bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teenage Attempted Suicide in Hong Kong
Authors: Yip Paul SF , Chiu LH
Published: August 2007

We examined the epidemiological profiles and characteristics of suicide attempters admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department of a regional hospital in Hong Kong (Princess Margaret Hospital) in the period from January to December 1995. These consisted of 101 adolescents (16 males and 85 females) aged between 10 to 24 years. There were significantly more female attempters than males, especially in the group aged 10-19, which had a male-to-female ratio of suicide rates of 1:11. Most of the methods used were nonlethal; the attempters were not serious enough and had no real intention to die. The use of painkillers and sleeping pills was most common. The main precipitating factor was interpersonal problems, for example, relationships, spousal and parental problems, especially among teenage girls. More than 90% of the cases stayed at the hospital for further observation, the mean length of stay in the hospital being 3.3 days. The potential health cost to the hospital system was around HK$ 11.7 million. Underestimating the prevalence of attempted suicides in Hong Kong could be a serious matter.
Religious Sanctions and Rates of Suicide Worldwide
Authors: Kelleher MJ , Chambers D , Corcoran P , Williamson E , Keeley HS
Published: August 2007

In order to understand differences in suicide rates between the countries affiliated to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the present paper investigates whether there is a relationship between the existence of religious sanctions and aggregate national suicide rates as reported to the World Health Organization. Through their participation in this study, 49 IASP national representatives reported on the existence of religious sanctions against suicide. It was discovered that countries with religious sanctions were less likely to return rates of suicide to the WHO. Comparative analysis revealed that the average reported rates for countries with sanctions are lower than those for countries without religious sanctions. The difference is particularly significant for females. Overall, then, at an aggregate level, it would appear that an inverse relationship does exist; however, while countries with religious sanctions against suicide return lower rates of suicide, as recorded by the WHO, recording and reporting procedures may be affected by the existence of sanctions, thus diminishing the reliability of reported rates. Furthermore, distinctions between rates among the different denominations seem to have been somewhat blurred, in particular between Catholics and Protestants, to the extent that in certain societies Catholics have a higher reported rate of suicide—despite the fact that, doctrinally, Catholicism is more severe in the condemnation of suicide than the majority of Protestant churches (with a few notable exceptions, such as the Orthodox Calvinists).
Suicide Mortality in Slovenia: Regional Variation
Authors: Marušič Andrej
Published: August 2007

Different medical, social, and environmental regional characteristics were investigated as possible predictors of suicide rates in 60 self-governing communes in Slovenia. The distribution pattern of regional suicide rates for Slovenia shows some similarity to that of the rest of Europe, especially in terms of the substantial variation of suicide density within the country. On the basis of the multivariate analysis, prevalence of alcohol psychosis, percentage of Catholics, and low duration of sunshine appeared to be the most important predictors of regional suicide rates in Slovenia. The rate of murders was proven to be a highly useful clue of suicide potential among younger groups, whereas income per capita of population was associated with suicide risk in old age. The principal component analysis provided three suicide risk patterns: a socio-economic risk pattern (Catholic religion in poor community), a behavioral one (antisocial features, including heavy drinking), and a depression-related risk pattern with a climatic component (lack of sunshine). Different approaches are necessary for the different risk patterns listed above. Psychiatry, especially clinical psychiatry, can only deal with components of two of the patterns, namely, depression and antisocial behavior.
Suicide in Belarus
Authors: Kondrichin Sergei V , Lester David
Published: August 2007

Suicide rates have risen in Belarus since 1990, and suicide rates are higher in rural than in urban areas. The regional distribution of suicide rates suggests a North-South variation that may be a result of ethnic and cultural differences between the regions.
Suicide and Attempted Suicide in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Murad Moosa
Published: August 2007

Suicide and attempted suicide are understudied subjects in Pakistan, an Islamic country where they are considered criminal offenses. National suicide statistics are not compiled nor are suicide mortality statistics reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). Although there are strong religious sanctions against suicide, there are no clear principles against attempted suicide in Islam. Despite this, Pakistan, like many other Islamic countries, has punitive laws against attempted suicide. This has led to both suicide and attempted suicide being underdiagnosed and underreported. Data on suicide and attempted suicide are also difficult to obtain. This article gives an overview of the current state of suicide and attempted suicide in Pakistan, in the context of existing religious and legal factors, highlighting the main findings of the few studies carried out over the last 50 years. It is important that researchers in Islamic countries like Pakistan not be deterred by the apparent low rates of suicide in these countries, but conduct further research in this important yet neglected public-health problem.
Modified Crisis Intervention for Personality Disorder
Authors: Rudnick Abraham
Published: August 2007

