combined CALIOP and MLS measurements into a relatively small number of interrelated categories.
An Improved Hydrometeor Detection Method for Millimeter-Wavelength Cloud Radar
Authors: Ge Jinming , Zhu Zeen , Zheng Chuang , Xie Hailing , Zhou Tian , Huang Jianping , Fu Qiang
Published: December 2016

Abstract. A new method is proposed to distinguish clouds and other hydrometeors from noise in cloud radar observations. Instead of examining radar return for significant levels of signals, which is used in current cloud radar hydrometeor detection algorithms, this new method extracts signals by first reducing noise distribution to a narrow range. "Square clouds" were constructed to test the two schemes. We applied our method to two months of cloud radar observations, and compared the results with those obtained by applying the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) program operational algorithm. It was found that our method has significant advantages in recognizing clouds with weak signal and reducing the rates of both failed negative and false positive hydrometeor identifications.
Chemical Transport Model Simulations of Organic Aerosol in Southern California: Model Evaluation and Gasoline and Diesel Source Contributions
Authors: Jathar Shantanu H. , Woody Matthew , Pye Havala O. T. , Baker Kirk R. , Robinson Allen L.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. Gasoline- and diesel-fueled engines are ubiquitous sources of air pollution in urban environments. They emit both primary particulate matter and precursor gases that react to form secondary particulate matter in the atmosphere. In this work, we use experimentally derived inputs and parameterizations to predict concentrations and properties of organic aerosol (OA) from mobile sources in southern California using a three-dimensional chemical transport model, the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ). The updated model includes secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from unspeciated intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOC). Compared to the treatment of OA in the traditional version of CMAQ, which is commonly used for regulatory applications, the updated model did not significantly alter the predicted OA mass concentrations but it did substantially improve predictions of OA sources and composition (e.g., POA-SOA split), and ambient IVOC concentrations. The updated model, despite substantial differences in emissions and chemistry, performs similar to a recently released research version of CMAQ. Mobile sources are predicted to contribute about 30–40 % of the OA in southern California (half of which is SOA), making mobile sources the single largest source contributor to OA in southern California. The remainder of the OA is attributed to non-mobile anthropogenic sources (e.g., cooking, biomass burning) with biogenic sources contributing less than 5 % to the total OA. Gasoline sources are predicted to contribute about thirteen times more OA than diesel sources; this difference is driven by differences in SOA production. Model predictions highlight the need to better constrain multi-generational oxidation reactions in chemical transport models.
Investigating the performance of a greenhouse gas observatory in Hefei, China
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Cheng , Liu Wenqing , Xie Pinhua , Liu Jianguo , Sun Youwen , Tian Yuan , Xu Jin , Morino Isamu , Velazco Voltaire A. , Grifﬁth David W. T.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. A ground-based high resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) station has been established in Hefei, China to remotely measure CO2, CO and other trace gases based on near-infrared solar absorption spectra. Total columns of atmospheric CO2 and CO have been successfully measured from July 2014 to April 2016. Daily and monthly average column-averaged dry air mole fraction of CO2 showed a clear seasonal cycle, while the daily and monthly average of XCO displayed no seasonal variation. The spectra collected with an InSb detector in the first year were compared with those collected by an InGaAs detector from July 2015, demonstrating that InGaAs spectra have better signal-to-noise ratios and RMS spectral fitting residuals relative to InSb spectra. Consequently, the measurement precision of the retrieved XCO2 and XCO for InGaAs spectra is superior to InSb spectra, with about 0.04 % and 0.09 % for XCO2, 1.07 % and 2.00 % for XCO within clear sky days, respectively. We analyzed the relationship of daily average XCO2 and XCO on seasonal scale, found that although there was very weak correlation between them in summer and fall, there existed strong correlation in winter and spring. The CO2/CO correlation slope was 126.62 and 94.32 ppm/ppm in winter and spring for 2014–2015 and 2015–2016, respectively. The direct comparison of our observations with GOSAT data shows good agreement of daily average and monthly average XCO2, with biases of -0.64 ppm and -0.49 ppm, and standard deviations of 1.27 ppm and 1.12 ppm, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R2) is 0.87 and 0.92 for daily and monthly average XCO2 between our FTS and GOSAT observations, respectively. Daily average OCO-2 data produce a positive bias of 1.00 ppm and standard deviation of 1.92 ppm relative to our ground-based data, and the monthly average OCO-2 data give a bias of 1.07 ppm and standard deviation of 1.62 ppm. Our daily and monthly average XCO2 also show strong correlation with OCO-2 data, with correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.81 and 0.85, respectively. Although there were a limited number of data during the observations due to instrument failure and adverse weather, the results confirm the suitability of the observatory for long term measurements of greenhouse gases with high precision and accuracy.
A strategy for the measurement of CO2 distribution in the stratosphere
Authors: Carlotti Massimo , Dinelli Bianca Maria , Innocenti Giada , Palchetti Luca
Published: December 2016

