bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Neuroprotective Role of Acupuncture and Activation of the BDNF Signaling Pathway
Authors: Lin Dong , De La Pena Ike , Lin Lili , Zhou Shu-Feng , Borlongan Cesar , Cao Chuanhai
Published: February 2014

Recent studies have been conducted to examine the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture in many neurological disorders. Although the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture has been linked to changes in signaling pathways, accumulating evidence suggest the participation of endogenous biological mediators, such as the neurotrophin (NT) family of proteins, specifically, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Accordingly, acupuncture can inhibit neurodegeneration via expression and activation of BDNF. Moreover, recent studies have reported that acupuncture can increase ATP levels at local stimulated points. We have also demonstrated that acupuncture could activate monocytes and increase the expression of BDNF via the stimulation of ATP. The purpose of this article is to review the recent findings and ongoing studies on the neuroprotective roles of acupuncture and therapeutic implications of acupuncture-induced activation of BDNF and its signaling pathway.
Fatty Acids from Pool Lipids as Possible Precursors of the Male Marking Pheromone in Bumblebees
Authors: Kofroňová Edita , Nekola Adam , Cvačka Josef , Kindl Jiří , Valterová Irena
Published: February 2014

Triacylglycerols (TGs) stored in the fat bodies of bumblebee males have a species-specific composition. The striking structural similarities between TG fatty acids (FAs) and components of the male marking pheromone in certain species led to the hypothesis that FAs may serve as precursors in pheromone biosynthesis. Here, we analysed TGs from B. ruderatus, B. bohemicus, and B. campestris. Nonadec-9-ene and icos-15-en-1-ol are the main components of B. ruderatus labial gland secretion, forming up to 92% of the gland extract. The corresponding icos-11-enic and icos-15-enic acids were found in TGs at levels higher than usual for bumblebee species. We found similar relationships in B. campestris and B. bohemicus. These results suggest that FAs might be precursors of aliphatic compounds in the male pheromones. Furthermore, we report for the first time the pheromone structure of B. ruderatus males.
Pharmacophore Generation from a Drug-like Core Molecule Surrounded by a Library Peptide via the 10BASEd-T on Bacteriophage T7
Authors: Tokunaga Yuuki , Azetsu Yuuki , Fukunaga Keisuke , Hatanaka Takaaki , Ito Yuji , Taki Masumi
Published: February 2014

We have achieved site-specific conjugation of several haloacetamide derivatives into designated cysteines on bacteriophage T7-displayed peptides, which are fused to T7 capsid protein gp10. This easiest gp10 based-thioetherification (10BASEd-T) undergoes almost quantitatively like a click reaction without side reaction or loss of phage infectivity. The post-translational modification yield, as well as the site-specificity, is quantitatively analyzed by a fluorescent densitometric analysis after gel electrophoresis. The detailed structure of the modified peptide on phage is identified with tandem mass spectrometry. Construction of such a peptide-fused phage library possessing non-natural core structures will be useful for future drug discovery. For this aim, we propose a novel concept of pharmacophore generation from a drug-like molecule (i.e., salicylic acid) conjugated with surrounding randomized peptides. By using the hybrid library, streptavidin-specific binders are isolated through four rounds of biopanning.
Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Some Novel Triazole Derivatives from Dehydroabietic Acid
Authors: Pertino Mariano , Verdugo Valery , Theoduloz Cristina , Schmeda-Hirschmann Guillermo
Published: February 2014

Dehydroabietic acid (DHA) is a naturally occurring diterpene with different and relevant biological activities. Previous studies have shown that some DHA derivatives display antiproliferative activity. However, the reported compounds did not include triazole derivatives. Starting from DHA (8,11,13-abietatrien-18-oic acid), and its alcohol dehydroabietinol (8,11,13-abietatrien-18-ol), four alkyl esters were prepared. The alkyl terpenes were treated with different aromatic azides to synthesize hybrid compounds using click chemistry. Some 16 new DHA hybrids were thus synthesized and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic and spectrometric means. The antiproliferative activity of the new compounds was assessed towards human cell lines, namely normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung cancer (SK-MES-1) and bladder carcinoma (J82) cells. Better antiproliferative effect was found for compound 5, with an IC50 of 6.1 μM and selectivity on SK-MES-1 cells. Under the same experimental conditions, the IC50 of etoposide, was 1.83 µM.
Publishing Risks
Authors: Steffensen Mogens
Published: February 2014

“What is complicated is not necessarily insightful and what is insightful is not necessarily complicated: Risks welcomes simple manuscripts that contribute with insight, outlook, understanding and overview”—a quote from the first editorial of this journal [1]. Good articles are not characterized by their level of complication but by their level of imagination, innovation, and power of penetration. Creativity sessions and innovative tasks are most elegant and powerful when they are delicately simple. This is why the articles you most remember are not the complicated ones that you struggled to digest, but the simpler ones you enjoyed swallowing. [...]
Sparse Representations-Based Super-Resolution of Key-Frames Extracted from Frames-Sequences Generated by a Visual Sensor Network
Authors: Sajjad Muhammad , Mehmood Irfan , Baik Sung
Published: February 2014

