3,805 results on '"Merchant, C. A."'
Search Results
202. Sensor-independent LAI/FPAR CDR: reconstructing a global sensor-independent climate data record of MODIS and VIIRS LAI/FPAR from 2000 to 2022.
- Author
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Pu, Jiabin, Yan, Kai, Roy, Samapriya, Zhu, Zaichun, Rautiainen, Miina, Knyazikhin, Yuri, and Myneni, Ranga B.
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MODIS (Spectroradiometer) ,LEAF area index ,VEGETATION dynamics ,INFRARED imaging ,SPATIAL resolution - Abstract
Leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) are critical biophysical parameters for the characterization of terrestrial ecosystems. Long-term global LAI/FPAR products, such as the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), provide the fundamental dataset for accessing vegetation dynamics and studying climate change. However, existing global LAI/FPAR products suffer from several limitations, including spatial–temporal inconsistencies and accuracy issues. Considering these limitations, this study develops a sensor-independent (SI) LAI/FPAR climate data record (CDR) based on Terra-MODIS/Aqua-MODIS/VIIRS LAI/FPAR standard products. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR covers the period from 2000 to 2022, at spatial resolutions of 500 m/5 km/0.05 ∘ , 8 d/bimonthly temporal frequencies and available in sinusoidal and WGS1984 projections. The methodology includes (i) comprehensive analyses of sensor-specific quality assessment variables to select high-quality retrievals, (ii) application of the spatial–temporal tensor (ST-tensor) completion model to extrapolate LAI and FPAR beyond areas with high-quality retrievals, (iii) generation of SI LAI/FPAR CDR in various projections and various spatial and temporal resolutions, and (iv) evaluation of the CDR by direct comparisons with ground data and indirectly through reproducing results of LAI/FPAR trends documented in the literature. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of each step involved in the generation of the SI LAI/FPAR CDR, as well as evaluation of the ST-tensor completion model. Comparisons of SI LAI (FPAR) CDR with ground truth data suggest an RMSE of 0.84 LAI (0.15 FPAR) units with R2 of 0.72 (0.79), which outperform the standard Terra/Aqua/VIIRS LAI (FPAR) products. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR is characterized by a low time series stability (TSS) value, suggesting a more stable and less noisy dataset than sensor-dependent counterparts. Furthermore, the mean absolute error (MAE) of the CDR is also lower, suggesting that SI LAI/FPAR CDR is comparable in accuracy to high-quality retrievals. LAI/FPAR trend analyses based on the SI LAI/FPAR CDR agree with previous studies, which indirectly provides enhanced capabilities to utilize this CDR for studying vegetation dynamics and climate change. Overall, the integration of multiple satellite data sources and the use of advanced gap filling modeling techniques improve the accuracy of the SI LAI/FPAR CDR, ensuring the reliability of long-term vegetation studies, global carbon cycle modeling, and land policy development for informed decision-making and sustainable environmental management. The SI LAI/FPAR CDR is open access and available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License at 10.5281/zenodo.8076540 (Pu et al., 2023a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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203. Predictability of marine heatwaves: assessment based on the ECMWF seasonal forecast system.
- Author
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de Boisséson, Eric and Balmaseda, Magdalena Alonso
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MARINE heatwaves ,EL Nino ,OCEAN temperature ,GLOBAL warming ,FORECASTING ,LATITUDE ,SEASONS - Abstract
Marine heatwaves (MHWs), defined as prolonged period of extremely warm sea surface temperature (SST), have been receiving a lot of attention in the past decade as their frequency and intensity increase in a warming climate. This paper investigates the extent to which the seasonal occurrence and duration of MHWs can be predicted with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) operational seasonal forecast system. The prediction of the occurrence of MHW events, the number of MHW days per season, and their intensity and spatial extent are derived from seasonal SST forecasts and evaluated against an observation-based SST analysis using both deterministic and probabilistic metrics over the 1982–2021 period. Forecast scores show useful skill in predicting the occurrence of MHWs globally for the two seasons following the starting date. The skill is the highest in the El Niño region, the Caribbean, the wider tropics, the north-eastern extra-tropical Pacific, and southwest of the extra-tropical basins. The skill is not as good for other midlatitude eastern basins nor for the Mediterranean, with the forecast system being able to represent the low-frequency modulation of MHWs but showing poor skill in predicting the interannual variability of the MHW characteristics. Linear trend analysis shows an increase in MHW occurrence at a global scale, which the forecasts capture well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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204. In the Black Ships' Wake: Early American Enterprise at Treaty Port Hakodate.
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IVINGS, STEVEN and ESHACK, RASHAAD
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WAKES (Fluid dynamics) ,TREATIES ,POWER (Social sciences) ,DIPLOMACY - Abstract
This paper focuses on the micro-actors--merchants, whalers, and would-be diplomatic representatives--who followed in the black ships' wake in anticipation of opportunities at the newly opened treaty port of Hakodate. Examining the backgrounds, connections, and activities of these actors, we show that American commercial activity in Japan contrasted with the almighty image projected by Commodore Matthew Perry's gunboat diplomacy. Viewed from the perspective of treaty port Hakodate, the American presence in Japan in the decade following its opening was characterized by fragility and commercial failure. This fragility has implications for our understanding of commercial and power dynamics in the mid-nineteenth-century Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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205. Combined flat-field and frequency filter approach to correcting artifacts of multichannel two-photon microscopy.
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Knapp, Thomas, Lima, Natzem, Daigle, Noelle, Duan, Suzann, Merchant, Juanita L., and Sawyer, Travis W.
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STANDARD deviations ,MICROSCOPY ,ERROR-correcting codes ,IMAGE compression - Abstract
Significance: Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) is a useful biomedical imaging tool for its ability to probe labeled and unlabeled depth-resolved tissue biomarkers at high resolution. Automated MPM tile scanning allows for whole-slide image acquisition but can suffer from tile-stitching artifacts that prevent accurate quantitative data analysis. Aim: We have investigated postprocessing artifact correction methods using ImageJ macros and custom Python code. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons of these methods were made using whole-slide MPM autofluorescence and secondharmonic generation images of human duodenal tissue. Approach: Image quality after artifact removal is assessed by evaluating the processed image and its unprocessed counterpart using the root mean square error, structural similarity index, and image histogram measurements. Results: Consideration of both quantitative and qualitative results suggest that a combination of a custom flat-field-based correction and frequency filtering processing step provide improved artifact correction when compared with each method used independently to correct for tiling artifacts of tile-scan MPM images. Conclusions: While some image artifacts remain with these methods, further optimization of these processing steps may result in computational-efficient methods for removing these artifacts that are ubiquitous in large-scale MPM imaging. Removal of these artifacts with retention of the original image information would facilitate the use of this imaging modality in both research and clinical settings, where it is highly useful in collecting detailed morphologic and optical properties of tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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206. THE CONSUMERS' ACCEPTANCE OF PURPLE-FLESHED POTATO ON THE MARKET IN ROMANIA.
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NAGY, Alexandra-Mihaela, ANTOFIE, Maria-Mihaela, and SAVA SAND, Camelia
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POTATOES ,CONSUMERS ,CONSUMER education ,RURAL geography ,BIOTECHNOLOGY ,MARKETPLACES - Abstract
Potato has been consumed for more than four centuries in Europe, and during the last century, it was also the subject of modern biotechnology breeding to obtain different varieties with specific uses. Therefore, new potato varieties have been constantly introduced into the marketplace. Up to the beginning of this century, purple-fleshed potatoes (PFPs) were not very common in Europe, nor in Romania. But, due to their significant nutritional importance, an increase in these varieties' acceptance on the marketplace was observed. While the purple-fleshed potato may offer unique nutritional advantages, challenges may arise in terms of consumer education and acceptance. The scope of this article was to apply a scientific-based questionnaire and to be disseminated with the support of students among the consumers in Sibiu County. A total of 278 answers have been received. Based on the analysis of this survey, it can be concluded that generally, the public is open to accepting different types of potato varieties. However, the need for scientific explanations was considered essential to getting informed answers from all respondents. The most interested in the PFPs seems to be the young generation, most originating from urban or rural areas. Thus, PFPs may have the chance to enter the marketplace in Romania quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
207. Comparison of open surgery and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancers.
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Ahmadov, Orkhan, Senlikci, Abdullah, Suleyman, Marlen, Bağ, Yusuf Murat, and Kuru, Serdar
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COLORECTAL cancer ,LAPAROSCOPIC surgery ,COLON surgery ,NEOADJUVANT chemotherapy ,LYMPH nodes - Abstract
Aim: Surgery is the gold standard treatment for colon cancer. More than 90% of colorectal cancer patients receive surgical treatment. The traditional method is open colon surgery. In our study, we aimed to compare the cases who underwent open and laparoscopic colon surgery retrospectively. Materials and methods: Between January 1, 2015 and March 1, 2022, the clinical and pathological results of 181 patients who underwent colectomy under elective conditions in the Department of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology of Health Sciences University Ankara Training and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively and the cases who underwent open and laparoscopic surgery were compared. Results: Of the patients, 114 (63%) were male and 67 (37%) were female. There was a statistically significant difference between the cases who underwent open surgery and laparoscopic surgery in terms of operation type, tumor localization, N stage, number of lymph nodes removed, specimen length, operation time, neoadjuvant treatment, disease-free survival and survival (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although the intraoperative and post-operative findings of the cases who underwent open and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer were similar, when the oncological results were evaluated, it was concluded that open surgery was superior to laparoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
208. Pedagogia ecofemminista meridiana. Decolonizzazioni e intersezionalità educative.
- Author
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Strongoli, Raffaela Carmen
- Abstract
Copyright of Educational Reflective Practices is the property of FrancoAngeli srl and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2024
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209. Deformation Mechanisms of Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials with Plasticity.
