bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to Blended Teaching and Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ololube Nwachukwu Prince , Umunadi Kennedy E. , Kpolovie Peter James
Published: April 2015

This chapter explains the need to better design blended teaching and learning curricula, the need to address infrastructural problems, and the need to organise programmes so that faculty and students can better plan for unanticipated and unintended situations that confront them in the teaching and learning processes. Improving the quality of education through the diversification of content and methods and promoting experimentation, innovation, the diffusion and sharing of information, and best practices are among UNESCO's recent strategic objectives in education. Discussions in this chapter centre on (1) the contexts of blended teaching and learning, (2) the barriers to blended learning usage, integration, and diffusion, and (3) the need to consider policy outcomes when evaluating blended teaching and learning resources. This study uses a qualitative research method, as both document materials and observation were an essential part of this chapter. This study concludes that the great enthusiasm around blended teaching and learning in sub-Saharan Africa has been dampened by inadequacies in essential services and infrastructures, such as electricity and telecommunication services, and institutional, socio-cultural, and economic barriers. Nonetheless, the development of blended teaching and learning resources continues.
Blended Learning Implementation in Accounting Discipline
Authors: Ghani Erlane K. , Muhammad Kamaruzzaman , Salleh Salina
Published: April 2015

This chapter examines the successful implementation of blended learning in an intermediate financial reporting course in a public university. The results of this study show that there is a significant difference between students completing the course through conventional learning and those completing the course via blended learning, with the later showing unfavourable results. The results in this study provide indication that for the students to perform well there is the need for them to be independent learners when studying using blended learning. However, the students believe that they could complete the course successfully regardless of whether they study the course through conventional learning or blended learning. Finally, the results show that academics are of the opinion that students should change their attitude to succeed. The academics further opined that the course and facilities need to be reviewed and upgraded to assist students in completing the course. The findings in this study provide some understanding of the implementation of blended learning in an intermediate financial reporting course.
Teaching of Fluid Mechanics in Engineering Course
Authors: Rahman Ataur , Al-Amin Md
Published: April 2015

In undergraduate engineering courses, fluid mechanics is regarded as a challenging subject. This is particularly the case for students who do not possess a strong mathematical background. This chapter reviews the issues related to the teaching of fluid mechanics with an emphasis on how e-technology can enhance student learning. It uses the data of 462 students studying the second year engineering course at the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in Australia. The UWS fluid mechanics course, in its past ten years, has undergone significant changes in its content and delivery. It has been found that teaching based on a “student-centered approach” is more effective in teaching fluid mechanics than a “lecturer-centered approach.” Further enhancements are proposed in UWS through a blended learning approach involving both e-technology and traditional teaching methods to teach fluid mechanics. The method can also be adapted to other universities.
Starting with the Learner
Authors: Taylor Jonathan E.
Published: April 2015

The central thesis of this chapter is that in order for effective learning to occur, teachers must facilitate learner engagement, and in order to do so, learning resistance has to be conceptually understood, acknowledged, identified, and addressed as a part of the curriculum for any given class, course, or program. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on learning resistance, identifies three significant disjunctures between the theory and practice of curriculum development and instructional systems design, and analyzes the relationship between learning resistance and that theory-practice gap. The failure to see motivation and learning as an integrated whole, the mass production of curriculum, and the hesitance to teach something that cannot be measured are all discussed in detail, and suggestions are made for mitigating the negative effects of each.
High School Teachers' Gender-Oriented Perceptions of Technology Integration
Authors: Heafner Tina L. , Groce Eric , Bellows Elizabeth , Coffey Heather , Bjerre Mette Evelyn
Published: April 2015

Within social studies, researchers note limited attention has been given to examining gender differences associated with technology integration, and have called for increased dialogue regarding gender-related technology issues (Crocco, 2006, 2008; Crocco, Cramer, & Meier, 2008; Friedman & Hicks, 2006; Marri, 2007; Mason, Manfra, & Siko, 2005; Sanders, 2006). In response, this chapter explores the gender divide in secondary teachers' perceptions of effective technology integration. Using a qualitative research design, this chapter provides insight into social studies teachers' perceptions of their pedagogical practices and technology integration. The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the differences in male and female teachers' use of technology to teach and support student learning. Consideration of how technology is associated with gender-sensitive pedagogical thinking and practice may address the aforementioned gap in technology usage in social studies. Patterns uncovered in data analysis suggest that gender plays a critical role in social studies technology integration. The results from this study can inform methods in which technology is integrated into future social studies classrooms, particularly in emerging areas such as online courses.
The Ever-Evolving Educator
Authors: Larson Jean , Archambault Leanna
Published: April 2015

This chapter reviews the current research on the educational, training, and demographic characteristics of those involved in teaching K-12 online. Although very few colleges of education incorporate any aspect of teaching online into their curricula, the existing online teacher preparation programs are discussed. Past and ongoing research reveals a dramatic disconnect between: (a) the rapidly expanding expectations for and implementation of online education at the K-12 levels and (b) the surprisingly limited extent to which teachers are actually being educated, trained, and otherwise prepared to function in this challenging new educational environment. The implications for teacher education programs and current K-12 virtual schools are clear. Effective online teaching techniques must be defined, empirically proven, and efficiently implemented by both future and current K-12 online teachers.
Service Science in Higher Education
Authors: Chen Pi-Yun , Hsiao Ming-Hsiung
Published: April 2015

