bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SISTEMA ELEITORAL E REELEIÇÃO NAS ELEIÇÕES MUNICIPAIS DE 2012 PARA O EXECUTIVO NO BRASIL
Authors: Conceição Bruno Da Silva
Published: August 2015

Neste artigo investigamos o efeito do sistema eleitoral na competição municipal para o cargo de Prefeito na eleição de 2012. A pesquisa questiona-se acerca das implicações teóricas das Leis de Duverger que apontam uma relação causal entre a fórmula eleitoral e a competição eleitoral. Utilizamos o conceito de competição eleitoral que corresponde ao número de candidatos efetivos concorrendo em cada pleito. Para medir isso, recorremos ao número de candidatos efetivos (NCE), índice que estabelece o número real de candidaturas que tem peso em uma disputa eleitoral. Nosso questionamento norteador é saber se haveria diferenciação na competição política nas cidades com turno único que utilizam a fórmula de Plurality (Maioria simples), comparada com aquelas cidades que possuem a possibilidade de segundo turno que utilizam a fórmula de Majority Runoff (maioria absoluta). Ainda inserimos uma segunda variável de controle que é o fator da reeleição. Nosso objetivo é testar se as Leis de Duverger perdem valor explicativo com a presença do Incumbent (Titular do Executivo municipal buscando a reeleição). Essa tarefa foi realizada pela análise comparada das competições municipais de 2012, em todas as cidades brasileiras, através dos dados provenientes do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE). Concluímos que a Plurality contribui para a redução da competição eleitoral nos municípios brasileiros e que o fator da reeleição afeta pouco o lançamento de candidaturas.
Editorial šestého čísla
Authors: Cígler Hynek , Juhová Dana , Branebec Luboš
Published: August 2015

Vážené kolegyně, vážení kolegové,kdyby Testfórum vycházelo v tištěné podobě, drželi byste dnes v rukou jeho šesté číslo. Je tomu právě pět let, co vyšlo číslo první, a dva a čtvrt roku od čísla druhého. Za tímto zhruba 600% nárůstem publikační frekvence stojí podpora z evropských fondů OPVK2, o jejichž přispění svědčí loga v závěru většiny článků i v patičce internetových stránek. Celkem díky nim vzniklo 47 příspěvků, z toho 13 odborných, 12 diskuzních článků a 17 recenzí testů.(Celý editorial je součástí PDF.)
Metóda vývinovej diagnostiky: Skríning psychomotorického vývinu S-PMV. Informácie o projekte
Authors: Váryová Barbora , Matušková Oľga , Heretik Anton , Hajdúk Michal
Published: August 2015

Prinášame informáciu o tvorbe novej metódy vývinovej diagnostiky (S-PMV) určenej pre pediatrov, ale aj odborníkov, ktorí pracujú v oblasti včasnej diagnostiky detí do 3 rokov. Ide o pôvodnú slovenskú metódu, ktorá vzniká na základe potreby aktualizovať a štandardizovať postupy vyšetrení na odhaľovanie rizika oneskoreného vývinu a vývinových porúch. Metóda pozostáva zo súboru dotazníkov určených na vyplnenie rodičmi, ktorých položky prešli viacstupňovým výberom a boli konfrontované s anamnézou a s posúdením dieťaťa pediatrom. S-PMV bol overovaný na vzorke 2710 detí, ktorú sme získali v spolupráci so 45 pediatrami v rámci celého Slovenska. The contribution provides information about creating a new method of developmental diagnostics (S-PMV) designed for pediatricians, as well as professionals working in the field of early diagnostics of children under 3 years. This is the original Slovak method which arises from the need to update and standardize procedures for examinations to detect the risk of delayed development and developmental disorders. The method consists of a set of questionnaires designed to be filled by parents, whose items have gone through a multi-stage selection and were confronted with a history and with assessment of a child by pediatrician. S-PMV was tested on a sample of 2,710 children, which we acquired in cooperation with 45 pediatricians within Slovakia.
Hodnotové preferencie adolescentov vo vzťahu k užívaniu kanabinoidov
Authors: Gatial Viktor , Čerešník Michal , Žovinec Erik
Published: August 2015

V našom príspevku sa venujeme hodnotovým preferenciám adolescentov vo vzťahu k užívaniu psychoaktívnych látok, konkrétne kanabinoidov. Predpokladáme, že užívanie kanabisu súvisí so špecifickým usporiadaním hodnotových preferencií v porovnaní s intaktnou populáciou. Ako výskumnú metódu sme použili Dotazník hodnôt zo štandardizovaného dotazníka HO-PO-MO, ktorého autorom je Vonkomer. Štatistická analýza získaných dát potvrdzuje náš predpoklad. V súlade s citovanými výskumami konštatujeme, že užívanie kanabisu súvisí s odlišnou organizácii hodnotových preferencií, vyhľadávaní nových zážitkov a vo všeobecnosti v definovaní špecifického životného štýlu. In our contribution we are focused on value preferences of the adolescents in the relation with the psychoactive substances usage, concretely cannabinoids. We assumed that the cannabis usage is in the relation with the specific configuration of the value preferences in the comparison with the intact population. We used The Value Questionnaire from the standardized questionnaire HO-PO-MO as a diagnostic method. The author of this method is Vonkomer. Statistical analysis of the acquired data confirmed our assumption. In the accordance with cited researches we allege that the cannabis usage is in the relation with the different value preferences configuration, novelty seeking and definition of the specific life style in general.
Citová vazba v partnerských vztazích: Current Relationship Interview
Authors: Lacinová Lenka
Published: August 2015

