bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classifying North Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Tracks by Mass Moments*
Authors: Nakamura Jennifer , Lall Upmanu , Kushnir Yochanan , Camargo Suzana J.
Published: June 2009

A new method for classifying tropical cyclones or similar features is introduced. The cyclone track is considered as an open spatial curve, with the wind speed or power information along the curve considered to be a mass attribute. The first and second moments of the resulting object are computed and then used to classify the historical tracks using standard clustering algorithms. Mass moments allow the whole track shape, length, and location to be incorporated into the clustering methodology. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic basin are clustered with K-means by mass moments, producing an optimum of six clusters with differing genesis locations, track shapes, intensities, life spans, landfalls, seasonal patterns, and trends. Even variables that are not directly clustered show distinct separation between clusters. A trend analysis confirms recent conclusions of increasing tropical cyclones in the basin over the past two decades. However, the trends vary across clusters.
Probabilistic Estimation of Multivariate Streamflow Using Independent Component Analysis and Climate Information
Authors: Westra Seth , Sharma Ashish
Published: June 2009

A statistical estimation approach is presented and applied to multiple reservoir inflow series that form part of Sydney’s water supply system. The approach involves first identifying sources of interannual and interdecadal climate variability using a combination of correlation- and wavelet-based methods, then using this information to construct probabilistic, multivariate seasonal estimates using a method based on independent component analysis (ICA). The attraction of the ICA-based approach is that, by transforming the multivariate dataset into a set of independent time series, it is possible to maintain the parsimony of univariate statistical methods while ensuring that both the spatial and temporal dependencies are accurately captured.

Based on a correlation analysis of the reservoir inflows with the original sea surface temperature anomaly data, the principal sources of variability in Sydney’s reservoir inflows appears to be a combination of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). A multivariate ICA-based estimation model was then used to capture this variability, and it was shown that this approach performed well in maintaining the temporal dependence while also accurately maintaining the spatial dependencies that exist in the 11-dimensional historical reservoir inflow dataset.
The Ocean Wave Height Variance Spectrum: Wavenumber Peak versus Frequency Peak
Authors: Plant William J.
Published: June 2009

Many authors assume that the frequency peak and the wavenumber peak of an ocean wave height variance spectrum are related by the ocean wave dispersion relationship. This note shows that this is not true and that the true relationship depends on the shape of the spectrum, thereby introducing an element of randomness into the relationship.
Top-of-Atmosphere Radiance-to-Flux Conversion in the SW Domain for the ScaRaB-3 Instrument on Megha-Tropiques
Authors: Viollier Michel , Standfuss Carsten , Chomette Olivier , Quesney Arnaud
Published: June 2009

The earth radiation budget (ERB) is the difference between the solar absorbed flux and the terrestrial emitted flux. These fluxes are calculated from satellite measurements of outgoing shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiances using empirical or theoretical models of the radiation anisotropy, which are called angular distribution models (ADMs). Owing to multidirectional measurement analyses and synergy with multispectral information at subpixel scale, the ADM developed for the NASA Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) mission is presently the best knowledge and has to be taken into account for future ERB missions, such as the Indian–French Megha-Tropiques mission to be launched in 2010. This mission will carry an ERB instrument called the Scanner for Radiation Budget (ScaRaB). To prepare the algorithms for the ScaRaB ADM retrievals, the artificial neural network (ANN) method described by the CERES team has been adopted and improved by replacing the broadband (BB) radiances by narrowband (NB) radiances from the auxiliary channels of ScaRaB as input variables of the ANN. This article is restricted to the SW domain, the most critical case, and shows that the flux error is reduced by 60% compared to the former ERB Experiment–like model. The rms differences with the CERES fluxes are around 8.4 W m−2. ScaRaB/Megha-Tropiques measurements have a 4 times lower spatial resolution than those of the CERES/Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The impact of this spatial degradation has also been explored. There is a small systematic bias of about 1.5 W m−2 (or an absolute albedo error of 0.0015) and the rms differences are less than 3 W m−2; this is not significant compared to the overall error budget. For the radiance-to-flux conversion in the SW domain, the BB and NB ANN methods will be implemented in the ScaRaB/Megha-Tropiques data processing in order to provide SW flux estimates with an accuracy that is as consistent as possible with CERES results.
Acoustical Measurement of Nonlinear Internal Waves Using the Inverted Echo Sounder
Authors: Li Qiang , Farmer David M. , Duda Timothy F. , Ramp Steve
Published: June 2009

The performance of pressure sensor–equipped inverted echo sounders for monitoring nonlinear internal waves is examined. The inverted echo sounder measures the round-trip acoustic travel time from the sea floor to the sea surface and thus acquires vertically integrated information on the thermal structure, from which the first baroclinic mode of thermocline motion may be inferred. This application of the technology differs from previous uses in that the wave period (∼30 min) is short, requiring a more rapid transmission rate and a different approach to the analysis. Sources of error affecting instrument performance include tidal effects, barotropic adjustment to internal waves, ambient acoustic noise, and sea surface roughness. The latter two effects are explored with a simulation that includes surface wave reconstruction, acoustic scattering based on the Kirchhoff approximation, wind-generated noise, sound propagation, and the instrument’s signal processing circuitry. Bias is introduced as a function of wind speed, but the simulation provides a basis for bias correction.

