bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Coastline Extraction from Landsat-8 OLI Imagery
Authors: Liu Yaolin , Wang Xia , Ling Feng , Xu Shuna , Wang Chengcheng
Published: October 2017

Coastline extraction is a fundamental work for coastal resource management, coastal environmental protection and coastal sustainable development. Due to the free access and long-term record, Landsat series images have the potential to be used for coastline extraction. However, dynamic features of different types of coastlines (e.g., rocky, sandy, artificial), caused by sea level fluctuation from tidal, storm and reclamation, make it difficult to be accurately extracted with coarse spatial resolution, e.g., 30 m, of Landsat images. To access this problem, we analyze the performance of coastline extraction by integrating downscaling, pansharpening and water index approaches in increasing the accuracy of coastline extraction from the latest Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) imagery. In order to prove the availability of the proposed method, we designed three strategies: (1) Strategy 1 uses the traditional water index method to extract coastline directly from original 30 m Landsat-8 OLI multispectral (MS) image; (2) Strategy 2 extracts coastlines from 15 m fused MS images generated by integrating 15 m panchromatic (PAN) band and 30 m MS image with ten pansharpening algorithms; (3) Strategy 3 first downscales the PAN band to a finer spatial resolution (e.g., 7.5 m) band, and then extracts coastlines from pansharpened MS images generated by integrating downscaled spatial resolution PAN band and 30 m MS image with ten pansharpening algorithms. Using the coastline extracted from ZiYuan-3 (ZY-3) 5.8 m MS image as reference, accuracies of coastlines extracted from MS images in three strategies were validated visually and quantitatively. The results show that, compared with coastline extracted directly from 30 m Landsat-8 MS image (strategy 1), strategy 3 achieves the best accuracies with optimal mean net shoreline movement (MNSM) of −2.54 m and optimal mean absolute difference (MAD) of 11.26 m, followed by coastlines extracted in strategy 2 with optimal MNSM of −4.23 m and optimal MAD of 13.54 m. Further comparisons with single-band thresholding (Band 6), AWEI, and ISODATA also confirmed the superiority of strategy 3. For the various used pansharpening algorithms, five multiresolution analysis MRA-based pansharpening algorithms are more efficient than the component substitution CS-based pansharpening algorithms for coastline extraction from Landsat-8 OLI imagery. Among the five MRA-based fusion methods, the coastlines extracted from the fused images generated by Indusion, additive à trous wavelet transform (ATWT) and additive wavelet luminance proportional (AWLP) produced the most accurate and visually realistic representation. Therefore, pansharpening approaches can improve the accuracy of coastline extraction from Landsat-8 OLI imagery, and downscaling the PAN band to finer spatial resolution is able to further improve the coastline extraction accuracy, especially in crenulated coasts.
SMASH: Survey of the MAgellanic Stellar History
Authors: Nidever David L. , Olsen Knut , Walker Alistair R. , Vivas A. Katherina , Blum Robert D. , Kaleida Catherine , Choi Yumi , Conn Blair C. , Gruendl Robert A. , Bell Eric F. , Besla Gurtina , Muñoz Ricardo R. , Gallart Carme , Martin Nicolas F. , Olszewski Edward W. , Saha Abhijit , Monachesi Antonela , Monelli Matteo , de Boer Thomas J. L. , Johnson L. Clifton , Zaritsky Dennis , Stringfellow Guy S. , van der Marel Roeland P. , Cioni Maria-Rosa L. , Jin Shoko , Majewski Steven R. , Martinez-Delgado David , Monteagudo Lara , Noël Noelia E. D. , Bernard Edouard J. , Kunder Andrea , Chu You-Hua , Bell Cameron P. M. , Santana Felipe , Frechem Joshua , Medina Gustavo E. , Parkash Vaishali , Navarrete J. C. Serón , Hayes Christian
Published: October 2017

The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are unique local laboratories for studying the formation and evolution of small galaxies in exquisite detail. The Survey of the MAgellanic Stellar History (SMASH) is an NOAO community Dark Energy Camera (DECam) survey of the Clouds mapping 480 deg2 (distributed over ∼2400 square degrees at ∼20% filling factor) to ∼24th mag in ugriz. The primary goals of SMASH are to identify low surface brightness stellar populations associated with the stellar halos and tidal debris of the Clouds, and to derive spatially resolved star formation histories. Here, we present a summary of the survey, its data reduction, and a description of the first public Data Release (DR1). The SMASH DECam data have been reduced with a combination of the NOAO Community Pipeline, the PHOTRED automated point-spread-function photometry pipeline, and custom calibration software. The astrometric precision is ∼15 mas and the accuracy is ∼2 mas with respect to the Gaia reference frame. The photometric precision is ∼0.5%–0.7% in griz and ∼1% in u with a calibration accuracy of ∼1.3% in all bands. The median 5σ point source depths in ugriz are 23.9, 24.8, 24.5, 24.2, and 23.5 mag. The SMASH data have already been used to discover the Hydra II Milky Way satellite, the SMASH 1 old globular cluster likely associated with the LMC, and extended stellar populations around the LMC out to R ∼ 18.4 kpc. SMASH DR1 contains measurements of ∼100 million objects distributed in 61 fields. A prototype version of the NOAO Data Lab provides data access and exploration tools.
Target Selection for the SDSS-IV APOGEE-2 Survey
Authors: Zasowski G. , Cohen R. E. , Chojnowski S. D. , Santana F. , Oelkers R. J. , Andrews B. , Beaton R. L. , Bender C. , Bird J. C. , Bovy J. , Carlberg J. K. , Covey K. , Cunha K. , Dell’Agli F. , Fleming Scott W. , Frinchaboy P. M. , García-Hernández D. A. , Harding P. , Holtzman J. , Johnson J. A. , Kollmeier J. A. , Majewski S. R. , Mészáros Sz. , Munn J. , Muñoz R. R. , Ness M. K. , Nidever D. L. , Poleski R. , Román-Zúñiga C. , Shetrone M. , Simon J. D. , Smith V. V. , Sobeck J. S. , Stringfellow G. S. , Szigetiáros L. , Tayar J. , Troup N.
Published: October 2017

