bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cretaceous nannofossil stratigraphy and paleoecology of the Canadian Atlantic Margin
Authors: Doeven P H
Published: July 2015

Using both conventional and probabilistic techniques, a 16-fold nannofossil zonation has been erected to correlate Albian through Maastrichtian rocks in 17 wells, offshore eastern Canada. The zonation uses four types of stratigraphic events: lowest occurrence,
lowest consistent occurrence (subbottom), highest consistent occurrence (subtops), and highest occurrence. The proposed nannofossil zonation compares closely to previous zonations and is consistent with standard planktonic foraminiferal stratigraphy as applied in three of the wells studied.
Discrepancies at stage level exist with regional palynomorph and foraminiferal "assemblage" zonations. A regional hiatus occurs at the Cretaceous-Tertiary contact, varying in duration from 2 to 25 Ma. Several local hiatuses were detected in the Upper Cretaceous sequence that may be related to salt
tectonism. The main periods of limestone deposition were in Turonian (Petrel Member) and Late Santonian through Early Maastrichtian (Wyandot Formation) time. The relative abundances of Lucianorhabdus cayeu.xii, as calibrated with regional facies analysis in the Danish Embayment, indicate that the
chalk in the Wyandot Formation was deposited in an outer shelf environment. Chalk sedimentation took place at an average rate of 1.5-2 cm/ka. An increase in the frequency ratio of Micula "staurophora" s. I. versus Watznaueria barnesae and increasing abundance of Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis and
Kamptnerius magnificus suggest Early Maastichtian cooling. This event, and the coeval offshore shift in carbonate deposition may be related to a change in ocean circulation pattern caused by early seafloor spreading in the Labrador Sea
Upper lower and lower middle Devonian Chonetacean brachiopods from Bathurst, Devon and Ellesmere islands, Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Authors: Racheboeuf P R
Published: July 2015

Brachiopods of the Superfamily Chonetacea from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, which are described and illustrated here, were collected mainly by Brice in 1971 and 1972. All the material is from Emsian strata of the Blue Fiord and Bird Fiord formations on
Bathurst, Devon and Ellesmere islands. All the well documented citations in the literature on arctic Devonian chonetids are revised and discussed in order to get as complete a view as possible of the superfamily in the area studied. The present work is the first comprehensive contribution to the
knowledge of Devonian chonetacean brachiopods from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Thirteen species are described and their biostratigraphic value is established and compared with the conodont zonation. The taxa identified are: Philippotia (Philippotia) briceae sp. nov., Philippotia? (Chlupacina)
sp., Johnsonetes ellesmerensis gen. et sp. nov., J. arcticus gen. et sp. nov., Caplinoplia rectispina (Khalfin?), Devonochonetes? maclareni sp. nov., Sinochonetes wangi sp. nov., Sinochonetes sp. nov. aff. S. wangi sp. nov., Dagnachonetes quietus sp. nov., Dagnachonetes? grinnellensis sp. nov.,
Dagnachonetes? pordenensis sp. nov., Parachonetes macrostriatus and Chonostrophiella cynthiae sp. nov. Paleogeographic affinities of the arctic Devonian chonetid faunas with those of the Old World Realm are very strong. The same species, or very closely related ones, occur in western Siberia
(Altai), in Bohemia, China, Australia, and, in North America, in Nevada and the Yukon. The arctic occurrence of the genus Chonostrophiella has lead to a re-evaluation of the paleogeographic significance of the genus and indicates an affinity with the Eastern Americas Realm.
Lower and Middle Jurassic radiolarian biostratigraphy and systematic paleontology, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia
Authors: Carter E S , Cameron B E B , Smith P L
Published: July 2015

Radiolaria are used to construct an informal zonation (seven zones, numbered one through seven) for Jurassic strata of late Pliensbachian to early Bajocian age from the Fannin, Whiteaves, Phantom Creek and Graham Island formations, Queen Charlotte Islands,
British Columbia. The study emphasizes Toarcian Radiolaria, because hitherto little was known of their morphology and distribution; rich, well preserved assemblages of middle to late Toarcian radiolarians have now been recovered from limestones of the Whiteaves and Phantom Creek formations.
Ammonites collected as part of a recently completed stratigraphic study of the Jurassic sequence provide excellent control for dating all radiolarian assemblages. Forty-two new species and five new genera of radiolarians are described herein. The sequence of co-occurring ammonites indicates that
Zone 1 is late Pliensbachian (Carlottense Zone) and Zone 7 is early Bajocian (Docidoceras widebayense Assemblage Zone and an unnamed interval underlying the Parabigotites crassicostatus Assemblage Zone). Corresponding ammonite zones for radiolarian zones 2 to 6 (Toarcian to Aalenian) have not yet
been worked out for North America; thus Zone 2 is early middle Toarcian, Zones 3 and 4 are late middle to early late Toarcian, Zone 5 is late T oarcian, and Zone 6 is Aalenian. Radiolaria from the Queen Charlotte Islands (part of the displaced terrane of Wrangellia) compare well with Tethyan
assemblages from western North America, the Mediterranean area and Japan.
Divine empowerment: The Holy Spirit and church revitalisation
Authors: DeVries Brian A.
Published: July 2015

