bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initiation Rites in the Contemporary Catholic Church: What Difference Do They Make?
Authors: Yamane David
Published: July 2012

Since 1988, well over one million individuals in the United States have been initiated into the Roman Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Studying the RCIA today promises to enrich understanding of contemporary rites of initiation for both basic and applied researchers. To this end, this article asks and answers two key questions: Do individuals who participate in the RCIA process in the Catholic Church experience an increase in ecclesial involvement and spiritual practice? If so, is the extent of that growth explained by aspects of the RCIA process itself? To answer these questions, I employ a quasi-experimental (noequivalent group, pre-test/post-test) design—collecting data on individuals at the beginning of their involvement in the RCIA process and after their initiation ( N = 159)—to identify the extent of change in different domains of religiosity over the course of the RCIA process. I then use organizational-level data on characteristics of the RCIA process in 32 different parishes to explain differences in the extent of individual change. I find those who were initiated in parishes in which the RCIA process was more fully implemented were not only more actively engaged with their parishes (ecclesial involvement) but also grew in their level of spiritual practice. Substantive and methodological contributions of this research are discussed.
Serum antibodies to periodontal pathogens are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Sparks Stein Pamela , Steffen Michelle J. , Smith Charles , Jicha Gregory , Ebersole Jeffrey L. , Abner Erin , Dawson Dolph
Published: July 2012

Background

Chronic inflammation in periodontal disease has been suggested as a potential risk factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this study was to examine serum antibody levels to bacteria of periodontal disease in participants who eventually converted to AD compared with the antibody levels in control subjects.

Methods

Serum samples from 158 participants in the Biologically Resilient Adults in Neurological Studies research program at the University of Kentucky were analyzed for immunoglobulin G antibody levels to seven oral bacteria associated with periodontitis, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Campylobacter rectus, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, and Prevotella intermedia. All 158 participants were cognitively intact at baseline venous blood draw. In all, 81 of the participants developed either mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD or both, and 77 controls remained cognitively intact in the years of follow‐up. Antibody levels were compared between controls and subjects with AD at baseline draw and after conversion and controls and subjects with MCI at baseline draw and after conversion using the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. AD and MCI participants were not directly compared. Linear regression models were used to adjust for potential confounding.

Results

Antibody levels to F nucleatum and P intermedia were significantly increased (α = 0.05) at baseline serum draw in the patients with AD compared with controls. These results remained significant when controlling for baseline age, Mini‐Mental State Examination score, and apolipoprotein epsilon 4 status.

Conclusions

This study provides initial data that demonstrate elevated antibodies to periodontal disease bacteria in subjects years before cognitive impairment and suggests that periodontal disease could potentially contribute to the risk of AD onset/progression. Additional cohort studies profiling oral clinical presentation with systemic response and AD and prospective studies to evaluate any cause‐and‐effect association are warranted.
Feedback control for form-drag reduction on a bluff body with a blunt trailing edge
Authors: Dahan Jeremy A. , Morgans A. S. , Lardeau S.
Published: July 2012

The objective of this numerical study is to increase the base pressure on a backward-facing step via linear feedback control, to be ultimately translated to a drag reduction on a blunt-based bluff body. Two backward-facing step cases are simulated: a laminar two-dimensional (2D) flow at a Reynolds number of ${\mathit{Re}}_{\theta } = 280$, and a turbulent three-dimensional (3D) flow at ${\mathit{Re}}_{\theta } = 1500$ using large-eddy simulation. The control is effected by a full-span slot jet with zero-net-mass-flux, and two jet locations are examined. Linear system identification is performed to characterize the flow response to actuation, used to synthesize a control law. The control strategy is based on the premise that an attenuation of the instantaneous pressure fluctuations on the base of the step should lead to an increase in the time-averaged base pressure. Open-loop harmonic forcing is examined within a broad frequency range for both the 2D and 3D flows, which are found to respond differently to actuation. The controllers based on disturbance attenuation lead to sensible increases in base pressure (up to 70 % in 2D and 20 % in 3D) with higher efficiency than the best results achieved in open-loop. The results support the conjecture about the link between the base pressure fluctuations and mean, although it is shown that such a black-box model approach is not suitable for optimization without further physical insight.
Axisymmetric superdirectivity in subsonic jets
Authors: Cavalieri André V. G. , Jordan Peter , Colonius Tim , Gervais Yves
Published: July 2012