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Ge, Bangzhi, Li, Ruoyan, Zhu, Menghua, Yu, Yuan, and Zhou, Chongjian
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MATERIAL plasticity ,DEFORMATIONS (Mechanics) ,SEMICONDUCTOR materials ,ELECTRONIC materials ,SINGLE crystals - Abstract
Flexible inorganic thermoelectric (TE) materials are beneficial to the development of wireless wearable devices due to their plasticity and high performance. Recently, many novel inorganic semiconductors with plasticity, such as ZnS single crystal, Ag2S‐based alloys, as well as single‐crystalline InSe and SnSe2, attract great attention. They are supposed to break the predicament between power output and mechanical deformability for TE systems with plasticity. To better understand the deformation of TE materials with plasticity and explore new systems, different deformation mechanisms for these plastically deformable inorganic TE materials are summarized. First, the concepts and requirements for inorganic TEs are presented with plasticity in wearable devices. Afterward, their mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms are elaborated including dislocation glide, interlayer slippage of atomic stacks, dual slippage of atomic stacks and dislocations, as well as phase transformation. Finally, a general outlook from previous research is suggested for forecasting the future directions. It is anticipated that this review can guide the design of inorganic TE materials with plasticity and provide insight into the wider application of plastically deformable inorganic semiconductors in electronic materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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210. A Community Error Inventory for Satellite Microwave Observation Error Representation and Uncertainty Quantification.
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Xun Yang, John, You, Yalei, Blackwell, William, Cheng Da, Kalnay, Eugenia, Grassotti, Christopher, Quanhua (Mark) Liu, Ferraro, Ralph, Huan Meng, Cheng-Zhi Zou, Shu-Peng Ho, Jifu Yin, Petkovic, Veljko, Hewison, Timothy, Posselt, Derek, Gambacorta, Antonia, Draper, David, Misra, Sidharth, Kroodsma, Rachael, and Min Chen
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ERRORS-in-variables models ,MICROSPACECRAFT ,MICROWAVES ,INVENTORIES ,NUMERICAL weather forecasting - Abstract
Satellite observations are indispensable for weather forecasting, climate change monitoring, and environmental studies. Understanding and quantifying errors and uncertainties associated with satellite observations are essential for hardware calibration, data assimilation, and developing environmental and climate data records. Satellite observation errors can be classified into four categories: measurement, observation operator, representativeness, and preprocessing errors. Current methods for diagnosing observation errors still yield large uncertainties due to these complex errors. When simulating satellite errors, empirical errors are usually used, which do not always accurately represent the truth. We address these challenges by developing an error inventory simulator, the Satellite Error Representation and Realization (SatERR). SatERR can simulate a wide range of observation errors, from instrument measurement errors to model assimilation errors. Most of these errors are based on physical models, including existing and newly developed algorithms. SatERR takes a bottom-up approach: errors are generated from root sources and forward propagate through radiance and science products. This is different from, but complementary to, the top-down approach of current diagnostics, which inversely solves unknown errors. The impact of different errors can be quantified and partitioned, and a ground-truth testbed can be produced to test and refine diagnostic methods. SatERR is a community error inventory, open-source on GitHub, which can be expanded and refined with input from engineers, scientists, and modelers. This debut version of SatERR is centered on microwave sensors, covering traditional large satellites and small satellites operated by NOAA, NASA, and EUMETSAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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211. Developing an original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of sex, sexuality and sexism in PR in the 1990s.
- Author
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Bowman, Sarah and Yaxley, Heather
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DELPHI method ,SEXISM ,RESEARCH methodology ,RESTAURANTS ,COMMUNITY-based participatory research ,PUBLIC relations personnel - Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to develop an original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of sex, sexuality and sexism in public relations (PR) in 1990s' Britain. Design/methodology/approach: An original Café Delphi historical method is shaped by an interpretive paradigm providing a conceptual framework to model sex, sexuality and sexism. This approaches history as a social science drawing on hermeneutic phenomenology, reflexivity and ethics of care. A case study, employing oral history and participatory action research (PAR), is used to develop and test the practicality of the original Café Delphi historical method to research women's individual and collective experiences of PR in 1990s' Britain. Findings: Three main findings are identified. (1) Developing a new method is complex, time-consuming and surfaces practical problems; however, the Café Delphi historical method is a viable way to explore individual and collective experiences. (2) Undertaking methodological innovation and innovating research methods involves action learning and requires agility, reflexivity and ability to navigate messiness and order. (3) Testing the multiphase mixed method study revealed its power and potential as an ethical and collaborative co-research approach. Originality/value: This study expands the repertoire of research methods in PR historiography and provides a new approach to capture collective as well as individual experiences. This study develops a feminine analytic tool employing metamodern oscillation to connect past, present and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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212. The myth of African American under-representation in nature tourism.
- Author
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Lee, KangJae Jerry
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ECOTOURISM ,AFRICAN Americans ,RACISM ,RECREATION areas ,OPPRESSION ,PLACE attachment (Psychology) - Abstract
Although nature-based recreation areas are among the most popular tourism destinations in the U.S., African Americans are far less likely to visit them compared to White Americans. This paper offers a critical analysis of the phenomenon often labeled Black under-participation or under-representation (BUPR) in nature tourism. First, I use the concept of the White racial frame to unpack the White centrism and normalism embedded in the notion of BUPR and explain how it erases Black Americans' historical relationship with nature while concealing centuries of Black exclusion in great outdoors. Second, I use the notion of the White-Savior Industry Complex to critique diversity initiatives of public park and tourism agencies, namely lack of strong sense of ownership in their historical Black exclusion. Finally, I make three recommendations for rectifying the enduring racial oppression in nature tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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213. Reforma włóczna jako rewolucja ekologiczna.
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Guzowski, Piotr
- Abstract
Copyright of Res Historica is the property of Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
214. Temporary stratification promotes large greenhouse gas emissions in a shallow eutrophic lake.
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Davidson, Thomas A., Søndergaard, Martin, Audet, Joachim, Levi, Eti, Esposito, Chiara, Bucak, Tuba, and Nielsen, Anders
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GREENHOUSE gases ,CARBON dioxide ,LAKES ,GROWING season ,NITROUS oxide ,EBULLITION - Abstract
Shallow lakes and ponds undergo frequent temporary thermal stratification. How this affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is moot, with both increased and reduced GHG emissions hypothesised. Here, weekly estimations of GHG emissions, over the growing season from May to September, were combined with temperature and oxygen profiles of an 11 ha temperate shallow lake to investigate how thermal stratification shapes GHG emissions. There were three main stratification periods with profound anoxia occurring in the bottom waters upon isolation from the atmosphere. Average diffusive emissions of methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) were larger and more variable in the stratified phase, whereas carbon dioxide (CO 2) was on average lower, though these differences were not statistically significant. In contrast, there was a significant order of magnitude increase in CH 4 ebullition in the stratified phase. Furthermore, at the end of the period of stratification, there was a large efflux of CH 4 and CO 2 as the lake mixed. Two relatively isolated turnover events were estimated to have released the majority of the CH 4 emitted between May and September. These results demonstrate how stratification patterns can shape GHG emissions and highlight the role of turnover emissions and the need for high-frequency measurements of GHG emissions, which are required to accurately characterise emissions, particularly from temporarily stratifying lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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215. Evaporation and sublimation measurement and modeling of an alpine saline lake influenced by freeze–thaw on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.