How do principles of church revitalisation correlate with the divine work of the Holy Spirit? This article argues that the Spirit is the primary agent of church revitalisation, and churchleaders should cooperate with the Spirit as he works for revitalisation. Thus the Spirit empowers church leaders who are used by him to revive, renew, and revitalise a church community. After briefly defining the Spirit’s empowerment with biblical examples, this article examines the underlying principles of empowerment for church leaders, followed by briefly considering methodology for church revitalisation. The author concludes by suggesting several signs of biblical empowerment in a local church community.Goddelike bemagtiging: Die Heilige Gees en kerkherstel. Watter plek beklee die goddelike werking van die Heilige Gees in die beginsels van kerkherstel? Hierdie artikel poneer dat die Heilige Gees die primêre agent is om nuwe lewe in die kerk te bring en kerkleiers behoort onder leiding van die Heilige Gees hulle hiervoor te beywer. Die Heilige Gees bemagtig dus die kerkleiers wat Hy gebruik om ’n kerklike gemeenskap te laat herleef, te vernuwe en hulle te besiel met lewenskragtigheid. Die Gees se bemagtiging word kortliks aan die hand van bybelse voorbeelde gedefineer, waarna die grondliggende beginsels vir die bemagtiging van die kerkleiers ondersoek word. Daarna word die metodologie om nuwe lewenskrag in die kerk te bring kortliks oorweeg. Die outeur sluit af deur verskeie tekens uit te lig wat op skriftuurlike bemagtiging van die Heilige Gees in die plaaslike kerkgemeenskap dui.
Die invloed van verpoeiering op die kwikinhoud van verskeie gesertifiseerde verwysingsmateriale
Authors: Roelofse Frederick , Mulder Kwenidyn
Published: July 2015

