bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the relationship between liquid water content and cloud droplet number concentration observed in low clouds in the summer Arctic and its radiative effects
Authors: Dionne Joelle , von Salzen Knut , Cole Jason , Mahmood Rashed , Leaitch W. Richard , Lesins Glen , Folkins Ian , Chang Rachel Y.-W.
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Low clouds persist in the summer Arctic with important
consequences for the radiation budget. In this study, we simulate the linear
relationship between liquid water content (LWC) and cloud droplet number
concentration (CDNC) observed during an aircraft campaign based out of
Resolute Bay, Canada, conducted as part of the Network on Climate and
Aerosols: Addressing Key Uncertainties in Remote Canadian Environments study
in July 2014. Using a single-column model, we find that autoconversion can
explain the observed linear relationship between LWC and CDNC. Of the three
autoconversion schemes we examined, the scheme using continuous drizzle
(Khairoutdinov and Kogan, 2000) appears to best reproduce the observed
linearity in the tenuous cloud regime (Mauritsen et al., 2011), while a
scheme with a threshold for rain (Liu and Daum, 2004) best reproduces the
linearity at higher CDNC. An offline version of the radiative transfer model
used in the Canadian Atmospheric Model version 4.3 is used to compare the
radiative effects of the modelled and observed clouds. We find that there is
no significant difference in the upward longwave cloud radiative effect at
the top of the atmosphere from the three autoconversion schemes (p=0.05)
but that all three schemes differ at p=0.05 from the calculations based on
observations. In contrast, the downward longwave and shortwave cloud
radiative effect at the surface for the Wood (2005b) and Khairoutdinov and Kogan (2000) schemes do not differ
significantly (p=0.05) from the observation-based radiative calculations,
while the Liu and Daum (2004) scheme differs significantly from the observation-based
calculation for the downward shortwave but not the downward longwave fluxes.
Analysis of cirrus cloud over the Tibetan Plateau from CALIPSO data: an altitude perspective
Authors: Zhang Feng , Yu Qiu-Run , Wang Yanyu , He Qianshan , Cheng Tiantao , Yu Xiaohong , Liu Dongwei , Chen Chunhong
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Using the 5-year summer Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) data, the geographical distributions of cirrus over the Tibetan Plateau have been studied according to the cloud top height. The cirrus number at the corresponding heights exhibit striking differences over the plateau. The maximum occurrence for cirrus top below 9 km starts over the western plateau and moves up to the northern regions when cirrus is between 9–12 km. Above 12 km, the maximum occurrence of cirrus retreats to the southern fringe of the plateau. These characteristics are linked to three kinds of formation mechanisms: large-scale orographic uplift, ice particles generation caused by gravity wave and remnants of overflow from deep convective anvils, respectively.
Stratocumulus Cloud Clearings: Statistics from Satellites, Reanalysis Models, and Airborne Measurements
Authors: Dadashazar Hossein , Crosbie Ewan , Majdi Mohammad S. , Panahi Milad , Moghaddam Mohammad A. , Behrangi Ali , Brunke Michael , Zeng Xubin , Jonsson Haflidi H. , Sorooshian Armin
Published: January 2020

Abstract. This study provides a detailed characterization of stratocumulus clearings off the U.S. West Coast using remote sensing, reanalysis, and airborne in situ data. Ten years (2009–2018) of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) imagery data are used to quantify the monthly frequency, growth rate of total area (GRArea), and dimensional characteristics of 306 total clearings. While there is interannual variability, the summer (winter) months experienced the most (least) clearing events with the lowest cloud fractions being along coastal topographical features along the central to northern coast of California including especially just south of Cape Mendocino and Cape Blanco. From 09:00 to 18:00 (PST), the median length, width, and area of clearings increased from 680 to 1231 km, 193 to 443 km, and ~67,000 to ~250,000 km2, respectively. Machine learning was applied to identify the most influential factors governing the GRArea of clearings between 09:00–12:00 PST, which is the time frame of most rapid clearing expansion. The results from Gradient Boosted Regression Tree (GBRT) modeling revealed that air temperature at 850 hPa (T850), specific humidity at 950 hPa (q950), sea surface temperature (SST), and meridional wind speed at 850 hPa (V850) were most impactful in enhancing GRArea. Clearings have distinguishing features such as an enhanced Pacific high shifted more towards northern California, offshore air that is warm and dry, stronger coastal surface winds, enhanced lower tropospheric static stability, and increased subsidence. Although clearings are associated obviously with reduced cloud fraction where they reside, the domain-averaged cloud albedo was actually slightly higher on clearing days as compared to non-clearing days. To validate speculated processes linking environmental parameters to clearing growth rates based on satellite and reanalysis data, airborne data from three case flights were examined. Measurements were compared on both sides of the clear-cloudy border of clearings at multiple altitudes in the boundary layer and free troposphere, with results helping to support links suggested by model simulations. More specifically, airborne data revealed extensive horizontal shear at cloud-relevant altitudes that promoted mixing between clear and cloudy air. Vertical profile data provide support for warm and dry air in the free troposphere additionally promoting expansion of clearings. Airborne data revealed greater evidence of sea salt in clouds on clearing days, pointing to a possible role for, or simply the presence of, this aerosol type in clearing areas coincident with stronger coastal winds.
Validation of Aura-OMI QA4ECV NO2 Climate Data Records with ground-based DOAS networks: role of measurement and comparison uncertainties
Authors: Compernolle Steven , Verhoelst Tijl , Pinardi Gaia , Granville José , Hubert Daan , Keppens Arno , Niemeijer Sander , Rino Bruno , Bais Alkis , Beirle Steffen , Boersma Folkert , Burrows John P. , De Smedt Isabelle , Eskes Henk , Goutail Florence , Hendrick François , Lorente Alba , Pazmino Andrea , Piters Ankie , Peters Enno , Pommereau Jean-Pierre , Remmers Julia , Richter Andreas , van Geffen Jos , Van Roozendael Michel , Wagner Thomas , Lambert Jean-Christopher
Published: January 2020

