bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iterative method of analysis of single queue, multi-server with limited system capacity
Authors: Ezugwu V.O. , Igbinosun L.I.
Published: April 2017

In this paper, analysis of single queue, multi-server with limited system capacity under first come first served discipline was carried out using iterative method. The arrivals of customers and service times of customers are assumed poisson and exponential distributions respectively. This queuing model is an extension of single queue, single server with limited system capacity. Performance measures of the model, such as the expected number of customers in the queue and in the system, the expected waiting times of customers in the queue and in the system respectively were derived. The performance measures so derived were compared with that of single queue, single server with limited capacity {M/M/1:(N/FCFS)} model. The numerical illustration indicates that single queue, multi-server with limited capacity {M/M/c:(N/FCFS)} model is more effective and efficient in handling congestions.Keywords: Iterative method, Single queue, Multi-Server queue model, Limited capacity, Performance measures
Tropospheric ozone maxima observed over the Arabian Sea during the pre-monsoon
Authors: Jia Jia , Ladstätter-Weißenmayer Annette , Hou Xuewei , Rozanov Alexei , Burrows John P.
Published: April 2017

Abstract. An enhancement of the tropospheric ozone column (TOC) over Arabian Sea (AS) during the pre-monsoon season is reported in this study. The potential sources of the AS spring ozone pool are investigated by use of multiple data sets (e.g., SCIAMACHY Limb-Nadir-Matching TOC, OMI/MLS TOC, TES TOC, MACC reanalysis data, MOZART-4 model and HYSPLIT model). Three-quarters of the enhanced ozone concentrations are attributed to the 0–8 km height range. The main source of the ozone enhancement is considered to be caused by long-range transport of ozone pollutants from India (∼  50 % contributions to the lowest 4 km,  ∼  20 % contributions to the 4–8 km height range), the Middle East, Africa and Europe (∼  30 % in total). In addition, the vertical pollution accumulation in the lower troposphere, especially at 4–8 km, was found to be important for the AS spring ozone pool formation. Local photochemistry, on the other hand, plays a negligible role in producing ozone at the 4–8 km height range. In the 0–4 km height range, ozone is quickly removed by wet deposition. The AS spring TOC maxima are influenced by the dynamical variations caused by the sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly during the El Niño period in 2005 and 2010 with a  ∼  5 DU decrease.
Temporal and spatial variability of Icelandic dust emission and
atmospheric transport
Authors: Groot Zwaaftink Christine D. , Arnalds Olafur , Dagsson-Waldhauserova Pavla , Eckhardt Sabine , Prospero Joseph M. , Stohl Andreas
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Icelandic dust sources are known to be highly active, yet there exist few model simulations of Icelandic dust that could be used to assess its impacts on the environment. We here present estimates of dust emission and transport in Iceland over 27 years (1990–2016) based on FLEXDUST & FLEXPART simulations and meteorological re-analysis data. Simulations for the year 2012 based on high-resolution operational meteorological analyses are used for model evaluation based on PM2.5 and PM10 observations in Iceland. For stations in Reykjavik, we find that the spring period is well predicted by the model, while dust events in late fall and early winter are overpredicted. Six years of dust concentrations observed at Stórhöfði (Heimaey) show that the model predicts concentrations in the same order of magnitude as observations and timing of modelled and observed dust peaks agrees well. Annual dust emission amounts to 4.3±0.8 Tg during the 27 years of simulation. Fifty percent of all dust from Iceland is on average emitted in just 25 days of the year, demonstrating the importance of a few strong events for annual total dust emissions. Annual dust emission as well as transport patterns correlate only weakly to the North Atlantic Oscillation. Deposition amounts in remote regions (Svalbard and Greenland) vary from year to year. Only limited dust amounts reach the upper Greenland Ice Sheet, but much dust is deposited on Icelandic glaciers and can impact melt rates there. Approximately 34 % of the annual dust emission is deposited in Iceland itself. Most dust (58 %) however, is deposited in the ocean and may strongly influence marine ecosystems.
Trends and annual cycles in soundings of Arctic tropospheric ozone
Authors: Christiansen Bo , Jepsen Nis , Kivi Rigel , Hansen Georg , Larsen Niels , Korsholm Ulrik S.
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Ozone soundings from 9 Nordic stations have been homogenized and interpolated to standard pressure levels. The different stations have very different data coverage; the longest period with data is from the end of the 1980ies to 2014. At each pressure level the homogenized ozone time-series have been analyzed with a model which includes both low-frequency variability in form of a polynomial, an annual cycle with harmonics, the possibility for low-frequency variability in the annual amplitude and phasing, and either white noise or noise given by a first order autoregressive process. The fitting of the parameters is performed with a Bayesian approach not only giving the mean values but also confidence intervals. The results show that all stations agree on a well-defined annual cycle in the free troposphere with a relatively confined maximum in the early summer. Regarding the low-frequency variability it is found that Scoresbysund, Ny Aalesund, Sodankylae, Eureka, and Orland show similar, significant signals with a maximum near 2005 followed by a decrease. This change is characteristic for all pressure levels in the free troposphere. A significant change in the annual cycle was found for Ny Aalesund, Scoresbysund and Sodankylae. The changes at these stations are in agreement with the interpretation that the early summer maximum is appearing earlier in the year. The results are shown to be robust to the different settings of the model parameters such as the order of the polynomial, number of harmonics in the annual cycle, and the type of noise.
Inverse modelling of the Chernobyl source term using atmospheric concentration and deposition measurements
Authors: Evangeliou Nikolaos , Hamburger Thomas , Cozic Anne , Balkanski Yves , Stohl Andreas
Published: April 2017

