bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wind‐mediated horseweed (Conyza canadensis) gene flow: pollen emission, dispersion, and deposition
Authors: Huang Haiyan , Ye Rongjian , Qi Meilan , Li Xiangzhen , Miller David R. , Stewart Charles Neal , DuBois David W. , Wang Junming
Published: June 2015

Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) is a problem weed in crop production because of its evolved resistance to glyphosate and other herbicides. Although horseweed is mainly self‐pollinating, glyphosate‐resistant (GR) horseweed can pollinate glyphosate‐susceptible (GS) horseweed. To the best of our knowledge, however, there are no available data on horseweed pollen production, dispersion, and deposition relative to gene flow and the evolution of resistance. To help fill this knowledge gap, a 43‐day field study was performed in Champaign, Illinois, USA in 2013 to characterize horseweed atmospheric pollen emission, dispersion, and deposition. Pollen concentration and deposition, coupled with atmospheric data, were measured in a source field (180 m by 46 m) and its surrounding areas up to 1 km downwind horizontally and up to 100 m vertically. The source strength (emission rate) ranged from 0 to 140 pollen grains per plant per second (1170 to 2.1×106 per plant per day). For the life of the study, the estimated number of pollen grains generated from this source field was 10.5×1010 (2.3×106 per plant). The release of horseweed pollen was not strongly correlated to meteorological data and may be mainly determined by horseweed physiology. Horseweed pollen reached heights of 80 to100 m, making long‐distance transport possible. Normalized (by source data) pollen deposition with distance followed a negative‐power exponential curve. Normalized pollen deposition was 2.5% even at 480 m downwind from the source edge. Correlation analysis showed that close to or inside the source field at lower heights (≤3 m) vertical transport was related to vertical wind speed, while horizontal pollen transport was related to horizontal wind speed. High relative humidity prevented pollen transport at greater heights (3–100 m) and longer distances (0–1000 m) from the source. This study can contribute to the understanding of how herbicide‐resistance weeds or invasive plants affect ecology through wind‐mediated pollination and invasion.
Discovery–dominance trade‐off among widespread invasive ant species
Authors: Bertelsmeier Cleo , Avril Amaury , Blight Olivier , Jourdan Hervé , Courchamp Franck
Published: June 2015

Ants are among the most problematic invasive species. They displace numerous native species, alter ecosystem processes, and can have negative impacts on agriculture and human health. In part, their success might stem from a departure from the discovery–dominance trade‐off that can promote co‐existence in native ant communities, that is, invasive ants are thought to be at the same time behaviorally dominant and faster discoverers of resources, compared to native species. However, it has not yet been tested whether similar asymmetries in behavioral dominance, exploration, and recruitment abilities also exist among invasive species. Here, we establish a dominance hierarchy among four of the most problematic invasive ants (Linepithema humile, Lasius neglectus, Wasmannia auropunctata, Pheidole megacephala) that may be able to arrive and establish in the same areas in the future. To assess behavioral dominance, we used confrontation experiments, testing the aggressiveness in individual and group interactions between all species pairs. In addition, to compare discovery efficiency, we tested the species' capacity to locate a food resource in a maze, and the capacity to recruit nestmates to exploit a food resource. The four species differed greatly in their capacity to discover resources and to recruit nestmates and to dominate the other species. Our results are consistent with a discovery–dominance trade‐off. The species that showed the highest level of interspecific aggressiveness and dominance during dyadic interactions.
Drivers of Australian dust: a case study of frontal winds and dust dynamics in the lower lake Eyre basin
Authors: Baddock Matthew , Parsons Katherine , Strong Craiq , Leys John , McTainsh Grant
Published: June 2015

The roles of pre‐frontal, frontal and post‐frontal winds as the primary wind systems for dust entrainment and transport in Australia are well established. While the relevance of each system has been observed across different wind erosion events in central Australia, the entrainment of dust by all three winds during the passage of an individual front has not been demonstrated until now. Synoptic information, satellite aerosol and imagery, meteorological and dust concentration data are presented for a single case study erosion event in the lower Lake Eyre Basin. This event demonstrates variable dust transport in three different directions from one of the southern Hemisphere's most significant source regions, and the changing nature of the active dust pathways during the passage of a frontal system. While only a single dust event is considered, the findings show the complexity of mineral aerosol emission and transport patterns even within an individual dust outbreak. For the lower Lake Eyre Basin, this appreciation of pathway behaviour is significant for better understanding the role of aeolian inputs from the dominant Australian source to surrounding marine systems. In a wider context, the findings exhibit the detailed insights into major dust source dynamics that can be obtained from high resolution spatial and particularly temporal data, as used in combination. This work highlights the importance of adequately resolved data for the accurate determination of dust entrainment and transport patterns of major dust sources. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HBCUs as Critical Context for Identity Work: Reflections, Experiences, and Lessons Learned
Authors: Greenfield Derek F. , Innouvong Tony , Aglugub Richard Jay , Yusuf Ismail A.
Published: June 2015

