bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Another Look at Early Chan: Daoxuan, Bodhidharma, and the Three Levels Movement
Authors: Greene Eric
Published: December 2008

As one of the earliest records pertaining to Bodhidharma, Daoxuan's Xu gaoseng zhuan is a crucial text in the study of so-called Early Chan. Though it is often thought that Daoxuan was attempting to promote the Bodhidharma lineage, recent studies have suggested that he was actually attacking Bodhidharma and his later followers. The present article suggests that such readings are in correct and that Daoxuan was in fact attacking the followers of the Three Levels (Sanjie) movement founded by Xinxing, whose role in defining the meaning of chan during the seventh century has not been sufficiently appreciated. Étant un des premiers documents à parler de Bodhidharma, le Xu Gaoseng zhuan de Daoxuan constitue une source cruciale pour l'étude du "Chan primitif". Même si l'on considère le plus souvent que Daoxuan s'efforçait de promouvoir la lignée de Bodhidharma, plusieurs études récentes suggèrent qu'en fait il attaquait Bodhidharma et ses héritiers. L'auteur suggère que cette interprétation n'est pas correcte: en réalité Daoxuan s'attaquait aux adhérents du mouvement des "Trois niveaux" (Sanjie) fondé par Xinxing, dont la contribution à la définition du sens du chan pendant le VIIe siècle n'a pas encore été suffisamment appréciée.
The Karez Concept in Ancient Chinese Sources Myth or Reality?
Authors: Trombert Éric
Published: December 2008

The karez (or qanât) is an ancient kind of underground waterworks that can be found still working from Iran to Morocco and, in present-day China, in Xinjiang (mostly in the Turfan Basin). In western countries and in the Middle East, historians generally consider the Iranian world as the core area of karez since the Achaemenid era (550-330 BC). In China, however, the prevailing theory concerning the origins of the karez technology in Xinjiang is that it was developed elsewhere in China's Central Plain and then imported with some minor modifications. This article intends to demonstrate that this was not the case and that the technique was unknown in the western regions at the height of the Han Chinese presence in Xinjiang in the late 8th century. This conclusion is confirmed by examining the historical process of the development of the karez technique as it is known through Qing sources. It started no sooner than the early 19th century and was related to the Qing colonial enterprise in the western regions. Le karez (ou qanât) est un type ancien d'aménagement hydraulique souterrain dont on trouve encore des exemples en activité de l'Iran au Maroc, et, en Chine aujourd'hui, au Xinjiang (principalement dans le bassin de Turfan). Dans les pays occidentaux et au Moyen Orient les historiens considèrent généralement le monde iranien comme la zone centrale des karez depuis l'époque achéménide (550-330 av. J.-C.). En Chine, en revanche, la théorie prédominante concernant l'origine de la technique des karez au Xinjiang veut que celle-ci ait été développée ailleurs dans la Plaine Centrale, pour être ensuite importée avec quelques modifications mineures. Le présent article entend démontrer que tel n'a pas été le cas et que cette technique était inconnue dans les régions occidentales à l'apogée de la présence chinoise au Xinjiang, à la fin du VIIIe siècle. Cette conclusion est confirmée par l'examen du processus historique de développement de la technique des karez telle qu'on la connaît à travers les sources d'époque Qing. Elle n'est pas apparue avant le début du XIXe siècle et doit être mise en relation avec l'entreprise coloniale des Qing dans les régions occidentales.
The Moisture Mode in the Quasi-Equilibrium Tropical Circulation Model. Part I: Analysis Based on the Weak Temperature Gradient Approximation
Authors: Sugiyama Masahiro
Published: December 2008

The moisture mode in a simplified version of the quasi-equilibrium tropical circulation model (QTCM) of Neelin and Zeng is analyzed. Perturbation expansion based on the ratio of temperature tendency to adiabatic cooling simplifies the system and dispersion relationship. The weak temperature gradient (WTG) approximation of Sobel, Nilsson, and Polvani naturally emerges as the dynamical balance of the moisture mode. The condition of the expansion can be phrased in terms of the nondimensional wavenumber and is satisfied in the tropics even for the planetary scale.

The WTG growth rate equation demonstrates that the moisture mode is unstable when moist static energy sources such as cloud radiative forcing and gustiness-enhanced evaporation exceed its export. Wind-induced surface heat exchange does not affect the growth rate at the leading order, although it propagates the mode eastward in the mean easterly wind. For typical values of parameters, the time scale of moisture mode instability is several days.