We present experimental results for the acoustic field of jets with Mach numbers between 0.35 and 0.6. An azimuthal ring array of six microphones, whose polar angle, $\theta $, was progressively varied, allows the decomposition of the acoustic pressure into azimuthal Fourier modes. In agreement with past observations, the sound field for low polar angles (measured with respect to the jet axis) is found to be dominated by the axisymmetric mode, particularly at the peak Strouhal number. The axisymmetric mode of the acoustic field can be clearly associated with an axially non-compact source, in the form of a wavepacket: the sound pressure level for peak frequencies is found be superdirective for all Mach numbers considered, with exponential decay as a function of $ \mathop{ (1\ensuremath{-} {M}_{c} \cos \theta )}\nolimits ^{2} $, where ${M}_{c} $ is the Mach number based on the phase velocity ${U}_{c} $ of the convected wave. While the mode $m= 1$ spectrum scales with Strouhal number, suggesting that its energy content is associated with turbulence scales, the axisymmetric mode scales with Helmholtz number – the ratio between source length scale and acoustic wavelength. The axisymmetric radiation has a stronger velocity dependence than the higher-order azimuthal modes, again in agreement with predictions of wavepacket models. We estimate the axial extent of the source of the axisymmetric component of the sound field to be of the order of six to eight jet diameters. This estimate is obtained in two different ways, using, respectively, the directivity shape and the velocity exponent of the sound radiation. The analysis furthermore shows that compressibility plays a significant role in the wavepacket dynamics, even at this low Mach number. Velocity fluctuations on the jet centreline are reduced as the Mach number is increased, an effect that must be accounted for in order to obtain a correct estimation of the velocity dependence of sound radiation. Finally, the higher-order azimuthal modes of the sound field are considered, and a model for the low-angle sound radiation by helical wavepackets is developed. The measured sound for azimuthal modes 1 and 2 at low Strouhal numbers is seen to correspond closely to the predicted directivity shapes.
Roland and Crusade Imagery in an English Royal Chapel: early thirteenth-century wall paintings in Claverley church, Shropshire
Authors: Barrett Christopher
Published: July 2012

A frieze of mounted knights, over 15m long, dominates the nave of the church of All Saints, Claverley, Shropshire. It is part of an extensive mural scheme from the first quarter of the thirteenth century. For the first time the status of Claverley as a Royal Chapel is recognized and the royal and crusading character of the imagery is discussed. The emperors Constantine and Heraclius are identified as part of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross subject on the north wall, and the Holy Cross is suggested as the unifying theme, pre-dating the Florentine mural cycle by Agnolo Gaddi by some 170 years. Claverley is also shown to have the only medieval mural of Roland, hero of theChanson de Roland, to survivein situ. The historical background of the early years of Henryiiiis examined and the possible role of Ranulf de Blondeville, earl of Chester, in commissioning the frieze is considered.
Can breast cancer patients use soyafoods to help reduce risk of CHD?
Authors: Messina Mark , Messina Virginia , Jenkins David J. A.
Published: July 2012

Over the past 20 years, the popularity of soyafoods has increased in part because of research suggesting that these foods convey health benefits independent of their nutrient content. For example, in 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a health-claim for soyafoods and CHD based on the hypocholesterolaemic effects of soya protein. However, soyafoods have become controversial in recent years because of concerns that their uniquely rich phyto-oestrogen (isoflavone) content may cause untoward effects in some individuals. Most notable in this regard is the concern that soyafoods are contraindicated for breast cancer patients and women at high risk of developing this disease. Furthermore, the hypocholesterolaemic effects of soya protein have been challenged. However, the results of recently published meta-analyses indicate that soya protein directly lowers circulating LDL-cholesterol levels by approximately 4 %. There is also intriguing evidence that soyafoods reduce CHD risk independent of their effects on lipid levels. In regard to the breast cancer controversy, recently published clinical and epidemiological data do not support observations in rodents that soyabean isoflavones increase breast cancer risk. In postmenopausal women, isoflavone exposure does not adversely affect breast tissue density or breast cell proliferation. Furthermore, both US and Chinese prospective epidemiological studies show that post-diagnosis soya consumption is associated with an improved prognosis. Therefore, soyafoods should be considered by women as healthy foods to include in diets aimed at reducing the risk of CHD regardless of their breast cancer status.
Comparison of the incorporation of orally administered DHA into plasma, erythrocyte and cheek cell glycerophospholipids
Authors: Klingler Mario , Klem Sabrina , Demmelmair Hans , Koletzko Berthold
Published: July 2012

Adequate intake ofn-3 fatty acids plays an important role in human health. The analysis of various blood lipids is used as a measure of fatty acid status in humans. Cheek cell phospholipids (PL) have also been proposed as biological markers, but are rarely used in clinical studies due to limitations in sample quality and quantity. An improved method for the analysis of cheek cell glycerophospholipid fatty acids is applied in a 29 d supplementation trial with 510 mg DHA daily. The DHA increases in cheek cell, plasma and erythrocyte glycerophospholipids are compared. High correlations are shown for glycerophospholipid DHA between cheek cells and plasma (r0·88) and erythrocytes (r0·76) before study commencement. After the daily supplementation of DHA, the half-maximal glycerophospholipid DHA level is reached after about 4 d in plasma, 6 d in erythrocytes and 10 d in cheek cells. The mean DHA increase (mol%) relative to baseline was most prominent in plasma (186 %), followed by cheek cells (180 %) and erythrocytes (130 %). Considering a lag phase of about 5 d, cheek cells reflect short-term changes in dietary fat uptake. Based on the data of the present study, they can be used alternatively to plasma and erythrocyte PL as non-invasiven-3 fatty acid status markers.
Violence and Election Fraud: Evidence from Afghanistan
Authors: Weidmann Nils B. , Callen Michael
Published: July 2012

