bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Note: A simple generalization of the Brutsaert and Nieber analysis
Authors: Chor T. L. , Dias N. L.
Published: November 2014

Abstract. The Brutsaert and Nieber (1977) analysis is a well known method that can estimate soil parameters given discharge data for some aquifers. It has been used for several cases where the observed late-time behavior of the recession suggests that the water stream that is adjacent to the aquifer has non-zero depth. However, its mathematical formulation is, strictly speaking, not capable of reproducing these real-case scenarios since the early time behavior is based on a solution for which the aquifer stream has zero depth (Polubarinova-Kochina, 1962). We propose a simple generalization for the Brutsaert and Nieber (1977) method that can estimate soil parameters for aquifers discharging into a water stream of finite non-zero depth. The generalization is based on already available solutions by Polubarinova-Kochina (1962), Chor et al. (2013) and Dias et al. (2014) and can be readily implemented with little effort. A sensitivity analysis shows that the modification can have significant impact on the predicted values of the drainable porosity.
Pennsylvania Academic Libraries and Student Retention and Graduation: A Preliminary Investigation with Confusing Results
Authors: Crawford Gregory A.
Published: November 2014

This study examined the relationships between specific institutional financial variables and two library-related variables on graduation and retention rates for colleges and universities through correlations and multiple regression analysis. The analyses used data for Pennsylvania colleges and universities that were extracted from the Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System (IPEDS) and the Academic Libraries Survey (ALS).  All analyses were run using IBM SPSS software. The correlations showed that both library expenses per student and library use per student were significantly correlated with both graduation and retention rates. In contrast, the multiple regression results showed that neither library budgets nor library use had significant effects on either graduation rates or retention rates. As would be expected, instructional expenses per student had the highest correlation with both graduation and retention and also yielded the strongest coefficient in the resulting regression equations.
Perceptions of Value: A Story from One Pennsylvania Community
Authors: Neyer Linda
Published: November 2014

This is the story of how a local community successfully saved a high school librarian position through the coordinated efforts of concerned, well-informed parents, teachers, school librarians, a university librarian, neighbors, friends, and others. Takeaways for academic librarians and others in the Pennsylvania library community are discussed.
Perspectivas del profesorado sobre la mejora y potenciación de la formación profesional
Authors: Lorente García Rocío
Published: November 2014

La formación profesional es una etapa formativa que, por su conexión con el mercado laboral y la realidad social, ha estado y está expuesta a numerosas reformas. Concretamente, los cambios más significativos en la última década han estado en la línea de vincular la formación con la política de empleo. Todo este planteamiento de construcción del nuevo marco de la formación profesional en España, se circunscribe en la política europea encaminada a la transparencia, armonización, reconocimiento y transferencia transnacional de las cualificaciones profesionales en Europa en el camino de reconfiguración del mercado único europeo. Esto ha supuesto una revalorización de esta etapa formativa que, históricamente en nuestro país, ha sido considerada de “segunda clase”. No obstante, el profesorado de estas enseñanzas considera que aún hoy existen aspectos que deben ser abordados para la mejora y potenciación de la formación profesional. En este artículo vamos a analizar el discurso del profesorado en torno a las deficiencias sobre la formación profesional que ellos perciben. Este análisis se centra en un estudio (realizado entre los años 2008 y 2010) basado en entrevistas cualitativas realizadas a 50 profesores y profesoras de formación profesional en centros educativos de la comunidad andaluza donde se imparten estas enseñanzas.
Factors contributing towards adoption of E-banking in Pakistan
Authors: Khurshid Azam , Rizwan Muhammad , Tasneem Erum
Published: November 2014

Purpose:The main purpose of this research is to understand the customer’s E-Banking adoption behavior. To achieve this purpose we are going to investigate the External variables (Perceived Risk, Service Quality, and Perceived Trust), Technology Acceptance Model (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) and their effect on attitude towards using and the adoption of E-Banking.Methodology:Questionnaire was used to collect the data from convenience sampling of 150 customers. Regression analysis is use to determine the stability of E-Banking proposed model and hypothesis testing.Results & Findings:The results confirm that Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use have positive impact on Attitude towards using. Service Quality has positive impact on Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Attitude towards using. Perceived Risk has negative impact on Attitude towards using. Perceived Trust and Attitude towards using have positive impact on E-Banking adoption. The results not supported one hypothesis Perceived Risk (PR) impact on Perceived Usefulness (PU). Results shows that PR has negative impact on PU.
Incorporating Attitude towards Islamic Banking in an integrated Service Quality, Satisfaction, Trust and Loyalty Model
Authors: Rizwan Muhammad , Yaseen Ghulam , Nawaz Ashraf , Hussain Lal
Published: November 2014

