bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histamine concentration is involved in canine valvular disease
Authors: Isaka Mitsuhiro , Befu Masahiko , Matsubara Nami , Ishikawa Mayuko , Arase Yurie , Namba Shinichi
Published: November 2014

It has been known since many years that there are histamine receptors (H) in the heart. Histamines display chronotropic and inotropic activity, cardiovascular diseases, and are thought to be a systemic inflammatory disease. During heart failure, the histamine concentration is elevated. In addition, H2 blockers prolonged the survival period for human patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether blood concentration of histamine is associated with canine valvular disease (CVD). The histamine concentrations of dogs with CVD are significantly higher than those of healthy dogs. The histamine concentration gradually increases during CVD and is highly correlated with the grade of heart murmur. In conclusion, the histamine concentration was higher in the population of dogs with CVD compared with the healthy controls. Although the etiopathogenesis of CVD is complex and incompletely understood, it likely involves histamine. Ultimately additional studies are required to determine whether histamine blockers might be useful for the management of dogs with cardiac valvular disease.
Duration of the breeding season on the reproductive performance of Anglo-Nubian goats during dry and rainy periods
Authors: Almeida-Irmão José Monteiro , Freitas Neto Leopoldo Mayer , Moura Marcelo Tigre , Neves Jairo Pereira , Lima Paulo Fernandes , Oliveira Marcos Antônio Lemos
Published: November 2014

The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of breeding season (BS) duration on goat reproduction during dry (DS) and rainy (RS) periods. Females were kept 300 m apart from bucks for 60 days. Females were randomly distributed among BS groups of 25 (BS25), 35 (BS35), and 45 (BS45) days during DS and RS. All females cycled, except during BS45 in DS (95%). The duration of BS did not affect estrous incidence during DS and RS. The percentage of females with two estrous was similar in RS (BS25: 30%, BS35: 35%, BS45: 35%) and DS (BS25: 25%, BS35: 30%, BS45: 25%). Three estrous were observed in BS35 and BS45 during RS (5%). First estrous (FE) and second estrous (SE) were detected from days in BS25 (FE: 1-21, SE: 7-21), BS35 (FE: 1-23, SE: 6-27), and BS45 (FE:1-23, SE: 9-20) during RS. During DS, estrous were detected within days BS25 (FE: 1-17, SE: 6-23), BS35 (FE: 1-20, SE: 6-24), and BS45 (FE: 2-21, SE: 6-21). Pregnancy rates were similar in RS (BS25: 90%, BS35: 95%, BS45: 95%) and DS (BS25: 75%, BS35: 80%, BS45: 75%). In conclusion, goat BS can be shorten despite weather without any effect on reproduction.
Evaluation of the effect of simultaneous infection with E. coli O2 and H9N2 influenza virus on inflammatory factors in broiler chickens
Authors: Dadras Habiballah , Nazifi Saeed , Shakibainia Marzieh
Published: November 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of experimental infection with Escherichia coli O2 and H9N2 influenza virus on inflammato- ry factors in broiler chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks were divided randomly to 6 groups. Inoculation program with 109 EID50/bird of the A/Chicken/Iran/772/1998 (H9N2) virus and 109 CFU/mL/bird of E. coli O2 was carried out as follows: the chicks in group 1 were inoculated with virus and bacteria simultaneously on day 26, group 2 received virus on day 26 and then bacteria 3 days later, group 3 were inoculated with bacteria on day 23 and then virus on day 26, group 4 received only bacteria on day 26, group 5 were inoculated with only virus on day 26 and group 6 served as control. Serum samples were collected from wing vein at days 20, 30, and 40. Sera were examined for inflammatory mediators (TNF-a and INF-γ), acute phase reactants (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) and gangliosides (total, lipid-bound and protein-bound sialic acids) using validated standard procedures. Among the measured parameters, serum gangliosides showed significant differences between the challenged and control groups in different days post inoculation (P<0.05). Significant increase in serum concentrations of serum sialic acids was observed on the 30th day in challenged groups. Elevations were found in the concentrations of serum gangliosides on day 40 compared to their first concentrations. The most obvious increase in serum sialic acids was observed in group 1 challenged with avian influenza virus and E. coli O2 simultaneously. Bacterial infected group showed more significant changes in comparison with viral infected one. These findings suggest that serum sialic acids may be a useful indicator of H9N2 avian influenza virus and avian pathogenic E. coli O2 co-infection.
External Ophthalmomyiasis Report in Jordan Valley
Authors: Alameri Omran H.
Published: November 2014

A young farmer from Northern Jordan Valley in close contact with sheep was infected acci- dentally in early May 2014 with the larvae of oestrus ovis. The deposition of larvae in his eye lead to inflammation accompanied with severe pain and irritation. The inflammatory signs disappeared five days after receiving the medical care. The infection is more prevalent in almost all ages of males. External ophthal- momyiasis should be considered in susceptible individuals when in contact with sheep or other ruminant species.
A Study of the Relationship between Anger Thought And Problem Behavior in Perfectionist High School Girls.
Authors: Moon So Hyun , Cho Hun Ha
Published: November 2014

