bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Vegetation Types on Surface Temperature Change
Authors: Lim Young-Kwon , Cai Ming , Kalnay Eugenia , Zhou Liming
Published: April 2008

The impact of different surface vegetations on long-term surface temperature change is estimated by subtracting reanalysis trends in monthly surface temperature anomalies from observation trends over the last four decades. This is done using two reanalyses, namely, the 40-yr ECMWF (ERA-40) and NCEP–NCAR I (NNR), and two observation datasets, namely, Climatic Research Unit (CRU) and Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN). The basis of the observation minus reanalysis (OMR) approach is that the NNR reanalysis surface fields, and to a lesser extent the ERA-40, are insensitive to surface processes associated with different vegetation types and their changes because the NNR does not use surface observations over land, whereas ERA-40 only uses surface temperature observations indirectly, in order to initialize soil temperature and moisture. As a result, the OMR trends can provide an estimate of surface effects on the observed temperature trends missing in the reanalyses. The OMR trends obtained from observation minus NNR show a strong and coherent sensitivity to the independently estimated surface vegetation from normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The correlation between the OMR trend and the NDVI indicates that the OMR trend decreases with surface vegetation, with a correlation < −0.5, indicating that there is a stronger surface response to global warming in arid regions, whereas the OMR response is reduced in highly vegetated areas. The OMR trend averaged over the desert areas (0 < NDVI < 0.1) shows a much larger increase of temperature (∼0.4°C decade−1) than over tropical forest areas (NDVI > 0.4) where the OMR trend is nearly zero. Areas of intermediate vegetation (0.1 < NDVI < 0.4), which are mostly found over midlatitudes, reveal moderate OMR trends (approximately 0.1°–0.3°C decade−1). The OMR trends are also very sensitive to the seasonal vegetation change. While the OMR trends have little seasonal dependence over deserts and tropical forests, whose vegetation state remains rather constant throughout the year, the OMR trends over the midlatitudes, in particular Europe and North America, exhibit strong seasonal variation in response to the NDVI fluctuations associated with deciduous vegetation. The OMR trend rises up approximately to 0.2°–0.3°C decade−1 in winter and early spring when the vegetation cover is low, and is only 0.1°C decade−1 in summer and early autumn with high vegetation. However, the Asian inlands (Russia, northern China with Tibet, and Mongolia) do not show this strong OMR variation despite their midlatitude location, because of the relatively permanent aridity of these regions.
Over-Ocean Validation of the Global Convective Diagnostic
Authors: Martin David W. , Kohrs Richard A. , Mosher Frederick R. , Medaglia Carlo Maria , Adamo Claudia
Published: April 2008

The global convective diagnostic (GCD) is a bispectral (infrared and water vapor), day–night scheme for operationally mapping deep convection by means of geostationary satellite images. This article describes a test of GCD performance over tropical and subtropical waters near North America. The test consists of six cases, each involving a convective cloud complex. A seventh case treats convection over land. For each case, a map of deep convection was constructed from image pairs from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-12 (GOES-12). Case by case and for all maritime cases together, the GCD map was compared with a convective parameter derived from the radar on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), a polar-orbiting satellite. In general, each GCD map showed a bloblike feature. In each case, the radar convective pixels typically fell within the GCD blob. However, (except for the land case) the GCD predicted far too many convective pixels. In the maritime cases overprediction was reduced (without correspondingly impairing other measures of performance) by lowering the nominal GCD threshold. With this adjustment in place, for the six maritime cases taken individually, the GCD tended to yield more consistent results than did a monospectral (infrared) convective scheme. With the cases combined, at the lower threshold the GCD performed somewhat better than one of the more stable versions of the infrared scheme. Comparison with lightning events (also observed by TRMM) suggests the possibility of future improvement to the GCD through the incorporation of geostationary satellite observations of lightning.
Radar Observations of Rainfall Variability Using Non-Rayleigh Signal Fluctuations
Authors: Jameson A. R.
Published: April 2008

The spatial variability and temporal variability of precipitation are widely recognized. In particular, rainfall rates can fluctuate widely in regions where the raindrops are clustered and where mean conditions are changing (statistical heterogeneity). Indeed, at times, the ambiguity associated with an estimated average rainfall rate may become very large. Therefore, in quantitative measurements of precipitation, it would be useful to identify where this occurs. In this work a technique is proposed and applied to quantify the variability in rainfall rates introduced by statistical heterogeneity and raindrop clustering using deviations from Rayleigh statistics of intensity fluctuations. This technique separates the Rayleigh contributions to the observed relative dispersion from those arising from clustering and statistical heterogeneities. Applications to conventional meteorological radar measurements are illustrated using two scans. Often, but not always, the greatest ambiguities in estimates of the average rainfall rate occur just where the rainfall rates are the largest and presumably where accurate estimates are most important. This ambiguity is not statistical; rather, it indicates the presence of important sub-beam-scale fluctuations. As a consequence, no single average value can be applied uniformly to the entire domain. The examples provided here also demonstrate that the appropriate observations are feasible using current conventional meteorological radars with adequate processing capabilities. However, changes in radar technology that improve and increase pulse-to-pulse statistical independence will permit such observations to be gathered more routinely at finer spatial resolution and with enhanced precision.
An Exploratory Study to Derive Precipitation over Land from X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Measurements
Authors: Weinman J. A. , Marzano F. S.
Published: April 2008

