bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparison of three predictor selection methods for statistical downscaling
Authors: Yang Chunli , Wang Ninglian , Wang Shijin 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTThree predictor selection methods [correlation analysis, partial correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis (SRA)] that are commonly used for statistical downscaling are compared in terms of the uncertainty assessments of their downscaled results using the same statistical downscaling model (SDSM). Uncertainty is assessed by comparing several statistical indices for observed and downscaled daily precipitation, daily maximum and minimum temperature, monthly means and variances of daily precipitation and daily temperature. Besides these, the distributions of monthly mean of daily precipitation, monthly dry and wet days also are considered. The analysis employs the SDSM and 54 years (1961–2014) of observed daily precipitation and temperature together with National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis predictors. A comparison of the different methods for selecting predictors indicates that SRA is slight better than other two methods in most statistical indices.
Trends and variability of daily precipitation and extremes during 1960–2012 in the Yangtze River Basin, China
Authors: Guan Yinghui , Zheng Fenli , Zhang Xunchang , Wang Bin 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTTrends and variability of extreme precipitation events are important for water‐related disaster prevention and mitigation as well as water resource management. Using daily precipitation dataset from 143 meteorological stations in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB), a suite of heavy and extreme precipitation indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices, which has rarely been applied in this region, were analysed during 1960–2012. Results showed that simple daily intensity index, very wet day precipitation, extremely wet day precipitation, extremely heavy precipitation days, maximum 1‐day precipitation, maximum 5‐day precipitation and maximum consecutive dry days all increased significantly during 1960–2012. In contrast, ≥10 mm precipitation days and maximum consecutive wet days decreased significantly, implying that the precipitation processes in YRB were dominated by precipitation events with shorter durations. Geographically, a wetting tendency was observed in the eastern Tibet Plateau and the middle and lower YRB, while the other regions experienced precipitation deficits. The increasing precipitation was mainly due to the intensification of extreme precipitation events and the decreasing precipitation may be attributed to the decrease of ≥10 mm precipitation days or moderate precipitation events. In addition, the regional trends were of greater magnitudes in the middle and lower YRB, indicating more frequent extreme precipitation events in these sub‐regions. Time series analysis revealed that most precipitation indices exhibited neither a stable nor a gradual pattern during 1960–2012, but a clearly upward trend, although non‐monotonous, since the late‐1980s was evident.
Degradation of Riparian Forest Affects Soil Properties and Ecosystem Services Provision in Eastern Amazon of Brazil
Authors: Celentano Danielle , Rousseau Guillaume X. , Engel Vera Lex , Zelarayán Marcelo , Oliveira Elivaldo C. , Araujo Ana Carolina M. , de Moura Emanoel G. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBrazil's riparian forests are continuously threatened by conversion into agricultural areas, causing not only degradation and loss of vegetation but also negative changes in soil properties and ecosystem services. In order to select vegetation and soil variables that are affected by degradation and to evaluate whether forest structure can be used as a proxy for soil ecosystem services, two watersheds in eastern Amazon were chosen as a study area in which four degradation levels were identified (very high, high, moderate and low), based on forest canopy openness and height. Vegetation structural characteristics, water infiltration rates, and soil properties were evaluated in 24, 1,000 m2 permanent plots. Results indicated that forest degradation significantly reduced soil carbon, phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, silt proportion, total porosity, and water content as well as water infiltration rate. Vegetation structure was a good proxy for monitoring soil ecosystem services (i.e. regulation of water flow, erosion control and life‐supporting). Tree height and basal area, as well as herb biomass, were identified as the best vegetation indicators for changes in soil properties that underlie ecosystem services. Application of this strategy may facilitate the monitoring and modeling of riparian forest ecosystem services across broader spatial scales, to help guide efficient restoration efforts and conservation policies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Sensitivity Study of Applying a Two‐Source Potential Evapotranspiration Model in the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index for Drought Monitoring