Using narratives from a diverse group of students and staff in terms of race and religion, this chapter gives voice to these individuals’ experiences with issues of diversity and inclusion at an HBCU. This chapter also discusses how these experiences helped to facilitate the authors’ racial and cultural identity development.
Facile Synthesis of 5‐Hexyl‐4‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactone via Nef Reaction as a Key Step
Authors: Li Zhi , Wang Changwei , Feng Pengju
Published: June 2015

A racemic cis/trans mixture of 5‐hexyl‐4‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactone was easily synthesized from 1‐iodoheptane in four steps with inexpensive and readily available reagents. Our new synthesis method can be potentially employed for mass production of the 4‐methyl‐5‐hexyl‐γ‐butyrolactone as well as other poly‐alkyl substituted γ‐butyrolactones.
New Casbane Diterpenoids from the Hainan Soft Coral Sinularia Species
Authors: Yang Bin , Huang Jingxia , Lin Xiuping , Liao Shengrong , Zhou Xuefeng , Liu Juan , Wang Junfeng , Wang Lishu , Liu Yonghong
Published: June 2015

Six new casbane diterpenoids, sinularcasbanes G–L (1–6, resp.) were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia sp. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D‐NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS. The configuration was confirmed by CD analyses and by comparison with data reported in the literature. The compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against ten human cancer cell lines (H1975, U937, K562, BGC823, MOLT‐4, MCF‐7, A549, HeLa, HL60, and Huh‐7) and showed no activity.
Spatiotemporal variability of water quality and stable water isotopes in intensively managed prairie watersheds
Authors: Untereiner Erin , Ali Genevieve , Stadnyk Tricia
Published: June 2015

Low‐relief and highly engineered prairie landscapes present many challenges for water quality modelling. Limited investigation has been carried out to determine whether drains, canals and diversions (artificial waterways) impact water quality relative to natural or naturalized systems or to assess the value of stable water isotopes as predictor variables for specific water quality metrics. The goal of this paper is to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of water chemistry in a typical prairie watershed by (1) comparing water quality and stable water isotopic ratios between naturalized and artificial waterways; (2) evaluating the relationships between topographic and land use characteristics, water quality and stable water isotopic ratios; and (3) expressing and predicting PO4 concentrations as a function of stable water isotopic ratios. Focus was on the 2509 km2 mostly agricultural Seine River Watershed located in southern Manitoba, Canada. Twenty‐four sampling sites located along naturalized river reaches, drains and diversions were visited once a week from May to June 2013. Surface water samples were collected and tested for physical water quality parameters and PO4 concentrations, δ2H and δ18O. Kruskal–Wallis tests show no significant differences in water chemistry among waterway types, while strong correlations were found between physical water quality parameters, PO4 concentrations, isotopic ratios and watershed characteristics. PO4 concentrations were successfully predicted from isotopic ratios using linear regression models. These results bear significant importance for the mostly ungauged prairie watersheds, thanks to the relative ease and lower cost of measuring stable water isotopic ratios in comparison to nutrient concentrations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PID Effect of c‐Si Modules: Study of Degradation and Recovery to More Closely Mimic Field Behavior
Authors: Jaeckel Bengt , Cosic Marijo , Arp Juergen
Published: June 2015

Recent research demonstrates several failure modes of photovoltaic modules operating under high electric potentials. In crystalline‐silicon modules, the predominant failure mode is potential‐induced degradation (PID), causing dramatic power losses in systems under high voltage and critical polarity. Environmental conditions highly influence the degradation behavior. The ability to reproduce field observation in the laboratory is challenging and not all stressors can be checked simultaneously. PID and its root cause are not fully understood, but we know several mechanisms are working simultaneously and at varying rates. The main mechanisms are degradation, characterized by ion diffusion and cell shunting, and recovery, driven by temperature, voltage, and potential. Most studies have focused on simulating module degradation using a constant set of parameters. However, field exposure to high voltage is variable, measured by the hour. In 2012, Nagel presented a module stability test with varying environmental conditions, notably temperature. To investigate PID remedies, this research develops a testing procedure that reproduces field observations while understanding that some modules do not degrade in real PV installations under high potentials. Conductive foil is applied to the front side of the module and voltage cycling is introduced to examine potential‐induced degradation and potential‐induced recovery behavior. The relationship between the two defines a PID stability criterion. Results show general PID sensitivity and suitable remedies for PID affected systems. PID recovery and protection solutions include applying recovery potential at night, and potential shifting, which regulates potential for the module string. This paper explores possible degradation mechanisms, recovery of module output power and PID stability criteria.
Assessing Systemic Importance With a Fuzzy Logic Inference System
Authors: León Carlos , Machado Clara , Murcia Andrés
Published: June 2015

