bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remarks on Generalized Derivations in Prime and Semiprime Rings
Authors: Dhara Basudeb
Published: December 2010

Let R be a ring with center Z and I a nonzero ideal of R. An additive mapping F : R → R is called a generalized derivation of R if there exists a derivation d : R → R such that F(xy) = F(x)y + xd(y) for all x, y ∈ R. In the present paper, we prove that if F([x, y]) = ±[x, y] for all x, y ∈ I or F(x∘y) = ±(x∘y) for all x, y ∈ I, then the semiprime ring R must contains a nonzero central ideal, provided d(I) ≠ 0. In case R is prime ring, R must be commutative, provided d ≠ 0. The cases (i) F([x, y])±[x, y] ∈ Z and (ii) F(x∘y)±(x∘y) ∈ Z for all x, y ∈ I are also studied.
Characterization of pPCP1 Plasmids inYersinia pestisStrains Isolated from the Former Soviet Union
Authors: Rajanna Chythanya , Revazishvili Tamara , Rashid Mohammed H. , Chubinidze Svetlana , Bakanidze Lela , Tsanava Shota , Imnadze Paata , Bishop-Lilly Kimberly A. , Sozhamannan Shanmuga , Gibbons Henry S. , Morris J. Glenn , Sulakvelidze Alexander
Published: December 2010

Complete sequences of 9.5-kb pPCP1 plasmids in threeYersinia pestisstrains from the former Soviet Union (FSU) were determined and compared with those of pPCP1 plasmids in three well-characterized, non-FSUY. pestisstrains (KIM, CO92, and 91001). Two of the FSU plasmids were from strains C2614 and C2944, isolated from plague foci in Russia, and one plasmid was from strain C790 from Kyrgyzstan. Sequence analyses identified four sequence types among the six plasmids. The pPCP1 plasmids in the FSU strains were most genetically related to the pPCP1 plasmid in the KIM strain and least related to the pPCP1 plasmid inY. pestis91001. The FSU strains generally had larger pPCP1 plasmid copy numbers compared to strain CO92. Expression of the plasmid'splagene was significantly (P≤.05) higher in strain C2944 than in strain CO92. Givenpla's role inY. pestisvirulence, this difference may have important implications for the strain's virulence.
Hypotension, Syncope, and Fever in Systemic Mastocytosis without Skin Infiltration and Rapid Response to Corticosteroid and Cyclosporin: A Case Report
Authors: Ozdemir Didem , Dagdelen Selcuk , Erbas Tomris , Agbaht Kemal , Serefhanoglu Songul , Aksu Salih , Ersoy-Evans Sibel
Published: December 2010

Mast cell disorders are defined by an abnormal accumulation of tissue mast cells in one or more organ systems. In systemic mastocytosis, at least one extracutaneous organ is involved by definition. Although, systemic mastocytosis usually represents with skin lesion called urticaria pigmentosa, in a small proportion, there is extracutaneous involvement without skin infiltration. Other manifestations are flushing, tachycardia, dyspepsia, diarrhea, hypotension, syncope, and rarely fever. Various medications have been used but there is not a definite cure for systemic mastocytosis. The principles of treatment include control of symptoms with measures aimed to decrease mast cell activation. We describe a case of systemic mastocytosis presenting with hypotension, syncope attacks, fever, and local flushing. In bone marrow biopsy, increased mast cell infiltration was demonstrated. She had no skin infiltration. A good clinicopathological response was obtained acutely with combination therapy of glucocorticoid and cyclosporine.
Pseudogout Associated Hip Pain in a Patient with HIV Infection
Authors: Dala-Ali Benan M. , Welck Matthew , Lloyd Mary Anne , Atkinson Henry D.
Published: December 2010

HIV infection is a global pandemic, currently affecting approximately 77,000 people in the UK and 33 million people around the world. The infection has widespread effects on the body and can involve the musculoskeletal system. It is therefore important that orthopaedic surgeons are aware of the condition and its sequelae. We present the case of a 46-year-old man with a 10-year history of HIV who presented with acute hip pain, difficulty weight-bearing, and constitutional symptoms. Following radiological, microbiological, and serological tests a diagnosis of pseudogout was established following microscopic analysis of the hip joint aspirate. The patient's symptoms resolved completely following the joint aspiration and NSAID therapy. Studies have shown a relationship between HIV infection and gout. The virus has also been linked to osteonecrosis, osteopenia, bone and joint tuberculosis, and septic arthritis from rare pathogens. However, it is difficult to fully ascertain whether these conditions are related to the HIV infection itself or the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). There are no previously reported cases of HIV-infected patients with pseudogout. The case is discussed with reference to the literature.
Online User Feedback in Early Phases of the Design Process: Lessons Learnt from Four Design Cases
Authors: Følstad Asbjørn , Knutsen Jørn
Published: December 2010