Authors: Zhang Baoqing , Wang Zikui , Chen Guan 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) based on three different potential evapotranspiration (PET) estimation methods, including the Thornthwaite (TW) equation, the Penman–Monteith (PM) equation, and the Two‐Source (2S) PET model were compared and evaluated by observed evidences over the Loess Plateau, which includes large area of sparse vegetation cover. The results show that the Loess Plateau has experienced substantial climate warming over the past four decades, which intensively raised the atmospheric water demand (PET), thus the drought condition. The upward trends of PETTW were the most extensive, while the upward trends of PET2S and PETPM were similar to each other. The differences between SPEIPM and SPEITW were larger than the differences between SPEIPM and SPEI2S. The variability of SPEI2S and SPEIPM were more consistent with the observed streamflow and the normal difference vegetation index than that of SPEITW, and the SPEI2S even showed higher agreements than the SPEIPM. The 2S PET model considers radiation balances at the canopy level and soil surface separately, which helps this model more accurately estimate the PET in regions with sparse vegetation. The PM equation is a more physically based PET estimation method than the TW equation, which takes the other variables that effect atmospheric water demand into account. Therefore, the 2S PET model (first) and the PM equation (second) are recommended in calculating the SPEI over regions with large area of sparse vegetation cover, as a result of better physical mechanism and higher correlations with different types of observations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Short‐term Impact of Coppice Management on Soil in a Quercus ilex l. Stand of Sardinia
Authors: Vacca Andrea , Aru Francesco , Ollesch Gregor 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe short‐term impact of coppice‐with‐standards management on soil in a Mediterranean holm oak forest was assessed to contribute to address appropriate recommendations to minimize possible negative effects of the silvicultural practices. For this purpose, soil surface features and topsoil properties were investigated in two representative areas located in a public forest in southwest Sardinia (Italy) and coppiced in the periods November 2012–March 2013 and November 2011–March 2012, respectively. Regardless of differences in soils and slope gradient, the same management, in terms of final density of trees standing after the clear‐cut and accumulation of brushwood in strips along the maximum slope gradient, was applied in both areas. Field observations and laboratory data highlighted the disturbances caused to the soil by the silvicultural practices in the stands when compared with the undisturbed stands. These disturbances involved the almost complete removal of organic horizons, with consequent negative impact on organic carbon content, and the activation of erosion processes, mostly related to rainsplash erosion. Although soil mobilization locally largely exceeded the tolerable erosion rates, no extreme rainfall events occurred after the coppicing to produce critical situations at the catchment level. The adjustment of the final density of trees standing after the clear‐cut in relation to soil properties, slope gradient and the possibility of extreme rainfall events, a different brushwood management and the restriction to the passage of wild animals would have strongly reduced the negative impacts on soils. © 2016 The Authors. Land Degradation and Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delivery of light to the skin through ablated conduits
Authors: Tanghetti Emil , Mirkov Mirko , Sierra Rafael A. 
Published: May 2016

Background and ObjectivesNon‐invasive laser skin treatment modalities are generally designed to protect the epidermis by cooling and limiting the laser energy deposition in accordance with skin type. We explore a treatment modality that uses a 2,940 nm Er:YAG laser with high tissue absorption to ablate an array of channels through the epidermis and upper dermis, and then deliver laser energy from a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser with lower tissue absorption through the ablated channels. Treatment through ablated conduits offers a unique capability to deliver laser radiation to a deeper level in the dermis or beyond the dermis and the delivered energy to be deposited in a nearly uniform distribution. The ablated channels represent a relatively small surface and volume fraction of the epidermis and upper dermis, and heal very fast. A pilot study was performed to explore the benefits of treatments through ablated conduits for skin tightening, cellulite, and acne scarring.Materials and MethodsA custom‐built laser from Cynosure Inc. was designed to deliver to the epidermis up to 3 J/cm2 at 2,940 nm from an Er:YAG laser followed in less than 10 ms by up to 20 J/cm2 at 1,320 nm from a Nd:YAG laser. Both laser sources were delivered to the skin through a diffractive lens array. The spatial intensity modulation created by the diffractive lens array on the skin surface consisted of a low energy density background that did not damage the epidermis and a superimposed array of much higher energy density regions where the Er:YAG laser ablated the channels, and most of the 1,320 nm laser energy was delivered through the channels. Various fluence combinations of the ablative and non‐ablative lasers were tested on ex vivo human skin samples to evaluate tissue effects and parameters for a clinical test. A limited clinical study was performed to evaluate tissue response and healing effects.ResultsHistology confirmed the presence of ablative channels through the epidermis and upper dermis as well as the absence of epidermal damage apart from the channels. Three days posttreatment there was complete skin healing with no evidence of channel ablation or coagulation in the skin biopsies. Limited clinical testing for facial treatments showed mild improvement for acne scarring and skin laxity.ConclusionsLaser skin treatment through ablated conduits can be performed safely with fast subsequent healing of the channels ablated through the skin. Further refinement of the treatment parameters and variation of the wavelength of the non‐ablative laser source may bring improved treatment efficacy. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:69–77, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fatigue crack growth characteristics of austenitic stainless steel for cold‐stretched pressure vessels at cryogenic temperatures
Authors: Choi H. S. , Kim J. H. , Kim S. H. , Kim K. D. , Hur K. B. 