Abstract. The QA4ECV version 1.1 stratospheric and tropospheric NO2 vertical column density (VCD) climate data records (CDR) from the satellite sensor OMI are validated, using NDACC zenith scattered light DOAS (ZSL-DOAS) and Multi Axis-DOAS (MAX-DOAS) data as a reference. The QA4ECV OMI stratospheric VCD have a small bias of ~ 0.2 Pmolec cm-2 (5–10 %) and a dispersion of 0.2 to 1 Pmolec cm-2 with respect to the ZSL-DOAS measurements. QA4ECV tropospheric VCD observations from OMI are restricted to near-cloud-free scenes, leading to a negative sampling bias (with respect to the unrestricted scene ensemble) of a few Pmolec cm-2 up to −10 Pmolec cm-2 (−40 %) in one extreme high-pollution case. QA4ECV OMI tropospheric VCD has a negative bias with respect to the MAX-DOAS data (−1 to −4 Pmolec cm-2), a feature also found for the OMI OMNO2 standard data product. The tropospheric VCD discrepancies between satellite and ground-based data exceed by far the combined measurement uncertainties. Depending on the site, part of the discrepancy can be attributed to a combination of comparison errors (notably horizontal smoothing difference error), measurement/retrieval errors related to clouds and aerosols, and to the difference in vertical smoothing and a priori profile assumptions.
First validation of Aeolus wind observations by airborne Doppler Wind Lidar measurements
Authors: Witschas Benjamin , Lemmerz Christian , Geiß Alexander , Lux Oliver , Marksteiner Uwe , Rahm Stephan , Reitebuch Oliver , Weiler Fabian
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Soon after the launch of Aeolus on 22 August 2018, the first ever wind lidar in space developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) has been providing profiles of the component of the wind vector along the instrument's line-of-sight (LOS) on a global scale. In order to validate the quality of Aeolus wind observations, the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., DLR) recently performed two airborne campaigns over Central Europe deploying two different Doppler wind lidars (DWL) on-board the DLR Falcon aircraft. The first campaign – WindVal III – was conducted from 5 November 2018 until 5 December 2018 and thus, still within the commissioning phase of the Aeolus mission. The second campaign – AVATARE (Aeolus Validation Through Airborne Lidars in Europe) – was performed from 6 May 2019 until 6 June 2019. Both campaigns were flown out of the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. All together, 10 satellite underflights with 19 flight legs covering more than 7500 km of Aeolus swaths were performed and used to validate the early stage wind data product of Aeolus by means of collocated airborne wind lidar observations for the first time. For both campaign data sets, the statistical comparison of Aeolus data and the data of the reference lidar (2-µm DWL) on-board the Falcon aircraft shows enhanced systematic and random errors compared with the bias and precision requirements defined for Aeolus. In particular, the systematic errors are determined to be 2.1 m/s (Rayleigh) and 2.3 m/s (Mie) for WindVal III and −4.6 m/s (Rayleigh) and −0.2 m/s (Mie) for AVATARE. The corresponding random errors are determined to be 4.0 m/s (Rayleigh) and 2.2 m/s (Mie) for WindVal III, and 4.4 m/s (Rayleigh) and 2.2 m/s (Mie) for AVATARE. Potential reasons for those errors are analyzed and discussed.
Inferring the source regions of pulsating auroras
Authors: Grono Eric , Donovan Eric
Published: January 2020

