bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Christianisme épistémologique et philosophie morale
Authors: Sharkey Ronan
Published: February 2012

Résumé Selon Jean-Pierre Dupuy, la théorie girardienne du désir mimétique et son pendant, la thèse du sacrifice comme fondement caché de l’ordre social, représentent non seulement une réhabilitation de la rationalité de la pensée religieuse et (spécifiquement) chrétienne en tant qu’alternative au poststructuralisme et à l’athéisme néo-darwinien, mais également une critique dévastatrice de l’utilitarisme en philosophie morale. Car la structure de l’utilitarisme exhibe une variante sécularisée de la même mécanique sacrificielle qui se trouve dans les religions primitives, mécanique selon laquelle la paix sociale dépend de la mort ou de la suppression d’une existence individuelle. Or, le rationalisme moral de Dupuy le conduit, paradoxalement, à défendre la logique interne du conséquentialisme (l’idée, que l’utilitarisme partage, selon laquelle la valeur morale réside uniquement dans les conséquences de l’action) comme le seul moyen d’éviter l’accusation d’irrationalité face à la possibilité d’une catastrophe. Un examen des critiques, bien connues, du conséquentialisme, ainsi qu’une compréhension enrichie de la logique du rapport entre l’action présente et le temps passé et futur, démontrent l’insuffisance des raisons qui conduisent Dupuy à épouser cette forme non causale du conséquentialisme.
Passions et temporalité chez Thomas d'Aquin
Authors: Somme Luc-Thomas
Published: February 2012

Résumé Le développement de la psychologie expérimentale et des neurosciences met l’accent sur l’univers des passions. Celui-ci avait déjà été très profondément exploré par saint Thomas d’Aquin. Le traité des passions de la Somme de théologie structure la morale de Thomas d’Aquin, qui se démarque ici du stoïcisme. L’Aquinate dessine un organigramme de onze passions fondamentales. La temporalité est inhérente à la passion, comme nous le montrent plaisir, douleur, peur, tristesse, etc. Même si Thomas d’Aquin ne possédait pas les informations contemporaines sur la vie psychique, il a pressenti le rôle de la connaissance intellectuelle dans l’étiologie des passions. Il ne sous-estime pas le risque d’erreur possible dans l’évaluation de l’objet. Il sait que le pouvoir de l’imagination peut interférer sur la représentation de l’objet. Sa théorie présente l’être humain aux prises avec le paradoxe vital d’une temporalité déjà éternisée.
Face à la violence des inégalités, quelle éthique théologique ?
Authors: Didier Élisabeth
Published: February 2012

Résumé Une longue pratique médicale auprès des exilés et des patients touchés par le Sida permet de comprendre les mécanismes qui engendrent exclusions et inégalités. Les travaux du médecin anthropologue Didier Fassin donnent quelques clés de lecture sur cette question. En retour, les patients obligent à décaler et à renouveler la pratique du médecin sous la forme d’un véritable compagnonnage auprès des plus petits, nécessitant de nouvelles conduites et de nouvelles solidarités. La parabole du riche et du pauvre en Luc 16, 19-31 éclaire nos pratiques en faveur des plus démunis : Jésus s’est identifié au plus petit, il nous invite à quitter l’accusation au profit de l’hospitalité.
La pensée interreligieuse de Raimon Panikkar, un regard Bouddhiste
Authors: Liber-Chrétien Bruno
Published: February 2012

Résumé L’auteur propose une lecture bouddhique de certaines idées du théologien et philosophe Raimon Panikkar. Penseur de l’interreligieux par excellence, il a écrit de nombreux livres et offert nombre d’enseignements et de conférences sur ce thème. Il examine plus précisément la question de l’athéisme et de l’apophatisme, au cœur de son livre Le Silence du Bouddha. Une introduction à l’athéisme religieux . Il examine par ailleurs certaines spécificités de sa méthode d’interprétation en s’appuyant sur les thèses qu’il a développées dans une œuvre dense et foisonnante et croit y discerner une stratégie qui n’est pas exempte de toute critique sur le plan d’une éthique de l’herméneutique. Panikkar omet en effet ce qui, dans la tradition, ne concourt pas à l’étayage de ses thèses. La question dès lors est de savoir si cela invalide « l’esprit » qui préside à son approche et ne s’avère pas contre-productif.
Diaconie et identité chrétienne
Authors: Heimbach-Steins Marianne , Materne Pierre-Yves
Published: February 2012