Příspěvek představuje jednu z rozhovorových metod k zjišťování citové vazby v partnerských vztazích dospělých Current Relationship Interview a možnosti jejího využití ve výzkumu a psychologické praxi. Contribution describes one of the interview methods for romantic adult attachment measuring and possibilities of its use in research and clinical context.
Test struktury zájmů (AIST-R): Recenze metody
Authors: Gabrhel Vít
Published: August 2015

Současnou podobu metody lze jen obtížně hodnotit. Důvodem je skutečnost, že chybí informace pro posouzení naprosté většiny klíčových charakteristik psychodiagnostické metody. Nedozvíme se nic o validitě, o stabilitě měření v čase, o standardizačním vzorku. Uvedené míry reliability ve smyslu vnitřní konzistence pak nedosahují dostatečně uspokojivých hodnot pro individuální diagnostické účely. Metoda tedy nemůže být použita jako standardizovaný psychodiagnotický nástroj. V současném stavu je jediné myslitelné využití to pro výzkumné účely. A přestože je teoretickému zázemí AIST-R věnována značná pozornost (tvoří přibližně dvě třetiny celkového rozsahu manuálu, který má celkem 30 stran), i zde lze identifikovat určité nedostatky či bílá místa. Manuál kromě relativně obsáhlého vstupu do teoretického zázemí AIST-R představuje rovněž interpretační model NemaCode, který má procesu interpretace dodávat novou dynamiku a větší srozumitelnost či vzbudit zájem klienta o proces karierního vývoje (Mezera et al., 2005). Bohužel není řečeno, nakolik se tento systém promítá do systému interpretace v rámci AIST-R, resp. zda neslouží spíše pro zpestření či doplnění informací. Zároveň je nutné dodat, že Hollandova teorie není jednohlasně přijímána, což metoda nereflektuje. Někteří výzkumníci (Spokane, Meir, & Catalano, 2000) např. poukazují na skutečnost, že kongruence mezi pracovním prostředím a osobností sice souvisí s uspokojením z práce a s úspěchem, nicméně síla tohoto vztahu je slabá. A zároveň na základě existujícího výzkumu není možná kauzální interpretace tohoto vztahu, tedy že kongruence vede k pracovní spokojenosti a k úspěchu (Young, Tokar, & Subich, 1998). V neposlední řadě sám Holland přiznává, že jeho teorie ve své orientaci na jednotlivce pomíjí strukturní prvky typu vzdělávací instituce či pracovní trh (Holland, 1997). Navzdory jejich neoddiskutovatelnému vlivu na učiněné karierní volby. Stačí zde poukázat např. na vzdělanostní či profesní reprodukci společnosti (Katrňák, 2004). Absence kritiky je ale překvapivá i proto, že je v manuálu zmíněn jeden z představitelů postmoderních přístupů v karierním poradenství Vance Peavy, sám velmi kritický k expertním přístupům v karierním poradenství (Peavy, 2013). Tedy k přístupům, k nimž je s většími či s menšími výhradami právě Hollandovu teorii zařadit.
Baterie testů pro diagnostiku specifických poruch učení u studentů vysokých škol a uchazečů o vysokoškolské studium: Recenze metody
Authors: Neuwirthová Barbora
Published: August 2015

Prezentovaný test je, i přes popsané slabiny, využitelný v oblasti školního poradenství (ať již jde o činnost poradenských center při vysokých školách nebo o činnost pedagogicko-psychologických poraden), zejména při diagnostice specifických poruch učení (dyslexie a dysortografie). Jako zásadní se přitom jeví spíše stanovení vhodných intervenčních strategií, než samotné stanovení diagnózy. Pro dobrou analýzu a interpretaci výsledků v rámci jednotlivých subtestů i dílčích škál je ovšem nezbytné dobře rozumět teoriím, vysvětlujícím etiologii a symptomatologii poruch učení, tedy předpokladům, na základě kterých byl test konstruován. Vzhledem k psychometrickým charakteristikám, které test vykazuje, se pro stanovení závěrů a doporučení jeví jako zcela zásadní kvalitativní analýza dosažených výsledků. A jejich rozbor v kontextu anamnestických údajů a dalších vodítek (pozorování, výstupy z předchozích vyšetření, analýza studijních materiálů apod.) Značná opatrnost by na straně administrátora měla být zejména při analýze a interpretaci výsledků dosažených v rámci subtestů Vnímání neznámých grafémů a Vnímání neznámých fonémů. Proto by měl být využíván výhradně psychology a speciálními pedagogy s odpovídající kvalifikací a zkušeností v diagnostice specifických poruch učení.
Detection of ionospheric disturbances driven by the 2014 Chile tsunami using GPS total electron content in New Zealand
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Tang Long
Published: August 2015

A tsunami propagating in open ocean can produce gravity waves and thus perturb the ionosphere. In this study, we employ a second‐order numerical difference method using GPS total electron content observed in New Zealand to detect the ionospheric disturbances triggered by the Chile tsunami that occurred on 1 April 2014. We observe traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), which have similar horizontal velocity and direction as the tsunami waves, at different times after the event. According to the arrival times, the latter TIDs (about 14.5–15 h after earthquake) can be attributed to the tsunami waves whereas the former one (about 12 h 30 min after earthquake) could be related to other sources. This suggests that besides the propagation velocity and direction, the arrival time is also necessary to distinguish tsunami‐driven TIDs correctly. Furthermore, we observe the phenomenon that the detected tsunami‐driven TIDs are superimposed upon other nontsunami‐driven ionospheric perturbations far away from the epicenter. The superimposed TIDs eventually separate due to their different propagation velocities.
Flow structure caused by a local cross‐sectional area increase and curvature in a sharp river bend
Authors: Vermeulen B. , Hoitink A. J. F. , Labeur R. J.
Published: August 2015

