bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personality and well-being in Black and White South African emerging adults
Authors: Nel Jan Alewyn , Adams Byron G. , Vijver Fons J. R. van de , Laher Sumaya , Louw Johann , Makhale Lerato M. , Naude Luzelle , Tadi Florance
Published: February 2017

Background

In the last ten years, the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) has been developed as an indigenous measurement of personality for the multi-cultural environment of South Africa. The aim of the SAPI is to assess personality in an unbiased and equivalent way. For the purpose of this study, we used an 82-item version of the SAPI which measures nine factors (Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Facilitating, Integrity, Intellect, Openness, Relationship Harmony and Soft-heartedness).

Participants and procedure

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the SAPI, the General Health Questionnaire and the Brief Multidimensional Student Life Satisfaction Scale. A purposive sample was drawn from Black and White emerging adults (N = 990). We assessed the relationship between personality aspects and well-being across groups in a multiple group structural equation model (SEM) using the SPSS and AMOS programs.

Results

Black emerging adults showed evidence of more individualistic-inclined personality features, while the White emerging adults seem to demonstrate more collectivistic features. In terms of health, the White emerging adults experience more life satisfaction than their Black counterparts. Conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, facilitating and openness predict well-being among emerging adults.

Conclusions

This study contributes to expanding the nomological network of the SAPI, and it enhances knowledge pertaining to the link between personality and well-being of emerging adults in South Africa. Understanding which factors contribute to poor mental health and lack of life satisfaction may lead to innovation programmes for emerging adults to assist them in dealing with negative health outcomes possibly associated with living in multicultural contexts.
Coping with stress in adults with speech fluency disorders
Authors: Pietraszek Magdalena , Łockiewicz Marta , Jankowska Anna
Published: February 2017

Background

Stuttering is a developmental speech disorder that affects the fluency of speech. Persons who stutter perceive speaking situations and social interactions as threatening.

Participants and procedure

Nineteen (47.50%) adults with speech fluency disorders (SFD) and 21 (52.50%) without participated in the study. All participants completed the following measures individually: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), and an informational survey.

Results

Our study confirmed that persons with SFD experience more stressful situations in life and feel greater anxiety, both as a trait and as a state, which influences their daily life. The negative affect experienced contributed to their preferred use of Emotion-Oriented Coping strategies, at the expense of more proactive Task-Oriented Coping. Experienced stress and anxiety influenced and consolidated their habitual stress coping styles, devoted mainly to dealing with negative emotions.

Conclusions

Stuttering affects daily activities, interpersonal relationships, and the quality of life. Therefore, professional support should include adaptive, task-oriented coping.
A joint behavioral and emotive analysis of synchrony in music therapy of children
with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Venuti Paola , Bentenuto Arianna , Cainelli Stefano , Landi Isotta , Suvini Ferdinando , Tancredi Raffaella , Igliozzi Roberta , Muratori Filippo
Published: February 2017

Background

Synchrony is an essential component of interactive exchanges. In mother-infant interaction, synchrony underlies reciprocity and emotive regulation. A severe lack of synchrony is indeed a core issue within the communication and interaction deficit that characterizes autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in accordance with the DSM-5 classification. Based on emerging evidence that music therapy can improve the communication and regulation ability in children with ASD, we aim to verify quantitatively whether: 1) children with ASD improve synchrony with their therapist during music therapy sessions, and 2) this ability persists in different structured contexts.

Participants and procedure

Twenty-five children, aged from 4 to 6 years (M = 57.80, SD = 16.70), with an autistic disorder diagnosis based on DSM IV-TR and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), participated in the study. An observational tool for coding behaviors and emotive states of synchrony (Child Behavioral and Emotional status Code [CBEC] and Adult Behavioral and Emotional status Code [ABEC]) was applied in video recorded sessions of improvisational music therapy (IMT) for the subject-therapist pair. For each subject, we considered the 20 central minutes of the first, tenth and twentieth session of IMT. To verify the persistence of effect in a different context with a different adult, we administered and coded the interactive ADOS section (anticipation of a routine with objects) applied after session 20 of therapy.

Results

During the IMT cycle, the amount of synchronic activity increases, with a significant difference from Session 1 to Session 20 in behavioral synchrony and emotional attunement. Also, the increase of synchrony is confirmed at the end of the therapy cycle as measured by an interactive ADOS section.

Conclusions

Synchrony is an effective indicator of efficacy for music therapy in children with ASD, in particular to evaluate the expansion of positive emotive exchanges.
Identity and self-esteem in the context of music and music therapy: a review
Authors: Lawendowski Rafał , Bieleninik Łucja
Published: February 2017

Participation in music therapy offers opportunities for the participants to engage in identity work – to define, develop, or reflect on their understanding of themselves, and to cultivate new expressions of self-identity. The music therapy involves breaking away from the reality and engaging in intense interactions, which in turn facilitate relationships between participants. Patients tend to be more open to new kinds of experiences and explore new ways of perceiving themselves and others. Their self-understanding develops and leads to self-acceptance and personal growth. Although questions concerning the relationship between music therapy and human identity have been asked since antiquity, many issues have still not been resolved. As of today, there are no publications that systematically review the current state of knowledge.