The majority of analytical techniques, aimed at establishing the mercury contents of geological materials, require comminution of samples prior to analysis. This typically involves a process of crushing, followed by milling. It is known that heat is generated during milling in conventional milling apparatuses; therefore mercury losses may be expected due to the element’s volatility. To investigate mercury losses during milling, we analysed the mercury contents of nine certified reference materials of igneous rocks before milling and after respectively 3 and 10 minutes of milling, using a direct mercury analyser. The results of the experiments suggest that: (1) mercury losses are insignificant after 3 minutes of milling, (2) mercury losses become significant when samples undergo excessive milling, (3) mercury losses do not appear to be mineralogically controlled and (4) for samples with low mercury contents, contamination during milling plays a much more significant role in the analysed mercury contents than milling time.
Comparative study on the effectiveness of Coblation-assisted turbinoplasty in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Di Rienzo Businco L. , Di Rienzo Businco A. , Lauriello M.
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of adding Coblation-assisted inferior turbinoplasty to a medical treatment regimen for symptoms associated with hypertrophic inferior turbinates. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective, open-label, non-randomized trial with outpatient treatment. Patients were assigned to treatment groups in order of enrolment into the study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From June 2007 to June 2008, 220 patients with allergic rhinitis and hypertrophic inferior turbinates were enrolled and assigned into two groups: the surgical group who received radiofrequency thermal ablation inferior turbinoplasty and medical therapy, and the medical group who received medical therapy only. Groups were further divided into two allergen types based on antigen sensitivity: perennial and seasonal. Subjective complaints (nasal obstruction, itching, rhinorrhea, sneezing), clinical rhinoendoscopy and rhinomanometry tests results were recorded at the start of the study and 2 months post-treatment. Effect sizes for the mean improvements after treatment were tabulated for all groups. RESULTS: All study outcomes improved within all groups. Comparison between medical and surgical groups showed higher improvement in both perennial and seasonal, respectively, in nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinomanometry, and rhinomanometry after NPT. Itching improved only in perennial allergen type. Rhinoendoscopy clinical score showed improvement in surgical group over medical group in both allergen types. CONCLUSION: Coblation-assisted turbinate reduction is a promising adjunct to medical therapy in patients with persistent symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis. Patients undergoing this surgery had greater reduction of symptoms than patients receiving medical therapy alone, where patients with perennial allergies appeared to benefit most.
Acidic stress caused by dietary administration of citric acid in broiler chickens
Authors: Nourmohammadi R. , Khosravinia H.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Citric acid (CA) is commonly used in poultry diets to promote growth by acidifying the gastrointestinal contents, improving nutrient digestibility, and reducing pathogen loads; therefore, this study was conducted to demonstrate the effects of 0, 30 and 60 g of CA per kilogramme of diet on productive performance, selected blood metabolites, immune response and certain gut-related variables in broiler chickens using 150, 7-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks in five replicates of 10 birds each per diet. Growth performance, daily feed intake and tibia phosphorous (P) retention were significantly improved by the diets containing 30 g kg−1 of CA (P < 0.01) but were suppressed as CA increased to 60 g kg−1. Dietary CA increased proventriculus, gizzard and ileum percentage and villus length, crypt depth and goblet cell number in duodenum, jejunum and ileum as well as ileal digestibility of crude protein, apparent metabolisable energy and total phosphorus while it decreased the pH of contents in the gut segments concerned (P < 0.01). Diets containing 60 g kg−1 of CA significantly reduced plasma P and Fe levels as well as cholesterol level and Alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.05) while increasing the aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (P < 0.01) in the blood serum of the birds at day 42 of age. The percentage of bursa and thymus was greater in the birds fed on diets containing 60 and 30 g kg−1 of CA, respectively (P < 0.01). It was concluded that inclusion of 60 g kg−1 of CA in the diet resulted in a severe reduction in performance, nutrient digestion and absorption and liver dysfunctions in broiler chickens, a phenomenon we call as acidic stress.
On the ability of a global atmospheric inversion to constrain variations of CO2 fluxes over Amazonia
Authors: Molina L. , Broquet G. , Imbach P. , Chevallier F. , Poulter B. , Bonal D. , Burban B. , Ramonet M. , Gatti L. V. , Wofsy S. C. , Munger J. W. , Dlugokencky E. , Ciais P.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The exchanges of carbon, water and energy between the atmosphere and the Amazon basin have global implications for the current and future climate. Here, the global atmospheric inversion system of the Monitoring of Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) service is used to study the seasonal and interannual variations of biogenic CO2 fluxes in Amazonia during the period 2002–2010. The system assimilated surface measurements of atmospheric CO2 mole fractions made at more than 100 sites over the globe into an atmospheric transport model. The present study adds measurements from four surface stations located in tropical South America, a region poorly covered by CO2 observations. The estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) optimized by the inversion are compared to an independent estimate of NEE upscaled from eddy-covariance flux measurements in Amazonia. They are also qualitatively evaluated against reports on the seasonal and interannual variations of the land sink in South America from the scientific literature. We attempt at assessing the impact on NEE of the strong droughts in 2005 and 2010 (due to severe and longer-than-usual dry seasons) and the extreme rainfall conditions registered in 2009. The spatial variations of the seasonal and interannual variability of optimized NEE are also investigated. While the inversion supports the assumption of strong spatial heterogeneity of these variations, the results reveal critical limitations of the coarse-resolution transport model, the surface observation network in South America during the recent years and the present knowledge of modelling uncertainties in South America that prevent our inversion from capturing the seasonal patterns of fluxes across Amazonia. However, some patterns from the inversion seem consistent with the anomaly of moisture conditions in 2009.
On the emissions and transport of bromoform: sensitivity to model resolution and emission location
Authors: Russo M. R. , Ashfold M. J. , Harris N. R. P. , Pyle J. A.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Bromoform (CHBr3) is a short-lived species with an important but poorly quantified ocean source. It can be transported to the Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL), in part by rapid, deep convective lifting, from where it can influence the global stratospheric ozone budget. In a modelling study, we investigate the importance of the regional distribution of the emissions and of model resolution for the transport of bromoform to the TTL. We use two idealised CHBr3 emission fields (one coastal, one uniformly distributed across the oceans) implemented in high and coarse resolution (HR and CR) versions of the same global model and focus on February as the period of peak convection in the West Pacific. Using outgoing long-wave radiation and precipitation as metrics, the HR version of the model is found to represent convection better. In the more realistic HR model version, the coastal emission scenario leads to 15–20 % more CHBr3 in the global TTL, and up to three times more CHBr3 in the TTL over the Maritime Continent, than when uniform emissions of the same tropical magnitude are employed. Using the uniform emission scenario in both model versions, the distribution of CHBr3 at 15.7 km (approximately the level of zero net radiative heating) is qualitatively consistent with the differing geographic distributions of convection. However, averaged over the whole tropics, the amount of CHBr3 in the TTL in the two model versions is similar. Using the coastal scenario, in which emissions are particularly high in the Maritime Continent because of its long coastlines, the mixing ratio of CHBr3 in the TTL is enhanced over the Maritime Continent in both model versions. The enhancement is larger, and the peak in CHBr3 mixing ratio occurs at a higher altitude, in the HR model version. Our regional-scale results indicate that using aircraft measurements and coarse global models to infer CHBr3 emissions will be very difficult, particularly if (as is possible) emissions are distributed heterogeneously and in regions of strong convective activity. In contrast, the global-scale agreement between our CR and HR calculations suggests model resolution is less vital for studies focussed on the transport of bromine into the global stratosphere.