Abstract. The aurora is an essential tool for remote sensing the large-scale dynamics of the magnetosphere which are to difficult to observe in situ and impossible to recreate in a lab. Despite pulsating aurora being a common and widespread morning-sector phenomenon, the processes responsible for its differentiation are not understood. In situ measurements of the pulsating aurora source regions are difficult to associate with specific auroral features, yet such observations will be necessary for identifying the unique causes of pulsating auroras. This study reports a method of inferring when a spacecraft is passing through the source region of patchy aurora (PA) based on the structuring of chorus. The locations of longer-lived chorus packets are found to correspond to the region of PA occurrence reported by Grono et al. (2019b). This result constrains the region where the structuring mechanisms and conditions responsible for PA and patchy pulsating aurora (PPA) can exist.
Benthic carbon fixation and cycling in diffuse hydrothermal and background sediments in the Bransfield Strait, Antarctica
Authors: Woulds Clare , Bell James B. , Glover Adrian G. , Bouillon Steven , Brown Louise S.
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Sedimented hydrothermal vents are likely to be widespread compared to hard
substrate hot vents. They host chemosynthetic microbial communities which
fix inorganic carbon (C) at the seafloor, as well as a wide range of macroinfauna,
including vent-obligate and background non-vent taxa. There are no previous
direct observations of carbon cycling at a sedimented hydrothermal vent. We
conducted 13C isotope tracing experiments at three sedimented sites in the
Bransfield Strait, Antarctica, which showed different degrees of
hydrothermalism. Two experimental treatments were applied, with 13C
added as either algal detritus (photosynthetic C), or as bicarbonate
(substrate for benthic C fixation). Algal 13C was taken up by both
bacteria and metazoan macrofaunal, but its dominant fate was respiration, as
observed at deeper and more food-limited sites elsewhere. Rates of 13C
uptake and respiration suggested that the diffuse hydrothermal site was not
the hot spot of benthic C cycling that we hypothesised it would be. Fixation
of inorganic C into bacterial biomass was observed at all sites, and was
measurable at two out of three sites. At all sites, newly fixed C was transferred
to metazoan macrofauna. Fixation rates were relatively low compared with
similar experiments elsewhere; thus, C fixed at the seafloor was a minor C
source for the benthic ecosystem. However, as the greatest amount of benthic
C fixation occurred at the “Off Vent” (non-hydrothermal) site (0.077±0.034 mg C m−2 fixed during 60 h), we suggest that benthic fixation of
inorganic C is more widespread than previously thought, and warrants further
study.
Estimation of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in China using WRF–CLM–MEGAN coupled model
Authors: Yin Lifei , Xu Zhenying , Liu Mingxu , Xu Tingting , Wang Tiantian , Liao Wenling , Li Mengmeng , Cai Xuhui , Kang Ling , Zhang Hongsheng , Song Yu
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by terrestrial vegetation significantly influence the atmospheric chemistry and global climate. Previous studies calculated BVOC emissions outside the comprehensive terrestrial ecosystem processes and oversimplified the representation of canopy environments which exert substantial impacts on BVOC emissions. The sophisticated land surface model CLM (Community Land Model) reproduces essential ground and canopy characteristics and can calculate BVOC emissions as a step of integrated biogeochemical processes. In this study, the land surface scheme CLM version4 (CLM4) of WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting model) was used to estimate BVOC emissions in China. Based on highly-resolved meteorological outputs derived from WRF, CLM4 computed real-time physical and biological variables to drive MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature), a BVOC estimation algorithm embedded within biogeochemistry component of CLM4, to calculate plant emission flux. MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) land-use data with high resolutions was introduced in WRF to replace the outdated land surface parameters. An emission inventory of isoprene and monoterpenes (including α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene, t-β-ocimene, limonene, sabinene and myrcene) with high spatiotemporal resolution (12 × 12 km, hourly) was established for the year 2018. The annual BVOC emission in China was 14.7 Tg C, in which isoprene contributes about 78.3 % (11.5 Tg C), followed by α-pinene (1.2 Tg C) and β-pinene (0.7 Tg C). Due to the strong emission capacity and large areas, broadleaf forests contribute to 76.8 % of total isoprene emission and 72.1 % of monoterpenes emission, respectively. BVOC emissions showed marked seasonal and diurnal patterns with the peak emission occurring in summer and midday. Spatially, high emissions of BVOC were mainly concentrated in southern and northeastern China, as well as the Qinling Mountains in central China, accounting for 91.4 % of national emission. Guangxi, Yunnan and Hunan provinces are significant emitters due to large area of vegetation with high emission rate and favored environmental conditions. The emission estimates are compared to past modeling results, field measurements and further evaluated against top-down isoprene emission estimates. Generally, the coupled mode produced a reasonable simulation in both emission amounts and the spatiotemporal distribution of BVOCs. The WRF–CLM–MEGAN coupling framework could be further integrated with atmospheric chemistry model to investigate BVOC chemistry and their effects on regional pollution and climate.
Decadal variation of CO2 flux and its budget in a wheat and maize rotation cropland over the North China Plain
Authors: Zhang Quan , Lei Huimin , Yang Dawen , Xiong Lihua , Liu Pan
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Carbon sequestration in agro-ecosystems has great potentials to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions. To assess the CO2 sequestration and the decadal trend of an irrigated wheat-maize rotation cropland, the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) with the atmosphere was measured by using an eddy covariance system from 2005 through 2016 over the North China Plain. To evaluate the detailed CO2 budget components of this typical cropland, a comprehensive experiment was conducted in the full 2010–2011 wheat-maize rotation cycle by combining the eddy covariance NEE measurements, a soil respiration experiment that differentiated between heterotrophic and below-ground autotrophic respirations, plant carbon storage samplings and soil organic carbon measurements. Over the past decade from 2005 through 2016, the average of total NEE, Gross Primary Productivity (GPP), Ecosystem Respiration (ER) for wheat were −363.6 (± SD 97.8) gC m−2, 1173.9 (± 189.1) gC m−2 and 810.0 (± 161.0) gC m−2, and were −135.8 (± 168.2) gC m−2, 1007.6 (± 296.5) gC m−2, and 871.8 (± 283.5) gC m−2 for maize. The multiple regression revealed that, air temperature was the dominant factor of CO2 fluxes for wheat; but in the maize season, incoming short-wave radiation and groundwater table were the dominant factors. For the full 2010–2011 cultural cycle, the CO2 fluxes for wheat and maize were as follows: NEE −437.9 and −238.8 gC m−2, GPP 1078.2 and 779.7 gC m−2, ER 640.4 and 540.8 gC m−2, soil heterotrophic respiration 376.8 and 292.2 gC m−2, below-ground autotrophic respiration 135.5 and 115.4 gC m−2, above-ground autotrophic respiration 128.0 and 133.2 gC m−2. The net biome productivity was 58.8 (± SD 45.8) gC m−2 for wheat and 3.9 (± 42.9) gC m−2 for maize, indicating that wheat was a weak CO2 sink and maize was close to CO2 neutral to the atmosphere for this cultural cycle. However, when considering the total CO2 loss in the fallow period, the net biome productivity was −41.2 (± 3.1) gC m−2 yr−1 for the full 2010–2011 cycle, implying that the cropland was a weak CO2 source in this period. The detailed investigation of the CO2 budget components of this study provides valuable knowledge for sustainable cropland management in the context of climate change.
Structural and functional control of surface-patch to hillslope-scale runoff and sediment connectivity in Mediterranean-dry reclaimed slope systems
Authors: Moreno-de-las-Heras Mariano , Merino-Martín Luis , Saco Patricia M. , Espigares Tíscar , Gallart Francesc , Nicolau José M.
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Runoff and soil erosion in Mediterranean landscapes are affected by multiple factors that interact at a variety of spatial scales with variable degrees of connection. In these systems, connectivity has emerged as a useful concept for exploring the movement of runoff and sediments between landscape locations and across spatial scales. In this study, we examine the structural and functional controls of surface-patch to hillslope-scale runoff and sediment connectivity in three Mediterranean-dry reclaimed mining slope systems that have different long-term development levels of vegetation and rill networks. Structural connectivity, or the extent to which surface patches that facilitate the production of runoff/sediments are physically linked to one another, was assessed using a flowpath analysis of coupled vegetation distribution and surface topography. Functional connectivity, determined as the spatial continuity of surface fluxes across scales, was further explored using the ratio of surface-patch to hillslope-scale observations of runoff and sediment yield for 21 monitored hydrologically active rainfall events. Event-based (functional) runoff connectivity was found to be dynamically controlled by antecedent precipitation conditions and rainfall intensity and, at the same time, was strongly modulated by the structural connectivity of the slopes. In the absence of rill networks, both runoff and sediments for all events were largely redistributed within the analysed systems, resulting in low functional connectivity. Sediment connectivity increased with rainfall intensity, particularly in the presence of rill networks where active incision under high intensity storm conditions led to large non-linear increases in sediment yield from the surface-patch to the hillslope scales. Overall, our results demonstrate the usefulness of applying structural and functional connectivity metrics for practical applications, and for assessing the complex links and controlling factors that regulate the transference of both runoff and sediment yield across different landscape scales.
Predicting discharge capacity of vegetated compound channels:
uncertainty and identifiability of 1D process-based models
Authors: Kiczko Adam , Västilä Kaisa , Kozioł Adam , Kubrak Janusz , Kubrak Elżbieta , Krukowski Marcin
Published: January 2020

