bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiative Flux Estimation from a Broadband Radiometer Using Synthetic Angular Models in the EarthCARE Mission Framework. Part I: Methodology
Authors: Domenech Carlos , Lopez-Baeza Ernesto , Donovan David P. , Wehr Tobias
Published: December 2010

The forthcoming broadband radiometer (BBR) on board the Earth Clouds, Aerosols, and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) will provide quasi-instantaneous top-of-atmosphere radiance measurements for three different viewing angles. The role of BBR data will be to constrain the vertical radiative flux divergence profiles derived from EarthCARE measurements. Thus, the development of an instantaneous radiance-to-flux conversion procedure is of paramount importance. This paper studies the scientific basis for determining fluxes from radiances measured by the BBR instrument. This is an attempt to evaluate a possible solution and assess its potential advantages and drawbacks. The approach considered has been to construct theoretical angular distribution models (ADMs) based on the multiangular pointing feature of this instrument. This configuration provides extra information on the anisotropy of the observed radiance field, which can be employed to construct accurate inversion schemes. The proposal relies on radiative transfer calculations performed with a Monte Carlo algorithm. Considering the intrinsic difficulty associated with addressing the range of atmospheric conditions needed to determine reliable ADMs, a synthetic database has been thoroughly constructed that considers a diverse range of surface, atmospheric, and cloud conditions that are conditioned to the EarthCARE orbit and physical constraints. Three inversion methodologies have been specifically designed for the BBR flux retrieval algorithm. In particular, an optimized classical inversion procedure in which the definition of an effective radiance leads to derive fluxes with averaged errors up to 1.2 and 5.2 W m−2 for shortwave clear and cloudy sky and 1.5 W m−2 for longwave radiation scenes and a linear combination of the three instantaneous radiances from which averaged errors up to 0.4 and 2.7 W m−2 for shortwave clear and cloudy sky and 0.5 W m−2 for longwave scenes can be obtained.
Momentum Flux Spectrum of Convective Gravity Waves. Part I: An Update of a Parameterization Using Mesoscale Simulations
Authors: Choi Hyun-Joo , Chun Hye-Yeong
Published: December 2010

The convective source and momentum flux spectra of a parameterization of convective gravity wave drag (GWDC) are validated in a three-dimensional spectral space using mesoscale numerical simulations for various ideal and real convective storms. From this, two important free parameters included in the GWDC parameterization—the moving speed of the convective source and the wave propagation direction—are determined. In the numerical simulations, the convective source spectrum shows nearly isotropic features in terms of magnitude, and its primary peak in any azimuthal direction occurs at a phase speed that equals the moving speed of the convective source in the same direction. It is found that the moving speed of the convective source is closely correlated with the basic-state wind averaged below 700 hPa (u700 and υ700). When the analytic convective source spectrum of the parameterization is calculated using the moving speed of the convective source as determined by u700 and υ700, its shape in all storm cases agrees with that from the simulation. The momentum flux spectrum at launch level (cloud top) is also calculated using the basic-state conditions and the moving speed of the convective source as determined by u700 and υ700. A comparison between the parameterization and simulation results shows that the parameterization reproduces the momentum flux spectrum from the simulation reasonably well. In the parameterization, two wave propagation directions of 45° (northeast and southwest) and 135° (northwest and southeast) best represent the momentum flux spectra from the simulations integrated over all directions when the minimum number of wave propagation directions is required for computational efficiency.
Investigating the Linear and Nonlinear Stationary Wave Response to Anomalous North American Snow Cover
Authors: Sobolowski Stefan , Gong Gavin , Ting Mingfang
Published: December 2010