PURPOSE: This descriptive correlational study was designed to examine the relationship of perfectionism to anger thought and problem behaviors. In addition, the mediating effect of anger thought in relation to perfectionism and problem behaviors was investigated.METHODS: Data were collected from 807 students in a girls' high school, and descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and hierachical multiple regression were used with SPSS/PC 18.0 program to analyze the data.RESULTS: There were significant differences in anger thought (primary and secondary anger-thought) and problem behaviors between the upper 25% and lower 25% group for perfectionism.Primary and secondary anger-thought had a significant mediating effect in relation to perfectionism and problem behaviors.CONCLUSION: For effective management and prevention of adolescent women's problem behaviors, programs including perfectionism and anger thought should be developed. Further research is necessary in order to draw a consensus on cognitive factors as mediators between the related factors of problem behaviors.
’n Korpuslinguistise vergelyking van die Totius- en Cloete-Psalmomdigtig
Authors: Van Rooy Bertus
Published: November 2014

Kritiek teen die Cloete-omdigting van die metriese psalms word beoordeel deur die Totiusomdigting en die Cloete-omdigting met behulp van ’n korpuslinguistiese analise te vergelyk. Die analise geskied vanuit ’n kritiese beskouing van die aannames oor taal en vertaling onderliggend aan die resente debatte oor psalmomdigting. Die aanname van ’n deursigtige verhouding tussen die vaste betekenisse en spesifike woorde, sowel as die moontlikheid dat formele ekwivalensie in die vertaling bewerkstellig kan word, word as vertrekpunte van die kritici van die Cloete-omdigting geïdentifieer. Die data analise toon dat die ooreenkomste tussen die twee omdigtings omvangryk is, maar dat die verskille beperk is. In die Totiusomdigting word meer van argaïese woorde gebruik gemaak. Nederlandse sowel as argaïese grammatikale konstruksies soos die genitief, die datief en die inflksie van die werkwoord kom selfs sporadies voor. Daar kom ook heelwat naamwoorde in die Totius omdigting voor wat op ŉ formeler digterlike styl dui. Daarteenoor kom meer werkwoorde in die Cloete-omdigting voor, asook taaleienskappe wat verband hou met ’n spreektaalregister. Werklik beduidende teologiese verskille blyk nie uit die korpusanalise nie. Totius maak byvoorbeeld van drie verskillende Godsname gebruik, terwyl Cloete van ’n groter verskeidenheid adjektiewe gebruik maak wat soortgelyke betekenisse verwoord as wat in die Godsname vervat is.A corpus linguistic comparison of the psalm versifiations of Totius and Cloete. Criticism of the Cloete versifiation of the metrical psalms is evaluated by comparing the Totius and Cloete versifiation with the aid of a corpus linguistic analysis. The analysis is presented against the backdrop of a critical assessment of assumptions about language and translation that underlie the recent debates on psalm versifiation. The assumption of a transparent relation between fied meanings and specifi words, as well as the degree to which formal equivalence can be attained in translation, is identifid as the points of departure of the critics of the Cloete versifiation. The data analysis shows that the two versifiations share many similarities, but the differences are limited. In the Totius versifiation, archaic forms are usedmore often. Dutch as well as archaic grammatical constructions such as the genitive, dative and verbal inflction are still occasionally encountered. There are also many nouns in the Totius versifiation, which points to a more formal poetic style. By contrast, there are more verbs in the Cloete versifiation, as well as language features that are typical of a spoken language register. Really substantial theological differences do not emerge from the corpus analysis. For instance, where Totius uses three names for God, Cloete uses a wider range of adjectives that encode similar meanings to what Totius encodes in proper nouns.
Concurrent multiple intracranial and intramedullary conus tuberculoma: A rare case report
Authors: Jaiswal Manish , Gandhi Ashok , Purohit Devendra , Mittal Radhey
Published: November 2014

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis commonly manifests as tubercular meningitis. CNS tuberculomas are more common intracranially and less frequently involve the spinal cord. Combination of intramedullary with intracranial tuberculomas is extremely rare. We report a case of concurrent occurrence of intramedullary tuberculoma with multiple intracranial tuberculomas in a young 16-year-old boy, who presented with two weeks history of paresthesias and weakness of the lower limbs and diminution of vision in left eye, who had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spine showed a well-circumscribed lesion opposite L1, which was diagnosed as intramedullary tuberculoma. As for vision complaint, on cranial imaging, he was found to have multiple round contrast enhancing lesions, which were diagnosed as intracranial tuberculomas based on their typical MRI findings. He had complete recovery with conventional treatment of anti-tubercular therapy and steroids, without any surgical intervention. We suggest that MRI of the brain should be performed in all case of intramedullary spinal tuberculoma because of the possible presence of early asymptomatic/mild symptomatic intra-cranial tuberculomas.
Role of effective canal diameter in assessing the pre-operative and the post-operative status of patients with bony cranio-vertebral anomalies
Authors: Mehrotra Anant , Srivastava Arun , Sahu Rabi , Kumar Raj
Published: November 2014