APOGEE-2 is a high-resolution, near-infrared spectroscopic survey observing ∼3 × 105 stars across the entire sky. It is the successor to APOGEE and is part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV). APOGEE-2 is expanding on APOGEE’s goals of addressing critical questions of stellar astrophysics, stellar populations, and Galactic chemodynamical evolution using (1) an enhanced set of target types and (2) a second spectrograph at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. APOGEE-2 is targeting red giant branch and red clump stars, RR Lyrae, low-mass dwarf stars, young stellar objects, and numerous other Milky Way and Local Group sources across the entire sky from both hemispheres. In this paper, we describe the APOGEE-2 observational design, target selection catalogs and algorithms, and the targeting-related documentation included in the SDSS data releases.
Resolved Structure of the Arp 220 Nuclei at λ ≈ 3 mm
Authors: Sakamoto Kazushi , Aalto Susanne , Barcos-Muñoz Loreto , Costagliola Francesco , Evans Aaron S. , Harada Nanase , Martín Sergio , Wiedner Martina , Wilner David
Published: October 2017

We analyze the 3 mm emission of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 for the spatially resolved structure and the spectral properties of the merger nuclei. ALMA archival data at ∼0.″05 resolution are used for extensive visibility fitting and deep imaging of the continuum emission. The data are fitted well by two concentric components for each nucleus, such as two Gaussians or one Gaussian plus one exponential disk. The larger components in the individual nuclei are similar in shape and extent, ∼100–150 pc, to the centimeter wave emission due to supernovae. They are therefore identified with the known starburst nuclear disks. The smaller components in both nuclei have about a few 10 pc sizes and peak brightness temperatures (

) more than twice higher than those in previous single-Gaussian fitting. They correspond to the dust emission that we find centrally concentrated in both nuclei by subtracting the plasma emission measured at 33 GHz. The dust emission in the western nucleus is found to have a peak

K and an FWHM of about 20 pc. This component is estimated to have a bolometric luminosity on the order of

and a 20 pc scale luminosity surface density

. A luminous active galactic nucleus is a plausible energy source for these high values while other explanations remain to be explored. Our continuum image also reveals a third structural component of the western nucleus—a pair of faint spurs perpendicular to the disk major axis. We attribute it to a bipolar outflow from the highly inclined (

) western nuclear disk.
Effect of a yoghurt drink containing Lactobacillus strains on bacterial vaginosis in women – a double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical pilot trial
Authors: Laue C. , Papazova E. , Liesegang A. , Pannenbeckers A. , Arendarski P. , Linnerth B. , Domig K.J. , Kneifel W. , Petricevic L. , Schrezenmeir J.
Published: October 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterised by a depletion of lactobacilli in favour of an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria. It is associated with increased risk for urogenital infections and abortion. In this study we assessed the effect of a yoghurt drink containing Lactobacillus strains on BV. The strains had been isolated from healthy pregnant women and selected for acidification capacity, production of H2O2, glycogen utilisation, bile salt tolerance and inhibition of pathogens. Using Amsel criteria BV was diagnosed in 36 women aged ≥18 years with stable menstrual cycle or menopause. They were treated with oral metronidazole for 7 days (2×500 mg/d). Starting with the treatment, women consumed twice daily either verum or placebo during 4 weeks. Verum was 125 g yoghurt containing (besides Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) living strains Lactobacillus crispatus LbV 88 (DSM 22566), Lactobacillus gasseri LbV 150N (DSM 22583), Lactobacillus jensenii LbV 116 (DSM 22567) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus LbV96 (DSM 22560), each 1×107 cfu/ml; placebo was 125 g chemically acidified milk. After 4 weeks of intervention 0 of 17 had BV in the verum group versus 6 of 17 in the s.a. control (0.018 in Fisher Exact test). Amsel score decreased during the intervention period by 4.0 (median) (4.0; 3.0) (25th; 75th percentile) in the verum group compared to 2.0 (4.0; 0.0) in the control group (P=0.038 in Mann-Whitney test). Discharge and odour (Amsel criteria 2+3) also decreased by 2.0 (2.0; 1.0) in the verum compared to 1.0 (2.0; 0.0) in the control group (P=0.01) and differed after 4 weeks intervention between the groups 0.0 (0.0; 0.0) versus 1.0 (0.0; 2.0) (P=0.001). Nugent score decreased during the intervention period by 5.5 (7.0;2.3) in the verum compared to 3.0 (6.0;0.5) in the control group (P=0.158). Additional intake of yoghurt containing these probiotic strains improved the recovery rate and symptoms of BV and tended to improve the vaginal microbial pattern.
Effects of a probiotic (SLAB51™) on clinical and histologic variables and microbiota of cats with chronic constipation/megacolon: a pilot study
Authors: Rossi G. , Jergens A. , Cerquetella M. , Berardi S. , Di Cicco E. , Bassotti G. , Pengo G. , Suchodolski J.S.
Published: October 2017

