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1
Michel, Gérard, Geneviève Ball, Joanna B. Goldberg, and Andrée Lazdunski. "Alteration of the Lipopolysaccharide Structure Affects the Functioning of the Xcp Secretory System inPseudomonas aeruginosa." Journal of Bacteriology 182, no. 3 (February 1, 2000): 696–703. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.182.3.696-703.2000.
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ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes a wide range of hydrolytic enzymes into the external medium by the Xcp secretion machinery. To better understand the role played by envelope constituents in the functioning of this type II secretory system, we have studied the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the secretion of two extracellular enzymes, the elastase LasB and the lipase LipA. Strains with defective LPS decreased production of LasB and altered the secretion processes of both LasB and LipA without any apparent effect on the composition of the Xcp machinery. The PAO1algCstrain, defective in the outer core of LPS, was leaky, as shown by the extracellular release of the periplasmic β-lactamase. Generation of an xcpR mutation in this mutant led only to a partial accumulation of LasB within the cells, indicating that in strain PAO1algC with a functional xcpR gene, LasB was released in the extracellular medium partly by leakage and partly by secretion. The pool of LasB released into the medium by leakage was not recovered in an active form, while extracellular LasB was active when secreted via the secretory machinery. Further analysis revealed that the presence of a functional Xcp machinery is strictly required for the activation process of LasB. Our results provide evidence that the Xcp system is not fully functional when the LPS structure of P. aeruginosa is altered.
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Li, Luen-Luen, Jane E. Malone, and Barbara H. Iglewski. "Regulation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum-Sensing Regulator VqsR." Journal of Bacteriology 189, no. 12 (April 20, 2007): 4367–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.00007-07.
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ABSTRACT Bacteria communicate with each other to regulate cell density-dependent gene expression via a quorum-sensing (QS) cascade. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two known QS systems, las and rhl, control the expression of many factors that relate to virulence, pathogenicity, and biofilm development. Microarray studies of the las and rhl regulons led to our hypothesis that a complicated hierarchy in the QS regulon is composed of multiple transcriptional regulators. Here, we examined a QS-regulated gene, vqsR, which encodes a probable transcriptional regulator with a putative 20-bp operator sequence (las box) upstream. The transcriptional start site for vqsR was determined. The vqsR promoter was identified by examining a series of vqsR promoter-lacZ fusions. In addition, an Escherichia coli system where either LasR or RhlR protein was expressed from a plasmid indicated that the las system was the dominant regulator for vqsR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrate that purified LasR protein binds directly to the vqsR promoter in the presence of 3O-C12-HSL. Point mutational analysis of the vqsR las box suggests that positions 3 and 18 in the las box are important for vqsR transcription, as assayed with a series of vqsRp-lacZ fusions. EMSA also shows that positions 3 and 18 are important for binding between the vqsR promoter and LasR. Our results demonstrate that the las system directly regulates vqsR, and certain nucleotides in the las box are crucial for LasR binding and activation of the vqsR promoter.
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LOWER, MICHAEL. "Conversion and St Louis's Last Crusade." Journal of Ecclesiastical History 58, no. 2 (March 28, 2007): 211–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022046906009006.
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Arguments as to why St Louis diverted his 1270 crusade to Tunis from Jerusalem have been raging ever since the expedition returned to France. Although historians have recently agreed that the diversion was the decision of Louis himself, this consensus has not led to exploration of his reasons for crusading to a north African port city. This essay argues that the diversion to Tunis is best understood in terms of Louis's ideas about conversion in general and his policy towards the Jews of his land in particular. The close parallels between Louis's Jewish policy and the Tunisian strategy suggest that these conversion policies led Louis to Tunis.
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Al Baghal, Tarek. "Last Year Your Answer Was …" Field Methods 29, no. 1 (July 24, 2016): 61–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1525822x16645073.
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Prior studies suggest memories are potentially error prone. Proactive dependent interviewing (PDI) is a possible method to reduce errors in reports of change in longitudinal studies, reminding respondents of previous answers while asking if there has been any change since the last survey. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of PDI question wording. This study examines the impact of PDI wording on change reports and how these wordings interact with other survey features such as mode, question content, and prior change. Experimental results indicate that asking about change in an unbalanced fashion leads to more reports of change initially than other wordings, but only in a face-to-face survey. Follow-up questions led to final change reports that were similar across all wordings, but this necessitates asking additional questions. Findings suggest that asking PDI using change as the initial option should be avoided.
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Dowell, Nia M., Arthur C. Graesser, and Zhiqiang Cai. "Language and Discourse Analysis with Coh-Metrix: Applications from Educational Material to Learning Environments at Scale." Journal of Learning Analytics 3, no. 3 (December 19, 2016): 72–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.18608/jla.2016.33.5.
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The goal of this article is to preserve and distribute the information presented at the LASI (2014) workshop on Coh-Metrix, a theoretically grounded, computational linguistics facility that analyzes texts on multiple levels of language and discourse. The workshop focused on the utility of Coh-Metrix in discourse theory and educational practice. We discuss some of the motivating factors that led to the development of Coh-Metrix, situated within the context of multilevel theoretical frameworks of discourse comprehension and learning. A review of published studies will highlight the applications of Coh-Metrix, ranging from the scaling and selection of educational material to learning environments at scale. The examples illustrate the relationship between discourse and cognitive, affective, and social processes. We walk through the pedagogical guidelines that should be followed when analyzing texts using Coh-Metrix. Finally, we conclude the paper with a general discussion of the future directions for Coh-Metrix including methodological and practical implications for the learning analytics (LA) and educational data mining (EDM) community.
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Cassen, Flora. "The Last Spanish Expulsion in Europe: Milan 1565–1597." AJS Review 38, no. 1 (April 2014): 59–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0364009414000038.
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In 1597 King Philip II of Spain expelled the Jews from Milan at the end of a thirty-year power struggle between secular and religious Italian authorities and Spanish imperial powers. These conflicts reveal that the expulsion followed less from Philip II's personal feelings about the Jews than from his approach to governing and the necessity to preserve and increase his power in Italy. They also expose the fluctuating boundaries of imperial powers in distant territories resistant to accepting them, highlighting both the extent and the limits of Spanish rule in Italy. Examined in detail and in its larger historical context, the case of Milan elucidates the mechanisms of an expulsion, foregrounding the intricate political, financial, and religious issues that led up to the last Spanish expulsion in Europe.
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Vicente Serrano, Sergio. "The evolution of climatic drought studies in Spain over the last few decades." Geographicalia, no. 73 (July 29, 2021): 7–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.26754/ojs_geoph/geoph.2021734640.
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This study reviews the evolution of scientific research on climatic droughts in Spain over the last few decades. The complexity of this natural hazard and the wide incidence of droughts in Spain have led to great interest from scientists in Spain, and generated a significant amount of scientific work on the topic over the last two decades. Climatic drought studies have evolved from predominantly descriptive studies up to the 1990s to highly diverse research topics, which include the development of indices, tools and datasets, the study of drought hazard probability, the analysis of drought variability and trends, including research on long term drought reconstructions and analysis with instrumental data, an assessment of drought mechanisms and drivers, and drought modeling, including how models represent droughts, and applying models to drought forecasting and future projections. The study of climatic droughts in Spain is highly internationalized, since most of the current scientific studies are published in high-impact international journals and, nowadays, do not only cover Spain, but also other world regions as well as continental and global studies.
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Roth, Dieter. "A Last Minute Success of the Red-Green Coalition." German Politics and Society 21, no. 1 (March 1, 2003): 35–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/104503003782353547.
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The 2002 election was a close race. The Social Democrats turned outto be 6,027 votes ahead of the Christian Democrats. The red-greengovernment was returned to power only because of the so-calledoverhang mandates1 for the SPD (three in the new Länder, one inHamburg) and the good result of the Greens, especially in the oldLänder. To put it differently, 1.2 percent (577,567 votes) was the winninggap between the government and the opposition. Four seatsabove the majority is a rather narrow margin but does not inevitablyentail a weak government. The CDU/CSU-led government in 1994had a similar starting position, for example, and it endured in power.
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Bilsland, Alan E., Pavlina Spiliopoulou, and T. R. Jeffry Evans. "Virotherapy: cancer gene therapy at last?" F1000Research 5 (August 30, 2016): 2105. http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.8211.1.
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For decades, effective cancer gene therapy has been a tantalising prospect; for a therapeutic modality potentially able to elicit highly effective and selective responses, definitive efficacy outcomes have often seemed out of reach. However, steady progress in vector development and accumulated experience from previous clinical studies has finally led the field to its first licensed therapy. Following a pivotal phase III trial, Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec/T-Vec) received US approval as a treatment for cutaneous and subcutaneous melanoma in October 2015, followed several weeks later by its European authorisation. These represent the first approvals for an oncolytic virotherapy. Imlygic is an advanced-generation herpesvirus-based vector optimised for oncolytic and immunomodulatory activities. Many other oncolytic agents currently remain in development, providing hope that current success will be followed by other diverse vectors that may ultimately come to constitute a new class of clinical anti-cancer agents. In this review, we discuss some of the key oncolytic viral agents developed in the adenovirus and herpesvirus classes, and the prospects for further enhancing their efficacy by combining them with novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
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WHITLARK, JASON A., and MIKEAL C. PARSONS. "The ‘Seven’ Last Words: A Numerical Motivation for the Insertion of Luke 23.34a." New Testament Studies 52, no. 2 (April 2006): 188–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0028688506000117.