The Islamic banking is an emerging concept and has gained valuable acceptance not only in the Islamic countries but all over the world and has a visible growth. The purpose to conduct the current study is to empirically check the effect of consumer attitude towards Islamic banking on the customer’s perceived service quality regarding banking services and customer satisfaction with banking services. The proposed research model also investigate the relationships among variables like perceived service quality, customer satisfaction, customer trust and customer loyalty. A survey questionnaire was designed for data collection from the respondents that are the regular users of Islamic banks in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The method used to collect data was convenience sampling in order to collect data from customers of 4 Islamic banks in Bahawalpur that are Meezan Bank, Bank Islami, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Bank Al-Baraka. Total 200 questionnaires were distributed out of which 163 were collected. Out of 163 collected questionnaires, 157 were in the usable form and used for the final analysis (Regression) using SPSS Ver.20. The results of the study show that attitude towards Islamic banking has a positive impact on the perceived service quality and customer satisfaction regarding the Islamic banking services. Moreover, the results also suggest that perceived service quality also influences customer satisfaction positively, customer satisfaction has positive impact on customer trust and customer loyalty. Furthermore, customer trust also influences customer loyalty positively. The current study enhances the understanding regarding the customer satisfaction, customer trust and customer loyalty and their determinants.
Sociale theologie als kritische spiegel voor de Nederlandse christelijk-sociale beweging?
Authors: Steenvoorde Richard
Published: November 2014

Social Theology as a critical mirror to the Dutch Christian-social movement?

In the summer of 2014 a book was published at the request of a group of the Church of England’s bishops. It aims to develop strong theological foundations for understanding social engagement as integral to the churches’ theology and spirituality. In doing so it takes, among others, it’s cue predominantly from Catholic Social Teaching. This article provides a review of the book and indicates some important lessons that can be learned from the book for the work of the Dutch Christian-social movement.
Temporal and spatial distributions of carbon shunting arc plasma
Authors: Takaki Koichi , Konishi Takumi , Mikawa Ryota , Takahashi Kazunori , Yukimura Ken
Published: November 2014

The temporal and spatial distributions of a magnetically driven shunting arc plasma were obtained using time-resolved probe measurement. A shunting arc was produced using a carbon rod and accelerated along a pair of rail electrodes by a Lorenz force. The pulse current for driving and maintaining the plasma was supplied from a 20 µF capacitor charged by a dc power supply. Double and single probes were employed to obtain the ion density of the shunting arc plasma. An ion density of 1 × 1019 m−3 was obtained at a distance of 50 mm from the carbon rod 15 µs after applying voltage. The ion density decreased to 2.0 × 1018 m−3 with increasing distance from 50 to 150 mm. The ion density changed with the energy inputted into the plasma.
A joint Monte Carlo analysis of seafloor compliance, Rayleigh wave dispersion and receiver functions at ocean bottom seismic stations offshore New Zealand
Authors: Ball Justin S. , Sheehan Anne F. , Stachnik Joshua C. , Lin Fan‐Chi , Collins John A.
Published: November 2014

Teleseismic body‐wave imaging techniques such as receiver function analysis can be notoriously difficult to employ on ocean‐bottom seismic data due largely to multiple reverberations within the water and low‐velocity sediments. In lieu of suppressing this coherently scattered noise in ocean‐bottom receiver functions, these site effects can be modeled in conjunction with shear velocity information from seafloor compliance and surface wave dispersion measurements to discern crustal structure. A novel technique to estimate 1‐D crustal shear‐velocity profiles from these data using Monte Carlo sampling is presented here. We find that seafloor compliance inversions and P‐S conversions observed in the receiver functions provide complimentary constraints on sediment velocity and thickness. Incoherent noise in receiver functions from the MOANA ocean bottom seismic experiment limit the accuracy of the practical analysis at crustal scales, but synthetic recovery tests and comparison with independent unconstrained nonlinear optimization results affirm the utility of this technique in principle.
The effects of alteration and porosity on seismic velocities in oceanic basalts and diabases
Authors: Carlson R. L.
Published: November 2014

Seismic velocities in the lavas that cap normal oceanic crust are affected by both crack porosity and alteration of the primary mineral phases, chiefly to clays. Porosity accounts for 75–80% of the velocity variation in sonic log velocities in the lava sections of Holes 504B and 1256D, but the effect of alteration on the properties of the basalts has not been assessed. In this analysis, the grain velocities in basalt and diabase samples are estimated from an empirical linear relationship between grain density and the P wave modulus. The theoretical velocity in fresh, zero‐porosity basalt, or diabase is 6.96 ± 0.07 km/s. Grain velocities in the diabase samples are statistically indistinguishable from the theoretical velocity, and show no variation with depth; alteration does not significantly affect the velocities in the diabase samples from Hole 504B. This result is consistent with previous analyses, which demonstrated that velocities in the dikes are controlled by crack porosity. In basalt lab samples, alteration reduces the average sample grain velocity to 6.74 ± 0.02 km/s; cracks at the sample scale further reduce the velocity to 5.86 ± 0.03 km/s, and large‐scale cracks in the lavas reduce the average in situ velocity to 5.2 ± 0.3 km/s. Cracks account for nearly 90% of the difference between seismic (in situ) velocities and the theoretical velocity in the unaltered solid material. Basalt grain velocities show a small, but significant systematic increase with depth; the influence of alteration decreases with depth in the lavas, reaching near zero at the base of the lavas in Holes 504B and 1256D.
Regional‐scale input of dispersed and discrete volcanic ash to the Izu‐Bonin and Mariana subduction zones
Authors: Scudder Rachel P. , Murray Richard W. , Schindlbeck Julie C. , Kutterolf Steffen , Hauff Folkmar , McKinley Claire C.
Published: November 2014