Published: May 2016

Cold‐stretched pressure vessels made from austenitic stainless steel are widely used for storage and transportation of liquefied gases. Compared with conventional pressure vessels, cold‐stretched vessels have lots of advantages such as having thin walls, light weight, and low energy consumption. However, pressure vessels can be subjected to alternating loads at cryogenic temperatures, so it is important to investigate the fatigue characteristics of austenitic stainless steel for cold‐stretched vessels. This study presents the static and fatigue behavior of austenitic stainless steel 304 sampled from cold‐stretched pressure vessels in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers code. To compare the mechanical properties and fatigue behavior of austenitic stainless steel 304 in as‐received and cold‐stretched conditions (9 % strain level), tensile and fatigue crack growth tests were performed at room and cryogenic temperatures respectively. Fractography of the fractured specimens was carried out using a scanning electron microscope.
Planning to make economic decisions in the future, but choosing impulsively now: are preference reversals related to symptoms of ADHD and depression?
Authors: Mies Gabry W. , De Water Erik , Scheres Anouk 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA preference for smaller immediate rewards over larger delayed rewards (delay discounting, DD) is common in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but rarely investigated in depression. Whether this preference is due to sensitivity to reward immediacy or delay aversion remains unclear. To investigate this, we examined whether ADHD and depressive symptoms are associated with preference reversals: a switch from smaller immediate rewards to larger delayed rewards when smaller rewards are also delayed. We also examined whether these symptoms differentially affect DD of losses. In Study 1 undergraduates completed a questionnaire about ADHD symptoms, and performed a hypothetical DD task. In the NOW condition, participants were presented with choices between a small reward available today and a large reward available after one year. In the FUTURE condition both rewards were delayed with +1 year. In Study 2 undergraduates completed questionnaires about ADHD and depressive symptoms and performed a DD task with gains and losses. Participants showed preference reversals in both studies and tasks. Losses were less steeply discounted than gains. ADHD and depressive symptoms did not influence these effects. Depressive symptoms, but not ADHD symptoms, were associated with less economic choices in general. These findings suggest that impulsive choice in depression is not explained by sensitivity to reward immediacy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reducing SAR requirements in multislice volumetric single‐shot spatiotemporal MRI by two‐dimensional RF pulses
Authors: Liberman Gilad , Frydman Lucio 
Published: May 2016

PurposeSpatiotemporal encoding (SPEN) can deliver single‐scan MR images without folding complications and with increased robustness to chemical shift and susceptibility artifacts. Yet, it does so at the expense of relatively high specific absorption rates (SAR) owing to its reliance on frequency‐swept pulses. This study describes SPEN implementations aimed at full three‐dimensional (3D) multislice imaging, possessing reduced SAR thanks to an implementation based on new 2D radiofrequency (RF) pulses.MethodsFully refocused spin‐ and stimulated‐echo SPEN sequences incorporating 2D spatial/spatial swept RF pulses were implemented at 3 Tesla and compared to echo planar imaging. The use of effective 90‐degree slice‐selective excitation pulses enabled the scanning of 3D volumes with a low SAR.ResultsExperiments validating the theoretical expectations were carried out on phantoms and on human volunteers, including zooming and diffusion measurements. The chosen sequences showed much smaller SARs than EPI, while delivering similar sensitivities when targeting human brain and fewer distortions when targeting human breast.ConclusionTwo‐dimensional RF pulses can exploit SPEN's advantages while fulfilling the SAR and multislice coverage demands required for clinical imaging. Magn Reson Med 77:1959–1965, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Cystatin C Based Equation Accurately Estimates Glomerular Filtration Rate in Children With Solid and Central Nervous System Tumours: Enough Evidence to Change Practice?
Authors: Dodgshun Andrew J. , Quinlan Catherine , Sullivan Michael J. 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundAssessing the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of paediatric patients receiving nephrotoxic chemotherapy is a vital element of clinical practice. Isotopically measured GFR is the gold standard in terms of accuracy but requires injection of tracer followed by several hours of blood tests. Estimation of GFR using creatinine is widely used but inaccurate, and there is increasing concern regarding its usage for paediatric oncology patients. Cystatin C (CysC) based equations are increasingly used in other paediatric specialities to estimate GFR, and their usefulness in paediatric oncology practice is becoming evident.MethodsWe assessed the renal function of children with solid tumours and CNS tumours receiving nephrotoxic chemotherapy over a 1‐year period using paired CysC and isotopic GFR.ResultsFifty‐six sets of measurements were reviewed with estimated GFR predicted using CysC‐based and creatinine‐based equations. The best performing equation was the ‘new CKiD’ equation, which estimated GFR within 30% of the measured GFR on 86% of occasions, outperforming the Schwartz equation. If estimated GFR using this equation was >100 ml/min/1.73 m2, all values of measured GFR were normal at >90 ml/min/1.73 m2, a category containing two‐thirds of all measurements.ConclusionsThe new CKiD equation predicts GFR in paediatric oncology patients with more accuracy than creatinine‐based equations. When the estimated GFR is >100 ml/min/1.73 m2, isotopic GFR can be safely omitted.
