bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric properties of a hurricane coping self‐efficacy measure
Authors: Benight Charles C. , Ironson Gail , Durham Robert L.
Published: September 2003

This brief report describes the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to measure Hurricane Coping Self‐Efficacy (HCSE). Survivors of Hurricane Andrew (n = 165) and Hurricane Opal (n = 63) completed the HCSE and assessments of optimism, social support, distress, and resource loss. Principal components factor analyses revealed a unidimensional structure for the HCSE. Internal consistency of the HCSE was strong. In both samples, HCSE was positively associated with optimism and social support, but negatively associated with general psychological distress, trauma related distress, and resource loss. Finally, hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that the HCSE explained a significant amount of experimental variance for intrusive thoughts and avoidance after controlling for social support, lost resources, and optimism.
PTSD and comorbid psychotic disorder: Comparison with veterans diagnosed with PTSD or psychotic disorder
Authors: Sautter Frederic J. , Brailey Kevin , Uddo Madeline M. , Hamilton Michelle F. , Beard Marcia G. , Borges Alicia H.
Published: September 2003

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, general psychopathology, role functioning, violence potential, and cognitive and emotional aspects of psychotic states were compared in three groups of veterans. Groups were defined on the basis of their DSM‐IV diagnoses: Psychotic disorder and war‐related PTSD, war‐related PTSD without psychotic symptoms, and psychotic disorder without PTSD. Veterans with PTSD and a comorbid psychotic disorder showed significantly higher levels of positive symptoms of psychosis, general psychopathology, paranoia, and violent thoughts, feelings, and behaviors than the other two groups. These data show that patients with comorbid PTSD and psychotic disorder show levels of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disturbance that far exceed the levels of disturbance seen in patients with PTSD without psychosis or in patients with psychotic disorder.
Divalproex in posttraumatic stress disorder: An open‐label clinical trial
Authors: Clark Ronald D. , Cañive José M. , Calais Lawrence A. , Qualls Clifford R. , Tuason Vicente B.
Published: September 2003

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by intrusive, avoidance, and hyperarousal symptoms. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of divalproex in reducing PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety in patients with PTSD. Sixteen patients with a DSM‐IV diagnosis of PTSD at the Albuquerque VAMC outpatient PTSD treatment program received an open‐label trial of divalproex. The patients were evaluated at baseline and at 8 weeks by a trained rater using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM‐D) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM‐A). Plasma valproate levels were measured at the 8‐week post‐treatment assessment. Three patients stopped the medications due to side effects. Intrusion and hyperarousal symptoms decreased significantly, while no significant change was seen in avoidance/numbing symptoms. Depressive symptoms, as measured by the HAM‐D, unexpectedly decreased at post‐treatment assessment. HAM‐A scores also decreased significantly. Controlled trials are needed to further study the efficacy of divalproex in the treatment of PTSD.
Treating health concerns within the context of childhood sexual assault: A case study
Authors: Nayak Madhabika B. , Resnick Heidi S. , Holmes Melisa M.
Published: September 2003

A cognitive‐behavioral treatment package used to treat physical health concerns and fears in a young adult woman with a history of child sexual assault is described. Treatment targeting health concerns was used as an adjunct to treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment included psychoeducation, systematic desensitization, and stress‐innoculation training. The treatment helped reduce the patient's health concerns, including stomach cramps and fear of medical examinations. Theoretical issues underlying treatment of health concerns as related to PTSD avoidance behavior are discussed.
Evolution of aerosol properties over the rain forest in Surinam, South America, observed from aircraft during the LBA‐CLAIRE 98 experiment
Authors: Krejci Radovan , Ström Johan , de Reus Marian , Hoor Peter , Williams Jonathan , Fischer Horst , Hansson Hans‐Christen
Published: September 2003

As part of the Large‐Scale Biosphere‐Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA)‐Cooperative LBA Airborne Regional Experiment, airborne measurements of aerosol properties over the northeast Amazonian rain forest at an altitude range between 0.2 and 12.6 km were performed in March 1998. The particle number densities in the free troposphere, normalized to standard temperature and pressure, exceed number densities observed in boundary layer by a factor of 2–15. Typical number densities in the boundary layer were around 500 cm−3. The large difference in particle number density between the boundary layer and the free troposphere agrees with previous observations of the in situ new particle production in the free troposphere. Analysis of the air mass history showed that even after more than a week of transport in the middle free troposphere, the newly formed ultrafine particles were more than one third of the total aerosol number concentration. Aerosol size distributions between 0.006 and 3 μm, divided into six vertical layers, show a C‐shaped vertical structure with high concentrations of accumulation mode aerosols in the mixing layer and in the free troposphere above 10 km. The lower concentrations were observed in the free troposphere between 4 and 8 km. Enrichment in accumulation mode aerosol at altitudes above 10 km was attributed to outflow from deep convective clouds.
History of metamorphic fluids along outcrop‐scale faults in a Paleogene accretionary prism, SW Japan: Implications for prism‐scale hydrology
Authors: Lewis Jonathan C. , Byrne Timothy B.
Published: September 2003

