bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Technique for Combining Global Tropical Cyclone Best Track Data
Authors: Kruk Michael C. , Knapp Kenneth R. , Levinson David H.
Published: August 2009

Best track data generally consist of the positions and intensities during the life cycle of a tropical cyclone. Despite the widespread interest in the distribution, frequency, and intensity of tropical cyclones worldwide, no publicly available central repository of global best track data from international agencies has been in existence. While there are numerous international centers that forecast tropical cyclones and archive best track data for their defined regions, most researchers traditionally use best track data from a very small subset of centers to construct global datasets and climatologies. This practice results in tropical cyclones that are either missed and/or misrepresented. While the process of combining positions and intensities from disparate data sources can be arduous, it is worthwhile and necessary in light of their importance. The nature of historical best track data is that they are prone to issues with intensity (maximum surface wind and minimum central pressure), especially in the presatellite era. This study is not a reanalysis effort and makes no attempt to correct any longstanding debates about the accuracy of the historical data. Rather, it simply and objectively combines all of the best track data from each of the regional forecast centers that provided best tracks into one single point for distribution, and the methods used to construct the dataset are the focus of this work. Processes are therefore described herein that detail the combining of tropical cyclone best track data with the techniques used to assess the quality of the minimum central pressure and maximum sustained wind speed of each reported tropical cyclone. The result is a comprehensive global best track compilation dataset that contains information on all documented tropical cyclones: the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS).
Delusions and Dark Materials: New Atheism as Naïve Atheism and its Challenge to Theological Education
Authors: DeLashmutt Michael W.
Published: August 2009

This paper engages with New Atheism as reflected in the recent popular academic work of Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens and the adolescent fiction of Philip Pullman. It asserts that New Atheism represents a challenge to theology not because of its philosophical critique or rigorous argumentation, but because it contributes to a popular cultural disposition which is uncritically anti-religious. Atheism itself is certainly not new, but the means by which the position of these New Atheists is articulated (ranging from popular books and films to bus advertisements) problematizes the task of theological education in a liberal Western society, such as that of modern Britain, by engendering a culture of naïve secularism. It is at this interface of popular culture and theological education that this evaluation of New Atheism hopes to offer its own critique of the critics.
Height of Industrial Hand Wheel Valves Affects Torque Exertion
Authors: Wieszczyk Stacie M. , Marklin Richard W. , Sánchez Héctor J.
Published: August 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how height of a hand wheel affects maximum torque production and risk of injury to the shoulders and back of workers. Background: Workers in the processing, refinery, and energy generation industries manually open and close valves with hand wheels that require high torque. This task is physically strenuous and can lead to shoulder musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Method: Maximum torque exertions in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions at three heights (knee, chest, and overhead) were tested. Results: The torque production in the counterclockwise (left) direction was greater than that of the clockwise (right) direction (150.5 N·m vs. 141 N·m). This main effect was independent of valve height, as there was no interaction between direction and valve height ( p = .686). Participants exerted at least 10% greater torque at the overhead level than at the chest level (means of 153.2 N·m vs. 138.3 N·m). There was no difference in maximum torque between knee and overhead levels and between knee and chest levels. Conclusion: According to ergonomics principles, the risk of MSDs affecting the shoulder and trunk from turning valves should be lowest at chest height because the postures of the shoulder and trunk are at or near neutral. However, workers exerted greatest torque when the valve was located overhead. Whether valves located at overhead height, compared with chest height, present greater risk of MSDs to workers is not known. Application: Design engineers should avoid placing hand wheel valves at knee height or lower.
Effects of Human—Machine Competition on Intent Errors in a Target Detection Task
Authors: Beck Hall P. , McKinney J. Bates , Dzindolet Mary T. , Pierce Linda G.
Published: August 2009

Objective: This investigation examined the impact of human—machine competition (John Henry effects) on intent errors. John Henry effects, expressed as an unwillingness to use automation, were hypothesized to increase as a function of operators’ personal investment in unaided performance. Background: Misuse and disuse often occur because operators (a) cannot determine if automation or a nonautomated alternative maximizes the likelihood of task success (appraisal errors) or (b) know the utilities of the options but disregard this information when deciding to use or not to use automation (intent errors). Although appraisal errors have been extensively studied, there is a paucity of information regarding the causes and prevention of intent errors. Methods: Operators were told how many errors they and an automated device made on a target detection task. Self-reliant operators (high personal investment) could depend on their performance or automation to identify a target. Other-reliant operators (low personal investment) could rely on another person or automation. Results: As predicted, self-reliance increased disuse and decreased misuse. Conclusion: When the disuse and misuse data are viewed together, they strongly support the supposition that personal investment in unaided performance affects the likelihood of John Henry effects and intent errors. Application: These results demonstrate the need for a model of operator decision making that takes into account intent as well as appraisal errors. Potential applications include developing interventions to counter the deleterious effects of human—machine competition and intent errors on automation usage decisions.
Impact Behavior of Composite Hollow Sphere Structures
Authors: Vesenjak Matej , Ren Zoran , Fiedler Thomas , Öchsner Andreas
Published: August 2009