This study proposes that the goal of crisis intervention for persons with personality disorders should be to return them to their pre-crisis level of functioning, even though this is maladaptive. This is contrasted with standard crisis intervention, which aims to return normal or neurotic persons to their pre-crisis normal or neurotic functioning, usually by means of few and short-term therapeutic encounters. The modification proposed costs more time and resources in persons with personality disorders in crisis and fits the intervention to the personality type. This is illustrated by the case of Eve, a patient in crisis, whose pre-crisis functioning was maladaptive because of a dependent personality disorder. The goal of (modified) crisis intervention in this case was to return the patient to her dependent lifestyle, by means of pharmacotherapy combined with intensive supportive psychotherapy during 3-4 months of partial (day) hospitalization. The special nature of crisis in personality disorders is discussed.
Effects of pore collapse and grain crushing on ultrasonic velocities and Vp/Vs
Authors: Fortin Jérôme , Guéguen Yves , Schubnel Alexandre
Published: August 2007

Compressional, shear wave velocities and their ratio, Vp/Vs, were measured along with porosity variations during wet and dry hydrostatic compaction of Bleurswiller sandstone, a 25% porosity Vosgian sandstone. At first, increase in hydrostatic pressure was accompanied by a simultaneous increase of both Vp and Vs as expected. At a critical effective confining pressure P*, a large mechanical decrease of porosity was observed that was due to pore collapse and grain crushing. Theoretically, two different processes are affecting the elastic wave velocities in counteracting ways during cataclastic compaction: cracking and porosity decrease. Our experimental results show that cracking is the dominant effect, so that grain crushing and porosity reduction were accompanied by a large decrease in velocities. The ratio Vp/Vs was also observed to change during our experiments: In the wet specimen, Vp/Vs value increased from 1.72 to 1.84, while in the dry specimen, it increased from 1.59 below P* to 1.67 beyond P*, respectively. To quantitatively interpret these results, an isotropic effective medium model (EM) was used that considered the sandstone as a mixture of spheroidal pores and penny‐shaped cracks. In particular, the increase in Vp/Vs, in the wet case, is well reproduced and shows the important role played by the mechanical coupling of fluid with low aspect ratio cracks (<10−2). In the dry case, however, our experimental results highlight an increase of Vp/Vs ratio during cataclastic compaction, in apparent contradiction with the predictions of the EM model. Indeed, increases in Vp/Vs ratio, and hence in Poisson's ratio, are, in general, attributed to fluid saturation. A closer look to the microstructure may provide a possible interpretation: Beyond P*, grains are no longer cemented. Using Digby's granular model as an alternative model, we were able to reach a quantitative agreement with the experimental results. The possible implication is that in both dry and wet conditions, cataclastic compaction due to grain crushing induces an increase in Vp/Vs ratio.
Geochemical characteristics of West Molokai shield‐ and postshield‐stage lavas: Constraints on Hawaiian plume models
Authors: Xu Guangping , Frey Frederick A. , Clague David A. , Abouchami Wafa , Blichert‐Toft Janne , Cousens Brian , Weisler Marshall
Published: August 2007

There are systematic geochemical differences between the <2 Myr Hawaiian shields forming the subparallel spatial trends, known as Loa and Kea. These spatial and temporal geochemical changes provide insight into the spatial distribution of geochemical heterogeneities within the source of Hawaiian lavas, and the processes that create the Hawaiian plume. Lavas forming the ∼1.9 Ma West Molokai volcano are important for evaluating alternative models proposed for the spatial distribution of geochemical heterogeneities because (1) the geochemical distinction between Loa and Kea trends may end at the Molokai Fracture Zone and (2) West Molokai is a Loa‐trend volcano that has exposures of shield and postshield lavas. This geochemical study (major and trace element abundances and isotopic ratios of Sr, Nd, Hf, and Pb) shows that the West Molokai shield includes lavas with Loa‐ and Kea‐like geochemical characteristics; a mixed Loa‐Kea source is required. In contrast, West Molokai postshield lavas are exclusively Kea‐like. This change in source geochemistry can be explained by the observed change in strike of the Pacific plate near Molokai Island so that as West Molokai volcano moved away from a mixed Loa‐Kea source it sampled only the Kea side of a bilaterally zoned plume.
Impact of multiscale dynamical processes and mixing on the chemical composition of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment–North America
Authors: Fairlie T. Duncan , Avery Melody A. , Pierce R. Bradley , Al‐Saadi Jassim , Dibb Jack , Sachse Glen
Published: August 2007

We use high‐frequency in situ observations made from the DC8 to examine fine‐scale tracer structure and correlations observed in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during INTEX‐NA. Two flights of the NASA DC‐8 are compared and contrasted. Chemical data from the DC‐8 flight on 18 July show evidence for interleaving and mixing of polluted and stratospheric air masses in the vicinity of the subtropical jet in the upper troposphere, while on 2 August the DC‐8 flew through a polluted upper troposphere and a lowermost stratosphere that showed evidence of an intrusion of polluted air. We compare data from both flights with RAQMS 3‐D global meteorological and chemical model fields to establish dynamical context and to diagnose processes regulating the degree of mixing on each day. We also use trajectory mapping of the model fields to show that filamentary structure due to upstream strain deformation contributes to tracer variability observed in the upper troposphere. An Eulerian measure of strain versus rotation in the large‐scale flow is found useful in predicting filamentary structure in the vicinity of the jet. Higher‐frequency (6–24 km) tracer variability is attributed to buoyancy wave oscillations in the vicinity of the jet, whose turbulent dissipation leads to efficient mixing across tracer gradients.
Response of stratospheric circulation and stratosphere‐troposphere exchange to changing sea surface temperatures
Authors: Olsen Mark A. , Schoeberl Mark R. , Nielsen J. Eric
Published: August 2007