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Luke 23.34a, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’, has been a textual conundrum in text criticism. The weight for the external evidence points to the probability that this logion of Jesus from the cross was not in the earliest manuscript of Luke. What motivation then led to this saying being added to the text of Luke? In this article, the argument is made that a numerical motivation is at the heart of the addition. Luke 23.34a was added in order that there be seven sayings and not six that Jesus spoke from the cross. This issue arose as the four Gospels were collected together and read as one narrative of the life, ministry, and passion of Jesus.
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Mansoor, Ahmed, and Manu Luksch. "'The Last Human Rights Defender in the United Arab Emirates'." Surveillance & Society 15, no. 3/4 (August 9, 2017): 596–608. http://dx.doi.org/10.24908/ss.v15i3/4.6764.
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In May 2016, artist, researcher and activist, Manu Luksch, travelled to the United Arab Emirates (USE) to conduct research on ‘smart city’ initiatives in the region, and also to interview renowned human rights defender, Ahmed Mansoor. In March 2017, Mansoor was re-arrested, and on May 28th 2017, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Organisations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many others are campaigning for his release and #FreeAhmed has become a call online and on the streets in the form of graffiti and posters. Meanwhile the UAE has been one of 4 Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, who have extended their authoritarian campaign against dissidence beyond their borders to target other states who they regard as threatening the status quo, in particular the small but very wealthy state of Qatar, home of the Al-Jazeera news network that has, like Mansoor, championed opposition movements in the Middle-East. In this context, Surveillance & Society decided it was important to publish this interview almost in full as it gives unique insight into the personal and professional experience of a human rights defender in an authoritarian state that is at the same time extremely wealthy, technologically advanced and highly integrated into global capitalism.
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Knight, Carley. "Dictionary of Art Historians2011335Edited by Lee R. Sorensen. Dictionary of Art Historians. Duke University, Department of Art, Art History and Visual Studies, 2002‐. Gratis URL: www.dictionaryofarthistorians.org Last visited May 2011." Reference Reviews 25, no. 7 (September 20, 2011): 46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09504121111168721.
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N. H., Sridevi, Praveen Kumar N., and Swathi H. N. "A study to assess maternal and child health care utilization by slum dwellers in Shivamogga." International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health 8, no. 4 (March 25, 2021): 1646. http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210985.
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Background: As per the WHO estimates, Slums are home to an estimated 8280 lakh people, representing around one third of the world’s urban population. Health is a major economic issue for slum residents. Objective of the study was to assess utilization of health care facilities by slum dwellers with special reference to maternal and child health.Methods: A list of all slums and the number of households therein was collected from city municipal corporation Shivamogga of which 10 slums were selected by simple random sampling all the households in the selected slums were included in the study. Quantitative data were collected from the households of selected slums after taking informed consent using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Information about health care seeking with reference to maternal and child health was obtained by checking the available medical records and as self-reported by the respondents. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software.Results: In this study, among the 339 households studied 93.5% of the women had more than 4 antenatal visits and 99.1% of the deliveries were institutional, the most frequently contacted healthcare facility was government medical college. Conclusions: The availability of better healthcare facilities like government medical college in the proximity of these slums has led to good health seeking behaviour among them.
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Izquierdo, Jesús, Verónica de-la-Cruz-Villegas, Silvia-Patricia Aquino-Zúñiga, María-del-Carmen Sandoval-Caraveo, and Verónica García-Martínez. "Teachers’ use of ICTs in public language education: Evidence from second language Secondary-School classrooms." Comunicar 25, no. 50 (January 1, 2017): 33–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/c50-2017-03.
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Worldwide, curricular changes and financial investments are currently underway to promote the integration of technology in public education and English language learning at a young age. This study examines the ICTs that have become part of the daily instructional practices and educational settings of teachers of English who work with young learners in public schools. To this end, this mixed-methods study draws on a quantitative descriptive-exploratory design and a qualitative multiple-case study. The quantitative data were collected through a Likert questionnaire administered to 28 secondary school teachers of English across 17 municipalities in five regions of Southeast Mexico and 2,944 learners. The qualitative data were gathered from a subsample of six teachers through longitudinal classroom observations, teacher and administrator interviews, and school visits. The non-parametric analyses of the quantitative data and the categorical aggregation analyses of the qualitative data reveal that the use of some multimedia and mobile-assisted communication resources is emerging in the L2 public classrooms. In line with findings from other international contexts, variables that seem particular to public education for young learners and their school setting, however, led teachers to prefer using their own technological devices that included laptops, multimedia material, and cellphones, rather than those in the schools. La educación pública en diversos países está experimentando una serie de reformas que favorecen la integración de la tecnología en la educación pública y el aprendizaje del inglés a una temprana edad. El presente estudio mixto, examinó el empleo de la tecnología en las prácticas pedagógicas cotidianas de los profesores de inglés en la educación secundaria pública y los recursos tecnológicos de los que disponen normalmente en sus escuelas. Para la fase cuantitativa se empleó un diseño descriptivo-exploratorio, a través de un cuestionario tipo Likert aplicado a 28 profesores y 2.944 alumnos en 17 municipios del sureste mexicano. Para la cualitativa, se empleó un estudio de múltiples casos con un sub-grupo de seis profesores del cual se recolectó información a través de observaciones de clases, entrevistas con docentes y directivos, y visitas a las instalaciones de las escuelas. El empleo de análisis no-paramétrico con los datos cuantitativos y de agregación categórica con los datos cualitativos permitió identificar algunos recursos multimedia y de comunicación móvil que los profesores tienden a emplear de manera cotidiana en el aula. No obstante, diversos factores relacionados con aspectos propios de la educación pública y el contexto escolar influyeron para que los profesores prefirieran sus propios medios tecnológicos tales como ordenadores portátiles, teléfonos inteligentes y materiales multimedia a los disponibles en su institución.
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Clapperton, Chalmers M., David E. Sugden, Darrell S. Kaufman, and Robert D. McCulloch. "The Last Glaciation in Central Magellan Strait, Southernmost Chile." Quaternary Research 44, no. 2 (September 1995): 133–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/qres.1995.1058.
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AbstractGlacial landforms and drift stratigraphy in central Magellan Strait, southernmost Chile, document repeated fluctuations during the last glacial cycle of outlet lobes from an ice cap centered over the southern Andes. The lobes developed comparatively low-gradient profiles because of low basal shear stresses over soft deformable beds and this made them sensitive to even small-scale changes in the mass balance. Such low profiles and rapid calving in deep proglacial lakes during deglaciation may have made the Magellan ice lobe particularly responsive to climatic fluctuations during the last glacial cycle, and to advance and retreat over considerable distances. Study of the glacial landforms and drift stratigraphy has led to the identification of at least five glacier advances to limits at and south of the Segunda Angostura. Fragments of mollusc shells contained in basal till indicate marine incursions between some advances, thus documenting extensive deglaciation. A partial chronology based on amino acid studies and radiocarbon dating suggests that five of these advances occurred during the last glacial cycle. The most extensive advances may have culminated during substages of marine isotope stage 5 (substage 5b or 5d) and/or during stage 4. Slightly less extensive advances occurred between ca. 28,000 and 14,000 yr B.P.
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Ojulari, Oyindamola Vivian, Seul Gi Lee, and Ju-Ock Nam. "Therapeutic Effect of Seaweed Derived Xanthophyl Carotenoid on Obesity Management; Overview of the Last Decade." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 7 (April 3, 2020): 2502. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072502.
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Present-day lifestyles associated with high calorie-fat intake and accumulation, as well as energy imbalance, have led to the development of obesity and its comorbidities, which have emerged as some of the major health issues globally. To combat the disease, many studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of natural compounds in foods, with some advantages over chemical treatments. Carotenoids, such as xanthophyll derived from seaweeds, have attracted the attention of researchers due to their notable biological activities, which are associated mainly with their antioxidant properties. Their involvement in oxidative stress modulation, the regulation of major transcription factors and enzymes, and their antagonistic effects on various obesity parameters have been examined in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The present review is a collation of published research over the last decade on the antioxidant properties of seaweed xanthophyll carotenoids, with a focus on fucoxanthin and astaxanthin and their mechanisms of action in obesity prevention and treatment.
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Habibi, Shafi, Parvin Abdollahzadeh, Mohammadhiwa Abdekhoda, and Hossein Aghayari. "Topic Evolution of Library and Information Science Studies in the Last Twenty Years: A Co-Word Analysis." Depiction of Health 12, no. 1 (March 19, 2021): 55–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.34172/doh.2021.07.
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Abstract Background and Objectives: Topic evolutions of scientific and academic disciplines can be clarified by drawing scientific maps and identifies emerging or developed topics of scientific disciplines, sub-topics and the relationship between different topics of a discipline. The purpose of this study is to draw a strategic diagram to analyze the developments of the last twenty years of library and information science field. Material and Methods: This was a Scientometrics study with co-occurrence analysis of words that was conducted on ten journals with the highest impact factor in the field of library and information science. Twenty years (1998-2017) publications were extracted from LISTA database and imported into SciMAT software. After preparing the data, all publications were divided into four time periods, strategic diagrams of each period were drawn and topic clusters were analyzed. Results: The largest clusters of the first two periods were "Information Retrieval" and "Bibliometrics", which in the next period "Citation-Analysis" appeared instead of "Information Retrieval" cluster, but nevertheless the largest node of this cluster was "Information Retrieval". These clusters were the most developed topics in the field of library and information science. Conclusion: Information retrieval and bibliometrics are at the forefront of library and information science. Sentiment analysis and information literacy with a cognitive approach are emerging topics in the field. Also, studies related to information production and related indicators have led to qualitative research.
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Salmoni, Barak A. "Turkish Nationalist Educational Thinking in the Last Ottoman Decade: Run-Up to Republican Pedagogy." New Perspectives on Turkey 31 (2004): 39–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0896634600004003.
