bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wellbeing of adult children and ageing parents: associations with intergenerational support and relationship quality
Authors: MERZ EVA-MARIA , CONSEDINE NATHAN S. , SCHULZE HANS-JOACHIM , SCHUENGEL CARLO
Published: May 2009

The current study describes from an attachment-theoretical viewpoint how intergenerational support in adult child-parent relationships is associated with wellbeing in both generations. The attachment perspective and its focus on affective relationship characteristics is considered as an important theoretical framework for the investigation of special relationships across the life span. Data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (N=1,456 dyads) were analysed to investigate if relationship quality moderated the association between providing intergenerational support to parents and wellbeing in adult children, on the one hand, and receiving intergenerational support from children and wellbeing of older parents on the other hand. The perspectives of both relationship partners were taken into account to allow for dependence within dyads. Intergenerational support, in terms of instrumental help provision, was negatively associated with the child's and parent's wellbeing. Being the stronger and wiser partner in adult-child parent relationships, as reflected by giving advice and being the initiator within the relationship, was beneficial for the wellbeing of both generations. Additionally, relationship quality was the strongest predictor of wellbeing in both generations. Parental wellbeing was benefited by filial support in high quality relationships. If an intergenerational relationships was of high quality, the challenges of intergenerational support provision and receipt were easier to deal with for both generations, parents and children.
A null-model analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of earthworm species assemblages in Colombian grasslands
Authors: Decaëns Thibaud , Jiménez Juan José , Rossi Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2009

Earthworm assemblages are usually spatio-temporally structured in mosaics of patches with different species composition. We re-analysed results of past research carried out in Eastern Colombia to explore how interspecific competition accounts for this pattern. In three sown pastures and three native savannas, density data matrices were obtained from spatially explicit samplings at several successive dates, and spatio-temporal patterns of species assemblages were described through partial triadic analyses and geostatistics. This first analysis detected assemblage patchiness in the six plots at spatial scales ranging from 6 to 33 m. Species richness ranged from 5 to 6 species per plot. Null models were further used to analyse niche overlap and morphometric distribution patterns at two different scales, i.e. at the ‘plot level’ and the ‘patch level’. Seasonal and vertical niche overlaps were higher than expected by chance at both scales, indicating high environmental constraints on assemblage membership. Within-patch overlaps were lower than plot-scale overlaps. Biometric niche overlap was random at the plot level and was weakly lower than that expected by chance in patches. Body weight was significantly overdispersed and constant whatever the scale, while body length and diameter showed a similar trend within patches. These results suggest that earthworms form distinct assemblages within patches, mainly driven by deterministic responses to competition: ecologically similar species avoid competition through spatial segregation, whereas a minimal level of ecological segregation is required to allow co-existence in a given patch.
Development of allometric relationships for accurate estimation of above- and below-ground biomass in tropical secondary forests in Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Kenzo Tanaka , Ichie Tomoaki , Hattori Daisuke , Itioka Takao , Handa Chihiro , Ohkubo Tadahiro , Kendawang Joseph Jawa , Nakamura Masashi , Sakaguchi Mari , Takahashi Narumi , Okamoto Mayumi , Tanaka-Oda Ayumi , Sakurai Katsutoshi , Ninomiya Ikuo
Published: May 2009

We developed allometric relationships between tree size parameters (stem diameter at breast height (dbh), at ground surface (D0) and tree height) and leaf, stem, small-root (diameter <5 mm) and total root biomass in various tropical secondary-forest trees in Sarawak, Malaysia. In total, 136 individuals from 23 species were harvested to measure above-ground parts. Root systems of 77 individuals of 16 species were also excavated. The coefficients of correlation for the obtained allometric relationships between tree diameter and plant-part biomass showed high values, ranging from 0.83 to 0.99. In addition, there were few interspecific differences in relationships for all biomass parts, except for leaves. We also found relatively high coefficients of allometric relationships between tree height and plant-part biomass ranging from 0.83 to 0.94. Comparison of above- and below-ground biomass equations for various tropical rainforests implies that our allometric equations differ largely from the equations for tropical primary forests. Thus, choosing both above- and below-ground allometric equations for biomass estimation in tropical secondary forests of South-East Asia requires careful consideration of their suitability.
Soil-particle selection by the mound-building termiteMacrotermes bellicosuson a sandy loam soil catena in a Nigerian tropical savanna
Authors: Abe Susumu S. , Yamamoto Sadahiro , Wakatsuki Toshiyuki
Published: May 2009