Synkinematic quartz crystals collected from late‐stage (syn‐ to post‐cleavage) faults in the Paleogene Shimanto accretionary complex contain fluids that provide constraints on fluid flow within the accretionary wedge. In particular, the trapped fluids provide a glimpse of intraprism flow during a phase of widespread prism thickening. Carbonic (CH4 ± CO2 rich) and aqueous (H2O‐rich) inclusions occur intermixed within single crystals that nucleated primarily in releasing stepovers along faults that deform well‐indurated and/or cleaved wallrock. Invariably, the carbonic inclusions contain an aqueous liquid as a perimeter phase, and the aqueous inclusions contain a carbonic vapor phase, suggesting coeval trapping of unmixed phases from a miscible parent fluid. These observations are interpreted to reflect crystal growth following deformation‐driven dilitation and consequent unmixing of the parent fluid. At one location (Cape Oyama), the occurrence of CH4 and H2O in the absence of CO2 enables explicit constraints to be placed on pressure and temperature conditions during crystal growth. These conditions suggest geothermal gradients of 50°C/km during late‐stage faulting. Our results suggest local intraprism flow that was driven by deformation. The scale of flow that is suggested is quite restricted, and this leads us to hypothesize that the Paleogene Shimanto accretionary prism acted largely as a barrier to fluid flow during late‐stage deformation. As a consequence, the Paleogene rocks probably served to focus fluid escape elsewhere, most likely trenchward and arcward. The combination of the elevated geothermal gradient, which would have contributed to increasing the relative strength of this package of rocks, and the lack of fluid pathways within it would have favored the development of new out‐of‐sequence thrust faults outboard of the Paleogene prism or the reactivation of older, more landward structures.
Timing and geometry of early Gondwana breakup
Authors: Jokat Wilfried , Boebel Tobias , König Matthias , Meyer Uwe
Published: September 2003

The Mesozoic opening history of the Southern Ocean between South America, Africa, and Antarctica is one of the largest gaps in knowledge on the evolution of this region. Competing geodynamic models were published during the last two decades to explain the geophysical and geological observations. Here we report on aeromagnetic data collected along the East Antarctic coast during five seasons. These data provide new constraints on the timing and geometry of the early Gondwana breakup. In the Riiser‐Larsen Sea/Mozambique Basin, the first oceanic crust between Africa and Antarctica formed around 155 Ma. In the west the Weddell Rift propagated from west to east with a velocity of 63 km/Myr between chrons M19N and M17N. At chron M14N, South America and Africa finally were split off the Antarctic continent. Stretching in the area of the South Atlantic started at the latest from 155 Myr onward. The different spreading velocities and directions of South America and Africa created at chron M9N the first oceanic crust in the South Atlantic. A new model indicates that the Karoo and Dronning Maud Land magmatism occurred well before any new ocean floor was created and therefore the first formation of new oceanic crust cannot directly be related to a plume interaction.
Effective elastic thickness Te of the lithosphere in western Canada
Authors: Flück P. , Hyndman R. D. , Lowe C.
Published: September 2003

A stochastic relationship between topography and Bouguer gravity is used to calculate high‐resolution variations in effective elastic thickness, Te, of the lithosphere in western Canada. The topography‐gravity coherence is calculated using a two‐dimensional, maximum‐entropy‐based spectral estimator. This method allows for smaller data windows and provides Te determinations with higher spatial resolution than standard Fourier spectral estimators. Our analysis shows significant variations in Te in western Canada. Te increases from ∼20–40 km in the weak, young portions of the Cordillera to 100 km and greater in the strong, old Canadian Shield. Te estimates are in good agreement with lithospheric temperatures calculated from surface heat flow and radioactive heat generation data. Our calculated Te distribution also shows strong correlation with other thermally related geophysical parameters, such as lithospheric age, regional heat flow, seismicity, seismic properties, and the stress field. Consequently, we infer that lithospheric temperatures exert a primary control on large‐scale variations in Te. Collectively, the correlations readily explain why the Craton continues to be stable and undeformed, whereas the Cordillera has continued to be deformed through the Cenozoic. An exception is the Wopmay Orogen, which includes the easternmost part of the northern Cordillera. There Te is ∼90 km, although the surface heat flow is ∼90 mW/m2. We infer that the high heat flow in this region is caused primarily by very high radioactive heat generation in the upper crust and that deep lithospheric temperatures are moderately low as expected from its age and long‐term geological stability.
Evidence for an upper mantle plume beneath the Tanzanian craton from Rayleigh wave tomography
Authors: Weeraratne Dayanthie S. , Forsyth Donald W. , Fischer Karen M. , Nyblade Andrew A.
Published: September 2003