We have geochemically and statistically characterized bulk marine sediment and ash layers at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1149 (Izu‐Bonin Arc) and Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 52 (Mariana Arc), and have quantified that multiple dispersed ash sources collectively comprise ∼30–35% of the hemipelagic sediment mass entering the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana subduction system. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that the bulk sediment at Site 1149 is a mixture of Chinese Loess, a second compositionally distinct eolian source, a dispersed mafic ash, and a dispersed felsic ash. We interpret the source of these ashes as, respectively, being basalt from the Izu‐Bonin Front Arc (IBFA) and rhyolite from the Honshu Arc. Sr‐, Nd‐, and Pb isotopic analyses of the bulk sediment are consistent with the chemical/statistical‐based interpretations. Comparison of the mass accumulation rate of the dispersed ash component to discrete ash layer parameters (thickness, sedimentation rate, and number of layers) suggests that eruption frequency, rather than eruption size, drives the dispersed ash record. At Site 52, the geochemistry and statistical modeling indicates that Chinese Loess, IBFA, dispersed BNN (boninite from Izu‐Bonin), and a dispersed felsic ash of unknown origin are the sources. At Site 1149, the ash layers and the dispersed ash are compositionally coupled, whereas at Site 52 they are decoupled in that there are no boninite layers, yet boninite is dispersed within the sediment. Changes in the volcanic and eolian inputs through time indicate strong arc‐related and climate‐related controls.
Thunderstorms enhance tropospheric ozone by wrapping and shedding stratospheric air
Authors: Pan Laura L. , Homeyer Cameron R. , Honomichl Shawn , Ridley Brian A. , Weisman Morris , Barth Mary C. , Hair Johnathan W. , Fenn Marta A. , Butler Carolyn , Diskin Glenn S. , Crawford James H. , Ryerson Thomas B. , Pollack Ilana , Peischl Jeff , Huntrieser Heidi
Published: November 2014

A significant source of ozone in the troposphere is transport from the stratosphere. The stratospheric contribution has been estimated mainly using global models that attribute the transport process largely to the global‐scale Brewer‐Dobson circulation and synoptic‐scale dynamics associated with upper tropospheric jet streams. We report observations from research aircraft that reveal additional transport of ozone‐rich stratospheric air downward into the upper troposphere by a leading‐line‐trailing‐stratiform mesoscale convective system with convection overshooting the tropopause altitude. The fine‐scale transport demonstrated by these observations poses a significant challenge to global models that currently do not resolve storm‐scale dynamics. Thus, the upper tropospheric ozone budget simulated by global chemistry‐climate models where large‐scale dynamics and photochemical production from lightning‐produced NO are the controlling factors may require modification.
Van Allen Probe observations of periodic rising frequencies of the fast magnetosonic mode
Authors: Boardsen S. A. , Hospodarsky G. B. , Kletzing C. A. , Pfaff R. F. , Kurth W. S. , Wygant J. R. , MacDonald E. A.
Published: November 2014

Near simultaneous periodic dispersive features of fast magnetosonic mode emissions are observed by both Van Allen Probes spacecraft while separated in magnetic local time by ~5 h: Probe A at 15 and Probe B at 9–11 h. Both spacecraft see similar frequency features, characterized by a periodic repetition at ~180 s. Each repetition is characterized by a rising frequency. Since no modulation is observed in the proton shell distribution, the plasma density, or in the background magnetic field at either spacecraft we conclude that these waves are not generated near the spacecraft but external to both spacecraft locations. Probe A while outside the plasmapause sees the start of each repetition ~40 s before probe B while deep inside the plasmasphere. We can qualitatively reproduce the dispersive features but not the quantitative details. The cause for this phenomena remains to be identified.
Waveforms of Langmuir turbulence in inhomogeneous solar wind plasmas
Authors: Krafft C. , Volokitin A. S. , Krasnoselskikh V. V. , de Wit T. Dudok
Published: November 2014

Modulated Langmuir waveforms have been observed by several spacecraft in various regions of the heliosphere, such as the solar wind, the electron foreshock, the magnetotail, or the auroral ionosphere. Many observations revealed the bursty nature of these waves, which appear to be highly modulated, localized, and clumped into spikes with peak amplitudes typically 3 orders of magnitude above the mean. The paper presents Langmuir waveforms calculated using a Hamiltonian model describing self‐consistently the resonant interaction of an electron beam with Langmuir wave packets in a plasma with random density fluctuations. These waveforms, obtained for different profiles of density fluctuations and ranges of parameters relevant to solar type III electron beams and plasmas measured at 1 AU, are presented in the form they would appear if recorded by a satellite moving in the solar wind. Comparison with recent measurements by the STEREO and WIND satellites shows that their characteristic features are very similar to the observations.
In situ observation of magnetic reconnection in the front of bursty bulk flow
Authors: Wang Rongsheng , Lu Quanming , Du Aimin , Nakamura Rumi , Lu San , Huang Can , Liu Chaoxu , Wu Mingyu
Published: November 2014

