bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dendritic Cells in Atopic Dermatitis: Expression of FcεRI on Two Distinct Inflammation-Associated Subsets
Authors: Stary Georg , Bangert Christine , Stingl Georg , Kopp Tamara
Published: October 2005

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) represent a major portion within the infiltrate of atopic dermatitis (AD) lesions. As antigen-presenting cells they have the ability to regulate both the quantity and quality of T-cell responses and, thus, are likely to play a key role in the pathogenesis of T-cell-dominated skin diseases such as AD. Thus we sought to identify the DC repertoire occurring in AD patients. Methods: For this purpose, we phenotypically analyzed various defined DC subsets of AD patients and healthy controls in skin biopsies and peripheral blood by immunofluorescence staining. Results: In AD lesions, two inflammation-associated DC subsets with varying expression of costimulatory molecules occurred besides epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal myeloid DCs (dmDCs) indigenously residing in normal skin: (1) CD1a+/CD1c+/FcεRI+/IgE+/CD207– myeloid DCs (mDCs) in the epidermis and dermis and (2) CD123+/BDCA-2+/CD45RA+/CD68+ plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in the dermis. In the peripheral blood of the patients, these cells exhibited an immature phenotype. Interestingly, we found FcεRI and cell-bound IgE to be expressed not only on myeloid, but also on plasmacytoid DCs from both the skin and peripheral blood of AD patients. Conclusions: It is tempting to speculate that the disease-regulating role of inflammatory DCs in AD is influenced by both FcεRI occupancy and their degree of maturity.
IgE-Mediated Rat Mast Cell Triggering with Tryptic and Synthetic Peptides of Bovine β-Lactoglobulin
Authors: Fritsché Rodolphe , Adel-Patient Karine , Bernard Hervé , Martin-Paschoud Christine , Schwarz Catherine , Ah-Leung Sandrine , Wal Jean-Michel
Published: October 2005

Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitopes of β-lactoglubulin (βLG) have been identified by ELISA inhibition methods using sera from allergic patients. However, the functional capacity of these epitopes to stimulate mast cells is unknown. It is the goal of the present study to identify bivalent IgE epitopes of βLG able to trigger target mast cells. Methods:Peptides were obtained either by purification from tryptic hydrolysates of βLG or by synthesis. They were examined for their triggering activity in vitro on peritoneal 3H-serotonin-labeled rat mast cells passively sensitized with IgE anti-βLG antibodies. In vivo, rats immunized with βLG were administered peptides by gavage for intestinal rat mast cell protease II release. Results: Compared with intact βLG, purified or synthetic tryptic-like βLG peptides have a sharply decreased allergenicity. Peptide 149–162 retains the highest bivalent IgE epitope-mediated triggering capacity. Conclusion: A functional bivalent IgE epitope was identified at the C terminal end of βLG.
Partial Liquid Ventilation with Low-Dose Perfluorochemical and High-Frequency Oscillation Improves Oxygenation and Lung Compliance in a Rabbit Model of Surfactant Depletion
Authors: Wakabayashi Takashi , Tamura Masanori , Nakamura Tomohiko
Published: October 2005

Background: Partial liquid ventilation (PLV) with perfluorochemical (PFC) has been advocated as a new therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome in both clinical and animal studies, meconium aspiration syndrome, and RDS. PFC is referred to as liquid PEEP because it gets distributed to the most gravity-dependent regions of the lung due to its density. High-frequency oscillation (HFO) has been shown to prevent both acute and chronic lung injury in the management of very low birth weight infants with RDS, with gentle ventilation approach. Specifically, HFO with aggressive and adequate lung volume recruitment has been shown to reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease in very low birth weight infants. We hypothesized that PLV along with HFO might be effective in ARDS in an adult rabbit model. Objectives: To examine the efficiency of low-dose PLV with with HFO on pulmonary gas exchange and lung compliance in a surfactant-depleted rabbit model. Methods: After induction of severe lung injury by repeated saline lung lavage, 19 adult white Japanese rabbits were randomized into two groups that received PLV with HFO (n = 9) or HFO gas ventilation (n = 10). Physiological and blood gas data were compared between the two groups by analysis of variance. Results: The HFO-PLV group showed improved total lung compliance with maintenance of significantly lower mean airway pressure as compared with the HFO-GAS group so as to keep SpO2 >90%. Conclusions: The addition of a low dose of PFC with HFO was effective in achieving adequate oxygenation, with a reduction in further lung injury in neonates.
Headaches and the Treatment of Blood Pressure
Authors: Law Malcolm , Morris Joan K. , Jordan Rachel , Wald Nicholas
Published: October 2005

Background—

Uncertainty exists over whether blood pressure–lowering drugs prevent headache.