Many species of termite (Isoptera) build their nests inside mounds because a mound has direct and positive feedback effects on the termite colonies through the maintenance of humidity and protection of the population from enemies, e.g. ants (Jouquetet al. 2006, Korb 2003, Noirot & Darlington 2000). Soil manipulation by termites (Isoptera) for mound construction is of particular interest for many researchers in terms of pedogenesis of the tropics (Lavelleet al. 1992, Lobry de Bruyn & Conacher 1990). The termites select soil particles according to ecological requirements such as water availability (Jouquetet al. 2002, 2007) and improve soil structural stability by means of application of clay particles and saliva/excreta (Fallet al. 2001, Jouquetet al. 2004). The nest-building activity of the termites inevitably causes regional translocation of soils (Bagine 1984, Holt & Lepage 2000) and distinctive patches in local ecosystems, which contributes to ecological diversity (Lavelleet al. 1992). This is the reason why termites are regarded as an ecological engineer (Jouquetet al. 2006). Soil-particle selection by the termites, however, has not been fully explored in relation to diverse ecologies and landscapes in Africa.
Carbon dioxide emission through soil respiration in a secondary mangrove forest of eastern Thailand
Authors: Poungparn Sasitorn , Komiyama Akira , Tanaka Aki , Sangtiean Tanuwong , Maknual Chatree , Kato Shogo , Tanapermpool Paisarn , Patanaponpaiboon Pipat
Published: May 2009

Carbon dioxide emission through soil respiration is an important component of the carbon balance in forest ecosystems. However, little information is available on the rates of soil respiration in mangrove forests. We studied the rate of soil respiration in a secondary mangrove forest in eastern Thailand on an estuary of the Trat River during both the wet and dry seasons. A study site of 40 × 110 m was established and a series of vegetation zones identified: Sonneratia, Avicennia, Rhizophora and Xylocarpus, in order of increasing elevation inland. Soil respiration was measured during low tide, using an infrared gas analyser connected to a respiratory chamber, by excluding the respiration of above-ground roots from the chamber. At least 19 measurements were performed in each zone for each season. The rate of soil respiration significantly increased with increasing soil temperature. The soil temperature which was usually lower than that of sea water showed a trend that decreased with distance from the river in both wet and dry seasons. The relative land elevation causes different periods of inundation among the vegetation zones. The period was longest in the Sonneratia zone located on the river fringe, and became shorter moving inland. Thus, the elevation and relevant period of inundation are considered to be causal factors warming the soil. Consequently, the difference in soil temperature caused significantly different rates of soil respiration among the vegetation zones in the mangrove forest. Overall, the average rate of soil respiration ranged from 0.456 to 0.876 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1, supporting the view that mangrove forests have lower rates of soil respiration than do upland forests.
The prevalence of avianPlasmodiumis higher in undisturbed tropical forests of Cameroon
Authors: Bonneaud Camille , Sepil Irem , Milá Borja , Buermann Wolfgang , Pollinger John , Sehgal Ravinder N.M. , Valkiūnas Gediminas , Iezhova Tatjana A. , Saatchi Sassan , Smith Thomas B.
Published: May 2009

Habitat fragmentation and deforestation are thought to disrupt host–parasite interactions and increase the risk of epizootic outbreaks in wild vertebrates. A total of 220 individuals from three species of African rain-forest bird (Andropadus latirostris,Andropadus virens,Cyanomitra obscura), captured in two pristine and two agroforests in Cameroon, were screened for the presence of avian haemosporidian parasites (species ofPlasmodiumandHaemoproteus) to test whether habitat differences were associated with differences in the prevalence of infectious diseases in natural populations. Thirteen mitochondrial lineages, including 11Plasmodiumand twoHaemoproteuslineages were identified. Whereas levels ofHaemoproteusspp. infections were too low to permit analysis, the prevalence of infections withPlasmodiumspp. reached significantly greater levels in undisturbed mature forests. Importantly however, the significant association between forest type and parasite prevalence was independent of host density effects, suggesting that the association did not reflect changes in host species composition and abundance between forest types. Our results illustrate how characterizing land-cover differences, and hence changes, may be a prerequisite to understanding and predicting patterns of parasite infections in natural populations of rain-forest birds.
Impact evaluation of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Programme – a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: He Meizi , Beynon Charlene , Sangster Bouck Michelle , St Onge Renée , Stewart Susan , Khoshaba Linda , Horbul Betty A , Chircoski Bill
Published: May 2009

Objective

The purpose of this impact evaluation was to measure the influence of a government of Ontario, Canada health promotion initiative, the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Programme (NFVPP), on elementary school-aged children’s psychosocial variables regarding fruit and vegetables, and fruit and vegetable consumption patterns.

Design

A cluster-randomised controlled trial design was used. The NFVPP consisted of three intervention arms: (i) Intervention I: Free Fruit and Vegetable Snack (FFVS) + Enhanced Nutrition Education; (ii) Intervention II: FFVS-alone; and (iii) Control group. Using the Pro-Children Questionnaire, the primary outcome measure was children’s fruit and vegetable consumption, and the secondary outcome measures included differences in children’s awareness, knowledge, self-efficacy, preference, intention and willingness to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.

Setting/Subjects

Twenty-six elementary schools in a defined area of Northern Ontario were eligible to participate in the impact evaluation. A final sample size of 1277 students in grades five to eight was achieved.

Results

Intervention I students consumed more fruit and vegetables at school than their Control counterparts by 0·49 serving/d (P< 0·05). Similarly, Intervention II students consumed more fruit and vegetables at school than Control students by 0·42 serving/d, although this difference was not statistically significant. Among students in both intervention groups, preferences for certain fruit and vegetables shifted from ‘never tried it’ towards ‘like it’.

