bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bach2 Controls T Follicular Helper Cells by Direct Repression of Bcl-6
Authors: Lahmann Annette , Kuhrau Julia , Fuhrmann Franziska , Heinrich Frederik , Bauer Laura , Durek Pawel , Mashreghi Mir-Farzin , Hutloff Andreas
Published: March 2019

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a specialized T cell subset that regulates the long-lived production of highly specific Abs by B cells during the germinal center (GC) reaction. However, the transcriptional network sustaining the Tfh cell phenotype and function is still incompletely understood. In this study, we identify the transcription factor Bach2 as a central negative regulator of Tfh cells. Ectopic overexpression of Bach2 in murine Tfh cells resulted in a rapid loss of their phenotype and subsequent breakdown of the GC response. Low Bach2 expression levels are required to maintain high expression of the signature cytokine IL-21, the coinhibitory receptor TIGIT and the transcriptional repressor Bcl-6. In stark contrast to the regulatory network in GC B cells, Bach2 in Tfh cells is not coexpressed with Bcl-6 at high levels to inhibit the antagonizing factor Blimp-1, but suppresses Bcl-6 by direct binding to the promoter. These data reveal that by replacing an activating complex of Batf and Irf-4 at the Bcl-6 promoter, Bach2 regulates the transcriptional network of Tfh cells in a different way, as in GC B cells.
TEORIA FISICA E SUA REALIFICAZIONE. CASO DI STUDIO: LA CAUSALITÃ€
Authors: D'Ariano Giacomo Mauro
Published: March 2019

I will discuss realism of classical and quantum theories, assessing the untenability of the object ontology, and proposing its substitution with the notion of system used in operational theories, notion that represents a theoretical connection between two events. Within operational theories the distinction between theory and objective reality is well defined: the theory provides the mathematical description of systems and events, and predicts the joint probability of the events; objective reality is identified with the collection of events that actually occurred. I then analyse some cases of realification of the theory â€“ namely the fallacy of identifying theory with reality. In particular, the cases of the notion of causality and causal connection between events are analysed, emphasising their purely theoretical nature, contrarily to the widespread connotation of objectivity. I re-establish the role of causality in physics as a theorem of quantum theory, and hence also of classical theory (which is a restriction of quantum theory), showing how it represents a probabilistic generalisation of the same concept used in special relativity, and discussing why such notion may trivialise in the classical case. I end with a critique of David Albertâ€™s Past Hypothesis about the nature of time, and of the resulting Block Universe vision of space-time, to reaffirm Reality of Time.
COSTRUTTIVISMO E REALISMO NELLE SCIENZE FISICHE
Authors: Perinotti Paolo
Published: March 2019

While classical physics is consistent with an objectivist point of view, the advent of modern physics undermines its fundamental assumptions. Quantum mechanics, in particular, put a question to the philosophy of science as to whether its intrinsically probabilistic interpretation should be revised in order to save the traditional epistemology, or should be adopted unconditionally, along with its revolutionary consequences. We propose some crucial arguments in favour of the second option. Finally, we discuss how the above choice may suggest a constructivist view about the nature of physical sciences.
Assessment of satisfaction and utilization of health-care services by National Health Insurance Scheme enrolees at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
Authors: Yusuf Abubakar , Jibo Abubakar M. , Abubakar Sanusi , Grema Bukar A. , Gajida Auwal U. , Michael Godpower C.
Published: March 2019

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) aims at universal health coverage through access to high-quality health-care to all enrolees. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to incorporate feedbacks from periodic patient-surveys into service improvement plans. This study therefore, assessed satisfaction and utilization of health-care services by enrolees of a Nigerian tertiary hospital. This was a crosssectional study of 399 respondents randomly selected from enrolees attending the NHIS-clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Using an intervieweradministered questionnaire, it assessed their sociodemographics, medical history, number of and reason for clinic visits, satisfaction with- access to care, patient-provider relationships and hospital facilities/environment. Respondents’ mean age was 38.3 ± 9.2 years and females accounted for 55.9% of respondents. Most respondents (60.4%, 69.8%, 96.0%) were satisfied with the ease of accessing care, waiting-time and hospital facilities/environment respectively. Most respondents (94.8%, 81.1%, 73.3%, 74.5%, 83.1%, 91.1%) were satisfied with their relationship with physicians, nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacists, record officers and other hospital-staff respectively. Overall, 80.5% of respondents were satisfied with the hospital’s services. All respondents had visited the clinic at least once in the preceding 12-weeks. Although 49.1% visited for non-communicable diseases, more respondents who were for antenatal-care (followed by non-communicable and communicable diseases) had had ≥ 2 clinic visits (c2 =15.5%, df=2, P=0.0001). This study observed a high utilization of and overallsatisfaction with the hospital’s services; however, there is a need for service improvement plans to address the challenges of patient access to care and waitingtime.
The Impact of Manpower Development on Organizational Efficiency in National Inland Waterways Authority of Nigeria (NIWA)
Authors: Mustapha Adesoye Isiaka
Published: March 2019

