bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantization of Free Scalar Fields in the Presence of Natural Cutoffs
Authors: Nozari K. , Moafi F. , Rezaee Balef F.
Published: December 2012

We construct a quantum theory of free scalar fields in (1+1)-dimensions based on the deformed Heisenberg algebrax^,p^=iħ1-βp+2β2p2, that admits the existence of both a minimal measurable length and a maximal momentum, whereβis a deformation parameter. We consider both canonical and path integral formalisms of the scenario. Finally a higher dimensional extension is easily performed in the path integral formalism.
Hypothyroidism Complicating Nephropathy in a Diabetes Patient
Authors: Sahoo Jayaprakash , Veerappan Ilangovan , Abraham Anila , Hariharan Somasundaram
Published: December 2012

We describe a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune hypothyroidism who presented with elevated serum creatinine possibly due to subclinical rhabdomyolysis induced by hypolipidemic drug therapy in the background of diabetic nephropathy. Both hypothyroidism and rhabdomyolysis were asymptomatic in this case as evidenced by lack of classical clinical features of hypothyroidism despite elevated serum TSH and absent pigment cast in renal biopsy. The combination of diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism is common in the general population and should not be forgotten in patients with diabetes and kidney disease.
A Case Report on Parvovirus B19 Associated Myositis
Authors: Oliver Nathan D. , Millar Auleen , Pendleton Adrian
Published: December 2012

Introduction. Whilst there are reports of viral myopathies affecting children and the immunocompromised, infective myositis is a relatively rare inflammatory myopathy in adults. The clinical spectrum can range from benign myalgias to more serious complications in certain risk groups.Case Presentation. We present two cases of myositis as a result of parvovirus B19 infection.Conclusion. Viral myositis and parvovirus B19 associated myositis should be considered in adults presenting with significant myalgia.
Some Properties of Solutions to a Class of Dirichlet Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Wang Tingting , Bao Gejun
Published: December 2012

This paper deals with the following Dirichlet problem: d*A(x, g + du) = d*h  in    Ω, uT = 0 on ∂Ω. Based on its solvability, we derive some properties of its solutions. In this paper, we mainly get three results. Firstly, we establish an integral estimate for the solutions of the above Dirichlet boundary value problem. Secondly, a stability result of solutions for varying differential forms g and h is obtained. Lastly, we present a weak reverse Hölder inequality for solutions.
Evaluation of a Pilot Medication-Assisted Therapy Program in Kazakhstan: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities for Scaleup
Authors: Boltaev Azizbek A. , Deryabina Anna P. , Kusainov Almas , Howard Andrea A.
Published: December 2012

Study Aims. Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the medication-assisted therapy (MAT) pilot in Kazakhstan and review implementation context and related challenges.Methods. We performed a desk review of MAT policy and program documents and reviewed medical records at three MAT sites in Kazakhstan. MAT patients(n=93)were interviewed to assess their perceptions of the program and its impact on their health, criminal, drug use, and HIV risk related behaviors as well as expenditures on nonprescribed psychoactive drugs. Persons injecting drugs who are not in treatment, MAT program staff, and other stakeholders were interviewed to obtain their perspectives on MAT.Results. Legislation supports introducing MAT as a standard of care for treatment of opioid dependence; however, its progress has been hampered by active opposition. Inadequate access and coverage, insufficient supply management, scarce infrastructure of narcological facilities, limited opportunities for staff development, and restrictive methadone dispensing policies compromise the quality of the intervention and limit its potential benefits. There were significant reductions in criminal, drug use, and HIV risk related behaviors in patients receiving MAT.Conclusions. The MAT pilot in Kazakhstan demonstrated its feasibility and effectiveness in the local context and is recommended for scaleup throughout the country.
Primary Bilateral Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Adrenal Gland: A Case Report
Authors: Bouchikhi Ahmed Amine , Tazi Mohamed fadl , Amiroune Driss , Mellas Soufiane , El Ammari Jalaledine , Khallouk Abdelhak , El fassi Mohammed Jamal , Farih Moulay Hassan
Published: December 2012

Primary bilateral non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the adrenal gland is a very rare entity. Indeed less than 60 cases have been reported in the literature. Hence, we report a case of high-grade lymphoma of both adrenal glands that was found in a young patient of 32 years of age. The patient was admitted in the emergency department of our hospital with a profile of hemorrhagic shock. After stabilization, the imaging investigations demonstrated large bilateral adrenal masses. The CT-scan guided biopsy of both adrenal glands allowed the diagnosis of primary bilateral adrenal NHL. The patient died after the first chemotherapy session. The presence of bilateral adrenal masses associated with a rapid increase of volume should raise the diagnosis of primary adrenal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The Coexistence of Humans and Companion Animals in the City Parks of Xanthi: The Views of the Citizens
Authors: Karanikola Paraskevi , Manolas Evangelos , Tampakis Stilianos , Panagopoulos Thomas
Published: December 2012