Abstract. In this study we introduce a new strategy for the measurement of CO2 distribution in the stratosphere. The proposed experiment is based on an orbiting limb sounder that measures the atmospheric emission within both the thermal infrared (TIR) and far-infrared (FIR) regions. The idea is to exploit the contribution of the pure rotational transitions of molecular oxygen in the FIR to determine the atmospheric fields of temperature and pressure that are necessary to retrieve the distribution of CO2 from its rovibrational transitions in the TIR. The instrument envisaged to test the new strategy is a Fourier transform spectrometer with two output ports hosting a FIR detector devoted to measuring the O2 transitions and a TIR detector devoted to measure the CO2 transitions. Instrumental and observational parameters of the proposed experiment have been defined by exploiting the heritage of both previous studies and operational limb sounders. The performance of the experiment has been assessed with two-dimensional (2-D) retrievals on simulated observations along a full orbit. For this purpose, optimal spectral intervals have been defined using a validated selection algorithm. Both precision and spatial resolution of the obtained CO2 distributions have been taken into account in the results–evaluation process. We show that the O2 spectral features significantly contribute to the performance of CO2 retrievals and that the proposed experiment can determine 2-D distributions of the CO2 volume mixing ratio with precisions of the order of 1 ppmv in the 10–50 km altitude range. The error budget, estimated for the test case of an ideal instrument and neglecting the spectroscopic errors, indicates that, in the 10–50 km altitude range, the total error of the CO2 fields is set by the random component. This is also the case at higher altitudes, provided the retrieval system is able to model the non-local thermal equilibrium conditions of the atmosphere. The best performance is obtained at altitudes between 20 and 50 km, where the vertical resolution ranges from 3 to 5 km, and the horizontal resolution is of the order of 300–350 km depending on latitude.
Marine boundary layer cloud property retrievals from high-resolution ASTER observations: case studies and comparison with Terra MODIS
Authors: Werner Frank , Wind Galina , Zhang Zhibo , Platnick Steven , Di Girolamo Larry , Zhao Guangyu , Amarasinghe Nandana , Meyer Kerry
Published: December 2016