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At the end of World War I, senior Ottoman military officers and bureaucrats led the Turkish Muslim inhabitants of Anatolia in a struggle for national independence against invading European armies, under the command of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk) and his deputy, İsmet İnönü. Emerging victorious in the war, Atatürk and his associates had garnered sufficient national legitimacy and prestige to end the Ottoman sultanate and caliphate, establish a Turkish Republic, and embark on a series of interventions in politics and society known in Turkish parlance as the Kemalist Reforms/Revolutions. Recrafting the ethos, substance, and goals of schooling into a properly national education (millî terbiye) was one of the central components of this reform.
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Lopezosa, Carlos, Lluís Codina, Javier Díaz-Noci, and José-Antonio Ontalba. "SEO and the digital news media: From the workplace to the classroom." Comunicar 28, no. 63 (April 1, 2020): 65–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/c63-2020-06.
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The constant struggle to attract new readers has led the digital news media to adopt search engine positioning strategies within their newsrooms. Given that readers are increasingly opting to consume their news via search engines, such as Google or Bing, this study explores perceptions and applications of search engine optimization (SEO) in the online news media and identifies the future training needs of journalists in this sector. To do so, 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals representative of three professional profiles: professional journalists, SEO consultants, and academics. Based on the data collected, we created five semantic categories – with 25 subcategories – and we correlated the perceptions of the SEO experts employed by the news media with those of the academics. The results highlight varying degrees of convergence and divergence in perceptions across these three professional profiles. Similarly, the results confirm the sector’s pressing need to attract readers by implementing search engine positioning techniques and, hence, its need to ensure future journalists are well trained in technical SEO, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, in the use of SEO analytics and audit tools, and in the ability to identify search trends so that they have the necessary skills to win the struggle for more readers. La lucha de los cibermedios para atraer nuevos lectores ha motivado el uso de estrategias de posicionamiento en buscadores en el seno de las redacciones periodísticas. Dado el consumo, cada vez más frecuente, de noticias a través de buscadores como Google o Bing, este trabajo explora la percepción y la aplicación de la optimización en buscadores (SEO) en los medios de comunicación online y determina las diferentes necesidades formativas de los futuros periodistas que quieran trabajar en este campo. Para ello, se realizaron 33 entrevistas semi-estructuradas a personas que representan tres perfiles profesionales diferentes: periodistas profesionales, consultores de SEO y profesores universitarios. A través de los datos recogidos, creamos cinco categorías semánticas –con 25 subcategorías– y correlacionamos las percepciones de los expertos en SEO que trabajan en empresas periodísticas con las percepciones de los profesores en el contexto académico. Los resultados confirman los diferentes grados de convergencia y divergencia entre estos tres perfiles profesionales. Asimismo, se reafirma la creciente necesidad de atraer lectores a través de técnicas de posicionamiento en buscadores, por lo que señalamos la necesidad de formar a los futuros periodistas en SEO técnico; en SEO On Page; en SEO Off Page; en herramienta analítica; en auditoría SEO; y en la capacidad de identificar tendencias de búsqueda para que estén cualificados con las competencias necesarias para afrontar la lucha por los públicos.
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Duarte, André Luis de Castro Moura, Flavio Macau, Cristiano Flores e Silva, and Lars Meyer Sanches. "Last mile delivery to the bottom of the pyramid in Brazilian slums." International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 49, no. 5 (June 14, 2019): 473–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijpdlm-01-2018-0008.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore last mile delivery (LMD) to the bottom of the pyramid in Brazilian slums, its challenges and how practitioners overcome them. Urban logistics in precarious circumstances is central to the conceptualization. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative, grounded theory methodology is developed, gathering data from companies delivering to slums in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Field notes, documents and interviews led to conceptual categories for LMD to slums. Findings The study indicates that while some standard urban logistics practices can be effective for LMD to slums, such unusual contexts often call for unusual solutions. A model is developed using grounded theory categorization, resulting in five dimensions for LMD to slums: employing locally, giving back, acknowledging criminals, vehicle and location. Research limitations/implications The model is a qualitative proposition representing LMD to slums in two major Brazilian cities. Even though slums in different cities/countries may face similar conditions, additional studies are needed to confirm and replicate the model. Practical implications Companies that successfully engage in LMD to slums must adapt and develop idiosyncratic practices. Social implications LMD to slums enables a larger portion of bottom of the pyramid consumers to access a wider range of products and work opportunities, contributing to their social inclusion. Originality/value The study provides an understanding of LMD in a new context. The model encourages companies to question their current practices, learning from effective LMD experiences implemented by successful practitioners.
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Lacalle, Charo, and Beatriz Gómez. "The representation of workingwomen in Spanish television fiction." Comunicar 24, no. 47 (April 1, 2016): 59–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/c47-2016-06.
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During the sixties and seventies the limited presence of women in the public sphere was reflected in the restricted repertoire of roles played by female characters in television fiction (mainly those of mothers and wives). The strengthening of the feminist movement in the following decades increased and diversified the portrayals of women in the workplace, and further encouraged academic research on the social construction of working women. Despite the relevance of female professionals in current TV shows, the importance of romantic relationships and sexuality has led to a decreasing number of studies on the subject. This article summarizes the results of a study on working women in Spanish TV fiction, part of a larger project on the construction of female identities. The research uses an original methodology that combines quantitative techniques and qualitative methods (socio-semiotics) to analyse the sample of 709 female characters. The results show a coexistence of the traditional stereotypes of working women in customer service and care-giving positions with those of highly skilled female professionals. However, the empowerment of women in positions of responsibility is often associated with a negative portrayal of the character, while the problems of reconciling family and work are systematically avoided. La reducida presencia de la mujer en la esfera pública durante los años sesenta y setenta se reflejaba en el limitado repertorio de roles (madre y esposa principalmente) que le atribuía la ficción televisiva. El impulso feminista de las décadas sucesivas estimuló las representaciones de los personajes femeninos en el ámbito laboral y la reflexión académica sobre la construcción social de la mujer trabajadora. Pero, a pesar de la relevancia del rol profesional en las protagonistas de la ficción actual, la relevancia de las relaciones sentimentales y de la sexualidad ha revertido en el reducido número de estudios sobre el tema. Este artículo sintetiza los resultados de un análisis de la mujer trabajadora en la ficción televisiva española, integrado en un proyecto sobre construcción de identidades femeninas. La investigación propone una metodología original, que combina métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos (socio-semiótica) para afrontar el estudio de 709 personajes femeninos. La investigación revela la convivencia de estereotipos ligados a las representaciones tradicionales de los empleos de las mujeres (trabajos relacionados con la atención al público y el cuidado de las personas) con otras profesiones altamente cualificadas. Sin embargo, el empoderamiento de las mujeres con cargos de responsabilidad se asocia frecuentemente con una caracterización negativa del personaje, al tiempo que los problemas de conciliación de los roles familiares y profesionales se eluden sistemáticamente.
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Sharma, Govinda Prasad, Ramesh Prasad Sapkota, Enna Mool, Tulsi Gurung, and Rejina Maskey Byanju. "Status of Air Pollution over the Last Three Decades in Thimphu City, Bhutan." Journal of Institute of Science and Technology 26, no. 1 (June 17, 2021): 119–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jist.v26i1.37839.
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With an increasing human population and vehicles, air pollution in Thimphu City is growing and causing a risk to human health, properties, and ecosystems. The population of Thimphu was 79,185 in 2005 but in 2017 it surged up to 114,551. An increase in the human population has also led to the rising demands for vehicles and thus increased the vehicular emissions in the area. Additionally, the use of traditional fuels, burning of waste and agriculture residues, forest fire, and transboundary pollutants are other sources resulting in poor air quality in Thimphu City. Air pollution data from journal articles, government documents, reports from national and international organizations, and books were reviewed. Concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2 were increasing over the decades. The annual average PM10 recorded in Thimphu was 28 µg/m3 in 2005, 47 µg/m3 in 2010, 43 µg/m3 in 2014, and 42 µg/m3 in 2015. Winter months were found to have higher PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. The 24-hourly average concentrations of SO2 ranged from 0.0 to 6.9 µg/m3 and NO2 8.2-26.6 µg/m3. There is a need for comprehensive studies to identify spatial and temporal variations in the ambient concentration of the pollutants in the area. Strict enforcement of the legal frameworks is essential for the mitigation of air pollution in Thimphu City.
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RIJSDIJK, ERNA. "The politics of hard knowledge: uncertainty, intelligence failures, and the ‘last minute genocide’ of Srebrenica." Review of International Studies 37, no. 5 (October 14, 2011): 2221–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0260210511000416.
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AbstractQuestions of uncertainty and responsibility have been central to the political and legal investigations of the failed UN/Dutch peacekeeping mission in Srebrenica. The official Dutch NIOD report on the peacekeeping mission has reconstructed the fall of Srebrenica as a surprise attack and as an ‘intelligence failure’. The report and its understanding of tactical uncertainty has led to a call for more intelligence in UN operations. I argue that the report builds its claims on a problematic epistemology of intelligence studies drawing upon a politics of ‘hard knowledge’. A similar epistemology can be identified in the proceedings of the war crimes tribunal in The Hague (ICTY) in the legal approach of criminal intent for the violence in Srebrenica. Although it is recognised that the political responsibility to prevent genocide and the juridical responsibility to punish those who have committed crimes have different implications for what can be called relevant foreknowledge or criminal intent, both the juridical and the political approaches close off paths for the mobilisation of histories that are more sensitive to the productive workings of language and images and thus to their bearing on possible futures.
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Solomons, Matt, Rimona Weil, Zane Jaunmuktan, Tedani El-Hassan, Sebastian Brandner, and Jeremy Rees. "Survival and Seizure Control have improved for Adult Low-Grade Gliomas over the last eleven years." Neuro-Oncology 21, Supplement_4 (October 2019): iv4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noz167.014.
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Abstract Background There has been a trend towards earlier and more aggressive resection for adult Low-Grade Gliomas (LGG) in the last decade. This study set out to compare seizure control and survival of unselected adults with LGG seen in the same neuro-oncology clinic over 11 years and to determine if a change in surgical philosophy has led to a corresponding improvement in outcomes. Methods Retrospective analysis using case-note review of 153 adults with histologically verified or radiologically suspected LGG, collecting data on patient, tumour and seizure characteristics in 2006 and 2017. Results We studied 79 patients in 2006 and 74 patients in 2017. There were no significant differences between the two groups in age at presentation, tumour location or histological or molecular subtype. The numbers of complete or partial resections increased from 21.5 % in 2006 to 60.8% in 2017 (p<0.05). There was a highly significant improvement in 5- and 10-year survival from 81.8% and 51.7% in 2006 to 100% and 95.8% in 2017 (p<0.001); and a similar improvement was seen in progression free survival. The proportion of patients with intractable epilepsy reduced from 72.2% in 2006 to 43.2% in 2017 (p<0.05). The neurosurgical morbidity rate was identical in both groups (11.8% in 2006 vs 11.1% in 2017). Conclusion Increasing use of surgery for LGG over the last eleven years has led to substantial improvements in survival and seizure control but not at the cost of long-term morbidity.
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Fontaine, Eric. "Metformin and respiratory chain complex I: the last piece of the puzzle?" Biochemical Journal 463, no. 3 (October 10, 2014): e3-e5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/bj20141020.
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Metformin is the most widely prescribed drug used to treat patients affected by Type 2 diabetes. Metformin has also been shown to prevent some forms of cell death; however, evidence suggests that it may have anti-neoplastic properties. All of these effects have been attributed to complex I inhibition, but the mechanism by which metformin leads to complex I inhibition is not fully understood. Although it has been reported that the incubation of functionally isolated complex I in the presence of high concentrations of metformin led to its inhibition, much lower concentrations of metformin have been shown to inhibit complex I in intact cells. In a recent issue of the Biochemical Journal, Bridges, Jones, Pollak and Hirst [(2014) Biochem. J. 462, 475–487] studied for the first time the effect of metformin on purified complex I. They report that millimolar concentrations of metformin directly inhibit complex I activity in a non-competitive manner. They also specify that the binding of metformin to complex I depends on its conformation. To explain the difference in concentration required to inhibit complex I in intact cells and on isolated enzyme, Bridges et al. (2014) propose that metformin concentrates within mitochondria in intact cells. Albeit theoretically plausible, this attractive hypothesis is not directly tested by Bridges et al. (2014) Moreover, although sparse, the current literature does not support this hypothesis.
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Lerma-Noriega, Claudia-A., María-L. Flores-Palacios, and Genaro Rebolledo-Méndez. "InContext: A mobile application for the improvement of learning strategies at University." Comunicar 28, no. 64 (July 1, 2020): 109–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/c64-2020-10.
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InContext is a custom-designed mobile application for writing assignments intended for university students in journalism and research methodology courses. In these disciplines, it has been observed that there is a need for an educational and technological tool to guide the writing of text using preloaded templates in which students can input text and multimedia material to create articles or write research reports. Besides its ease of use, the app was intended to improve metacognitive thinking. This led to the establishment of six working hypotheses in an exploratory study. For the study, a random sample of students enrolled in the aforementioned courses was selected during the August-December 2019 semester at a private university in Mexico. They took a pre-test using the “Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire” (MSLQ) that had been translated into Spanish and already validated in Mexico. Subsequently, the students used the application and then answered the same questionnaire as a post-test. The study aimed to compare the results of the tests to see whether there was an improvement in cognitive skills. The results showed an increase in four skills: critical thinking, data search, cognitive self-regulation, and regulation of effort. The research results did indicate metacognitive development that would benefit the academic and professional work of future graduates. InContext es una aplicación móvil, diseñada a medida, para elaborar trabajos de redacción para estudiantes universitarios de los cursos de periodismo y de metodología de la investigación. En estas disciplinas se observó que había una necesidad de contar con una herramienta educativa y tecnológica que guiara la redacción utilizando plantillas precargadas en las cuales los estudiantes pudieran agregar texto y material multimedia para con ello construir artículos periodísticos o reportes de investigación. Además de la facilidad de uso, se esperaba que la app mejorara el pensamiento metacognitivo, por lo cual se establecieron seis hipótesis de trabajo en un estudio exploratorio. Para la investigación se seleccionó una muestra aleatoria de estudiantes inscritos en los cursos durante el semestre agosto-diciembre 2019 en una universidad privada de México. Los alumnos realizaron un pretest utilizando el cuestionario Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) traducido al español y ya validado en México; posteriormente utilizaron la aplicación y contestaron el mismo cuestionario a manera de postest, con el objetivo de comparar si había una mejora en las habilidades cognitivas. Los resultados indican que existe un aumento en cuatro habilidades: pensamiento crítico, búsqueda de datos, autorregulación cognitiva y regulación del esfuerzo, pero no lo hubo en organización ni en búsqueda de ayuda. Estos resultados indican un desarrollo metacognitivo que beneficia el trabajo académico y profesional de los futuros egresados.
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Lichtenstein, Alice H. "Dietary Fat and Cardiovascular Disease: Ebb and Flow Over the Last Half Century." Advances in Nutrition 10, Supplement_4 (November 1, 2019): S332—S339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmz024.
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ABSTRACT Dietary modification has been the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention since the middle of the last century when the American Heart Association (AHA) first issued recommendations. For the vast majority of that time the focus has been on saturated fat, with or without concomitant guidance for total or unsaturated fat. Over the past few years there has been a renewed debate about the relation between dietary saturated fat and CVD risk, prompted by a series of systematic reviews that have come to what appears to be different conclusions. This triggered a robust discourse about this controversy in the media that in turn has led to confusion in the general public. The genesis of the different conclusions among the systematic reviews has been identified in several studies on the basis of isocaloric substitution analyses. When the data were analyzed on the basis of polyunsaturated fat replacing saturated fat, there was a positive relation between dietary saturated fat and CVD. When the data were analyzed on the basis of carbohydrate replacing saturated fat, there was a null relation between dietary saturated fat and CVD. When the substitution macronutrient was not taken into consideration, the differential effects of the macronutrient substitution went unrecognized and the relations judged as null. The lack of distinction among substituted macronutrients accounted for much of what appeared to be discrepancies. Dietary guidance consistent with replacing foods high in saturated fat with foods high in unsaturated fat, first recommended more than 50 y ago, remains appropriate to this day.
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Umadevi, Sreekumari, Simi Ayesha, Sreekumari Radha, Anish Thekkumkara Surendran Nair, and Krishna Devadhas Sulochana. "Burden and causes of maternal mortality and near-miss in a tertiary care centre of Kerala, India." International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology 6, no. 3 (February 19, 2017): 807. http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20170462.
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Background: Reduction of maternal mortality remains a challenge for developing countries like India as per the sustainable development goals put forward by UN. Near-miss audit is emerging as a new tool for setting new protocols in reduction of MMR. This study aimed, to analyze the near miss events and mortality events which occurred in the study setting from January 2011 to December 2012, and to compare the causes that led to the events.Methods: A descriptive comparative study was conducted at SAT Hospital, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, a tertiary care center in Kerala, India on the data accounted for a period of 2 years, 2011 and 2012. Maternal near-miss during the period is studied according to WHO 2009 criteria and compared with the maternal deaths during the same time period. The data was recorded using structured proforma; the same proforma was used to record maternal mortality cases of the same period.Results: Total live births during the time period were 18,663. Eighty-eight near miss cases and 26 maternal deaths occurred during the study period. Incidence proportion of maternal near-miss was 4.71/1000 live births. Severe maternal outcome was 6 per1000. For every maternal death, there were 3.38 near-misses. Mortality index of our institute was 22.8% and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of the study setting was 139/1 Lakh live births. Post-partum hemorrhage was the leading cause for near-miss and systemic diseases were the major contributors to mortality.Conclusions: It is evident from the present study that PPH, once the leading cause of maternal mortality is now the leading cause of maternal near miss and by improving the resources of FRUs it can be further reduced. Systemic diseases are emerging as a new threat to the obstetric population leading to mortality.
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Zeng, Qingjun, Qingqing Wang, Lu Zhang, and Xiaocang Xu. "Comparison of the Measurement of Long-Term Care Costs between China and Other Countries: A Systematic Review of the Last Decade." Healthcare 8, no. 2 (April 29, 2020): 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020117.
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Background: The rapid aging of populations in some countries has led to a growing number of the disabled elderly, creating a huge need for Long-Term Care (LTC) and meeting its costs, which is a heavy economic burden on the families of the disabled elderly and governments. Therefore, the measurement of Long-Term Care (LTC) costs has become an important basis for the government to formulate Long-Term Care (LTC) policies, and academic research on Long-Term Care (LTC) costs is also in the process of continuous development and deepening. Methods: This is a systematic review that aims to examine the evidence published in the last decade (2010–2019) regarding the comparison of the measurement of Long-Term Care (LTC) costs between China and other countries. Results: Eighteen Chinese studies and 17 other countries’ studies were included in this review. Most Chinese scholars estimated long-term care costs based on the degree of disability among the disabled elderly. However, the studies of European and American countries are more and more in-depth and comprehensive, and more detailed regarding the post-care cost of specific diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy. Conclusion: In future academic research, we should fully consider the human value of long-term care providers and further study the differences in the long-term care costs of different chronic diseases. In China’s future policymaking, according to the experience of Germany, Sweden, and other countries, it may be an effective way to develop private long-term care insurance and realize the effective complementarity between private long-term care insurance and public long-term care insurance (LTCI).
