bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercise for optimising peak bone mass in women
Authors: Bailey C. A. , Brooke-Wavell K.
Published: January 2008

Physical activity is one of the major non-pharmacological methods for increasing and maintaining bone mineral density (BMD) and geometry. As such, it has an important role in maintaining peak bone mass and strength, thus reducing the risk of future osteoporotic fracture. However, not all exercise is effective, so a prescription in terms of optimal type, intensity, frequency and duration is required. Studies using animal models suggest that loading that is high in magnitude, rapidly applied and novel is most effective, whilst duration is less important beyond a threshold number of cycles. In human subjects cross-sectional studies comparing different athletic populations suggest that those who participate in high- or odd-impact sports have higher BMD; whilst impact exercise, strength training and brief high-impact-jump training interventions increase BMD in premenopausal women. In order to further elucidate exercise recommendations to optimise bone health in this population, the usefulness of brief high-impact unilateral exercises has been evaluated. Brief hopping exercises were shown to be feasible for sedentary premenopausal women, producing ground-reaction forces as high as those from jumping. Regularly performing these hopping exercises over 6 months was found to increase femoral-neck BMD of the trained leg relative to the control leg. Unilateral high-impact exercise may therefore improve bone strength of the trained limb and provide a useful model for comparing exercise prescriptions to help define the most efficient and effective exercise recommendations for the bone health of premenopausal women.
Trajectories of the ‘Dead Heart’: Performing the Poetics of (Australian) Space
Authors: Fensham Rachel
Published: January 2008

In this paper Rachel Fensham returns to the writings of Gaston Bachelard in order to examine the poetics of space from a non-European perspective. Spatial metaphors, such as the ‘dead heart’ that might evoke phenomenological and psychic dimensions of space in Australia, also register in historical and geographical imaginaries. However, postcolonial theories of space disturb visual metaphors and cartographic concepts in the mises en scène of theatrical performance. Here, Fensham analyzes two recent performances that radically reimagine the poetics of (Australian) space through the movement trajectories of walking and falling. Rachel Fensham is a Professor of Dance and Theatre Studies at the University of Surrey. Her book with Denise Varney, The Dolls' Revolution: Australian Theatre and Cultural Imagination (Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2005), examines the influence of women playwrights on mainstream Australian theatre, and she is currently undertaking research on transnationalism and choreographic practice.
When is a Play not a Drama? Two Examples of Postdramatic Theatre Texts
Authors: Barnett David
Published: January 2008

In this article David Barnett investigates the ways in which plays can be considered ‘postdramatic’. Opening with an exploration of this new paradigm, he then seeks to examine two plays, Attempts on her Life by Martin Crimp and 4:48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane, in a bid to understand how their texts frustrate representation and the structuring of time, and concludes by considering how the restrictions imposed upon the postdramatic performance differ from the interpretive freedom of text in representational, dramatic theatre. David Barnett is senior lecturer and Head of Drama at the University of Sussex. He has published monographs on Heiner Müller (1998) and Rainer Werner Fassbinder (2005), the latter as Research Fellow of the Humboldt Foundation, Germany. He has also published articles on contemporary German, English-language, political, and postdramatic theatre.
International Law and Alterity: The State and the Other
Authors: JODOIN SÉBASTIEN
Published: January 2008

This article argues that orthodox international law is committed to the state at the expense of the Other, that which is not the state, and, at a more philosophical level, to ontology at the expense of ethics. Drawing on the philosophy of Emmanuel Lévinas, it seeks a shift from ontology, focusing on Being, to ethics, constituted by our responsibility to the Other. Section 1 argues that international law assumes the natural existence of a Being of the State and that this ontology of statehood constitutes the ontology of international law. Section 2 explains how the ontology of statehood having been transformed into an epistemology ultimately leads to the violent suppression of alterity. Section 3 proposes a number of projects and strategies through which we may pursue the ethics of alterity in international law. The article concludes with a discussion of three tensions within international law: statehood–alterity, ontology–ethics, and law–politics.
Sex, Love, and Marriage: Questioning Gender and Sexuality Rights in International Law
Authors: GROSS AEYAL M.
Published: January 2008

The cover of Sex Rights: The Oxford Amnesty Lectures 2002 shows a picture of two men photographed from the back, with their hands holding each other's waists. They are walking towards a camera crew. Based on the way they are dressed, it seems that they have just been married. Both men are wearing white dress shirts and have similar hairstyles, with one wearing a black waistcoat over the white shirt and the other with black braces. This collection, based on the Oxford Amnesty Lectures series on gender and sexuality, thus apparently features on its cover the same-sex marriage of two men, ostensibly held in one of the few jurisdictions that have legalized such a union (perhaps the Netherlands, which was the first to do so, and was later followed by Belgium, Spain, Canada, Massachusetts (United States), and South Africa). And while we know that ‘love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage’, what has sex got to do with this? Would it not be more appropriate for a cover of a book entitled Sex Rights to feature two persons engaged in sex or having just engaged in sex rather than a marriage ceremony? Would it not be more appropriate to depict, on a cover of a book called Sex Rights, a picture of two men in a position that suggests they have just had sex, an act for which they could be persecuted and prosecuted in various jurisdictions?