Abstract. The present paper describes the results of an inverse modelling study for the determination of the source term of the radionuclides 134Cs, 137Cs and 131I released after the Chernobyl accident. The accident occurred on 26 April 1986 in the Former Soviet Union and released about 1019 Bq of radioactive materials that were transported as far away as the USA and Japan. Thereafter, several attempts to assess the real magnitude of the emissions were made that were based on the knowledge of the core inventory and the levels of the spent fuel. More recently, when modelling tools were further developed, inverse modelling techniques were applied to the Chernobyl case for source term quantification. However, because radioactivity is a sensitive topic for the public and attracts a lot of attention, high quality measurements, that are essential for inverse modelling, were not made available except for a few sparse activity concentration measurements far from the source and far from the main direction of the radioactive fallout. For the first time, we apply Bayesian inversion of the Chernobyl source term using not only activity concentrations, but also deposition measurements from the most recent public dataset. These observations refer to a data rescue attempt that started more than 10 years ago, with a final goal to give such kind of measurements into anyone interested. As regards to our inverse modelling results, emissions of 134Cs were estimated to be 80 PBq or 30–50 % higher than what was previously published. From the released amount of 134Cs, about 70 PBq were deposited all over Europe. Similar to 134Cs, emissions of 137Cs were estimated as 86 PBq, in the same order with previously reported results. Finally, 131I emissions of 1365 PBq were found, which are about 10 % less than the prior total releases. The inversion pushes the injection heights of the three radionuclides to higher altitudes (up to about 3 km) than previously assumed (≈ 2.2 km) in order to better match both concentration and deposition observations over Europe. The results were of the present inversion were confirmed using an independent Eulerial model, for which deposition patterns were also improved when using the estimated posterior releases. Although the independent model tends to underestimate deposition in countries that are not in the main direction of the plume, it reproduces country levels of deposition very efficiently. The results were also tested for robustness against different set-ups of the inversion through sensitivity runs. The source term data from this study are made publically available.
Mountain waves modulate the water vapor distribution in the UTLS
Authors: Heller Romy , Voigt Christiane , Beaton Stuart , Dörnbrack Andreas , Kaufmann Stefan , Schlager Hans , Wagner Johannes , Young Kate , Rapp Markus
Published: April 2017

Abstract. The water vapor distribution in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region (UTLS) has a strong impact on the atmospheric radiation budget. Transport and mixing processes on different scales mainly determine the water vapor concentration in the UTLS. Here, we investigate the effect of mountain waves on the vertical transport and mixing of water vapor. For this purpose we analyse measurements of water vapor and meteorological parameters recorded by the DLR Falcon and NSF/NCAR GV research aircraft taken during the Deep Propagating Gravity Wave Experiment (DEEPWAVE) in New Zealand. By combining different methods, we develop a new approach to quantify location, direction and irreversibility of the water vapor transport during a strong mountain wave event on 4 July 2014. A large positive vertical water vapor flux is detected above the Southern Alps extending from the troposphere to the stratosphere in the altitude range between 7.7 and 13.0 km. Wavelet analysis for the 8.9 km altitude level shows that the enhanced upward water vapor transport above the mountains is caused by mountain waves with horizontal wavelengths between 22 and 60 km. A downward transport of water vapor with 22 km wavelength is observed in the lee-side of the mountain ridge. While it is a priori not clear whether the observed fluxes are irreversible, low Richardson numbers derived from dropsonde data indicate enhanced turbulence in the tropopause region related to the mountain wave event. Together with the analysis of the water vapor to ozone correlation we find indications for vertical transport followed by irreversible mixing of water vapor. For our case study, we further estimate greater than 1 W m−2 radiative forcing by the increased water vapor concentrations in the UTLS above the Southern Alps of New Zealand resulting from mountain waves relative to unperturbed conditions. Hence, mountain waves have a great potential to affect the water vapor distribution in the UTLS. Our regional study may motivate further investigations of the global effects of mountain waves on the UTLS water vapor distributions and its radiative effects.
Aethalometer multiple scattering correction Cref for mineral dust aerosols
Authors: Di Biagio Claudia , Formenti Paola , Cazaunau Mathieu , Pangui Edouard , Marchand Nicholas , Doussin Jean-François
Published: April 2017