One of the forms in service innovation for universities in Taiwan is to develop transnational education such as offshore programs where the existent programs were re-innovated by providing new service processes including improved delivery or distribution methods. This study examined how the universities adopted this form of innovation and examined how they productize their offshore programs, corresponding to the four productization practices: specifying, tangibilizing, systemizing and standardizing, in terms of program design, curriculum design, teaching and learning, assessment, and administration. By these productization practices, students and partner universities can have a clearer picture and better understanding of the programs, and the host universities can cut down the administration cost and achieve better efficiency and cost-benefit. This study can be seen as a pioneering study which applies the service science philosophy to redefine higher education and reformulate the process of the service innovation such as offshore program implementation by the productization practices.
Dining in the lions� den � Bel and the dragon, verses 28�42 (Old Greek/Theodotion)
Authors: De Bruyn Joseph J.
Published: April 2015

This article is part of a series of articles written on Bel and the dragon. This series of articles is an investigation into the Greek editor/author�s use of body, space, narrative and genre in creating a new reality regarding the Jewish deity. A spatial framework is used to specifically examine the third episode of Bel and the dragon, entitled Dining in the lions� den. It is suggested that the third episode of Bel and the dragon should be read in a reciprocal relationship with not only Bel and the dragon but also the larger book of Daniel. Firstly, such an analysis indicates that the smaller episode is part of a larger clash of deities. Secondly, it shows that the editor/ author utilises the episode to recreate a new cosmology. In this new cosmology, the God of Israel is an almighty deity whilst other deities are revealed as false and not real living gods. In his own way, the editor/author contributes to the way in which Jews regarded their God within the reality of the diaspora.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The aim with this article was to analyse Daniel 14 by means of new insights from developments in language studies. Until now, scholars tended to repeat each other in their analysis of Daniel 14. No attention was given to space, body or other aspects of new developments in the field of language. This article challenges the repetitive research previously done on Daniel 14.
An Interpretation of the Ancestral Codon from Miller's Amino Acids and Nucleotide Correlations in Modern Coding Sequences
Authors: Carels Nicolas , de Leon Miguel Ponce
Published: April 2015

Purine bias, which is usually referred to as an “ancestral codon”, is known to result in short-range correlations between nucleotides in coding sequences, and it is common in all species. We demonstrate that RWY is a more appropriate pattern than the classical RNY, and purine bias (Rrr) is the product of a network of nucleotide compensations induced by functional constraints on the physicochemical properties of proteins. Through deductions from universal correlation properties, we also demonstrate that amino acids from Miller's spark discharge experiment are compatible with functional primeval proteins at the dawn of living cell radiation on earth. These amino acids match the hydropathy and secondary structures of modern proteins.
The Role of Uterine and Umbilical Arterial Doppler in High-risk Pregnancy: A Prospective Observational Study from India
Authors: Nagar Teena , Sharma Deepak , Choudhary Mukesh , Khoiwal Shusheela , Nagar Rajendra Prasad , Pandita Aakash
Published: April 2015

Aim

To study the role of Doppler imaging in prediction of high-risk pregnancies and their outcomes.

Methods and Material

This prospective study in a setup of tertiary-level care center includes 500 high-risk pregnant women from rural and urban sectors and evaluates the predictive values of various Doppler indices.

Results

Out of 500 patients, 110 patients had abnormal Doppler among them, 70 patients had abnormal uterine artery Doppler, and 50 patients had abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flow indices. In all, 10 patients had both umbilical artery and uterine artery abnormal Doppler indices. When uterine artery was abnormal (70 patients), 20 patients had preeclampsia, 10 patients had pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), and 25 patients had intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio and notch had sensitivity of 60% and positive predictive value of 33.3% and 37.5%, respectively. When umbilical artery was abnormal (50 patients), 10 had preeclampsia, 15 had PIH, and 15 had IUGR. S/D ratio had the highest positive predictive value of 40%; sensitivity is same for all. In uterine artery, combination of parameters had the best sensitivity of 80%, followed by notch and S/D ratio. In umbilical artery, combination of parameters, S/D ratio, and RI (resistance index) had sensitivity of 40%; specificity of all the indices was 91-96%. In all, 20 patients had bilateral notch, and among them 15 developed preeclampsia and 15 developed IUGR. When both uterine and umbilical artery Doppler were abnormal (10 patients), all patients had preeclampsia and IUGR.