This article aims to review the available empirical evidence in order to identify the relationship between music therapy processes, identity, and specific individual identity variables, such as self-esteem. Also, it attempts to discover how self-regulatory behavior relates to both general music instruction and interventions designed to enhance self-esteem and identity.

We searched PubMed and PsycInfo up to 13.09.2016. Screening, eligibility, and data extraction were done by one reviewer. Out of 31 relevant records, 20 were assessed for eligibility, and 14 were included. There was marked variation across included studies regarding type of MT approach used, type of participants, settings, outcomes and measurement tools. A qualitative analysis showed that expression of emotion and a sense of agency (which is considered valuable for both the client and those around them) is a way to provide one’s damaged Self with healthful aspects of personality, thus improving one’s self-esteem.

This review provides insight into the effects of music therapy processes, specifically self-knowledge (music identity) and self-esteem determined by the psychological processes entailed in some kinds of music activities.
Symptom-modifying effects of oral avocado/soybean unsaponifiables in routine treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Poland. An open, prospective observational study of patients adherent to a 6-month treatment
Authors: Głuszko Piotr , Stasiek Małgorzata
Published: February 2017

Objectives:  Observational studies provide insights into real-life situations. Therefore, we assessed the effects of oral avocado/soybean unsaponifiable (ASU) capsules on pain relief and functional ability in patients, while they were receiving a routine treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Material and methods: An open, prospective, observational 6-month study was conducted in 99 centers in Poland in a group of 4822 patients with symptomatic knee OA receiving one 300 mg ASU capsule/day as a routine medication. The patients had no diagnoses of other rheumatic diseases and were not treated with other symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs). Data on OA symptoms and therapy were collected from the initiation of ASU treatment (visit 0) and during 3 consecutive control visits performed every 2 months (visits 1–3). Functional Lequesne index, severity of joint pain of one symptomatic knee (Laitinen index and VAS), use of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), adherence to treatment and adverse events were evaluated and recorded using electronic Case Report Forms.

Results: Four thousand one hundred and eighty-six patients (86.8%) attended all 4 visits. In 94.2% of patients (mean age 60.7 ±11.6 years SD, 73.4% female) at least one OA risk factor was identified. There was a significant improvement in functional ability between the last and baseline visits as evidenced by the median Lequesne index decreasing from 8 to 4 points (p < 0.001). Measures of pain intensity also fell significantly (p < 0.001) throughout the study: median Laitinen score decreased from 6 to 3 points, median pain at rest VAS – from 1.8 to 0 cm and median pain during walking VAS – from 5.6 to 1.9 cm. The significant differences were also noted between consecutive visits. The proportion of patients using analgesics and NSAIDs declined from 58.8% at the baseline visit to 24.9% at the last visit 3 (p < 0.001). Defined daily dose of NSAIDs decreased significantly from 1 at the baseline visit to 0.67 at the visit 3. Severe adverse events associated with ASU treatment were not observed.

Conclusions: It was the first observational study in Poland evaluating the effects of routine knee OA treatment with oral ASU. Only a small group of patients (13.2%) treated with ASU discontinued the study. The majority of patients adherent to the ASU treatment for 6 months showed gradual alleviation of joint pain, improvement in functional ability and a significant reduction in NSAIDs intake.
Automated assessment of joint synovitis activity from medical ultrasound and power doppler examinations using image processing and machine learning methods
Authors: Cupek Rafal , Ziębiński Adam
Published: February 2017

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease with arthritis, and causes substantial functional disability in approximately 50% patients after 10 years. Accurate measurement of the disease activity is crucial to provide an adequate treatment and care to the patients.

The aim of this study is focused on a computer aided diagnostic system that supports an assessment of synovitis severity.

Material and methods: This paper focus on a computer aided diagnostic system that was developed within joint Polish–Norwegian research project related to the automated assessment of the severity of synovitis. Semiquantitative ultrasound with power Doppler is a reliable and widely used method of assessing synovitis. Synovitis is estimated by ultrasound examiner using the scoring system graded from 0 to 3. Activity score is estimated on the basis of the examiner’s experience or standardized ultrasound atlases. The method needs trained medical personnel and the result can be affected by a human error.

Results: The porotype of a computer-aided diagnostic system and algorithms essential for an analysis of ultrasonic images of finger joints are main scientific output of the MEDUSA project. Medusa Evaluation System prototype uses bone, skin, joint and synovitis area detectors for mutual structural model based evaluation of synovitis. Finally, several algorithms that support the semi-automatic or automatic detection of the bone region were prepared as well as a system that uses the statistical data processing approach in order to automatically localize the regions of interest.

