bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are People Responsive to a More Sustainable, Decentralized, and User-Driven Management of Urban Metabolism?
Authors: Chelleri Lorenzo , Kua Harn , Rodríguez Sánchez Juan , Nahiduzzaman Kh , Thondhlana Gladman
Published: March 2016

Smart, green, and resilient city paradigms have been mainly promoted through top-down and technocratic approaches. However, based on the notion to return to “the right to the city”, emerging community-driven initiatives are providing self-managed infrastructures contributing to urban sustainability transitions. This paper explores the relevance of the behavioral aspects of people-centered approaches in dealing with two different facets of urban metabolism: physical infrastructure (involvement with the management of decentralized infrastructures) and consumption patterns (involvement in proactive reduction of resources used). In the first case we assessed community perceptions about the roles, benefits, and willingness to proactively engage in the management of decentralized green infrastructures in Bogotá City, Colombia. For the second facet, we measured the effectiveness of change agents in re-shaping energy consumption decisions within urban social networks in South Africa and Saudi Arabia. This paper’s results show that pre-determined and standardized strategies do not guarantee positive, nor homogeneous, results in terms of meeting sustainability targets, or promoting community involvement. Hence, a better integration of people-centered and top-down approaches is needed through context-dependent policies, for enhancing both users’ appreciation of and commitment to urban metabolism participative management.
Dual Pairs of Holomorphic Representations of Lie Groups from a Vector-Coherent-State Perspective
Authors: Rowe David , Repka Joe
Published: March 2016

It is shown that, for both compact and non-compact Lie groups, vector-coherent-state methods provide straightforward derivations of holomorphic representations on symmetric spaces. Complementary vector-coherent-state methods are introduced to derive pairs of holomorphic representations which are bi-orthogonal duals of each other with respect to a simple Bargmann inner product. It is then shown that the dual of a standard holomorphic representation has an integral expression for its inner product, with a Bargmann measure and a simply-defined kernel, which is not restricted to discrete-series representations. Dual pairs of holomorphic representations also provide practical ways to construct orthonormal bases for unitary irreps which bypass the need for evaluating the integral expressions for their inner products. This leads to practical algorithms for the application of holomorphic representations to model problems with dynamical symmetries in physics.
Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin: Action, Genetics, and Translational Applications
Authors: Freedman John , Shrestha Archana , McClane Bruce
Published: March 2016

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) is responsible for causing the gastrointestinal symptoms of several C. perfringens food- and nonfood-borne human gastrointestinal diseases. The enterotoxin gene (cpe) is located on either the chromosome (for most C. perfringens type A food poisoning strains) or large conjugative plasmids (for the remaining type A food poisoning and most, if not all, other CPE-producing strains). In all CPE-positive strains, the cpe gene is strongly associated with insertion sequences that may help to assist its mobilization and spread. During disease, CPE is produced when C. perfringens sporulates in the intestines, a process involving several sporulation-specific alternative sigma factors. The action of CPE starts with its binding to claudin receptors to form a small complex; those small complexes then oligomerize to create a hexameric prepore on the membrane surface. Beta hairpin loops from the CPE molecules in the prepore assemble into a beta barrel that inserts into the membrane to form an active pore that enhances calcium influx, causing cell death. This cell death results in intestinal damage that causes fluid and electrolyte loss. CPE is now being explored for translational applications including cancer therapy/diagnosis, drug delivery, and vaccination.
Maternal Ingestion of Ipomoea carnea: Effects on Goat-Kid Bonding and Behavior
Authors: Gotardo André , Pfister James , Raspantini Paulo , Górniak Silvana
Published: March 2016

Ipomoea carnea is a toxic plant found in Brazil and other tropical and subtropical countries and often causes poisoning of livestock. The plant contains the alkaloids swainsonine and calystegines, which inhibit key cellular enzymes and cause systematic cell death. This study evaluated the behavioral effects of prenatal ingestion of this plant on dams and their kids. Twenty-four pregnant goats were randomly allocated into four treatment groups and received the following doses (g/kg BW) of fresh I. carnea: 0 (control group), 1.0 (IC1), 3.0 (IC3), and 5.0 (IC5) from day 27 of gestation until parturition. Dam and kid bonding and behavior were evaluated by several tests, immediately after birth until six weeks of age. Dams from IC3 and IC5 groups spent less time paying attention to the newborn. There was a lack of maternal-infant bonding due to I. carnea intoxication. Kids from treated dams had difficulty in standing, suckling, and in recognizing their mother hours after birth. I. carnea can also compromise the kids’ ability to learn and to retain spatial memory. We suggest that kids from pregnant goats given I. carnea during gestation have significant behavioral alterations and developmental delays that may compromise their survival.
Impact of Demographic Growth on Seawater Intrusion: Case of the Tripoli Aquifer, Lebanon
Authors: Kalaoun Omar , Al Bitar Ahmad , Gastellu-Etchegorry Jean-Philippe , Jazar Mustapha
Published: March 2016