Introduction: The effective canal diameter (ECD) for the cranio-vertebral junction is measured from the posterior surface of the dens to the nearest posterior bony structure (foramen magnum or the posterior arch of the atlas). The ECD is the space which is occupied by the buffer space (which can be compromised without producing any signs or symptoms) and the cord itself. We intend to study the role of the ECD (especially in patients with markedly reduced ECD) in producing the symptoms and also the outcome of surgery in patients with bony cranio-vertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies. Materials and Methods: A total of 67 consecutive patients from the period of January 2009 through June 2010 were prospectively included in the study. These patients were operated by a single experienced surgeon (the senior author) at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. The ECD and the pre-operative Kumar and Kalra score (K and K score) (4) was calculated for all patients. The K and K score was also calculated at the time of discharge, at three months and six months follow-up. The patients were divided into three groups based on the ECD into 5 mm to 10 mm group, 10 mm to 15 mm group, and >15 mm group.
Results: There were 53 male (79.1%) patients and 14 female patients (20.9%) with mean age of presentation 27.10 years (±15.01 years) with range of 4-59 years. The duration of symptoms in our series varied from 1-120 months with mean of 23.79 months. The mean effective canal diameter was 9.027 mm (±2.23 mm) with range of 5-16 mm. The mean pre-operative K and K score was 19.27 (±4.19). There were 39 patients who had an ECD between 5 mm to 10 mm, 24 patients with ECD between 10 mm to 15 mm, and 4 patients with ECD more than 15 mm. The correlation coefficients between the effective canal diameter and the pre-operative and the post-operative Kumar and Kalra score at the time of discharge, 3 months and 6 months were 0.404 (P < 0.001), 0.320 (P < 0.008), 0.0302 (P < 0.013), and 0.284 (P < 0.020), respectively. The ECD and the pre-operative score were most significantly and strongly related to each other in patients with ECD between 5-10 mm. Conclusion: The ECD is significantly related to the pre-operative status (K and K score) of the patient. This correlation was strongest in the group with ECD of 5-10 mm. It was also observed that as the follow-up increased, the correlation between the ECD and the post-operative K and K score became less stronger though they remained significantly related to each other.
Bilateral platysma dystonia
Authors: Fahmi Achmad , Mandai Ayako , Mitsuyama Tetsuryu , Goto Shinichi , Taira Takaomi
Published: November 2014

Platysma dystonia is an involuntary movement of platysma muscle. It is a rare form of dystonia. In this case report, we would like to report a good result of peripheral nerve denervation for bilateral platysma dystonia case. A 58-years-old woman presented with an 8-years history of involuntary jerking movement of her bilateral platysma muscles. Oral medication was not effective. Microsurgical denervation of the facial nerves and its terminal branches to the platysma muscles were performed. Immediately after surgery, the patient showed considerable improvement. There were no complications. Selective peripheral denervation is useful for dystonia of the platysma muscles.
What neurosurgeons need to know about dabigatran etexilate (pradax®/pradaxa®/prazaxa®)
Authors: Dwyer Christopher , Damodaran Omprakash , Heckelmann Michael , Sheridan Mark
Published: November 2014

Dabigatran etexaliate is a novel oral anticoagulant that directly inhibits thrombin. It offers a number of substantial medical benefits over other oral and parenteral anticoagulants but its advent raises important neurosurgical considerations. Dabigatran has important potential benefits. Unlike warfarin, it does not require routine blood tests to monitor its anticoagulative effect and there is no need for dose titration. Drug interactions are greatly simplified when compared to warfarin as dabigatran is not metabolized by cytochrome p450 isoenzymes. As a result, dabigatran has been approved in many jurisdictions for DVT prophylaxis after orthopaedic surgery and also for the prevention of embolic events associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. There are, however, important neurosurgical challenges associated with regular dabigatran use. Unlike current anti-coagulants, there is no specific reversal agent for dabigatran. Known reversal options include activated charcoal (within one to two hours of intake) and renal dialysis. Protamine sulfate and vitamin K are unlikely to affect the activity of dabigatran. Platelet concentrates will not inactivate dabigatran's anti-thrombin properties. Assessing the degree of anticoagulation is difficult as conventional markers of serum coagulability are typically normal in patients taking dabigatran. The potential neurosurgical challenges of dabigatran were cast in sharp relief by a recent case report from the United States that is considered in this note. In the absence of a clear reversal pathway, we propose a treatment algorithm for chronic dabigatran use based on the replacement of any deficient factors and rapid access to renal dialysis.
Persistent L5 lumbosacral radiculopathy caused by lumbosacral trunk schwannoma
Authors: Sharifi Guive , Jahanbakhshi Amin
Published: November 2014