Application of portable FTIR spectrometers for detecting greenhouse gas emissions of the major city Berlin
Authors: Hase F. , Frey M. , Blumenstock T. , Groß J. , Kiel M. , Kohlhepp R. , Mengistu Tsidu G. , Schäfer K. , Sha M. K. , Orphal J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Five portable Bruker EM27/SUN FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectrometers have been used for the accurate and precise observation of column-averaged abundances of CO2 and CH4 around the major city Berlin. In the work by Frey et al. (2015), a calibration procedure is developed and applied to the set of spectrometers used for the Berlin campaign. Here, we describe the observational setup of the campaign and aspects of the data analysis, and we present the recorded time series of XCH4 and XCO2. We demonstrate that the CO2 emissions of Berlin can be clearly identified in the observations. A simple dispersion model is applied which indicates a total strength of the Berlin source of about 0.8 t CO2 s−1. In the Supplement of this work, we provide the measured data set and auxiliary data. We hope that the model community will exploit this unique data set for state-of-the art inversion studies of CO2 and CH4 sources in the Berlin area.
A parameterization of respiration in frozen soils based on substrate availability
Authors: Schaefer K. , Jafarov E.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Respiration in frozen soils is limited to thawed substrate within the thin water films surrounding soil particles. As temperatures decrease and the films become thinner, the available substrate also decreases, with respiration effectively ceasing at −8 °C. Traditional exponential scaling factors to model this effect do not account for substrate availability and do not work at the century to millennial time scales required to model the fate of the nearly 1700 Gt of carbon in permafrost regions. The exponential scaling factor produces a false, continuous loss of simulated permafrost carbon in the 20th century and biases in estimates of potential emissions as permafrost thaws in the future. Here we describe a new frozen biogeochemistry parameterization that separates the simulated carbon into frozen and thawed pools to represent the effects of substrate availability. We parameterized the liquid water fraction as a function of temperature based on observations and use this to transfer carbon between frozen pools and thawed carbon in the thin water films. The simulated volumetric water content (VWC) as a function of temperature is consistent with observed values and the simulated respiration fluxes as a function of temperature are consistent with results from incubation experiments. The amount of organic matter was the single largest influence on simulated VWC and respiration fluxes. Future versions of the parameterization should account for additional, non-linear effects of substrate diffusion in thin water films on simulated respiration. Controlling respiration in frozen soils based on substrate availability allows us to maintain a realistic permafrost carbon pool by eliminating the continuous loss caused by the original exponential scaling factors. The frozen biogeochemistry parameterization is a useful way to represent the effects of substrate availability on soil respiration in model applications that focus on century to millennial time scales in permafrost regions.
Plant functional type classification for earth system models: results from the European Space Agency's Land Cover Climate Change Initiative
Authors: Poulter B. , MacBean N. , Hartley A. , Khlystova I. , Arino O. , Betts R. , Bontemps S. , Boettcher M. , Brockmann C. , Defourny P. , Hagemann S. , Herold M. , Kirches G. , Lamarche C. , Lederer D. , Ottlé C. , Peters M. , Peylin P.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Global land cover is a key variable in the earth system with feedbacks on climate, biodiversity and natural resources. However, global land cover data sets presently fall short of user needs in providing detailed spatial and thematic information that is consistently mapped over time and easily transferable to the requirements of earth system models. In 2009, the European Space Agency launched the Climate Change Initiative (CCI), with land cover (LC_CCI) as 1 of 13 essential climate variables targeted for research development. The LC_CCI was implemented in three phases: first responding to a survey of user needs; developing a global, moderate-resolution land cover data set for three time periods, or epochs (2000, 2005, and 2010); and the last phase resulting in a user tool for converting land cover to plant functional type equivalents. Here we present the results of the LC_CCI project with a focus on the mapping approach used to convert the United Nations Land Cover Classification System to plant functional types (PFTs). The translation was performed as part of consultative process among map producers and users, and resulted in an open-source conversion tool. A comparison with existing PFT maps used by three earth system modeling teams shows significant differences between the LC_CCI PFT data set and those currently used in earth system models with likely consequences for modeling terrestrial biogeochemistry and land–atmosphere interactions. The main difference between the new LC_CCI product and PFT data sets used currently by three different dynamic global vegetation modeling teams is a reduction in high-latitude grassland cover, a reduction in tropical tree cover and an expansion in temperate forest cover in Europe. The LC_CCI tool is flexible for users to modify land cover to PFT conversions and will evolve as phase 2 of the European Space Agency CCI program continues.
Urbanization dramatically altered the water balances of a paddy field-dominated basin in southern China
Authors: Hao L. , Sun G. , Liu Y. , Wan J. , Qin M. , Qian H. , Liu C. , Zheng J. , John R. , Fan P. , Chen J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Rice paddy fields provide important ecosystem services (e.g., food production, water retention, carbon sequestration) to a large population globally. However, these benefits are diminishing as a result of rapid environmental and socioeconomic transformations, characterized by population growth, urbanization, and climate change in many Asian countries. This case study examined the responses of stream flow and watershed water balances to the decline of rice paddy fields due to urbanization in the Qinhuai River basin in southern China, where massive industrialization has occurred during the past 3 decades. We found that stream flow increased by 58 % and evapotranspiration (ET) decreased by 23 % during 1986–2013 as a result of a three-fold increase in urban areas and a reduction of rice paddy fields by 27 %. Both high flows and low flows increased significantly by about 28 % from 2002 to 2013. The increases in stream flow were consistent with the decreases in ET and leaf area index monitored by independent remote sensing MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. Attribution analysis, based on two empirical models, indicated that land-use/land-cover change contributed about 82–108 % of the observed increase in stream flow from 353 ± 287 mm yr−1 during 1986–2002 to 556 ± 145 during 2003–2013. We concluded that the reduction in ET was largely attributed to the conversion of cropland to urban use. The effects of land-use change overwhelmed the effects of regional climate warming and climate variability. Converting traditional rice paddy fields to urban use dramatically altered land surface conditions from an artificial wetland-dominated landscape to an urban land-use- dominated one, and thus was considered an extreme type of contemporary hydrologic disturbance. The ongoing large-scale urbanization of the rice paddy-dominated regions, in humid southern China and East Asia, will likely elevate storm-flow volume, aggravate flood risks, and intensify urban heat island effects. Understanding the connection between land-use/land-cover change and changes in hydrological processes is essential for better management of urbanizing watersheds in the rice paddy-dominated landscape.
Sea surface temperature and torrential rains in the Valencia region: modelling the role of recharge areas