Using the Cluster observation in the magnetotail, we investigate the dynamic processes associated with a bursty bulk flow (BBF) event. The BBF is inferred to be caused by magnetic reconnection proceeding to the lobe region in its tail, called “primary reconnection.” On the BBF front, another reconnection was directly encountered by one of the four Cluster satellites, and no signatures of this reconnection were simultaneously measured by the satellite at the plasma sheet boundary. It indicates that this reconnection on the BBF front remained within the plasma sheet, called “secondary reconnection.” The secondary reconnection moved earthward and was followed by a magnetic island. A few earthward moving pulses of Bz were detected between the island and the primary reconnection site. These Bz pulses, propagating faster than the island ahead of it, would lead to a more compressed Bz magnetic field in the wake of the island. The observational scenario is in accordance to the model proposed to explain the generation of dipolarization front in simulations. Furthermore, both electrons and ions were significantly accelerated in this process. The mechanism is discussed also.
Characteristics of pitch angle distributions of hundreds of keV electrons in the slot region and inner radiation belt
Authors: Zhao H. , Li X. , Blake J. B. , Fennell J. F. , Claudepierre S. G. , Baker D. N. , Jaynes A. N. , Malaspina D. M.
Published: November 2014

The pitch angle distribution (PAD) of energetic electrons in the slot region and inner radiation belt received little attention in the past decades due to the lack of quality measurements. Using the state‐of‐the‐art pitch angle‐resolved data from the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer instrument onboard the Van Allen Probes, a detailed analysis of hundreds of keV electron PADs below L = 4 is performed, in which the PADs are categorized into three types: normal (flux peaking at 90°), cap (exceedingly peaking narrowly around 90°), and 90° minimum (lower flux at 90°) PADs. By examining the characteristics of the PADs of ∼460 keV electrons for over a year, we find that the 90° minimum PADs are generally present in the inner belt (L<2), while normal PADs dominate at L∼3.5–4. In the region between, 90° minimum PADs dominate during injection times and normal PADs dominate during quiet times. Cap PADs appear mostly at the decay phase of storms in the slot region and are likely caused by the pitch angle scattering of hiss waves. Fitting the normal PADs into sinnα form, the parameter n is much higher below L = 3 than that in the outer belt and relatively constant in the inner belt but changes significantly in the slot region (2 < L < 3) during injection times. As for the 90° minimum PADs, by performing a detailed case study, we find in the slot region this type of PAD is likely caused by chorus wave heating, but this mechanism can hardly explain the formation of 90° minimum PADs at the center of inner belt.
Ion composition in Titan's exosphere via the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer I: T40 encounter
Authors: Woodson A. K. , Smith H. T. , Crary F. J. , Johnson R. E.
Published: November 2014

We investigate the complex interaction between Saturn's magnetosphere and Titan's upper ionosphere using ion data acquired by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) during the T40 encounter. Bounds on ion‐group abundances at altitudes between ~2733 and ~12,541 km are determined by fitting mass spectra with model functions derived from instrument calibration data. The spectra are dominated by H+, H2+, H3+, and two hydrocarbon groups with mass ranges 12–19 and 24–32 amu, respectively. Notably, this constitutes the first reported observation of H3+ in Titan's exosphere. These measurements are discussed in the context of data from the CAPS electron spectrometer (ELS) and the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS), which fortuitously sampled the ionospheric outflow during the T40 encounter at altitudes between ~2225 and ~3034 km. The CAPS data reveal a composition that is constitutively similar to that sampled by INMS, with hydrocarbon ions first observed as far as ~11,000 km from Titan and increasing in density by more than an order of magnitude along Cassini's inbound trajectory. In addition, we juxtapose the CAPS ion data with numerical results from three different interaction models and show that it is consistent with the location of the field‐draping boundary described by Ulusen et al. (2012) and the Saturnward ion tail predicted by Sillanpää et al. (2006).
Field‐aligned currents in Saturn's southern nightside magnetosphere: Subcorotation and planetary period oscillation components
Authors: Hunt G. J. , Cowley S. W. H. , Provan G. , Bunce E. J. , Alexeev I. I. , Belenkaya E. S. , Kalegaev V. V. , Dougherty M. K. , Coates A. J.
Published: November 2014