Schwannomais, usually, benign tumor of nerve sheath that occurs evenly along the spinal cord. Intra-pelvic schwannoma is very rare entity that may arise from lumbosacral nerve roots or from sciatic nerve. Radicular pain of the lower limb as a presenting symptom of pelvic schwannoma is extremely rare. In the current report, the patient is presented with a right sided L5 radicular pain typical of lumbar discopathy. Interestingly, a herniated lumbar disc was noted on lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In pre-operative studies a large pelvic mass was detected in the right pre-sacral area with solid and cystic components consistent with schwannoma. The patient underwent a low midline laparotomy to evacuate the retroperitoneal mass. Uniquely, we found the tumor to be arisen from lumbosacral trunk not from a root or peripheral nerve. Most cases with intra-pelvic schwannoma present so late with vague abdominal and pelvic discomfort or pain, low back pain, urinary and bowel symptoms because of compressive effect of the tumor, or incidentally following gynecologic work-ups; So, these patients are mostly referred to gynecologists and urologists. A neurosurgeon should have a high degree of suspicion to diagnose such an entity among his or her patients presented with pains typical for discopathy.
Delayed supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage following posterior fossa surgery
Authors: Salunke Pravin , Malik Vinod , Kovai Priyamvadha , Aggarwal Ashish , Khandelwal Niranjan
Published: November 2014

Delayed supratentorial intracerebral hematoma after posterior fossa surgery is uncommon. Only few cases have been reported in the past. The cause has been attributed to sitting position leading to changes in intracranial arterial and venous pressures. We report two cases of delayed intracerebral hematoma following posterior fossa surgery, none of which were operated in sitting position. MR venogram done in one patient showed venous sinus thrombosis. Intracererbal hematoma following infratentorial surgery is uncommon and is possibly due to venous sinus thrombosis leading to venous hypertension. Control of bleeding from venous sinuses due to avulsion of emissary veins during craniotomy/craniectomy possibly induces sinus thrombosis that may propagate antegrade or retrograde, leading to venous hypertension and parenchymal bleed.
Malignant solitary fibrous tumour of orbit
Authors: Chakrabartty Hrishikesh , Singhvi Shashi , Purohit Devendra , Mittal Radhey
Published: November 2014

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm that is thought to be of mesenchymal origin. Occurrence of such a tumor in the orbit is rare, more so in its malignant form. Histopathologically, it can mimic several other tumors of the orbit and can be differentiated by CD34 positivity. We report a case of malignant transformation of an SFT of the orbit that recurred after 15 years. The differentiating histopathological features with special stress on the importance of CD34 positivity and principles of management are outlined. The need for long-term follow-up to detect recurrence and malignancy is stressed.
Incidental bleeding meningioma
Authors: Sinurat Robert , Banjarnahor Jusuf
Published: November 2014

The authors present the case of a 46-year-old woman who was admitted to their institution after suffering acute intratumoral hemorrhage. There was no history and evidence of neoplasms, trauma, seizures and coagulopathy in the patient. Surgery was performed for evacuation of the hematoma and tumor excision after brain CT scan. Post operative results her neurologic function recovered completely. The pathology reports revealed angioblastic meningioma. The key to make an early and accurate diagnosis is good radiological examination, and definitive surgery can bring a more favorable outcome, lowering the morbidity and mortality rate.
Solitary giant diffuse neurofibroma of the scalp with calvarial defect
Authors: Kumar Sanjeev , Chaurasia Pramod , Singh Daljit , Batra Vineeta , Aher Rajendra
Published: November 2014

Neurofibromas of the scalp can have protean presentations. Most of the swellings are small, solitary and are easily diagnosed clinically. Diffuse swellings on the other hand are rare and are commonly seen in adults. The skull defects with these swellings are also rarely reported in the absence of neurofibromatosis. There is only one report of child having diffuse neurofibroma with skull defect. We report a second case in literature in a child with progressive, painful, diffuse neurofibroma along with calvarial defect.
Facial functional outcome in monitored versus not-monitored patients in vestibular schwannomas surgery
Authors: Taddei Graziano , Marrelli Alfonso , Trovarelli Donatella , Ricci Alessandro , Galzio Renato
Published: November 2014

Objective: Even though advances in surgical techniques have improved facial nerve outcomes, functional preservation is still an issue because injury to the facial nerve has significant physical and psychological consequences for the patient. We retrospectively review our data in VS surgery to compare the facial outcome in intraoperative facial monitored versus not-monitored patients. Materials and Methods: 51 consecutive patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma in the period from 2005 to 2010 were treated in our Institution. In according to the type of neurophysiological tool used during surgical procedures, two patients groups were identified: Group 1 (facial stimulator only) and Group 2 (stimulator and facial monitoring). Statistical comparison of the two groups was made with the t- test, and facial function results were evaluated with the Fisher's exact test. Results: In the Group 1, of the 22 patients with anatomically preserved facial nerves, 3 (13.6%) showed excellent facial nerve function, 14 (63.6%) showed intermediate function, and 5 (22.7%) showed poor function. In the Group 2, all the 27 patients got anatomically preserved facial nerves, and 18 (66.7%) showed excellent facial nerve function, 9 (33.3%) showed intermediate function, and no one showed poor function. Conclusions: We found that retrosigmoid approach associated with continuous EMG facial monitoring combined with the use of bipolar stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for vestibular schwannomas.
Systematic Fiscal Policy and Macroeconomic Performance: A Critical Overview of the Literature
Authors: Reicher Claire
Published: November 2014