What explains local variation in electoral manipulation in countries with ongoing internal conflict? The theory of election fraud developed in this article relies on the candidates’ loyalty networks as the agents manipulating the electoral process. It predicts (i) that the relationship between violence and fraud follows an inverted U-shape and (ii) that loyalty networks of both incumbent and challenger react differently to the security situation on the ground. Disaggregated violence and election results data from the 2009 Afghanistan presidential election provide empirical results consistent with this theory. Fraud is measured both by a forensic measure, and by using results from a visual inspection of a random sample of the ballot boxes. The results align with the two predicted relationships, and are robust to other violence and fraud measures.
Fading Friendships: Alliances, Affinities and the Activation of International Identities
Authors: Gartzke Erik , Weisiger Alex
Published: July 2012

In international politics ‘friends’ co-ally. But friendship is relational and contextual. Countries are more likely to act on particular common interests if few other actors share that identity. In contrast, new cleavages are likely to emerge as an identity becomes ubiquitous. The tendency for states to form alliances based on certain affinities is thus best thought of as a variable, rather than as a constant. For example, in systems where democracies are scarce, democracies eagerly co-ally. As democracy becomes common, however, incentives binding democratic allies together weaken compared to other definitions of mutual interest. This argument, and the evidence we provide, suggest that the salience of identities as cues to affinity and difference vary with the distribution of types in the system.
Numerical study of collisionless q = 1 double tearing instability in a cylindrical plasma
Authors: WEI LAI , YANG XUEFENG , ZHENG SHU , LIU YUE
Published: July 2012

The double tearing mode (DTM) instability with two qs = 1 rational surfaces is investigated by taking into account the collisionless effects, including electron inertia and electron viscosity in a cylindrical geometry. The calculations show that for q-profile with a small distance between two rational surfaces, Δrs, there exists a broad linear spectrum of collisionless DTMs. The collisionless effects not only can significantly increase the linear growth rate of DTMs but can also enlarge the width of spectrum of unstable modes. For the q-profile with fixed Δrs and fixed magnetic shears at two rational surfaces, the high-order harmonics with smaller wavelength, such as the m/n = 2/2, 3/3 and 4/4 modes, can be easily excited to have larger growth rates than the m/n = 1/1 mode by ‘lifting’ the safety factor value between two rational surfaces. The characteristics of eigenmode structures of the most unstable and secondly unstable DTMs with various mode numbers are analyzed in detail and the corresponding collisionless scalings are numerically obtained and verified theoretically based on the previous relevant analytical theories. In addition, the synergetic effects of plasma resistivity, electron inertia and electron viscosity on the linear growth rates of DTMs are analyzed.
Swarm robotics reviewed
Authors: Barca Jan Carlo , Sekercioglu Y. Ahmet
Published: July 2012

We present a review of recent activities in swarm robotic research, and analyse existing literature in the field to determine how to get closer to a practical swarm robotic system for real world applications. We begin with a discussion of the importance of swarm robotics by illustrating the wide applicability of robot swarms in various tasks. Then a brief overview of various robotic devices that can be incorporated into swarm robotic systems is presented. We identify and describe the challenges that should be resolved when designing swarm robotic systems for real world applications. Finally, we provide a summary of a series of issues that should be addressed to overcome these challenges, and propose directions for future swarm robotic research based on our extensive analysis of the reviewed literature.
The probability that x and y commute in a compact group
Authors: HOFMANN KARL H. , RUSSO FRANCESCO G.
Published: July 2012

We show that a compact group G has finite conjugacy classes, i.e., is an FC-group if and only if its center Z(G) is open if and only if its commutator subgroup G′ is finite. Let d(G) denote the Haar measure of the set of all pairs (x,y) in G×G for which [x,y]=1; this, formally, is the probability that two randomly picked elements commute. We prove that d(G) is always rational and that it is positive if and only if G is an extension of an FC-group by a finite group. This entails that G is abelian by finite. The proofs involve measure theory, transformation groups, Lie theory of arbitrary compact groups, and representation theory of compact groups. Examples and references to the history of the discussion are given at the end of the paper.
Human metapneumovirus infection among family members
Authors: MATSUZAKI Y. , ITAGAKI T. , IKEDA T. , AOKI Y. , ABIKO C. , MIZUTA K.
Published: July 2012

The transmission of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) among family members is not well understood. We identified 15 families in which multiple members were diagnosed with hMPV infection by real-time PCR in 2008 and 2010. Index patients ranged in age from 2 years to 11 years (median 5 years), and all 15 index cases were children who attended primary school, kindergarten, or nursery school. Contact patients ranged in age from 2 months to 46 years (median 6 years). Excluding five adult cases, contact patients were significantly younger than index patients (P = 0·0389). Of the 12 contact children, seven (58%) were infants who were taken care of at home. The serial interval between the onset of symptoms in an index patient and the onset of symptoms in a contact patient was estimated to be 5 days. These results suggest that the control of school-based outbreaks is important for preventing hMPV infection in infants.
Discrimination against older people
Authors: van den Heuvel Wim JA
Published: July 2012

The increasing number of old people is becoming a growing policy concern. Negative attitudes towards old people raise questions about the extent to which discrimination against old people exists and elder abuse occurs. This paper describes the occurrence of discrimination against old people and elder abuse, as well as the factors related to it, based on a review of (scientific) literature, official documents and the actions of legal bodies.

