Search

Das Internationale Quellenlexikon der Musik (RISM) ist ein internationales Gemeinschaftsprojekt mit dem Ziel, die weltweit überlieferten Quellen zur Musik umfassend zu dokumentieren. Es bietet einen Online-Katalog, der Bibliothekaren, Musikern, Wissenschaftlern und allen interessierten Personen kostenlos zur Verfügung steht. Zunehmend gerät aber der Austausch von Daten in den Vordergrund, sei es von lokalen Online- Bibliothekskatalogen zu RISM oder umgekehrt. Für die Wissenschaft dürfte die Nachnutzung der Daten, die sowohl als Open Data als auch Linked Open Data bereitstehen, in Spezialprojekten von Interesse sein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall erosivity is one important factor that controls soil erosion. The interannual variability of rainfall erosivity in southeast China connected to the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation). Rainfall erosivity across southeast China was assessed using daily rainfall data from 60 meteorological stations during the period from 1980 to 2013. We determined that models of erosivity based on daily rainfall can accurately predict annual rainfall erosivity. This paper presents a study of the effects of Niño3.4 SST (Sea Surface Temperatures) anomalies, the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) and the MEI (Multivariate El Niño–Southern Oscillation Index) on rainfall erosivity in the southeast of China. Results indicated that average rainfall erosivity is stronger during El Niño events and weaker during La Niña events. Correlation analyses were applied to rainfall erosivity and Niño3.4 SST anomalies, SOI, and MEI. The effects of Niño3.4 SST and SOI on rainfall erosivity are evident, as demonstrated by a statistically significant correlation (> 95% confidence level). MEI was the best indicator ( P < 0.01) for representing the state of the ENSO. Results further indicated that 45, 31, and 40 of the 60 meteorological stations showed a significant correlation ( P < 0.05) between rainfall erosivity and SST anomalies, SOI, and MEI, respectively. Most of these stations were located in western Fujian Province. The ENSO was determined to exert the strongest influence on rainfall erosivity. This information would be useful in the implementation of new soil conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactive iodine may be released into off-gas streams during both, the normal operation and severe accident of nuclear power plant in both organic and inorganic forms. Methyl iodide formation results from the reaction between radioactive iodine and organic products (like paint and cable coatings) present within the containment. For the removal of methyl iodide (MeI) gas, activated carbon (AC) was impregnated with 2, 5, 8 and 10 wt% of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and triethylenediamine (TEDA). Characterization of the raw and impregnated activated carbon (IAC) was done by XRD, SEM, Raman, BET and TGA. Removal efficiency of MeI was evaluated using breakthrough experiments by varying weight percent of TEDA and HMTA. Both TEDA and HMTA-rich AC exhibited significant MeI adsorption capacity. TEDA-IAC was more effective for the elimination of MeI which adsorbed maximum 473 mg/g at low temperatures, whereas HMTA-IAC with high porosity had a comparatively high adsorption capacity at high temperatures due to its stability as compared to TEDA-IAC and adsorbed maximum 245 mg/g MeI. When raw AC was compared to IACs, results demonstrated that adsorption capacity of MeI improved up to 64 % for TEDA and 54 % for HMTA impregnated ACs. Langmuir model was well fitted to adsorption equilibrium data, and second-order model explained adsorption kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters study confirmed that the reaction is exothermic and spontaneous in nature. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind erosion is a major cause of soil losses in China’s drylands which is further stimulated by climate variability and fragile ecological conditions. Climatic erosivity is an important index of wind erosion, therefore, evaluation of its spatiotemporal variations and relationship with the El Niño−Southern Oscillation (ENSO) will provide a theoretical basis for the comprehensive management and prevention of soil erosion. In this study, by using the climatic erosivity equation, geographic information system (GIS) and geostatistical analysis, we quantified the climatic erosivity, explored its spatiotemporal variations, and detected the effects of the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) on climatic erosivity in the Otindag Desert during the period of 1980−2016. The results indicated that the climatic erosivity (C-factor value) ranged from 82−445, and it decreased from the western margin to the eastern margin of the desert. The climatic erosivity showed a significant downward trend at seasonal and annual scales (p < 0.05). As far as spring, autumn and annual climatic erosivity, the whole region showed a downward trend, however, the summer and winter climatic erosivity varied spatially, in which the central and western regions showed a downward trend, but the eastern region showed an upward trend. The results showed that the average climatic erosivity is weaker during La Niña events than during El Niño events. The climatic erosivity recorded by 14 of the 20 meteorological stations, all located in central and west regions, exhibited a significant correlation with MEI (p < 0.05). The ENSO has a significant impact on climatic erosivity.