Methods and Results—

A meta-analysis was carried out of the 94 randomized placebo-controlled trials of 4 different classes of blood pressure–lowering drugs (thiazides, β-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists) in fixed doses in which data on headache were reported. There were 17 641 participants who were allocated blood pressure–lowering drugs and 6603 who were allocated placebo. Treatment lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressures by 9.4 and 5.5 mm Hg, respectively, on average. One third fewer people on average reported headache in the treated groups (8.0%) than the placebo groups (12.4%) (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0.74;
P
<0.001). About 1 in 30 treated persons benefited by having headache prevented. The prevalence of headache was reduced (
P
<0.001) in trials of each of the 4 classes of drugs.

Conclusions—

Our results show that blood pressure–lowering drugs prevent a significant proportion of headaches. That this effect is seen with pharmacologically unrelated classes of drugs indicates that it is likely to be due to the reduction in blood pressure per se, the only recognized action that the drugs have in common. This in turn indicates that high blood pressure is a cause of headache, but this conclusion is not supported by observational studies of blood pressure and headache. The uncertainty over whether high blood pressure causes headache does not, however, detract from the practical benefits of the use of blood pressure–lowering drugs in preventing headaches and cardiovascular disease.
Effects of Heat Stress on Thermoregulatory Responses in Congestive Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Cui Jian , Arbab-Zadeh Armin , Prasad Anand , Durand Sylvain , Levine Benjamin D. , Crandall Craig G.
Published: October 2005

Background—

Clinical observations suggest that tolerance to heat stress may be impaired in patients with cardiovascular diseases, particularly those associated with impaired ventricular function and congestive heart failure (CHF). However, thermoregulatory function during a controlled heat stress challenge in patients with CHF has not been studied.

Methods and Results—

To test the hypothesis that thermoregulatory responses are attenuated in such patients, we assessed cutaneous vasodilation and sweat rate in patients with stable class II–III CHF and in matched healthy subjects during passive whole-body heating. Whole-body heating induced a similar increase in internal temperature (≈0.85°C) in both groups. The sweating responses in patients with CHF were not significantly different from that in control subjects. In contrast, the elevation in forearm cutaneous vascular conductance in patients with CHF was reduced by nearly 50% relative to the control subjects (3.8±0.8 versus 6.9±1.0 mL/100 mL tissue per minute per 100 mm Hg,
P
=0.04). Moreover, maximal cutaneous vasodilator capacity to direct local heating in patients with CHF was also significantly lower than in control subjects, suggesting that vascular remodeling may be limiting cutaneous vasodilation during hyperthermia.

Conclusions—

These observations suggest that patients with CHF exhibit attenuated cutaneous vasodilator responses to both whole-body and local heating, whereas sweating responses are preserved. Attenuated cutaneous vasodilation may be a potential mechanism for heat intolerance in patients with CHF.
Enhanced Activity of the Myocardial Na
+
/H
+
Exchanger NHE-1 Contributes to Cardiac Remodeling in Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Receptor–Deficient Mice
Authors: Kilic Ana , Velic Ana , De Windt León J. , Fabritz Larissa , Voss Melanie , Mitko Danuta , Zwiener Melanie , Baba Hideo A. , van Eickels Martin , Schlatter Eberhard , Kuhn Michaela
Published: October 2005

Background—

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), through its guanylyl cyclase-A (GC-A) receptor, not only is critically involved in the endocrine regulation of arterial blood pressure but also locally moderates cardiomyocyte growth. The mechanisms underlying the antihypertrophic effects of ANP remain largely uncharacterized. We examined the contribution of the Na
+
/H
+
exchanger NHE-1 to cardiac remodeling in GC-A–deficient (GC-A
−/−
) mice.

Methods and Results—

Fluorometric measurements in isolated adult cardiomyocytes demonstrated that cardiac hypertrophy in GC-A
−/−
mice was associated with enhanced NHE-1 activity, alkalinization of intracellular pH, and increased Ca
2+
levels. Chronic treatment of GC-A
−/−
mice with the NHE-1 inhibitor cariporide normalized cardiomyocyte pH and Ca
2+
levels and regressed cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, despite persistent arterial hypertension. To characterize the molecular pathways driving cardiac hypertrophy in GC-A
−/−
mice, we evaluated the activity of 4 prohypertrophic signaling pathways: the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), the serine-threonine kinase Akt, calcineurin, and Ca
2+
/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII). The results demonstrate that all 4 pathways were activated in GC-A
−/−
mice, but only CaMKII and Akt activity regressed during reversal of the hypertrophic phenotype by cariporide treatment. In contrast, the MAPK and calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathways remained activated during regression of hypertrophy.

Conclusions—

On the basis of these results, we conclude that the ANP/GC-A system moderates the cardiac growth response to pressure overload by preventing excessive activation of NHE-1 and subsequent increases in cardiomyocyte intracellular pH, Ca
2+
, and CaMKII as well as Akt activity.
Mechanoreflex Mediates the Exaggerated Exercise Pressor Reflex in Heart Failure
Authors: Smith Scott A. , Mitchell Jere H. , Naseem R. Haris , Garry Mary G.
Published: October 2005

Background—

In heart failure, exercise elicits excessive increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Using a novel rat model, we previously demonstrated that this exaggerated cardiovascular responsiveness is mediated by an overactive exercise pressor reflex (EPR). Although we previously determined that abnormalities in the group IV afferent neuron population (associated with the metabolic component of the reflex) initiate the development of the exaggerated EPR in heart failure, these fibers do not mediate the enhanced circulatory responses to exercise. Therefore, we hypothesized that the augmentation in EPR activity is primarily mediated by the mechanically sensitive component of the reflex (mediated predominately by activation of group III afferent fibers).

