bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Producer participatory spring wheat variety evaluation for organic systems in Minnesota and North Dakota
Authors: Kandel H.J. , Porter P.M. , Carr P.M. , Zwinger S.F.
Published: June 2008

Organic producers in Minnesota and North Dakota, USA, indicated that they wanted to participate in hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivumL. emend. Thell) variety evaluations. The objectives were to determine if a farmer–researcher developed scoring system could be used to rank wheat varieties for yield potential when grown in certified organic fields, identify views of organic producers about on-farm research, and identify the educational impact of the participatory variety evaluation process. Hard red spring wheat varieties were compared for grain yield at six locations on certified organic farms in Minnesota and North Dakota over a three-year period. A scoring system was developed and then used to identify the relative rank of adapted varieties for yield. Producers were asked to rank all varieties on a scale from 1 to 9, where 1 is lowest yield potential and 9 is highest yield potential. Producers were able to distinguish higher producing varieties as a group in 2003 and 2004. ‘Oklee’ a high yielding variety was ranked lowest in 2005. There was a significant linear relationship between producer ranking and yield (P<0.05) even though producers could not pick the highest yielding varieties consistently in the field. The producer survey showed that grain yield, protein content, wheat scab resistance, leaf disease resistance, early seedling vigor, test weight and canopy closure were traits producers valued most in a variety. Heading date, impact on succeeding crops, straw and stubble production were ranked lower. Multi-year variety evaluation on certified organic land was highly valued by the producers surveyed. From an educational perspective, the exercise was successful in that producers had to observe individual varieties carefully in order to come to a consensus producer ranking. The model of participatory research can be used for a variety of field research projects and field days.
Consumer willingness to pay for domestic ‘fair trade’: Evidence from the United States
Authors: Howard P.H. , Allen P.
Published: June 2008

The success of fair trade labels for food products imported from the Global South has attracted interest from producers and activists in the Global North. Efforts are under way to develop domestic versions of fair trade in regions that include the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Fair trade, which is based on price premiums to support agricultural producers and workers in the Global South, has enjoyed tremendous sales growth in the past decade. Will consumers also pay a price premium to improve the conditions of those engaged in agriculture closer to home? To address this question, consumer willingness to pay for food embodying a living wage and safe working conditions for farmworkers was assessed with a national survey in the United States. The question format was a discrete choice (yes/no) response to one of four randomly selected price premiums, as applied to a hypothetical example of a pint of strawberries. Multilevel regression models indicated that respondents were willing to pay a median of 68% more for these criteria, with frequent organic consumers and those who consider the environment when making purchases most willing to pay higher amounts. Although the results should be interpreted with caution, given the well-known gap between expressed attitudes and actual behaviors, we conclude that there is a strong potential market opportunity for domestic fair trade.
Economizing the use of nitrogen fertilizer in wheat production through enriched compost
Authors: Ahmad Rizwan , Naveed Muhammad , Aslam Muhammad , Zahir Zahir A. , Arshad Muhammad , Jilani Ghulam
Published: June 2008

Manipulation of organic wastes and their composts as a source of organic matter (OM) and nutrients is imperative for sustainable agriculture. Further, the fortification of composts with chemical fertilizer enhances agronomic effectiveness of both by reducing the amount of fertilizer and improving the quality of compost. The present study aimed to explore the potential of organic and chemical nutrient sources with their optimal application and integration for sustainable wheat production. Accordingly, waste fruits and vegetables were collected, dried, ground and processed in a composting vessel. During the enriched composting, waste material (300 kg) was fortified with 30 kg N, i.e. 25% of the standard rate (120 kg N ha−1) of N fertilizer. Treatments for both greenhouse and field experiments using wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) included: control (without any compost or N fertilizer), compost (non-enriched), fertilizer N 120 (120 kg N ha−1), nitrogen-enriched compost (NEC), NEC+N 30 (30 kg N ha−1) and NEC+N 60 (60 kg N ha−1). Application rate of composts (non-enriched or enriched) was 300 kg ha−1in the respective treatments. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied at 90 kg P2O5ha−1and 60 kg K2O ha−1, respectively in all treatments. The crop was grown to maturity, and data on wheat growth and yield attributes were recorded. Application of NEC significantly improved the growth, yield and N, P and K contents of wheat compared with compost and control treatments. The performance of NEC+N 60 was statistically similar to that of fertilizer N 120. Economic analysis also revealed the superiority of NEC+N 60 over other treatments in terms of net return and relative increase in income; however, the value/cost ratio was highest with NEC alone. For effective and economical use of N fertilizer, it is suggested to integrate N fertilizer at reduced rates with NEC. Through enriched compost, application rates can be decreased from tonnes to kilograms per hectare, and dependence on chemical fertilizer can be reduced to a certain extent. So the approach is farmer friendly as it lowers compost application rates, and is economically acceptable as it saves N fertilizer. It is also environmentally sustainable due the recycling of organic waste and possible reduction of N losses to the environment. Thus, the study has wide application in the global environment and fertilizer market.
Examining the Association Between Church and the Party Identification of Black Americans
Authors: Mangum Maruice
Published: June 2008