Online user feedback, collected by means of internet survey tools, is a promising approach to obtain early user feedback on concepts and early prototypes. In this study, the collection and utilization of online user feedback was investigated in four design cases: all master student projects for industry clients involving seven student designers. A total of 272 user participants provided quantitative feedback. Half of these also provided qualitative feedback. One third of the qualitative feedback was perceived as useful by the student designers. The main usefulness of the feedback was related to strategic concept decisions rather than the interaction design of the early prototype. Lessons learnt are provided.
The Impact of Transcriptomics on the Fight against Tuberculosis: Focus on Biomarkers, BCG Vaccination, and Immunotherapy
Authors: Zárate-Bladés Carlos Rodrigo , Silva Celio Lopes , Passos Geraldo A.
Published: December 2010

In 1882 Robert Koch identifiedMycobacterium tuberculosisas the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), a disease as ancient as humanity. Although there has been more than 125 years of scientific effort aimed at understanding the disease, serious problems in TB persist that contribute to the estimated 1/3 of the world population infected with this pathogen. Nonetheless, during the first decade of the 21st century, there were new advances in the fight against TB. The development of high-throughput technologies is one of the major contributors to this advance, because it allows for a global vision of the biological phenomenon. This paper analyzes how transcriptomics are supporting the translation of basic research into therapies by resolving three key issues in the fight against TB: (a) the discovery of biomarkers, (b) the explanation of the variability of protection conferred by BCG vaccination, and (c) the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies to treat TB.
A Class of Negatively Fractal Dimensional Gaussian Random Functions
Authors: Li Ming
Published: December 2010

Let x(t) be a locally self‐similar Gaussian random function. Denote by rxx(τ) the autocorrelation function (ACF) of x(t). For x(t) that is sufficiently smooth on (0, ∞), there is an asymptotic expression given by rxx(0) − rxx(τ) ~ c|τ|α for |τ| → 0, where c is a constant and α is the fractal index of x(t). If the above is true, the fractal dimension of x(t), denoted by D, is given by D = D(α) = 2 − α/2. Conventionally, α is strictly restricted to 0 < α ≤ 2 so as to make sure that D ∈ [1,2). The generalized Cauchy (GC) process is an instance of this type of random functions. Another instance is fractional Brownian motion (fBm) and its increment process, that is, fractional Gaussian noise (fGn), which strictly follow the case of D ∈ [1,2) or 0 < α ≤ 2. In this paper, I claim that the fractal index α of x(t) may be relaxed to the range α > 0 as long as its ACF keeps valid for α > 0. With this claim, I extend the GC process to allow α > 0 and call this extension, for simplicity, the extended GC (EGC for short) process. I will address that there are dimensions 0 ≤ D(α) < 1 for 2 < α ≤ 4 and further D(α) < 0 for 4 < α for the EGC processes. I will explain that x(t) with 1 ≤ D < 2 is locally rougher than that with 0 ≤ D < 1. Moreover, x(t) with D < 0 is locally smoother than that with 0 ≤ D < 1. The local smoothest x(t) occurs in the limit D → −∞. The focus of this paper is on the fractal dimensions of random functions. The EGC processes presented in this paper can be either long‐range dependent (LRD) or short‐range dependent (SRD). Though applications of such class of random functions for D < 1 remain unknown, I will demonstrate the realizations of the EGC processes for D < 1. The above result regarding negatively fractal dimension on random functions can be further extended to describe a class of random fields with negative dimensions, which are also briefed in this paper.
Salvianolic Acid B, a Potential Chemopreventive Agent, for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Guo Yinhan , Gu Xinbin
Published: December 2010

Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is one of the top ten cancers in the United States. The survival rate of HNSCC has only marginally improved over the last two decades. In addition, African-American men bear a disproportionate burden of this preventable disease. Therefore, a critical challenge of preventive health approaches is warranted. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, which is a well-know Chinese medicines has been safely used to treat and prevent aging diseases for thousand of years. Recently, the anticancer properties of Sal-B have received more attention. Sal-B significantly inhibits or delays the growth of HNSCC in both cultured HNSCC cells and HNSCC xenograft animal models. The following anticancer mechanisms have been proposed: the inhibition of COX-2/PGE-2 pathway, the promotion of apoptosis, and the modulation of angiogenesis. In conclusion, Sal-B is a potential HNSCC chemopreventive agent working through antioxidation and anti-inflammation mechanisms.
Uniqueness of the Level Two Bayesian Network Representing a Probability Distribution
Authors: Smail Linda
Published: December 2010

Bayesian Networks are graphic probabilistic models through
which we can acquire, capitalize on, and exploit knowledge. they are becoming
an important tool for research and applications in artificial intelligence
and many other fields in the last decade. This paper presents
Bayesian networks and discusses the inference problem in such models. It
proposes a statement of the problem and the proposed method to compute
probability distributions. It also uses D‐separation for simplifying
the computation of probabilities in Bayesian networks. Given a Bayesian
network over a family I of random variables, this paper presents a result
on the computation of the probability distribution of a subset S of I
using separately a computation algorithm and D‐separation properties.
It also shows the uniqueness of the obtained result.
Thrombolysis at 3–4.5 Hours after Acute Ischemic Stroke Onset – Evidence from the Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study (CASES) Registry
Authors: Shobha Nandavar , Buchan Alastair M. , Hill Michael D. ,   on behalf of the Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study (CASES) Investigators
Published: December 2010