Global precipitation measurements from space-based radars and microwave radiometers have been the subject of numerous studies during the past decade. Rainfall retrievals over land from spaceborne microwave radiometers depend mainly on scattering from frozen hydrometeors. Unfortunately, the relationship between frozen hydrometeors and rainfall varies considerably. The large field of view and related beam filling of microwave radiometer footprints introduce additional difficulties. Some of these problems will be addressed by the improved sensors that will be placed on the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite. Two shuttle missions demonstrated that X-band synthetic aperture radar (X-SAR) could observe rainfall over land. Several X-band SARs that can provide such measurements will be launched in the coming decade. These include four Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean Basin Observations (COSMO-SkyMed), two TerraSAR-X, and a fifth Korea Multipurpose Satellite (KOMPSAT-5) to be launched by the Italian, German, and Korean Space Agencies, respectively. Data from these satellites could augment the information available to the GPM science community. The present study presents computations of normalized radar cross sections (NRCS) that employed a simple, idealized two-layer cloud model that contained both rain and frozen hydrometeors. The modeled spatial distributions of these hydrometeors varied with height and horizontal distance. An exploratory algorithm was developed to retrieve the shape, width, and simple representations of the vertical profiles of frozen hydrometeors and rain from modeled NRCS scans. A discussion of uncertainties in the retrieval is presented.
Combined Observational and Model Investigations of the Z–LWC Relationship in Stratocumulus Clouds
Authors: Khain A. , Pinsky M. , Magaritz L. , Krasnov O. , Russchenberg H. W. J.
Published: April 2008

In situ measurements indicate the complexity and nonunique character of radar reflectivity–liquid water content (Z–LWC) relationships in stratocumulus and cumulus clouds. Parameters of empirical (statistical) Z–LWC dependences vary within a wide range. Respectively, the accuracy of retrieval algorithms remains low. This situation is partially related to the fact that empirical algorithms and parameters are often derived without a corresponding understanding of physical mechanisms responsible for the formation of the Z–LWC diagrams. In this study, the authors investigate the processes of formation of the Z–LWC relationships using a new trajectory ensemble model of the cloud-topped boundary layer (BL). In the model, the entire volume of the BL is covered by Lagrangian parcels advected by a turbulent-like velocity field. The time-dependent velocity field is generated by a turbulent model and obeys the correlation turbulent laws. Each Lagrangian parcel represents the “cloud parcel model” with an accurate description of processes of diffusion growth–evaporation of aerosols and droplets and droplet collisions. The fact that parcels are adjacent to each other allows one to calculate sedimentation of droplets and precipitation (drizzle) formation. The characteristic parcel size is 50 m; the number of parcels is 1840. The model calculates droplet size distributions (DSDs), as well as their moments (e.g., aerosol and drop concentration, mass content, radar reflectivity) in each parcel. In the course of the model integration, Z–LWC relationships are calculated for each parcel, as well as the scattering diagram including all parcels. The model reproduces in situ observed types of the Z–LWC relationships. It is shown that different regimes represent different stages of cloud evolution: diffusion growth, beginning of drizzle formation, and stage of heavy drizzle, respectively. The large scattering of the Z–LWC relationships is found to be an inherent property of any drizzling cloud. Different zones on the Z–LWC diagram are related to cloud volumes located at different levels within a cloud and having different DSD. This finding allows for improvement of retrieval algorithms.
Comparison of Local and Basinwide Methods for Risk Assessment of Tropical Cyclone Landfall
Authors: Hall Timothy M. , Jewson Stephen
Published: April 2008

Two statistical methods for predicting the number of tropical cyclones (TCs) making landfall on sections of the North American coastline are compared. The first method—the “local model”—is derived exclusively from historical landfalls on the particular coastline section. The second method—the “track model”—involves statistical modeling of TC tracks from genesis to lysis, and is based on historical observations of such tracks. Identical scoring schemes are used for each model, derived from the out-of-sample likelihood of a Bayesian analysis of the Poisson landfall number distribution. The track model makes better landfall rate predictions on most coastal regions, when coastline sections at a scale of several hundred kilometers or smaller are considered. The reduction in sampling error due to the use of the much larger dataset more than offsets any bias in the track model. When larger coast sections are considered, there are more historical landfalls, and the local model scores better. This is the first clear justification for the use of track models for the assessment of TC landfall risk on regional and smaller scales.
Penalized Maximal F Test for Detecting Undocumented Mean Shift without Trend Change
Authors: Wang Xiaolan L.
Published: April 2008

In this study, a penalized maximal F test (PMFT) is proposed for detecting undocumented mean shifts that are not accompanied by any sudden change in the linear trend of time series. PMFT aims to even out the uneven distribution of false alarm rate and detection power of the corresponding unpenalized maximal F test that is based on a common-trend two-phase regression model (TPR3). The performance of PMFT is compared with that of TPR3 using Monte Carlo simulations and real climate data series.