Three metrics are designed to assess Colombian financial institutions' size, connectedness and non‐substitutability as the main drivers of systemic importance: (i) centrality as net borrower in the money market network; (ii) centrality as payments originator in the large‐value payment system network; and (iii) asset value of core financial services. An aggregated systemic importance index is calculated based on expert knowledge by using a fuzzy logic inference system. We use principal component analysis to calculate a benchmark index for comparison purposes. Overall similarities between both indexes put forward that expert knowledge aggregation is consistent with that based on a purely quantitative standard approach. Specific non‐negligible differences concur with the nonlinear features of an approach whose intention is to replicate human reasoning. Both indexes are complementary and provide a comprehensive relative assessment of each financial institution's systemic importance in the Colombian case, in which the choice of metrics pursues the macroprudential perspective of financial stability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sub‐chronic exposure to fluoride impacts the response to a subsequent nephrotoxic treatment with gentamicin
Authors: Cárdenas‐González Mariana , Jacobo Estrada Tania , Rodríguez‐Muñoz Rafael , Barrera‐Chimal Jonatan , Bobadilla Norma A. , Barbier Olivier C. , Del Razo Luz M.
Published: June 2015

Fluoride is an important groundwater contaminant, and more than 200 million people are exposed to high fluoride levels in drinking water, the major source of fluoride exposure. Exposure above 2 ppm of fluoride is associated with renal impairment in humans. In rats, moderate levels of fluoride induce kidney injury at early stages in which the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is not altered. In the present study, we investigated if sub‐nephrotoxic stimulus induced by fluoride might impact the response to a subsequent nephrotoxic treatment with gentamicin. Male Wistar rats (~21 days) were exposed to 0, 15 or 50 ppm of fluoride through drinking water during 40 days. Afer that, rats were co‐exposed to gentamicin (40 mg kg–1 day–1, 7 days). Gentamicin induced a marked decrease in the GFR and an increase in urinary levels as well as the protein and mRNA expression of biomarkers of early kidney injury, such as Kim‐1. Interestingly, gentamicin nephrotoxicity was less pronounced in groups previously exposed to fluoride than in the group only treated with gentamicin. Fluoride induced Hsp72, a cytoprotective molecule, which might have improved the response against gentamicin. Moreover, fluoride decreased the expression of megalin, a molecule necessary for internalization of gentamicin into the proximal tubule, potentially reducing gentamicin accumulation. The present results suggest that fluoride reduced gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity by inducing a compensatory response carried out by Hsp72 and by decreasing gentamicin accumulation. These findings should not be interpreted to suggest that fluoride is a protective agent as megalin deficiency could lead to serious adverse effects on the kidney physiology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of GSK3β Stimulates BMP Signaling and Decreases SOST Expression Which Results in Enhanced Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Schoeman Monique A.E. , Moester Martiene J.C. , Oostlander Angela E. , Kaijzel Eric L. , Valstar Edward R. , Nelissen Rob G.H.H. , Löwik Clemens W.G.M. , Rooij Karien E.de
Published: June 2015

Both bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling have significant roles in osteoblast differentiation and the interaction between BMP and Wnt signaling is well known. Sclerostin is an important inhibitor of bone formation, inhibiting Wnt signaling and downstream effects of BMP such as alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization in vitro. However, little is known about the effect of BMP and Wnt signaling interaction on the regulation of SOST, the gene encoding sclerostin. Possibly, uncoupling of osteoblast differentiation regulators and SOST expression could increase osteoblast differentiation. Therefore, we investigated the effect of BMP and Wnt signaling interaction on the expression of SOST and the subsequent effect on osteoblast differentiation. Human osteosarcoma cells (SaOS‐2) and murine pre‐osteoblast cells (KS483) were treated with different concentrations of Wnt3a, a specific GSK3β inhibitor (GIN) and BMP4. Both Wnt3a and GIN increased BMP4‐induced BMP signaling and BMP4 increased Wnt3a and GIN‐induced Wnt signaling. However, the effect of GIN was much stronger. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis showed that SOST expression dose‐dependently decreased with increasing Wnt signaling, while BMP4 induced SOST expression. GIN significantly decreased the BMP4‐induced SOST expression. This resulted in an increased osteoblast differentiation as measured by ALP activity in the medium and matrix mineralization. We conclude that GSK3β inhibition by GIN caused an uncoupling of BMP signaling and SOST expression, resulting in an increased BMP4‐induced osteoblast differentiation. This effect can possibly be used in clinical practice to induce local bone formation, for example, fracture healing or osseointegration of implants. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2938–2946, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Altered microRNA Expression Profiles and Regulation of INK4A/CDKN2A Tumor Suppressor Genes in Canine Breast Cancer Models
Authors: Lutful Kabir Farruk Mohammad , DeInnocentes Patricia , Bird Richard Curtis
Published: June 2015

microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling of cancer versus normal cells may reveal the characteristic regulatory features that can be correlated to altered gene expression in both human and animal models of cancers. In this study, the comprehensive expression profiles of the 277 highly characterized miRNAs from the canine genome were evaluated in spontaneous canine mammary tumor (CMT) models harboring defects in a group of cell cycle regulatory and potent tumor suppressor genes of INK4/CDKN2 family including p16/INK4A, p14ARF, and p15/INK4B. A large number of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in three CMT cell lines to potentially target oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and cancer biomarkers. A group of the altered miRNAs were identified by miRNA target prediction tools for regulation of the INK4/CDKN2 family tumor suppressor genes. miRNA‐141 was experimentally validated for INK4A 3′‐UTR target binding in the CMT cell lines providing an essential mechanism for the post‐transcriptional regulation of the INK4A tumor suppressor gene in CMT models. A well‐recognized group of miRNAs including miR‐21, miR‐155, miR‐9, miR‐34a, miR‐143/145, and miR‐31 were found to be altered in both CMTs and human breast cancer. These altered miRNAs might serve as potential targets for advancing the development of future therapeutic reagents. These findings further strengthen the validity and use of canine breast cancers as appropriate models for the study of human breast cancers. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2956–2969, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Regioorientation in the Addition Reaction of α‐Substituted Cinnamonitrile to Enamines Utilizing Chitosan as a Green Catalyst: Unambiguous Structural Characterization Using 2D‐HMBC NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Ghozlan Said A. S. , Ahmed Ahmed Gamal , Abdelhamid Ismail Abdelshafy
Published: June 2015