The Goddard Earth Observing System, version 4 general circulation model (GCM) is used to examine the influence of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on stratospheric circulation and extratropical stratosphere‐troposphere exchange (STE). The simulation uses observed SSTs from 1949 to 1998 at the lower boundary. The atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) burden is interannually constant to artificially decouple the radiative influence from the SST forcing. A stronger SST gradient from the tropics through the middle latitudes results in a greater meridional temperature gradient in the subtropical troposphere. The upper tropospheric zonal winds increase consistent with the thermal wind relationship, and vertically propagating waves are refracted more poleward into the stratosphere. As a consequence, the stratospheric residual circulation is strengthened. This is manifest as a net annual mass STE increase of 2.7% per decade in the Northern Hemisphere and 2.0% per decade in the Southern Hemisphere. Likewise, the characteristic residence time of air in the lowermost stratosphere decreases by about a month. The STE trends and upper tropospheric temperature gradients are not significantly different in a second simulation that specifies an increasing GHG burden. The second simulation also shows that the radiative cooling from an increased GHG burden is greater in magnitude than the SST‐induced dynamical warming in the polar stratosphere. The results of this study imply that the modeled circulation of the stratosphere can be significantly affected by the SSTs. It follows that the fidelity of simulations of the 21st century atmosphere strongly depends on the SSTs, whether prescribed or interactive.
Three‐dimensional modeling of the trajectories of visible noctilucent cloud particles: An indication of particle nucleation well below the mesopause
Authors: Berger Uwe , von Zahn Ulf
Published: August 2007

Noctilucent clouds (NLC) form in summer at high latitudes at altitudes close to 83 km. Visually they can be observed best in the latitude band 50° to 65°. The cloud particles are most likely transported by the upper atmosphere winds over substantial distances from their birth place (site of nucleation) to the site of their observation and subsequently to warmer regions where they sublimate again. Here we use a 3‐D Lagrangian ice transport model to identify the nucleation sites of NLC particles which are observed vertically above a latitude of 69°N (e.g., by ground‐based lidars at the ALOMAR observatory). We limit the study to particles which have radii larger than either 50 nm or 20 nm when being observed. We find that these particles were nucleated on average only 3 km higher than observed at 69°N. The latter statement implies that nucleation of NLC particles occurs on average more than a scale height below the local mesopause. Furthermore, NLC particles observed overhead at 69°N were nucleated on average about 9° in latitude north of the observation site. Their transport time between nucleation and reaching the observation site is clearly and positively correlated with the latitude difference between the nucleation and observation sites (a similar strong correlation does not exist between the radius and the transport time of the observed particle). The median value of transport times of NLC particles observed above 69°N is 36 hours.
Changes in the stratospheric mean meridional circulation due to increased CO2: Radiation‐ and sea surface temperature–induced effects
Authors: Kodama C. , Iwasaki T. , Shibata K. , Yukimoto S.
Published: August 2007

Mechanisms of changes in the stratospheric Brewer‐Dobson circulation (BDC) due to increased CO2 were investigated through atmospheric GCM experiments. The total effects of increased CO2 on the BDC are separated into the radiation‐induced effects (direct effects) and SST‐induced effects (indirect effects). During winter, both direct and indirect effects enhance the NH BDC in the upper stratosphere much more than the SH BDC because stationary waves are more active in the NH upper stratosphere. In the NH during winter, tropospheric stationary waves are suppressed because of both direct and indirect effects, implying that wave generation in the troposphere is not related directly to the enhanced stationary waves in the upper stratosphere. In the summer stratosphere, the indirect effects mainly enhance the BDC in the stratosphere, consistent with the enhanced transient and stationary waves. The indirect effects enhance the midlatitude westerlies in the summer hemispheres and probably affect vertical wave propagation in the upper troposphere and stratosphere.
A full‐stress, thermomechanical flow band model using the finite volume method
Authors: Price S. F. , Waddington E. D. , Conway H.
Published: August 2007

A thermomechanical ice flow model is formulated using the finite volume method. Separate submodels solve the full, two‐dimensional momentum equations, the advective‐diffusive heat equation, and evolution of the free surface. A unique aspect of the method is the use of a boundary‐fitted, orthogonal, curvilinear coordinate system, which simplifies the implementation of boundary conditions, leads to a straightforward discretization scheme, and results in banded sparse coefficient matrices that can be inverted directly. For simple boundary conditions and geometries, the model compares well with analytical solutions. For more complicated boundary conditions and geometries, the model compares well with full‐stress solutions obtained by previous authors.
Surface wave tomography of the western United States from ambient seismic noise: Rayleigh wave group velocity maps
Authors: Moschetti M. P. , Ritzwoller M. H. , Shapiro N. M.
Published: August 2007