Visual sensor networks (VSNs) usually generate a low-resolution (LR) frame-sequence due to energy and processing constraints. These LR-frames are not very appropriate for use in certain surveillance applications. It is very important to enhance the resolution of the captured LR-frames using resolution enhancement schemes. In this paper, an effective framework for a super-resolution (SR) scheme is proposed that enhances the resolution of LR key-frames extracted from frame-sequences captured by visual-sensors. In a VSN, a visual processing hub (VPH) collects a huge amount of visual data from camera sensors. In the proposed framework, at the VPH, key-frames are extracted using our recent key-frame extraction technique and are streamed to the base station (BS) after compression. A novel effective SR scheme is applied at BS to produce a high-resolution (HR) output from the received key-frames. The proposed SR scheme uses optimized orthogonal matching pursuit (OOMP) for sparse-representation recovery in SR. OOMP does better in terms of detecting true sparsity than orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP). This property of the OOMP helps produce a HR image which is closer to the original image. The K-SVD dictionary learning procedure is incorporated for dictionary learning. Batch-OMP improves the dictionary learning process by removing the limitation in handling a large set of observed signals. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme and show its superiority over other state-of-the-art schemes.
Description of an Advantageous Optical Label-Free Biosensing Interferometric Read-Out Method to Measure Biological Species
Authors: Holgado Miguel , Sanza Francisco , López Ana , Lavín Álvaro , Casquel Rafael , Laguna María
Published: February 2014

In this article we report a new, simple, and reliable optical read-out detection method able to assess Rotavirus present in human sera as well as in the viral pollution sources. It is based on the interference of two interferometers used as biophotonic transducers. The method significantly improves the optical label-free biosensing response measuring both, the concentration of the AgR and its corresponding size. Two different immunoassays were carried out: Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and the recognition by its antibody (anti-BSA); and Rotavirus (AgR) and the recognition by its antibody (anti-AgR). In the cases studied, and using as model interferometer a simple Fabry-Perot transducer, we demonstrate a biosensing enhancement of two orders of magnitude in the Limit of Detection (LoD). In fact, this read-out optical method may have significant implications to enhance other optical label-free photonic transducers reported in the scientific literature.
Performance of Survey Forecasts by Professional Analysts: Did the European Debt Crisis Make it Harder or Perhaps Even Easier?
Authors: Kunze Frederik , Gruppe Mario
Published: February 2014

As the future movements of financial time series like the European Central Bank’s benchmark rate are exposed to uncertainty, financial market participants regularly have to rely on professional analysts’ forecasts. Not surprisingly—and for decades already—the quality of survey forecasts has been evaluated, with heterogeneous results. In addition, forecasters’ performance can change through the course of time. This may happen not only due to wrong or inadequate underlying models. Especially in times of financial turmoil or monetary crisis—like the European debt crisis—the interest rate moves made by central bankers may become even harder to predict (at least the direct reaction to the crisis). Because of this, we evaluate the performance of survey forecasts for the three months rate in the Euro zone performed by financial professionals and test for structural breaks to evidence for crisis related changes and the corresponding forecast errors.
Assessment of Total Risk on Non-Target Organisms in Fungicide Application for Agricultural Sustainability
Authors: Bozdogan Ali
Published: February 2014

In Turkey, in 2010, the amount of pesticide (active ingredient; a.i.) used in agriculture was about 23,000 metric tons, of which approximately 32% was fungicides. In 2012, 14 a.i. were used for fungus control in wheat cultivation areas in Adana province, Turkey. These a.i. were: azoxystrobin, carbendazim, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, fluquinconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, triadimenol, and trifloxystrobin. In this study, the potential risk of a.i. on non-target organisms in fungicide application of wheat cultivation was assessed by The Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk (POCER) indicators. In this study, the highest human health risk was for fluquinconazole (Exceedence Factor (EF) 1.798 for human health), whereas the fungicide with the highest environmental risk was propiconazole (EF 2.000 for the environment). For non-target organisms, the highest potential risk was determined for propiconazole when applied at 0.1250 kg a.i. ha-1 (EF 2.897). The lowest total risk was for azoxystrobin when applied at 0.0650 kg a.i. ha-1 (EF 0.625).
Tetrodotoxin: Chemistry, Toxicity, Source, Distribution and Detection
Authors: Bane Vaishali , Lehane Mary , Dikshit Madhurima , O'Riordan Alan , Furey Ambrose
Published: February 2014