We investigate magnetic data showing the presence of field‐aligned magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling currents on 31 Cassini passes across Saturn's southern postmidnight auroral region. The currents are strongly modulated in magnitude, form, and position by the phase of the southern planetary period oscillations (PPOs). PPO‐independent currents are separated from PPO‐related currents using the antisymmetry of the latter with respect to PPO phase. PPO‐independent downward currents ~1.1 MA per radian of azimuth flow over the polar open field region indicative of significant plasma subcorotation are enhanced in an outer plasma sheet layer of elevated ionospheric conductivity carrying ~0.8 MA rad−1 and close principally in an upward directed current sheet at ~17°–19° ionospheric colatitude carrying ~2.3 MA rad−1 that maps to the outer hot plasma region in Saturn's magnetosphere (equatorial range ~11–16 Saturn radii (RS)) colocated with the UV oval. Subsidiary downward and upward currents ~0.5 MA rad−1 lie at ~19°–20.5° colatitude mapping to the inner hot plasma region, but no comparable currents are detected at larger colatitudes mapping to the cool plasma regime inside ~8 RS. PPO‐related currents at ~17.5°–20° colatitude overlap the main upward and subsidiary downward currents and carry comparable rotating upward and downward currents peaking at ~1.7 MA rad−1. The overall current layer colatitude is also modulated with 1° amplitude in the PPO cycle, maximum equatorward adjacent to the peak upward PPO current and maximum poleward adjacent to peak downward PPO current. This phasing requires the current system to be driven from the planetary atmosphere rather than directly from the magnetosphere.
Laboratory constraints on models of earthquake recurrence
Authors: Beeler N. M. , Tullis Terry , Junger Jenni , Kilgore Brian , Goldsby David
Published: November 2014

In this study, rock friction “stick‐slip” experiments are used to develop constraints on models of earthquake recurrence. Constant rate loading of bare rock surfaces in high‐quality experiments produces stick‐slip recurrence that is periodic at least to second order. When the loading rate is varied, recurrence is approximately inversely proportional to loading rate. These laboratory events initiate due to a slip‐rate‐dependent process that also determines the size of the stress drop and, as a consequence, stress drop varies weakly but systematically with loading rate. This is especially evident in experiments where the loading rate is changed by orders of magnitude, as is thought to be the loading condition of naturally occurring, small repeating earthquakes driven by afterslip, or low‐frequency earthquakes loaded by episodic slip. The experimentally observed stress drops are well described by a logarithmic dependence on recurrence interval that can be cast as a nonlinear slip predictable model. The fault's rate dependence of strength is the key physical parameter. Additionally, even at constant loading rate the most reproducible laboratory recurrence is not exactly periodic, unlike existing friction recurrence models. We present example laboratory catalogs that document the variance and show that in large catalogs, even at constant loading rate, stress drop and recurrence covary systematically. The origin of this covariance is largely consistent with variability of the dependence of fault strength on slip rate. Laboratory catalogs show aspects of both slip and time predictability, and successive stress drops are strongly correlated indicating a “memory” of prior slip history that extends over at least one recurrence cycle.
Multisensor observations of the Amazon‐Orinoco river plume interactions with hurricanes
Authors: Reul Nicolas , Quilfen Yves , Chapron Bertrand , Fournier Severine , Kudryavtsev Vladimir , Sabia Roberto
Published: November 2014

An analysis is presented for the spatial and intensity distributions of North Atlantic extreme atmospheric events crossing the buoyant Amazon‐Orinoco freshwater plume. The sea surface cooling amplitude in the wake of an ensemble of storm tracks traveling in that region is estimated from satellite products for the period 1998–2012. For the most intense storms, cooling is systematically reduced by ∼50% over the plume area compared to surroundings open‐ocean waters. Historical salinity and temperature observations from in situ profiles indicate that salt‐driven vertical stratification, enhanced oceanic heat content, and barrier‐layer presence within the plume waters are likely key oceanic factors to explain these results. Satellite SMOS surface salinity data combined with in situ observations are further used to detail the oceanic response to category 4 hurricane Igor in 2010. Argo and satellite measurements confirm the haline stratification impact on the cooling inhibition as the hurricane crossed the river plume. Over this region, the SSS mapping capability is further tested and demonstrated to monitor the horizontal distribution of the vertical stratification parameter. SMOS SSS data can thus be used to consistently anticipate the cooling inhibition in the wake of TCs traveling over the Amazon‐Orinoco plume region.
The role of morphology and wave‐current interaction at tidal inlets: An idealized modeling analysis
Authors: Olabarrieta Maitane , Geyer W. Rockwell , Kumar Nirnimesh
Published: November 2014

The outflowing currents from tidal inlets are influenced both by the morphology of the ebb‐tide shoal and interaction with incident surface gravity waves. Likewise, the propagation and breaking of incident waves are affected by the morphology and the strength and structure of the outflowing current. The 3‐D Coupled Ocean‐Atmosphere‐Wave‐Sediment Transport (COAWST) modeling system is applied to numerically analyze the interaction between currents, waves, and bathymetry in idealized inlet configurations. The bathymetry is found to be a dominant controlling variable. In the absence of an ebb shoal and with weak wave forcing, a narrow outflow jet extends seaward with little lateral spreading. The presence of an ebb‐tide shoal produces significant pressure gradients in the region of the outflow, resulting in enhanced lateral spreading of the jet. Incident waves cause lateral spreading and limit the seaward extent of the jet, due both to conversion of wave momentum flux and enhanced bottom friction. The interaction between the vorticity of the outflow jet and the wave stokes drift is also an important driving force for the lateral spreading of the plume. For weak outflows, the outflow jet is actually enhanced by strong waves when there is a channel across the bar, due to the “return current” effect. For both strong and weak outflows, waves increase the alongshore transport in both directions from the inlet due to the wave‐induced setup over the ebb shoal. Wave breaking is more influenced by the topography of the ebb shoal than by wave‐current interaction, although strong outflows show intensified breaking at the head of the main channel.
Mixed layer salinity budget in the tropical Pacific Ocean estimated by a global GCM
Authors: Gao Shan , Qu Tangdong , Nie Xunwei
Published: November 2014