Chronic constipation (CC) and idiopathic megacolon (IMC) occur frequently in cats. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a multi-strain probiotic (SLAB51™) in constipated cats (n=7) and in patients with megacolon and constipation (n=3). Ten pet cats with a diagnosis of chronic constipation, non-responsive to medical management received orally 2×1011bacteria daily for 90 days. For microbiota analysis, selected bacterial groups were analysed by qPCR. Histological samples in megacolons were evaluated for interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), enteric neurons, and neuronal apoptosis. Biopsies were compared at baseline (T0) and after the end of treatment (T1), and with those obtained from healthy control tissues (archived material from five healthy cats). Constipated cats displayed significantly lower ICC, and cats with idiopathic megacolon had significantly more apoptotic enteric neurons than controls. After treatment with SLAB51™, significant decreases were observed for feline chronic enteropathy activity index (FCEAI) (P=0.006), faecal consistency score, and mucosal histology scores (P<0.001). In contrast, a significant increase of ICC was observed after probiotic therapy.Lactobacillusspp. andBacteroideteswere increased significantly after treatment (comparing constipated cats before and after treatment, and control healthy cats to constipated cats after treatment), but no other differences in microbiota were found between healthy controls and constipated cats. Treatment with SLAB51™ in cats with chronic constipation and idiopathic megacolon showed significant clinical improvement after treatment, and histological parameters suggest a potential anti-inflammatory effect of SLAB51™, associated with a reduction of mucosal infiltration, and restoration of the number of interstitial cells of Cajal.
Intracellular GSH of Streptococcus thermophilus shows anti-oxidative activity against low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro and in a hyperlipidaemic hamster model
Authors: Kusuhara S. , Ito M. , Sato T. , Yokoi W. , Yamamoto Y. , Harada K. , Ikemura H. , Miyazaki K.
Published: October 2017

Streptococcus thermophilus YIT 2001 (ST-1), a lactic acid bacterial strain, was shown to have inhibitory effects on the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the development of aortic fatty lesions in an animal model, and lower the serum levels of malondialdehyde-modified LDL, an oxidative modification product of LDL, in a clinical trial. This study aimed to identify the intracellular active component of ST-1 associated with anti-oxidative activity against LDL oxidation. High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry analysis after fractionation of the cellular extract by reversed-phase chromatography demonstrated that the active fraction contained reduced glutathione (GSH). GSH showed anti-oxidative activity in a dose-dependent manner, while this activity disappeared following thiol derivatisation. ST-1 had the strongest anti-oxidative activity against LDL oxidation and the highest level of intracellular GSH among five strains of S. thermophilus. In addition, the anti-oxidative activity of ST-1 after thiol derivatisation decreased by about half, which was similar to that of three other strains containing poor or no intracellular GSH or thiol components. Moreover, anti-oxidative activity against LDL oxidation was observed in hyperlipidaemic hamsters fed with high GSH ST-1 cells but not in those given low GSH cells. These findings suggest that intracellular GSH in ST-1 may provide beneficial effects via anti-oxidative activity against LDL oxidation and excess oxidative stress in the blood.
The effect of ambient pH modulation on ochratoxin A accumulation byAspergillus carbonarius
Authors: Maor U. , Sadhasivam S. , Zakin V. , Prusky D. , Sionov E.
Published: October 2017