Conclusion

Therefore, Doppler study may be used for the prediction of preeclampsia and IUGR to reduce the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Clinical Informatics Fellowship Programs: In Search of a Viable Financial Model
Authors: Longhurst C. A. , Hersh W. , Mohan V. , Levy B.P. , Embi P.J. , Finnell J.T. , Turner A.M. , Martin R. , Williamson J. , Munger B. , Lehmann C.U.
Published: April 2015

In the US, the new subspecialty of Clinical Informatics focuses on systems-level improvements in care delivery through the use of health information technology (HIT), data analytics, clinical decision support, data visualization and related tools. Clinical informatics is one of the first subspecial-ties in medicine open to physicians trained in any primary specialty. Clinical Informatics benefits patients and payers such as Medicare and Medicaid through its potential to reduce errors, increase safety, reduce costs, and improve care coordination and efficiency.

Even though Clinical Informatics benefits patients and payers, because GME funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has not grown at the same rate as training programs, the majority of the cost of training new Clinical Informaticians is currently paid by academic health science centers, which is unsustainable. To maintain the value of HIT investments by the government and health care organizations, we must train sufficient leaders in Clinical Informatics. In the best interest of patients, payers, and the US society, it is therefore critical to find viable financial models for Clinical Informatics fellowship programs. To support the development of adequate training programs in Clinical Informatics, we request that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issue clarifying guidance that would allow accredited ACGME institutions to bill for clinical services delivered by fellows at the fellowship program site within their primary specialty.

Citation: McCoy AB, Wright A, Krousel-Wood M, Thomas EJ, McCoy JA, Sittig DF. Validation of a crowdsourcing methodology for developing a knowledge base of related problem-medication pairs. Appl Clin Inf 2015; 6: 334–344

http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2015-01-RA-0010
Discounting, beyond Utilitarianism
Authors: Fleurbaey Marc , Zuber Stéphane
Published: April 2015