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a naturally occurring toxin that has been responsible for human intoxications and fatalities. Its usual route of toxicity is via the ingestion of contaminated puffer fish which are a culinary delicacy, especially in Japan. TTX was believed to be confined to regions of South East Asia, but recent studies have demonstrated that the toxin has spread to regions in the Pacific and the Mediterranean. There is no known antidote to TTX which is a powerful sodium channel inhibitor. This review aims to collect pertinent information available to date on TTX and its analogues with a special emphasis on the structure, aetiology, distribution, effects and the analytical methods employed for its detection.
The Effect of Hydraulic Characteristics on Algal Bloom in an Artificial Seawater Canal: A Case Study in Songdo City, South Korea
Authors: Lee Seung , Kim Sooyoung , Kim Moonil , Lim Kyoung , Jung Younghun
Published: February 2014

Algal blooms have threatened the environmental functions of artificial seawater canals. Generally, water quality in a canal is managed by periodically circulating water from the sea into the canal. However, hydraulic characteristics from the canal design can interrupt the removal of algal blooms by water circulations in the canal. Accordingly, this study analyzed the effect of the hydraulic characteristics on algal blooms in an artificial seawater channel in Central Park, New Songdo City, Korea using a 3-D hydrodynamic model. Nutrients and velocity in stagnant areas in the canal were spatio-temporally measured. Algal bloom locations based on field monitoring mainly corresponded with areas of stagnant water and high vorticity in the z-direction, as determined by the numerical simulations. These results support that high vorticity interrupts the transfer water to the outer area when the canal water is in a stagnant condition. A high value of z-direction vorticity resulted in increased nutrient (total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P)) availability, and sequentially increases the probability of algal bloom events. In this regard, this study will give a contribution to prevention of algal blooms in the artificial seawater canal.
IL-27 in Human Secondary Lymphoid Organs Attracts Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Impairs HLA Class I–Restricted Antigen Presentation
Authors: Morandi Fabio , Di Carlo Emma , Ferrone Soldano , Petretto Andrea , Pistoia Vito , Airoldi Irma
Published: February 2014

Different cytokines play crucial roles in inflammation and in polarizing immune responses, including IL-27 that exerts pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. Although the activity of IL-27 is well characterized in murine immune cells, only limited information is available regarding the natural cellular sources of IL-27 in humans and its effects on human immune cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent professional APCs that in the immature state are positioned throughout peripheral tissues by acting as sentinels, sensing the presence of Ags. Activated DCs migrate into the lymph nodes and direct Ag-specific T cell responses, thus acting as key players in both adaptive and innate immunity. In this study we asked whether IL-27 is produced by human secondary lymphoid organs and what is its functional role on human DCs. To our knowledge, we provide the first evidence that 1) in lymph nodes, macrophages are the major source for IL-27; 2) immature and mature human DCs express functional IL-27R; 3) IL-27 exerts immunosuppressive activity by crippling the Ag processing machinery in immature DCs under steady-state conditions and after pulsing with a viral Ag; and 4) IL-27 is chemotactic for human DCs. Our findings highlight novel mechanisms underlying the immunosuppressive activity of IL-27, suggesting that this cytokine may function as a homeostatic cytokine in secondary lymphoid organs by limiting duration and/or intensity of ongoing adaptive immune responses. The results presented in this study pave the way to future studies aimed at investigating whether dysregulation of IL-27 expression and function may be involved in pathogenesis of autoimmune disease and cancer.
Oxidized Lipids Block Antigen Cross-Presentation by Dendritic Cells in Cancer
Authors: Cao Wei , Ramakrishnan Rupal , Tuyrin Vladimir A. , Veglia Filippo , Condamine Thomas , Amoscato Andrew , Mohammadyani Dariush , Johnson Joseph J. , Min Zhang Lan , Klein-Seetharaman Judith , Celis Esteban , Kagan Valerian E. , Gabrilovich Dmitry I.
Published: February 2014

Cross-presentation is one of the main features of dendritic cells (DCs), which is critically important for the development of spontaneous and therapy-inducible antitumor immune responses. Patients, at early stages of cancer, have normal presence of DCs. However, the difficulties in the development of antitumor responses in patients with low tumor burden raised the question of the mechanisms of DC dysfunction. In this study, we found that, in differentiated DCs, tumor-derived factors blocked the cross-presentation of exogenous Ags without inhibiting the Ag presentation of endogenous protein or peptides. This effect was caused by intracellular accumulation of different types of oxidized neutral lipids: triglycerides, cholesterol esters, and fatty acids. In contrast, the accumulation of nonoxidized lipids did not affect cross-presentation. Oxidized lipids blocked cross-presentation by reducing the expression of peptide–MHC class I complexes on the cell surface. Thus, this study suggests the novel role of oxidized lipids in the regulation of cross-presentation.
The first National Family Medicine Conference in Botswana, May 2013
Authors: Setlhare Vincent , Mash Bob , Tsima Billy
Published: February 2014