Conclusions

The NFVPP resulted in positive changes in elementary school-aged children’s fruit and vegetable consumption at school, and favourable preference changes for certain fruit and vegetables.
A new FFQ designed to measure the intake of fatty acids and antioxidants in children
Authors: Stiegler Petra , Sausenthaler Stefanie , Buyken Anette E , Rzehak Peter , Czech Daniel , Linseisen Jakob , Kroke Anja , Gedrich Kurt , Robertson Claire , Heinrich Joachim
Published: May 2009

Objective

The present paper describes the systematic development of an FFQ to assess the intake of fatty acids and antioxidants in school-aged children. In addition, a validation study applying 24 h dietary recalls was performed.

Design

Using the variance-based Max_r method, a list of eighty-two foods was compiled from data obtained by 3 d weighed dietary records. The foods were used to design an FFQ, the comprehensibility of which was evaluated in a feasibility study. In addition, the FFQ was validated in a subset of 101 children from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI PLUS) against one 24 h dietary recall.

Results

The feasibility study attested a good acceptance of the FFQ. Mean intake of foods compared well between the FFQ and the 24 h dietary recall, although intake data generated from the FFQ tended to be higher. This difference became less apparent at the nutrient level, although the estimated average consumption of arachidonic acid and EPA using the FFQ still exceeded values recorded with the 24 h recall method by 45 % and 29 %, respectively.

Conclusions

On the basis of the systematic selection process of the food list, the established practicability of the FFQ and the overall plausibility of the results, the use of this FFQ is justified in future epidemiological studies.
Reliability and validity of a semi-quantitative FFQ for sodium intake in low-income and low-literacy Brazilian hypertensive subjects
Authors: Ferreira-Sae Maria-Carolina S , Gallani Maria-Cecilia BJ , Nadruz Wilson , Rodrigues Roberta CM , Franchini Kleber G , Cabral Poliana C , Sales Maria Lilian
Published: May 2009

Objective

To assess the reliability and validity of an FFQ to evaluate dietary patterns of Na consumption among low-income and low-literacy Brazilian hypertensive subjects.

Design

The initial FFQ was submitted to content analysis with the pre-test administered to fifteen subjects. Reliability was evaluated according to the reproducibility criterion, with interviewer administration of the FFQ twice within a 15 d interval. Validity was assessed against a 24 h recall (132 subjects), a 3 d diet record (121 subjects) and a biomarker (24 h urinary Na; 121 subjects). To test the correlation with the biomarker, discretionary salt was added to the FFQ Na values.

Setting

A large urban teaching hospital in south-eastern Brazil.

Subjects

The study was based on 132 randomly selected subjects (eighty-three women and forty-nine men) aged 18 to 85 years.

Results

Kappa coefficients ranged from 0·79 to 0·98, confirming the reproducibility of the FFQ. There was no correlation between urinary Na excretion, the FFQ and the 24 h recall for the general sample, although significant correlations had been observed when methods were summed up (24 h recall + discretionary salt + FFQ; 0·32, P = 0·01). The addition of discretionary salt significantly improved the biomarker-based FFQ validity, with correlation coefficients varying from 0·19 (general sample) to 0·31 (female sub-sample).

Conclusions

The developed FFQ demonstrated satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability and can be used as an important complementary tool for the evaluation of Na intake among Brazilian hypertensive subjects.
Sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drink intake in childhood in relation to adult BMI and overweight. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study
Authors: Nissinen Katja , Mikkilä Vera , Männistö Satu , Lahti-Koski Marjaana , Räsänen Leena , Viikari Jorma , Raitakari Olli T
Published: May 2009

Objective

To investigate the associations of BMI and overweight in adulthood with consumption of sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drinks in childhood and with the change in consumption between childhood and adulthood.

Design

Longitudinal 21-year follow-up study of Finnish children and adolescents from childhood to adulthood.

Setting

The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, comprising participants from both eastern and western Finland.

Subjects

Boys (n967) and girls (n1172) aged 3–18 years at baseline in 1980.

Results

The increase in consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks from childhood to adulthood was directly associated with BMI in adulthood in women (b= 0·45,P= 0·0001) but not in men. In women, BMI increased by 0·45 kg/m2for every 10-unit increase per month. Consumption of sweets and sugar-sweetened soft drinks in childhood and adolescence was not associated with BMI in adulthood. The change in consumption of sweets was not associated with BMI in adulthood. The increase in the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks from childhood to adulthood was associated with being overweight (OR = 1·90, 95 % CI 1·38, 2·61) in women, but not in men. No association was found between overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) in adulthood and consumption of sweets in childhood or the change in consumption from childhood to adulthood.

Conclusions

We conclude that direct associations exist between adulthood overweight and BMI and an increase in consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks in women. Thus sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption may be important when considering weight management in women.
Unexpectedly high early prevalence of anaemia in 6-month-old breast-fed infants in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Shakur Yaseer A , Choudhury Nuzhat , Ziauddin Hyder SM , Zlotkin Stanley H
Published: May 2009

Objective

To determine the prevalence of anaemia and maternal and infant factors associated with Hb values in infants at 6 months of age in rural Bangladesh.