The manpower deficiency in NIWA, an organization that requires the competence not only to run a profitable transport outfit but also regulate the activities of private operators using the Nigeria Inland Waterways, has been a source of concern to the government over the years more so that the organization is supposed to be a ‘cash cow’ to the Federal Government. This study focussed on the skill-gaps and how they impact on efficiency and specifically interrogated the relationship between staff development and job performance in NIWA. Survey method was used. Primary and secondary data were collected through questionnaire. Three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Chi Square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistics were used in data analyses. Among the findings were significant relationship between skill-gaps and inefficiency and poor productivity among NIWA staff; and poor correlation between resources committed to staff development and staff productivity. Among the recommendations is that there should be mechanism for proper assessment of employee performance after training and such performance should be tied to their subsequent promotion on the job.Key Words: Manpower development, skill-gaps, human resources, performance, efficiency
Import Control under Regionalism in Colonial Nigeria, 1954-1960
Authors: Abolorunde Ayodele Samuel
Published: March 2019

The colonization of Nigeria by the British opened a new vista in the history of the country as various ethnic groups came under the British system of administration. Parts of the colonial administrative structures included, native courts, native authorities, native treasuries and protectorates. Historians, political scientists, sociologists, economists and scholars of various disciplines have through their works, interrogated Nigeria’s colonial past. Indirect rule system, colonial infrastructure, the rise of nationalism, currency circulation, colonial system of banking, colonial system of education and exploitation of Nigeria’s resources are typical examples of Nigeria’s colonial experience. Similarly, scholars have made attempts at interrogating various aspects of the country’s colonial history. These include, colonial agricultural policies, colonial export control policies, marketing boards, trade restrictions, politics of decolonization, politics of transfer of power, constitutional developments, regionalism, nationalist movements, colonial tariff system and issues that deal with Nigeria’s economic development in the colonial period. These intellectual efforts have not beamed their searchlight on how import control in an era of regionalism was used as one of the strategies of decolonization before the country’s independence. Thus, the interrogation of a history of import control as an integral part of decolonization seems to have been neglected. It is against this backdrop that this paper interrogated import control as colonial economic policy which aided the entrenchment of regionalism in Nigeria. The paper in its conclusion argued that import control under regionalism was one of the strategies used by the colonial government in the devolution of some of its economic powers to the regions through constitutional framework.Key Words: Nigeria, Colonialism, Regionalism, Import Control
Sector-Specific Business Associations’ Performance Internalities: Evidence from Selected Associations of Food Processing SMEs in Rwanda and Tanzania
Authors: Gamba Freddy Jirabi
Published: March 2019