Aspergillus carbonarius, the main cause of severe post-harvest decay of vine fruit, is considered the major source of ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of grapes and derived products. The factors inducing OTA accumulation byA. carbonarius and its contribution to pathogenicity remain unclear. Present findings indicate that the production of organic acids, such as D-gluconic acid (GLA) and citric acid, byA. carbonarius in the growth medium or in the decayed fruit tissue was directly related to ambient pH reduction. Under these conditions, induced transcript expression of genes involved in OTA biosynthesis occurred concurrently with mycotoxin accumulation. The high accumulation of OTA during acidification process raised the question of its importance in host-pathogen interactions during the fungal colonisation. Treatment of colonised grapes with sodium bicarbonate reduced accumulation of organic acid and OTA with a concomitant reduction in decay development, suggesting that tissue acidification is a significant factor inA. carbonarius pathogenicity. The present findings suggest that ambient pH is a regulatory signal for induction of mycotoxin production byA. carbonarius under the dynamic nutritional growth conditions occurring in culture. Yet the molecular mechanisms of OTA biosynthesis induction during colonisation of the acidic host environment are still unclear and should be further investigated.
Creation and pilot testing of cases for case-based learning: A pedagogical approach for pathology cancer diagnosis
Authors: Sayed Shahin , Lester Susan C. , Wilson Michael , Berney Daniel , Masia Ricard , Moloo Zahir , Stall Jennifer , Eslan Alexia , Ayers Stephanie , Mutuku Angela , Guarner Jeannette
Published: October 2017

Background: Case-based learning (CBL) is an established pedagogical active learning method used in various disciplines and defined based on the field of study and type of case. The utility of CBL for teaching specific aspects of cancer diagnosis to practising pathologists has not been previously studied in sub-Saharan Africa.Objectives: We aimed to pilot test standardised cancer cases on a group of practising pathologists in sub-Saharan Africa to evaluate case content, clarity of questions and delivery of content.Methods: Expert faculty created cases for the four most commonly diagnosed cancers. The format included mini-cases and bullet cases which were all open-ended. The questions dealt with interpretation of clinical information, gross specimen examination, morphologic characteristics of tumours, ancillary testing, reporting and appropriate communication to clinicians.Results: Cases on breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers were tested on seven practising pathologists. Each case took an average of 45–90 min to complete.Questions that were particularly challenging to testers were on:•  Specimens they should have been but for some reason were not exposed to in routine practice.•  Ancillary testing and appropriate tumour staging.New knowledge gained included tumour grading and assessment of radial margins. Revisions to cases were made based on testers’ feedback, which included rewording of questions to reduce ambiguity and adding of tables to clarify concepts.Conclusion: Cases were created for CBL in Kenya, but these are applicable elsewhere in Africa and beyond to teach cancer diagnosis. The pilot testing of cases prepared faculty for the actual CBL course and feedback provided by the testers assisted in improving the questions and impact on day-to-day practice.
Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the Amylase Gene from the Rice Pest Scirpophaga incertulas Walker and its Inhibitor from Wheat (Variety MP Sehore)
Authors: Sharma Poonam , Shankar Pallavi R. , Subramaniam Geetha , Kumar Amit , Tandon Aanchal , Suresh C.G. , Rele Meenakshi V. , Kumar Lalitha Sunil
Published: October 2017

Scirpophaga incertulas Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralideae), commonly known as yellow stem borer, is a predominant monophagous pest of rice, which causes 5% to 30% loss of the rice crop. We report for the first time, the cloning and sequence analysis of the amylase gene of this pest. The cloned gene translates into a protein of 487 amino acids having a predicted molecular weight of 54,955 daltons and a theoretical pI of 5.9. The 3D structure of the amylase is predicted from its amino acid sequence by homology modeling using the structure of the amylase from Tenebrio molitor L (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). We also report the purification of a dimeric α-amylase inhibitor from a local variety of wheat MP Sehore that is specific for the amylase of this pest and does not inhibit human salivary amylase or porcine pancreatic amylase. The gene encoding this inhibitor has been cloned and its sequence has been analysed to find a possible explanation for this specificity.
Adaptive Public Administration. Managerial and Evaluation Instruments
Authors: Matei Ani , Antonovici Corina Georgiana , Savulescu Carmen
Published: October 2017

The adaptive public administration occurs frequently in theoretical and empirical analyses. The concept itself represents the finality of multiple approaches, assessing and operationalizing the impact of the changes induced by internal and external environment on the current status of a public or private organization. The current paper aims the first integrative synthesis of those processes or state-of-the-art, in view to provide a complex framework and vision to the development of more profound future analyses. Our approach sustains the implementation of a conscious and substantiated vision concerning adaptation in public organizations and/or public administration, revealing their specificity, need for improving the managerial and evaluation instruments, as well as multidisciplinary valorisation of various aspects on organisational adaptation.
¿Ornamento y delito? De Loos a Venturi & Scott Brown.
Authors: Arnau Orenga P. Inés , Bruns Banegas Sergio , Lozano Velasco José María
Published: October 2017

El ornamento en arquitectura ha estado siempre envuelto de polémica, en muchos casos influenciada por una lectura banal de la famosa conferencia de 1908 de Adolf Loos titulada “Ornamento y delito”. Una lectura más profunda de sus textos y el análisis de su obra nos lleva a comprender su posición respecto al ornamento e identificar aquellos elementos que el maestro vienés estaba realmente criticando. No se trata tanto de una crítica directa al ornamento, como de la censura al uso inadecuado del ornamento. Los ejemplos del café Museum o su edificio en Michaelerplatz ilustran sus teorías, al igual que maestros coetáneos como Otto Wagner o Frank Lloyd Wright. Debemos despojarnos de nuestros prejuicios sobre el ornamento, para entender la postura de Adolf Loos. Una postura que no ha perdido vigencia en la arquitectura contemporánea. 
Bayesian inverse modeling and source location of an unintended 131I release in Europe in the fall of 2011
Authors: Tichý Ondřej , Šmídl Václav , Hofman Radek , Šindelářová Kateřina , Hýža Miroslav , Stohl Andreas
Published: October 2017