Companion animals are very important to people of big cities. In Greece the families which own those animals take them for a walk in the parks and streets of their town but not always with care to not disturb other citizens. Laws and regulations for companion and stray animals are not respected in Greece, although as a result of the Athens Olympics in 2004 the Greek government started to provide funds for the collection, care, and sterilization of stray animals. This paper is a first attempt to record, through the aid of a structured questionnaire, the view of the citizens of the city of Xanthi in northern Greece regarding companion animals and what they do when animals become old. The paper also examines the extent to which the existence of stray and companion animals in parks disturbs the people who visit green areas looking for a place to get a rest or play on the grass. The majority preferred that stray animals are collected off the streets, recorded, treated from parasites, vaccinated, and sterilized and after that are available for adoption or are returned to the area they were found at.
The Relationship between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Colorectal Cancer: The Future Challenges and Outcomes of the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Muhidin Said O. , Magan Ahmed A. , Osman Khalid A. , Syed Shareef , Ahmed Mohamed H.
Published: December 2012

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely related to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are associated with an increased cancer risk, and recent evidence demonstrated an association between NAFLD and colorectal cancer (CRC). The mechanism of how NAFLD can be associated with increased risk of CRC is not fully understood; however, NAFLD represents a condition of profound insulin resistance and a proinflammatory state. Insulin and insulin-like growth factors may promote the development of CRC through their proliferative and antiapoptotic effects. Patients with NAFLD have reduced expression of adiponectin, an adipokine with anti-inflammatory effects. Importantly, hypoadiponectinemia is associated with an increased risk of CRC. Decreased levels of adiponectin lead to increased insulin levels due to marked insulin resistance and in turn increased insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Insulin binds to IGF-1 receptors and plays an important role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor, an angiogenic factor that supports cancer growth. Further studies are needed to establish (i) the pathophysiology of NAFLD with colorectal cancer, (ii) the benefit of early screening of CRC in NAFLD patients, and (iii) the impact of treatment of NAFLD in the modulation of the risk of colorectal cancer.
The Association between Obesity and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Whitlock Kevin , Gill Richdeep S. , Birch Daniel W. , Karmali Shahzeer
Published: December 2012

Obesity has become a major issue for healthcare providers as its prevalence continues to increase throughout the world. The literature suggests that increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with the development of certain cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Consequently, CRC surgeons are now encountering an increasing number of obese patients which may influence the technical aspects and outcomes of surgical treatment. For instance, obese patients present with greater comorbidities preoperatively, which adds increasing complexity and risks to surgical management. Recent literature also suggests that obesity may increase operating time and conversion rates to open colorectal surgery. Postoperative outcomes may also be influenced by obesity; however, this currently remains controversial. There is evidence that survival rates after CRC surgery are not influenced by obesity. In summary, obesity presents challenges to CRC surgeons, and further research will be needed to show how this important characteristic influences the outcomes for CRC patients.
Cigarette-Smoking Intensity and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Conversion among Persons Who Inject Drugs: A Cohort Study
Authors: Shin Sanghyuk S. , Gallardo Manuel , Lozada Remedios , Abramovitz Daniela , Burgos Jose Luis , Laniado-Laborin Rafael , Rodwell Timothy C. , Novotny Thomas E. , Strathdee Steffanie A. , Garfein Richard S.
Published: December 2012

We analyzed data from a longitudinal cohort study of persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, Mexico, to explore whether cigarette smoking increases the risk of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) conversion. PWID were recruited using respondent driven sampling (RDS). QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) assay conversion was defined as interferon-gamma concentrations <0.35 IU/mL at baseline and ≥0.7 IU/mL at 18 months. We used multivariable Poisson regression adjusted for RDS weights to estimate risk ratios (RRs). Of 129 eligible participants, 125 (96.9%) smoked at least one cigarette during followup with a median of 11 cigarettes smoked daily, and 52 (40.3%) had QFT conversion. In bivariate analysis, QFT conversion was not associated with the number of cigarettes smoked daily (P=0.716). Controlling for age, gender, education, and alcohol use, the RRs of QFT conversion for smoking 6–10, 11–15, and ≥16 cigarettes daily compared to smoking 0–5 cigarettes daily were 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.5–1.6), 0.5 (95% CI, 0.3–1.2), and 0.7 (95% CI, 0.3–1.6), respectively. Although this study did not find an association between self-reported smoking intensity and QFT conversion, it was not powered sufficiently to negate such an association. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to fully explore this relationship.
Value of Chest Radiographic Pattern in RSV Disease of the Newborn: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Gonçalves Américo , Rocha Gustavo , Guimarães Hercília , Fernandes Paula Cristina , Proença Elisa , Oliveira Dulce , Rocha Paula , Quintas Conceição , Martins Teresa , Freitas Alice , Dias Clara Paz , Ramires Albina
Published: December 2012