Horizontal flow recirculation is often observed in sharp river bends, causing a complex three‐dimensional flow structure with large implications for the morphological and planimetric development of meanders. Several field observations in small‐scale systems show that sharp bends are often found in association with a strong increase in cross‐sectional area, the deposition of outer bank benches, and reattachment bars near the inner bank. Recent studies show that these bends can also occur in large‐scale systems. In this study, we present field measurements of a sharp bend in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The cross‐sectional area increases by a factor of 3 compared with the reach‐averaged cross‐sectional area. Along a river reach of about 150 km, cross‐sectional area correlates strongly with curvature. The field measurements are analyzed together with the results from numerical simulation with a three‐dimensional finite element model, which yields a comprehensive view of the intricate flow structure. In turn, the model is used to validate a new equation that captures the water surface topography dependence on cross‐sectional area variation and curvature. The results show the importance of the increase in cross‐sectional area in the development of horizontal recirculation. Vertical acceleration of the flow into the scour causes the pressure to deviate from a hydrostatic pressure distribution. Strong downflow (up to 12 cm s−1) advects longitudinal momentum toward the bed, causing the flow to concentrate in the lower part of the cross section. This increases the velocity magnitude throughout the cross section, which is expected to maintain the large scour depth found in several bends along the Mahakam River.
Slip model of the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake from inversions of ALOS‐2 and GPS data
Authors: Wang Kang , Fialko Yuri
Published: August 2015

We use surface deformation measurements including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data acquired by the ALOS‐2 mission of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and Global Positioning System (GPS) data to invert for the fault geometry and coseismic slip distribution of the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal. Assuming that the ruptured fault connects to the surface trace of the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) fault between 84.34°E and 86.19°E, the best fitting model suggests a dip angle of 7°. The moment calculated from the slip model is 6.08 × 1020 Nm, corresponding to the moment magnitude of 7.79. The rupture of the 2015 Gorkha earthquake was dominated by thrust motion that was primarily concentrated in a 150 km long zone 50 to 100 km northward from the surface trace of the Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), with maximum slip of ∼ 5.8 m at a depth of ∼8 km. Data thus indicate that the 2015 Gorkha earthquake ruptured a deep part of the seismogenic zone, in contrast to the 1934 Bihar‐Nepal earthquake, which had ruptured a shallow part of the adjacent fault segment to the east.
Solar wind interaction with the Martian upper atmosphere: Crustal field orientation, solar cycle, and seasonal variations
Authors: Dong Chuanfei , Bougher Stephen W. , Ma Yingjuan , Toth Gabor , Lee Yuni , Nagy Andrew F. , Tenishev Valeriy , Pawlowski Dave J. , Combi Michael R. , Najib Dalal
Published: August 2015

A comprehensive study of the solar wind interaction with the Martian upper atmosphere is presented. Three global models: the 3‐D Mars multifluid Block Adaptive Tree Solar‐wind Roe Upwind Scheme MHD code (MF‐MHD), the 3‐D Mars Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (M‐GITM), and the Mars exosphere Monte Carlo model Adaptive Mesh Particle Simulator (M‐AMPS) were used in this study. These models are one‐way coupled; i.e., the MF‐MHD model uses the 3‐D neutral inputs from M‐GITM and the 3‐D hot oxygen corona distribution from M‐AMPS. By adopting this one‐way coupling approach, the Martian upper atmosphere ion escape rates are investigated in detail with the combined variations of crustal field orientation, solar cycle, and Martian seasonal conditions. The calculated ion escape rates are compared with Mars Express observational data and show reasonable agreement. The variations in solar cycles and seasons can affect the ion loss by a factor of ∼3.3 and ∼1.3, respectively. The crustal magnetic field has a shielding effect to protect Mars from solar wind interaction, and this effect is the strongest for perihelion conditions, with the crustal field facing the Sun. Furthermore, the fraction of cold escaping heavy ionospheric molecular ions [(and/or)/Total] are inversely proportional to the fraction of the escaping (ionospheric and corona) atomic ion [O+/Total], whereasandion escape fractions show a positive linear correlation since both ion species are ionospheric ions that follow the same escaping path.
Effect of small‐scale ionospheric variability on GNSS radio occultation data quality
Authors: Verkhoglyadova O. P. , Mannucci A. J. , Ao C. O. , Iijima B. A. , Kursinski E. R.
Published: August 2015