Abstract. A research-level retrieval algorithm for cloud optical and microphysical properties is developed for the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard the Terra satellite. It is based on the operational MODIS algorithm. This paper documents the technical details of this algorithm and evaluates the retrievals for selected marine boundary layer cloud scenes through comparisons with the operational MODIS Data Collection 6 (C6) cloud product. The newly developed, ASTER-specific cloud masking algorithm is evaluated through comparison with an independent algorithm reported in [Zhao and Di Girolamo(2006)]. To validate and evaluate the cloud optical thickness (τ) and cloud effective radius (reff) from ASTER, the high-spatial-resolution ASTER observations are first aggregated to the same 1000 m resolution as MODIS. Subsequently, τaA and reff, aA retrieved from the aggregated ASTER radiances are compared with the collocated MODIS retrievals. For overcast pixels, the two data sets agree very well with Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients of R > 0.970. However, for partially cloudy pixels there are significant differences between reff, aA and the MODIS results which can exceed 10 µm. Moreover, it is shown that the numerous delicate cloud structures in the example marine boundary layer scenes, resolved by the high-resolution ASTER retrievals, are smoothed by the MODIS observations. The overall good agreement between the research-level ASTER results and the operational MODIS C6 products proves the feasibility of MODIS-like retrievals from ASTER reflectance measurements and provides the basis for future studies concerning the scale dependency of satellite observations and three-dimensional radiative effects.
Technical Note: A minimally-invasive experimental system for pCO2
manipulation in plankton cultures using passive gas exchange
(Atmospheric Carbon Control Simulator)
Authors: Love Brooke A. , Olson M. Brady , Wuori Tristen
Published: December 2016

Abstract. As research into the biotic effects of ocean acidification has increased, the methods for simulating these environmental changes in the laboratory have multiplied. Here we describe the atmospheric carbon control simulator (ACCS) for the maintenance of plankton under controlled pCO2 conditions, designed for species sensitive to the physical disturbance introduced by bubbling of cultures and for studies involving trophic interaction. The system consists of gas mixing and equilibration components, coupled with large volume atmospheric simulation chambers. These chambers allow gas exchange to counteract the changes in carbonate chemistry induced by the metabolic activity of the organisms. The system is relatively low cost, very flexible, and when used in conjunction with semi-continuous culture methods, increases the density of organisms kept under realistic conditions, increases the allowable time interval between dilutions, and/or decreases the metabolically driven change in carbonate chemistry during these intervals. It accommodates a large number of culture vessels, which facilitate multi-trophic level studies and allow the tracking of variable OA responses within and across plankton populations. It also includes components that increase the reliability of gas mixing systems using mass flow controllers.
The influence of turbulent bursting on sediment resuspension under fluvial
unidirectional currents
Authors: Salim Sarik , Pattiaratchi Charitha , Tinoco Rafael , Coco Giovanni , Hetzel Yasha , Wijeratne Sarath , Jayaratne Ravindra
Published: December 2016

Abstract. Laboratory experiments were undertaken in a unidirectional current flume in order to examine the role of turbulence on incipient sediment motion. An acoustic Doppler velocimeter was used to measure the instantaneous three-dimensional velocity components and acoustic backscatter (related to suspended sediment concentration). The relationship between wall turbulence (in particular, the "bursting" phenomenon) and resuspension of a non-cohesive sediment bed was examined. The results within a range above and below the measured critical velocity suggested that: 1) the contribution of turbulent bursting events remained identical in both experimental conditions; 2) ejection and sweep events contributed more to the total sediment flux than up-acceleration and down-deceleration events; and 3) wavelet transform revealed a correlation between the momentum and sediment flux in both test conditions. Such similarities in conditions above and below the measured critical velocity highlighted the need to re-evaluate the accuracy of a single time-averaged critical velocity for the initiation of sediment entrainment.
A framework for expanding aqueous chemistry in the Community
Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model version 5.1
Authors: Fahey Kathleen M. , Carlton Annmarie G. , Pye Havala O. T. , Baek Jaemeen , Hutzell William T. , Stanier Charles , Baker Kirk R. , Appel K. Wyat , Jaoui Mohammed , Offenberg John H.
Published: December 2016