The mixed layer salinity (MLS) budget of the tropical Pacific is investigated using results from a model of the Consortium for Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO). The results focusing on the western Pacific freshwater pool indicate that the long‐term averaged surface freshwater flux is well balanced by ocean dynamics, in which the subsurface processes account for the major part. The MLS budget shows significant seasonal and interannual variability, as a consequence of interplay among surface freshwater flux, advection, mixing, and vertical entrainment. On seasonal time scale, both the MLS and mixed layer depth are largely controlled by surface freshwater flux. The opposite phase between the subsurface processes and the barrier layer thickness confirms the important influence of the barrier layer on vertical mixing and entrainment from below. On interannual time scale, all the MLS budget terms show significant ENSO signal, which in turn is highly correlated with the salinity front and barrier layer thickness in the equatorial Pacific.
Influence of local circulations on wind, moisture, and precipitation close to Manaus City, Amazon Region, Brazil
Authors: dos Santos Mercel J. , Silva Dias Maria A. F. , Freitas Edmilson D.
Published: November 2014

This paper presents long‐term‐derived local wind patterns as well as their role on moisture transport and on spatial/temporal distribution of precipitation close to Manaus City region. In this analysis we used surface weather station data and rainfall estimates from TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) and CMORPH (Climate Prediction Center morphing method). The weather stations promoted information of wind direction and dew point temperature, used here as atmospheric moisture indicator. The 3‐hourly average of accumulated precipitation, calculated using satellite estimates (TRMM and CMORPH), allowed to assess the spatial distribution of the rainfall diurnal cycle and how it is modulated by the local circulations. The station data results show that in the daytime, between 9:00 and 18:00 local time, winds away from the rivers are frequent, indicating action of the river breeze. This wind condition transports moist air from the rivers to the Manaus City. Winds toward rivers are commonly observed at night and in the morning, mostly at Ponta Pelada airport station, and are evidence of the land breeze occurrence. These local winds transport drier air from Manaus City to the river regions, as verified at Ponta Pelada station. The evidence of the local circulations and their impact on the moisture transport are more obvious in the dry season. The rainfall diurnal cycle has a spatial tendency varying according to the hour of the day. In the afternoon and in the evening, maximum precipitation values are observed over land, whereas reduced rainfall values are verified over rivers. At dawn and in the morning, the maximum values of accumulated precipitation are found over the rivers, mainly over and around the Amazon River. This rainfall spatial distribution is very likely modulated by local circulations and is much more evident in the rainiest quarter (March–May).
The birth and death of transverse aeolian ridges on Mars
Authors: Geissler Paul E.
Published: November 2014

Transverse aeolian ridges (TARs) are small bright windblown deposits found throughout the Martian tropics that stand a few meters tall and are spaced a few tens of meters apart. The origin of these features remains mysterious more than 20 years after their discovery on Mars. This paper presents a new hypothesis, that some of the TARs could be indurated dust deposits emplaced millions of years ago during periods of higher axial obliquity. It suggests that these TARs are primary depositional bed forms that accumulated in place from dust carried by the winds in suspension, perhaps in a manner comparable to antidunes on Earth, and were subsequently indurated and eroded to their current states by eons of sandblasting. It points out examples of modern dust drifts and dune‐like features that appear to have been recently formed by dust accumulating directly onto the surface from atmospheric suspension. It shows how these pristine dust deposits could evolve to explain the range of morphologies of the TARs. Finally, it explains how the known properties of many TARs are consistent with this hypothesis, including their composition, thermal behavior, and distribution.
Scaling of adult regional body mass and body composition as a whole to height: Relevance to body shape and body mass index
Authors: Schuna John M. , Peterson Courtney M. , Thomas Diana M. , Heo Moonseong , Hong Sangmo , Choi Woong , Heymsfield Steven B.
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Adult body mass (MB) empirically scales as height (Ht) squared (MB ∝ Ht2), but does regional body mass and body composition as a whole also scale as Ht2? This question is relevant to a wide range of biological topics, including interpretation of body mass index (BMI).

Methods

Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to quantify regional body mass [head (MH), trunk, arms, and legs] and whole‐body composition [fat, lean soft tissue (LST), and bone mineral content (BMC)] in non‐Hispanic (NH) white, NH black, Mexican American, and Korean adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; n = 17,126) and Korean NHANES (n = 8,942). Regression models were developed to establish Ht scaling powers for each measured component with adjustments for age and adiposity.