Porous composite materials constitute an innovative group of lightweight materials which combine high specific stiffness, good damping properties, and thermal insulation with the ability to absorb large amounts of energy at a low constant stress level. In the scope of this study, adhesively bonded metallic hollow sphere structures (MHSS) fully embedded within the adhesive matrix are considered with aim to determine their macroscopic behavior under uniaxial impact loading conditions by means of parametric computational simulations. The base material properties have been determined by quasi-static and dynamic experiments. Three topologies of syntactic hollow sphere structures of various dimensions are considered, namely the cubic primitive, the body centered cubic and the face centered cubic topology. Results of computational simulations show significant influence of topology and strain rate sensitivity on the composite structure behavior, while the influence of metallic hollow sphere wall thickness is less pronounced. Computational simulations show that it is possible to combine the MHSS topology, metallic hollow sphere wall thickness and strain rate sensitivity to achieve any desired dynamic response of MHSS adapted to a given engineering problem.
Co-sintering of M2/17-4PH Powders for Fabrication of Functional Graded Composite Layers
Authors: Firouzdor V. , Simchi A.
Published: August 2009

Stepwise-graded composite layer of M2 tool steel and 17-4PH stainless steel was fabricated by a simple powder layering technique and the isothermal and nonisothermal sintering response of the bilayer were examined. It was shown that the materials exhibit poor compatibility during co-sintering, i.e., the amount of mismatch shrinkage is significant. An improved compatibility was obtained by adding 0.2 wt% B to the stainless steel powder. Formation of relatively dense layer at the bonding zone indicated an enhanced densification rate at the interface. Microstructural studies showed formation of a ferritic interface in M2/17-4PH composite and elongated grains with an intergranular boride phase and martensitic matrix at the bonding zone of M2/17-4PH + B. Increasing the sintering temperature broadened the interface width along with formation of more ferrite and coarser grains at the interface. Mechanical tests indicated higher shear strength and hardness of the interface zone in the composite compared with the individual layers.
Environment-friendly Hwangtoh Composite Materials Using Water Soluble Resin for Indoor Air Quality and Human Health
Authors: Kim Sumin , Jin Chul Park
Published: August 2009

The objective of this research was to develop environment-friendly Hwangtoh binder for application of Hwangtoh for interior wall finishing materials in the housing. To mix with Hwangtoh powder, water soluble melamine-polyurethane copolymer (MPU) resin with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), CaCO3, and inorganic fillers were designed. Far infrared ray irradiation, total VOC (TVOC) emission behavior, surface bonding strength, and surface crack behavior were studied by comparing to epoxy/Hwangtoh blend as control. For TVOC emission behavior, the 20 L small chamber method was used and the results satisfied the requirements of the excellent grade of TVOC of Korea Air Clean Association. To utilize the advantage of Hwangtoh, such as high absorbency, self-purification, deodorizing, sanitizing properties, and radiation of far infrared rays in the field of modern housing, this study was the foundation to develop environment-friendly binders for Hwangtoh.
Modeling the Dimensional Variations of Composites Using Effective Coefficients of Thermal Expansion
Authors: Dong Chensong
Published: August 2009

With the increasing demands for energy efficiency and environmental protection, composite materials have become an important alternative to traditional materials. Composite materials offer many advantages over traditional materials including low density, high strength, high stiffness to weight ratio, excellent durability, and design flexibility. Despite all these advantages, composite materials have not been as widely used as expected because of the complexity and cost of the manufacturing process. One of the main causes is associated with poor dimensional control. ‘Spring-in’ is a common dimensional variation of composite angled parts. Due to the layerwise structure of composites, traditionally the spring-in was calculated numerically by defining each lamina as an element along the through-thickness direction and assigning its material properties and orientation. This method is usually too time-consuming for practical applications. In this article, the effective coefficients of thermal expansion of symmetric laminates were derived. Using the effective CTE, spring-in can be calculated by a simple mathematical formula. This approach was validated by finite element analysis and experiments. The effective CTE are very useful in 3-D finite element analysis. The effective CTE provide a feasible approach to the 3-D finite element analysis. Compared with the layerwise approach, the number of elements is significantly reduced. This was illustrated by an example.
3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Authors: Jeong Tai Kim  , Kim Hee-Cheul , Kim Sun-Kuk , Kathi John , Rhee Kyong-Yop
Published: August 2009