Abstract. In the fall of 2011, iodine-131 (131I) was detected at several radionuclide monitoring stations in central Europe. After investigation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed by Hungarian authorities that 131I was released from the Institute of Isotopes Ltd. in Budapest, Hungary. It was reported that a total activity of 342 GBq of 131I was emitted between 8 September and 16 November 2011. In this study, we use the ambient concentration measurements of 131I to determine the location of the release as well as its magnitude and temporal variation. As the location of the release and an estimate of the source strength became eventually known, this accident represents a realistic test case for inversion models. For our source reconstruction, we use no prior knowledge. Instead, we estimate the source location and emission variation using only the available 131I measurements. Subsequently, we use the partial information about the source term available from the Hungarian authorities for validation of our results. For the source determination, we first perform backward runs of atmospheric transport models and obtain source-receptor sensitivity (SRS) matrices for each grid cell of our study domain. We use two dispersion models, FLEXPART and Hysplit, driven with meteorological analysis data from the global forecast system (GFS) and from European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) weather forecast models. Second, we use a recently developed inverse method, least-squares with adaptive prior covariance (LS-APC), to determine the 131I emissions and their temporal variation from the measurements and computed SRS matrices. For each grid cell of our simulation domain, we evaluate the probability that the release was generated in that cell using Bayesian model selection. The model selection procedure also provides information about the most suitable dispersion model for the source term reconstruction. Third, we select the most probable location of the release with its associated source term and perform a forward model simulation to study the consequences of the iodine release. Results of these procedures are compared with the known release location and reported information about its time variation. We find that our algorithm could successfully locate the actual release site. The estimated release period is also in agreement with the values reported by IAEA and the reported total released activity of 342 GBq is within the 99 % confidence interval of the posterior distribution of our most likely model.
Assessment of mixed-layer height estimation from single-wavelength ceilometer profiles
Authors: Knepp Travis N. , Szykman James J. , Long Russell , Duvall Rachelle M. , Krug Jonathan , Beaver Melinda , Cavender Kevin , Kronmiller Keith , Wheeler Michael , Delgado Ruben , Hoff Raymond , Berkoff Timothy , Olson Erik , Clark Richard , Wolfe Daniel , Van Gilst David , Neil Doreen
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Differing boundary/mixed-layer height measurement methods were assessed in moderately polluted and clean environments, with a focus on the Vaisala CL51 ceilometer. This intercomparison was performed as part of ongoing measurements at the Chemistry And Physics of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment (CAPABLE) site in Hampton, Virginia and during the 2014 Deriving Information on Surface Conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) field campaign that took place in and around Denver, Colorado. We analyzed CL51 data that were collected via two different methods (BLView software, which applied correction factors, and simple terminal emulation logging) to determine the impact of data collection methodology. Further, we evaluated the STRucture of the ATmosphere (STRAT) algorithm as an open-source alternative to BLView (note that the current work presents an evaluation of the BLView and STRAT algorithms and does not intend to act as a validation of either). Filtering criteria were defined according to the change in mixed-layer height (MLH) distributions for each instrument and algorithm and were applied throughout the analysis to remove high-frequency fluctuations from the MLH retrievals. Of primary interest was determining how the different data-collection methodologies and algorithms compare to each other and to radiosonde-derived boundary-layer heights when deployed as part of a larger instrument network. We determined that data-collection methodology is not as important as the processing algorithm and that much of the algorithm differences might be driven by impacts of local meteorology and precipitation events that pose algorithm difficulties. The results of this study show that a common processing algorithm is necessary for light detection and ranging (lidar)-based MLH intercomparisons and ceilometer-network operation, and that sonde-derived boundary layer heights are higher (10–15 % at midday) than lidar-derived mixed-layer heights. We show that averaging the retrieved MLH to 1 h resolution (an appropriate timescale for a priori data model initialization) significantly improved the correlation between differing instruments and differing algorithms.
Quality assessment of the Ozone_cci Climate Research Data Package (release 2017): 1. Ground-based validation of total ozone column data products
Authors: Garane Katerina , Lerot Christophe , Coldewey-Egbers Melanie , Verhoelst Tijl , Zyrichidou Irene , Balis Dimitris S. , Danckaert Thomas , Goutail Florence , Granville Jose , Hubert Daan , Koukouli Maria Elissavet , Keppens Arno , Lambert Jean-Christopher , Loyola Diego , Pommereau Jean-Pierre , Van Roozendael Michel , Zehner Claus
Published: October 2017