Abstract. This paper describes the development and implementation of an extendable aqueous phase chemistry option (AQCHEM-KMT(I)) for the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system, version 5.1. Here the Kinetic PreProcessor (KPP), version 2.2.3, is used to generate a Rosenbrock solver (Rodas3) to integrate the stiff system of ODEs that describe the mass transfer, chemical kinetics, and scavenging processes of CMAQ clouds. CMAQ's standard cloud chemistry module (AQCHEM) is structurally limited to the treatment of a simple chemical mechanism. This work advances our ability to test and implement more sophisticated aqueous chemical mechanisms in CMAQ and further investigate the impacts of microphysical parameters on cloud chemistry. Box model cloud chemistry simulations were performed to choose efficient solver and tolerance settings, evaluate the implementation of the KPP solver, and assess the direct impacts of alternative solver and kinetic mass transfer on predicted concentrations for a range of scenarios. Month-long CMAQ simulations for winter and summer periods over the U.S. reveal the changes in model predictions due to these cloud module updates within the full chemical transport model. While monthly average CMAQ predictions are not drastically altered between AQCHEM and AQCHEM-KMT, hourly concentration differences can be significant. With added in-cloud secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation from biogenic epoxides (AQCHEM-KMTI), normalized mean error and bias statistics are slightly improved for 2-methyltetrols and 2-methylglyceric acid at the Research Triangle Park measurement site in North Carolina during the SOAS field campaign period. The added in-cloud chemistry leads to a monthly-average increase of 11–18 % in "cloud" SOA at the surface in the eastern U.S. for June 2013.
Recent trends and variability in river discharge across northern Canada
Authors: Déry Stephen J. , Stadnyk Tricia A. , MacDonald Matthew K. , Gauli-Sharma Bunu
Published: December 2016

Abstract. This study presents an analysis of the observed inter-annual variability and inter-decadal trends in river discharge across northern Canada for 1964–2013. The 42 rivers chosen for this study span a combined gauged area of 5.26  ×  106 km2 and are selected based on data availability and quality, gauged area and record length. Inter-annual variability in river discharge is greatest for the eastern Arctic Ocean (coefficient of variation, CV  =  16 %) due to the Caniapiscau River diversion into the La Grande Rivière system for enhanced hydropower production. Variability is lowest for the study area as a whole (CV  =  7 %). Based on the Mann–Kendall test (MKT), no significant (p > 0.05) trend in annual discharge from 1964 to 2013 is observed in the Bering Sea, western Arctic Ocean, western Hudson and James Bay, and Labrador Sea; for northern Canada as a whole, however, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decline of 102.8 km3 25 yr−1 in discharge occurs over the first half of the study period followed by a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase of 208.8 km3 25 yr−1 in the latter half. Increasing (decreasing) trends in river discharge to the eastern Hudson and James Bay (eastern Arctic Ocean) are largely explained by the Caniapiscau diversion to the La Grande Rivière system. Strong regional variations in seasonal trends of river discharge are observed, with overall winter (summer) flows increasing (decreasing, with the exception of the most recent decade) partly due to flow regulation and storage for enhanced hydropower production along the Hudson and James Bay, the eastern Arctic Ocean and Labrador Sea. Flow regulation also suppresses the natural variability of river discharge, particularly during cold seasons.
Different Methods for Overcoming Integumental Dormancy during in vitro Germination of Red Araza Seeds
Authors: Freire Cassio G. , Gardin João P. P. , Baratto César M. , Vieira Renato L.
Published: December 2016