So why, then, does a book on Sex Rights feature same-sex marriage on its cover?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome: pathophysiology, molecular aspects and clinical implications
Authors: Diamanti-Kandarakis Evanthia
Published: January 2008

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is universally recognised as the commonest endocrinopathy of women. The definition and the aetiological hypotheses of PCOS are continuously evolving to accommodate expanding knowledge on the syndrome, which is now known to be more complex than purely a reproductive disorder. Increased androgen synthesis, disrupted folliculogenesis and insulin resistance lie at the pathophysiological core of PCOS. An intriguing concept involves the perpetuation of a vicious circle with endocrine/reproductive and metabolic components. An unfavourable metabolic environment may unmask genetic traits of ovarian dysfunction, and the unfolding endocrine derangement could further aggravate the metabolic disarray. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms known to underlie the ovarian and metabolic abnormalities characterising PCOS. The putative interdependence between reproductive and metabolic aspects of PCOS, and therapeutic implications for the management of PCOS, are also discussed.
Legislative Production in Comparative Perspective: Cross-Sectional Study of 42 Countries and Time-Series Analysis of the Japan Case
Authors: FUKUMOTO KENTARO
Published: January 2008

Legislative scholars have debated what factors (e.g. divided government) account for the number of important laws a legislative body passes per year. This paper presents a monopoly model for explaining legislative production. It assumes that a legislature adjusts its law production so as to maximize its utility. The model predicts that socio-economic and political changes increase the marginal benefit of law production, whereas low negotiation costs and ample legislative resources decrease the marginal cost of law production. The model is tested in two ways. The first approach compares the legislatures of 42 developed and developing countries. The second analyzes Japanese lawmaking from 1949 to 1990, using an appropriate method for event count time series data. Both empirical investigations support the model's predictions for legislative production.
Economic Interdependence and Third-Party International Interactions: A 30-Country Third-Party Bloc Case Study
Authors: CHANG YUAN-CHING
Published: January 2008

The trade–conflict model claims that one state,designated ‘actor’, is deterred from initiating conflict against a trading partner,designated ‘target’, for fear of losing the welfare gains associated with trade. This paper extends the trade–conflict model to garner implications concerning trade and conflict interactions where third-party blocs are involved. The theoretical propositions supported by proofs are: (1) if the actor increases trade with a third-party who is a friend of the target, then the actor will decrease conflict toward the target; (2) if the actor increases trade with a third-party who is a rival of the target, then the actor will increase conflict toward the target. A 30-country sample from the Conflict and Peace Data Bank (COPDAB) is used and divided into three blocs, namely a Western bloc, a Middle Eastern bloc, and an Eastern bloc. The empirical analysis supports the hypotheses. A similar relationship is also discussed and tested for situations in which conflict increases or decreases between the actor and third-party bloc. In addition, the evidence shows that Western bloc countries play a central role in world political and economic relationships.
Fragmentation and Power: Reconceptualizing Policy Making under Japan's 1955 System
Authors: CAMPBELL JOHN CREIGHTON , SCHEINER ETHAN
Published: January 2008

In the 1980s, a wave of new–extremely clever and detailed–studies revolutionized the Japanese politics field. The empirical findings of this ‘new paradigm’ literature remain the conventional wisdom on Japanese policy-making patterns under the ‘1955 System’. In this paper, we offer a critical reinterpretation of the new paradigm literature. We do not offer new empirical analysis, but, rather, reconsider this conventional wisdom by putting a new spin on the evidence previous authors utilized to analyze the policy-making process in Japan under the 1955 System. Contrary to the conventional view of strong central bureaucratic power, we argue that in the 1960s policy making was quite fragmented. In contrast to literature suggesting substantial politician influence in the 1980s, we argue that there was a decline in the influence of politicians in general in policy making.
Developing methods that really do value the ‘Q’ in the QALY
Authors: DOLAN PAUL
Published: January 2008

Most health economists recommend that improvements in health be valued by asking members of the general public to imagine themselves in different states of health and then to think about how many years of life they would give up or what risk of death they would be willing to accept in order to be in full health. In this paper, I argue that preferences are not a very good guide to future experiences and a more suitable way to value health is to ask people in different states of health how they think and feel about their lives. Valuing health in this way may result in greater priority being given to mental health services. Whatever the precise implications, it is my contention that it is much better to ration health care according to real experiences rather than according to hypothetical preferences.
Are subjective well-being measures any better than decision utility measures?
Authors: SMITH DYLAN M. , BROWN STEPHANIE L. , UBEL PETER A.
Published: January 2008