The goal of this article is to examine the association between church attendance and the party identification of black Americans. Using ordinary least squares and logistic regression to analyze data taken from the 1996 National Black Election Study, I find that church attendance has dual effects for determining the party identification of blacks. On one hand, church attendance encourages blacks to be Republican. On the other hand, attending voting churches does not foster Republicanism. Attendance at voting churches influences blacks to be Democrats. Also, blacks who attend voting churches with increasing frequency are likely to identify themselves with the Democratic Party.
Aszites
Authors: Maier K.P.
Published: July 2008

Die meisten Patienten mit Aszites weisen eine portale Hypertension auf dem Boden einer Leberzirrhose auf. Die Diagnose ist klinisch einfach, die Diagnosesicherung, Aszitesklassifikation und entsprechende Therapie erfolgt aufgrund der Daten der Aszitespunktion, der klinischen Untersuchung, der Serumelektrolyte und der Nierenfunktion. Eine stufenweise Therapie, beginnend mit unspezifischen Massnahmen, allmählich sich steigernd bis hin zu repetitiven Parazentesen bzw. einer TIPS-Implantation, orientiert sich am Erfolgsgrad auf jeder Therapiestufe. Die Aszitesausschwemmung muss langsam, aber kontinuierlich erfolgen: Ein Gewichtsverlust um 700 g bei einem nicht-ödematösen, um 1 kg beim ödematösen Patienten mit Aszites verhindern eine Volumendepletion und damit das gefürchtete Nierenversagen. Patienten mit Leberzirrhose und Aszites sind vermehrt infektgefährdet bzw. bereits bei Spitaleintritt infiziert. Daher ist eine rasche antibiotische Therapie beim Nachweis einer spontanen bakteriellen Peritonitis bzw. beim Auftreten einer intestinalen Blutung zwingend. Die Langzeitprophylaxe eines bakteriellen Aszites führt zu einer Überlebenszeitverlängerung. Die weitere gefürchtete Komplikation eines schweren Aszites, das hepatorenale Syndrom, bedarf einer spezifischen Therapie mit Humanalbumininfusionen und Vasokonstriktiva. Um erfolgreich zu sein, ist eine Therapiedauer von mindestens 2 Wochen zu empfehlen. Einmal aufgetreten, hat ein Patient mit Aszites eine schlechte Prognose, sodass, abgesehen von den o.g. Massnahmen, in jedem Fall eine Überprüfung hinsichtlich einer Indikation zur Lebertransplantation erfolgen sollte.
Die Ermittlung von Risikofaktoren. Das Verfahren der logistischen Regression
Authors: Sieber M.
Published: July 2008

Die logistische Regression ermöglicht die Bestimmung von Risikofaktoren für ein Zielkriterium, wobei das Zielkriterium zweistufig ist, z.B. krank⁄gesund. Aus den Regressionskoeffizienten lässt sich die Stärke der einzelnen Risikofaktoren ermitteln. Anhand eines Beispiels wird das Grundprinzip der logistischen Regression sowie ihre Vorteile erläutert.
Unklare muskuloskelettale Schmerzen bei Immigrantinnen
Authors: Zwisler Ch. , Steiner A. , Fehr St. , Stoll Th.
Published: July 2008

Wir stellen zwei Patientinnen vor, bei denen es durch ungenügende Einwirkung von Sonnenlicht auf die Haut zu einer Vitamin-D3-Insuffizienz bzw. zu einem Vitamin-D3-Mangel gekommen ist. Im ersten Fall spielten die dunkle Hautpigmentierung, im zweiten Fall die verhüllende Kleidung und die ungenügende Sonnenexposition eine herausragende Rolle. Beide Patientinnen entwickelten eine Osteomalazie mit muskuloskelettalen Beschwerden, mit typischen Laborbefunden, insbesondere einer erhöhten alkalischen Phosphatase sowie niedrignormalem Serum-Kalziumspiegel und mit radiologisch fassbaren, nicht dislozierten Frakturen (Insuffizienzfrakturen). Die Therapie in Form einer Vitamin-D3-Supplementierung führte in beiden Fällen innert weniger Wochen zu einer anhaltenden Schmerzfreiheit.
Growing temperate shrubs over arid and semiarid regions in the Community Land Model–Dynamic Global Vegetation Model
Authors: Zeng Xiaodong , Zeng Xubin , Barlage Michael
Published: July 2008

Arid and semiarid regions represent a large fraction of global land, but most of the existing dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) do not include shrubs or do not effectively distinguish shrubs from grasses, and hence cannot realistically reproduce the ecosystem formation and variability there. A shrub submodel is developed here for the Community Land Model–DGVM (CLM‐DGVM), and the major revisions include (1) explicit consideration of shrubs' drought tolerance in the photosynthesis computation; (2) use of appropriate phenology type and morphology parameters for shrubs; (3) consistent treatment of fractional vegetation coverage; (4) development of tree/grass/shrub hierarchy for light competition; and (5) improvement of the allocation scheme to avoid unrealistic behaviors. Preliminary global offline CLM‐DGVM simulations for 400 years show that, with the shrub submodel, the simulated global distribution of temperate shrubs agrees with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. The simulated shrub coverage reaches its peak around annual precipitation (Pann) of 300 mm, the grass coverage reaches its peak over a broad range of Pann (from 400 to 1100 mm), and the tree coverage reaches its peak for Pann = 1500 mm or higher, all in good agreement with MODIS data.
Collision versus sliver transport in the hanging wall at the Middle America subduction zone: Constraints from background seismicity in central Costa Rica
Authors: Lewis Jonathan C. , Boozer Adam C. , López Allan , Montero Walter
Published: June 2008