The literature on systematic fiscal policy and macroeconomic performance in industrialized countries is large but fragmented. Based on a broad overview of that literature, several patterns emerge. First, the empirical literature points toward strongly anticyclical policy, which consists of procyclical tax revenues, acyclical tax rates and government purchases, and countercyclical transfer payments. Secondly, consolidation in response to the debt has come primarily through adjustments to taxes and possibly purchases. Thirdly, a large government is associated with reduced macroeconomic volatility. Meanwhile, the theoretical literature on anticyclical fiscal policy has gone from mostly focusing on government purchases and tax rates toward beginning to focus on transfer payments, although more quantitative work remains to be done in linking theory with empirics. In addition, a policy literature has begun to develop, which has applied lessons from the theoretical literature in order to understand different consolidation scenarios and different proposed fiscal rules, particularly in Europe.
N2O, NO, N2 and CO2 emissions from tropical savanna and grassland of northern Australia: an incubation experiment with intact soil cores
Authors: Werner C. , Reiser K. , Dannenmann M. , Hutley L. B. , Jacobeit J. , Butterbach-Bahl K.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Strong seasonal variability of hygric and thermal soil conditions are a defining environmental feature in northern Australia. However, how such changes affect the soil–atmosphere exchange of nitrous oxide (N2O), nitric oxide (NO) and dinitrogen (N2) is still not well explored. By incubating intact soil cores from four sites (three savanna, one pasture) under controlled soil temperatures (ST) and soil moisture (SM) we investigated the release of the trace gas fluxes of N2O, NO and carbon dioxide (CO2). Furthermore, the release of N2 due to denitrification was measured using the helium gas flow soil core technique. Under dry pre-incubation conditions NO and N2O emissions were very low (<7.0 ± 5.0 μg NO-N m−2 h−1; <0.0 ± 1.4 μg N2O-N m−2 h−1) or in the case of N2O, even a net soil uptake was observed. Substantial NO (max: 306.5 μg N m−2 h−1) and relatively small N2O pulse emissions (max: 5.8 ± 5.0 μg N m−2 h−1) were recorded following soil wetting, but these pulses were short lived, lasting only up to 3 days. The total atmospheric loss of nitrogen was generally dominated by N2 emissions (82.4–99.3% of total N lost), although NO emissions contributed almost 43.2% to the total atmospheric nitrogen loss at 50% SM and 30 °C ST incubation settings (the contribution of N2 at these soil conditions was only 53.2%). N2O emissions were systematically higher for 3 of 12 sample locations, which indicates substantial spatial variability at site level, but on average soils acted as weak N2O sources or even sinks. By using a conservative upscale approach we estimate total annual emissions from savanna soils to average 0.12 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (N2O), 0.68 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (NO) and 6.65 kg N ha−1 yr−1 (N2). The analysis of long-term SM and ST records makes it clear that extreme soil saturation that can lead to high N2O and N2 emissions only occurs a few days per year and thus has little impact on the annual total. The potential contribution of nitrogen released due to pulse events compared to the total annual emissions was found to be of importance for NO emissions (contribution to total: 5–22%), but not for N2O emissions. Our results indicate that the total gaseous release of nitrogen from these soils is low and clearly dominated by loss in the form of inert nitrogen. Effects of seasonally varying soil temperature and moisture were detected, but were found to be low due to the small amounts of available nitrogen in the soils (total nitrogen <0.1%).
Technical Note: Artificial coral reef mesocosms for ocean acidification investigations
Authors: Leblud J. , Moulin L. , Batigny A. , Dubois P. , Grosjean P.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The design and evaluation of replicated artificial mesocosms are presented in the context of a thirteen month experiment on the effects of ocean acidification on tropical coral reefs. They are defined here as (semi)-closed (i.e. with or without water change from the reef) mesocosms in the laboratory with a more realistic physico-chemical environment than microcosms. Important physico-chemical parameters (i.e. pH, pO2, pCO2, total alkalinity, temperature, salinity, total alkaline earth metals and nutrients availability) were successfully monitored and controlled. Daily variations of irradiance and pH were applied to approach field conditions. Results highlighted that it was possible to maintain realistic physico-chemical parameters, including daily changes, into artificial mesocosms. On the other hand, the two identical artificial mesocosms evolved differently in terms of global community oxygen budgets although the initial biological communities and physico-chemical parameters were comparable. Artificial reef mesocosms seem to leave enough degrees of freedom to the enclosed community of living organisms to organize and change along possibly diverging pathways.
Long term effects on regional European boreal climate due to structural vegetation changes
Authors: Rydsaa J. H. , Stordal F. , Tallaksen L. M.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Amplified warming at high latitudes over the past decades has led to changes in the boreal and arctic climate system, such as structural changes in high latitude ecosystems and soil moisture properties. These changes trigger land-atmosphere feedbacks, through altered energy partitioning in response to changes in albedo and surface water fluxes. Local scale changes in the arctic and boreal zone may propagate to affect large scale climatic features. In this study, MODIS land surface data are used with the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF V3.5.1) and Noah LSM, in a series of experiments to simulate the influence of structural vegetation changes over a Northern European boreal ecosystem. Emphasis is placed on surface energy partitioning and near surface atmospheric variables, in order to investigate changes in atmospheric response due to observed and anticipated structural vegetation changes. We find that a northward migration of evergreen needle leaf forest into tundra regions causes an increase in latent rather than sensible heat fluxes, increased near surface temperatures and boundary layer height. Shrub expansion in tundra areas has only small effects on surface fluxes. However, it influences near surface wind speeds and boundary layer height. Northward migration of mixed forest across the present southern border of the boreal forest has largely opposite effects on surface fluxes and the near surface atmosphere, and acts to moderate the overall mean regional effects of boreal forest migration on the near surface atmosphere.