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A nanocomposites with unmodified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (u-MWCNTs) and silanized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (si-MWCNTs) were prepared by cast molding method. The effects of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalization of MWCNTs on the thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were examined. The nanocomposites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and flexural testing. The results showed that epoxy composites based on si-MWCNTs showed better thermal stability, glass transition temperature, and flexural properties than the composites based on u-MWCNTs. These results prove the effect of silane functionalization on the interfacial adhesion between epoxy and MWCNTs. This was further confirmed by morphology study of fractured surfaces of nanocomposites by scanning electron microscopy.
Effect of Thermomechanical Degradation of Polypropylene on Mechanical Properties of Wood-Polypropylene Composites
Authors: Najafi Saeed Kazemi , Mostafazadeh-Marznaki Morteza , Chaharmahali Majid , Tajvidi Mehdi
Published: August 2009

In this research, the influence of thermomechanically degraded polypropylene (PP) on mechanical properties of beech sawdust-PP composites was studied. For this purpose, a virgin PP (VPP) was thermomechanically degraded by two times extrusion under controlled conditions in a twin-screw extruder at a rotor speed of 100 rpm and a temperature of 190°C. The results showed that melt flow index, flexural modulus, and hardness of PP were significantly increased by extrusion and re-extrusion of VPP. The PP (virgin and recycled PP in each stage) and beech sawdust were compounded at 60% weight sawdust loading in a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder in the presence or absence of maleated polypropylene (MAPP) to produce sawdust-PP composites. The nominal cross section and density of the manufactured composites were 70 × 10 mm2 and 1 g/cm3, respectively. From the results, the composites containing recycled PP exhibited higher flexural properties and hardness and lower impact strength. In the presence of MAPP, all mechanical properties increased.
Revolutionary Dreams and Terrorist Violence in the Developed World: Explaining Country Variation
Authors: Sánchez-Cuenca Ignacio
Published: August 2009

This article presents a cross-country comparison of the intensity of revolutionary terrorism in the developed world after the wave of mobilization in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some countries were hit much more severely than others by this type of violence. The article tries to account for this variation with a new dataset of fatalities in 23 countries, for the period 1970—2000, based on local sources in six different languages. This dataset corrects in part the problems of underreporting that Jan Oskar Engene’s TWEED dataset suffers from. The dependent variable is a novel index of the intensity of terrorism that combines the number of fatalities and the number of years in which the terrorist organization has killed people. The unit of analysis is the country in the whole period. Six broad hypotheses about the influence of economic development, social change, mobilization, welfare provision, population and political factors are tested in the article. The statistical results show that three variables are almost sufficient to explain variance: past dictatorship, high population and strong communist parties. Given that past dictatorship is the most important variable, three different mechanisms by which to understand its effect are suggested: the role of repression in countries with past political instability; dictatorship as a proxy for polarization; and past breakdowns as an indicator of the chances of overthrowing the system.
Neighbourhood Diversity, Metropolitan Segregation and Gentrification: What Are the Links in the US?
Authors: Freeman Lance
Published: August 2009

An important yet little understood aspect of gentrification is the extent to which it affects spatial relations between various social groups. This study employs two measures of gentrification to discern how it is related to neighbourhood-level diversity and metropolitan-level segregation in the US by race and class respectively. It is found that gentrification does not decrease neighbourhood-level diversity. The evidence on whether gentrification precedes increased levels of neighbourhood-level diversity is more mixed. Depending on the outcome and the metric of gentrification used, there are some instances where gentrification appears to lead to increased diversity. However, there are other instances where gentrifying neighbourhoods start out more diverse than other neighbourhoods and remain that way over the study period. The relationship between metropolitan-level segregation and gentrification is more tenuous, with some of the evidence suggesting that gentrification reduces income segregation and weaker less robust evidence suggesting gentrification increases racial segregation.
The Embeddedness of Tourism-related Activity: A Regional Analysis of Sectoral Linkages
Authors: Beynon Malcolm , Jones Calvin , Munday Max
Published: August 2009

The paper undertakes a linkage analysis on a regional economy, concentrating on tourism-related sectors. Recent improvements in the accounting for tourism activity, through satellite account frameworks, provide information on tourism-related sectors and their transactions with the rest of the economy. Several regions of the UK have highlighted tourism as an important development sector, but often with a less than perfect understanding of how changes in tourism demand affect tourism-related sectors and then how changes in these sectors impact the rest of the economy. The study employs a series of approaches, to construct linkage measures and to explore the regional intensity of the transactions linkages of tourism-related sectors; it also considers the extent to which, in the case study region of Wales, these same sectors might be considered as ‘key’ in terms of their linkage strength.
Rail and Property Development in Hong Kong: Experiences and Extensions
Authors: Cervero Robert , Murakami Jin
Published: August 2009