Earthquake focal mechanism solutions for 135 small‐magnitude events are inverted for best fitting partial strain rate tensors that characterize contemporary strain in five areas that span the western margin of the Panama microplate in central Costa Rica. The results indicate the predominance of subhorizontal maximum stretching subparallel to the Middle America Trench (MAT) and provide constraints on the role of Cocos ridge collision at the MAT. The trajectory of maximum stretching changes ∼25°–45° over several tens of kilometers from the Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt (CCRDB) where it is nearly E–W to the area inboard of the Cocos ridge where it is NW–SE. This change suggests that background seismogenic deformation reflects the transition from the trailing edge of a fore‐arc sliver to an area of the upper plate affected by ridge collision. This diffuse deformation may be localized, in part, on conjugate strike‐slip faults of the CCRDB.
Saturn kilometric radiation: Average and statistical properties
Authors: Lamy L. , Zarka P. , Cecconi B. , Prangé R. , Kurth W. S. , Gurnett D. A.
Published: June 2008

Since Cassini entered Saturn's magnetosphere in July 2004, the auroral Saturnian kilometric radiation (SKR), which dominates the kronian radio spectrum, is observed quasi‐continuously. Consecutive orbits of the spacecraft covered distances to Saturn down to 1.3 Saturn radii, all local times and, since December 2006, latitudes as high as 60°. On the basis of carefully calibrated and cleaned long‐term time series and dynamic spectra, we analyze the average properties, and characteristics of the SKR over 2.75 years starting at Cassini's Saturn orbit insertion. This study confirms and expands previous results from Voyager 1 and 2 studies in the 1980s: the SKR spectrum is found to extend from a few kHz to 1200 kHz; extraordinary mode emission dominates, i.e., left‐handed (LH) from the southern kronian hemisphere and right‐handed (RH) from the northern one, for which we measure directly a degree of circular polarization up to 100%; the variable visibility of SKR along Cassini's orbit is consistent with sources at or close to the local electron cyclotron frequency fce, in the Local Time (LT) sector 09 h–12 h, and at latitudes ≥70°, with emission beamed along hollow cones centered on the local magnetic field vector; this anisotropic beaming results in the existence of an equatorial radio shadow zone, whose extent is quantified as a function of frequency; it also causes the systematic disappearance of emission at high latitudes above 200 kHz and below 30 kHz. In addition, we obtain new results on SKR: LH and RH intensity variations are found to match together at all timescales ≥30 min; moreover their spectra are found to be conjugated as a function of the latitude of the observer; we use this conjugacy to merge LH and RH spectra and derive pronounced systematic dependences of the SKR spectrum as a function of the spacecraft latitude and LT (that will be the input of a subsequent modeling study); we identify for the first time ordinary mode SKR emission; finally, in addition to the SKR and n‐SMR components, we discuss the narrowband kilometric component (named here n‐SKR) which extends mainly between 10 and 40 kHz, preferentially observed from high latitudes.
Characterizing the Caribbean–South American plate boundary at 64°W using wide‐angle seismic data
Authors: Clark S. A. , Zelt C. A. , Magnani M. B. , Levander A.
Published: June 2008

We present wide‐angle velocity modeling results from profile 64°W of the Broadband Ocean‐Land Investigation of Venezuela and the Antilles arc Region (BOLIVAR) project. Line 64W is a 460‐km‐long, approximately north‐south, onshore‐offshore reflection/refraction transect located approximately at 64°W longitude. The profile extends across the transform plate boundary between the southeastern Caribbean (CAR) and South American (SA) plates. East of the profile the plate boundary bends to the north, and SA subducts beneath CAR. We utilize first‐arrival tomography to resolve a smooth velocity field for the sediments and upper/middle crust and then use a layered approach to resolve a sharp velocity contrast for the Moho, simultaneously inverting refracted Pn and reflected PmP arrivals. We image crustal and upper mantle structure across the plate boundary zone. We interpret that the strike‐slip system that accommodates relative motion between CAR and SA extends near vertically through the entire crust and offsets the Moho. We see no evidence supporting a major component of convergence, and rather than a wide boundary zone of overlapping lithospheric plates, we interpret the plate boundary to be confined to the 33‐km‐wide, near‐vertical strike‐slip system. Previously interpreted thrust faults flanking the strike‐slip system appear to be confined to the upper/middle crust and may be related to the detachment of subducting South American lithosphere at the southern terminus of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone east of 64°W.
Antarctic sea ice variability and trends, 1979–2006
Authors: Cavalieri D. J. , Parkinson C. L.
Published: June 2008

