bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerosol dynamics within and above forest in relation to turbulent transport and dry deposition
Authors: Rannik Üllar , Zhou Luxi , Zhou Putian , Gierens Rosa , Mammarella Ivan , Sogachev Andrey , Boy Michael
Published: March 2016

Abstract. A 1-D atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) model coupled with a detailed atmospheric chemistry and aerosol dynamical model, the model SOSAA, was used to predict the ABL and detailed aerosol population (characterized by the number size distribution) time evolution. The model was applied over a period of 10 days in May 2013 to a pine forest site in southern Finland. The period was characterized by frequent new particle formation events and simultaneous intensive aerosol transformation. The aim of the study was to analyze and quantify the role of aerosol and ABL dynamics in the vertical transport of aerosols. It was of particular interest to what extent the fluxes above the canopy deviate from the particle dry deposition on the canopy foliage due to the above-mentioned processes. The model simulations revealed that the particle concentration change due to aerosol dynamics frequently exceeded the effect of particle deposition by even an order of magnitude or more. The impact was, however, strongly dependent on particle size and time. In spite of the fact that the timescale of turbulent transfer inside the canopy is much smaller than the timescales of aerosol dynamics and dry deposition, leading us to assume well-mixed properties of air, the fluxes at the canopy top frequently deviated from deposition inside the forest. This was due to transformation of aerosol concentration throughout the ABL and resulting complicated pattern of vertical transport. Therefore we argue that the comparison of timescales of aerosol dynamics and deposition defined for the processes below the flux measurement level do not unambiguously describe the importance of aerosol dynamics for vertical transport above the canopy. We conclude that under dynamical conditions reported in the current study the micrometeorological particle flux measurements can significantly deviate from the dry deposition into the canopy. The deviation can be systematic for certain size ranges so that the time-averaged particle fluxes can be also biased with respect to deposition sink.
Hybrid ensemble 4DVar assimilation of stratospheric ozone using a global shallow water model
Authors: Allen Douglas R. , Hoppel Karl W. , Kuhl David D.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Wind extraction from stratospheric ozone (O3) assimilation is examined using a hybrid ensemble 4DVar shallow water model (SWM) system coupled to the tracer advection equation. Stratospheric radiance observations are simulated using global observations of the SWM fluid height (Z), while O3 observations represent sampling by a typical polar-orbiting satellite. Four ensemble sizes were examined (25, 50, 100, and 1518 members), with the largest ensemble equal to the number of dynamical state variables. The optimal length scale for ensemble localization was found by tuning an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). This scale was then used for localizing the ensemble covariances that were blended with conventional covariances in the hybrid 4DVar experiments. Both optimal length scale and optimal blending coefficient increase with ensemble size, with optimal blending coefficients varying from 0.2 to 0.5 for small ensembles to 0.5 to 1.0 for large ensembles. The hybrid system outperforms conventional 4DVar for all ensemble sizes, while for large ensembles the hybrid produces similar results to the offline EnKF. Assimilating O3 in addition to Z benefits the winds in the hybrid system, with the fractional improvement in global vector wind increasing from ~35 % with 25 and 50 members to ~50 % with 1518 members. For the smallest ensembles (25 and 50 members), the hybrid 4DVar assimilation improves the zonal wind analysis over conventional 4DVar in the Northern Hemisphere (winter-like) region and also at the equator, where Z observations alone have difficulty constraining winds due to lack of geostrophy. For larger ensembles (100 and 1518 members), the hybrid system results in both zonal and meridional wind error reductions, relative to 4DVar, across the globe.
Modeling the Diurnal Variability of Agricultural Ammonia in Bakersfield, California during CalNex
Authors: Lonsdale C. R. , Hegarty J. D. , Cady-Pereira K. , Alvarado M. J. , Henze D. K. , Turner M. D. , Capps S. L. , Nowak J. B. , Neuman J. A. , Middlebrook A. M. , Bahreini R. , Murphy J. G. , Markovic M. , VandenBoer T. C. , Russell L. M. , Scarino A. J.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. NH3 retrievals from the NASA Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES), as well as surface and aircraft observations of NH3(g) and submicron NH4(p), are to used to evaluate modelled concentrations of NH3(g) and NH4(p) from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) during the California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change (CalNex) campaign. We find that simulations of NH3 driven with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) CalNex emission inventory are qualitatively and spatially consistent with TES satellite observations, with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.54. However, the surface observations at Bakersfield indicate a missing diurnal cycle in the model bias, with CMAQ overestimating surface NH3 at night and underestimating it during the day. The surface, satellite, and aircraft observations all suggest that the afternoon NH3 emissions in the CARB inventory are underestimated by at least a factor of two, while the night-time overestimate of NH3(g) is likely due to a combination