Methods and Results—

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: sham (control), dilated cardiomyopathic (DCM), and neonatal capsaicin-treated animals (NNCAP, group IV afferent fibers ablated). Activation of the EPR by electrically induced static muscle contraction of the hindlimb resulted in larger increases in MAP and HR in DCM and NNCAP compared with sham animals. In all groups, administration of gadolinium (a selective blocker of mechanically sensitive receptors) within the hindlimb attenuated the MAP and HR responses to contraction. However, the magnitude of this reduction was greater in DCM and NNCAP compared with sham animals.

Conclusions—

From these data, we conclude that the muscle mechanoreflex mediates the exaggerated EPR that develops in heart failure. Moreover, these findings suggest that mechanoreflex overactivity in heart failure may be a compensatory response to functional alterations in group IV fibers. Given these findings, the muscle mechanoreflex may serve as a novel target in the treatment of the abnormal circulatory responses to exercise in heart failure.
Tip Jets and Barrier Winds: A QuikSCAT Climatology of High Wind Speed Events around Greenland
Authors: Moore G. W. K. , Renfrew I. A.
Published: October 2005

The high topography of Greenland results in a number of orographically induced high wind speed flows along its coast that are of interest from both a severe weather and climate perspective. Here the surface wind field dataset from the NASA–JPL SeaWinds scatterometer on board the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite is used to develop a wintertime climatology of these flows. The high spatial resolution and the twice-daily sampling of the SeaWinds instrument allows for a much more detailed view of the surface winds around Greenland than has been previously possible. Three phenomena stand out as the most distinctive features of the surface wind field during the winter months: the previously identified tip jets and reverse tip jets, as well as the hitherto unrecognized barrier flows along its southeast coast in the vicinity of the Denmark Strait. Peak surface wind speeds associated with these phenomena can be as large as 50 m s−1 with winds over 25 m s−1 occurring approximately 10%–15% of the time at each location.

A compositing technique is used to show that each type of flow is the result of an interaction between a synoptic-scale parent cyclone and the high topography of Greenland. In keeping with previous work, it is argued that tip jets are caused by a combination of conservation of the Bernoulli function during orographic descent and acceleration due to flow splitting as stable air passes around Cape Farewell, while barrier winds are a geostrophic response to stable air being forced against high topography. It is proposed that reverse tip jets occur when barrier winds reach the end of the topographic barrier and move from a geostrophic to a gradient wind balance, becoming supergeostrophic as a result of their anticyclonic curvature.
Intraseasonal Dynamical Evolution of the Northern Annular Mode
Authors: McDaniel Brent A. , Black Robert X.
Published: October 2005

The Northern Hemisphere annular mode (NAM) accounts for a significant fraction of the extratropical wintertime atmospheric variability. The dynamics of NAM events have been studied on monthly time scales, but little is known about the physical mechanisms that give rise to NAM variability on shorter time scales. Composite diagnostic analyses based on daily NAM indices are performed with a goal of identifying the dominant processes responsible for the growth and decay of large-amplitude positive and negative NAM events on short intraseasonal time scales.

Transformed Eulerian mean, piecewise potential vorticity inversions, and regional Plumb flux diagnoses are employed to deduce the proximate forcings of the zonal-mean wind tendency during maturing and declining NAM stages. A remarkable degree of reverse symmetry is observed between the zonal-mean dynamical evolution of positive and negative NAM events. Anomalous equatorward and downward (poleward and upward) Eliassen–Palm fluxes are observed during the maturation of positive (negative) NAM events, consistent with index of refraction considerations and an indirect downward stratospheric influence. The associated patterns of anomalous wave driving provide the primary forcing of the zonal wind tendency field. Spectral analyses reveal that both the stratospheric and tropospheric patterns of wave driving are primarily due to low-frequency planetary-scale eddies. Regional wave activity flux diagnoses further illustrate that this wave-driving pattern represents the zonal-mean manifestation of planetary-scale anomalies over the North Atlantic that are linked to local anomalies in stationary wave forcing. The decay of NAM events coincides with the collapse in the pattern of anomalous stationary wave forcing over the North Atlantic region. Our diagnostic results indicate that both (i) synoptic eddies and (ii) direct downward stratospheric forcing provide second-order reinforcing contributions to the intraseasonal dynamical evolution of NAM events.
Dynamic–Thermodynamic Sea Ice Model: Ridging and Its Application to Climate Study and Navigation
Authors: Shoutilin Sergey V. , Makshtas Alexander P. , Ikeda Motoyoshi , Marchenko Alexey V. , Bekryaev Roman V.
Published: October 2005