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection is the most common viral respiratory infection in infants. Several authors have sought to determine which risk factors are the best predictors for severe RSV disease. Our aim was to evaluate if a specific chest radiographic pattern in RSV disease can predict the disease severity. We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study in term and preterm neonates with confirmed lower respiratory tract RSV infection, admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) from 2000 to 2010. To determine which factors independently predicted the outcomes, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. A total of 259 term and preterm neonates were enrolled. Patients with a consolidation pattern on the chest radiograph at admission (n=101) had greater need for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR: 2.5;P=.015), respiratory support (OR: 2.3;P=.005), supplemental oxygen (OR: 3.0;P=.008), and prolonged stay in the NICU (>7 days) (OR: 1.8;P=.025). Newborns with a consolidation pattern on admission chest radiograph had a more severe disease course, with greater risk of invasive mechanical ventilation, respiratory support, supplemental oxygen, and prolonged hospitalization.
Inhibitory Activities ofCudrania tricuspidataLeaves on Pancreatic LipaseIn Vitroand LipolysisIn Vivo
Authors: Kim Young Sook , Lee Youngseop , Kim Junghyun , Sohn Eunjin , Kim Chan Sik , Lee Yun Mi , Jo Kyuhyung , Shin Sodam , Song Yoojin , Kim Joo Hwan , Kim Jin Sook
Published: December 2012

To identify effective herb to treat obesity, we screened 115 herbal extracts for inhibition of porcine pancreatic lipase (triacylg-ycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) activityin vitro. Of the extracts tested,Cudrania tricuspidataleaves exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effect on lipase activity with anIC50value of 9.91 μg/mL. Antilipid absorption effects ofC. tricuspidataleaves were examined in rats after oral administration of lipid emulsions containing 50 or 250 mg  C. tricuspidata/kg body weight. Plasma triacylglycerol levels 2 h after the oral administration of emulsions containingC. tricuspidatawere significantly reduced compared to the untreated group (P<0.05). These results suggest thatC. tricuspidataleaves may be useful for the treatment of obesity.
A Numerical Model for Railroad Freight Car‐to‐Car End Impact
Authors: Chen Chao , Han Mei , Han Yanhui
Published: December 2012

A numerical model based on Lagrange‐D′Alembert principle is proposed for car‐to‐car end impact in this paper. In the numerical model, the friction forces are treated by using local linearization model when solving the differential equations. A computer program has been developed for the numerical model based on Runge‐Kutta fourth‐order method. The results are compared with the Multibody Dynamics/Kinematics software SIMPACK results and they are close. The ladings′ relative displacement to struck car and the relative displacement between two ladings get larger as impact speed increases. There is no displacement between two ladings when the contact surfaces have the same friction coefficient.
On the Performance of Hybrid PV/Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell System in the Tropics
Authors: Dihrab Salwan , Khatib Tamer , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Al-Ani Habeeb , Zaidi Saleem H.
Published: December 2012

Solar hydrogen system is a unique power system that can meet the power requirements for future energy demands. Such a system uses the hydrogen as the energy carrier, which produces energy through the electrolyzer with assistance of the power from the PV during the sunny hours, and then uses stored hydrogen to produce energy through the fuel cell after sunset or on cloudy days. The current study has used premanufactured unitized regenerative fuel cells in which the electrolyzer and the fuel cell function within one cell at different modes. The system components were modeled and the one-day real operational and simulated data has been presented and compared. The measured results showed the ability of the system to meet the proposed load, and the total efficiency was about 4.5%.
Astroglial Integrins in the Development and Regulation of Neurovascular Units
Authors: Tanigami Hironobu , Okamoto Takayuki , Yasue Yuichi , Shimaoka Motomu
Published: December 2012

In the neurovascular units of the central nervous system, astrocytes form extensive networks that physically and functionally connect the neuronal synapses and the cerebral vascular vessels. This astrocytic network is thought to be critically important for coupling neuronal signaling activity and energy demand with cerebral vascular tone and blood flow. To establish and maintain this elaborate network, astrocytes must precisely calibrate their perisynaptic and perivascular processes in order to sense and regulate neuronal and vascular activities, respectively. Integrins, a prominent family of cell-adhesion molecules that support astrocytic migration in the brain during developmental and normal adult stages, have been implicated in regulating the integrity of the blood brain barrier and the tripartite synapse to facilitate the formation of a functionally integrated neurovascular unit. This paper describes the significant roles that integrins and connexins play not only in regulating astrocyte migration during the developmental and adult stages of the neurovascular unit, but also in general health and in such diseases as hepatic encephalopathy.
Effect of Calcereous Cow Horn and Storage on the Physicochemical Properties of Cement‐Bonded Particleboards from Groundnut Hulls
Authors: Olaoluwa Ayobami Ogunkunle , Solomon Laja Olayoriju , Sunday Emmanuel Olajide
Published: December 2012