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Román-García, Sara, Ana Almansa-Martínez, and María-del-Rocío Cruz-Díaz. "Adults and Elders and their use of ICTs. Media Competence of Digital Immigrants." Comunicar 24, no. 49 (October 1, 2016): 101–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/c49-2016-10.
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The undisputed presence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in our lives has led to the development of new forms of social, interactive and critical relationships. This study aims to compare the level of media competencies, in relation to six established categories, of two population groups: adults (aged 18-55) and elders (aged over 55). The sample was composed of 714 people from the eight provinces making up the Spanish region of Andalusia. The study conducted was based on the selection and comparison of results of specific items drawn from two separate questionnaires, directed to both population groups. The data were statistically processed in accordance with the distribution of the sample proportions. The objective was to identify and contrast the degree of digital literacy of these two groups, in terms of their use, productivity and interaction with technological tools. The results highlight the needs and demands of both groups in terms of technology, critical reading and audio-visual production. It is notable that adults aged 18 to 30 have a higher level of expertise in the interaction and language dimensions, while those aged 30 and above perform better in critical and participative dimensions offered by such media, such as reflection, analysis and creation. In the over-55 group, there is a direct correlation between income bracket and level of media skills, the latter significantly diminishing with age.La presencia indiscutible de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en nuestras vidas supone el desarrollo de nuevas formas de relaciones sociales, participativas y críticas. Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar el nivel de competencia mediática, respecto a seis dimensiones establecidas, para dos grupos poblacionales, adultos (18-55 años) y mayores (+55 años). La muestra total asciende a 714 individuos de las ocho provincias de la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía (España). Se basa en la selección y comparación de resultados de determinados ítems de dos cuestionarios independientes, dirigidos a ambas poblaciones. Los datos han sido sometidos a tratamiento estadístico, según la distribución de proporciones muestrales, para identificar y contrastar el uso, producción e interacción de las herramientas tecnológicas en ambos colectivos. Los resultados destacan las necesidades y demandas de ambos grupos en tecnología, lectura crítica y producción audiovisual. Se advierte además que los adultos con rango de edad entre 18-30 años presentan mejor nivel de competencia mediática en habilidades técnicas relacionadas con el uso instrumental, interacción y lenguaje, mientras que a partir de los 30 aumentan las destrezas en dimensiones críticas y participativas, como reflexión, análisis y creación. En los mayores de 55, existe una relación directa entre el nivel de ingresos y de competencia mediática; esta última disminuye significativamente con la edad.
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Bertin, Eric, Marie-Nöelle Gangnerau, Danièle Bailbé, and Bernard Portha. "Glucose metabolism and β-cell mass in adult offspring of rats protein and/or energy restricted during the last week of pregnancy." American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism 277, no. 1 (July 1, 1999): E11—E17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.1999.277.1.e11.
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An association between low birth weight and later impaired glucose tolerance was recently demonstrated in several human populations. Although fetal malnutrition is probably involved, the biological bases of such a relationship are not yet clear, and animal studies on the matter are scarce. The present study was aimed to identify, in adult (8-wk) female offspring, the effects of reduced protein and/or energy intake strictly limited to the last week of pregnancy. Thus we have tested three protocols of gestational malnutrition: a low-protein isocaloric diet (5 instead of 15%), with pair feeding to the mothers receiving the control diet; a restricted diet (50% of the control diet); and a low-protein restricted diet (50% of low-protein diet). Only the low-protein diet protocols, independent of total energy intake, led to a lower birth weight. The adult offspring female rats in the three deprived groups exhibited no decrease in body weight and no major impairment in glucose tolerance, glucose utilization, or glucose production (basal state and hyperinsulinemic clamp studies). However, pancreatic insulin content and β-cell mass were significantly decreased in the low-protein isocaloric diet group compared with the two energy-restricted groups. Such impairment of β-cell mass development induced by protein deficiency limited to the last part of intrauterine life could represent a situation predisposing to impaired glucose tolerance.
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Loh, Hui Wen, Chui Ping Ooi, Jahmunah Vicnesh, Shu Lih Oh, Oliver Faust, Arkadiusz Gertych, and U. Rajendra Acharya. "Automated Detection of Sleep Stages Using Deep Learning Techniques: A Systematic Review of the Last Decade (2010–2020)." Applied Sciences 10, no. 24 (December 15, 2020): 8963. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app10248963.
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Sleep is vital for one’s general well-being, but it is often neglected, which has led to an increase in sleep disorders worldwide. Indicators of sleep disorders, such as sleep interruptions, extreme daytime drowsiness, or snoring, can be detected with sleep analysis. However, sleep analysis relies on visuals conducted by experts, and is susceptible to inter- and intra-observer variabilities. One way to overcome these limitations is to support experts with a programmed diagnostic tool (PDT) based on artificial intelligence for timely detection of sleep disturbances. Artificial intelligence technology, such as deep learning (DL), ensures that data are fully utilized with low to no information loss during training. This paper provides a comprehensive review of 36 studies, published between March 2013 and August 2020, which employed DL models to analyze overnight polysomnogram (PSG) recordings for the classification of sleep stages. Our analysis shows that more than half of the studies employed convolutional neural networks (CNNs) on electroencephalography (EEG) recordings for sleep stage classification and achieved high performance. Our study also underscores that CNN models, particularly one-dimensional CNN models, are advantageous in yielding higher accuracies for classification. More importantly, we noticed that EEG alone is not sufficient to achieve robust classification results. Future automated detection systems should consider other PSG recordings, such as electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG) signals, along with input from human experts, to achieve the required sleep stage classification robustness. Hence, for DL methods to be fully realized as a practical PDT for sleep stage scoring in clinical applications, inclusion of other PSG recordings, besides EEG recordings, is necessary. In this respect, our report includes methods published in the last decade, underscoring the use of DL models with other PSG recordings, for scoring of sleep stages.
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Roche, D. M., H. Renssen, and D. Paillard. "Deciphering the spatio-temporal complexity of climate change of the last deglaciation: a model analysis." Climate of the Past Discussions 6, no. 6 (December 1, 2010): 2593–623. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cpd-6-2593-2010.
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Abstract. Understanding the sequence of events occuring during the last major glacial to interglacial transition (21 ka BP to 9 ka BP) is a challenging task that has the potential to unveil the mechanisms behind large scale climate changes. Though many studies have focused at a complex understanding of the sequence of rapid climatic change that accompanied or interrupted the deglaciation, few have analysed it in a more theoretical framework with simple forcings. In the following, we address when and where the first significant temperature anomalies appear when using slow varying forcing of the last deglaciation. We use here coupled transient simulations of the last deglaciation, including ocean, atmosphere and vegetation components to analyse the spatial timing of the deglaciation. To keep the analysis in a simple framework, we do not include rapid freshwater forcings that have led to rapid climate shifts during that time period. We aim to disentangle the direct and subsequent response of the climate system to slow forcing and moreover the location where those changes are more clearly expressed. In a data-modelling comparison perspective this could help understanding the physically plausible phasing between known forcings and recorded climatic changes. Our analysis of climate variability could also help to distinguish deglacial warming signals from internal climate variability. We thus are able to better pinpoint the onset of local deglaciation, as defined by the first significant local warming, and further show that there is a large regional variability associated with it, even with the set of slow forcings used here.
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Sompolos, Zois, and Maria Mavri. "Estimating the efficiency of Greek banking system during the last decade of world economic crisis." Benchmarking: An International Journal 25, no. 6 (August 6, 2018): 1762–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/bij-01-2017-0009.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the efficiency of the four largest Greek banking organizations for the period 2004–2014, including both a period of strong economic growth and a period of economic crisis and recession, which is still plaguing the Greek economy and more specifically the Greek banking sector. Design/methodology/approach The study incorporates the application of financial ratio analysis and the data envelopment analysis (DEA) in order to calculate the technical efficiency of Greek financial institutions. More specifically, a two-stage output-oriented DEA model is developed in order to estimate the global efficiency of banks. The banking function is considered as consisting of two stages in series, a service/operational efficiency and a profitability efficiency. In both output-oriented models, methods of constant returns to scale and variable returns to scale were applied. Findings The results show that in terms of operational efficiency, banks started from a low rate of return in 2004, which improved until 2008, which marked the peak of operational efficiency. By 2010, the operating efficiency varied with downward trend until 2012–2013. In terms of profitability efficiency, the image is clearer, since the impact the financial crisis had on bank’s profit efficiency led, by 2012, to a plunge in the average efficiency by 30–40 percent. Originality/value A multi-stage DEA process, input oriented, was used in order to estimate changes in the performance and efficiency of banking system. The period 2004–2014 has not been examined until recently and all previous studies used the output-oriented DEA model.
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Ohgaito, Rumi, Ayako Abe-Ouchi, Ryouta O'ishi, Toshihiko Takemura, Akinori Ito, Tomohiro Hajima, Shingo Watanabe, and Michio Kawamiya. "Effect of high dust amount on surface temperature during the Last Glacial Maximum: a modelling study using MIROC-ESM." Climate of the Past 14, no. 11 (November 1, 2018): 1565–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cp-14-1565-2018.