Design

Infants (born to mothers supplemented with Fe–folic acid from mid-pregnancy) were visited at birth and 6 months of age. Mothers’ anthropometric status, and infants’ birth weight, gestational age at birth, weight and Hb concentration at 6 months were measured. Household socio-economic and demographic data, infant feeding practices and health status were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire.

Setting

Rural Bangladesh.

Subjects

Four hundred and two infants.

Results

For the total cohort (n402), the range of anaemia prevalence values was from 30·6 % using a cut-off value of Hb < 95 g/l to 71·9 % using a value of Hb < 110 g/l. Birth weight and month of birth were the only factors positively associated with infant Hb in a linear regression model (P= 0·008 and 0·011, respectively).

Conclusions

There was an unexpectedly high prevalence of anaemia in infants at 6 months of age, before the assumed period of vulnerability. Hb at this age tended to be higher in those with higher birth weight. We also found a season effect on Hb, as it tended to be higher as the study progressed. The high prevalence of anaemia at such an early age needs to be addressed to minimize the disease’s long-term consequences.
Acceptability and use of iron and iron-alloy cooking pots: implications for anaemia control programmes
Authors: Tripp Katherine , MacKeith Nancy , Woodruff Bradley A , Talley Leisel , Mselle Laurent , Mirghani Zahra , Abdalla Fathia , Bhatia Rita , Seal Andrew J
Published: May 2009

Objective

To evaluate the acceptability of iron and iron-alloy cooking pots prior to an intervention trial and to investigate factors affecting retention and use.

Design

Pre-trial research was conducted on five types of iron and iron-alloy pots using focus group discussions and a laboratory evaluation of Fe transfer during cooking was undertaken. Usage and retention during the subsequent intervention trial were investigated using focus group discussions and market monitoring.

Setting

Three refugee camps in western Tanzania.

Subjects

Refugee health workers were selected for pre-trial research. Mothers of children aged 6–59 months participated in the investigation of retention and use.

Results

Pre-trial research indicated that the stainless steel pot would be the only acceptable type for use in this population due to excessive rusting and/or the high weight of other types. Cooking three typical refugee dishes in stainless steel pots led to an increase in Fe content of 3·2 to 17·1 mg/100 g food (P < 0·001). During the trial, the acceptability of the stainless steel pots was lower than expected owing to difficulties with using, cleaning and their utility for other purposes. Households also continued to use their pre-existing pots, and stainless steel pots were sold to increase household income.

Conclusions

Pre-trial research led to the selection of a stainless steel pot that met basic acceptability criteria. The relatively low usage reported during the trial highlights the limitations of using high-value iron-alloy cooking pots as an intervention in populations where poverty and the availability of other pots may lead to selling.
CP-logic: A language of causal probabilistic events and its relation to logic programming
Authors: VENNEKENS JOOST , DENECKER MARC , BRUYNOOGHE MAURICE
Published: May 2009

This paper develops a logical language for representing probabilistic causal laws. Our interest in such a language is two-fold. First, it can be motivated as a fundamental study of the representation of causal knowledge. Causality has an inherent dynamic aspect, which has been studied at the semantical level by Shafer in his framework of probability trees. In such a dynamic context, where the evolution of a domain over time is considered, the idea of a causal law as something which guides this evolution is quite natural. In our formalization, a set of probabilistic causal laws can be used to represent a class of probability trees in a concise, flexible and modular way. In this way, our work extends Shafer's by offering a convenient logical representation for his semantical objects. Second, this language also has relevance for the area of probabilistic logic programming. In particular, we prove that the formal semantics of a theory in our language can be equivalently defined as a probability distribution over the well-founded models of certain logic programs, rendering it formally quite similar to existing languages such as ICL or PRISM. Because we can motivate and explain our language in a completely self-contained way as a representation of probabilistic causal laws, this provides a new way of explaining the intuitions behind such probabilistic logic programs: we can say precisely which knowledge such a program expresses, in terms that are equally understandable by a non-logician. Moreover, we also obtain an additional piece of knowledge representation methodology for probabilistic logic programs, by showing how they can express probabilistic causal laws.
Fuzzy linguistic logic programming and its applications
Authors: LE VAN HUNG , LIU FEI , TRAN DINH KHANG
Published: May 2009

The paper introduces fuzzy linguistic logic programming, which is a combination of fuzzy logic programming, introduced by P. Vojtáš, and hedge algebras in order to facilitate the representation and reasoning on human knowledge expressed in natural languages. In fuzzy linguistic logic programming, truth values are linguistic ones, e.g., VeryTrue, VeryProbablyTrue and LittleFalse, taken from a hedge algebra of a linguistic truth variable, and linguistic hedges (modifiers) can be used as unary connectives in formulae. This is motivated by the fact that humans reason mostly in terms of linguistic terms rather than in terms of numbers, and linguistic hedges are often used in natural languages to express different levels of emphasis. The paper presents: (a) the language of fuzzy linguistic logic programming; (b) a declarative semantics in terms of Herbrand interpretations and models; (c) a procedural semantics which directly manipulates linguistic terms to compute a lower bound to the truth value of a query, and proves its soundness; (d) a fixpoint semantics of logic programs, and based on it, proves the completeness of the procedural semantics; (e) several applications of fuzzy linguistic logic programming; and (f) an idea of implementing a system to execute fuzzy linguistic logic programs.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT: BUT WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THAT?
Authors: SHAPIRO STEWART
Published: May 2009