No abstract available
Volatile and intermediate-volatility organic compounds in sub-urban Paris: variability, origin and importance for SOA formation
Authors: Ait-Helal W. , Borbon A. , Sauvage S. , de Gouw J. A. , Colomb A. , Gros V. , Freutel F. , Crippa M. , Afif C. , Baltensperger U. , Beekmann M. , Doussin J.-F. , Durand-Jolibois R. , Fronval I. , Grand N. , Leonardis T. , Lopez M. , Michoud V. , Miet K. , Perrier S. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Schneider J. , Siour G. , Zapf P. , Locoge N.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Measurements of gaseous and particulate organic carbon were performed during the MEGAPOLI experiments, in July 2009 and January–February 2010, at the SIRTA observatory in sub-urban Paris. Measurements of primary and secondary volatile organic compounds (VOCs), of both anthropogenic and biogenic origins, including for the first time C12-C16 n-alkanes of intermediate volatility (IVOCs), suspected to be efficient precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The time series of gaseous carbon are generally consistent with times series of particulate organic carbon at regional scales and are clearly affected by meteorology and air mass origin. Concentration levels of anthropogenic VOCs in urban and sub-urban Paris were surprisingly low (2–963 ppt) compared to other megacities worldwide and to rural continental sites. Urban enhancement ratios of anthropogenic VOC pairs agree well between the urban and sub-urban Paris sites, showing the regional extent of anthropogenic sources of similar composition. Contrary to other primary anthropogenic VOCs (aromatics and alkanes), IVOCs showed lower concentrations in winter (< 5 ppt) compared to summer (13–27 ppt) in agreement with a gas-particle partitioning in favor of their transfer to the particle phase in winter. Higher concentrations of most oxygenated VOCs in winter (18–5984 ppt) suggest their dominant primary anthropogenic origin. The respective role of primary anthropogenic gaseous compounds in regional SOA formation was investigated by estimating the SOA mass concentration expected from the anthropogenic VOCs and IVOCs (I / VOCs) measured at SIRTA. From an approach based on emissions inferred from the I / VOC concentrations times the SOA formation yields', the so-called integrated approach conducted in this study, 46% of the SOA measured at SIRTA is explained by our measured concentrations of I / VOC, with 10% explained by only C12-C16 IVOCs. From results of an alternative time-resolved approach, the explained variability of the SOA concentrations is improved when the IVOCs are taken into account. Both approaches, which are based on ambient measurements of particular I / VOCs, emphasize the importance of the intermediate volatility compounds in the SOA formation, and support previous results from chamber experiments and modeling studies. The approaches results support the need to make systematic the IVOCs speciated measurement during field campaigns.
Vehicular emissions in China in 2006 and 2010
Authors: Chao N. , Tang G. , Wang Y. , Wang H. , Huang J. , Chen J.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Vehicular emissions are one of the most important sources of pollution in China, and they can increase the ambient concentrations of air pollutants and degrade the air quality. Using data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, vehicular emissions in China in 2006 and 2010 were calculated at a high spatial resolution, by taking the emission standards into consideration. The results show that China's vehicular emissions of CO, NOx, VOCs, NH3, PM2.5, PM10, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) were 30113.9, 4593.7, 6838.0, 20.9, 400.2, 430.5, 285.6, and 105.1 Gg, respectively, in 2006 and 34175.2, 5167.5, 7029.4, 74.0, 386.4, 417.1, 270.9, and 106.2 Gg, respectively, in 2010. CO, VOCs, and NH3 emissions were mainly from motorcycles and light-duty gasoline vehicles, whereas NOx, PM2.5, PM10, and BC emissions were mainly from rural vehicles and heavy-duty diesel trucks. OC emissions were mainly from motorcycles and heavy-duty diesel trucks. Euro 0 and Euro I vehicles were the primary contributors to all of the pollutant emissions except NH3, which was mainly from Euro III and Euro IV vehicles. The spatial distribution of vehicular emissions in China in 2006 and 2010 were developed at a high resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°, by using the road traffic density to characterize the busyness of a road. This method could overcome the problem of getting traffic flow information and make the spatial allocation more closed to the actual road emissions. The results showed that vehicular emissions presented significant regional spatial distribution, and emissions in the eastern and southern parts of China were much higher than those in western and northern China in both years. The North China Plain, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions jointly accounted for nearly half of the emissions. NH3 emissions increased greatly in big cities from 2006 to 2010. Emissions of CO, NOx, and VOCs could increase 52%, 9%, and 68%, if the emission standard and oil quality remained in the Euro I stage, so the policies on vehicular emissions implemented in China were demonstrated to be effective. Nevertheless, greater efforts are needed to improve the oil quality so that the new emission standard can implement timely and catch the international level quickly, especially the sulfur level because NOx emission is very sensitive to it. By comparing with coal consumption and NO2 column density observed by SCIA satellite, the increase of NOx emission in China from 2006 to 2010 was mainly caused by coal consumption.
Deriving an atmospheric budget of total organic bromine using airborne in-situ measurements from the Western Pacific during SHIVA
Authors: Sala S. , Bönisch H. , Keber T. , Oram D. E. , Mills G. , Engel A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. During the SHIVA (Stratospheric Ozone: Halogen Impacts in a Varying Atmosphere) project an extensive dataset of all halogen species relevant for the atmospheric budget of total organic bromine has been collected in the West Pacific region using the FALCON aircraft operated by the German Aerospace agency DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) covering a vertical range from the planetary boundary layer up to the ceiling altitude of the aircraft of 13 km. In total, more than 700 measurements were performed with the newly developed fully-automated in-situ instrument GHOST-MS (Gas cHromatograph for the Observation of Tracers – coupled with a Mass Spectrometer) by the Goethe University of Frankfurt (GUF) and with the onboard whole-air sampler WASP with subsequent ground based state-of-the-art GC/MS analysis by the University of East Anglia (UEA). Both instruments yield good agreement for all major (CHBr3 and CH2Br2) and minor (CHBrCl, CHBrCl2 and CHBr2Cl) VSLS (very short-lived substances), at least at the level of their 2 σ measurement uncertainties. In contrast to the suggestion that the Western Pacific could be a major source region for VSLS (Pyle et al., 2011), we found only slightly enhanced mixing ratios of brominated halogen source gases relative to the levels reported in Montzka et al. (2011) for other tropical regions. A budget for total organic bromine, including all four halons,CH3Br and the VSLS, is derived for the upper troposphere, the input region for the TTL and thus also for the stratosphere, compiled from the SHIVA dataset. With exception of the two minor VSLS CHBrCl2 and CHBr2Cl, excellent agreement with the values reported in Montzka et al. (2011) is found, while being slightly higher than previous studies from our group based on balloon-borne measurements.
Eddy-covariance flux errors due to biases in gas concentration measurements: origins, quantification and correction
