bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stylistic Devices in Ben Okri’s The Famished Road
Authors: Ikechi Emeka
Published: February 2016

This paper discusses stylistic devices in Ben Okri’s The Famished Road. In the presentation of his story, the novelist makes use of literary devices which enrich readers’ understanding and enjoyment of his subject matter. Satire, register, cliché, pidgin and proverbs are some of the devices. Others include: figurative language, irony and symbolism. These devices shed light on the characters and thematic focus of Okri. Findings reveal a society plagued by vices where the poor and the weak are at the mercy of the rich and powerful. It is a society struggling under the grip of one moral decadence or the other. In frowning at moral decay, the novelist recommends a morally balanced and egalitarian society devoid of corruption, thuggery, electoral malpractices and other moral vices that debase man. The researcher suggests a morally upright society for the good of all men.
Stylistic Study of Purple Hibiscus
Authors: Chukwukaelo Anwuri
Published: February 2016

This paper did a linguistic-stylistic study of the novel with emphasis on determining how the author manipulated language to create aesthetic patterns and values. Using the notion projection method in selecting data from the texts, a linguistic model like the Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) was applied in the analysis of certain aspects of identified literary language. The TGG features were used to describe foregrounding, hypotactic, paratactic, code-mixing and code switching rhetorical patterns and fragmentary structures. This not only showed the inter-relationship among literature, languages, linguistics and stylistics but revealed the literary artists (un) conscious ability to manipulate language.
Graphic Communication for Development in Africa: Target Audience Perception and Response
Authors: Ebigbagha Zifegha Sylvester
Published: February 2016

Achieving desired response from target audience is the overall goal for graphic communication in support of development initiatives. However, in Africa, responses to development messages, which are largely determined by target audience perception, are predominantly far from being desired. Therefore, this paper focuses on eliciting desired target audience response that is pivotal for realising sustainable development. It utilised qualitative approach that employed the Critical-Historical-Analytical Examination, and Content Analysis. It started with the need for understanding target audience perception when using graphic messages for development communication. Furthermore, it examined the perception process of graphic messages using the Aaker and Myers Model. Moreover, it looked at the making of graphic messages based on audience and stimulus conditions. And it discussed audience responses to graphic messages in Egypt and Nigeria. The paper found that the neglect of target audience conditions often results in the production of ineffective stimulus conditions and communication failure. The paper ended with recommendation that communication actors should be conversant with the conditions that determine responses to development messages; and embed the graphic encoder and target audience in the communication development process in order to generate stimulus that elicit desired response from target audience.Keywords: Graphic Communication, Development, Perception, Desired Response, Stimulus/Target Audience Conditions
Violence in Nigeria: Nature and Extent
Authors: Irene Oseremen Felix
Published: February 2016

The Nigerian history is dotted with stories of violence, and many share the notion that the Nigerian people are resilient to have continued to remain in one country despite the violence menace that has been threatening the corporate existence of the country and her people. Going by the annals of records, different nature of violence ranging from ethno-religious conflicts to indigenes-settlers conflicts, Niger Delta resource-based conflict to Boko Haram violence menace, and communal mayhem over land dispute to farmers/cattle-rearers conflicts, as well as gender, school-based violence and electoral cum political violence among others, have at various extent affected the progress and peaceful co-existence of the good people of Nigeria. Worst of all the violence in recent time, is the Boko Haram suicide bombing campaign in the north-eastern part of the country. In her attempt to present a clear picture of things in this regards, this paper sets to examine the nature and extent of violence in Nigeria.
Federalism, State Creation and the Minority Ethnic Groups in Nigeria’s National Integration Project
Authors: Imuetinyan Festus , Uyi-Ekpen Ogbeide
Published: February 2016

Nigeria gained independence in 1960 as a tripartite regional federal system which promoted the hegemony of three major ethnic groups (the Yorubas in the west, the Ibos in the east and the Hausa-Fulanis in the north). The regions unfortunately did not form homogeneous ethnic entities as they were made up of myriads of ethnic minorities who were subject of internal colonialism. Consequently, ethnic minority groups in Nigeria have been engaged not just in different efforts to reduce the dominance of the major ethnic groups but also on how best to live side by side with them. Federalism and states creation exercises are two major solutions that have been tried over time in the quest for national integration in Nigeria and they are the major focus of the paper. Both measures have helped to multiply the arenas of politics as well as rewards. They have also helped to reduce the pressure for capturing the centre. There has been continuing agitation for the establishment of larger number of states as the last hope of the minority ethnic groups in their fight for the liberation of their areas from the internal colonial order in which they found themselves.Keywords: State creation, ethnic domination, internal colonialism, national integration
Ijo-Itsekiri Relations before the Colonial Period in Nigeria
Authors: Erezene Henchard B.
Published: February 2016