Discounted utilitarianism and the Ramsey equation prevail in the debate on the discount rate on consumption. The utility discount rate is assumed to be constant and to reflect either the uncertainty about the existence of future generations or a pure preference for the present. The authors question the unique status of discounted utilitarianism and discuss the implications of alternative criteria addressing the key issues of equity in risky situations and variable population. To do so, they introduce a class of intertemporal social objectives, named Expected Prioritarian Equally Distributed Equivalent (EPEDE) criteria. The class is more flexible than discounted utilitarianism in terms of population ethics and it disentangles risk aversion and inequality aversion. The authors show that these social objectives imply interesting modifications of the Ramsey formula, and shed new light on Weitzman’s “dismal theorem”.
On the scaling of the solar incident flux
Authors: Varotsos C. A. , Lovejoy S. , Sarlis N. V. , Efstathiou M. N. , Tzanis C. G.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. It was recently found that spectral solar incident flux (SIF) as a function of the ultraviolet wavelengths exhibits 1/f-type power-law correlations. In this study, an attempt was made to explore the SIF intrinsic dynamics vs. a wider range of wavelengths, from 115.5 to 629.5 nm. It seemed that the intermittency of SIF data set was very high and the revealed DFA-n exponents were close to unity thus again indicating 1/f power-law correlations. Moreover, the power spectral density was fitted algebraically with exponents close to unity. Eliminating the fitting of Planck formula at the Sun's effective temperature from SIF data set, scaling exponents very close to unity were derived, indicating that the 1/f scaling dynamics concern not the Planck's law but its fluctuations.
Monitoring compliance with sulphur content regulations of shipping fuel by in-situ measurements of ship emissions
Authors: Kattner L. , Mathieu-Üffing B. , Burrows J. P. , Richter A. , Schmolke S. , Seyler A. , Wittrock F.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. In 1997 the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted MARPOL Annex VI to prevent air pollution by shipping emissions. It regulates, among others, the sulphur content in shipping fuels which transforms into the air pollutant sulphur dioxide (SO2) during combustion. Within designated Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA), the sulphur content was limited to 1%, and on 1 January 2015, this limit was further reduced to 0.1%. Here we present the setup and measurement results of a permanent ship emission monitoring site near Hamburg harbour in the North Sea SECA. Trace gas measurements are conducted with in-situ instruments and a data set from September 2014 to January 2015 is presented. By combining measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) and SO2 with ship position data, it is possible to deduce the sulphur fuel content of individual ships passing the measurement station, and thus, facilitating monitoring compliance of ships with the IMO regulations. While compliance is almost 100% for the 2014 data, it decreases only very little in 2015 to 95.4% despite the much stricter limit. We analysed more than 1400 ship plumes in total and for months with favourable conditions up to 40% of all ships entering and leaving Hamburg harbour could be checked for their sulphur fuel content.
Retrievals of formaldehyde from ground-based FTIR and MAX-DOAS observations at the Jungfraujoch station and comparisons with GEOS-Chem and IMAGES model simulations
Authors: Franco B. , Hendrick F. , Van Roozendael M. , Müller J.-F. , Stavrakou T. , Marais E. A. , Bovy B. , Bader W. , Fayt C. , Hermans C. , Lejeune B. , Pinardi G. , Servais C. , Mahieu E.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. As an ubiquitous product of the oxidation of many volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde (HCHO) plays a key role as a short-lived and reactive intermediate in the atmospheric photo-oxidation pathways leading to the formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols. In this study, HCHO profiles have been successfully retrieved from ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) solar spectra and UV-visible Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) scans recorded during the July 2010–December 2012 time period at the Jungfraujoch station (Swiss Alps, 46.5° N, 8.0° E, 3580 m a.s.l.). Analysis of the retrieved products has revealed different vertical sensitivity between both remote sensing techniques. Furthermore, HCHO amounts simulated by two state-of-the-art chemical transport models (CTMs), GEOS-Chem and IMAGES v2, have been compared to FTIR total columns and MAX-DOAS 3.6–8 km partial columns, accounting for the respective vertical resolution of each ground-based instrument. Using the CTM outputs as the intermediate, FTIR and MAX-DOAS retrievals have shown consistent seasonal modulations of HCHO throughout the investigated period, characterized by summertime maximum and wintertime minimum. Such comparisons have also highlighted that FTIR and MAX-DOAS provide complementary products for the HCHO retrieval above the Jungfraujoch station. Finally, tests have revealed that the updated IR parameters from the HITRAN 2012 database have a cumulative effect and significantly decrease the retrieved HCHO columns with respect to the use of the HITRAN 2008 compilation.
Bayesian cloud detection for MERIS, AATSR, and their combination
Authors: Hollstein A. , Fischer J. , Carbajal Henken C. , Preusker R.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. A broad range of different of Bayesian cloud detection schemes is applied to measurements from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS), the Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR), and their combination. The cloud detection schemes were designed to be numerically efficient and suited for the processing of large numbers of data. Results from the classical and naive approach to Bayesian cloud masking are discussed for MERIS and AATSR as well as for their combination. A sensitivity study on the resolution of multidimensional histograms, which were post-processed by Gaussian smoothing, shows how theoretically insufficient numbers of truth data can be used to set up accurate classical Bayesian cloud masks. Sets of exploited features from single and derived channels are numerically optimized and results for naive and classical Bayesian cloud masks are presented. The application of the Bayesian approach is discussed in terms of reproducing existing algorithms, enhancing existing algorithms, increasing the robustness of existing algorithms, and on setting up new classification schemes based on manually classified scenes.
Ambient measurements of aromatic and oxidized VOCs by PTR-MS and GC-MS: intercomparison between four instruments in a boreal forest in Finland
Authors: Kajos M. K. , Rantala P. , Hill M. , Hellén H. , Aalto J. , Patokoski J. , Taipale R. , Hoerger C. C. , Reimann S. , Ruuskanen T. M. , Rinne J. , Petäjä T.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry GC-MS) allow real-time measurements of various atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOC). By taking parallel measurements in ambient conditions, two PTR-MSs and two GC-MSs were studied for their ability to measure methanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, benzene and toluene. The measurements were conducted at a rural boreal forest site in southern Finland between 13 April and 14 May 2012. This paper presents correlations and possible biases between the concentrations measured using the four instruments. This paper presents correlations and possible biases between the concentrations measured using the four instruments. A very good correlation was found for benzene and acetone measurements between all instruments (the mean R value was 0.88 for both compounds), while for acetaldehyde and toluene the correlation was weaker (with a mean R value of 0.50 and 0.62, respectively). For some compounds, notably for methane, there were considerable systematic differences in the mixing ratios measured by the different instruments, despite the very good correlation between the instruments (mean R = 0.90). The systematic difference arises as a difference in the linear regression slope between measurements conducted between instruments, rather than as an offset. This mismatch indicates that the systematic uncertainty in the sensitivity of a given instrument can lead to an uncertainty of 50–100% in the methanol emissions measured by commonly used methods.