Authors: Fratini G. , McDermitt D. K. , Papale D.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Errors in gas concentration measurements by infrared gas analysers can occur during eddy-covariance campaigns, associated with actual or apparent instrumental drifts or biases due to thermal expansion, dirt contamination, aging of components or errors in field operations. If occurring on long timescales (hours to days), these errors are normally ignored during flux computation, under the assumption that errors in mean gas concentrations do not affect the estimation of turbulent fluctuations and, hence, of covariances. By analysing instrument theory of operation, and using numerical simulations and field data, we show that this is not the case for instruments with curvilinear calibrations; we further show that if not appropriately accounted for, concentration biases can lead to roughly proportional systematic flux errors, where the fractional errors in fluxes are about 30–40% the fractional errors in concentrations. We quantify these errors and characterize their dependency on main determinants. We then propose a correction procedure that largely – potentially completely – eliminates these errors. The correction, to be applied during flux computation, is based on knowledge of instrument calibration curves and on field or laboratory calibration data. Finally, we demonstrate the occurrence of such errors and validate the correction procedure by means of a field experiment, and accordingly provide recommendations for in situ operations.
TopoSCALE v.1.0: downscaling gridded climate data in complex terrain
Authors: Fiddes J. , Gruber S.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Simulation of land surface processes is problematic in heterogeneous terrain due to the the high resolution required of model grids to capture strong lateral variability caused by, for example, topography, and the lack of accurate meteorological forcing data at the site or scale it is required. Gridded data products produced by atmospheric models can fill this gap, however, often not at an appropriate spatial resolution to drive land-surface simulations. In this study we describe a method that uses the well-resolved description of the atmospheric column provided by climate models, together with high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs), to downscale coarse-grid climate variables to a fine-scale subgrid. The main aim of this approach is to provide high-resolution driving data for a land-surface model (LSM). The method makes use of an interpolation of pressure-level data according to topographic height of the subgrid. An elevation and topography correction is used to downscale short-wave radiation. Long-wave radiation is downscaled by deriving a cloud-component of all-sky emissivity at grid level and using downscaled temperature and relative humidity fields to describe variability with elevation. Precipitation is downscaled with a simple non-linear lapse and optionally disaggregated using a climatology approach. We test the method in comparison with unscaled grid-level data and a set of reference methods, against a large evaluation dataset (up to 210 stations per variable) in the Swiss Alps. We demonstrate that the method can be used to derive meteorological inputs in complex terrain, with most significant improvements (with respect to reference methods) seen in variables derived from pressure levels: air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and incoming long-wave radiation. This method may be of use in improving inputs to numerical simulations in heterogeneous and/or remote terrain, especially when statistical methods are not possible, due to lack of observations (i.e. remote areas or future periods).
Inherently mass-conservative version of the semi-Lagrangian absolute vorticity (SL-AV) atmospheric model dynamical core
Authors: Shashkin V. V. , Tolstykh M. A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The semi-Lagrangian absolute vorticity (SL-AV) atmospheric model is the global semi-Lagrangian hydrostatic model used for operational medium-range and seasonal forecasts at the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia. The distinct feature of the SL-AV dynamical core is the semi-implicit, semi-Lagrangian vorticity-divergence formulation on the unstaggered grid. A semi-implicit, semi-Lagrangian approach allows for long time steps but violates the global and local mass conservation. In particular, the total mass in simulations with semi-Lagrangian models can drift significantly if no a posteriori mass-fixing algorithm is applied. However, the global mass-fixing algorithms degrade the local mass conservation. The new inherently mass-conservative version of the SL-AV model dynamical core presented here ensures global and local mass conservation without mass-fixing algorithms. The mass conservation is achieved with the introduction of the finite-volume, semi-Lagrangian discretization for a continuity equation based on the 3-D extension of the conservative cascade semi-Lagrangian transport scheme (CCS). Numerical experiments show that the new version of the SL-AV dynamical core presented combines the accuracy and stability of the standard SL-AV dynamical core with the mass-conservation properties. The results of the mountain-induced Rossby-wave test and baroclinic instability test for the mass-conservative dynamical core are found to be in agreement with the results available in the literature.
Correcting basin-scale snowfall in a mountainous basin using a distributed snowmelt model and remote-sensing data
Authors: Shrestha M. , Wang L. , Koike T. , Tsutsui H. , Xue Y. , Hirabayashi Y.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Adequate estimation of the spatial distribution of snowfall is critical in hydrologic modelling. However, this is a well-known problem in estimating basin-scale snowfall, especially in mountainous basins with data scarcity. This study focuses on correction and estimation of this spatial distribution, which considers topographic effects within the basin. A method is proposed that optimises an altitude-based snowfall correction factor (Cfsnow). This is done through multi-objective calibration of a spatially distributed, multilayer energy and water balance-based snowmelt model (WEB-DHM-S) with observed discharge and remotely sensed snow cover data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The Shuffled Complex Evolution–University of Arizona (SCE–UA) automatic search algorithm is used to obtain the optimal value of Cfsnow for minimum cumulative error in discharge and snow cover simulations. Discharge error is quantified by Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and relative volume deviation, and snow cover error was estimated by pixel-by-pixel analysis. The study region is the heavily snow-fed Yagisawa Basin of the Upper Tone River in northeast Japan. First, the system was applied to one snow season (2002–2003), obtaining an optimised Cfsnow of 0.0007 m−1. For validation purposes, the optimised Cfsnow was implemented to correct snowfall in 2004, 2002 and 2001. Overall, the system was effective, implying improvements in correlation of simulated versus observed discharge and snow cover. The 4 yr mean of basin-average snowfall for the corrected spatial snowfall distribution was 1160 mm (780 mm before correction). Execution of sensitivity runs against other model input and parameters indicated that Cfsnow could be affected by uncertainty in shortwave radiation and setting of the threshold air temperature parameter. Our approach is suitable to correct snowfall and estimate its distribution in poorly gauged basins, where elevation dependence of snowfall amount is strong.
Development of an operational modeling system for urban heat islands: an application to Athens, Greece
Authors: Giannaros T. M. , Melas D. , Daglis I. A. , Keramitsoglou I.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The urban heat island (UHI) effect is one prominent form of localized anthropogenic climate modification. It represents a significant urban climate problem since it occurs in the layer of the atmosphere where almost all daily human activities take place. This paper presents the development of a high-resolution modeling system that could be used for simulating the UHI effect in the context of operational weather forecasting activities. The modeling system is built around a state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction model, properly modified to allow for the better representation of the urban climate. The model performance in terms of simulating the near-surface air temperature and thermal comfort conditions over the complex urban area of Athens, Greece, is evaluated during a 1.5-month operational implementation in the summer of 2010. Results from this case study reveal an overall satisfactory performance of the modeling system. The discussion of the results highlights the important role that, given the necessary modifications, a meteorological model can play as a supporting tool for developing successful heat island mitigation strategies. This is further underlined through the operational character of the presented modeling system.
For an End to Pinioning: The Case Against the Legal Mutilation of Birds in Captivity
Authors: Tyson Elizabeth
Published: February 2014