The Archean Tanzanian craton, nestled between the eastern and western branches of the East African Rift, presents a unique opportunity to study the interaction of active rifting with stable cratonic lithosphere. The high density of Rayleigh wave paths recorded in a regional seismic array yields unusually precise determinations of phase velocity within the Tanzanian craton. Shear velocities in the cratonic lithosphere are higher than a global average to a depth of 150 ± 20 km. Beginning at 140 km, shear velocity decreases sharply, reaching a minimum of 4.20 ± 0.05 km/s at depths of 200–250 km. The base of the lithosphere, identified by the depth to the center of the maximum negative velocity gradient, is similar to that found beneath other Archean lithospheres. Where Cenozoic rifting crosscuts the southern corner of the craton, velocities up to 130 km depth are reduced, indicating recent disruption of the lithosphere. The anomalously low velocities beneath the Tanzanian craton indicate high temperatures and the presence of melt, consistent with the spreading of a mantle plume head beneath the craton. Tests for the possibility of a radial pattern of azimuthal anisotropy that may indicate outward flow from a plume show that a model with average anisotropy of 0.71 ± 0.17% centered SE of Lake Victoria fits the data significantly better than a uniform, single direction of anisotropy. Thus our results agree with the suggestion that an upper mantle plume, centered beneath the Tanzanian cratonic lithosphere, provides the buoyancy required for uplift of the East African Plateau.
Vertical diffusivity in the lower stratosphere from Lagrangian back‐trajectory reconstructions of ozone profiles
Authors: Legras B. , Joseph B. , Lefèvre F.
Published: September 2003

We present a simple stochastic‐dynamical approach to estimate the turbulent vertical diffusivity (D) in the lower stratosphere from routinely observed ozone profiles. First, an observed ozone profile is reconstructed using three‐dimensional back trajectories obtained from analyzed winds and initializing the trajectories with ozone values from the output of a chemistry‐transport model. Assuming that diffusion in the vertical follows a simple random walk leading to a Gaussian probability distribution for the particle displacements, we perform Monte Carlo simulations with ensembles of particles originating along each point in the vertical profile. By choosing different values of D as input in the calculations, we generate different profiles that are smoothed through diffusion. Comparing with the observed profile, we can identify that value of D which is in best agreement at an intermediate range of vertical length scales as an upper bound of the actual D. For northern midlatitude lower stratospheric conditions during winter over a period of 12 days, the best estimate is D ≈ 0.1 m2 s−1 or slightly larger. The present results are discussed in the context of comparable estimations of vertical diffusivity in the literature.
A tentative reconstruction of the last interglacial and glacial inception in Greenland based on new gas measurements in the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) ice core
Authors: Landais Amaelle , Chappellaz Jérôme , Delmotte Marc , Jouzel Jean , Blunier Thomas , Bourg Christine , Caillon Nicolas , Cherrier Stéphane , Malaizé Bruno , Masson‐Delmotte Valérie , Raynaud Dominique , Schwander Jakob , Steffensen Jørgen Peder
Published: September 2003

The disturbed stratigraphy of the ice in the lowest 10% of the Greenland GRIP ice core prevents direct access to climatic information older than 110 kyr. This is especially regretful since this period covers the previous interglacial corresponding to marine isotopic stage 5e (MIS 5e, 130–120 kyr B.P.). Here we present a tentative reconstruction of the disturbed GRIP chronology based on the succession of globally well mixed gas parameters. The GRIP δ18Oice chronological sequence is obtained by comparing a new set of δ18O of atmospheric O2 and CH4 measurements from the bottom section of the GRIP core with their counterpart in the Vostok Antarctic profiles. This comparison clearly identifies ice from the penultimate glacial maximum (MIS 6, 190–130 kyr B.P.) in the GRIP core. Further it allows rough reconstruction of the last interglacial period and of the last glacial inception in Greenland which appears to lay its Antarctic counterpart. Our data suggest that while Antarctica is already entering into a glaciation, Greenland is still experiencing a warm maximum during MIS 5e.
Seasonal variations of the atmospheric temperature structure at South Pole
Authors: Pan Weilin , Gardner Chester S.
Published: September 2003

Fe/Rayleigh lidar measurements are combined with the high‐altitude balloonsonde data and used to characterize the seasonal variations of atmospheric temperature at South Pole from the surface (2.835 km) to 110 km altitude. Twelve‐month oscillations, associated with solar UV absorption by ozone, dominate the seasonal variations of temperature throughout the stratosphere and lower mesosphere from 10 to 60 km. In the mesopause region between 70 and 100 km, 12‐ and 6‐month oscillations dominate the seasonal variations with the warmest temperatures occurring near the spring and fall equinoxes. During the month of March, temperature near 80 km is more than 25 K warmer than MSIS‐00. The spring and fall temperature maxima in the mesopause region appear to be associated with the combined effects of the annual variations in adiabatic heating and cooling and the annual variations in solar heating, which are 180° out of phase. During the month of June, the stratopause and mesopause temperatures are about 20–30 K colder than the model predictions. The seasonal temperature variations are the largest near 85 km altitude, where they are approximately 85 K peak to peak.
Isotopic air sampling in a tallgrass prairie to partition net ecosystem CO2exchange
Authors: Lai Chun‐Ta , Schauer Andrew J. , Owensby Clenton , Ham Jay M. , Ehleringer James R.
Published: September 2003