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Abstract. The effect of aerosols is one of many uncertain factors in projections of future climate. However, the behaviour of mineral dust aerosols (dust) can be investigated within the context of past climate change. The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is known to have had enhanced dust deposition in comparison with the present, especially over polar regions. Using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate Earth System Model (MIROC-ESM), we conducted a standard LGM experiment following the protocol of the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project phase 3 and sensitivity experiments. We imposed glaciogenic dust on the standard LGM experiment and investigated the impacts of glaciogenic dust and non-glaciogenic dust on the LGM climate. Global mean radiative perturbations by glaciogenic and non-glaciogenic dust were both negative, consistent with previous studies. However, glaciogenic dust behaved differently in specific regions; e.g. it resulted in less cooling over the polar regions. One of the major reasons for reduced cooling is the ageing of snow or ice, which results in albedo reduction via high dust deposition, especially near sources of high glaciogenic dust emission. Although the net radiative perturbations in the lee of high glaciogenic dust provenances are negative, warming by the ageing of snow overcomes this radiative perturbation in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, the radiative perturbation due to high dust loading in the troposphere acts to warm the surface in areas surrounding Antarctica, primarily via the longwave aerosol–cloud interaction of dust, and it is likely the result of the greenhouse effect attributable to the enhanced cloud fraction in the upper troposphere. Although our analysis focused mainly on the results of experiments using the atmospheric part of the MIROC-ESM, we also conducted full MIROC-ESM experiments for an initial examination of the effect of glaciogenic dust on the oceanic general circulation module. A long-term trend of enhanced warming was observed in the Northern Hemisphere with increased glaciogenic dust; however, the level of warming around Antarctica remained almost unchanged, even after extended coupling with the ocean.
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Sindelarova, K., C. Granier, I. Bouarar, A. Guenther, S. Tilmes, T. Stavrakou, J. F. Müller, U. Kuhn, P. Stefani, and W. Knorr. "Global dataset of biogenic VOC emissions calculated by the MEGAN model over the last 30 years." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions 14, no. 7 (April 29, 2014): 10725–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acpd-14-10725-2014.
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Abstract. The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGANv2.1) together with the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) meteorological fields were used to create a global emission dataset of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) available on a monthly basis for the time period of 1980–2010. This dataset is called MEGAN-MACC. The model estimated mean annual total BVOC emission of 760 Tg (C) yr−1 consisting of isoprene (70%), monoterpenes (11%), methanol (6%), acetone (3%), sesquiterpenes (2.5%) and other BVOC species each contributing less than 2%. Several sensitivity model runs were performed to study the impact of different model input and model settings on isoprene estimates and resulted in differences of up to ±17% of the reference isoprene total. A greater impact was observed for a sensitivity run applying parameterization of soil moisture deficit that led to a 50% reduction of isoprene emissions on a global scale, most significantly in specific regions of Africa, South America and Australia. MEGAN-MACC estimates are comparable to results of previous studies. More detailed comparison with other isoprene inventories indicated significant spatial and temporal differences between the datasets especially for Australia, Southeast Asia and South America. MEGAN-MACC estimates of isoprene, α-pinene and group of monoterpenes showed a reasonable agreement with surface flux measurements at sites located in tropical forests in the Amazon and Malaysia. The model was able to capture the seasonal variation of isoprene emissions in the Amazon forest.
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Nichols, Keir A., Brent M. Goehring, Greg Balco, Joanne S. Johnson, Andrew S. Hein, and Claire Todd. "New Last Glacial Maximum ice thickness constraints for the Weddell Sea Embayment, Antarctica." Cryosphere 13, no. 11 (November 8, 2019): 2935–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2935-2019.
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Abstract. We describe new Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice thickness constraints for three locations spanning the Weddell Sea Embayment (WSE) of Antarctica. Samples collected from the Shackleton Range, Pensacola Mountains, and the Lassiter Coast constrain the LGM thickness of the Slessor Glacier, Foundation Ice Stream, and grounded ice proximal to the modern Ronne Ice Shelf edge on the Antarctic Peninsula, respectively. Previous attempts to reconstruct LGM-to-present ice thickness changes around the WSE used measurements of long-lived cosmogenic nuclides, primarily 10Be. An absence of post-LGM apparent exposure ages at many sites led to LGM thickness reconstructions that were spatially highly variable and inconsistent with flow line modelling. Estimates for the contribution of the ice sheet occupying the WSE at the LGM to global sea level since deglaciation vary by an order of magnitude, from 1.4 to 14.1 m of sea level equivalent. Here we use a short-lived cosmogenic nuclide, in situ-produced 14C, which is less susceptible to inheritance problems than 10Be and other long-lived nuclides. We use in situ 14C to evaluate the possibility that sites with no post-LGM exposure ages are biased by cosmogenic nuclide inheritance due to surface preservation by cold-based ice and non-deposition of LGM-aged drift. Our measurements show that the Slessor Glacier was between 310 and up to 655 m thicker than present at the LGM. The Foundation Ice Stream was at least 800 m thicker, and ice on the Lassiter Coast was at least 385 m thicker than present at the LGM. With evidence for LGM thickening at all of our study sites, our in situ 14C measurements indicate that the long-lived nuclide measurements of previous studies were influenced by cosmogenic nuclide inheritance. Our inferred LGM configuration, which is primarily based on minimum ice thickness constraints and thus does not constrain an upper limit, indicates a relatively modest contribution to sea level rise since the LGM of < 4.6 m, and possibly as little as < 1.5 m.
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Szpikowski, Józef. "Geomorphological Effects of River Valleys Anthropogenic Transformations in the Perznica Catchment During the Last 200 Years (Drawsko Lakeland, Parsęta River Basin)." Quaestiones Geographicae 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2011): 105–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10117-011-0010-4.
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Geomorphological Effects of River Valleys Anthropogenic Transformations in the Perznica Catchment During the Last 200 Years (Drawsko Lakeland, Parsęta River Basin) The studies on geomorphological aspects of environmental changes in the river valleys were part of the work carried out under the diagnosis of anthropogenic transformation of the relief of the Perznica basin (West Pomerania, Drawsko Lakeland). Human interference in the river valleys and anthropogenic changes in the natural hydrological systems in the Perznica catchment influenced the transformation of the relief and the intensity of morphogenetic processes. Numerous anthropogenic landforms were formed, including embankments, dams, dykes along the canals, ditches and canals, reservoirs basins, and peat excavations. The drainage resulted in an intensification of the river erosion, straightening, shortening and increase of the river gradient, as well as the increase of quantity of the suspended matter leaving the catchments. An increase of anthropogenic denudation on agricultural lands, due to the entering of the crops grown on drained depressions and valleys, led to the masking of the original relief with deluvial sediments and the formation and expansion of agricultural terraces on the edge of the fields.
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Sindelarova, K., C. Granier, I. Bouarar, A. Guenther, S. Tilmes, T. Stavrakou, J. F. Müller, U. Kuhn, P. Stefani, and W. Knorr. "Global data set of biogenic VOC emissions calculated by the MEGAN model over the last 30 years." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 14, no. 17 (September 9, 2014): 9317–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-14-9317-2014.
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Abstract. The Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGANv2.1) together with the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) meteorological fields were used to create a global emission data set of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) available on a monthly basis for the time period of 1980–2010. This data set, developed under the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate project (MACC), is called MEGAN–MACC. The model estimated mean annual total BVOC emission of 760 Tg (C) yr−1 consisting of isoprene (70%), monoterpenes (11%), methanol (6%), acetone (3%), sesquiterpenes (2.5%) and other BVOC species each contributing less than 2%. Several sensitivity model runs were performed to study the impact of different model input and model settings on isoprene estimates and resulted in differences of up to ±17% of the reference isoprene total. A greater impact was observed for a sensitivity run applying parameterization of soil moisture deficit that led to a 50% reduction of isoprene emissions on a global scale, most significantly in specific regions of Africa, South America and Australia. MEGAN–MACC estimates are comparable to results of previous studies. More detailed comparison with other isoprene inventories indicated significant spatial and temporal differences between the data sets especially for Australia, Southeast Asia and South America. MEGAN–MACC estimates of isoprene, α-pinene and group of monoterpenes showed a reasonable agreement with surface flux measurements at sites located in tropical forests in the Amazon and Malaysia. The model was able to capture the seasonal variation of isoprene emissions in the Amazon forest.
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Arghiuş, V., A. Ozunu, I. Samara, and G. Roşian. "Results of the post flash-flood disaster investigations in the Transylvanian Depression (Romania) during the last decade (2001–2010)." Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 14, no. 3 (March 4, 2014): 535–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/nhess-14-535-2014.
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Abstract. Flash-flood disasters are very rare in the Transylvanian Depression. In the last decades just three events were signalled in the study area, all of them during the last 10 years. The flash floods occurring in the study area during the last decade had a significant impact on several localities situated at the Transylvanian Depression border. Based on the post flash-flood investigation, the present study intends to find out the main characteristics of the flash floods and the causes that have led to disasters in a region rarely affected by such kinds of events. Analyzing the hydrological data, it has been seen that the maximum intensity of the flash floods was observed in the upper and middle basins. By comparing the unit peak discharges from the studied region with other specific peak discharges related to the significant flash floods from Romania, it was noticed that the events from the Transylvanian Depression have moderate to low intensity. On the other hand, the results showed that besides high stream power and unexpected character common to flash floods, the inappropriate flood risk management measures increased the dimension of the negative effects, leading to tens of lives lost and economical damages of tens of millions of dollars.