The assumption that the waves do not significantly affect the mean stratification allows for a focus on the dynamic response. Model calculations are compared with observations in the South China Sea by using nearby temperature measurements to provide a test of instrument performance. After applying corrections for ambient noise and surface roughness effects, the inverted echo sounder exhibits an RMS variability of approximately 4 m in the estimated depth of the eigenfunction maximum in the wind speed range 0 ≤ U10 ≤ 10 m s−1. This uncertainty may be compared with isopycnal excursions for nonlinear internal waves of 100 m, showing that the observational approach is effective for measurements of nonlinear internal waves in this environment.
Short-Term Forecasting of a Midlatitude Convective Storm by the Assimilation of Single–Doppler Radar Observations
Authors: Chung Kao-Shen , Zawadzki Isztar , Yau M. K. , Fillion Luc
Published: June 2009

The McGill University radar data assimilation system is used to initialize a convective storm at high resolution (1 km) from single–Doppler radar observations. In this study, the background term in the assimilation system is improved. Specifically, by assuming the correlation of the errors of the control variables to be isotropic and homogeneous, the background error covariance matrix is modeled by a recursive filter. In addition, a 3-h-prior high-resolution model forecast is used as the background field. The analysis fields from the assimilation system successfully trigger the convective storms in the radar-observed regions from a single assimilation window. Without data assimilation, the modeled storms did not occur at the right time and place. To account for the rapid evolution of the convective storms and to correct the forecast errors with time, a cycling process is applied for a very short-term forecast. It is found that the first assimilation window can maintain the prediction of the storms for less than 1 h. The cycling process helps to maintain the intensity of the storm cells for a longer period of time. However, a comparison of radar observations with the 90-min simulation indicates an error in the position of the convective cells. The error of the radial component of the wind field between the observation and the simulation is larger at the upper levels. A wavelet analysis between the observation and simulated reflectivities indicates that the forecast is able to adequately predict the convective scale (∼10–20 km) during the first 20 min, whereas the simulation has more predictability at the longer scale (>30 km) beyond 20 min.
Isoproterenol Improves Secretion of Transplanted Submandibular Glands
Authors: Li Y.M. , Zhang Y. , Shi L. , Xiang B. , Cong X. , Zhang Y.Y. , Wu L.L. , Yu G.Y.
Published: June 2009

Autotransplantation of the submandibular gland is effective for severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. However, most transplants show decreased secretion shortly after the operation, which leads to obstruction of Wharton’s duct. The hypothesis that decreased catecholamine release due to denervation contributes to hypofunction in the early phase was tested in transplanted glands in rabbits. We found that salivary flow, expression of β1- and β2-adrenoceptor, and the maximum binding capacity were markedly decreased in the transplanted glands. Isoproterenol significantly reversed the decreased secretion, enhanced the expressions of β1- and β2-adrenoceptor, and ameliorated the atrophy of acinar cells. The contents of cAMP and phospho-ERK 1/2 were increased after isoproterenol treatment. These results indicate that lack of β-adrenoceptor stimulation is involved in early dysfunction of the transplanted gland. Isoproterenol treatment moderates structural injury and improves secretory function in the transplanted submandibular gland through up-regulating β1- and β2-adrenoceptor expression and post-receptor signal transduction.
Collagen Enhances Compatibility and Strength of Glass Ionomers
Authors: Chang H.-J. , Wu C.-M. , Chang Y.-C. , Fanchiang J.-C. , Shieh D.-B. , Wong T.-Y.
Published: June 2009

Glass ionomers have been used for perforation repair and retrograde filling where biointegration with periodontal tissue is required. Collagen has been demonstrated to promote cellular adhesion and enhance mineral tissue compressive strength. It was hypothesized that an appropriate concentration of collagen integrated into glass ionomer may improve both bio-compatibility and the mechanical properties of the material. By SEM and AFM, we discovered 70-nm granules appearing on the surfaces of glass-ionomer/collagen hybrids. Acid-etching revealed irregularly shaped particles interlinked by membrane-like sheets on the surface of the material with the typical 70-nm granules. WST-1 assay showed that acid-etching significantly enhanced the viability of attached gingival fibroblasts. However, the glass-ionomer/collagen hybrids’ combined surface-etching outperformed other groups. The glass-ionomer/collagen hybrids presented enhanced compressive strength when integrated with 0.01% collagen, while higher concentrations of collagen compromised their mechanical property. In summary, collagen improved both the mechanical and biocompatible properties of glass ionomers. Further in vivo study is warranted.
Are Eyebrow Movements Linked to Voice Variations and Turn-taking in Dialogue? An Experimental Investigation
Authors: Guaïtella Isabelle , Santi Serge , Lagrue Benoît , Cavé Christian
Published: June 2009