Nonlinear WTG calculations show that the moisture mode nonlinearly saturates by a thermodynamic limiting process. In the standard parameter regime, a phase diagram reveals two stable fixed points in addition to the unstable solution of radiative–convective equilibrium.
The Influence of Entrainment and Mixing Assumption on Aerosol–Cloud Interactions in Marine Stratocumulus
Authors: Hill Adrian A. , Feingold Graham , Jiang Hongli
Published: December 2008

This study uses large-eddy simulation with bin microphysics to investigate the influence of entrainment and mixing on aerosol–cloud interactions in the context of idealized, nocturnal, nondrizzling marine stratocumulus (Sc). Of particular interest are (i) an evaporation–entrainment effect and a sedimentation–entrainment effect that result from increasing aerosol concentrations and (ii) the nature of mixing between clear and cloudy air, where homogeneous and extreme inhomogeneous mixing represent the bounding mixing types. Simulations are performed at low resolution (Δz = 20 m; Δx, y = 40 m) and high resolution (Δz = 10 m; Δx, y = 20 m). It is demonstrated that an increase in aerosol from clean conditions (100 cm−3) to polluted conditions (1000 cm−3) produces both an evaporation–entrainment and a sedimentation–entrainment effect, which couple to cause about a 10% decrease in liquid water path (LWP) when all warm microphysical processes are included. These dynamical effects are insensitive to both the resolutions tested and the mixing assumption. Regardless of resolution, assuming extreme inhomogeneous rather than homogeneous mixing results in a small reduction in cloud-averaged drop number concentration, a small increase in cloud drop effective radius, and ∼1% decrease in cloud optical depth. For the case presented, these small changes play a negligible role when compared to the impact of increasing aerosol and the associated entrainment effects. Finally, it is demonstrated that although increasing resolution causes an increase in LWP and number concentration, the relative sensitivity of cloud optical depth to changes in aerosol is unaffected by resolution.
Observations and Numerical Simulations of Subrotor Vortices during T-REX
Authors: Doyle James D. , Grubišić Vanda , Brown William O. J. , De Wekker Stephan F. J. , Dörnbrack Andreas , Jiang Qingfang , Mayor Shane D. , Weissmann Martin
Published: December 2008

High-resolution observations from scanning Doppler and aerosol lidars, wind profiler radars, as well as surface and aircraft measurements during the Terrain-induced Rotor Experiment (T-REX) provide the first comprehensive documentation of small-scale intense vortices associated with atmospheric rotors that form in the lee of mountainous terrain. Although rotors are already recognized as potential hazards for aircraft, it is proposed that these small-scale vortices, or subrotors, are the most dangerous features because of strong wind shear and the transient nature of the vortices. A life cycle of a subrotor event is captured by scanning Doppler and aerosol lidars over a 5-min period. The lidars depict an amplifying vortex, with a characteristic length scale of ∼500–1000 m, that overturns and intensifies to a maximum spanwise vorticity greater than 0.2 s−1. Radar wind profiler observations document a series of vortices, characterized by updraft/downdraft couplets and regions of enhanced reversed flow, that are generated in a layer of strong vertical wind shear and subcritical Richardson number. The observations and numerical simulations reveal that turbulent subrotors occur most frequently along the leading edge of an elevated sheet of horizontal vorticity that is a manifestation of boundary layer shear and separation along the lee slopes. As the subrotors break from the vortex sheet, intensification occurs through vortex stretching and in some cases tilting processes related to three-dimensional turbulent mixing. The subrotors and ambient vortex sheet are shown to intensify through a modest increase in the upstream inversion strength, which illustrates the predictability challenges for the turbulent characterization of rotors.
Seasonal Variation of the Physical Properties of Marine Boundary Layer Clouds off the California Coast
Authors: Lin Wuyin , Zhang Minghua , Loeb Norman G.
Published: December 2008

Marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds can significantly regulate the sensitivity of climate models, yet they are currently poorly simulated. This study aims to characterize the seasonal variations of physical properties of these clouds and their associated processes by using multisatellite data. Measurements from several independent satellite datasets [International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System–Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (CERES–MODIS), Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS), and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO)], in conjunction with balloon soundings from the mobile facility of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program at Point Reyes and reanalysis products, are used to characterize the seasonal variations of MBL cloud-top and cloud-base heights, cloud thickness, the degree of decoupling between clouds and MBL, and inversion strength off the California coast.

The main results from this study are as follows: (i) MBL clouds over the northeast subtropical Pacific in the summer are more prevalent and associated with a larger in-cloud water path than in winter. The cloud-top and cloud-base heights are lower in the summer than in the winter. (ii) Although the lower-tropospheric stability of the atmosphere is higher in the summer, the MBL inversion strength is only weakly stronger in the summer because of a negative feedback from the cloud-top altitude. Summertime MBL clouds are more homogeneous and are associated with lower surface latent heat flux than those in the winter. (iii) Seasonal variations of low-cloud properties from summer to winter resemble the downstream stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition of MBL clouds in terms of MBL depth, cloud-top and cloud-base heights, inversion strength, and spatial homogeneity. The “deepening–warming” mechanism of Bretherton and Wyant for the stratocumulus-to-trade-cumulus transition downstream of the cold eastern ocean can also explain the seasonal variation of low clouds from the summer to the winter, except that warming of the sea surface temperature needs to be taken as relative to the free-tropospheric air temperature, which occurs in the winter. The observed variation of low clouds from summer to winter is attributed to the much larger seasonal cooling of the free-tropospheric air temperature than that of the sea surface temperature.
Adaptive Soil Moisture Profile Filtering for Horizontal Information Propagation in the Independent Column-Based CLM2.0
Authors: De Lannoy Gabriëlle J. M. , Houser Paul R. , Verhoest Niko E. C. , Pauwels Valentijn R. N.
Published: December 2008