Water resources in Mediterranean coastal aquifers are subject to overexploitation leading to an increase in seawater intrusion. Based on the United Nations Environment Program, “UNEP” 75% of people in the world will live in coastal cities by 2020. This is having a major impact on the salinization process. This paper deals with the impact of demographic evolution on seawater intrusion and considers the case of the lower Tripoli aquifer in Lebanon. A numerical model based on the sharp interface approach is implemented using “Freefem++” to access the seawater intrusion. The model is verified against an analytic and a numerical solution. It is calibrated and validated against hydraulic head observations (RMSD = 0.819 m). Then several scenarios of pumping are applied based on available demographic growth rates to quantify the impact on seawater intrusion. The projection scenarios show that if the current pumping rates are maintained while maintaining the demographic evolution, the pumping wells will be salinized within 2 decades in the highly populated areas.
Le droit communautaire de la conservation de la nature devant la CJCE (1999-2001) : jurisprudence récente relative aux directives « oiseaux » et « habitats »
Authors: Born Charles-Hubert , Maljean-Dubois Sandrine
Published: March 2016

La transposition et la mise en œuvre des directives communautaires

oiseaux » de 1979 et « habitats » de 1992 demeurent à la source d'un abondant contentieux juridictionnel dans plusieurs Etats membres. Depuis 1999, dix arrêts sont ainsi venus conforter la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice européenne en droit communautaire de la conservation de la nature. Neuf d'entre eux ont abouti à la condamnation d'Etats membres - en particulier la France, condamnée à six reprises - pour violation ou non-transposition des deux directives. L'essentiel de cette jurisprudence récente concerne la protection des habitats naturels ou d'espèce, seuls deux arrêts traitant de la chasse.

Ces récentes décisions, dans lesquelles la Cour interprète de manière particulièrement stricte les deux directives, témoignent du rôle fondamental de sa jurisprudence dans révolution de la mise en œuvre des deux instruments. De nombreux points de droits essentiels - comme par exemple le choix des critères de désignation des sites protégés ou encore la portée des inventaires scientifiques - y ont été rappelés ou éclaircis.
Response to Intravenous Cyclophosphamide Treatment for Lupus Nephritis Associated with Polymorphisms in theFCGR2B-FCRLALocus
Authors: Kim Kwangwoo , Bang So-Young , Joo Young Bin , Kim Taehyeung , Lee Hye-Soon , Kang Changwon , Bae Sang-Cheol
Published: March 2016

Objective.

Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is an immunosuppressant drug widely used to treat various diseases including lupus nephritis, but its efficacy highly varies from individual to individual. This pharmacogenomics association study searched for genetic variations associated with CYC efficacy.

Methods.

Genome-wide association scan was performed for 109 Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with lupus nephritis (classes III–V) who received intravenous CYC induction therapy. Genetic differences between responders and nonresponders were examined using Cochran–Armitage trend tests, and genotype imputation was used for defining the association locus.

Results.

Genetic polymorphisms in the Fcγ receptor gene (FCGR) cluster at human chromosome 1q23, previously associated with lupus nephritis susceptibility, were associated with the response to CYC treatment for lupus nephritis. Significant response association was found for 3 perfectly correlated (r2= 1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP): rs6697139, rs10917686, and rs10917688, located between theFCGR2BandFCRLAgenes (p = 3.4 × 10−8). Carriage of the minor alleles in these SNP was found only in nonresponders (31%) and none in responders (0%).

Conclusion.

This first genome-wide association approach for CYC response yielded a robust profile of genetic associations including large-effect SNP in theFCGR2B-FCRLAlocus, which may provide better insights to CYC metabolism and efficacy.
Longterm Clinical Outcomes in 420 Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Taking Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Drugs in Real-world Settings
Authors: Iannone Florenzo , Lopriore Simona , Bucci Romano , Lopalco Giuseppe , Chialà Angela , Cantarini Luca , Lapadula Giovanni
Published: March 2016

Objective.

An observational study to evaluate the longterm clinical outcomes of adalimumab (ADA), etanercept (ETN), and infliximab (IFX) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), in real-world settings.

Methods.

From a prospective cohort we studied 420 biologic-naive patients with PsA who had peripheral arthritis and were beginning a treatment with ADA, ETN, or IFX. Drug survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier life analysis, and baseline predictors of drug discontinuation were assessed by Cox regression analysis. The frequency of concomitant glucocorticoids and the daily mean dosage were compared by chi-square test and ANOVA repeated measures across 4 years.

Results.

After 4 years the overall survival of the first anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF) was 51.0%, but significantly higher for ETN (58.9%) than ADA (43.9%) or IFX (44.0%; p = 0.003). Patients taking ETN also had the lowest HR of drug discontinuation (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34–0.93, p = 0.02). The strongest predictor of drug interruption was female sex (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.28–3.20, p = 0.002). The disease duration was inversely correlated with drug discontinuation (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99, p = 0.02). The average daily dose of prednisone significantly decreased from baseline: 5.6 ± 2.5 to 4.7 ± 1.9 at 1 year (p = 0.01) to 4.0 ± 1.8 at 4 years (p = 0.001). Additionally, compared to baseline (49.6%), a significant reduction of patients taking glucocorticoids was detected at 2 years (36.5%, p < 0.05), 3 years (29.9%, p < 0.01), and 4 years (22.6%, p < 0.01).

Conclusion.