Results

Exploratory analyses revealed a consistent scaling pattern across men and women of the four population groups: regional mass powers, head (∼0.8–1) < arms and trunk (∼1.8–2.3) < legs (∼2.3–2.6); and body composition, LST (∼2.0–2.3) < BMC (∼2.1–2.4). Small sex and population differences in scaling powers were also observed. As body mass scaled uniformly across the eight sex and population groups as Ht∼2, tall and short subjects differed in body shape (e.g., MH/MB ∝ Ht−∼1) and composition.

Conclusions

Adult human body shape and relative composition are a function of body size as represented by stature, a finding that reveals a previously unrecognized phenotypic heterogeneity as defined by BMI. These observations provide new pathways for exploring mechanisms governing the interrelations between adult stature, body morphology, biomechanics, and metabolism. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 27:372–379, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hormonal evidence of selection in utero revisited
Authors: Catalano R.A. , Currier R.J. , Steinsaltz D.
Published: November 2014

Objectives

Human conception cohorts in gestation during stressful times reportedly yield lower ratios of male to female live births than do other conception cohorts. Much literature attributes this phenomenon to spontaneous abortion of less fit male fetuses. Controversy remains, however, as to whether stressful times make males fetuses less fit (“Shifting Distribution” of fitness) or whether male fetuses need greater fitness to avoid spontaneous abortion during stressful times (“Shifting Criterion” for survival).

Methods

Although research using gestational hCG as a signal of fetal fitness reports support for the latter mechanism, we believe an analytic error casts doubt on those findings. Here we offered an alternative test that corrects the error.

Conclusion

This more accurate test found similar results to those originally reported. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:426–431, 2015. © 2014 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CPR News
Authors: Shifman Bette
Published: November 2014

CPR member‐only committees are the backbone of CPR's thought‐leadership and play a critical role in shaping the future of ADR. Committees provide the unique and rewarding opportunity for users and practitioners to convene, collaborate, define best practices and spearhead innovation in commercial conflict management. If you are interested in joining a committee, attending one of these meetings and strengthening your connections, contact CPR's Director of Membership Terri Bartlett at tbartlett@cpradr.org or +1.212.949.6490.
Judicial Review of Commercial Arbitration Awards North of the 49th Parallel
Authors: Glasner Kenneth J. , Horton William G.
Published: November 2014

Unlike the United States, all Canadian provinces and the federal government have adopted legislation implementing the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (bit.ly/1DbWZiC) that governs international arbitrations conducted in Canada and the enforcement of international arbitration awards. Principles first enunciated in the 1958 New York Convention (bit.ly/1n4KXNT) and amplified in the Model Law that limit judicial intervention and preclude any review of the merits of an arbitral award on matters of either fact or law are therefore applicable and consistently enforced throughout Canada with respect to international arbitrations. The Canadian province of British Columbia was the first jurisdiction anywhere in the world to adopt the Model Law.
BACK TO BASICS SERIES: Compromise & Me! Being in Sweden: Lagom – Meeting in The Middle
Authors: Creo Robert A.
Published: November 2014

Editor's Note: The Master Mediator is taking a break from his fascinating, in‐depth series on neuroscience and the psychological factors and cognitive biases that may affect dispute resolution. As Bob Creo's earliest columns, describing and discussing mediation room techniques and practice issues, appeared a number of years ago, and only on the CPR website, Alternatives is delighted that he has agreed to reprise and update them, beginning in this issue, in a new “Back to Basics” series. This column deals with the concept of compromise; future columns in the series will cover “ghostbusting” in mediation, terms of reference, and constructing settlements.
From “Face‐Saving” to “Cost Saving”: Encouraging and Promoting Business Mediation in Asia
Authors: Yin Kim Shi
Published: November 2014

The past decade has witnessed a surge in efforts to institutionalize and popularize business mediation as an alternative to litigation in Asia. For example, the anticipated establishment of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (bit.ly/1rqO845) and the existence of the Hong Kong Mediation Council (bit.ly/1vQWqGS) and Financial Dispute Resolution Centre (bit.ly/1skmJpO), evince an increasing demand for mediation in Asia. It has been just over two years since the Hong Kong SAR adopted a Mediation Ordinance (bit.ly/1pUVDRe), which entered into effect on January 1, 2013, signaling that states are becoming aware of the need to regulate mediation.
ADR Briefs
Authors: Bondoc Hector Jerome , Ianetti Lia
Published: November 2014

On July 2, 2014, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals considered the creation and potential waiver of an arbitration provision in Al Rushaid (ARPD) v. Nat'l Oilwell Varco, Inc., (1.usa.gov/1tXonKF). Plaintiff ARPD had entered into a series of contracts with Aramco to supply certain drilling services. ARPD then entered into contracts with individual defendants, including NOV Norway, to purchase equipment for these oil rigs. The contracts were formed when ARPD accepted the quotations submitted by the defendants. The quotations included certain terms and conditions applicable to the transactions.
Retinal damage and vision loss in African American multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Kimbrough Dorlan J. , Sotirchos Elias S. , Wilson James A. , Al‐Louzi Omar , Conger Amy , Conger Darrel , Frohman Teresa C. , Saidha Shiv , Green Ari J. , Frohman Elliot M. , Balcer Laura J. , Calabresi Peter A.
Published: November 2014

Objective

To determine whether African American (AA) multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit more retinal damage and visual impairment compared to Caucasian American (CA) MS patients.