Data assimilation aims to provide an optimal estimate of the overall system state, not only for an observed state variable or location. However, large-scale land surface models are typically column-based and purely random ensemble perturbation of states will lead to block-diagonal a priori (or background) error covariance. This facilitates the filtering calculations but compromises the potential of data assimilation to influence (unobserved) vertical and horizontal neighboring state variables. Here, a combination of an ensemble Kalman filter and an adaptive covariance correction method is explored to optimize the variances and retrieve the off-block-diagonal correlations in the a priori error covariance matrix. In a first time period, all available soil moisture profile observations in a small agricultural field are assimilated into the Community Land Model, version 2.0 (CLM2.0) to find the adaptive second-order a priori error information. After that period, only observations from single individual soil profiles are assimilated with inclusion of this adaptive information. It is shown that assimilation of a single profile can partially rectify the incorrectly simulated soil moisture spatial mean and variability. The largest reduction in the root-mean-square error in the soil moisture field varies between 7% and 22%, depending on the soil depth, when assimilating a single complete profile every two days during three months with a single time-invariant covariance correction.
A Physical Method for the Calibration of the AVHRR/3 Thermal IR Channels 1: The Prelaunch Calibration Data
Authors: Mittaz Jonathan P. D. , Harris Andrew R. , Sullivan Jerry T.
Published: December 2008

The absolute accuracy of the thermal infrared (IR) radiances and brightness temperatures derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is still unknown, with major sources of error not yet fully understood. This is despite the fact that data from the AVHRR IR channels are widely used in deriving important atmospheric and surface parameters as well as in weather prediction, climate modeling, and other environmental studies. Central to the problem are possible errors introduced by the calibration test procedures and methodologies that can range up to approximately 0.5 K, much larger than the instrument electronic and detector noise characteristics. Further, there are known issues with the current calibration including a large mismatch of up to 0.7 K between the measured physical temperature of the internal calibration target (ICT) and its radiometric temperature estimated by using the AVHRR-observed counts. In an effort to improve this, a new approach to the calibration has been adopted that is dependent on physical instrument parameters. It is shown that this new calibration method can explain the ICT temperature mismatch as a combination of an incorrect assumption that the AVHRR was kept at a constant temperature during testing combined with the effect of scattered radiation from the test chamber and other sources. This new calibration also reduces the total biases and errors that exist when using the current operational calibration on the prelaunch data. Comparing the external calibration target temperatures to the temperatures derived using the AVHRR measurements, this new calibration can reduce an up to 0.7-K bias seen currently to an essentially zero bias with a scatter of less than 0.05 K in the SST regime. This marks an improvement of up to an order of magnitude in accuracy over the current operational calibration.
The Skill of ECMWF Precipitation and Temperature Predictions in the Danube Basin as Forcings of Hydrological Models
Authors: Pappenberger Florian , Buizza Roberto
Published: December 2008

In this paper the suitability of ECMWF forecasts for hydrological applications is evaluated. This study focuses on three spatial scales: the upper Danube (which is upstream of Bratislava, Slovakia), the entire Danube catchment, and the whole of Europe. Two variables, 2-m temperature and total precipitation, are analyzed. The analysis shows that precipitation forecasts follow largely in pattern the observations. The timing of the peaks between forecasted and observed precipitation and temperature is good although precipitation amounts are often underestimated. The catchment scale influences the skill scores significantly. Small catchments exhibit a larger variance as well as larger extremes. A water balance analysis suggest a 10% underestimation by the ensemble mean and an overestimation by the high-resolution forecast over the past few years. Precipitation and temperature predictions are skillful up to days 5–7. Forecasts accumulated over a longer time frame are largely more skillful than forecasts accumulated over short time periods.
The Influence of Terrain on the Tropical Rainfall Potential Technique in Taiwan
Authors: Liu Chung-Chih
Published: December 2008

The tropical rainfall potential (TRaP) technique is a simple concept that serves as a useful tool for forecasters in predicting the accumulated rainfall from typhoons. This research seeks to propose an algorithm for improving the accuracy of the results retrieved from the TRaP technique by taking into account the terrain’s influence on a typhoon’s rainfall pattern over Taiwan. The climatological percentages of the accumulated rainfall in Taiwan for six different typhoon tracks were established via statistical methods. By using the rainfall percentages with the original TRaP technique, results showed that the original TRaP technique could retrieve a graphical representation of the accumulated rainfall from typhoons for both oceans and flat land areas. When factoring in Taiwan’s terrain, the accuracy in a typhoon’s accumulated rainfall estimation is seen to further improve.
On the State of the IR Art: Problems of Self-Positioning and the Absence of Freedom
Authors: Vogt Henri
Published: December 2008