Abstract. The GOME-type Total Ozone Essential Climate Variable (GTO-ECV) is a Level-3 data record, which combines individual sensor products into one single cohesive record covering the 22 year period from 1995 to 2017, generated in the frame of the European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative Phase-II. It is based on Level-2 total ozone data produced by the GODFIT v4 algorithm as applied to the GOME/ERS-2, OMI/Aura, SCIAMACHY/Envisat and GOME-2/MetopA and /MetopB observations. In this paper we examine whether GTO-ECV meets the specific requirements set by the international climate-chemistry modelling community for decadal stability, long-term and short term accuracy. In the following, we present the validation of the 2017 release of the Climate Research Data Package Total Ozone Column (CRDP TOC), both at Level-2 and Level-3. The individual Level-2 data sets show excellent inter-sensor consistency with mean differences generally within 0.5 % at moderate latitudes (±50°), whereas the Level-3 data sets show mean differences with respect to the OMI reference data record that span between −0.2 ± 0.9 % (for GOME-2B) and 1.0 ± 1.4&htinsp;% (for SCIAMACHY). Very similar findings are reported for the Level-2 validation against independent ground-based TOC observations reported by Brewer, Dobson and SAOZ instruments; the mean bias between GODFIT v4 satellite TOC and ground instrument is well within 1.0 ± 1.0 % for all sensors, the drift per decade spans between −0.5 % to 1.0 ± 1.0 % depending on the sensor, and the peak-to-peak seasonality of the differences ranges between ~ 1 % for GOME and OMI, to ~ 2 % for SCIAMACHY. For the Level-3 validation, as a first step the aim was to show that the Level-3 CRDP produces consistent findings as the Level-2 individual sensor comparisons. We show an excellent agreement with 0.5 to 2 % peak-to-peak amplitude for the monthly mean difference time series and a negligible drift per decade in the Northern Hemisphere differences at −0.11 ± 0.10 % per decade for Dobson and +0.22 ± 0.08 % per decade for Brewer collocations. The exceptional quality of the Level-3 GTO-ECV v3 TOC record temporal stability well satisfies the requirements for the total ozone measurement decadal stability of between 1–3 % and the short term and long-term accuracy requirements of 2 % and 3 % respectively, showing an excellent inter-sensor consistency both in the Level-2 GODFIT v4 as well as in the Level-3 GTO-ECV v3 datasets and thus can be used for longer term analysis of the ozone layer, such as decadal trend studies, chemistry-climate model evaluation and data assimilation applications.
Expansion of oil palm and other cash crops causes an increase of the land surface temperature in the Jambi province in Indonesia
Authors: Sabajo Clifton R. , le Maire Guerric , June Tania , Meijide Ana , Roupsard Olivier , Knohl Alexander
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Indonesia is currently one of the regions with the highest transformation rate of land surface worldwide related to the expansion of oil palm plantations and other cash crops replacing forests on large scales. Land cover changes, which modify land surface properties, have a direct effect on the land surface temperature (LST), a key driver for many ecological functions. Despite the large historic land transformation in Indonesia toward oil palm and other cash crops and governmental plans for future expansion, this is the first study so far to quantify the impacts of land transformation on the LST in Indonesia. We analyze LST from the thermal band of a Landsat image and produce a high-resolution surface temperature map (30 m) for the lowlands of the Jambi province in Sumatra (Indonesia), a region which suffered large land transformation towards oil palm and other cash crops over the past decades. The comparison of LST, albedo, normalized differenced vegetation index (NDVI) and evapotranspiration (ET) between seven different land cover types (forest, urban areas, clear-cut land, young and mature oil palm plantations, acacia and rubber plantations) shows that forests have lower surface temperatures than the other land cover types, indicating a local warming effect after forest conversion. LST differences were up to 10.1 ± 2.6 °C (mean ± SD) between forest and clear-cut land. The differences in surface temperatures are explained by an evaporative cooling effect, which offsets the albedo warming effect. Our analysis of the LST trend of the past 16 years based on MODIS data shows that the average daytime surface temperature in the Jambi province increased by 1.05 °C, which followed the trend of observed land cover changes and exceeded the effects of climate warming. This study provides evidence that the expansion of oil palm plantations and other cash crops leads to changes in biophysical variables, warming the land surface and thus enhancing the increase of the air temperature because of climate change.
Recognition of spatial framework for water quality and its relation with land use/cover types from a new perspective: A case study of Jinghe Oasis in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Zhang Fei , Wang Juan , Wang Xiaoping
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Quality evaluation for surface water is an important issue in water resource management and protection. To understand the relation between the spatial framework of water quality in Jinghe Oasis and the change in land use/cover type, we first divide 47 water sampling sites measured in May and October 2015 into 6 cluster layers using the self-organizing map (SOM) method based on non-hierarchical k-means classification, and then determine the distribution characteristics of water quality from the time sequence. Water quality indices include chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (SS), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3−N), chromaticity (SD), and turbidity (NUT). On the basis of the results, we collect data regarding changes in farmland land, forest-grass land, water body, salinized land, and other land types during the wet and dry seasons and combine these data with the classification results of the GF-1 remote sensing satellite obtained in May and October 2015. We then discuss the influences of land use/cover type on water quality at different layers and seasons. The results indicate that Clusters 1 to 3 provide monitoring samples for the wet season (May 2015), whereas Clusters 4 to 6 provide monitoring samples for the dry season (October 2015). In general, the COD, SS, NUT, TN, and NH3−N contents are high in Clusters 1 and 2. The SD values for Clusters 1, 4, and 6 are high. Moreover, high BOD and TP values are mainly concentrated in Clusters 4 and 6. Through the discussion on the relation between different layers of water quality and land use/cover type change, we determine that the influences of farmland land, forest-grassland, and salinized land are significant on the water quality parameters in Jinghe Oasis. In Clusters 1, 2, and 6, the size of the water area also influences the change in water quality parameters to a certain extent. In addition, the influences of various land use/cover types on the water quality parameters in the research zone during different seasons exhibit the following order: farmland land → forest-grass land → salinized land → water body → others. Moreover, influence is less during the wet season than during the dry season. In conclusion, developing research on the relation between the spatial framework of water quality in Jinghe Oasis and land use/cover type change will be significant for the time sequence distribution of water quality in arid regions from both theoretical and practical perspectives.
Entrevista com Júlio Bressane
Authors: Malheiros Munhoz Cláudia
Published: October 2017