Background: Extending the therapeutic window for thrombolysis is an important strategy in maximizing the proportion of patients treated. ECASS III examined a 3–4.5-hour window and showed a benefit to treated patients. We examined the experience in Canadian centres using intravenous tPA treatment in the 3–4.5-hour time window. Methods: The data were obtained from the CASES (Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study) – a prospective, multicentric cohort study with patient enrollment from 60 centres across Canada over 2.5 years. The 90-day outcome, mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage of patients thrombolysed between 3 and 4.5 h and within 3 h of symptom onset were compared. A mRS 0–1 (no symptoms at all or no significant disability despite symptoms, able to carry out all usual duties and activities) at 90 days was defined as a favorable outcome. Results: A total of 1,112 patients with complete data were included. 129 (11.6%) patients received tPA between 3 and 4.5 h of symptom onset and 983 (88.4%) patients received tPA within 3 h. At 90 days, 39.4% of the patients in the 3–4.5-hour treatment group and 36.5% of patients in the under 3-hour treatment group attained a mRS ≤1. There were no differences between the two groups regarding their functional status at 3 months. There was a trend towards higher rate of sICH in the 3–4.5-hour group compared to the 0–3-hour group (7.8 vs. 3.8%, p = 0.06). Similarly there was a trend towards higher rate of deaths in the 3–4.5-hour group compared to the 0–3-hour group (28.4 vs. 21.4%, p = 0.09). A χ2 test for trend demonstrated a rising proportion of symptomatic ICH in later time windows (p = 0.013). A similar trend (non-significant) was observed for mortality. Conclusion: Our study suggests that patients with acute ischemic stroke may be successfully treated with intravenous tPA in the 3–4.5-hour treatment window, but cautions that later time window treatment may result in greater adverse events.
In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging Reveals Redox-Regulated Activator Protein-1 Activation in Paraventricular Nucleus of Mice With Renovascular Hypertension
Authors: Burmeister Melissa A. , Young Colin N. , Braga Valdir A. , Butler Scott D. , Sharma Ram V. , Davisson Robin L.
Published: December 2010

Renovascular hypertension in mice is characterized by an elevation in hypothalamic angiotensin II levels. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a major cardioregulatory site implicated in the neurogenic component of renovascular hypertension. Increased superoxide (O
2
−·
) production in the PVN is involved in angiotensin II–dependent neurocardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. Here, we tested the hypothesis that excessive O
2
−·
production and activation of the redox-regulated transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1) in PVN contributes to the development and maintenance of renovascular hypertension. Male C57BL/6 mice underwent implantation of radiotelemeters, bilateral PVN injections of an adenovirus (Ad) encoding superoxide dismutase (AdCuZnSOD) or a control gene (LacZ), and unilateral renal artery clipping (2-kidney, one-clip [2K1C]) or sham surgery. AP-1 activity was longitudinally monitored in vivo by bioluminescence imaging in 2K1C or sham mice that had undergone PVN-targeted microinjections of an Ad encoding the firefly luciferase (Luc) gene downstream of AP-1 response elements (AdAP-1Luc). 2K1C evoked chronic hypertension and an increase in O
2
−·
production in the PVN. Viral delivery of CuZnSOD to the PVN not only prevented the elevation in O
2
−·
but also abolished renovascular hypertension. 2K1C also caused a surge in AP-1 activity in the PVN, which paralleled the rise in O
2
−·
production in this brain region, and this was prevented by treatment with AdCuZnSOD. Finally, Ad-mediated expression of a dominant-negative inhibitor of AP-1 activity in the PVN prevented 2K1C-evoked hypertension. These results implicate oxidant signaling and AP-1 transcriptional activity in the PVN as key mediators in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension.
Prediction of Seasonal Forest Fire Severity in Canada from Large-Scale Climate Patterns
Authors: Shabbar Amir , Skinner Walter , Flannigan Mike D.
Published: December 2010

An empirical scheme for predicting the meteorological conditions that lead to summer forest fire severity for Canada using the multivariate singular value decomposition (SVD) has been developed for the 1953–2007 period. The levels and sources of predictive skill have been estimated using a cross-validation design. The predictor fields are global sea surface temperatures (SST) and Palmer drought severity index. Two consecutive 3-month predictor periods are used to detect evolving conditions in the predictor fields. Correlation, mean absolute error, and percent correct verification statistics are used to assess forecast model performance. Nationally averaged skills are shown to be statistically significant, which suggests that they are suitable for application to forest fire prediction and for management purposes. These forecasts average a 0.33 correlation skill across Canada and greater than 0.6 in the forested regions from the Yukon, through northern Prairie Provinces, northern Ontario, and central Quebec into Newfoundland. SVD forecasts generally outperform persistence forecasts. The importance of the leading two SVD modes to Canadian summer forest fire severity, accounting for approximately 95% of the squared covariance, is emphasized. The first mode relates strongly to interdecadal trend in global SST. Between 1953 and 2007 the western tropical Pacific, the Indian, and the North Atlantic Oceans have tended to warm while the northeastern Pacific and the extreme Southern Hemisphere oceans have shown a cooling trend. During the same period, summer forest fire exhibited increased severity across the large boreal forest region of Canada. The SVD diagnostics also indicate that the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Pacific decadal oscillation play a significant role in Canadian fire severity. Warm episodes (El Niño) tend to be associated with severe fire conditions over the Yukon, parts of the northern Prairie Provinces, and central Quebec. The linearity of the SVD manifests opposite response during the cold (La Niña) events.
A Remote-Sensing Method of Selecting Reference Stations for Evaluating Urbanization Effect on Surface Air Temperature Trends
Authors: Ren Yuyu , Ren Guoyu
Published: December 2010