Methods

A total of 687 MS patients (81 AAs) and 110 healthy control (HC) subjects (14 AAs) were recruited at 3 academic hospitals between 2008 and 2012. Using mixed effects regression models, we compared high‐ and low‐contrast visual acuity (HCVA and LCVA) and high‐definition spectral domain optical coherence tomography measures of retinal architecture between MS patients of self‐identified AA and CA ancestry.

Results

In HCs, baseline peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was 6.1µm greater in AAs (p = 0.047), whereas ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIP) thickness did not differ by race. In MS patients, baseline RNFL did not differ by race, and GCIP was 3.98µm thinner in AAs (p = 0.004). AAs had faster RNFL and GCIP thinning rates compared to CAs (p = 0.004 and p = 0.046, respectively). AA MS patients had lower baseline HCVA (p = 0.02) and worse LCVA per year of disease duration (p = 0.039). Among patients with an acute optic neuritis (AON) history, AAs had greater loss of HCVA than CA patients (p = 0.012).

Interpretation

This multicenter investigation provides objective evidence that AA MS patients exhibit accelerated retinal damage compared to CA MS patients. Self‐identified AA ancestry is associated with worse MS‐related visual disability, particularly in the context of an AON history, suggesting a more aggressive inflammatory disease course among AA MS patients or a subpopulation therein. Ann Neurol 2015;77:228–236
Investigation on static and dynamic performance of a hinge configuration with integrated dielectric elastomers
Authors: Zhang Chi , Chen Hualing , Li Bo , Wang Yanjie , Liu Lei , Li Dichen
Published: November 2014

A rigid hinge frame combined with pre‐stretched dielectric elastomer (DE) films can form an active biological agonist–antagonist configuration. In this structure, the DE films undergo a constant deformation under a static voltage as well as specific reciprocating rotation under an alternative voltage. To theoretically investigate the static and dynamic performance, we establish the kinetic equation of the active hinge configuration. The computational static rotary angle exhibits a good fit with the experimental data from literature. Based on this model, static performance of this configuration when DE undergoes uniaxial and pure shear deformation is investigated. Subject to a small perturbation, the configuration may oscillate around the equilibrium state and the natural frequency can be obtained. By varying the pre‐stretch ratios, applied voltage, layer number, and the rotational inertia of the hinge, we can tune the natural frequency at a wide range. When the voltage is sinusoidal and varies continuously, the configuration resonates at multiple frequencies of excitation, known as harmonic and superharmonic resonance. Our research may serve as a guide to optimal design and provide insights into the performance of the hinge configuration, which can effectively expand the structure's application fields. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41630.
Natural rubber/leather waste composite foam: A new eco‐friendly material and recycling approach
Authors: Garcia Nelissa Gonçalves , dos Reis Elton Aparecido Prado , Budemberg Eduardo Roque , Agostini Deuber Lincon da Silva , Salmazo Leandra Oliveira , Cabrera Flávio Camargo , Job Aldo Eloizo
Published: November 2014

This article describes a new approach of recycling the leather waste (shavings) using it as filler in natural rubber foams composites. The foams were prepared using different amounts of leather waste (0–60 parts per hundred of rubber) and submitted to morphological (SEM microscopy) and mechanical analyses (cyclic stress–strain compression). The increase of leather shavings on the composite causes an increase of viscosity in the mixture, which reflects in the foaming process. This results in smaller and fairly uniform cells. Furthermore, expanded rubber has the biggest cell size, with more than 70% of cell with 1000 µm, while the composite with the higher concentration of leather has around 80% of total number of cells with 100–400 µm. The mechanical parameters were found to depend on the leather dust concentration. Moreover, the stiffness rises with the increase of leather shavings; consequently, the compression force for expanded rubber was 0.126 MPa as well as the composite with higher concentration of leather was 7.55 MPa. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41636.
Synthesis and application of nonionic polyacrylamide with controlled molecular weight for fracturing in low permeability oil reservoirs
Authors: Zhao Guang , Dai Caili , Wang Siyu , Zhao Mingwei
Published: November 2014

Nonionic polyacrylamide (NPAM) with controlled molecular weight was successfully synthesized as a gel fracturing fluid by aqueous solution polymerization. The effects of the monomer concentration, initiator concentration, reaction time, feeding temperature and reaction temperature on the molecular weight were systematically investigated through single‐factor and orthogonal experiments. The NPAM molecular weight can be controlled by adjusting these factors. The decisive factor is the acrylamide concentration, whereas the initiator concentration and feeding temperature are secondary factors. These synthetic NPAMs can be crosslinked with zirconium acetate to produce a gel fracturing fluid for use in low permeability oil reservoirs. Gel fracturing fluids based on synthetic NPAMs have high shear resistance, low filtration performance, easy gel breaking performance, good proppant carrying capability and low core damage capability. By adjusting the NPAM or crosslinker concentrations, the gel fracturing fluid can be adapted for use in low permeability oil reservoirs for a wide temperature range (60–120°C). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41637.