of overestimated NH3 emissions, underestimated deposition, and insufficient vertical mixing in the WRF meteorological fields used to drive CMAQ. We used the surface observations at Bakersfield to derive an empirical diurnal cycle of NH3 emissions in the SJV, in which night-time and midday emissions differed by about a factor of 4.5. Adding this diurnal profile to the CMAQ simulations while keeping the daily NH3 emissions constant at the CARB values significantly improved the model performance at night, but sizable errors (up to 15 ppbv) in night-time NH3 remain, likely due to remaining errors in vertical mixing at night. The model performance is slightly degraded during the afternoon when the diurnal cycle is adjusted, but this may reflect relatively small (~ 20 %) errors in the total NH3 emissions rather than remaining errors in the diurnal cycle. Running CMAQv5.0.2 with bi-directional NH3 flux also improves model performance on a similar scale, while combining bi-directional NH3 fluxes and adjusted emissions significantly reduces the model bias at night.
Real-time data acquisition of commercial microwave link networks for hydrometeorological applications
Authors: Chwala Christian , Keis Felix , Kunstmann Harald
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The usage of data from commercial microwave link (CML) networks for scientific purposes is becoming increasingly popular, in particular for rain rate estimation. However, data acquisition and availability is still a crucial problem and limits research possibilities. To overcome this issue, we have developed an open-source data acquisition system based on the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). It is able to record transmitted and received signal levels of a large number of CMLs simultaneously with a temporal resolution of up to 1 s. We operate this system at Ericsson Germany, acquiring data from 450 CMLs with minutely real-time transfer to our database. Our data acquisition system is not limited to a particular CML hardware model or manufacturer, though. We demonstrate this by running the same system for CMLs of a different manufacturer, operated by an alpine ski resort in Germany. There, the data acquisition is running simultaneously for four CMLs with a temporal resolution of 1 s. We present an overview of our system, describe the details of the necessary SNMP requests and show results from its operational application.
Stable carbon isotopes of dissolved inorganic carbon for a zonal transect across the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean in summer 2014
Authors: Humphreys Matthew P. , Greatrix Florence M. , Tynan Eithne , Achterberg Eric P. , Griffiths Alex M. , Fry Claudia H. , Garley Rebecca , McDonald Alison , Boyce Adrian J.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The stable carbon isotope composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) in seawater was measured in samples collected during June—July 2014 in the subpolar North Atlantic. Sample collection was carried out on the RRS James Clark Ross cruise JR302, part of the "Radiatively Active Gases from the North Atlantic Region and Climate Change" (RAGNARoCC) research programme. The observed δ13CDIC values for cruise JR302 fall in a range from 0.07 ‰ to +1.95 ‰, relative to the Vienna Peedee Belemnite standard. From duplicate samples collected during the cruise, the 1σ precision for the 341 results is 0.08 ‰, which is similar to our previous work and other studies of this kind. We also performed a cross-over analysis using nearby historical δ13CDIC data, which indicated that there were no significant systematic offsets between our measurements and previously published results. We also included seawater reference material (RM) produced by A. G. Dickson (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, USA) in every batch of analysis, enabling us to improve upon the calibration and quality-control procedures from a previous study. The δ13CDIC is consistent within each RM batch, although its value is not certified. We report δ13CDIC values of 1.15 ± 0.03 ‰ and 1.27 ± 0.05 ‰ for batches 141 and 144 respectively. Our JR302 δ13CDIC data can be used – along with measurements of other biogeochemical variables – to constrain the processes that control DIC in the interior ocean, in particular the oceanic uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide and the biological carbon pump. Our δ13CDIC results are available from the British Oceanographic Data Centre – doi:10.5285/22235f1a-b7f3-687f-e053-6c86abc0c8a6.
HESS Opinions: The need for process-based evaluation of large-domain hyper-resolution models
Authors: Melsen Lieke A. , Teuling Adriaan J. , Torfs Paul J. J. F. , Uijlenhoet Remko , Mizukami Naoki , Clark Martyn P.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. A meta-analysis on 192 peer-reviewed articles reporting on applications of the variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model in a distributed way reveals that the spatial resolution at which the model is applied has increased over the years, while the calibration and validation time interval has remained unchanged. We argue that the calibration and validation time interval should keep pace with the increase in spatial resolution in order to resolve the processes that are relevant at the applied spatial resolution. We identified six time concepts in hydrological models, which all impact the model results and conclusions. Process-based model evaluation is particularly relevant when models are applied at hyper-resolution, where stakeholders expect credible results both at a high spatial and temporal resolution.
Inversion kinematics at deep-seated gravity slope deformations revealed by trenching techniques
Authors: Pasquaré Mariotto Federico , Tibaldi Alessandro
Published: March 2016