Stable isotope ratios of various ecosystem components and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) CO2fluxes were measured in a C3‐C4mixture tallgrass prairie near Manhattan, Kansas. The July 2002 study period was chosen because of contrasting soil moisture contents, which allowed us to address the effects of drought on photosynthetic CO2uptake and isotopic discrimination. Significantly higher NEE fluxes were observed for both daytime uptake and nighttime respiration during well‐watered conditions when compared to a drought period. Given these differences, we investigated two carbon‐flux partitioning questions: (1) What proportions of NEE were contributed by C3versus C4species? (2) What proportions of NEE fluxes resulted from canopy assimilation versus ecosystem respiration? To evaluate these questions, air samples were collected every 2 hours during daytime for 3 consecutive days at the same height as the eddy covariance system. These air samples were analyzed for both carbon isotope ratios and CO2concentrations to establish an empirical relationship for isoflux calculations. An automated air sampling system was used to collect nighttime air samples to estimate the carbon isotope ratios of ecosystem respiration (δR) at weekly intervals for the entire growing season. Models of C3and C4photosynthesis were employed to estimate bulk canopy intercellular CO2concentration in order to calculate photosynthetic discrimination against13C. Our isotope/NEE results showed that for this grassland, C4vegetation contributed ∼80% of the NEE fluxes during the drought period and later ∼100% of the NEE fluxes in response to an impulse of intense precipitation. For the entire growing season, the C4contribution ranged from ∼68% early in the spring to nearly 100% in the late summer. Using an isotopic approach, the calculated partitioned respiratory fluxes were slightly greater than chamber‐measured estimates during midday under well‐watered conditions. In addition, time series analyses of our δRmeasurements revealed that occasionally during periods of high wind speed (increasing the sampling footprint) the C3cropland and forests surrounding the C4prairie could be detected and had an impact on the carbon isotopic signal. The implication is that isotopic air sampling of CO2can be useful as a tracer for evaluating the fetch of upwind airflow in a heterogeneous ecosystem.
Ion‐aerosol‐cloud processes in the lower atmosphere
Authors: Harrison R. G. , Carslaw K. S.
Published: September 2003

Natural terrestrial radioactivity and cosmic ray ionization lead to the formation of air ions and charged aerosol particles even away from regions of active charge separation, such as in thunderstorms. The natural electrified state of the atmosphere has been studied for over a century; however, the effect of ionization on the physical properties of aerosols and clouds has rarely been studied in its own right except in thunderstorms. Here we review the status of our understanding of atmospheric charged particles and their influence on aerosol and cloud microphysical processes. We also review mechanisms that have been recently proposed to connect variations in the atmospheric ionization rate with variations in global cloudiness and weather systems. We conclude that a mechanism linking cosmic ray ionization and cloud properties cannot be excluded and that there are established electrical effects on aerosol and cloud microphysics. Necessary further work includes measurements of cloud, droplet, and aerosol charging and ion‐aerosol conversion, together with modeling of the electrical aspects of nonthunderstorm cloud microphysics.
Comparisons of two moments‐based estimators that utilize historical and paleoflood data for the log Pearson type III distribution
Authors: England John F. , Salas José D. , Jarrett Robert D.
Published: September 2003

The expected moments algorithm (EMA) [Cohn et al., 1997] and the Bulletin 17B [Interagency Committee on Water Data, 1982] historical weighting procedure (B17H) for the log Pearson type III distribution are compared by Monte Carlo computer simulation for cases in which historical and/or paleoflood data are available. The relative performance of the estimators was explored for three cases: fixed‐threshold exceedances, a fixed number of large floods, and floods generated from a different parent distribution. EMA can effectively incorporate four types of historical and paleoflood data: floods where the discharge is explicitly known, unknown discharges below a single threshold, floods with unknown discharge that exceed some level, and floods with discharges described in a range. The B17H estimator can utilize only the first two types of historical information. Including historical/paleoflood data in the simulation experiments significantly improved the quantile estimates in terms of mean square error and bias relative to using gage data alone. EMA performed significantly better than B17H in nearly all cases considered. B17H performed as well as EMA for estimating X100 in some limited fixed‐threshold exceedance cases. EMA performed comparatively much better in other fixed‐threshold situations, for the single large flood case, and in cases when estimating extreme floods equal to or greater than X500. B17H did not fully utilize historical information when the historical period exceeded 200 years. Robustness studies using GEV‐simulated data confirmed that EMA performed better than B17H. Overall, EMA is preferred to B17H when historical and paleoflood data are available for flood frequency analysis.
Modeling water and heat flows through a mulch allowing for radiative and long‐distance convective exchanges in the mulch
Authors: Findeling A. , Chanzy A. , De Louvigny N.
Published: September 2003