Analyses of 28 years (1979–2006) of Antarctic sea ice extents and areas derived from satellite passive microwave radiometers are presented and placed in the context of results obtained previously for the 20‐year period 1979–1998. We present monthly averaged sea ice extents and areas, monthly deviations, yearly and seasonal averages, and their trends for the Southern Hemisphere as a whole and for each of five sectors: the Weddell Sea, the Indian Ocean, the western Pacific Ocean, the Ross Sea, and the Bellingshausen/Amundsen seas. The total Antarctic sea ice extent trend increased slightly, from 0.96 ± 0.61% decade−1 to 1.0 ± 0.4% decade−1, from the 20‐ to 28‐year period, reflecting contrasting changes in the sector trends. The eight additional years resulted in smaller positive yearly trends in sea ice extent for the Weddell Sea (0.80 ± 1.4% decade−1), the western Pacific Ocean (1.4 ± 1.9% decade−1), and the Ross Sea (4.4 ± 1.7% decade−1) sectors, a lessening of the negative trend for the Bellingshausen/Amundsen seas (−5.4 ± 1.9% decade−1) sector, and a shift from a negative trend to a positive trend for the Indian Ocean (1.9 ± 1.4% decade−1) sector. The trends for the Southern Hemisphere as a whole and for the Ross Sea sector are significant at the 95% level, whereas the trend for the Bellingshausen/Amundsen seas sector is significant at the 99% level. A similar pattern of yearly trend changes for the two periods is also apparent in the sea ice area time series.
Balanced multivariate model errors of an intermediate coupled model for ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation
Authors: Zheng Fei , Zhu Jiang
Published: June 2008

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) depends on a set of ensemble forecasts to calculate the background error covariances. Without model error perturbations and the inflation of forecast ensembles, the spread of the ensemble forecasts can collapse rapidly. There are several ways to generate model perturbations, i.e., perturbations in model parameters/parameterizations, perturbations in the forcing fields of the model and adding some error terms to the right‐hand side of the model equations. In this paper, we focus on the “adding model error terms” approach, which utilizes a first‐order Markov chain model. This approach is suitable to those unforced models, such as the coupled atmosphere‐ocean models. However, for a multivariate model, the balance between different model variables could be an important issue in building its model‐error model. In this paper, we focus on building a balanced error model for an intermediate coupled model for El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) predictions. A simple approach to build such a model‐error model is proposed on the basis of the multivariate empirical orthogonal functions method. EnKF data assimilation experiments with different configurations of multivariate model error treatments (no model errors, unbalanced and balanced model errors) are performed using realistic sea surface temperature (SST) and sea level (SL) observations. Results show that it is necessary to develop balanced, multivariate model‐error models in order to successfully assimilate both SST and SL observations. The hindcasts initialized from these different assimilation experiment results also demonstrate that the balanced model errors can yield more balanced initial conditions that lead to improved predictions of ENSO events.
Surface radiation balance in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet
Authors: van den Broeke Michiel , Smeets Paul , Ettema Janneke , Munneke Peter Kuipers
Published: July 2008

We present 4 years of radiation observations and derived cloud properties from the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet (67°N). Data were collected using three automatic weather stations located at 6, 38, and 88 km from the ice sheet margin at elevations of 490, 1020, and 1520 m asl. This part of Greenland is characterized by a ∼150 km wide tundra, a ∼100 km wide ablation zone and an average equilibrium line altitude of ∼1500 m asl. At the lowest station, snow is redistributed by the wind in crevasses and gullies, leading to very little measured winter accumulation. As a result, glacier ice (albedo ≈ 0.55) is at the surface throughout the melting season. At 1020 m asl, the winter snow cover typically disappears in mid to end June. At 1520 m asl, superimposed ice briefly reaches the surface at the end of the ablation season. The combined effect of decreasing surface albedo and increasing cloud optical thickness as summer progresses causes absorbed shortwave radiation to peak in June at low elevations but progressively later at higher elevations. Incoming longwave radiation peaks in August, in response to increased cloud optical thickness and heating of the atmosphere over the snow and ice‐free surroundings. The ice sheet margin experiences continuous melting in June, July, and August. This limits the emission of longwave radiation, causing net longwave radiation to peak in August, further enhancing melt. The sum of these effects is that summer net radiation increases sharply toward the ice sheet margin. To resolve this correctly requires high‐resolution climate models, in the order of 10 km or better.
Trends in atmospheric elemental carbon concentrations from 1835 to 2005
Authors: Husain Liaquat , Khan A. J. , Ahmed Tanveer , Swami Kamal , Bari A. , Webber James S. , Li Jianjun
Published: June 2008