If we postulate that International Relations is not meeting the expectations that many have assigned to it, and that it may even be at risk of losing some of its intellectual appeal in the foreseeable future, what could the reasons be? This essay seeks to provide answers by identifying three general problems that the field currently faces, in many respects as a result of its increasing professionalization. The first is the excessive need of IR scholars to operate within the traditional parameters of the field; the second is their too weak relationship with the `real' world; and the third, the absence of freedom that undermines creative, intuitive thinking.
The Balkanization of Ottoman Rule
Authors: Hoffmann Clemens
Published: December 2008

The term `Balkanization' has found entry in the social sciences vocabulary as a metaphor for diversity at best, social and political instability for the most part, and genocidal war at worst. And yet it is precisely the emergence of a variety of national states and the Ottoman Empire's disintegration that are frequently portrayed as processes of `modernizing' as well as `naturalizing' the international system of the Balkans and the Middle East. By offering a historical sociological re-construction of early modern Ottoman history up to the Greek Revolt in 1821, I argue in this article that the national secessions were not synonymous with the creation of a `modern' international system in southeastern Europe. National independence cannot therefore be understood as a functional derivate of an expanding European Modernity mediated through global capitalism or geopolitical competition. Rather, the various secessions were the result of a series of conservative reactions to the modernization efforts of the Ottoman central administration. National state formation and Ottoman disintegration, on the one hand, and capitalist development and modern sovereignty on the other, have thus to be seen rather as having historically and socially distinct origins than as representing two sides of the same coin of a totalizing form of European international modernity.
Neither Saints nor Wolves in Disguise
Authors: Moritz Steffen , Wahl Karina , Ertle Andrea , Jelinek Lena , Hauschildt Marit , Klinge Ruth , Hand Iver
Published: December 2008

Inflated responsibility is ascribed a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The aim of the study was to assess interpersonal attitudes and behaviors contributing to enhanced responsibility in OCD. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that individuals diagnosed with OCD share stronger latent aggression toward others, resulting in a high degree of interpersonal ambivalence. A total of 176 participants with OCD, 42 participants with anxiety or depression as well as 42 healthy controls completed the Responsibility and Interpersonal Behaviors and Attitudes Questionnaire (RIBAQ). The factor analysis confirmed three factors: (1) inflated worry/responsibility, (2) latent aggression/calculating behavior and (3) suspiciousness/distrust. Whereas the psychiatric group displayed enhanced scores relative to healthy participants regarding responsibility and suspiciousness, OCD patients achieved significantly higher scores on the latent aggression dimension relative to both control groups. Results are consistent with the notion that participants with OCD show both inflated levels of (authentic) responsibility and latent aggression.
What Would It Be Like for Me and for You? Judged Impact of Chronic Health Conditions on Happiness
Authors: Walsh Emma , Ayton Peter
Published: December 2008

Background . People overestimate the impact of health conditions on happiness, putatively because they focus excessively on resulting negative consequences while disregarding the impact of other unchanged aspects of life on happiness. However, typically, inferences about accuracy have been based on a confound of the viewpoint of judgments (Self/Other) with whether the respondent has the condition (Have/Not-have)—an important issue because people often judge themselves as different to others. This study measured Haves' and Not-haves' judged impact on happiness—for self and other—of several chronic health conditions, and whether ``defocusing'' respondents improved judgment. Method . 80 Haves and 80 Not-haves predicted the impact of health conditions on their own and others' happiness using a questionnaire, after some participated in a defocusing exercise. Haves also indicated their preferences for their health condition over other conditions. Results . Although Haves made more accurate forecasts than Not-haves, both overestimated the impact of health conditions on others' happiness— yet defocusing respondents prior to prediction had no effect. Haves were aware that Not-haves misjudge Haves' happiness, but underestimated the bias in Not-haves' judgments. Whereas Haves judged they were more happy than other Haves, Not-haves predicted they would be less happy than others if living with a health condition. Finally, Haves' preferences for health conditions exhibited an endowment effect. Conclusion . The existence of an impact bias is not attributable to the confounding of self/other and Have/Not-have in other studies. People who have a condition forecasted others' happiness more accurately, suggesting that experience of one condition helps in comprehending life with another.
Impact of the Scale Upper Anchor on Health State Preferences
Authors: King Joseph T. , Tsevat Joel , Roberts Mark S.
Published: December 2008