Fine particles of the groundnut hull and cow horn samples were prepared and subjected to hydration experiments with Portland cement with the moisture content maintained around 12%. All the compatibility factor values were very well above 60% making the different combinations appropriate for particleboard production. Metal analyses suggested high concentrations of Ca in both samples with values of 62.68 ± 0.47 wt% and 42.44 ± 1.86 wt% for the cow horn and groundnut hull samples, respectively. Potassium was also present in high concentrations but was lower than that of calcium. The cow horn was found to be a good substitute for the synthetic CaCl2 additives. Combinations of FeCl3 with the cow horn gave better compatibility (CA) between the groundnut hull particles and the Portland cement due to chelation, with the hot‐water‐treated samples being the best. Bond formation was established through the hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (C=O), esters or ethers (C–O), and amide (N–H) functional groups on the groundnut hall samples. Storage over a period of time also gave a better compatibility of the groundnut hull sample with cement even in the absence of hot‐water pretreatments and chemical additives.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of H2O2-Stimulated Three-Dimensional Human Skin Models Containing Asian, Black, and Caucasian Melanocytes
Authors: Morita Shin-ichi , Takanezawa Sota , Date Akira , Watanabe Shin , Sako Yasushi
Published: December 2012

Reactive oxygen species generated in dermal cells of human skin is related to skin disorders or diseases. In this study, Raman analysis effectively clarified the identities of three types of human skin models after the models were stimulated with hydrogen peroxide. With the Caucasian skin model, the major Raman bands underwent large intensity changes within 4-5 days of stimulation. With the Black skin model, the Raman bands remained almost unchanged. The changes in the Asian skin model were unique compared to those in the above two. Eumelanin and pheomelanin are probably the main compounds that differentiate dermal cells in terms of their sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide.
Metabolomics Strategy Reveals Subpopulation of Liposarcomas Sensitive to Gemcitabine Treatment
Authors: Braas Daniel , Ahler Ethan , Tam Brenna , Nathanson David , Riedinger Mirielle , Benz Matthias R. , Smith Kathleen B. , Eilber Fritz C. , Witte Owen N. , Tap William D. , Wu Hong , Christofk Heather R.
Published: December 2012

Unlike many cancers that exhibit glycolytic metabolism, high-grade liposarcomas often exhibit low 2[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake by positron emission tomography (PET), despite rapid tumor growth. Here, we used liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to identify carbon sources taken up by liposarcoma cell lines derived from xenograft tumors in patients. Interestingly, we found that liposarcoma cell lines consume nucleosides from culture media, suggesting nucleoside salvage pathway activity. The nucleoside salvage pathway is dependent on deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and can be imaged in vivo by PET with 1-(2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoroarabinofuranosyl) cytosine (FAC). We found that liposarcoma cell lines and xenograft tumors exhibit dCK activity and dCK-dependent FAC uptake in vitro and in vivo. In addition, liposarcoma cell lines and xenograft tumors are sensitive to treatment with the nucleoside analogue prodrug gemcitabine, and gemcitabine sensitivity is dependent on dCK expression. Elevated dCK activity is evident in 7 of 68 clinical liposarcoma samples analyzed. These data suggest that a subpopulation of liposarcoma patients have tumors with nucleoside salvage pathway activity that can be identified noninvasively using [18F]-FAC–PET and targeted using gemcitabine.

Significance: Patients with high-grade liposarcoma have poor prognoses and often fail to respond to chemotherapy. This report identifies elevated nucleoside salvage activity in a subset of liposarcomas that are identifiable using noninvasive PET imaging with FAC and that are sensitive to gemcitabine. Thus, we suggest a new treatment paradigm for liposarcoma patients that uses [18F]-FAC-PET in the clinic to delineate gemcitabine responders from nonresponders. Cancer Discov; 2(12); 1109–17. ©2012 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1065
Hello Out There…Is Anybody Listening?
Authors: DeFilippis Rosa Anna , Tlsty Thea D.
Published: December 2012

Summary: Using a murine xenograft model system, Kuznetsov and colleagues show the existence of systemic interactions between a primary tumor and the growth of distal tumors in both homotypic and heterotypic tissues. Importantly, they show that the characteristics of the primary tumor govern the histologic features of the distal tumor through distinct pathways, thus providing novel opportunities for risk assessment, prognosis, prevention, and intervention. Cancer Discov; 2(12); 1084–6. ©2012 AACR.