Following our work on the relationship between eyebrow movements and the fundamental frequency of the voice, this article presents the results of a study on this phenomenon, and also on the temporal location of rapid eyebrow movements with respect to speaking turns during dialogue. We used an automatic movement-acquisition system coupled with the simultaneous, synchronized recording of the vocal production. This procedure permits an objective analysis of eyebrow movements in relation to the vocal production. The data obtained showed that the speakers' rapid eyebrow movements were associated both with turn-taking (occurring right before or right after speaking turn onset) and with changes in the fundamental frequency. These findings suggest that rapid eyebrow movements are mainly linked to motivation and the intention to communicate, and may also act as a focus marker in speech.
Multimodal Indices to Japanese and French Prosodically Expressed Social Affects
Authors: Rilliard Albert , Shochi Takaaki , Martin Jean-Claude , Erickson Donna , Aubergé Véronique
Published: June 2009

Whereas several studies have explored the expression of emotions, little is known on how the visual and audio channels are combined during production of what we call the more controlled social affects, for example, “attitudinal” expressions. This article presents a perception study of the audovisual expression of 12 Japanese and 6 French attitudes in order to understand the contribution of audio and visual modalities for affective communication. The relative importance of each modality in the perceptual decoding of the expressions of four speakers is analyzed as a first step towards a deeper comprehension of their influence on the expression of social affects. Then, the audovisual productions of two speakers (one for each language) are acoustically (F0, duration and intensity) and visually (in terms of Action Units) analyzed, in order to match the relation between objective parameters and listeners' perception of these social affects. The most pertinent objective features, either acoustic or visual, are then discussed, in a bilingual perspective: for example, the relative influence of fundamental frequency for attitudinal expression in both languages is discussed, and the importance of a certain aspect of the voice quality dimension in Japanese is underlined.
Visual Intonation in the Prosody of a Sign Language
Authors: Dachkovsky Svetlana , Sandler Wendy
Published: June 2009

While visual signals that accompany spoken language serve to augment the communicative message, the same visual ingredients form the substance of the linguistic system in sign languages. This article provides an analysis of visual signals that comprise part of the intonational system of a sign language. The system is conveyed mainly by particular actions of the upper face, and is shown to pattern linguistically and predictably in Israeli Sign Language. Its components, aligned with prosodic constituents, are associated with particular but general meanings and may be combined to derive complex meanings. The Brow Raise component is functionally comparable to H tones, signaling continuation and dependency, and characterizing yes/no questions and the if -clause of conditionals, for example. The component Squint instructs the addressee to retrieve information that is not readily accessible, and characterizes relative clauses, topics, and other structures. The details of the componential analysis proposed here explain why the two components together co-occur on such seemingly diverse structures as yes/no questions about mutually retrievable information and counterfactual conditionals. Like auditorily perceived intonational melodies, the visual intonational arrays in sign language provide a subtle, intricately structured, and meaningful accompaniment to the words and sentences of language.
MushyPeek: A Framework for Online Investigation of Audiovisual Dialogue Phenomena
Authors: Edlund Jens , Beskow Jonas
Published: June 2009

Evaluation of methods and techniques for conversational and multimodal spoken dialogue systems is complex, as is gathering data for the modeling and tuning of such techniques. This article describes MushyPeek, an experiment framework that allows us to manipulate the audiovisual behavior of interlocutors in a setting similar to face-to-face human—human dialogue. The setup connects two subjects to each other over a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone connection and simultaneously provides each of them with an avatar representing the other. We present a first experiment which inaugurates, exemplifies, and validates the framework. The experiment corroborates earlier findings on the use of gaze and head pose gestures in turn-taking.
Limited Sampling Strategies for the Estimation of Sirolimus Daily Exposure in Kidney Transplant Recipients on a Calcineurin Inhibitor—Free Regimen
Authors: Cattaneo Dario , Cortinovis Monica , Baldelli Sara , Gotti Eliana , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Perico Norberto
Published: June 2009