Frequent or regular age discrimination, as experienced by old people themselves, is reported by a quarter of European citizens. Data on elder abuse vary and are often not representative; the same goes for data on inequality. Nevertheless, the analysis shows that discrimination against old age and elder abuse occurs regularly in the ‘western world’. Vulnerable old people are especially at risk. National and regional, multi-component action plans are recommended to combat discrimination against old people.
The effects of exercise on strength and physical performance in frail older people: a systematic review
Authors: Nash Katharine CM
Published: July 2012

The proportion of older people becoming frail will increase with the expanding older population. Apart from poor health, frailty is associated with loss of strength and functional dependency. Building on previous work in this area, this review investigates the effectiveness, sustainability and adverse effects of exercise interventions on muscle strength and physical performance in frail older people. Randomized controlled trials reporting physical outcomes in frail older people were identified from seven electronic databases. Thirteen trials involving 1652 participants met the inclusion criteria. There was wide heterogeneity in degree of frailty, types of intervention, outcome measures and results. However, evidence from this review suggests that exercise and some physical activity programmes, particularly moderate intensity and multi-component programmes, are safe and can improve strength and function in the majority of frail older people except highly frail individuals with multiple co-morbidities. There was limited evidence on transferability of improvements into everyday life, and sustainability could not be determined.
Longest Path Distance in Random Circuits
Authors: BROUTIN NICOLAS , FAWZI OMAR
Published: July 2012

We study distance properties of a general class of random directed acyclic graphs (dags). In adag, many natural notions of distance are possible, for there exist multiple paths between pairs of nodes. The distance of interest for circuits is the maximum length of a path between two nodes. We give laws of large numbers for the typical depth (distance to the root) and the minimum depth in a randomdag. This completes the study of natural distances in randomdags initiated (in the uniform case) by Devroye and Janson. We also obtain large deviation bounds for the minimum of a branching random walk with constant branching, which can be seen as a simplified version of our main result.
THE ENDOGENOUS DETERMINATION OF RETIREMENT AGE AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
Authors: Cabo Francisco , García-González Ana
Published: July 2012

An aging population in modern societies has put stress on public pension systems. To prevent social security deficits from increasing to unbounded levels of public debt we focus on two policies: reducing the generosity of pension benefits, determined by the government, and postponing the effective retirement age, chosen by employees. An atomistic employee would disregard the effect of his retirement decision on the public debt and would retire as soon as possible. Conversely, an ideal farsighted agency considering all current and future employees would postpone retirement, thereby alleviating the pressure on public debt and allowing a more generous long-run pension. The government may design a proper incentive strategy to induce myopic atomistic decision makers to act nonmyopically. This strategy is a two-part incentive with nonlinear dependence on the stock of public debt. It is credible if deceiving employees slightly adjust their retirement-age decisions to increments in the public debt.
Boundary behaviour of special cohomology classes arising from the Weil representation
Authors: Funke Jens , Millson John
Published: July 2012

In our previous paper [J. Funke and J. Millson, Cycles with local coefficients for orthogonal groups and vector-valued Siegel modular forms,American J. Math.128 (2006), 899–948], we established a correspondence between vector-valued holomorphic Siegel modular forms and cohomology with local coefficients for local symmetric spaces$X$attached to real orthogonal groups of type$(p, q)$. This correspondence is realized using theta functions associated with explicitly constructed ‘special’ Schwartz forms. Furthermore, the theta functions give rise to generating series of certain ‘special cycles’ in$X$with coefficients.

In this paper, we study the boundary behaviour of these theta functions in the non-compact case and show that the theta functions extend to the Borel–Sere compactification$ \overline{X} $of$X$. However, for the$ \mathbb{Q} $-split case for signature$(p, p)$, we have to construct and consider a slightly larger compactification, the ‘big’ Borel–Serre compactification. The restriction to each face of$ \overline{X} $is again a theta series as in [J. Funke and J. Millson, loc. cit.], now for a smaller orthogonal group and a larger coefficient system.

As an application we establish in certain cases the cohomological non-vanishing of the special (co)cycles when passing to an appropriate finite cover of$X$. In particular, the (co)homology groups in question do not vanish. We deduce as a consequence a sharp non-vanishing theorem for${L}^{2} $-cohomology.
A new methodology for optimal RF DFT sensor design
Authors: Mesadri Conrado K. , Doukkali Aziz , Descamps Philippe , Kelma Christophe
Published: July 2012

In this paper, a new methodology to compare the robustness of sensor structures employed in radiofrequency design for test (RF DFT) architectures for RF integrated circuits (ICs) is proposed. First, the yield loss and defect level of the test technique is evaluated using a statistical model of the Circuit under Test (obtained through non-parametric statistics and copula theory). Then, by carrying out the dispersion analysis of the sensor architecture, a figure of merit is established. This methodology reduces the number of iterations in the design flow of RF DFT sensors and makes it possible to evaluate process dispersion. The case study is a SiGe:C BiCMOS LNA tested by a single-probe measurement.
Behavioral epigenetics and the developmental origins of child mental health disorders
Authors: Lester B. M. , Marsit C. J. , Conradt E. , Bromer C. , Padbury J. F.
Published: July 2012

Advances in understanding the molecular basis of behavior through epigenetic mechanisms could help explain the developmental origins of child mental health disorders. However, the application of epigenetic principles to the study of human behavior is a relatively new endeavor. In this paper we discuss the ‘Developmental Origins of Health and Disease’ including the role of fetal programming. We then review epigenetic principles related to fetal programming and the recent application of epigenetics to behavior. We focus on the neuroendocrine system and develop a simple heuristic stress-related model to illustrate how epigenetic changes in placental genes could predispose the infant to neurobehavioral profiles that interact with postnatal environmental factors potentially leading to mental health disorders. We then discuss from an ‘Evo-Devo’ perspective how some of these behaviors could also be adaptive. We suggest how elucidation of these mechanisms can help to better define risk and protective factors and populations at risk.
Zählen und Rechnen mit den Fingern:
Authors: Moeller Korbinian , Nuerk Hans-Christoph
Published: July 2012

Zusammenfassung: Numerische Kompetenzen sind ein notwendiger Bestandteil des Lebens zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts. Neuere Forschungsergebnisse legen nahe, dass sich die Ausprägung numerischer Kompetenzen im Erwachsenenalter auf numerische Vorläuferfähigkeiten im Kindesalter zurückführen lässt. Doch obwohl fast alle Kinder zu irgendeinem Zeitpunkt ihrer numerischen Entwicklung die Finger zum Zählen bzw. Rechnen benutzen, ist bis heute umstritten, welche Rolle dieser fingerbasierte Zugang zu Zahlen für die numerische Entwicklung spielt. Im vorliegenden Artikel soll deshalb zum einen die (neuro-)psychologische Literatur zum Thema Fingerzählen bzw. -rechnen zusammengefasst werden. Zum anderen soll hinsichtlich der Fragen diskutiert werden, ob fingerbasierte Repräsentationen von Zahlen (i) eine entwicklungsförderliche Vorläuferfähigkeit späterer numerischer Kompetenzen sind, (ii) als Einflüsse auf die Entwicklungsphase beschränkt sind, in der die Finger zum Zählen und Rechnen eingesetzt werden, oder (iii) vielleicht sogar eine erfolgreiche numerische Entwicklung hemmen. Zusammengefasst unterstützen die diskutierten Befunde die erste Hypothese weitgehend und deuten darauf hin, dass fingerbasierte Repräsentationen in der Tat eine wichtige und im Allgemeinen förderliche Wirkung auf die numerische Entwicklung bei Kindern haben.
Comparative Risk Factors for Accidental and Suicidal Death in Cancer Patients
Authors: Kendal Wayne S. , Kendal Wendy M.
Published: July 2012

Background: Cancer patients appear at higher risk of accidental death and suicide. The reasons for this and how suicide and accidental death relate remain unclear. Aims: To clarify and contrast risk factors for such deaths among cancer patients. Methods: A SEER (1973–2007) analysis was conducted on 4,449,957 cancer patients comparing all causes of death (COD) to accidental and suicidal deaths through competing hazards, relative risk and proportional hazards models. SEER did not provide psychological assessments; the analysis was confined to their standard epidemiological and clinicopathological parameters. Results: 2,557,385 overall deaths yielded 16,879 (0.66%) accidents and 6,589 (0.26%) suicides. Mortality reached its highest incidence immediately after diagnosis and obeyed Pareto type II distributions. The major identifiable risk factor for suicide was male gender; for accidental death, First Nations ethnicity; and all COD, metastases. Minor factors for suicide included metastases, advanced age, and respiratory as well as head and neck tumors, whereas for accidental death they were male gender, metastases, advanced age, and brain tumors. Conclusions: Differences were observed in the risk patterns of suicide and accidental death, suggesting distinct etiologies. A high incidence of suicides and accidental deaths following diagnosis (attributed by some to stress from the diagnosis of cancer) correlated here with overall mortality and indicators of physical morbidity. Cancer patients with the above identifiable risk factors warrant supportive attention.
Callers’ Experiences of Contacting a National Suicide Prevention Helpline
Authors: Coveney Catherine M. , Pollock Kristian , Armstrong Sarah , Moore John
Published: July 2012

Background: Helplines are a significant phenomenon in the mixed economy of health and social care. Given the often anonymous and fleeting nature of caller contact, it is difficult to obtain data about their impact and how users perceive their value. This paper reports findings from an online survey of callers contacting Samaritans emotional support services. Aims: To explore the (self-reported) characteristics of callers using a national suicide prevention helpline and their reasons given for contacting the service, and to present the users’ evaluations of the service they received. Methods: Online survey of a self-selected sample of callers. Results: 1,309 responses were received between May 2008 and May 2009. There were high incidences of expressed suicidality and mental health issues. Regular and ongoing use of the service was common. Respondents used the service for complex and varied reasons and often as part of a network of support. Conclusions: Respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with the service and perceived contact to be helpful. Although Samaritans aims to provide a crisis service, many callers do not access this in isolation or as a last resort, instead contacting the organization selectively and often in tandem with other types of support.
Utility of bromide and heat tracers for aquifer characterization affected by highly transient flow conditions
Authors: Ma Rui , Zheng Chunmiao , Zachara John M. , Tonkin Matthew
Published: July 2012