Hong Kong has aggressively pursued transit value capture to finance railway infrastructure through its ‘Rail + Property’ development programme, or R+P. More than half of all income to the railway operators comes from property development. Most R+P projects focus on housing although all have some commercial development. Recent generation R+P projects have stressed pedestrian quality. This research shows this has in turn increased ridership and housing prices. An R+P station with a transit-oriented design averages 35 000 additional weekday passengers. Housing price premiums in the range of 5—30 per cent were found. Hong Kong’s R+P model, it is suggested, is well suited for financing rail infrastructure and advancing transit-oriented designs in the rapidly growing cities of mainland China.
City Size Distribution in China: Are Large Cities Dominant?
Authors: Zelai Xu  , Nong Zhu
Published: August 2009

This paper examines the evolution of the size distribution of Chinese cities. Since the relaxation of restrictions on rural—urban migration in the 1980s, China has experienced rapid urban growth. However, cities of different sizes have experienced varying patterns of growth. First, the evolution of city size distribution in China is described by documenting the growth in city size and in the number of existing cities. Then, focusing on the period from 1990 to 2000, the urban evolutionary trend is analysed by means of the Pareto law estimation and the mobility of cities between different size groups is examined with the Markov transition matrix. The convergence hypothesis in the city population growth process is also tested. The results suggest that, contrary to the expected dominance of large city growth, the Chinese city size distribution evened out during the 1990s, with small cities growing more rapidly than large cities.
Partnership Diversity and Governance Culture: Evidence from Urban Regeneration Policies in Portugal
Authors: Breda-Vázquez Isabel , Conceição Paulo , Fernandes Ruben
Published: August 2009

Debates on urban regeneration highlight the processes of mobilisation of public and private agents and the diversity of models of partnership. This paper focuses on the relationship between the diversity of partnerships and the processes of institutional change, and discusses the role played by governance culture. By looking at the case of Portugal, it explores a plurality of episodes of policy experimentation and actor—network practices. The results show that it is difficult to build general transformative processes when using specific innovative experiences as a basis. Sectoral institutional agendas and practices make it difficult to establish enduring processes of ‘cross-fertilisation’ for institutional and policy learning and innovation. Governance culture has a constraining influence. In such a context, the issue of the fragmentation of urban policy becomes crucial and the role of an urban policy that establishes the conditions in which innovation can occur seems to be particularly relevant.
Enteral Refeeding Rapidly Restores PN‐Induced Reduction of Hepatic Mononuclear Cell Number Through Recovery of Small Intestine and Portal Vein Blood Flows
Authors: Omata Jiro , Fukatsu Kazuhiko , Murakoshi Satoshi , Noguchi Midori , Miyazaki Hiromi , Moriya Tomoyuki , Okamoto Koichi , Fukazawa Satomi , Akase Takayoshi , Saitoh Daizoh , Mochizuki Hidetaka , Yamamoto Junji , Hase Kazuo
Published: August 2009

Background: Absence of enteral nutrition (EN) reduces hepatic mononuclear cell (MNC) numbers and impairs their functions. However, enteral refeeding (ER) for as little as 12 hours following parenteral nutrition (PN) rapidly restores hepatic MNC numbers. We hypothesized that changes in small intestine and portal vein blood flows related to feeding route might be responsible for this phenomenon. Methods: In experiment 1, mice (n = 19) were randomized to Chow (n = 5), PN (n = 7) or ER (n = 7) groups. The Chow group was given chow ad libitum with intravenous (IV) saline for 5 days. The PN group was fed parenterally for 5 days, while the ER group was re‐fed with chow for 12 hours following 5 days of PN. Then, small intestine and portal vein blood flows were monitored and hepatic MNCs were isolated and counted. In experiment 2, the effects of intravenous administration of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on hepatic MNC numbers were examined in fasted mice for 12 hours. Mice (n = 28) were randomized to Control (n = 8), PG0 (n = 10), or PG1 (n = 10) groups. The Control group was fed chow ad libitum with IV saline, while the PG0 and PG1 groups were fasted for 12 hours with infusions, respectively, of saline and PGE1 at 1μ g/kg/minute. Blood flows and hepatic MNC numbers were examined. Results: Experiment 1: ER restored PN‐induced reductions in small intestine and portal vein blood flows and hepatic MNC number to the levels in the Chow group. Small intestine and portal vein blood flows correlated positively with hepatic MNC number. Experiment 2: Fasting decreased small intestine and portal vein blood flows and hepatic MNC number. However, PGE1 restored portal vein blood flow to the level of the Control group, and moderately increased hepatic MNC number. There was a positive correlation between portal blood flow and hepatic MNC number. Conclusions: Reduced small intestine and portal vein blood flows may contribute to impaired hepatic immunity in the absence of EN. ER quickly restores hepatic MNC number through recovery of blood flow in both the small intestine and the portal vein.
The Role of Education in Improving Physicians’ Professional Use of Economic Evaluations of Health Interventions
Authors: De Vito Corrado , Carmelo Nobile Giuseppe , Furnari Giacomo , Pavia Maria , De Giusti Maria , Angelillo Italo Francesco , Villari Paolo
Published: August 2009