Sirolimus (SRL) is a novel immunosuppressive agent characterized by a narrow therapeutic index. Monitoring of SRL concentrations is mandatory to optimize drug dosing. The area under the concentration—time curve (AUC) is generally accepted as the best pharmacokinetic marker of daily drug exposure. Assessment of full SRL AUC, however, requires the collection of multiple blood samples, imposing both time and cost constraints. Limited sampling strategies (LSS) may be of clinical relevance to improve the therapeutic drug monitoring of SRL. In this study, stepwise multiple regression analysis is conducted on 30 SRL pharmacokinetic profiles obtained from kidney transplant recipients on a cyclosporine‐free regimen, and different LSS equations are identified based on 2 or 3 sampling points collected within the first 6 hours after drug intake. The performance of these equations is tested in a separate validation set (n = 30). Most of the proposed algorithms are associated with good correlations with the measured AUC and acceptable bias and imprecision. Two equations—based on 2 time points collected within the first 4 hours after dosing—are identified that reliably predict SRL exposure in routine clinical practice compared with the traditional C0‐based approach. These tools provide additional information to optimize SRL therapeutic drug monitoring in renal transplant recipients.
Gender, Intimacy, and Risky Sex: A Terror Management Account
Authors: Lam Stephanie Renee , Rios Morrison Kimberly , Smeesters Dirk
Published: June 2009

Three studies tested whether mortality salience would lead men to be more sexually risky than women. In Study 1, men reported greater intentions to engage in risky sexual behaviors than did women after a mortality prime, but not after a control prime. In Study 2, men desired more future sexual partners and had a lower need for intimacy than did women, but again, only when mortality was salient. Furthermore, need for romantic intimacy mediated the relationship between mortality salience, gender, and desired number of future partners. Using a behavioral rather than a self-reported dependent measure, Study 3 showed that men primed with mortality were less likely than women to select a package of condoms (versus a pen) as a free gift after the experiment. Implications for gender differences in responses to mortality salience, as well as for how to design effective safe-sex interventions, are discussed.
When Rejection Sensitivity Matters: Regulating Dependence Within Daily Interactions With Family and Friends
Authors: Overall Nickola C. , Sibley Chris G.
Published: June 2009

This diary study examined situational dependence within daily interactions with family members and close friends over a 2-week period. Experiencing low personal control (high situational dependence) when interacting with family members and friends was associated with lower perceived regard and intimacy. Participants generally regulated felt dependence by derogating and withdrawing from their interaction partner (self-protective dependence regulation) and exhibiting lower levels of positive behavior, such as expressing thoughts and feelings or trying to improve the interaction (relationship-promotive dependence regulation). Furthermore, higher rejection sensitivity (but not low self-esteem) was associated with more negative evaluations of perceived regard and intimacy, greater self-protective dependence regulation, and lower relationship-promotive dependence regulation within low control interactions. These results identify dependence as a key element of rejection risk contexts and support the situation-specific nature of rejection sensitivity.
The Dark Side of Self-Affirmation: Confirmation Bias and Illusory Correlation in Response to Threatening Information
Authors: Munro Geoffrey D. , Stansbury Jessica A.
Published: June 2009

The effect of self-affirmation on reasoning biases was explored. After participants wrote about a value that was important to them (self-affirmation) or a value that was not important to them (no affirmation), they tested a hypothesis using a task commonly used to study the confirmation bias (Study 1) and assessed correlation from data presented in a 2 × 2 frequency table (Study 2). In both tasks, participants assessed the validity of a hypothesis that had either threatening or nonthreatening implications for their self-concepts. Nonaffirmed participants who tested threatening hypotheses exhibited the confirmation bias less frequently (Study 1) and assessed correlation more accurately (Study 2) than self-affirmed participants or participants who tested nonthreatening hypotheses. Results support models of motivated reasoning that propose that information processing is altered in response to threatening information. By ameliorating the threat, self-affirmations can elicit less effective reasoning strategies.
The trust episode in organizations: implications for private and public social capital
Authors: Martínez-Tur Vicente , Peiró José M.
Published: June 2009

Taking into account that research on organizational trust is fragmented, the present article proposes an integrated view of the episode of trust in organizations. To this end, the authors define trust and analyze its proximal and distal sources. They also examine the potential role of context, again considering proximal and distal facets. In addition, they explore the consequences of organizational trust leading to private and public social capital. Finally, the authors consider different levels of construct in the analysis of the trust episode in organizations. This effort helps integrate dispersed research efforts and reveals neglected research areas in the investigation on organizational trust and its connections to social capital.
Tribological Behaviors of Polymer-based Particle-reinforced PTFE Composite Bearings
Authors: Ünlü Bekir Sadik , Uzkut Mehmet , Atik Enver
Published: June 2009

In this study, tribological behaviors of polymer-based particle-reinforced PTFE bearings have been investigated and evaluated. Tribological properties of these particle-reinforced PTFE composite bearings have improved two- or three-fold.
Flutter of Perforated Metallic Plates Repaired with Angle-ply Composite Patches
Authors: Yazdi Ali A. , Rezaeepazhand Jalil
Published: June 2009