A tracer test using both bromide and heat tracers conducted at the Integrated Field Research Challenge site in Hanford 300 Area (300A), Washington, provided an instrument for evaluating the utility of bromide and heat tracers for aquifer characterization. The bromide tracer data were critical to improving the calibration of the flow model complicated by the highly dynamic nature of the flow field. However, most bromide concentrations were obtained from fully screened observation wells, lacking depth‐specific resolution for vertical characterization. On the other hand, depth‐specific temperature data were relatively simple and inexpensive to acquire. However, temperature‐driven fluid density effects influenced heat plume movement. Moreover, the temperature data contained “noise” caused by heating during fluid injection and sampling events. Using the hydraulic conductivity distribution obtained from the calibration of the bromide transport model, the temperature depth profiles and arrival times of temperature peaks simulated by the heat transport model were in reasonable agreement with observations. This suggested that heat can be used as a cost‐effective proxy for solute tracers for calibration of the hydraulic conductivity distribution, especially in the vertical direction. However, a heat tracer test must be carefully designed and executed to minimize fluid density effects and sources of noise in temperature data. A sensitivity analysis also revealed that heat transport was most sensitive to hydraulic conductivity and porosity, less sensitive to thermal distribution factor, and least sensitive to thermal dispersion and heat conduction. This indicated that the hydraulic conductivity remains the primary calibration parameter for heat transport.
Weather and climate analyses using improved global water vapor observations
Authors: Vonder Haar Thomas H. , Bytheway Janice L. , Forsythe John M.
Published: July 2012

The NASA Water Vapor Project (NVAP) dataset is a global (land and ocean) water vapor dataset created by merging multiple sources of atmospheric water vapor to form a global data base of total and layered precipitable water vapor. Under the NASA Making Earth Science Data Records for Research Environments (MEaSUREs) program, NVAP is being reprocessed and extended, increasing its 14‐year coverage to include 22 years of data. The NVAP‐MEaSUREs (NVAP‐M) dataset is geared towards varied user needs, and biases in the original dataset caused by algorithm and input changes were removed. This is accomplished by relying on peer reviewed algorithms and producing the data in multiple “streams” to create products geared towards studies of both climate and weather. We briefly discuss the need for reprocessing and extension, steps taken to improve the product, and provide some early science results highlighting the improvements and potential scientific uses of NVAP‐M.
Double sodium layers observation over Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Jihong , Yang Yong , Cheng Xuewu , Yang Guotao , Song Shalei , Gong Shunsheng
Published: July 2012

The altitude of the sodium layer in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is usually from 80 km to 105 km. In this paper, we report a set of double sodium layer (DSL) events observed by sodium lidar over Beijing, China. In these DSL events, the normal sodium layer and secondary sodium layer (SeSL) present separately. There were about 17 DSL events occurred in 319 observation nights during 2009∼2011. All DSL events were observed in spring and summer. The SeSL appeared independently within the altitude range from 105 km to 130 km. The density of the SeSL is very high. The maximum ratio of peak density and the ratio of column density for the SeSL to the normal sodium layer are up to ∼60% and ∼47%, respectively. The SeSL lasted several hours, and then merged into the normal sodium layer. After the SeSL, a sporadic sodium layer occurred in the normal sodium layer.
First daytime thermospheric wind observation from a balloon‐borne Fabry‐Perot interferometer over Kiruna (68N)
Authors: Wu Qian , Wang W. , Roble R. G. , Häggström Ingemar , Strømme Anja
Published: July 2012

HIWIND (High altitude Interferometer WIND Observation) is the first balloon Fabry‐Perot interferometer (FPI) to achieve successful thermospheric wind measurement for both day and night. By flying at ∼40 km altitude, HIWIND avoids the high solar scattering background and enables daytime remote sensing of Doppler shift in airglow for thermospheric wind observation. During its first flight in June 2011 from Kiruna, (68N, 65 MLAT), HIWIND observed persistent equatorward winds, while the NCAR TIEGCM model predicted poleward winds on the dayside. Combined with simultaneous EISCAT incoherent scatter radar observation, HIWIND yielded a daytime Burnside factor value of 0.85. HIWIND data appear to suggest that upward vertical winds near the auroral oval may be the cause for large differences between the FPI measured and radar derived winds near midnight.
Relationship between hourly extreme precipitation and local air temperature in the United States
Authors: Mishra Vimal , Wallace John M. , Lettenmaier Dennis P.
Published: July 2012