Commentary on Kuznetsov et al., p. 1150
Lineage-Specific Biomarkers Predict Response to FGFR Inhibition
Authors: Loch David C. , Pollock Pamela M.
Published: December 2012

Summary: In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Guagnano and colleagues use a large and diverse annotated collection of cancer cell lines, the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, to correlate whole-genome expression and genomic alteration datasets with cell line sensitivity data to the novel pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor NVP-BGJ398. Their findings underscore not only the preclinical use of such cell line panels in identifying predictive biomarkers, but also the emergence of the FGFRs as valid therapeutic targets, across an increasingly broad range of malignancies. Cancer Discov; 2(12); 1081–3. ©2012 AACR.

Commentary on Guagnano et al., p. 1118
Treatment of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 1/2 Tumors: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Gulati Anthony P. , Krantz Benjamin , Moss Rebecca A. , Moyal Wendy N. , Tsushima Dawn A. , Mowatt Kelley B. , Schreibman Stephen , Fine Robert L.
Published: December 2012

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors are uncommon tumors that are histopathologically and biologically heterogeneous and include the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 1 and 2 syndromes. The morbidity of MEN-1 and MEN-2 is often due to the symptomatology of the endocrine hormones produced, and the mortality mainly occurs from hepatic dysfunction incurred by liver metastases. At present, there is essentially no effective cure once the tumor has metastasized to the liver. Patient: We present a patient with progressive, metastatic MEN-1 with the classic ‘3 P’s’ triad of neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas, parathyroid adenoma and a pituitary adenoma. Results: After progression on high-dose Sandostatin LAR (60 mg/month) and multiple surgeries, the patient had a partial response (40% decrease) to a novel regimen of capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM) and progression-free survival of 18 months. He had minor grade 1 toxicities and no grade 2, 3 or 4 toxicities. Discussion: The history and treatment options for MEN-1/2 cancers are reviewed, as well as the data behind our novel regimen, CAPTEM. Conclusion: The CAPTEM regimen is a tolerable, safe, easy to administer oral regimen with possible efficacy for MEN-1 tumors.
Performance of a Triclass Parameterization for the Collision–Coalescence Process in Shallow Clouds
Authors: Sant Vivek , Lohmann Ulrike , Seifert Axel
Published: December 2012

Focusing on the formation of precipitation in marine stratiform clouds, a two-moment bulk parameterization for three liquid water classes (cloud, drizzle, and rain) is proposed to describe the process of collision–coalescence. Based on the stochastic collection equation and making use of partial moments to improve the physical representation of the shape of the drop size distribution, new rate equations for both number and mass densities are derived using the modified gamma distribution and an adapted collection kernel. Based on observations and spectral model results, the free shape parameters of the modified gamma distribution of each class are determined closing the set of equations. Idealized simulations of the new parameterization compare well to other studies and prove that the closure assumptions are appropriate, especially as the rate equations are invariant under time-stretching transformations—a key property of the stochastic collection equation. The framework of the one-dimensional kinematic cloud model is used to compare the new bulk parameterization to existing formulations and a spectral model. These results show a good agreement, especially in the sensitivity to the aerosol background concentration and the general development for updraft velocities relevant for shallow clouds. Furthermore, as drizzle dominates the formed precipitation for stratocumulus it becomes a pure transition class for more convective type clouds. The analysis reveals a different quantitative behavior of the various parameterizations in the drizzle regime, which is of special importance for precipitating stratocumulus clouds.
Large-Scale Errors and Mesoscale Predictability in Pacific Northwest Snowstorms
Authors: Durran Dale R. , Reinecke Patrick A. , Doyle James D.
Published: December 2012

The predictability of lowland snow in the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest is explored by analyzing the spread in 100-member ensemble simulations for two events from December 2008. Sensitivities to the microphysical and boundary layer parameterizations in these simulations are minimized by estimating the likely precipitation type from the forecast 850-hPa temperatures and the established rain–snow climatology. Results suggest that the ensemble spread in events such as these, which were triggered by amplifying short waves, may develop a significant fraction of both rain-likely members and snow-likely members at forecast lead times as short as 36 h.

The perturbation kinetic energy of the ensemble members about the ensemble mean () is not maximized at small scales. Instead, the power in the initial spectrum of produced by the authors’ ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) data assimilation cycle increases with increasing horizontal scale. The power in subsequently grows with time, while maintaining approximately the same spectral shape. There is no evidence of small-scale perturbations developing rapidly and transferring their influence upscale. Instead, the large-scale perturbations appear to grow more rapidly during the first 12 h than those at the smallest resolved scales.
Land–Ocean Warming Contrast over a Wide Range of Climates: Convective Quasi-Equilibrium Theory and Idealized Simulations
Authors: Byrne Michael P. , O’Gorman Paul A.
Published: December 2012

Surface temperatures increase at a greater rate over land than ocean in simulations and observations of global warming. It has previously been proposed that this land–ocean warming contrast is related to different changes in lapse rates over land and ocean because of limited moisture availability over land. A simple theory of the land–ocean warming contrast is developed here in which lapse rates are determined by an assumption of convective quasi-equilibrium. The theory predicts that the difference between land and ocean temperatures increases monotonically as the climate warms or as the land becomes more arid. However, the ratio of differential warming over land and ocean varies nonmonotonically with temperature for constant relative humidities and reaches a maximum at roughly 290 K.