In the global lands, the bias of urbanization effects still exits in the surface air temperature series of many city weather stations to a certain extent. Reliable reference climate stations need to be selected for the detection and correction of the local manmade warming bias. The underlying image data of remote sensing retrieval is adopted in this study to obtain the spatial distribution of surface brightness temperature, and the surface air temperature reference stations are determined based on the locations of the weather stations in the remote sensing surface thermal fields. Among the 672 national reference climate stations and national basic weather stations of mainland China, for instance, 113 surface air temperature reference stations are selected for applying this method. Compared with the average surface air temperature series of the reference stations obtained by a more sophisticated method developed in China, this method is proven to be robust and applicable, and can be adopted for the evaluation and adjustment study on the urbanization bias of the currently used air temperature records of surface climate stations in the global lands.
East China Summer Rainfall Variability of 1958–2000: Dynamical Downscaling with a Variable-Resolution AGCM
Authors: Zou Liwei , Zhou Tianjun , Li Laurent , Zhang Jie
Published: December 2010

A variable-grid atmospheric general circulation model, namely, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique-zoom, version 4 (LMDz4), with a local zoom over eastern China, is driven by 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) data and is used as a downscaling tool of summer rainfall variability for the period 1958–2000. During the integration, the model temperature and wind were nudged to the ERA-40 data through a relaxation procedure. The performance of the LMDz4 in simulating the regional rainfall features is thoroughly assessed through a comparison to both rain gauge data and the reanalysis product. The dynamical downscaling improves not only the climatology of the monsoon major rainband but also the interannual variability modes of rainfall over eastern China in comparison with that of the ERA-40 data. The added values of LMDz4 are evident in both the spatial patterns of dominant rainfall variability modes and the associated temporal variations. A comparison of rainfall averaged over several typical regions shows improvement as a better-matched variability and a reduced root-mean-square error, except for the region over the lower reaches of the Yellow River valley, where the model shows bias because of the northward shift of the monsoon rainband. This rainband shift is caused by the stronger low-level southerlies and the lower specific humidity over southern China. The stronger southwestern wind transports excessive water vapor northward, and the underestimation of specific humidity implies that air masses need to go farther north to reach condensation. Both favor a northward shift of the major rainband. The analysis demonstrates that a variable-resolution AGCM can be a useful tool for the dynamical downscaling of rainfall variability over eastern China, although the rainband bias remains evident as with many other regional climate models.
The Impact of the State of the Troposphere on the Response to Stratospheric Heating in a Simplified GCM
Authors: Simpson Isla R. , Blackburn Michael , Haigh Joanna D. , Sparrow Sarah N.
Published: December 2010

Previous studies have made use of simplified general circulation models (sGCMs) to investigate the atmospheric response to various forcings. In particular, several studies have investigated the tropospheric response to changes in stratospheric temperature. This is potentially relevant for many climate forcings. Here the impact of changing the tropospheric climatology on the modeled response to perturbations in stratospheric temperature is investigated by the introduction of topography into the model and altering the tropospheric jet structure.

The results highlight the need for very long integrations so as to determine accurately the magnitude of response. It is found that introducing topography into the model and thus removing the zonally symmetric nature of the model’s boundary conditions reduces the magnitude of response to stratospheric heating. However, this reduction is of comparable size to the variability in the magnitude of response between different ensemble members of the same 5000-day experiment.

Investigations into the impact of varying tropospheric jet structure reveal a trend with lower-latitude/narrower jets having a much larger magnitude response to stratospheric heating than higher-latitude/wider jets. The jet structures that respond more strongly to stratospheric heating also exhibit longer time scale variability in their control run simulations, consistent with the idea that a feedback between the eddies and the mean flow is both responsible for the persistence of the control run variability and important in producing the tropospheric response to stratospheric temperature perturbations.
Exploring the Interplay between Natural Decadal Variability and Anthropogenic Climate Change in Summer Rainfall over China. Part I: Observational Evidence
Authors: Lei Yonghui , Hoskins Brian , Slingo Julia
Published: December 2010