Résumé Annoncer la Bonne Nouvelle, c’est s’engager pour la libération des pauvres. Il en va de la qualification prophétique de l’agir diaconal. Cet agir a une dimension politique (voir la Conférence des évêques allemands, 1999). Il joue un rôle d’avocat et doit participer à la formation des consciences et des opinions. Il opère ainsi dans l’institution comme en dehors d’elle. La subsidiarité est une autre de ses caractéristiques majeures. Elle réclame une pluralité d’acteurs, quitte, le cas échvcéant, à revêtir un aspect clairement contestataire. Il va de soi que ces acteurs sont issus de l’ensemble des confessions chrétiennes ; la liturgie elle-même est concernée.
An ROP Screening Dilemma: Hereditary Cataracts Developing in a Premature Infant After Birth
Authors: Marcus Inna , Salchow Daniel J. , Stoessel Kathleen M. , Levada Andrew J.
Published: February 2012

A female infant born prematurely at 23 weeks’ gestational age developed bilateral hereditary cataracts at post-menstrual age 33 weeks, which precluded retinopathy of prematurity screening. The infant underwent right cataract extraction 1 week later, and retinopathy of prematurity was monitored by examining the right eye. In the seventeenth week of life (post-menstrual age 40 weeks), the cataract was removed from the left eye. Visual outcome at 19 months of age was good in both eyes. Very early cataract extraction may be necessary in premature infants to allow ROP evaluations.
Multi-Purpose Extraocular Forceps for Small-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy
Authors: Reichel Elias , Chun Dal W. , Gurley Kiersten
Published: February 2012

A multi-purpose titanium forceps has been developed for small-gauge pars plana vitrectomy surgery. These forceps were designed to provide the vitreoretinal surgeon with a single tool for the extraocular manipulations that are necessary for the placement and removal of 23- and 25-gauge trochars for small-incision, sutureless pars plana vitrectomy surgery. The forceps has been designed to allow for the atraumatic manipulation of the conjunctiva, measurement of distance from the limbus, and a strong purchase of the trochar for both its fixation and removal.
Staggered Sub-Tenon’s Blocks: A Novel Anesthetic Approach for Bilateral Strabismus Surgery
Authors: Vohra Shashi B.
Published: February 2012

Bilateral strabismus surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. However, sometimes general anesthesia is not in the best interest of patients presenting with advanced multiple comorbidities. These patients are best treated with local anesthesia instead. However, the bilateral nature of the surgery becomes an issue because bilateral akinetic needle blocks for ophthalmic surgery have not been described before. This article describes a novel approach for bilateral eye surgery in three patients who were at high risk from general anesthesia but needed to have the surgery performed in the same sitting. Staggered blunt needle sub-Tenon’s blocks were chosen over sharp needle akinetic extraconal peribulbar or intraconal retrobulbar blocks on account of their predictability, relative safety, and efficacy. The potential systemic complications of bilateral injections were minimized by staggering the blocks. This technique may be an option for high-risk patients who are not candidates for general anesthesia but require bilateral ophthalmic surgery performed in a single surgical episode.
Blended Learning Revisited
Authors: Gil Pablo Ortega , García Francisco Arcos
Published: February 2012

The universe of blended learning started uncertainly, as all new ventures, amid overt resistance of traditionalist teachers, but boosted by the drive of a few enthusiasts that wanted to bring novel perspectives into education. Everyday practice, together with the growing services it is rendering, has turned blended learning into the mainstay of education. The authors review some of the projects they have been carrying out in later years, all of them involving the use of Learning Management Systems for different target groups. They provide details about students’ response, teachers’ attitudes, and parents’ opinions. They also show how their model has grown richer and richer thanks to the feedback obtained from all parts. Finally, future lines of development are suggested, among which mobile learning stands out. A recently launched mobile learning project is summarized.
Innovative Instructional Strategies with the Use of Technology for Adult Learners
Authors: Farmer Lesley S. J.
Published: February 2012

Technology incorporation adds another dimension to instructional design because it requires that the adult educator be skilled enough to design and use technology-enhance instruction as well as diagnose learners’ skill levels and predispositions. Because each media has its unique combination of features, instructional designers should select and create technology resources carefully to best address the learning task and learner preference. Technology-enhanced communication methods are now available for sophisticated instruction and interactive learning among students, educators, and resources: Web 2.0, egaming, video conferencing, and course management systems, as examples. Furthermore, technology-based accommodations can address access to resources as well direct instruction for people with disabilities. In any case, technology-infused instruction requires material and moral support by the organization’s decision-makers.
“You Can Lead the Horse to Water, but … ”
Authors: Huijser Henk , Sankey Michael
Published: February 2012

This chapter outlines the potential benefits of incorporating Web 2.0 technologies in a contemporary higher education context, and identifies possible ways of doing this, as well as expected challenges. It uses the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), primarily a distance education provider, as the context for many of its case study examples. In particular, it addresses the important role of the allowances of particular learning management systems (LMSs) in pedagogical applications of Web 2.0 technologies. Overall, this chapter argues that the goals and ideals of Web 2.0/Pedagogy 2.0 can be achieved, or at least stimulated, within an institutional LMS environment, as long as the LMS environment is in alignment with such goals and ideals. It uses the implementation of Moodle at USQ as a case study to reinforce this argument and explore which factors potentially influence a shift in thinking about learning and teaching in a Web 2.0 context.
An Architecture for Learning Environments Based on the Lightweight Integration of Intelligent Agents
Authors: Butakov Sergey , Smoline Denis , Samuel Nousheen Naimat , Samuel Naima Naimat
Published: February 2012