This work aims at modeling quantitatively the effects of a mulch on the water and heat transfers in the soil‐mulch‐atmosphere system. The developed model TECmulch derives from the mechanistic model TEC, designed for bare soil. TECmulch accounts for (1) free convection, (2) forced convection, and (3) radiative transfer in the mulch. The mulch formalism does not rely on the classical local gradients theory but on long‐distance exchanges. It is based on four parameters that are calibrated on experimental data for two different mulches (corn residue and crushed glass). Experimental data come from la Tinaja's station (Mexico) for corn mulch and Avignon's station (France) for glass mulch. Measurements concern the physical characterization of the soil and the mulch, the evolution of soil water content and temperature, and the radiative balance plus usual climatic data. TECmulch is validated on independent data, compared to the classical theory, and each modeled process is analyzed in detail.
Implications of the glacial CO2 “iron hypothesis” for Quaternary climate change
Authors: Ridgwell Andy J.
Published: September 2003

The “iron hypothesis” posits a role for increased supply of mineral aerosol to the ocean surface during glacial periods in driving atmospheric CO2 lower; that changes in CO2 and climate strongly affect dust supply raises the possibility of feedback. Here I take a systems view in analyzing the properties and implications of such a feedback and consider three primary state variables that can be related empirically to each other: dust supply, atmospheric CO2, and “climate” (surface air temperature). The results of this analysis suggest that the dust‐CO2‐climate feedback is primarily an intraglacial phenomenon, when it can account for about a third of the temperature variability recorded in Antarctic ice cores. Since glacial‐interglacial cyclicity prior to ca. 800 kyr BP is characterized by the absence of a “full” glacial state (such as the Last Glacial Maximum), it is possible that destabilization of climate by the marine iron cycle is fundamental to the differences between “41 kyr” and “100 kyr” climatic regimes. The critical role played by the state of the land surface in this feedback also has implications for the longer‐term evolution of the Earth system during the Cenozoic.
The impact of varying atmospheric forcing on the thickness of arctic multi‐year sea ice
Authors: Dumas J. A. , Flato G. M. , Weaver A. J.
Published: September 2003

A 1‐D thermodynamic sea ice model, forced with North Pole Drift Station observations from 1954–91, is used to study the effect of changing atmospheric forcing on multi‐year Arctic sea ice. From 1954–70, most seasons show positive trends in calculated sea ice thickness over much of the Arctic. A dip in calculated ice thickness takes place between 1971–77 over most of the Arctic. Following the North Pacific regime shift in 1976–1977, the period 1978–91 reveals large negative trends in calculated sea ice thickness in all seasons. The results indicate that an important part of the variability and trends in Arctic sea ice thickness is thermodynamically‐driven. Of the total variance in multi‐year sea ice thickness, 10 to 20% is explained by variations in the Arctic Oscillation and Pacific North American patterns. The multi‐year ice thickness response to a positive wintertime Arctic Oscillation anomaly occurs the following summer and persists for more than a year.
The radiation environment near Io
Authors: Paranicas C. , Mauk B. H. , McEntire R. W. , Armstrong T. P.
Published: September 2003

Voyager and Galileo data taken near Io are used to calculate ion and electron energy spectra to study the interaction of Io with its space environment. Ion spectra for energetic protons, helium, oxygen and sulfur are presented for the first time. We find intensities of ions above 100 keV are more than an order of magnitude smaller than their counterparts at Europa. Oxygen ions appear to have net losses as they diffuse inward from Europa far exceeding losses of protons or sulfur ions. Estimates of surface sputtering rates by these particles suggest only a small fraction of the neutral gas supplied by Io comes from this process. Radiation dose rates into the surface are heavily dominated by electrons in less than ∼1% of the surface area.
Are oxidized shergottite‐like basalts an alternative to “andesite” on Mars?
Authors: Hamilton Victoria E. , Minitti Michelle E.
Published: September 2003

We acquired new thermal emission spectra of oxidized synthetic Martian meteorite‐like basalts for comparison to Martian surface spectra acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS TES). We find that true thermal emission spectra of the oxidized basalts do not provide good spectral matches to the Martian spectra. By contrast, previous biconical reflectance spectra, converted to emission spectra, appeared to fit the Mars observations well. Attempts to model the mineralogies of the oxidized basalts using a linear deconvolution algorithm and an end member set previously used to derive mineralogies for the Martian surface were unsuccessful, suggesting that the oxidized basalts contain altered phases not present in the end member set. Successful modeling of Martian surface mineralogies using the end member set indicates that it sufficiently represents the phases present on the Martian surface and does not require the altered phases needed to model the oxidized basalt mineralogies. Although oxidized Martian meteorite‐like basalts may be viable analogues for some Martian materials, our results suggest that they cannot explain the two primary surface mineralogies measured by MGS TES.
Periodical changes of submarine fluid discharge from a deep seafloor, Suiyo Sea Mountain, Japan
Authors: Taniguchi Makoto , Uchida Shingo , Kinoshita Masataka
Published: September 2003