Trends and drivers in global surface ocean pH over the past three decades
Authors: Lauvset S. K. , Gruber N. , Landschützer P. , Olsen A. , Tjiputra J.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. We report global long-term trends in surface ocean pH using a new pH data set computed by combining fCO2 observations from the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT) version 2 with surface alkalinity estimates based on temperature and salinity. Trends were determined over the periods 1981–2011 and 1991–2011 for a set of 17 biomes using a weighted linear least squares method. We observe significant decreases in surface ocean pH in ~70% of all biomes and a global mean rate of decrease of –0.0018 ± 0.0004 yr-1 for 1991–2011. We are not able to calculate a global trend for 1981–2011 because too few biomes have enough data for this. In two-thirds of the biomes, the rate of change is commensurate with the trends expected based on the assumption that the surface ocean pH change is only driven by the surface ocean carbon chemistry remaining in a transient equilibrium with the increase in atmospheric CO2. In the remaining biomes deviations from such equilibrium may reflect changes in the trend of surface ocean fCO2, most notably in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, or changes in the oceanic buffer (Revelle) factor. We conclude that well-planned and long-term sustained observational networks are key to reliably document the ongoing and future changes in ocean carbon chemistry due to anthropogenic forcing.
Methanotrophy within the water column of a large meromictic tropical lake (Lake Kivu, East Africa)
Authors: Morana C. , Borges A. V. , Roland F. A. E. , Darchambeau F. , Descy J.-P. , Bouillon S.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The permanently stratified Lake Kivu is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs of dissolved methane (CH4) on Earth. Yet CH4 emissions from its surface to the atmosphere has been estimated to be 2 orders of magnitude lower than the CH4 upward flux to the mixed layer, showing that microbial CH4 oxidation is an important process within the water column. A combination of natural abundance carbon stable isotope analysis (δ13C) of several inorganic and organic carbon pools and 13CH4-labelling experiments was carried out during rainy and dry season to quantify (i) the contribution of CH4-derived carbon to the biomass, (ii) methanotrophic bacterial production (MBP), and (iii) methanotrophic bacterial growth efficiency (MBGE), defined as the ratio between MBP and gross CH4 oxidation. We also investigated the distribution and the δ13C of specific phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), used as biomarkers for aerobic methanotrophs. Data revealed that methanotrophic organisms oxidized within the water column most of the upward flux of CH4 to the mixed layer and a significant amount of CH4-derived carbon was incorporated into the microbial biomass in the oxycline. Maximal MBP rates were measured in the oxycline, suggesting that CH4 oxidation was mainly driven by oxic processes. The MBGE was variable (2–50%) and negatively related to CH4 : O2 molar ratios. Thus, a comparatively smaller fraction of CH4-derived carbon was incorporated into the cellular biomass in deeper waters, at the bottom of the oxycline where oxygen was scarce. The aerobic methanotrophic community was clearly dominated by type I methanotrophs and no evidence was found for an active involvement of type II methanotrophs in CH4 oxidation in Lake Kivu. Vertically integrated over the water column, the MBP was equivalent to 16–58% of the average phytoplankton primary production. This relatively high magnitude of MBP, and the substantial contribution of CH4-derived carbon to the overall biomass in the oxycline, suggest that methanotrophic bacteria could potentially sustain a significant fraction of the pelagic food-web in the deep oligotrophic Lake Kivu.
Marine sources of bromoform in the global open ocean – global patterns and emissions
Authors: Stemmler I. , Hense I. , Quack B.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Bromoform (CHBr3) is one important precursor of atmospheric reactive bromine species that are involved in ozone depletion in the troposphere and stratosphere. In the open ocean bromoform production is linked to phytoplankton that contains the enzyme bromoperoxidase. Coastal sources of bromoform are higher than open ocean sources. However, open ocean emissions are important, because the transfer of tracers into higher altitude in the air, i.e. into the ozone layer, strongly depends on the location of emissions. For example, emissions in the tropics are more rapidly transported into the upper atmosphere than emissions from higher latitudes. Global spatio-temporal features of bromoform emissions are poorly constrained. Here, a global three-dimensional ocean biogeochemistry model (MPIOM-HAMOCC) is used to simulate bromoform cycling in the ocean and emissions into the atmosphere using recently published data of global atmospheric concentrations (Ziska et al., 2013) as upper boundary conditions. In general, simulated surface concentrations of CHBr3 match the observations well. Simulated global annual emissions based on monthly mean model output are lower than previous estimates, including the estimate by Ziska et al. (2013), because the gas-exchange reverses when less bromoform is produced in non-blooming seasons. This is the case for higher latitudes, i.e. the polar regions and northern North Atlantic. Further model experiments show that future model studies may need to distinguish different bromoform producing phytoplankton species and reveal that the transport of CHBr3 from the coast considerably alters open ocean bromoform concentrations, in particular in the northern sub-polar and polar regions.
Evaluation of the satellite-based Global Flood Detection System for measuring river discharge: influence of local factors