Seasonal characterization of CDOM for lakes in semi-arid regions of Northeast China using excitation-emission matrices fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC)
Authors: Zhao Y. , Song K. , Wen Z. , Li L. , Zang S. , Shao T. , Li S. , Du J.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The seasonal characteristics of fluorescence components in CDOM for lakes in the semi-arid region of Northeast China were examined by excitation-emission matrices fluorescence and parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). Two humic-like peaks C1 (Ex/Em = 230, 300/425 nm) and C2 (Ex/Em = 255, 350/460 nm) and two protein-like B (Ex/Em = 220, 275/320 nm) and T (Ex/Em = 225, 290/360 nm) peaks were identified using PARAFAC. The average fluorescence intensity of the four components differed with seasonal variation from June and August 2013 to February and April 2014. The total fluorescence intensity significantly varied from 2.54 ± 0.68 nm−1 in June to the mean value 1.93 ± 0.70 nm−1 in August 2013, and then increased to 2.34 ± 0.92 nm−1 in February and reduced to the lowest 1.57 ± 0.55 nm−1 in April 2014. In general, the fluorescence intensity was dominated by peak C1, indicating that most part of CDOM for inland waters being investigated in this study was originated from phytoplankton degradation. The lowest C2 represents only a small portion of CDOM from terrestrial imported organic matter to water bodies through rainwash and soil leaching. The two protein-like intensities (B and T) formed in situ through microbial activity have almost the same intensity. Especially, in August 2013 and February 2014, the two protein-like peaks showed obviously difference from other seasons and the highest C1 (1.02 nm−1) was present in February 2014. Components 1 and 2 exhibited strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.633). There were significantly positive linear relationships between CDOM absorption coefficients a(254) (R2 = 0.72, 0.46, p < 0.01), a(280) (R2 = 0.77, 0.47, p < 0.01), a(350) (R2 = 0.76, 0.78, p < 0.01) and Fmax for two humic-like components (C1 and C2), respectively. A close relationship (R2 = 0.931) was found between salinity and DOC. However, almost no obvious correlation was found between salinity and EEM-PARAFAC extracted components except for C3 (R2 = 0.469). Results from this investigation demonstrate that the EEM-PARAFAC technique can be used to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of CDOM fluorescence components for inland waters in semi-arid regions of Northeast China.
Vertical movements of frost mounds in sub-Arctic permafrost regions analyzed using geodetic survey and satellite interferometry
Authors: Beck I. , Ludwig R. , Bernier M. , Strozzi T. , Boike J.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Permafrost-affected soils cover about 45% of Canada. The environment in such areas, especially those located within the discontinuous permafrost zone, has been impacted more than any other by recorded climatic changes. A number of changes, such as surface subsidence and the degradation of frost mounds due to permafrost thawing have already been observed at many locations. We surveyed three frost mounds (lithalsas) close to Umiujaq, northern Quebec, sub-Arctic, using a high-precision differential Global Positioning System (d-GPS) during field visits in 2009, 2010 and 2011, thus obtaining detailed information on their responses to the freezing and thawing that occurs during the course of the annual temperature cycle. Seasonal pulsations were detected in the frost mounds and these responses were shown to vary with the state of degradation and the land cover. The most degraded lithalsa showed a maximum amplitude of vertical movement (either up or down) between winter and summer (thawing) of 0.19 ± 0.09 m over the study period, while for the least degraded lithalsa this figure was far greater (1.24 ± 0.47 m). Records from patches with little or no vegetation showed far less average vertical movement over the study period (0.17 ± 0.03 m) than those with prostrate shrubs (0.56 ± 0.02 m), suggesting an influence from the land-cover. A differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperature Radar (D-InSAR) analysis was also completed over the lithalsas using selected TerraSAR-X images acquired from April to October 2009 and from March to October 2010, with a repeat cycle of 11 days. Interferograms with baselines shorter than 200 m were computed revealing a generally very low interferometric coherence, restricting the quantification of vertical movements of the lithalsas. Vertical surface movements in the centimeter range were recorded in the near vicinity of Umiujaq.
Mass changes of Southern and Northern Inylchek Glacier, Central Tian Shan, Kyrgyzstan, during ∼1975 and 2007 derived from remote sensing data
Authors: Shangguan D. H. , Bolch T. , Ding Y. J. , Kröhnert M. , Pieczonka T. , Wetzel H. U. , Liu S. Y.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. Glacier melt is an essential source of freshwater for the arid regions surrounding the Tian Shan. However, the knowledge about glacier volume and mass changes over the last decades is limited. In the present study, glacier area, glacier dynamics and mass changes are investigated for the period ~1975–2007 for Southern Inylchek Glacier (SIG) and Northern Inylchek Glacier (NIG), the largest glacier system in Central Tian Shan separated by the regularly draining Lake Merzbacher. The area of NIG increased by 2.0 ± 0.1 km2 (~1.3%) in the period ~1975–2007. In contrast, SIG has shrunk continuously in all investigated periods since ~1975. Velocities of SIG in the central part of the ablation region reached ~100–120 m a−1 in 2002/2003, which was slightly higher than the average velocity in 2010/2011. The central part of SIG flows mainly towards Lake Merzbacher rather than towards its terminus. The measured velocities at the distal part of the terminus downstream of Lake Merzbacher were below the uncertainty, indicating very low flow with even stagnant parts. Geodetic glacier mass balances have been calculated using multi-temporal digital elevation models from KH-9 Hexagon (representing the year 1975), SRTM3 (1999), ALOS PRISM (2006) and SPOT-5 high-resolution geometrical (HRG) data (2007). In general, a continuous mass loss for both SIG and NIG could be observed between ~1975 and 2007. SIG lost mass at a rate of 0.43 ± 0.10 m w.e. a−1 and NIG at a rate of 0.25 ± 0.10 m w.e. a−1 within the period ~1975–1999. For the period 1999–2007, the highest mass loss of 0.57 ± 0.46 m w.e. a−1 was found for NIG, whilst SIG showed a potential moderate mass loss of 0.28 ± 0.46 m w.e. a−1. Both glaciers showed a small retreat during this period. Between ~1975 and 1999, we identified a thickening at the front of NIG with a maximum surface elevation increase of about 150 m as a consequence of a surge event. In contrast significant thinning (>0.5 m a−1) and comparatively high velocities close to the dam of Lake Merzbacher were observed for SIG, indicating that Lake Merzbacher enhances glacier mass loss.
Toxic femininity 4.0
Authors: Risam Roopika
Published: April 2015