In real-world settings, TNF inhibitors showed a high rate of drug survival at 4 years. Further, the need for glucocorticoids for controlling active PsA was lowered with time.
Assessment of Response to Treatment, Remission, and Minimal Disease Activity in Axial Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
Authors: Lubrano Ennio , Parsons Wendy J. , Perrotta Fabio Massimo
Published: March 2016

Objective.

To assess the response to treatment, remission, and minimal disease activity (MDA) in a group of patients with predominant axial psoriatic arthritis (axPsA). Predictors of response were also evaluated.

Methods.

Patients fulfilling the ClASsification of Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria and treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents adalimumab, etanercept, and golimumab were enrolled and prospectively followed every 4 months for 1 year in a clinical practice setting. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) 50 was assessed as a set of response criteria to treatment; Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI) < 4, Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score ≤ 3.3, and partial remission (PR) were also evaluated as remission criteria. Patients were considered in MDA when they met at least 5/7 of the criteria previously defined. Patients achieving BASDAI 50, PR, and MDA were compared to identify outcome predictor factors. Concordance between the outcome measures was also performed.

Results.

Of the 58 patients treated with anti-TNF, at baseline no patients were in PR or MDA. No patients had a CPDAI < 4 or a DAPSA score ≤ 3.3. After 12 months, BASDAI 50 was achieved in 15/48 patients (31.2%). CPDAI < 4, DAPSA score ≤ 3.3, PR, and MDA were achieved, respectively, in 17/48 (35.4%), 11/48 (22.9%), 11/48 (22.9%), and 24/48 (50%) patients. No difference was found among the 3 anti-TNF. Predictors for MDA were male sex, young age, low disease duration, low Health Assessment Questionnaire score, and absence of enthesitis.

Conclusion.

This longitudinal observational study, based on a clinical practice setting, showed that remission and MDA are achievable targets in axPsA treated with anti-TNF. Predictors of remission and MDA were also identified.
Une nouvelle source arabe sur l’océan Indien au Xe siècle : le Ṣaḥīḥ min aḫbār al-biḥār wa-‘aǧā‘ibihā d’Abū ‘Imrān Mūsā ibn Rabāḥ al-Awsī al-Sīrāfī
Authors: Ducène Jean-Charles
Published: March 2016

Si Les merveilles de l’Inde constituaient une source importante sur les relations commerciales dans l’océan Indien au xe siècle, leur auteur restait sujet à discussion. La version qu’al-‘Umarī (xive siècle) a conservée de ces histoires permet de déterminer l’auteur réel de ce recueil et offre en outre un matériel narratif nouveau qui apporte des informations originales sur l’Asie du Sud-Est mais touche peu à l’Afrique de l’Est. Dans ce cas, c’est Zayla‘ qui est concernée, ainsi que peut-être les expéditions austronésiennes.
Preparation of students with disabilities to graduate into professions in the South African context of higher learning: Obstacles and opportunities
Authors: Ndlovu Sibonokuhle , Walton Elizabeth
Published: March 2016

Background: Persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from professions in South Africa despite legislation on non-discrimination and equity. Objectives: We sought to identify both the opportunities and obstacles that students with disabilities face in professional degrees. Method: Selected texts from the South African and international literature were analysed and synthesised. Results: Students with disabilities are afforded opportunities to graduate into professions through the current climate of transformation, inclusion and disability policies, various support structures and funding. These opportunities are mitigated by obstacles at both the higher education site and at the workplace. At university, they may experience difficulties in accessing the curriculum, disability units may be limited in the support they can offer, policies may not be implemented, funding is found to be inadequate and the built environment may be inaccessible. Fieldwork poses additional obstacles in terms of public transport which is not accessible to students with disabilities; a lack of higher education support extended to the field sites, and buildings not designed for access by people with disabilities. At both sites, students are impacted by negative attitudes and continued assumptions that disability results from individual deficit, rather than exclusionary practices and pressures. Conclusion: It is in the uniqueness of professional preparation, with its high demands of both theory and practice that poses particular obstacles for students with disabilities. We argue for the development of self-advocacy for students with disabilities, ongoing institutional and societal transformation and further research into the experiences of students with disabilities studying for professional degrees.
Urine Proteome Biomarkers in Kidney Diseases. I. Limits, Perspectives, and First Focus on Normal Urine
Authors: Santucci Laura , Bruschi Maurizio , Candiano Giovanni , Lugani Francesca , Petretto Andrea , Bonanni Alice , Ghiggeri Gian Marco
Published: March 2016

Urine proteome is a potential source of information in renal diseases, and it is considered a natural area of investigation for biomarkers. Technology developments have markedly increased the power analysis on urinary proteins, and it is time to confront methodologies and results of major studies on the topics. This is a first part of a series of reviews that will focus on the urine proteome as a site for detecting biomarkers of renal diseases; the theme of the first review concerns methodological aspects applied to normal urine. Main issues are techniques for urine pretreatment, separation of exosomes, use of combinatorial peptide ligand libraries, mass spectrometry approaches, and analysis of data sets. Available studies show important differences, suggesting a major confounding effect of the technologies utilized for analysis. The objective is to obtain consensus about which approaches should be utilized for studying urine proteome in renal diseases.
ПРОБЛЕМАТИКА ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ГИДРОНИМИИ БАЛТИЙСКОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ РОССИИ
Authors: Васильев Валерий Л.
Published: March 2016