Hexahydroquinolines and their fused derivatives are obtained in good to excellent yields by proceeding through a simple, mild, and efficient procedure including the reaction of enamines with substituted cinnamonitriles using DABCO, piperidine, or chitosan as catalysts. The regioorientation of Michael addition was established with no doubt using the 2D‐HMBC spectroscopy.
Statistical downscaling of seasonal precipitation in Israel
Authors: Rostkier‐Edelstein Dorita , Kunin Pavel , Hopson Thomas M. , Liu Yubao , Givati Amir
Published: June 2015

Careful planning of the use of water resources is critical in the semi‐arid eastern Mediterranean region. The relevant areas are characterized by complex terrain and coastlines, and exhibit large spatial variability in seasonal precipitation. Global seasonal forecasts provide only partial information of the precipitation as a result of their coarse spatial resolution. We present two statistical downscaling methods of global forecasts, both identifying past‐analogue synoptic‐weather patterns and their connection to precipitation at specific stations. The first method utilizes a classification of the large‐scale weather patterns into regimes, and the other identifies the closest past analogues directly without grouping the weather events. The validation of the algorithms using NCEP/NCAR reanalyses and past precipitation observations at 18 stations shows that both methods provide good skill in predicting mean precipitation amounts and quantiles of the precipitation distribution, and in reproducing the observed inter‐annual and spatial variability. Both methods show good correlations between predicted and observed precipitation amounts (∼0.8), and the downscaled precipitation reproduces the observed differences between the stations, which are not available in the coarse global models. Based on these results, we downscaled the operational global‐seasonal forecasts issued by the NCEP CFS1.0 ensemble. This approach could also have utility in climate change scenario downscaling.
Ionic‐liquid‐impregnated resin for the microwave‐assisted solid–liquid extraction of triazine herbicides in honey
Authors: Wu Lijie , Song Ying , Hu Mingzhu , Yu Cui , Zhang Hanqi , Yu Aimin , Ma Qiang , Wang Ziming
Published: June 2015

Microwave‐assisted ionic‐liquid‐impregnated resin solid–liquid extraction was developed for the extraction of triazine herbicides, including cyanazine, metribuzin, desmetryn, secbumeton, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, dimethametryn, and dipropetryn in honey samples. The ionic‐liquid‐impregnated resin was prepared by immobilizing 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate in the microspores of resin. The resin was used as the extraction adsorbent. The extraction and enrichment of analytes were performed in a single step. The extraction time can be shortened greatly with the help of microwave. The effects of experimental parameters including type of resin, type of ionic liquid, mass ratio of resin to ionic liquid, extraction time, amount of the impregnated resin, extraction temperature, salt concentration, and desorption conditions on the extraction efficiency, were investigated. A Box–Behnken design was applied to the selection of the experimental parameters. The recoveries were in the range of 80.1 to 103.4% and the relative standard deviations were lower than 6.8%. The present method was applied to the analysis of honey samples.
One‐Pot, One‐Step Strategy for the Preparation of Clickable Melamine Based Microporous Organic Polymer Network
Authors: Taskin Omer Suat , Kiskan Baris , Weber Jens , Yagci Yusuf
Published: June 2015

Although, current preparation methods for microporous organic polymers (MOP) based on coupling or condensations reactions are simple and flexible, they suffer from the requirement of additional modification steps for introducing properties for specific purposes. In the present work, we have developed a simple and rapid synthetic strategy to prepare MOP possessing reactive sites to incorporate any molecules of interest by “Click Chemistry”. The clickable MOP with high surface area was readily synthesized through Schiff base chemistry using propargylated anthraquinone and melamine in the catalyst free, one‐pot process. The versatility of the click coupling on the acetylene functional MOP was demonstrated on a model reaction using independently prepared fluorescent azido‐pyrene.
Experiences with functional gracilis muscle flap in lower lip reconstruction
Authors: Coskunfirat Osman Koray , Bektas Gamze , Cinpolat Ani , Unal Kerim , Coskunfirat Nesil
Published: June 2015

Objective

Reconstruction of the lips is pivotal because the lips play an essential role in facial aesthetics and have unique functional properties. We presented our experience in reconstruction of total or subtotal lower lip defects with functional gracillis muscle flap covered split‐thickness skin graft (STSG) in patients.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2011, seven patients underwent resection of lower lip squamous cell carcinoma and lip reconstruction. Gracillis muscle flap was performed for reconstruction. Recipient vessels were the facial artery and vein. Motor nerve of the gracillis muscle was coapted to the marginal branch of the facial nerve. Gracillis muscle was covered with STSG. Patients were evaluated about mouth opening, oral competence, word articulation, the color match of the graft, the contraction of the muscle by physical examination. Electromyographic studies and sensation tests were performed.