Semi‐diurnal variations of the fluid discharge from the deep sea bottom were found at the water depth of 1360 m, Suiyo Sea Mountain, Ogasawara, Japan, by using newly developed automated seepage meters. A temperature depth profile of the pore water under the seabed also suggests heat is transported due to advection by the upward fluid flow. Upward fluid fluxes estimated from the type curve method using heat conduction‐convection theory agreed well with the values obtained by automated seepage meter.
An analysis of the oxidation potential of the South Pole boundary layer and the influence of stratospheric ozone depletion
Authors: Jones Anna E. , Wolff Eric W.
Published: September 2003

The summertime atmospheric boundary layer over the South Pole has recently been shown to be highly oxidizing, with greater concentrations of NO and OH than previously expected. The source of NO has been attributed to photolysis of nitrate impurities in the snowpack, with elevated OH from the reaction NO + HO2. However, the Antarctic troposphere is not currently in a “natural” state, being subject nowadays to greatly increased incidences of ultraviolet (UV) radiation each spring. Here we analyze the long‐term record of surface ozone at the South Pole (1975–2001), to look for evidence of a changing oxidation potential. Daily averaged surface ozone concentrations during spring and early summer now regularly exceed the maximum concentration of the previous winter, while in the 1970s and 1980s this was not the case. This suggests that the proposed springtime ozone source is greater nowadays than before. Such a feature is consistent with increases in UV radiation accompanying the springtime stratospheric ozone hole. Model calculations show that the rate of nitrate photolysis in the South Pole snowpack has increased significantly since the onset of the ozone hole, such that production of NO2 in November has increased by 43% between the late 1960s and the late 1990s. It thus appears that the South Pole boundary layer is more highly oxidizing nowadays than under conditions before the onset of the ozone hole.
Sea breeze: Structure, forecasting, and impacts
Authors: Miller S. T. K. , Keim B. D. , Talbot R. W. , Mao H.
Published: September 2003

The sea breeze system (SBS) occurs at coastal locations throughout the world and consists of many spatially and temporally nested phenomena. Cool marine air propagates inland when a cross‐shore mesoscale (2–2000 km) pressure gradient is created by daytime differential heating. The circulation is also characterized by rising currents at the sea breeze front and diffuse sinking currents well out to sea and is usually closed by seaward flow aloft. Coastal impacts include relief from oppressive hot weather, development of thunderstorms, and changes in air quality. This paper provides a review of SBS research extending back 2500 years but focuses primarily on recent discoveries. We address SBS forcing mechanisms, structure and related phenomena, life cycle, forecasting, and impacts on air quality.
Semidistributed hydrological modeling: A “saturation path” perspective on TOPMODEL and VIC
Authors: Kavetski Dmitri , Kuczera George , Franks Stewart W.
Published: September 2003

The conceptual foundation, behavior, and implementation of semidistributed hydrological models such as TOPMODEL and VIC are reviewed from a “saturation path modeling” perspective, hereinafter referred to as SPM. A general family of SPM models is analyzed, based on the assumptions that (1) an event‐invariant relationship between the saturated area and catchment storage exists (which may include hysteretic and stochastic components) and (2) ponding is negligible and quick flow is generated from precipitation on saturated areas. The VIC and TOPMODEL are then obtained from specific constitutive functions and numerical approximations. In general, SPM leads to compact equations in canonical ODE form, making the behavior of the model transparent and facilitating improvements of both the conceptual model itself and its numerical implementation. A comprehensive numerical analysis of SPM, TOPMODEL, and VIC is presented, providing insight into the timescale dependence of their parameters. It is demonstrated that uncontrolled numerical implementations, particularly traditional fixed‐step explicit Euler methods, can introduce considerable artifacts into the behavior of conceptual models such as TOPMODEL, corrupting calibration and prediction.
Huntington's disease: do future physicians and lawyers think eugenically?
Authors: Elger B , Harding T
Published: September 2003

The availability of presymptomatic and prenatal genetic tests could give rise to societal pressures on persons at risk for Huntington's disease (HD). The objective of this study was to identify future lawyers' and physicians' views on eugenics and genetic testing for HD. Five‐hundred and ninety‐nine Swiss law students and advanced medical students from 11 courses received teaching about HD and patient autonomy. They filled out questionnaires after having seen an audio/video recording of an interview with an HD mutation carrier. Participation rates were 68–97%. Attitudes of future lawyers and physicians were significantly different for most questions: 73.2% of law students vs 39.4% of medical students agreed that society should do everything possible to diminish the frequency of HD, including non‐governmental pressure on carriers to undergo systematic genetic testing and recommendation of sterilization; 94% of all students agreed to the systematic proposal of prenatal testing to all women at risk; and 83.4% of medical students, but only 40.3% of law students, agreed that the wishes of a person at risk not to have her/himself and future children tested must be entirely respected. More education is needed to discourage eugenic pressures and discrimination of persons at risk of HD and other genetic diseases.
Population data suggest that deletions of 1p36 are a relatively common chromosome abnormality
Authors: Heilstedt HA , Ballif BC , Howard LA , Kashork CD , Shaffer LG
Published: September 2003