We have applied ambient noise surface wave tomography to data that have emerged continuously from the EarthScope USArray Transportable Array (TA) between October 2004 and January 2007. Estimated Green's functions result by cross‐correlating noise records between every station‐pair in the network. The 340 stations yield a total of more than 55,000 interstation paths. Within the 5‐ to 50‐s period band, we measure the dispersion characteristics of Rayleigh waves using frequency‐time analysis. High‐resolution group velocity maps at 8‐, 16‐, 24‐, 30‐, and 40‐s periods are presented for the western United States. The footprint of the TA encloses a region with a resolution of about the average interstation spacing (∼70 km). Velocity anomalies in the group velocity maps correlate well with the dominant geological features of the western United States. Coherent velocity anomalies are associated with the Sierra Nevada, Peninsular, and Cascade Ranges, Great Valley, Salton Trough, and Columbia basins, the Columbia River flood basalts, the Snake River Plain and Yellowstone, and mantle wedge features associated with the subducting Juan de Fuca plate.
Changes in freshwater content in the North Atlantic Ocean 1955–2006
Authors: Boyer Tim , Levitus Syd , Antonov John , Locarnini Ricardo , Mishonov Alexey , Garcia Hernan , Josey Simon A.
Published: August 2007

Freshwater content changes (FW) for the North Atlantic Ocean (NA) are calculated from in situ salinity profiles for the period 1955–2006 from the surface to 2,000 meters. Heat content (HC) is also calculated from in situ temperature profiles for comparison. A decrease in FW between 1955 and 2006 of ∼30,000 km3 is found for the NA, despite an increase in FW of ∼16,000 km3 in the subpolar North Atlantic (SNA) and Nordic Seas between the late 1960s and the early 1990s. Over the last two decades there is a pattern of decreasing FW in the upper 400 meters and increasing FW below 1,300 meters for the NA. FW and HC are strongly negatively correlated for both the SNA (r = −0.93) and the NA (r = −0.79). Net precipitation, from NCEP/NCAR, is found to have a strong influence on FW changes in the SNA but this relation is weaker elsewhere.
Physical retrieval of surface emissivity spectrum from hyperspectral infrared radiances
Authors: Li Jun , Li Jinlong , Weisz Elisabeth , Zhou Daniel K.
Published: August 2007

Retrieval of temperature, moisture profiles and surface skin temperature from hyperspectral infrared (IR) radiances requires spectral information about the surface emissivity. Using constant or inaccurate surface emissivities typically results in large temperature and moisture profile errors, particularly over semi‐arid or arid areas where the variation in emissivity is large both spectrally and spatially. A physically based algorithm has been developed to retrieve a hyperspectral IR emissivity spectrum simultaneously with the temperature and moisture profiles, as well as the surface skin temperature. To make the solution stable and efficient, the hyperspectral emissivity spectrum is represented by eigenvectors, derived from the laboratory measured hyperspectral emissivity database, in the retrieval process. Experience with Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) radiances shows that simultaneous retrieval of the emissivity spectrum and the sounding improves the surface skin temperature and temperature and moisture profiles, particularly in the near surface layer.
Fire season precipitation variability influences fire extent and severity in a large southwestern wilderness area, United States
Authors: Holden Zachary A. , Morgan Penelope , Crimmins Michael A. , Steinhorst R. K. , Smith Alistair M. S.
Published: August 2007

Despite a widely noted increase in the severity of recent western wildfires, this trend has never been quantified. A twenty‐year series of Landsat TM satellite imagery for all forest fires on the 1.4 million ha Gila National Forest suggests that an increases in area burned and area burned severely from 1984–2004 are well correlated with timing and intensity of rain events during the fire season. Winter precipitation was marginally correlated with burn severity, but only in high‐elevation forest types. These results suggest the importance of within‐season precipitation over snow pack in modulating recent wildfire size and severity in mid‐elevation southwestern forests.
Gyre‐scale atmospheric pressure variations and their relation to 19th and 20th century sea level rise
Authors: Miller Laury , Douglas Bruce C.
Published: August 2007

Most of the long tide gauge records in the North Atlantic and North Pacific commonly used to estimate global sea level rise and acceleration display a marked difference in behavior in the late 1800's – early 1900's compared to the latter half of the 20th century. The rates of sea level rise tend to be lower in the 19th compared to 20th century. We show this behavior may be related to long‐term, gyre‐scale surface pressure variations similar to those associated with the Northern Annular Mode. As sea level pressure increases (decreases) at decadal and longer timescales at the centers of the subtropical atmospheric gyres, sea level trends along the eastern margins in each ocean basin decrease (increase). This is not an isostatic response; the scaling between local surface pressure and sea level at interannual and longer timescales is 3 to 6 times greater than expected by that mechanism. Rather, it appears to be the result of large, possibly gyre‐scale changes in ocean circulation. Some evidence is also presented indicating slow, ∼2 cm/sec, westward propagation of sea level changes in the Atlantic from the west coast of Europe to the east coast of the U.S. which produce the decadal variability seen there.
Significance of trends toward earlier snowmelt runoff, Columbia and Missouri Basin headwaters, western United States
Authors: Moore Johnnie N. , Harper Joel T. , Greenwood Mark C.
Published: August 2007