The theory is applied to simulations with an idealized general circulation model in which the continental configuration and climate are varied systematically. The simulated warming contrast is confined to latitudes below 50° when climate is varied by changes in longwave optical thickness. The warming contrast depends on land aridity and is larger for zonal land bands than for continents with finite zonal extent. A land–ocean temperature contrast may be induced at higher latitudes by enforcing an arid land surface, but its magnitude is relatively small. The warming contrast is generally well described by the theory, although inclusion of a land–ocean albedo contrast causes the theory to overestimate the land temperatures. Extensions of the theory are discussed to include the effect of large-scale eddies on the extratropical thermal stratification and to account for warming contrasts in both surface air and surface skin temperatures.
Effects of Spectral Nudging in WRF on Arctic Temperature and Precipitation Simulations
Authors: Glisan Justin M. , Gutowski William J. , Cassano John J. , Higgins Matthew E.
Published: December 2012

Spectral (interior) nudging is a way of constraining a model to be more consistent with observed behavior. However, such control over model behavior raises concerns over how much nudging may affect unforced variability and extremes. Strong nudging may reduce or filter out extreme events since nudging pushes the model toward a relatively smooth, large-scale state. The question then becomes: what is the minimum spectral nudging needed to correct biases while not limiting the simulation of extreme events? To determine this, case studies were performed using a six-member ensemble of the Pan-Arctic Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) with varying spectral nudging strength, using WRF’s standard nudging as a reference point. Two periods were simulated, one in a cold season (January 2007) and one in a warm season (July 2007).

Precipitation and 2-m temperature were analyzed to determine how changing spectral nudging strength impacts temperature and precipitation extremes and selected percentiles. Results suggest that there is a marked lack of sensitivity to varying degrees of nudging. Moreover, given that nudging is an artificial forcing applied in the model, an outcome of this work is that nudging strength can be considerably smaller than the WRF standard strength and still produce climate simulations that are much better than using no nudging.
Snow–Atmosphere Coupling Strength. Part I: Effect of Model Biases
Authors: Xu Li , Dirmeyer Paul
Published: December 2012

Snow–atmosphere coupling strength, the degree to which the atmosphere (temperature and precipitation) responds to underlying snow anomalies, is investigated using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) with realistic snow information obtained from satellite and data assimilation. The coupling strength is quantified using seasonal simulations initialized in late boreal winter with realistic initial snow states or forced with realistic large-scale snow anomalies, including both snow cover fraction observed by remote sensing and snow water equivalent from land data assimilation. Errors due to deficiencies in the land model snow scheme and precipitation biases in the atmospheric model are mitigated by prescribing realistic snow states. The spatial and temporal distributions of strong snow–atmosphere coupling in this model are revealed to track the continental snow cover edge poleward during the ablation period in spring, with secondary maxima after snowmelt. Compared with prescribed “perfect” snow simulations, the free-running CCSM captures major regions of strong snow–atmosphere coupling strength, with only minor departures in magnitude, but showing uneven biases over the Northern Hemisphere. Signals of strong coupling to air temperature are found to propagate vertically into the troposphere, at least up to 500 hPa over the coupling “cold spots.” The main mechanism for this vertical propagation is found to be longwave radiation and condensation heating.
The Relationship between the Madden–Julian Oscillation and U.S. Violent Tornado Outbreaks in the Spring
Authors: Thompson Daniel B. , Roundy Paul E.
Published: December 2012

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) has been linked to weather variability in the midlatitudes via its associated overturning circulations and Rossby wave trains that redistribute the thermal and mass fields at higher latitudes. This work examines the relationship between the MJO and violent tornado outbreaks in the United States. A census of events shows that violent tornado outbreaks during March–April–May (MAM) are more than twice as frequent during phase 2 of the Real-time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index as during other phases or when the MJO was deemed inactive. Composite analyses show the global circulation patterns simultaneously associated with the MJO and the tornado outbreaks and also indicate the most favored low-frequency circulation pattern that precedes tornado outbreaks in RMM phase 2. An index of 300-hPa geopotential height data is generated by projecting 60-day mean values onto the composite low-frequency pattern. When that index exceeds one standard deviation and the MJO is in RMM phase 2 with an amplitude exceeding one standard deviation during MAM, violent tornado outbreaks occur 50% of the time, relative to the average frequency of less than 4%. Results demonstrate that the anomalous large-scale midlatitude circulation modulated by the MJO and lower-frequency signals can make conditions more or less favorable for tornado outbreaks.
Theological topographies: Multiple methods for planetary theologies
Authors: Bauman Whitney
Published: December 2012