Elemental carbon (EC) aerosols absorb solar radiation which results in heating of the atmosphere. Recent increases in the atmospheric burden of EC may account for ∼10 to 15 % of global warming. Long‐term EC data, however, are sparse. We report here our measurements of annual mean atmospheric EC concentration, [EC]atm, from filter samples collected daily from 1978 to 2005 at Whiteface Mountain, NY using the thermal optical method. The [EC]atm for 1978–1986, 1987–1996, and 1997–2005 were, 550, 225, and 62 ng m−3, respectively. We also collected ∼55 cm long sediment cores from West Pine Pond near Whiteface Mountain. The cores were sliced and their 210Pb ages determined. The first (top) five slices each represented sediment deposition over 7 years and the remaining 13 years each. EC was chemically separated from the sediment samples from four cores, and its concentration in each slice was determined using the thermal optical method. The [EC]sed followed closely that of [EC]atm from 1978 to 2005. Assuming wet and dry deposition as the only source, we can show that [EC]sed = K[EC]atm, where K (m3 g−1) is a constant for a given lake. From [EC]atm, and [EC]sed for the 1978–2005 period, K was determined to be 10,400 ± 4,400 m3 g−1. With this value used for K and [EC]sed, the [EC]atm values were determined from 1835 to 1978. The [EC]atm from 1835–1862 was ∼30 ng m−3, which may be close to the preindustrial background level. The [EC]atm was 65 ng m−3 for the 1863–1875 period, then increased sharply, reaching a maximum value, 760 ng m−3, from 1917–1930. From 1931–1943 through 1978–1984, the concentration decreased gradually, from 680 to 560 ng m−3. The concentrations for 1985–1991, 1992–1998, and 1999–2005 were 295, 195, and 60 ng m−3, respectively. Model calculations for BC emissions from fossil fuel combustion for the US by Novakov et al. (2003) qualitatively reproduce the trend determined experimentally in this work.
Evaluating Igneous Activity at Yucca Mountain
Authors: Hinze William J. , Marsh Bruce D. , Weiner Ruth F. , Coleman Neil M.
Published: June 2008

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to submit a license application in 2008 to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to construct a repository for high‐level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. One challenge of the NRC's licensing decision is the evaluation of the potential risk from release of radioactive material by igneous activity at Yucca Mountain during the approximately 1 million year lifetime of the repository. A volcano such as the nearby Lathrop Wells volcano (Figure 1) could erupt through the repository (extrusive scenario), or an igneous dike could intersect it (intrusive scenario). Although the likelihood of either at Yucca Mountain is very low, each is being evaluated.
Natural Hazards Position Statement Revised
Authors: Von Holle Kate
Published: June 2008

At its 14 December 2007 meeting, the AGU Council adopted four position statements following months of work by panels of experts that also included input from the AGU membership. AGU formulates and maintains a number of position statements that reflect the concerns of the Union; none of these extends beyond the range of available geophysical data or the norms of legitimate scientific debate. Last week AGU released two of the four statements. This week AGU is releasing a third statement, “Meeting the Challenges of Natural Hazards.”
Meeting the Challenges of Natural Hazards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: June 2008

Natural disasters in 2004 and 2005, including the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, and the Kashmir earthquake, provided dramatic evidence of the hazards posed to the global community by the forces of Nature. Responsible for more than 350,000 deaths and combined economic losses on the order of US$300 billion, those powerful events ranked among the most deadly and costly disasters of the past 100 years.

According to UN sources, in 2008, for the first time, more people will live in cities than in rural areas. This global trend toward urbanization concentrates millions into dense megacities, many of which are vulnerable to natural hazards. Coastal communities are becoming more vulnerable due to increasing development, the destruction of natural defenses such as wetlands and sand dunes, and the growing risk associated with human influences on the Earth system, such as sea level rise. In megacities exposed to seismic hazards, inappropriate land‐use and construction practices, along with population pressures, are also increasing vulnerability.
Internet Users as Seismic Sensors for Improved Earthquake Response
Authors: Bossu Rémy , Mazet‐Roux Gilles , Douet Vincent , Rives Sergio , Marin Sylvie , Aupetit Michael
Published: June 2008

Many seismological centers now have Web sites that provide real‐time earthquake information. Webmasters who maintain these sites are aware that the daily rate of “hits” to, or views of, the sites' pages increases when an earthquake attracts public and/or media attention. However, many seismic network operators and webmasters may not be fully aware of how abrupt and rapid a hits surge might be following a felt earthquake as people visit the Web pages to find out information about what they have felt.

Within 1 minute to a few minutes of an earthquake's occurrence, the European‐Mediterranean Seismological Centre's (EMSC) Web site (http://www.emsc‐csem.org) can detect the surge in hits (Figure 1). At EMSC, we have developed a system to use this information to discriminate felt events regardless of their magnitude, and to gather in situ information on an earthquake's effects within 10–20 minutes of its occurrence—at a time when any such information is critical to evaluating its impact.
Understanding Crust Dynamics and Subduction in Southern Italy
Authors: Margheriti Lucia
Published: June 2008

To mark the centennial anniversary of the 1908 earthquake that shook Messina, Italy, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) began the [Messina 1908–2008] research project. The aim is to clarify the extension deformation processes that occur in the Strait of Messina and to understand relationships between subduction and crustal deformation there by merging existing data and studies, and by collecting new and more detailed seismological, geodetic, historical, and satellite observations.