Monosomy 1p36 is a relatively common chromosome deletion. Deletion of this chromosome band can be difficult to visualize using routine cytogenetic banding techniques. The use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with telomere region‐specific probes has aided in the diagnosis of patients. In this study we ascertained 62 patients with deletions of 1p36 from 61 families and collected information regarding previous chromosome analyses, mode of ascertainment, clinical indication, age at diagnosis, and parental ages. The majority of deletions occur on the maternally derived chromosome. We identified terminal deletions, interstitial deletions, derivative chromosomes, and complex rearrangements. We correlated the type of rearrangement with the parental origins. Almost 50% of the patients had at least one chromosome analysis interpreted as normal. Retrospectively, 98% of deletions could be identified by routine chromosome analysis with careful attention to chromosome 1p36. Clinical indications were variable, with developmental delay/mental retardation being the most common. Increased maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) was detected in four of the five prenatally diagnosed cases. Maternal age at the time of birth of the affected child was significantly lower than the general United States population mean. We suggest a multistep approach for the diagnosis and clinical evaluation in cases of monosomy 1p36.
Use of cancer susceptibility testing among primary care physicians
Authors: Sifri R , Myers R , Hyslop T , Turner B , Cocroft J , Rothermel T , Grana J , Schlackman N
Published: September 2003

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are assuming greater roles in cancer risk assessment and susceptibility testing of patients. The objective of this study was to assess the beliefs and practices of PCPs relative to genetic susceptibility testing for cancer. A cross‐sectional survey was mailed to 726 PCPs in community‐based practices in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Data were collected on physician background, cognitive and psychosocial factors, practice environment, and patient factors. The main outcome measure was physician self‐reported recommendation or referral of patients for cancer genetic susceptibility testing in a 12‐month period prior to the survey. Of those surveyed, 475 (65%) PCPs responded. Complete survey data were available for 433 PCPs. Multivariable analyses show that factors positively associated with PCP recommendation/referral included: patient inquiry about their need for genetic testing for cancer (p < 0.001); PCP belief that patient age is the best predictor of cancer risk (p = 0.01); PCP self‐reported frequency of collecting patient diet information (p = 0.01) and medical history information (p = 0.01); and PCP participation in an integrated health system (p = 0.01). PCP use of cancer genetic susceptibility testing may be influenced by patient inquiry, provider beliefs about factors that affect cancer risk, provider collection of risk‐assessment data, and provider practice environment.
Niemann–Pick disease type C
Authors: Vanier MT , Millat G
Published: September 2003

Niemann‐Pick disease type C (NPC) is an autosomal recessive neurovisceral lipid storage with a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. At the cellular level, the disorder is characterized by accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycolipids in the lysosomal/late endosomal system. Approximatively 95% of patients have mutations in the NPC1 gene (mapped at 18q11) which encodes a large membrane glycoprotein primarily located to late endosomes. The remainder have mutations in the NPC2 gene (mapped at 14q24.3) which encodes a small soluble lysosomal protein with cholesterol‐binding properties. The identical biochemical patterns observed in NPC1 and NPC2 mutants suggest that the two proteins function in a coordinate fashion. Identification of mutations revealed a complex picture of molecular heterogeneity, allowing genotype ‐ phenotype correlations for both genes and providing insights into structure ‐ function relationships for the NPC1 protein. Although a whole body of evidence suggests that the NPC1 and NPC2 proteins are involved in the cellular postlysosomal/late endosomal transport of cholesterol, glycolipids and other cargo, their precise functions and relationship remain unclear and are currently the subject of intense investigation. These studies, conducted in various models, should ultimately lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of NPC and new therapeutic approaches.
The effects of the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ‐2 gene on lipid metabolism interact with body size at birth
Authors: Eriksson J , Lindi V , Uusitupa M , Forsén T , Laakso M , Osmond C , Barker D
Published: September 2003

Body size at birth is an indicator of the intrauterine environment. The effects of the Pro12Pro genotype and the 12Ala allele of the PPARγ‐2 gene on glucose and insulin metabolism in adult life depend on body size at birth. A low birth weight is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγs) are also regulators of adipocyte differentiation, and the PPARγ‐2 gene could also contribute to the development of dyslipidemia. Therefore, the effects of the Pro12Ala polymorphisms of the PPARγ‐2 gene on lipid metabolism were measured in 476 elderly persons whose birth weight was known. The Ala12 allele was associated with increased serum total, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and non‐high‐density lipoprotein (non‐HDL) cholesterol concentrations but only among those who had birth weights below 3000 g. These interactions between the effects of the PPARγ‐2 gene on adult traits and the effects of birth weight may be interpreted as examples of gene–environmental interactions, which underlie plasticity during development.
Mutation spectrum in a large cohort of unrelated consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Erdmann J , Daehmlow S , Wischke S , Senyuva M , Werner U , Raible J , Tanis N , Dyachenko S , Hummel M , Hetzer R , Regitz‐Zagrosek V
Published: September 2003

