Institution
The Cyprus Institute
Other•Nicosia, Cyprus•
About: The Cyprus Institute is a other organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerosol & Environmental science. The organization has 418 authors who have published 1252 publications receiving 32586 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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TL;DR: In this article, a 1-month field campaign was conducted at the Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO) to provide an improved understanding of the sources and the fate of VOCs in the eastern Mediterranean.
Abstract: . As a part of the Chemistry-Aerosol Mediterranean Experiment (ChArMEx) and
Cyprus Aerosols and Gas Precursors (ENVI-Med CyAr) programs, this study aims
primarily to provide an improved understanding of the sources and the fate of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the eastern Mediterranean. More than 60
VOCs, including biogenic species (isoprene and eight monoterpenes) and
oxygenated VOCs, were measured during a 1-month intensive field campaign
performed in March 2015 at the Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO), a
regional background site in Cyprus. VOC measurements were conducted using
complementary online and offline techniques. Biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) were
principally imputed to local sources and characterized by compound-specific
daily cycles such as diurnal maximum for isoprene and nocturnal maximum for
α - and β -pinenes, in connection with the variability of emission
sources. The simultaneous study of pinene and isoprene temporal evolution and
meteorological parameters has shown that BVOC emissions were mainly
controlled by ambient temperature, precipitation and relative humidity. It
was found that isoprene daytime emissions at CAO depended on temperature and
solar radiation changes, whereas nocturnal BVOC concentrations (e.g., from
oak and pine forests) were more prone to the relative humidity and
temperature changes. Significant changes in monoterpene mixing ratios
occurred during and after rainfall. The second part of the study focused on
new particle formation (NPF) events at CAO. BVOCs are known to potentially
play a role in the growth as well as in the early stages of formation of new
atmospheric particles. Based on observations of the particle size
distribution performed with a differential mobility particle sizer (DMPS) and
the total number concentrations of particles larger than 1 nm diameter
measured by particle size magnifier (PSM), NPF events were found on 14 out of
20 days of the field campaign. For all possible proxy parameters
(meteorological parameters, calculated H2SO4 and measured gaseous
compounds) having a role in NPF, we present daily variations of different
classes during nucleation event and non-event days. NPF can occur at various
condensational sink (CS) values and both under polluted and clean atmospheric
conditions. High H2SO4 concentrations coupled with high BVOC
concentrations seemed to be one of the most favorable conditions to observe
NPF at CAO in March 2015. NPF event days were characterized by either
(1) a predominant anthropogenic influence (high concentrations of
anthropogenic source tracers observed), (2) a predominant biogenic influence
(high BVOC concentrations coupled with low anthropogenic tracer
concentrations), (3) a mixed influence (high BVOC concentrations coupled with
high anthropogenic tracer concentrations) and (4) a marine influence (both
low BVOC and anthropogenic tracer
concentrations). More pronounced NPF events were identified during mixed
anthropogenic–biogenic conditions compared to the pure anthropogenic or
biogenic ones, for the same levels of precursors. Analysis of a specific NPF
period of the mixed influence type highlighted that BVOC interactions with
anthropogenic compounds enhanced nucleation formation and growth of newly
formed particles. During this period, the nucleation-mode particles may be
formed by the combination of high H2SO4 and isoprene amounts, under
favorable meteorological conditions (high temperature and solar radiation and
low relative humidity) along with low CS. During the daytime, growth of the
newly formed particles, not only sulfate but also oxygen-like organic aerosol
(OOA) mass contributions, increased in the particle phase. High BVOC
concentrations were observed during the night following NPF events,
accompanied by an increase in CS and in semi-volatile OOA contributions,
suggesting further BVOC contribution to aerosol nighttime growth by
condensing onto pre-existing aerosols.
34 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, a well-defined participatory framework was proposed to identify key stakeholders and select sustainable land management approaches for reducing soil erosion and land degradation in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus.
Abstract: Participatory methods and community-based approaches have an important role to play in combating land degradation. This paper follows a well-defined participatory framework to identify key stakeholders and to select Sustainable Land Management approaches for reducing soil erosion and land degradation in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus. Among the options suggested and evaluated by stakeholders, terrace rehabilitation had the best overall performance, followed by crop diversification and afforestation. Stakeholders agreed that the rehabilitation of dry-stone terraces was the preferred option, as it is a practice with high environmental benefits and fits well in the local socio-cultural context, despite the higher cost compared to other options. In the first year of implementing the approach, three mountain communities co-organised hands-on terrace maintenance events, engaging more than 160 people in rehabilitation activities. The community-based approach has sparked the interest of people within and beyond the research site, and another series of events is scheduled for the coming season. This outcome indicates that social innovations can benefit from the integration of local and scientific knowledge, while participatory process can enhance the self-confidence and organisational structures of local communities. Sustaining and enhancing the impact of the approach in the long-run require developing local terrace maintenance institutions, actively engaging the youth in terrace management and improving the profitability of mountain farming through the differentiation of local products. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
34 citations
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TL;DR: This review focuses on the DND problem and the challenges it poses to computational methods, followed by an examination of the reported methodologies and specific applications.
Abstract: De-novo drug design (DND) is a complex procedure, requiring the satisfaction of many pharmaceutically important objectives. Several computational methodologies employing various optimization approaches have been developed to search for satisfactory solutions to this multi-objective problem varying from composite methods, which transform the problem to a single objective one to Pareto methods searching for numerous solutions compromising the objectives. In this review we initially focus on the DND problem and the challenges it poses to computational methods, followed by an examination of the reported methodologies and specific applications. Emphasis is placed on the multiobjective nature of the problem, related considerations and the solutions proposed by the drug discovery community.
34 citations
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TL;DR: A number of stochastic methods developed for the calculation of fermion loops are investigated and compared, in particular with respect to their efficiency when implemented on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and the performance of the various methods is assessed.
34 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed and compared available measurements of the most commonly reported indoor particulate matter (PM) fractions in office environments and the methodological approaches that were used for the assessment of air quality and associated health effects.
34 citations
Authors
Showing all 459 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
Philippe Ciais | 149 | 965 | 114503 |
Jonathan Williams | 102 | 613 | 41486 |
Jos Lelieveld | 100 | 570 | 37657 |
Andrew N. Nicolaides | 90 | 572 | 30861 |
Efstathios Stiliaris | 88 | 340 | 25487 |
Leonard A. Barrie | 74 | 177 | 17356 |
Nikos Mihalopoulos | 69 | 280 | 15261 |
Karl Jansen | 57 | 498 | 11874 |
Jean Sciare | 56 | 129 | 9374 |
Euripides G. Stephanou | 54 | 128 | 14235 |
Lefkos T. Middleton | 54 | 184 | 15683 |
Elena Xoplaki | 53 | 129 | 12097 |
Theodoros Christoudias | 50 | 197 | 7765 |
Dimitris Drikakis | 49 | 286 | 7136 |
George K. Christophides | 48 | 127 | 11099 |