Abstract. We compare data from three deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) where palaeoseismological techniques were applied in artificial trenches. At all trenches, located in metamorphic rocks of the Italian Alps, there is evidence of extensional deformation given by normal movements along slip planes dipping downhill or uphill, and/or fissures, as expected in gravitational failure. However, we document and illustrate – with the aid of trenching – evidence of reverse movements. The reverse slips occurred mostly along the same planes along which normal slip occurred, and they produced drag folds in unconsolidated Holocene sediments as well as the superimposition of substrate rocks on Holocene sediments. The studied trenches indicate that reverse slip might occur not only at the toe portions of DSGSDs but also in their central-upper portions. When the age relationships between the two deformation kinematics can be determined, they clearly indicate that reverse slips postdate normal ones. Our data suggest that, during the development of long-lived DSGSDs, inversion kinematics may occur in different sectors of the unstable rock mass. The inversion is interpreted as due either to locking of the frontal blocks of a DSGSD or to the relative decrease in the rate of downward movement in the frontal blocks with respect to the rear blocks.
Seismic hazard in low slip rate crustal faults, estimating the characteristic event and the most hazardous zone: study case San Ramón fault, in central Andes
Authors: Estay Nicolás P. , Yáñez Gonzalo , Carretier Sebastien , Lira Elias , Maringue José
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Crustal faults located nearby cities may induce catastrophic damages. When recurrence times are in the range of 1.000–10.000 or higher, actions to mitigate the effects of the associated earthquake are hampered by the lack of a full seismic record, and in many cases, also of geological evidences. The San Ramón fault is a ~ 30 km NS trending fault with low slip rate (0.1–0.5 mm yr-1), located at the foothills of the Andes, near a large city Santiago, the capital of Chile (> 6.000.000 inhab.). In order to characterize the fault behaviour and its effects, we propose three different already developed time-integration methodologies to define the most likely scenarios of rupture, and then to quantify the hazard with an empirical equation of peak ground acceleration (PGA). We consider the following methodologies, (1) stream gradient and (2) sinuosity indexes, to estimate fault-related topographic effects; and (3) gravity profiles across the fault, to identify the fault scarp in the basement. Along the fault trace we define 4 segments that probably get active independently, with a mean length of ~ 10 km. We tested the present-day seismic activity by the deployment of a local seismologic network during one year, finding 5 events spatially related to the fault. In addition, fault geometry along the most evident scarp was imaged in terms of its electrical resistivity response by a high resolution TEM (transient electromagnetic) profile. Seismic events distribution and TEM imaging allowed to constrain the fault dip angle (~ 65°) and its capacity to break into surface. Using the empirical equation of Chiou and Youngs (2014) for crustal faults and considering the characteristic seismic event (thrust high-angle fault, ~ 10 km, Mw 6.2–6.7), we estimate the acceleration distribution in Santiago city and the hazardous zones. City domains are under high risk included the hanging wall zone covered by sediments and narrow zones where the fault could break the surface. Over these domains, horizontal PGA can be greater than 0.5 g and eventually producing building collapse.
Accessing Diverse Data Comprehensively – CODM the COSYNA Data Portal
Authors: Breitbach Gisbert , Krasemann Hajo , Behr Daniel , Beringer Steffen , Lange Uwe , Vo Nhan , Schroeder Friedhelm
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The coastal observation system COSYNA aims to describe the physical and biogeochemical state of a regional coastal system. The COSYNA data management is the link between observations, model results and data usage. The challenge for the COSYNA data management CODM is the integration of diverse data sources in terms of parameters, dimensionality and observation methods to gain a comprehensive view of the observations. This is achieved by describing the data using metadata in a generic way and by making all gathered data available for different analyses and visualisations in an interrelated way, independent of data dimensionality. Different parameter names for the same observed property are mapped to the corresponding CF standard name leading to standardised and comparable metadata. These metadata together with standardised web services are the base for the data portal.
Alleviating aluminum toxicity in an acid sulfate soil from Peninsular Malaysia by calcium silicate application
Authors: Elisa A. A. , Ninomiya S. , Shamshuddin J. , Roslan I.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. In response to human population increase, the utilization of acid sulfate soils for rice cultivation is one option for increasing production. The main problems associated with such soils are their low pH values and their associated high content of exchangeable Al, which could be detrimental to crop growth. The application of soil amendments is one approach for mitigating this problem, and calcium silicate is an alternative soil amendment that could be used. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to ameliorate soil acidity in rice-cropped soil. The secondary objective was to study the effects of calcium silicate amendment on soil acidity, exchangeable Al, exchangeable Ca, and Si content. The soil was treated with 0, 1, 2, and 3 Mg ha−1 of calcium silicate under submerged conditions and the soil treatments were sampled every 30 days throughout an incubation period of 120 days. Application of calcium silicate induced a positive effect on soil pH and exchangeable Al; soil pH increased from 2.9 (initial) to 3.5, while exchangeable Al was reduced from 4.26 (initial) to 0.82 cmolc kg−1. Furthermore, the exchangeable Ca and Si contents increased from 1.68 (initial) to 4.94 cmolc kg−1 and from 21.21 (initial) to 81.71 mg kg−1, respectively. Therefore, it was noted that calcium silicate was effective at alleviating Al toxicity in acid sulfate, rice-cropped soil, yielding values below the critical level of 2 cmolc kg−1. In addition, application of calcium silicate showed an ameliorative effect as it increased soil pH and supplied substantial amounts of Ca and Si.
A comprehensive interpretation of the NEEM basal ice build-up using a multi-parametric approach
Authors: Goossens Thomas , Sapart Célia J. , Dahl-Jensen Dorthe , Popp Trevor , El Amri Saïda , Tison Jean-Louis
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Basal ice is a common expression to describe bottom ice layers of glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets in which the ice is primarily conditioned by processes operating at the bed. It is chemically and/or physically distinct from the ice above and can be characterized by a component of basally derived sediments. The study of basal ice properties provides a rare opportunity to improve our understanding of subglacial environments and processes and to refine ice sheet behaviour modelling. Here, we present and discuss the results of water stable isotopes (δ18O and δD), ice fabrics, debris weight/size distribution and gas content of the basal part of the NEEM (North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling Project) ice core. Below a depth of 2533.85 m, almost 10 m of basal debris-rich material was retrieved from the borehole, and regular occurrence of frozen sediments with only interstitial ice lenses in the bottom 5 m suggest that the ice–bedrock interface was reached. The sequence is composed of an alternation of three visually contrasting types of ice: clear ice with specks (very small amounts) of particulate inclusions, stratified debris-rich layers and ice containing dispersed debris. The use of water stable isotope signatures (δ18O and δD), together with other parameters, allows discrimination between the different types of ice and to unravel the processes involved in their formation and transformation. The basal debris-rich material presents δ18O values [−39.9 ‰; −34.4 ‰] within the range of the above last 300 m of unaltered meteoric ice [−44.9 ‰; −30.6 ‰] spanning a glacial-interglacial range of values. This rules out the hypothesis of a basal ice layer originating from pre-ice sheet ice overridden by the growing ice sheet, as previously suggested e.g. in the case of GRIP (Greenland Ice Core Project). We show that clear basal ice with specks corresponds to altered meteoric glacial ice where some of the climatic signal could have been preserved. However, the stratified debris-rich layers and the ice containing dispersed debris layers respectively express an “open” or “closed” system melting/refreezing signature, somewhat blurred by mixing processes in the upper part of the sequence. Climatic reconstruction is therefore prohibited from these ice types. We propose a first interpretative framework for the build-up of the NEEM basal ice sequence, based on the origin of the various ice types.
I see you, you see me: Mobile advertisements and privacy
Authors: Book Theodore , Bronk Chris
Published: March 2016