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Arghiuş, V., A. Ozunu, I. Samara, and G. Roşian. "Results of the post flash-flood disaster investigations in the Transylvanian Depression (Romania) during the last decade (2001–2010)." Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences Discussions 1, no. 6 (November 5, 2013): 6199–225. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-1-6199-2013.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Flash flood disasters are very rare in the Transylvanian Depression. In the last decades just three events were signalled in the study area, all of them during the last 10 yr. The flash floods occurring in the study area during the last decade had a significant impact on several localities situated at the Transylvanian Depression border. Based on the post flash flood investigation, the present study intends to find out the main characteristics of the flash-floods and the causes that have led to disasters in a region rarely affected by such kind of events. Analyzing the hydrological data, has been seen that the maximum intensity of the flash floods was observed in the upper and middle basins. By comparing the unit peak discharges from the studied region with other specific peak discharges related to the significant flash floods from Romania, it was noticed that the events from the Transylvanian Depression have moderate to low intensity. On the other hand, the results showed that beside high stream power and unexpected character common to flash floods, the inappropriate flood risk management measures increased the dimension of negative effects, leading to tens of life losses and economical damages of tens million dollars.
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Therre, Steffen, Jens Fohlmeister, Dominik Fleitmann, Albert Matter, Stephen J. Burns, Jennifer Arps, Andrea Schröder-Ritzrau, Ronny Friedrich, and Norbert Frank. "Climate-induced speleothem radiocarbon variability on Socotra Island from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Younger Dryas." Climate of the Past 16, no. 1 (February 28, 2020): 409–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cp-16-409-2020.
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Abstract. In this study, the dead carbon fraction (DCF) variations in stalagmite M1-5 from Socotra Island in the western Arabian Sea were investigated through a new set of high-precision U-series and radiocarbon (14C) dates. The data reveal an extreme case of very high and also climate-dependent DCF. For M1-5, an average DCF of 56.2±3.4 % is observed between 27 and 18 kyr BP. Such high DCF values indicate a high influence of aged soil organic matter (SOM) and nearly completely closed-system carbonate dissolution conditions. Towards the end of the last glacial period, decreasing Mg∕Ca ratios suggest an increase in precipitation which caused a marked change in the soil carbon cycling as indicated by sharply decreasing DCF. This is in contrast to the relation of soil infiltration and DCF as seen in stalagmites from temperate zones. For Socotra Island, which is influenced by the East African–Indian monsoon, we propose that more humid conditions and enhanced net infiltration after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) led to dense vegetation and thus lowered the DCF by increasing 14CO2 input into the soil zone. At the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) a sudden change in DCF towards much higher, and extremely variable, values is observed. Our study highlights the dramatic variability of soil carbon cycling processes and vegetation feedback on Socotra Island manifested in stalagmite DCF on both long-term trends and sub-centennial timescales, thus providing evidence for climate influence on stalagmite radiocarbon. This is of particular relevance for speleothem studies that aim to reconstruct past atmospheric 14C (e.g., for the purposes of 14C calibration), as these would rely on largely climate-independent soil carbon cycling above the cave.
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Grootes, Pieter M., and Minze Stuiver. "Oxygen-Isotope Records Covering the Last 2 KA at South Pole." Annals of Glaciology 10 (1988): 203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0260305500004493.
Full textAbstract:
Two cores which had been drilled to a depth of over 200 m were recovered near Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station during the 1980–82 field seasons. A firn core drilled from 3 to 19 m depth was taken in December 1982 from a site about 5 km distant from the two others.The cores cannot be used to study the seasonal δ18O cycle, because: (i) detailed sampling (1–2 cm increments) provides evidence of isotopic enrichment in the 1 m core sections during storage, both in the field and in the laboratory cold-room, and (ii) low accumulation (9.2 g cm−2a−1, given by Jouzel and others 1983) led to missing years or parts thereof. Estimates of the proportion of missing years range from 1 in 10 (J.R. Petit, quoted in Mosley-Thompson and Thompson 1982) to 1 in 20 (Jouzel and others 1983).The cores are still useful for studies on a decadal or longer time-scale. The average δ18O value of detailed measurements of the upper 40 m of the 1980 firn core differs by only 0.14±0.05‰ from the average of measurements made about 16 months earlier. Thus, although storage in the cold-room changed the isotopic composition of the outer firn layer, the bulk of the firn core was unaffected. The two measurement series of this profile show a high correlation (r2= 0.75, P<10−6) when smoothed with a I m moving average (equivalent to 4–7 years’ accumulation) in order to reduce noise and the effect of enrichment at the ends of the 1 m sections.In both long cores and in the short core which was taken in 1982 the δ18O–depth profile shows a long-term trend with superimposed shorter fluctuations. The seasonal signal soon disappears but variability of up to 2‰ on a 3–5 year time-scale persists at depth. Linear-correlation analysis shows a significant correlation between the 1980 firn core and the 1982 short core (r2= 0.32, P = 0.011) for a 1 m moving average of samples 0.25 m long. Some correlation is also observed between the deeper ice parts of the 1982 core (106–227 m) and the 1981 core (100–202.4 m) (r2= 0.087, P = 0.00043, I m moving average), if the relative depths are shifted by 3.75 m. A firm time-scale for both cores is needed to determine whether such a shift corrects for an artefact of the depth logs of the cores, or proves that no real correlation exists between the two cores.Comparison of the long-term trend of the two South Pole cores with the 2.5 ka isotope climatic record from the 1979 Dome C core (Benoist and others 1982) and with the Law Dome core BHD record (Morgan 1985) again suggests possible correlation, but cannot prove it for lack of a firm time-scale. Collaboration with other investigators which brings together data on visible stratigraphy and density (personal communication from A.J. Gow), solid conductivity (Schwander unpublished), acid horizons (Langway and others 1988, this volume) and microparticles may solve this problem.
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Grootes, Pieter M., and Minze Stuiver. "Oxygen-Isotope Records Covering the Last 2 KA at South Pole." Annals of Glaciology 10 (1988): 203. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0260305500004493.
Full textAbstract:
Two cores which had been drilled to a depth of over 200 m were recovered near Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station during the 1980–82 field seasons. A firn core drilled from 3 to 19 m depth was taken in December 1982 from a site about 5 km distant from the two others.The cores cannot be used to study the seasonal δ18O cycle, because: (i) detailed sampling (1–2 cm increments) provides evidence of isotopic enrichment in the 1 m core sections during storage, both in the field and in the laboratory cold-room, and (ii) low accumulation (9.2 g cm−2a−1, given by Jouzel and others 1983) led to missing years or parts thereof. Estimates of the proportion of missing years range from 1 in 10 (J.R. Petit, quoted in Mosley-Thompson and Thompson 1982) to 1 in 20 (Jouzel and others 1983).The cores are still useful for studies on a decadal or longer time-scale. The average δ18O value of detailed measurements of the upper 40 m of the 1980 firn core differs by only 0.14±0.05‰ from the average of measurements made about 16 months earlier. Thus, although storage in the cold-room changed the isotopic composition of the outer firn layer, the bulk of the firn core was unaffected. The two measurement series of this profile show a high correlation (r2= 0.75, P<10−6) when smoothed with a I m moving average (equivalent to 4–7 years’ accumulation) in order to reduce noise and the effect of enrichment at the ends of the 1 m sections.In both long cores and in the short core which was taken in 1982 the δ18O–depth profile shows a long-term trend with superimposed shorter fluctuations. The seasonal signal soon disappears but variability of up to 2‰ on a 3–5 year time-scale persists at depth. Linear-correlation analysis shows a significant correlation between the 1980 firn core and the 1982 short core (r2= 0.32, P = 0.011) for a 1 m moving average of samples 0.25 m long. Some correlation is also observed between the deeper ice parts of the 1982 core (106–227 m) and the 1981 core (100–202.4 m) (r2= 0.087, P = 0.00043, I m moving average), if the relative depths are shifted by 3.75 m. A firm time-scale for both cores is needed to determine whether such a shift corrects for an artefact of the depth logs of the cores, or proves that no real correlation exists between the two cores.Comparison of the long-term trend of the two South Pole cores with the 2.5 ka isotope climatic record from the 1979 Dome C core (Benoist and others 1982) and with the Law Dome core BHD record (Morgan 1985) again suggests possible correlation, but cannot prove it for lack of a firm time-scale. Collaboration with other investigators which brings together data on visible stratigraphy and density (personal communication from A.J. Gow), solid conductivity (Schwander unpublished), acid horizons (Langway and others 1988, this volume) and microparticles may solve this problem.
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Klein, Annika. "Cleaning mums and brave policemen: gender representation and gender-inclusive language in EFL teaching materials in Lithuania." Taikomoji kalbotyra, no. 12 (March 29, 2019): 75–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.15388/tk.2019.17233.
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Gender representation in textbooks used for teaching English as a foreign or second language (EFL/ESL) has been analysed extensively and in various countries since the 1980s. According to most studies (e.g. Hellinger 1980; Porreca 1984; Ansary and Babaji 2003; Pihlaja 2007; Lee 2016), females tend to be underrepresented and depicted in stereotypical ways, which risks reinforcing gender clichés in students (Britton and Lumpkin 1977; Peterson and Lach 1990). To date, only a few studies (Brusokaitė and Verikaitė-Gaigalienė 2015) have focused on gender representation in teaching materials used in Lithuania; moreover, teaching materials other than textbooks remain underexplored. Using corpus analysis tools and criteria adapted from previous analyses of gender representation and language use in textbooks, this study takes a both quantitative and qualitative approach to the analysis of two EFL exercise books and two EFL test books published in Lithuania between 2005 and 2017 and currently available on the Lithuanian book market. More precisely, areas of investigation were the numerical visibility of males and females, stereotypical contexts in which characters appear, and strategies used by the authors to make the language more gender-inclusive.