Conclusions: Semiquantitative ultrasound with power Doppler is a reliable and widely used method of assessing synovitis. Activity score is estimated on the basis of the examiner’s experience and the result can be affected by a human error. In this paper we presented the MEDUSA project which is focused on a computer aided diagnostic system that supports an assessment of synovitis severity.
Health-related quality of life in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis – child’s and parent’s point of view
Authors: Mańczak Małgorzata , Rutkowska-Sak Lidia , Raciborski Filip
Published: February 2017

Objectives:  To assess the quality of life (QoL) of children suffering from juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Poland, to compare QoL of children with JIA and healthy children, and to compare children’s and parents’ assessments of QoL.

Material and methods:  The KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire (children’s and parents’ version) was used to assess the quality of life. The QoL in JIA patients and healthy peers from European and Polish reference groups was compared by the t-test. The Bland-Altman method was used to evaluate child and parent assessment agreement.

Results: Eighty-nine questionnaires were obtained from children (median age: 14 years; 62% female; JIA history longer than 1 year) and 84 questionnaires from parents. The QoL of JIA patients was lower than in healthy peers from the European reference group in terms of physical well-being (p < 0.001), psychological well-being (p = 0.011), autonomy (p < 0.001) and social support and peers (p < 0.001). The QoL of JIA patients compared with the QoL of children from the Polish reference group was lower only in terms of physical well-being (p < 0.001), whereas it was higher in terms of moods and emotions (p = 0.023), parent relations and home life (p = 0.005) and financial resources (p < 0.001). In most terms the assessment performed by the parent was lower than the child’s. The most significant differences were observed for physical well-being (p < 0.001), psychological well-being (p = 0.016), and self-perception (p = 0.013).

Conclusions: The present study is the first assessment of QoL of JIA children in Poland. In our study the quality of life in JIA children was lower than in healthy peers. Discrepancies between the assessment of the child’s QoL performed by the child and the parent were found. Both assessments should be taken into account in clinical practice as well as in research studies.
Subjective evaluation of the effectiveness of whole-body cryotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis
Authors: Chruściak Tomasz
Published: February 2017

Objectives: One of the treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) is whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). The aim of this study is to assess the effect of whole-body cryotherapy on the clinical status of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), according to their subjective feelings before and after the application of a 10-day cold treatment cycle. The aim is also to assess the reduction of intensity and frequency of pain, the reduction of the painkiller medication used, and to assess the possible impact on physical activity.

Material and methods: The study involved 50 people, including 30 women (60%) and 20 men (40%). Thirty-one patients had spondyloarthritis (62% of respondents), 10 had knee osteoarthritis (20%), and 9 hip osteoarthritis (18%). The overall average age was 50.1 ±10.9 years; the youngest patient was 29 years old and the oldest 73 years old. The average age of the women was 6 years higher. The study used a questionnaire completed by patients, and consisted of three basic parts. The modified Laitinen pain questionnaire contained questions concerning the intensity and frequency of pain, frequency of painkiller use and the degree of limited mobility. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used in order to subjectively evaluate the therapy after applying the ten-day treatment cycle.

Results:  According to the subjective assessment of respondents, after the whole-body cryotherapy treatments, a significant improvement occurred in 39 patients (78%), an improvement in 9 patients (18%), and no improvement was only declared by 2 patients (4%).

Conclusions: Whole-body cryotherapy resulted in a reduction in the frequency and degree of pain perception in patients with osteoarthritis. WBC reduced the number of analgesic medications in these patients. It improved the range of physical activity and had a positive effect on the well-being of patients.
The 33rd World Congress of Internal Medicine
Authors: J. Kucharz Eugeniusz
Published: February 2017

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Directional, horizontal inhomogeneities of cloud optical thickness fields retrieved from ground-based and airbornespectral imaging
Authors: Schäfer Michael , Bierwirth Eike , Ehrlich André , Jäkel Evelyn , Werner Frank , Wendisch Manfred
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Clouds exhibit distinct horizontal inhomogeneities of their optical and microphysical properties, which complicate their realistic representation in weather and climate models. In order to investigate the horizontal structure of cloud inhomogeneities, 2-D horizontal fields of optical thickness (τ) of subtropical cirrus and Arctic stratus are investigated with a spatial resolution of less than 10 m. The 2-D τ-fields are derived from (a) downward (transmitted) solar spectral radiance measurements from the ground beneath four subtropical cirrus and (b) upward (reflected) radiances measured from aircraft above 10 Arctic stratus. The data were collected during two field campaigns: (a) Clouds, Aerosol, Radiation, and tuRbulence in the trade wind regime over BArbados (CARRIBA) and (b) VERtical Distribution of Ice in Arctic clouds (VERDI). One-dimensional and 2-D autocorrelation functions, as well as power spectral densities, are derived from the retrieved τ-fields. The typical spatial scale of cloud inhomogeneities is quantified for each cloud case. Similarly, the scales at which 3-D radiative effects influence the radiance field are identified. In most of the investigated cloud cases considerable cloud inhomogeneities with a prevailing directional structure are found. In these cases, the cloud inhomogeneities favour a specific horizontal direction, while across this direction the cloud is of homogeneous character. The investigations reveal that it is not sufficient to quantify horizontal cloud inhomogeneities using 1-D inhomogeneity parameters; 2-D parameters are necessary.
Emission, transport, and radiative effects of mineral dust from the Taklimakan and Gobi deserts: comparison of measurements and model results
Authors: Chen Siyu , Huang Jianping , Kang Litai , Wang Hao , Ma Xiaojun , He Yongli , Yuan Tiangang , Yang Ben , Huang Zhongwei , Zhang Guolong
Published: February 2017