Abstract. Despite the development of advanced process-based methods for estimating the discharge capacity of vegetated river channels, most of the practical one-dimensional modeling is based on a relatively simple divided channel method (DCM) with the Manning's flow resistance formula. This study is motivated by the need to improve the reliability of modeling in practical applications while acknowledging the limitations on the availability of data on vegetation distributions and densities required by the process-based methods. We investigate whether the advanced methods can be applied to modeling vegetated compound channels by identifying the missing characteristics as parameters through the formulation of an inverse problem. We developed a new probabilistic approach for comparing six models of channel discharge capacity in respect of their uncertainty, with the model with the lowest uncertainty considered the most favorable. Calculations were performed for flume and field settings varying in floodplain vegetation submergence, density, and flexibility, and in hydraulic conditions. The output uncertainty, estimated on the basis of a quasi-Bayes approach, was analyzed for a varying number of observation points, demonstrating the significance of the parameter equifinality. The results showed that very reliable predictions with low uncertainties can be obtained for process-based methods with a large number of parameters. The equifinality affects the parameter identification but not the uncertainty of a model. The best performance for sparse, unsubmerged, rigid vegetation was obtained with the Mertens method and for dense, flexible vegetation with the generalized two-layer method combined with a description of the flexibility-induced reconfiguration. We found that the process-based methods are superior when applied for vegetative conditions they were developed for while the Manning based DCM seems to be the most flexible technique.
The Scholarship Circle: an introduction to writing for publication for nursing faculty
Authors: Dhakal Kerry , Tornwall Joni
Published: January 2020

Background: This case report describes a collaborative effort between a health sciences librarian and an instructional designer to create and implement a writing professional development experience called the Scholarship Circle. It was aimed at increasing scholarly productivity by junior and nontenure-track faculty in a college of nursing.Case Presentation: The Scholarship Circle activities were carried out in a synchronous and an asynchronous online environment over ten weeks and included weekly lectures from nurse-scholars, discussions and peer reviews, and writing support from the librarian. The Scholarship Circle designers surveyed participants before and after the course to explore faculty perceptions and conducted a bibliographic analysis to gauge increases in scholarly productivity.Conclusions: While both tenure-track and nontenure-track faculty perceived lack of time as a significant barrier to publication, only nontenure-track faculty perceived lack of writing experience and getting started as significant obstacles. In the two years following the Scholarship Circle, faculty with doctor of philosophy and doctor of education degrees produced the greatest number of scholarly publications, whereas faculty with other degrees demonstrated a modest increase in scholarship. Online writing support programs have the potential to positively impact scholarly productivity for junior and nontenure-track faculty, especially if they emphasize time management for writing, confidence-building strategies, and a flexible format that allows peer review and collaboration as well as participation by seasoned scholars and remote participants. Partnership between health sciences librarians and instructional designers is key to the successful design and implementation of writing support programs.
Adverse drug reactions in drug information databases: does presentation affect interpretation?
Authors: McConachie Sean M. , Giuliano Christopher A. , Mohammad Insaf , Kale-Pradhan Pramodini B.
Published: January 2020

Objective: Formatting of adverse drug reaction (ADR) information differs among drug information (DI) resources and may impact clinical decision-making. The objective of this study was to determine whether ADR formatting impacts adverse event interpretation by pharmacy practitioners and students.Methods: Participants were randomized to receive ADR information in a comparative quantitative (CQUANT), noncomparative quantitative (NQUANT), or noncomparative qualitative (NQUAL) format to interpret 3 clinical vignettes. Vignettes involved patients presenting with adverse events that varied in the extent to which they were associated with a medication. The primary outcome was interpretation of the likelihood of medication-induced adverse events on a 10-point Likert scale. Lower scoring on likelihood (i.e., ADR deemed unlikely) reflected more appropriate interpretation. Linear regression was performed to analyze the effects of ADR information format on the primary outcome.Results: A total of 108 participants completed the study (39 students and 69 pharmacists). Overall, the CQUANT group had the lowest average likelihood compared to NQUAL (4.0 versus 5.4; p<0.01) and NQUANT (4.0 versus 4.9; p=0.016) groups. There was no difference between NQUAL and NQUANT groups (5.4 versus 4.9; p=0.14). In the final model, at least 2 years of postgraduate training (–1.1; 95% CI: –1.8 to –0.3; p<0.01) and CQUANT formatting (–1.3; 95% CI: –0.9 to –1.7; p<0.01) were associated with reduced likelihood.Conclusions: Formatting impacts pharmacists’ and pharmacy students’ interpretation of ADR information. CQUANT formatting and at least two years of postgraduate training improved interpretation of adverse events.
Reflective practice and health sciences librarians: engagement, benefits, and barriers
Authors: Miller Jolene M.
Published: January 2020

Objective: Reflective practice is common in nursing and other professions. In the published literature, there is very little about librarians’ use of reflective practice and no studies of health librarians’ use of reflective practice. This study examined the use of reflective practice among health sciences librarians, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers to use.Methods: This cross-sectional study replicated the 2014 study by Greenall and Sen, using a version of their questionnaire. The research population in this study was health sciences librarians who were members of the MEDLIB-L email discussion list, Medical Library Association (MLA) chapter email discussion lists, and/or MLA section email discussion lists.Results: There were 106 librarians who completed the questionnaire, ranging from those new to the profession through midcareer to longtime librarians. While a high percentage of respondents considered themselves to be reflective practitioners (77%), a larger percentage (87%) reported that they consciously spent time reflecting. Respondents selected a wide variety of benefits of reflective practice, while barriers tended to center on lack of time, knowledge, skills, or experience.Conclusion: The diversity of benefits that respondents selected suggests that reflective practice can play an important positive role in librarians’ professional development. Reported barriers to reflective practice suggest that there is a need for educational opportunities to develop skills. This article has been approved for the Medical Library Association’s Independent Reading Program.
Medical history: as it was; as it will be
Authors: Greenberg Stephen J.
Published: January 2020

Born shortly after World War I in 1919 and living through multiple wars, conflicts, and cultural changes in his ninety-six years, Erich Meyerhoff remained a student of history throughout his long life. He regularly attended the annual meetings of the American Association for the History of Medicine and other history groups such as the Medical Library Association’s History of the Health Sciences well into his nineties. This essay traces how the field of history and historical methods changed during Erich’s life and suggests that he saw history and librarianship as a means for achieving social justice and social equity.
PolicyMap
Authors: Farris David
Published: January 2020

PolicyMap is an online geographic information system (GIS) mapping tool that aggregates many types of data for users to create maps and reports for research, grant applications, health policy, market surveys, and other applications. Currently, it incorporates over 37,000 data indicators from more than 150 public and private agencies to power the platform. Although the data are amassed from many different sources, they are cleaned and normalized to reduce redundancy and maintain integrity. In addition to federal, state, and local governments, PolicyMap is used by educational institutions, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and health care systems to help make impactful decisions.
ENTANGLEMENT-LOOSENING DYNAMICS RESOLVED THROUGH COMPARISON OF DIELECTRIC AND VISCOELASTIC DATA OF TYPE-A POLYMERS: A REVIEW
Authors: Matsumiya Yumi , Watanabe Hiroshi
Published: January 2020