Summer rainfall over China has experienced substantial variability on longer time scales during the last century, and the question remains whether this is due to natural, internal variability or is part of the emerging signal of anthropogenic climate change. Using the best available observations over China, the decadal variability and recent trends in summer rainfall are investigated with the emphasis on changes in the seasonal evolution and on the temporal characteristics of daily rainfall. The possible relationships with global warming are reassessed. Substantial decadal variability in summer rainfall has been confirmed during the period 1958–2008; this is not unique to this period but is also seen in the earlier decades of the twentieth century. Two dominant patterns of decadal variability have been identified that contribute substantially to the recent trend of southern flooding and northern drought. Natural decadal variability appears to dominate in general but in the cases of rainfall intensity and the frequency of rainfall days, particularly light rain days, then the dominant EOFs have a rather different character, being of one sign over most of China, and having principal components (PCs) that appear more trendlike. The increasing intensity of rainfall throughout China and the decrease in light rainfall days, particularly in the north, could at least partially be of anthropogenic origin, both global and regional, linked to increased greenhouse gases and increased aerosols.
A Poisson Regression Index for Tropical Cyclone Genesis and the Role of Large-Scale Vorticity in Genesis
Authors: Tippett Michael K. , Camargo Suzana J. , Sobel Adam H.
Published: December 2010

A Poisson regression between the observed climatology of tropical cyclogenesis (TCG) and large-scale climate variables is used to construct a TCG index. The regression methodology is objective and provides a framework for the selection of the climate variables in the index. Broadly following earlier work, four climate variables appear in the index: low-level absolute vorticity, relative humidity, relative sea surface temperature (SST), and vertical shear. Several variants in the choice of predictors are explored, including relative SST versus potential intensity and satellite-based column-integrated relative humidity versus reanalysis relative humidity at a single level; these choices lead to modest differences in the performance of the index. The feature of the new index that leads to the greatest improvement is a functional dependence on low-level absolute vorticity that causes the index response to absolute vorticity to saturate when absolute vorticity exceeds a threshold. This feature reduces some biases of the index and improves the fidelity of its spatial distribution. Physically, this result suggests that once low-level environmental vorticity reaches a sufficiently large value, other factors become rate limiting so that further increases in vorticity (at least on a monthly mean basis) do not increase the probability of genesis.

Although the index is fit to climatological data, it reproduces some aspects of interannual variability when applied to interannually varying data. Overall, the new index compares positively to the genesis potential index (GPI), whose derivation, computation, and analysis is more complex in part because of its dependence on potential intensity.
Precipitation Variability over the Forest-to-Nonforest Transition in Southwestern Amazonia
Authors: Knox Ryan , Bisht Gautam , Wang Jingfeng , Bras Rafael
Published: December 2010

Prior research has shown that deforestation in the southwestern Amazon enhances the formation of nonprecipitating shallow cumulus clouds, while deep cumulus convection was favored over forested land. The research presented here further investigates the trends of hydrometeors in the area by examining how precipitation frequency changes as a function of distance to the forest’s edge. Measurements are made from the precipitation radar on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM; TRMM 2A25) satellite, and continuous forest coverage is retrieved from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS; MODIS MCD12Q1). The event-based areal fractions of precipitation coverage (precipitation fraction) are calculated; referenced to forested, nonforested, and forest-edge land cover; and compared. As results are generally consistent with previous findings, the novel conclusions here extend that precipitation frequency in the southwestern Amazon (i) decreases over regions of nonforests far removed (10-plus km) from forest borders but (ii) increases within several kilometers of the forest edges, particularly over the nonforest side of the transition.
A Far-Reaching Footprint of the Tropical Pacific Meridional Mode on the Summer Rainfall over the Yellow River Loop Valley
Authors: Li Chun , Wu Lixin , Chang Ping
Published: December 2010

Over thousands of years, the vicissitudes of the Yellow River and surrounding geographic environment form a unique river loop in northwestern China, namely, the Yellow River Loop Valley. Results from both observations and a climate model indicate that the summer rainfall over the Yellow River Loop Valley region can be remotely controlled by sea surface temperature fluctuations in the eastern subtropical North Pacific. This far-reaching teleconnection is achieved by an atmospheric wave train emanating from the eastern subtropical North Pacific, with a long traveling journey from the western to the Eastern Hemisphere. Furthermore, it is found that the SST forcing pattern resembles the Tropical Pacific Meridional Mode, a mode characterized by an interhemispheric temperature gradient and shift of the intertropical convergence zone in the eastern tropical Pacific.
The Impact of Finer-Resolution Air–Sea Coupling on the Intraseasonal Oscillation of the Indian Monsoon
Authors: Klingaman Nicholas P. , Woolnough Steven J. , Weller Hilary , Slingo Julia M.
Published: December 2010

A newly assembled atmosphere–ocean coupled model, called HadKPP, is described and then used to determine the effects of subdaily air–sea coupling and fine near-surface ocean vertical resolution on the representation of the Northern Hemisphere summer intraseasonal oscillation. HadKPP comprises the Hadley Centre atmospheric model coupled to the K-Profile Parameterization ocean boundary layer model.