We assess changes in runoff timing over the last 55 years at 21 gages unaffected by human influences, in the headwaters of the Columbia‐Missouri Rivers. Linear regression models and tests for significance that control for “false discoveries” of many tests, combined with a conceptual runoff response model, were used to examine the detailed structure of spring runoff timing. We conclude that only about one third of the gages exhibit significant trends with time but over half of the gages tested show significant relationships with discharge. Therefore, runoff timing is more significantly correlated with annual discharge than with time. This result differs from previous studies of runoff in the western USA that equate linear time trends to a response to global warming. Our results imply that predicting future snowmelt runoff in the northern Rockies will require linking climate mechanisms controlling precipitation, rather than projecting response to simple linear increases in temperature.
Modification of interplanetary shocks near the bow shock and through the magnetosheath
Authors: Šafránková J. , Němeček Z. , Přech L. , Samsonov A. A. , Koval A. , Andréeová K.
Published: August 2007

Fast forward interplanetary (IP) shocks have been identified as a source of the largest geomagnetic disturbances. These shocks can evolve in the solar wind, and they are modified both by interaction with the bow shock and during their propagation through the magnetosheath. Our contribution continues the study of the evolution of IP shocks in the magnetosheath. We compare profiles of the magnetic field and plasma parameters observed in the magnetosheath with profiles of the same parameters predicted by an MHD magnetosheath numerical model. The IP shock transmission into and its propagation through the magnetosheath cause inward and then outward motions of the bow shock, and these motions result in an “indentation” of the bow shock surface. This indentation (trough) flows along the bow shock together with the IP shock. Furthermore, we found that the interaction of the IP shock with the bow shock results in two discontinuities. These effects are consistent with the simulations of the MHD magnetosheath model.
Aerosols in polar regions: A historical overview based on optical depth and in situ observations
Authors: Tomasi C. , Vitale V. , Lupi A. , Di Carmine C. , Campanelli M. , Herber A. , Treffeisen R. , Stone R. S. , Andrews E. , Sharma S. , Radionov V. , von Hoyningen‐Huene W. , Stebel K. , Hansen G. H. , Myhre C. L. , Wehrli C. , Aaltonen V. , Lihavainen H. , Virkkula A. , Hillamo R. , Ström J. , Toledano C. , Cachorro V. E. , Ortiz P. , de Frutos A. M. , Blindheim S. , Frioud M. , Gausa M. , Zielinski T. , Petelski T. , Yamanouchi T.
Published: August 2007

Large sets of filtered actinometer, filtered pyrheliometer and Sun photometer measurements have been carried out over the past 30 years by various groups at different Arctic and Antarctic sites and for different time periods. They were examined to estimate ensemble average, long‐term trends of the summer background aerosol optical depth AOD(500 nm) in the polar regions (omitting the data influenced by Arctic haze and volcanic eruptions). The trend for the Arctic was estimated to be between −1.6% and −2.0% per year over 30 years, depending on location. No significant trend was observed for Antarctica. The time patterns of AOD(500 nm) and Ångström's parameters α and β measured with Sun photometers during the last 20 years at various Arctic and Antarctic sites are also presented. They give a measure of the large variations of these parameters due to El Chichon, Pinatubo, and Cerro Hudson volcanic particles, Arctic haze episodes most frequent in winter and spring, and the transport of Asian dust and boreal smokes to the Arctic region. Evidence is also shown of marked differences between the aerosol optical parameters measured at coastal and high‐altitude sites in Antarctica. In situ optical and chemical composition parameters of aerosol particles measured at Arctic and Antarctic sites are also examined to achieve more complete information on the multimodal size distribution shape parameters and their radiative properties. A characterization of aerosol radiative parameters is also defined by plotting the daily mean values of α as a function of AOD(500 nm), separately for the two polar regions, allowing the identification of different clusters related to fifteen aerosol classes, for which the spectral values of complex refractive index and single scattering albedo were evaluated.
A comparison of radiosonde and GPS radio occultation measurements with meteorological temperature analyses in the Antarctic vortex, 1998–2004
Authors: Nedoluha Gerald E. , Alfred Jerome , Benson Craig M. , Hoppel Karl W. , Wickert Jens , Koenig‐Langlo Gert
Published: August 2007

We present comparisons between temperature measurements from sondes launched from South Pole Station and Neumayer Station with four meteorological analyses for the years 1998–2004. We also compare these meteorological analyses with inside‐the‐vortex GPS radio occultation measurements from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) instrument for 2001–2004. We use these comparisons to evaluate the interannual consistency of four meteorological analyses. We find that over the 1998–2004 period each of the four analyses showed at least one year‐to‐year jump in the average 1 June to 30 September bias of >2.3 K when compared to the Neumayer and South Pole sondes at 30 hPa and 50 hPa. We find that while for the one nonoperational analysis (the NCEP Reanalysis) the biases relative to sondes and GPS radio occultation measurements are often larger than for the operational analyses, the NCEP Reanalysis does show the best interannual consistency at 50 hPa. Having compared the meteorological analyses with measurements and with each other, we investigate whether the unusually high ozone at the top of the ozone hole (∼30 hPa) in 2003 can be understood in terms of unusually warm temperatures which would reduce the rate of chlorine activation and hence ozone destruction. We find that when bias corrections based on analysis‐sonde comparisons are applied none of the meteorological analyses studied indicate that the winter of 2003 was warmer at 30 hPa than that of 1998 and 2000, years which did not show unusually high ozone at 30 hPa.
Characterization of the vasorelaxant mechanisms of the endocannabinoid anandamide in rat aorta
Authors: Herradón E , Martín M I , López‐Miranda V
Published: August 2007