This paper examines constructions of toxic femininity within fourth-wave feminism. Taking hashtag feminism as its focus, this article contends that charges of toxicity lobbed online reproduce divisive dynamics that have shaped earlier trends within feminist movements in the United States. It further suggests that Twitter, as a platform, amplifies deep discomfort with theories of intersectional feminism while shaping how normative gender is reproduced online.
Parental Liability for Externalities of Subsidiaries
Authors: Anker-Sørensen Linn
Published: April 2015

Parental Liability for Externalities of Subsidiaries: Domestic and Extraterritorial Approaches

This paper offers a structural tool for examining various parental liability approaches for the externalities of its subsidiaries, meaning in the context of this paper, the negative environmental impact of their operations. In order to conclude that the parent is liable for externalities of subsidiaries, one must be able to bypass the corporate privileges of separate legal personality and limited liability, either within traditional company law or within alternative approaches offered by notably tort and environmental law. The overall acceptance of companies within groups as single entities, instead of recognition of their factual, often closely interlinked economic relationship, is a well-known barrier within traditional company law. The situation is exacerbated by the general lack of an extraterritorial liability approach and of enforcement of the rare occurrences of such liability within the traditional company law context. This paper explores various liability approaches found in jurisdictions worldwide mainly based on mapping papers from the international Sustainable Companies Project. The author introduces a matrix in order to systemize the different approaches, distinguishing between three levels: domestic and extraterritorial, statutory and judicial and indirect and direct liability. A proper distinction between the different liability approaches can be valuable in order to identify the main barriers to group liability in regulation and in jurisprudence.
Experimental manipulation of habitat structures in intensively managed spruce plantations to increase their value for biodiversity conservation
Authors: MacLean David A. , Dracup Evan , Gandiaga Franck , Haughian Sean R. , MacKay Allison , Nadeau Paryse , Omari Kwadwo , Adams Greg , Frego Katherine A. , Keppie Daniel , Moreau Gaétan , Villard Marc-André
Published: April 2015

Six intensively managed white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) plantations located in three general landscape contexts (plantation dominated, hardwood dominated, and mixed hardwood and plantation) in northern New Brunswick underwent alternative commercial thinning (CT) treatments: 1) an unthinned control; and three 40% basal area CT removals, with 2) slash and tops remaining on site (status quo CT), 3) branches and tops extracted from the site (biomass removal CT), and 4) clumps of unthinned trees left, and one-half girdled to create snags (enhanced structure CT). We examined responses of taxa that have a clear connection to deadwood and thinning response: beetles and bird species that are directly dependent upon deadwood, ground vegetation species sensitive to disturbance, and small mammals that have been observed to have low density in planted stands. Results three years post-thinning showed that crown width and tree growth responded positively to CT, and herbaceous vegetation diverged from reference stands and unthinned treatments with CT, but greatest compositional change was associated with biomass removal CT. Beetles responded positively to CT, small mammal species responded both positively (red-backed voles) and negatively (woodland jumping mice) to CT, but areas dominated by plantations had negative effects on voles. Effects of CT on songbirds were unclear and their quantification would require larger treated blocks, but maintenance of habitat at the landscape level is essential for the conservation of bird species that require deadwood. The experimental biomass removal CT was least similar to both unthinned and older unmanaged stands, and may therefore be detrimental to biodiversity conservation efforts. These results are only the initial three years after treatment but set the study up to permit a long-term legacy of determining long-term responses of taxa over stand development.
New development of a remotely operated falling wedge
Authors: Lyons C. Kevin
Published: April 2015

A series of projects has developed an alternate cutting pattern that prevents a tree from moving while the faller is cutting at the base and a tool to initiate falling once the faller is in the clear. This specific project developed a second prototype of a remotely operated wedge for use when manually falling trees. The second prototype reduced the friction in the drive train and increased the mechanical advantage, and this increased the separation force produced for a given input torque by a multiple of approximately four, depending on the magnitude of the input torque. In this project, success means the tree did not begin to displace until the remotely operated wedge was inserted and activated. When using the second prototype and permitting the faller to vary the cutting pattern depending on tree imbalance, the success rate was increased from 91% when using the first prototype to 98%. Further testing is required in larger timber and with other fallers to determine if the high success rate can be maintained in these conditions.
omparação entre buscas para resolução do jogo resta um
Authors:   Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Pezzini Anderson , Ochner Anderson
Published: April 2015

Este trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a modelagem utilizada para representar o jogo Resta Um e detalhar a diferença de desempenho entre diferentes métodos de busca utilizados para solucionar o jogo. Foram usados os métodos de busca em profundidade, largura, profundidade iterativa, bidirecional, subida da montanha e A*, e constatou-se que devido à grande quantidade de sucessores a busca em profundidade é a mais indicada para este problema. As outras buscas não conseguiram chegar a uma solução em tempo hábil.
Recursos hídricos subterrâneos: análise de poços de rodeio (SC)
Authors:   Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Costa Ana Flávia , Rozza Graciela
Published: April 2015