There are a number of substantial problems with using decision-based utility measures such as the time trade off and standard gamble to value improvements in health. Dolan (this issue) argues that because of these problems, it would be better to use measures of real experiences (subjective well being). We review evidence that supports criticisms of decision-based utility measures, whether provided by patients or non-patients. But we also review a number of substantial problems with currently used measures of subjective well-being, and point out that there is no definitive evidence that they represent any improvement over decision utility measures. We conclude with a call for expanded research into developing new tools for quantifying health-related quality of life that are more valid, more sensitive to changes in health status, and less biased.
Global public–private partnerships against neglected diseases: building governance structures for effective outcomes
Authors: BUCKUP SEBASTIAN
Published: January 2008

Focusing on the problem of pharmaceutical R&D for drugs and vaccines against neglected diseases in developing countries, this article argues that the effectiveness of global health partnerships potentially lies in their capacity to address the problem of dual market failures: on a first level they may tackle the poverty induced lack of effective demand for health products which impedes the creation of market-financed innovative products. On a second level, they may help overcoming hold-up problems and underinvestment induced by the complexity of neglected diseases R&D. Yet, organizing transactions within a partnership is not a panacea against these problems: a crucial determinant of success is properownership structures. They need to respond to (i) the degree to which the respective parties value the partnership outcome, (ii) the relative importance of the investment of the parties, and (iii) the nature of the partnership outcome. The argument developed in the analysis is built on an integrated framework combining insights from incomplete contracting theory and public goods economics. It is supported by a preliminary statistical analysis of 17 GHPs.
Reflux disease and eating disorders — a case for teamwork
Authors: Imfeld Carola , Imfeld Thomas
Published: January 2008

Erosionen sind säurebedingte Zahnhartsubstanzschäden. Sie können Folge von Allgemeinerkrankungen wie gastroösophagealem Reflux oder Essstörungen sein, weil es hierbei zu einem regelmäßigen Kontakt der Magensäure mit den Zähnen kommt. Das entstehende Verteilungsmuster der Erosionen im Zahnbogen ist so typisch, dass auch ohne andere Symptome von einer allgemeinmedizinischen Ursache ausgegangen werden kann. Der Zahnarzt kann somit «Erstentdecker» sein. Eine gute Zusammenarbeit zwischen Hausarzt und Zahnarzt ist für eine ursachenbezogene Behandlung notwendig («Ein Fall für Zwei»). Zusätzlich zur Therapie der Grunderkrankung können praktische, alltagstaugliche dentale Präventionsmaßnahmen wie Kaugummi kauen, Fluoridspülungen etc. empfohlen werden.
Multiscaling of shear zones and the evolution of the brittle‐to‐viscous transition in continental crust
Authors: Schrank C. E. , Handy M. R. , Fusseis F.
Published: January 2008

A new method is introduced for quantifying the scale and the intensity of strain localization from maps of natural shear zones. The method employs autocorrelation functions to determine local areal scales of geometric homogeneity. These homogenization scales are used to calculate scale‐dependent localization fractions of deformed rock. The strain localization intensity is quantified from measurements of mean relative to maximum shear strain. This approach is used to analyze shear zones on different scales from an exposure (Cap de Creus, Spain) of the fossil brittle‐to‐viscous transition (BVT). Changes in the scaling characteristics of shear zones are interpreted to reflect a time sequence of localization during the evolution of the continental BVT. We show that shear zone scaling is related to inherited anisotropies (older schistosity, lithological layering, pegmatite bodies) and to the predominant mode of deformation (brittle, viscous). The length‐to‐width ratio of shear zones increases with their length up to the meter scale and decreases for larger length scales as they evolve from isolated shear fractures to interconnected mylonitic shear zones. Variations in strain localization intensity calculated along a single shear zone indicate that such shear zones weakened from their brittle tips to their mylonitic centers, thus driving their propagation and growth to larger scales. Our results imply that the BVT evolves by “network widening,” a process whereby strain localizes on progressively larger scales until a dense network of weak, mylonitic layers tens to hundreds of meters wide and hundreds to thousands of meters long forms subparallel to the regional shearing plane.
Sediment delivery from the Fly River tidally dominated delta to the nearshore marine environment and the impact of El Niño
Authors: Ogston Andrea S. , Sternberg Richard W. , Nittrouer Charles A. , Martin D. Preston , Goñi Miguel A. , Crockett John S.
Published: January 2008