Background and purpose:

Studies in isolated preparations of vascular tissue (mainly resistance vessels) provide evidence that anandamide exerts vasorelaxation. The aim of the present work was to further characterize the mechanisms involved in the vascular response induced by anandamide in a conduit vessel, rat aorta.

Experimental approach:

Isometric tension changes in response to a cumulative concentration–response curve of anandamide (1 nM–100 μM) were recorded in aortic rings from male Wistar rats. The involvement of a number of factors in this relaxation was investigated including endothelium‐derived vasorelaxant products, cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors (transient potential vanilloid receptor‐1 (TRPV1)), release of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), anandamide metabolism and the membrane transporter for anandamide.

Key results:

Anandamide caused a significant concentration‐dependent vasorelaxation in rat aorta. This vasorelaxation was significantly inhibited byPertussistoxin, by a non‐CB1/non‐CB2cannabinoid receptor antagonist, by endothelial denudation, by inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis or inhibition of prostanoid synthesis via cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), by blockade of prostaglandin receptors EP4and by a fatty acid amino hydrolase inhibitor. Antagonists for CB1, CB2, TRPV1 or CGRP receptors, an inhibitor of the release of endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor, and an inhibitor of anandamide transport did not modify the vascular response to anandamide.

Conclusions and implications:

Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the involvement of the non‐CB1/non‐CB2 cannabinoid receptor and an anandamide‐arachidonic acid‐COX‐2 derived metabolite (which acts on EP4receptors) in the endothelial vasorelaxation caused by anandamide in rat aorta.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2007)152, 699–708; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707404; published online 20 August 2007
New insights into human prostacyclin receptor structure and function through natural and synthetic mutations of transmembrane charged residues
Authors: Stitham J , Arehart E , Gleim S R , Li N , Douville K , Hwa J
Published: August 2007

Background and purpose:

The human prostacyclin receptor (hIP), a G‐protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed mainly on platelets and vascular smooth muscle cells, plays important protective roles in the cardiovascular system. We hypothesized that significant insights could be gained into the structure and function of the hIP through mutagenesis of its energetically unfavourably located transmembrane charged residues.

Experimental approach:

Within its putative transmembrane helices fourteen hydrophilic residues, both unique and conserved across GPCRs, were systematically mutated to assess for effects on receptor structure and function.

Key results:

Mutations of ten of the fourteen charged residues to alanine exhibited defective binding and/or activation. Key potential interactions were identified between 6 core residues; E1163.49‐R1173.50(salt bridge TMIII), D2747.35‐R2797.40(salt bridge TMVII), and D602.50‐D2887.49(H‐bond network TMII‐TMVII). Further detailed investigation of E1163.49(TMIII) with mutation to a glutamine showed a 2.6‐fold increase in agonist‐independent basal activity. This increase in activity accounts for a proportion (∼13%) of full agonist induced activation. We further characterized two novel naturally occurring human mutations, R772.33C and R2797.40C recently identified in a 1455 human genomic DNA sample screen. The R772.33C variant appeared to exclusively affect expression, while the R2797.40C variant, exhibited considerable deficiencies in both agonist binding and activation.

Conclusions and implications:

Transmembrane charged residues play important roles in maintaining the hIP binding pocket and ensuring normal activation. The critical nature of these charged residues and the presence of naturally occurring mutations have important implications in the rational design of prostacyclin agonists for treating cardiovascular disease.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2007)152, 513–522; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707413; published online 20 August 2007
The novel endocannabinoid receptor GPR55 is activated by atypical cannabinoids but does not mediate their vasodilator effects
Authors: Johns D G , Behm D J , Walker D J , Ao Z , Shapland E M , Daniels D A , Riddick M , Dowell S , Staton P C , Green P , Shabon U , Bao W , Aiyar N , Yue T‐L , Brown A J , Morrison A D , Douglas S A
Published: August 2007

Background and purpose:

Atypical cannabinoids are thought to cause vasodilatation through an as‐yet unidentified ‘CBx’ receptor. Recent reports suggest GPR55 is an atypical cannabinoid receptor, making it a candidate for the vasodilator ‘CBx’ receptor. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that human recombinant GPR55 is activated by atypical cannabinoids and mediates vasodilator responses to these agents.

Experimental approach:

Human recombinant GPR55 was expressed in HEK293T cells and specific GTPγS activity was monitored as an index of receptor activation. In GPR55‐deficient and wild‐type littermate control mice, in vivo blood pressure measurement and isolated resistance artery myography were used to determine GPR55 dependence of atypical cannabinoid‐induced haemodynamic and vasodilator responses.