Traditional historico-critical music editions provide scholars and musicians with an edited score based on the interpretation of various sources such as the composer's autograph(s), letters and other materials from copyists or publishers. Their digital counterparts have the potential to offer new and more expanded ways to explore the work. This is based on the possibility to provide large amounts of source materials and to annotate more extensively (since printing costs are irrelevant). Furthermore, audio and video recordings of performances can be integrated. But, similarly important, the user interface makes it much easier to navigate in the complex network of cross-references between various source materials and the editor's annotations. The XML-based Music Encoding Initiative (MEI) format is the standard music representation format for digital music editions. In this article we discuss current MEI-based annotation practices and outline the current challenges for music annotations, including a discussion of anchoring options, the embedding of addressable elements in the local musical context, the annotation of audio, and the categorisation of annotations. This leads to a discussion of open questions such as the ability to secure authorship in open and reusable editions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of nesting leatherback turtles ( Dermochelys coriacea) in the eastern Pacific Ocean has declined dramatically since the late 1980s. This decline has been attributed to egg poaching and interactions with fisheries. However, it is not clear how much of the decline should also be ascribed to variability in the physical characteristics of the ocean. We used data on individually marked turtles that nest at Playa Grande, Costa Rica, to address whether climatic variability affects survival and inter-breeding interval. Because some turtles might nest undetected, we used capture-recapture models to model survival probability accounting for a detection failure. In addition, as the probability of reproduction is constrained by past nesting events, we formulated a new parameterization to estimate inter-breeding intervals and contrast hypotheses on the role of climatic covariates on reproductive frequency. Average annual survival for the period 1993-2011 was low (0.78) and varied over time ranging from 0.49 to 0.99 with a negative temporal trend mainly due to the high mortality values registered after 2004. Survival probability was not associated with the Multivariate ENSO Index of the South Pacific Ocean ( MEI) but this index explained 24% of the temporal variability in the reproductive frequency. The probability of a turtle to permanently leave after the first encounter was 26%. This high proportion of transients might be associated with a high mortality cost of the first reproduction or with a long-distance nesting dispersal after the first nesting season. Although current data do not allow separating these two hypotheses, low encounter rate at other locations and high investment in reproduction, supports the first hypothesis. The low and variable annual survival probability has largely contributed to the decline of this leatherback population. The lack of correlation between survival probability and the most important climatic driver of oceanic processes in the Pacific discards a climate-related decline and point to anthropogenic sources of mortality as the main causes responsible for the observed population decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mei (Prunus mume) is a peculiar woody ornamental plant famous for its inviting fragrance in winter. However, in this valuable plant, the mechanism behind floral volatile development remains poorly defined. Therefore, to explore the floral scent formation, a comparative transcriptome was conducted in order to identify the global transcripts specifying flower buds and blooming flowers of P. mume. Differentially expressed genes were identified between the two different stages showing great discrepancy in floral volatile production. Moreover, according to the expression specificity among the organs (stem, root, fruit, leaf), we summarized one gene cluster regulating the benzenoid floral scent. Significant gene changes were observed in accordance with the formation of benzenoid, thus pointing the pivotal roles of genes as well as cytochrome-P450s and short chain dehydrogenases in the benzenoid biosynthetic process. Further, transcription factors like EMISSION OF BENZENOID I and ODORANT I performed the same expression pattern suggesting key roles in the management of the downstream genes. Taken together, these data provide potential novel anchors for the benzenoid pathway, and the insight for the floral scent induction and regulation mechanism in woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing water use and droughts, along with climate variability and land use change, have seriously altered vegetation growth patterns and ecosystem response in several regions alongside the Andes Mountains. Thirty years of the new generation biweekly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI3g) time series data show significant land cover specific trends and variability in annual productivity and land surface phenological response. Productivity is represented by the growing season mean NDVI values (July to June). Arid and semi-arid and sub humid vegetation types (Atacama desert, Chaco and Patagonia) across Argentina, northern Chile, northwest Uruguay and southeast Bolivia show negative trends in productivity, while some temperate forest and agricultural areas in Chile and sub humid and humid areas in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru show positive trends in productivity. The start (SOS) and length (LOS) of the growing season results show large variability and regional hot spots where later SOS often coincides with reduced productivity. A longer growing season is generally found for some locations in the south of Chile (sub-antarctic forest) and Argentina (Patagonia steppe), while central Argentina (Pampa-mixed grasslands and agriculture) has a shorter LOS. Some of the areas have significant shifts in SOS and LOS of one to several months. The seasonal Multivariate ENSO Indicator (MEI) and the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) index have a significant impact on vegetation productivity and phenology in southeastern and northeastern Argentina (Patagonia and Pampa), central and southern Chile (mixed shrubland, temperate and sub-antarctic forest), and Paraguay (Chaco).

This study addresses two outstanding puzzles about the two well-known quantifiers mei and dou in Chinese: (i) the indefinite/definite asymmetry when mei leads the subject NP: dou is not needed when there is an indefinite or a reflexive object within the scope of mei and (ii) the subject/object asymmetry: when mei leads the subject NP, its distribution is restricted, depending on the type of the objects, and, by contrast, when it leads the object NP, its distribution is much freer. We propose a novel account for these puzzles. We argue that (i) the indefinite/definite asymmetry can be explained away if we assume that mei is a distributive quantifier with a portmanteau semantic structure, i.e., that it is a standard universal quantifier plus a matching function; (ii) mei can be domain-shifted into a distributive determiner to satisfy interpretability, and this explains the subject/object asymmetry and (iii) this domain-shifting is regulated by the Principle of Economy (cf. Reinhart (2006)), which is a last resort to satisfy interpretability

On Rio Grande do Sul the seasons of the year are well defined being felt, in its peculiar characteristics, in the winter,in the spring, in the summer and in the autumn. The pluviometric regime is quite regular and the precipitations are welldistributed during all the year on the State. The Multivariate Enso Index (MEI) lacks of a study about its relations withthe precipitation. It is a numeric index that integrates the action of different factors that characterize the phenomenon andthat oscilate between positive values for the warm phase, the El Niño, and negative values for the cold phase, the La Niña.It considers, in its composition, the following variables: sea level pressure, zonal and meridional wind components at thesurface, the Sea Surface Temperature (SST), the air temperature at the surface and a cloudiness indicator. This work hadthe objective to study the relations between the MEI and the SST of the Niño regions with the precipitations on Rio Grandedo Sul State. For this, it were utilized total monthly data of precipitation from 40 meteorological stations of Rio Grande doSul, bimonthly data of MEI and SST of the Niño regions for the period 1950 to 2002. The correlation coefficients betweenthe precipitation of the Rio Grande Do Sul with the MEI and the regions of the Niños showed low values due to the factof if using only the months of the beginning and end of the event. The MEI, although to be a more complex index of themethodologic point of view, it does not improve the coefficients of correlation with the precipitation of the State of the RioGrande do Sul, and it always presents lesser or equal values to obtained when using the TSM of the regions of the Niñosin the out/nov and nov/dez coupled of months. The MEI and the Niños regions 3 and 3.4 present the highest correlationcoefficient with the Rio Grande do Sul State precipitation for the bimonths oct/nov and nov/dec.

Since 2000, jumbo squid Dosidicus gigas catches in Baja California have increased steadily with a record catch in 2011 of 14,243,689 kg. However, little is known about stock size, distribution and seasonality, as well as the possible effects of the environment on the fishery. We tested D. gigas catches (CPUE) from 2006 to 2013 with Pacific sardine Sardinops caeruleus fishery catch data, as well as the primary productivity anomaly, sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTa), Multivariate El Niño Index (MEI), North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Index (NPGO), and price/kg using a general linear model. We also estimated D. gigas population size using two depletion models. More than 80 % of D. gigas captures for 2006-2013 occurred within 20 nmi from the coast, regardless of the fleet. We identified Salsipuedes, Soledad Bay and Vizcaino Bay as the most important D. gigas fishing grounds. D. gigas CPUE showed monthly differences, with July and August being significantly different from other months ( p < 0.041; and p < 0.006, respectively). S. caeruleus and D. gigas fishing grounds overlapped geographically more than 75 %; however no correlation between catch volumes was found ( p < 0.562). There was an inverse linear and significant relation between D. gigas monthly catches and the primary productivity anomaly ( p < 0.021) and price/kg ( p < 0.016), where a positive primary productivity anomaly and price/kg values yielded a D. gigas CPUE below 9 × 10 kg. We did not find any direct relation between SSTa, MEI, NPGO and D. gigas catches ( p < 0.785; p < 0.497; and p < 0.108, respectiveley). Lack of independent fisheries data, as well as thermal tolerance and plastic life history of D. gigas, may provide an explanation on the non-apparent effect of biotical and abiotical factors in the relative abundance of D. gigas along Baja California's west coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to contribute to the understanding of factors related to the decision of micro-entrepreneurs on whether to formalize their operations, or to keep them informal. Although there are studies on the entrepreneurial profile, there are few works that discuss the reasons or conditions that lead to the formalization of a microenterprise. A descriptive and quantitative survey was therefore conducted with 65 entrepreneurs: 40 formal company owners and the other 25 informal, all located in the municipality of Diadema (SP). The participants received a questionnaire with questions related to demographic aspects and other questions aimed at identifying their perceptions of formality and informality in their businesses. The main results show that (1) some of the socioeconomic characteristics of the micro-entrepreneurs demonstrate potential or actual correlation with the decision on whether to formalize or remain informal; (2) we also noted the existence of a relationship between business variables and the option to formalize the business; and (3) we found discrepancies in relation to the presence of information and the concept of informality in businesses when comparing formal and informal microenterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density genetic map is a valuable tool for fine mapping locus controlling a specific trait especially for perennial woody plants. In this study, we firstly constructed a high-density genetic map of mei (Prunus mume) using SLAF markers, developed by specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq). The linkage map contains 8,007 markers, with a mean marker distance of 0.195 cM, making it the densest genetic map for the genus Prunus. Though weeping trees are used worldwide as landscape plants, little is known about weeping controlling gene(s) (Pl). To test the utility of the high-density genetic map, we did fine-scale mapping of this important ornamental trait. In total, three statistic methods were performed progressively based on the result of inheritance analysis. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis initially revealed that a locus on linkage group 7 was strongly responsible for weeping trait. Mutmap-like strategy and extreme linkage analysis were then applied to fine map this locus within 1.14 cM. Bioinformatics analysis of the locus identified some candidate genes. The successful localization of weeping trait strongly indicates that the high-density map con-structed using SLAF markers is a worthy reference for mapping important traits for woody plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Datenbank-Spektrum is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

The sea surface temperature (SST), anomalies (SSTA), Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), and Multivariate ENSO (MEI) index in El Niño 1 + 2 and El Niño 3.4 regions, Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), as well as the meteorological parameter Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) were cross correlated to sunspot counts (SS) from cycles 19 to 24 (1954–2019). Over the 1954–2019 period, the SS or Schwabe cycles did not show strong cross-correlation coefficients (cc-ρ) with values falling between 0.063 and 0.100 (p < 0.05). It seems that the Total Solar Irradiation (TSI) constant variability (±0.1%, ±1.361 W m−2) due to the SS cycles balanced out throughout the whole period. The cc-ρ coefficients for SST and SSTA versus each individual SS cycles were between 0.100 and 0.200 with lag times between maxima of each being from a few to 48 months. The ONI showed a cc-ρ < 0.1, while MEI reached up to 0.2 through all SS cycles. The slope of the cc-ρ changed from negative to positive over 6–12 months periods, with peaks in slope change occurring somewhere between 2 and 3 years. The SOI cc-ρ varied by around 0.200 through cycles 19–21, but for SS 22–24 it was not noticeable. Interdecadal indexes PDO and AMO showed cc-ρ of up to 0.283; with a possible association of 8%, with a lag time of 1–3 years. During the ascending and descending phases of each SS cycle, the cc-ρ were 0.288 and − 0.233, respectively for SST in El Niño 3.4 region, but in El Niño 1 + 2 were negligible. The ONI and MEI showed cc-ρ up to 0.448 and 0.480 respectively with lag times of 1–15 months in ascending phase of the SS cycle. The SS vs SOI had cc- ρ up to +0.420 to −0.567 in the ascending phases, while PDO and AMO registered cc-ρ up to 0.417 and − 0.491. AMO appeared systematically associated with SS cycles from 10.0 to 30.2% during descending and ascending phases, respectively. Compiled SS counts for all the ascending and descending phases of the SS cycles, gave a clear spectral coherence (quasi sine-function distribution); for SST and SSTA, lag times of 9–48 months were observed with inverse and direct linear relationship, and peaks of −0.38 and 0.39, respectively. The ONI and MEI with SS counts have similar cc-ρ values: 0.245 and 0.387. Around 6–15% of the ONI and MEI can be explained by SS during ascending and < 4% in descending phases. It seems that over the relatively short time scales of SS cycles, either on their initial ascending or final descending phases, the studied indexes seem to be influenced. Even though it was difficult to elucidate the physics behind the observed cross-correlations, these results can be used to help improve understanding and aid the predictions of ENSO, PDO and AMO oceanographic events in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. • Sea surface temperature is affected by sun energy that varies in time due to astronomical factors and sun internal activity • The sun activity can be estimated by sun spots (SS) • Inter-annual El/La Niño/Niña as well as decadal processes should be affected by SS • It was found weak to moderate cross-correlation between SS and oceanographic indexes from 1954 to 2019 • This fact should be considered to improve skill modelling forecasts of such indexes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of forest ecosystems worldwide have been driven largely by climatic teleconnections. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest interannual variation of the Earth's climate, affecting the regional climatic regime. These teleconnections may impact plant phenology, growth rate, forest extent, and other gradual changes in forest ecosystems. The objective of this study was to investigate how Pinus cooperi populations face the influence of ENSO and regional microclimates in five ecozones in northwestern Mexico. Using standard dendrochronological techniques, tree-ring chronologies (TRI) were generated. TRI, ENSO, and climate relationships were correlated from 1950-2010. Additionally, multiple regressions were conducted in order to detect those ENSO months with direct relations in TRI ( p < 0.1). The five chronologies showed similar trends during the period they overlapped, indicating that the P. cooperi populations shared an interannual growth variation. In general, ENSO index showed correspondences with tree-ring growth in synchronous periods. We concluded that ENSO had connectivity with regional climate in northern Mexico and radial growth of P. cooperi populations has been driven largely by positive ENSO values (El Niño episodes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different methods for estimating the total phosphorus (TP) reference conditions of lakes have rarely been compared. This work tests the uncertainty and accuracy of the most frequently used approaches (Morpho-edaphic index -MEI-, export coefficient, diatoms and pigment-inferred TP models) for 35 subalpine lakes. Furthermore, we propose a new process-based watershed approach that was tested on a subalpine environment and consists of combining a space for time substitution with a space for space substitution. The possible presence of uncontaminated or less contaminated environments inside or next to the watershed can be exploited by training a hydrological transport watershed model according to the uncontaminated conditions and then applying the calibration to the entire watershed, which reconstructs a natural or semi-natural TP load scenario. We found that the root mean square error (RMSE) for the MEI is 4 μg L-1 . However, its application is limited for lakes that present with an alkalinity =1 meq L-1 . For lakes with a higher alkalinity, we observed a loss of predictive capability that results from the lower solubility of phosphorus under conditions of high calcium content. The export coefficient model was applied with a mean export coefficient and presents similar prediction capabilities as the MEI. The chlorophyll-inferred TP model shows a higher uncertainty (RMSE = 8 μg L-1 ); however, it produced fewer underestimations and overestimations. With regards to the diatom-inferred TP model, we are only able to evaluate an uncertainty of 5 μg L-1 at the European level. Finally, the proposed process-based watershed approach adequately predicted the reference condition of the selected lake and had an uncertainty lower than the other methods (2 μg L-1 ). We conclude by revealing the potential and limitations of this approach in the field of ecological lake modelling more and more attracted by TP pristine load inputs in studies on the effects of climate change and eutrophication of lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately modeling the memory effects is critical in modeling and nonlinearity pre-compensation for wideband radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) with strong memory effects. In this paper, the memory effects are divided into two categories: lagging memory effect and leading memory effect, which are defined based on the input samples located after and before the current output samples, separately. Considering the above two types of memory effects, a generalized two-box cascaded (GTBC) nonlinear behavioral model for RF PAs with strong memory effects is proposed: one box for a static nonlinearity block that is used to include the strong static nonlinearities and the other box for a dynamic nonlinearity block which is used to predict the mild dynamic nonlinearities. The modeling accuracy of the proposed model, in terms of the normalized mean square error (NMSE) and the memory effect intensity (MEI), is compared to the generalized memory polynomial (GMP), the augmented Hammerstein (AH) and the enhanced Hammerstein (EH) models for a 450-470 MHz Doherty PA with a three-carrier WCMDA input signal and a 895-935 MHz inverse Class-F Doherty PA with a single-carrier FDD-LTE OFDM input signal. The validation demonstrates that the proposed model leads to high-accuracy with fewer modeling coefficients and floating point operations (FLOPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate models suggest enhanced warming of the tropical mid and upper troposphere, with larger temperature rise rates at higher elevations. Changes in fire activity are amongst the most significant ecological consequences of rising temperatures and changing hydrological properties in mountainous ecosystems, and there is a global evidence of increased fire activity with elevation. Whilst fire research has become popular in the tropical lowlands, much less is known of the tropical high Andean region (>2000masl, from Colombia to Bolivia). This study examines fire trends in the high Andes for three ecosystems, the Puna, the Paramo and the Yungas, for the period 1982-2006. We pose three questions: (i) is there an increased fire response with elevation? (ii) does the El Niño- Southern Oscillation control fire activity in this region? (iii) are the observed fire trends human driven (e.g., human practices and their effects on fuel build-up) or climate driven? We did not find evidence of increased fire activity with elevation but, instead, a quasicyclic and synchronous fire response in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, suggesting the influence of high-frequency climate forcing on fire responses on a subcontinental scale, in the high Andes. ENSO variability did not show a significant relation to fire activity for these three countries, partly because ENSO variability did not significantly relate to precipitation extremes, although it strongly did to temperature extremes. Whilst ENSO did not individually lead the observed regional fire trends, our results suggest a climate influence on fire activity, mainly through a sawtooth pattern of precipitation (increased rainfall