This article discusses the "pinioning" of birds in English zoos. Pinioning is the partial amputation of a bird’s wing and renders the individual permanently flightless. Around 5,650 birds have been pinioned in five Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) zoos in England. Licenses are held by the WWT under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to allow the shooting of free-living birds in order to prevent interference with the captive pinioned birds. The associated practices of pinioning and shooting are considered in legal and ethical contexts. It is concluded that there is no compelling case to support the continuation of pinioning.
An Evaluative Review of Theories Related to Animal Cruelty
Authors: Gullone Eleonora
Published: February 2014

The two dominant theories relating to animal cruelty are critically reviewed. These are (1) the violence graduation hypothesis and (2) the deviance generalization hypothesis. The outcomes indicate very high consistency with the broader antisocial behavior and aggression literature, which is large and very robust. This strongly supports the validity of the animal cruelty theory proposals. Proposals that animal cruelty is one of the earliest indicators of externalizing disorders and that it is a marker of development along a more severe trajectory of antisocial and aggressive behaviors are supported. The implications of these conclusions are discussed.
Aspects on radiolabeling of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE: After C18 purification re-addition of ascorbic acid is required to maintain radiochemical purity
Authors: Maus Stephan , Blois Erik De , Ament Stephan J. , Schreckenberger Mathias , Breeman Wouter A. P.
Published: February 2014