Authors: Pastor F. , Valiente J. A. , Estrela M. J.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Heavy rain events are frequently recorded in the Western Mediterranean causing economic losses and even human casualties. The Western Mediterranean is a deep and almost closed sea surrounded by high mountain ranges and with little exchange of water with the Atlantic ocean. A main factor in the development of torrential rains is ocean-atmosphere exchanges of heat and moisture that can potentially destabilize air masses travelling over the sea. The study of air mass trajectories previous to the rain event permits the identification of sea areas that could probably contribute to the development or intensification of rainfall. From a previous Mediterranean sea surface temperature climatology, its spatio-temporal distribution patterns have been studied showing two main distribution modes in winter and summer and transitional regimes in spring and autumn. Hence, three heavy precipitation events, for such winter and summer sea temperature regimes and for fall transition, affecting the Valencia region have been selected to study the effect of sea surface temperature in torrential rains. Simulations with perturbed sea surface temperature in different areas along the air mass path were run to compare results with unperturbed simulation. The variation of sea surface temperature in certain areas caused significant changes in model accumulated values and its spatial distribution. Therefore, the existence of areas that at a greater extent favour air-sea interaction leading to the development of torrential rainfall in the Valencia region has been shown. This methodology could be extended to the whole Mediterranean basin to look for such potential recharge areas. The identification of sea areas that contribute to the development or intensification of heavy rain events in the Mediterranean countries could be a useful prognosis and/or monitoring tool.
Direct numerical simulation of intermittent turbulence under stably stratified conditions
Authors: He P. , Basu S.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. In this paper, we simulate intermittent turbulence (also known as bursting events) in stably stratified open-channel flows using direct numerical simulation. Clear signatures of this intriguing phenomenon are observed for a range of stabilities. However, the spatiotemporal characteristics of intermittency are found to be strongly stability dependent. In general, the bursting events are much more frequent near the bottom wall than in the upper-channel region. A steady coexistence of laminar and turbulent flows is detected at various horizontal planes in very stable cases. This spatially intermittent pattern is found to propagate downstream and strongly correlate with the temporal evolution of intermittency. Lastly, a long standing hypothesis by Blackadar (1979), i.e., the strong connection between local stability and intermittent turbulence, is corroborated by this modeling study.
Structure of the upper mantle in the north-western and central United States from USArray S-receiver functions
Authors: Kind R. , Yuan X. , Mechie J. , Sodoudi F.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. We used more than 40 000 S-receiver functions recorded by the USArray project to study the structure of the upper mantle between the Moho and the 410 km discontinuity from the Phanerozoic western United States to the cratonic central US. In the western United States we observed the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB), and in the cratonic United States we observed both the mid-lithospheric discontinuity (MLD) and the LAB of the craton. In the northern and southern United States the western LAB almost reaches the mid-continental rift system. In between these two regions the cratonic MLD is surprisingly plunging towards the west from the Rocky Mountain Front to about 200 km depth near the Sevier thrust belt. We interpret these complex structures of the seismic discontinuities in the mantle lithosphere as an indication of interfingering of the colliding Farallon and Laurentia plates. Unfiltered S-receiver function data reveal that the LAB and MLD are not single discontinuities but consist of many small-scale laminated discontinuities, which only appear as single discontinuities after longer period filtering. We also observe the Lehmann discontinuity below the LAB and a velocity reduction about 30 km above the 410 km discontinuity.
Synchrotron microtomographic quantification of geometrical soil pore characteristics affected by compaction
Authors: Udawatta R. P. , Gantzer C. J. , Anderson S. H. , Assouline S.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Soil compaction degrades soil structure and affects water, heat, and gas exchange as well as root penetration and crop production. The objective of this study was to use X-ray computed microtomography (CMT) techniques to compare differences in geometrical soil pore parameters as influenced by compaction of two different aggregate size classes. Sieved (diam. < 2 mm and < 0.5 mm) and repacked (1.51 and 1.72 Mg m−3) Hamra soil cores of 5- by 5 mm (average porosities were 0.44 and 0.35) were imaged at 9.6-micrometer resolution at the Argonne Advanced Photon Source (synchrotron facility) using X-ray computed microtomography. Images of 58.9 mm3 volume were analyzed using 3-Dimensional Medial Axis (3DMA) software. Geometrical characteristics of the spatial distributions of pore structures (pore radii, volume, connectivity, path length, and tortuosity) were numerically investigated. Results show that the coordination number (CN) distribution and path length (PL) measured from the medial axis were reasonably fit by exponential relationships P(CN) = 10-CN/Co and P(PL) = 10-PL/PLo, respectively, where Co and PLo are the corresponding characteristic constants. Compaction reduced porosity, average pore size, number of pores, and characteristic constants. The average pore radii (63.7 and 61 μm; p < 0.04), largest pore volume (1.58 and 0.58 mm3; p = 0.06), number of pores (55 and 50; p = 0.09), characteristic coordination number (6.32 and 5.94; p = 0.09), and characteristic path length number (116 and 105; p = 0.001) were significantly greater in the low density than the high density treatment. Aggregate size also influenced measured geometrical pore parameters. This analytical technique provides a tool for assessing changes in soil pores that affect hydraulic properties and thereby provides information to assist in assessment of soil management systems.
Climatic controls and climate proxy potential of Lewis Glacier, Mt Kenya
Authors: Prinz R. , Nicholson L. I. , Mölg T. , Gurgiser W. , Kaser G.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The Lewis Glacier on Mt Kenya is one of the best studied tropical glaciers and has experienced considerable retreat since a maximum extent in the late 19th century (L19). From distributed mass and energy balance modelling, this study evaluates the current sensitivity of the surface mass and energy balance to climatic drivers, explores climate conditions under which the L19 maximum extent might have sustained, and discusses the potential for using the glacier retreat to quantify climate change. Multiyear meteorological measurements at 4828 m provide data for input, optimization and evaluation of a spatially distributed glacier mass balance model to quantify the exchanges of energy and mass at the glacier–atmosphere interface. Currently the glacier loses mass due to the imbalance between insufficient accumulation and enhanced melt, because radiative energy gains cannot be compensated by turbulent energy sinks. Exchanging model input data with synthetic climate scenarios, which were sampled from the meteorological measurements and account for coupled climatic variable perturbations, reveal that the current mass balance is most sensitive to changes in atmospheric moisture (via its impact on solid precipitation, cloudiness and surface albedo). Positive mass balances result from scenarios with an increase of annual (seasonal) accumulation of 30 % (100 %), compared to values observed today, without significant changes in air temperature required. Scenarios with lower air temperatures are drier and associated with lower accumulation and increased net radiation due to reduced cloudiness and albedo. If the scenarios currently producing positive mass balances are applied to the L19 extent, negative mass balances are the result, meaning that the conditions required to sustain the glacier in its L19 extent are not reflected in today's observations. Alternatively, a balanced mass budget for the L19 extent can be explained by changing model parameters that imply a distinctly different coupling between the glacier's local surface-air layer and its surrounding boundary-layer. This result underlines the difficulty of deriving paleoclimates for larger glacier extents on the basis of modern measurements of small glaciers.
Marinescu Paul (2015), “Traduire le passé: Enjeux et défis d’une opération historiographique”, Études Ricoeuriennes/Ricoeur Studies, 6 (1), p. 57-72. DOI 10.5195/errs.2015.287
Authors: Braunstein Guillaume
Published: July 2015