For so-called type-A polymer chains having electrical dipoles aligned parallel along their backbone, the large-scale chain motion over the end-to-end distance results in not only viscoelastic but also dielectric relaxation. These two relaxation processes detect the same motion but with different averaging moments, which enables us to experimentally resolve some details of the chain dynamics through comparison of viscoelastic and dielectric data of type-A polymers. For a typical type-A polymer, high-cis polyisoprene (PI), results of such an experimental approach are summarized to discuss characteristic features of an entanglement-loosening process (constraint release and/or dynamic tube dilation process) resolved from the data comparison.
PROCESSING–PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN WHEAT PROTEIN–UNVULCANIZED ISOPRENE RUBBER COMPOSITES
Authors: DeButts Barbara L. , Barone Justin R.
Published: January 2020

An optimized set of processing parameters was determined for trypsin hydrolyzed gliadin protein (THGd, from wheat) and unvulcanized synthetic isoprene rubber (IR) composite compounds. The compounding temperature, time, and shear dependency of the THGd:IR compounds were investigated with rheology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Individual protein aggregates measuring ∼64 × 280 nm, with a length-to-width aspect ratio of ∼4.3, were agglomerated within the IR matrix, as measured in SEM-EDX micrographs. A higher compounding temperature (T = 150 °C) was favorable for good protein aggregate dispersion and deagglomeration, which resulted in IR reinforcement, as demonstrated by up to a 65% increase in storage modulus (G′). The tan δ was lowered by the addition of the THGd protein to IR, indicating less mechanical energy was lost as heat in the composites. As the compounding speed, that is, shear rate, was increased from 30 to 60 rpm at constant temperature (T = 150 °C), the average agglomerate size and G′ were minimally affected, but the loss tangent (tan δ) was increased, indicating an increase in IR degradation with shear rate. By drying the THGd hydrolysate at a slower rate or to a greater solids content, the composite G′ was increased and tan δ was decreased. In the slow-dried THGd hydrolysate, protein aggregates were less resistant to breakup during processing, indicating that the protein preparation was an important processing parameter.
PROTOCOLO DE INVESTIGACION: CONSTRUCCIÓN DE GÉNERO EN ESCOLARES CHILENOS, FUNDAMENTANDO EL CUIDADO
Authors: Montecinos Guíñez Daniela , Sandoval Erices Barbara , Soto Malabrigo Patricia , Andrade Uribe Flora , Silva Galleguillos Amalia , Opazo Morales Esmérita , Ramirez-Pereira Mirliana
Published: January 2020

Introducción: El proceso de construcción de la identidad de género es un fenómeno socialmente producido y sujeto a influencias que ejercen los distintos espacios de inserción. Es prioritario trabajar esta temática desde la infancia, para establecer relaciones flexibles y equitativas, donde lo femenino y masculino no sea excluyente, ni fuentes de conflicto.

Objetivos: La presente investigación tiene por objetivo comprender las representaciones sociales de estereotipos y roles de género en niñas/os en edad escolar, y proponer estrategias para gestar procesos docentes que incluyan el abordaje de la temática.

Métodos: Mediante la metodología cualitativa, bajo el paradigma post positivista, con enfoque teórico metodológico de etnografía focal. El estudio se realizará por medio del análisis de contenido visual y narrativa. La selección de los participantes será mediante un muestreo por conveniencia y corresponderá a escolares de quinto año de enseñanza básica en una escuela municipal de una comuna de Recoleta de la ciudad de Santiago de Chile. Los participantes deberán tener más de diez años, asentir su participación y contar con el consentimiento firmado por sus padres o tutores legales.
EVALUACIÓN DE LA PERCEPCIÓN DE LA EDUCACIÓN EN PROMOCIÓN DE LA SALUD Y ESTILOS DE VIDA DE ESTUDIANTES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE TOLIMA
Authors: Feria Zapata Rosa , Villamil González Aida Liliana , Vergara Escobar Oscar
Published: January 2020

Introducción: El trabajo de Investigación, caracteriza el estado actual de las acciones en promoción en salud que ofrece la Universidad del Tolima a los estudiantes de pregrado de los programas de medicina, enfermería y Licenciatura en educación física en la modalidad presencial de la Universidad del Tolima, al ser estos estudiantes quienes por el currículo de sus programas reciben componentes de promoción de la salud y cómo estas acciones han influido en los hábitos de vida de la comunidad.

Objetivo: describir la percepción que tienen los estudiantes del área de pregrado presencial pertenecientes a los programas de Enfermería, Medicina y Educación Física; de las acciones educativas en promoción de la Salud ofrecidas por la Universidad del Tolima, y cómo han influido en la adquisición o no de hábitos saludables.