В статье поднят широкий круг вопросов, связанных с отражением гидронимией России древнего присутствия балтов. Вся восточная половина обширного древнебалтийского этноисторического ареала приходилась на  регионы Европейской России. Названия рек и озер – главный источник, позволяющий судить об их древнем расселении и некоторых особенностях их диалектного языка. Данная работа содержит обзор истории изучения гидронимии балтийского происхождения на территории России, включая критику отдельных предшествующих работ, и кратко освещает ряд вопросов, среди которых: 1) уточнение юго-восточных, восточных и особенно северо-восточных границ древнебалтийского ареала, 2) соотношение балтийского слоя с финским и иранским языковыми элементами, 3) отношение балтийской гидронимии к археологическим культурам, локализуемым в Европейской России, 4) оценка сравнительной плотности балтизмов по разным русским регионам, 5) оптимизация методики поиска и обоснования гидронимии балтийского происхождения. К статье приложены карты-схемы: 1) северо-восточного фланга ареала балтийской гидронимии, 2) максимального восточнославянского ареала балтийской гидронимии.
Vplyv predslovanských kontaktov na hydronymiu Slovenska
Authors: Krško Jaromír
Published: March 2016

V príspevku venujeme pozornosť vplyvu predslovanských etník na hydronymiu dnešného Slovenska. Migrácia celých etnických skupín – najmä po rozpade Rímskej ríše, viedla ku vzájomným kontaktom medzi pôvodným a prichádzajúcim obyvateľstvom. Etnické kontakty mali vplyv aj na jazyky týchto etník, dochádzalo k vzájomnému ovplyvňovaniu a preberaniu časti lexiky. Prichádzajúce etniká sa museli orientovať v novom prostredí, museli identifikovať a diferencovať dôležité orientačné body, medzi ktoré patria predovšetkým vrchy, pohoria a vodné toky. Problematiku predslovanských hydroným môžeme sledovať z dvoch uhlov pohľadu – 1. analyzovať názvy dochované z obdobia pred príchodom Slovanov na územie Slovenska; 2. analyzovať názvy, ktorých pôvod niektorí autori pokladajú za predslovanský. Najstarší názov rieky z oblasti Slovenska, ktorý je bezpečne z obdobia pred príchodom Slovanov, zapísal rímsky cisár Markus Aurélius v rokoch 166 – 180 ako Granoua. Ide o zápis rieky Hron, pri ktorej bojovali rímske légie proti germánskym kmeňom Markomanov a Kvádov. Viacerí historici a jazykovedci sa domnievajú, že nielen rieky Dunaj, Morava a Tisa majú predslovanský pôvod, ale aj ďalšie názvy veľkých riek vznikli už pred príchodom Slovanov do oblasti strednej Európy. V príspevku analyzujeme názvy Dunaj, Morava, Váh, Hron, Tisa, Nitra a Hornád.
Preface
Authors: Torkar Silvo
Published: March 2016