The Ijo and Itsekiri are two of the closest neighbours in the Warri area of the Western Niger Delta region of Nigeria. They have intermarried and had lived together for centuries. But towards the close of the last century, the two groups clashed, ostensibly over the relocation of the headquarters of the then newly created Warri South (later Warri South-West) Local Goverment Area in the present Delta State from Ogbe-Ijoh (an Ijo town) to Ogidigben (an Itsekiri town) by the late General Sani Abacha – led Federal Military Government of the time. During the crisis which claimed many lives and property, and destroyed many private and public businesses, the two groups fought each other with all kinds of dangerous and sophisticated weapons. This situation had made many well-meaning people to ask whether there were longstanding grievances between the two groups. The available records reveal that there were, indeed, deep-rooted grievances between the two groups. These problems however started from the colonial period in Nigeria. Before then, the two groups had lived peacefully together. This is the picture this article attempts to document.
Expert views on how language education may develop in the next 20 years and what CALL could contribute
Authors: Koenraad Ton Koenraad
Published: February 2016

The celebration of EUROCALL’s twentieth anniversary provides a proper occasion to reflect on the future of language teaching and the role of CALL in these developments. In this paper we present the views of six authorities on language teaching and learning from different EU countries. All of them have a special interest in CALL and/or are CALL experts and well respected EUROCALL members, such as the late Graham Davies. We present a selection of their observations based on a summary of the Skype interviews in which they contributed to a symposium entitled ‘And now for another century of modern language teaching…’ organised by the Dutch national Association of Language Teachers on the occasion of its first centennial in 2011. To provide a more global (or at least European) perspective, the interviewees were asked to cover the same topics that were central to the live panel discussion delivered by six Dutch participants representing a variety of perspectives: secondary and university teachers, students, curriculum experts and teacher educators. By way of preparation, all involved had been given a number of challenging statements related to some aspects of the discussion theme: the characteristics of the future learning environment, teacher, learner, pedagogy and technology. In this audio-supported document we will focus on interesting points of view particularly related to pedagogy and technology expressed in the interviews. A video report summary of the live discussion (in Dutch) is available on the limited CD edition with recordings of the centennial festivities. For an impression of the panel discussion and other symposium activities see this video report on YouTube.
Promoting critical thinking in online intercultural communication
Authors: Batardière Marie-Thérèse
Published: February 2016

This paper investigates the educational experience arising from the use of an online discussion forum in an undergraduate blended learning language programme; to do this, it focuses on the type of cognitive processes that learners experience during a computer-mediated collaborative task and explores the potential causal relationship between the instructional strategies and the students’ cognitive activity. Findings indicate that the ‘teaching presence’ had a significant indirect influence on the outcome of the online intercultural interactions.
Combining Skype with Blogging: A chance to stop reinforcement of stereotypes in intercultural exchanges?
Authors: Kirschner L. Lynette
Published: February 2016

This papers looks into whether combining Skype, blogging and class discussions reinforces or refutes stereotypes. The hypothesis was that some students do not have an adequate chance to reflect on their skype experience and course content. To see if students have made improvements in reducing stereotypes, the Standards for Foreign Language Learning: Culture will be used to evaluate their blog entries. In addition a survey will be given at end of the semester to analyse the student's perspective of their own learning.
Pan-American teletandem language exchange project
Authors: Castillo-Scott Aurora
Published: February 2016

This paper describes a TeleTandem language exchange project between English speaking Spanish students at Georgia College, USA, and Spanish speaking English students at Universidad de Concepción, Chile. The aim of the project was to promote linguistic skills and intercultural competence through a TeleTandem exchange. Students used Skype and Google Hangouts for monthly synchronous conversations where they interviewed each other, and exchanged information about their lives and cultures. The project also involved a monthly blog and a video report where students talked about their TeleTandem partner and reflected on their learning experience.
ABA English
Authors: Seiz Ortiz Rafael
Published: February 2016