Authors: Revilla-Romero B. , Thielen J. , Salamon P. , De Groeve T. , Brakenridge G. R.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. One of the main challenges for global hydrological modelling is the limited availability of observational data for calibration and model verification. This is particularly the case for real-time applications. This problem could potentially be overcome if discharge measurements based on satellite data were sufficiently accurate to substitute for ground-based measurements. The aim of this study is to test the potentials and constraints of the remote sensing signal of the Global Flood Detection System for converting the flood detection signal into river discharge values. The study uses data for 322 river measurement locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Satellite discharge measurements were calibrated for these sites and a validation analysis with in situ discharge was performed. The locations with very good performance will be used in a future project where satellite discharge measurements are obtained on a daily basis to fill the gaps where real-time ground observations are not available. These include several international river locations in Africa: the Niger, Volta and Zambezi rivers. Analysis of the potential factors affecting the satellite signal was based on a classification decision tree (random forest) and showed that mean discharge, climatic region, land cover and upstream catchment area are the dominant variables which determine good or poor performance of the measure\\-ment sites. In general terms, higher skill scores were obtained for locations with one or more of the following characteristics: a river width higher than 1km; a large floodplain area and in flooded forest, a potential flooded area greater than 40%; sparse vegetation, croplands or grasslands and closed to open and open forest; leaf area index > 2; tropical climatic area; and without hydraulic infrastructures. Also, locations where river ice cover is seasonally present obtained higher skill scores. This work provides guidance on the best locations and limitations for estimating discharge values from these daily satellite signals.
Photogrammetric mapping using unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Graça N. , Mitishita E. , Gonçalves J.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Nowadays Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has attracted attention for aerial photogrammetric mapping. The low cost and the feasibility to automatic flight along commanded waypoints can be considered as the main advantages of this technology in photogrammetric applications. Using GNSS/INS technologies the images are taken at the planned position of the exposure station and the exterior orientation parameters (position Xo, Yo, Zo and attitude ω, φ, χ) of images can be direct determined. However, common UAVs (off-the-shelf) do not replace the traditional aircraft platform. Overall, the main shortcomings are related to: difficulties to obtain the authorization to perform the flight in urban and rural areas, platform stability, safety flight, stability of the image block configuration, high number of the images and inaccuracies of the direct determination of the exterior orientation parameters of the images. In this paper are shown the obtained results from the project photogrammetric mapping using aerial images from the SIMEPAR UAV system. The PIPER J3 UAV Hydro aircraft was used. It has a micro pilot MP2128g. The system is fully integrated with 3-axis gyros/accelerometers, GPS, pressure altimeter, pressure airspeed sensors. A Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 was calibrated and used to get the image block. The flight height was close to 400 m, resulting GSD near to 0.10 m. The state of the art of the used technology, methodologies and the obtained results are shown and discussed. Finally advantages/shortcomings found in the study and main conclusions are presented
DSM Accuracy Evaluation for the ISPRS Commission I Image Matching Benchmark
Authors: Kuschk G. , d'Angelo P. , Qin R. , Poli D. , Reinartz P. , Cremers D.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. To improve the quality of algorithms for automatic generation of Digital Surface Models (DSM) from optical stereo data in the remote sensing community, the Working Group 4 of Commission I: Geometric and Radiometric Modeling of Optical Airborne and Spaceborne Sensors provides on its website http://www2.isprs.org/commissions/comm1/wg4/benchmark-test.html a benchmark dataset for measuring and comparing the accuracy of dense stereo algorithms. The data provided consists of several optical spaceborne stereo images together with ground truth data produced by aerial laser scanning. In this paper we present our latest work on this benchmark, based upon previous work. As a first point, we noticed that providing the abovementioned test data as geo-referenced satellite images together with their corresponding RPC camera model seems too high a burden for being used widely by other researchers, as a considerable effort still has to be made to integrate the test datas camera model into the researchers local stereo reconstruction framework. To bypass this problem, we now also provide additional rectified input images, which enable stereo algorithms to work out of the box without the need for implementing special camera models. Care was taken to minimize the errors resulting from the rectification transformation and the involved image resampling. We further improved the robustness of the evaluation method against errors in the orientation of the satellite images (with respect to the LiDAR ground truth). To this end we implemented a point cloud alignment of the DSM and the LiDAR reference points using an Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm and an estimation of the best fitting transformation. This way, we concentrate on the errors from the stereo reconstruction and make sure that the result is not biased by errors in the absolute orientation of the satellite images. The evaluation of the stereo algorithms is done by triangulating the resulting (filled) DSMs and computing for each LiDAR point the nearest Euclidean distance to the DSM surface. We implemented an adaptive triangulation method minimizing the second order derivative of the surface in a local neighborhood, which captures the real surface more accurate than a fixed triangulation. As a further advantage, using our point-to-surface evaluation, we are also able to evaluate non-uniformly sampled DSMs or triangulated 3D models in general. The latter is for example needed when evaluating building extraction and data reduction algorithms. As practical example we compare results from three different matching methods applied to the data available within the benchmark data sets. These results are analyzed using the above mentioned methodology and show advantages and disadvantages of the different methods, also depending on the land cover classes.