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) measurements are sensitive to thin ionization layers and small‐scale ionosphere structures. To evaluate error bounds and possible biases in atmospheric retrievals, we characterized ionospheric irregularities encountered in the affected profiles by analyzing the L1 signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) variability at E layer altitudes (from 90 km to 130 km). New metrics to analyze statistical effects of small‐scale ionospheric irregularities on refractivity retrievals are proposed. We analyzed refractivity (N) retrievals with Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) ROs in 2011. Using refractivity from European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analysis (NECMWF) as the reference data set, we studied statistical properties of the fractional refractivity bias (ΔN) defined by the difference (NECMWF − N)/NECMWF and averaged in the altitude range from 20 to 25 km for each individual profile. We found that (1) persistently larger variability of the L1 SNR as measured by the interquartile range (IQR) existed when the occultation tangent point was in the 90 km to 110 km altitude range than at higher E layer altitudes; (2) the upper limits on the fractional refractivity bias for COSMIC ROs are 0.06% (for daytime local time), 0.1% (for nighttime local time), and ~0.01% (for all local times); (3) distributions of ΔN are non‐Gaussian (leptokurtic); (4) latitudinal distributions of small and large ΔN for different levels of ionospheric variability show large tails (NECMWF > N) occurring around the Himalaya and the Andes regions, which are possibly due to biases in ECMWF analysis. We conclude that the refractivity bias due to small‐scale irregularities is small below 25 km altitude and can be neglected.
A model of high‐latitude thermospheric density
Authors: Yamazaki Yosuke , Kosch Michael J. , Sutton Eric K.
Published: August 2015

We present an empirical model of the high‐latitude air density at 450 km, derived from accelerometer measurements by the CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites during 2002–2006, which we call HANDY (High‐Latitude Atmospheric Neutral DensitY). HANDY consists of a quiet model and disturbance model. The quiet model represents the background thermospheric density for “zero geomagnetic activity” conditions. The disturbance model represents the response of the thermospheric density to solar wind forcing at high latitudes. The solar wind inputs used are the following: (1) solar wind electric field ESW, (2) interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) clock angle CSW, and (3) solar wind dynamic pressure PSW. Both quiet and disturbance models are constructed on the basis of spherical harmonic function fitting to the data. Magnetic coordinates are used for the disturbance model, while geographical coordinates are used for the quiet model. HANDY reproduces main features of the solar wind influence on the high‐latitude thermospheric density, such as the IMF By effect that produces a hemispheric asymmetry in the density distribution.
Ocean tide loading displacements in western Europe: 1. Validation of kinematic GPS estimates
Authors: Penna Nigel T. , Clarke Peter J. , Bos Machiel S. , Baker Trevor F.
Published: August 2015

GPS has been extensively used to estimate tidal ground displacements, but the accuracy of this has not been systematically verified. Using more than 20 sites distributed across western Europe, we show that postprocessed kinematic precise point positioning GPS with appropriately tuned process noise constraints is capable of recovering synthetic tidal displacements inserted into real data, with a typical accuracy of 0.2 mm depending on the time series noise. The kinematic method does not result in erroneous propagation of signals from one coordinate component to another or to the simultaneously estimated tropospheric delay parameters. It is robust to the likely effects of day‐to‐day equipment and reference frame changes, and to outages in the data. A minimum data span of 4 years with at least 70% availability is recommended. Finally, we show that the method of reducing apparent coordinate time series noise by constraining the tropospheric delay to values previously estimated in static batch GPS analysis, in fact, results in the suppression of true tidal signals. Using our kinematic GPS analysis approach, periodic displacements can be reliably observed at the 0.2 mm level, which is suitable for the testing and refinement of ocean tide and solid Earth response models.
Ocean tide loading displacements in western Europe: 2. GPS‐observed anelastic dispersion in the asthenosphere
Authors: Bos Machiel S. , Penna Nigel T. , Baker Trevor F. , Clarke Peter J.
Published: August 2015

GPS‐observed vertical ocean tide loading displacements show in Cornwall, southwest England, and in Brittany, northwest France, discrepancies of 2–3 mm with predicted values based on the isotropic Preliminary Reference Earth Model for the main tidal harmonic M2, yet in central Europe the agreement is better than 0.5 mm. By comparison of ocean tide models and validation with tide gauge observations, we demonstrate that the uncertainties in the former are too small to cause this disagreement. Furthermore, we find that different local models of the crust and different global elastic reference models derived from seismological observations can only reduce the observed discrepancies to 1–2 mm, which still exceeds the GPS observational uncertainty of 0.2–0.4 mm. It is customary to use the elastic properties of the Earth as given by seismic models. Previously, there has been insufficient evidence to determine how to modify these properties during the transformation from seismic to tidal frequencies to account for possible anelastic dispersion in the asthenosphere, and so this effect has been ignored. If we include this effect, then our discrepancies reduce further to 0.2–0.4 mm. This value is of the same order as the sum of the remaining errors due to uncertainties in the ocean tide models and in the GPS observations themselves. This research provides evidence in western Europe of a reduction of around 8–10% of the seismic shear modulus in the asthenosphere at tidal frequencies. In addition, we find that the asthenosphere absorption band frequencies can be represented by a constant quality factor Q.
The coupled estuarine‐shelf response of a river‐dominated system during the transition from low to high discharge
Authors: Dzwonkowski Brian , Park Kyeong , Collini Renee
Published: August 2015

Opportunistic observations captured the coupled estuarine‐shelf interactions as the Alabama coastal region transitioned from a period of low to flood river discharge conditions. The period of focus was 18 February to 10 April 2011 during which time a combination of in situ (water level, salinity and velocity) and remote sensing (ocean color) data provided information on the estuarine and shelf environment prior to, during, and post a major river discharge event that captured a relatively rare spatially synoptic view of the structural evolution of a discharge plume in response to changing forcing conditions. The discharge event generated major changes in the hydrographic conditions and forcing responses within the estuary and on the shelf. The resulting surface advected plume was observed for approximately two weeks, during which time the observed differences in shelf circulation were directly linked to the discharge plume and a plume bulge with anticyclonic circulation was identified at times throughout the event. The plume was exposed to a range of wind conditions which modulated the surface structure: downwelling winds elongated the plume structure and upwelling winds reversed and widened the plume. The influence of wind forcing, even during very low wind (<3.75 m s−1) and large outflow (∼7000 m3 s−1) conditions, was apparent, as a result of the shallow and wide characteristics of the plume. Anticyclonic bulge regions have only been identified in a few systems and the occurrence of this feature on the Alabama shelf has significant implications on transport and fate of river discharge in this region.
A comparison of temperature and precipitation responses to different Earth radiation management geoengineering schemes
Authors: Crook J. A. , Jackson L. S. , Osprey S. M. , Forster P. M.
Published: August 2015

Earth radiation management has been suggested as a way to rapidly counteract global warming in the face of a lack of mitigation efforts, buying time and avoiding potentially catastrophic warming. We compare six different radiation management schemes that use surface, troposphere, and stratosphere interventions in a single climate model in which we projected future climate from 2020 to 2099 based on RCP4.5. We analyze the surface air temperature responses to determine how effective the schemes are at returning temperature to its 1986–2005 climatology and analyze precipitation responses to compare side effects. We find crop albedo enhancement is largely ineffective at returning temperature to its 1986–2005 climatology. Desert albedo enhancement causes excessive cooling in the deserts and severe shifts in tropical precipitation. Ocean albedo enhancement, sea‐spray geoengineering, cirrus cloud thinning, and stratospheric SO2 injection have the potential to cool more uniformly, but cirrus cloud thinning may not be able to cool by much more than 1 K globally. We find that of the schemes potentially able to return surface air temperature to 1986–2005 climatology under future greenhouse gas warming, none has significantly less severe precipitation side effects than other schemes. Despite different forcing patterns, ocean albedo enhancement, sea‐spray geoengineering, cirrus cloud thinning, and stratospheric SO2 injection all result in large scale tropical precipitation responses caused by Hadley cell changes and land precipitation changes largely driven by thermodynamic changes. Widespread regional scale changes in precipitation over land are significantly different from the 1986–2005 climatology and would likely necessitate significant adaptation despite geoengineering.
Analysis of long‐term aerosol size distribution data from Jungfraujoch with emphasis on free tropospheric conditions, cloud influence, and air mass transport
Authors: Herrmann Erik , Weingartner Ernest , Henne Stephan , Vuilleumier Laurent , Bukowiecki Nicolas , Steinbacher Martin , Conen Franz , Collaud Coen Martine , Hammer Emanuel , Jurányi Zsofia , Baltensperger Urs , Gysel Martin
Published: August 2015

Six years of aerosol size distribution measurements between 20 and 600 nm diameters and total aerosol concentration above 10 nm from March 2008 to February 2014 at the high‐alpine site Jungfraujoch are presented. The size distribution was found to be typically bimodal with mode diameters and widths relatively stable throughout the year and the observation period. New particle formation was observed on 14.5% of all days without a seasonal preference. Particles typically grew only into the Aitken mode and did not reach cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) sizes on the time scale of several days. Growth of preexisting particles in the Aitken mode, on average, contributed very few CCN. We concluded that the dominant fraction of CCN at Jungfraujoch originated in the boundary layer. A number of approaches were used to distinguish free tropospheric (FT) conditions and episodes with planetary boundary layer (PBL) influence. In the absence of PBL injections, the concentration of particles larger than 90 nm (N90, roughly corresponding to the CCN concentration) reached a value ~40 cm−3 while PBL influence caused N90 concentrations of several hundred or even 1000 cm−3. Comparing three criteria for free tropospheric conditions, we found FT prevalence for 39% of the time with over 60% during winter and below 20% during summer. It is noteworthy that a simple criterion based on standard trace gas measurements appeared to outperform alternative approaches.
Lightning channel length and flash energy determined from moments of the flash area distribution
Authors: Bruning Eric C. , Thomas Ronald J.
Published: August 2015

A widely used approach in observational and modeling studies of NOx produced by lightning is to relate NOx production to the number of flashes, without regard for the distribution of lightning flash sizes. Recent studies have begun to consider channel length and flash size, which is now observable with VHF Lightning Mapping Array data. This study uses a capacitor model for flash energy based on the flash coverage area, which defines a size scale. This flash area is then filled with channel using a fractal method and compared to other methods that estimate length directly from the VHF source locations. In the presence of instrument measurement errors, area‐ and fractal‐based estimates are shown to be more stable estimators of flash length than connect‐the‐dots approaches and therefore are better suited for comparison to NOx production. A geometric interpretation of using vertical profiles of VHF source density to weight the altitude distribution of total channel length is developed. An example of the time series of moments of the lightning flash size distribution is shown for an example case, and some meteorological interpretation is given.
Molecular level characterization of diatom‐associated biopolymers that bind 234Th, 233Pa, 210Pb, and 7Be in seawater: A case study with Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Chuang Chia‐Ying , Santschi Peter H. , Xu Chen , Jiang Yuelu , Ho Yi‐Fang , Quigg Antonietta , Guo Laodong , Hatcher Patrick G. , Ayranov Marin , Schumann Dorothea
Published: August 2015

In order to investigate the importance of biogenic silica associated biopolymers on the scavenging of radionuclides, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was incubated together with the radionuclides 234Th, 233Pa, 210Pb, and 7Be during their growth phase. Normalized affinity coefficients were determined for the radionuclides bound with different organic compound classes (i.e., proteins, total carbohydrates, uronic acids) in extracellular (nonattached and attached exopolymeric substances), intracellular (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate extractable), and frustule embedded biopolymeric fractions (BF). Results indicated that radionuclides were mostly concentrated in frustule BF. Among three measured organic components, Uronic acids showed the strongest affinities to all tested radionuclides. Confirmed by spectrophotometry and two‐dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence‐nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, the frustule BF were mainly composed of carboxyl‐rich, aliphatic‐phosphoproteins, which were likely responsible for the strong binding of many of the radionuclides. Results from this study provide evidence for selective absorption of radionuclides with different kinds of diatom‐associated biopolymers acting in concert rather than as a single compound. This clearly indicates the importance of these diatom‐related biopolymers, especially frustule biopolymers, in the scavenging and fractionation of radionuclides used as particle tracers in the ocean.
Ionosphere plasma electron parameters from radio frequency sweeping impedance probe measurements
Authors: Spencer E. , Patra S.
Published: August 2015

In this work we will describe the technique of using an RF sweeping impedance probe (SIP) to measure the AC impedance of an electrically short monopole immersed in a plasma. We analyze the SIP measurements which are taken from the payload of the Storms sounding rocket, launched from Wallops Island, Virginia, in 2007. The scientific objective of the Storms mission was to concentrate on whether density irregularities observed in midlatitude spread F could arise from ionospheric coupling to terrestrial weather. As such, independent measurements of the electron density profile are crucial. Since the inherent nature of the SIP technique makes it relatively insensitive to errors introduced through spacecraft charging, probe contamination, and other DC effects, it is an ideal instrument to employ under disturbed plasma conditions. The instrument measures both the magnitude and phase of the AC impedance from 100 kHz to 20 MHz in 128 frequency steps, performing 45,776 sweeps over the entire flight. From these measurements we infer both the absolute electron density ne and the electron neutral collision frequencies νen throughout the flight trajectory. The SIP data can be approximately analyzed using a fluid formulation and thin sheath approximation particularly at altitudes below 200 km, which allows us to match the measurements to quasi‐static analytical formulas. At about 265 km on the upleg, the magnitude data transitioned to a highly damped response with increasing altitude. The phase data, on the other hand, continued to indicate increased plasma density and reduced collisionality as expected. For a large portion of the flight, the payload of the Storms mission exhibited an uncontrolled coning motion, making the local magnetic field orientation with respect to the dipole difficult to decipher. Despite these difficulties, we were able to obtain robust estimates of the electron density profile, using the phase information from each sweep. In addition, the electron neutral collision frequency obtained from matching to phase data alone was on the correct order of magnitude with respect to Naval Research Laboratory Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter‐Extended model values in the ionosphere between 100 km and 150 km.
Emerging Coronaviruses: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (
SARS
) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
Authors: Sisk Jeanne M , Frieman Matthew B
Published: August 2015

The severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (
SARS‐CoV
) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (
MERS‐CoV
) are two highly pathogenic viruses that recently emerged from zoonotic sources. In 2002,
SARS‐CoV
was identified as the agent that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or
SARS
, in the Guangdong province of China (Drosten
et al
., 2003; Marra
et al
., 2003; Rota
et al
., 2003). Almost 10 years later in 2012,
MERS‐CoV
was identified as the cause of Middle East respiratory syndrome, or
MERS
, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (
KSA
) (Coleman and Frieman, 2014). There have been no new infections of
SARS‐CoV
reported since 2004, but it is possible that this virus could re‐emerge, as it is capable of spreading to humans again from its zoonotic source (Yang
et al
., 2013). In 2015,
MERS‐CoV
continues to spread throughout the Middle East and to other neighboring countries. Here, we review the epidemiology, clinical disease and virology of these disease‐causing viruses.

Key Concepts

Emerging Coronaviruses are serious threat to global public health.

Infection control in outbreak setting is crucial for containing Coronavirus spread.

Coronavirus genome structures are conserved between known and newly identified family members.

Therapeutic development is crucial for front line healthcare worker protection.

Animal model development is essential to understand the underlying pathology of each virus.

Comparisons between SARS‐CoV, MERS‐CoV and other human coronaviruses will give us insights into disease progression and therapeutic direction.
Plasma Cells
Authors: Minges Wols Heather A
Published: August 2015

Plasma cells are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes that provide protective immunity through the continuous secretion of antibodies. Antibody‐secreting cells develop in secondary lymphoid tissue following antigen stimulation and may enter a short‐lived plasma cell population that resides primarily in the nonlymphoid area of the spleen or lymph nodes. Alternatively, antibody‐secreting cells can migrate to the bone marrow where the majority enter a long‐lived, nonproliferative population of plasma cells. Within the marrow, plasma cells situate themselves within niches where longevity is supported by factors such as
APRIL
,
IL
‐6, and
CXCL2
, provided by support cells that include
CXCL12
‐abundant reticular (
CAR
) cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and dendritic cells, among others.

Key Concepts

Plasma cells are terminally differentiated cells of the B lymphocyte lineage. They are committed to secreting antibody that provides an organism with protective immunity.

Plasma cells may be short‐lived, surviving only 3–5 days. Generally, these secrete lower affinity antibody. Alternatively, plasma cells may be long‐lived, surviving decades or the lifetime of an animal, secreting high‐affinity antibody resulting from somatic hypermutation within a germinal centre reaction.

Long‐lived plasma cells are primarily found in the bone marrow, where specialized niches provide contact and growth factors necessary for survival.

Multiple cell types in the niches can contribute to the extended lifespan of bone marrow plasma cells. However, plasma cells are not completely eliminated when any one cell type is depleted, suggesting that all of the supporting cells are critical and contributing components.

As B cells differentiate into plasma cells, they undergo molecular and morphological changes that better suit a highly secretory cell. They are easily identifiable via microscopy by their voluminous cytoplasm full of immunoglobulin and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).

Plasma cells can be identified by high surface expression of Syndecan‐1 (CD138) protein, and little to no expression of BCR, B220 or MHC class II.
Channelrhodopsin: Potential Applications in Vision Restoration
Authors: Tomita Hiroshi
Published: August 2015

Channelrhodopsins, the directly light‐gated ion channels from green algae, provide a powerful tool for basic research in neuroscience as well as potential applications for treating neurological diseases and disorders. One of the promising clinical applications is to cure blindness caused by the death of rod and cone photoreceptors. Retinitis pigmentosa (
RP
) is one of diseases that causes blindness. Although photoreceptor cells are degenerated in the retina of
RP
patients, other retinal neurons such as retinal ganglion cells and on bipolar cells still survive. Owing to the inherent characteristics of chlamydomonas‐derived channelrhodopsin‐2 (
ChR2
), photosensitive neurons can be produced in the retina by the transfer of the
ChR2
gene into survived retinal neurons. A single injection of a virus vector into the eye can achieve the vision restoration in rodent model that will be a useful treatment for the patients with blindness. Herein, we introduce the molecular properties of
ChR2
and a potential as a new strategy for restoring vision in humans.

Key Concepts

Channelrhodopsins, microbial retinal binding proteins, transiently induce photo currents by light stimuli.

Photocycle of channelrhodopsins remains preserved when they are heterologously expressed in animal and human cells.

Channelrhodoposins functions as a directly light‐gated cation channels with million second activation and deactivation kinetics.

Artificial photoreceptor cells can be produced in various types of animal neurons by transducing a single gene.

Converting surviving inner retinal neurons into directly photosensitive cells is a new strategy to treating blindness after the death of rod and cone photoreceptors.

Using delivery by adeno‐associated viral vectors, long‐term expression of channelrhodopsin‐2 can be achieved in rodent inner retinal neurons
in vivo
.

ChR2 can be expressed without immunologically harmful reactions
in vivo
.
Revisiting Metal Sulfide Semiconductors: A Solution‐Based General Protocol for Thin Film Formation, Hall Effect Measurement, and Application Prospects
Authors: Shinde Dipak V. , Patil Supriya A. , Cho Keumnam , Ahn Do Young , Shrestha Nabeen K. , Mane Rajaram S. , Lee Joong Kee , Han Sung‐Hwan
Published: August 2015

Nanostructured thin films of metal sulfides (MS) are highly desirable materials for various optoelectronic device applications. However, a general low‐temperature protocol that describes deposition of varieties of MS structures, especially in their film form is still not available in literatures. Here, a simple and highly effective general solution‐based deposition protocol for highly crystalline and well‐defined nanostructured MS thin films from ethanol on variety of conducting and non‐conducting substrates is presented. The films display remarkable electronic properties such as high carrier mobility and high conductivity. When NiS thin film deposited on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate is used as a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO)‐free counter electrode in dye‐sensitized solar cells, it exhibits a solar‐to‐electric power conversion efficiency of 9.27 ± 0.26% with the highest conversion efficiency as high as 9.50% (vs 8.97 ± 0.07% exhibited by Pt‐electrode). In addition, the NiS film deposited on a Ti‐foil has demonstrated an outstanding catalytic activity for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions from water.
Modular and Versatile Spatial Functionalization of Tissue Engineering Scaffolds through Fiber‐Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization
Authors: Harrison Rachael H. , Steele Joseph A. M. , Chapman Robert , Gormley Adam J. , Chow Lesley W. , Mahat Muzamir M. , Podhorska Lucia , Palgrave Robert G. , Payne David J. , Hettiaratchy Shehan P. , Dunlop Iain E. , Stevens Molly M.
Published: August 2015

Native tissues are typically heterogeneous and hierarchically organized, and generating scaffolds that can mimic these properties is critical for tissue engineering applications. By uniquely combining controlled radical polymerization (CRP), end‐functionalization of polymers, and advanced electrospinning techniques, a modular and versatile approach is introduced to generate scaffolds with spatially organized functionality. Poly‐ε‐caprolactone is end functionalized with either a polymerization‐initiating group or a cell‐binding peptide motif cyclic Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐Ser (cRGDS), and are each sequentially electrospun to produce zonally discrete bilayers within a continuous fiber scaffold. The polymerization‐initiating group is then used to graft an antifouling polymer bottlebrush based on poly(ethylene glycol) from the fiber surface using CRP exclusively within one bilayer of the scaffold. The ability to include additional multifunctionality during CRP is showcased by integrating a biotinylated monomer unit into the polymerization step allowing postmodification of the scaffold with streptavidin‐coupled moieties. These combined processing techniques result in an effective bilayered and dual‐functionality scaffold with a cell‐adhesive surface and an opposing antifouling non‐cell‐adhesive surface in zonally specific regions across the thickness of the scaffold, demonstrated through fluorescent labelling and cell adhesion studies. This modular and versatile approach combines strategies to produce scaffolds with tailorable properties for many applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Peptide‐Modulated Self‐Assembly of Chromophores toward Biomimetic Light‐Harvesting Nanoarchitectonics
Authors: Zou Qianli , Liu Kai , Abbas Manzar , Yan Xuehai
Published: August 2015