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a random sample of Italian physicians through a self-administered questionnaire to describe knowledge, attitudes, and professional behavior toward economic evaluations of health interventions. A response rate of 74.1% was achieved (760 questionnaires). Although many physicians show a positive attitude toward cost-minimization and, to a lesser extent, to cost-effectiveness analysis, they rated their methodological knowledge as unsatisfactory, and the professional use of the economic evaluations of the health interventions in clinical practice is quite low. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that adequate knowledge and positive attitudes are associated with increased physicians’ use of health economic evaluations, as well as time dedicated to continuing medical education and previous training experience about health economics and management. Education and specific training may play an important role in promoting a more cost-conscious behavior of physicians.
Medical Record Review Conduction Model for Improving Interrater Reliability of Abstracting Medical-Related Information
Authors: Engel Lisa , Henderson Courtney , Fergenbaum Jennifer , Colantonio Angela
Published: August 2009

Medical record review (MRR) is often used in clinical research and evaluation, yet there is limited literature regarding best practices in conducting a MRR, and there are few studies reporting interrater reliability (IRR) from MRR data. The aim of this research was twofold: (a) to develop a MRR abstraction tool and standardize the MRR process and (b) to examine the IRR from MRR data. This study introduces the MRR-Conduction Model, which was used to implement a MRR, and examines the IRR between two abstractors who collected preinjury medical and psychiatric, incident-related medical and postinjury head symptom information from the medical records of 47 neurologically injured workers. Results showed that the percentage agreement was ≥85% and the unweighted κ statistic was ≥.60 for most variables, indicating substantial IRR. An effective and reliable MRR to abstract medical-related information requires planning and time. The MRR-Conduction Model is proposed to guide the process of creating a MRR.
Older Adults Seeking Mental Health Counseling in a NORC
Authors: Pickard Joseph G. , Fengyan Tang
Published: August 2009

The authors used the Andersen model to compare older adults’ help seeking from clergy to help seeking from other sources of formal mental health services. Data were from the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Demonstration Project. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare sources from which help was sought.The results indicate that older adults sought help from clergy more frequently than from other formal sources. Increased stress levels, higher intrinsic religiosity, and being younger were related to seeking help from clergy. Greater stress and attendance at religious services were related to help seeking from other sources. Only greater frequency of attending religious services was associated with a greater likelihood of seeking help from clergy versus other formal providers.The increasing elderly population and the attendant crisis in mental health services might best be addressed through public-private partnerships in which mental health professionals assist clergy in identifying problems and making appropriate referrals.
ICT and Health Information in Botswana: towards the Millennium Development Goals
Authors: Moahi Kgomotso H.
Published: August 2009

This paper provides an overview of activities and initiatives under way in Botswana that aim to improve the provision and management of information in the health sector. Many of these initiatives are based on the use of ICTs. The paper considers the role that ICT plays in ensuring that health information is provided to health workers and consumers in support of the three health related Millennium Development Goals (reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; and combating HIV/AIDS and malaria). The paper outlines these initiatives and considers whether there is more that needs to be done to ensure that health information is well managed and reaches those it should reach, at the right time and in the right form.
An Appraisal of the Performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Nigeria
Authors: Sowunmi Fatai Abiola , Adesola Muniru Adekunle , Salako Mudashiru Abiodun
Published: August 2009

This article examines how an anti-graft body, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has fared in reducing the incidence of corruption in Nigeria, in particular, bank fraud, Internet scam, and bad governance. It first discusses the corruption situation in Nigeria by highlighting public office holders who have been associated with corruption charges. A Likert-type scale is used in designing the questionnaire for data collection. Descriptive and chi-square analyses are used, and results reveal that the performance of the EFCC has been affected by government interference ( p < .05). However, although the anti-graft body has not been able to reduce the incidence of bank fraud ( p > .05), bad governance and advance fee fraud have recorded appreciable reduction ( p < .05). Areas of success as well as challenges that need to be addressed are identified. Specifically, it is recommended that the bill that established EFCC should be amended to reduce government interference and improve its manpower development, especially in the areas of fraud and Internet scam detection.
Making Gender Visible
Authors: Zufferey Carole
Published: August 2009

Social workers’ bodies and identities are gendered. This article examines gender relations in social workers’ accounts of their practices using data from a qualitative study that focused on social workers’ responses to homelessness in three Australian cities. Themes in the data relate to essentialist notions of gender; gender functioning as an invisible form of oppression; heterosexual assumptions in client—worker relationships; and the preferability of feminist approaches, particularly when working with women’s homelessness that is a result of domestic violence.
From Private Demons to Public Problems
Authors: Rubin Deborah B.
Published: August 2009