At the beginning of Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik (§2) [1884], Frege observes that “it is in the nature of mathematics to prefer proof, where proof is possible”. This, of course, is true, but thinkers differ on why it is that mathematicians prefer proof. And what of propositions for which no proof is possible? What of axioms? This talk explores various notions of self-evidence, and the role they play in various foundational systems, notably those of Frege and Zermelo. I argue that both programs are undermined at a crucial point, namely when self-evidence is supported by holistic and even pragmatic considerations.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF THE INTUITIONISTIC BOREL HIERARCHY
Authors: VELDMAN WIM
Published: May 2009

In intuitionistic analysis, a subset of a Polish space like ℝ or ${\cal N}$ is called positively Borel if and only if it is an open subset of the space or a closed subset of the space or the result of forming either the countable union or the countable intersection of an infinite sequence of (earlier constructed) positively Borel subsets of the space. The operation of taking the complement is absent from this inductive definition, and, in fact, the complement of a positively Borel set is not always positively Borel itself (see Veldman, 2008a). The main result of Veldman (2008a) is that, assuming Brouwer's Continuity Principle and an Axiom of Countable Choice, one may prove that the hierarchy formed by the positively Borel sets is genuinely growing: every level of the hierarchy contains sets that do not occur at any lower level. The purpose of the present paper is a different one: we want to explore the truly remarkable fine structure of the hierarchy. Brouwer's Continuity Principle again is our main tool. A second axiom proposed by Brouwer, his Thesis on Bars is also used, but only incidentally.
DYNAMIC NEGATION AND NEGATIVE INFORMATION
Authors: SEQUOIAH-GRAYSON SEBASTIAN
Published: May 2009

This essay proposes a procedural interpretation of negative information in terms of split negation as procedural prohibition. Information frames and models are introduced, with negation defined as the implication of bottom,0. A method for extracting the procedures prohibited by complex formulas is outlined, and the relationship between types of prohibited procedures is identified. Definitions of negation types in terms of the implication of0on an informational interpretation have been criticized. This criticism turns on the definitions creating a purportedly unnatural asymmetry between positive and negative information. It is demonstrated below that a strong asymmetry between positive and negative information is in fact the case. As such, an asymmetry between positive and negative information is natural, and something that we should want an informational interpretation of negation to preserve.
RELEVANCE LOGICS AND RELATION ALGEBRAS
Authors: BIMBÓ KATALIN , DUNN J. MICHAEL , MADDUX ROGER D.
Published: May 2009

Relevance logicsare known to be sound and complete for relational semantics with a ternary accessibility relation. This paper investigates the problem of adequacy with respect to special kinds ofdynamic semantics(i.e., proper relation algebras and relevant families of relations). We prove severalsoundnessresults here. We also prove thecompletenessof a certain positive fragment ofRas well as of the first-degree fragment of relevance logics. These results show that some core ideas are shared between relevance logics and relation algebras. Some details of certain incompleteness results, however, pinpoint where relevance logics and relation algebras diverge. To carry out these semantic investigations, we define anew tableauxformalization and newsequent calculi(with the single cut rule admissible) for various relevance logics.
Western Arabian Sea SST during the penultimate interglacial: A comparison of U37K′ and Mg/Ca paleothermometry
Authors: Saher M. H. , Rostek F. , Jung S. J. A. , Bard E. , Schneider R. R. , Greaves M. , Ganssen G. M. , Elderfield H. , Kroon D.
Published: May 2009

Millennial‐scale records of planktonic foraminiferal Mg/Ca, bulk sediment U37K′, and planktonic foraminiferal δ18O are presented across the last two deglaciations in sediment core NIOP929 from the Arabian Sea. Mg/Ca‐derived temperature variability during the penultimate and last deglacial periods falls within the range of modern day Arabian Sea temperatures, which are influenced by monsoon‐driven upwelling. The U37K′‐derived temperatures in MIS 5e are similar to modern intermonsoon values and are on average 3.5°C higher than the Mg/Ca temperatures in the same period. MIS 5e U37K′ and Mg/Ca temperatures are 1.5°C warmer than during the Holocene, while the U37K′‐Mg/Ca temperature difference was about twice as large during MIS 5e. This is surprising as, nowadays, both proxy carriers have a very similar seasonal and depth distribution. Partial explanations for the MIS 5e U37K′‐Mg/Ca temperature offset include carbonate dissolution, the change in dominant alkenone‐producing species, and possibly lateral advection of alkenone‐bearing material and a change in seasonal or depth distribution of proxy carriers. Our findings suggest that (1) Mg/Ca of G. ruber documents seawater temperature in the same way during both studied deglaciations as in the present, with respect to, e.g., season and depth, and (2) U37K′‐based temperatures from MIS 5 (or older) represent neither upwelling SST nor annual average SST (as it does in the present and the Holocene) but a higher temperature, despite alkenone production mainly occurring in the upwelling season. Further we report that at the onset of the deglacial warming, the Mg/Ca record leads the U37K′ record by 4 ka, of which a maximum of 2 ka may be explained by postdepositional processes. Deglacial warming in both temperature records leads the deglacial decrease in the δ18O profile, and Mg/Ca‐based temperature returns to lower values before δ18O has reached minimum interglacial values. This indicates a substantial lead in Arabian Sea warming relative to global ice melting.
Relationships of surface bromoform concentrations with mixed layer depth and salinity in the tropical oceans
Authors: Palmer Carl J. , Reason Chris J.
Published: May 2009