http://campus.abaenglish.com
How to most effectively expand the global surface ozone observing network
Authors: Sofen E. D. , Bowdalo D. , Evans M. J.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Surface ozone observations with modern instrumentation have been made around the world for more than 40 years. Some of these observations have been made as one-off activities with short-term, specific science objectives and some have been made as part of wider networks which have provided a foundational infrastructure of data collection, calibration, quality control, and dissemination. These observations provide a fundamental underpinning to our understanding of tropospheric chemistry, air quality policy, atmosphere–biosphere interactions, etc. brought together eight of these networks to provide a single data set of surface ozone observations. We investigate how representative this combined data set is of global surface ozone using the output from a global atmospheric chemistry model. We estimate that on an area basis, 25 % of the globe is observed (34 % land, 21 % ocean). Whereas Europe and North America have almost complete coverage, other continents, Africa, South America, Australia, and Asia (12–17 %) show significant gaps. Antarctica is surprisingly well observed (78 %). Little monitoring occurs over the oceans, with the tropical and southern oceans particularly poorly represented. The surface ozone over key biomes such as tropical forests and savanna is almost completely unmonitored. A chemical cluster analysis suggests that a significant number of observations are made of polluted air masses, but cleaner air masses whether over the land or ocean (especially again in the tropics) are significantly under-observed. The current network is unlikely to see the impact of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) but may be capable of detecting other planetary-scale signals. Model assessment and validation activities are hampered by a lack of observations in regions where the models differ substantially, as is the ability to monitor likely changes in surface ozone over the next century. Using our methodology we are able to suggest new sites which would help to close the gap in our ability to measure global surface ozone. An additional 20 surface ozone monitoring sites (a 20 % increase in the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO GAW) ozone sites or a 1 % increase in the total background network) located on 10 islands and in 10 continental regions would almost double the area observed. The cost of this addition to the network is small compared to other expenditure on atmospheric composition research infrastructure and would provide a significant long-term benefit to our understanding of the composition of the atmosphere, information which will also be available for consideration by air quality control managers and policy makers.
Impact of variational assimilation using multivariate background error covariances on the simulation of monsoon depressions over India
Authors: Dhanya M. , Chandrasekar A.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The background error covariance structure influences a variational data assimilation system immensely. The simulation of a weather phenomenon like monsoon depression can hence be influenced by the background correlation information used in the analysis formulation. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model Data assimilation (WRFDA) system includes an option for formulating multivariate background correlations for its three-dimensional variational (3DVar) system (cv6 option). The impact of using such a formulation in the simulation of three monsoon depressions over India is investigated in this study. Analysis and forecast fields generated using this option are compared with those obtained using the default formulation for regional background error correlations (cv5) in WRFDA and with a base run without any assimilation. The model rainfall forecasts are compared with rainfall observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) and the other model forecast fields are compared with a high-resolution analysis as well as with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-Interim reanalysis. The results of the study indicate that inclusion of additional correlation information in background error statistics has a moderate impact on the vertical profiles of relative humidity, moisture convergence, horizontal divergence and the temperature structure at the depression centre at the analysis time of the cv5/cv6 sensitivity experiments. Moderate improvements are seen in two of the three depressions investigated in this study. An improved thermodynamic and moisture structure at the initial time is expected to provide for improved rainfall simulation. The results of the study indicate that the skill scores of accumulated rainfall are somewhat better for the cv6 option as compared to the cv5 option for at least two of the three depression cases studied, especially at the higher threshold levels. Considering the importance of utilising improved flow-dependent correlation structures for efficient data assimilation, the need for more studies on the impact of background error covariances is obvious.
Accounting for anthropic energy flux of traffic in winter urban road surface temperature simulations with the TEB model
Authors: Khalifa A. , Marchetti M. , Bouilloud L. , Martin E. , Bues M. , Chancibaut K.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Snowfall forecasts help winter maintenance of road networks, ensure better coordination between services, cost control, and a reduction in environmental impacts caused by an inappropriate use of de-icers. In order to determine the possible accumulation of snow on pavements, forecasting the road surface temperature (RST) is mandatory. Weather outstations are used along these networks to identify changes in pavement status, and to make forecasts by analyzing the data they provide. Physical numerical models provide such forecasts, and require an accurate description of the infrastructure along with meteorological parameters. The objective of this study was to build a reliable urban RST forecast with a detailed integration of traffic in the Town Energy Balance (TEB) numerical model for winter maintenance. The study first consisted in generating a physical and consistent description of traffic in the model with two approaches to evaluate traffic incidence on RST. Experiments were then conducted to measure the effect of traffic on RST increase with respect to non-circulated areas. These field data were then used for comparison with the forecast provided by this traffic-implemented TEB version.
Areal rainfall estimation using moving cars – computer experiments including hydrological modeling