Electrochemical nature of contact firing reactions for screen‐printed silicon solar cells: origin of “gray finger” phenomenon
Authors: Kim Hee‐Soo , Cho Sung‐Bin , Kim Heesan , Kim Donghwan , Dovrat Miki , Eytan Guy , Huh Joo‐Youl 
Published: May 2016

AbstractFire‐through Ag thick‐film metallization of crystalline Si (c‐Si) solar cells often yields macroscopically non‐uniform contact quality over the cell area, degrading the cell performance and causing cell‐to‐cell variations of the conversion efficiency in a cell production line. This study analyzes the root cause of the “gray finger” phenomenon, in which part of the fire‐through Ag contact gridlines of a c‐Si solar cell appears in gray or dark contrast in the electroluminescence images owing to high contact resistance. Few Ag crystallites were formed on the corrugated emitter surface at the contact interfaces underneath the gray fingers. The present results revealed that the gray finger phenomenon was caused by a short‐circuit spot that formed between the Ag gridlines and underlying Si emitter during contact firing. The electrochemical reactions involved in fire‐through Ag contact formation established a potential difference between the sintered Ag gridlines and Si emitter separated by molten glass. The molten glass acted as an electrolyte containing mobile Ag+ and O2− ions during contact firing. Therefore, the short‐circuiting between the sintered Ag gridlines and Si emitter produced a galvanic cell during contact firing, which inhibited Ag crystallite formation at the contact interface along the gridlines in a short circuit and produced the gray fingers. The firing reactions in Ag thick‐film contact formation could be interpreted in terms of the mixed potential theory of corrosion. The degradation of cell performance because of the gray finger phenomenon was also evaluated for 6‐in. screen‐printed c‐Si solar cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sugar concentration in nectar: a quantitative metric of crop attractiveness for refined pollinator risk assessments
Authors: Knopper Loren D , Dan Tereza , Reisig Dominic D , Johnson Josephine D , Bowers Lisa M 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThose involved with pollinator risk assessment know that agricultural crops vary in attractiveness to bees. Intuitively, this means that exposure to agricultural pesticides is likely greatest for attractive plants and lowest for unattractive plants. While crop attractiveness in the risk assessment process has been qualitatively remarked on by some authorities, absent is direction on how to refine the process with quantitative metrics of attractiveness. At a high level, attractiveness of crops to bees appears to depend on several key variables, including but not limited to: floral, olfactory, visual and tactile cues; seasonal availability; physical and behavioral characteristics of the bee; plant and nectar rewards. Notwithstanding the complexities and interactions among these variables, sugar content in nectar stands out as a suitable quantitative metric by which to refine pollinator risk assessments for attractiveness. Provided herein is a proposed way to use sugar nectar concentration to adjust the exposure parameter (with what is called a crop attractiveness factor) in the calculation of risk quotients in order to derive crop‐specific tier I assessments. This Perspective is meant to invite discussion on incorporating such changes in the risk assessment process. © 2016 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Lights, camera, action! Capturing the spliceosome and pre‐mRNA splicing with single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy
Authors: DeHaven Alexander C. , Norden Ian S. , Hoskins Aaron A. 
Published: May 2016

The process of removing intronic sequences from a precursor to messenger RNA (pre‐mRNA) to yield a mature mRNA transcript via splicing is an integral step in eukaryotic gene expression. Splicing is carried out by a cellular nanomachine called the spliceosome that is composed of RNA components and dozens of proteins. Despite decades of study, many fundamentals of spliceosome function have remained elusive. Recent developments in single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy have afforded new tools to better probe the spliceosome and the complex, dynamic process of splicing by direct observation of single molecules. These cutting‐edge technologies enable investigators to monitor the dynamics of specific splicing components, whole spliceosomes, and even cotranscriptional splicing within living cells. WIREs RNA 2016, 7:683–701. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1358This article is categorized under:

RNA Structure and Dynamics > RNA Structure, Dynamics, and Chemistry
RNA Methods > RNA Analyses in Cells