Background . Some studies of patient preferences use a measurement scale with an upper anchor point of ``perfect health'' (``Q scale''), whereas others use ``disease free'' (``q scale''). Different measurement scales can lead to problems with interpreting and comparing study results. In an earlier study of patients with degenerative spine disease, the authors showed systematic differences between preferences measured on the Q v. q scales. They sought to validate the differences in Q and q scale measurements in a separate patient population. Methods . The authors measured preferences for current health in a population of 186 patients with cerebral aneurysms using the standard gamble (SG), time tradeoff (TTO), and willingness to pay (WTP) methods. Values were measured on both the Q and q scales and compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The authors used an additive utility model to calculate aneurysm-specific disutility. Results . Q and q scale values were different for the SG (mean values Q : 0.77, q : 0.80, P = 0.034), TTO (Q : 0.79, q : 0.81, P = 0.065), and WTP (Q : $117,600, q : $94,500, P < 0.001). Preference values were consistent with patients valuing perfect health more than aneurysm-free health. Cerebral aneurysms accounted for 43% to 86% of total disutility. Conclusions . Similar to earlier findings in patients with a degenerative spine condition, this validation study showed that preferences for current health in patients with cerebral aneurysms are different when measured on the Q and q scales. Investigators should be mindful of the impact of the scale's upper anchor point on preference values when conducting and interpreting preference studies.
The Meaning of the Music: The Role of Music in Palliative Care Music Therapy as Perceived by Bereaved Caregivers of Advanced Cancer Patients
Authors: Magill Lucanne
Published: December 2008

In an earlier qualitative research study exploring the meaning of preloss music therapy to bereaved caregivers who participated in sessions through a home-based hospice program, various narrative accounts revealed the significance of music in music therapy sessions. In this study, the role of music in palliative care music therapy is examined and representatively summarized, followed by a review of strategies provided by this author to home hospice patients and their caregivers. The reported perceptions of the meaning of music to 7 bereaved caregivers are presented, including a review of themes and associated narrations that illustrated its significance. The caregivers described these aspects of music in sessions to have memorable and lasting effects as follows: ``music is a conduit,'' ``music gets inside us,'' ``live music makes a difference,'' and ``music is love.'' Findings support the benefits of preloss music therapy for bereaved caregivers.
Developing a Pediatric Palliative Care Program: Addressing the Lack of Baseline Expenditure Information
Authors: Knapp Caprice A. , Thompson Lindsay A. , Vogel W. Bruce , Madden Vanessa L. , Shenkman Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2008

An estimated 500 000 children annually cope with life-limiting conditions expected to lead to premature death, but little is known about their health care expenditures at the end of life. This information is crucial for health planners to propose pediatric palliative care programs. This study aims to estimate predicted health care expenditures for Medicaid-eligible infants and children across several health service categories. Across these categories, infants and children were predicted to spend about US$110 000 and US$62 000 at the end of life, respectively. About 5% of infants and 8% of children incurred hospice expenditures. Results from the multivariate models suggest that black, non-Hispanic children are less likely than white, non-Hispanic children to use hospice care. Baseline expenditure information from this study can be used to develop integrated pediatric palliative care models. Our findings also suggest that many more children could potentially benefit by using hospice care at the end of life.
Substantive Religious Representation in the U.S. Senate
Authors: Edwards Smith Lauren , Olson Laura R. , Fine Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2008

Studies of representation are widespread in the congressional literature, with recent work focusing on both descriptive and substantive representation of various minority groups. The authors focus on religious representation in Congress, examining the extent to which senators’ own religious affiliation and the relative size of their religious constituencies affect substantive representation of Religious Right interests. The authors find that Christian senators (evangelical Protestants, conservative Catholics, and Mormons alike) provide better representation of the Religious Right, as do senators from states with larger Christian constituencies. The findings demonstrate that substantive representation is the product of characteristics of both the representatives and the represented.
Campaigning on Fruit, Nuts, and Wine
Authors: Jorgensen Paul D.
Published: December 2008

Explaining strategies of political action committee (PAC) contributions to candidates takes two forms. Scholars emphasize either PAC or candidate characteristics as having more explanatory power over variation in PAC contributions, and this choice results in different expectations for PAC contribution patterns. Using California fruit, nut, and wine PACs, this research revisits a much-debated question: Why do PACs give to some candidates and not others? The findings indicate a mediated model best explains PAC contributions, as these PACs contribute money according to legislator characteristics but predominantly within the state of California.
Medical Status of School-Age Children Reentering Foster Care
Authors: Fussell Jill J. , Evans Larry D.
Published: December 2008

Medical status changes between foster care placements were investigated to determine whether medical status improves and whether medical status changes predict reentry into care. Three hundred and ninety-two school-age children reentering foster care received comprehensive medical evaluation on each foster care entry. Results indicated that students reentering care had worsened medical status. Comparison with matched students having a single foster care placement did not show medical status predictive of foster care reentry but suggested that some medical status declines were age related.
Socioemotional Factors in Child Sexual Abuse Investigations
Authors: Hershkowitz Irit
Published: December 2008