- Author
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Shi, Fangzhong, Li, Xiaoyan, Zhao, Shaojie, Ma, Yujun, Wei, Junqi, Liao, Qiwen, and Chen, Deliang
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SALT lakes ,EVAPORATION (Meteorology) ,HYDROLOGIC cycle ,WIND speed ,ALPINE regions ,MOUNTAIN soils - Abstract
Saline lakes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) affect the regional climate and water cycle through water loss (E , evaporation under ice-free conditions and sublimation under ice-covered conditions). Due to the observational difficulty over lakes, E and its underlying driving forces are seldom studied when targeting saline lakes on the QTP, particularly during ice-covered periods (ICP). In this study, the E of Qinghai Lake (QHL) and its influencing factors during ice-free periods (IFP) and ICP were first quantified based on 6 years of observations. Subsequently, three models were calibrated and compared in simulating E during the IFP and ICP from 2003 to 2017. The annual E sum of QHL is 768.58±28.73 mm, and the E sum during the ICP reaches 175.22±45.98 mm, accounting for 23 % of the annual E sum. E is mainly controlled by the wind speed, vapor pressure difference, and air pressure during the IFP but is driven by the net radiation, the difference between the air and lake surface temperatures, the wind speed, and the ice coverage during the ICP. The mass transfer model simulates lake E well during the IFP, and the model based on energy achieves a good simulation during the ICP. Moreover, wind speed weakening resulted in an 7.56 % decrease in E during the ICP of 2003–2017. Our results highlight the importance of E in ICP, provide new insights into saline lake E in alpine regions, and can be used as a reference to further improve hydrological models of alpine lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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216. Retrievals of sea surface temperature from infrared imagery: origin and form of systematic errors.
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Merchant, C. J., Horrocks, L. A., Eyre, J. R., and O'carroll, A. G.
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- 2006
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217. Probabilistic physically based cloud screening of satellite infrared imagery for operational sea surface temperature retrieval.
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Merchant, C. J., Harris, A. R., Maturi, E., and Maccallum, S.
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- 2005
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218. Systematic errors in global air-sea CO2 flux caused by temporal averaging of sea-level pressure.
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Kettle, H. and Merchant, C. J.
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METEOROLOGY ,WIND speed ,AIR pressure ,CARBON dioxide ,CLIMATOLOGY ,ANALYSIS of covariance - Abstract
Long-term temporal averaging of meteorological data, such as wind speed and air pressure, can cause large errors in air-sea carbon flux estimates. Other researchers have already shown that time averaging of wind speed data creates large errors in flux due to the non-linear dependence of the gas transfer velocity on wind speed (Bates and Merlivat, 2001). However, in general, wind speed is negatively correlated with air pressure, and a given fractional change in the pressure of dry air produces an equivalent fractional change in the atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO
2air ). Thus low pressure systems cause a drop in pCO2air , which together with the associated high winds, promotes outgassing/reduces uptake of CO2 from the ocean. Here we quantify the errors in global carbon flux estimates caused by using monthly or climatological pressure data to calculate pCO2air (and thus ignoring the covariance of wind and pressure) over the period 1990-1999, using two common parameterisations for gas transfer velocity. Results show that on average, compared with estimates made using 6 hourly pressure data, the global oceanic sink is systematically overestimated by 7% (W92) and 10% (WM99) when monthly mean pressure is used, and 9% (W92) and 12% (WM99) when climatological pressure is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2005
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219. Systematic errors in global air-sea CO2 flux caused by temporal averaging of sea-level pressure.
- Author
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Kettle, H. and Merchant, C. J.
- Abstract
Long-term temporal averaging of meteorological data, such as wind speed and air pressure, can cause large errors in air-sea carbon flux estimates. Other researchers have already shown that time averaging of wind speed data creates large errors in flux due to the non-linear dependence of the gas transfer velocity on wind speed (Bates and Merlivat, 2001). However, in general, wind speed is negatively correlated with air pressure, and a given fractional change in the pressure of dry air produces an equivalent fractional change in the atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO
2air ). Thus low pressure systems cause a drop in pCO2air , which together with the associated high winds, promotes outgassing/reduces uptake of CO2 from the ocean. Here we quantify the errors in global carbon flux estimates caused by using monthly or climatological pressure data to calculate pCO2air (and thus ignoring the covariance of wind and pressure) over the period 1990-1999, using two common parameterisations for gas transfer velocity (Wanninkhof, 1992 (W92) and Wanninkhof and McGillis, 1999 (WM99)). Results show that on average, compared with estimates made using 6 hourly pressure data, the global oceanic sink is systematically overestimated by 7% (W92) and 10% (WM99) when monthly mean pressure is used, and 9% (W92) and 12% (WM99) when climatological pressure is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2005
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220. The international surface temperature initiative.
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Thorne, P. W., Lawrimore, J. H., Willett, K. M., Allan, R., Chandler, R. E., Mhanda, A., de Podesta, M., Possolo, A., Revadekar, J., Rusticucci, M., Stott, P. A., Strouse, G. F., Trewin, B., Wang, X. L., Yatagai, A., Merchant, C., Merlone, A., Peterson, T. C., and Scott, E. M.
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CLIMATE change research ,CLIMATE research ,ATMOSPHERIC temperature ,LAND surface temperature ,THERMAL properties of air - Abstract
The aim of International Surface Temperature Initiative is to create an end-to-end process for analysis of air temperature data taken over the land surface of the Earth. The foundation of any analysis is the source data. Land surface air temperature records have traditionally been stored in local, organizational, national and international holdings, some of which have been available digitally but many of which are available solely on paper or as imaged files. Further, economic and geopolitical realities have often precluded open sharing of these data. The necessary first step therefore is to collate readily available holdings and augment these over time either through gaining access to previously unavailable digital data or through data rescue and digitization activities. Next, it must be recognized that these historical measurements were made primarily in support of real-time weather applications where timeliness and coverage are key. At almost every long-term station it is virtually certain that changes in instrumentation, siting or observing practices have occurred. Because none of the historical measures were made in a metrologically traceable manner there is no unambiguous way to retrieve the true climate evolution from the heterogeneous raw data holdings. Therefore it is desirable for multiple independent groups to produce adjusted data sets (so-called homogenized data) to adequately understand the data characteristics and estimate uncertainties. Then it is necessary to benchmark the performance of the contributed algorithms (equivalent to metrological software validation) through development of realistic benchmark datasets. In support of this, a series of successive benchmarking and assessment cycles are envisaged, allowing continual improvement while avoiding over-tuning of algorithms. Finally, a portal is proposed giving access to related data-products, utilizing the assessment results to provide guidance to end-users on which product is the most suited to their needs. Recognizing that the expertise of the metrological community has been under-utilized historically in such climate data analysis problems, the governance of the Initiative includes significant representation from the metrological community. We actively welcome contributions from interested parties to any relevant aspects of the Initiative work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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221. A Browser Agnostic Web Application UI Test Framework: Motivation, Architecture, and Design.
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Merchant, C., Tellez, M., and Venkatesan, J.
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- 2009
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222. Hospitalization and Alzheimer's disease: results from a community-based study.
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Albert SM, Costa R, Merchant C, Small S, Jenders RA, Stern Y, Albert, S M, Costa, R, Merchant, C, Small, S, Jenders, R A, and Stern, Y
- Abstract
Background: Prior studies offer conflicting findings on whether Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization.Methods: We investigated AD and hospitalization in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP), a community-based study of 2,334 elders in New York City. In 1996, an electronic medical records system was established that allows an e-mail alert to be sent to the research team whenever WHICAP subjects are admitted to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (CPMC), the site of hospital care for the majority of subjects.Results: Of the WHICAP cohort, 13.1% was admitted to CPMC in 21 months of follow-up; 17.5% of AD patients and 11.9% of unaffected subjects were admitted (p<.01). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that more advanced AD (Clinical Dementia Rating scale 3+) was a significant risk factor for hospitalization independently of age, gender, education, comorbid medical conditions, and death in the follow-up period (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.6); subjects with mild or moderate AD did not show a significantly elevated risk. The prevalence of psychiatric symptoms did not differ between AD subjects who were hospitalized in the reporting period and AD subjects who were not hospitalized. Infectious disease was a more common discharge diagnosis for subjects with AD (p<.05).Conclusions: In this community-based cohort, subjects with severe AD were more likely to be hospitalized than unaffected subjects. The increased use of hospital care by these AD patients appears to be specific to AD but is not a result of psychiatric morbidity or end-of-life care. Rather, a greater risk of medical complications that require hospital care, especially infections, appears to be characteristic of severe AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 1999
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223. The influence of smoking on the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
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Merchant C, Tang M, Albert S, Manly J, Stern Y, Mayeux R, Merchant, C, Tang, M X, Albert, S, Manly, J, Stern, Y, and Mayeux, R
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- 1999
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224. Toward the elimination of bias in satellite retrievals of sea surface temperature: 2. Comparison with in situ measurements.
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Merchant, C. J. and Harris, A. R.
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- 1999
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225. Exposures to power-frequency magnetic fields in the home.
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Merchant, C J, Renew, D C, and Swanson, J
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- 1994
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226. The surface temperatures of the earth: steps towards integrated understanding of variability and change.
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Merchant, C. J., Matthiesen, S., Rayner, N. A., Remedios, J. J., Jones, P. D., Olesen, F., Trewin, B., Thorne, P. W., Auchmann, R., Corlett, G. K., Guillevic, P. C., and Hulley, G. C.
- Subjects
EARTH temperature ,WEATHER ,CLIMATE change ,SURFACE temperature ,SCIENTIFIC community - Abstract
Surface temperature is a key aspect of weather and climate, but the term may refer to different quantities that play interconnected roles and are observed by different means. In a community-based activity in June 2012, the EarthTemp Network brought together 55 researchers from five continents to improve the interaction between scientific communities who focus on surface temperature in particular domains, to exploit the strengths of different observing systems and to better meet the needs of different communities. The workshop identified key needs for progress towards meeting scientific and societal requirements for surface temperature understanding and information which are presented in this community paper. A "whole-Earth" perspective is required with more integrated, collaborative approaches to observing and understanding Earth's various surface temperatures. It is necessary to build understanding of the relationships between different surface temperatures, where presently inadequate, and undertake large-scale systematic intercomparisons. Datasets need to be easier to obtain and exploit for a wide constituency of users, with the differences and complementarities communicated in readily understood terms, and realistic and consistent uncertainty information provided. Steps were also recommended to curate and make available data that are presently inaccessible, develop new observing systems and build capacities to accelerate progress in the accuracy and usability of surface temperature datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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227. Optimizing Back-Propagation Neural Network to Retrieve Sea Surface Temperature Based on Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm.
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Ji, Changming and Ding, Haiyong
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OCEAN temperature ,MACHINE learning ,OPTIMIZATION algorithms ,BRIGHTNESS temperature ,SEARCH algorithms ,CLOUDINESS - Abstract
Sea surface temperature (SST) constitutes a pivotal physical parameter in the investigation of atmospheric, oceanic, and air–sea exchange processes. The retrieval of SST through satellite passive microwave (PMW) technology effectively mitigates the interference posed by cloud cover, addressing a longstanding challenge. Nevertheless, conventional functional representations often fall short in capturing the intricate interplay of factors influencing SST. Leveraging neural networks (NNs), known for their adeptness in tackling nonlinear and intricate problems, holds great promise in SST retrieval. Nonetheless, NNs exhibit a high sensitivity to initial weights and thresholds, rendering them susceptible to local optimization issues. In this study, we present a novel machine learning (ML) approach for SST retrieval using PMW measurements, drawing from the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) and Back-Propagation neural network (BPNN) methodologies. The core premise involves the optimization of the BP neural network's initial weights and thresholds through an enhanced SSA algorithm employing various optimization strategies. This optimization aims to provide superior parameters for the training of the BP neural network. Employing AMSR2 brightness temperature data, sea surface wind speed data, and buoy SST measurements, we construct the ISSA-BP model for sea surface temperature retrieval. The validation of the ISSA-BP model against the test data is conducted and compared against the multiple linear regression (MLR) model, an unoptimized BP model, and an unimproved SSA-BP model. The results manifest an impressive R-squared (R
2 ) value of 0.9918 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.8268 °C for the ISSA-BP model, attesting to its superior accuracy. Furthermore, the ISSA-BP model was applied to retrieve global sea surface temperatures on 15 July 2022, yielding an R2 of 0.9926 and an RMSE of 0.7673 °C for the OISST product on the same day, underscoring its excellent concordance. The results indicate that SST can be efficiently and accurately retrieved using the model proposed in this paper, based on satellite PMW measurements. This finding underscores the potential of employing machine learning algorithms for SST retrieval and offers a valuable reference for future studies focusing on the retrieval of other sea surface parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
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228. A Dual-Threshold Algorithm for Ice-Covered Lake Water Level Retrieval Using Sentinel-3 SAR Altimetry Waveforms.
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Tang, Fucai, Chen, Peng, An, Zhiyuan, Xiong, Mingzhu, Chen, Hao, and Qiu, Liangcai
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WATER levels ,STANDARD deviations ,SYNTHETIC aperture radar ,ALTIMETRY ,LAKES ,ICE on rivers, lakes, etc. - Abstract
Satellite altimetry has been proven to measure water levels in lakes and rivers effectively. The Sentinel-3A satellite is equipped with a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar altimeter (SRAL), which allows for inland water levels to be measured with higher precision and improved spatial resolution. However, in regions at middle and high latitudes, where many lakes are covered by ice during the winter, the non-uniformity of the altimeter footprint can substantially impact the accuracy of water level estimates, resulting in abnormal readings when applying standard SRAL synthetic aperture radar (SAR) waveform retracking algorithms (retrackers). In this study, a modified method is proposed to determine the current surface type of lakes, analyzing changes in backscattering coefficients and brightness temperature. This method aligns with ground station observations and ensures consistent surface type classification. Additionally, a dual-threshold algorithm that addresses the limitations of the original bimodal algorithm by identifying multiple peaks without needing elevation correction is introduced. This innovative approach significantly enhances the precision of equivalent water level measurements for ice-covered lakes. The study retrieves and compares the water level data of nine North American lakes covered by ice from 2016–2019 using the dual-threshold and the SAMOSA-3 algorithm with in situ data. For Lake Athabasca, Cedar Lake, Great Slave Lake, Lake Winnipeg, and Lake Erie, the root mean square error (RMSE) of SAMOSA-3 is 39.58 cm, 46.18 cm, 45.75 cm, 42.64 cm, and 6.89 cm, respectively. However, the dual-threshold algorithm achieves an RMSE of 6.75 cm, 9.47 cm, 5.90 cm, 7.67 cm, and 5.01 cm, respectively, representing a decrease of 75%, 79%, 87%, 82%, and 27%, respectively, compared to SAMOSA-3. The dual-threshold algorithm can accurately estimate water levels in ice-covered lakes during winter. It offers a promising prospect for achieving long-term, continuous, and high-precision water level measurements for middle- and high-latitude lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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229. Tipping points in ocean and atmosphere circulations.
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Loriani, Sina, Aksenov, Yevgeny, McKay, David Armstrong, Bala, Govindasamy, Born, Andreas, Chiessi, Cristiano M., Dijkstra, Henk, Donges, Jonathan F., Drijfhout, Sybren, England, Matthew H., Fedorov, Alexey V., Jackson, Laura, Kornhuber, Kai, Messori, Gabriele, Pausata, Francesco, Rynders, Stefanie, Salée, Jean-Baptiste, Sinha, Bablu, Sherwood, Steven, and Swingedouw, Didier
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OCEAN circulation ,ATLANTIC meridional overturning circulation ,EL Nino ,ATMOSPHERIC circulation ,OCEAN ,ICE shelves ,MONSOONS ,AIR pollution - Abstract
In this review, we assess scientific evidence for tipping points in ocean and atmosphere circulations. The warming of oceans, modified wind patterns and increasing freshwater influx from melting ice hold the potential to disrupt established circulation patterns. The literature provides evidence for oceanic tipping points in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SPG), and the Antarctic Overturning Circulation, which may collapse under warmer and 'fresher' (i.e. less salty) conditions. A slowdown or collapse of these oceanic circulations would have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the climate system and could lead to strong impacts on human societies and the biosphere. Among the atmospheric circulation systems considered, we classify the West African monsoon as a tipping system. Its abrupt changes in the past have led to vastly different vegetation states of the Sahara (e.g. "green Sahara" states). Evidence about tipping of the monsoon systems over South America and Asia is limited however, there are multiple potential sources of destabilisation, including large-scale deforestation, air pollution, and shifts in other circulation patterns (in particular the AMOC). Although theoretically possible, there is currently little indication for tipping points in tropical clouds or mid-latitude atmospheric circulations. Similarly, tipping towards a more extreme or persistent state of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently not fully supported by models and observations. While the tipping thresholds for many of these systems are uncertain, tipping could have severe socio-environmental consequences. Stabilising Earth's climate (along with minimising other environmental pressures, like aerosol pollution and ecosystem degradation) is critical for reducing the likelihood of reaching tipping points in the ocean-atmosphere system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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230. Role of Servant Leadership Conglomerate Conflict Behaviour on Team Performance, Conflict Resolution Efficacy, and Turnover Intentionin Tanzania's Higher Learning Institutions.
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Malingumu, Winifrida Saimon
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SERVANT leadership ,HOUSEHOLD employees ,SHARED leadership ,CONFLICT management ,CLUSTER analysis (Statistics) ,MANAGEMENT styles ,LEADERSHIP training ,PUBLIC universities & colleges - Abstract
This paper explores the intricate relationship between servant leadership, conflict management behaviour, and organisational outcomes in the context of Tanzania's higher learning institutions. Through a longitudinal study involved 800 respondents from four public universities, the research investigates the interplay between servant leadership and conflict management styles, specifically focusing on integrating and compromising behaviors. The study employed a comprehensive methodology, utilising questionnaires distributed over two waves with a one-year time lag. The findings revealed a positive correlation between servant leadership and integrating conflict management styles, specifically avoiding and accommodating. However, the anticipated correlation between integrating and compromising conflict behaviours in servant leadership is not confirmed. The study further examined the prevalence of cooperative conflict management patterns among Tanzanian university leaders, highlighting a combination of problem-solving and compromising strategies. A significant aspect of the research involved cluster analysis, which revealed distinct conflict behaviour patterns in Tanzanian universities. The result showed a preference for compromising and low-integrating (co-operative) patterns, as well as high-integrating and low-compromising (competitive) patterns. Notably, these patterns were not mutually exclusive, indicating a nuanced approach to conflict management. In the second part of the study, the paper delved into the impact of servant leadership's cooperative behaviour on team performance, conflict resolution efficacy, and turnover intention. The results affirmed the positive relationship between integrating and compromising conflict management styles and team performance, while forcing behaviour showed a negative correlation. Moreover, the study identified a negative relationship between accommodating and forcing conflict management styles and turnoverintention. The paper concluded that servant leaders in Tanzanian universities adeptly combined different conflict management styles, mitigating the adverse effects of conflicts on team performance and turnover intention. Even though avoiding and accommodating conflict behaviours were used together, problem-solving and compromising strategies were used a lot. This showed that servant leadership was used in a more complex way in Tanzanian higher education. The study contributed valuable insights into the dynamics of servant leadership, conflict management, and organisational outcomes, emphasising the need for a contextual understanding of leadership behaviours and their cultural implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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231. Opinion: The strength of long-term comprehensive observations to meet multiple grand challenges in different environments and in the atmosphere.
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Kulmala, Markku, Lintunen, Anna, Lappalainen, Hanna, Virtanen, Annele, Yan, Chao, Ezhova, Ekaterina, Nieminen, Tuomo, Riipinen, Ilona, Makkonen, Risto, Tamminen, Johanna, Sundström, Anu-Maija, Arola, Antti, Hansel, Armin, Lehtinen, Kari, Vesala, Timo, Petäjä, Tuukka, Bäck, Jaana, Kokkonen, Tom, and Kerminen, Veli-Matti
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AMBIENCE (Environment) ,ENVIRONMENTAL degradation ,BIG data ,WATER pollution ,POLLUTION ,CLIMATE change denial ,ATMOSPHERE - Abstract
To be able to meet global grand challenges (climate change; biodiversity loss; environmental pollution; scarcity of water, food and energy supplies; acidification; deforestation; chemicalization; pandemics), which all are closely interlinked with each other, we need comprehensive open data with proper metadata, along with open science. The large data sets from ground-based in situ observations, ground and satellite remote sensing, and multiscale modeling need to be utilized seamlessly. In this opinion paper, we demonstrate the power of the SMEAR (Station for Measuring Earth surface–Atmosphere Relations) concept via several examples, such as detection of new particle formation and the particles' subsequent growth, quantifying atmosphere–ecosystem feedback loops, and combining comprehensive observations with emergency science and services, as well as studying the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on different air quality and climate variables. The future needs and the potential of comprehensive observations of the environment are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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232. The response of glaciers and glacial lakes to climate change in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau over the past three decades.
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Dou, Xiangyang, Fan, Xuanmei, Wang, Xin, Fang, Chengyong, Lovati, Marco, and Zou, Chengbin
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GLACIAL lakes ,GLACIAL climates ,GLACIERS ,RANDOM forest algorithms ,CLIMATE change ,CLIMATE change denial - Abstract
With global warming, changes in glaciers and glacial lakes on the Tibetan Plateau call for a serious inspection. The Southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) is a typical monsoonal marine glacier area that is extremely vulnerable to climate change. It is affected by both humid and warm Indian Ocean currents. Outlines of glaciers and glacial lakes in SETP have been extracted from Landsat satellite images with an automatic extraction method based on image compositing with Google Earth Engine and Random Forest algorithm. Alongside the outlines, meteorological data have been collected from 1990 to 2021. The results show that since 1990 the glacier area of SETP has retreated by about 2165.33 km2 (~25.28%), the glacial lake area has increased by about 36.41 km2 (~21.45%), and their number has increased by 477 (~27.32%). The reliability and scientific validity of this study is proven by comparison with existing glacier inventories. By analyzing the meteorological data, the inverse correlation between the glacier area and temperature has been found. Despite decreases in cumulative precipitation, the glacial lake level rise and consequent area expansion have been observed. A fitting equation for the response pattern of glacier changes to temperature and precipitation change is presented and will provide a basis for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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233. Observing Temporally Varying Synoptic‐Scale Total Alkalinity and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in the Arctic Ocean.
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Green, Hannah L., Findlay, Helen S., Shutler, Jamie D., Sims, Richard, Bellerby, Richard, and Land, Peter E.
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SOLAR radiation ,ALKALINITY ,ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide ,OCEAN acidification ,OCEAN temperature ,ROOT-mean-squares ,FOREST monitoring ,OCEAN - Abstract
The long‐term absorption by the oceans of atmospheric carbon dioxide is leading to the slow decline of ocean pH, a process termed ocean acidification (OA). The Arctic is a challenging region to gather enough data to examine the changes in carbonate chemistry over sufficient scales. However, algorithms that calculate carbonate chemistry parameters from more frequently measured parameters, such as temperature and salinity, can be used to fill in data gaps. Here, these published algorithms were evaluated against in situ measurements using different data input types (data from satellites or in situ re‐analysis climatologies) across the Arctic Ocean. With the lowest uncertainties in the Atlantic influenced Seas (AiS), where re‐analysis inputs achieved total alkalinity estimates with Root Mean Squared Deviation (RMSD) of 21 μmol kg−1 and a bias of 2 μmol kg−1 (n = 162) and dissolved inorganic carbon RMSD of 24 μmol kg−1 and bias of −14 μmol kg−1 (n = 262). AiS results using satellite observation inputs show similar bias but larger RMSD, although due to the shorter time span of available satellite observations, more contemporary in situ data would provide further assessment and improvement. Synoptic‐scale observations of surface water carbonate conditions in the Arctic are now possible to monitor OA, but targeted in situ data collection is needed to enable the full exploitation of satellite observation‐based approaches. Plain Language Summary: The long‐term absorption by the oceans of atmospheric carbon dioxide is leading to the slow decline of ocean pH, a process termed ocean acidification (OA). Sea surface salinity and temperature measurements from satellites or in situ re‐analysis products can be used as input to empirical algorithms to calculate OA parameters. This paper provides a first analysis of published Arctic Ocean empirical algorithms to estimate surface water OA parameters using observation‐based data sets. Results show promise in the Atlantic influenced Seas using both in situ re‐analysis and satellite products, but satellite salinity is relatively recent, and a paucity of in situ data in the satellite salinity era precludes a robust assessment. To fully exploit satellite‐based approaches, efforts need to focus on collecting in situ data while these satellites are overhead and operating in orbit. Key Points: Observation‐based data sets enable synoptic spatio‐temporal assessments of Arctic Ocean carbonate system parametersRe‐analysis and satellite products predict total alkalinity with accuracies of ∼21 μmol kg−1Targeted in situ data collection is needed to fully exploit satellite observations in the Arctic to enable carbonate system monitoring [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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234. "Blind men and an elephant": The need for animals in research, drug safety studies, and understanding civilizational diseases.
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Anbalagan, Savani
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- 2023
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235. The Western Channel Observatory: a century of physical, chemical and biological data compiled from pelagic and benthic habitats in the western English Channel.
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McEvoy, Andrea J., Atkinson, Angus, Airs, Ruth L., Brittain, Rachel, Brown, Ian, Fileman, Elaine S., Findlay, Helen S., McNeill, Caroline L., Ostle, Clare, Smyth, Tim J., Somerfield, Paul J., Tait, Karen, Tarran, Glen A., Thomas, Simon, Widdicombe, Claire E., Woodward, E. Malcolm S., Beesley, Amanda, Conway, David V. P., Fishwick, James, and Haines, Hannah
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DINOFLAGELLATES ,PHYTOPLANKTON ,OBSERVATORIES ,HIGH performance liquid chromatography ,FISH larvae ,METADATA ,DATA libraries ,FISH surveys - Abstract
The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) comprises a series of pelagic, benthic and atmospheric sampling sites within 40 km of Plymouth, UK, that have been sampled by the Plymouth institutes on a regular basis since 1903. This longevity of recording and the high frequency of observations provide a unique combination of data; for example temperature data were first collected in 1903, and the reference station L4, where nearly 400 planktonic taxa have been enumerated, has been sampled on a weekly basis since 1988. While the component datasets have been archived, here we provide the first summary database bringing together a wide suite of the observations. This provides monthly average values of some of the key pelagic and benthic measurements for the inshore site L4 (50 ∘ 15.00 ′ N, 4 ∘ 13.02 ′ W; approx. depth 55 m), the offshore site E1 (50 ∘ 02.00 ′ N, 4 ∘ 22.00 ′ W; approx. depth 75 m) and the intermediate L5 site (50 ∘ 10.80 ′ N, 4 ∘ 18.00 ′ W; approx. depth 58 m). In brief, these data include the following: water temperature (from 1903); macronutrients (from 1934); dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity (from 2008); methane and nitrous oxide (from 2011); chlorophyll a (from 1992); high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-derived pigments (from 1999); <20 µm plankton by flow cytometry, including bacteria (8 functional groups from 2007); phytoplankton by microscopy (6 functional groups from 1992); microplankton and mesozooplankton from FlowCam (6 groups from 2012); Noctiluca sp. dinoflagellate (from 1997); mesozooplankton by microscopy (8 groups from 1988); Calanus helgolandicus egg production rates (from 1992); fish larvae from the Young Fish Trawl survey (4 groups from 1924); benthic macrofauna (4 groups from 2008); demersal fish (19 families from 2008); blue shark, Prionace glauca (from 1958); and 16S alpha diversity for sediment and water column (from 2012). These data have varying coverage with respect to time and depth resolution. The metadata tables describe each dataset and provide pointers to the source data and other related Western Channel Observatory datasets and outputs not compiled here. We provide summaries of the main trends in seasonality and some major climate-related shifts that have been revealed over the last century. The data are available from the Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH): 10.17031/645110fb81749 (McEvoy and Atkinson, 2023). Making these data fully accessible and including units of both abundance and biomass will stimulate a variety of uptakes. These may include uses as an educational resource for projects, for models and budgets, for the analysis of seasonality and long-term change in a coupled benthic–pelagic system, or for supporting UK and north-eastern Atlantic policy and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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236. A long-term dataset of simulated epilimnion and hypolimnion temperatures in 401 French lakes (1959–2020).