The main objectives of this chapter are to provide a review of multi-agent platforms for learning environments, to discuss the use of lightweight integration technologies in learning management systems, and to outline the theoretical framework for a multi-agent based platform for course provisioning. The proposed framework places a message switching system at the center of the architecture, providing an effective yet lightweight mechanism for agent communications. The chapter also provides two practical examples of the implementation of lightweight integration technologies for course management system development. The examples show the feasibility of implementing the proposed lightweight architecture, showing how the agent based elements could be added to existing learning management systems.
The Utilization of Concept Maps as Knowledge Systematization and Text-Authoring Tools in Collaboration-Based Educational Processes
Authors: Torres Patricia Lupion , Kucharski Marcus Vinicius Santos
Published: February 2012

More than forming technically competent professionals, universities face a new challenge: doing so under specific principles that can only be achieved by developing competencies and abilities that are extremely valuable for today’s work market, such as being able to work in groups, being aware of the many possibilities of facing and solving problems, being open to constant negotiations and readily-adaptable to new work scenarios. The best way to develop such abilities and competencies is in the contexts in which they will be demanded. The incorporation of building concept maps to a teaching-learning methodology developed for a virtual learning environment of a respected Brazilian University was a successful experiment, one whose positive results in encouraging and developing such competencies and abilities deserves to be presented and discussed, which is what we intend to do in this chapter.
Applying E-learning Technologies to Library Information Literacy Instruction
Authors: Ward Jamie
Published: February 2012

Academic libraries have adopted and adapted the e-learning technologies for delivery of their Information Literacy programmes. This chapter describes some of the ways in which academic librarians have been very inventive in using emerging technologies to enhance their instructional content. By using a case study of DkIT the chapter details how information literacy and the e-learning technologies emerged together. E-learning platforms like the virtual learning environments (VLE) are the natural place for libraries to use as portals for their IL instruction. This chapter argues that using the VLE (with the inherent instructional interaction made possible by this technology), and adopting some amalgam of the newer teaching styles like problem-based learning and blended learning techniques completes the IL circle for librarians. Librarians now have the tools at their disposal to finally fulfil the promises we undertook when we embarked on our information literacy programmes.
Virtual Learning Environments for Culture and Intercultural Competence
Authors: Ogan Amy , Lane H. Chad
Published: February 2012

The authors review six virtual learning environments built to support the acquisition of cultural knowledge and communication skills: ATL, BiLAT, Croquelandia, Second China, TLCTS, and VECTOR. Each leverages modern 3D video game engine technology which allows high-fidelity simulation of new cultural settings, including representations of buildings, streets, art work, dress, voice, gestures, and more. To bring more realism to simulated cultural interactions, several of the systems are driven by artificial intelligence (AI) models of culture, communication, and emotion. Additionally, several rely on narrative-based techniques to place the target culture in context and enhance motivation of those using the systems. The authors conclude with a discussion of the reviewed environments and identify potential research directions that focus on (1) intercultural competence skills, (2) learner assessment, and (3) cultural model building and validation.
Examining Race Hate Crime with Students using a Cross Cultural International Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
Authors: Buchanan Julian , Wilson Steve , Gopal Nirmala
Published: February 2012

This chapter explores the use of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to bring together students in criminology and social work from three universities across the globe (the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa; the University of Washington in the United States of America; and Glyndwr University in Wales, United Kingdom), to examine the issue of racism and hate crime. The chapter provides a detailed case study of an online learning environment constructed to facilitate a four week international student conference. The chapter draws strongly upon the student experience and voice, extracted from the anonymous completion of online questionnaires at the end of the conference. The student narrative is supplemented by the experiences of the three authors who facilitated and managed the online learning process. The chapter explores the educational opportunities and limitations in respect of: online learning generally; the cross cultural shared experience; and in terms of engaging students in investigating global social issues.
Effects of Virtual World Environments in Student Satisfaction
Authors: Saleeb Noha , Dafoulas Georgios A.
Published: February 2012

Universities and educational institutions are currently becoming more dependent on delivering courses within online virtual worlds, such as 3D Virtual Learning Environments (3D VLES). There is insufficient research on how environmental and architectural design elements of 3D virtual educational spaces and buildings inside these virtual worlds can affect the e-learning process of the students and their satisfaction and contentment. This study investigates students’ satisfaction from different architectural features used in 3D educational facilities by recording, from surveys, students’ degree of agreeability toward varied design characteristics in different learning spaces within 3D VLES. Defining best perceived design traits can improve 3D educational space design to augment a student’s overall e-learning experience, and lead to general design guidelines for future creation of 3D virtual educational facilities.
Managing Case-Based Learning with Interactive Case Study Libraries
Authors: Jiang Hao , Carroll John M. , Ganoe Craig
Published: February 2012