Red Araza, or Red Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleianum Sabine) is a native Brazilian Atlantic Forest species of the Myrtaceae family, whose seeds exhibit integumental dormancy. Due to its importance to different industries worldwide, recent research efforts are seeking to expand this species’ micropropagation processes using in vitro seedling germination, especially since in vitro micropropagation of adult plant material has, so far, been limited. This research effort evaluated different methods of overcoming integumental dormancy during in vitro germination of the Red Araza, so as to allow future micropropagation of the species. The seeds’ emergence and vigor were evaluated based on mechanical and acid scarification, using different substrates and immersions in solutions with different levels of gibberellic acid (GA3), and on the influence of the pre-immersion of seeds in water and sulfuric acid. The mechanical and acid scarification of the seeds, combined or separate, resulted in higher in vitro germination percentages and a higher germination rate index (GRI). Pre-immersion in distilled water (20 hours) also proved to be efficient for the germination of the Red Araza seed, with 76.2% of the seeds germinating and a higher speed of emergence (GRI = 0.18). When compared to a Murashige and Skoog (MS-zero) medium, sowing in a hydrophilic cotton substrate showed greater emergence and vigor, with approximately 70% of the seeds germinating. Treating the seeds by pre-immersing them in GA3 turned out to be unnecessary. The methods used for overcoming integumental dormancy during in vitro germination of Red Araza seeds proved to be efficient, and could be used to develop micropropagation protocols of seminal origin for this species.
Lipometabolic Alteration in Mice Feeding Eatable Tissues of Chinese Mitten Crab
Authors: Jing Jun , Wu Wenhui , Xiao Xinfeng , Zhou Yu , Wang Xiaoyu , Chen Shangqiao , Wang Shujun , Cheng Yongxu , Wu Xugan , Bao Bin
Published: December 2016

Objective: Chinese mitten crab is a famous aquatic species in eastern Asian region, but their edible parts, particularly hepatopancreas and gonads, generally contain very high levels of lipids that may have negative effects on human health. This study investigated the effects of different edible parts of Chinese mitten crab on the body weight and lip metabolism for Kunming mice.

Method: The mice were fed with diets containing one part of an Chinese mitten crab or the mixture of parts of an Chinese mitten crab for 4 weeks. There were 9 treatments. The triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were enzymatically determined using commercial kits (purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China). The arteriosclerosis index (AI) was calculated by the equation: AI = (TC – HDL-C)/HDL-C. The levels of fatty acid syntheses (FAS), the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were measured using commercially available kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The significant differences between the groups were further analyzed by Bonferronis’s t-test.

Results: Our results showed that the crab hepatopancreas, gonads and the mixed male crab-edible parts increased blood lipids in some experiment group of mice corresponding to a change in the nutrition-related liver enzymes. It shows that addition of the Chinese mitten crab has an adverse effect on the blood lipid levels in mice. The FFH, FFMI and FMMI groups had significantly higher weight than the FN group (P < 0.05). The crab hepatopancreas, crab gonads and the mixed male crab-edible parts cause an increase in the blood lipid levels. The crab mixture significantly affected the AI value of male and female mice (P < 0.01). The level of FMMI group was significantly higher than the FN group (P < 0.05). Other groups showed no significant difference. The level of the FFMI group was significantly lower than the FN group (P < 0.05), and levels in the MMM and MFMI groups were significantly lower than the MN group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: It clearly showed that long-term feeding with the Chinese mitten crab has an adverse effect on the blood lipid levels in mice. One the one hand, the weight, liver index and fat index of experimental mice were changed than normal mice. On the other hand, the crab diet affects the level of TC, TG, AI and FASN on increasing. It is suggested that the special diet has affected lip metabolic alteration associated with contents of serum lipids and metabolic enzymes. But according to a certain regular feeding, there would be no adverse effect on mice. On the contrary, it may adjust the blood lipid in mice
Comparison of Two Harvest Methods for Lettuce Production in an Aquaponic System
Authors: Johnson Gaylynn E. , Buzby Karen M. , Semmens Kenneth J. , Waterland Nicole L.
Published: December 2016