Four 30-member ensembles were performed that vary in ocean vertical resolution between 1 and 10 m and in coupling frequency between 3 and 24 h. The 10-m, 24-h ensemble exhibited roughly 60% of the observed 30–50-day variability in sea surface temperatures and rainfall and very weak northward propagation. Enhancing only the vertical resolution or only the coupling frequency produced modest improvements in variability and just a standing intraseasonal oscillation. Only the 1-m, 3-h configuration generated organized, northward-propagating convection similar to observations. Subdaily surface forcing produced stronger upper-ocean temperature anomalies in quadrature with anomalous convection, which likely affected lower-atmospheric stability ahead of the convection, causing propagation. Well-resolved air–sea coupling did not improve the eastward propagation of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation in this model.

Upper-ocean vertical mixing and diurnal variability in coupled models must be improved to accurately resolve and simulate tropical subseasonal variability. In HadKPP, the mere presence of air–sea coupling was not sufficient to generate an intraseasonal oscillation resembling observations.
Southern African Monthly Rainfall Variability: An Analysis Based on Generalized Linear Models
Authors: Ambrosino Chiara , Chandler Richard E. , Todd Martin C.
Published: December 2010

Southern Africa is characterized by a high degree of rainfall variability, affecting agriculture and hydrology, among other sectors. This paper aims to investigate such variability and to identify stable relationships with its potential drivers in the climate system; such relationships may be used as the basis for the statistical downscaling of climate model outputs, for example. The analysis uses generalized linear models (GLMs). The GLMs are fitted to twentieth-century observational data for the period 1957–2006 to characterize the dependence of monthly precipitation occurrences and amounts upon the climate indicators of interest. In contrast with many of the analyses that have previously been used to investigate controls on precipitation in the region, GLMs allow for the investigation of the relationships between different components of the climate system (geographical and climatic drivers) simultaneously. Six climate factors were found to drive part of the rainfall variability in the region, and their modeled effect upon rainfall occurrences and amounts resulted in general agreement with previous studies. Among the retained indices, relative humidity and El Niño accounted for the highest degree of explained variability. The location and intensity of the jet stream were also found to have a statistically significant and physically meaningful effect upon rainfall variability.
Effects of Mountains and Ice Sheets on Global Ocean Circulation*
Authors: Schmittner Andreas , Silva Tiago A. M. , Fraedrich Klaus , Kirk Edilbert , Lunkeit Frank
Published: December 2010

The impact of mountains and ice sheets on the large-scale circulation of the world’s oceans is investigated in a series of simulations with a new coupled ocean–atmosphere model [Oregon State University–University of Victoria model (OSUVic)], in which the height of orography is scaled from 1.5 times the actual height (at T42 resolution) to 0 (no mountains). The results suggest that the effects of mountains and ice sheets on the buoyancy and momentum transfer from the atmosphere to the surface ocean determine the present pattern of deep ocean circulation. Higher mountains reduce water vapor transport from the Pacific and Indian Oceans into the Atlantic Ocean and contribute to increased (decreased) salinities and enhanced (reduced) deep-water formation and meridional overturning circulation in the Atlantic (Pacific). Orographic effects also lead to the observed interhemispheric asymmetry of midlatitude zonal wind stress. The presence of the Antarctic ice sheet cools winter air temperatures by more than 20°C directly above the ice sheet and sets up a polar meridional overturning cell in the atmosphere. The resulting increased meridional temperature gradient strengthens midlatitude westerlies by ~25% and shifts them poleward by ~10°. This leads to enhanced and poleward-shifted upwelling of deep waters in the Southern Ocean, a stronger Antarctic Circumpolar Current, increased poleward atmospheric moisture transport, and more advection of high-salinity Indian Ocean water into the South Atlantic. Thus, it is the current configuration of mountains and ice sheets on earth that determines the difference in deep-water formation between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Intercomparison of Deep Convection over the Tibetan Plateau–Asian Monsoon Region and Subtropical North America in Boreal Summer Using CloudSat/CALIPSO Data
Authors: Luo Yali , Zhang Renhe , Qian Weimiao , Luo Zhengzhao , Hu Xin
Published: December 2010

Deep convection in the Tibetan Plateau–southern Asian monsoon region (TP–SAMR) is analyzed using CloudSat and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) data for the boreal summer season (June–August) from 2006 to 2009. Three subregions are defined—the TP, the southern slope of the plateau (PSS), and the SAMR—and deep convection properties (such as occurrence frequency, internal vertical structure, system size, and local environment) are compared among these subregions. To cast them in a broader context, four additional regions that bear some similarity to the TP–SAMR are also discussed: East Asia (EA), tropical northwestern Pacific (NWP), and western and eastern North America (WNA and ENA, respectively).