The Mw 7.1 earthquake that struck the Strait of Messina on 28 December 1908 is one of the largest events ever recorded in the central Mediterranean region, and estimates of fatalities range from 60,000 to 100,000. Numerous studies agree that the rupture occurred on a north‐northeast striking normal fault located in the strait, although the precise location and dip of the fault are still being debated [Pino et al., 2000].
Action on climate urge
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: June 2008

The science academies of the G8 countries—along with those in China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa—on 10 June issued a joint statement urging leaders at July's G8 Summit in Japan to take action on climate change. The statement indicates, “Responding to climate change requires both mitigation and adaptation to achieve a transition to a low carbon society and our global sustainability objectives.”
Ocean and Climate Studies: Linking Physical, Biogeochemical, and Ecosystems Research: Climate Driving of Marine Ecosystem Changes (CLIMECO): Training for Young Marine Scientists; Brest, France, 21–24 April 2008
Authors: Hazeleger Wilco
Published: June 2008

Earth system science has inherent interdisciplinary aspects. In the marine environment, biogeochemical, ecological, and physical climate science processes interact strongly. Examples of these interactions are feedbacks between variations in the marine carbon cycle and radiative forcing in the atmosphere, variations in the distribution of tuna related to El Niño Southern Oscillation, and the distribution of nutrients in ventilated water masses that are subject to climate variability.

International research programs recognize the importance of these interactions but are organized primarily along disciplinary sciences. The Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) project of the World Climate Research Program has a focus on the physical aspects of the climate system, and the Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) and Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) projects of the International Geosphere‐Biosphere Programme focus on both biogeochemistry and ecosystems research. In an attempt to link research on physical climate variability with marine environmental research, IMBER, GLOBEC, and CLIVAR organized training for young marine scientists in Brest, France.
Thermal Remote Sensing of Drought and Evapotranspiration
Authors: Anderson Martha , Kustas William
Published: June 2008

Water lost to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration (ET; soil evaporation + canopy transpiration) serves to cool the Earth's surface. Just as a thermometer is used to diagnose stress in the human body, land surface temperature (LST) derived from remote sensing data in the thermalinfrared (TIR) band (8–14 microns) is a valuable diagnostic of biospheric stress resulting from soil moisture deficiencies. Soil surface temperature increases with decreasing water content, while moisture depletion in the plant root zone leads to stomatal closure, reduced transpiration, and elevated canopy temperatures that can be effectively detected from space. In land surface modeling, TIR imagery can serve as an effective substitute for precipitation data, providing much needed water information in data‐poor regions of the world.
Progress and Prospects for Reanalysis for Weather and Climate
Authors: Trenberth Kevin E. , Koike Toshio , Onogi Kazutoshi
Published: June 2008

Analyses of global atmospheric observations in real time for numerical weather prediction (NWP) lack continuity over time as the operational system evolves. Reanalysis of the observations—with more complete data, improved quality control, and a constant state‐of‐the‐art assimilating model and analysis system—greatly improves the homogeneity of the record and makes it useful for examining climate variations. This whole endeavor is now referred to as “reanalysis.”
Applied comparisons between SCHA and R‐SCHA regional modeling techniques
Authors: Thébault E. , Gaya‐Piqué L.
Published: July 2008

Spherical cap harmonic analysis (SCHA) has become a common tool for the regional modeling of potential fields since its introduction by Haines (1985). The fact that SCHA satisfies Laplace equation and the possibility of representing high‐frequency fields with a small number of coefficients (compared to the global spherical harmonic analysis) made SCHA the preferred choice for the development, for example, of magnetic field models at national scale. However, Thébault et al. (2006a) demonstrated that the traditional SCHA presented some deficiencies, in particular related to the inversion of multilevel data sets. The authors presented the R‐SCHA technique as an alternative method in which the introduction of a new set of basis functions and boundary conditions solved this issue. In this paper we present some numerical comparisons between the SCHA and R‐SCHA techniques applied with different synthetic vector data sets, from near‐surface main field, main difference, and crustal field data simulating a World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map subset. Other analyses are carried out with synthetic vector data set that mimics the expected data distribution from a multisatellite mission like the forthcoming European Swarm mission. No regularization, weighting, or ad hoc procedures are applied to the synthetic vector data, and a cap of 7° aperture is considered. The numerical analyses show that SCHA is a satisfying approximation in a band‐limited spectral region that depends on the cap's size. It does not work correctly either for main field or for the short‐scale crustal field modeling. These aspects are supported by equations illustrating why SCHA may fail. On the contrary, R‐SCHA converges more slowly than SCHA but is valid in all cases. It gives a consistent set of regional coefficients and fits the radial variation of the field in a realistic way. At last, the special case of data incompatibility shows that R‐SCHA does not fit incompatible data while SCHA assimilates most of them. These results should help the scientific community to evaluate the level of approximation needed for the development of regional magnetic field models in the era of the European Space Agency Swarm mission.
Verification of precipitable water vapor estimated from shipborne GPS measurements
Authors: Fujita M. , Kimura F. , Yoneyama K. , Yoshizaki M.
Published: July 2008