Continental-scale snow cover represents a broad thermal forcing on monthly-to-intraseasonal time scales, with the potential to modify local and remote atmospheric circulation. A previous GCM study reported robust transient-eddy responses to prescribed anomalous North American (NA) snow cover. The same set of experiments also indicated a robust upper-level stationary wave response during spring, but the nature of this response was not investigated until now. Here, the authors diagnose a deep, snow-induced, tropospheric cooling over NA and hypothesize that this may represent a pathway linking snow to the stationary wave response. A nonlinear stationary wave model is shown to reproduce the GCM stationary wave response to snow more accurately than a linear model, and results confirm that diabatic cooling is the primary driver of the stationary wave response. In particular, the total nonlinear effects due to cooling, and its interactions with transient eddies and orography, are shown to be essential for faithful reproduction of the GCM response. The nonlinear model results confirm that direct effects due to transients and orography are modest. However, with interactions between forcings included, the total effects due to these terms make important contributions to the total response. Analysis of observed NA snow cover and stationary waves is qualitatively similar to the patterns generated by the GCM and linear/nonlinear stationary wave models, indicating that the snow-induced signal is not simply a modeling artifact. The diagnosis and description of a snow–stationary wave relationship adds to the understanding of stationary waves and their forcing mechanisms, and this relationship suggests that large-scale changes in the land surface state may exert considerable influence on the atmosphere over hemispheric scales and thereby contribute to climate variability.
How Does the Vertical Profile of Baroclinicity Affect the Wave Instability?
Authors: Iwasaki Toshiki , Kodama Chihiro
Published: December 2010

The growth rate of baroclinic instability waves is generalized in terms of wave–mean flow interactions, with an emphasis on the influence of the vertical profile of baroclinicity. The wave energy is converted from the zonal mean kinetic energy and the growth rate is proportional to the mean zonal flow difference between the Eliassen–Palm (E-P) flux convergence and divergence areas. Mass-weighted isentropic zonal means facilitate the expression of the lower boundary conditions for the mass streamfunctions and E-P flux.

For Eady waves, intersections of isentropes with lower/upper boundaries induce the E-P flux divergence/convergence. The growth rate is proportional to the mean zonal flow difference between the two boundaries, indicating that baroclinicity at each level contributes evenly to the instability. The reduced zonal mean kinetic energy is compensated by a conversion from the zonal mean available potential energy.

Aquaplanet experiments are carried out to investigate the actual characteristics of baroclinic instability waves. The wave activity is shown to be sensitive to the upper-tropospheric baroclinicity, though it may be most sensitive to baroclinicity near 800 hPa, which is the maximal level of the E-P flux. The local wave energy generation rate suggests that the increased upper-tropospheric zonal flow directly enhances the upper-tropospheric wave energy at the midlatitudes. Note that the actual baroclinic instability waves accompany a considerable amount of the equatorward E-P flux, which causes extinction of wave energy in the subtropical upper troposphere.
The Mean State of Axisymmetric Hurricanes in Statistical Equilibrium
Authors: Hakim Gregory J.
Published: December 2010

Numerical experiments are performed to determine the mean state of an axisymmetric hurricane in statistical equilibrium. Most earlier studies used a damping scheme on the temperature field as a parameterization of radiative cooling, which the authors demonstrate yields storms that have little convection outside the eyewall and do not achieve statistical equilibrium. Here the effects of infrared radiation are explicitly simulated, which permits the storm to achieve radiative–convective equilibrium.

Beginning from a state of rest, a storm spontaneously develops with maximum surface wind speeds in excess of 100 m s−1 by day 10. This transient “superintense” storm weakens and is replaced by an equilibrium storm that lasts over 400 days with a time-mean maximum wind speed that compares closely with a diagnostic estimate of potential intensity (PI). The main assumptions of PI theory are found to be consistent with the properties of the equilibrium storm, but the thermodynamic cycle does not resemble a Carnot cycle, with an implied efficiency of about half that of the Carnot limit. Maximum radiative cooling is found in the midtroposphere outside the storm, where convective clouds detrain into the dry layer of storm-outflow subsidence, producing a large vertical gradient in water vapor and cloud water.