Sector specificity and prioritization has been found to be one of practical option for harnessing scarce resources and capabilities for enhancing Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development and promotion strategies such as industrial cluster, incubation programmes and Business Associations (BAs). Although sector-specific BAs tend to deliver focused outreach services to their members but the assessment and comparability of BAs internal operation and performance between countries is hardly studied. This study examined and compared the internal performance of selected sector-specific BAs in the two countries using selected internal performance indicators. Convenient sample size of this study was 145 food processing SMEs belonging to four BAs of which two from Rwanda namely The Maize Millers Association of Rwanda (AMMIRWA) and The Association Pour la promotion des Producteurs de jus, boissons alcoolisies et alcooliques au Rwanda (APPROJUBAAR) and the two Tanzanian BAs were The Tanzania Food Processors Association (TAFOPA) and The Association of Mango Growers (AMAGRO). Questionnaires and semi structured interviews were administered to SMEs that were BAs members. The descriptive analysis was employed. Many studies attend much of the wholesome contribution and profiling of BAs lacking specific insights on internal performance indicators. This paper contributed in covering this gap. Overall study findings revealed that Rwandan BAs internal performance was relatively better compared to Tanzanian ones. It is recommended that the structure of apex organization to be formally hierarchical to avoid multiple memberships and conflicts with other member-based associations.Key Words: business association, SMEs, innovation, performance, sector-specific
Molecular characterization of organic aerosols in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: insights into primary and secondary sources
Authors: Wan Xin , Kang Shichang , Rupakheti Maheswar , Zhang Qianggong , Tripathee Lekhendra , Guo Junming , Chen Pengfei , Rupakheti Dipesh , Panday Arnico K. , Lawrence Mark G. , Kawamura Kimitaka , Cong Zhiyuan
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Organic atmospheric aerosols in the Hindu
Kush–Himalayas–Tibetan Plateau region are still poorly characterized. To
better understand the chemical characteristics and sources of organic
aerosols in the foothill region of the central Himalaya, the atmospheric
aerosol samples were collected in Bode, a suburban site of the Kathmandu
Valley (KV) over a 1-year period from April 2013 to April 2014. Various
molecular tracers from specific sources of primary organic aerosols (POAs)
and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) were determined. Tracer-based
estimation methods were employed to apportion contributions from each source.
The concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) increased
during winter with a maximum monthly average in January. Levoglucosan (a
molecular tracer for biomass burning, BB) was observed as the dominant
species among all the analyzed organic tracers and its annual average
concentration was 788±685 ng m−3 (ranging from 58.8 to
3079 ng m−3). Isoprene-SOA (I-SOA) represented a high concentration
among biogenic-SOA tracers. For the seasonality, anhydrosugars, phenolic
compounds, resin acid, and aromatic SOA tracer showed similar seasonal variations with OC and EC while
monosaccharides, sugar alcohols, and I-SOA tracers showed lower levels during
winter. BB contributed a significant fraction to OC, averaging 24.9 %±10.4 % during the whole year, and up to 36.3 %±10.4 % in
the post-monsoon season. On an annual average basis, anthropogenic
toluene-derived secondary OC accounted for 8.8 % and biogenic secondary
OC contributed 6.2 % to total OC. The annual contribution of fungal
spores to OC was 3.2 % with a maximum during the monsoon season
(5.9 %). For plant debris, it accounted for 1.4 % of OC during the
monsoon. Therefore, OC is mainly associated with BB and other anthropogenic
activity in the KV. Our findings are conducive to designing effective
measures to mitigate the heavy air pollution and its impacts in the KV and
surrounding area.
Towards a satellite formaldehyde – in situ hybrid estimate for organic aerosol abundance
Authors: Liao Jin , Hanisco Thomas F. , Wolfe Glenn M. , St. Clair Jason , Jimenez Jose L. , Campuzano-Jost Pedro , Nault Benjamin A. , Fried Alan , Marais Eloise A. , Gonzalez Abad Gonzalo , Chance Kelly , Jethva Hiren T. , Ryerson Thomas B. , Warneke Carsten , Wisthaler Armin
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Organic aerosol (OA) is one of the main components of the global particulate
burden and intimately links natural and anthropogenic emissions with air
quality and climate. It is challenging to accurately represent OA in global
models. Direct quantification of global OA abundance is not possible with
current remote sensing technology; however, it may be possible to exploit
correlations of OA with remotely observable quantities to infer OA
spatiotemporal distributions. In particular, formaldehyde (HCHO) and OA share
common sources via both primary emissions and secondary production from
oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here, we examine OA–HCHO
correlations using data from summertime airborne campaigns investigating
biogenic (NASA SEAC4RS and DC3), biomass burning (NASA SEAC4RS), and
anthropogenic conditions (NOAA CalNex and NASA KORUS-AQ). In situ OA
correlates well with HCHO (r=0.59–0.97), and the slope and intercept
of this relationship depend on the chemical regime. For biogenic and
anthropogenic regions, the OA–HCHO slopes are higher in low NOx
conditions, because HCHO yields are lower and aerosol yields are likely
higher. The OA–HCHO slope of wildfires is over 9 times higher than that for
biogenic and anthropogenic sources. The OA–HCHO slope is higher for highly
polluted anthropogenic sources (e.g., KORUS-AQ) than less polluted (e.g.,
CalNex) anthropogenic sources. Near-surface OAs over the continental US are
estimated by combining the observed in situ relationships with HCHO column
retrievals from NASA's Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). HCHO vertical
profiles used in OA estimates are from climatology a priori profiles in the
OMI HCHO retrieval or output of specific period from a newer version of
GEOS-Chem. Our OA estimates compare well with US EPA IMPROVE data obtained
over summer months (e.g., slope =0.60–0.62, r=0.56 for August 2013),
with correlation performance comparable to intensively validated GEOS-Chem
(e.g., slope =0.57, r=0.56) with IMPROVE OA and superior to the
satellite-derived total aerosol extinction (r=0.41) with IMPROVE OA. This
indicates that OA estimates are not very sensitive to these HCHO vertical
profiles and that a priori profiles from OMI HCHO retrieval have a similar
performance to that of the newer model version in estimating OA. Improving
the detection limit of satellite HCHO and expanding in situ airborne HCHO and
OA coverage in future missions will improve the quality and spatiotemporal
coverage of our OA estimates, potentially enabling constraints on global OA
distribution.
Evaluating models' response of tropical low clouds to SST forcings using CALIPSO observations
Authors: Cesana Grégory , Del Genio Anthony D. , Ackerman Andrew S. , Kelley Maxwell , Elsaesser Gregory , Fridlind Ann M. , Cheng Ye , Yao Mao-Sung
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Recent studies have shown that, in response to a surface warming,
the marine tropical low-cloud cover (LCC) as observed by passive-sensor
satellites substantially decreases, therefore generating a smaller negative
value of the top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) cloud radiative effect (CRE). Here we
study the LCC and CRE interannual changes in response to sea surface
temperature (SST) forcings in the GISS model E2 climate model, a
developmental version of the GISS model E3 climate model, and in 12 other
climate models, as a function of their ability to represent the vertical
structure of the cloud response to SST change against 10 years of CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared
Pathfinder Satellite Observations) observations.
The more realistic models (those that satisfy the observational
constraint) capture the observed interannual LCC change quite well
(ΔLCC/ΔSST=-3.49±1.01 % K−1 vs.
ΔLCC/ΔSSTobs=-3.59±0.28 % K−1) while the
others largely underestimate it (ΔLCC/ΔSST=-1.32±1.28 % K−1). Consequently, the more realistic models simulate more
positive shortwave (SW) feedback (ΔCRE/ΔSST=2.60±1.13 W m−2 K−1)
than the less realistic models (ΔCRE/ΔSST=0.87±2.63 W m−2 K−1), in better agreement with the
observations (ΔCRE/ΔSSTobs=3±0.26 W m−2 K−1),
although slightly underestimated. The ability of the models to
represent moist processes within the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and produce
persistent stratocumulus (Sc) decks appears crucial to replicating the observed
relationship between clouds, radiation and surface temperature. This
relationship is different depending on the type of low clouds in the
observations. Over stratocumulus regions, cloud-top height increases slightly
with SST, accompanied by a large decrease in cloud fraction, whereas over
trade cumulus (Cu) regions, cloud fraction decreases everywhere, to a smaller