Defects in nine sarcomeric protein genes are known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Mutation types and frequencies in large cohorts of consecutive and unrelated patients have not yet been determined. We, therefore, screened HCM patients for mutations in six sarcomeric genes: myosin‐binding protein C3 (MYBPC3), MYH7, cardiac troponin T (TNNT2), α‐tropomyosin (TPM1), cardiac troponin I (TNNI3), and cardiac troponin C (TNNC1). HCM was diagnosed in 108 consecutive patients by echocardiography (septum >15 mm, septal/posterior wall >1.3 mm), angiography, or based on a state after myectomy. Single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis was used for mutation screening, followed by DNA‐sequencing. A total of 34 different mutations were identified in 108 patients: 18 mutations in MYBPC3 in 20 patients [intervening sequence (intron) 7 + 1G > A and Q1233X were found twice], 13 missense mutations in MYH7 in 14 patients (R807H was found twice), and one amino acid change in TPM1, TNNT2, and TNNI3, respectively. No disease‐causing mutation was found in TNNC1. Cosegregation with the HCM phenotype could be demonstrated for 13 mutations (eight mutations in MYBPC3 and five mutations in MYH7). Twenty‐eight of the 37 mutation carriers (76%) reported a positive family history with at least one affected first‐grade relative; only eight mutations occurred sporadically (22%). MYBPC3 was the gene that most frequently caused HCM in our population. Systematic mutation screening in large samples of HCM patients leads to a genetic diagnosis in about 30% of unrelated index patients and in about 57% of patients with a positive family history.
Molecular mechanisms in lymphangiogenesis: model systems and implications in human disease
Authors: Kim H , Dumont DJ
Published: September 2003

The basic science and development of therapies targeting the blood vascular system has enjoyed much focus due to the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind its development and roles in disease. However, the closely associated lymphatic system, while also being responsible for a number of serious and debilitating diseases, has not garnered as much attention due to the lack of specific molecular markers, thereby limiting this field to no more than descriptive analysis. Within the past decade, great strides have been taken to identify a number of molecular signatures unique to the lymphatic system. To this end, the timeline for lymphatic development has now been redefined at the molecular level, and diseases associated with lymphatics now have a molecular basis. With this knowledge, the current modes of treatment for disease such as lymphedema, lymphangiomas, and metastatic progression can now be augmented with potential molecular therapies that have currently been tested in a number of animal models. Much like the therapeutics that have been associated with vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, manipulation of the molecular pathways that define lymphatic development may lead to better clinical outcomes associated with developmental defects and disease.
Split hand foot malformation is associated with a reduced level of Dactylin gene expression
Authors: Basel D , DePaepe A , Kilpatrick MW , Tsipouras P
Published: September 2003

Split hand foot malformation (SHFM) is a congenital limb malformation presenting with a median cleft of the hand and/or foot, syndactyly and polydactyly. SHFM is genetically heterogeneous with four loci mapped to date. Murine Dactylaplasia (Dac) is phenotypically similar, and it has been mapped to a syntenic region of 10q24, where SHFM3 has been localized. Structural alterations of the gene‐encoding dactylin, a constituent of the ubiquitinization pathway, leading to reduced levels of transcript have been identified in Dac. Here, we report a significant decrease of Dactylin transcript in several individuals affected by SHFM. This observation supports a central role for dactylin in the pathogenesis of SHFM.
Psychological consequences and predictors of adverse events in the first 5 years after predictive testing for Huntington's disease
Authors: Almqvist EW , Brinkman RR , Wiggins S , Hayden MR ,   The Canadian Collaborative Study of Predictive Testing
Published: September 2003

The promise of genetic medicine is to provide information, based on genotype, to persons not yet sick about their risk of future illness. However, little is known of the long‐term psychological effects for asymptomatic persons learning their risk of having a serious disease. Predictive genetic testing for Huntington's disease (HD) has been offered for the longest time for any disease. In the present study, the psychological consequences of predictive testing were assessed prospectively in individuals at risk for HD during seven visits over 5 years. Questionnaires of standard measures of psychological distress (the General Severity Index of the Symptom Check List‐90‐Revised), depression (the Beck Depression Inventory), and general well‐being (the General Well‐Being Scale) were administered to the participants. A significant reduction in psychological distress was observed for both result groups throughout 2 years (p < 0.001) and at 5 years (p = 0.002). Despite the overall improvement of the psychological well‐being, 6.9% (14 of 202) of the participants experienced an adverse event during the first 2 years after predictive testing that was clinically significant. The frequency of all defined adverse events in the participants was 21.8%, with higher frequency in the increased risk group (p = 0.03) and most occurring within 12 months of receiving results.
Genetic landmarks through philately: Georges Marinesco (1863–1938)
Authors: Chudley AE
Published: September 2003

Georges Marinesco was one of Romania's most eminent physicians and an accomplished neurologist. He had diverse interests in anatomy and neuropathology. He has been honored on postage stamps issued by his birth nation on several occasions. Neurologists and geneticists know of him for the rare familial degenerative neurological disorder that has been named after him, the Marinesco‐Sjögren syndrome.