Com o propósito de identificar a qualidade da água subterrânea de Rodeio – Santa Catarina e sua potabilidade para consumo humano, coletou-se no segundo semestre de 2014 amostras de água de dez poços comuns e semi-artesianos distribuídos no município e, através de pesquisa experimental, foram analisados parâmetros físico-químicos e microbiológicos. Para traduzir os dados quantitativos estudados em qualitativos e assim determinar a potabilidade do líquido, fez-se análise documental ao comparar os resultados obtidos com a Resolução CONAMA 396/2008 e com a Portaria MS 2914/2011. Dentre os poços analisados, sete apresentaram coliformes termotolerantes e 5 pH baixo. Com 95% de confiança, o pH das águas subterrâneas de Rodeio - SC está no intervalo de 5,56 a 6,41. Assim, 80% dos poços analisados apresentaram características inadequadas e prejudiciais à saúde humana.
Productive Infection of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived NKX2.1+ Respiratory Progenitors With Human Rhinovirus
Authors: Jenny Robert A. , Hirst Claire , Lim Sue Mei , Goulburn Adam L. , Micallef Suzanne J. , Labonne Tanya , Kicic Anthony , Ling Kak-Ming , Stick Stephen M. , Ng Elizabeth S. , Trounson Alan , Giudice Antonietta , Elefanty Andrew G. , Stanley Edouard G.
Published: April 2015

Airway epithelial cells generated from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) represent a resource for research into a variety of human respiratory conditions, including those resulting from infection with common human pathogens. Using an NKX2.1-GFP reporter human embryonic stem cell line, we developed a serum-free protocol for the generation of NKX2.1+ endoderm that, when transplanted into immunodeficient mice, matured into respiratory cell types identified by expression of CC10, MUC5AC, and surfactant proteins. Gene profiling experiments indicated that day 10 NKX2.1+ endoderm expressed markers indicative of early foregut but lacked genes associated with later stages of respiratory epithelial cell differentiation. Nevertheless, NKX2.1+ endoderm supported the infection and replication of the common respiratory pathogen human rhinovirus HRV1b. Moreover, NKX2.1+ endoderm upregulated expression of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1B in response to infection, a characteristic of human airway epithelial cells. Our experiments provide proof of principle for the use of PSC-derived respiratory epithelial cells in the study of cell-virus interactions.

Significance

This report provides proof-of-principle experiments demonstrating, for the first time, that human respiratory progenitor cells derived from stem cells in the laboratory can be productively infected with human rhinovirus, the predominant cause of the common cold.
Photodynamic Therapy in Spinal Metastases: A Qualitative Analysis of Published Results
Authors: Fan Hai-tao , Wang Lei , Zhang Ping , Liu Shu-bin
Published: April 2015

The current study was to perform qualitative comparison of photodynamic therapy (PDT), based on previously published articles on spinal disease distribution status before and after treatment. Spinal metastasis, the migration of primary cancer cells and establishment of secondary tumors in the spine. We electronically searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2012), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and AMED (from their beginning to December 31, 2012) to identify published studies assessing the effectiveness of PDT in spinal metastases. Our inclusion criteria resulted in only 4 articles, all in mice models. Due to study limitations and sparse data, the quality of evidence for all outcomes was low. Our analyses shows that effects on stereological and mechanical properties observed at the 1-week time point post-PDT are maintained at a longer 6-week time point, with combined PDT + bisphosphonate treatment being the most beneficial in terms of bone enhancement. Additionally, the combination of PDT + radiation therapy also demonstrated significant increases in stereological parameters, suggesting that previous radiation therapy treatment does not preclude the bone-enhancing effects of PDT and in fact may be synergistic in the longer term. The bone-enhancing effects of PDT in combination with conventional treatments, and its ability to destroy metastatic human breast cancer cells within bone, present PDT as an attractive novel treatment for spinal metastasis. The positive results from these preclinical studies might motivate future clinical translation of PDT for spinal metastasis.
Biliary Cystadenocarcinoma: An Unusual Cause for Recurrent Hemobilia
Authors: Philip Sunu , Kamyab Armin , Jacobs Michael
Published: April 2015

Hemobilia is an uncommon presentation of biliary tract or pancreatic disease. The investigation and management of this clinical problem is challenging. We report on a case of biliary tract hemorrhage from an otherwise asymptomatic right lobe biliary cystadenocarcinoma and review the literature on this unusual presentation. Hemobilia from primary or secondary liver tumors is not frequently reported in the literature. Hemobilia in this setting is usually observed in association with an obvious liver mass or abnormal liver function tests. This is a report of a case of hemobilia as the primary presentation of a small right lobe cystadenocarcinoma. Literature on the incidence and treatment of hemobilia associated with liver tumors has been reviewed. Hemobilia is investigated and definitively treated with angiography. In our case, initial imaging was equivocal and the lesion was only demonstrated after rebleeding, requiring a second angiogram. Surgical resection of the mass was required for definitive control of bleeding. This case illustrates the difficulties of investigating and treating hemobilia caused by primary or secondary liver tumors. Cystadenocarcinoma of the liver is not a common tumor, and biliary tract hemorrhage as the primary presentation of this tumor in the absence of a significant mass or abnormal liver function tests has not been previously described.
Ka‐band backscattering from water surface at small incidence: A wind‐wave tank study
Authors: Boisot Olivier , Pioch Sébastien , Fatras Christophe , Caulliez Guillemette , Bringer Alexandra , Borderies Pierre , Lalaurie Jean‐Claude , Guérin Charles‐Antoine
Published: April 2015