Authors: Rabiei E. , Haberlandt U. , Sester M. , Fitzner D. , Wallner M.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The need for high temporal and spatial resolution precipitation data for hydrological analyses has been discussed in several studies. Although rain gauges provide valuable information, a very dense rain gauge network is costly. As a result, several new ideas have been emerged to help estimating areal rainfall with higher temporal and spatial resolution. Rabiei et al. (2013) observed that moving cars, called RainCars (RCs), can potentially be a new source of data for measuring rainfall amounts. The optical sensors used in that study are designed for operating the windscreen wipers and showed promising results for rainfall measurement purposes. Their measurement accuracy has been quantified in laboratory experiments. Considering explicitly those errors, the main objective of this study is to investigate the benefit of using RCs for estimating areal rainfall. For that, computer experiments are carried out, where radar rainfall is considered as the reference and the other sources of data, i.e. RCs and rain gauges, are extracted from radar data. Comparing the quality of areal rainfall estimation by RCs with rain gauges and reference data helps to investigate the benefit of the RCs. The value of this additional source of data is not only assessed for areal rainfall estimation performance, but also for use in hydrological modeling. The results show that the RCs considering measurement errors derived from laboratory experiments provide useful additional information for areal rainfall estimation as well as for hydrological modeling. Even assuming higher uncertainties for RCs as obtained from the laboratory up to a certain level is observed practical.
Comparison of different methods for the in situ measurement of forest litter moisture content
Authors: Schunk C. , Ruth B. , Leuchner M. , Wastl C. , Menzel A.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Dead fine fuel (e.g., litter) moisture content is an important parameter for both forest fire and ecological applications as it is related to ignitability, fire behavior and soil respiration. Real-time availability of this value would thus be a great benefit to fire risk management and prevention. However, the comprehensive literature review in this paper shows that there is no easy-to-use method for automated measurements available. This study investigates the applicability of four different sensor types (permittivity and electrical resistance measuring principles) for this measurement. Comparisons were made to manual gravimetric reference measurements carried out almost daily for one fire season and overall agreement was good (highly significant correlations with 0.792 <  =  r <  =  0.947, p  <  0.001). Standard deviations within sensor types were linearly correlated to daily sensor mean values; however, above a certain threshold they became irregular, which may be linked to exceedance of the working ranges. Thus, measurements with irregular standard deviations were considered unusable and relationships between gravimetric and automatic measurements of all individual sensors were compared only for useable periods. A large drift in these relationships became obvious from drought to drought period. This drift may be related to installation effects or settling and decomposition of the litter layer throughout the fire season. Because of the drift and the in situ calibration necessary, it cannot be recommended to use the methods presented here for monitoring purposes and thus operational hazard management. However, they may be interesting for scientific studies when some manual fuel moisture measurements are made anyway. Additionally, a number of potential methodological improvements are suggested.
Frozen debris lobe morphology and movement: an overview of eight dynamic features, southern Brooks Range, Alaska
Authors: Darrow Margaret M. , Gyswyt Nora L. , Simpson Jocelyn M. , Daanen Ronald P. , Hubbard Trent D.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Frozen debris lobes (FDLs) are elongated, lobate permafrost features, many of which are present within the Brooks Range of Alaska. We present a comprehensive overview of eight FDLs within the Dalton Highway corridor, including their catchment geology and rock strengths, lobe soil characteristics, surface movement measurements collected between 2012 and 2015, and analysis of hist oric and modern imagery from 1955 to 2014. Field mapping and rock strength data indicate that the metasedimentary and metavolcanic bedrock forming the majority of the lobe catchments has very low to medium strength and is heavily fractured, thus easily contributing to FDL formation. The eight investigated FDLs consist of platy rocks typical of their catchments, organic debr is, and an ice-poor soil matrix; massive ice, however, is present within FDLs as infiltration ice, concentrated within cracks open to the surface. Exposure of infiltration ice in retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) and associated debris flows lead to increased movement and various stages of destabilization, resulting in morphological differences among the lobes. Analysis of historic imagery indicates that movement of the eight investigated FDLs has been asynchronous over the study period. Since 1955, six of the eight investigated lobes demonstrated an increase in movement rates. The formation of surface features, such as cracks, scarps, and RTSs, suggest that the increased movement rates correlate to general instability, and even at their current distances, FDLs are impacting infrastructure through increased sediment mobilization. FDL-A is the largest of the investigated FDLs. As of August 2015, FDL-A was 39.2 m from the toe of the Dalton Highway embankment. Based on its current distance and rate of movement, we predict that FDL-A will reach the current Dalton Highway alignment by 2023.
Using niche models of indicator species to predict the distribution of xerophytic shrub dune communities
Authors: Chefaoui R. M. , Chozas S. , Correia O. , Santos A. M. C. , Hortal J.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Dune plant assemblages are affected by severe conditions, which makes them excellent models for studying the effects of species interactions and environmental conditions on community structure. We evaluate the relationship between the structure of dune communities, local environmental conditions and the suitability of climatic conditions for their characteristic species. Using data from an extensive survey of xerophytic inland sand dune scrub communities from Portugal – one of the most threatened habitat types of Europe – we identify the main gradients of vegetation composition, the different types of communities and their indicator shrub species. Then, we model the geographical responses of these species to the environment. Soil organic matter, isothermality and the habitat suitability for Stauracanthus genistoides defined the distribution of three shrub communities in the study area.
REDUCED ETHANOL EMISSIONS BY A COMBINATION OF EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER AND SILANE COUPLING AGENT FOR SILICA-REINFORCED NATURAL RUBBER-BASED TIRE TREADS
Authors: Sengloyluan K. , Sahakaro K. , Dierkes W. K. , Noordermeer J. W. M.
Published: February 2016