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Sharaf, Najwa, Prats, Jordi, Reynaud, Nathalie, Tormos, Thierry, Bruel, Rosalie, Peroux, Tiphaine, and Danis, Pierre-Alain
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WATER quality management ,WATER temperature ,WATER quality ,CHARACTERISTIC functions ,LAKES ,TEMPERATURE ,WATER shortages - Abstract
Understanding the thermal behavior of lakes is crucial for water quality management. Under climate change, lakes are warming and undergoing alterations in their thermal structure, including surface water and deepwater temperatures. These changes require continuous monitoring due to the possible major ecological implications for water quality and lake processes. We combined numerical modeling and satellite thermal data to create a regional dataset (LakeTSim: Lake Temperature Simulations) of long-term water temperatures for 401 French lakes in order to tackle the scarcity of in situ water temperature (Sharaf et al., 2023; 10.57745/OF9WXR). The dataset consists of daily epilimnion and hypolimnion water temperatures for the period 1959–2020 simulated with the semi-empirical OKPLM (Ottosson–Kettle–Prats Lake Model) and the associated uncertainties. Here, we describe the model and its performance. Additionally, we present an uncertainty analysis of simulations with default parameter values (parameterized as a function of lake characteristics) and calibrated parameter values along with the analysis of the sensitivity of the model to parameter values and biases in the input data. Overall, the 90 % confidence uncertainty range is largest for hypolimnion temperature simulations, with medians of 8.5 and 2.32 ∘ C, respectively, with default and calibrated parameter values. There is less uncertainty associated with epilimnion temperature simulations, with medians of 5.42 and 1.85 ∘ C, respectively, before and after parameter calibration. This dataset provides over 6 decades of epilimnion and hypolimnion temperature data crucial for climate change studies at a regional scale. It will help provide insight into the thermal functioning of French lakes and can be used to help decision-making and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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237. Global Carbon Budget 2023.
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Friedlingstein, Pierre, O'Sullivan, Michael, Jones, Matthew W., Andrew, Robbie M., Bakker, Dorothee C. E., Hauck, Judith, Landschützer, Peter, Le Quéré, Corinne, Luijkx, Ingrid T., Peters, Glen P., Peters, Wouter, Pongratz, Julia, Schwingshackl, Clemens, Sitch, Stephen, Canadell, Josep G., Ciais, Philippe, Jackson, Robert B., Alin, Simone R., Anthoni, Peter, and Barbero, Leticia
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CARBON cycle ,ATMOSPHERIC carbon dioxide ,CARBON emissions ,ATMOSPHERIC oxygen ,CEMENT industries ,CARBON dioxide - Abstract
Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere in a changing climate is critical to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe and synthesize data sets and methodology to quantify the five major components of the global carbon budget and their uncertainties. Fossil CO2 emissions (EFOS) are based on energy statistics and cement production data, while emissions from land-use change (ELUC), mainly deforestation, are based on land-use and land-use change data and bookkeeping models. Atmospheric CO2 concentration is measured directly, and its growth rate (GATM) is computed from the annual changes in concentration. The ocean CO2 sink (SOCEAN) is estimated with global ocean biogeochemistry models and observation-based f CO2 products. The terrestrial CO2 sink (SLAND) is estimated with dynamic global vegetation models. Additional lines of evidence on land and ocean sinks are provided by atmospheric inversions, atmospheric oxygen measurements, and Earth system models. The resulting carbon budget imbalance (BIM), the difference between the estimated total emissions and the estimated changes in the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere, is a measure of imperfect data and incomplete understanding of the contemporary carbon cycle. All uncertainties are reported as ±1σ. For the year 2022, EFOS increased by 0.9 % relative to 2021, with fossil emissions at 9.9±0.5 Gt C yr -1 (10.2±0.5 Gt C yr -1 when the cement carbonation sink is not included), and ELUC was 1.2±0.7 Gt C yr -1 , for a total anthropogenic CO2 emission (including the cement carbonation sink) of 11.1±0.8 Gt C yr -1 (40.7±3.2 Gt CO2 yr -1). Also, for 2022, GATM was 4.6±0.2 Gt C yr -1 (2.18±0.1 ppm yr -1 ; ppm denotes parts per million), SOCEAN was 2.8±0.4 Gt C yr -1 , and SLAND was 3.8±0.8 Gt C yr -1 , with a BIM of -0.1 Gt C yr -1 (i.e. total estimated sources marginally too low or sinks marginally too high). The global atmospheric CO2 concentration averaged over 2022 reached 417.1±0.1 ppm. Preliminary data for 2023 suggest an increase in EFOS relative to 2022 of +1.1 % (0.0 % to 2.1 %) globally and atmospheric CO2 concentration reaching 419.3 ppm, 51 % above the pre-industrial level (around 278 ppm in 1750). Overall, the mean of and trend in the components of the global carbon budget are consistently estimated over the period 1959–2022, with a near-zero overall budget imbalance, although discrepancies of up to around 1 Gt C yr -1 persist for the representation of annual to semi-decadal variability in CO2 fluxes. Comparison of estimates from multiple approaches and observations shows the following: (1) a persistent large uncertainty in the estimate of land-use changes emissions, (2) a low agreement between the different methods on the magnitude of the land CO2 flux in the northern extra-tropics, and (3) a discrepancy between the different methods on the strength of the ocean sink over the last decade. This living-data update documents changes in methods and data sets applied to this most recent global carbon budget as well as evolving community understanding of the global carbon cycle. The data presented in this work are available at 10.18160/GCP-2023 (Friedlingstein et al., 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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238. High prevalence of Panton–Valentine Leucocidin among Staphylococcus coagulans isolated from dogs in Rio de Janeiro.
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Teixeira, Izabel M, Guimarães, Luciana, da Silva, Isabella T, Fonseca, Carolina, Assumpção, Yasmim, Lima dos Santos, Ana Luiza, Antunes, Milena, Pesset, Camilla, Ferreira, Eliane, and Penna, Bruno
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WHOLE genome sequencing ,DRUG resistance in microorganisms ,DOGS ,ERYTHROMYCIN ,GENTAMICIN ,MICROPLATES - Abstract
Aims The purpose of this study was to characterize the capacity for biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance rates, and search for genetic determinants of resistance and virulence in the species. Methods and results Strains were collected from asymptomatic and infected dogs. Identification was conducted using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF), antimicrobial susceptibility using disk diffusion and PCR targeting mecA. Biofilm formation was evaluated on a microtiter plate assay. A total of 27 strains were selected for whole-genome sequencing. We identified 111 Staphylococcus coagulans. The highest number was obtained from infected dogs. The highest resistance rates were observed for penicillin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin/erythromycin. Twelve strains were characterized as resistant to methicillin. All isolates had the ability to form biofilm and were strong producers. Among Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus coagulans (MRSC), SCCmec types IIIA, and Vc were identified. Acquired resistance genes, such as aac(6′)-aph(2′'), tet(K), blaZ, qacG, qacJ , and erm(C) were found. Different virulence genes were identified. Of note, Panton–Valentine Leucocidin was highly prevalent among the isolates. Conclusion Staphylococcus coagulans had a high isolation rate among infected dogs and demonstrated significant resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillin and gentamicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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239. Association of hospitalization for suicide attempts in adolescent girls with subsequent hospitalization for eating disorders.