We present a summary of our own research, showing that mobile advertisements collect and use significant private data, including personally identifiable information. We examine uses of this information beyond ad targeting. We then explore the privacy implications of this practice, and evaluate various potential technical and regulatory responses. We conclude that both regulatory attention and technical measures are needed to avoid potential serious harm to users.
O cristianismo primitivo como objeto da história cultural: delimitações, conceitos de análise e roteiros de pesquisa
Authors: Nogueira Paulo Augusto de Souza
Published: March 2016

Este artigo levanta questões referentes às possibilidades e limites de se proceder a uma história cultural do cristianismo primitivo. São apresentadas algumas obras-chave que oferecem análises que tangenciam e antecipam questões da história cultural, como a história de doutrinas e ideias religiosas, psicologia histórica, história de práticas religiosas populares, entre outros. Em seguida são discutidas a terminologia do campo de estudos, a abrangência cronológica e o corpo de documentos. Por fim, propõe-se o estudo das categorias mentais do Cristianismo Primitivo e a consideração do mesmo como um sistema de linguagem, por meio do estudo de seus textos narrativos e ficcionais.
Big data en privacy
Authors: de Bruijn Hans
Published: March 2016

Big data and privacy

The Internet of Things might have a high impact on privacy. However, privacy is a rather ambiguous concept in the world of big data. There is no unambiguous villain, no unambiguous victim, privacy is just one value in a set of other values and the ‘right’ tradeoff cannot be determined ex ante. Instruments to protect privacy prove to have ambiguous effects. They have there pros and cons and we often do not know what these pros and cons will be. The governance challenge will therefor be to develop a variety of new governance arrangements that will have to go through a process of trial and error. The question how to design such a process might be as important as the question what governance arrangements will work.
Wilde data: over de sociale gevolgen van Big, Open, en Linked Data systemen
Authors: Snijders Dhoya
Published: March 2016

Wild data: about the social consequences of Big, Open, and Linked Data Systems

This article focuses on the question how Big, Open and Linked Data systems (BOLD) are shifting human-data relations. BOLD is creating a new type of society which is both data-focused and data-driven. Both governments and citizens are measuring, analyzing and verifying data and acting upon these types of analyses. As BOLD is itself becoming intelligent, the process of collecting, linking, and analyzing data is no longer merely the domain of humans. Machine-learning is picking up speed and algorithmic accuracy is being maximized as data are becoming more complex and unpredictable its output. Both citizens and governments will increasingly have to deal with non-human actors in the form of intelligent data-driven systems. By referring to literature on human-animal relations this article makes the argument that data systems are gaining autonomy and a certain level of wildness. As such systems are mediating human relations, the article argues that social relations are shifting to becoming triad relationships in which intelligent information systems are a significant actor.
Big data, grote vragen; een institutionele onderzoeksagenda
Authors: de Bruijn Hans , van der Voort Haiko
Published: March 2016