In an attempt to reduce the high volatile organic compound (ethanol) emissions from silica-reinforced NR compounds, this work aimed to, at least partially, replace the use of large quantities of silane coupling agent bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT). The use of 7.5 phr of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR-51) as compatibilizer between NR and silica enhances the properties, which can be further improved by half or even lower amounts than required with TESPT alone. The properties obtained with TESPT are nearly matched, except for steric limitations imposed upon the ENR molecules to cap the silanol groups on the silica surface to the same extent as TESPT can do. Furthermore, TESPT donates reactive elemental sulfur to the compound during vulcanization, which needs to be compensated for in use with ENR.
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BROMINATED NATURAL RUBBER APPLIED IN SILICA-FILLED NATURAL RUBBER VULCANIZATES
Authors: Onchoy Nuchanart , Phinyocheep Pranee
Published: February 2016

Functionalization of NR with a bromine atom was developed and explored for its application in a silica-reinforced NR system. Two possible pathways were investigated: the direct addition of a bromine atom using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) with FeCl2 as a catalyst in the latex phase (NR–Br); and an indirect method using a ring opening of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) with 2-bromopropionic acid (ENR–Br). The chemical structure, including determination of the bromine contents, was analyzed with proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The occurrence of bromine in NR–Br was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Strong emission peaks for Br Kα at 1.5 eV was evidenced. Moreover, glass transition temperature of modified NRs increased after bromination. Two types of brominated NR, that is, NR–Br and ENR–Br containing 2 and 4 mol% of bromine function, respectively, were used in a range of 1–5 phr in the silica-reinforced NR system with silica loading of 10 and 30 phr. Both cure and mechanical properties of the rubber compounds were investigated. The incorporation of the bromine function in NR of both ENR–Br and NR–Br enhanced the cure reactivity of the NR–silica vulcanization system. The modified NRs may have a role as a coupling agent between the NR and the silica filler.
Liminal Performance in Hali Meiðhad
Authors: Lazikani A. S.
Published: February 2016

As an epistle for virgins, the thirteenth-century text Hali Meiðhad facilitates the reader's “embodied simulation” of the suffering of an anguished, nonvirginal woman. The reader thus inhabits an uncomfortably liminal space between spectatorship and performance. This essay will focus on anchoritic readership of this epistle, a critical decision lent support by the text's linguistic and codicological associations. It will examine an anchoress's embodied simulation of pain in reading Hali Meiðhad, after interrogating her liminal position as both performer and spectator.
The Persistence of the Frankenstein Myth: Organ Transplantation and Surrogate Motherhood
Authors: Stubber Claire , Kirkman Maggie
Published: February 2016

The myth of Prometheus embodied in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, has transformed into a powerful metaphor that has influenced conceptions of science and bioethics, especially of organ transplantation and assisted conception. The authors of this article employ auto-ethnographic accounts that draw on personal experience of organ transplantation and surrogate motherhood with assisted conception to examine the fear that “mad” scientists and audacious people will, through their hubris, attract calamitous consequences. It is evident that the myth of Frankenstein continues to influence constructions of science and technology.
Fate as Fiction: Homeric, Irish, and Icelandic Epic in MacIntyre's Virtue Ethics Tradition
Authors: Ruprecht Louis A.
Published: February 2016

One of the most influential arguments put forward in Alasdair MacIntyre's landmark study, After Virtue, is the claim that human beings are storytelling animals, and that normative moral arguments tend to have a narrative–as well as a teleological– structure. In this study, he offers the reader three micro-histories: a history of “the virtues in heroic societies”; a brief history of their “medieval aspects and occasions”; and a history of the collapse of the tradition of the virtues, which MacIntyre portrays as a decline and fall into modernity. MacIntyre's Greek history begins unsurprisingly with Homer; more surprisingly, he equates the Homeric tradition with other Irish and Icelandic epic traditions, all of them exemplifying what he calls the virtues of heroic society. This article explores why Macintyre might wish to compare the tradition of Homeric epic and Icelandic saga, concluding that he wishes to defend a more fatalistic and less voluntarist conception of moral action.
Business Sense or Subjective Satisfaction?
Authors: Osiyevskyy Oleksiy , Costa Sílvia Fernandes , Madill Cameron Maranville
Published: February 2016

Does business planning have any impact on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? Despite numerous studies in management and entrepreneurship literature, the answer remains contested. The authors address this research question empirically by exploring the composite business planning comprehensiveness construct, reflecting the degree to which business planning practices are embraced in all domains of firm management. Employing a survey of SME owners in the USA and Canada (N = 568), they explore the performance outcomes of this construct. The results demonstrate that business planning comprehensiveness is positively associated with the operational and subjective performance of the firm, but not with its financial performance.
El diálogo de Ellacuría con Marx y el marxismo
Authors: Samour Héctor
Published: February 2016