It is shown that, due to the effect of unequal sample sizes, the false alarm rate of TPR3 has a W-shaped distribution, with much higher than specified values for points near the ends of the series and lower values for points between either of the ends and the middle of the series. Consequently, for a mean shift of certain magnitude, TPR3 would detect it with a lower-than-specified level of confidence and hence more easily when it occurs near the ends of the series than somewhere between either of the ends and the middle of the series; it would mistakenly declare many more changepoints near the ends of a homogeneous series. These undesirable features of TPR3 are diminished in PMFT by using an empirical penalty function to take into account the relative position of each point being tested. As a result, PMFT has a notably higher power of detection; its false alarm rate and effective level of confidence are very close to the nominal level, basically evenly distributed across all possible candidate changepoints. The improvement in hit rate can be more than 10% for detecting small shifts (Δ ≤ σ, where σ is the noise standard deviation).
An Upper Threshold of Enhanced Global Shortwave Irradiance in the Troposphere Derived from Field Measurements in Tropical Mountains
Authors: Emck P. , Richter M.
Published: April 2008

Extraordinarily high values of global irradiance (up to 1832 W m−2) incident upon a horizontal surface were observed during a 4-yr meteorological field campaign in the southern Ecuadorian Andes Mountains (4°S). The unexpected magnitude gave rise to a thorough revision of the instrumentation and an assessment of the radiation database. Infrastructure at the sites and software were critically examined, and the sensor and datalogger manufacturers were contacted. The observed enhanced irradiance was quantified with a simple clear-sky model for global radiation. The efforts showed that atmospheric conditions and not artifacts had produced the high values. Cloud radiative effects could be singled out as the exclusive source of the “superirradiance.” Mean (bihourly) maximum enhancement was 119.6% of the potential (clear sky) irradiance; absolute maximum enhancement occasionally reached to over 170%. Thereby, under ideal conditions, the upper threshold of global irradiance is apparently ∼200% of the potential (clear sky) direct radiation [i.e., at the point of observation, downwelling diffuse cloud radiation can (almost) equal the magnitude of its apparent “source”]. The observations were made between altitudes of 1500 and 3400 m MSL in different climates ranging from perhumid to semiarid (i.e., in very cloudy climates and in less cloudy climates). The conditions that were found to explain the magnitude of the extremely enhanced irradiance are not confined to tropical or mountainous environments only, but rather they can occur at any spot in the troposphere where clouds exist. Therefore, the findings appear to be of general validity.
Geographical Distribution of Variance of Intraseasonal Variations in Western Indochina as Revealed from Radar Reflectivity Data
Authors: Yokoi Satoru , Satomura Takehiko
Published: April 2008

This study reveals remarkable differences in the geographical distribution of variance between two types of intraseasonal variations in daily-mean radar reflectivity data in the western part of the Indochina Peninsula. In this region, the Downa Range lies parallel to the coast and separates the inland region from the coastal region. The 30–60-day variation of reflectivity factor dominates most of the coastal region, while its variance in the inland region is less than that of background red noise with the same frequency band. Horizontal gradients in the variance are largest over the range, implying that the mountain range plays a significant role in the geographical contrast. Correlation analysis with reanalysis data shows that the variation only in the coastal region is associated with a synoptic-scale zonal wind anomaly with the same time scale, suggesting the importance of an orographic rainfall process that brings a large amount of precipitation only to the windward side of the Downa Range. In contrast, while the 10–20-day variation of reflectivity factor has larger variance in the inland region than in the coastal region, the variation in both of the regions is correlated with synoptic-scale cyclonic circulation anomaly. A possible reason for the differences between the two types is also discussed in terms of the relationship between synoptic-scale wind anomaly field and the orientation of the Downa Range.
Ocean–Atmosphere Coupling in the Monsoon Intraseasonal Oscillation: A Simple Model Study
Authors: Bellon Gilles , Sobel Adam H. , Vialard Jerome
Published: April 2008

A simple coupled model is used in a zonally symmetric aquaplanet configuration to investigate the effect of ocean–atmosphere coupling on the Asian monsoon intraseasonal oscillation. The model consists of a linear atmospheric model of intermediate complexity based on quasi-equilibrium theory coupled to a simple, linear model of the upper ocean. This model has one unstable eigenmode with a period in the 30–60-day range and a structure similar to the observed northward-propagating intraseasonal oscillation in the Bay of Bengal/west Pacific sector.