Sensitivity experiments reveal that the results are robust to changes in the prestorm thermodynamic sounding, ambient rotation, horizontal turbulent mixing, and details in the radiative heating field. Subject to the assumptions in this study, it can be concluded that 1) the undisturbed tropical atmosphere is unstable to axisymmetric hurricanes, 2) PI theory accurately bounds time-mean storm intensity (but not transient fluctuations), and 3) equilibrium storm intensity is insensitive to turbulent mixing in the radial direction.
Role of Indian and Pacific SST in Indian Summer Monsoon Intraseasonal Variability
Authors: Achuthavarier Deepthi , Krishnamurthy V.
Published: December 2010

Three regionally coupled experiments are conducted to examine the role of Indian and Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) in Indian summer monsoon intraseasonal variability using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s Climate Forecast System, a coupled general circulation model. Regional coupling is employed by prescribing daily mean or climatological SST in either the Indian or the Pacific basin while allowing full coupling elsewhere. The results are compared with a fully coupled control simulation. The intraseasonal modes are isolated by applying multichannel singular spectrum analysis on the daily precipitation anomalies.

It is found that the amplitude of the northeastward-propagating mode is weaker when the air–sea interaction is suppressed in the Indian Ocean. The intraseasonal mode is not resolved clearly when the Indian Ocean SST is reduced to daily climatology. Intraseasonal composites of low-level zonal wind, latent heat flux, downward shortwave radiation, and SST provide a picture consistent with the proposed mechanisms of air–sea interaction for the northward propagation. The Pacific SST variability does not seem to be critical for the existence of this mode. The northwestward-propagating mode is obtained in the cases where the Indian Ocean was prescribed by daily mean or daily climatological SST. Intraseasonal SST composites corresponding to this mode are weak.
Sulfate Aerosol Control of Tropical Atlantic Climate over the Twentieth Century
Authors: Chang C.-Y. , Chiang J. C. H. , Wehner M. F. , Friedman A. R. , Ruedy R.
Published: December 2010

The tropical Atlantic interhemispheric gradient in sea surface temperature significantly influences the rainfall climate of the tropical Atlantic sector, including droughts over West Africa and Northeast Brazil. This gradient exhibits a secular trend from the beginning of the twentieth century until the 1980s, with stronger warming in the south relative to the north. This trend behavior is on top of a multidecadal variation associated with the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. A similar long-term forced trend is found in a multimodel ensemble of forced twentieth-century climate simulations. Through examining the distribution of the trend slopes in the multimodel twentieth-century and preindustrial models, the authors conclude that the observed trend in the gradient is unlikely to arise purely from natural variations; this study suggests that at least half the observed trend is a forced response to twentieth-century climate forcings. Further analysis using twentieth-century single-forcing runs indicates that sulfate aerosol forcing is the predominant cause of the multimodel trend. The authors conclude that anthropogenic sulfate aerosol emissions, originating predominantly from the Northern Hemisphere, may have significantly altered the tropical Atlantic rainfall climate over the twentieth century.
From Nordic neutrals to post-neutral Europeans: Differences in Finnish and Swedish policy transformation
Authors: Möller Ulrika , Bjereld Ulf
Published: December 2010

This article analyses the foreign policy of two post-neutral EU member states, Sweden and Finland. Both these Nordic states have adjusted their past policies of neutrality in favour of extended participation in the European and transatlantic security community. Yet within a similar and comparable pattern of change, there are two very significant differences between them: their views towards future membership in NATO and their choice of military strategy. The article utilizes an analytical framework that treats neutrality as an institutionalized idea containing causal and principled beliefs. The persistence of neutrality as a guiding principle of policy depends on feedback regarding: (1) its strategic usefulness (implications for security) as well as (2) its social appropriateness (implications for identity). The feedback mechanisms are related in the sense that the self-interested element of military non-alignment for the sake of security needs to be compensated by an appropriate role, such as demonstrating responsibility and engagement in international issues. Having taken a more autonomous decision, although with a historical record of shortcomings as regards declared neutrality, Sweden has been more dependent than Finland in ensuring that its respective policy of neutrality is complemented by an appropriate international role. This was possible during the Cold War, yet became increasingly difficult after the collapse of the bipolar world order. Thus, the analysis undertaken suggests, paradoxically, that in order to remain militarily non-aligned, Sweden has come to favour a more European outlook at the expense of the integrity of its policy of neutrality.
Separatist insurgency, objective referents and autonomy
Authors: Harris Albert
Published: December 2010