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model with chemistry (WRF-Chem model) was used to investigate a typical dust storm event that occurred from 18 to 23 March 2010 and swept across almost all of China, Japan, and Korea. The spatial and temporal variations in dust aerosols and the meteorological conditions over East Asia were well reproduced by the WRF-Chem model. The simulation results were used to further investigate the details of processes related to dust emission, long-range transport, and radiative effects of dust aerosols over the Taklimakan Desert (TD) and Gobi Desert (GD). The results indicated that weather conditions, topography, and surface types in dust source regions may influence dust emission, uplift height, and transport at the regional scale. The GD was located in the warm zone in advance of the cold front in this case. Rapidly warming surface temperatures and cold air advection at high levels caused strong instability in the atmosphere, which strengthened the downward momentum transported from the middle and low troposphere and caused strong surface winds. Moreover, the GD is located in a relatively flat, high-altitude region influenced by the confluence of the northern and southern westerly jets. Therefore, the GD dust particles were easily lofted to 4 km and were the primary contributor to the dust concentration over East Asia. In the dust budget analysis, the dust emission flux over the TD was 27.2 ± 4.1 µg m−2 s−1, which was similar to that over the GD (29 ± 3.6 µg m−2 s−1). However, the transport contribution of the TD dust (up to 0.8 ton d−1) to the dust sink was much smaller than that of the GD dust (up to 3.7 ton d−1) because of the complex terrain and the prevailing wind in the TD. Notably, a small amount of the TD dust (PM2.5 dust concentration of approximately 8.7 µg m−3) was lofted to above 5 km and transported over greater distances under the influence of the westerly jets. Moreover, the direct radiative forcing induced by dust was estimated to be −3 and −7 W m−2 at the top of the atmosphere, −8 and −10 W m−2 at the surface, and +5 and +3 W m−2 in the atmosphere over the TD and GD, respectively. This study provides confidence for further understanding the climate effects of the GD dust.
Diffusion coefficients of organic molecules in sucrose–water solutions and comparison with Stokes–Einstein predictions
Authors: Chenyakin Yuri , Ullmann Dagny A. , Evoy Erin , Renbaum-Wolff Lindsay , Kamal Saeid , Bertram Allan K.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. The diffusion coefficients of organic species in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles are needed to predict the growth and reactivity of these particles in the atmosphere. Previously, viscosity measurements, along with the Stokes–Einstein relation, have been used to estimate the diffusion rates of organics within SOA particles or proxies of SOA particles. To test the Stokes–Einstein relation, we have measured the diffusion coefficients of three fluorescent organic dyes (fluorescein, rhodamine 6G and calcein) within sucrose–water solutions with varying water activity. Sucrose–water solutions were used as a proxy for SOA material found in the atmosphere. Diffusion coefficients were measured using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. For the three dyes studied, the diffusion coefficients vary by 4–5 orders of magnitude as the water activity varied from 0.38 to 0.80, illustrating the sensitivity of the diffusion coefficients to the water content in the matrix. At the lowest water activity studied (0.38), the average diffusion coefficients were 1.9  ×  10−13, 1.5  ×  10−14 and 7.7  ×  10−14 cm2 s−1 for fluorescein, rhodamine 6G and calcein, respectively. The measured diffusion coefficients were compared with predictions made using literature viscosities and the Stokes–Einstein relation. We found that at water activity  ≥  0.6 (which corresponds to a viscosity of  ≤  360 Pa s and Tg∕T  ≤  0.81), predicted diffusion rates agreed with measured diffusion rates within the experimental uncertainty (Tg represents the glass transition temperature and T is the temperature of the measurements). When the water activity was 0.38 (which corresponds to a viscosity of 3.3  ×  106 Pa s and a Tg∕T of 0.94), the Stokes–Einstein relation underpredicted the diffusion coefficients of fluorescein, rhodamine 6G and calcein by a factor of 118 (minimum of 10 and maximum of 977), a factor of 17 (minimum of 3 and maximum of 104) and a factor of 70 (minimum of 8 and maximum of 494), respectively. This disagreement is significantly smaller than the disagreement observed when comparing measured and predicted diffusion coefficients of water in sucrose–water mixtures.
Characterization of Arctic mixed-phase cloud properties at small scale and coupling with satellite remote sensing
Authors: Mioche Guillaume , Jourdan Olivier , Delanoë Julien , Gourbeyre Christophe , Febvre Guy , Dupuy Régis , Szczap Frédéric , Schwarzenboeck Alfons , Gayet Jean-François
Published: February 2017