In tidally dominated deltas, sediment discharged from the river sources must transit through an estuarine region located within the distributary channels, where particle pathways can undergo significant transformations. Water column profiles and time series data were collected in the distributaries and shallow nearshore region offshore of the Fly River, Papua New Guinea, during monsoon conditions of 2003 and 2004. Within the distributaries of this tidally dominated delta, near‐bed fluid mud concentrations were observed at the estuarine turbidity maximum. Discharge and morphology of the distributaries determine the location of estuarine processes and control the sediment flux to the marine environment. Sediment delivery from the delta to the broad shallow nearshore region northeast of the river mouth and to the steep Umuda shelf valley is influenced by the shorter pathway of the northernmost distributary. The shallowest portion of the nearshore region (<10 m water depth) is a zone of temporary storage where unconsolidated sediment is easily resuspended. Umuda shelf valley constrains and enhances tidal currents and provides a steep conduit to seaward transport of fluid muds. Comparison of 2003 and 2004 data shows evidence of reduction in freshwater supply to the Gulf of Papua during the moderate 2003 El Niño conditions. El Niño creates a large negative perturbation (i.e., low flow) to the relatively constant sediment discharge. This reduction of discharge limits transport of sediment from the distributaries to the nearshore zone of temporary storage. As the sediment stored near shore feeds the prograding clinoform found seaward, the perturbation propagates throughout the dispersal system.
Application of Capon technique to mitigate bird contamination on a spaced antenna wind profiler
Authors: Chen Meng‐Yuan , Yu Tian‐You , Chu Yen‐Hsyang , Brown William O. J. , Cohn Stephen A.
Published: January 2008

A novel technique is developed for profiling radars to measure atmospheric wind fields when signals are contaminated by migrating birds. It exploits the idea of adaptive beamforming to suppress the interference from birds to provide accurate three‐dimensional wind measurements using a spaced antenna system. Numerical simulations based on the configuration of the UHF Multiple Antenna Profiler Radar of the National Center for Atmospheric Research are implemented to investigate the performance and the limitation of the proposed technique. The feasibility of atmospheric wind measurements is further demonstrated by using the experimental data. Wind measurements from the full correlation analysis (FCA) and postset beam steering (PBS) are also provided for comparisons. During the period when a single bird is present in the radar beam, the proposed technique produces wind estimates that are consistent with atmospheric wind field prior to the entry of the bird, while both FCA and PBS wind estimates are biased.
Influence of rift jump and excess loading on the structural evolution of northern Iceland
Authors: Garcia Sebastian , Angelier Jacques , Bergerat Françoise , Homberg Catherine , Dauteuil Olivier
Published: January 2008

New structural data combined with published structural and geochronological data allow reconstruction of the structural evolution that followed the last rift jump across northern Iceland. Tertiary lava flows erupted along the Skagafjördur paleo‐rift have been down‐bent under the weight of, and in the direction of, Plio‐Pleistocene lava flows emitted from the Northern Volcanic Zone and the central part of Iceland. This down‐bending process involved development of local flexure zones and a flexural extension along the resulting monoclines. This structural reorganization explains the existence of the Húnaflói‐Skagi synform without need for a paleo‐rift axis along it, in agreement with previous radiometric dating. The large amount of Plio‐Pleistocene lava flows erupted in Central Iceland may have been enhanced by ice cap loading.
Secular variation of the geomagnetic dipole during the past 2000 years
Authors: Valet Jean‐Pierre , Herrero‐Bervera Emilio , LeMouël Jean‐Louis , Plenier Guillaume
Published: January 2008

We have constructed a very simple model of a time‐varying geocentric dipole based on the archeomagnetic records obtained at four widely separated sites on the globe for the past 2 ka. The predictions of the model in terms of directional variations have been tested against actual archeomagnetic data from 12 sites distributed over the globe. They were also compared with the Hongre et al. (1998) time‐varying spherical harmonic model and with the CALS7K‐2 model by Korte et al. (2005). We find that the misfits between the predictions of our simple dipole model and the data are equivalent to those of the spherical harmonic models for the European sites and not strikingly larger for the rest of the world. Many discrepancies can be accounted for by uncertainties inherent to the archeomagnetic records, which, along with the small number and poor geographical distribution of sites, leads us to conclude that the present state of the database does not allow the extraction of secular variations described by terms going beyond degree 2. It appears also that dipole tilt could be responsible for the main part of the secular variation associated with time constants exceeding 102 years. In a second step, we used the paleointensity records contained in the same database to construct the curve depicting the variations of the true dipole moment. The present decrease of the dipole did not begin prior to 1000 years ago, and the dipole was actually increasing from 0 until A.D. 500. The dipole moment of CALS7K is lower than the present estimate, probably due to large repartition of energy to higher harmonics to minimize the misfit between the inversion and the data. The tilt and strength of the dipole can predict the dipole field at any site and were used to derive the contribution of the nondipole field to values of paleointensity at Paris during the past 2 ka. The results show that the “archeomagnetic jerks” are associated with various configurations depending on the phase relationship between the nondipolar and dipolar parts of the field.
Source process of the September 12, 2007, MW 8.4 southern Sumatra earthquake from tsunami tide gauge record inversion
Authors: Lorito Stefano , Romano Fabrizio , Piatanesi Alessio , Boschi Enzo
Published: January 2008

We infer the slip distribution and average rupture velocity of the magnitude MW 8.4 September 12, 2007, southern Sumatra earthquake from available tide‐gauge records of the ensuing tsunami. We select 9 waveforms recorded along the west coast of Sumatra and in the Indian Ocean. Slip distribution and rupture velocity are determined simultaneously by means of a non linear inversion method. We find high slip values (∼10 m) into a patch 100 km long and 50 km large, between 20 and 30 km of depth, about 100 km north‐west from the epicenter. We conclude this earthquake did not rupture the whole area of the 1833 event, indicating some slip has still to occur. Our estimate of rupture velocity is of 2.1 ± 0.4 km/sec. The relatively large depth of the main slip patch is the likely explanation for the low damaging observed tsunami.
Improved calculations of interplanetary magnetic field phase front angles and propagation time delays
Authors: Weimer Daniel R. , King Joseph H.
Published: January 2008