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Soullane, Safiya, Israël, Mimi, Steiger, Howard, Chadi, Nicholas, Low, Nancy, Dewar, Ron, Ayoub, Aimina, and Auger, Nathalie
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PATIENT aftercare ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,POISONING ,REGRESSION analysis ,PATIENTS ,MEDICAL screening ,HOSPITAL care of teenagers ,SUICIDAL behavior ,RISK assessment ,HOSPITAL admission & discharge ,HOSPITAL care ,BULIMIA ,BODY piercing ,RESEARCH funding ,ANOREXIA nervosa ,EATING disorders ,LONGITUDINAL method ,PROPORTIONAL hazards models ,DISEASE risk factors - Abstract
Objective: To determine the association between adolescent hospitalization for suicide attempts and the subsequent risk of eating disorder hospitalization. Method: This was a cohort study of 162,398 adolescent girls in Quebec, Canada, including 7741 with suicide attempts before 20 years of age, matched to 154,657 adolescents with no attempt between 1989 and 2019. The main exposure measure was suicide attempt hospitalization. The main outcome measure was hospitalization for an eating disorder up to 31 years later, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders. We used adjusted Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between adolescent suicide attempts and eating disorder hospitalization. Results: Adolescent girls admitted for a suicide attempt had 5.55 times the risk of eating disorder hospitalization over time (95% CI 3.74–8.23), compared with matched controls. Suicide attempt was associated with anorexia nervosa (HR 3.57, 95% CI 1.78–7.17) and bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders (HR 8.55, 95% CI 5.48–13.32). Associations were pronounced in girls with repeated suicide attempts. Girls who attempted suicide through self‐poisoning had an elevated risk of anorexia nervosa, whereas girls who used violent methods such as cutting or piercing had a greater risk of bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders. Suicide attempt was strongly associated with eating disorder hospitalization in the year following the attempt, but associations persisted throughout follow‐up. Discussion: Suicide attempt admission is associated with the long‐term risk of eating disorder hospitalization in adolescent girls. Public Significance: This study of adolescent girls suggests that suicide attempt admission is associated with the long‐term risk of hospitalization for eating disorders. The risk is greatest in the year after the attempt, but persists over time. Adolescents who present with a suicide attempt may benefit from screening for eating disorders and long‐term follow‐up to help prevent the exacerbation or development of eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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240. Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions From an Anthropogenically Transformed Lake (Lake Licheńskie, Poland).
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Woszczyk, M. and Schubert, C. J.
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NITROUS oxide ,GREENHOUSE gases ,ELECTRIC power plants ,CANALS ,METHANE ,WATER chemistry ,LAKES ,NATURAL gas - Abstract
For over 50 years Lake Licheńskie (LLi), central Poland, has been involved in the cooling system of two power plants (PP). Owing to the discharge of cooling waters the lake was prone to considerable environmental changes which involved its thermal structure, mixing regime and water parameters. In this study we investigated how the man‐made transformations affected greenhouse gas emissions (GHG; CH4 and N2O) from the lake. The GHG emissions in Lake Licheńskie were monitored at the deepest site from December 2014 to November 2015 and between March 2022 and February 2023. The values obtained were compared to reference lakes encompassing 10 natural and undisturbed inland and coastal lakes in Poland. Our results revealed that LLi was a net source of CH4 and N2O to the atmosphere but the fluxes were low. The mean annual diffusive fluxes were 0.21–0.38 mmol·m−2 d−1 for CH4 and 4.90–7.40 μmol·m−2 d−1 for N2O. The CH4 emissions were significantly lower than in most of reference lakes, while the N2O emissions were comparable. Therefore, the human intervention resulted in reduction of CH4 release from LLi but it had minor effect on the N2O. The most likely reason for the low direct fluxes of GHGs from the surface waters was the high flushing rate of the lake and export of dissolved gases to adjacent lakes and canals. Hence, the overall emission from the connected lake and canal system was not mitigated by the man‐made changes to the lake system. Plain Language Summary: CH4, and N2O are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). Their emission from lakes is often stimulated by human intervention in the ecosystem. Lake Licheńskie, central Poland, represents a highly disturbed lacustrine system, which, together with a few other lakes, is a part of a cooling system of two electric power plants. Consequently, since 1960s the lake has received considerable discharge of cooling waters which changed lake water chemistry and hydrodynamics. In this study we tried to find out how these multifaceted changes affected greenhouse gas production and emission in the lake. For this purpose we collected water chemistry data and measured diffusive emissions of the GHGs from Lake Licheńskie and a few natural undisturbed lakes in Poland. The latter lakes served as reference lakes. Our data revealed that Lake Licheńskie emitted comparable amounts of N2O albeit less CH4 than natural lakes. This lower emission of CH4 in Lake Licheńskie was a result of the very high flushing rates of the lake by circulating cooling waters. The GHG emissions were most likely released further downwards in the water receiving canals. Key Points: Lake Licheńskie (Poland) has been highly transformed by long‐term discharge of the effluents from of a power plantLake Licheńskie shows lower diffusive emissions of CH4 than natural lakesGreenhouse gas emissions from Lake Lichenskie are more strongly related to a very high flushing rate than to thermal pollution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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241. Contrasting long‐term changes in lake trajectories linked to differences in wind‐induced mixing in the Peruvian Andes.
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Jones, Evan, Michelutti, Neal, Grooms, Christopher, Tapia, Pedro, and Smol, John P.
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FOSSIL diatoms ,LAKES ,FOSSILS ,THERMISTORS ,BODIES of water - Abstract
Historically, many high‐elevation lakes in the tropical Andes have been observed to mix frequently, with rare, brief periods of thermal stratification. As temperatures have risen in the Andes over the past several decades, thermistor data have shown that many lakes are now experiencing longer periods of thermal stratification with resultant ecological restructuring. Palaeolimnological studies from these lakes have recorded striking diatom assemblage shifts, coeval with recent changes in thermal stratification.Here, we analyse subfossil diatom assemblages from a wind‐sheltered lake, Laguna Yanacocha, in the Peruvian Andes. Thermistors deployed in the lake indicated that Laguna Yanacocha was more strongly thermally stratified and for longer periods than other nearby lakes. We hypothesised that, owing to its sheltered position, this lake is likely to have exhibited enhanced periods of thermal stratification even before the period of recent warming, and that these limnological conditions would be tracked in the subfossil diatom record.The diatom assemblages from Laguna Yanacocha recorded consistently high abundances of the obligate planktonic taxon Discostella stelligera over the last several centuries. This taxon is known to flourish with warming and has been shown to increase in abundance with the onset of thermally stratified conditions in other Andean waterbodies, as well as lakes globally. The dominance of D. stelligera throughout the entire sediment record suggests a long history of thermal stratification that is likely to be a consequence of the study lake's surrounding topography, which shelters it from wind mixing.The sub‐fossil assemblage data from Laguna Yanacocha contrasts with assemblages from previously studied wind‐swept lakes in the Andes, which primarily show low abundances of D. stelligera before well‐documented temperature increases. The fossil diatom record from Laguna Yanacocha may provide an indication of how other lakes from the region will respond to warming temperatures and enhanced thermal stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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242. Achieving success with RISE: A widely implementable, iterative, structured process for mastering interdisciplinary team science collaborations.
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Mather, Martha E, Granco, Gabriel, Bergtold, Jason S, Caldas, Marcellus M, Stamm, Jessica L Heier, Sheshukov, Aleksey Y, Sanderson, Matthew R, and Daniels, Melinda D
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COOPERATIVE research ,GRADUATE education ,RESEARCH teams ,RESEARCH personnel ,TEAMS - Abstract
Scientific experts from different disciplines often struggle to mesh their specialized perspectives into the shared mindset that is needed to address difficult and persistent environmental, ecological, and societal problems. Many traditional graduate programs provide excellent research and technical skill training. However, these programs often do not teach a systematic way to learn team skills, nor do they offer a protocol for identifying and tackling increasingly integrated interdisciplinary (among disciplines) and transdisciplinary (among researchers and stakeholders) questions. As a result, professionals trained in traditional graduate programs (e.g. current graduate students and employed practitioners) may not have all of the collaborative skills needed to advance solutions to difficult scientific problems. In the present article, we illustrate a tractable, widely implementable structured process called RISE that accelerates the development of these missing skills. The RISE process (Route to Identifying, learning, and practicing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary team Skills to address difficult Environmental problems) can be used by diverse teams as a tool for research, professional interactions, or training. RISE helps professionals with different expertise learn from each other by repeatedly asking team-developed questions that are tested using an interactive quantitative tool (e.g. agent-based models, machine learning, case studies) applied to a shared problem framework and data set. Outputs from the quantitative tool are then discussed and interpreted as a team, considering all team members' perspectives, disciplines, and expertise. After this synthesis, RISE is repeated with new questions that the team jointly identified in earlier data interpretation discussions. As a result, individual perspectives, originally informed by disciplinary training, are complemented by a shared understanding of team function and elevated interdisciplinary knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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243. Les politiques subtiles du faire autrement: Référents spirituels et militantisme progressiste en Suisse.
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GRANDJEAN, Alexandre
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SPIRITUALITY ,DEPOLITICIZATION ,CONCRETE ,RELIGIONS ,SELF ,NARCISSISM - Abstract
Copyright of Social Compass is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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- 2023
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244. النظرية االجتماعية الخضراء بوصفها جسًرًا بين العلوم االجتماعية والعلوم الطبيعية.
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احجيج, حسن
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- 2023
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245. Identifying Probable Dementia in Undiagnosed Black and White Americans Using Machine Learning in Veterans Health Administration Electronic Health Records.