Results

Postoperative course was uneventful for all of the flaps. No microvascular revisions were needed. One patient was reoperated because of wound dehiscence under local anaesthesia. Mean follow up period was 15 months. After three months, movement of the reconstructed lip was observed. Color of the grafted skin was matched with the skin of the face. The patients had no problems with word articulation, oral continence, or mouth opening. The electromyographic study showed recovery of motor innervation. After 1 year, the patients demonstrated recovered sensitivity with the sensation test.

Conclusion

Considering functional results, superior aesthetic appearance, and minimal donor‐site morbidity of the functional gracillis transfer covered skin graft, we think that this method may be an alternative for reconstruction of large full‐thickness defects of the lower lip. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:487–493, 2017.
Sodium MRI of the human heart at 7.0 T: preliminary results
Authors: Graessl Andreas , Ruehle Anjuli , Waiczies Helmar , Resetar Ana , Hoffmann Stefan H. , Rieger Jan , Wetterling Friedrich , Winter Lukas , Nagel Armin M. , Niendorf Thoralf
Published: June 2015

The objective of this work was to examine the feasibility of three‐dimensional (3D) and whole heart coverage 23Na cardiac MRI at 7.0 T including single‐cardiac‐phase and cinematic (cine) regimes.

A four‐channel transceiver RF coil array tailored for 23Na MRI of the heart at 7.0 T (f = 78.5 MHz) is proposed. An integrated bow‐tie antenna building block is used for 1H MR to support shimming, localization and planning in a clinical workflow. Signal absorption rate simulations and assessment of RF power deposition were performed to meet the RF safety requirements. 23Na cardiac MR was conducted in an in vivo feasibility study. 3D gradient echo (GRE) imaging in conjunction with Cartesian phase encoding (total acquisition time TAQ = 6 min 16 s) and whole heart coverage imaging employing a density‐adapted 3D radial acquisition technique (TAQ = 18 min 20 s) were used.

For 3D GRE‐based 23Na MRI, acquisition of standard views of the heart using a nominal in‐plane resolution of (5.0 × 5.0) mm2 and a slice thickness of 15 mm were feasible. For whole heart coverage 3D density‐adapted radial 23Na acquisitions a nominal isotropic spatial resolution of 6 mm was accomplished. This improvement versus 3D conventional GRE acquisitions reduced partial volume effects along the slice direction and enabled retrospective image reconstruction of standard or arbitrary views of the heart. Sodium cine imaging capabilities were achieved with the proposed RF coil configuration in conjunction with 3D radial acquisitions and cardiac gating. Cardiac‐gated reconstruction provided an enhancement in blood–myocardium contrast of 20% versus the same data reconstructed without cardiac gating.

The proposed transceiver array enables 23Na MR of the human heart at 7.0 T within clinical acceptable scan times. This capability is in positive alignment with the needs of explorations that are designed to examine the potential of 23Na MRI for the assessment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solar cell efficiency tables (version 46)
Authors: Green Martin A. , Emery Keith , Hishikawa Yoshihiro , Warta Wilhelm , Dunlop Ewan D.
Published: June 2015

Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since January 2015 are reviewed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using regime analysis to identify the contribution of clouds to surface temperature errors in weather and climate models
Authors: Van Weverberg Kwinten , Morcrette Cyril J. , Ma Hsi‐Yen , Klein Stephen A. , Petch Jon C.
Published: June 2015

Many global circulation models (GCMs) exhibit a persistent bias in the 2 m temperature over the midlatitude continents, present in short‐range forecasts as well as long‐term climate simulations. A number of hypotheses have been proposed, revolving around deficiencies in the soil–vegetation–atmosphere energy exchange, poorly resolved low‐level boundary‐layer clouds or misrepresentations of deep‐convective storms.

A common approach to evaluating model biases focuses on the model‐mean state. However, this makes difficult an unambiguous interpretation of the origins of a bias, given that biases are the result of the superposition of impacts of clouds and land‐surface deficiencies over multiple time steps. This article presents a new methodology to objectively detect the role of clouds in the creation of a surface warm bias. A unique feature of this study is its focus on temperature‐error growth at the time‐step level.

It is shown that compositing the temperature‐error growth by the coinciding bias in total downwelling radiation provides unambiguous evidence for the role that clouds play in the creation of the surface warm bias during certain portions of the day. Furthermore, the application of an objective cloud‐regime classification allows for the detection of the specific cloud regimes that matter most for the creation of the bias.

We applied this method to two state‐of‐the‐art GCMs that exhibit a distinct warm bias over the Southern Great Plains of the USA. Our analysis highlights that, in one GCM, biases in deep‐convective and low‐level clouds contribute most to the temperature‐error growth in the afternoon and evening respectively. In the second GCM, deep clouds persist too long in the evening, leading to a growth of the temperature bias. The reduction of the temperature bias in both models in the morning and the growth of the bias in the second GCM in the afternoon could not be assigned to a cloud issue, but are more likely caused by a land‐surface deficiency.
Turbulence in breaking mountain waves and atmospheric rotors estimated from airborne in situ and Doppler radar measurements
Authors: Strauss Lukas , Serafin Stefano , Haimov Samuel , Grubišić Vanda
Published: June 2015

Atmospheric turbulence generated in flow over mountainous terrain is studied using airborne in situ and cloud radar measurements over the Medicine Bow Mountains in southeast Wyoming, USA. During the NASA Orographic Clouds Experiment (NASA06) in 2006, two complex mountain flow cases were documented by the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft carrying the Wyoming Cloud Radar.

The structure of turbulence and its intensity across the mountain range are described using the variance of vertical velocity and the cube root of the energy dissipation rate ɛ1/3 (EDR). For a quantitative analysis of turbulence from the cloud radar, the uncertainties in the Doppler wind retrieval have to be taken into account, such as the variance of hydrometeor fall speed and the contamination of vertical Doppler velocity by the horizontal wind. A thorough analysis of the uncertainties shows that 25% accuracy or better can be achieved in regions of moderate to severe turbulence in the lee of the mountains, while only qualitative estimates of turbulence intensity can be obtained outside the most turbulent regions.

Two NASA06 events exhibiting large‐amplitude mountain waves, mid‐tropospheric wave breaking, and rotor circulations are examined. Moderate turbulence is found in a wave‐breaking region with and EDR reaching 4.8 m2 s−2 and 0.25 m2/3 s−1, respectively. Severe turbulence is measured within the rotor circulations with and EDR respectively in the ranges of 7.8–16.4 m2 s−2 and 0.50–0.77 m2/3 s−1. A unique result of this study is the quantitative estimation of the intensity of turbulence and its spatial distribution in the interior of atmospheric rotors, provided by the radar‐derived turbulence fields.
Effects of different instrumentation techniques on calcium hydroxide removal from simulated immature teeth
Authors: Altunsoy Mustafa , Ok Evren , Tanrıver Mehmet , Capar Ismail D.
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endodontic instrument systems in the removal of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] from simulated immature teeth. The root canals of 106 human single‐rooted teeth were shaped with ProTaper rotary files up to an F5 file size. Simulation of roots with immature apices was carried out using size 4 green 1.5‐mm diameter Unicore drills. A non‐setting Ca(OH)2 was injected into each root canal and inserted into the working length using lentulo spiral, after which cotton pellets were placed over canal orifices. The apical and coronal side of the roots were then sealed with glass ionomer cement and light cured. Specimens were stored in distilled water for 3 months at 37 °C. After 3 months, the temporary coronal seal was removed and the samples were randomly divided into five experimental groups according to the method used for Ca(OH)2 removal (ProTaper, Reciproc, OneShape, WaveOne, and Manual) (n = 20), one positive control group (n = 3) and one negative control group (n = 3). The amount of remaining Ca(OH)2 in the canal walls was measured under a stereomicroscope at 30× magnification. The data were analyzed using Kruskal‐Wallis test and Mann‐Whitney U test at a significance level of 0.05. Positive and negative control groups were found to be statistically different from all other groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the ProTaper, Reciproc, OneShape, WaveOne, and Manual groups (p > 0.05). As a conclusion, none of the techniques completely removed Ca(OH)2 from simulated immature teeth. SCANNING 37:265–269, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrasound ‘gallbladder polyps’: a misleading description best rephrased
Authors: Vivian SarahJayne , Furtado Ruelan , Falk Gregory
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Management of an ultrasound diagnosis of gallbladder ‘polyp’ (GBP) involves balancing the risk of missed adenoma with patient anxiety of ‘polyp’ suggesting malignant risk. Radiological reports often lack detail to stratify risk. This study describes the state of ultrasound reporting of GBPs in metropolitan practice.

Method

Retrospective review of a single surgeon's database was carried out (1999–2013). Patient demographics, symptoms and histopathological findings were reviewed. Radiological reports were examined for size, mobility, echogenicity and vascular flow within the polyp.

Results

Sixty‐three patients were referred with GBP diagnosis. Twenty‐eight did not progress to surgery. Patients with available pathology were distributed: 11 (31%) cholesterol ‘polyps’ and 2 (8%) true adenomatous polyps. Original ultrasound report was available in 21 patients. Reports recorded ‘polyp’ size in 15 (71%), mobility in 9 (43%), echogenicity in 6 (29%) and vascular flow in 1 (5%). The number was reported in 16 (57%).