The ocean–atmosphere coupling is shown to have little impact on either the growth rate or latitudinal structure of the atmospheric oscillation, but it reduces the oscillation’s period by a quarter. At latitudes corresponding to the north of the Indian Ocean, the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies lead the precipitation anomalies by a quarter of a period, similarly to what has been observed in the Bay of Bengal. The mixed layer depth is in phase opposition to the SST: a monsoon break corresponds to both a warming and a shoaling of the mixed layer. This behavior results from the similarity between the patterns of the predominant processes: wind-induced surface heat flux and wind stirring.

The instability of the seasonal monsoon flow is sensitive to the seasonal mixed layer depth: the oscillation is damped when the oceanic mixed layer is thin (about 10 m deep or thinner), as in previous experiments with several models aimed at addressing the boreal winter Madden–Julian oscillation. This suggests that the weak thermal inertia of land might explain the minima of intraseasonal variance observed over the Asian continent.
Time Series Analysis of Soil Freeze and Thaw Processes in Indiana
Authors: Sinha Tushar , Cherkauer Keith A.
Published: April 2008

Seasonal cycles of freezing and thawing influence surface energy and water cycle fluxes. Specifically, soil frost can lead to the reduction in infiltration and an increase in runoff response, resulting in a greater potential for soil erosion. An increase in the number of soil freeze–thaw cycles may reduce soil compaction, which could affect various hydrologic processes. In this study, the authors test for the presence of significant trends in soil freeze–thaw cycles and soil temperatures at several depths and compare these with other climatic variables including air temperature, snowfall, snow cover, and precipitation. Data for the study were obtained for three research stations located in northern, central, and southern Indiana that have collected soil temperature observations since 1966. After screening for significant autocorrelations, testing for trends is conducted at a significance level of 5% using Mann–Kendall’s test. Observations from 1967 to 2006 indicate that air temperatures during the cold season are increasing at all three locations, but there is no significant change in seasonal and annual average precipitation. At the central and southern Indiana sites, soil temperatures are generally warming under a bare soil surface, with significant reductions in the number of days with soil frost and freeze–thaw cycles for some depths. Meanwhile, 5-cm soils at the northernmost site are experiencing significant decreases in cold season temperatures, as an observed decrease in annual snowfall at the site is counteracting the increase in air temperature. Seasonal mean maximum soil temperatures under grass cover are increasing at the southernmost site; however, at the central site, it appears that seasonal minimum soil temperatures are decreasing and the number of freeze–thaw cycles is increasing.
An Analysis of Low-Level Jets in the Greater Ross Ice Shelf Region Based on Numerical Simulations
Authors: Seefeldt Mark W. , Cassano John J.
Published: April 2008

An analysis of the presence and location of low-level jets (LLJs) across the Ross Ice Shelf region in Antarctica is presented based on the analysis of archived output from the real-time Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS). The method of self-organizing maps (SOMs) is used to objectively identify different patterns in column-averaged wind speed (over the approximately lowest 1200 m of the atmosphere) as an identifier to the location of LLJs. The results indicate three primary LLJs in the region. The largest and most dominant LLJ is along the Transantarctic Mountains by the Siple Coast and the southern end of the Ross Ice Shelf. The second LLJ extends from the base of Byrd Glacier and curves to the north passing by the eastern extremes of Ross Island. The third LLJ extends from the base of Reeves Glacier and curves to the north across the western Ross Sea. A strong seasonality is observed in the frequency and intensity of the LLJs with the highest values for wind speed and the size of the LLJ at a maximum during the winter and spring months.
Short-Term Ice Accretion Forecasts for Electric Utilities Using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model and a Modified Precipitation-Type Algorithm
Authors: DeGaetano Arthur T. , Belcher Brian N. , Spier Pamela L.
Published: April 2008

The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) is used to provide 6–12-h forecasts of the necessary input parameters to a separate algorithm that determines the most likely precipitation type at each model grid point. In instances where freezing rain is indicated, an ice accretion model allows forecasts of radial ice thickness to be developed. The resulting forecasts are evaluated for 38 icing events of varying magnitude that occurred in the eastern United States using National Weather Service storm impact reports and observed data from Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS). Ice accretion hindcasts, using the WRF, allow the development of climatologies based on archived model initialization data.