Although Mary Jarrett is an unfamiliar name to most social workers, she was a pioneer in the profession. Her contributions to the fields of social work, social work education, and public health exemplify the challenges of professional women in the early 20th century and illustrate the tensions between gendered and professional interests. Her writing exerted a major influence on social work thinking, while her career exemplified a breadth of practice that foreshadowed the generalist and ecosystems approaches to social work. Credited with inventing the term psychiatric social work, Jarrett articulated a broad approach to the needs of the mentally ill. An advocate for the professionalization of social work, she was one of the original founders of the Smith College School of Social Work. After Smith, Jarrett began a second career in public health. An original thinker in all professional fields, her ideas were farsighted and sound fresh today, more than 60 years after her retirement.
The Search for Wonder Woman
Authors: Averett Paige
Published: August 2009

This article presents an autoethnographic account of a feminist who created an art project about her connection to men and, as a result, engaged in a search for Wonder Woman, whom she views as a role model who encourages both masculinity and femininity in women. As a result of the search for Wonder Woman, a small social movement began as friends, family members, and social work students became aware of the role of patriarchy in shaping young women and became determined also to find Wonder Woman. Engaging in a narrative account, self-reflection, and a critique of culture, this feminist autoethnography also attempts to resist patriarchal standards that enforce male-dominant expectations of writing and research. Implications for social work education and practice are discussed.
Validity in Psychological Testing and Scientific Realism
Authors: Hood S. Brian
Published: August 2009

Recent work in the conceptual foundations of psychometrics has concerned the question of validity. Borsboom and colleagues have challenged what they claim is the dominant theory of validity, that of Samuel Messick. In this paper I present Borsboom et al.’s concept of validity as a property of measurement instruments as well as Messick’s concept of validity as a property of interpretive inferences. I then relate their concepts of validity to scientific realism in the philosophy of science. I argue that there can be valid psychometric tests, in Borsboom et al.’s sense, only if some version of scientific realism is true. I argue that in Borsboom et al.’s and Messick’s approaches to validity, one finds the essential ingredients for a realist philosophy of science in psychological assessment. Borsboom et al. contribute semantic and ontological components while Messick provides the methodological tools for constructing an epistemology of psychological measurement. Though Borsboom et al. present their approach as an alternative to Messick’s, these two approaches to validity are potentially complementary.
Fire frequency and landscape management in the northwestern Pyrenean piedmont, France, since the early Neolithic (8000 cal. BP)
Authors: Rius Damien , Vannière Boris , Galop Didier
Published: August 2009

Both quantitative reconstruction of fire frequency from charcoal counts and pollen analysis were undertaken on a 312 cm sediment core from Gabarn peat bog. An 8000 yr cal. BP palaeofire record and vegetation history were established on the basis of nine 14C (AMS) dates. As anthropogenic Inferred Fire Frequency (IFF) has seldom been studied, we test and discuss two different methods of frequency calculation. Our results shows a clear Holocene bipartition at c. 3500—4000 cal. BP characterized by a three times decrease in Mean Fire Interval (MFI): from 7000 to 4000 cal. BP, MFI = 530 yr; from 4000 to 400 cal. BP, MFI = 160 yr. In an Atlantic vegetation context, we hypothesize this fire regime with such episode frequency to be mainly controlled by human activities. This hypothesis is supported by comparisons with other European quantified palaeofire regimes (Swiss Alps, northern Italy) whether they are controlled by climate, man or both. Taking into account the pollen record, we interpret the Gabarn palaeofire record links with human pressure and land use. Our results suggest that the relationship between fire frequency and human pressure is not always linear. Fire frequency could also reflect land-use shifts and changing use of fire within agro-pastoral activities.
Biodiversity changes in highly anthropogenic environments (cultivated and ruderal) since the Neolithic in eastern France
Authors: Brun Cécile
Published: August 2009

In highly anthropogenic plant communities, environmental conditions and human practices play a significant role in the composition, structure and diversity of the flora. This paper presents a study of current and past floras of two anthropogenic habitats (cultivated and ruderal) in eastern France that have been the subject of numerous palaeoenvironmental studies (pollen and seed analysis). To understand the different components that constitute the biodiversity of these floras, it is necessary to develop a transdisciplinary method combining ecology, phytogeography and palaeoenvironmental sciences. As a first step, a distinction has been made between native and alien plants as well as between two categories of the latter: archaeophytes (alien taxa introduced into a study area before AD 1500) and neophytes (alien taxa which became established after AD 1500). Second, the study of ecological characteristics of these species and the knowledge of human and climatic history of the region allow the elaboration of a synthesis of biodiversity evolution in these environments from the Neolithic to the present day. The results of this analysis show that there has been a constant enrichment of the anthropogenic flora by alien species through time. Two main periods can be emphasized: the first began in the late Neolithic and reached a peak in the late Bronze Age, the second began with the advent of Modern times. This kind of study has a double implication: first, by distinguishing between native and alien species (archaeophytes and neophytes) and by refining their ecological characteristics, the method allows a critical evaluation of the modern phytosociological units which are traditionally used to interpret fossil assemblages and to discriminate species that are ‘strong’ indicators of human activities. Second, the recognition of native and alien species also has implications for species invasion studies and for species conservation and vegetation management in anthropogenic habitats.
Rapid deforestation of South Island, New Zealand, by early Polynesian fires
Authors: McWethy David B. , Whitlock Cathy , Wilmshurst Janet M. , McGlone Matt S. , Li Xun
Published: August 2009