A dynamic–thermodynamic sea ice model with the ocean mixed layer forced by atmospheric data is used to investigate spatial and long-term variability of the sea ice cover in the Arctic basin. The model satisfactorily reproduces the averaged main characteristics of the sea ice and its extent in the Arctic Basin, as well as its decrease in the early 1990s. Employment of the average ridge shape for describing the ridging allows the authors to suggest that it occurs in winter and varies from year to year by a factor of 2, depending on an atmospheric circulation pattern. Production and horizontal movement of ridges are the focus in this paper, as they show the importance of interannual variability of the Arctic ice cover. The observed thinning in the 1990s is a result of reduction in ridge formation on the Pacific side during the cyclonic phase of the Arctic Oscillation. The model yields a partial recovery of sea ice cover in the last few years of the twentieth century. In addition to the sea ice cover and average thickness compared with satellite data, the ridge amount is verified with observations taken in the vicinity of the Russian coast. The model results are useful to estimate long-term variability of the probability of ridge-free navigation in different parts of the Arctic Ocean, including the Northern Sea Route area.
Internal Variability of Indian Ocean SST
Authors: Jochum Markus , Murtugudde Raghu
Published: October 2005

A 40-yr integration of an eddy-resolving numerical model of the tropical Indian Ocean is analyzed to quantify the interannual variability that is caused by the internal variability of ocean dynamics. It is found that along the equator in the western Indian Ocean internal variability contributes significantly to the observed interannual variability. This suggests that in this location the predictability of SST is limited to the persistence time of SST anomalies, which is approximately 100 days. Furthermore, a comparison with other sources of variability suggests that internal variability may play an important role in modifying the Indian monsoon or preconditioning the Indian Ocean dipole/zonal mode.
Effects of Central American Mountains on the Eastern Pacific Winter ITCZ and Moisture Transport*
Authors: Xu Haiming , Xie Shang-Ping , Wang Yuqing , Small R. Justin
Published: October 2005

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is displaced to the south edge of the eastern Pacific warm pool in boreal winter, instead of being collocated. A high-resolution regional climate model is used to investigate the mechanism for this displaced ITCZ. Under the observed sea surface temperature (SST) and lateral boundary forcing, the model reproduces the salient features of eastern Pacific climate in winter, including the southward displaced ITCZ and gap wind jets off the Central American coast. As the northeast trades impinge on the mountains of Central America, subsidence prevails off the Pacific coast, pushing the ITCZ southward. Cold SST patches induced by three gap wind jets have additional effects of keeping the ITCZ away from the coast. In an experiment in which both the Central American mountains and their effect on SST are removed, the ITCZ shifts considerably northward to cover much of the eastern Pacific warm pool.

The Central American mountains are considered important to freshwater transport from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, which in turn plays a key role in global ocean thermohaline circulation. The results of this study show that this transport across Central America is not very sensitive to the fine structure of the orography because the increased flow in the mountain gaps in a detailed topography run tends to be compensated for by broader flow in a smoothed topography run. Implications for global climate modeling are discussed.
Air–Sea Interactions in the Tropical Atlantic: A View Based on Lagged Rotated Maximum Covariance Analysis
Authors: Frankignoul Claude , Kestenare Elodie
Published: October 2005

The dominant air–sea feedbacks that are at play in the tropical Atlantic are revisited, using the 1958–2002 NCEP reanalysis. To separate between different modes of variability and distinguish between cause and effect, a lagged rotated maximum covariance analysis (MCA) of monthly sea surface temperature (SST), wind, and surface heat flux anomalies is performed. The dominant mode is the ENSO-like zonal equatorial SST mode, which has its maximum amplitude in boreal summer and is a strongly coupled ocean–atmosphere mode sustained by a positive feedback between wind and SST. The turbulent heat flux feedback is negative, except west of 25°W where it is positive, but countered by a negative radiative feedback associated with the meridional displacement of the ITCZ. As the maximum covariance patterns change little between lead and lag conditions, the in-phase covariability between SST and the atmosphere can be used to infer the atmospheric response to the SST anomaly. The second climate mode involves an SST anomaly in the tropical North Atlantic, which is primarily generated by the surface heat flux and, in boreal winter, wind changes off the coast of Africa. After it has been generated, the SST anomaly is sustained in the deep Tropics by the positive wind–evaporation–SST feedback linked to the wind response to the SST. However, north of about 10°N where the SST anomaly is largest, the wind response is weak and the heat flux feedback is negative, thus damping the SST anomaly. As the in-phase maximum covariance patterns primarily reflect the atmospheric forcing of the SST, simultaneous correlations cannot be used to describe the atmospheric response to the SST anomaly, except in the deep Tropics. Using instead the maximum covariance patterns when SST leads the atmosphere reconciles the results of recent atmospheric general circulation model experiments with the observations.
Simple Optical Models for Diagnosing Surface–Atmosphere Shortwave Interactions
Authors: Winton Michael
Published: October 2005