The performance of damaged metallic plates reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials (composite patches) is presented in this study. A square aluminum plate with a central cutout is considered as a damaged structural element. Numerical studies using commercial finite element code were conducted to investigate the effects of variation in patch lamination parameters on flutter velocity of the repaired plates. The various laminate parameters such as fiber angles and stacking sequences are considered in this study. The results presented herein indicate that, for flutter pressure of a repaired metallic plate with central cutout, a set of laminated composite patches with different number of plies and stacking sequences can be found, which improve flutter pressure of damaged plates.
Combined Effects of Loading Rate and Fiber-breakpoint Initialization on Fracture of Composites
Authors: Sun Lili , Yuxi Jia  , Fengde Ma  , Sheng Sun  , Jiang Zhao  , Han Charles C.
Published: June 2009

The mechanical properties of single glass-fiber/epoxy composites were found to be affected by either the loading rate or the type of the fiber embedded, which was contrary to the traditional assumption. Stress—strain measurements, optical microscopy, and electron microscopy observations (in situ and ex situ) revealed that the sample embedded with a thick fiber (φ42 μm) underwent a brittle fracture while the sample embedded with a thin fiber (φ26 μm) exhibited a ductile fracture at the same loading rate of 2 × 10-5 s-1. But both the fiber composites underwent a ductile fracture at the loading rate of 4 × 10-6 s -1 and a brittle fracture at 2 × 10-2 s-1. The origin of this phenomenon is attributed to the fracture initialized by the fiber breakpoint inside the matrix and the external tensile loading rate.
Flexural and Compressive Properties of Bamboo and Glass Fiber-reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites
Authors: Raghavendra Rao H. , Varada Rajulu A. , Ramachandra Reddy G. , Hemachandra Reddy K.
Published: June 2009

The flexural, compressive properties of bamboo/glass fiber-reinforced epoxy hybrid composites were studied. The effect of alkali treatment of the bamboo fibers on these properties was also studied. It was observed that both flexural and compressive properties of the hybrid composite increase with glass fiber content. These properties were found to be higher when alkali-treated bamboo fibers were used in the hybrid composites. The elimination of amorphous hemi-cellulose with alkali treatment leading to higher crystallinity of the bamboo fibers with alkali treatment may be responsible for these observations.
Stability Analysis of Long Composite Plates with Restrained Edges Subjected to Shear and Linearly Varying Loads
Authors: Tarján Gabriella , Sapkás Ákos , Kollár László P.
Published: June 2009

Explicit expressions are developed for the buckling analyses of rectangular (long) plates: for ‘linearly varying axial load’ the known results for hinged supports are corrected and new results are presented for built-in and constrained edges; for ‘shear load’ new results are presented for constrained edges; for ‘uniform compression’ new results are presented when the longitudinal edges are rotationally constrained by stiffeners. The results are based on the Rayleigh—Ritz method.
Local Web Buckling of Composite (FRP) Beams
Authors: Tarján Gabriella , Sapkás Ákos , Kollár László P.
Published: June 2009

Local buckling analysis of thin-walled open or closed section fiber-reinforced plastic beams is presented. In the analysis, the web is modeled as a long orthotropic plate with rotationally restrained edges. Explicit expressions were developed for the buckling analyses of rectangular (long) plates in a companion paper. These results are applied to develop explicit expressions for the calculation of the web buckling of beams with thin-walled cross sections. At last, the applicability of the method is demonstrated by numerical examples and the results are verified by finite element calculations.
Mechanical Properties of Novel Bismaleimide Nanocomposites with Si3N4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Yan Hongxia  , Li Pengbo  , Zhang Junping  , Ning Rongchang
Published: June 2009

Low-viscosity novel bismaleimide was mixed with surface-modified Si 3N4 nanoparticles to form nanocomposites using high shear and ultrasonic process. Impact strength, flexural strength, and storage modulus of the nanocomposites with various contents of Si3N4 nanoparticles were investigated. The mechanical properties were optimal with 3.0% mass fraction of surface-modified Si3N4 nanoparticles. In comparison to the neat bismaleimide resin the impact and flexural strengths of the nanocomposites increased by 52.3% and 20.9%, respectively, and the storage modulus showed a 54% increase at room temperature while the glass-transition temperature of nanocomposites was slightly decreased with the addition of Si3N4 nanoparticles. Surface-modified Si3N 4 nanoparticles as fillers reinforced the toughness of the bismaleimide resin, which was confirmed by scanning electronic microscope.
Creating Attitudinal Change Through Teaching
Authors: Currier Danielle M. , Carlson Jessica H.
Published: June 2009

Research on violence against women has consistently revealed that rape-myth acceptance (RMA) is high correlated with rape rates and victim blaming. Other research has shown that education about violence against women is a useful strategy for lessening or stopping various types of violence, particularly rape. Using data gathered at a medium-sized public university in the Northeast, the authors examine changes in rape myth acceptance over the course of a semester among undergraduate students. Comparing students in classes having a greater or lesser emphasis on gender issues (ranging from general sociology to a course specifically addressing violence against women), the authors found significant changes in RMA among students taking a course concentrating on violence against women. The authors conclude that having college courses specifically focused on violence against women can be an effective strategy for changing attitudes about both rape and rape victims.
Naturalizing Perception
Authors: Withagen Rob , Chemero Anthony
Published: June 2009