In most parts of the world where people have colonized and modified their landscapes for several millennia or more, it is often difficult to discriminate anthropogenic burning from natural fire regimes that are linked to climate regimes. New Zealand provides a unique setting for identifying human influence on fire occurrence because it was settled recently ( c. AD 1280) at a time when climates are considered to be similar to today. Late-Holocene pollen and charcoal records from New Zealand provide striking evidence for initial Polynesian (Māori) arrival being strongly associated with widespread burning and loss of native forest. The duration of initial forest clearance and the spatial pattern of burning that led to this transformation are still poorly understood. We present high-resolution charcoal and pollen analyses of sediment cores from five lakes, located on the deforested eastern side of the Southern Alps. These records document the local fire history of the last 1000 years and the response of vegetation and watersheds to burning. Our results suggest that one to several high-severity fires occurred within a few decades of initial Māori arrival, and this ‘Initial Burning Period’ (IBP) resulted in the majority of forest loss and erosion. Changes in sedimentation rates, soil chemistry and magnetic susceptibility occurred simultaneously with the first fires at some sites, and marked the end of the IBP at others, suggesting substantial and rapid alteration of watershed vegetation, soil and biochemistry. Timing of the beginning of the IBP varied across sites but the duration of this period was brief (decades to a century). Our results suggest that Māori burning of native forests was deliberate and systematic. These forests had no previous history of fire and thus showed little resilience to the introduction of a new disturbance.
Holocene weak monsoon intervals indicated by low lake levels at Hulun Lake in the monsoonal margin region of northeastern Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Xiao Jule , Chang Zhigang , Wen Ruilin , Zhai Dayou , Itoh Shigeru , Lomtatidze Zaur
Published: August 2009

A 170 cm long sediment core spanning the last 10 000 years was recovered from Hulun Lake in the northeastern margin of the East Asian summer monsoon. The sediment core was analyzed at 1 cm intervals for grain-size distribution and sedimentary component partition. These data provide a proxy record of the monsoon variability on millennial to centennial scales during the Holocene. We used a lognormal distribution function fitting method to partition three to six components from fine to coarse modes within the individual polymodal distributions into overlapping lognormal distributions. Three coarse components representing nearshore suspension, saltation and traction, together with the sand-fraction percentage and the median grain size of bulk samples, indicate the lake levels that fluctuated in response to the intensity of the monsoonal precipitation. Higher percentages of the nearshore components accompanied by more sand-fraction proportions and coarser median grain sizes reflect lower lake stands resulting from weaker monsoon circulations. The results show low levels at Hulun Lake c. 8000—7850, 6400—6050, 5150—4900, 4500—3800, 3050—2800, 1650—1400, 1150—900, 700—600, and 400—350 cal. yr BP, indicating the weakened East Asian summer monsoon during these intervals. We suggest that these weak monsoon events would not only result from the reduced ocean—atmosphere interacting processes in the western tropical Pacific, but could also be related to cold climatic conditions in the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes.
Paleoprecipitation record from coral Sr/Ca and δ18O during the mid Holocene in the northern South China Sea
Authors: Deng Wen-feng , Wei Gang-jian , Li Xian-hua , Yu Ke-fu , Zhao Jian-xin , Sun Wei-dong , Liu Ying
Published: August 2009