Precipitable water vapor (PWV) was measured using a shipborne Global Positioning System (GPS) during a two month cruise in the equatorial Indian Ocean. More than 300 profiles were also observed by radiosondes released from the ship during the experiment. GPS atmospheric delay and PWV was estimated and compared to the radiosonde observations. The GPS‐PWV is in good agreement with the radiosonde PWV (RS‐PWV) with an rms error of 2.27 mm and a mean difference of less than 1 mm during the nighttime. In the daytime, the dry bias of RS‐PWV becomes 3.63 mm. Thus GPS‐PWV observed from a ship under way in the open ocean is sufficiently accurate. The ship based GPS‐PWV data are accurate to be useful for numerical weather predictions as well as for the calibration of the satellite remote sensors.
Melting behavior of (Mg,Fe)O solid solutions at high pressure
Authors: Zhang Li , Fei Yingwei
Published: July 2008

High pressure melting of (Mg,Fe)O ferropericlase, the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's lower mantle, is of fundamental importance for understanding the chemical differentiation, geodynamics and thermal evolution of the Earth's interior. We report the first systematic experimental study of melting behavior in the MgO‐FeO system up to 3600 K and 7 GPa, indicating the ideal solution between solid and liquid (Mg,Fe)O in the MgO‐rich portion. The zero pressure melting slope of MgO is ∼221 K/GPa derived from our resistance heating measurements, which is several times higher than the value from the previous measurements in a CO2‐laser heated diamond anvil cell, but consistent with the theoretically predicted melting curves. Our results combined with the previous first‐principles simulations suggest that the melting temperature of MgO‐rich (Mg,Fe)O is significantly higher than the geotherm through the lower mantle and this would place an upper bound on the solidus of the lower mantle.
Diurnal cycle of surface winds over the subtropical southeast Pacific
Authors: Muñoz R. C.
Published: July 2008

The diurnal variability of surface winds over the SE Pacific is characterized with QuikSCAT data for years 2000–2006. The twice daily satellite passes occur around 0600 and 1800 LT (referred to as AM and PM, respectively). The PM‐AM wind difference maximizes in a region between 20°S and 30°S, extending from the Chilean coast up to 75°W. This difference is mostly meridional (along the coast) with seasonal variation characterized by summertime weakening of the morning winds. The observational analysis is supplemented with mesoscale model results for December 2003. They show that the coastal zonal flow increases between 0600 and 1200 local time (LT) but then decreases in the next 6 hours, which explains the absence of an onshore component in the QuikSCAT PM‐AM difference. Additional model diagnostics show that in this region the diurnal cycle hodographs are more simple and larger above the marine boundary layer (MBL) than at the surface. Evaluation of the momentum and temperature budgets reveals the importance of the diurnal cycle of vertical velocity coupled with the thermal structure in controlling the diurnal cycle of the low‐level winds. Around 1300 LT coastal subsidence maximizes in a layer sloping from 1000 m at 36°S to 3000 m at 22°S, inducing the development of a coastal trough at the surface. During the night the passage of a high‐pressure perturbation reverses the surface meridional pressure gradient force, inducing the decrease of the coastal meridional winds. These results stress the important role played by the dynamics of the low troposphere above the MBL (e.g., the heating of the Andes Cordillera to the east) in controlling the wind diurnal cycles near the surface.
Importance of vagally mediated bradycardia for the induction of torsade de pointes in an in vivo model
Authors: Farkas A , Dempster J , Coker S J
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:

Bradycardia is a risk factor for the development of torsade de pointes (TdP). The aim of this work was to compare the importance of changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure in the development of drug‐induced TdP and to investigate the role of vagal influences.

Experimental approach:

Experiments were performed in open‐chest, pentobarbital‐anaesthetized, male rabbits which were given clofilium (20, 60 and 200 nmol kg−1 min−1) with rising doses of either phenylephrine (75, 150, 225 and 300 nmol kg−1 min−1), angiotensin II (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 nmol kg−1 min−1) or saline. A fourth group received phenylephrine and cloflium after bilateral vagotomy. ECGs, haemodynamics and epicardial monophasic action potentials were recorded.

Key results:

TdP occurred in 57% of rabbits given phenylephrine and clofilium. Replacement of phenylephrine with saline or angiotensin II reduced the incidence of TdP to 0 and 17%, respectively. Vagotomy prevented TdP in rabbits given phenylephrine and clofilium. Increases in blood pressure induced by phenylephrine and angiotensin II were similar. Bradycardia only occurred with phenylephrine and was reduced but not abolished by vagotomy. Neither short‐term variability of repolarization nor action potential triangulation could predict TdP.