Aquaponics is an integrated food production technology of aquaculture and hydroponics. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an economically important vegetable crop that can be grown aquaponically. In addition to selecting the right choice of lettuce cultivars, developing an optimal harvest strategy could increase lettuce production. Lettuce production using two harvest methods, Cut-and-Come-Again (CC) and Once-and-Done (OD), was evaluated using ‘Red Sails’ lettuce in a flow-through aquaponic system rearing trout. With the CC method continual harvesting was possible on a weekly basis after the initial harvest, while it took five weeks for each harvest using the OD method. The total yield of lettuce by the CC method was 6.7 kg from 9 trays, while 22.6 kg of lettuce was harvested by the OD method using 54 trays. In harvests by the OD method, 6 times as many seeds were sown compared to the CC method. The average yield per tray harvested by the CC method (744.4 g/tray) was 78% higher than that by the OD method (418.5 g/tray) because the CC method used 6 times less trays. Productivity, calculated by the average yield per growing week, of the two harvest methods at the first harvest was similar, but 4.8 times higher in the CC method than in the OD method at the second harvest due to the shorter harvest time. However, visual and decay ratings of lettuce harvested by the CC method began to decline afterwards. Together, the OD method after two consecutive harvests by the CC method would help growers to obtain increased yield of quality lettuce.
Maize Response to Nitrogen: Timing, Leaf Variables and Grain Yield
Authors: Silva Adilson Nunes da , Schoninger Evandro Luiz , Trivelin Paulo Cesar Ocheuze , Dourado-Neto Durval , Pinto Victor Meriguetti , Reichardt Klaus
Published: December 2016

The main factors determining plant growth and productivity are decisive to be understood since they contribute to maximize plant nitrogen use efficiency. Thus, more reviews related to the correlation between the real content of chlorophyll and real carotenoids with the values obtained by chlorophyll (SPAD) in the early development stages of the maize are important to be obtained. The relation between the maize crop responses to the nitrogen fertilization at different development stages is of fundamental importance as well. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the responses of maize to the nitrogen application, urea fertilizer (15N), in side-dress at different development stages. The secondary objective was verifying the correlation between chlorophylls and carotenoids with SPAD index and these with total biomass (BM), harvest index (HI), grain yield (GY) and grain N content in response to the nitrogen side-dress at different development stages. The nitrogen fertilization was carried out in plots, with the application of 30 kg ha-1 of N at planting and 140 kg ha-1 N as side-dress at vegetative stages V4, V6, V8, V10, and V12, without incorporation into the soil, and control treatment consisted of non-nitrogen side-dress application was also utilized. The 2011/2012 season presented higher precipitation than 2012/2013. Maize crop responded similarly for GY to the nitrogen application in side-dress in both seasons, however, the nitrogen application in the early stages caused higher values for leaf variables, leaf pigments, and SPAD. Higher amount of nitrogen in all parts of the plants was observed in the 2011/2012 season than in 2012/2013, influenced by the adequate weather conditions at the nitrogen application moment. Grain N content from 15N fertilizer and N uptake and efficiency were greater for early N applications. SPAD values correlated positively with most pigment variables at V16 in both seasons, thus proving that SPAD was an efficient instrument of indirect evaluation of chlorophylls and carotenoids in maize leaves at early stages. Chlorophyll b at V16 was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with grain N content, GY, and BM, and total chlorophyll at V16 was positively correlated with GY and grain N content. However the chlorophylls a and total, evaluated at V14, were negatively correlated with GY. So, measurement of real chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment contents should be done after V14 stage when studies aim to evaluate crop nutritional conditions and prescribe future grain production practices.
Crop Suitability Mapping for Rice, Cassava, and Yam in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Abah Roland Clement , Petja Brilliant Mareme
Published: December 2016

Agricultural production has contributed over time to food security and rural economic development in developing countries particularly supporting the countryside. Evidence of crop yield decline exist in the Lower River Benue Basin. This was a crop suitability mapping for rice, cassava, and yam to guide policy makers in strategic planning for sustainable agricultural development. Data was collected on various themes including climate, drainage, soil, satellite imagery, and maps. Remote Sensing was used to analyse satellite imagery to produce a digital elevation model, land use and land cover map, and normalised difference vegetation index map. GIS was used to produce thematic maps, weighted percentages of attribute data, and to produce crop suitability maps through weighted overlay. Soils in the study area require fertility enhancement with inorganic fertilisers for better crop yield. Soils in the Lower River Benue Basin are suitable for yam, cassava, and rice cultivation on maps of suitable areas. Some areas were found to be highly suitable for the cultivation of rice (34.22%), cassava (17.08%) and yam (16.08%). Some other areas were found to be moderately suitable for the cultivation of cassava (48.18%), rice (45.46%), and yam (48.85%). Areas with low suitability were 14.99% (rice), 33.68% (cassava), and 29.57% (yam). This study has demonstrated the importance of crop suitability mapping and recommends that farmers’ cooperative societies and policy makers utilise the information presented to improve decision making methods and policies for agricultural development.
THE CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF THE SHAPE PARAMETERS FOR ENDOTHELIAL IMAGE CHARACTERISATION
Authors: Nurzynska Karolina , Piorkowski Adam
Published: December 2016