Key results:

Atypical cannabinoids O‐1602 and abnormal cannabidiol both stimulated GPR55‐dependent GTPγS activity (EC50 approximately 2 nM), whereas the CB1 and CB2‐selective agonist WIN 55,212‐2 showed no effect in GPR55‐expressing HEK293T cell membranes. Baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate were not different between WT and GPR55 KO mice. The blood pressure‐lowering response to abnormal cannabidiol was not different between WT and KO mice (WT 20±2%, KO 26±5% change from baseline), nor was the vasodilator response to abnormal cannabidiol in isolated mesenteric arteries (IC50 approximately 3 μ
M for WT and KO). The abnormal cannabidiol vasodilator response was antagonized equivalently by O‐1918 in both strains.

Conclusions:

These results demonstrate that while GPR55 is activated by atypical cannabinoids, it does not appear to mediate the vasodilator effects of these agents.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 825–831; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707419; published online 20 August 2007
GPR55 and the vascular receptors for cannabinoids
Authors: Hiley C R , Kaup S S
Published: August 2007

CB1 and CB2 receptors mediate most responses to cannabinoids but not some of the cardiovascular actions of endocannabinoids such as anandamide and virodhamine, or those of some synthetic agents, like abnormal cannabidiol (abn‐cbd). These agents induce vasorelaxation which is antagonised by rimonabant but only at high concentrations relative to those required to block CB1 receptors. Vasorelaxation to anandamide is sensitive to Pertussis toxin (though that to abn‐cbd is not), and so is thought to be mediated by a G protein‐coupled receptor through Gi/o. An orphan receptor, GPR55, apparently a cannabinoid receptor, is activated by abn‐cbd, but is not the receptor mediating vasorelaxation to this agent, as the response persists in vessels from GPR55 knockout mice. However, the activity of anandamide in GPR55 knockout mice is not yet reported and so the role of GPR55 as a cannabinoid receptor mediating vascular responses has yet to be finalised.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 559–561; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707421; published online 20 August 2007
Cannabinoids go nuclear: evidence for activation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors
Authors: O'Sullivan S E
Published: August 2007

Cannabinoids act at two classical cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), a 7TM orphan receptor and the transmitter‐gated channel transient receptor potential vanilloid type‐1 receptor. Recent evidence also points to cannabinoids acting at members of the nuclear receptor family, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs, with three subtypes α, β (δ) and γ), which regulate cell differentiation and lipid metabolism. Much evidence now suggests that endocannabinoids are natural activators of PPARα. Oleoylethanolamide regulates feeding and body weight, stimulates fat utilization and has neuroprotective effects mediated through activation of PPARα. Similarly, palmitoylethanolamide regulates feeding and lipid metabolism and has anti‐inflammatory properties mediated by PPARα. Other endocannabinoids that activate PPARα include anandamide, virodhamine and noladin. Some (but not all) endocannabinoids also activate PPARγ; anandamide and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol have anti‐inflammatory properties mediated by PPARγ. Similarly, ajulemic acid, a structural analogue of a metabolite of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), causes anti‐inflammatory effects in vivo through PPARγ. THC also activates PPARγ, leading to a time‐dependent vasorelaxation in isolated arteries. Other cannabinoids which activate PPARγ include N‐arachidonoyl‐dopamine, HU210, WIN55212‐2 and CP55940. In contrast, little research has been carried out on the effects of cannabinoids at PPARδ. In this newly emerging area, a number of research questions remain unanswered; for example, why do cannabinoids activate some isoforms and not others? How much of the chronic effects of cannabinoids are through activation of nuclear receptors? And importantly, do cannabinoids confer the same neuro‐ and cardioprotective benefits as other PPARα and PPARγ agonists? This review will summarize the published literature implicating cannabinoid‐mediated PPAR effects and discuss the implications thereof.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 576–582; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707423; published online 20 August 2007
Endocannabinoid metabolism and uptake: novel targets for neuropathic and inflammatory pain
Authors: Jhaveri M D , Richardson D , Chapman V
Published: August 2007

Cannabinoid CB1and CB2receptors are located at key sites involved in the relaying and processing of noxious inputs. Both CB1and CB2receptor agonists have analgesic effects in a range of models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Importantly, clinical trials of cannabis‐based medicines indicate that the pre‐clinical effects of cannabinoid agonists may translate into therapeutic potential in humans. One of the areas of concern with this pharmacological approach is that CB1receptors have a widespread distribution in the brain and that global activation of CB1receptors is associated with adverse side effects. Studies of the endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) have demonstrated that they are present in most tissues and that in some pain states, such as neuropathic pain, levels of endocannabinoids are elevated at key sites involved in pain processing. An alternative approach that can be used to harness the potential therapeutic effects of cannabinoids is to maximise the effects of the endocannabinoids, the actions of which are terminated by re‐uptake and metabolism by various enzymes, including fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX2). Preventing the metabolism, or uptake, of endocannabinoids elevates levels of these lipid compounds in tissue and produces behavioural analgesia in models of acute pain. Herein we review recent studies of the effects of inhibition of metabolism of endocannabinoids versus uptake of endocannabinoids on nociceptive processing in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2007)152, 624–632; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707433; published online 20 August 2007
Velocity measurements in confined swirling flow of polymer solutions with vortex shedding
Authors: Tamano Shinji , Itoh Motoyuki , Ide Yuichiro , Yokota Kazuhiko
Published: August 2007