No abstract available.  Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.140, 2014: 157-183
Breve ensayo sobre La República de Platón y los universales de Russell: acerca del carácter práctico del idealismo de Platón y el carácter contemplativo del materialismo de Russell a la luz de Marx
Authors: Escobar Beatriz
Published: February 2016

No abstract available.  Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.140, 2014: 213-227
La articulación semiológica del concepto, el símbolo y la metáfora en el §59 de la Kritik der Urteilskraft
Authors: Valenzuela Marcela Brito
Published: February 2016

The current paper has the pretension to show the articulation between concept (Begriff), symbol (Symbol) and metaphor (Metapher) in the kantian works, from the symbolic hipotiposis problem mainly shown in §59 in the Critique of Judgement (Kritik der Urteilskraft), retaking the subsumption approach shown in the Critique of Pure Reason (Kritik der reinen Vernunft), from a linguistic and semiologic perspective. Also, this work seeks to stablish how concept, symbol and metaphor can be considered as different modalities of linguistic sign, articulated from the stability and sense given by the use inside of a speaking community, and therefore, they can be considerated as different but complementary cognitive ambitsRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.140, 2014: 321-337
Convergencia, polarización y movilidad económica. El Salvador, 1963-2011
Authors: Duarte Sofía , Guevara Gabriela , Orantes Rodrigo , Pacheco Sigfredo
Published: February 2016

No abstract available.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.141, 2014: 363-398
Teología india y opción por los pobres
Authors: Cabrero Ferran
Published: February 2016

No abstract available.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.142, 2014: 521-534
Hacia una nueva forma de construir lo social
Authors: Peris Carlos
Published: February 2016

This article has been proposed to analyze the experience of the Christian Agrarian Leagues (LAC), the Paraguayan peasant social movement formed during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, through Ignacio Ellacuría’s theory. The concepts of “popular majority”, “mass”, “elite minority”, “utopia” and “negativity of the past” have proven to be fundamental in understanding the emergence, consolidation and legacy of a real protest group, referred to seek a fairer and more cooperative society. In short, using the methodology of literature review, a story was articulated for rethinking Latin America from its challenges and problems to solve.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.142, 2014: 561-570
La prensa salvadoreña y la transparencia gubernamental: un instrumento para promover la cultura democrática de la información en la ciudadanía
Authors: Arteaga Lya Ayala
Published: February 2016

El periodismo salvadoreño está en un momento histórico de transformaciones en la libertad de prensa, luego de aprobarse la Ley de Acceso a la Información Pública (LAIP). Tanto los periodistas como los ciudadanos disponen de un instrumento que les permite ahondar en las instancias gubernamentales para conocer cómo los funcionarios administran los recursos del Estado. Los periodistas tienen la urgente labor de informar a la ciudadanía de la importancia de insistir en la transparencia en la rendición de cuentas que los funcionarios de todos los niveles del gobierno deben realizar.Esta ley significa un cambio estructural y cultural en la forma cómo los periodistas abordan su trabajo desde las redacciones y desde la ética; cambios que implican, mayores compromisos con la libertad de expresión, la educación y orientación del ciudadano y, sobre todo, la reflexión de hacer un periodismo que contribuya a la democratización del país.Realidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No.142, 2014: 593-604
Active sensing in the categorization of visual patterns
Authors: Yang Scott Cheng-Hsin , Lengyel Máté , Wolpert Daniel M
Published: February 2016

Interpreting visual scenes typically requires us to accumulate information from multiple locations in a scene. Using a novel gaze-contingent paradigm in a visual categorization task, we show that participants' scan paths follow an active sensing strategy that incorporates information already acquired about the scene and knowledge of the statistical structure of patterns. Intriguingly, categorization performance was markedly improved when locations were revealed to participants by an optimal Bayesian active sensor algorithm. By using a combination of a Bayesian ideal observer and the active sensor algorithm, we estimate that a major portion of this apparent suboptimality of fixation locations arises from prior biases, perceptual noise and inaccuracies in eye movements, and the central process of selecting fixation locations is around 70% efficient in our task. Our results suggest that participants select eye movements with the goal of maximizing information about abstract categories that require the integration of information from multiple locations.
Film fabrication of Fe or Fe3O4 nanoparticles mixed with palmitic acid for vertically aligned carbon nanotube growth using Langmuir–Blodgett technique
Authors: Nakamura Kentaro , Kuriyama Naoki , Takagiwa Shota , Sato Taiga , Kushida Masahito
Published: February 2016