A technique is developed for diagnosing effective surface and atmospheric optical properties from climate model shortwave flux diagnostics. These properties can be used to distinguish the contributions of surface and atmospheric optical property changes to shortwave flux changes at the surface and top of the atmosphere. In addition to the four standard shortwave flux diagnostics (upward, downward, surface, and top of atmosphere), the technique makes use of surface-down and top-up fluxes over a zero-albedo surface obtained from an auxiliary online shortwave calculation. The simple model optical properties, when constructed from the time-mean fluxes, are effective optical properties, useful for predicting the time-mean response to optical property changes. The technique is tested against auxiliary online shortwave calculations at four validation albedos and shown to predict the monthly mean surface absorption with an rms error of less than 2% over the globe. The reasons for the accuracy of the technique are explored. Less accurate techniques that make use of existing shortwave diagnostics are presented and compared.
Ross Sea Ice Motion, Area Flux, and Deformation
Authors: Kwok R.
Published: October 2005

The sea ice motion, area export, and deformation of the Ross Sea ice cover are examined with satellite passive microwave and RADARSAT observations. The record of high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, from 1998 and 2000, allows the estimation of the variability of ice deformation at the small scale (∼10 km) and to assess the quality of the longer record of passive microwave ice motion. Daily and subdaily deformation fields and RADARSAT imagery highlight the variability of motion and deformation in the Ross Sea. With the passive microwave ice motion, the area export at a flux gate positioned between Cape Adare and Land Bay is estimated. Between 1992 and 2003, a positive trend can be seen in the winter (March–November) ice area flux that has a mean of 990 × 103 km2 and ranges from a low of 600 × 103 km2 in 1992 to a peak of 1600 × 103 km2 in 2001. In the mean, the southern Ross Sea produces almost twice its own area of sea ice during the winter. Cross-gate sea level pressure (SLP) gradients explain ∼60% of the variance in the ice area flux. A positive trend in this gradient, from reanalysis products, suggests a “spinup” of the Ross Sea Gyre over the past 12 yr. In both the NCEP–NCAR and ERA-40 surface pressure fields, longer-term trends in this gradient and mean SLP between 1979 and 2002 are explored along with positive anomalies in the monthly cross-gate SLP gradient associated with the positive phase of the Southern Hemisphere annular mode and the extrapolar Southern Oscillation.
Influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole on Atmospheric Subseasonal Variability
Authors: Shinoda Toshiaki , Han Weiqing
Published: October 2005

The relationship between atmospheric subseasonal variability and interannual variation of SST over the tropical Indian Ocean is examined using winds and humidity from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), and the monthly SST analysis. The primary focus is on whether and how the subseasonal variability is related to the zonal dipole structure of SST, which peaks during boreal fall. The level of subseasonal wind activity is measured by standard deviation of bandpass-filtered zonal wind fields on the 6–30- and 30–90-day time scales.

During boreal fall (September–November), the interannual variation of 6–30-day (submonthly) near-surface zonal wind activity in the central and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean is highly correlated with the large-scale zonal SST gradient. The intensity of submonthly variability is largely reduced during positive dipole years. A significant reduction of intraseasonal (30–90-day) wind activity is also evident during large dipole events. However, the correlation with the zonal SST gradient is much weaker than that of submonthly variability.

The mechanism by which the Indian Ocean dipole influences equatorial submonthly winds is investigated based on a cross-correlation analysis of OLR and winds. During negative dipole years, submonthly convection is active in the southeast Indian Ocean where the anomalous convergence of surface moisture associated with dipole events is at its maximum. The submonthly convection in this region is often associated with a cyclonic circulation, and these disturbances propagate westward. Consequently, equatorial westerlies and northwesterly winds near the coast of Sumatra are generated. During positive dipole years, submonthly convective activity is highly reduced in the southeast Indian Ocean, and thus no equatorial westerly is generated.

Ocean response to submonthly disturbances is examined using OGCM experiments forced with winds from the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis. Results suggest that submonthly winds can generate significant upper-ocean response, including strong eastward surface currents near the equator and sea surface height anomalies along the coast of Sumatra where the large SST anomalies associated with dipole events are observed.
Impact of Model Resolution on the Prediction of Summer Precipitation over the United States and Mexico
Authors: Mo Kingtse C. , Schemm Jae-Kyung , Juang H. M. H. , Higgins R. Wayne , Song Yucheng
Published: October 2005

Summer seasonal simulations for selected years were performed using the NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) at high (T126L28) and low (T62L28) resolutions, and the NCEP 80-km regional spectral model (RSM) nested in the T62 model outputs (RSM80/T62). All models have 28 levels in the vertical. All experiments were performed with prescribed observed sea surface temperatures to ensure that simulation errors came from model deficiencies. While the T126L28 model does not have a statistically significant advantage in simulating 500-hPa height anomalies over the Pacific–North American domain, it yields better monsoon precipitation forecasts and interannual variability. The T62L28 model simulations are too dry over the Southwest and northwestern Mexico when compared to observations and do not properly capture interannual variations of monsoon rainfall. The RSM80/T62 nesting improves the overall rainfall simulations somewhat but is not able to overcome deficiencies of the T62L28 global model to capture interannual variations in monsoon precipitation. Results indicate that a high-resolution version of the global model is needed for seasonal forecasts of monsoon precipitation.