Bromoform is ubiquitously present in the surface ocean because of its release from algae. Bromoform initiates catalytic ozone destruction in both the troposphere and stratosphere and may act as biogenic feedback in a changing climate. Thus, the temporal and spatial variation in the sea‐air flux of bromoform is of great interest to atmospheric chemists. However, this is poorly characterized. Here we present a climatological approach to the sea surface bromoform concentration based on parameterizing remotely sensed variables. Significant parameters in capturing the variability were found to be chlorophyll‐a concentrations, the mixed layer depth (with which bromoform is positively correlated), and salinity (negatively correlated). Climatology surface concentrations ranged from 4 to 90 ppt (∼200–4500 pmol dm−3), and average seasonal sea‐air flux ranged from 10 to 100 nmol m−2 h−1. Using these fluxes, we obtained the total contribution of the tropical oceans to the global sea‐air flux of bromoform to be 1.45 ± 0.9 Gmol a−1, representing about 75% of current global estimates.
Surface age of surface renewal in turbulent interfacial transport
Authors: Kermani A. , Shen L.
Published: May 2009

We use direct numerical simulation to study characteristics of interfacial transfer of gas and heat in free‐surface turbulence. Using Lagrangian tracing, we are able to directly quantify surface age of surface renewal for the first time. The physical meaning of surface renewal and various representations of surface age, including the use of heat as a proxy, are discussed. Results show that the Higbie penetration theory and the Danckwerts random surface renewal model are inappropriate for gas transfer.
Precipitation diurnal cycle and summer climatology assessment over South America: An evaluation of Regional Climate Model version 3 simulations
Authors: da Rocha Rosmeri P. , Morales Carlos A. , Cuadra Santiago V. , Ambrizzi Tércio
Published: May 2009

Regional Climate Model version 3 (RegCM3) simulations of 17 summers (1988–2004) over part of South America south of 5°S were evaluated to identify model systematic errors. Model results were compared to different rainfall data sets (Climate Research Unit (CRU), Climate Prediction Center (CPC), Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP), and National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis), including the five summers mean (1998–2002) precipitation diurnal cycle observed by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)‐Precipitation Radar (PR). In spite of regional differences, the RegCM3 simulates the main observed aspects of summer climatology associated with the precipitation (northwest‐southeast band of South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ)) and air temperature (warmer air in the central part of the continent and colder in eastern Brazil and the Andes Mountains). At a regional scale, the main RegCM3 failures are the underestimation of the precipitation in the northern branch of the SACZ and some unrealistic intense precipitation around the Andes Mountains. However, the RegCM3 seasonal precipitation is closer to the fine‐scale analyses (CPC, CRU, and TRMM‐PR) than is the NCEP reanalysis, which presents an incorrect north‐south orientation of SACZ and an overestimation of its intensity. The precipitation diurnal cycle observed by TRMM‐PR shows pronounced contrasts between Tropics and Extratropics and land and ocean, where most of these features are simulated by RegCM3. The major similarities between the simulation and observation, especially the diurnal cycle phase, are found over the continental tropical and subtropical SACZ regions, which present afternoon maximum (1500–1800 UTC) and morning minimum (0900–1200 UTC). More specifically, over the core of SACZ, the phase and amplitude of the simulated precipitation diurnal cycle are very close to the TRMM‐PR observations. Although there are amplitude differences, the RegCM3 simulates the observed nighttime rainfall in the eastern Andes Mountains, over the Atlantic Ocean, and also over northern Argentina. The main simulation deficiencies are found in the Atlantic Ocean and near the Andes Mountains. Over the Atlantic Ocean the convective scheme is not triggered; thus the rainfall arises from the grid‐scale scheme and therefore differs from the TRMM‐PR. Near the Andes, intense (nighttime and daytime) simulated precipitation could be a response of an incorrect circulation and topographic uplift. Finally, it is important to note that unlike most reported bias of global models, RegCM3 does not trigger the moist convection just after sunrise over the southern part of the Amazon.
Changes in the characteristics of rain events in India
Authors: Dash S. K. , Kulkarni Makarand A. , Mohanty U. C. , Prasad K.
Published: May 2009