Coupled high-resolution Sr/Ca and δ18O records of a modern and a mid-Holocene coral from Sanya in the southern Hainan Island, northern South China Sea (SCS), were reported and the residual δ18O (Δδ18O) were calculated to indicate precipitation change in this region. Unlike other paleoclimate studies, this study focused on changes of precipitation time rather than precipitation amount. As negative Δδ18O peaks in coral generally correspond to peak precipitations or rainy seasons in the surrounding region, the time offsets between negative Δδ18O peaks and other seasonal indicators, such as sea surface temperature (SST), can well indicate the time of rainy seasons, and the precise time offsets can be estimated by the method of cross spectral analysis. The results of the modern coral indicate that the variation of the coral Δδ18O lags that of the instrumental measured precipitation by about 2 months, and about 3 months to the SST derived from coral Sr/Ca ratios. This agrees well with the modern observation that the salinity change in the southern coastal regions generally lags that of the precipitation in Hianan Island by about 2 months, and the precipitation change lags about 1 month behind the SST in this region. Thus, coral Δδ 18O records can be a reliable proxy for the change of rainy seasons in this region. The results of the mid-Holocene coral show about 2.5 months’ leading of the Δδ18O variation ahead of the SST. By compensating the approximate 3 months’ lag of the Δδ18O variation behind the SST in modern time, the occurrence of rainy seasons during the mid Holocene may have advanced about 5—6 months. In detail, it may start around December and end around April to May with maximum occurring around February. Therefore, rainy seasons mainly occur in winter through early spring during the mid Holocene, compared with that from May through October in modern times. Such precipitation patterns appear to agree with the mid-Holocene pollen records in this region. Variations of large-scale circulation may possibly result in such a different precipitation pattern. Further studies, in particular climate model studies collaborated with meteorologists, are required for a better understanding of the mechanism.
Legacy of the past land-use changes and management on the ‘natural’ upland forest composition in the Apuseni Natural Park, Romania
Authors: Feurdean Angelica N. , Willis Katherine J. , Astaloş Ciprian
Published: August 2009

The Apuseni Natural Park (ANP) in northwestern Romania was founded in 1990 to protect the old-growth forests in this region and their high species diversity. We present results from palaeoecological investigation (pollen, micro- and macrocharcoal) of two sedimentary sequences from ANP alongside regional archaeological and historical records to explore (1) the degree to which the present-day vegetation in this part of the reserve is a consequence of past land-use systems and forest management; (2) how this forest differs from what was there prior to human activity; and (3) how the understanding of correlations between historical land-use and vegetation changes is directly relevant for reserve conservation strategies and sustainable management of this reserve. Results indicate that anthropogenic activities had little influence on the forest dynamics prior to 200 BC but became evident thereafter as a consequence of forest burning, seasonal pastoralism and small-scale deforestation. From AD 1550, anthropogenic activities also included wood clearances for smelting, and over the last 150 years it is apparent that these forests have been industrially exploited and managed. Despite this legacy of these past land uses, most of the tree species growing presently in the forests are native. Humans have, however, altered their original relative abundance, leading to a great reduction of Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba, and to less extent of Ulmus, Tilia, Fraxinus excelsior and the enrichment with Picea abies, Betula, Alnus, Pinus and some Quercus, Carpinus betulus, Corlyus avellana .
Possible complexity of the climatic event around 4300—3800 cal. BP in the central and western Mediterranean
Authors: Magny Michel , Vannière Boris , Zanchetta Gianni , Fouache Eric , Touchais Gilles , Petrika Lera , Coussot Céline , Walter-Simonnet Anne-Véronique , Arnaud Fabien
Published: August 2009

This paper presents an event stratigraphy based on data documenting lake-level changes as well as volcanic eruptions over the period 4500—3500 cal. BP from sediment sequences of Lakes Accesa in Tuscany (north-central Italy) and Maliq (Albania) in the central Mediterranean. The available data make it possible to recognise a tripartite climatic oscillation between c. 4300—3800 cal. BP. A phase characterised by drier conditions at c. 4100—3950 cal. BP appears to have been bracketed by two phases marked by wetter conditions and dated to c. 4300—4100 and 3950—3850 cal. BP, respectively. The deposition of the Avellino tephra occurred during the first humid phase, slightly before 4300 cal. BP, and that of an interplinian tephra AP2-AP4 (or Pr1) around 4050 cal. BP during the dry intermediate phase. This dry median episode may be related to the so-called ‘4.2 ka event’ observed in tropical areas as well as in northwestern Italy. A comparison of the Accesa lake-level record with palaeoclimatic terrestrial and marine records suggests that this complex climatic oscillation around 4300—3800 cal. BP affected the central and western Mediterranean area. The key position of the 4300—3800 cal. BP climatic oscillation at a crucial transition from mid to late Holocene in the Mediterranean and tropical areas, deserves major consideration in further investigations.
Forty years of the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science: A quantitative analysis, Part I
Authors: Furner Jonathan
Published: August 2009

This paper reports on the first part of a two-part quantitative analysis of volume 1—40 (1969—2008) of the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science (formerly the Journal of Librarianship). It provides an overview of the current state of LIS research journal publishing in the UK; a review of the publication and printing history of JoL/ JOLIS, and of published descriptions and evaluations of its purpose and scope; and a summary of some results of the quantitative analysis, focusing on data of the kind that may be collected by directly examining the published issues of the journal itself. These results are informative in various ways about editors, document types, authors, authors’ institutions, and authors’ countries. A supplementary analysis of citations to and from the journal will be reported at a later date.