Microscopic images of corneal endothelium cells are investigated to deliver information about their medical state. Although this could be achieved automatically, this examination is manual and very time consuming. Two medical parameters for endothelial layer quality description have been introduced and more are planned. Yet, since they will exploit image processing, a thoughtful overview of applicable existing shape parameters is necessary. This work investigates the possibility of exploiting well-known image processing techniques for describing the endothelial layer by calculating information about shape features using spatial moments or topological attributes. The comparison concentrates on finding which shape measures could be combined to improve descriptions, and which cannot due to their high correlation and the fact that they do not contain any new information. The performed experiments revealed a set of 17 non-correlated features and four groups of shape parameters that show some correlation, but one representative can always be selected. Moreover, the investigation proved some correlation between the metrics used in medicine and considered shape features.
Evaluation of the 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay (MDA) 2 – Listeria monocytogenes for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a Variety of Foods and Select Environmental Surfaces: Collaborative Study, First Action 2016.08
Authors: Bird Patrick , Flannery Jonathan , Crowley Erin , Agin James , Goins David , Monteroso Lisa ,   Collaborators:, Barnes C , Bastin B , Baumler D , Bosco D , Brandt A , Brooks R , Budge E , Calle A , Campos D , Chavarria C , Diaz Proano C , Geurin Z , Gies C , Hernandez F , Isfort D , Lopez C , Ma L , Maranan E , Metz Z , Miller J , Repeck A , Schindler B , Shekhawat M , Sjogren E , Smith R , Timmons C , Trevino G , Walia J , Wood D , Zook C
Published: December 2016

The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay (MDA) 2 – Listeria monocytogenes uses loop-mediated isothermal amplification of unique DNA target sequences combined with bioluminescence to rapidly detect Listeria monocytogenes in a broad range of food types and on environmental surfaces. Using an unpaired study design, technicians from 13 laboratories located in the United States and Canada compared the 3M MDA 2 – Listeria monocytogenes to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook Chapter 8.09 “Isolation and Identification of Listeria monocytogenes from Red Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products, and Environmental Samples” reference method for the detection of L. monocytogenes in deli turkey and raw chicken breast fillet. Each matrix was evaluated at three levels of contamination: an uninoculated control level (0 CFU/test portion), a low inoculum level (0.2–2 CFU/test portion), and a high inoculum level (2–5 CFU/test portion). Statistical analysis was conducted according to the probability of detection (POD) statistical model. Results obtained for the low inoculum level test portions produced a difference in the collaborating laboratory POD (dLPOD) value of 0.04 with a 95% confidence interval of (−0.08, 0.17) for deli turkey, indicating that the difference between methods was not statistically significant at the 0.05 probability level. For raw chicken breast fillet, a dLPOD value of 0.16 with a 95% confidence interval of (0.04, 0.28) indicated a statistically significant difference, with an observed higher proportion of positive results by the candidate method compared to the reference method.
Control of friction force by light observed by friction force microscopy in a vacuum
Authors: Sasaki Michiko , Xu Yibin , Goto Masahiro
Published: December 2016