Ice accretion forecasts, based on the Ramer precipitation-type algorithm, consistently underestimated the maximum observed ice accretion amounts by between 10 and 20 mm. Ice accretion at ASOS sites was also underestimated. Applying a modification to the Ramer precipitation-type algorithm, and focusing on the thermal profile below the lowest 0°C isotherm, improved the ice accretion forecasts, but still underestimated the maximum ice thickness. Little bias was evident in ice accretion forecasts for the ASOS sites. Using previous observations from outside the forecast window to account for WRF and precipitation-type algorithm biases in precipitation amount, wind speed, temperature, and precipitation type provided some forecast improvement. The forecast procedure using the modified Ramer precipitation algorithm captures both the magnitude and extent of icing in both widespread severe icing events and localized storms. Minimal icing is indicated in events and at locations where precipitation fell as rain or snow.
Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use Among Adolescents
Authors: Ford Jason A.
Published: April 2008

There has been a tremendous increase in the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use among adolescents in recent years. Research now indicates that the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use is greater than the prevalence of other illicit drug use, excluding marijuana. Despite these recent trends, there is a dearth of research in the social sciences on this issue. Furthermore, existing research on this topic is largely atheoretical. Using the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative survey of persons age 12 and older, the current study examines the impact of social bonds to family and school on nonmedical prescription drug use among adolescents. The findings provide support for social control theory. Adolescents with strong bonds to family and school are less likely to report nonmedical prescription drug use. Important implications and future research needs are discussed.
Transforming the Discussion About Diversity, Policies, and Law
Authors: Henderson Tammy L.
Published: April 2008

The impact of laws and policies on diverse families are vital to transformative discussions held in our journals, classrooms, conferences, and local, state, and federal communities. To this end, transformative discussions serve as a reminder about our values as U.S. citizens—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; equal protection; and social justice. One aspect of this transformative discussion may include how laws place some families in the margins of society while privileging others. In this special collection, the authors lay a foundation for a transformative discussion, unveiling and highlighting some of the negative consequences of child welfare laws, family laws regarding marriage and family, and criminal laws. The collection closes with an example of an action-oriented article on how to conduct a policy analysis.
Incorporating personality into the investment model: Probing commitment processes across individual differences in narcissism
Authors: Foster Joshua D.
Published: April 2008

The investment model (Rusbult, 1980) proposes that commitment is maintained by three mechanisms: Satisfaction, perceived quality of alternatives, and investment. Research suggests that the influence of these mechanisms is largely constant across a variety of individual differences and relational contexts. However, no published research has tested this with respect to personality. The present study did so using the personality trait of narcissism. The results suggest that narcissism indeed moderates the investment model (i.e., mechanisms had greater influence on commitment in highly narcissistic individuals). Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for narcissism, commitment, and the investment model. Also discussed is the importance of identifying and examining additional moderators of the investment model. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Pet dogs as attachment figures
Authors: Kurdek Lawrence A.
Published: April 2008

Four samples of college students (N = 923) were used to address the extent to which pet dogs, relative to humans, exhibited features of an attachment figure and to identify characteristics of persons with strong attachments to their pet dogs. Dogs exhibited the feature of proximity maintenance as well as fathers and siblings did, and secure basis and proximity maintenance were their most salient features. Differences in the closeness of relationships with dogs versus humans were minimal for students with high levels of attachment to their dogs. Attachment was positively linked to involvement in the care for the dog, the extent to which the dog met needs regarding relatedness, owner traits of openness, and dog traits of energy and intelligence.
Positive marital illusions and culture: American and Turkish spouses' perceptions of their marriages
Authors: Fowers Blaine J. , Fışıloğlu Hürol , Procacci Erin K.
Published: April 2008

This study investigated the degree to which positive illusions about one's spouse and marriage are a universal feature of human cognitions about marriage or are culturally moderated. Positive marital illusions were compared across three samples (49 American spouses, 58 Turkish spouses in nonconsanguineous marriages, and 56 Turkish spouses in consanguineous marriages). Positive illusions were assessed by comparing positive and negative trait ratings of the spouse and the generalized other. The positive trait ratings were consistent with the cultural moderation hypothesis and inconsistent with the universal account. The three groups differed in how positively they rated the generalized other. The negative trait ratings supported the universal theory of positive illusions. These results add to the growing evidence that culture moderates positive illusions.
Social support as a predictor of school bonding and academic motivation following the transition to Italian middle school
Authors: Schneider Barry H. , Tomada Giovanna , Normand Sébastien , Tonci Eloisa , de Domini Piero
Published: April 2008

After five years in elementary schools with small classes and stimulation of basic thinking skills, Italian children move to very traditional scuola media. Data obtained from 434 Italian pupils revealed that school bonding and academic motivation declined sharply after this transition. Social support by parents, but not friends, was a predictor of school bonding and academic motivation. There was little consistent evidence of compensatory processes: Support by a friend did not generally compensate for negative relationships with parents. However, there were some indications that a positive relationship with one parent might compensate for negative interactions with the other parent. Our findings suggest that parental social support has a unique function in bolstering school bonding and academic motivation after the transition to scuola media.
Understandings of children's influence in parent—child relationships: A Q-methodological study
Authors: De Mol Jan , Buysse Ann
Published: April 2008