Both models capture the low-level jet from the Great Plains (GPLLJ) and rainfall anomalies associated with the 1993 summer floods and the 1988 summer drought, although the simulated rainfall maxima are often weaker and shifted spatially when compared to observations. The impact of horizontal resolution is largely local and is limited to areas over the western region of North America. The T126 model is able to capture the low-level jet from the Gulf of California (GCLLJ), while the T62 model is too coarse to resolve the Gulf of California (GOC). Moisture surges along the GOC are not properly simulated by the T62 model. Overall, the T62 model simulates a very dry Southwest and a weaker monsoon.
Reinitiation of the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation in the Tropical Indian Ocean*
Authors: Jiang Xian-An , Li Tim
Published: October 2005

The characteristic features of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) during its reinitiation period are studied using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis. Based on these observations and with the aid of an anomalous atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), a possible mechanism responsible for the BSISO reinitiation is elucidated. The western equatorial Indian Ocean along the eastern African coast tends to be a key region for the phase transition of the BSISO from an enhanced to suppressed convective phase, or vise versa. The major precursory feature associated with reinitiation of suppressed convection is found in the divergence and reduced specific humidity in the boundary layer. Numerical experiments indicate that the low-level divergence is caused by the cold horizontal temperature advection and associated adiabatic warming (descending motion) in situ. The summer mean state is found to be important for the cold horizontal temperature advection through the modulation of a Gill-type response to an intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) heating in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. The results in this study suggest a self-sustained paradigm in the Indian Ocean for the BSISO; that is, the BSISO could be a basinwide phenomenon instead of a global circumstance system as hypothesized for the boreal winter ISO (i.e., the Madden–Julian oscillation).
Black Womanhood: Essence and its Treatment of Stereotypical Images of Black Women
Authors: Woodard Jennifer Bailey , Mastin Teresa
Published: October 2005

One could assume it is a given that Essencemagazine dispels stereotypical images of Black women and that it works to liberate them from the strictures imposed on them by a world in which they live as an undervalued and marginalized minority. After all, this is the only longstanding women’s magazine that targets Black women and addresses specifically their cultural and emotional needs as African Americans and women. This content analysis examines whether Essenceworks as a liberating feminist text that dispels, as opposed to validates, stereotypical images of Black women. We hypothesize that (a) there will be more evidence to dispel the stereotypes than to perpetuate them and (b) that of the four major African American women stereotypes—mammy, matriarch, sexual siren, and welfare mother or queen—the matriarch and sexual siren stereotypes will be dispelled more frequently. Results support the former hypothesis entirely and the latter hypothesis partially.
Managerial Networking
Authors: Meier Kenneth J. , O’Toole Laurence J.
Published: October 2005

The study of networks is a growth area in public management. This article argues that small studies of networks need to be supplemented with large n studies that permit one to include more theoretically relevant control variables and to deal with issues of causality. Using survey data from several hundred agency heads, this article presents a reliable measure of management network activities that has demonstrated substantial empirical import. If the right network nodes are selected, contact information on only a limited number of nodes is needed. Who initiates contacts within the network is also shown to be important.
A Full and Fair Capacity
Authors: Wise Charles R. , Christensen Robert K.
Published: October 2005

Federal courts play a significant role in the management and execution of public programs. Judicial intervention is evident in examples ranging from prisons to mental hospitals to schools. To clarify the appropriateness of federal judicial intervention, the authors construct a so-called full and fair judicial and administrative capacity standard. Where state judicial and administrative capacities are evident, federal courts do well to refrain from exercising jurisdiction. The analysis of the authors also reflects consideration of the capacity of the federal judiciary to manage a state administrative scheme.
Relations Among Maternal Racial Identity, Maternal Parenting Behavior, and Child Outcomes in Low-Income, Urban, Black Families
Authors: Halgunseth Linda C. , Ispa Jean M. , Csizmadia Annamaria , Thornburg Kathy R.
Published: October 2005