It has been known that the variations in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) occur within surfaces that are tilted with respect to the solar wind velocity vector. This tilting of the IMF phase fronts may cause the propagation from a point of observation to another location to have delay times that vary substantially. Therefore for accurate delay calculations in real time, or for the creation of scientific data sets, it is necessary to be able to determine the phase surface orientation angles using the magnetic field measurements on one spacecraft only. Methods for calculating these tilt angles have been tested for accuracy by a comparison using IMF measurements on multiple satellites. One method is a variation of the minimum variance of the magnetic field, where it is constrained by the condition that the average field along the phase front's normal vector is zero. This method is referred to as MVAB‐0. Another technique is to simply calculate the vector cross product between magnetic fields measured at two different sample times. The choices of the different parameters for the calculation and error discrimination are important. An optimization of parameters was done by testing how well the propagation delays from one spacecraft to others are predicted. The tests have indicated that, when optimized, both procedures work comparably well. It had also been found that further improvements to time delay predictions are obtained by combining together both the MVAB‐0 and cross‐product techniques, where the results of both methods must be in near agreement.
Use of the Wigner‐Ville distribution in interpreting and identifying ULF waves in triaxial magnetic records
Authors: Chi P. J. , Russell C. T.
Published: January 2008

Magnetospheric ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) waves (f = 1 mHz to 1 Hz) exhibit highly time‐dependent characteristics due to the dynamic properties of these waves and, for observations in space, the spacecraft motion. These time‐dependent features may not be properly resolved by conventional Fourier techniques. In this study we examine how the Wigner‐Ville distribution (WVD) can be used to analyze ULF waves. We find that this approach has unique advantages over the conventional Fourier spectrograms and wavelet scalograms. In particular, for Pc1 wave packets, field line/cavity mode resonances in the Pc 3–4 band, and Pi2 pulsations, the start and end times of each wave packet can be well identified and the frequency better defined. In addition, we demonstrate that the Wigner‐Ville distribution can be used to calculate the polarization of wave signals in triaxial magnetic field data in a way analogous to Fourier analysis. Motivated by the large amount of ULF wave observations, we have also developed a WVD‐based algorithm to identify ULF waves as a way to facilitate the rapid processing of the data collected by satellite missions and the vast network of ground magnetometers.
Statistical characteristics of the storm time plasma sheet
Authors: Ohtani S. , Mukai T.
Published: January 2008

The present study addresses the convection and configuration of the storm time plasma sheet by examining the occurrence ratios of fundamental plasma quantities. Measurements made by the Geotail spacecraft in the midnight sector are used. The results are summarized as follows: (1) the occurrence ratio of the plasma flow velocity is not noticeably different between storm and nonstorm time or between the main and recovery phases; (2) the convection electric field is more intense during the main phase; (3) the equatorial magnetic field is stronger during the main phase; (4) the ion pressure is higher, therefore the tail current is more intense, during the main phase. It is suggested that the stronger equatorial magnetic field (result 3) counteracts the enhancement of the convection electric field (result 2) so that the occurrence ratio of the flow velocity does not depends on geomagnetic activity (result 1). The storm time increase in the equatorial magnetic field can be attributed to the X‐dependent intensification of the dawn‐to‐dusk electric current (the ring current and tail current); if the current is more intensified on the earthward side than on the tailward side, the net change in BZ is positive. It is also found that the reconnection takes place, if infrequently, at X > −15 RE during storm periods. However, result 1 suggests that despite the intense tail current (result 4), the X distribution of the near‐Earth reconnection site does not statistically depend on storm activity. This can also be attributed to the stronger equatorial magnetic field as well as to the storm time enhancement of the near‐Earth plasma number density. It is therefore suggested that the ring current affects the plasma sheet dynamics through its contribution to the tail magnetic configuration.
A method for reconstruction of past UV radiation based on radiative transfer modeling: Applied to four stations in northern Europe
Authors: Lindfors Anders , Kaurola Jussi , Arola Antti , Koskela Tapani , Lakkala Kaisa , Josefsson Weine , Olseth Jan Asle , Johnsen Bjørn
Published: January 2008