extent.
Nitrification of the lowermost stratosphere during the exceptionally
cold Arctic winter 2015/16
Authors: Braun Marleen , Grooß Jens-Uwe , Woiwode Wolfgang , Johansson Sören , Höpfner Michael , Friedl-Vallon Felix , Oelhaf Hermann , Preusse Peter , Ungermann Jörn , Sinnhuber Björn-Martin , Ziereis Helmut , Braesicke Peter
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The Arctic winter 2015/16 was characterized by exceptionally cold stratospheric temperatures, favouring the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) from mid-December until the end of February down to low stratospheric altitudes. Observations by GLORIA (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere) on HALO (High Altitude and LOng range research aircraft) during the PGS (POLSTRACC/GW-LCYLCE II/SALSA) campaign from December 2015 to March 2016 allow an investigation of the influence of denitrification on the lowermost stratosphere (LMS) with a high spatial resolution. For the first time vertical cross-sections of nitric acid (HNO3) along the flight track and tracer-tracer correlations derived from the GLORIA observations document detailed pictures of wide-spread nitrification of the Arctic LMS during the course of an entire winter. GLORIA observations show large-scale structures and local fine structures with strongly enhanced absolute HNO3 volume mixing ratios reaching up to 11 ppbv at altitudes of 11 km in January and nitrified filaments persisting until the middle of March. Narrow streaks of enhanced HNO3, observed in mid-January, are interpreted as regions recently nitrified by sublimating HNO3-containing particles. Overall, a nitrification of the LMS between 5.0 ppbv and 7.0 ppbv at potential temperature levels between 350 and 380 K is estimated. This extent of nitrification has never been observed before in the Arctic lowermost stratosphere. The GLORIA observations are compared with CLaMS (Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere) simulations. The fundamental structures observed by GLORIA are well reproduced, but differences in the fine structures are diagnosed. Further, CLaMS predominantly underestimates the spatial extent of maximum HNO3 mixing ratios derived from the GLORIA observations as well as the enhancement at lower altitudes. Sensitivity simulations with CLaMS including (i) enhanced sedimentation rates in case of ice supersaturation (to resemble ice nucleation on NAT), (ii) a global temperature offset, (iii) modified growth rates (to resemble aspherical particles with larger surfaces) and (iv) temperature fluctuations (to resemble the impact of small-scale mountain waves) mostly improve the agreement with the GLORIA observations. The sensitivity simulations suggest that details of particle microphysics play a significant role for simulated LMS nitrification in January, while air subsidence, transport and mixing become increasingly important towards the end of the winter.
On the sensitivity of oceanic precipitation to sea surface temperature
Authors: Burdanowitz Jörg , Buehler Stefan A. , Bakan Stephan , Klepp Christian
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Our study forms the oceanic counterpart to numerous observational studies over land considering the sensitivity of extreme precipitation to a change in air temperature. We explore the sensitivity of oceanic precipitation to changing sea surface temperature (SST) by exploiting two novel datasets at high resolution. First, we use the Ocean Rainfall And Ice-phase precipitation measurement Network (OceanRAIN) as an observational along-track shipboard dataset at 1-minute resolution. Second, we exploit the most recent European Re-Analysis version 5 (ERA5) at hourly resolution on 31 km grid. Matched with each other, ERA5 vertical velocity allows to constrain OceanRAIN precipitation. Despite the inhomogeneous sampling along ship tracks, OceanRAIN agrees with ERA5 on the average latitudinal distribution of precipitation with fairly good seasonal sampling. However, the 99th percentile of OceanRAIN precipitation follows a super-Clausius-Clapeyron scaling with SST that exceeds 8.5 % K−1 while ERA5 precipitation scales with 4.5 % K−1. The sensitivity decreases towards lower precipitation percentiles while OceanRAIN keeps an almost constant offset to ERA5 due to higher spatial resolution and temporal sampling. Unlike over land, we find no evidence for decreasing precipitation event duration with SST. ERA5 precipitation reaches a local minimum at about 26 °C that vanishes when constraining vertical velocity to strongly rising motion and excluding areas of weak correlation between precipitation and vertical velocity. This indicates that instead of moisture limitations as over land, circulation dynamics rather limit precipitation formation over the ocean. For strongest rising motion, precipitation scaling converges to a constant value at all precipitation percentiles. Overall, high resolution in observations as well as climate models is key to understand and predict the sensitivity of oceanic precipitation extremes to a change in SST.
Vertical distribution of atmospheric particulate matters within urban boundary layer in southern China: size-segregated chemical composition and secondary formation through cloud processing and heterogeneous reactions
Authors: Zhou Shengzhen , Wu Luolin , Guo Junchen , Chen Weihua , Wang Xuemei , Zhao Jun , Cheng Yafang , Huang Zuzhao , Zhang Jinpu , Sun Yele , Fu Pingqing , Jia Shiguo , Chen Yanning , Kuang Junxia
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Great progress has been made recently in the understanding of the sources and formation mechanisms of atmospheric aerosols at the ground level. However, vertical profiles and sources of size-resolved particulate matter within the urban boundary layer are still lacking. In this study, vertical distribution characteristics of size-segregated particles were investigated at three observation platforms (ground, 118 m and 488 m) on the 610-meter-high Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China. Size-segregated aerosol samples were simultaneously collected at the three levels on the Canton Tower in autumn and winter, respectively. Major aerosol components, including water-soluble ions, organic carbon and elemental carbon, were measured. The results showed that daily average fine-particle concentrations generally decreased with height. Concentrations of sulfate and ammonium in fine particles displayed small vertical gradients and nitrate concentrations increased with height in autumn, while the above chemical components showed greater variations in winter than in autumn. The size distributions of sulfate and ammonium in both seasons were characterized by dominant unimodal droplet modes with a peak at the size range of 0.44–1.0 μm. In autumn, the nitrate size distribution was bi-modal, peaking at 0.44–1.0 μm and 2.5–10 μm, while it was unimodal in winter, implying that the formation mechanisms for nitrate particles were different in the two seasons. Our results suggest droplet mode sulfate and nitrate are likely formed from aqueous-phase reactions and coarse mode nitrate formation is attributed to heterogeneous reactions of gaseous nitric acid on existing sea-derived coarse particles in autumn at the measurement site. The results from pollution cases study further showed that atmospheric aqueous-phase and heterogeneous reactions together with adverse weather conditions, such as temperature inversion and calm wind, resulted in the autumn and winter haze pollution in the PRD region.
Simulated coordinated impacts of the NAO and El Niño on aerosol concentrations over eastern China
Authors: Feng Juan , Li Jianping , Liao Hong , Zhu Jianlei
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The high aerosol concentrations (AC) over eastern China have attracted attention from both science and society. Based on the simulations of a chemical transport model using a fixed emissions level, the possible role of the previous autumn North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) combined with the simultaneous El Niño–South Oscillation (ENSO) on the boreal winter AC over eastern China is investigated. We find that the NAO only manifests its negative impacts on the AC during its negative phase over central China, and a significant positive influence on the distribution of AC is observed over south China only during the warm events of ENSO. The impact of the previous NAO on the AC occurs via an anomalous sea surface temperature tripole pattern by which a teleconnection wave train is induced that results in anomalous convergence over central China. In contrast, the occurrence of ENSO events may induce an anomalous shift in the western Pacific subtropical high and result in anomalous southwesterlies over south China. The anomalous circulations associated with a negative NAO and El Niño are not favorable for the transport of AC and correspond to worsening air conditions. The results highlight that the combined effects of tropical and extratropical systems play considerable role in affecting the boreal winter AC over eastern China.
What was the source of the atmospheric CO2 increase during the Holocene?
Authors: Brovkin Victor , Lorenz Stephan , Raddatz Thomas , Ilyina Tatiana , Stemmler Irene , Toohey Matthew , Claussen Martin
Published: March 2019