Big data, big questions; an institutional research agenda

In this final contribution we will summarize the main findings of this special issue. Moreover, we will think through the main consequences. The contributions all suggest major societal shifts. Organization of government is changing as a consequence of big data. They either reorganize or initiate new collaborations with businesses and knowledge institutions. What’s more, the processes of data generation, data processing and use are far from neutral. It requires more - at least other - technological knowledge and skills, which some possess and others not. New checks and balances are necessary, notably between data scientists and decision makers, between organizations that make big data their business and civilians, and maybe even between man and computer. Their relations might get reconfigured and those not familiar with the new big data methods will prove vulnerable. This final contribution contains an institutional research agenda that will meet these concerns.
Family Law and Economics Introduction to a RETHINKIN. seminar
Authors: Swennen Frederik
Published: March 2016

Family Law and Economics Introduction to a RETHINKIN. seminar

This contribution provides an introduction to the main theme’s that are discussed in micro-, meso- and macroeconomics relating to family law. The occasion was a closed international expert seminar organized by RETHINKIN. (www.rethinkin.eu), a Scientific Research Network financed by the Research Foundation Flanders. The seminar concerned the compensation of household production between partners on the one hand, and intergenerational care for the elderly on the other. A report on the legal aspects is also available on this forum. This contribution first situates the economics of family in general, before discussing the main functions of practicing the economics of family law: (a) avoiding legislative mistakes, (b) using incentives to encourage altruistic behaviour, (c) using disincentives to discourage opportunistic behaviour and finally, (d) applying family economics as a benchmark for protective measures. It is concluded that employing the economics of family law encounters some difficulties, but that the possibilities it offers for legal development outweigh the difficulties.

Deze bijdrage biedt een inleiding op de voornaamste thema’s die aan bod komen in de micro-, meso- en macro-familierechtseconomie. Aanleiding was een besloten internationaal expertenseminar dat werd georganiseerd door RETHINKIN. (www.rethinkin.eu), een wetenschappelijke onderzoeksgemeenschap gefinancierd door het Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen. Dat seminar betrof de compensatie van huishoudelijke productie tussen partners enerzijds en intergenerationele zorg voor ouderen anderzijds. Een verslag van het juridische gedeelte is ook op dit forum beschikbaar. Deze bijdrage situeert eerst de familie-economie in het algemeen, vooraleer in te gaan op de belangrijkste functies van de beoefening van defamilierechtseconomie: (a) het voorkomen van verkeerde wetgevende keuzen, (b) het aanmoedigen in de wetgeving van altruïstisch gedrag, (c) het ontmoedigen in de wetgeving van opportunistisch gedrag en ten slotte (d) de onzichtbare hand als opmaat voor een minimale wetgevende bescherming. De conclusie luidt dat de beoefening van de familierechtseconomie op sommige moeilijkheden stuit, maar dat de mogelijkheden ervan voor een goede rechtsontwikkeling meer gewicht in de schaal leggen.
Big Data in wetenschappelijk onderzoek
Authors: Custers B.H.M.
Published: March 2016

Big Data in scientific research

Big Data offers a plethora of promising opportunities in different areas of society. This introductory article focuses on the opportunities of Big Data in scientific research. The central question addressed in this article is: ‘What can Big Data offer in the context of scientific research?’ In order to answer this question, the following topics are discussed: what is Big Data, what is new about Big Data, which applications are there for Big Data in scientific research, and what are the pros and cons of the use of Big Data in scientific research? The conclusion is that Big Data offers some opportunities for scientific research that were previously impossible and, therefore, can be useful for researchers. However, the use of Big Data also has its limitations and the added value may depend on the research questions that are addressed.
De evaluatie van digitaal beleid: een Big Data case study
Authors: Leeuw H.B.M.
Published: March 2016

The evaluation of digital policy: A Big Data case study

Online search behavior, stored by search engines such as Google, is a type of Big Data that allows researchers and policymakers to screen and scan the effects of implemented (e)interventions. This contribution uses the implementation of a specific anti-piracy intervention as a case study in order to test the usability of online search behavior as an indicator of the effects of an intervention. The data demonstrates that changes in online search behavior have occurred following implementation. The main issue that emerges is the attribution of the findings presented. One way to approach this attribution issue is by performing a counterfactual. Though this alleviates the attribution issue somewhat, it does not solve it in its entirety. Overall, it is suggested that the described usage of Big Data serves as a novel tool to quickly and easily screen the potential effects following the implementation of policy before selecting more resource-consuming methods.
In de h200d: een eigentijdse etnografie
Authors: Roks R.A.
Published: March 2016

In the h200d: A contemporary ethnography of a Dutch youth gang

This article draws on three years of ethnographic research into the embeddedness of crime and identity of the Rollin 200 Crips, a Dutch ‘gang’ from the city of The Hague. During the course of this fieldwork the possibilities of social media were explored. Posts and pictures on social media can be used by criminologists as a relative easy way to collect data, but social media can also be used as a platform to communicate and contact informants. The central argument in this article is that ethnographers should somehow try to incorporate these offline practices in their fieldwork to better deal with the fact that boundaries between being online and offline are becoming increasingly interwoven and blurred. But like forms of offline ethnography, there is also a need to reflect on the usage of this data, particularly in terms of selectivity and ethics.
CRIME Lab: pleidooi voor een nieuwe en vernieuwende criminologie
Authors: van Gelder J.L.
Published: March 2016