Abstract. This study aims to characterize the microphysical and optical properties of ice crystals and supercooled liquid droplets within low-level Arctic mixed-phase clouds (MPC). We compiled and analyzed cloud in situ measurements from 4 airborne campaigns (18 flights, 71 vertical profiles in MPC) over the Greenland Sea and the Svalbard region. Cloud phase discrimination and representative vertical profiles of number, size, mass and shapes of ice crystals and liquid droplets are assessed. The results show that the liquid phase dominates the upper part of the MPC with high concentration of small droplets (120 cm−3, 15&tinsp;μm), and averaged LWC around 0.2 g m−3. The ice phase is found everywhere within the MPC layers, but dominates the properties in the lower part of the cloud and below where ice crystals precipitate down to the surface. The analysis of the ice crystal morphology highlights that irregulars and rimed are the main particle habit followed by stellars and plates. We hypothesize that riming and condensational growth processes (including the Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisein mechanism) are the main growth mechanisms involved in MPC. The differences observed in the vertical profiles of MPC properties from one campaign to another highlight that large values of LWC and high concentration of smaller droplets are possibly linked to polluted situations which lead to very low values of ice crystal size and IWC. On the contrary, clean situations with low temperatures exhibit larger values of ice crystal size and IWC. Several parameterizations relevant for remote sensing or modeling are also determined, such as IWC (and LWC) – extinction relationship, ice and liquid integrated water paths, ice concentration and liquid water fraction according to temperature. Finally, 4 flights collocated with active remote sensing observations from CALIPSO and CloudSat satellites are specifically analyzed to evaluate the cloud detection and cloud thermodynamical phase DARDAR retrievals. This comparison is valuable to assess the sub-pixel variability of the satellite measurements as well as their shortcomings/performance near the ground.
The arctic seasonal cycle of total column CO2 and CH4 from ground-based solar and lunar FTIR absorption spectrometry
Authors: Buschmann Matthias , Deutscher Nicholas M. , Palm Mathias , Warneke Thorsten , Weinzierl Christine , Notholt Justus
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Solar absorption spectroscopy in the near infrared has been performed in Ny-Ålesund (78.9° N, 11.9° E) since 2002; however, due to the high latitude of the site, the sun is below the horizon from October to March (Polar Night) and no solar absorption measurements are possible. Here we present a novel method of retrieving the total column dry-air mole fractions (DMF) of CO2 and CH4 using the moon as a light source in winter. Measurements have been taken during the Polar Nights from 2012 to 2016 and are validated with TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) measurements by parallel solar and lunar absorption measurements during spring and autumn. The complete seasonal cycle of the DMFs of CO2 and CH4 is presented and a precision of up to 0.5 % is achieved. Additionally a model comparison has been performed with data from various reanalysis models.
Remote sensing of plant trait responses to field-based plant–soil feedback using UAV-based optical sensors
Authors: van der Meij Bob , Kooistra Lammert , Suomalainen Juha , Barel Janna M. , De Deyn Gerlinde B.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Plant responses to biotic and abiotic legacies left in soil by preceding plants is known as plant–soil feedback (PSF). PSF is an important mechanism to explain plant community dynamics and plant performance in natural and agricultural systems. However, most PSF studies are short-term and small-scale due to practical constraints for field-scale quantification of PSF effects, yet field experiments are warranted to assess actual PSF effects under less controlled conditions. Here we used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based optical sensors to test whether PSF effects on plant traits can be quantified remotely. We established a randomized agro-ecological field experiment in which six different cover crop species and species combinations from three different plant families (Poaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae) were grown. The feedback effects on plant traits were tested in oat (Avena sativa) by quantifying the cover crop legacy effects on key plant traits: height, fresh biomass, nitrogen content, and leaf chlorophyll content. Prior to destructive sampling, hyperspectral data were acquired and used for calibration and independent validation of regression models to retrieve plant traits from optical data. Subsequently, for each trait the model with highest precision and accuracy was selected. We used the hyperspectral analyses to predict the directly measured plant height (RMSE  =  5.12 cm, R2  =  0.79), chlorophyll content (RMSE  =  0.11 g m−2, R2  =  0.80), N-content (RMSE  =  1.94 g m−2, R2  =  0.68), and fresh biomass (RMSE  =  0.72 kg m−2, R2  =  0.56). Overall the PSF effects of the different cover crop treatments based on the remote sensing data matched the results based on in situ measurements. The average oat canopy was tallest and its leaf chlorophyll content highest in response to legacy of Vicia sativa monocultures (100 cm, 0.95 g m−2, respectively) and in mixture with Raphanus sativus (100 cm, 1.09 g m−2, respectively), while the lowest values (76 cm, 0.41 g m−2, respectively) were found in response to legacy of Lolium perenne monoculture, and intermediate responses to the legacy of the other treatments. We show that PSF effects in the field occur and alter several important plant traits that can be sensed remotely and quantified in a non-destructive way using UAV-based optical sensors; these can be repeated over the growing season to increase temporal resolution. Remote sensing thereby offers great potential for studying PSF effects at field scale and relevant spatial-temporal resolutions which will facilitate the elucidation of the underlying mechanisms.
The Gravitational Process Path (GPP) model (v1.0) – a GIS-based
simulation framework for gravitational processes
Authors: Wichmann Volker
Published: February 2017