The principal findings are as follows: 1) Compared to the other two subregions of the TP–SAMR, deep convection over the TP is shallower, less frequent, and embedded in smaller-size convection systems, but the cloud tops are more densely packed. These characteristics of deep convection over the TP are closely related to the unique local environment, namely, a significantly lower level of neutral buoyancy (LNB) and much drier atmosphere. 2) In a broader context in which all seven regions are brought together, deep convection in the two tropical regions (NWP and SAMR; mostly over ocean) is similar in many regards. A similar conclusion can be drawn among the four subtropical continental regions (TP, EA, WNA, and ENA). However, tropical oceanic and subtropical land regions present some significant contrasts: deep convection in the latter region occurs less frequently, has lower cloud tops but comparable or slightly higher tops of large radar echo (e.g., 0 and 10 dBZ), and is embedded in smaller systems. The cloud tops of the subtropical land regions are generally more densely packed. Hence, the difference between the TP and SAMR is more of a general contrast between subtropical land regions and tropical oceanic regions during the boreal summer. 3) Deep convection over the PSS possesses some uniqueness of its own because of the distinctive terrain (slopes) and moist low-level monsoon flow. 4) Results from a comparison between the daytime (1:30 p.m.) and nighttime (1:30 a.m.) overpasses are largely consistent with researchers’ general understanding of the diurnal variation of tropical and subtropical deep convection.
Erroneous Arctic Temperature Trends in the ERA-40 Reanalysis: A Closer Look
Authors: Screen James A. , Simmonds Ian
Published: December 2010

Atmospheric reanalyses can be useful tools for examining climate variability and change; however, they must be used cautiously because of time-varying biases that can induce artificial trends. This study explicitly documents a discontinuity in the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) that leads to significantly exaggerated warming in the Arctic mid- to lower troposphere, and demonstrates that the continuing use of ERA-40 to study Arctic temperature trends is problematic. The discontinuity occurs in 1997 in response to refined processing of satellite radiances prior to their assimilation into the reanalysis model. It is clearly apparent in comparisons of ERA-40 output against satellite-derived air temperatures, in situ observations, and alternative reanalyses. Decadal or multidecadal Arctic temperature trends calculated over periods that include 1997 are highly inaccurate, particularly below 600 hPa. It is shown that ERA-40 is poorly suited to studying Arctic temperature trends and their vertical profile, and conclusions based upon them must be viewed with extreme caution. Consequently, its future use for this purpose is discouraged. In the context of the wider scientific debate on the suitability of reanalyses for trend analyses, the results show that a series of alternative reanalyses are in broad-scale agreement with observations. Thus, the authors encourage their discerning use instead of ERA-40 for examining Arctic climate change while also reaffirming the importance of verifying reanalyses with observations whenever possible.
A Class of Conservative Fourth-Order Advection Schemes and Impact of Enhanced Formal Accuracy on Extended-Range Forecasts
Authors: Janjic Zavisa , Janjic Tijana , Vasic Ratko
Published: December 2010

Starting from three Eulerian second-order nonlinear advection schemes for semi-staggered Arakawa grids B/E, advection schemes of fourth order of formal accuracy were developed. All three second-order advection schemes control the nonlinear energy cascade in case of nondivergent flow by conserving quadratic quantities. Linearization of all three schemes leads to the same second-order linear advection scheme. The second-order term of the truncation error of the linear advection scheme has a special form so that it can be eliminated by modifying the advected quantity while still preserving consistency. Tests with linear advection of a cone confirm the advantage of the fourth-order scheme. However, if a localized, large amplitude and high wavenumber pattern is present in initial conditions, the clear advantage of the fourth-order scheme disappears.

The new nonlinear fourth-order schemes are quadratic conservative and reduce to the Arakawa Jacobian for advected quantities in case of nondivergent flow. In case of general flow the conservation properties of the new momentum advection schemes impose stricter constraint on the nonlinear cascade than the original second-order schemes. However, for nondivergent flow, the conservation properties of the fourth-order schemes cannot be proven in the same way as those of the original second-order schemes. Therefore, demanding long-term and low-resolution nonlinear tests were carried out in order to investigate how well the fourth-order schemes control the nonlinear energy cascade. All schemes were able to maintain meaningful solutions throughout the test.

Finally, the impact was examined of the fourth-order momentum advection on global medium-range forecasts. The 500-hPa anomaly correlation coefficient obtained using the best performing fourth-order scheme did not show an improvement compared to the tests using its second-order counterpart.
Spatial Distribution and Evolution of Extratropical Cyclone Errors over North America and its Adjacent Oceans in the NCEP Global Forecast System Model
Authors: Colle Brian A. , Charles Michael E.
Published: December 2010