Erratum au volume 6, Numéro 1, 2015
Lexical Inferencing in Listening: Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge and Listening Proficiency
Authors: Mohammadi Foomani Elham
Published: July 2015

Lexical inferencing as an efficient strategy to deal with unfamiliar words is suggested to be the most commonly used strategy among students, thus it has attracted much attention in the comprehension literature. While literature abounds with inferencing studies in reading, few studies have delved into the processes involved in listening. This study sought to investigate the role of depth of vocabulary knowledge (DVK) in lexical inferencing success and determine the relationship between students' DVK and listening proficiency. To this end, 56 upper-intermediate TOEFL applicants from 2 language institutes in Iran participated in this study. The participants were assigned to three levels of High- Mid- and Low-proficiency and in a consequent session were required to take the 40-item DVKT (Depth of Vocabulary Knowledge Test). In the final step the students sat for the lexical inferencing task and were required to identify the meaning of 17 unfamiliar words in 8 listening excerpts. The results indicated that DVK was a determining factor in lexical inferencing success, and that there was a positive relationship between students' DVK and their listening proficiency.
Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence and Employees’ Performance: A Case in Nigeria’s Public Healthcare Sector
Authors: Oyewunmi Adebukola Esther , Oyewunmi Olabode Adeleke , Ojo Ibiyinka Stella , Oludayo Olumuyiwa Akinrole
Published: July 2015