Preface
NOx emissions, isoprene oxidation pathways, vertical mixing, and implications for surface ozone in the Southeast United States
Authors: Travis Katherine R. , Jacob Daniel J. , Fisher Jenny A. , Kim Patrick S. , Marais Eloise A. , Zhu Lei , Yu Karen , Miller Christopher C. , Yantosca Robert M. , Sulprizio Melissa P. , Thompson Anne M. , Wennberg Paul O. , Crounse John D. , St. Clair Jason M. , Cohen Ronald C. , Laugher Joshua L. , Dibb Jack E. , Hall Samuel R. , Ullmann Kirk , Wolfe Glenn M. , Pollack Illana B. , Peischl Jeff , Neuman Jonathan A. , Zhou Xianliang
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Ozone pollution in the Southeast US involves complex chemistry driven by emissions of anthropogenic nitrogen oxide radicals (NOx ≡ NO + NO2) and biogenic isoprene. Model estimates of surface ozone concentrations tend to be biased high in the region and this is of concern for designing effective emission control strategies to meet air quality standards. We use detailed chemical observations from the SEAC4RS aircraft campaign in August and September 2013, interpreted with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model (CTM) at 0.25°×0.3125° horizontal resolution, to better understand the factors controlling surface ozone in the Southeast US. We find that the National Emission Inventory (NEI) for NOx from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is too high in the Southeast and nationally by 50 %. This is demonstrated by SEAC4RS observations of NOx and its oxidation products, by surface network observations of nitrate wet deposition fluxes, and by OMI satellite observations of tropospheric NO2 columns. Upper tropospheric NO2 from lightning makes a large contribution to the satellite observations that must be accounted for when using these data to estimate surface NOx emissions. Aircraft observations of upper tropospheric NO2 are higher than simulated by GEOS-Chem or expected from NO-NO2-O3 photochemical stationary state. NOx levels in the Southeast US are sufficiently low that only half of isoprene oxidation proceeds by the high-NOx pathway to produce ozone; this fraction is only moderately sensitive to changes in NOx emissions because isoprene and NOx emissions are spatially segregated. GEOS-Chem with reduced NOx emissions provides an unbiased simulation of ozone observations from the aircraft and from ozonesondes, and reproduces the observed ozone production efficiency in the boundary layer as derived from a regression of ozone and NOx oxidation products. However, the model is still biased high by 8 ± 13 ppb relative to observed surface ozone in the Southeast US. Ozonesondes launched during midday hours show a 7 ppb ozone decrease from 1.5 km to 0.2 km altitude, whereas GEOS-Chem has no such gradient because of efficient boundary layer mixing. We conclude that model biases in simulating surface ozone over the Southeast US may be due to a combination of excessive NOx emissions and excessive boundary layer vertical mixing.
Intercomparison of in-situ NDIR and column FTIR measurements of CO2 at Jungfraujoch
Authors: Schibig Michael F. , Mahieu Emmanuel , Henne Stephan , Lejeune Bernard , Leuenberger Markus C.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. We compare two CO2 time series measured at the High Alpine Research Station Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l., Switzerland) in the period from 2005 to 2013 with an in-situ surface measurement system using a nondispersive infrared analyzer (NDIR) and a ground-based remote sensing system using solar absorption Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry (FTIR). Although the two data sets show an absolute shift of about 13 ppm, the slopes of the annual CO2 increase are in good agreement within their uncertainties. They are 2.04 ± 0.07 ppm yr−1 and 1.97 ± 0.05 ppm yr−1 for the FTIR and the NDIR system, respectively. The seasonality of the FTIR and the NDIR system is 4.46 ± 1.11 ppm and 10.10 ± 0.73 ppm, respectively. The difference is caused by a dampening of the CO2 signal with increasing altitude due to mixing processes. While the minima of both data series occur in the middle of August, the maxima of the two datasets differ by about ten weeks, the maximum of the FTIR measurements is in middle of January, whereas the maximum of the NDIR measurements is found at the end of March. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the air masses measured by the NDIR system at the surface of Jungfraujoch are mainly influenced by central Europe, whereas the air masses measured by the FTIR system in the column above Jungfraujoch are influenced by regions as far west as the Caribbean and the United States. The correlation between the hourly averaged CO2 values of the NDIR system and the individual FTIR CO2 measurements is 0.820, which is very encouraging given the largely different sampling volumes. Further correlation analyses showed, that the correlation is mainly driven by the annual CO2 increase and to a lesser degree by the seasonality. Both systems are suitable to monitor the long-term CO2 increase, because this signal is represented in the whole atmosphere due to mixing.
Surface-atmosphere exchange of ammonia over peatland using QCL-based eddy covariance measurements and inferential modeling
Authors: Richter Undine , Brümmer Christian , Schrader Frederik , Ammann Christof , Ibrom Andreas , Flechard Christophe R. , Nelson David D. , Zahniser Mark , Kutsch Werner L.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Recent advances in laser spectrometry offer new opportunities to investigate ecosystem-atmosphere exchange of environmentally relevant trace gases. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) absorption spectrometer to continuously measure ammonia concentrations at a high time resolution and thus to quantify the net exchange between a semi-natural peatland ecosystem and the atmosphere based on the eddy-covariance approach. Changing diurnal patterns of both ammonia concentration and fluxes were found during different periods of the campaign. We observed a clear tipping point in early spring with decreasing deposition velocities and increasingly bi-directional fluxes that occurred after the switch from dormant vegetation to CO2 uptake, but was triggered by a significant weather change. While several biophysical parameters such as temperature, radiation, and surface wetness were identified to partially regulate ammonia exchange at the site, the seasonal concentration pattern was clearly dominated by agricultural practices in the surrounding area. Comparing the results of a compensation point model with our measurement-based flux estimates showed considerable differences in some periods of the campaign due to overestimation of non-stomatal resistances caused by low acid ratios. The total cumulative campaign exchange of ammonia after nine weeks, however, differed only in a 6 % deviation with 911 and 857 g NH3-N ha−1 deposition being found by measurements and modeling, respectively. Extrapolating our findings to an entire year, ammonia deposition was lower than reported by Hurkuck et al. (2014) for the same site in previous years using denuder systems. This was likely due to a better representation of the emission component in the net signal of eddy-covariance fluxes as well as better adapted site-specific parameters in the model. Our study not only stresses the importance of high-quality measurements for studying and assessing land surface-atmosphere interactions, but also demonstrates the potential of QCL spectrometers for continuous observation of reactive nitrogen species as important additional instruments within long-term monitoring research infrastructures such as ICOS or NEON.
Near-surface and columnar measurements with a Micro Pulse Lidar of atmospheric pollen in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Sicard Michaël , Izquierdo Rebeca , Alarcón Marta , Belmonte Jordina , Comerón Adolfo , Baldasano José Maria
Published: March 2016