Bidirectional models of interpersonal influence in parent—child relationships underscore the influence of children on their parents. Following a social constructionist perspective, the present study uses Q methodology to explore meanings and beliefs concerning children's influence among members of the Belgian-Flemish culture. Children and adults each performed the Q-sorting tasks that were analysed separately. Q-factor analysis of the children-sorts produced five factors and six factors for the adults. These analyses revealed that a central understanding of children's influence for children and adults is the recognition of the full person and partnership of the child in the relationship. Children's responses focus on the responsiveness of the parents and stress that parents learn from them. Adults' responses emphasize the massiveness of children's influence on the parents' personal development.
Individual Experiences of Children With and Without Disabilities in Early Childhood Settings
Authors: Clawson Carolyn , Luze Gayle
Published: April 2008

This study examined the global quality of early care and education settings and individual children's experiences in those settings. Sixty 4- to 5-year-old children (30 with disabilities and 30 without disabilities) were observed using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale—Revised (ECERS-R) and items from the ECERS-R adapted to focus on individual children's experiences. Early childhood global quality had the largest effect on individual children's experiences, after controlling for maternal education and child problem behavior. This relationship varied by children's problem behavior but not by disability status. When parents reported more problem behavior in children in classrooms of higher global quality (ECERS-R score), individualized ECERS-R experience ratings were lower.
Attorney Views on the Use of Private Agencies for Probation Supervision and Treatment
Authors: Alarid Leanne Fiftal , Schloss Christine S.
Published: April 2008

The exponential rise in probation caseloads has necessitated that some jurisdictions contract with private probation agencies and community-based private treatment providers. Regulations that monitor private providers are ill defined or absent, leaving standards open to broad interpretation. Attorneys in one jurisdiction that used private providers were surveyed to measure their beliefs about private treatment providers for people sentenced to probation. The research found that attorneys supported private provider representatives being present in court to contact defendants and to provide evidence to strengthen probation violations. Private agency reputation and standardized criteria were important to establish qualifications in offering supervision and treatment services.
The Problem of Finite Verb Translation in Exodus 15.1-18
Authors: Shreckhise Robert
Published: April 2008

This article examines the finite Hebrew verbs in the song in Exod. 15.1-18. This song has long resisted a uniformly accepted translation. Due to its connection with the Exodus narrative and the difficulty of translating finite verbs in Hebrew poetry, some of the translation problems are exacerbated. This study examines the verbs in the song through an aspectual analysis that takes into account the narrative context of Exodus. Three models of translation are considered: the Prophetic Perfect Model, the Sinai Provenance Model, and the Dual Perspective Model. These three models correspond to three views of the verbs in the song: the prophetic perfect, the preterite, and the traditional schema of perfect-past, imperfect-present/modal/future. Though this study does not arrive at any single answer to the verb translation issues, the analysis clearly points out the possibilities and the problems of each model within the song-narrative context.
The Sanctified 'Adulteress' and her Circumstantial Clause: Bathsheba's Bath and Self-Consecration in 2 Samuel 11
Authors: D'Ror Chankin-Gould J. , Hutchinson Derek , Hilton Jackson David , Mayfield Tyler D. , Schulte Leah Rediger , Schneider Tammi J. , Winkelman E.
Published: April 2008

Bathsheba's actions in 2 Sam. 11.2-4 identify crucial aspects of her character. Past commentators interpret these words in connection with menstrual purification, stressing the certain paternity of David's adulterine child. This article demonstrates that the participles rōheset and mitqaddesšet and the noun mittum'ātāh do not denote menstrual cleansing. Bathsheba's washing is an innocent bath. She is the only individual human to self-sanctify, placing her in the company of the Israelite deity. The syntax of the verse necessitates that her action of self-sanctifying occurs simultaneously as David lies with her. The three focal terms highlight the important legitimacy of Bathsheba before the Israelite deity, her identity as a non-Israelite, her role as queen mother of the Solomonic line, and her full participation in the narrative.
The Medial Demonstratives ‭הזלה‬, ‭וזלה‬, and ‭זלה‬
Authors: Garr W. Randall
Published: April 2008

‭הזלה‬, ‭וזלה‬, and ‭זלה‬ are synonymous neither with the proximal demonstratives (‭הז‬ and ‭תאז‬) nor the distal demonstratives (‭אוה‬ and ‭איה‬). Rather ‭הזלה‬, ‭וזלה‬, and ‭זלה‬ are medial demonstratives that signal a concrete entity within visual range.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Poly(hydrazide-imide)s incorporating L-Alanine
Authors: Abdol Reza Hajipour  , Zahmatkesh Saeed , Ruoho Arnold E.
Published: April 2008