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA-CNTs) were studied as a new catalyst support for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Controlling the number density and the diameter of VA-CNTs may be necessary to optimize PEFC performance. As the catalyst for CNT growth, we fabricated Fe or Fe3O4 nanoparticle (NP) films by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The catalyst Fe or Fe3O4 NPs were widely separated by mixing with filler molecules [palmitic acid (C16)]. The number density of VA-CNTs was controlled by varying the ratio of catalyst NPs to C16 filler molecules. The VA-CNTs were synthesized from the catalyst NP–C16 LB films by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using acetylene gas as the carbon source. The developing solvents used in the LB technique and the hydrogen reduction conditions of CVD were optimized to improve the VA-CNT growth rate. We demonstrate that the proposed method can independently control both the density and the diameter of VA-CNTs.
The furculae of the dromaeosaurid dinosaurDakotaraptor steiniare trionychid turtle entoplastra
Authors: Arbour Victoria M. , Zanno Lindsay E. , Larson Derek W. , Evans David C. , Sues Hans-Dieter
Published: February 2016

Dakotaraptor steiniis a recently described dromaeosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. Included within theD. steinihypodigm are three elements originally identified as furculae, one of which was made part of the holotype specimen. We show that the elements described asD. steini‘furculae’ are not theropod dinosaur furculae, but are rather trionychid turtle entoplastra referable to cf.Axestemys splendida. The hypodigm ofD. steinishould be adjusted accordingly.
Sensitivity of atypical lateral fire spread to wind and slope
Authors: Simpson Colin. C. , Sharples Jason J. , Evans Jason P.
Published: February 2016

This study presents new knowledge of the environmental sensitivity of a dynamic mode of atypical wildland fire spread on steep lee‐facing slopes. This is achieved through a series of idealized numerical simulations performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and WRF‐Fire coupled atmosphere‐fire models. The sensitivity of the atypical lateral fire spread across lee slopes is tested for a varying background wind speed, wind direction relative to the terrain aspect, and lee slope steepness. The results indicate that the lateral spread characteristics are highly sensitive to each of these environmental conditions, and there is a broad agreement with the empirical thresholds calculated for lateral spread events observed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires. A theory to explain these environmental thresholds and their apparent interdependency is presented. The results are expected to have important implications for the management of wildland fires in rugged terrain.
Hurricane‐induced ocean waves and stokes drift and their impacts on surface transport and dispersion in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Curcic Milan , Chen Shuyi S. , Özgökmen Tamay M.
Published: February 2016

Hurricane Isaac induced large surface waves and a significant change in upper ocean circulation in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall at the Louisiana coast on 29 August 2012. Isaac was observed by 194 surface drifters during the Grand Lagrangian Deployment (GLAD). A coupled atmosphere‐wave‐ocean model was used to forecast hurricane impacts during GLAD. The coupled model and drifter observations provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the impacts of hurricane‐induced Stokes drift on ocean surface currents. The Stokes drift induced a cyclonic (anticyclonic) rotational flow on the left (right) side of the hurricane and accounted for up to 20% of the average Lagrangian velocity. In a significant deviation from drifter measurements prior to Isaac, the scale‐dependent relative diffusivity is estimated to be 6 times larger during the hurricane, which represents a deviation from Okubo's (1971) canonical results for lateral dispersion in nonhurricane conditions at the ocean surface.
Evaluating the impact of U.S. Historical Climatology Network homogenization using the U.S. Climate Reference Network
Authors: Hausfather Zeke , Cowtan Kevin , Menne Matthew J. , Williams Claude N.
Published: February 2016

Numerous inhomogeneities including station moves, instrument changes, and time of observation changes in the U.S. Historical Climatological Network (USHCN) complicate the assessment of long‐term temperature trends. Detection and correction of inhomogeneities in raw temperature records have been undertaken by NOAA and other groups using automated pairwise neighbor comparison approaches, but these have proven controversial due to the large trend impact of homogenization in the United States. The new U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) provides a homogenous set of surface temperature observations that can serve as an effective empirical test of adjustments to raw USHCN stations. By comparing nearby pairs of USHCN and USCRN stations, we find that adjustments make both trends and monthly anomalies from USHCN stations much more similar to those of neighboring USCRN stations for the period from 2004 to 2015 when the networks overlap. These results improve our confidence in the reliability of homogenized surface temperature records.
Propagation of biases in climate models from the synoptic to the regional scale: Implications for bias adjustment
Authors: Addor Nans , Rohrer Marco , Furrer Reinhard , Seibert Jan
Published: February 2016