We report on an experiment conducted at the large Pytheas wind‐wave facility in Marseille to characterize the Ka‐band radar return from water surfaces when observed at small incidence. Simultaneous measurements of capillary‐gravity to gravity wave height and slopes and Normalized Radar Cross Section (NRCS) were carried out for various wind speeds and scattering angles. From this data set we construct an empirical two‐dimensional wave number spectrum accounting for the surface current to describe water surface motions from decimeter to millimeter scales. Some consistency tests are proposed to validate the surface wave spectrum, which is then incorporated into simple analytical scattering models. The resulting directional NRCS is found in overall good agreement with the experimental values. Comparisons are performed with oceanic models as well as in situ measurements over different types of natural surfaces. The applicability of the present findings to oceanic as well as continental surfaces is discussed.
River‐tide dynamics: Exploration of nonstationary and nonlinear tidal behavior in the Yangtze River estuary
Authors: Guo Leicheng , van der Wegen Mick , Jay David A. , Matte Pascal , Wang Zheng Bing , Roelvink Dano , He Qing
Published: April 2015

River‐tide dynamics remain poorly understood, in part because conventional harmonic analysis (HA) does not cope effectively with nonstationary signals. To explore nonstationary behavior of river tides and the modulation effects of river discharge, this work analyzes tidal signals in the Yangtze River estuary using both HA in a nonstationary mode and continuous wavelet transforms (CWT). The Yangtze is an excellent natural laboratory to analyze river tides because of its high and variable flow, its length, and the fact that there are do dams or reflecting barriers within the tidal part of the system. Analysis of tidal frequencies by CWT and analysis of subtidal water level and tidal ranges reveal a broad range of subtidal variations over fortnightly, monthly, semiannual, and annual frequencies driven by subtidal variations in friction and by variable river discharges. We employ HA in a nonstationary mode (NSHA) by segregating data within defined flow ranges into separate analyses. NSHA quantifies the decay of the principal tides and the modulation of M4 tide with increasing river discharges. M4 amplitudes decrease far upriver (landward portion of the estuary) and conversely increase close to the ocean as river discharge increases. The fortnightly frequencies reach an amplitude maximum upriver of that for over tide frequencies, due to the longer wavelength of the fortnightly constituents. These methods and findings should be applicable to large tidal rivers globally and have broad implications regarding management of navigation channels and ecosystems in tidal rivers.
First light from a kilometer‐baseline Scintillation Auroral GPS Array
Authors: Datta‐Barua S. , Su Y. , Deshpande K. , Miladinovich D. , Bust G. S. , Hampton D. , Crowley G.
Published: April 2015

We introduce and analyze the first data from an array of closely spaced Global Positioning System (GPS) scintillation receivers established in the auroral zone in late 2013 to measure spatial and temporal variations in L band signals at 100–1000 m and subsecond scales. The seven receivers of the Scintillation Auroral GPS Array (SAGA) are sited at Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska. The receivers produce 100 s scintillation indices and 100 Hz carrier phase and raw in‐phase and quadrature‐phase samples. SAGA is the largest existing array with baseline lengths of the ionospheric diffractive Fresnel scale at L band. With an initial array of five receivers, we identify a period of simultaneous amplitude and phase scintillation. We compare SAGA power and phase data with collocated 630.0 nm all‐sky images of an auroral arc and incoherent scatter radar electron precipitation measurements, to illustrate how SAGA can be used in multi‐instrument observations for subkilometer‐scale studies.
Elemental composition of organic aerosol: The gap between ambient and laboratory measurements
Authors: Chen Qi , Heald Colette L. , Jimenez Jose L. , Canagaratna Manjula R. , Zhang Qi , He Ling‐Yan , Huang Xiao‐Feng , Campuzano‐Jost Pedro , Palm Brett B. , Poulain Laurent , Kuwata Mikinori , Martin Scot T. , Abbatt Jonathan P. D. , Lee Alex K.Y. , Liggio John
Published: April 2015

A large data set including surface, aircraft, and laboratory observations of the atomic oxygen‐to‐carbon (O:C) and hydrogen‐to‐carbon (H:C) ratios of organic aerosol (OA) is synthesized and corrected using a recently reported method. The whole data set indicates a wide range of OA oxidation and a trajectory in the Van Krevelen diagram, characterized by a slope of −0.6, with variation across campaigns. We show that laboratory OA including both source and aged types explains some of the key differences in OA observed across different environments. However, the laboratory data typically fall below the mean line defined by ambient observations, and little laboratory data extend to the highest O:C ratios commonly observed in remote conditions. OA having both high O:C and high H:C are required to bridge the gaps. Aqueous‐phase oxidation may produce such OA, but experiments under realistic ambient conditions are needed to constrain the relative importance of this pathway.