Undoubtedly, multiple competencies are essential for effective leadership and identifying specific competencies that will foster employees’ performance, is a veritable venture. This study explores the impact of leaders’ emotional intelligence on employees’ performance within Nigeria’s public healthcare sector and also provides perspective on the contextual underpinnings. It adopts the survey method and randomly samples leaders and employees within the sector. Data analyses using the t-test and hierarchical regression analytical tool, reveals a significant correlation between the emotional intelligence of leaders and the performance of employees. The study finds that the task of leadership, coupled with the multiple challenges within Nigeria’s public healthcare sector, requires a reasonable measure of emotional intelligence in order to facilitate employees’ performance.
The Impact of the Delegation of Authority on Employees' Performance at Great Irbid Municipality: Case Study
Authors: Al-Jammal Hamdan Rasheed , Al-Khasawneh Akif Lutfi , Hamadat Mohammad Hasan
Published: July 2015

The study aimed at identifying the impact of the delegation of authority on employees' performance at great Irbid municipality. It has constructed on measuring the impact of delegation on efficiency, effectiveness and empowerment. Sample of the study represented by employees in which they are embedded in central and executive management through a random sampling reached to (200) employees from total (1500). The sample was used as a tool for achieving the results. After applying Alpha measurement, it has been shown that validity was (82%). Means, standard deviation, percentages, (T-test), and Cronbach Alpha test were used and applied.The results of the study have shown that there is a statically significant for delegation of authority on efficiency, effectiveness and empowerment of employees' performance at great Irbid municipality.  The study has recommended in the need to activating administrative delegation authority of employees in Great Irbid Municipality (GIM). Also, increase the level of delegation to be corresponded with the value of tasks in order to promote functional performance. Moreover, improving administrative delegation of authority in which effect on employees' satisfaction, employees' empowerment to implement tasks individually without asking high management. This method will save time and effort. It will also offer service for customers rapidly and directly.
‘Cell junctions of oral mucosa’- in a nutshell
Authors: Ganjare Anjali , Bagul Neeta , Kathariya Rahul , Oberoi Jyoti
Published: July 2015

Junctional complexes are specialized contacts between neighboring cells and between cells and the extracellular matrix. They play an important role in embryogenesis, growth and development, as well as being the cause of pathologies. These contacts lead to a number of different interactions that have a profound effect on cellular biology. Cell junctions are best visualized using conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, which reveals the interacting plasma membranes are highly specialized in these regions.

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are proteins responsible for homophillic and heterophillic adhesions. They consist of various groups, including cadherins, selectins and intergrins and they facilitate cell adhesion, cell signaling, and motility. Dysregulation of these molecules can lead to various pathologies, for example mucocutaneous diseases and invasion of cancer. This review focuses on the pathophysiology of cell junctions and related diseases.
The Place of ψυχή in Plato’sCrito
Authors: Libersohn Yosef Z.
Published: July 2015

This article discusses the absence of the word ψυχή (“soul”) in Plato’s Crito. Socrates demonstrably intends its omission, especially at 47a12–48a10, where it would be otherwise expected. The absence of ψυχή is part of a crucial strategy whereby Socrates uses Crito’s own distinctions in an attempt to make the latter understand that smuggling Socrates out of jail is not only against the law (τὸ ἄδικον) but also an act against people (τὸ ἀδικεῖν). Only when this attempt fails to deter Crito (48a4) does Socrates turn to a different strategy, the end of which comprises the famous speech of the Laws.
Meidias Tyrannos: Meidias’ Tyrannical Attributes in Demosthenes 21
Authors: Hendren T. George
Published: July 2015

The venom with which Demosthenes lambasts Meidias suits both the circumstance of their violent private quarrel as well as the contemporary political climate of the Mediterranean world. This article will reevaluate Demonsthenes’ vitriol in his Against Meidias to show that the characterization of his opponent plays off Athenian fears specific to tyrannical overthrow. I argue that Demosthenes spins his chief criticisms of Meidias into tyrannical attributes similar to those with which he attacked Philip. Demosthenes’ use of literary tyranny calls into question the reliability of the speech as a source for historical analysis of Athenian hubris.
How Do Depression Medications Taken by Pilots Affect Passengers’ Willingness to Fly—A Mediation Analysis
Authors: Rice Stephen , Winter Scott R. , Kraemer Keegan , Mehta Rian , Oyman Korhan
Published: July 2015