Two socioemotional factors were explored in association with children's production of forensic information during sexual abuse investigations: rapport building and interviewer's support. The study tested to what extent (a) the length and questioning style in the rapport-building session and (b) the level of support interviewers provided to the children, were associated with the amount of forensic details children provided in their investigation. These associations were explored for more talkative and less talkative children as well as for children of two age groups (4-6 and 7-9 years). A total of 71 forensic interviews of alleged victims of child sexual abuse were subject to a detailed psycholinguistic analysis. Results suggest that richer information in the child's responses is associated with a short and open style rapport-building session as well as with a higher level of interviewer's support. This association is especially marked for less talkative children who might be in special need of support and for whom the rapport with the interviewer might be more meaningful.
Efficacy of a Vitamin/Nutriceutical Formulation for Early-stage Alzheimer's Disease: A 1-year, Open-label Pilot Study With an 16-Month Caregiver Extension
Authors: Chan Amy , Paskavitz James , Remington Ruth , Rasmussen Shelly , Shea Thomas B.
Published: December 2008

We examined the efficacy of a vitamin/nutriceutical formulation (folate, vitamin B6, alpha-tocopherol, S-adenosyl methionine, N-acetyl cysteine, and acetyl-L-carnitine) in a 12-month, open-label trial with 14 community-dwelling individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Participants improved in the Dementia Rating Scale and Clock-drawing tests (Clox 1 and 2). Family caregivers reported improvement in multiple domains of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and maintenance of performance in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study—Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Sustained performance was reported by caregivers for those participants who continued in an 16-month extension. Performance on the NPI was equivalent to published findings at 3 to 6 months for donepezil and exceeded that of galantamine and their historical placebos. Participants demonstrated superior performance for more than 12 months in NPI and ADL versus those receiving naproxen and rofecoxib or their placebo group. This formulation holds promise for treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease prior to and/or as a supplement for pharmacological approaches. A larger, placebo-controlled trial is warranted.
Neurophysiological Alterations During Strategy-Based Verbal Learning in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Strangman Gary E. , Goldstein Richard , O'Neil-Pirozzi Therese M. , Kelkar Kalika , Supelana Christina , Burke David , Katz Douglas I. , Rauch Scott L. , Savage Cary R. , Glenn Mel B.
Published: December 2008

Background. Verbal learning and strategic processing deficits are common sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying such deficits remain poorly understood. Methods. We performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 25 individuals with chronic TBI (>1 year after injury) and 20 matched healthy controls. Subjects were scanned while encoding word lists, with free recall and recognition assessed after each scanning run. To vary the strategic processing load, participants learned semantically unrelated words (Unrelated condition), semantically related words under null instruction conditions (Spontaneous condition), and semantically related words following training on the use of a semantic clustering strategy (Directed condition). Results. Behavioral performance on recall, recognition, and semantic clustering improved significantly as follows: Unrelated < Spontaneous < Directed. Individuals with TBI exhibited impaired yet parallel behavioral performance relative to control participants. The fMRI measures of brain activity during verbal encoding revealed decreased activity in participants with TBI relative to controls in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; BA 9) and in a region spanning the left angular and supramarginal gyri (BA 39/40). Functional connectivity analysis revealed evidence of a functional—but not anatomical—breakdown in the connectivity between the DLPFC and other regions specifically when participants with TBI were directed to use the semantic encoding strategy. Conclusion. After TBI, the DLPFC appears to be decoupled from other active brain regions specifically when strategic control is required. We hypothesize that approaches designed to help re-couple DLPFC under such conditions may aid TBI cognitive rehabilitation.
Effect of heat treatment on performance of hydroxyapatite coatings immersed in simulated body fluid
Authors: Xiao G.-Y. , Lu Y.-P. , Zhu R.-F. , Xu W.-H. , Wang A.-J. , Zhan Y.-J.
Published: December 2008

In this paper, the effect of heat treatment on the performance of hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) is researched. The electron probe microanalyser results show that different contrast appears on the planar microstructure images, and chemical inhomogeneity exists, in the plasma sprayed HA coatings. Heat treatment can eliminate the inhomogeneity, increase crystallinity of the coatings and make the element distributions tend to be homogeneous. The X-ray diffraction results show that the decomposed phase decrease, indicating that some recrystallinity chemical reactions occurred during heat treatment. The shear adhesion test shows that the bonding strength of the high crystallinity coatings increased, while the low crystallinity coatings significantly decreased ( p<0⋅05) after heat treatment. However, bonding strengths of all the coatings markedly decreased ( p<0⋅05) after immersion in 0⋅5SBF for 4 weeks. The scanning electron microscopy results show that the cracks, pores as well as boundaries of unmelted particles in the coatings are the origins of the rupture. There are some needle like nanocrystals distributing on the pores at the fractures of as sprayed coatings, while needle like crystals are not found at the fractures of heat treated coatings.
Application of rigid(visco)–plastic element free Galerkin method to simulation of plane strain forming
Authors: Guan Y. J. , Zhao G. Q. , Wu X. , Lu P.
Published: December 2008