This chapter discusses a particular pedagogical methodology, case-based learning, and introduces an application that supports case studies. It suggests that authenticity, social interaction, community of practice, and resource accumulation are especially important for design and implementation of case-based learning systems. To make the arguments more vivid, the chapter also introduces a case study library that supports usability engineering education. Some of the suggestions are more related to case libraries or systems alike in particular, and some are valuable for learning management systems in general. The authors hope their study can invoke further research of computer-supported case studies in educational and CSCL communities, and more applications supporting this pedagogical approach will be developed.
Faculty Reflections on Decision-Making and Pedagogical Use of Online Activities in Teacher Education
Authors: Kumar Swapna
Published: February 2012

Teacher educators preparing their students for 21st century schools are increasingly using online technologies in on-campus courses. While some teacher educators have used such activities for almost a decade and have migrated from learning management systems to wikis and blogs, others still struggle to structure and facilitate online activities effectively. Ten teacher educators’ decisions to use online activities in 23 face-to-face courses based on several criteria (class size, instructional goals, course type, students’ prior knowledge, and the content of classroom instruction) are described in this chapter. Faculty members’ reflections on their decisions, practical examples from different courses that they taught, and strategies they refined over time illustrated their focus on pedagogy as they migrated to newer technologies. The structure, design, and implementation of online activities discussed in this chapter could be useful to beginning educators, teacher developers, and instructional designers engaged in the integration of new technologies in higher education.
Effective Design and Delivery of Learning Materials in Learning Management Systems
Authors: Mahdavi Mehregan , Khoobkar Mohammad H.
Published: February 2012

Learning Management Systems (LMS) enable effective design and delivery of learning materials. They are Web-based software applications used to plan, implement, and assess a specific learning process. LMSs allow learners to connect to and interact with the educational material through the Internet. They enable tools for authors (instructors) to design learning materials that include text, html, audio, video, etc. They also enable learner activity management in the learning process. Moreover, they provide tools for effective and efficient assessment of the learners. This chapter explores learning management systems and their key components that enable instructors organize and monitor learning activities of the learners. It also introduces the authoring features provided by such systems for preparing learning material. Moreover, it presents assessment methods and tools that enable evaluation of the learners in the learning process. Furthermore, existing challenges and issues in this field are explored.
Enculturation of the Utilization of Learning Management System
Authors: Yunus Aida Suraya Md. , Meseran Hamidah , Wahab Zaidan Abdul
Published: February 2012

Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) vision is to become a university with international repute. The Strategic Plan Document 2001- 2010 includes a goal for the university to be fully wired through ICT in enhancing research, extension work, professional service, strengthening teaching and learning environment and enhancing the culture of ICT in supporting teaching and learning. Two strategies were drawn; namely (i) implement the use of one learning management system (LMS) and (ii) enhance competency of academic staff in using the LMS. It has been a practice that each faculty decides on a platform for implementing e-Learning. However, the use of various LMSs had created difficulties in the sharing of integrated database, continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of the e-Learning system, and depository of e-Learning resources in the UPM’s knowledge repository. This paper reports on UPM’s experience in adapting the use of LMS from the early 1990s until today.
Disability Standards and Guidelines for Learning Management Systems
Authors: Moreno Lourdes , Iglesias Ana , Calvo Rocío , Delgado Sandra , Zaragoza Luis
Published: February 2012

The method application is for all LMS, in order to illustrate the effectiveness of the evaluation method, we present a case study over the widely-used LMS Moodle1. In the case study, the accessibility of Moodle is evaluated thoroughly from the point of view of visually-impaired persons. The results obtained from the case study demonstrate that this LMS is partially accessible. The evaluation shows that the tool provides poor support to the authors of accessible educational contents.
Into the Great Wide Open
Authors: Thißen Dirk , Zimmermannn Volker , Küchler Tilman
Published: February 2012

Personalisation is a key requirement to motivate learners to use learning technology and self-paced content. Whereas most research and technologies focus on personalisation of content, this paper focuses on the personalisation of the tools and platform technologies for learning. When designing a learning environment, most organisations worked in the past on their internal business processes and content but did not focus on what the learner really does with the learning tools the organisation provided to them. Changing the perspective to the user shows, that they create today “around the organisational solutions” their own technology-enhanced learning world using a whole set of technologies: Learning management system (LMS) of the company, learning management system of a further education institution or of a university, different social network platforms, search engines, open web services in the internet like blogs or wikis, and a lot more other applications. Therefore the challenge for organisations today is how they can manage this variety of technologies by also enforcing the creativity and motivation of the users to personalise and individualise their learning environment. This paper proposes a solution by describing an architecture for a responsive and open learning environment. It delivers examples and a procedure how such a solution can be built step-by-step. The approach can be used in schools, higher education institutions, corporations or further education institutions.
Course Management Systems in Transition
Authors: Szirony Gary M. , Boden Carrie J.
Published: February 2012