In certain separatist conflicts there is a greater likelihood of external mediation if the political ‘redefinition’ of the state insisted upon by the insurgents undergoes a revision, from secession to self-determination, understood as a variant of autonomy. In the same vein, although it may not happen concurrently, insurgent movements become more amenable to external mediation if and when opposing governments revise the preferred conflict outcome from a military defeat of the insurgents to a ‘containment’ of the movement. These two developments — a revised demand from the insurgents for how the state should be defined and an altered military strategy adopted by the government — can serve as ‘objective referents’ helping external parties to identify a ripe moment in the conflict and initiate mediation.
The interplay of geopolitics and historical lessons in foreign policy: Denmark facing German post-war rearmament
Authors: Mouritzen Hans , Runge Olesen Mikkel
Published: December 2010

Realist theory can no longer afford to neglect cases where policy-makers’ ‘lessons of the past’ play a role in foreign policy decisions. The case of Denmark confronting the prospect of German post-war rearmament should illustrate an interplay between the state’s geopolitical necessity — acquiescence in German NATO membership and rearmament due to Soviet military proximity — and policy-makers’ lessons from the recent German occupation of Denmark (that led to Danish inclinations to reject such membership). In other words, this is a case of strong and countervailing pressures. The article examines how the interplay unfolded, including the tactics politicians used to counterbalance and overrule any ‘inconvenient’ lessons. Whereas geopolitical pressures clearly dominated the ‘competition’, one historical lesson could be used as a negotiation asset to bluff foreign powers on the related Schleswig issue. The general thesis articulated in this article is that the state’s external freedom of action, as a gate-keeper, may allow or forbid lessons to play a role. Studying only situations characterized by wide freedom of action gives us a biased picture of foreign policy, implying that policy-makers are free to enact whatever peculiarities or constructions — in the case of this article, historical lessons — are available to them. However, such situations remain only special cases of foreign policy.
On the interface: The Finnish geopolitical tradition in human geography and in IR
Authors: Moisio Sami , Harle Vilho
Published: December 2010

Geopolitical writing has been more extensive in Finland than in any other Nordic country in recent years. This rejoinder article is a contextualized reading of the development of Finnish geopolitics within both Finnish Human Geography and International Relations academia. It seeks to diversify an argument propounded by Ola Tunander, who scrutinized recent developments in Nordic geopolitical scholarship. Tunander gave some interesting evidence of how a few critical scholars practising geopolitics were able to have a direct impact on political events in Europe in the 1990s and how they challenged the ‘US victory school’ characterized by realist geopolitics. This rejoinder article suggests that the rise of Finnish geopolitics in the 1990s had surprisingly little to do with its policy relevance to region-building or otherwise shaping the political landscape in the European North. The rise of Finnish geopolitics should rather be regarded as an academic process that was inspired by the advances made in Anglo-American critical political geography. While interdisciplinary geopolitical scholarship made a promising start in Finland in the 1990s, recent developments give less reason for optimism. Some challenges for future geopolitical scholarship are also discussed.
Fantasy in the discourse of ‘Social Theory of International Politics’
Authors: Arfi Badredine
Published: December 2010

No doubt Wendt’s ‘Social Theory of International Politics’ (STIP) is a discourse. As such, the theory is built on certain discursive conditions of possibility. Drawing on Lacan’s theory of discourse, I analyse these conditions of possibility in arguing that a desire of discursive closure is created in STIP through a fantasy. The latter sustains itself not only by pre-empting its own failure but also by maintaining the desire for discursive closure. I argue that STIP cannot escape deploying such a fantasy. More broadly, what social constructivism based on critical realism does, especially in its thin version, is construct a dichotomy between intransitive and transitive objects in its theoretic discourses. It then endeavours, via constructing fantasies, to use transitive discursive objects to sustain the desire for the constructed dichotomies, which hankers for discursive closure. This means that Wendt is more constructivist than he knows, despite his move of ‘not going all the way down’. In short, I argue that ‘ideas not all the way down’ is a discourse all the way down because of what Wendt and thin constructivists struggle to make of it.
The Distributional Nexus of Choroid Plexus to Cerebrospinal Fluid, Ependyma and Brain
Authors: Johanson Conrad , Stopa Edward , McMillan Paul , Roth Daniel , Funk Juergen , Krinke Georg
Published: December 2010