Elegant self‐assembling complexes by the combination of proteins/peptides with functional chromophores are decisively responsible for highly efficient light‐harvesting and energy transfer in natural photosynthetic systems. Mimicking natural light‐harvesting complexes through synthetic peptides is attractive due to their advantanges of programmable primary structure, tunable self‐assembly architecture and easy availability in comparison to naturally occuring proteins. Here, an overview of recent progresses in the area of biomimetic light‐harvesting nanoarchitectonics based on peptide‐modulated self‐assembly of chromophores is provided. Adjusting the organization of chromophores, either by creating peptide–chromophore conjugates or by the non‐covalent assembly of peptides and chromophores are highlighted. The light‐harvesting properties, especially the energy transfer of the biomimetic complexes are critically discussed. The applications of such complexes in the mineralization of inorganic nanoparticles, generation of molecular hydrogen and oxygen, and photosynthesis of bioactive molecules are also included.
Freestanding 3D Graphene–Nickel Encapsulated Nitrogen‐Rich Aligned Bamboo Like Carbon Nanotubes for High‐Performance Supercapacitors with Robust Cycle Stability
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Dubey Pawan Kumar , Singh Dinesh Pratap , Yadav Ram Manohar , Tiwari Radhey Shyam
Published: August 2015

3D hierarchical structures are reported based on graphene–nickel encapsulated nitrogen‐rich aligned bamboo like carbon nanotubes, which show not only high‐performance supercapacitance behavior but also a great robust cyclic stability. A facile synthesis route is developed of 2D nickel oxide decorated functionalized graphene nanosheets (2D‐NiO‐f:GNSs) hybrids and 3D nitrogen doped bamboo‐shaped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) vertically standing on the functionalized graphene nanosheets (3D‐NCNT@f:GNSs) by using a thermal decomposition method. The chemical reduction and morphology‐dependent electrochemical response are investigated. The enhanced specific capacitance of 3D‐NCNT@f:GNSs as compared to that of 2D‐NiO‐f:GNSs suggests the synergistic effects and indicates the importance of energy storage and superior long‐term cycling performance that are achieved. This 3D‐NCNT@f:GNSs hybrid shows a remarkable cycling stability with a maximum power density of 12.32 kW kg−1 and maximum energy density of 109.13 Wh kg−1 due to the good connection of NCNT and f:GNSs. This unique 3D nano network architecture enables the availability of large surface areas of NCNT, thus endowing the nanohybrids with high specific capacitance and excellent reusability.
Expanding Substrate Specificity of ω‐Transaminase by Rational Remodeling of a Large Substrate‐Binding Pocket
Authors: Han Sang‐Woo , Park Eul‐Soo , Dong Joo‐Young , Shin Jong‐Shik
Published: August 2015

Production of structurally diverse chiral amines via biocatalytic transamination is challenged by severe steric interference in a small active site pocket of ω‐transaminase (ω‐TA). Herein, we demonstrated that structure‐guided remodeling of a large pocket by a single point mutation, instead of excavating the small pocket, afforded desirable alleviation of the steric constraint without deteriorating parental activities toward native substrates. Molecular modeling suggested that the L57 residue of the ω‐TA from Ochrobactrum anthropi acted as a latch that forced bulky substrates to undergo steric interference with the small pocket. Removal of the latch by a L57A substitution allowed relocation of the small pocket and dramatically improved activities toward various arylalkylamines and alkylamines (e.g., 1100‐fold increase in kcat/KM for α‐propylbenzylamine). This approach may provide a facile strategy to broaden the substrate specificity of ω‐TAs.

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Cobalt‐Catalyzed Electrophilic Cyanation of Arylzinc Halides with N‐Cyano‐N‐phenyl‐p‐methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS)
Authors: Cai Yingxiao , Qian Xin , Rérat Alice , Auffrant Audrey , Gosmini Corinne
Published: August 2015

The cobalt‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of organozinc bromides with N‐cyano‐N‐phenyl‐p‐methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS) is described. The same cobalt catalyst, cobalt(II) bromide, was used for both the synthesis of the organozinc species and the cross‐coupling reaction. However in this case, a catalytic amount of zinc dust is necessary in the second step to release the low‐valent cobalt. Under these mild conditions, moderate to excellent yields of different benzonitriles were obtained.

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Catalyst‐Free Domino Reaction of 1‐Acryloyl‐1‐N‐arylcarbamylcyclopropanes with Amines: One‐Pot Approach to 2,3,6,7‐Tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,2‐c]pyridin‐4(5H)‐ones
Authors: Zhang Zhiguo , Zhang Feisong , Wang Huanhuan , Wu Hao , Duan Xinyu , Liu Qingfeng , Liu Tongxin , Zhang Guisheng
Published: August 2015

A facile one‐pot, catalyst‐free reaction has been developed for the synthesis of 2,3,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrrolo[3,2‐c]pyridin‐4(5H)‐ones from readily available 1‐acryloyl‐1‐N‐arylcarbamylcyclopropanes and amines using a domino ring‐opening/cyclization/aza‐addition sequence.

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