Abstract. The Gravitational Process Path (GPP) model can be used to simulate the process path and run-out area of gravitational processes based on a digital terrain model (DTM). The tool combines several sub-models (process path, run-out length and material deposition) to simulate the movement of a mass point from an initiation site to the deposition area. For each sub-model several modeling approaches are provided, which makes the tool configurable for different processes like rockfall, debris flows or snow avalanches. The tool can be applied to large-coverage studies like natural hazard susceptibility mapping on a regional scale but also contains components for scenario based modeling of single events. Both the modeling approaches and precursor implementations of the tool have proven their practicability in numerous studies, including also geomorphological research questions like the delineation of sediment cascades or the study of process connectivity. This is the first completely re-written open source implementation, extended and improved in many ways. The tool has been committed to the main repository of the System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA) and thus will be available with every SAGA release.
Examining regional groundwater–surface water dynamics using an integrated hydrologic model of the San Joaquin River basin
Authors: Gilbert James M. , Maxwell Reed M.
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Widespread irrigated agriculture and a growing population depend on the complex hydrology of the San Joaquin River basin in California. The challenge of managing this complex hydrology hinges, in part, on understanding and quantifying how processes interact to support the groundwater and surface water systems. Here, we use the integrated hydrologic platform ParFlow-CLM to simulate hourly 1 km gridded hydrology over 1 year to study un-impacted groundwater–surface water dynamics in the basin. Comparisons of simulated results to observations show the model accurately captures important regional-scale partitioning of water among streamflow, evapotranspiration (ET), snow, and subsurface storage. Analysis of this simulated Central Valley groundwater system reveals the seasonal cycle of recharge and discharge as well as the role of the small but temporally constant portion of groundwater recharge that comes from the mountain block. Considering uncertainty in mountain block hydraulic conductivity, model results suggest this component accounts for 7–23 % of total Central Valley recharge. A simulated surface water budget guides a hydrograph decomposition that quantifies the temporally variable contribution of local runoff, valley rim inflows, storage, and groundwater to streamflow across the Central Valley. Power spectra of hydrograph components suggest interactions with groundwater across the valley act to increase longer-term correlation in San Joaquin River outflows. Finally, model results reveal hysteresis in the relationship between basin streamflow and groundwater contributions to flow. Using hourly model results, we interpret the hysteretic cycle to be a result of daily-scale fluctuations from precipitation and ET superimposed on seasonal and basin-scale recharge and discharge.
Characteristics of rainfall events in regional climate model simulations for the Czech Republic
Authors: Svoboda Vojtěch , Hanel Martin , Máca Petr , Kyselý Jan
Published: February 2017

Abstract. Characteristics of rainfall events in an ensemble of 23 regional climate model (RCM) simulations are evaluated against observed data in the Czech Republic for the period 1981–2000. Individual rainfall events are identified using the concept of minimum inter-event time (MIT) and only heavy events (15 % of events with the largest event depths) during the warm season (May–September) are considered. Inasmuch as an RCM grid box represents a spatial average, the effects of areal averaging of rainfall data on characteristics of events are investigated using the observed data. Rainfall events from the RCM simulations are then compared to those from the at-site and area-average observations. Simulated number of heavy events and seasonal total precipitation due to heavy events are on average represented relatively well despite the higher spatial variation compared to observations. RCM-simulated event depths are comparable to the area-average observations, while event durations are overestimated and other characteristics related to rainfall intensity are significantly underestimated. The differences between RCM-simulated and at-site observed rainfall event characteristics are in general dominated by the biases of the climate models rather than the areal-averaging effect. Most of the rainfall event characteristics in the majority of the RCM simulations show a similar altitude-dependence pattern as in the observed data. The number of heavy events and seasonal total precipitation due to heavy events increase with altitude, and this dependence is captured better by the RCM simulations with higher spatial resolution.
Cuerpo e identidad: artes visuales para una hermenéutica de la diferencia. Experiencias con maestros en formación inicial
Authors: Macaya Ruiz Albert
Published: February 2017