A method for reconstruction of past UV radiation has been developed. The idea of the method is to use measurements of global radiation (300–3000 nm) for determining the influence of clouds on UV radiation. In order to transfer the information contained in the global radiation data into a cloud effect in the UV range, a so‐called cloud modification table was developed, which is based on physical relationships determined through radiative transfer calculations. The method was given as input the measured global radiation and total ozone column, the total water vapor column from the ERA‐40 data set, the surface albedo as estimated from snow depth, and the altitude of the location. Using this method, erythemally weighted UV irradiances were reconstructed back to the early 1980s at four stations in northern Europe: Bergen in Norway, Norrköping in Sweden, and Jokioinen and Sodankylä in Finland. The reconstructed daily UV doses are in good agreement with measurements. For the summer season, the systematic error was found to vary between 0% at Bergen and 4% at Jokioinen, and the correlation coefficient was 0.99 at all stations. The summer root‐mean‐square error was 5% at all stations except Jokioinen, where it was 9%. The method performs well also for spring and autumn, whereas for winter conditions of low Sun, a systematical underestimation was found. A large part of this underestimation was found to be due to the plane‐parallel approximation used in the radiative transfer calculations. The time series of reconstructed UV exhibit a clear increase since the early 1980s at both Sodankylä (4.1%/decade; statistically significant) and Norrköping (3.3%/decade; not significant). At Jokioinen, a weak increase was found, while at Bergen there was no considerable overall change. At both Sodankylä and Norrköping, the increase in the reconstructed UV radiation was primarily driven by an increase in the global radiation, that is, by decreased cloudiness. The method is general in the sense that it can be applied also to other stations.
Bulk and single‐particle mineralogy of Asian dust and a comparison with its source soils
Authors: Jeong Gi Young
Published: January 2008

The mineralogical properties of Asian dust have been examined in detail, and the results have been compared with the Chinese source soils using high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. Mineralogical classification of Asian dust particles showed that the most common single particles were clay aggregates (48%) that were often mixed with nanosized calcite, followed by particles of quartz (22%), plagioclase (11%), coarse calcite (6%), K‐feldspar (5%), muscovite, chlorite, kaolinite, amphibole, gypsum, Fe and Ti oxides which were either partly or entirely attached with clay‐size mineral grains. The clay minerals in Asian dust were mostly illite and interstratified illite‐smectite. The average mineral composition of the bulk dust samples by X‐ray diffraction was quartz (28%), plagioclase (11%), K‐feldspar (8%), calcite (8%), illite (19%), interstratified illite‐smectite (22%), chlorite (2%), smectite (1%), and kaolinite (1%). In the silty soils from the source regions, the clay minerals and nanosized pedogenic calcite aggregated and covered silt‐size minerals, while the sands were mostly composed of quartz and feldspars and were lined with clay minerals. The mineralogy of Asian dust was similar to that of the silty soil from the loess plateau, but the total phyllosilicate content increased from desert sands (7%), silty soil (23%), to Asian dust (45%), fining eastward. The optical properties of Asian dust and its interaction with atmospheric gases and cloud are probably affected by the clay‐rich mineral composition, the aggregation and attachment of the clay minerals on the coarser minerals, and the nanosized calcite.
Time‐expanded sampling for ensemble‐based filters: Assimilation experiments with a shallow‐water equation model
Authors: Xu Qin , Wei Li , Lu Huijuan , Qiu Chongjian , Zhao Qingyun
Published: January 2008

A time‐expanded sampling is proposed for ensemble‐based filters in data assimilation. This approach samples a series of (preferably three) perturbed state vectors from each prediction run in an ensemble of forecasts at properly selected time levels in the vicinity of the analysis time. As all the sampled state vectors are used to construct the ensemble and compute the covariance (with localization), the number of required prediction runs can be greatly reduced and so is the computational cost. As the sampling time interval is properly selected, the proposed approach can improve the ensemble spread and enrich the spread structures so that the filter can perform well even though the number of prediction runs is greatly reduced. Assimilation experiments are performed with a shallow‐water equation model to demonstrate the potential merits and limitations of the time‐expanded sampling in improving the filter performance either without conventional covariance inflation (method‐A) or with optimally tuned covariance inflation and localization (method‐B).
An “in situ” calibration‐correction procedure (KCICLO) based on AOD diurnal cycle: Comparative results between AERONET and reprocessed (KCICLO method) AOD‐alpha data series at El Arenosillo, Spain
Authors: Cachorro V. E. , Toledano C. , Sorribas M. , Berjón A. , de Frutos A. M. , Laulainen N.
Published: January 2008