Discussion

Ultrasound is not a specific test for biliary adenoma and frequently misinterprets stones or adenomyosis as ‘polyp’. Reports often did not provide enough detail for informed judgement for advice about cholecystectomy. To avoid unnecessary patient concern, it is suggested the term ‘polyp’ be abandoned for ‘echogenic focus with or without likelihood of adenoma’.
Supporting Commuter Students of Color
Authors: Kodama Corinne Maekawa
Published: June 2015

This chapter provides information and recommendations for working with commuter students of color, along with several examples from practice.
Commuter Students With Disabilities
Authors: Garland John L.
Published: June 2015

This chapter provides information and resources for higher education professionals to better serve and support students who commute or live off campus and who may also have a disability.
“Oh, My God, I Hate You:” The Felt Experience of Being Othered for Being Thin
Authors: Beggan James K. , DeAngelis Mattie
Published: June 2015

It is universally held among researchers and social critics that a thin ideal dominates current cultural conceptions of what is attractive, especially for women. Using interviews with eighteen women and men, this paper investigates an apparent paradox: how thin people negotiate a landscape where the attention they receive because of their thinness distresses them. Results indicate that thin people are often the target of unwanted comments about their size, comments produce an unpleasant state of self‐consciousness, and the expectation of unwanted social interaction will motivate thin individuals to avoid certain social situations. Results are interpreted in terms of thinness being a hypervisible condition that produces a breakdown of norms regarding civil inattention toward thinness and produces the experience of being othered by social perceivers.
Antenna‐height‐dependent path loss model and shadowing characteristics under indoor stair environment at 2.6 GHz
Authors: Liu Yang , Yu Yu , Lu Wen‐Jun , Zhu Hong‐Bo
Published: June 2015

A novel path loss model under an indoor stair environment with antenna‐height dependency at the 2.6‐GHz band is proposed in this paper. In order to describe the attenuation caused by the variation of antenna height, a new height attenuation factor (HAF) is added to the usual local path loss model. The path loss exponent and the antenna‐height‐dependent factor are obtained by using the least squares method. Besides, the influence of antenna height variation on the shadowing effects is studied, and an empirical expression of the standard deviation about antenna height is obtained. The proposed model is verified by several measurement results. The results show that the proposed model is effective and can be employed for the future fifth‐generation (5G) ubiquitous wireless communication system design. © 2015 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Exploring the drivers of wildlife population dynamics from insufficient data by Bayesian model averaging
Authors: Osada Yutaka , Kuriyama Takeo , Asada Masahiko , Yokomizo Hiroyuki , Miyashita Tadashi
Published: June 2015

A long‐standing interest in ecology and wildlife management is to find drivers of wildlife population dynamics because it is crucial for implementing the effective wildlife management. Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of state‐space modeling for this purpose, but we often confront the lack of the necessary time‐series data. This is particularly common in wildlife management because of limited funds or early stage of data collection. In this study, we proposed a Bayesian model averaging technique in a state‐space modeling framework for identifying the drivers of wildlife population dynamics from limited data. To exemplify the utility of Bayesian model averaging for wildlife management, we illustrate here the population dynamics of wild boarsSus scrofain Chiba prefecture, central Japan. Despite the fact that our data are limited in both temporal and spatial resolution, Bayesian model averaging revealed the potential influence of bamboo forests and abandoned agricultural fields on wild boar population dynamics, and largely enhanced model predictability compared to the full model. Although Bayesian model averaging is not commonly used in ecology and wildlife management, our case study demonstrated that it may help to find influential drivers of wildlife population dynamics and develop a better management plan even from limited time‐series data.
Food supply and poaching limit giraffe abundance in the Serengeti
Authors: Strauss M. K. L. , Kilewo M. , Rentsch D. , Packer C.
Published: June 2015

The iconic giraffe, an ecologically important browser, has shown a substantial decline in numbers across Africa since the 1990s. In Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, giraffes reached densities of 1.5–2.6 individuals km−2 in the 1970s coincident with a pulse of Acacia tree recruitment. However, despite continued increases in woody cover between the 1980s and the 2000s, giraffe recruitment and survival rates have declined and density has dropped to only 0.3–0.4 giraffes km−2. We used a decision table to investigate how four extrinsic factors may have contributed to these declines: food supply, predation, parasites, and poaching, which have all been previously shown to limit Serengeti ungulate populations. Lower recruitment likely resulted from a reduction in diet quality, owing to the replacement of preferred trees with unpalatable species, while decreased adult survival resulted from illegal harvesting, which appears to have had a greater impact on giraffe populations bordering the western and northern Serengeti. The Serengeti giraffe population will likely persist at low‐to‐moderate densities until palatable tree species regain their former abundance. Leslie matrix models suggest that park managers should meanwhile redouble their efforts to reduce poaching, thereby improving adult survival.
Vapors in the ambient—A complication in tribological studies or an engineering solution of tribological problems?
Authors: Alazizi Ala , Barthel Anthony J. , Surdyka Nicholas D. , Luo Jiawei , Kim Seong H.
Published: June 2015