Ayudar a otras personas a asumir de modo constructivo el modo en que la vivencia del cuerpo determina nuestra identidad es un reto pedagógico de primer orden. Como tal, debería ser contemplado en la escuela primaria. En este artículo presentaremos una investigación que analiza experiencias en la formación los maestros y maestras, en relación con la vivencia del propio cuerpo a través de las artes visuales. Las imágenes artísticas y el lenguaje escrito sirven a los participantes para dar sentido a su experiencia vivida, en la que afloran temas como los cánones estéticos, la diversidad funcional, la enfermedad o la lesión.
Intervención Arteterapéutica facilitadora de autonomía en una relación madre e hija
Authors: Garber Estela
Published: February 2017

El presente artículo presenta un caso clínico infantil de arte terapia en el cual se trabajó hacia el logro de autonomía. El vínculo maternal era de intenso apego y se manifestaba por cuidados maternales no adecuados: lo cual interfería en el desarrollo saludable de la niña. Mediante el despliegue de experiencias creativas a través del arte, la niña logró auto-afirmarse y experimentar junto a la terapeuta un vínculo transferencial propicio, en donde ésta pudo funcionar como su yo auxiliar. La existencia de un espacio arte terapéutico seguro (espacio transicional) favoreció la continencia, constancia e independencia. En este espacio- separado de sus padres- la niña pudo desplegar libremente su capacidad creadora en compañía de su terapeuta; simbolizar e historizar. La aparición de narrativas lúdicas da muestra de cómo ésta, hacia el final del tratamiento pudo elaborar y simbolizar conflictos de carácter traumático, resultantes de su vínculo ambivalente con un padre hostil y maltratador.
Race, Ethnic Drug Use, and Delinquency in Public Schools among High School 12th Graders
Authors: Daramola Ayodeji , Osho Gbolahan Solomon
Published: February 2017

Research has shown a strong correlation between drug use and delinquency. In addition, research has also shown that drug use tends to peak in late adolescence and the onset of early adulthood. Consequently, the high school years, especially, the 12th grade is an important transition in the life course of delinquents. This study used descriptive statistics to compare drug use among Black, White, and Hispanic 12th grade high school students, and Spearman’s correlation to find which drugs have the strongest correlation to delinquency. The data for this study was downloaded from Monitoring the Future (MTF, 2007). The Null Hypothesis is that Blacks use more drugs than both Whites and Hispanics; hence they are more involved in delinquency than both Whites and Hispanics. The drugs analyzed in this study are: alcohol, marijuana, crack, cocaine, narcotics, LSD, and heroin.
Barriers to the Hiring of English Teachers in English Training Schools in Hefei City, China
Authors: Iddrisu Issah , Islamjanova Aigul , Bombaes Ace , Bekbauova Dinara
Published: February 2017

English teaching and learning has become an integral part of the Chinese educational system. Due to the opening up policy of the Chinese government to the rest of the world, the need to reform in line with the changing demands of the time became necessary. This therefore led to the influx of potential foreign English teachers in to the country due to the demand for foreign English teachers. The study therefore explores the factors influencing the hiring decisions of potential foreign English teachers in Hefei. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents with the help of SPSS as the analysing tool. Using logistic regression model it made it possible to better understand the impact of the factors that influence hiring decisions. Results indicated that gender and experience were statistically significant. Colour and educational level were not statistically significant but important in the hiring decisions. Nationality of a potential foreign English teacher was not significant and also not important in the hiring decisions. The study concludes that professional recruiters should be put in place during the hiring process. It therefore suggests that competence should be a key factor in the hiring decisions of potential foreign English teachers in order to better learner’s outcomes and to meet the objective of the state.
Breaking Discipline, Integrating Literature: Africa–China Relationships Reconsidered
Authors: Thornber Karen Laura
Published: February 2017

Comparative literature has long defined itself as interdisciplinary, intercultural, and interlingual. These traits have led some to criticize the discipline as lacking discipline. Yet indiscipline—not to mention the intercultural, interlingual, and interdisciplinary—is a matter of perspective; in many ways, comparative literature is highly disciplined. So how then to break discipline more thoroughly? This article engages in one approach—incorporating literature into a wider range of global history and other scholarly discussions of transregional/global processes. The focus is Africa–China relationships. Integral to China's rapid rise as a world power have been its global initiatives and investments. These are most pronounced in Africa, where in many nations the financial, military, and political connections with China now run exceptionally deep. The human dimensions of Africa–China contact are just as complex, but unlike other types of contact they remain woefully understudied. African artistic engagement with China and Chinese artistic engagement with Africa enhance our understandings of these interconnections. But rather than simply exposing and then either affirming or dismantling stereotypes, many Chinese and African creative works across the centuries are more nuanced. This literary engagement provides valuable perspectives on some of today's most controversial and anxiety producing transregional dynamics.
Editorial
Authors: Pereira Alexsandro Eugenio
Published: February 2017