A rigid–plastic/viscoplastic element free Galerkin (EFG) method is introduced based on the flow formulation for rigid–plastic/viscoplastic materials to analyse the metal forming processes. The penalty function method is employed to introduce the volume constancy condition, and the stiffness matrix equation is derived according to incomplete generalised variational principle. The transformation method is adopted to impose the essential boundary condition in the local coordinate system. In order to implement the frictional boundary conditions, the transform matrix from the global coordinate system to the local coordinate system is given, and the arctangent frictional model is used. The meshless analysis techniques for metal forming processes with arbitrary shaped die are developed. The plane strain forming process is analysed numerically by using the rigid(visco)–plastic EFG method. The simulation results of the EFG method are in good agreement with those obtained by using the rigid(visco)–plastic FEM, and the effectiveness of the model and key techniques is verified.
Formation of eutectic-type microconstituent during transient liquid phase bonding of nickel: Influence of process parameters
Authors: Abdelfatah M. , Ojo O. A.
Published: December 2008

Transient liquid phase bonding of nickel by a filler material containing phosphorus as a melting point depressant was performed to study the effects of process parameters on the joint microstructure. Insufficient holding time for complete isothermal solidification of liquated insert resulted in formation of eutectic-type microconstituent along the joint centreline region. An increase in the eutectic thickness with increase in initial filler gap size was observed in joints prepared at a constant temperature and holding time. The eutectic was observed to serve as a preferred continuous path for crack initiation and/or propagation. Two different observation of influence of bonding temperature on the eutectic formation was made, one in which increase in bonding temperature resulted in formation of thicker centreline eutectic and the second in which preclusion of the eutectic was achieved at a shorter time relative to a lower temperature.
Weld metal cracking in laser beam welded single crystal nickel base superalloys
Authors: Wang Y. L. , Ojo O. A. , Ding R. G. , Chaturvedi M. C.
Published: December 2008

The weldability of two single crystal nickel base superalloys CMSX-4 and CMSX-486 were investigated by autogenous bead-on-plate laser beam welding. The analysis of microsegregation that occurred during solidification in the fusion zone indicated that while W and Re segregated into the γ dendrites, γ′ forming elements Ti, Ta, and Al as well as Hf were rejected into the interdendritic liquid. Fusion zone cracking was observed in both the materials and was observed to have initiated and propagated along the high angle stray grain boundaries in the weld metal of the two alloys. Increased formation of stray grains and increased extent of fusion zone cracking were, however, observed in the CMSX-486 alloy. Extension of solidification temperature range mainly by microsegregation of grain boundary strengthening elements B, Hf, and Zr in CMSX-486 was suggested to be responsible for the increased susceptibility of the alloy to stray grain formation and weld metal cracking compared to CMSX-4 superalloy.
Multipass warm/hot rolling of single phase Zircaloy 2: Developments in crystallographic texture and in lattice strain
Authors: Vanitha C. , Kiran Kumar M. , Dey G. K. , Srivastava D. , Tewari R. , Narayana Rao M. , Banerjee S.
Published: December 2008

Zircaloy 2, a cast and hot forged alloy with a Widmanstätten structure, was warm/hot rolled to 40 and 80% reductions at approximate working temperatures of 200, 400, 600 and 800°C. The bulk crystallographic texture had clearly different patterns of developments between 200/400 and 600/800°C deformed structures. The estimated lattice strain, on the other hand, had shown noticeable relative softening and hardening after the respective deformation temperatures of 600 and 800°C. The patterns of macroscopic developments, both in bulk crystallographic texture and in lattice strain, could be explained from the microstructural observations. The difference in bulk crystallographic texture was primarily related to the preferred appearance of recrystallised grains. The 600°C rolled structure was associated with recovery/recrystallisation and a concurrent softening while the effects of a similar softening was suppressed through significant intermetallic precipitations and associated strain localisations in the 800°C rolled material.
Dry sliding wear behaviour of hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys containing excess iron
Authors: Taghiabadi R. , Ghasemi H. M.
Published: December 2008

The effect of Fe content on the wear behaviour and tensile properties of Al–Si alloys was studied. It is shown that as the amount of Fe in the alloy was increased to ∼0·7 wt-% an improvement of ∼10% was observed in the wear resistance under applied loads of 20, 30 and 40 N. Further addition of Fe up to 1·8 wt-%, however, lowered the wear resistance by about 30, 35 and 55% under applied loads of 20, 30 and 40 N respectively. This behaviour can be attributed to the formation of needle-like Al5FeSi intermetallics in the matrix. For the higher Fe contents, although the hardness of the alloy increased, the crack sensitive nature of these intermetallics also became severer. This in turn led to higher tendency of the alloy to microcracking, higher wear and lower tensile properties.
Improvement of magnetic residual stress measurements based on Fourier transform
Authors: Liu H. S. , Yin C. H. , Zhang L. , Mao X. B. , Miao X. X. , Lu A. H.
Published: December 2008