We examine the relationship between hourly extreme precipitation and daily mean temperature across the Contiguous United States (CONUS) during the period 1950–2009. Logarithmically‐transformed hourly extreme precipitation generally increases approximately linearly with the daily mean temperature. At most (about 80%) of the stations, regression slopes between hourly extreme precipitation and daily mean temperature are higher than 7%, the approximate Clausius‐Clapyron rate. Stations located in the western coastal region exhibit the lowest regression slopes, with median regression slopes less than 7%, while stations in the northern tier of the CONUS showed higher regression slopes, with median regression slope of 16%. More stations (75%) exhibit regression slopes higher than 7% in summer than in winter (65%). Stations in the southern U.S. have higher regression slopes in winter than in summer, whereas stations in the northern U.S. have higher slopes in summer. It seems physically implausible that the intensity of extreme rainfall events could be as sensitive to local temperature as reflected by the regression slopes. Hence, these large values at least partially may be a consequence of factors relating to temperature gradients as opposed to temperature in its own right.
A physical model for electron radiation belts of Saturn
Authors: Lorenzato Lise , Sicard Angélica , Bourdarie Sébastien
Published: July 2012

Radiation belts cause irreversible damages to on‐board instrument materials. Studies about radiation belts can provide precious information for future interplanetary missions. Pioneer 11, Voyager 2 and nowadays Cassini missions give the characteristics of Saturn's inner magnetosphere: Saturn's famous rings, various moons, neutral particles ejected from Enceladus and waves. Thanks to its experience with the Earth's and Jupiter's radiation belt studies, ONERA is now able to develop an electron radiation belt model for Saturn's environment, i.e., a new version of Salammbô. The study of Saturn's inner magnetosphere emphasizes the most important physical processes governing radiation belt dynamics: electrons losses due to dense rings are the dominant physical process near the planet (L < 2.3). For high energies (E > ∼50 keV), radial diffusion and local losses due to the moons are predominant from L = 2.3 to the boundary condition (L = 6). The analysis of spacecraft in situ data (Pioneer 11, Voyager 2, and Cassini) allows a boundary condition to be built for the model and the Salammbô results to be validated. The Salammbô Kronian model has also been compared to the empirical radiation belt model SATRAD (for SATurn RADiation model) based on Pioneer 11 and Voyager 2 data. Comparisons of Salammbô results with in situ data and SATRAD confirm that Salammbô is a good mean model for Saturn electron radiation belts, for energies from about a hundred keV to a few MeV.
SCATHA measurements of electron decay times at 5 < L ≤ 8
Authors: Su Yi‐Jiun , Johnston W. R. , Albert J. M. , Ginet G. P. , Starks M. J. , Roth C. J.
Published: July 2012

The electron decay timescale (τ) is well known to be associated with radiation belt loss processes. Knowledge of τ is important for understanding pitch angle and radial diffusion mechanisms. Previous studies reported decay timescales from the inner belt to geosynchronous orbits; however, relatively few statistical studies have been focused on the region beyond the traditional outer belt. In this paper, a systematic calculation of electron decay times at 5 < L ≤ 8 is performed using 11 years (1979–1989) of electron data from the Spacecraft Charging AT High Altitudes (SCATHA) satellite. The decay timescale is determined using daily median fluxes, providing resolution of τ > 1 day. τ is examined as a function of energy, pitch angle, L shell, Kp, and AE during magnetically disturbed periods when Dst ≤ −50 nT. Results show that τ increases with increasing electron energy at L < 6.6 for electron energies from 50 to 300 keV, but is independent of energy at L > 6.6. This suggests radial transport as the dominant effect at L > 6.6. Additionally, τ decreases with increasing L‐shell. This dependence has the strongest correlation and is seen in all energies and pitch angles. However,τ has no systematic dependence with pitch angle suggesting that pitch angle diffusion also plays a key role in the electron loss process. Based on our results, τ can be expressed as a function of energy and L, and coefficients are provided for a two‐variable fit. Surprisingly,τ is slightly longer for higher activity cases at L < 6.6, which is inconsistent with the current radial or pitch angle diffusion models. Global effective decay times on the timescale of days place an upper bound on the true loss timescale.
Decadal changes in the relationship between the tropical Pacific and the North Pacific
Authors: Yeo Sae‐Rim , Kim Kwang‐Yul , Yeh Sang‐Wook , Kim WonMoo
Published: July 2012

It has been recognized that the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly associated with the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is closely tied to large‐scale atmospheric anomalies in the extra‐tropical region. Based on observational data, this connection appears to have changed significantly since 1999. This study examines the characteristics of this connection during two sub‐periods (1980–1998 and 1999–2010) using cyclostationary empirical orthogonal function (CSEOF) analysis. We found that the atmospheric anomalies induced by the ENSO alter the SST over the North Pacific through surface heat flux change during the earlier period of 1980–1998. During the later period, in contrast, ENSO‐related atmospheric anomalies feature the North Pacific oscillation (NPO) pattern during winter, which is characterized by a southward shift of the atmospheric center of action from its climatological position. The NPO‐related atmospheric anomalies extend to the subtropical Pacific; this extension potentially links midlatitude and tropical Pacific variability through air‐sea interactions. The physical change appears to alter the El Niño characteristics into that of the Central Pacific El Niño through the wind‐SST coupling mechanism. This process may be related to the recent change in which the Central Pacific El Niño occurs more frequently than the conventional Eastern Pacific El Niño. Detailed descriptions of the physical changes between the tropical Pacific and the North Pacific are presented in this study along with the possible implications of this change.
Spatial distribution of damage around faults in the Joe Lott Tuff Member of the Mount Belknap Volcanics, Utah: A mechanical analog for faulting in pyroclastic deposits on Mars
Authors: Okubo Chris H.
Published: July 2012