Conclusions and implications:

These results indicate that reflex activation of vagal nerve activity is essential for the induction of drug‐induced TdP in α1‐adrenoceptor‐stimulated anaesthetized rabbits. This implies that alterations in vagal activity may also precipitate episodes of drug‐induced TdP in man and that this should be considered in selecting models used in drug development.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 958–970; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.154; published online 21 April 2008
Urocortin ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in obese db/db mice
Authors: Li X , Hu J , Zhang R , Sun X , Zhang Q , Guan X , Chen J , Zhu Q , Li S
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:

Hyperglycaemia induces overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endothelial cells, which is believed to be a major molecular mechanism underlying complications of diabetes, including diabetic nephropathy. Impairment of endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation is found in type 2 diabetes. Urocortin is a 40 amino‐acid peptide related to the corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF) family, which suppresses production of ROS in endothelial cells and sustains endothelium‐dependent relaxations of rat coronary artery. However, it is not clear if urocortin has any effect on diabetic nephropathy.

Experimental approach:

Possible mechanisms underlying the effects of urocortin on diabetic nephropathy were investigated in db/db mice and cultured rat mesangial cells.

Key results:

Urocortin decreased body weight, plasma levels of advanced glycation end‐products, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. However, food intake, plasma insulin and glucose levels remained unaffected. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased markedly, whereas malonaldehyde levels in kidney homogenate and sorbitol concentrations in red blood cells were decreased significantly in urocortin‐treated mice. Urocortin significantly decreased glomerular extracellular matrix expansion and accumulation in kidney. Moreover, urocortin inhibited the overexpression of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 and connective tissue growth factor in rat mesangial cells induced by 25 mM glucose. All the effects of urocortin, except sorbitol accumulation, were abolished by the non‐selective CRF receptor blocker, astressin.

Conclusion and implications:

Urocortin could significantly ameliorate diabetic nephropathy and this effect was mediated via the CRF receptor.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1025–1034; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.155; published online 21 April 2008
Anticonvulsant effect of BmK IT2, a sodium channel‐specific neurotoxin, in rat models of epilepsy
Authors: Zhao R , Zhang X‐Y , Yang J , Weng C‐C , Jiang L‐L , Zhang J‐W , Shu X‐Q , Ji Y‐H
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose: The sodium channel is a primary target for treating central nervous system disorders such as epilepsy. In this study the anticonvulsant effect of BmK IT2, a sodium channel‐specific neurotoxin, was evaluated in different animal models of epilepsy.

Experimental approach: Experiments were performed on freely moving rats made epileptic by administration of either pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) or pilocarpine. BmK IT2 (0.05–0.5 μg in 2 μl) was microinjected into the CA1 area and its effects on PTZ‐induced widespread, seizure‐like behaviour and cortex epileptiform EEG, as well as on pilocarpine‐induced seizure‐like behaviour and c‐Fos expression were studied.

Key results: Intrahippocampal application of BmK IT2 dose‐dependently inhibited PTZ‐induced seizure‐like behaviour, and reduced the numbers and duration of the high amplitude and frequency discharges (HAFDs) of the epileptiform EEG component induced by PTZ. Similarly, in the pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (SE) model, BmK IT2 significantly prolonged the latency to onset of the SE, reduced the severity of SE and suppressed hippocampal c‐Fos expression during SE.

Conclusions and implications: BmK IT2 showed anticonvulsant activity as it inhibited the widespread seizures induced by PTZ and pilocarpine‐induced SE in rats. This activity might be due to the modulation of sodium channels in the hippocampus. Hence, BmK IT2 could be used as a novel tool to explore the molecular and pathological mechanisms of epilepsy with regard to the involvement of sodium channels.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 1116–1124; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.156; published online 21 April 2008
Pharmacological profiling of neuropeptides on rabbit vaginal wall and vaginal artery smooth muscle in vitro
Authors: Aughton K L , Hamilton‐Smith K , Gupta J , Morton J S , Wayman C P , Jackson V M
Published: June 2008

Background and purpose:

Hypothalamic neuropeptides centrally modulate sexual arousal. However, the role of neuropeptides in peripheral arousal has been ignored. Vascular and non‐vascular smooth muscle relaxation in the vagina is important for female sexual arousal. To date, in vitro studies have focused on vaginal strips with no studies on vaginal arteries. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of sexual hypothalamic neuropeptides on rabbit vaginal wall strips and arteries.

Experimental approach:

Tissue bath and wire myography techniques were used to measure isometric tension from strips and arteries, respectively.

Key results:

Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) relaxed both preparations, effects that were only antagonized by the VIP/PACAP antagonist VIP6–28 (10 nM) and the PAC1 antagonist PACAP 6–38 (1 μM). The melanocortin agonist α‐melanocortin‐stimulating hormone (1 μM), but not bremelanotide (1 μM), also relaxed both preparations. Oxytocin and vasopressin contracted vaginal preparations, which could be antagonized by the V1A antagonist SR 49059. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the NPY Y1 agonist Leu31, Pro34 NPY only contracted arteries, which was antagonized by the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226. Melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH; 1 μM) contracted arteries.

Conclusion and implications:

Hypothalamic neuropeptides can exert contractile and relaxant effects on vaginal strips and arteries. NPY Y1, V1A, MCH1 antagonists as well as VIP/PAC1 agonists may have therapeutic potential in both central and peripheral female sexual arousal. Differences in effect of neuropeptides between preparations raise the question of which preparation is important for female sexual arousal.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 236–243; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.253; published online 30 June 2008