Short- to medium-range (1–5 day) forecasts of extratropical cyclones around North America and its adjacent oceans are verified within the Global Forecast System (GFS) model at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) during the 2002–07 cool seasons (October–March). Cyclones in the immediate lee of the Rockies and U.S. Great Plains have 25%–50% smaller pressure errors than other regions after hour 36. The central pressure and displacement errors are largest over the central and eastern Pacific for the 42–72-h forecast, while the western and central Atlantic pressure errors for 96–120 h are similar to the central and eastern Pacific. For relatively strong cyclones, the western Atlantic and central/eastern Canada pressure errors are larger than those for the Pacific by 108–120 h. There are large spatial variations in the central pressure biases at 72–120 h, with overdeepened GFS cyclones (negative errors) extending from the northern Pacific and Bering Strait eastward to western Canada, while underdeepened GFS cyclones (positive errors) occur across northeast Canada and just east of the U.S. east coast. GFS cyclone tracks and spatial composites using the daily NCEP reanalysis are used to illustrate flow patterns and source regions for some of the large GFS cyclone errors and biases. Relatively large central pressure errors over the central Pacific early in the forecast (30 h) spread eastward over Canada by 66 h and the eastern United States by 84 h. The underdeepened GFS cyclone errors (>1.5 standard deviations) at day 4 over the western Atlantic are associated with an anomalous ridge over the western United States and trough over the eastern United States, and most of the underdeepening occurs with cyclones tracking east-northeastward across the Gulf Stream. Many of the overdeepened cyclones have tracks more parallel to the U.S. east coast. The underdeepened cyclones over the central and eastern Pacific tend to occur farther south (35°–45°N) than the overdeepened events.
WICS: A new model for school psychology
Authors: Sternberg Robert J.
Published: December 2010

This article presents a unified model for cognitive processing, WICS, which is an acronym for wisdom, intelligence, and creativity, synthesized. The model can be applied to identification/admissions, diagnosis, instruction, and assessment. I discuss why there is a need for such a model. Then I describe traditional models, after which I describe the WICS model. The article attempts to show how the WICS model can be applied to admissions/identification as well as to instruction and assessment.
Organizational Reputation: A Review
Authors: Lange Donald , Lee Peggy M. , Dai Ye
Published: December 2010

The idea of organizational reputation is intuitive and simple in its common usage. However, it is surprisingly complex when employed and investigated in management research, as evidenced by the multiple definitions, conceptualizations, and operationalizations that have emerged across studies. The authors see the past decade as a formative phase of the research, characterized by attempts to bring theoretical coherence and rigor to the subject area. In their review of the management literature, the authors focus on this formative period in particular. They attempt to inspire and guide management researchers by clarifying what organizational reputation is. In particular, they identify three dominant conceptualizations, namely, that reputation consists of familiarity with the organization, beliefs about what to expect from the organization in the future, and impressions about the organization’s favorability. The final part of the review is an overview of recent empirical findings in the management literature pertaining to the effects or causes of organizational reputation. The authors conclude by drawing attention to some important directions for future research, including the needs to investigate organizational reputation as multidimensional and dynamic and to model its antecedents and effects as more complex than the unidirectional models typically proposed.
Mixing Business With Politics: A Meta-Analysis of the Antecedents and Outcomes of Corporate Political Activity
Authors: Lux Sean , Crook T. Russell , Woehr David J.
Published: December 2010

Corporate political activity (CPA) has increased rapidly in the United States; however, research findings are spread across several social science fields. The authors use meta-analysis to aggregate findings involving two sets of research questions: (1) what factors and to what extent do these factors influence firms to engage in CPA, and (2) does CPA, in turn, affect firm performance and, if so, to what extent? Two important contributions are made. First, the evidence suggests that, although many factors shape CPA, very few affect CPA to a large extent. Second, the results suggest that CPA is positively related to firm performance and is an important determinant of firm performance. The authors build on this evidence to suggest several future research directions.
The price of targets: Audit and evaluation in probation practice
Authors: Davies Keith , Gregory Marilyn J
Published: December 2010

Performance management targets and audit have exerted a powerful influence over probation practice for some time. This article traces their development and critically evaluates their effectiveness. Drawing on the findings of a study of the views of experienced probation practitioners it is argued that, whilst the monitoring and evaluation of practice is critical, audit and the measurement of organizational outputs alone are inadequate tools. Furthermore, they set in motion a train of unintended consequences which tend to undermine the effectiveness of practice. The distinction between audit and evaluation is explored and recommendations are made regarding approaches to the evaluation of probation practice.
Diversity and effectiveness in probation: The One-to-One programme in West Mercia
Authors: Hankinson Ian , Priestley Philip
Published: December 2010

One-to-One is a Home Office accredited, cognitive-behavioural programme used by a number of probation areas in England and Wales. A descriptive account is given here of its operation in West Mercia between 2002 and 2008, detailing programme structure; completion rates; participant feedback and staff responses; its role in meeting diversity goals for programme delivery including work with ‘racially motivated’ offences; re-offending outcomes; and its contribution to the development of staff careers. Some suggestions for the future are made.
Rehabilitation revolution: Will probation pay the price?
Authors: Ledger Jonathan
Published: December 2010

In this piece about the future role of the probation service the author follows the Churchillian adage of looking back in order to go forward. He considers the experience of the service under the Labour Government, in particular the impact of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) ‘project’, before going on to examine the intentions — good and bad — of the Coalition Government. Inevitably, it is necessary to ponder the likely substantial cuts to the probation service in line with the broader cuts to the public sector promised in the budget announcements but the author concludes by focusing on the potential opportunity for the service if a more progressive sentencing policy is pursued.