The mental health of airline pilots has been a concern for decades. In 2010, the United States Federal Aviation Administration began allowing four types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to be used by pilots suffering from depression. After a procedural wait period, pilots may be awarded a special issuance of their medical certificates to maintain flight currency. Missing from the literature was any research on consumer’s perceptions of pilots taking antidepressants, along with some other approved medications. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine consumer’s willingness to fly once told that the pilot of their hypothetical flight was taking medication compared to a control group in which the pilot was not on any prescribed and approved medications. The current study also manipulated dosage levels and gathered affect data to determine if consumers’ responses were rationally or emotionally motivated. Across two studies, consumers were less willing to fly when the pilot was taking medication, and when the medication was a high dose opposed to a low dose. Additionally, affect was found to completely mediate the relationship between three of the four medications when compared to the control condition, suggesting that participants’ responses were emotionally driven. Finally, a discussion of the findings and practical implications of the study are provided.
REVIVE Trial: Retrograde Delivery of Autologous Bone Marrow in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Patel Amit N. , Mittal Sanjay , Turan Goekmen , Winters Amalia A. , Henry Timothy D. , Ince Hueseyin , Trehan Naresh
Published: July 2015

Cell therapy is an evolving option for patients with end-stage heart failure and ongoing symptoms despite optimal medical therapy. Our goal was to evaluate retrograde bone marrow cell delivery in patients with either ischemic heart failure (IHF) or nonischemic heart failure (NIHF). This was a prospective randomized, multicenter, open-label study of the safety and feasibility of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) infused retrograde into the coronary sinus. Sixty patients were stratified by IHF and NIHF and randomized to receive either BMAC infusion or control (standard heart failure care) in a 4:1 ratio. Accordingly, 24 subjects were randomized to the ischemic BMAC group and 6 to the ischemic control group. Similarly, 24 subjects were randomized to the nonischemic BMAC group and 6 to the nonischemic control group. All 60 patients were successfully enrolled in the study. The treatment groups received BMAC infusion without complications. The left ventricular ejection fraction in the patients receiving BMAC demonstrated significant improvement compared with baseline, from 25.1% at screening to 31.1% at 12 months (p = .007) in the NIHF group and from 26.3% to 31.1% in the IHF group (p = .035). The end-systolic diameter decreased significantly in the nonischemic BMAC group from 55.6 to 50.9 mm (p = .020). Retrograde BMAC delivery is safe. All patients receiving BMAC experienced improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction, but only those with NIHF showed improvements in left ventricular end-systolic diameter and B-type natriuretic peptide. These results provide the basis for a larger clinical trial in HF patients.

Significance

This work is the first prospective randomized clinical trial using high-dose cell therapy delivered via a retrograde coronary sinus infusion in patients with heart failure. This was a multinational, multicenter study, and it is novel, translatable, and scalable. On the basis of this trial and the safety of retrograde coronary sinus infusion, there are three other trials under way using this route of delivery.
Oral L-Arginine Supplementation Effects on Cardiometabolic Factors in Hypertensive Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Relationship with Body Mass Index
Authors: Kuryata Olexandr , Sirenko Oksana
Published: July 2015

Hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis are regarded as a conditions associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. As known endothelial dysfunction is an early pathophysiological feature and an independent predictor cardiovascular disease. L-arginine is the amino acid with potential to improve endothelial function and is expected to play a role in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition, data exists that L-arginine aspartate can reduce insulin resistance. We aimed to evaluate the effects of oral L-arginine supplementation on cardiometabolic factors by determining endothelial function, insulin resistance, adiponectin level in hypertensive patients combined with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with body mass index. 69 females with mean age – 54 [50,3; 61,5] years were enrolled. The 1st group made up 29 patients with hypertension combined with rheumatoid arthritis, 2nd group – 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 3rd group – 20 patients with hypertension. In the endpoint patients were randomized to study subgroups patients, which received L-Arginine aspartate 30 ml/day during 4 weeks in addition to standard treatment, and control subgroups – received only the standard treatment. The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, body mass index, body area index were determined. Insulin resistance, adiponectin level, endothelial-dependent flow mediated vasodilatation of brachial artery were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks.  In patients with hypertension combined with rheumatoid arthritis identified a significant increase in insulin levels, insulin resistance, adiponectin, which were associated with cardiovascular risk, abdominal obesity, inflammatory activity levels. Oral supplementation of L-arginine causes multiple beneficial effects on the complex of cardiometabolic factors including: endothelial dysfunction, peripheral insulin resistance, adiponectin level in hypertensive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, mainly in obesity case. With the correction of endothelial function were established more significantly changes in the investigated parameters.