CRIME Lab: A pledge for a new and renewing criminology

New technologies such as social media, smartphones, GPS, the internet, sensors, and virtual environments are quickly becoming an increasingly influential part of our daily lives. While very relevant, and often highly accessible and user-friendly, criminologists have been slow to capitalize on the research potential of these technologies. CRIME Lab is a research initiative that promotes the use of new technologies and innovative methods to do cutting-edge crime research. In this article, the author discusses three different CRIME Lab research projects that all make use of virtual reality (VR), which, it is argued, can become a highly useful research method for criminologists in the coming years. The author demonstrates how the use of VR in these projects allows for answering research questions that are hard to address using conventional methods.
Toepassingsmogelijkheden van Quantified Self-data
Authors: de Kogel C.H. , Cornet L.J.M.
Published: March 2016

Possible applications of Quantified Self data. Some examples from forensic psychiatric practice

How many hours a night do I sleep? What is my average resting heart rate? How physical active am I during the day? Self-monitoring with help of technological devices, including smartphones, mobile applications and electronic sensors, allow individuals to quantify biometrics that they never knew existed. During the last decade, the ‘quantified-self’ movement has become popular among hobbyists, but also among professionals in the medical field. In this article the authors explore the potentials of quantified-self devices for the criminal justice setting. Could, for example, skin conductance measurements help to improve self-awareness among aggressive patients? And could biofeedback intervention with help of a mobile application serve as an alternative intervention program for those who are currently not responsive to traditional correctional therapy? On the other hand, what are the limitations and perhaps ethical concerns when implementing quantified-self devices in the criminal justice setting?
GRAU DE TRANSPARÊNCIA DE DADOS ABERTOS GOVERNAMENTAIS DO SITE DADOS.RS.GOV.BR
Authors: Klein Rodrigo Hickmann , Luciano Edimara Mezzomo , Macadar Marie Anne
Published: March 2016

Os Dados Abertos Governamentais tem o potencial de aumentar a eficiência na prestação de serviços e operações do setor público, bem como proporcionar a inovação em serviços governamentais em novos modelos de negócios e profissões. Além disso, proporcionam uma forma de apoiar e melhorar a interação entre o governo e os cidadãos, por incrementar a transparência governamental e fomentar a participação e colaboração. Este estudo de caso visa classificar o nível de transparência de um Portal de Dados no Brasil. Para atingir esse objetivo, adotou-se o modelo de mensuração de transparência dos Dados Abertos Governamentais de Veljković, Bogdanović-Dinić e Stoimenov (2014). Os resultados são relevantes para profissionais e pesquisadores interessados em avaliar a qualidade dos Portais de Dados Abertos Governamentais e desenvolver estratégias para promover um governo aberto.
RELAÇÕES DE INTERDEPENDÊNCIA ENTRE CONFIANÇA, COMPROMETIMENTO, QUALIDADE PERCEBIDA E LEALDADE EM ESTUDANTES DO ENSINO SUPERIOR
Authors: Basso Kenny , Schwab Elaine Aparecida , Isbert Licione Torres Marques , Slongo Luiz Antonio
Published: March 2016

A competitividade dos mercados, inclusive do mercado de ensino superior, tem forçado as organizações, neste caso as instituições de ensino superior, a melhorar a gestão da relação com seus clientes ou estudantes. Assim, o tema lealdade torna-se um estudo de extrema importância, inclusive no campo do ensino superior, o qual tem demonstrado um grande dinamismo, tanto pelo crescimento da demanda como pelo crescimento da oferta, aquecendo a competição principalmente junto às instituições privadas. Desta forma, o principal foco deste estudo é avaliar as relações de interdependência entre confiança, comprometimento, qualidade percebida e lealdade em estudantes de ensino superior. Os resultados mostraram que tanto a qualidade como o comprometimento têm uma forte participação na formação da lealdade, enquanto a confiança parece não relacionar-se diretamente com a lealdade, porém tendo uma participação forte na construção do relacionamento entre as partes, uma vez que relaciona-se significativamente com o comprometimento. Discussões e conclusões acerca dos resultados encontrados são apresentados ao final do artigo.
A IMPORTÂNCIA DOS ATIVOS ESPECÍFICOS NA DIFERENCIAÇÃO DE FIRMAS DO SETOR HOTELEIRO
Authors: Marquesan Fábio Freitas Schilling , Guzzo Renata Fernandes , Zawislak Paulo Antonio , Tello-Gamarra Jorge
Published: March 2016