Abstract. In this study we provide a first estimate of the aethalometer multiple scattering correction Cref for mineral dust aerosols. The Cref at 450 and 660 nm was obtained from the direct comparison of aethalometer data (Magee Sci. AE31) with the absorption coefficient calculated as the difference between the extinction and scattering coefficients measured by a CAPS PMex and a nephelometer at 450 nm and the absorption coefficient from a MAAP (Multi-Angle Absorption Photometer) at 660 nm. Measurements were performed on seven dust aerosol samples generated in the laboratory by the mechanical shaking of natural parent soils issued from different source regions worldwide. The single scattering albedo (SSA) at 450 and 660 nm and the size distribution of the aerosols were also measured. Cref for mineral dust varies between 1.81 and 2.56 for a SSA of 0.85–0.96 at 450 nm and between 1.75 and 2.28 for a SSA of 0.98–0.99 at 660 nm. The calculated mean Cref for dust is 2.09 (± 0.22) at 450 nm and 1.92 (± 0.17) at 660 nm. With this new Cref the dust absorption coefficient by aethalometer is about 2 % (450 nm) and 11 % (660 nm) higher than that obtained by using Cref = 2.14, usually assumed in the literature. This difference induces up to 3 % change in the dust SSA. The Cref seems independent of the particle fine and coarse size fractions, and so the obtained Cref can be applied to dust both close to sources and following transport. Additional experiments performed with pure kaolinite mineral and polluted ambient aerosols indicate a Cref of 2.49 (± 0.02) and 2.32 (± 0.01) at 450 and 660 nm (SSA = 0.96–0.97) for kaolinite, and a Cref of 2.32 (± 0.36) at 450 nm and 2.32 (± 0.35) at 660 nm for pollution aerosols (SSA = 0.62–0.87 at 450 nm and 0.42–0.76 at 660 nm).
Effects of temperature on the composition and diversity of bacterial
communities in bamboo soils at different elevations
Authors: Lin Yu-Te , Jia Zhongjun , Wang Dongmei , Chiu Chih-Yu
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Bamboo is an important resource distributed in mountain areas in Asia. Little is known about the impact of temperature changes on bamboo soil bacterial communities. In this study, responses of bacterial communities collected at 600, 1,200, and 1,800 m to different incubation temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, and 35 °C) were examined using barcoded pyrosequencing and soil analyses. Soil respiration was greater at higher elevation and incubation temperature. The bacterial diversity in samples incubated at 35 °C decreased after 112 days of incubation. Before incubation, Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in all communities. The relative abundance of Acidobacteria generally decreased after 112 days of incubation at the three temperatures. α-Proteobacteria showed a similar trend, while the abundance of γ-Proteobacteria increased after incubation, except those from 1,800 m incubated at 35 °C. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling analysis revealed structural variability under different incubation times and temperatures. Principal component analysis indicated that bacterial structure incubated at 35 °C correlated with temperature and soil respiration, while structures in samples incubated at 15 °C and 20 °C correlated with time. These results suggest that a temperature rise could result in increasing soil respiration and soil soluble carbon and nitrogen consumption, influencing the bacterial diversity and structure at different elevations.
Development of bacterial communities in biological soil crusts along
a revegetation chronosequence in the Tengger Desert, northwest China
Authors: Liu Lichao , Liu Yubing , Zhang Peng , Song Guang , Hui Rong , Wang Jin
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Knowledge of structure and function of microbial communities in different successional stages of biological soil crusts (BSCs) is still scarce for desert areas. In this study, Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to assess the composition changes of bacterial communities in different ages of BSCs in the revegetation of Shapotou in the Tengger Desert. The most dominant phyla of bacterial communities shifted with the changed types of BSCs in the successional stages, from Firmicutes in mobile sand and physical crusts to Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in BSCs, and the most dominant genera shifted from Bacillus, Enterococcus and Lactococcus to RB41_norank and JG34-KF-361_norank. Alpha diversity and quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that bacteria richness and abundance reached their highest levels after 15 years of BSC development. Redundancy analysis showed that soil pH, silt content and carbon:nitrogen ratio were closely related to the bacterial communities of BSCs. The results suggested that bacterial communities of BSCs recovered quickly with the improved soil physicochemical properties in the early stages of BSC succession. Change in the bacterial community structures may be an important indicator in the biogeochemical cycling and nutrient storage in early successional stages of BSCs in desert ecosystems.
Improving global paleogeography since the late
Paleozoic using paleobiology
Authors: Cao Wenchao , Zahirovic Sabin , Flament Nicolas , Williams Simon , Golonka Jan , Müller R. Dietmar