A comparative evaluation is carried out for nearly 5 years (February 2000 to May 2004) of data of aerosol optical depth (AOD) measured at the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) site El Arenosillo (Huelva, southwestern Spain). The AERONET database and the reprocessed data set using a new correction procedure, which we call the KCICLO method, are compared with respect to the aerosol local climatology. The cause and necessity of AOD reprocessing were due to the existence of an observed fictitious diurnal cycle (including negative values) because of a deficient calibration as explained in detail in the companion paper (V. E. Cachorro et al., submitted manuscript, 2007). The derived alpha Ångström coefficient is also compared, as it appears to be an excellent indicator of the AOD data quality, because of its sensitivity to AOD variations and errors. Some illustrative cases show the influence of this fictitious diurnal cycle on the shape and values of diurnal variations of the AOD (or alpha), reaching differences as high as 100%, and the improvement resulting from using the KCICLO method. Absolute and relative differences are evaluated from the overall average of AOD and alpha coefficient of AERONET and KCICLO data series, making an exhaustive analysis for each spectral channel and for every photometer separately. Although great variability is shown for each filter and each photometer, apart from photometer 114 data that did not reach level 2.0, the discrepancy in the AOD local climatology in the four filters varies as a whole from 2.3% to 8.5% (2.4% for alpha coefficient). These values show a considerable reduction because of the compensating effect between the different photometers (positive or negative bias), and several jumps that break the continuity of the data series are observed. When monthly and yearly averages are analyzed, the differences are considerably reduced in such a way that the local climatology is not substantially affected, but we must be cautious with this apparent good result. The comparative results between both data series give a representative pattern of the uncertainties that we have found in establishing a local aerosol climatology.
Timing and significance of maximum and minimum equatorial insolation
Authors: Ashkenazy Yosef , Gildor Hezi
Published: January 2008

Variations in summer insolation at high northern latitudes on a timescale of 100 ka are very small. Thus a common belief is that the pronounced ∼100 ka glacial cycles are not directly linked to the very weak 100 ka insolation periodicity. Here we show, analytically and numerically, that the annual maximum (and minimum) of daily equatorial insolation has pronounced eccentricity periodicities, with timescales of ∼400 ka and ∼100 ka, as well as a pronounced half‐precession periodicity with timescale of ∼11 ka. The timing of the maximum (and minimum) annual equatorial insolation may change around the equinoxes (solstices), alternating between the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (summer and winter solstices) where the time of the maximum (minimum) equatorial insolation may occur up to more than 1 month from the equinoxes (solstices). We also show that when considering the mean insolation of periods larger than 1 d, the ∼11 ka periodicity becomes less dominant, and it vanishes when the averaging period is half a year; for the later case the maximum (minimum) may occur for any day in the annual cycle. The maximum equatorial insolation may alter the timing and amplitude of the maximum surface temperature of the summer hemisphere and in this way may drastically affect the Hadley circulation. Changes in Hadley circulation affect the heat and moisture transport from low to high latitudes, affecting the buildup of the high‐latitude Northern Hemisphere ice sheets.
Coupled stress and pore fluid pressure changes in the middle crust: Vein record of coseismic loading and postseismic stress relaxation
Authors: Nüchter J. A. , Stöckhert B.
Published: January 2008

The structural, microstructural, and fluid inclusion record of late‐stage quartz veins in metamorphic rocks of southern Evia (Greece) is analyzed and a mechanical model is proposed. The veins are monogenetic. They developed in a single stage from tensile cracks at temperatures similar to 300°C. The orientation of the veins is uniform on the kilometer scale and indicates an extensional tectonic regime, with σ1 = σv (σv denoting the overburden stress). The length to aperture ratio of the veins is incompatible with an elastic distortion and requires ductile deformation of the host rock after fracture arrest, with crack parallel shortening by less than 2%. The fluid inclusion densities as a function of position reveal an increase in pore fluid pressure Pf during progressive sealing. Fracture mechanics suggests that Pf in an open fissure should be similar to the least principal stress, Pf ≈ σ3. For the given crustal stress regime, σ1 = σv can be taken as constant, as vein formation takes place within a sufficiently short time span, for which the overburden does not change significantly. If so, the observed increase in Pf during progressive opening and sealing of the veins reflects a decrease in differential stress, as expected for postseismic deformation in the earthquake cycle. We propose that the parental fractures formed in consequence to coseismic loading of the middle crust near the tip of an active fault in the upper crust. Each vein, which developed from such a fracture during postseismic stress relaxation, records the stress and Pf history of a single seismic cycle and the strain accumulated during postseismic creep.
Coupled stochastic dynamics of water table and soil moisture in bare soil conditions
Authors: Ridolfi L. , D'Odorico P. , Laio F. , Tamea S. , Rodriguez‐Iturbe I.
Published: January 2008

The soil water content plays a fundamental role in a number of important environmental processes, including those involved in the water cycle, vegetation dynamics, soil biogeochemical cycles, and land‐atmosphere interactions. Despite the recent efforts spent in the analytical modeling of the stochastic soil moisture dynamics in dryland ecosystems, the probabilistic characterization of the soil water balance in groundwater dependent environments is still missing, due to the complexity arising from the existence of shallow aquifers and capillary rise. This paper makes a first step in the direction of studying the stochastic soil water balance in groundwater dependent systems. An analytic probabilistic framework is developed for the modeling of soil moisture dynamics at the daily timescale for the case of bare soil conditions and in the presence of a shallow water table. This framework accounts for random rainfall occurrence, water table fluctuations, capillary rise, and soil evaporation. The stochastic soil water balance equation is analytically solved in the steady state, and the probability density functions of water table depth, soil moisture (as a function of depth), and evaporation are obtained and discussed for a variety of climate conditions and soil properties.
Globus Pallidus Stimulation Reduces Frontal Hyperactivity in Tardive Dystonia
Authors: Thobois Stéphane , Ballanger Bénédicte , Xie-Brustolin Jing , Damier Philippe , Durif Franck , Azulay Jean-Philippe , Derost Philippe , Witjas Tatiana , Raoul Sylvie , Le Bars Didier , Broussolle Emmanuel
Published: January 2008