The task of ‘doing’ ecotheology always already involves multiple perspectives and maps of various terrains. This short essay suggests three ‘prolegomena’ for doing planetary theology: embracing polydoxy, some form of agnosticism and the transgression of boundaries.
An epistemological problem and possibility
Authors: Moe-Lobeda Cynthia
Published: December 2012

The ecotheology represented in this project is situated within the small segment of Earth’s people who are disproportionately: (1) responsible for climate change; (2) beneficiaries of the fossil fuel economy causing it; and (3) protected from its worst consequences. The epistemological underpinnings of our ecotheology are shaped by this social location and the imbalances in power and privilege that have produced them. Is ecotheology developed from this epistemological location capable of challenging those imbalances in power and privilege? Or are sources of theological wisdom outside the boundaries of power and privilege in advanced global capitalism necessary to forge a future not governed by it? This essay pursues these questions.
Agrarian ecotheology
Authors: Wirzba Norman
Published: December 2012

In this essay an agrarian approach to ecotheology is briefly described.
The ecological pilgrimage of self and community
Authors: Clingerman Forrest
Published: December 2012

An important matter related to the task of Christian environmental theology is to ask who is engaged in such a theological journey. The ‘who question’ contextualizes environmental concerns and determines the type of journey the theologian undertakes. First, I suggest the need to address environmental identity – the self-identity as it emerges from narratives of place – in ecotheology. Second, environmental identity suggests the need to reformulate the community of environmental theological reflection.
The journey of doing Christian ecotheology: A collective mapping of the terrain
Authors: Conradie Ernst
Published: December 2012

This contribution is a collective attempt to map the terrain of Christian ecotheology on the basis of the metaphor of a journey. Various dimensions of this journey are identified and described. The context within which this contribution emerged is described in the editorial. It follows upon a colloquium that took place in San Francisco in November 2011.
Computerized sociometric and peer assessment
Authors: van den Berg Yvonne H. M. , Cillessen Antonius H. N.
Published: December 2012

A systematic analysis and comparison was conducted of the psychometric properties of standard (paper-and-pencil) and computerized sociometry and peer assessments. The standard assessment took place with 817 children (47.5% boys) in 34 fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms of 28 elementary schools. The computerized assessment took place with 893 children (52.3% boys) in 35 fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms of 30 elementary schools. The computerized method yielded more nominations given and received and fewer missing data. Correlations among behavioural and relational constructs followed similar patterns in both methods, but were generally stronger in the computerized method. Voter agreement was the same in both methods. The computerized method resulted in higher internal consistency of sociometric and peer assessment constructs. The methods were validated by predicting preference and popularity from behavioural and relational characteristics. The two methods yielded the same pattern of results. The advantages and disadvantages of both assessment methods were discussed.
A mixed market for probation services
Authors: Dominey Jane
Published: December 2012

Whilst the Coalition Government’s proposals for commissioning and competition mark a change in the balance between public, private and voluntary sectors in the provision of probation services, they do not represent the beginning of this process. This article sets current policy proposals in the context of related moves to open up the criminal justice market made by previous governments. It also considers the impact of wider developments in social policy and public sector reform, including payment by results, at a time of financial austerity. The article identifies a number of key themes that emerge from the changing balance between public, private and voluntary sectors and suggests that these can be used to guide responses to new arrangements for service delivery. It argues that, whilst there are real concerns about fragmentation in service delivery and further disadvantage for some groups of offenders, good practice is most likely to emerge if attention is paid to diversity, the development of local links and alliances and staff training and supervision.
Partners, guests or competitors
Authors: Mills Alice , Meek Rosie , Gojkovic Dina
Published: December 2012

Recent policy documents have promoted partnership working between criminal justice agencies and third sector organizations (TSOs) as a means to tackle re-offending. However, the context in which such partnership working takes place has received little attention despite the fact that relationships between frontline criminal justice staff and TSOs are likely to be crucial to successful initiatives. This article draws on qualitative interviews with prison staff and representatives from TSOs in eight prisons to examine relations between the two groups and to consider whether TSOs are treated as partners, guests or competitors in prisons.
The marketization of the Criminal Justice System
Authors: Stacey Christopher
Published: December 2012

This article looks at the marketization of the criminal justice system from a user perspective. Using a combination of personal and professional experience, the author explores the development of a market within the system, starting with an examination of what the system is trying to achieve. The ‘primary customer’ of the system is then discussed, highlighting in the author’s view how the emphasis of NOMS has been moving away from the person serving a sentence as being its primary customer. This then leads into a discussion of how a market has developed within a system that doesn’t have its main consumer as its primary customer, and some of the potential problems that this causes. While slightly pessimistic about the way that the market currently operates, the article concludes by calling for a shift in who is seen as being NOMS’s  primary customer, if a fair and effective market is to be developed in the future.
Having It All? Unmarried Women Choosing Hetero-Gay Families
Authors: Segal-Engelchin Dorit , Erera Pauline I. , Cwikel Julie
Published: December 2012