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Paleogeographic reconstructions are important to understand Earth's tectonic evolution, past eustatic and regional sea level change, hydrocarbon genesis, and to constrain and interpret the dynamic topography predicted by time-dependent global mantle convection models. Several global paleogeographic maps have been compiled and published but they are generally presented as static maps with varying temporal resolution and fixed spatial resolution. Existing global paleogeographic maps are also tied to a particular plate motion model, making it difficult to link them to alternative digital plate tectonic reconstructions. To address this limitation, we developed a workflow to reverse-engineer global paleogeographic maps to their present-day coordinates and enable them to be linked to any tectonic reconstruction. Published paleogeographic compilations are also tied to fixed input datasets. We used fossil data from the Paleobiology Database to identify inconsistencies between fossils paleo-environments and published paleogeographic maps, and to improve the location of inferred terrestrial-marine boundaries by resolving these inconsistencies. As a result, the overall consistency ratio between the paleogeography and fossil collections was improved from 76.9 % to 96.1 %. We estimated the surface areas of global paleogeographic features (shallow marine environments, landmasses, mountains and ice sheets), and reconstructed the global continental flooding history since the late Paleozoic based on the amended paleogeographies. Finally, we discuss the relationships between emerged land area and total continental crust area through time, continental growth models, and strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) signatures in ocean water. Our study highlights the flexibility of digital paleogeographic models linked to state-of-the-art plate tectonic reconstructions in order to better understand the interplay of continental growth and eustasy, with wider implications for understanding Earth's paleotopography, ocean circulation, and the role of mantle convection in shaping long-wavelength topography.
A global satellite environmental data record derived from AMSR-E
and AMSR2 microwave earth observations
Authors: Du Jinyang , Kimball John S. , Jones Lucas A. , Kim Youngwook , Glassy Joseph , Watts Jennifer D.
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Space-borne microwave remote sensing is widely used to monitor global environmental changes for understanding hydrological, ecological and climate processes. A new global land parameter data record (LPDR) was generated using similar calibrated, multi-frequency brightness temperature (Tb) retrievals from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2). The resulting LPDR provides a long-term (Jun. 2002 – Dec. 2015) global record of key environmental observations at 25-km grid cell resolution, including surface fractional open water (fw) cover, atmosphere precipitable water vapor (PWV), daily maximum and minimum surface air temperatures (Tmx and Tmn), vegetation optical depth (VOD) and surface volumetric soil moisture (vsm). Global mapping of the land parameter climatology means and seasonal variability over the full-year records from AMSR-E (2003–2010) and AMSR2 (2013–2015) observation periods is consistent with characteristic global climate and vegetation patterns. Quantitative comparisons with independent observations indicated favorable LPDR performance for fw (R ≥ 0.75; RMSE ≤ 0.06), PWV (R ≥ 0.91; RMSE ≤ 4.99 mm), Tmx and Tmn (R ≥ 0.90; RMSE ≤ 3.48 ºC), and vsm (0.63 ≤ R ≤ 0.84; bias corrected RMSE ≤ 0.06 cm3/cm3). The LPDR derived global VOD record is also proportional to satellite observed NDVI (GIMMS3g) seasonality (R ≥ 0.88) due to synergy between canopy biomass structure and photosynthetic greenness. Statistical analysis shows overall LPDR consistency, but with small biases between AMSR-E and AMSR2 retrievals that should be considered when evaluating long-term environmental trends. The resulting LPDR and potential updates from continuing AMSR2 operations provide for effective global monitoring of environmental parameters related to vegetation activity, terrestrial water storage and mobility; and are suitable for climate and ecosystem studies. The LPDR data set is publicly available at http://files.ntsg.umt.edu/data/LPDR_v2.
The Sub-Polar Gyre Index – a community data set for application in fisheries and environment research
Authors: Berx Barbara , Payne Mark R.
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Scientific interest in the sub-polar gyre of the North Atlantic Ocean has increased in recent years. The sub-polar gyre has contracted and weakened, and changes in circulation pathways have been linked to changes in marine ecosystem productivity. To aid fisheries and environmental scientists, we present here a time series of the Sub-Polar Gyre Index (SPG-I) based on monthly mean maps of sea surface height. The established definition of the SPG-I is applied, and the first EOF (empirical orthogonal function) and PC (principal component) are presented. Sensitivity to the spatial domain and time series length are explored but found not to be important factors in terms of the SPG-I's interpretation. Our time series compares well with indices presented previously. The SPG-I time series is freely available online (http://dx.doi.org/10.7489/1806-1), and we invite the community to access, apply, and publish studies using this index time series.
Precipitation extremes on multiple time scales – Bartlett–Lewis Rectangular Pulse Model and Intensity–Duration–Frequency curves
Authors: Ritschel Christoph , Rust Henning W. , Ulbrich Uwe
Published: April 2017