Entrevista al consagrado cineasta brasileño Júlio Bressane, en ocasión de su estancia en Madrid, en 2016,  para el Festival Internacional de Cine FILMADRID. Con películas como Cleópatra (2007), Bressane señala su interés por la mitología clásica, presente igualmente en su vida personal – a través de relatos que le contaban de niño, lecturas y artes plásticas – además de su trabajo, como revela en la presente entrevista.
Saudi EFL Teachers’ Perspectives on Learner Autonomy
Authors: Alrabai Fakieh
Published: October 2017

This paper reports the findings of a study that investigated the perceptions on learner autonomy of 136 English teachers in Saudi Arabia. Using a mixed-method approach that utilized a survey and an interview, teachers’ beliefs were explored considering their interpretations of the concept of learner autonomy and its role in foreign language learning, the sense of responsibility that those teachers have in helping their learners become autonomous, the extent to which they feel that their learners are autonomous, and the challenges that they face in promoting their learners’ autonomy. Descriptive statistics (i.e., frequency counts and percentages) were calculated to determine the study findings. These findings revealed that the teachers in this study conceptualized the construct of learner autonomy according to four main orientations: technical, psychological, social, and political; the teachers’ notions of learner autonomy were most strongly associated with the psychological orientation. These teachers also emphasized that they were responsible for their students’ learning, and they perceived their students as passive, dependent and lacking initiative. They further identified several factors related to the learner, the institution, and the teacher as barriers that challenge them in their facilitation of learner autonomy, with some Saudi learner-related factors being the teachers’ main challenges in this regard.
As ambiguidades do Iluminismo em algumas obras de Francisco de Goya: leitura de imagens
Authors: Guidolin Camila , Fianco Francisco
Published: October 2017

Pretende-se identificar as ambiguidades do pensamento e da obra de Goya através da análise de alguns de seus retratos de corte (Carlos IV, La reina María Luisa con tontillo e La familia de Carlos IV) e da mais famosa de suas gravuras (Capricho nº43, El sueño de la razón produce monstruos). A tais ambiguidades relacionaremos as principais características do período histórico no qual viveu o artista, repleto de transformações sociais e culturais, para, através de uma análise reflexiva das imagens, compreender o quanto foi inovador o que Goya estava fazendo em termos de pintura ao mesmo tempo que estava plenamente integrado à sociedade que suas vinculações intelectuais estavam criticando e transformando. Por fim, acompanharemos a crítica ao iluminismo nascente que já se faz entrever em suas gravuras, especialmente a já citada.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Vol. 7, No. 2
Authors: Sun Barbara
Published: October 2017

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Educational and Developmental Psychology, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2017
Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Tomato Production in Semi-Urban Farms in Cameroon: A Stochastic Frontier Production Approach
Authors: Tabe-Ojong Martin Paul Jr. , Molua Ernest L.
Published: October 2017

Agriculture is the mainstay of Cameroon’s economy as it serves the purposes of food, livelihood and employment. Nevertheless, the country’s agriculture is plagued by low productivity and inefficiency in production. One of the main reasons for low productivity is the inability of farmers to fully exploit available technologies and production techniques. An important research question that comes to mind is, what are the major factors that hinder the technical efficiency of smallholder farmers? This study thus aimed to determine the level of technical efficiency in the production of tomato in smallholder farms, relying on primary data collected using a structured survey instrument administered to 80 tomato farmers in the Buea municipality of Cameroon. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a stochastic frontier analysis method in the Cobb-Douglas production function. The STATA.14 software was used to obtain both stochastic frontier estimates and the determinants of technical efficiency. The results indicate that farmers are not fully technically efficient with a mean technical efficiency score of 0.68 with one farmer operating on the frontier. The study also revealed that most of the farmers irrespective of the size of the holdings have shown technical inefficiency problems. The older farmers were observed with the best measures of technical efficiency. Education, age and the adoption and practice of agronomic techniques had a positive and significant influence on technical efficiency while the nearest distance to the extension agent had a rather negative influence on technical efficiency. The input-output relationship showed that the area of tomato cultivation and the quantity of improved seed used were positive and significantly related to output at the 5% level of probability. As a result, it is recommended that farmers should increase their farm size, use of improved seeds and the adoption and practice of novel techniques in production. More emphasis should be placed on extension agents as they have a significant role to play in terms of improving and augmenting farmers’ education and information base through on farm demonstrations and result oriented workshops as all this will ensure increased production and productivity thereby increasing technical efficiency and achieving food self-sufficiency.
Project Quality Management Performance: An Insight to Sustainable Development Initiatives in Oil and Gas Host Communities
Authors: Ugo Prince Destiny
Published: October 2017