We believe that one of the most important aspects of Gibson's ecological psychology is his attempted naturalization of perception, that is, his attempt to place perception in the context of evolutionary theory. However, the dominant neo-Gibsonian approach to perception has been criticized for being inconsistent with evolutionary theory. We argue that a central tenet of this approach indeed runs counter to evolutionary considerations. Based on an evolutionary analysis of the use of information, we sketch an alternative development of Gibson's pioneering ideas. A truly naturalistic theory of perception, we argue, should recognize both suboptimalities in perception and variation among the members of a population in what informational variables are used. Like other variable organismal features, the use of information is a function of multiple factors. We will compare this naturalistic ecological approach with both Gibson's own perspective and more recent frameworks.
Identity through a Psychoanalytic Looking Glass
Authors: Vanheule Stijn , Verhaeghe Paul
Published: June 2009

This paper examines how “identity” can be conceptualized and how the experience of “oneself” is influenced by the interplay of forces inside the mind and the body. We address three psychoanalytic approaches: Freud's topological views on the mental apparatus; Lacan's theory on the mirror stage, his optical model of the ideals of the subject, and his theory on the object a; and the theory of Fonagy and colleagues on how the self develops and how affect regulation takes place in the context of attachment relationships. We outline similarities and differences in how identity is conceptualized within these perspectives and we discuss clinical implications.
Deep Vein Thrombosis in Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Calfon Marcella , Seddighzadeh Ali , Piazza Gregory , Goldhaber Samuel Z.
Published: June 2009

We compared 315 patients with deep vein thrombosis who underwent major orthopedic surgery with 618 who underwent general surgery in a prospective registry of consecutive ultrasound-confirmed deep vein thrombosis patients. Orthopedic patients had fewer indwelling central venous catheters (14.0% vs. 46.4%, P < .0001) as well as lower rates of congestive heart failure (7.0% vs. 13.4%, P = .002), cancer (5.1% vs. 28.6%, P < .0001), and diabetes (7.0% vs. 12.6%, P = .004). Extremity discomfort (43.5% vs. 30.3%, P < .0001) and erythema (10.1% vs. 4.8%, P = .001) were more common in orthopedic patients, but dyspnea was less common (11.4% vs. 18.0%, P = .005). There was an increased use of graduated compression stockings (19.4% vs. 15.0%, P = .04), low-molecular-weight heparin (18.7% vs. 12.1%, P = .003), and warfarin (31.7% vs. 11.0%, P < .0001) for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in the orthopedic surgery group. Orthopedic surgical patients had a higher frequency of calf deep vein thrombosis than patients who underwent general surgery (38.4% vs. 2.1%, P < .0001). In both groups, 28% did not receive prophylaxis. In conclusion, despite having fewer comorbid conditions, orthopedic patients with deep vein thrombosis remain particularly vulnerable to calf deep vein thrombosis. Rates of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis were inadequate.
The Raid-6 Liber8Tion Code
Authors: Plank James S.
Published: June 2009

Large centralized and networked storage systems have grown to the point where the single fault tolerance provided by RAID-5 is no longer enough. RAID-6 storage systems protect k disks of data with two parity disks so that the system of k + 2 disks may tolerate the failure of any two disks. Coding techniques for RAID-6 systems are varied, but an important class of techniques are those with minimum density, featuring an optimal combination of encoding, decoding and modification complexity. The word size of a code has an impact on both how the code is laid out on each disk's sectors and how large k can be. Word sizes which are powers of two are especially important, since they fit precisely into file system blocks. Minimum density codes exist for many word sizes with the notable exception of eight. This paper fills that gap by describing a new code called The RAID-6 Liber8tion Code for this important word size. The description includes performance properties as well as details of the discovery process.
Solidarity and Distinction in Blood: Contamination, Morality and Variability
Authors: Jing Shao  , Scoggin Mary
Published: June 2009

This is an ethnographic exploration into the meanings of contaminated blood. Intense commercial harvesting of human plasma, a blood component, in rural central China during the 1990s resulted in extensive HIV infection among donors. The lack of viral diversity among these infected donors, as revealed by research in molecular epidemiology, confirms that this epidemic took hold and spread rapidly with deadly efficiency through unsanitary plasmapheresis. The distinction in viral strains between this epidemic and the spread of HIV via other routes of transmission in other parts of China serves also to promote claims to victimhood by infected rural commercial donors in the ambiguous geography of moral ambivalence towards carriers of the virus. Through a series of vignettes from field research among rural plasma donors in China, this article examines the tensions between solidarity and distinction, victimhood and responsibility, alliance and strife as they play out in meanings derived from contaminated blood, within their everyday experience and also within their participation in the broader HIV/AIDS activism, in which their distinction is inevitably challenged.
Glorious Deeds: Work Unit Blood Donation and Postsocialist Desires in Urban China
Authors: Erwin Kathleen , Adams Vincanne , Le Phuoc
Published: June 2009