Assessment of ice-dam collapse by time-lapse photos at the Perito Moreno glacier, Argentina
Authors: Lenzano M. G. , Lannutti E. , Toth C. K. , Lenzano L. E. , Lovecchio A.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. This research provides a feasibility study on the implementation and performance assessment of time-lapse processing of a monoscopic image sequence, acquired by a calibrated camera in the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. The glacier is located at 50°28'23" S, 73°02'10" W at the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, South Patagonia Icefield, Santa Cruz and has experienced minor fluctuations and unusual behavior since the early 1960's to present. The objective of this study was to determine the evolution and changes in the ice-dam of the Perito Moreno glacier that started on November, 23 2012 and collapsed on January 19, 2013. Two images every 24 hours were acquired since October 2012 until February 2013, a total of 135 days. Image information was supported by ground data. Image and ground data was correlated with a 2D affine transformation. This technique allows the determination of the distortions in the images and estimating the values of scale factors. This, along with an accurate time-lapse interval, has produced accurate data for the analysis. In addition, changes in the level of the Brazo Rico lake were validated with direct data in order to determine the degree of uncertainty in the estimation of changes in the glacier. Based on the calculations, advance rates of the front of the Perito Moreno glacier were estimated at 0.67 m/d ± 0.003 m, and the tunnel evolution was also recorded.
A Comparative Study between Frequency-Modulated Continous Wave LADAR and Linear LiDAR
Authors: Massaro R. D. , Anderson J. E. , Nelson J. D. , Edwards J. D.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. Topographic Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has advanced greatly in the past decade. Pulse repetition rates of terrestrial and airborne systems havemultiplied thus vastly increasing data acquisition rates. Geiger-mode and FLASH LiDAR have also become far more mature technologies. However, a new and relatively unknown technology is maturing rapidly: Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave Laser Detection and Ranging (FMCW-LADAR). Possessing attributes more akin to modern radar systems, FMCWLADAR has the ability to more finely resolve objects separated by very small ranges. For tactical military applications (as described here), this can be a real advantage over single frequency, direct-detect systems. In fact, FMCW-LADAR can range resolve objects at 10−7 to 10−6 meter scales. FMCW-LADAR can also detect objects at greater range with less power. In this study, a FMCWLADAR instrument and traditional LiDAR instrument are compared. The co-located terrestrial scanning instruments were set up to perform simultaneous 3-D measurements of the given scene. Several targets were placed in the scene to expose the difference in the range resolution capabilities of the two instruments. The scans were performed at or nearly the same horizontal and vertical angular resolutions. It is demonstrated that the FMCW-LADAR surpasses the perfomance of the linear mode LiDAR scanner in terms of range resolution. Some results showing the maximum range acquisition are discussed but this was not studied in detail as the scanners’ laser powers differed by a small amount. Applications and implications of this technology are also discussed.
The influence of the in situ camera calibration for direct georeferencing of aerial imagery
Authors: Mitishita E. , Barrios R. , Centeno J.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The direct determination of exterior orientation parameters (EOPs) of aerial images via GNSS/INS technologies is an essential prerequisite in photogrammetric mapping nowadays. Although direct sensor orientation technologies provide a high degree of automation in the process due to the GNSS/INS technologies, the accuracies of the obtained results depend on the quality of a group of parameters that models accurately the conditions of the system at the moment the job is performed. One sub-group of parameters (lever arm offsets and boresight misalignments) models the position and orientation of the sensors with respect to the IMU body frame due to the impossibility of having all sensors on the same position and orientation in the airborne platform. Another sub-group of parameters models the internal characteristics of the sensor (IOP). A system calibration procedure has been recommended by worldwide studies to obtain accurate parameters (mounting and sensor characteristics) for applications of the direct sensor orientation. Commonly, mounting and sensor characteristics are not stable; they can vary in different flight conditions. The system calibration requires a geometric arrangement of the flight and/or control points to decouple correlated parameters, which are not available in the conventional photogrammetric flight. Considering this difficulty, this study investigates the feasibility of the in situ camera calibration to improve the accuracy of the direct georeferencing of aerial images. The camera calibration uses a minimum image block, extracted from the conventional photogrammetric flight, and control point arrangement. A digital Vexcel UltraCam XP camera connected to POS AV TM system was used to get two photogrammetric image blocks. The blocks have different flight directions and opposite flight line. In situ calibration procedures to compute different sets of IOPs are performed and their results are analyzed and used in photogrammetric experiments. The IOPs from the in situ camera calibration improve significantly the accuracies of the direct georeferencing. The obtained results from the experiments are shown and discussed.