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Shao, Yijun, Todd, Kaitlin, Shutes-David, Andrew, Millard, Steven P., Brown, Karl, Thomas, Amy, Chen, Kathryn, Wilson, Katherine, Zeng, Qing T., and Tsuang, Debby W.
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ELECTRONIC health records ,VETERANS' health ,MACHINE learning ,AFRICAN Americans ,NATURAL language processing ,DATA extraction - Abstract
The application of natural language processing and machine learning (ML) in electronic health records (EHRs) may help reduce dementia underdiagnosis, but models that are not designed to reflect minority populations may instead perpetuate underdiagnosis. To improve the identification of undiagnosed dementia, particularly in Black Americans (BAs), we developed support vector machine (SVM) ML models to assign dementia risk scores based on features identified in unstructured EHR data (via latent Dirichlet allocation and stable topic extraction in n = 1 M notes) and structured EHR data. We hypothesized that separate models would show differentiation between racial groups, so the models were fit separately for BAs (n = 5 K with dementia ICD codes, n = 5 K without) and White Americans (WAs; n = 5 K with codes, n = 5 K without). To validate our method, scores were generated for separate samples of BAs (n = 10 K) and WAs (n = 10 K) without dementia codes, and the EHRs of 1.2 K of these patients were reviewed by dementia experts. All subjects were age 65+ and drawn from the VA, which meant that the samples were disproportionately male. A strong positive relationship was observed between SVM-generated risk scores and undiagnosed dementia. BAs were more likely than WAs to have undiagnosed dementia per chart review, both overall (15.3% vs. 9.5%) and among Veterans with >90th percentile cutoff scores (25.6% vs. 15.3%). With chart reviews as the reference standard and varied cutoff scores, the BA model performed slightly better than the WA model (AUC = 0.86 with negative predictive value [NPV] = 0.98, positive predictive value [PPV] = 0.26, sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.92 and accuracy = 0.91 at >90th percentile cutoff vs. AUC = 0.77 with NPV = 0.98, PPV = 0.15, sensitivity = 0.43, specificity = 0.91 and accuracy = 0.89 at >90th). Our findings suggest that race-specific ML models can help identify BAs who may have undiagnosed dementia. Future studies should examine model generalizability in settings with more females and test whether incorporating these models into clinical settings increases the referral of undiagnosed BAs to specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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246. Embodied geographies of environmental justice: Toward the sovereign right to wholly inhabit oneself.
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Gay-Antaki, Miriam
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ENVIRONMENTAL justice ,GEOGRAPHY ,REPRODUCTIVE rights ,STATE capitalism ,WOMEN'S writings ,WOMEN of color - Abstract
I introduce insights from Latin America and across disciplines to advance our understanding of environmental injustices as written on women's bodies. This paper will entice environmental justice scholarship into conversation with geography to stress how embodied geographies of environmental justice are necessary to understand the geographical, gendered, sexualized, and racialized arrangement of environmental injustices. Expanding Environmental Justice to incorporate the body through Segato's understanding of cuerpo-territorio, a concept that blends geography, territory, and the body, we blur the lines between public and private—emphasizing the role of the state and global capitalism in the subjugation of women and people of color. By asking who reproduces, what is reproduced, and where, in environmental justice work, we underscore that environmental matters are reproductive, and the disproportionate embodied consequences of environmental injustices on sexualized, gendered, and racialized bodies. This violence against feminized bodies is explained as the unintended consequences of global capital accumulation, but decolonial, queer, Black, and feminist geographical insights show how these are central for capital accumulation. Attending to the body as an important geopolitical site allows us to articulate mundane, everyday instances of environmental justice and reproductive justice as geopolitically important. I propose that Embodied Geographies of Environmental Justice that center the concept of cuerpo-territorio underscore that the physical territory of both environmental justice and reproductive justice struggles is in racialized and feminized bodies. By bringing in feminist, Marxist, and postcolonial understandings of production and reproduction, I provide a framework that allows for a global and nuanced understanding of gendered geographies of violence, environmental, and reproductive justice. A reading of a Moraga poem toward the end of the paper, demands that we attend to women of color theorizing their own experiences in radical and innovative terms that resist and transform oppressive relations offering possibilities for renewal, regeneration, and healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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247. Soil drugs of the future: The sustainability of BioAg and the repair of arable land.
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Oviatt, Peter
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ARABLE land ,AGRICULTURE ,FARM produce ,MYCORRHIZAL fungi ,FARMS ,CONGLOMERATE ,FUNGAL communities - Abstract
BioAg, short for biological agriculture, is an umbrella term used by agricultural conglomerates to market biologically active products used for pest control and fertilization. Within this framing, I investigate the commodification of a type of fungus that forms a beneficial relationship with plant roots. Mycorrhizal fungi connect with root tips to exchange photosynthesized sugars for an array of what biologists call "ecosystem services," which include the translocation of soil minerals, water, and pathogen antagonism. I discuss three conditions that now give rise to the commodification of mycorrhizal fungi in industrial agriculture: the creation of an inoculant form produced under sterile (in vitro) conditions; the declaration of industrial arable soils as lacking functioning communities of mycorrhizal fungi, a deficit most easily remedied through the application of industrially produced inoculants; the build-up of a broader mycorrhizal subjectivity, which has made the loss of mycorrhizal fungi in agricultural lands a concern for those beyond agricultural and scientific communities. To analyze these three stages of the commodification of mycorrhizal fungi, I engage the framework of accumulation by restoration as part of the economy of repair. Following the work of Christopher Henke, I discuss how mycorrhizal inoculants are poised to bring about two forms of repair to soil ecologies and industrial agriculture: maintenance and transformation. I examine the challenges and controversies surrounding the efficacy of mycorrhizal inoculants, testing claims about ecological restoration and how an emergent and heavily promoted agricultural commodity might impact regional agricultural infrastructures, rural ecologies, and agrarian livelihoods. I use the case of mycorrhizal inoculants within BioAg to sort out promissory claims of sustainability, and look at how agricultural conglomerates are now building their envisioned future of industrial agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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248. Securing accumulation by restoration – Exploring spectacular corporate conservation, coal mining and biodiversity compensation in the German Rhineland.
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Brock, Andrea
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COAL mining ,LIGNITE mining ,BIODIVERSITY ,BUSINESS partnerships ,SOCIAL status ,CARBON offsetting - Abstract
German energy giant and coal mine operator RWE makes two products: cheap electricity and 'pretty new landscapes'. These 'pretty new landscapes' are biodiversity offsets to compensate for the destruction of the ancient Hambacher Forest for the world's largest opencast lignite coal mine in the German Rhineland. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork including participant observation and interviews in and around the mine and its offset sites, this paper explores the relationship between coal mining, spectacularisation of conservation, the ecotourism–extraction nexus and accumulation by restoration. I illustrate the historic and contemporary importance of restoration activities to the accumulation process and explore the recent engagement of mine operator RWE in the provision of restored nature (in the form of 'eco-points'), which constitute new business opportunities. The significance of RWE's biodiversity work for accumulation by restoration lies not only in its profit opportunities but its productive power: the legitimation of coal mining and the making of new, ordered 'ecologies of repair'. This productive power operates through the mobilising function of RWE's offsetting work, which forms the foundation for corporate partnerships and alliances with conservation groups and volunteers. These lend legitimacy to RWE's 'repair work' and form the basis for the ecotourism–extraction nexus by turning the mine and its offsets into 'extractive attractions' for visitors and 'nature lovers'. Its power further manifests in the way it captures imaginations through novel imaginaries and narratives of sustainable coal mining, supposedly creating not only a 'better nature' but a 'better future'. Positioning offsetting as social technology of governance, I explore RWE's spectacular performance of sustainability and the ontological flattening to facilitate claims of commensurability and 'offsettability' of nature. These are integral to the ecotourism–extraction nexus and grounded in the belief in the human/corporate ability to recreate nature, a fascination with huge earth-shifting machinery and a commitment to high-modernist ideologies of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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249. Critical masculine and feminine norms in sustainable municipal transport policies and planning.
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Kronsell, Annica, Dymén, Christian, Rosqvist, Lena Smidfelt, Stepanova, Olga, and Hiselius, Lena Winslott
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Transport planning has historically been dominated by masculinity norms with minimal attention to sustainability, but these norms are challenged. Our analytical framework explores municipal solutions to sustainable transport that go beyond traditional norms and advances knowledge on how gendered sustainability norms are articulated in municipal transport policies and planning documents. The article investigates whether masculine and feminine norms on sustainability affect transport planning and if they are concretely expressed in transport solutions in planning and policy documents in Swedish municipalities, considered high achievers in sustainable transport. The article also observes gender representation and political affiliation related to gender sustainability norms. Our results show that all municipal committees that handle transport planning adhere to masculine and feminine sustainability norms but that there are significant differences in the content of the policies. Our results do not verify a relation between norms and the representation of men and women in the transport committees, we find evidence of divergences between masculine and feminine norms in relation to political ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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250. The shape of Anthropocene: The early contribution of the water sciences.
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Luciano, Eugenio
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- 2023
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