Tardive dystonia (TD) is a disabling disorder induced by neuroleptics. Internal globus pallidus (GPi) stimulation can dramatically improve TD. The present positron emission tomography and H215O study aimed to characterize the abnormalities of brain activation of TD and the impact of GPi stimulation on these abnormalities in five TD patients treated with GPi stimulation and eight controls. Changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were determined: (i) at rest; (ii) when moving a joystick with the right hand in three freely chosen directions in on and off bilateral GPi stimulation. A significant increase of rCBF was found in TD patients in off-stimulation condition compared to controls: (1) during motor execution in the prefrontal, premotor lateral, and anterior cingulate cortex; (2) at rest, in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex and the cerebellum. Internal globus pallidus stimulation led to a reduction of rCBF (1) during motor execution, in the primary motor and prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum; (2) at rest, in the primary motor and anterior cingulate cortex and supplementary motor area. The results are as follows: (1) TD is related to an excess of brain activity notably in the prefrontal and premotor areas; (2) GPi stimulation reduces the activation of motor, premotor, and prefrontal cortex as well as cerebellum.
Ion beam development for the needs of the JYFL nuclear physics programme
Authors: Koivisto H. , Suominen P. , Ropponen T. , Ropponen J. , Koponen T. , Savonen M. , Toivanen V. , Wu X. , Machicoane G. , Stetson J. , Zavodszky P. , Doleans M. , Spädtke P. , Vondrasek R. , Tarvainen O.
Published: January 2008

The increased requirements towards the use of higher ion beam intensities motivated us to initiate the project to improve the overall transmission of the K130 cyclotron facility. With the facility the transport efficiency decreases rapidly as a function of total beam intensity extracted from the JYFL ECR ion sources. According to statistics, the total transmission efficiency is of the order of 10% for low beam intensities (Itotal⩽0.7mA) and only about 2% for high beam intensities (Itotal>1.5mA). Requirements towards the use of new metal ion beams for the nuclear physics experiments have also increased. The miniature oven used for the production of metal ion beams at the JYFL is not able to reach the temperature needed for the requested metal ion beams. In order to fulfill these requirements intensive development work has been performed. An inductively and a resistively heated oven has successfully been developed and both are capable of reaching temperatures of about 2000°C. In addition, sputtering technique has been tested. GEANT4 simulations have been started in order to better understand the processes involved with the bremsstrahlung, which gives an extra heat load to cryostat in the case of superconducting ECR ion source. Parallel with this work, a new advanced ECR heating simulation program has been developed. In this article we present the latest results of the above-mentioned projects.
Development of gas pulsing system for electron cyclotron resonance ion source
Authors: Hojo S. , Honma T. , Muramatsu M. , Sakamoto Y. , Sugiura A.
Published: January 2008

A gas-pulsing system for an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with all permanent magnets (Kei2 source) at NIRS has been developed and tested. The system consists of a small vessel (30ml) to reserve CH4 gas and two fast solenoid valves that are installed at both sides of the vessel. They are connected to each other and to the Kei2 source by using a stainless-steel pipe (4mm inner diameter), where the length of the pipe from the valve to the source is 60cm and the conductance is 1.2l∕s. From the results of the test, almost 300eμA for a pulsed C4+12 beam was obtained at a Faraday cup in an extraction-beam channel with a pressure range of 4000Pa in the vessel. At this time, the valve has an open time of 10ms and the delay time between the valve open time and the application of microwave power is 100ms. In experiments, the conversion efficiency for input CH4 molecules to the quantity of extracted C4+12 ions in one beam pulse was found to be around 3% and the ratio of the total amount of the gas requirement was only 10% compared with the case of continuous gas provided in 3.3s of repetition in HIMAC.
Enhancement of pure volume negative ion production using a grid bias method or a magnetic filter method
Authors: Jyobira Yasuhiro , Ito Daisuke , Fukumasa Osamu
Published: January 2008

Volume production of hydrogen negative ion H− is studied in pure hydrogen plasmas using a grid bias method for plasma parameter control. The purposes of the present study are as follows. One is to investigate the possibility of controlling plasma parameters with a grid bias method in dc discharge plasmas; the other is to realize efficient negative ion production in H2 plasmas and to discuss the difference in plasma parameters control and H− production between the grid bias method and the usual magnetic filter method. The relationship between plasma parameters and extracted H− ion currents is discussed. It is confirmed that both high and low electron temperature Te plasmas are produced in the separated regions when the grid is negatively biased. The negative ion production depends strongly on the grid potential and related plasma conditions. Within certain plasma conditions, H− production with grid bias method is much higher than one with magnetic filter method.