O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em mensurar os ativos específicos de um grupo de hotéis localizados na cidade de Porto Alegre/RS (Brasil) e analisar o custo de governança dos mesmos em relação ao potencial de diferenciação das firmas que compõem esse setor econômico. O método empregado consistiu na análise detalhada dos sites da internet de 23 hotéis das categorias Luxo e Superior com a finalidade de listar os ativos que cada um deles oferece. Ao total foram analisados 69 ativos capazes de proporcionar diferenciação entre as firmas pesquisadas. Depois, essa lista foi avaliada por dois experts em hotelaria (que atribuíram pesos – zero, 1 e 2 – a cada ativo), de modo que a diferenciação entre as firmas, ponderada em função do peso dos seus ativos, fosse mensurada. A Economia dos Custos de Transação (ECT) responde pelo embasamento teórico deste trabalho, especialmente no que tange à relação custos de governança Vs. especificidade dos ativos. Dos resultados encontrados, destaca-se que as diferenças entre a especificidade dos ativos e os preços das diárias (tomados como indicador dos custos de governança) revelou uma estratificação em quatro grupos (I, II, III e IV), partindo daqueles hotéis que cobram preços mais acessíveis e oferecem poucos ativos específicos até aqueles que cobram mais caro por uma diária mas, em compensação, oferecem mais valor em termos de ativos específicos aos seus hóspedes. Isso confirma a validade, a acurácia e a relevância da ECT para a realização de estudos desta natureza. 
As campinas e campinaranas amazônicas / The amazonian campinas and campinaranas
Authors: Guimarães Felipe Silva , Bueno Guilherme Taitson
Published: March 2016

As campinas e campinaranas são ecossistemas amazônicos, associados a solos pobres e arenosos frequentemente sujeitos ao alagamento periódico consequente da flutuação do lençol freático. Apesar de estes ecossistemas ocuparem aproximadamente 7% da Amazônia legal, há poucos estudos sobre eles. Este estudo é uma revisão da literatura sobre campinas e campinaranas cujo objetivo é reunir o conhecimento sobre referido assunto e relacionar este conhecimento a estudos geológicos, morfogenéticos e pedogenéticos. Os principais assuntos abordados por esse estudo são: espécies típicas e indicadoras dessas fitofisionomias; adaptações e estratégias destas espécies; efeito das variações edáficas nas fitofisionomias quanto a estrutura e em termos de composição; origem da flora das campinas e campinaranas; fatores que explicam a baixa diversidade nestes ecossistemas; hipóteses que explicam a origem das campinas e campinaranas; como a dinâmica destes ecossistemas é afetada pelos processos pedológicos e morfogenéticos? Almeja-se que este estudo possa ser utilizado como ponto de partida principalmente para pesquisadores que estão iniciando suas pesquisas sobre campinas e campinaranas.

Palavras–chave: Amazônia; Campina; Campinarana; Relação vegetação-ambiente físico; Origem e dinâmica das campinas e campinaranas.

 

 

Abstract

The campinas and campinaranas are amazonian ecosystems associated to poor and sandy soils often subjected to periodic flooding resulting from the water table level variation. Despite these ecosystems occupy about 7% of the Amazon region, there are few studies about them. This study is a literature review about campinas and campinaranas which the goal is to gather knowledge about that subject and relate this knowledge to geological, pedogenetic and morphogenetic studies. The main issues addressed in this study are: typical species which are indicators of these vegetation types; adaptations and strategies of these species; effect of edaphic variations on the phytophysiognomies aspects as the structure and species composition; origin of the campinas and campinaranas flora; factors that explain the low diversity in these ecosystems; hypotheses that explain the origin of campinas and campinaranas; how the dynamics of these ecosystems is affected by the pedological and morphogenetic processes? We aim that this study can be used as a starting point for researchers who are beginning their research on meadows and campinaranas.

Keywords: Amazon; Campina; campinarana; Relation physical environment-vegetation; Origin and dynamics of campinas and campinaranas.

 
Impaired Angiogenic Potential of Human Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Authors: Mandò Chiara , Razini Paola , Novielli Chiara , Anelli Gaia Maria , Belicchi Marzia , Erratico Silvia , Banfi Stefania , Meregalli Mirella , Tavelli Alessandro , Baccarin Marco , Rolfo Alessandro , Motta Silvia , Torrente Yvan , Cetin Irene
Published: March 2016

Human placental mesenchymal stromal cells (pMSCs) have never been investigated in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We characterized cells isolated from placental membranes and the basal disc of six IUGR and five physiological placentas. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed every 7 days during a 6-week culture. Expression of hematopoietic, stem, endothelial, and mesenchymal markers was evaluated by flow cytometry. We characterized the multipotency of pMSCs and the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial content and function. Cell viability was high in all samples, and proliferation rate was lower in IUGR compared with control cells. All samples presented a starting heterogeneous population, shifting during culture toward homogeneity for mesenchymal markers and occurring earlier in IUGR than in controls. In vitro multipotency of IUGR-derived pMSCs was restricted because their capacity for adipocyte differentiation was increased, whereas their ability to differentiate toward endothelial cell lineage was decreased. Mitochondrial content and function were higher in IUGR pMSCs than controls, possibly indicating a shift from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism, with the loss of the metabolic characteristics that are typical of undifferentiated multipotent cells.