Metodología: estudio descriptivo transversal, se indagó sobre las variables: percepción sobre la promoción de la salud, consultorio universitario, accidentalidad, consumo de tabaco, alcohol/ sustancias psicoactivas, alimentación, salud sexual y reproductiva; fue aplicado a un total de 323 estudiantes, la información recolectada se ingresó a la aplicación del paquete estadístico INFOSTAT. La investigación fue realizada entre los años 2013 y 2014.

Resultados y Conclusiones: los datos encontrados son un punto de partida para la implementación y fortalecimiento de los programas de salud, como el de Universidad Saludable y otros proyectos que permitan la participación de todos los estamentos y la consolidación de lazos con otras instituciones que sean marco de referencia en estos temas.
Extensive use of Motorcycles in Karachi, Pakistan: Revisiting the Policies that led us here
Authors: Amena Syeda , Abbas Baqueri Syed Fazal
Published: January 2020

Motorcycles is a dominant transport model in many Asian Cities. Similar is the case with Karachi, where motorcycles constitutes approximately 52% of the overall passenger transport. Although a motorcycle provides temporary relief in terms of low fuel price, ownership of a vehicle and on top of all an easy commuting option to its owners, it has adversely affected the whole (transportation) system including its users. This paper analyzes various governmental policies that led to the enormous increase in motorcycles and its effects on street crime, Traffic Violation and Traffic Congestion. User attitudes towards opting motorcycles, public transport and environment are also discussed in this paper whill shall be helpful in conducting future studies in this regard.
Investigation of the Evaluation Techniques in Early Childhood Education: A Comparative Research in the Greek School
Authors: Sakellariou Maria , Mitsi Polyxeni , Strati Panagiota
Published: January 2020

The evaluation of the pedagogical process in early childhood care and education is an up-to-date and controversial subject of study in the context of scientific and policy choices and actions (Charisis, 2006; Doliopoulou & Gourgiotou, 2008;·McAfee, Leong, Bodrova, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evaluation techniques applied in preschool education by the teachers and prospective teachers in kindergartens, who are also the sample of our research, in the region of Epirus and at the University of Ioannina. In our research we used the structured questionnaire with closed and some clarifying open-ended questions. The data of the research highlighted the prospective teachers’ more positive attitude to apply alternative evaluation techniques to kindergarten but ultimately the difficulty in their practical implementation. Despite the limitations of the research, the data is the trigger for further exploration of the subject of teacher education and the reform of the curriculum in the pedagogical departments of Preschool Education of the Greek Universities in order to divest the kindergarten from the promotional character and the authentic evaluation to ensure the children’s development by themselves.
Safety and Effectiveness of Percutaneous Low-Dose Thrombin Injection for Femoral Puncture Site Pseudoaneurysms in Neurointervention: Single-Center Experience
Authors: Shin Jae Ho , Song Yunsun , Sheen Jae Jon , Lee Dongwhane , Chung Jaewoo , Lee Ga Young , Jeong Hyunhee , Han Seongsik , Choi Joon Ho , Hwang Seon Moon , Lee Deok Hee
Published: January 2020

Purpose: We present ultrasound-guided percutaneous low-dose thrombin (200–250 IU) injection for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms. Second, we compared patient and procedure factors between subcutaneous hematoma and pseudoaneurysm groups.Materials and Methods: From April 2012 to May 2018, 8425 patients underwent neurointervention. Among these patients, 18 had small subcutaneous hematomas and 6 had pseudoaneurysms. Pseudoaneurysms in the neck and entire sac were visualized, and low-dose thrombins were injected while visualizing a “whirlpool” hyperechoic core in the pseudoaneurysm sac. Subcutaneous hematomas were treated with simple compression. We compared the following parameters between the subcutaneous hematoma group and pseudoaneurysm group: sex, age, body mass index (BMI), type of procedure, heparin usage, sheath size, procedure time, and number of previous neurointervention procedures with the Mann-Whitney U test.Results: Most of the pseudoaneurysms were successfully occluded with 200 IU of thrombin (n=5). Only 1 pseudoaneurysm required a slightly higher thrombin concentration (250 IU, n=1). During the short-term follow-up, no residual sac was observed and no surgical repair was necessary. Pain in the groin region was alleviated. During the 1-month follow-up, no evidence of pseudoaneurysm recurrence nor subcutaneous hematoma was noted. Patient factors (sex, age, and BMI) and procedure factors (heparin usage, sheath size, procedure time, number of previous procedures) were not statistically different between the subcutaneous hematoma and pseudoaneurysm groups.Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous low-dose thrombin injection (200–250 IU) is safe, effective, and less invasive for treating iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysm in neurointervention.
Issues in Higher Education: Analysis of 2017 Global Knowledge Index Data and Lessons Learned
Authors: Ibrahim Ali
Published: January 2020

Despite considerable efforts to increase the quality of Higher Education (HE) in many countries, the absence of a methodology to guide scholars and policymakers to assess its quality has been a barrier. In 2017, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Mohamad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) launched the Global Knowledge Index (GKI), a tool by which data from 131 countries were collected for seven sectors—one of which was HE. In this paper, an analysis of the HE index data is introduced. Then, three key issues which emerged from data are discussed. The first issue is HE efficiency, which is measured by comparing the indexes of HE inputs and outputs. The second issue is the enabling environment factors that might support or limit the growth of HE. The third issue is the intricate relationship between HE, economy, and Research and Development (R&D). The study found that HE efficiency is declining globally except in a few areas. A strong positive relationship was found between the enabling environment and variables of political stability and government effectiveness and HE’s ability of knowledge production. Furthermore, strong relationships were found between HE outputs, economy, and R&D respectively. The study concludes with future directions for increasing the quality of HE.
News Framing of the Arab Spring Conflict from the Lens of Newspaper Editorials
Authors: Afzal Naeem , Harun Minah
Published: January 2020