A more convenient magnetic residual stress measurement method was proposed with an improved data processing method using a Fourier transform. The effects of demagnetisation, grinding and excitation frequency were also investigated. It is found that

i) the application of a Fourier transform makes the rotation of the magnetic probe redundant and leads to more convenient stress measurements

ii) residual magnetisation exerts a great influence on the measurement results and thus demagnetisation is necessary for more accurate measurements

iii) the stress measurement depth can be adjusted by altering the excitation frequency. The authors’ investigation provides a more convenient magnetic stress measurement method.
Influence of solutionising and aging temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al–Si–Cu alloy
Authors: Haro S. , Ramírez J. , Dwivedi D. K. , Martínez E.
Published: December 2008

This paper presents the influence of solution and aging temperatures on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 319 secondary cast aluminium alloy. Experimental alloy was subjected to different heat treatment cycles. Heat treatments were designed with two solutionising temperatures (504 and 545°C) at two solutionising times (4 and 8 h), followed by quenching in water at 60°C and artificial aging. The artificial aging was carried out at two temperatures (200 and 154°C) for 6 h. The improvement in mechanical properties was obtained with low solution temperature (504°C) for 8 h followed by quenching in water to 60°C and aging at low temperature (154°C). The increase in the solutionising temperature from 504 to 545°C was recommendable only for short solutionising time (4 h). Increase in the aging temperature from 154 to 200°C has led to the increase in hardness with the corresponding decrease in ductility. Aging under unfavourable conditions (prolonged aging at high temperature) caused coarsening of spheroidised eutectic silicon crystals and precipitated particles resulted in deleterious effect on the tensile strength.
High strain rate superplasticity of ultrafined Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al compact prepared by sintering and isothermal forging
Authors: Zhao Z. L. , Guo H. Z. , Duan C. Y. , Yao Z. K.
Published: December 2008

High strain rate superplasticity was obtained for powder Ti–10V–2Fe–3Al (Ti-1023) alloy prepared by powder sintering and isothermal forging technology. The selected powder was cold isostatic pressed, sintered and isothermal forged to prepare this powder alloy. Tensile testing was conducted at optimum superplastic temperaure of 1023 K with different initial strain rate, and the elongation to failure, the flow stress and the microstructure were analysed. The experiment results exhibited that the microstructure of this powder alloy is extraordinary uniform and fine, resulted in considerable enhancement of optimum initial strain rate increased from 3·3×10−4 s−1 of conventional cast and wrought Ti-1023 alloy to 3·3×10−3 s−1 of this powder alloy. The elongation to failure increased first and then decreased with initial strain rate from 3·3×10−4 to 3·3×10−2 s−1. The strain rate sensitivity m is about 0·46 near initial strain rate of 3·3×10−3 s−1, larger than conventional cast and wrought Ti-1023 alloy. Microstructure observations showed that dynamic recrystallisation and grain growth were present during superplastic deforming.
Microstructure characteristics of CBN/steel joints brazed with TiB2 modified active filler
Authors: Ding W. F. , Xu J. H. , Chen Z. Z. , Yang C. Y. , Fu Y. C.
Published: December 2008

The joint of cubic boron nitride (CBN) grits to 0·45%C steel were obtained by using TiB2 modified Ag–Cu–Ti active filler at the brazing temperature of 920°C for the holding time of 5 min. The microstructure characteristics of the brazing interface were detected by means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersion spectrometer, X-ray diffraction and microhardness measuring equipment as well. It has been found that the microstructure of Ag–Cu–Ti filler layer is significantly refined by TiB2 particles. The almost well proportioned distribution of TiB2 particles in the filler layer is realised. Negative influence of TiB2 particles has not occurred on the chemical reaction of CBN particles and the filler at elevated temperatures. Reliable joining of CBN grits to 0·45%C steel is accomplished dependent on the resultant reaction products at the brazing interface.
Microstructures of Mg–Al binary magnesium alloy solidified with ultrasonic treatment
Authors: Zhang Z. Q. , Le Q. C. , Cui J. Z.
Published: December 2008

Phase morphology is one of the most important microstructural characteristics determining the mechanical properties and therefore, the service performance of polycrystalline materials. The effect of ultrasonic treatment on the β-phase (Mg17Al12) morphology of Mg–9·0Al alloy is studied in the present paper. The result shows that with high intensity ultrasonic vibration employed during the solidifying of Mg–9·0Al, the β-phase in the entire cross-section of the billet is significantly refined and also changed from continuous to discontinuous morphology. Spherical β-phase is formed during the solidification of billet treated with high intensity ultrasonic vibration.
Continuous drive friction welding of Inconel 718 and EN24 dissimilar metal combination
Authors: Lalam S. Vardhan , Reddy G. Madhusudhan , Mohandas T. , Kamaraj M. , Murty B. S.
Published: December 2008

Nickel based superalloy Inconel 718 and low alloy steel EN24 are welded by continuous drive friction welding in annealed condition and then post-weld heat treated (PWHT). The welds exhibit low strength and high toughness in the as welded condition. Post-weld heat treatment applicable to either Inconel 718 or EN24, led to reduction in toughness and increase in strength. Toughness degradation after PWHT as per Inconel 718 was predominant. The observed trends in mechanical properties are explained on the basis of observed microstructure, fracture behaviour, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction.