Northeast Corner Research Articles

The Phonological Coordination Relationship of Hancheng Dialect in Shaanxi Province

Hancheng, located in the northeast corner of Guanzhong Plain, Shaanxi Province, is an ancient civilized city with a long history and splendid culture. Under the background of the vigorous promotion of Mandarin, many dialects are gradually declining in use, and the Hancheng dialect is the same. Hancheng dialect belongs to Fenhe Piece of Central Plains Mandarin, which has both similarities and differences with Beijing dialect. Hancheng dialect has dentate labial initials [pf pfh f v], while Beijing dialect does not. There are [ʅᴇ] vowels in Hancheng dialect, as well as nasalized vowels such as [ã, ẽ], which are not found in Beijing dialect. Based on this, the author made a field investigation and objective description of the pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar of Hancheng dialect in order to preserve it. Dialects and Mandarin are both bridges for people to communicate, each playing a unique role. As linguists, we bear the mission to meticulously document certain dialects, turning them into precious cultural heritage to be passed down to future generations. This paper describes the relationship between consonant and vowel in Hancheng dialect, and uses a number of table expressions to concretize it. This can not only provide materials for the study of Shaanxi dialect, but also contribute to the study of folk culture, and contribute to the protection of the diversity of dialects, but also promote the sustainable development of language resources.

Conservation Assessment of the Stone Blocks in the Northeast Corner of the Karnak Temples in Luxor, Egypt

Conservation Assessment of the Stone Blocks in the Northeast Corner of the Karnak Temples in Luxor, Egypt

A snowfall climatology of the Ohio River Valley, USA

Snowfall in the Ohio River Valley, USA, presents a relatively unique challenge due to the large gradient of event frequency and magnitude, and subsequent levels of preparation within local communities. Even relatively small magnitude events can cause widespread impacts due to available infrastructure. Here we present a climatology of snowfall conditions and events over a 74-year period using a network of daily observational stations across the region. Snowfall totals and event frequencies both exhibit a southwest to northeast gradient of increasing snowfall, where the majority of snowfall (> 80%) occurs during the core winter months of December through February. There is a clear influence of Lake Erie on snowfall conditions in the northeast corner of the domain, where snowfall frequency, totals, and trends are substantially higher within the lake belt relative to areas further inland. Over time, snowfall significantly increased downwind of Lake Erie by as much as 42%, while significant decreases of over 55% occurred in central Tennessee and eastern Ohio. Intra-seasonally, snowfall totals trended significantly less during November and March for much of the domain, suggesting a compression of the snowfall season to more core winter months. Trends in snowfall frequency were apparent for many sub-regions, however evidence here suggests the trends in snowfall totals were primarily driven by trends in snowfall magnitude per event.

Geomorphological processes following the construction of an offshore artificial island in the radial sand ridges of the South Yellow Sea

Offshore artificial islands represent a novel way to develop and utilize marine space resources. Previous research has focused on predicting erosion and deposition distributions following the islands construction, utilizing laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. However, the absence of long-term continuous monitoring has hindered systematic studies on the geomorphological processes of these islands. A 20-years of underwater terrain monitoring scheme was conducted before and after construction of the Rudong Artificial Island in Jiangsu Province, China. The results were combined with on-site observations of tidal currents, suspended sediment concentrations, and surficial sediment to investigate the evolution of the water channel–sand ridge system and the development process of local scour around the artificial island. The results indicated that after the construction of the artificial island, its surrounding water channels showed an overall evolution trend of the north channel shifting towards the north, the middle channel widening and moving south, and the south channel extending westward and southward. Scour has been observed at the four corners of the artificial island, with the peak depths of 7.3 m, 5.6 m, 13.7 m, and 12.2 m at the southwest, northwest, northeast, and southeast corners respectively. The scour in the southwest and northwest corners reached an equilibrium within five years. However, in the southeast corner, continuous erosion of the shoal on the southeast side of the artificial island enhanced the local hydrodynamic force, leading to further scour development. The large-scale scour in the northeast corner was mainly caused by changes in the local flow field following the construction of water intake pipelines and their protection projects. These geomorphological changes are the joint results of the natural evolution of the radial sand ridges and local erosion and deposition from engineering construction. Currently, the sandbanks surrounding the island are still undergoing dynamic evolution following engineering construction, and local scour around the island has not yet reached equilibrium.

Role of the Indian Ocean basin mode in driving the interdecadal variations of summer precipitation over the East Asian monsoon boundary zone

Abstract. Based on long-term observational and reanalysis datasets from 1901 through 2014, this study investigates the characteristics and physical causes of the interdecadal variations in the summer precipitation over the East Asian monsoon boundary zone (EAMBZ), which is a peculiar domain defined from the perspective of the interplay between climatic systems (i.e., mid-latitude westerly and East Asian summer monsoon). Observational evidence reveals that, similarly to previous studies, the EAMBZ precipitation featured prominent interdecadal fluctuations, e.g., with dry summers during the periods preceding 1927, 1939–1945, 1968–1982, and 1998–2010 and wet summers during the periods of 1928–1938, 1946–1967, and 2011 onwards. Further analyses identify that, amongst the major interdecadal oceanic forcings (e.g., Atlantic multidecadal oscillation and Pacific decadal oscillation), the Indian Ocean basin mode (IOBM) is a significant oceanic forcing responsible for the interdecadal variations of the EAMBZ precipitation, playing an independent and critical modulation role. When the cold phase of the IOBM occurs, an anomalous cyclonic circulation is excited around the northeast corner of the tropical Indian Ocean, which further induces a north-low–south-high meridional seesaw pattern over the Northeast China–subtropical western Pacific (SWP) sector. Such seesaw pattern is conducive to the enhanced EAMBZ precipitation by linking favorable environments for the transportation of water vapor from the SWP and the convergence over the EAMBZ at interdecadal timescales. For this reason, a physical–empirical model for the EAMBZ precipitation is developed in terms of the IOBM cooling. Despite the fact that the extreme summer EAMBZ precipitation cannot be captured by this model, it can still well capture its interdecadal fluctuations and reflect their steady relationship. The key physical pathway connecting the IOBM cooling with the interdecadal variations of the summer EAMBZ precipitation is supported by the numerical results based on the large ensemble experiment and the Indian Ocean pacemaker experiment. Our findings may provide new insights into the understanding of the causes of the interdecadal variations in the summer EAMBZ precipitation, which may favor the long-term policy decision-making for the local hydrometeorological planning.

Assessing the spatiotemporal dynamics of water and carbon fluxes in subtropical forest of Xin’an River Basin using an improved Biome-BGC model

Extreme climate occurred frequently in subtropical region, which seriously affects carbon and water fluxes such as evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary productivity (GPP) of terrestrial ecosystems. The process-based biome biogeochemical cycles (Biome-BGC) model is widely used for simulating carbon and water fluxes of forest ecosystems. However, the lack of the interaction information of climate, vegetation and soil, such as the hysteresis effect, canopy stratification on photosynthesis, impedes better simulations of the ecohydrological processes. Here, we tended to improve the simulation accuracy of Biome-BGC model at a subtropical forest on the Xin’an River in Southeastern China by reconstructing the precipitation series, modifying the ET and canopy multilayers modules, and optimizing the parameters. The spatiotemporal patterns of GPP, ET, water use efficiency (WUE) and their response to environmental factors across the Xin’an River Basin from 1982 to 2018 were further explored. The results showed that the improved model performed well, with the determination coefficient, root means square error and mean absolute error being 0.730, 1.522 gC/m2/d and 1.218 gC/m2/d for GPP, 0.857, 1.082 mm/d and 0.838 mm/d for ET, respectively. Basin-averaged GPP, ET and WUE increased during 1982–2018 and these increasing trends were more pronounced during 1999–2018. Significant positive trends of WUE occurred in the northeast corner. The increasing air temperature and precipitation respectively dominated the increase in GPP and ET, the increasing CO2 concentration and NDVI mitigated the negative effect of extreme precipitation on WUE. Given that human activities such as afforestation have effectively reduced the extent of damage to forest ecosystems from extreme precipitation, we highlight an urgent need to formulate adaptation strategies aimed at reducing the risk of extreme climate in humid regions.

Physical systems - Balinese cultural meaning in Three Monkeys Restaurant architecture in Sanur Bali

Bali's Sanur tourism sector is home to many well-known structures with unique, non-Balinese architectural styles. This paper aims to expose the Balinese physical-meaning system found in the Three Monkeys restaurant's architecture in Sanur. The approach is descriptive; first, the "physical" architecture is explained, followed by the "purpose of existence" and "essence." Open frontage, bottom level raised over the terrace, and an alang-alang roof supported by bamboo poles. There is an open figure to the left and north, with bamboo trees around it and a glass-block wall atop. a blend of Balinese traditional and modern architecture. The arrangement: an open pool acts as a mediator between the dining room, kitchen, and bathroom; the terrace is shaded by frangipani trees, and there is a place of prayer in the northeast corner. The upper rooms are conditioned, enclosed by glass walls, modern compared to the lower rooms. The terrace materials are traditional (alang-alang roof, parasol stone wall - bamboo), the lower dining room is a mix of traditional (bamboo wall, alang-alang roof, wooden furniture) and modern (polished concrete floor, glass-block wall), and the upper room is modern (frameless glass wall, stainless-steel railing). The traditional-modern Balinese blend is displayed through the building's figure, layout and materials.

Bunchgrass Meadows — Among Our Wetlands of Distinction

In the northeast corner of Washington State sit the Selkirk and Kettle mountain ranges. There, woodland caribou, grizzly bear, and gray wolves freely roam 1.5 million acres of spruce and fir forest, talus, and river valleys. Within this geographic area is Bunchgrass Meadows, a 711-acre (288-hectare) wetland complex within the Colville National Forest that stands out as one of the many gems on our public lands and one of the newest “Wetlands of Distinction”. Bunchgrass Meadows is at the headwaters of Harvey Creek and at the crossroads of Kootenai, Colville, Kalispel, Spokane, and Okanogan traditional tribal lands (Figure 1). This relatively high-elevation feature (about 5,084 ft., 1,550 m) is found in the Canadian Rocky Mountain ecoregion near the boundary between Washington and Idaho. Snowmelt and rain confined by the surrounding hillslopes collect and linger on a slow meander to Harvey Creek at the northeastern end, sustaining an exceptionally rich and diverse array of wetland habitats (riverine, lacustrine, slope, and depressional; Figure 2). Multiple natural resource management agencies have compiled documentation on the unique structure and composition of this wetland complex. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) designated Bunchgrass Meadows as a Research Natural Area (RNA) in 2008. The USFS’ regional RNA Committee found Bunchgrass Meadows to be exemplary of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems, including high elevation mountain meadow,

Influence of inter-river water diversion on estuary pollution control: A case study of Liaodong Bay

Long-term mass transport processes in offshore seas are controlled by seasonal residual currents. The Euler residual mass transport velocity field was calculated form seasonal residual current patterns in shallow sea area, comparing with polluted water changes in typical years. The following conclusions were made: closed local large loops of the Euler residual mass transport led to polluted waters in the northeast Liaodong Bay, and the bay's optimal physical self-purification occurred in winter (Euler residual mass transport diffuses polluted water masses) and spring (overall self-purification capacity of the bay plays a role after winter). The central waters were clean while pollutants were discharged into near-shore waters, leading to perennial pollution in some near-shore waters. Pollution in Liaodong Bay could be alleviated or eliminated via diversion of water from the Daliaohe River (flowing into the northeast corner of Liaodong Bay and carrying > 65% of the total amount of pollutants discharged into the top of the bay) into the Liaohe River and Daling River. The percentage of inorganic nitrogen carried by 10% of the flux of the Daliaohe River was 5.70% of that discharged into Liaodong Bay. If 10% of the flux of the Daliaohe River was discharged into the Daling River, the annual total environmental carrying capacity of inorganic nitrogen increased 4.48%. Many bays in the world have adjacent river flows, such as Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Guinea, and Bay of Bengal. Based on the Euler residual mass transport field, the water transfer between adjacent rivers could make better use of the Euler residual mass transport capacity to mitigate the water pollution of the estuaries.

A Snapshot into the Lives of Elephants: Camera Traps and Conservation in Etosha National Park, Namibia

Knowledge of elephant movement and grouping patterns in the wild is critical for their management and conservation. Much of these data come from GPS collar data and aerial surveys, which have provided invaluable information, but data from these methods are often limited to small groups or entire populations. Effective elephant management requires both generalized and localized methodologies. Here, we propose the expanded use of camera traps in research relating to elephant localized movements and grouping patterns as an additional tool for elephant conservation management. In this study, we use a battery-powered camera trap to provide daily high-resolution data of African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) grouping patterns over the course of an entire year. We present findings on the seasonal and diurnal grouping patterns of elephants at a waterhole in the northeast corner of Etosha National Park from July 2016 to June 2017. The frequency of elephant occurrences varied seasonally and diurnally across all group types (solitary male, male, family, and mixed groups), while group sizes did not vary seasonally, except for male groups. Solitary males occurred relatively equally throughout the day, while male and mixed groups occurred the most midday, and family groups occurred the most in the afternoon. Additionally, we measured the reliability of research assistants when collecting group type and group size data from the camera trap images. Intra- and inter-observer reliability was excellent among and across research assistants, highlighting the potential for non-specialist observers to have greater involvement in camera trap data collection. Our results support the use of camera trap data where GPS collars and aerial surveys are not feasible and where higher-resolution data are needed for more localized management. Finally, we discuss our experience with two different types of camera traps to highlight the pros and cons of each approach.

Holocene landscape evolution of the Brahmaputra River valley in the upper Assam Basin (India): Deduced from the soil-geomorphic studies

The Brahmaputra River basin exhibits a variety of landforms, including alluvial fans, old and active floodplains, and piedmont belts. The surface expression of the subsurface basement ridge, known as the Brahmaputra Arc, is characterized by paleosol exposures aligned along its crestal region. Using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) chronology and paleopedological studies, four stages of landform development have been identified in this region, influenced by neotectonics and climate change. The soils in the study area have been categorized into four members of the Quaternary Brahmaputra Morphostratigraphic Sequence (QBMS). QBMS-I (<1.77 ka) represents the youngest soil found in the active floodplains, QBMS-II (2–3.65 ka) includes the Mikri hills piedmont and adjacent river plains, QBMS-III (4–6.5 ka) covers most parts of the study area and is formed on alluvium. The oldest unit QBMS-IV (>7 ka) is exposed on the crest of the Brahmaputra Arc. These soils provide insights into the geomorphologic history of the region, with QBMS-II and III recording multiple avulsions during the Holocene. Micromorphological studies indicate that these soils have undergone multi-phase development under varying redox conditions. The Mid-Miocene compression in the foreland basin led to the formation of the Brahmaputra Arch, and subsequent sedimentation covered the crestal part. Presently, erosion and removal of sediment from the crestal region have exposed older soils as paleosols. Two alluvial fans occur in the study area, the older one located in the central part and the younger one in the northeast corner. The Naga hill piedmonts also exhibit a similar distribution, with the older segment in the central part and younger segments in the northern and southern parts. These patterns of piedmonts and alluvial fans suggest distinct tectonic episodes responsible for sediment redistribution in the study area. The proximity of the Brahmaputra Arc and the Naga thrust in the central part further supports this observation. The findings of this study are consistent with the episodes of neotectonic activity in the nearby Ganga plain, highlighting their regional relevance. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the evolution of landforms in the Brahmaputra River basin, highlighting the role of neotectonics and climate change in shaping the landscape.

Violence on the Margins: Local Power, Spillover Effects, and Patterns of Violence in Gunung Kidul, 1965–66

Abstract: This paper sheds light on spatial determinants of violence in rural areas of Indonesia during the 1965–66 mass killings. To do so, it focuses on the regency of Gunungkidul through the lens of the census. The analysis of census information for the 144 desa and kelurahan (village and urban neighbourhoods) of Gunungkidul reveals that violence was higher near the more urban environs of Wonosari and the adjacent city of Yogyakarta, and in the central-eastern desa of the regency. We attribute these high levels of violence to the proximity of these desa to perpetrator strongholds in Wonosari and Yogyakarta and to their accessibility by road. We also attribute violence in eastern areas of the regency to pre-existing political tensions in this region. Conversely, we find patterns of population gains in the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of the regency, suggesting that they were sites of refuge: all are remote and difficult to access by road. In the case of the northeast, this region also likely served as a refuge for people fleeing intense violence in neighbouring Klaten to the north. This paper demonstrates that even in areas of high communist party support such as Gunungkidul, the intensity of violence varied significantly due to a combination of factors both internal (political tension and local perpetrators) and external (the armed forces) to the region.

Imaging the crustal structure at the northeast corner of the indenting Indian Plate in the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

SUMMARYCrustal configuration beneath the indenting northeast corner of the Indian Plate in the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis has been investigated with the help of receiver function (RF) analysis of teleseismic earthquakes recorded by 19 broad-band seismological stations. The common conversion point stacking of RFs and 1-D velocity models obtained through inversion provide new information on the intracrustal structure. The study reveals the signature of the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) beneath the Lohit Valley at ∼22–26 km depth. The MHT is not prominent in the Siang window plausibly due to large-scale crustal deformation related to the formation of the window and antiform folding. Unlike in the western and central Himalaya, the MHT does not play a major role in seismogenesis in the Lohit Valley and Siang Window, where seismicity is active up to the crustal depth of ∼40 km. The crustal thickness increases from ∼38 km at Pasighat in the south to ∼50 km at the northernmost station (Gelling) in the Siang window. In Lohit Valley, the crustal thickness increases from ∼40 km at Mahadevpur in the west to ∼54 km in the Tidding–Tuting suture zone, which again shallows to ∼51 km in the eastern Lohit Plutonic Complex (Walong station). The thinner crust beneath the Tidding–Tuting suture compared to the Indus Tsangpo Suture Zone of northwest Himalaya is caused due to the differences in convergence rate, higher exhumation rate and mechanisms to accommodate collision and rotational tectonics.

A Reattribution of the Tree of Jesse Tomb Slab in Lincoln Cathedral

In the north-east corner of the nave of Lincoln Cathedral is a tomb slab made of Tournai marble emblazoned with the iconography of the Tree of Jesse. A Victorian inscription proclaims that it belongs to the building’s founder, Bishop Remigius de Fécamp (r. 1072–92). Since its ‘rediscovery’ in the cloister in 1857 scholars have examined the tomb slab’s material significance and its placement within the greater network of incised funerary monuments of the 12th century. This article re-examines the tomb’s possible patron and occupant, challenging earlier assumptions about its date and placing it within the context of Saint Hugh’s reconstruction of the cathedral’s east end. In so doing, it reassesses the importance of the Lincoln tomb slab and the iconography of the Tree of Jesse in medieval England.

The origins of the rack railway of Montserrat and the first attempt to build a Swiss-style mountain in Spain (1877–1889)

ABSTRACT Since remote times, people have flocked to the mountain of Montserrat, located in the north-east corner of the Iberian Peninsula. They are drawn by the whimsical shapes of its peaks and a deeply rooted religious tradition. The confluence of these factors led developers to apply the new Swiss mountain resort business model in an effort to exploit the landscape for its tourist value. The project started with a proposal to build a rack railway that climbed to the top of the mountain.