Abstract. For several hydrological modelling tasks, precipitation time-series with a high (i.e. sub-daily) resolution are indispensable. This data is, however, not always available and thus model simulations are used to compensate. A canonical class of stochastic models for sub-daily precipitation are Poisson-cluster processes, with the Bartlett–Lewis rectangular pulse model (BLRPM) as a prominent representative. The BLRPM has been shown to well reproduce certain characteristics found in observations. Our focus is on intensity–duration–frequency relationship (IDF), which are of particular interest in risk assessment. Based on a high resolution precipitation time-series (5-min) from Berlin-Dahlem, BLRPM parameters are estimated and IDF curves are obtained on the one hand directly from the observations and on the other hand from BLRPM simulations. Comparing the resulting IDF curves suggests that the BLRPM is able to reproduce main features of IDF statistics across several durations but cannot capture singular events (here an event of magnitude 5 times larger than the second larges event). Here, IDF curves are estimated based on a parametric model for the duration dependence of the scale parameter in the General Extreme Value distribution; this allows to obtain a consistent set of curves over all durations. We use the BLRPM to investigate the validity of this approach based on simulated long time series.
Structure of the Suasselkä postglacial fault in northern Finland obtained by analysis of local events and ambient seismic noise
Authors: Afonin Nikita , Kozlovskaya Elena , Kukkonen Ilmo ,   DAFNE/FINLAND Working Group
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Understanding the inner structure of seismogenic faults and their ability to reactivate is particularly important in investigating the continental intraplate seismicity regime. In our study we address this problem using analysis of local seismic events and ambient seismic noise recorded by the temporary DAFNE array in the northern Fennoscandian Shield. The main purpose of the DAFNE/FINLAND passive seismic array experiment was to characterize the present-day seismicity of the Suasselkä postglacial fault (SPGF), which was proposed as one potential target for the DAFNE (Drilling Active Faults in Northern Europe) project. The DAFNE/FINLAND array comprised an area of about 20 to 100 km and consisted of eight short-period and four broadband three-component autonomous seismic stations installed in the close vicinity of the fault area. The array recorded continuous seismic data during September 2011–May 2013. Recordings of the array have being analysed in order to identify and locate natural earthquakes from the fault area and to discriminate them from the blasts in the Kittilä gold mine. As a result, we found a number of natural seismic events originating from the fault area, which proves that the fault is still seismically active. In order to study the inner structure of the SPGF we use cross-correlation of ambient seismic noise recorded by the array. Analysis of azimuthal distribution of noise sources demonstrated that during the time interval under consideration the distribution of noise sources is close to the uniform one. The continuous data were processed in several steps including single-station data analysis, instrument response removal and time-domain stacking. The data were used to estimate empirical Green's functions between pairs of stations in the frequency band of 0.1–1 Hz and to calculate corresponding surface wave dispersion curves. The S-wave velocity models were obtained as a result of dispersion curve inversion. The results suggest that the area of the SPGF corresponds to a narrow region of low S-wave velocities surrounded by rocks with high S-wave velocities. We interpret this low-velocity region as a non-healed mechanically weak fault damage zone (FDZ) formed due to the last major earthquake that occurred after the last glaciation.
Monitoring of glacier albedo from optical remote-sensing data:
application to seasonal and annual surface mass balances
quantification in the French Alps for the 2000–2015 period
Authors: Davaze Lucas , Rabatel Antoine , Arnaud Yves , Sirguey Pascal , Six Delphine , Letreguilly Anne , Dumont Marie
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Less than 0.25 % of the 250,000 glaciers inventoried in the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI V.5) are currently monitored with in situ measurements of surface mass balance. Increasing this archive is very challenging, especially using time-consuming methods based on in situ measurements, and complementary methods are required to quantify the surface mass balance of unmonitored glaciers. The current study relies on the so-called albedo method, based on the analysis of albedo maps retrieved from optical satellite imagery acquired since 2000 by the MODIS sensor, onboard of TERRA satellite. Recent studies revealed substantial relationships between summer minimum glacier-wide surface albedo and annual surface mass balance, because this minimum surface albedo is directly related to the accumulation-area ratio and the equilibrium-line altitude. On the basis of 30 glaciers located in the French Alps where annual surface mass balance are available, our study conducted on the period 2000–2015 confirms the robustness and reliability of the relationship between the summer minimum surface albedo and the annual surface mass balance. At the seasonal scale, the integrated summer surface albedo is significantly correlated with the summer surface mass balance of the six glaciers seasonally monitored. For the winter season, four of the six glaciers showed a significant correlation when linking the winter surface mass balance and the integrated winter surface albedo, using glacier-dependent thresholds to filter the albedo signal (threshold from 0.53 to 0.76). These results are promising to monitor both annual and seasonal glacier-wide surface mass balances of individual glaciers at a regional scale using optical satellite images. A sensitivity study on the computed cloud masks revealed a high confidence in the retrieved albedo maps, restricting the number of omission errors. Albedo retrieval artifacts have been detected for topographically incised glaciers, highlighting limitations in the shadows correction algorithm, although inter-annual comparisons are not affected by systematic errors.
Teachers' Perceptions and Experiences Consulting with School Counselors: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Cholewa Blair , Goodman-Scott Emily , Thomas Antoinette , Cook Jennifer
Published: April 2017