Tribology involves not only two-body contacts of two solid materials—a substrate and a counter-surface; it often involves three-body contacts whether the third body is intentionally introduced or inevitably added during the sliding or rubbing. The intentionally added third body could be lubricant oil or engineered nano-material used to mitigate the friction and wear of the sliding contact. The inevitably added third body could be wear debris created from the substrate or the counter surface during sliding. Even in the absence of any solid third-body between the sliding surfaces, molecular adsorption of water or organic vapors from the surrounding environment can dramatically alter the friction and wear behavior of solid surfaces tested in the absence of lubricant oils. This review article covers the last case: the effects of molecular adsorption on sliding solid surfaces both inevitably occurring due to the ambient test and intentionally introduced as a solution for engineering problems. We will review how adsorbed molecules can change the course of wear and friction, as well as the mechanical and chemical behavior, of a wide range of materials under sliding conditions.
Energy dissipation of atomic-scale friction based on one-dimensional Prandtl-Tomlinson model
Authors: Wang Zi-Jian , Ma Tian-Bao , Hu Yuan-Zhong , Xu Liang , Wang Hui
Published: June 2015

The energy transition and dissipation of atomic-scale friction are investigated using the one-dimensional Prandtl-Tomlinson model. A systematic study of the factors influencing the energy dissipation is conducted, indicating that the energy that accumulated during the stick stage does not always dissipate completely during stick-slip motion. We adopt the energy-dissipation ratio (EDR) to describe the relationship between the energy dissipated permanently in the system and the conservative reversible energy that can be reintroduced to the driving system after the slip process. The EDR can change continuously from 100% to 0, covering the stick-slip, intermediate, and smooth-sliding regimes, depending on various factors such as the stiffness, potential-energy corrugation, damping coefficient, sliding velocity, and the temperature of the system. Among these, the parameter η, which depends on both the surface potential and the lateral stiffness, is proven in this paper to have the most significant impact on the EDR. According to η-T phase diagrams of the EDR, the smooth-sliding superlubricity and thermolubricity are found to be unified with regard to the energy dissipation and transition. An analytical formulation for the EDR that can be used to quantitatively predict the amount of energy dissipation is derived from a lateral-force curve.
Coverage of the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic on YouTube
Authors: Basch Corey H. , Basch Charles E. , Ruggles Kelly V. , Hammond Rodney
Published: June 2015

Objective

The recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in 2014–2015 has been the largest and longest lasting to date. Media coverage about the outbreak has been extensive, but there are large gaps in our understanding of the ways in which widely accessed social media sites are used during times of public health crisis. The purpose of this study was to analyze widely viewed videos about EVD on the YouTube video-sharing site.

Methods

We coded the source, content, and characteristics of the 100 most widely viewed videos about EVD on YouTube.

Results

The videos included in the sample were viewed more than 73 million times. The death toll in West Africa was mentioned in nearly one-third of the videos. Over one-third of the videos mentioned how EVD was generally transmitted. There was little mention of treatment and no mention of the need for US funding of disaster preparedness; coordination between local, state, and federal governments; or beds ready for containment. No significant differences in the number of views were identified between video sources with the exception of a significantly higher number of views for “consumer videos” compared with “commercial television videos.”

Conclusions

With 1 billion unique users a month, YouTube has potential for both enhancing education and spreading misinformation. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:531-535)
Motivations for Smoking Cessation and the Impact of Regulatory Tax Increases Amongst Fathers within the Pacific Islands Families Study
Authors: Tautolo El-Shadan , Iusitini Leon , Taylor Steve , Paterson Janis
Published: June 2015

Aims:To examine the prevalence of smoking, motivations for cessation, and impact of tobacco excise tax increases amongst a cohort of Pacific fathers at 11 years after the birth of their child.

Methods:Within the context of broader interviews, 723 Pacific fathers participating in the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study were surveyed about their smoking at the 11-year measurement point. Prevalence of smoking was calculated, alongside motivations to quit, and the impact of increases to the excise tax on tobacco.

Results:Smoking prevalence amongst Pacific fathers remains high (38%) at 11 years postpartum, although 81% of smokers disclosed interest in quitting smoking. The strongest motivation to quit smoking was their ‘own health’ (n= 185, 82%), followed by ‘the cost’ (n= 148, 66%), and the impact on ‘their child's health’ (n= 113, 50%). Among smokers, 12% (n= 31) had never attempted to quit, whereas 63% (n= 159) had made multiple attempts. Approximately 70% (n= 191) of smokers indicated the New Zealand Government-initiated tobacco excise tax increases caused them to reduce their tobacco consumption.

Conclusions:High smoking prevalence amongst this cohort raises serious concerns about the risks Pacific families and communities face from smoking. Maintaining a sustained series of tobacco excise tax increases, alongside the utilisation of information on key motivators for Pacific fathers to quit smoking, may prove more effective in supporting Pacific communities to achieve the New Zealand Government's Smokefree 2025 goal.
The Society for Libyan Studies Archive: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Leitch Victoria , Nikolaus Julia
Published: June 2015

The archive of the Society for Libyan Studies, housed at the University of Leicester, is home to a rich collection of excavation reports, notes, photographs, typescripts, maps, plans and letters by prominent scholars that worked in North Africa. Amongst the material are the records of Olwen Brogan, Charles Daniels, John Ward-Perkins, John Dore and the UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey. The aim is to draw attention to the research potentials in the archive, and to encourage scholars to visit this important collection to engage with the material that is unpublished or merits re-interpretation. A future digital format for the archive is proposed, to make it accessible to a much wider academic audience worldwide.