This deals with the polycondensation between a chiral diacyl chloride, ( N,N'-(3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic)-3,3',4,4'-diimido-di-L-alanine chloride) and six different dihydrazides. The corresponding poly(hydrazide-imide)s, which have been obtained by two methods in quantitative yields, are moderately soluble in polar aprotic solvents, have good thermal stability and exhibit optical activity. The synthetic compounds have been characterized by IR, UV and 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and specific rotation. The thermal properties of the poly(hydrazide-imide)s have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.
The myth about Panorama
Authors: Gaber Ivor
Published: April 2008

Gaber looks at Panorama - the self-described "world's longest-running investigative TV show" - past and present, and writes: "This is a problematic way for a programme to brand itself. "The world's longest running..." has a slight feel of hubris about it and is almost impossible to prove. The line is also problematic because it describes Panorama as a "show" - it's a word that is probably indicative of the new style and philosophy of what, for most people interested in serious journalism, has always been, not a show, but a programme. But it's the bit in the middle, "investigative TV", that begs the biggest questions: is it, and was it ever?"
People power
Authors: Greenslade Roy
Published: April 2008

Media commentator Greenslade examines the investigative history of The People - now down on its luck but once the greatest investigative popular paper of them all. And former head of investigations at the paper, Laurie Manifold recalls some of the great investigations of the past, while former reporter Fred Harrison sadly states that the culture of the paper changed and the tradition of investigatory journalism gradually vanished.
Travel Journalism: The road to nowhere
Authors: Moss Chris
Published: April 2008

Travel specialist Moss reveals the home truths about travel journalism: how it has become swamped by celebrities and freeloading staff members and pays specialist writers poorly. Moss writes: "More overpaid amateur-celebrity stories and the grim proliferation of under-valued professional material through random media is worst of all worlds. The very best travel stories are a model of journalism. They entertain, they educate, (occasionally) they illuminate. The main contemporary issues - the environment, the cultural impact of travel, the economics of the tourist dollar, the horrors of globetrotting and the terror of airport and airplanes - should all command space among the upbeat copy on boutique hotels, delicious food, beautiful landscapes and unique cultures. This, I reckon, could be the model for television, too, and then there would be no more...celebrity pointlessness. Travel is, after defence, the second biggest industry on the planet. Does it really have to be the smallest kind of journalism?"
Tony Hall: Fighter pilot, enter stage left
Authors: Hagerty Bill
Published: April 2008

Interviewed by the editor, the former Head of News at the BBC and now executive director of the Royal Opera House, Tony Hall, talks for the first time about the events that led to Andrew Gilligan, Gavyn Davies and Greg Dyke leaving the Corporation and says that crises in television "have helped concentrate minds wonderfully" but that broadcasters must work overtime regain public trust. And as a non-executive director of Channel 4, he comments: "I believe that as a public service broadcaster we can do something that will really have an impact on people's lives. We can stand for something and I think that is really important. The debate about Channel 4 now is actually about public service provision, and about plurality of public service provision. I think it is inevitable, inevitable, that the licence fee will be contested - part of it will be contested - and that in the next five or six years Channel 4 will have a pitch at the licence fee [to obtain a share of it]. The notion that there should be competition in the provision of public service broadcasting is absolutely fundamental - Channel 4 is there to add perspectives and an edge and to support new talent and new companies in a way that the BBC doesn't."
Not guilty — but who's to know?
Authors: Sutcliffe Kevin
Published: April 2008

Media rivals swooped when Channel 4 faced another fakery scandal. How come they vanished when Dispatches was exonerated by Ofcom? asks the deputy Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel Four. Sutcliffe traces the history of the Channel's Dispatches programme "Undercover Mosque", shortly after the transmission of which West Midlands Police announced it was to investigate the extreme views and comments made in the film. Sutcliffe recalls how the police then decided to focus on potential offences that may have been committed by the programme makers. He comments: "Nine months after "Undercover Mosque" was broadcast, four months since the programme was the subject of a police ambush, Ofcom threw out the case put by the country's second largest police force... [But] 'Undercover Mosque' may have been given a ringing endorsement from Ofcom, Channel 4 and the producers at Hardcash may no longer have stood accused of being fakers and twisters, but we were no longer news... There was some pick-up but nowhere near the intensity of the interest when it looked as if we were in trouble. I felt the lukewarm press response to our victory had failed to dissipate the stench of fakery. The allegations lingered just off stage."
The devil wears Primark
Authors: Bravo Lauren
Published: April 2008