An Assessment of Persistent Acoustic Monitoring of a Nuclear Reactor during Full Power Generation

Persistent low-frequency (&lt;180 Hz) acoustic detection took place within the boundaries of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to monitor full power operations of the High Flux Isotope Reactor. Three acoustic sensors were installed at distances of 69, 101, and 914 m from the northeast corner of the cooling towers to monitor and assess four reactor power generation cycles. Features were extracted from power spectral density calculations where data were collected during reactor on and off operations. Diverse spectral features were present during full reactor power, including a 21.4 Hz fundamental frequency and ascending harmonics. Using bandpass filters, these related frequencies were isolated and summed, and the root mean square energy was calculated. The method of isolating and summing characteristic features provided a significant improvement in identifying acoustic behavior related to reactor power when the raw signals were obscured by noise.

The Wastescapes of Samaná

Abstract We conducted a formative research study on the peninsula of Samaná, in the northeast corner of the Dominican Republic, focused on how people viewed, categorized, and handled solid waste. With the passage of a new law, a motivated government administration is now addressing the solid waste crisis on the peninsula. Here, we examine some of the pre-existing attitudes about the solid waste of Samaná residents. Results from the study reveal that, contrary to many assumptions, local Dominicans are aware of the waste crisis and, in fact, are often depressed and anxious over it, even as they feel angry and helpless about how to resolve it. On closer examination and drawing on Appadurai’s theoretical framework of “-scapes,” we can understand that the waste crisis is not a local problem, and, as such, sustainable solutions need to include a broader effort to control plastic entering the environment.

Cetacean distribution and relative abundance in Colombia’s Pacific EEZ from survey cruises and platforms of opportunity

Cetacean sighting data collected under various programmes in Colombian Pacific waters were collated with the goal of assessing the distribution and abundance patterns of all species occurring in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Distribution maps are presented for 19 species and one genus based on 603 sightings collected between 1986 and 2008. Ordered by sighting frequency, these species were: humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae); striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba); common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata); common dolphin (Delphinus delphis); Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus); sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus); rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis); short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus); mesoplodont whales (Mesoplodon spp.); Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris); melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra); false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens); killer whale (Orcinus orca); spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris); dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima); Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni); pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata); minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus). Concentrations of sightings were observed in three geographic areas: (1) the continental shelf (depths &lt;200m) and the contiguous continental slope (200–2,000m); (2) over the Malpelo Ridge, an offshore bathymetric feature and (3) the northeast corner of the EEZ between Golfo de Cupica and the border with Panamá, although we do not rule out that these patterns could be an artefact of non-random effort. In inshore waters, the most frequently seen species were pantropical spotted dolphin, common bottlenose dolphin and humpback whale. For several of the data sets we provide encounter rates as indices of relative abundance, but urge caution in their interpretation because of methodological limitations and because several factors that affect sightability could not be accounted for in these estimates. Our results provide useful information for ongoing regional research and conservation initiatives aimed at determining occurrence, population status and connectivity within adjacent EEZs in the eastern tropical Pacific. Suggested research priorities include conducting dedicated surveys designed for estimating abundance and monitoring trends throughout the EEZ and focused studies in areas of special interest like the continental shelf, the Malpelo Ridge and the vicinity of Cupica and Cabo Marzo. More research is also needed in terms of quantifying the sources and impact of anthropogenic mortality on population size. Studies characterising genetic diversity and stock discreteness in coastal species (pantropical spotted dolphin and common bottlenose dolphin) would help inform local management strategies.

Systems and Control Engineering at IIT Bombay [Institutes in Control

The city of Mumbai charms every visitor. In particular, its warmth and ethos have remained unchanged over the years. The crowds in the suburban trains and the average person on the street continue to exude this warmth, cutting across social boundaries. Tucked away in the northeast corner of this sprawling metropolis is a still sylvan paradise, where birds chirp, cows moo, monkeys chatter, and the leopard pays periodic visits. And this sylvan paradise hosts an institute of global repute: the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. In this institute is a group, unique in many ways, with faculty members from across the spectrum of science and engineeringÑelectrical, chemical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering as well as applied mathematicsÑwho have established a much-envied academic entity to be reckoned with: Systems and Control. In this issue of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">IEEE Control Systems</i> , we speak with Debasish Chatterjee (Convener, Systems and Control, IIT Bombay) and a few others in their group.

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