before fire-peak seasons ( t-1) followed by drought spells and unusual low temperatures (t0), which is particularly common where fire is carried by low fuel loads (e.g., grasslands and fine fuel). This climatic sawtooth appeared as the main driver of fire trends, above local human influences and fuel build-up cyclicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract – IT Prima diva nella costellazione di nuove star dello spettacolo novecentesco, Anna Pavlova visse unicamente nello spirito e nella missione della danza come forma d’arte e stile di vita. Senza temere i rischi del solipsismo, si lancia nell’avventura di una compagnia tutta sua dopo il clamore parigino dei Ballets Russes. Il suo coraggio, la sua curiosità, il suo genio artistico la portano a viaggiare per i cinque continenti senza sosta, a scoprire danze tradizionali, a praticarle essa stessa, come quelle kabuki, apprese non senza sofferenze in Giappone nel 1922. Presentata nella vulgata come paladina della tradizione classicoaccademica, Pavlova può ostentare una biografia degna delle grandi danzatrici moderne a lei contemporanee, come una Duncan o una Ruth St. Denis (con quest’ultima in rapporto di competizione a distanza intorno al soggetto di Radha). Insieme ad una figura controversa e intrigante come quella del danzatore indiano Uday Shankar, crea un trittico di danze di ispirazione orientale all’insegna del rigore filologico e dell’integrazione linguistica, traccia della sua apertura e del rispetto di tradizioni teatrali altre. Abstract – EN Anna Pavlova, the first diva within the stars firmament of the 20th century, spent her life exclusively in the spirit of dance, intended as an art form and a life style, as if it were a mission. She threw herself into the adventure of leading her own company, after the Ballets Russes' European acclaim. Her courage, curiosity and artistic genius took her through five continents, endlessly searching for traditional dances that she learned with tremendous physical suffering, as in Japan with kabuki in 1922. She’s not simply a paladin of the academic tradition. She can in fact claim a biography and dance practice worthy of the most famous modern dancers who lived in her age, such as Duncan and St. Denis (with whom she was in a special competition, though after years, on the subject of Radha). With Uday Shankar, an interesting Indian “classical” dancer, she made the choreographic triptych Oriental Impressions, that was characterized by a strict philological and synchretic poetry testifying to her opening and respect of different theatrical and cultural traditions.

In a number of well-framed speeches recorded in the Zuozhuan, women, especially beautiful women, are viewed as the femmes fatales, or women who cause calamities. Among these speeches is a rare record of a famous doctor's diagnosis of a Spring-and- Autumn-period hegemon's illness. How could illness be connected with the notion of the femme fatale? In examining the correlations between this Zuozhuan account and related information in some newly excavated manuscripts, I argue that as far as the medical approach is concerned, both the Zuozhuan and the excavated texts share a common cultural basis at least partly retained in the extant texts after a long course of oral and written transmission. Based on the similarities between those transmitted and newly excavated texts, the illness from which the local ruler suffered can be identified as a kind of sexual disease caused in the lord's bedchamber. This evidence, and the high ratio of sex-related illnesses reflected in the Western Han doctor Chunyu Yi's biographical account, further suggests that the Spring-and-Autumn-period hegemon's illness was not a single isolated case, but rather represented a broader common problem of the patriarch's sexual excess in early Chinese polygamous families. Some of the Zuozhuan accounts of ritual and medical principles are also closely related. This leads me to further suggest that the Zuozhuan historiographers, who knew well both medical knowledge and problems taking place in their contemporaries' bedchambers, chose to condemn the femmes fatales under an abstract principle, that of ritual propriety, as the solution to sex-related diseases in early Chinese polygamous families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing water use and droughts, along with climate variability and land use change, have seriously altered vegetation growth patterns and ecosystem response in several regions alongside the Andes Mountains. Thirty years of the new generation biweekly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI3g) time series data show significant land cover specific trends and variability in annual productivity and land surface phenological response. Productivity is represented by the growing season mean NDVI values (July to June). Arid and semi-arid and sub humid vegetation types (Atacama desert, Chaco and Patagonia) across Argentina, northern Chile, northwest Uruguay and southeast Bolivia show negative trends in productivity, while some temperate forest and agricultural areas in Chile and sub humid and humid areas in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru show positive trends in productivity. The start (SOS) and length (LOS) of the growing season results show large variability and regional hot spots where later SOS often coincides with reduced productivity. A longer growing season is generally found for some locations in the south of Chile (sub-antarctic forest) and Argentina (Patagonia steppe), while central Argentina (Pampa-mixed grasslands and agriculture) has a shorter LOS. Some of the areas have significant shifts in SOS and LOS of one to several months. The seasonal Multivariate ENSO Indicator (MEI) and the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) index have a significant impact on vegetation productivity and phenology in southeastern and northeastern Argentina (Patagonia and Pampa), central and southern Chile (mixed shrubland, temperate and sub-antarctic forest), and Paraguay (Chaco). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This research explores the sensitivity of vegetation in China to El-Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events from 1982 to 2006. The ENSO events are defined by the Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI), and variation in vegetation cover is captured by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Pearson’s χ2 test was used to identify the areas where the variation in vegetation was sensitive to El Niño and La Niña events. The difference in the sensitivity of various ecosystems was investigated using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover product in 2000. Composite NDVI graphs during El Niño, La Niña and non-ENSO years were also produced to investigate the ENSO relationship with the six vegetation ecosystems during El Niño, La Niña and normal phases. The results show that most of the ENSO-sensitive land in China is only affected by one of the two phases of ENSO events, and the area of El Niño-sensitive vegetation is much larger than that of La Niña-sensitive vegetation. North China and the Hengduan Mountains are the two cores of the El Niño-sensitive areas, while the La Niña-sensitive areas are mainly distributed in the central, northwest and northeast regions of China. The sensitivity of vegetation varies across ecosystems: grassland and shrubland had the largest share of El Niño-sensitive areas, and sparse vegetation and savanna were the most sensitive to La Niña events. Overall, the impacts of El Niño events on vegetation in China had regular seasonal variation, while the impacts of La Niña events had regular zonal distribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although it is not currently being sold in the USA, the recent US registration of the fumigant methyl iodide has led to an increased interest in its environmental fate and transport. Although some work has now considered its volatile emissions from soil, there remains a lack of experimental data regarding its ability to be retained in soil and ultimately become transported with irrigation/rain waters. Using laboratory batch and soil column experiments, we aimed to better understand the phase partitioning of MeI, the ability of soils to retain MeI on the solid phase, and the potential for leaching of MeI and its primary degradation product, iodide, down a soil profile. Results indicated that MeI was retained by the solid phase of soil, being protected from volatilization and degradation, particularly in the presence of elevated organic matter. Retention was greater at lower moisture content, and maximum retention occurred after 56days of incubation. At higher moisture content, the liquid phase also became important in retaining MeI within soil. Together with low observed KD values (0.10 to 0.57mLg−1), these data suggest that MeI may be prone to leaching. Indeed, in a steady-state soil column study, initially retained MeI was transported with interstitial water. The MeI degradation product, iodide, was also readily transported in this manner. The data highlight a potentially significant process by which MeI fate and transport within the environment may be impacted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The motion history image (MHI) approach is a view-based temporal template method which is simple but robust in representing movements and is widely employed by various research groups for action recognition, motion analysis and other related applications. In this paper, we provide an overview of MHI-based human motion recognition techniques and applications. Since the inception of the MHI template for motion representation, various approaches have been adopted to improve this basic MHI technique. We present all important variants of the MHI method. This paper points some areas for further research based on the MHI method and its variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the relationship between enthesitis and clinical, laboratory and quality-of-life parameters in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Moroccan patients. Seventy-six patients were included in this cross-sectional study according to the modified New York criteria for AS. All patients had enthesitis involvement. Clinical and biological parameters were evaluated. Enthesitis were assessed by two indices: Mander Enthesis Index (MEI) and Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES). Disease activity was evaluated by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Functional impact was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). The quality of life was measured by the Short form-36 (SF-36). Severity of enthesitis was significantly correlated with disease activity, functional disability and degradation of quality of life. There was no relation between enthesitis indices and disease duration or laboratory parameters. The clinical assessment of enthesitis in AS is an important outcome measure, and enthesitis indices could be used to evaluate disease activity in patients with AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remains the most important coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon to cause global climate variability on seasonal to interannual time scales. This paper addresses the need for a reliable ENSO index that allows for the historical definition of ENSO events in the instrumental record back to 1871. The Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) was originally defined as the first seasonally