A fundamental principle of project quality management is that quality is planned into project and not inspected through project. In the context of host communities in developing countries with mineral exploration activities construction projects and contracts generally is a key provider of employment in both short, medium and long term and particularly for the locals, therefore the incorporation of quality management systems in project life cycle is paramount for sustainable development. Ensuring project quality plays an important role in socio-economic development of people as it provides the most basic infrastructure that promotes economic activities. Quality management systems (QMS) has significant value relating to project quality and cost reduction and a comprehensive quality management culture can promote project success, mutual beneficial relationship and organisational sustainability. This study provides empirical findings emanating from local vendor(s) understanding, compliance and implementation of quality management systems in a multinational oil company (MNOC) community assisted projects. The study utilised SPSS version 22 for the statistical data analysis and Goodness-of-fit-test interrogated the assumption that contractors are not complying with quality management systems in project execution. The study found inter alia that 65% of the vendors are registered as closed corporation (sole proprietorship), 15% were limited liability companies, while 20% belong to other category such as subcontractors. Furthermore, 98% of the 222 respondent are yet to develop a quality manual and a conceptual nominated vendor system (NVS) project quality model was developed to improve the contract award and project management status quo, with emphasis on the need for integration of quality management systems in project life cycle for the oil and gas host communities.
Bærekraftig utvikling, tverrfaglighet og dybdelæring: fra big ideas til store spørsmål
Authors: Sinnes Astrid Tonette , Straume Ingerid Solrunsdatter
Published: October 2017

I den norske stortingsmeldingen «Fag – Fordypning – Forståelse. En fornyelse av Kunnskapsløftet» er «bærekraftig utvikling» ett av tre tverrfaglige temaer som skal gi retning til fornyelse av skolefagene. Sammenlignet med resten av Skandinavia har bærekraftig utvikling så langt hatt en mindre forpliktende stilling i norsk skole. Bakgrunnen for dette er sammensatt, og skyldes forhold både i og utenfor skolen. Spørsmålet som diskuteres her, er hvordan den nye satsningen på utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling kan gi temaet en mer aktiv rolle i framtidens norske skole enn det vi har sett til nå. I den sammenheng ser vi spesielt på spenninger implisitt i begrepet bærekraftig utvikling, forholdet mellom dybdelæring og tverrfaglighet, samt betydningen av handlinger og erfaringer som fremmer en bærekraftig utvikling. Konklusjonen er at det er tvilsomt om fokusering på «big ideas» og kjerneelementer i fagene (stortingsmeldingens anbefalinger) i seg selv vil lede til den tverrfaglige, systemiske forståelsen og kompetansen som er nødvendig for å leve bærekraftige liv i framtidens samfunn. Som alternativ tilnærming foreslår vi å ta utgangspunkt i tidens store spørsmål: det vi lurer på i dag.Nøkkelord: utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling, dybdelæring, tverrfaglighet, læreplaner, Norge Sustainable development, interdisciplinarity and deep learning: from big ideas to big questionsAbstractThe Norwegian White Paper “Fag – Fordypning – Forståelse. En fornyelse av Kunnskapsløftet” [Subjects – Immersion – Understanding. A Renewal of the Knowledge Promotion] states that sustainable development is to be one of three interdisciplinary themes that should guide and inform the renewal of subjects in Norwegian K12 education. Compared to the rest of Scandinavia, education for sustainable development, ESD, has so far been relatively weakly implemented in the Norwegian school system. This is due to complex relations both in and outside of schools. The question discussed in this paper is whether the new initiative for sustainability promises a more effective implementation in the Norwegian “school of the future” than we have seen so far. We elucidate tensions implicit in the concept of sustainable development, the relationship between deep learning and interdisciplinarity, and the significance of actions and experiences that foster sustainable development. Our conclusion is that it is doubtful whether focusing on “big ideas” and core elements in the school subjects (as recommended in the White Paper), in itself will lead to the cross-disciplinary, systemic outlook and competency needed to lead sustainable lives in the future. As an alternative approach, we recommend starting with the big questions of our time: issues we wonder about today.Keywords: education for sustainability, deep learning, interdisciplinarity, national curricula, Norway