With advances in medical technology, the potential uses for human blood have proliferated, and in turn, so has the demand for blood. Blood and blood products circulate in a medical marketplace as a `good' that can be bought and sold to meet various health and commercial demands. Nevertheless, its point of origin — or `production' — remains the individual human body, and reliance on voluntary blood donation remains a cornerstone for meeting this growing market demand. This article examines the contradictions surrounding blood donation in the ethnographic context of contemporary urban China. Specifically, it focuses on both how the circulation of blood outside the individual body interfaces with its circulation in the Chinese social body, and how individual Chinese conceptualize their acts of donation in this process. In ethnographic interviews for this project, many urbanites describe donation as both voluntary and as meeting a social obligation. Yet their donation practices remain structured by meeting work unit quotas and are compensated with monetary and food donations and paid time off. Their descriptions of the mechanisms for motivating and compensating donors echo the socialist calls for contributing to society's greater good typical of the Maoist era propaganda. These descriptions highlight the complexities of sociocultural change in what has come to be described in much of the literature as a `postsocialist' Chinese society characterized by a burgeoning consumer culture and increasing emergence of individual autonomy. Our interviews suggest that the socialist workplace remains a critical social and economic structure in China through which workers' production is transformed into a social `good'. This transformation originates within the individual bodies of workers (not on the factory floor) and is extracted through exhortations to contribute to better society via the work unit and one's obligations to the work unit. Rather than a shift to individual autonomy and self-improvement, or a re-emergence of traditional values — both of which have been described as hallmarks of the postsocialist era — this process highlights the role that the socialist work unit plays in defining Chinese citizenship, consumer culture and embodied desires.
Emplacement and Contamination: Mediation of Navajo Identity through Excorporated Blood
Authors: Schwarz Maureen Trudelle
Published: June 2009

On the heels of colonization, missionization, capitalistic development and globalization, contemporary members of the Navajo Nation are daily inundated with a variety of tensions associated with the `politics of identity'. Based on recent consultations with Navajo of all walks of life about how they accommodate biomedical technologies within their religiously and medically pluralistic world, this article demonstrates how Navajo people anchor relatedness within their sacred space through the use of language, detached bodily substances or parts, and ritualized practices. These speech acts and practices, which are routinely done in the simultaneous process of person-and-place building, are also done to intentionally reinforce fragile social relations or perhaps more importantly to re-embed disrupted social relations through the process of emplacement. Using ethnographic information about Navajo views on the bioeconomy of excorporated bodily substances, this article considers how Navajo people specifically use decisions regarding blood donation or transfusion to strengthen individual and collective identity.
Process evaluation of a school-based HIV/AIDS intervention in South Africa
Authors: Mukoma Wanjirũ , Flisher Alan J. , Ahmed Nazeema , Jansen Shahieda , Mathews Catherine , Klepp Knut-Inge , Schaalma Herman
Published: June 2009

Aims: This paper presents a process evaluation that assessed the fidelity and quality of implementation, as well as the acceptability and subjective evaluations of a HIV/AIDS intervention among students and teachers. Methods: The process evaluation was conducted as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial of a theory- and evidence-based school HIV/AIDS intervention in Cape Town. The intervention was designed for grade 8 high school students and delivered by teachers over a six-month period. Twenty-six schools participated in the trial, 13 in the intervention group and 13 in the control group. Results: The success of implementation was varied within and across the schools, with some teachers implementing the intervention with more fidelity than others. This was influenced by a combination of individual characteristics and institutional factors. The factors that aided implementation included compliance with the current outcomes-based education approach; provision of teacher training; provision of teacher manuals with detailed information and instructions about the lessons and activities; continued monitoring and support for teachers; and student enthusiasm for the lessons. Proper implementation was hindered by large class sizes; too many activities in the intervention; teacher resistance to and inexperience in using participatory methods; teacher turnover; the low status of life orientation compared to other subjects; and a general disregard for life orientation among students. Conclusions: These findings are important for improving the intervention and contextualizing the results of the outcome evaluation; and to better plan for further large scale dissemination of school-based HIV/AIDS intervention programmes.
Correlates of intention to use condoms among Sub-Saharan African youth: The applicability of the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Schaalma Herman , Aarø Leif Edvard , Flisher Alan J. , Mathews Catherine , Kaaya Sylvia , Onya Hans , Ragnarson Anders , Klepp Knut-Inge
Published: June 2009