Abstract. The atmospheric CO2 concentration increased by about 20 ppm from 6000 BCE to pre-industrial (1850 CE). Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain mechanisms of this CO2 growth based on either ocean or land carbon sources. Here, we apply the Earth System model MPI-ESM-LR for two transient simulations of climate and carbon cycle dynamics during this period. In the 1st simulation, atmospheric CO2 is prescribed following ice-core CO2 data. In response to the growing atmospheric CO2 concentration, land carbon storage increases until 2000 BCE, stagnates afterwards, and decreases from 1 CE, while the ocean continuously takes CO2 out of atmosphere after 4000 BCE. This leads to a missing source of 166 Pg of carbon in the ocean-land-atmosphere system by the end of the simulation. In the 2nd experiment, we applied a CO2-nudging technique using surface alkalinity forcing to follow the reconstructed CO2 concentration while keeping the carbon cycle interactive. In that case the ocean is a source of CO2 from 6000 to 2000 BCE due to a decrease in the surface ocean alkalinity. In the prescribed CO2 simulation, surface alkalinity declines as well. However, it is not sufficient to turn the ocean into a CO2 source. The carbonate ion concentration in the deep Atlantic decreases in both the prescribed and the interactive CO2 simulations, while the magnitude of the decrease in the prescribed CO2 experiment is underestimated in comparison with available proxies. As the land serves as a carbon sink until 2000 BCE due to natural carbon cycle processes in both experiments, the missing source of carbon for land and atmosphere can only be attributed to the ocean. Within our model framework, an additional mechanism, such as surface alkalinity decrease, for example due to unaccounted carbonate accumulation processes on shelves, is required for consistency with ice-core CO2 data. Consequently, our simulations support the hypothesis that the ocean was a source of CO2 until the late Holocene when anthropogenic CO2 sources started to affect atmospheric CO2.
Intra-seasonal hydrological processes on the western Tibetan Plateau: Monsoonal and convective rainfall events ∼7.5 ka ago
Authors: Taft Linda , Wiechert Uwe , Albrecht Christian , Leipe Christian , Tsukamoto Sumiko , Wilke Thomas , Zhang Hucai , Riedel Frank
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Billions of people depend on the precipitation of the Asian monsoons. The Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas on the one hand strongly influence the monsoonal circulation pattern and on the other hand represent water towers of humanity. Understanding the dynamics of the Asian monsoons is one of the prime targets in climate research. Modern coupling of atmospheric circulation and hydrological cycle over and on the plateau can be observed and outlined, and lake level controlling factors be identified. Recent monitoring of lakes showed that many of them have grown at least for decades, the causes being higher meltwater inflow or stronger rainfall of different sources, depending on the particular location of a drainage basin. The long-term dynamics, however, can be described best with the aid of high-resolution climate archives. We focus here on the often controversial discussion of Holocene lake development and selected the Bangong Co drainage basin on the western Tibetan Plateau as a case site. The aim of our study is, to identify the factors influencing lake level such as monsoonal or convective precipitation and meltwater. For doing so, shells of the aquatic gastropod genus Radix were collected from an early Middle Holocene sediment sequence in the Nama Chu sub-catchment of the eastern Bangong Co and sclerochronlogical isotope patterns of five shells obtained in weekly to sub-monthly resolution. Our data suggests that during ca. 7.5 ka ago, monsoonal rainfall was higher than today. However, summer precipitation was not continuous but affected the area as extended moisture pulses. This implicates that the northern boundary of the SW Asian monsoon was similar to modern times. We could identify convective rainfall events significantly stronger than today. We relate this to higher soil moisture and larger lake surface areas under higher insolation. The regional meltwater amount corresponds with westerly-derived winter snowfall. The snowfall amount was probably similar to modern times. Exceptionally heavy δ13C values archived in the shells were likely, at least partly, triggered by biogenic methane production. We suggest that our approach is suitable to study other lake systems on the Tibetan Plateau from which fossil Radix shells can be obtained. It may thus help to infer palaeo-weather patterns across the plateau.
Weather and climate forecasting with neural networks: using GCMs with different complexity as study-ground
Authors: Scher Sebastian , Messori Gabriele
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Recently, there has been growing interest in the possibility of using neural networks for both weather forecasting and the generation of climate datasets. We use a bottom-up approach for assessing whether it should, in principle, be possible to do this. We use the relatively simple General Circulation Models (GCMs) PUMA and PLASIM as a simplified reality on which we train deep neural networks, which we then use for predicting the model weather at lead times of a few days. We specifically assess how the complexity of the climate model affects the neural network's forecast skill, and how dependent the skill is on the length of the provided training period. Additionally, we show that using the neural networks to reproduce the climate of general circulation models including a seasonal cycle remains challenging – in contrast to earlier promising results on a model without seasonal cycle.
The “Mystery” of Innovation: Bridging the Economic and Business Thinking and the Stra.Tech.Man Approach
Authors: Vlados Charalambos , Katimertzopoulos Fotios
Published: March 2019

This study examines the concept of Innovation from two different conceptual and theoretical prisms: the science of economics and the theoretical tradition of entrepreneurship and organizational theory which both offer a remarkable distance in the way in which innovation is perceived. This study supports the notion that, by pointing a theoretical focus based on a co-evolutionary approach, centered on the "evolutionary heart" of the capitalist business, modern economic science and business thinking will gain from bridging the study of the innovative phenomenon with analytical fertility. To achieve this, the physiological structure and organic evolution of Strategy-Technology-Management (Stra.Tech.Man) synthesis of business becomes the center of attention, perceiving ultimately the firm as an active actor and even as a major structural co-creator of the sectors of industries and the socio-economic systems which is hosted in.
Sustainability of the Funded Ratio and Asset Allocation Choice of State Public Pension Plans
Authors: Choudhary Amod , Papanikolaou Nikolaos
Published: March 2019

The paper examines State Public Pension Plans in the United States and the sustainability of their funded ratios. The authors apply a panel logit with random effects regression model of asset allocation choice and average returns during fiscal years 2001 to 2015. There are three key factors which adequately fund State Public Pension Plans: (i) current member contributions, (ii) members’ employer contributions, and (iii) investment returns on those contributions. Returns on those contributions depend heavily on allocation choice of those funds in traditional and alternative investments. Alternatives are generally assumed to provide higher average returns with higher risk. This paper shows that in the long-term, investment in traditional assets such as bonds, equities and short-term cash have a higher likelihood of funding State Public Pension Plan’s payment obligations to beneficiaries.
Comparative Study of Iran and the UK national curriculum based on the principles of Mind, Brain and Education
Authors: Reza Zadeh Mottaghi Nazanin , Talkhabi Mahmoud
Published: March 2019