Abstract. We present for the first time continuous hourly measurements of pollen near-surface concentration and lidar-derived profiles of particle backscatter coefficients and of volume and particle depolarization ratios during a 5-day pollination event observed in Barcelona, Spain, between 27–31 March, 2015. Daily average concentrations ranged 1082–2830 pollen m−3 day−1. Platanus and Pinus pollen types represented together more than 80 % of the total pollen. Maximum hourly pollen concentrations of 4700 and 1200 m−3 h−1 were found for Platanus and Pinus, respectively. Everyday a clear diurnal cycle caused by the vertical transport of the airborne pollen was visible on the lidar-derived profiles with maxima usually reached between 12 and 15 UT. A method based on the lidar polarization capabilities was used to retrieve the contribution of the pollen to the total aerosol optical depth (AOD). On average the diurnal (9–17 UT) pollen AOD was 0.05 which represented 29 % of the total AOD. Maximum values of the pollen AOD and its contribution to the total AOD reached 0.12 and 78 %, respectively. The diurnal means of the volume and particle depolarization ratios in the pollen plume were 0.08 and 0.14, with hourly maxima of 0.18 and 0.33, respectively. The diurnal mean of the height of the pollen plume was found at 1.24 km with maxima varying in the range 1.47–1.78 km. A correlation study is performed (1) between the depolarization ratios and the pollen near-surface concentration to evaluate the ability of the former parameter to monitor pollen release, and (2) between the depolarization ratios and surface downward solar fluxes, which cause the atmospheric turbulences responsible for the particle vertical motion, to examine the dependency of the depolarization ratios upon solar fluxes. For the volume depolarization ratio the first correlation study yields to correlation coefficients ranging 0.00–0.81 and the second to correlation coefficients ranging 0.70–0.86.
The variation characteristics and possible sources of atmospheric water-soluble ions in Beijing
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Zhang Chenglong , Mu Yujing , Liu Chengtang , Xue Chaoyang , Ye Can , Liu Junfeng , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Hongxing
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The North China plain (NCP) including Beijing is currently suffering from severe haze events due to high pollution level of atmospheric fine particles called PM2.5. To mitigate the serious pollution status, identification of the sources of PM2.5 is urgently needed for the effective control measures. A total of 235 daily samples of PM2.5 were collected in Beijing through the year of 2014, and the variation characteristics of water-soluble ions (WSIs) in the PM2.5 were comprehensively analyzed for recognizing their possible sources. The results indicated that the periodic emissions from farmers' activities made evident contribution to the atmospheric WSIs in Beijing. The unusually high ratio of Cl− to Na+ in summer could be rationally explained by the prevailing fertilization of NH4Cl for planting summer maize in the vast area of NCP. The remarkable elevation of Cl− in winter was ascribed to coal combustion for heating by farmers. The most serious pollution episodes in autumn were coincident with significant elevation of Ca2+ which was ascribed to be from harvest of the summer maize and tillage for planting the winter wheat. The mineral dust emission from the harvest and tillage not only increased the atmospheric concentrations of the primary pollutants, but also greatly accelerated formation of sulfate and nitrate through heterogeneous reactions of NO2 and SO2 on the mineral dust. The relatively high concentration of K+ in winter and autumn further confirmed that crop straw burning made evident contribution to atmospheric PM2.5 in Beijing. The backward trajectories also indicated that the highest concentrations of WSIs usually occurred in the air parcel from southwest/south regions with high density of farmers. In addition, the values of nitrogen oxidation ratio (NOR) and the sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) were found to be much higher under haze days than under non-haze days, implying that formation of sulfate and nitrate was greatly accelerated through heterogeneous or multiphase reactions of NO2 and SO2 on PM2.5.
Close-range radar rainfall estimation and error analysis
Authors: van de Beek Remco , Leijnse Hidde , Hazenberg Pieter , Uijlenhoet Remko
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) using ground-based weather radar is affected by many sources of error. The most important of these are 1) radar calibration, 2) ground clutter, 3) wet radome attenuation, 4) rain induced attenuation, 5) vertical profile of reflectivity, 6) non-uniform beam filling, and 7) variations in rain drop size distribution (DSD). This study presents an attempt to separate and quantify these sources of error in flat terrain very close to the radar (1–2 km), where 4), 5), and 6) only play a minor role. A 3-day rainfall event (25–27 August 2010) that produced more than 50 mm of precipitation in De Bilt, The Netherlands is analyzed using radar, rain gauge, and disdrometer data. Without any correction it is found that the radar severely underestimates the total rain amount (by more than 50 %). The calibration of the radar receiver is operationally monitored by analyzing the received power from the sun. This turns out to cause a 1 dB of underestimation. The operational clutter filter applied by KNMI is found to incorrectly identify precipitation as clutter, especially at near-zero Doppler velocities. An alternative simple clutter removal scheme using a clear sky clutter map improves the rainfall estimation slightly. To investigate the effect of wet radome attenuation, stable returns from buildings close to the radar are analyzed. It is shown that this may have caused an underestimation of up to 4 dB. Finally, a disdrometer is used to derive event and intra-event specific Z-R relations due to variations in the observed DSDs. Such variations may result in errors when applying the operational Marshall-Palmer Z-R relation. Correcting for all of these effects has a large positive impact on the radar derived precipitation estimates and yields a good match between radar QPE and gauge measurements, with a difference of 5 to 8 %. This shows the potential of radar as a tool for rainfall estimation, especially at close ranges, but also underlines the importance of applying radar correction methods as individual errors can have a large detrimental impact on the QPE performance of the radar.
Climatic controls on leaf litter decomposition across European forests and grasslands revealed by reciprocal litter transplantation experiments
Authors: Portillo-Estrada Miguel , Pihlatie Mari , Korhonen Janne F. J. , Levula Janne , Frumau Arnoud K. F. , Ibrom Andreas , Lembrechts Jonas J. , Morillas Lourdes , Horváth László , Jones Stephanie K. , Niinemets Ülo
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling under future climate change is associated with large uncertainties in litter decomposition and the turnover of soil C and N. In addition, future conditions (especially altered precipitation regimes and warming) are expected to result in changes in vegetation composition, and accordingly in litter species and chemical composition, but it is unclear how such changes could potentially alter litter decomposition. Litter transplantation experiments were carried out across six European sites (four forests and two grasslands) spanning a large geographical and climatic gradient (5.6–11.4 °C in annual temperature 511–878 mm in precipitation) to gain insight into the climatic controls on litter decomposition as well as the effect of litter origin and species. The decomposition k rates were overall higher in warmer and wetter sites than in colder and drier sites, and positively correlated with the litter total specific leaf area. Also, litter N content increased as less litter mass remained and decay went further. Surprisingly, this study demonstrates that climatic controls on litter decomposition are quantitatively more important than species or site of origin. Cumulative climatic variables, precipitation, soil water content and air temperature (ignoring days with air temperatures below zero degrees Celsius), were appropriate to predict the litter remaining mass during decomposition (Mr). Mr and cumulative air temperature were found to be the best predictors for litter carbon and nitrogen remaining during the decomposition. Using mean annual air temperature, precipitation, soil water content and litter total specific leaf area as parameters we were able to predict the annual decomposition rate (k) accurately.
Evaluation of four years continuous δ13C(CO2) data using a running Keeling approach
Authors: Vardag Sanam Noreen , Hammer Samuel , Levin Ingeborg
Published: March 2016