Não tem resumo
Editorial
Authors: Mèrcher Leonardo
Published: February 2017

Não há
Editorial
Authors: Cruz Mariana
Published: February 2017

Não Há
Editorial
Authors: Stephan Claudia
Published: February 2017

NÃO HÁ
Editorial
Authors: Mercher Leonardo
Published: February 2017

Item sem resumo
Editorial
Authors: Silva Caroline Cordeiro Viana
Published: February 2017

Item sem resumo
Primary care nurses in a local Belgian setting: Responding to healthcare needs of people with disabilities
Authors: Storms Hannelore , Claes Neree
Published: February 2017

Background: Given the worldwide evolution to deinstitutionalize care for people with a disability (PD), the importance of having care services, for instance as offered by primary care nurses (PCN), to deliver necessary care to PD can only be emphasized. European data (from 2014) show a relatively high percentage of PD in Belgium (16.2%) using home care services provided by primary health care providers (PCN, general practitioners…). Moreover, satisfaction levels regarding these services are among the highest in Europe. The objective of this research was to gain insight into the needs of PD regarding nursing care, based on PCN’s experiences.Methods: Between September and December 2015, a questionnaire – drawn up by a multidisciplinary team (4 general practitioners and 20 PCN) – was distributed electronically to 1547 PCN working in primary care in the Belgian region Limburg. Open-ended questions of this questionnaire were analyzed using techniques developed for qualitative data analysis. PCN were asked to report about (1) mental and behavioural problems, (2) medication policy, (3) swallowing problems, (4) monitoring of nutritional status and (5) any other needs arising in the care for PD.Results: Comments of 588 PCN were generated (response rate of 38%). Besides the (routine) tasks of PCN, the impact of PD’s and informal caregivers’ behaviour on PCN’s working environment were mentioned, particularly regarding medication policy, swallowing problems and nutrional status monitoring. PCN’s collaboration with PD and their informal caregivers is often reported about in relation to respectively PD’s limited ability to communicate or to understand PCN and informal caregivers behaving in a counteracting way, not following through PCN’s advice. Additionally, PCN report about consulting and activating other healthcare professionals in the interest of PD’s. Overall, PCN mentioned tasks in all facets of PD’s lives: from the expected nursing care and far beyond.Conclusions: Besides providing nursing care, PCN are also helping with different tasks related to daily living. This “beyond standard” - care enhances the likelihood of PD to keep on living in their homes for a longer period of time. PCN seem to play a crucial role in activating other healthcare professionals to meet the healthcare needs of PD. More extensive research should be carried out to gain insight in healthcare needs of PD and the challenges PCN come across in their care for this population. Findings can be used to align pre-qualification training and education of (future) PCN with the (unmet) needs of PD.
Investigation of a Potential Relationship Between Wild Bird Populations and Human Lyme Disease Rate in Connecticut from 1991-2002
Authors: Al-Ali Tamam Slam Abad
Published: February 2017

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. Borrelia burgdorferi, is the pathogen, and the black-legged tick carries the bacteria and spreads it when feeding on the blood of animals and humans. At least 70 passerine species and one species of woodpecker in North American are parasitized by immature black-legged ticks. This hypothesis predicts that there would be a positive relationship between Lyme disease rates and bird numbers that infected with the pathogen, and there would be no relationship between Lyme disease rate and bird numbers that not known to be infected with the pathogen. The study depended on the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to get bird species for 14 routes across Connecticut, and on the Connecticut DHS to get Lyme disease rates for the time period of the study (1991-2002). The range of years was from 1991 to 2002 because of a change in how Lyme disease cases were reported starting in 2003. The bird data were: one group that included all 17 bird species that carry the pathogen, two species separately that are known to become infected by Lyme pathogen (American Robin and Gray Catbird), and a control species not known to carry the pathogen (American Redstart). The study found significant positive relationships between bird numbers and human Lyme disease rate in two routes for the SCLP group, one route for American Robin, three routes for Gray Catbird, and two routes for American Redstart. Only Gray Catbird had a significant negative relationship with human Lyme disease rate in one route. Based on the positive relationships that appeared for American Redstart, the control species, and the few significant relationships for birds known to carry the pathogen, the study rejected the hypothesis that there is a strong relationship between numbers of birds that could be infected with B. burgdorferi and the rate of Lyme disease in people as measured by the methods used in this study.
Exploring Corporate Bankruptcy in Belgian Private Firms
Authors: Cultrera Loredana , Jonathan Bauweraerts
Published: February 2017

The main purpose of this paper is to identify the financial antecedents of corporate bankruptcy by employing a robust variable selection procedure. Based on a sample of 1,338 Belgian private firms, a backward stepwise logistic regression technique is employed. The findings indicate that the likelihood of corporate bankruptcy is higher at lower levels of solvency, liquidity and profitability. Furthermore, our results reveal that corporate bankruptcy is more likely in older and larger firms.