The study presented here considered heterosexual women who chose to conceive and raise children together with gay men outside marriage. In-depth interviews with 10 Israeli mothers who had established hetero-gay families revealed their motivations for choosing this family configuration and the characteristics they sought in the fathers. The findings revealed that the women maintained traditional values with respect to the ideal parental model, two-gender parenting, and the attributes they sought for the coparents of their children. Rather than overtly challenge institutional patriarchy, these women chose to establish an alternative family that circumvented patriarchal impositions.
Modelling random effect variance with double hierarchical generalized linear models
Authors: Lee Youngjo , Noh Maengseok
Published: December 2012

Random-effect models are becoming increasingly popular in the analysis of data. Lee and Nelder (2006) introduced double hierarchical generalized linear models (DHGLMs) in which not only the mean but also the residual variance (overdispersion) can be further modelled as random-effect models. In this article, we introduce DHGLMs that allow random-effect models for both the variances of random effects and the residual variance. We show how to use this general model class for the analysis of data and discuss how to select the best fitting model using the likelihood and various model-checking plots.
Physical Activity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Ethnicity
Authors: Huffman Fatma G. , Vaccaro Joan A.
Published: December 2012

Diabetes is a major public health problem that affects certain ethnicities disproportionately. Physical activity (PA) (exercise) is a key component necessary for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Adults with and without diabetes may face challenges that interfere with following exercise recommendations. This article reviews the relationships among PA, race/ethnicity, behaviors, and health outcomes of adults with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The authors review recent cross-sectional and intervention studies and assess their relevance to clinical practice. This is a focused review of the literature from January 2010 to September 2012 on the relationship among PA, type 2 diabetes, and race/ ethnicity with respect to the following components: (1) PA and the likelihood of persons with prediabetes developing diabetes; (2) PA and improvements in health outcomes of persons with prediabetes; (3) PA and improvements in health outcomes of persons with type 2 diabetes; and (4) enablers of and barriers to PA for persons with type 2 diabetes. The initiation of effective PA programs designed to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes or improve diabetes outcomes rely on a critical interpretation of current research findings.
Mapping the Hindi Horror Genre: Ghosts in the Service of Ideology
Authors: Mubarki Meraj Ahmed
Published: December 2012

While Hindi cinema has often been critically engaged as a narrative form while ‘writing’ the nation, the role of Hindi horror genre in imagining this nation is under-explored. Hindi cinema itself emerged in a charged environment of nascent nationalist politics, and early Indian filmmakers saw themselves and their on-screen projections as part of the patriotic scheme. However Post-Independence wars with Pakistan and China, and the eruption of various separatists’ movements in the North-East, Sikh’s Khalistan movement and Kashmiri Muslims engendered narratives and counter-narratives to the state-sponsored scientific secularist discourse. In this article I trace how the Hindi horror genre with its evolving narrative strategies has itself been an area of conflicting ideas and ideologies in imagining the Indian state. Lying at the intersections of myths, ideology and dominant socio-religious thoughts, the Hindi horror genre reveals three major strands: the secular conscious, the traditional cultural and the Hindutva ideological, roughly corresponding to the way the nation has been imagined at different times in Post-Colonial India. Moving beyond establishing theoretical framework, I intend to demonstrate how the Hindi horror genre with its sub-sets provides us with the means to contemplate the nation and its representation.
Double unit grafts successfully extend the application of umbilical cord blood transplantation in adults with acute leukemia
Authors: Scaradavou Andromachi , Brunstein Claudio G. , Eapen Mary , Le-Rademacher Jennifer , Barker Juliet N. , Chao Nelson , Cutler Corey , Delaney Colleen , Kan Fangyu , Isola Luis , Karanes Chatchada , Laughlin Mary J. , Wagner John E. , Shpall Elizabeth J.
Published: December 2012

Key Points

Efficacy of transplanting adequately dosed 1- or 2-cord blood units.
Fixed points and approximately octic mappings in non-Archimedean 2-normed spaces
Authors: Park Choonkil , Eshaghi Gordji Madjid , Ghaemi Mohammad Bagher , Majani Hamid
Published: December 2012

Using the fixed point method, we investigate the Hyers-Ulam stability of the system of additive-cubic-quartic functional equations with constant coefficients in non-Archimedean 2-normed spaces. Also, we give an example to show that some results in the stability of functional equations in (Archimedean) normed spaces are not valid in non-Archimedean normed spaces.

MSC:39B82, 46S10, 39B52, 47S10, 47H10.