School counselor-teacher consultation is an efficient strategy for school counselors to indirectly serve students on their caseload. Teachers' perceptions are crucial in examining this consultation process. This qualitative study examined elementary school teachers' perceptions and experiences of school counselor-teacher consultation. The researchers identified three themes: (a) school counselors prioritizing relationships, (b) school counselors taking initiative, and (c) school counselors' specialization. The researchers discuss implications for school counseling practice, including strategies for facilitating consultation with teachers.
The Impact of Foreign Aid on Economic Growth in Morocco: Econometric Analysis Using VECM
Authors: Aghoutane Kawthar , Karim Mohamed
Published: April 2017

The present work aims to contribute to the empirical literature on the effectiveness of Foreign aid in Morocco. We use the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to jointly capture the long-run relationship and short-run dynamics between Official Development Assistance and economic growth. Other variables such as investment, exports, and government consumption are also included in the model. The results indicate that the foreign aid promotes growth through government consumption in the short term. However, the impact of aid on economic growth becomes negative in the long term.
The Gamma Generalized Pareto Distribution with Applications in Survival Analysis
Authors: De Andrade Thiago A. N. , Fernandez Luz Milena Zea , Gomes-Silva Frank , Cordeiro Gauss M.
Published: April 2017

We study a three-parameter model named the gamma generalized Pareto distribution. This distribution extends the generalized Pareto model, which has many applications in areas such as insurance, reliability, finance and many others. We derive some of its characterizations and mathematical properties including explicit expressions for the density and quantile functions, ordinary and incomplete moments, mean deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, generating function, R\'enyi entropy and order statistics. We discuss the estimation of the model parameters by maximum likelihood. A small Monte Carlo simulation study and two applications to real data are presented. We hope that this distribution may be useful for modeling survival and reliability data.
A Parametric Test to Discriminate Between a Linear Regression Model and a Linear Latent Growth Model
Authors: Barnabani Marco
Published: April 2017

In longitudinal studies with subjects measured repeatedly across time, an important problem is how to select a model generating data by choosing between a linear regression model and a linear latent growth model. Approaches based both on information criteria and asymptotic hypothesis tests  of the variances of ''random'' components are widely used but not completely satisfactory. We propose a test statistic based on the trace of the product of an estimate of a variance covariance matrix defined when data come from a linear regression model and a sample variance covariance matrix. We studied the sampling distribution of the test statistic giving a representation in terms of an infinite series of generalized F-distributions. Knowledge about this distribution allows us to make inference within a classical hypothesis testing ramework. The test statistic can be used by itself to discriminate between the two models and/or, if duly modified, it can be used to test randomness on single components. Moreover, in conjunction with some model selection criteria, it gives additional information which can help in choosing the model.
Efficacy of Different Bio-Pesticides against Major Sucking Pests on Brinjal under Field Conditions
Authors: S. Shahzad Ali  , Syed Sohail Ahmed  , Huma Rizwana  , Fazal-ur-Rahman Bhatti  , Abdual Gaffar Khoso  , Mohammad Ibrahim Mengal  , Junaid Hussain Jatoi  , Azizullah Bugti  , Manzoor Ahmed Rind  , Shahid Ali Shahwani
Published: April 2017

A field study was carried out during 2015 at the experimental area of Entomology Section, Agriculture Research Institute, (ARI) Tando Jam to examine the efficacy of different bio-pesticides against major sucking pests on brinjal under field conditions. Four treatments with three replications were applied. The treatments were: T1=Neem (Azadirachta indica), T2= Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), T3= Datura (Datura stramonium) and T4=Control (untreated). Three insect pests were found infesting brinjal including white flies, jassid and mites. Pre-treatment and post-treatment observations were recorded.The results revealed that against white fly, the first spray of Neem extract showed highest reduction percent (82.60%) followed by Tobacco extract (75.95%), Datura extract (73.93%), and lowest for untreated control (11.07%); while in the second spray also Neem extract showed highest effect against white fly (67.53%); followed by Tobacco extract (56.43%), Datura extract (42.25%), and least by untreated plot (5.49%). Against jassid, Neem extract showed highest effect (55.95%) as observed during 1st spray, followed by Tobacco extract (53.38%), Datura o extract (63.11%)and untreated control (8.00%), while after second spray also Neem extract showed highest reduction percent (68.73%) followed by Tobacco extract (55.72%), Datura extract (50.66%) and the lowest was resulted by untreated control (13.90%). Against mites population on brinjal the first spray results showed that Neem extract showed highest effect (96.19%) followed by Tobacco extract (95.75%), Datura extract (86.86%) and least population was recorded in untreated control (9.96%). After second spray, Neem extract showed highest reduction percent (98.33%), followed by Tobacco extract (92.85%), Datura extract (88.93%) and the lowest reduction percent was resulted by untreated control (9.14%)respectively. Neem extract showed its superiority in effect to combat sucking insect pests studied in brinjal, followed by, Tobacco extract, Datura extract and untreated control remained the least.
Joseph Alphonse Valin
Authors: Prisco Nestor
Published: April 2017

After Confederation, the provinces administered justice but the dominion government appointed judges. In 1894 Ontario’s Mowat government passed legislation to create Nipissing judicial district. It was then up to the Dominion government to appoint a judge. By early 1895, the Bowell administration issued an order-in-council and the new judge was waiting in the wings. But the perfunctory Royal assent never occurred. Bowell reneged. In a matter of days, the Premier abruptly reversed course and appointed someone else. What grounds may have precipitated such an unusual change of position? Was it partisan pressure, fresh revelations, a response to a crisis or political strategy? Was it a bold move that signaled a new direction? Or was it a balm to quiet unrest or a need to satisfy aggrieved followers and gain support? Those are challenging questions that will be canvassed in this article.
Social Networks and the 1912 Commemoration of the “Brock Centenary”
Authors: Holdsworth Peter W.
Published: April 2017