Volcanic ash is thought to comprise a large fraction of the Martian equatorial layered deposits and much new insight into the process of faulting and related fluid flow in these deposits can be gained through the study of analogous terrestrial tuffs. This study identifies a set of fault‐related processes that are pertinent to understanding the evolution of fault systems in fine‐grained, poorly indurated volcanic ash by investigating exposures of faults in the Miocene‐aged Joe Lott Tuff Member of the Mount Belknap Volcanics, Utah. The porosity and granularity of the host rock are found to control the style of localized strain that occurs prior to and contemporaneous with faulting. Deformation bands occur in tuff that was porous and granular at the time of deformation, while fractures formed where the tuff lost its porous and granular nature due to silicic alteration. Non‐localized deformation of the host rock is also prominent and occurs through compaction of void space, including crushing of pumice clasts. Significant off‐fault damage of the host rock, resembling fault pulverization, is recognized adjacent to one analog fault and may reflect the strain rate dependence of the resulting fault zone architecture. These findings provide important new guidelines for future structural analyses and numerical modeling of faulting and subsurface fluid flow through volcanic ash deposits on Mars.
Term and preterm labor: decreased suppressive activity and changes in composition of the regulatory T‐cell pool
Authors: Schober Linda , Radnai Diana , Schmitt Edgar , Mahnke Karsten , Sohn Christof , Steinborn Andrea
Published: July 2012

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) exert a key role in tolerance induction to the semi‐allogeneic fetus. Currently, it is not known whether immunological rejection processes are involved in the induction of normal term or irresistible preterm labor. In this study, we examined whether there were differences in the percentage of the total CD4+CD127low+/−CD25+FoxP3+‐Treg‐cell pool, its suppressive activity and its composition with distinct Treg subsets (HLA‐DRlow+‐, HLA‐DRhigh+‐, HLA‐DR−‐ and naive CD45RA+‐Tregs) between preterm and term laboring women. We found that its percentage was decreased neither in term nor in preterm laboring women. Its suppressive activity was strongly diminished in preterm laboring women and to a lesser extent in spontaneously term laboring women. During the normal course of pregnancy, its composition changed in such a way that the percentage of naive CD45RA+‐Tregs increased while the percentage of the highly suppressive HLA‐DRlow+‐ and HLA‐DRhigh+‐Tregs decreased significantly until term. With the onset of spontaneous term labor this phenomenon was reversed and reached significant values postpartum. In addition, we confirmed that both the decreased percentage of HLA‐DR+‐Tregs within the total Treg‐cell pool and their decreased level of HLA‐DR expression (depending on the percentage of HLA‐DRlow+‐ and HLA‐DRhigh+‐Tregs) had a reducing effect on the suppressive activity of the total Treg cell pool in preterm laboring women. However, spontaneous term delivery was associated with increasing percentages of HLA‐DR+‐Tregs and increasing HLA‐DR expression of this Treg subset. Therefore, it becomes apparent that the mechanisms inducing term or preterm labor may be completely different.
Cholesterol accumulation inhibits ER to Golgi transport and protein secretion: studies of apolipoprotein E and VSVGt
Authors: Kockx Maaike , Dinnes Donna L. , Huang Kuan-Yen , Sharpe Laura J. , Jessup Wendy , Brown Andrew J. , Kritharides Leonard
Published: July 2012

Cholesterol excess is typical of various diseases including atherosclerosis. We have investigated whether cholesterol accumulation in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) can inhibit exit of vesicular cargo and secretion of proteins by studying apoE (apolipoprotein E), a significant glycoprotein in human health and disease. CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells expressing human apoE under a cholesterol-independent promoter incubated with cholesterol–cyclodextrin complexes showed increased levels of cellular free and esterified cholesterol, inhibition of SREBP-2 (sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 2) processing, and a mild induction of ER stress, indicating significant accumulation of cholesterol in the ER. Secretion of apoE was markedly inhibited by cholesterol accumulation, and similar effects were observed in cells enriched with lipoprotein-derived cholesterol and in primary human macrophages. Removal of excess cholesterol by a cyclodextrin vehicle restored apoE secretion, indicating that the transport defect was reversible. That cholesterol impaired protein trafficking was supported by the cellular accumulation of less sialylated apoE glycoforms, and by direct visualization of altered ER to Golgi transport of thermo-reversible VSVG (vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein) linked to GFP (green fluorescent protein). We conclude that intracellular accumulation of cholesterol in the ER reversibly inhibits protein transport and secretion. Strategies to correct ER cholesterol may restore homoeostatic processes and intracellular protein transport in conditions characterized by cholesterol excess.