The friction force (FF) between Coumarin 6 molecules on a silicon cantilever and a sapphire single-crystal substrate was controlled by laser irradiation in a vacuum. The molecules on the tip surface of the cantilever absorbed the laser light and were photoexcited. It was found that the interaction between the Coumarin 6 molecules and the sapphire in the vacuum was changed rapidly by the irradiation, thus increasing the FF. After turning off the laser, the FF returned to its original value. This phenomenon is expected to be applied to control the performance of micro-electro-mechanical systems by light.
Electroluminescence emission patterns of organic light-emitting transistors based on crystallized fluorene-type polymers
Authors: Kajii Hirotake , Ohtomo Takahiro , Ohmori Yutaka
Published: December 2016

The electroluminescence (EL) emission patterns of organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs) based on crystallized poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8), poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-dithienyl-benzothiadiazole) (F8TBT) films are investigated. For the single-layer devices and the mixed-layer device without an F8/F8BT interface, only line-shaped EL emission patterns are observed between source/drain (S/D) electrodes. For an F8BT (F8TBT)/F8 heterostructure device, a localized electric field is generated by the positive (negative) charges of the accumulated holes (electrons) in the F8 upper layer, which allow the injection of electrons (holes) in the F8BT (F8TBT) lower layer at a lower (higher) gate voltage. The F8/F8BT device exhibits unique light emission properties with a surface like EL emission pattern between S/D electrodes at a lower gate voltage. The interfacial structure is important for forming field-effect transistor channels along different organic layers to obtain a surface like emission between S/D electrodes. For the F8TBT/F8 OLET, the hole carrier transport mainly occurs at the F8TBT lower layer, and line-shaped EL emission patterns are observed in the vicinity of the source electrode upon varying the gate voltages owing to the worse carrier balance between the F8TBT lower layer and the F8 upper layer.
Self-aligned metal double-gate junctionless p-channel low-temperature polycrystalline-germanium thin-film transistor with thin germanium film on glass substrate
Authors: Hara Akito , Nishimura Yuya , Ohsawa Hiroki
Published: December 2016

Low-temperature (LT) polycrystalline-germanium (poly-Ge) thin-film transistors (TFTs) are viable contenders for use in the backplanes of flat-panel displays and in systems-on-glass because of their superior electrical properties compared with silicon and oxide semiconductors. However, LT poly-Ge shows strong p-type characteristics. Therefore, it is not easy to reduce the leakage current using a single-gate structure such as a top-gate or bottom-gate structure. In this study, self-aligned planar metal double-gate p-channel junctionless LT poly-Ge TFTs are fabricated on a glass substrate using a 15-nm-thick solid-phase crystallized poly-Ge film and aluminum-induced lateral metallization source–drain regions (Al-LM-SD). A nominal field-effect mobility of 19 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an on/off ratio of 2 × 103 were obtained by optimizing the Al-LM-SD on a glass substrate through a simple, inexpensive LT process.
Highly efficient and inverted tandem organic light-emitting devices using a MoO3/Al/MoO3 charge generation layer
Authors: Li Ya-Ze , Lee Chih-Chien , Li Yan-De , Yeh Tzu-Hung , Chang Po-Chien , Biring Sajal , Huang Kuan-Chieh , Su Chia-Hung , Liu Shun-Wei
Published: December 2016

We present bottom-emission, inverted, tandem phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (PHOLEDs) using a multilayer charge generation layer (CGL) of MoO3/Al/MoO3 (MAM), which exhibits a maximum external quantum efficiency of 40% and current efficiency of 120 cd/A. In this inverted tandem structure, the feature of MAM shows a high optical transmittance (approximately 90%) in visible light, an efficient charge generation property, and a relatively smooth morphology (root mean square of ∼0.336 nm) providing an efficient CGL to connect the bottom and top display units. In addition, the device structure of ITO/LiF/TAPC/MAM/BPhen:CS2CO3/BPhen/LiF/Al was proposed to capacitance characterization, and the results demonstrated that using the ultrathin Al of ∼2 nm in a MAM structure exhibited a more efficient CGL for high performance inverted tandem PHOLEDs.