This study compares the national curriculum of Iran and the UK to find out how the educational system indeveloping countries such as Iran can be improved. Because of implementing thinking skills and cognitive education,the educational system in the UK benefits from a high-quality standard. The science of mind, brain, educationintroduces some principles to improve teaching and learning methods and provide thoughtful and lifelong learnersfor the societies. In this study, we specified the main parts of the national curriculum in both countries and selectedsome of the principles to determine whether these two countries apply them in their national curriculum. Some ofthese principles focus on some significant issues: teaching models, the use of Meta-discipline and HolisticTechniques, authentic learning experiences, use of products, processing and progressing Evaluations, developingexplicit learning objectives, how to benefit from thinking and reflective practices, using collaborative and democraticactivities, preparing students to set personal objectives, giving themselves feedbacks, technology and flippedclassrooms, and beginning Year- Round Schooling. The results show that Iran needs more precise and detailedlearning objectives in its curriculum, use of democratic and collaborative activities with academics and students,develop thinking and reflective practices which play vital roles in upgrading the educational system. Moreover, it issuggested that the UK and Iran should consider embedded evaluations and flipped classrooms to meet the needs ofnew generation of learners.
Evaluation of Syrian Students’ Dictation Texts (A2 Level)
Authors: Özçakmak Hüseyin
Published: March 2019

The study aiming to evaluate dictation texts of A2 level Syrian students is carried out with 19 students learningTurkish in university, 7 female and 12 male, whose age range between 20-24. In this qualitative pattern study,dictation papers written by students were considered as data collection tool. The book of Forsa from Omer Seyfettinwas utilized in the study. Texts dictated by the researcher were written down by the students and resulting researchdata was analyzed in various aspects. In the study lasting 4 weeks; on 1st week a text of 117 words consisting of 3paragraphs, on 2nd week a text of 121 words consisting of 4 paragraphs, on 3rd week a text of 92 words consisting of2 paragraphs and on 4th week a text of 152 words consisting of 3 paragraphs was worked on. To minimize themistakes, resarch data was inspected twice. In the end of the study, it was found that students were completingdictation practices with an increasing pace, the amount of correct words written by the students was higher thanexpected, dictation practice accelerated students’ writing swiftness and students developed their writing skills. Alsoin the research, it was observed that students fell short of writing Arabic-rooted words in dictation texts, on thecontrary to the expectations.
Inverted Teaching for Improving the Teaching Performance of EFL Student Teachers at Jubail College of Education
Authors: Zakareya Samah , Alahmad Safa’a
Published: March 2019

The objective of the present study was investigating the effect of inverted teaching on EFL student teachers’ teaching performance. Fifty-four EFL student teachers studying the Lesson Planning course at Jubail College of Education, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University participated in the study. They were pretested in teaching performance, then inverted teaching was implemented, finally all participants were posttested in teaching performance. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in the teaching performance of the participants (t=7.6611, p<0.05) between the pre and post measurements in favor of the post measurement. Accordingly, the researchers concluded that inverted teaching is significantly effective in improving the teaching performance of EFL student teachers.
Analyzing the Early Literacy Skills and Visual Motor Integration Levels of Kindergarten Students
Authors: Dere Zeynep
Published: March 2019

Early childhood education aims to support children’s whole development and their school readiness. Children develop a knowledge about reading, writing and learning before elementary school. This knowledge is called early literacy and it’s a key factor for school readiness. This study delves to investigate the early literacy skills of children and their visual motor integration. For this purpose, kindergarten students’ level of early literacy skills and visual motor integration was determined and the correlation between the two was analyzed. Eighty children at the age of five (40 females and 40 males) attending kindergarten were purposively chosen. In the study, 38% of the participants in the kindergarten was in the inadequate level of early literacy skills and 62% was in the instructional level. Children in the instructional level also showed that they had better visual motor coordination skills as well. These children presented better visual motor coordination skills in the fine manipulative skills category, print awareness category, and expressive and receptive language skills category. It was seen that visual motor integration development is a valuable factor to supports kindergarten children’s early literacy skills. For this reason, children’s visual motor coordination skills should be taken into consideration and supported for their early literacy skills development.
The Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Disorders Seen in Footballers with Regard to Dominant Foot Preference
Authors: Tanır Halil , Çetinkaya Erkan
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study is to evaluate the musculoskeletal disorders observed in footballers with regard to dominant foot preference. The research sample consists of 40 volunteer male footballers with an age range of 14–18, who are students at Aydın İncirliova Sport High School in the school year of 2018–2019. “Waterloo Handedness Questionnaire Revised” developed by Elias et al. (1998) has been used in the study to determine the footballers’’ dominant foot preferences. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish by Özsu (2006). Musculoskeletal disorders observed in footballers have been determined by the Turkish version of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. The questionnaire was translated into Turkish and made practicable for Turkish users by being tested by Erdinc and et al (2011). The data were evaluated with SPSS 22.0 package program in 95% confidence range and 0.05 significance level. With the statistical analysis done in the study, it has been determined that there has been no statistically significant difference between the footballers in terms of upper extremity injuries (p>0.05). When the injuries seen in lower extremities have been examined, it has been determined that there has been statistically significant difference in terms of injuries seen in left upper leg, left knee and left lower leg (p<0.05). Within the lights of the findings obtained in the study, it has been concluded that the dominant foot preferences of the footballers have not affected the injuries seen in upper extremity but they have affected the injuries seen in some regions of the lower extremity (left upper leg, left knee and left lower leg). In addition to the known preventive precautions to avoid injuries in young footballers, it can also be recommended to strengthen sufficiently not only the dominant foot but also the non-dominant one.
Construcción cognitiva del conjunto solución de un sistema de ecuaciones lineales con dos incógnitas
Authors: Rodríguez Jara Miguel Alejandro , Mena Lorca Arturo , Mena Lorca Jaime , Vásquez Saldias Patricia , Del Valle Leo María Elsa
Published: March 2019