In the findings from the quantitative portion of the study, there were no significant differences between the three groups of interest. Most of the students in the sample preferred distance education to on-campus courses, asynchronous over synchronous learning, discussion boards over live chats, and video streamed content delivery over text-based delivery. For this sample, a change in course delivery systems did not have a negative effect upon students. In the findings from the qualitative portion of the study, five major themes emerged, those of Communication, Pedagogy/Androgogy, Time Management, Course Delivery Systems and Technology, and Access. Aspects of self-directedness appeared to be a theme throughout much of the qualitative analysis. Negative factors included inability to reach instructors in a timely fashion, lack of interpersonal contact with other learners or with instructors, and frustration over technological glitches and hardware, software or Internet complexities, or a mixture of the three. The role of emotion in online learning was significant in several areas, particularly to the theme of Communication, where a personalized learning environment with two-way communication between peers and the instructor can lessen the isolation of online learning. Further study in this area is recommended.
Enhancing Electronic Examinations through Advanced Multiple-Choice Questionnaires
Authors: Triantis Dimos , Ventouras Errikos
Published: February 2012

The present chapter deals with the variants of grading schemes that are applied in current Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) tests. MCQs are ideally suited for electronic examinations, which, as assessment items, are typically developed in the framework of Learning Content Management Systems (LCMSs) and handled, in the cycle of educational and training activities, by Learning Management Systems (LMS). Special focus is placed in novel grading methodologies, that enable to surpass the limitations and drawbacks of the most commonly used grading schemes for MCQs in electronic examinations. The paired MCQs grading method, according to which a set of pairs of MCQs is composed, is presented. The MCQs in each pair are similar concerning the same topic, but this similarity is not evident for an examinee that does not possess adequate knowledge on the topic addressed in the questions of the pair. The adoption of the paired MCQs grading method might expand the use of electronic examinations, provided that the new method proves its equivalence to traditional methods that might be considered as standard, such as constructed response (CR) tests. Research efforts to that direction are presented.
The “Trigger” Experience
Authors: Richardson Joan , Lenarcic John
Published: February 2012

This case study chapter will outline the results of a 2006 pilot test into the use of Short Message Service (SMS) to augment the provision of student administrative services currently available through a university website. The pilot conducted utilised an SMS Prototype Tool Trigger that enabled dynamic information transfer between staff and students. Trigger facilitated live update reminders that assisted students to schedule their time and better organise themselves. Specifically, SMS technology was used to deliver physical class locations, availability and web addresses of iPod resources, important events, alerts for multimedia, examination schedules, and, assessment feedback by ‘pushing’ information to students. Trigger also provided students with pull access to study schedules and requirements. The aim of the test was to evaluate student response to the use of Trigger to improve the learning environment. The case study will identify student responses to the 2006 pilot and describe a current project that has extended the number of students participating in the study.
Quantum dots nanoparticle-based lateral flow assay for rapid detection of Mycobacterium species using anti-FprA antibodies
Authors: Cimaglia Fabio , Aliverti Alessandro , Chiesa Maurizio , Poltronieri Palmiro , De Lorenzis Enrico , Santino Angelo , Sechi Leonardo A.
Published: February 2012

A lateral flow (LF) device combined with quantum dots (QDs) technology was developed for rapid detection of a specific mycobacterial flavoprotein reductase (fprA). In order to develop the LF assay based on a double-antibody sandwich format, two monoclonal antibodies recognizing different epitopes located in separated fprA domains were identified. The first monoclonal antibody was immobilized onto the detection zone of a porous nitrocellulose membrane, whereas another monoclonal antibody was conjugated to QDs nanoparticles as a detection system. Using these monoclonal antibodies we recorded a good fluorescence signal, the intensity of which was directly proportional to the concentration of fprA protein. The use of antibodies conjugated with fluorescent semiconductor QDs via biotin-streptavidin bridge, allowed the detection of fprA protein at concentrations as low as 12.5 pg/μL in less than 10 min. The reported technology could be useful in the diagnostic investigation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other human pathogens in clinical specimens.
Climate and vegetation in a semi-arid savanna: Development of a climate–vegetation response model linking plant metabolic performance to climate and the effects on forage availability for large herbivores
Authors: Seydack Armin H. , Grant Cornelia C. , Smit Izak P. , Vermeulen Wessel J. , Baard Johan , Zambatis Nick
Published: February 2012