Significance

This study demonstrates that the loss of endothelial differentiation potential and the increase of adipogenic ability are likely to play a significant role in the vicious cycle of abnormal placental development in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This is the first observation of a potential role for placental mesenchymal stromal cells in intrauterine growth restriction, thus leading to new perspectives for the treatment of IUGR.
Enhanced Osteogenesis of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells by Regulating Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling Antagonists and Agonists
Authors: Fan Jiabing , Im Choong Sung , Guo Mian , Cui Zhong-Kai , Fartash Armita , Kim Soyon , Patel Nikhil , Bezouglaia Olga , Wu Benjamin M. , Wang Cun-Yu , Aghaloo Tara L. , Lee Min
Published: March 2016

Although adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are an attractive cell source for bone tissue engineering, direct use of ASCs alone has had limited success in the treatment of large bone defects. Although bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are believed to be the most potent osteoinductive factors to promote osteogenic differentiation of ASCs, their clinical applications require supraphysiological dosage, leading to high medical burden and adverse side effects. In the present study, we demonstrated an alternative approach that can effectively complement the BMP activity to maximize the osteogenesis of ASCs without exogenous application of BMPs by regulating levels of antagonists and agonists to BMP signaling. Treatment of ASCs with the amiloride derivative phenamil, a positive regulator of BMP signaling, combined with gene manipulation to suppress the BMP antagonist noggin, significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation of ASCs through increased BMP–Smad signaling in vitro. Furthermore, the combination approach of noggin suppression and phenamil stimulation enhanced the BMP signaling and bone repair in a mouse calvarial defect model by adding noggin knockdown ASCs to apatite-coated poly(lactic-coglycolic acid) scaffolds loaded with phenamil. These results suggest novel complementary osteoinductive strategies that could maximize activity of the BMP pathway in ASC bone repair while reducing potential adverse effects of current BMP-based therapeutics.

Significance

Although stem cell-based tissue engineering strategy offers a promising alternative to repair damaged bone, direct use of stem cells alone is not adequate for challenging healing environments such as in large bone defects. This study demonstrates a novel strategy to maximize bone formation pathways in osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and functional bone formation by combining gene manipulation with a small molecule activator toward osteogenesis. The findings indicate promising stem cell-based therapy for treating bone defects that can effectively complement or replace current osteoinductive therapeutics.
Factor Analysis to Explore the Indicators of Quality Assurance Mechanism on Higher Educational Institutions in Pakistan
Authors: Huma Shahid  , Zaira Wahab  , Syed Afrozuddin Ahmed
Published: March 2016

The study aims to gauge the effectiveness of Quality Assurance Mechanism (QAM) and its impact on quality of education in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. In this study, a comprehensive survey was conducted, through a well-structured questionnaire, to collect essential data from the respondents. A total of 300 teachers of 5 private and 5 public sector universities were participated in the study. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability value is found to be almost 0.80 for all construct of the instrument in this study. An independent t- test was carried out to reveal the significant difference among private and public sector universities in terms of quality of education. The p-value (significance value) of this test in each construct indicates that there is significant difference among private and public sector universities regarding quality assurance practices. Furthermore, the multivariate statistical tool “Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)” was used to explore the underlying pattern of the public and private sector universities data. Finally, four factors emerged in the data whose eigen value are greater than one. Factors emerges in public sector universities data represents teacher’s satisfaction and combination of budget allocation and funding while factors that emerges on private sector universities are the combination of globalization, ranking and adequate funding.
Regard critique sur le label « études critiques de sécurité »
Authors: Simonneau Damien
Published: March 2016

Dans le champ des études stratégiques et de sécurité, le label « critique » est accolé à des travaux ayant réussi au cours des vingt dernières années à déconstruire les pratiques et discours de sécurité dominants. L’argument développé dans cet article est que le label peut être décortiqué conformément à trois postures scientifiques. La première est de nature ontologique : les « critiques » s’inscrivant dans l’élargissement du concept de sécurité dans l’après-guerre froide. La deuxième est de nature épistémologique et renvoie aux débats entre positivisme et postpositivisme sur le rapport aux savoirs en la matière. Enfin, la troisième relève de l’engagement intellectuel et motive des réflexions sur les méthodes mobilisées et sur la contestation des politiques de sécurité.
Les concepts, parent pauvre des études (critiques) de sécurité ? Proposition pour une archéologie des savoirs de la sécurité
Authors: Bonditti Philippe
Published: March 2016

Malgré l’extraordinaire développement du champ des « études de sécurité », les concepts et les savoirs de la sécurité demeurent trop peu étudiés. Partant de ce constat, nous proposons, dans cet article à vocation programmatique, de poser les bases d’une étude historique de l’émergence et de la transformation des concepts et des savoirs de la sécurité ; étude que nous travaillons à situer à l’intérieur d’une approche de la sécurité par les pratiques. Pour cela, nous formulons d’abord une critique épistémologique de la Securitization Theory pour affirmer l’utilité d’une approche par les pratiques. Nous introduisons ensuite notre conception du concept, son rapport à la connaissance, au(x) savoir(s) et à la pratique. Enfin, nous nous efforçons de définir le domaine empirique d’une telle étude historique, en fait archéologique (au sens de Foucault), des concepts et des savoirs de la sécurité.