This study examined maternal racial identity and its relations to maternal depression, maternal age, maternal parenting behavior, and 5-year-old children's social and cognitive outcomes. Participants included 62 African American mother-child dyads enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project. Mothers completed measures on their own racial identity and depression and on their children's social competence. Children were assessed on reading and mathematical readiness. Parent-child interactions were videotaped and coded for levels of maternal power assertion and warmth. After controlling for maternal education and program status, a series of multiple regressions were conducted. Results indicated that maternal preencounter attitudes were negatively related to maternal age and power assertion. Maternal immersion attitudes and children's cognitive achievement were negatively related. Maternal internalization attitudes were positively related to children's social competence. A trend suggested a positive relation between maternal preencounter attitudes and children's cognitive achievement. Maternal racial identity was not associated with maternal depression or maternal warmth.
Assessment of Behavioral and Emotional Strengths in Black Children: Development of the Behavioral Assessment for Children of African Heritage
Authors: Lambert Michael Canute , Rowan George T. , Kim Soyoun , Rowan Scott A. , An Jeong Shin , Kirsch Elizabeth A. , Williams Olivia
Published: October 2005

Absence of culturally relevant measures of Black children's strengths inhibits psychometrically sound strength-based assessment, research, and appropriate use of strengths as scaffolds or targets for clinical intervention. Moreover, the sparse research literature on Black children is primarily deficit focused. Beginning to address these problems, considerable input was sought from the Black community in constructing behavioral and emotional strength forms for Black children. Exploratory factor analyses conducted separately on 559 parent reports, 489 teacher reports, and 417 adolescent self-reports revealed two unidimensional cross-informant factors labeled Resilience and Self-Regulation and Prosocial Behavior. Item response theory analyses revealed invariance across gender, socioeconomic status, and age, but variance across informant type and referral status, and that most items provide sufficient psychometric information to warrant retention for clinical assessment and research.
Ethnic Social Comfort I: Construct Validity Through Social Distance Measurement
Authors: Rollock David , Vrana Scott R.
Published: October 2005

Emotion-related constructs hold understudied promise for understanding interand intraethnic attitudes and behaviors of African Americans. This article describes preliminary steps taken to explore the construct of interethnic social comfort through the revision and expansion of an existing measure of interethnic social distance, and to explore its psychometric properties among several subsamples of a group of 238 African American undergraduates. Items from the Revised Social Scales were found free from traditional social desirability. Factor analyses suggested a single-factor latent structure for in-group (i.e., Black) social comfort and a two-factor latent structure for out-group (i.e., White) social comfort, which distinguished intimate from nonintimate relationships. Subscales based on these analyses showed high internal consistency reliability and convergent and discriminant validity by patterns of correlations with measures of ethnic identity, related attitudes, self-relevant beliefs, and demographic background. Gender and other demographic differences, limitations, and next steps for establishing validity are discussed.
Africentric Cultural Values, Psychological Help-Seeking Attitudes, and Self-Concealment in African American College Students
Authors: Wallace Barbara C. , Constantine Madonna G.
Published: October 2005

This study investigated the relationships among Africentric cultural values (i.e., the extent to which an individual adheres to a worldview emphasizing communalism, unity, harmony, spirituality, and authenticity), favorable psychological help-seeking attitudes, perceived counseling stigma, and selfconcealment (i.e., the tendency to withhold personal, sensitive information that is perceived as negative or upsetting) in a sample of African American college students. The authors found that for both African American women and men, higher degrees of Africentric cultural values were associated with greater perceived stigma about counseling and greater self-concealment. In addition, findings indicated that neither favorable psychological help-seeking attitudes nor perceived counseling stigma significantly mediated the relationship between Africentric cultural values and self-concealment behavior. Implication of the findings and future research directions are discussed.
Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders in a Community Sample of Mexican American Women
Authors: Cachelin Fary M. , Schug Robert A. , Juarez Laura C. , Monreal Teresa K.
Published: October 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sexual abuse and eating disorders in a voluntary community sample of Mexican American women. Eighty eating disorder cases were compared to 110 healthy controls on presence of sexual abuse and on characteristics of the abuse. The Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text revision) and the Eating Disorder Examination were used to determine diagnoses and psychiatric comorbidity. Results indicated that compared to controls, cases were more likely to report sexual abuse and had experienced more instances and longer duration of abuse. For the majority of cases, sexual abuse occurred before onset of eating disorder symptoms. There was no relationship between sexual abuse and type of eating disorder or psychiatric comorbidity. Sexual abuse seems to be a risk factor for disordered eating in Mexican Americans. Prolonged abuse and revictimization may increase this risk.
The Spanish Version of the Draw-A-Person Questionnaire (DAPQ)
Authors: Franco Fabiana , Karp Stephen A. , Schottenbauer Michele A.
Published: October 2005

The present study evaluates the discriminating ability and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Draw-A-Person Questionnaire (DAPQ). The DAPQ is an instrument that uses both free-response and fixed-response methodologies and has been recently translated into Spanish. A group of 60 psychiatric patients of Latin American origin is compared to a sample of matched Latino comparison participants. Participants are closely matched by gender, age, education level, and perceived ethnic identification. The results on the Spanish version of the DAPQ are similar to those of the English version. The Spanish DAPQ is able to differentiate psychiatric inpatients from a normal comparison group. The psychiatric group has significantly more negative scores and more socially undesirable answers when describing their figures than the matched sample does.
An Inquiry Into the “Agonies” (Agonias) of Portuguese Immigrants From the Azores
Authors: James Susan , Navara Geoffrey S. , Clarke Juanne N. , Lomotey Jonathan
Published: October 2005