Daily gridded (1° × 1°) rainfall data prepared by the India Meteorological Department for the period 1951–2004 have been used in this study to examine possible changes in the frequency of rain events in India in terms of their duration and intensity per day. So far as the duration is concerned, a rain event is classified as short, long, dry, or prolonged dry spell. Similarly in terms of intensity, a rainy day is considered as low, moderate, or heavy. Changes in the frequency of these events have great relevance from the point of view of climate change. Threshold and limiting values for defining the heavy and moderate rain days are calculated in accordance with the gamma probability distribution. Results show that the frequencies of moderate and low rain days considered over the entire country have significantly decreased in the last half century. On the basis of the duration of rain events it is inferred that long spells show a significant decreasing trend over India as a whole while short and dry spells indicate an increasing tendency with 5% significance. The characteristics of rain events are also examined over six homogenous rainfall zones separately since the spatial distribution of rainfall over India shows large variability. In this study, the changes in the frequencies of different categories of rain events suggest weakening of the summer monsoon circulation over India. This hypothesis of a weakening of monsoon circulation is supported by significant reduction in the 850 hPa wind fields in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalyzed data set.
Numerical high‐resolution air‐sea coupling over the Gulf of Lions during two tramontane/mistral events
Authors: Lebeaupin Brossier C. , Drobinski P.
Published: May 2009

The near‐sea‐surface meteorological conditions associated with strong wind events over the Mediterranean Sea constitute a strong forcing on the ocean mixed layer. The present study addresses the question of the sea surface scheme used in high‐resolution and short‐range atmospheric numerical modeling to represent the ocean mixed layer response under these severe mistral wind events in the Gulf of Lions area. Several slab ocean models have been used coupled with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and applied on two mistral cases: (1) a slab model based on the transport divergence equation where the mixed layer evolution is only driven by the wind stress, (2) a slab model where the temperature is the only prognostic variable and evolves according to the net surface heat flux, and (3) a complete slab scheme from Price (1981). The coupled simulations are also compared to two basic simulations, one using a constant sea surface temperature (SST) field during all of the model integration and another using a 6‐hourly update sea surface temperature reanalysis. In this study, we mainly focus on the slab model performances. We identify the processes involved in the ocean mixed layer response under strong wind situations, i.e., local and fast cooling and deepening. The feedbacks of an interactive ocean mixed layer on the atmospheric simulation are also investigated.
A Si‐Cl geothermobarometer for the reaction zone of high‐temperature, basaltic‐hosted mid‐ocean ridge hydrothermal systems
Authors: Fontaine Fabrice J. , Wilcock William S. D. , Foustoukos Dionysis E. , Butterfield David A.
Published: May 2009

The chemical composition of mid‐ocean ridge hydrothermal vent fluids is thought to reflect conditions within a deep‐seated reaction zone. Although temperature and pressure conditions within this region are key parameters that characterize the subseafloor hydrothermal regime and the cooling of mid‐ocean ridges, they are poorly constrained. In this paper, we developed a model in which high‐temperature, vapor‐type (low‐salinity) vent fluid silica (Si) and chlorine (Cl) concentrations can be used to define lines in pressure‐temperature space whose intersection is used to estimate conditions at the top of the reaction zone, under the simplifying assumption that Si and Cl reflect a common point of equilibration. We apply this model to various basaltic‐hosted mid‐ocean ridge sites. Results suggest a minimal variation in inferred temperatures, ranging from 415 to 445°C. This lends support to the fluxibility model in which upwelling hydrothermal plumes rise at temperatures that maximize the energy flux. Quartz precipitation due to reequilibration during upflow tends to lower temperature and pressure estimates and can artificially indicate shallower transition from reaction to upflow zone. However, maximum equilibration pressures are site‐dependent and compare well with depth to magma chamber imaged by seismic studies. This suggests that vapors circulate close to magma chambers and is difficult to reconcile with models in which mid‐ocean ridge hydrothermal circulation occurs in two layers with a substantial layer of convecting brine. Accordingly, equilibration pressure predicted by our model can also be used to infer the depth of the magma chamber at sites where seismic data are not available but where vapor‐like fluids have been collected and analyzed.
A new automated method for measuring noble gases and their isotopic ratios in water samples
Authors: Stanley Rachel H. R. , Baschek Burkard , Lott Dempsey E. , Jenkins William J.
Published: May 2009

A method is presented for precisely measuring all five noble gases and their isotopic ratios in water samples using multiple programmed multistage cryogenic traps in conjunction with quadrupole mass spectrometry and magnetic sector mass spectrometry. Multiple automated cryogenic traps, including a two‐stage cryotrap used for removal of water vapor, an activated charcoal cryotrap used for helium separation, and a stainless steel cryotrap used for neon, argon, krypton, and xenon separation, allow reproducible gas purification and separation. The precision of this method for gas standards is ±0.10% for He, ±0.14% for Ne, ±0.10% for Ar, ±0.14% for Kr, and ±0.17% for Xe. The precision of the isotopic ratios of the noble gases in gas standards are ±1.9‰ for 20Ne/22Ne, ±2.0‰ for 84Kr/86Kr, ±2.5‰ for 84Kr/82Kr, ±0.9‰ for 132Xe/129Xe, and ±1.3‰ for 132Xe/136Xe. The precision of this method for water samples, determined by measurement of duplicate pairs, is ±1% for He, ±0.9% for Ne, ±0.3% for Ar, ±0.3% for Kr, and ±0.2% for Xe. An attached magnetic sector mass spectrometer measures 3He/4He with precisions of ±0.1% for air standards and ±0.14% for water samples.
A solar terminator wave in thermospheric wind and density simultaneously observed by CHAMP
Authors: Liu Huixin , Lühr Hermann , Watanabe Shigeto
Published: May 2009