News framing of events often restricts us to either ‘oppose’ or ‘favour’ a particular side/party involved in a conflict. This paper examines the print media framing of the Arab Spring in the editorials of The News International (NI) of Pakistan and Arab News (AN) of Saudi Arabia. The coverage sample consists of newspaper editorials published from January 2011 to December 2012 when the uprising received phenomenal attention from the media worldwide. Qualitative content analysis of 48 newspaper editorials (24 NI/24 AN), demonstrates how senior media workers constructed the Arab Spring as an international conflict. Specifically, the lexical choices of editorial writers reveal that mainstream newspapers in both the countries positively framed the pro-Arab Spring protesters (public), who reportedly desired to bring the ‘change’. On the contrary, the media framing of the uprising also reflects that the newspapers negatively framed the anti-Arab Spring authorities (ruling elite), who reportedly resisted the ‘change’. A future research is recommended to investigate readers’ perspectives, as well, on the media portrayals of the Arab Spring or other similar conflicts which can give insights into how language use can impact and is impacted by ideology, cultural nuances and identity of diverse individuals.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of Statistics and Probability, Vol. 9, No. 1
Authors: Smith Wendy
Published: January 2020

International Journal of Statistics and Probability wishes to acknowledge the following individuals for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Their help and contributions in maintaining the quality of the journal is greatly appreciated.

Many authors, regardless of whether International Journal of Statistics and Probability publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers.

Reviewers for Volume 9, Number 1

 

Chin-Shang Li, School of Nursing, USA

Faisal Khamis, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Canada

Felix Almendra-Arao, UPIITA del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México

Gabriel A. Okyere, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

Gerardo Febres, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela

Mohieddine Rahmouni, University of Tunis, Tunisia

Noha Youssef, American University in Cairo, Egypt

Philip Westgate, University of Kentucky, USA

Qingyang Zhang, University of Arkansas, USA

Shatrunjai Pratap Singh, John Hancock Financial Services, USA

Weizhong Tian, Eastern New Mexico University, USA

Zaixing Li, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), China

 

Wendy Smith

On behalf of,

The Editorial Board of International Journal of Statistics and Probability

Canadian Center of Science and Education
Evaluation of Some Factors Associated with Potato Blackleg Disease
Authors: Wegener Christina B.
Published: January 2020

Potato blackleg (blg) caused by Pectobacterium species leads to great economic losses in agriculture worldwide. In this study, three breeding clones with varying degree of disease tolerance, i.e. tolerant (t), moderately tolerant (mt) and susceptible (s) to blg were evaluated in field trials for several disease related factors. The s-clone L 696 with its high portion of oversized tubers showed increased lenticel swellings and had a weak defense potential in its tuber tissue coinciding with low antioxidant capacities and reduced necrosis formation 48 h after incubation with Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba). The t-clone B 165, however, was outstanding in its tuber soft rot resistance and antioxidant levels and generated the best extent of necrosis after incubation with Pba among the genotypes. Moreover, B 165 expressed significantly higher (P < 0.05) polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities in the external sprout basis (ESB) of its sprouting tubers, and histochemical analyses revealed embedding of lignin in ESB-tissue sections. Together with PPO, POD and phenols, this lignin forms a barrier that provided high protection of B 165-sprouts against Pba invasion and seems to be a key factor for blg tolerance. The mt-clone P 92388 with its medium-sized tubers had also a lower risk for infections. Hence, the oversized tubers and strong lenticel swellings can be seen as major risk factors for potato blg disease.
Sheep of the synthetic lines BCP and SCP in
practical breeding and experimental research
Authors: Gruszecki Tomasz M. , Lipecka Czesława , Szymanowska Anna , Jankuszew Andrzej , Patkowski Krzysztof , Greguła-Kania Monika , Bojar Wiktor , Dudko Paulina
Published: January 2020

The study presented the history of the synthetic sheep lines BCP and SCP and the method by
which they were created by the employees of the Department of Small Ruminant Breeding and
Agricultural Advisory, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. The article additionally describes the
role of these animals in sheep production and experimental research. Comprehensive analysis of the
effects of breeding work in these populations, together with the results of scientific research using
them as subjects, indicates that sheep of the synthetic universal prolific meat lines BCP and SCP
are fully suitable for production of meat lambs in both intensive and extensive rearing conditions.
Animals of both lines underwent experiments related to the genetic, physiological and environmental
determinants of the level of reproductive and meat performance, which showed that these populations
are well-suited for scientific experiments. According to the authors, in further selection work on the
synthetic BCP and SCP lines greater focus should be placed on the percentage of reared lambs and the
conformation of the dorsal part of the torso. They also indicated the need for monitoring of genetic
variation due to the risk of increased inbreeding.