Bias adjustment methods usually do not account for the origins of biases in climate models and instead perform empirical adjustments. Biases in the synoptic circulation are for instance often overlooked when postprocessing regional climate model (RCM) simulations driven by general circulation models (GCMs). Yet considering atmospheric circulation helps to establish links between the synoptic and the regional scale, and thereby provides insights into the physical processes leading to RCM biases. Here we investigate how synoptic circulation biases impact regional climate simulations and influence our ability to mitigate biases in precipitation and temperature using quantile mapping. We considered 20 GCM‐RCM combinations from the ENSEMBLES project and characterized the dominant atmospheric flow over the Alpine domain using circulation types. We report in particular a systematic overestimation of the frequency of westerly flow in winter. We show that it contributes to the generalized overestimation of winter precipitation over Switzerland, and this wet regional bias can be reduced by improving the simulation of synoptic circulation. We also demonstrate that statistical bias adjustment relying on quantile mapping is sensitive to circulation biases, which leads to residual errors in the postprocessed time series. Overall, decomposing GCM‐RCM time series using circulation types reveals connections missed by analyses relying on monthly or seasonal values. Our results underscore the necessity to better diagnose process misrepresentation in climate models to progress with bias adjustment and impact modeling.
The sensitivity of simulated competition between different plant functional types to subgrid‐scale representation of vegetation in a land surface model
Authors: Shrestha R. K. , Arora V. K. , Melton J. R.
Published: February 2016

The Canadian Land Surface Scheme coupled to the Canadian Terrestrial Ecosystem Model is used to simulate competition between the model's seven non‐crop plant functional types (PFTs) for available space. Our objective is to assess if the model is successfully able to reproduce the observed mix of PFTs and their fractional coverages and to what extent the simulated competition is affected by the manner in which the subgrid‐scale variability of vegetation is represented. The model can be run either in a composite (single tile) configuration, where structural vegetation attributes of PFTs are aggregated for use in grid‐averaged energy and water balance calculations, or a mosaic (multiple tiles) configuration, where separate energy and water balance calculations are performed for each PFT. The model realistically simulates the fractional coverages of trees, grasses, and bare ground, as well as that of individual tree and grass PFTs and their succession patterns. Our results show that the model is not overly sensitive to the manner in which subgrid‐scale variability of vegetation is represented. Of the seven sites chosen across the globe to illustrate the difference between the two configurations, the simulated fractional coverage of PFTs are generally very similar (root‐mean‐square difference, RMSD, < 5%) between the composite and mosaic configurations at locations characterized by low heterogeneity (e.g., Amazonia, Vancouver Island, and the Tibetan Plateau), whereas at locations characterized by high heterogeneity (e.g., India, South Sudan and California), the two configurations yield somewhat different results (RMSD > 5%).
The Neotethyan Sanandaj‐Sirjan zone of Iran as an archetype for passive margin‐arc transitions
Authors: Hassanzadeh Jamshid , Wernicke Brian P.
Published: February 2016

The Sanandaj‐Sirjan zone of Iran is a northwest trending orogenic belt immediately north of the Zagros suture, which represents the former position of the Neotethys Ocean. The zone contains the most extensive, best preserved record of key events in the formation and evolution of the Neotethys, from its birth in Late Paleozoic time through its demise during the mid‐Tertiary collision of Arabia with Eurasia. The record includes rifting of continental fragments off of the northern margin of Gondwanaland, formation of facing passive continental margins, initiation of subduction along the northern margin, and progressive development of a continental magmatic arc. The latter two of these events are critical phases of the Wilson Cycle that, elsewhere in the world, are poorly preserved in the geologic record because of superimposed events. Our new synthesis reaffirms the similarity between this zone and various terranes to the north in Central Iran. Late Paleozoic rifting, preserved as A‐type granites and accelerated subsidence, was followed by a phase of pronounced subsidence and shallow marine sedimentation in Permian through Triassic time, marking the formation and evolution of passive margins on both sides of the suture. Subduction and arc magmatism began in latest Triassic/Early Jurassic time, culminating at ~170 Ma. The extinction of arc magmatism in this zone, and its shift northeastward to form the subparallel Urumieh‐Dokhtar arc, occurred diachronously along strike, in Late Cretaceous or Paleogene time. Post‐Cretaceous uplift transformed the zone from a primarily marine borderland into a marine archipelago that persisted until mid‐Tertiary time.
A large increase in U.S. methane emissions over the past decade inferred from satellite data and surface observations
Authors: Turner A. J. , Jacob D. J. , Benmergui J. , Wofsy S. C. , Maasakkers J. D. , Butz A. , Hasekamp O. , Biraud S. C.
Published: February 2016

The global burden of atmospheric methane has been increasing over the past decade, but the causes are not well understood. National inventory estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate no significant trend in U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions from 2002 to present. Here we use satellite retrievals and surface observations of atmospheric methane to suggest that U.S. methane emissions have increased by more than 30% over the 2002–2014 period. The trend is largest in the central part of the country, but we cannot readily attribute it to any specific source type. This large increase in U.S. methane emissions could account for 30–60% of the global growth of atmospheric methane seen in the past decade.