Previous research has found that psychiatric symptom expression is inextricably linked with culture and that psychiatric categories do not necessarily reflect the experiences of people from other cultures. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this study explored the Portuguese culture-specific phenomenon agonias (meaning “the agonies”). Fifty (21 males and 29 females) Portuguese immigrants from the Azores were interviewed concerning their immigration experience, family life, health, healing, suffering, and understanding of agonias. Although there was diversity among the participants’ responses, a cohesive and systemic understanding of agonias arose from the narratives. A link between the somatic symptoms of agonias and psychological processes, social context, and religious beliefs was demonstrated, and highlighted that psychiatric categories are limited when classifying a multidimensional experience like agonias.
Factorial Invariance of a Pan-Hispanic Familism Scale
Authors: Villarreal Ricardo , Blozis Shelley A. , Widaman Keith F.
Published: October 2005

This article considers the validity and factorial invariance of an attitudinal measure of familism. Using a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. Hispanics, the validity and factorial invariance of the measure was tested across country of origin (United States, Mexico, and Latin America) and the language in which the survey was conducted (Spanish and English). Results support the invariance of the measure in both group comparisons, suggesting that the measure assesses a quality of familism that persists across country of origin and language preference. Further, the results also support equality in mean factor levels across these groups.
Development of the Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scales (IPVAS) With a Predominantly Mexican American College Sample
Authors: Smith Brenda A. , Thompson Sharon , Tomaka Joe , Buchanan Amy C.
Published: October 2005

Although instruments that estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) are available, few include potential predictors of violent behaviors such as beliefs and attitudes. The main purpose of this study was to develop a measure of attitudes toward various forms of IPV. The secondary purpose was to examine Mexican American and non-Hispanic White college students’ attitudes toward IPV. Data from a sample of 333 predominantly Mexican American (65%) college students were used to determine reliability and factor structure of the final 23-item scale. Principal factor analysis revealed three factors—Abuse, Control, and Physical Violence—with Cronbach alphas of .81, .69, and .70, respectively. The three subscales were positively intercorrelated, at levels that suggest good convergent and discriminate validity. The findings support the possible utility of the scales for predicting IPV. The study did not find significant differences in Mexican American and non-Hispanic White college students’ attitudes toward IPV.
Why Employed Latinos Lack Health Insurance: A Study in California
Authors: Greenwald Howard P. , O’Keefe Suzanne , DiCamillo Mark
Published: October 2005

This article assesses the relative importance of several factors believed to reduce the likelihood of health insurance coverage among working Latinos in California, including cost, immigration history, availability of insurance, beliefs about insurance, and beliefs about health and health care. According to a survey of 1,000 randomly selected adults, the most prominent factors contributing to working Latinos’ lack of health insurance include low income, absence of or ineligibility for a planat work, birth outside the United States, and recent immigration. Although the availability of affordable plans plays a predominant role, the importance of potentially inaccurate perceptions of the cost of health insurance and unidentified factors associated with recent immigration may also be important in some segments of the population. Maintenance and redesign of employer-provided or public insurance programs seem essential for increasing health insurance among working Latinos, as may be encouragement of low-cost clinics in some Latino communities.
Language Brokering: An Integrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Morales Alejandro , Hanson William E.
Published: October 2005

This article reviews the literature in the area of language brokering. Language brokers are children of immigrant families who translate and interpret for their parents and other individuals. Results suggest that language brokers possess unique characteristics that make them suitable for their role as the family’s translator and interpreter. Parents select the child language broker based on certain personal qualities. Language brokers translate and interpret a variety of documents in a variety of settings. There is not a clear understanding of the influence of language brokering on children’s academic performance. There is not a clear understanding of how language brokering experiences help or harm the parent-child relationship. Further research is needed to better understand the role that language brokering plays in the lives and well-being of children.
Exotic Dance Adult Entertainment: A Guide for Planners and Policy Makers
Authors: Hanna Judith Lynne
Published: October 2005

Because exotic dance adult entertainment is a nationwide lightning rod for conflict, a comprehensive knowledge base is necessary. This bibliographic summary of literature addresses some misperceptions and notes new United States Supreme Court cases that can lead planners, policy makers, and government attorneys into legal difficulties over restrictions they try to impose on this industry. Costs to enact, enforce, and defend the restrictions may divert scarce resources. The multi-disciplinary literature encompasses books, articles, court testimony, and court rulings on exotic dance written by researchers in anthropology, architecture, biology, criminology, economics, journalism, law, photography, planning, police work, psychology, real estate, and sociology, as well as accounts presented by former exotic dancers. Topics include First Amendment-related characteristics of exotic dance, its expressive components, performers, patrons, adversaries, and supporters; the validity of studies used to justify zoning, alcohol beverage control, and other restrictive ordinances; and legal justifications and limitations on regulating exotic dance.