The results show that males are more visible numerically: not only are there more male than female characters in all four books, males are also more likely to be named first in paired constructions. With regard to stereotypical contexts, both males and females tend to be represented in traditional gender roles: males are typically represented as leaders, the breadwinners of the family and the main decision-makers; females, on the other hand, are depicted as working in stereotypically female professions or in the home domain, and they are more often described as weak, fearful and in need of assistance. Moreover, there is very little variation with regard to the traditional image of a family, typically consisting of a mother, a father and two to three children. As for the use of gender-inclusive language, the use of certain (e.g. naming both male and female pronouns when referring to a person of unknown gender), yet not all available strategies (e.g. singular they) could be observed. These findings suggest that the authors were heavily influenced by the strategies that exist for the Lithuanian language. The language used in the four books can, therefore, be said to differ to some extent from both actual language use (Pauwels 2001; Romaine 2001; Baker 2010) and the language used in teaching materials employed in countries where English is spoken as a first or second language (Jacobs 1999). Finally, this article recommends authors of future teaching materials to pay more attention to the representation of males and females and to also give importance to deviation from what is generally seen as the norm. Arguably, this would provide children with a more truthful picture of contemporary British and North American societies, and help to teach them that diversity is a positive feature.
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García-Vera, Antonio Bautista, Laura Rayón Rumayor, and Ana María De la Heras Cuenca. "Use of Photo-elicitation to evoke and solve Dilemmas that prompt changes Primary School Teachers’ Visions." Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research 9, no. 1 (January 15, 2020): 137–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.7821/naer.2020.1.499.
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The present article investigates the potentialities of photo-elicitation as a technique in teacher professional development. This study analyses the process of eliciting dilemmas in four primary teachers, whose solution has proved to contribute to the teachers´ education. To this end, the effect of different types of external observers' intervention in dilemma generation, participating in sessions developed with a specific photo-elicitation procedure, is explored. The knowledge pursued in order to meet the study objectives concerned inconsistencies between goals and practices and teachers’ dilemmas. These inconsistencies and dilemmas are tacit and with multiple possible interpretations, and are therefore not measurable. They consequently require an interpretative research approach using a qualitative method of inquiry based on collective case studies. The results show that the inconsistencies introduced to the teachers, by questioning their teaching practice, are enough but not necessary to pose professional dilemmas. Solving these dilemmas led the teachers to change their conceptual and processual beliefs, as well as their teaching activities.
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Khoma, Nataliia, and Ihor Vdovychyn. "Evaluation of EU Activities to Strengthen Democracy in Member States of the Last Waves of Enlargement." Humanitarian vision 7, no. 1 (June 1, 2021): 10–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.23939/shv2021.01.010.
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The article’s purpose is to assess the effectiveness of EU policies concerning strengthen the quality of democracy in the member states. The research methods are aimed at proving the hypothesis about a decrease in impact (initiatives, control, etc.) of EU institutions on deepening democratic modernization, as a result of a discrepancy on debatable issues between the “young” democracies of the EU (like the Baltic States) and the liberal democratic course of the EU. The research is based on the methodology of neo-institutionalism, value approach and political comparative studies. The results of the study have led to the conclusion that the current goals of the EU are not sufficiently focused on the issue of the quality of democracy in the member states. The need to revitalize the EU in the direction of monitoring the observance of democratic standards is explained by the stagnation/regression of the quality of democracy in these states of the latest EU expansion. The actions of EU institutions in relation to member states, where stagnation/regression of democracy has been manifested, were assessed as inappropriate regarding the possible consequences of this destructive process. Insufficient attention by the EU to strengthening its values on which the EU is based was noted, that is seen as the main reason for the current deterioration in the quality of democracy. The urgency of this new format for European democracy, of really effective mechanisms for ensuring its quality was stated. The authors mentioned a number of open questions that require further study, in particular: 1) are EU initiatives able to reduce the democratic deficit in its member states?; 2) how strong should the EU's control be over the observance of these standards and values of democracy so that it does not contradict the principles of democracy? Attention is drawn to the need of further clarifying these mechanisms which the EU should implement in relation to its member states in order to strengthen the quality of national democratic political systems.
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Henríquez, William I., Rodrigo Villa-Martínez, Isabel Vilanova, Ricardo De Pol-Holz, and Patricio I. Moreno. "The last glacial termination on the eastern flank of the central Patagonian Andes (47 ° S)." Climate of the Past 13, no. 7 (July 14, 2017): 879–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/cp-13-879-2017.
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Abstract. Few studies have examined in detail the sequence of events during the last glacial termination (T1) in the core sector of the Patagonian Ice Sheet (PIS), the largest ice mass in the Southern Hemisphere outside of Antarctica. Here we report results from Lago Edita (47°8′ S, 72°25′ W, 570 m a.s.l.), a small closed-basin lake located in a valley overridden by eastward-flowing Andean glaciers during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The Lago Edita record shows glaciolacustrine sedimentation until 19 400 yr BP, followed by organic sedimentation in a closed-basin lake and a mosaic of cold-resistant hygrophilous conifers and rainforest trees, along with alpine herbs between 19 400 and 11 000 yr BP. Our data suggest that the PIS retreated at least ∼ 90 km from its LGM limit between ∼ 21 000 and 19 400 yr BP and that scattered, low-density populations of cold-resistant hygrophilous conifers, rainforest trees, high-Andean and steppe herbs thrived east of the Andes during the LGM and T1, implying high precipitation levels and southern westerly wind (SWW) influence at 47° S. The conifer Podocarpus nubigena increased between 14 500 and 13 000 yr BP, suggesting even stronger SWW influence during the Antarctic Cold Reversal, after which it declined and persisted until 11 000 yr BP. Large increases in arboreal pollen at ∼ 13 000 and ∼ 11 000 yr BP led to the establishment of forests near Lago Edita between 10 000 and 9000 yr BP, suggesting a rise in the regional tree line along the eastern Andean slopes driven by warming pulses at ∼ 13 000 and ∼ 11 000 yr BP and a subsequent decline in SWW influence at ∼ 11 000 yr BP. We propose that the PIS imposed a regional cooling signal along its eastern, downwind margin through T1 that lasted until the separation of the northern and southern Patagonian ice fields along the Andes during the Younger Dryas period. We posit that the withdrawal of glacial and associated glaciolacustrine environments through T1 provided a route for the dispersal of hygrophilous trees and herbs from the eastern flank of the central Patagonian Andes, contributing to the afforestation of the western Andean slopes and pacific coasts of central Patagonia during T1.
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Incarbona, Alessandro, Enrico Di Stefano, Rodolfo Sprovieri, and Serena Ferraro. "The Uniqueness of Planktonic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: The Response to Orbital- and Suborbital-Climatic Forcing over the Last 130,000 Years." Open Geosciences 8, no. 1 (January 1, 2016): 567–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/geo-2016-0050.
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AbstractThe Mediterranean Sea is an ideal location to test the response of organisms to hydrological transformations driven by climate change. Here we review studies carried out on planktonic foraminifera and coccolithophores during the late Quaternary and attempt the comparison of data scattered in time and space. We highlight the prompt response of surface water ecosystems to both orbital- and suborbital-climatic variations.A markedly different spatial response was observed in calcareous plankton assemblages, possibly due to the influence of the North Atlantic climatic system in the western, central and northern areas and of the monsoon system in the easternmost and southern sites. Orbital-induced climatic dynamics led to productive surface waters in the northern, western and central Mediterranean Sea during the last glacial and to distinct deep chlorophyll maximum layers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea coinciding with bottom anoxia episodes. High-frequency planktonic modifications are well documented in the Sicily Channel and Alboran Sea and highlight the occurrence of different steps within a single stadial (cold phase)/interstadial (warm phase) oscillation.The review of planktonic organisms in the marine sedimentary archive casts light on the uniqueness of the Mediterranean Sea, especially in terms of climatic/oceanographic/biological interaction and influence of different climatic systems on distinct areas. Further research is needed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea where results are obscured by low-resolution sedimentary records and by a strong focus on sapropel deposition dynamics.
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Saha, Ujwal Deep, and Soma Bhattacharya. "Reconstructing the channel shifting pattern of the Torsa River on the Himalayan Foreland Basin over the last 250 years." Bulletin of Geography. Physical Geography Series 16, no. 1 (June 18, 2019): 99–114. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/bgeo-2019-0007.
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Abstract The varied physiography, incidences of high seasonal discharge, influences of neo-tectonic activity and the young geological foundation with less consolidated cohesive and non-cohesive sediment have left the Himalayan foreland basin a formidable ground, where silt-laden rivers tend to migrate frequently. A set of maps prepared after 1764, space photographs captured in 1970 and current satellite images from 2015 and 2017 were studied to reconstruct the fluvial dynamics of the Torsa River on the foreland basin of Sikkim-Bhutan Himalaya considering a time span of nearly 250 years. Evidence collected from colonial literature, the above-mentioned satellite images and a field survey, were combined to verify results taken from the old maps used as the base of the study. The application of satellite remote sensing and analysis of the topographic signatures of the palaeo-courses in the form of the palaeo-levee, abandoned courses and ox-bow lakes were the major operational attributes in this study. As a consequence of the channel migration of Torsa River since 1764, the historical floodplain of Torsa has been topographically marked by beheaded old distributaries, a misfit channel system and the presence of abandoned segments. Morphometric changes in the old courses, major flood events and neo-tectonic activity guided an overall trend of channel migration eastwards and has led to a couple of channel oscillation events in the Torsa River over the last 250 years. The mechanism of the avulsion events was thoroughly driven by sedimentation-induced channel morphometric changes and occasional high discharge.