A framework to establish the expected effects of climate on forage quantity and quality in a local savanna system was developed to interpret large herbivore population performance patterns in the Kruger National Park. We developed a climate–vegetation response model based on interpretation and synthesis of existing knowledge (literature review) and supported by investigation and analyses of local patterns of climate effects on forage plant performance and chemical composition.Developing the climate–vegetation response model involved three main components, namely (1) defining indicators of forage availability to herbivores (nitrogen productivity, nitrogen quality, carbon-nutrient quality), (2) identifying herbivore species guilds of similar nutritional requirements with respect to these indicators [bulk feeders with tolerance to fibrous herbage (buffalo, waterbuck), bulk feeders with preference for high nitrogen quality forage (short grass preference grazers: blue wildebeest and zebra) and selective feeders where dietary items of relatively high carbon-nutrient quality represented key forage resources (selective grazers: sable antelope, roan antelope, tsessebe, eland)] and (3) developing a process model where the expected effects of plant metabolic responses to climate on key forage resources were made explicit.According to the climate–vegetation response model both shorter-term transient temperature acclimation pulses and longer-term shifts in plant metabolic functionality settings were predicted to have occurred in response to temperature trends over the past century. These temperature acclimation responses were expected to have resulted in transient pulses of increased forage availability (increased nitrogen- and carbon-nutrient quality), as well as the progressive long-term decline of the carbon-nutrient quality of forage.Conservation implications: The climate–vegetation response model represents a research framework for further studies contributing towards the enhanced understanding of landscape-scale functioning of savanna systems with reference to the interplay between climate, vegetation and herbivore population dynamics. Gains in such understanding can support sound conservation management.
On Construction of Sparse Probabilistic Boolean Networks
Authors: Chen Xi , Jiang Hao , Ching Wai-Ki
Published: February 2012

In this paper we envisage building Probabilistic Boolean Networks (PBNs) from a prescribed stationary distribution. This is an inverse problem of huge size that can be subdivided into two parts — viz. (i) construction of a transition probability matrix from a given stationary distribution (Problem ST), and (ii) construction of a PBN from a given transition probability matrix (Problem TP). A generalized entropy approach has been proposed for Problem ST and a maximum entropy rate approach for Problem TP respectively. Here we propose to improve both methods, by considering a new objective function based on the entropy rate with an additional term ofLa-norm that can help in getting a sparse solution. A sparse solution is useful in identifying the major component Boolean networks (BNs) from the constructed PBN. These major BNs can simplify the identification of the network structure and the design of control policy, and neglecting non-major BNs does not change the dynamics of the constructed PBN to a large extent. Numerical experiments indicate that our new objective function is effective in finding a better sparse solution.
Observation and modelling of OH and HO2 concentrations in the Pearl River Delta 2006: a missing OH source in a VOC rich atmosphere
Authors: Lu K. D. , Rohrer F. , Holland F. , Fuchs H. , Bohn B. , Brauers T. , Chang C. C. , Häseler R. , Hu M. , Kita K. , Kondo Y. , Li X. , Lou S. R. , Nehr S. , Shao M. , Zeng L. M. , Wahner A. , Zhang Y. H. , Hofzumahaus A.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Ambient OH and HO2 concentrations were measured by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) during the PRIDE-PRD2006 (Program of Regional Integrated Experiments of Air Quality over the Pearl River Delta, 2006) campaign at a rural site downwind of the megacity of Guangzhou in Southern China. The observed OH concentrations reached daily peak values of (15–26) × 106 cm−3 which are among the highest values so far reported for urban and suburban areas. The observed OH shows a consistent high correlation with j(O1D) over a broad range of NOx conditions. The correlation cannot be reproduced by model simulations, indicating that OH stabilizing processes are missing in current models. The observed OH exhibited a weak dependence on NOx in contrast to model predictions. While modelled and measured OH agree well at NO mixing ratios above 1 ppb, a continuously increasing underprediction of the observed OH is found towards lower NO concentrations, reaching a factor of 8 at 0.02 ppb NO. A dependence of the modelled-to-measured OH ratio on isoprene cannot be concluded from the PRD data. However, the magnitude of the ratio fits into the isoprene dependent trend that was reported from other campaigns in forested regions. Hofzumahaus et al. (2009) proposed an unknown OH recycling process without NO, in order to explain the high OH levels at PRD in the presence of high VOC reactivity and low NO. Taking a recently discovered interference in the LIF measurement of HO2 into account, the need for an additional HO2 → OH recycling process persists, but the required source strength may be up to 20% larger than previously determined. Recently postulated isoprene mechanisms by Lelieveld et al. (2008) and Peeters and Müller (2010) lead to significant enhancements of OH expected for PRD, but an underprediction of the observed OH by a factor of two remains at low NO (0.1–0.2 ppb). If the photolysis of hydroperoxy aldehydes from isoprene is as efficient as proposed by Peeters and Müller (2010), the corresponding OH formation at PRD would be more important than the primary OH production from ozone and HONO. While the new isoprene mechanisms need to be confirmed by laboratory experiments, there is probably need for other, so far unidentified chemical processes to explain entirely the high OH levels observed in Southern China.
Humidity-dependent phase state of SOA particles from biogenic and anthropogenic precursors
Authors: Saukko E. , Lambe A. T. , Massoli P. ,   Koop, T., Wright J. P. , Croasdale D. R. , Pedernera D. A. , Onasch T. B. , Laaksonen A. , Davidovits P. , Worsnop D. R. , Virtanen A.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. The physical phase state (solid, semi-solid, or liquid) of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles has important implications for a number of atmospheric processes. We report the phase state of SOA particles spanning a wide range of oxygen to carbon ratios (O/C), used here as a surrogate for SOA oxidation level, produced in a flow tube reactor by photo-oxidation of various atmospherically relevant surrogate anthropogenic and biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The phase state of laboratory-generated SOA was determined by the particle bounce behavior after inertial impaction on a polished steel substrate. The measured bounce fraction was evaluated as a function of relative humidity and SOA oxidation level (O/C) measured by an Aerodyne high resolution time of flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF AMS). The main findings of the study are: (1) Biogenic and anthropogenic SOA particles are found to be solid or semi-solid until a relative humidity of at least 50 % RH at impaction is reached. (2) Long-chain alkanes produce liquid SOA particles when generated at low oxidation level of O/C<0.2, but at higher oxidation levels they solidify. (3) Increasing sulphuric acid (H2SO4) within the SOA particles reduces the threshold of humidity-induced phase changes. (4) The bounce behavior of the various SOA systems did not show a consistent linear relationship with the particle O/C. Rather, the molar mass of the gas-phase VOC precursor showed a positive correlation with the resistance to the RH-induced phase change of the formed SOA particles.
The RAMNI airborne lidar for cloud and aerosol research
Authors: Cairo F. , Di Donfrancesco G. , Di Liberto L. , Viterbini M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. We describe an airborne lidar for the characterization of atmospheric aerosol. The system has been set up in response to the need to monitor extended regions where the air traffic may be posed at risk by the presence of potentially harmful volcanic ash, and to study the characteristics of volcanic emissions both near the source region and when transported over large distances. The lidar provides backscatter and linear depolarization profiles at 532 nm, from which aerosol and cloud properties can be derived. The paper presents the characteristics and capabilities of the lidar system and gives examples of its airborne deployment. Observations from three flights, aimed at assessing the system capabilities in unperturbed atmospheric conditions, and at characterizing the emissions near a volcanic ash source region, the Mt. Etna, and transported far away from the source, are presented and discussed.
A simple empirical model estimating atmospheric CO2 background concentrations
Authors: Reuter M. , Buchwitz M. , Schneising O. , Heymann J. , Guerlet S. , Cogan A. J. , Bovensmann H. , Burrows J. P.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. A simple empirical CO2 model (SECM) is presented to estimate column-average dry-air mole fractions of atmospheric CO2 (XCO2) as well as mixing ratio profiles. SECM is based on a simple equation depending on 17 empirical parameters, latitude, and date. The empirical parameters have been determined by least squares fitting to NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) assimilation system CarbonTracker version 2010 (CT2010). Comparisons with TCCON (total column carbon observing network) FTS (Fourier transform spectrometer) measurements show that SECM XCO2 agrees quite well with reality. The synthetic XCO2 values have a standard error of 1.39 ppm and systematic station-to-station biases of 0.46 ppm. Typical column averaging kernels of the TCCON FTS, a SCIAMACHY (Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY), and two GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite) XCO2 retrieval algorithms have been used to assess the smoothing error introduced by using SECM profiles instead of CT2010 profiles as a priori. The additional smoothing error amounts to 0.17 ppm for a typical SCIAMACHY averaging kernel and is most times much smaller for the other instruments (e.g. 0.05 ppm for a typical TCCON FTS averaging kernel). Therefore, SECM is well-suited to provide a priori information for state of the art ground-based (FTS) and satellite-based (GOSAT, SCIAMACHY) XCO2 retrievals. Other potential applications are: (i) quick check for obvious retrieval errors (by monitoring the difference to SECM), (ii) near real time processing systems (that cannot make use of models like CT2010 operated in delayed mode), (iii) "CO2 proxy" methods for XCH4 retrievals (as correction for the XCO2 background), (iv) observing system simulation experiments especially for future satellite missions.
A short-term ionospheric forecasting empirical regional model (IFERM) to predict the critical frequency of the F2 layer during moderate, disturbed, and very disturbed geomagnetic conditions over the European area
Authors: Pietrella M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. A short-term ionospheric forecasting empirical regional model (IFERM) has been developed to predict the state of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) under different geomagnetic conditions. IFERM is based on 13 short term ionospheric forecasting empirical local models (IFELM) developed to predict foF2 at 13 ionospheric observatories scattered around the European area. The forecasting procedures were developed by taking into account, hourly measurements of foF2, hourly quiet-time reference values of foF2 (foF2QT), and the hourly time-weighted accumulation series derived from the geomagnetic planetary index ap, (ap(τ)), for each observatory. Under the assumption that the ionospheric disturbance index ln(foF2/foF2QT) is correlated to the integrated geomagnetic disturbance index ap(τ), a set of statistically significant regression coefficients were established for each observatory, over 12 months, over 24 h, and under 3 different ranges of geomagnetic activity. This data was then used as input to compute short-term ionospheric forecasting of foF2 at the 13 local stations under consideration. The empirical storm-time ionospheric correction model (STORM) was used to predict foF2 in two different ways: scaling both the hourly median prediction provided by IRI (STORM_foF2MED,IRI model), and the foF2QT values (STORM_foF2QT model) from each local station. The comparison between the performance of STORM_foF2MED,IRI, STORM_foF2QT, IFELM, and the foF2QT values, was made on the basis of root mean square deviation (r.m.s.) for a large number of periods characterized by moderate, disturbed, and very disturbed geomagnetic activity. The results showed that the 13 IFELM perform much better than STORM_foF2,sub>MED,IRI and STORM_foF2QT especially in the eastern part of the European area during the summer months (May, June, July, and August) and equinoctial months (March, April, September, and October) under disturbed and very disturbed geomagnetic conditions, respectively. The performance of IFELM is also very good in the western and central part of the Europe during the summer months under disturbed geomagnetic conditions. STORM_foF2MED,IRI performs particularly well in central Europe during the equinoctial months under moderate geomagnetic conditions and during the summer months under very disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The forecasting maps generated by IFERM on the basis of the results provided by the 13 IFELM, show very large areas located at middle-high and high latitudes where the foF2 predictions quite faithfully match the foF2 measurements, and consequently IFERM can be used for generating short-term forecasting maps of foF2 (up to 3 h ahead) over the European area.
Land surface Verification Toolkit (LVT) – a generalized framework for land surface model evaluation
Authors: Kumar S. V. , Peters-Lidard C. D. , Santanello J. , Harrison K. , Liu Y. , Shaw M.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Model evaluation and verification are key in improving the usage and applicability of simulation models for real-world applications. In this article, the development and capabilities of a formal system for land surface model evaluation called the Land surface Verification Toolkit (LVT) is described. LVT is designed to provide an integrated environment for systematic land model evaluation and facilitates a range of verification approaches and analysis capabilities. LVT operates across multiple temporal and spatial scales and employs a large suite of in-situ, remotely sensed and other model and reanalysis datasets in their native formats. In addition to the traditional accuracy-based measures, LVT also includes uncertainty and ensemble diagnostics, information theory measures, spatial similarity metrics and scale decomposition techniques that provide novel ways for performing diagnostic model evaluations. Though LVT was originally designed to support the land surface modeling and data assimilation framework known as the Land Information System (LIS), it supports hydrological data products from non-LIS environments as well. In addition, the analysis of diagnostics from various computational subsystems of LIS including data assimilation, optimization and uncertainty estimation are supported within LVT. Together, LIS and LVT provide a robust end-to-end environment for enabling the concepts of model data fusion for hydrological applications. The evolving capabilities of LVT framework are expected to facilitate rapid model evaluation efforts and aid the definition and refinement of formal evaluation procedures for the land surface modeling community.
Age Differences in Source Monitoring and Referent Discrimination
Authors: Ruiz-Gallego-Largo Trinidad , Simón Teresa , Suengas Aurora G.
Published: February 2012

In contrast to previous studies which addressed separately memory for source and referent, the present experiment analyzes the effects of aging on memory for both, source and referent. The experiment simulated a conversation between two people exchanging descriptors of themselves and the other speaker (e.g., “I am helpful,” “you are capable”). Participants (N = 60) were divided into two age groups: younger (M = 23.47 years old, SD = 2.37), older (M = 70.30 years old, SD = 3.73). Recall, recognition, and accuracy in identifying source (e.g., “who said helpful?”) and referent (e.g., “about whom was capable said?”) were analyzed. Younger and older adults recalled and recognized equally well information read by the experimenter about herself, but only young adults showed better memory for the descriptors they read about themselves. Older adults were impaired in source monitoring, but not in reference discrimination. Normal referent discrimination in older adults is attributed to the fact that the referent forms part of the content of the episode, whereas who spoke it is part of its context, and older adults tend to show greater deficits in context than in content memory. These results are explained within the source and reality monitoring framework.