A solar terminator wave has been revealed in thermospheric wind and density simultaneously observed by CHAMP. The wind terminator wave is out of phase with the density terminator wave. But both have wavefronts about 30° inclined to the terminator line at low latitudes, and wavelengths ranging between 3000–5000 km. They show a clear dawn‐dusk asymmetry, with more pronounced wave signatures forming at dusk. Terminator wave is indiscernible in the dawnside wind. Most wave structures are observed at night, with some extension to the sunlit region around solstices. The midnight density maximum is seen to be closely connected to terminator wave structures, hence indicating a possible role of terminator waves in its formation.
Extreme temperatures in Greece during 2007: Could this be a “return to the future”?
Authors: Tolika Konstantia , Maheras Panagiotis , Tegoulias Ioannis
Published: May 2009

This paper presents an investigation into the record breaking winter and summer maximum and minimum temperatures of 2007 across the Greek region. Three summer heat waves were analysed representing the highest maximum temperatures of the last six to seven decades. Winter minimum temperatures (mainly during January) were also found to be exceptionally high and they were proven to be more “statistically extreme” than the summer maxima. During the heat waves, an extended horizontal transfer of warm air masses from northern Africa was detected. The comparison of the results with future projections derived from a regional climate model revealed that these temperature conditions are likely to occur more than 50% of the time by the end of the 21st century.
Genomic islands link secondary metabolism to functional adaptation in marine Actinobacteria
Authors: Penn Kevin , Jenkins Caroline , Nett Markus , Udwary Daniel W , Gontang Erin A , McGlinchey Ryan P , Foster Brian , Lapidus Alla , Podell Sheila , Allen Eric E , Moore Bradley S , Jensen Paul R
Published: May 2009

Genomic islands have been shown to harbor functional traits that differentiate ecologically distinct populations of environmental bacteria. A comparative analysis of the complete genome sequences of the marine Actinobacteria Salinispora tropica and Salinispora arenicola reveals that 75% of the species-specific genes are located in 21 genomic islands. These islands are enriched in genes associated with secondary metabolite biosynthesis providing evidence that secondary metabolism is linked to functional adaptation. Secondary metabolism accounts for 8.8% and 10.9% of the genes in the S. tropica and S. arenicola genomes, respectively, and represents the major functional category of annotated genes that differentiates the two species. Genomic islands harbor all 25 of the species-specific biosynthetic pathways, the majority of which occur in S. arenicola and may contribute to the cosmopolitan distribution of this species. Genome evolution is dominated by gene duplication and acquisition, which in the case of secondary metabolism provide immediate opportunities for the production of new bioactive products. Evidence that secondary metabolic pathways are exchanged horizontally, coupled with earlier evidence for fixation among globally distributed populations, supports a functional role and suggests that the acquisition of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters represents a previously unrecognized force driving bacterial diversification. Species-specific differences observed in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat sequences suggest that S. arenicola may possess a higher level of phage immunity, whereas a highly duplicated family of polymorphic membrane proteins provides evidence for a new mechanism of marine adaptation in Gram-positive bacteria.
A 30‐year Follow‐up of the Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect on Obesity in Adulthood
Authors: Bentley Tyrone , Widom Cathy S.
Published: May 2009

Childhood maltreatment has been implicated as a risk factor for adult obesity. We describe the first prospective assessment of adult obesity in individuals with documented histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse and neglect and a matched comparison group in a 30‐year follow‐up. Using a prospective cohort design, children with court substantiated cases of physical and sexual abuse and neglect (ages 0–11 years) from a Midwest county during 1967–1971 (n = 410) were matched with children without histories of abuse or neglect on age, sex, race/ethnicity and approximate family social class (n = 303) and followed up and assessed at mean age 41. Outcome measures include BMI and obesity assessed in 2003–2004 as part of a medical status examination and interview. Childhood physical abuse predicted significantly higher BMI scores in adulthood (β = 0.14, P < 0.05), even controlling for demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption (β = 0.16, P < 0.01). Childhood sexual abuse (β = 0.07, not significant) and neglect (β = 0.02, not significant) were not significant predictors of adult BMI scores. These results demonstrate the long‐term impact of childhood physical abuse on weight into adulthood and suggest that physically abused children may be at risk for other adverse health outcomes associated with increased weight. Health professionals need to understand this risk for physically abused children and researchers should identify and evaluate strategies for effective interventions.