A particle image velocimetry system is used to examine the velocity field in the unsteady swirling flow of polyacrylamide (PAA) solutions (PAA 0.5wt.% and 1.0wt.%) with the vortex shedding due to a rotating disk in a cylindrical casing. In our earlier work [Tamano et al., Phys. Fluids 19, 023103 (2007)], the vortex shedding is investigated by the flow visualization technique. In this work, we investigate the velocity field for better understanding of the vortex shedding mechanism and the nonaxisymmetric ring vortex which was observed for the higher Reynolds number compared to that of the axisymmetric ring vortex. It was found that the fluid within the ring vortex formed near the rotating disk rotates with semirigid rotation, where the angular velocity of the ring vortex was about 0.9 times that of the rotating disk. A high shear layer existed at the boundary between the ring vortex and the outer large-scale secondary flow. When the ring vortex was shed, the surrounding large-scale secondary flow rushed into near the rotating axis, so that strong axial flow was observed near the rotating axis. For the nonaxisymmetric ring vortex, azimuthal and radial velocities oscillate periodically with considerably large amplitude. In addition, the joint probability density function showed that the correlation between azimuthal and radial velocity fluctuations varied with the radial locations.
Safety factor corrections to the magnetohydrodynamic internal kink mode in a tokamak
Authors: Graves J. P. , Wahlberg C.
Published: August 2007

It has long been acknowledged that the well known and frequently used stability criterion βp<0.3 for the toroidal ideal magnetohydrodynamic internal kink mode in a tokamak is inaccurate for an empirically relevant safety factor. The present paper outlines the severity of the usual approximation, and presents improved analytical approximations of the general solution in M. N. Bussac, R. Pellat, D. Edery, and J. L. Soulé, Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 1638 (1975), thus providing new insights into the nature of the instability, together with simple formulas that can be incorporated into transport codes with sawtooth cycle algorithms.
The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield
Authors: Luttikhof M. J. H. , Khachatryan A. G. , van Goor F. A. , Boller K.-J.
Published: August 2007

External injection of an electron bunch in the laser wakefield can result in femtosecond accelerated bunches with relatively low energy spread. In this paper it is shown that the density transition from vacuum to plasma can play an important role in the trapping process. The plasma wavelength in this transition region changes continuously, which means that the injected electrons see an altering wakefield. This can result in strong defocusing of the injected bunch. It is found that the effect becomes stronger for stronger wakefields, longer transition lengths, and lower injection energies. The transition region can be avoided if the bunch is injected into the wakefield at an angle. Injecting the bunch at an angle allows the bunch to be wider and results in more charge being trapped. The dynamics of the bunch in this case are similar to the dynamics of a bunch injected in front of the laser pulse.
Interaction of benzene with amorphous solid water adsorbed on polycrystalline Ag
Authors: Bahr S. , Kempter V.
Published: August 2007

The interaction of benzene with polycrystalline Ag and amorphous solid water (D2O) deposited thereupon at 124K was investigated. Metastable impact electron spectroscopy, Reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, and temperature programed desorption were utilized to obtain information on the electronic structure and the relative contribution to the bonding properties of the aromatic molecules among themselves and with D2O. On Ag, the benzene molecular plane is oriented parallel to the surface in the first layer. The second layer is tilted with respect to the first one. A total work function decrease of 0.8eV takes place during the buildup of the first two layers. On amorphous solid water, the orientational distribution of the benzene molecular planes is initially peaked at an angle parallel to the water surface. During the completion of the first adlayer a coverage-induced reorientation takes place, inducing a tilt of the benzene molecules of the first adlayer. Still larger benzene exposures appear to lead to the formation of three-dimensional benzene clusters. Films produced by codepositing benzene and D2O or by postdepositing D2O layers on benzene films display “volcano like” benzene desorption during ice crystallization.
Moving bed reactor setup to study complex gas-solid reactions
Authors: Gupta Puneet , Velazquez-Vargas Luis G. , Valentine Charles , Fan Liang-Shih
Published: August 2007

A moving bed scale reactor setup for studying complex gas-solid reactions has been designed in order to obtain kinetic data for scale-up purpose. In this bench scale reactor setup, gas and solid reactants can be contacted in a cocurrent and countercurrent manner at high temperatures. Gas and solid sampling can be performed through the reactor bed with their composition profiles determined at steady state. The reactor setup can be used to evaluate and corroborate model parameters accounting for intrinsic reaction rates in both simple and complex gas-solid reaction systems. The moving bed design allows experimentation over a variety of gas and solid compositions in a single experiment unlike differential bed reactors where the gas composition is usually fixed. The data obtained from the reactor can also be used for direct scale-up of designs for moving bed reactors.