In 1912, the General Brock Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE) unveiled a monument to General Sir Isaac Brock in Brockville, Ontario. This monument represented just part of the efforts of a network of mostly Anglo-Saxon women from the IODE, United Empire Loyalists of Ontario, and Ontario Historical Society to celebrate the centenary of the War of 1812 as the “Brock Centenary.” The context of the rise of the “Brock Centenary” is investigated by applying social network theory to historical memory studies, re-interpreting historical evidence from 1898 to 1912. An analysis of membership lists both reaffirms some previous arguments around imperial and feminist ideals and also points to other promising avenues of inquiry regarding the importance and influence of the groups and women involved.
Sequential sensory and decision processing in posterior parietal cortex
Authors: Ibos Guilhem , Freedman David J
Published: April 2017

Decisions about the behavioral significance of sensory stimuli often require comparing sensory inference of what we are looking at to internal models of what we are looking for. Here, we test how neuronal selectivity for visual features is transformed into decision-related signals in posterior parietal cortex (area LIP). Monkeys performed a visual matching task that required them to detect target stimuli composed of conjunctions of color and motion-direction. Neuronal recordings from area LIP revealed two main findings. First, the sequential processing of visual features and the selection of target-stimuli suggest that LIP is involved in transforming sensory information into decision-related signals. Second, the patterns of color and motion selectivity and their impact on decision-related encoding suggest that LIP plays a role in detecting target stimuli by comparing bottom-up sensory inputs (what the monkeys were looking at) and top-down cognitive encoding inputs (what the monkeys were looking for).
Who's Talking about Scholarly Communication? An Examination of Gender and Behavior on the SCHOLCOMM Listserv
Authors: Hayes Clayton , Kelly Heidi Elaine
Published: April 2017

INTRODUCTION This study analyzes the gender dynamics of the American Library Association’s SCHOLCOMM listserv in order to determine the accuracy of concerns expressed by participants in early 2016 regarding the dominance of male voices on the listserv. METHODS Utilizing the SCHOLCOMM listserv archive, openly available online, the authors analyzed metadata related to individual messages in order to create a comprehensive list of participants, which was then analyzed to determine gender identity. The authors utilized this information to correlate the frequency of new messages and replies sent to the list with the gender identity of participants. RESULTS While men represented 35% of the SCHOLCOMM list’s participants, they contributed over half of the messages sent to the listserv and two-thirds of those sent as replies on existing message threads. DISCUSSION The opinion of several SCHOLCOMM participants that male voices were overrepresented in listserv discussions proved to be true. The gender identity breakdown of those most active on the list may also influence the perceptions and/or behaviors of other listserv participants, however, and should be investigated further. CONCLUSION While this study substantiates the opinion of several listserv participants that male SCHOLCOMM participants account for a disproportionately large amount of listserv discussion, we argue that the dynamics of the listserv can and should be changed in order to better represent the participant population.
The evolution of logic circuits for the purpose of protein contact map prediction
Authors: Chapman Samuel D. , Adami Christoph , Wilke Claus O. , B KC Dukka
Published: April 2017

Predicting protein structure from sequence remains a major open problem in protein biochemistry. One component of predicting complete structures is the prediction of inter-residue contact patterns (contact maps). Here, we discuss protein contact map prediction by machine learning. We describe a novel method for contact map prediction that uses the evolution of logic circuits. These logic circuits operate on feature data and output whether or not two amino acids in a protein are in contact or not. We show that such a method is feasible, and in addition that evolution allows the logic circuits to be trained on the dataset in an unbiased manner so that it can be used in both contact map prediction and the selection of relevant features in a dataset.
Quantitative assessment of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 expression in neurons and glia
Authors: Choubey Lisha , Collette Jantzen C. , Smith Karen Müller
Published: April 2017

Background

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) have numerous functions in the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). For example, the FGFR1 receptor is important for proliferation and fate specification of radial glial cells in the cortex and hippocampus, oligodendrocyte proliferation and regeneration, midline glia morphology and soma translocation, Bergmann glia morphology, and cerebellar morphogenesis. In addition, FGFR1 signaling in astrocytes is required for postnatal maturation of interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV). FGFR1 is implicated in synapse formation in the hippocampus, and alterations in the expression ofFgfr1and its ligand,Fgf2accompany major depression. Understanding which cell types expressFgfr1during development may elucidate its roles in normal development of the brain as well as illuminate possible causes of certain neuropsychiatric disorders.

Methods

Here, we used a BAC transgenic reporter line to traceFgfr1expression in the developing postnatal murine CNS. The specific transgenic line employed was created by the GENSAT project,tgFGFR1-EGFPGP338Gsat, and includes a gene encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the regulation of theFgfr1promoter, to traceFgfr1expression in the developing CNS. Unbiased stereological counts were performed for several cell types in the cortex and hippocampus.

Results

This model reveals thatFgfr1is primarily expressed in glial cells, in both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, along with some neurons. Dual labeling experiments indicate that the proportion of GFP+ (Fgfr1+) cells that are also GFAP+ increases from postnatal day 7 (P7) to 1 month, illuminating dynamic changes inFgfr1expression during postnatal development of the cortex. In postnatal neurogenic areas, GFP expression was also observed in SOX2, doublecortin (DCX), and brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP) expressing cells.Fgfr1is also highly expressed in DCX positive cells of the dentate gyrus (DG), but not in the rostral migratory stream.Fgfr1driven GFP was also observed in tanycytes and GFAP+ cells of the hypothalamus, as well as in Bergmann glia and astrocytes of the cerebellum.