The 20-year-old university student explains why, despite the problems of the industry, young people are still attracted to a career in newspaper journalism. She writes: "The truth is that my generation, more so than any before it, thrives on communication. The media - the big, official one where Jon Snow works and everyone wears sensible shoes - is becoming less of a distinct entity. Instead, each social group creates and maintains their own little media industry, distributing its information and ideas through blogging, social networking sites, communal texting, fanzines, flyering and occasionally wearing sandwich boards in the street. The end doesn't appear to be nigh for this kind of gossip circulation, and I think we can partly attribute the growing graduate interest in journalism to the tell-all communication culture. We are egotistical exhibitionists."
Last of the long goodbyes
Authors: Knight John
Published: April 2008

With the break-up of Fleet Street, national newspapermen and women now rarely meet and the memorial services, when "The Street" blazes briefly back to life, have become almost like reunions for many old hacks, believes veteran columnist and executive Knight. But now even the camaraderie resumed at memorial/thanksgiving services and over the bottomless glasses afterwards is under threat: "These events are usually to honour veterans who have spent a lifetime in Fleet Street and often died while still working. The congregations are primarily composed of professional friends who have served and drunk with them. Apart from a respectable and, as time goes by, diminishing gaggle of young admirers, it's a dying breed." After the recent memorial service for five-times editor Richard Stott, a friend said to the author: "That's the last great piss up we're going to see in Fleet Street." Comments Knight: "I hope he was wrong."
`Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter': synaesthetic metaphors and cognition
Authors: Yeshayahu Shen  , Aisenman Ravid
Published: April 2008

Synaesthetic metaphors exhibit a robust, universal, tendency to use the `lower-tohigher' structure more frequently than the inverse one. This robust pattern was found across genres (poetic and non-poetic discourse), language boundaries (e.g. English, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian) and historical periods. A cognitive account of this pattern is introduced, according to which this lower-to-higher mapping reflects a cognitively simpler and more basic directionality than the inverse one. Several predictions that follow from this account were tested, using various psychological measures (recall, difficulty in context generation, and naturalness judgments). In accordance with the present account, it was found that the lower-to-higher structure is judged as more natural than its inverse, is better recalled and is judged as easier to construct a context for.
Representing Maori speech in Alan Duff's Once Were Warriors
Authors: Lambert Iain B. M.
Published: April 2008

Much of the reaction, both positive and negative, to the publication of Alan Duff's novel Once Were Warriors centred on its language. This article analyses the ways in which characteristic linguistic features of New Zealand English are represented in the novel, in particular by its Maori protagonists. It also draws stylistic comparisons with other writers, such as Scotland's James Kelman, who have attempted to give their characters a particular local voice outside of, or in opposition to, Standard English by having them speak in their own language or variety of English.
A Concept Development of `Being Sensitive' in Nursing
Authors: Sayers Kirstine Lisa , de Vries Kay
Published: April 2008

`Being sensitive' in nursing was explored using Schwartz-Barcott and Kim's hybrid model of concept development, producing a tentative definition of the concept. Three phases were employed: theoretical, empirical/fieldwork and analytical. An exploration of the literature identified where the common idea of `being sensitive' as a nurse was embedded and demonstrated that a theoretical development of this fundamental aspect of nursing was absent. The empirical phase was conducted using semistructured interviews with nine expert palliative care and cancer nurses. This method was particularly useful for the exploration of this concept because of its firm grounding in practical example. A definition of what the concept `being sensitive' means in nursing, and subsequent clarification of `being insensitive', have been posed from the research process undertaken. The essential nature of this concept being integral to nursing practice is emphasized. Potential implications for the development of nursing practice through teaching of this concept were identified.
Nursing Leaders' Experiences With the Ethical Dimensions of Nursing Education
Authors: Gray Mary Tod
Published: April 2008

This pilot study explores four nursing leaders' experiences with the ethical dimensions of leadership in education. Gathering and interpreting such data of experience fosters greater understanding of the nature of moral leadership as it is lived in nursing education. A phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyze the data. The results revealed four major themes: integrity, justice, wrestling with decisions in the light of consequences, and the power of information. These themes clarify the values that direct these leaders' actions as they mediate community needs common to educational and health care institutions.
Nursing Students' Perceptions of Self-Determination in Elderly People
Authors: Välimäki Maritta , Haapsaari Helena , Katajisto Jouko , Suhonen Riitta
Published: April 2008

The purpose of this study was to compare nursing students' perceptions of self-determination in elderly patients before and after clinical training in long term care institutions as a part of their course in gerontological nursing. A pre- post-test design was employed. The data were collected by questionnaires completed by students at one nurse education organization college in Finland (pre-test n ± 120, response rate 95%; post-test n ± 115, response rate 91%). The students' perceptions of elderly patients' self-determination were more positive after their clinical training period concerning to what extent elderly patients are able to control their treatment and what kind of support they received from nurses to exercise their self-determination. The students' perceptions remained stable concerning how important self-determination is to elderly patients, and how willing and knowledgeable they are about using their self-determination. Ethics teaching, together with high quality clinical training placements, should be assured early during nursing studies.