Purpose: Radiolabeled peptides like 177Lu-DOTA-TATE are vulnerable to radiolysis, which results in decreasedradiochemical purity (RCP) of these radiopeptides. Gentisic acid (GA) and ascorbic acid (AA) are well known ingredientsto reduce the effects of radiolysis. Currently, there is a trend to change the procedure from a manual to a cassette-basedautomated labeling and to introduce a C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) post-radiolabeling in order to removenon-incorporated 177Lu from the injection solution. However, with the introduction of SPE purification, GA and AAmight effectively be removed from injection solution with a concordant dramatically drop of the RCP. Therefore weinvestigated the impact of tC18 SPE purification on the RCP of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE.Methods: We compared the manual radiolabeling procedure with the cassette-based automated radiolabeling procedurewith/out tC18 SPE purification cartridge. The effect of tC18 purification on RCP of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE wasinvestigated by HPLC as function of the post-radiolabeling time and the concentration of activity.Results: After tC18 SPE purification, GA and AA were effectively removed and resulted in volume-dependent decreasein RCP, e.g. <95% after 5h in 20 mL. Re-addition of AA directly after tC18 SPE purification resulted in a RCP ≥95% at72h. In addition, with the cassette-based automated radiolabeling procedure we also found 28% of the original activityremaining in the activity-containing vial and tubing vs. < 1% with the manual procedure.Conclusion: Re-addition of AA post tC18 SPE purification is required to maintain RCP of 177Lu-DOTA-TATE.
TIMBER RESEARCH AND THE WOOD INDUSTRIES
Authors: Kynoch W.
Published: February 2014

The position taken in this article is the result of personal observation by the author during 18 years of intimate contact with a variety of wood industries and with timber research. That the wood industries as a whole may be charged with an inexcusable apathy towards research and a lack of appreciation of its value, even its indispensability, the course of events of the past 3 or 4 years emphasizes with particular impressiveness.
AIR PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOREST SITES: I. MAPPING METHODS ILLUSTRATED ON AN AREA OF THE PETAWAWA FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION
Authors: Losee S. T. B.
Published: February 2014

Air photographs have particular advantages in mapping sites because they facilitate the study of the topography and provide a comprehensive view of the tree-cover. These advantages are especially noticeable when absolute site value is considered rather than the productive value in terms of one species.The methods developed make use of two sources of information in the air photographs. These are topography and vegetation. The topographical situation of a specific area, interpreted according to geology and soil, permits an evaluation of site which in many cases is sufficient for all practical purposes. In the other cases, a still closer evaluation may be obtained by also considering the site requirements of the tree species or other vegetation present.At Petawawa the sites had been classified by Heimburger by the Cajander site-type method, so it was desirable to relate the air photographic work to this. With this combination of methods 30 square miles were mapped. Over 16 square miles the photographic data was sufficient, and a check showed an accuracy of 94 per cent. On the remaining 14 square miles tone distinctions were poor and a check showed an accuracy of only 71 per cent. On areas less ecologically complex than Petawawa, even these photos with poor tone distinctions would be sufficient for accurate work.
Ecology and Traits of Plant Species that Compete with Boreal and Temperate Forest Conifers: An Overview of Available Information and its Use in Forest Management in Canada
Authors: Bell F. Wayne , Kershaw Maureen , Aubin Isabelle , Thiffault Nelson , Dacosta Jennifer , Wiensczyk Alan
Published: February 2014

In boreal and temperate forests in Canada, at least 71 plant species, including trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, and ferns, have the potential to significantly reduce the growth of conifer regeneration. A thorough understanding of the autecology of these plants—their response to their environment—can help resource managers to improve their approaches to vegetation management, thereby maximizing crop tree growth and survival. In this paper, we highlight key sources of information about the autecology of the major species that compete with forest conifers, including books and field guides, journal series, Web sites, and plant trait databases. We suggest ways that this information can be applied in resource management, recommend approaches for maintaining and updating this information, and underline the needs for developing a single, consolidated, comprehensive source of such information for use by resource managers and researchers. Information gaps are also briefly discussed.
An Overview of The Efficacy of Vegetation Management Alternatives for Conifer Regeneration in Boreal Forests
Authors: Wiensczyk Alan , Swift Kathie , Morneault Andrée , Thiffault Nelson , Szuba Kandyd , Bell F. Wayne
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we discuss the broad array of treatments that could be used to control competitive vegetation in conifer plantations in the boreal forests of Canada. We present vegetation management alternatives screened based on their treatment efficacy, which we defined as their ability to (a) control competitive vegetation and (b) not cause undue damage to conifer seedlings. The treatments reviewed range from pre-harvest (preventative) to post-plant release (reactive) treatments, and are organized into five categories: (i) silvicultural and harvest systems, (ii) physical treatments such as mechanical site preparation, cutting, girdling and mulching; (iii) thermal treatments such as prescribed fire and steaming; (iv) cultural treatments such as seedling culture, cover cropping, and grazing; and (v) chemical and biological spray treatments. We based our assessment of treatment efficacy on previous reviews, expert opinion, and published literature. We conclude on the need to further assess the effectiveness of forest vegetation management strategies in the context of multi-purpose plantations that consider ecological, social and silvicultural objectives.
New and updated information on Scleroderris canker in the Atlantic Provinces
Authors: Warren G.R. , Harrison K.J. , Laflamme G.
Published: February 2014