Abstract. As different carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters have different carbon isotope ratios, measurements of atmospheric δ13C(CO2) and CO2 concentration contain information on the CO2 source mix in the catchment area of an atmospheric measurement site. Often, this information is illustratively presented as mean isotopic source signature. Recently an increasing number of continuous measurements of δ13C(CO2) and CO2 have become available, opening the door to quantification of CO2 shares from different sources at high temporal resolution. Here, we present a method to compute the CO2 source signature (δS) continuously without introducing biases and evaluate our result using model data. We find that biases in δS are smaller than 0.2 ‰ with uncertainties of about 1.2 ‰ for hourly data. Applying the method to a four year data set of CO2 and δ13C(CO2) measured in Heidelberg, Germany, yields a distinct seasonal cycle of δS. Disentangling this seasonal source signature into its source components is, however, only possible if the isotopic end members of these sources, i.e., the biosphere, δbio, and the fuel mix, δF, are known. From the mean source signature record in 2012, δbio could be reliably estimated only for summer to (−25 ± 1) ‰ and δF only for winter to (−32.5 ± 2.5) ‰. As the isotopic end members δbio and δF were shown to change over the season, no year-round estimation of the fossil fuel or biosphere share is possible from the measured mean source signature record without additional information from emission inventories or other tracer measurements, such as Δ14C(CO2).
Variations of leaf N, P concentrations in shrubland biomes across northern China: phylogeny, climate and soil
Authors: Yang X. , Chi X. , Ji C. , Liu H. , Ma W. , Mohhammat A. , Shi Z. , Wang X. , Yu S. , Yue M. , Tang Z.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Concentrations of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are key leaf traits in ecosystem functioning and dynamics. Foliar stoichiometry varies remarkably among life forms. However, previous studies have focused on trees and grasses, leaving the knowledge gap for the stoichiometric patterns of shrubs. In this study, we explored the intra- and interspecific variations of leaf N and P concentration in relation to climate, soil property and evolutionary history based on 1486 samples composed of 163 shrub species from 361 shrubland sites in northern China expanding 46.1° (86.7–132.8° E) in longitude and 19.8° (32.6–52.4° N) in latitude. The results showed that leaf N concentration decreased with precipitation, leaf P concentration decreased with temperature and increased with precipitation and soil P concentration. Both leaf N and P concentrations were phylogenetically conserved, but leaf P concentration was less conserved than leaf N concentration. At community level, climates explained more interspecific, while soil nutrient explained more intraspecific, variation of leaf nutrient concentrations. These results suggested that leaf N and P concentrations responded to climate, soil, and phylogeny in different ways. Climate influenced the community chemical traits through the shift in species composition, whereas soil directly influenced the community chemical traits.
A global-scale two-layer transient groundwater model: development and application to groundwater depletion
Authors: de Graaf Inge E. M. , van Beek Rens L. P. H. , Gleeson Tom , Moosdorf Nils , Schmitz Oliver , Sutanudjaja Edwin H. , Bierkens Marc F. P.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Groundwater is the world's largest accessible source of freshwater to satisfy human water needs. Moreover, groundwater buffers variable precipitation rates over time, thereby effectively sustaining river flows in times of droughts as well as evaporation in areas with shallow water tables. Lateral flows between basins can be a significant part of the basins water budget, but most global-scale hydrological models do not consider surface water-groundwater interactions and do not include a lateral groundwater flow component. In this study we simulate groundwater head fluctuation and groundwater storage changes in both confined and unconfined aquifer systems using a global-scale high-resolution (5 arc-minutes) groundwater model by deriving new estimates of the distribution and thickness of confining layers. Inclusion of confined aquifer systems (estimated 6 % to 20 % of the total aquifer area) changes timing and amplitude of head fluctuations, as well as flow paths and groundwater-surface water interactions rates. Also, timing and magnitude of groundwater head fluctuations are better estimated when confining layers are included. Groundwater flow paths within confining layers are shorter then paths in the underlying aquifer, while flows within the confined aquifer can get disconnected from the local drainage system due to the low conductivity of the confining layer. Lateral groundwater flows between basins are significant in the model, especially for areas with (partially) confined aquifers were long flow paths are simulated crossing catchment boundaries, thereby supporting water budgets of neighboring catchments or aquifer systems. The two-layer transient groundwater model is used to identify hotspots of groundwater depletion resulting in an estimated global groundwater depletion of 6700 km3 over the 1960–2010, consistent with estimates of previous studies.