Conclusions

ThetgFGFR1-EGFPGP338Gsatmouse model expresses GFP that is congruent with known functions of FGFR1, including hippocampal development, glial cell development, and stem cell proliferation. Understanding which cell types expressFgfr1may elucidate its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and brain development.
Single exponential decay waveform; a synergistic combination of electroporation and electrolysis (E2) for tissue ablation
Authors: Klein Nina , Guenther Enric , Mikus Paul , Stehling Michael K. , Rubinsky Boris
Published: April 2017

Background

Electrolytic ablation and electroporation based ablation are minimally invasive, non-thermal surgical technologies that employ electrical currents and electric fields to ablate undesirable cells in a volume of tissue. In this study, we explore the attributes of a new tissue ablation technology that simultaneously delivers a synergistic combination of electroporation and electrolysis (E2).

Method

A new device that delivers a controlled dose of electroporation field and electrolysis currents in the form of a single exponential decay waveform (EDW) was applied to the pig liver, and the effect of various parameters on the extent of tissue ablation was examined with histology.

Results

Histological analysis shows that E2 delivered as EDW can produce tissue ablation in volumes of clinical significance, using electrical and temporal parameters which, if used in electroporation or electrolysis separately, cannot ablate the tissue.

Discussion

The E2 combination has advantages over the three basic technologies of non-thermal ablation: electrolytic ablation, electrochemical ablation (reversible electroporation with injection of drugs) and irreversible electroporation. E2 ablates clinically relevant volumes of tissue in a shorter period of time than electrolysis and electroporation, without the need to inject drugs as in reversible electroporation or use paralyzing anesthesia as in irreversible electroporation.
Aceitação e uso da tecnologia para escolha de destinos turísticos por pessoas da terceira idade: um estudo usando a UTAUT2
Authors: Moura Andréia Cássia de , Gosling Marlusa de Sevilha , Christino Juliana Maria Magalhães , Macedo Sâmara Borges
Published: April 2017

Os idosos têm demonstrado crescente interesse por novas tecnologias e as relacionam com a aprendizagem, inserção social e lazer. Considerando-se o elevado número de mudanças no perfil dos idosos brasileiros e os contextos turístico e tecnológico, esse trabalho tem como objetivo compreender as intenções comportamentais e o uso da internet pela terceira idade com fins de escolhas de destinos turísticos. Para isso, o trabalho estendeu o Modelo UTAUT2 de Venkatesh, Thong e Xu (2012), inserindo novos construtos relacionados à tecnologia: Risco Percebido e Confiança, de Slade et al (2015) e também adicionando a Atitude, fundamentada por Curras-Perez,  Ruiz-Mafe  e  Sanz-Blas (2014). O estudo caracteriza-se como exploratório-descritivo. Para tanto, realizou-se um Survey, online e presencial, sendo aplicado por dois meses. Para as análises utilizou-se técnicas estatísticas de análise multivariada, processadas pelo SPSS20 e a análise de modelagem de equações estruturais utilizando-se o SmartPLS. A amostra obtida foi de 211 idosos que usam internet para fins turísticos. Como resultado, têm-se as relações dos construtos Hábito, Motivação Hedônica, Confiança e Expectativa de Desempenho como determinantes da Atitude de uso da Internet para fins turísticos e, acrescentando-se a isso, a relação do construto Hábito afetando positivamente o Comportamento de uso. No que tange à originalidade o trabalho apresentou a Atitude como  um conceito novo utilizado para compor o modelo, trazendo algo inédito a este campo de estudos no Brasil. Além disso, apresenta-se como uma inovação à aplicação do modelo UTAUT2 no contexto brasileiro, em um segmento e setor de mercado ainda não explorado neste campo de pesquisa -  a terceira idade e o turismo.
Mudanças ocorridas na prática profissional na área da saúde mental frente à reforma psiquiátrica brasileira na visão da equipe de enfermagem Changes in professional practice in the mental health area against brazilian psychiatric reform in the vision of the nursing team
Authors: Alves Maftum Mariluci , Gonçalves da Silva Ângela , De Oliveira Borba Letícia , Brusamarello Tatiana , Czarnobay Juliana
Published: April 2017

Pesquisa qualitativa descritiva realizada em 2010 num hospital especializado em psiquiatria do Paraná. Objetivo: Verificar as mudanças ocorridas na prática profissional decorrentes da Reforma Psiquiátrica na visão da equipe de enfermagem. Métodos: Participaram da pesquisa 15 profissionais de enfermagem. Os dados foram obtidos mediante entrevista semiestruturada e os resultados organizados em categorias temáticas. Resultados: Obteve-se que os sujeitos perceberam mudanças na organização da assistência e no modo de assistir a pessoa com transtorno mental, a importância da equipe multiprofissional nesse processo e a transformação do papel da equipe de Enfermagem e do enfermeiro frente às novas formas de tratamento surgidas. Conclusão:Há avanços decorrentes da Reforma e que estes interferem diretamente na formação e atuação das equipes de Enfermagem gerando a necessidade de preparo e capacitação destes profissionais.