This note reviews the status of the European race of Scleroderris canker (Gremmeniella abietina [Lagerb.] Morelet), an exotic pest, in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. The European race of Scleroderris canker is a disease of plant quarantine significance, and many reports have been written since it was initially recognized in New York State in 1975 and subsequently found in Quebec in 1978. The race testing methods have improved in the intervening three decades. This report clarifies the situation for regulatory authorities, the forest industry and provincial officials in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. We are also reporting a breach of the quarantine zone of that disease in Newfoundland. A complete listing of isolates tested from New Brunswick and the known distribution for Newfoundland are included as tables and maps.
Assessment of assisted migration effects on spring bud flush in white spruce (Picea glauca[Moench] Voss) seedlings
Authors: Lu Pengxin , Man Rongzhou
Published: February 2014

In a changing climate, delaying the time of bud flush may be advantageous to boreal forest species to reduce the risk of spring frost damage. In this study, we examined the potential effect of assisted migration of tree seed on time to bud flush for white spruce. Flushing times of seedlings from 23 white spruce provenances from Ontario were observed under varying temperature conditions simulated in controlled environment chambers. Results indicated that time to bud flush varied considerably among provenances. Although higher temperatures significantly promoted bud flushing for all provenances, provenance-by-temperature interactions were negligible, indicating stable performance of white spruce provenances for this adaptive trait. Spatial patterns of variation among provenances in bud flushing were not consistent with patterns found in range-wide provenance tests. Assisted migration of tree seed across relatively short distances is unlikely to delay bud flushing time in white spruce. Some southern populations may flush earlier at more northerly sites, which would exacerbate spring frost risk. Tree improvement may be an effective approach to utilize amongand withinprovenance variation to enhance this fitness trait for better climatic adaptation.
Establishing a sustainable harvest for canada yew (Taxus canadensis marsh.) in Ontario
Authors: Noland Thomas , Rich Lesley , Packalen Maara
Published: February 2014

In 2003, commercial harvest of Canada yew (Taxus canadensis Marsh.) in Ontario began—but without a sustainable harvest policy. In 2005, we began to determine the sustainability of three harvest intensity treatments at three sites in central Ontario. Harvest treatments were labelled control (no initial harvest), light (two-year-old shoots removed), moderate (three-year-old shoots removed), and severe (seven-year-old shoots removed). We also looked at effects of harvest season and light levels on shoot regrowth. After three and four years, severe-harvest plants yielded less than half the biomass of the initial harvest, while biomass from moderate-harvest plants was about equal to the initial. Biomass from light-harvest plants generally increased. Moderate light levels stimulated more first-year regrowth in all plants than low light levels did but increased only Year 2 regrowth in severe-harvest plants. Spring harvest reduced first-year regrowth only. Comparing biomass of moderate-harvest plants after three or four years with initial moderate-harvest biomass suggested similar growth rate across time periods. Our results concur with Canada Yew Association sustainable harvest guidelines: Moderately harvesting three-year-old shoots plus allowing four years of regrowth before reharvest ensures sustainable harvest, at least through one harvest cycle.
A Little lecture on the big burn: Bioenergy and the privatization of British Columbia's Crown forests
Authors: Penn Briony
Published: February 2014

The combination of a gutted B.C. Forest Service, vast areas of not sufficiently restocked forest lands, a quirky loophole in the Kyoto Protocol and a provincial government ideologically driven to sell off public assets has created the perfect opportunity to burn down B.C.'s forests in a biofuel boondoggle and the last barriers to privatization of B.C.'s Crown forests. Interviews conducted with over a dozen ex-government foresters, industry representatives, contract foresters, silviculturalists, forest-sector round-table participants and political representatives point to this new direction that government is taking Crown forests—with no public consultation and media, like the government, that are failing to serve public interests. The voices of the whistle blowers point to a colossal failure of imagination by government that has implications to forest health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, other public interests in Crown lands from public access to biodiversity and water quality, First Nation interests, and international credibility on carbon accounting and standards and on certification. The lecture will explore the dystopic picture of what is planned and an alternative vision for Crown forests that has been put forward by the critics as a world leader in ecosystem services and valuation. The lecture notes were taken from an original longer article entitled The Big Burn, first published by Focus Magazine in August of 2010. 2