Auroral research at the Tromsø Northern Lights Observatory: the Harang directorship, 1928–1946
Authors: Egeland Alv , Burke William J.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø began as Professor Lars Vegard's dream for a permanent facility in northern Norway, dedicated to the continuous study of auroral phenomenology and dynamics. Fortunately, not only was Vegard an internationally recognized spectroscopist, he was a great salesman and persuaded the Rockefeller Foundation that such an observatory represented an important long-term investment. A shrewd judge of talent, Vegard recognized the scientific and managerial skills of Leiv Harang, a recent graduate from the University of Oslo, and recommended that he become the observatory's first director. In 1929, subsequent to receiving the Rockefeller Foundation grant, the University of Oslo established a low temperature laboratory to support Vegard's spectroscopic investigations. This paper follows the scientific accomplishments of observatory personnel during the 18 years of Harang's directorship. These include: identifying the chemical sources of auroral emissions, discovering the Vegard–Kaplan bands, quantifying height distributions of different auroral forms, interpreting patterns of magnetic field variations, remotely probing auroral electron distribution profiles in the polar ionosphere, and monitoring the evolving states of the ozone layer. The Rockefeller Foundation judges got it right: the Tromsø Nordlysobservatoriet was, and for decades remained, an outstanding scientific investment.
Porosity and permeability determinations of organic rich Posidonia shales based on 3D analyses by FIB-SEM microscopy
Authors: Grathoff Georg H. , Peltz Markus , Enzmann Frieder , Kaufhold Stephan
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The goal of this study is to better understand the porosity and permeability in shales to improve modelling fluid and gas flow related to shale diagenesis. Two samples (WIC and HAD) were investigated, both Mid Jurassic Posidonia organic rich shales from central Germany of different maturity (WIC R0 0.53 % and HAD R0 1.45 %). The method for image collection was Focused Ion Beam (FIB) microscopy coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). For image and data analysis Avizo and GeoDict was used. Porosity was calculated from segmented 3D FIB based images and permeability was simulated by a Navier Stokes-Brinkman solver in the segmented images. Results show that the quantity and distribution of pore clusters and pores (> 40 nm) are similar. The largest pores are located within carbonates and clay minerals, whereas the smallest pores are within the matured organic matter. Orientation of the pores calculated as pore paths showed minor directional differences between the samples, possibly due to maturation. Both samples have no axis connectivity of pore clusters in the x, y, and z direction on the scale of 10 to 20 of micrometer, but do show connectivity on the micrometer scale. The volume of organic matter in the studied volume is representative of the TOC in the samples. Organic matter does show axis connectivity in the x, y, and z direction. With increasing maturity the porosity in organic matter increases from close to 0 to more than 5 %. These pores are small and in the large organic particles have little connection to the mineral matrix. Continuous pore size distributions are compared with Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) data. Minor differences are caused by resolution limits of the FIB-SEM and by the development of small pores during the maturation of the organic matter. Calculations show no permeability when only considering visible pores due to the lack of axis connectivity. Adding the organics with a background permeability of 1e-22 m2 to the calculations, the total permeability increased by one to two orders of magnitude depending on the direction of flow boundary conditions. Our results compare well with experimental data from the literature suggesting that upscaling may be possible in the future.
Da Invisibilidade à Participação: A Expressão da Criança em Disputas de Guarda
Authors: Ribeiro dos Santos Marcia Regina , Fortunato Costa Liana
Published: March 2016

Este artigo é parte de uma pesquisa qualitativa e visa analisar como a expressão da criança sobre sua percepção, durante o processo de disputa de guarda e regulamentação de visita, pode significar a possibilidade de a decisão judicial ser mais assertiva em relação ao que importa no atendimento aos seus interesses. Participaram 11 crianças entre 8 e 11 anos de idade, de nove famílias que estavam sob avaliação psicossocial por determinação do juiz. Os resultados revelaram que a criança tem clareza do significado de sua participação no contexto judicial, quer ser ouvida e ter sua opinião considerada e respeitada. Além disso, a criança reconhece ter autonomia para informar o seu ponto de vista e admite depender dos adultos nas tomadas de decisão no que considera ser melhor para ela.