varying principal component of six atmosphere-ocean (COADS) variable fields in the tropical Pacific basin. It provides for a more complete and flexible description of the ENSO phenomenon than single variable ENSO indices such as the SOI or Niño 3.4 SST. Here we describe our effort to boil the MEI concept down to its most essential components (based on SLP, SST) to enable historical analyses that more than double its period of record to 1871-2005. The new MEI.ext confirms that ENSO activity went through a lull in the early- to mid-20th century, but was just about as prevalent one century ago as in recent decades. We diagnose strong relationships between peak amplitudes of ENSO events and their duration, as well as between their peak amplitudes and their spacing (periodicity). Our effort is designed to help with the assessment of ENSO conditions through as long a record as possible to be able to differentiate between 'natural' ENSO behaviour in all its rich facets, and the 'Brave New World' of this phenomenon under evolving GHG-related climate conditions. So far, none of the behaviour of recent ENSO events appears unprecedented, including duration, onset timing, and spacing in the last few decades compared to a full century before then. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large database of deep water wave buoy measurements over a 24-year period is created for four regions comprising the West Coast of the United States. The regional monthly mean significant wave height (MMSWH) is selected as the defining wave climate parameter and averaging multiple data sources within a region is found to significantly reduce data gaps. Two 12-year periods are compared, showing significant temporal variability but high correlation between regions, allowing the further collapse of the data to a northern and a southern region. Correlations between MMSWH records with three global-scale climate indices are investigated and only the North Pacific Index (NPI), a measure of atmospheric pressure in the Gulf of Alaska, shows strong correlation. The Multivariate ENSO Index (MEI) is less correlated and the Pacific Decadal Index (PDO), which is a measure of ocean surface temperature, provides no significant correlation. A method for displaying multiple correlations is developed that shows the mean of all MMSWH records that occur at unique temporal combinations of two climate indices. The graphics depicting the mean wave height as a function of NPI and MEI for the two 12-year periods are shown to be very instructive in establishing why the two periods are so different. On the contrary, the same procedure with PDO substituted for MEI produces uniform distributions with little interpretive value. Century-scale variation in the climate indices is investigated, and significant linear trends are found for NPI and MEI, both consistent with causing increases in mean wave energy in these regions. Causal relationships for the observed correlations are discussed, and conclusions are reached indicating that global warming is a likely contributor to observed increases in wave intensity in the North Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess fatigue aspects in Moroccan patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and its relationships with disease-specific variables of activity and severity. A cross-sectional study included patients with ankylosing spondylitis according to New York Classification criteria for the diagnosis of AS. To assess fatigue, the first item of Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity index (BASDAI) and the Multidimensional assessment of fatigue were used (MAF). The evaluation included the activity of the disease (BASDAI), global well-being (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Index), functional status (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), enthesitis and health-related quality of life (SF-36 generic instrument). One hundred patients were included (67 men and 33 women), of average age 38.0 years ± 12.9 [18–72]. Our patients had a moderately active and a severe disease. In our data, 60% experienced severe fatigue (BASDAI fatigue ≥ 50 mm) and mean total score of $$ {\hbox{MAF}} = {32}.0\pm 20 $$. Gender, NSAID therapy and the presence of biological inflammatory syndrome did not influence the MAF scores. Higher scores of fatigue were correlated with functional disability, general well-being, disease activity, enthesitis, and the deterioration of five domains of SF-36. Multivariate regression showed strong relationship between fatigue severity and general well-being and enthesitis. Severe fatigue (MAF) was most related with the domain of physical function. This study state the importance of fatigue in AS patients. The severity of fatigue is associated with disease activity, functional disability, general well-being, and enthesitis. Fatigue influences negatively different aspects of quality of life. Fatigue is an important outcome measure that must be part of routine clinical evaluation of our AS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait-based human identification aims to discriminate individuals by the way they walk. A unique advantage of gait as a biometric is that it requires no subject contact and is easily acquired at a distance, which stands in contrast to other biometric techniques involving face, fingerprints, iris, etc. This paper proposes a new gait representation called motion energy image (MEI). Compared with other gait features, MEI is more robust against noise that can be included in binary gait silhouette images due to various factors. The effectiveness of the proposed method for gait recognition is demonstrated using experiments performed on the NLPR database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]