Aims: To test the applicability of an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour for the study of condom use intentions among large samples of young people in South Africa and Tanzania. Methods: Baseline data of a randomized controlled trial of school-based HIV/AIDS prevention programmes were used. The setting comprised secondary schools in the regions of Cape Town, Polokwane and Dar es Salaam. Participants were 15,782 secondary school students. The main measures were scales for intentions, knowledge, risk perceptions, attitudes, perceived social norms and perceived self-efficacy regarding condom use. Results: Seven variables accounted for 77% of the variance in intentions to use condoms: attitudes (β = 0.17), injunctive norms (β = 0.27), self-efficacy (β = 0.41), gender (lower condom use intentions among females), being a student at the Dar es Salaam site (lower scores than students in Cape Town and Polokwane), socioeconomic status (higher intentions with higher status), and access to condoms (higher intentions with higher access). Conclusions: Our results are comparable to those of studies conducted in Europe and the USA. Social cognition models such as the theory of planned behaviour are applicable in understanding the correlates of condom use intentions in African contexts.
HIV education in South African schools: The dilemma and conflicts of educators
Authors: Ahmed Nazeema , Flisher Alan J. , Mathews Catherine , Mukoma Wanjiru , Jansen Shahieda
Published: June 2009

Aims: Educators within the school system are well placed to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and skills in order for adolescents to be equipped for appropriate sexual decision-making. The aim of this research was to provide an understanding of educators' beliefs, attitudes and behaviours with regard to sexual and reproductive health promotion. Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 15 educators from demographically diverse high schools in the Western Cape. One-off interviews were conducted with Grade 8 Life Orientation educators and principals. The interviews were audio-recorded, with one exception. The resulting data were analysed using the qualitative computer package NVivo, as well as the grounded theory method. Results: The findings indicate that many educators are conflicted about HIV and sex education, as they perceive it as contradicting their values and beliefs. The overwhelming majority was in support of the promotion of abstinence, but felt personally challenged in teaching safe sex practices. Conclusions: The impact of broader socioeconomic factors on education was noted, such as the dysfunctional homes of learners, poor role models, inadequate life-skills, violence, and crime. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach towards sexual health intervention programmes that is sensitive to the cultural and social context in which it is developed and implemented.
I am not ``umqwayito'': A qualitative study of peer pressure and sexual risk behaviour among young adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Selikow Terry-Ann , Ahmed Nazeema , Flisher Alan J. , Mathews Catherine , Mukoma Wanjiru
Published: June 2009

Background: Young people in South Africa are susceptible to HIV infection. They are vulnerable to peer pressure to have sex, but little is known about how peer pressure operates. Aim: The aim of the study was to understand how negative peer pressure increases high risk sexual behaviour among young adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: Qualitative research methods were used. Eight focus groups were conducted with young people between the ages of 13 and 14 years. Results: Peer pressure among both boys and girls undermines healthy social norms and HIV prevention messages to abstain, be faithful, use a condom and delay sexual debut. Conclusions: HIV prevention projects need to engage with peer pressure with the aim of changing harmful social norms into healthy norms. Increased communication with adults about sex is one way to decrease the impact of negative peer pressure. Peer education is a further mechanism by which trained peers can role model healthy social norms and challenge a peer culture that promotes high risk sexual behaviour. Successful HIV prevention interventions need to engage with the disconnect between educational messages and social messages and to exploit the gaps between awareness, decision making, norms, intentions and actions as spaces for positive interventions.
“Out of the Blue”
Authors: Dobash R. Emerson , Dobash Russell P. , Cavanagh Kate
Published: June 2009

It came “out of the blue” is often said when a man with no known history of criminality kills his intimate partner. This reflects a belief that a “conventional man” without a criminogenic past or a problematic personal history would not commit murder. Casefiles from the Murder in Britain Study are used to compare men with no previous conviction (NoConvict, n = 25) with men with at least one previous conviction prior to the murder (PrevConvict, n = 79). The groups differed in childhood and adulthood with problematic lives and offending among the PrevConvict group and more “conventional” profiles among the NoConvict group but were similar in terms of circumstances at the murder and cognitions about the victim, especially possessiveness, jealousy, separation, empathy and remorse. The similarities challenge the notion that the murder comes “out of the blue” and underscore the relevance of gender and a feminist analysis of IPmurder
In Memory of Meishu Film: Catachresis and Metaphor in Theorizing Chinese Animation
Authors: Weihua Wu
Published: June 2009

This article looks at historical catachresis and cultural metaphor in producing and theorizing Chinese meishu (fine arts) film in relation to the socialist, artistic discourses of the ethnic/national style. By investigating some of these issues raised by the Chinese School, the author explores the conceptualization and constitution of meishu film as a powerful metaphor for producing nationalist identity. This identity brings visual arts and the socialist nation-state discourses into a shared space to recreate Chinese aesthetics in animation filmmaking. The author argues that the Chinese meishu film, identified as a unique, nationalized cinematic form in Chinese visual history, conceptualizes and mediates the national/ethnic style, as well as constituting a discourse-based aesthetic school that has helped it survive within socialist culture and politics.