En esta investigación proponemos una descomposición genética para el conjunto solución de un sistema de ecuaciones lineales con dos incógnitas, mediante un tránsito desde sistemas homogéneos a no homogéneos, en un contexto geométrico-cartesiano. Para validar nuestra descomposición genética diseñamos instrumentos que aplicamos a estudiantes de formación inicial del profesorado de matemáticas para educación secundaria. Con ello, y haciendo uso de la estadística implicativa, logramos confirmar las estructuras mentales dispuestas en nuestra descomposición genética. Los resultados evidencian cierta incomprensión de lo que es una solución para un sistema, dificultades para articular los aspectos geométricos con los algebraicos y la conveniencia de utilizar una estrategia alternativa para el caso de un sistema de tres o más ecuaciones lineales.
La educación para la sostenibilidad en la formación del profesorado de ciencias experimentales en Secundaria
Authors: Calero Llinares María , Mayoral García-Berlanga Olga , Ull Solís Àngels , Vilches Peña Amparo
Published: March 2019

Esta investigación se enmarca en la formación del profesorado en el Máster Universitario en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria. Se muestran resultados de un análisis de las guías docentes de asignaturas de las especialidades de Biología y Geología y de Física y Química del Máster con el fin de examinar en qué medida está presente la educación para la sostenibilidad (EpS). Así mismo se aborda la formación de equipos colaborativos del profesorado para favorecer la adquisición de competencias en sostenibilidad y en EpS entre las metas formativas de sus proyectos docentes y que arbitren los medios, recursos y procedimientos para su consecución eficaz. Se proponen aportaciones fundamentadas que traten de impulsar la atención a la EpS en la formación del profesorado de Secundaria.
Application of the Forced Oscillation Technique in Diagnosing and Monitoring of Asthma in Preschool Children
Authors: Starczewska-Dymek Liwia , Bożek Andrzej , Dymek Tomasz
Published: March 2019

The measurement of lung function in preschool children for the diagnosis of asthma is not routinely used. The need to perform forced expiratory manoeuvres requires active cooperation and thus limits the use of spirometry in this age group. The forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a simple and noninvasive method of assessing the mechanical properties of the respiratory system during tidal breathing. It is used in young patients and requires minimal cooperation. It provides an objective assessment of the respiratory system in a group of patients in whom we have not yet had appropriate diagnostic tools. In recent years, due to the availability of new technical solutions, FOT has been increasingly used and has a chance to become a method used routinely in diagnosing and monitoring treatment in preschool children. This article presents the possibility of the clinical application of FOT in diagnosing and monitoring of early childhood asthma.
Restwertermittlung in der Unternehmensbewertung
Authors: Raths Evelyn
Published: March 2019

To calculate the terminal value precisely formulas are derived for using the free cashflow and the flow to equity method that take into account personal taxes, a financing policy based on market values and a separation of the forecast horizon into phases and the valuation object into business units.
Der Zusammenhang von Kontrahierungszwang und Beschränkung der vertraglichen Inhaltsfreiheit am Beispiel von Entgeltregelungen für Basiskonten
Authors: Liebetrau Marcus
Published: March 2019

This thesis investigates the interaction between the obligation to contract and the limitations to the free bargaining of the conditions of these contracts, in theory as well as in practice, focusing on the new right of consumers to open a basic bank account. It is the aim of the EU Directive and the German “Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG)” to guarantee consumers’ access to a basic bank account in order to ensure that consumers may participate in non-cash payments.
Yet, the effectivity of the ZKG’s obligation to contract is significantly impaired at the moment, resulting from the fact that the banks may charge an “appropriate” account fee for the opening and the account processing of the basic bank accounts. Hence, the thesis focuses on the problems related to the account fees, especially on the question which account fees are actually “appropriate”. Furthermore, the thesis investigates the general significance of bank accounts in daily life, the legal and political discussion which ultimately led to the enactment of the EU Directive and the German “Zahlungskontengesetz (ZKG)” and the new restrictions for the banks in connection with the dismissal of basic bank accounts.