Bordering the ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are epithelial cells of choroid plexus (CP), ependyma and circumventricular organs (CVOs) that contain homeostatic transporters for mediating secretion/reabsorption. The distributional pathway (“nexus”) of CP-CSF-ependyma-brain furnishes peptides, hormones, and micronutrients to periventricular regions. In disease/toxicity, this nexus becomes a conduit for infectious and xenobiotic agents. The sleeping sickness trypanosome (a protozoan) disrupts CP and downstream CSF-brain. Piperamide is anti-trypanosomic but distorts CP epithelial ultrastructure by engendering hydropic vacuoles; this reflects phospholipidosis and altered lysosomal metabolism. CP swelling by vacuolation may occlude CSF flow. Toxic drug tools delineate injuries to choroidal compartments: cyclophosphamide (vasculature), methylcellulose (interstitium), and piperazine (epithelium). Structurally perturbed CP allows solutes to penetrate the ventricles. There, CSF-borne pathogens and xenobiotics may permeate the ependyma to harm neurogenic stem cell niches. Amoscanate, an anti-helmintic, potently injures rodent ependyma. Ependymal/brain regions near CP are vulnerable to CSF-borne toxicants; this proximity factor links regional barrier breakdown to nearby periventricular pathology. Diverse diseases (e.g., African sleeping sickness, multiple sclerosis) take early root in choroidal, circumventricular, or perivascular loci. Toxicokinetics informs on pathogen, anti-parasitic agent, and auto-antibody distribution along the CSF nexus. CVOs are susceptible to plasma-borne toxicants/pathogens. Countering the physico-chemical and pathogenic insults to the homeostasis-mediating ventricle-bordering cells sustains brain health and fluid balance.
Open Repair of Isolated Traumatic Subscapularis Tendon Tears
Authors: Bartl Christoph , Scheibel Markus , Magosch Petra , Lichtenberg Sven , Habermeyer Peter
Published: December 2010

Background: Diagnosis, operative treatment, and outcome assessment of isolated traumatic subscapularis tendon tears have not been widely studied.

Purpose: To report the clinical outcome, value of clinical tests, predictive outcome factors, and return to sports in the management of isolated traumatic subscapularis tendon tears.

Study Design: Case series; level of evidence, 4.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients with a confirmed isolated subscapularis tear, except for associated biceps tendon injury or humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligaments (HAGL) lesions, found at arthroscopy were included in the study. The average age of the study population was 43.1 years. In all 30 patients, a traumatic event caused the onset of symptoms. The mean delay between trauma and surgery was 4 months. All patients underwent open tendon reconstruction with a suture anchor technique via a deltopectoral approach. Clinical assessment was done using the Constant score and specific subscapularis tests. Postoperative tendon integrity was assessed with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Sports activity, including competition level, sports discipline, and postoperative return to sports, was evaluated.

Results: The average duration of follow-up was 46 months (range, 25-72 months). Seven patients had a full-thickness tear of the upper third of the tendon, 11 patients a full-thickness tear of the upper two-thirds of the tendon, and 12 patients had a complete subscapularis tendon tear. The Constant score increased from 51.3 preoperatively to 82.2 postoperatively ( P < .01). Twenty-seven patients rated their postoperative result as excellent or good. Most positive preoperative lift-off and belly-press tests were reversed by surgery, with a rate of 6 (20%) persistent positive tests after surgery. Positive postoperative subscapularis tests were more likely related to a higher preoperative degree of fatty subscapularis muscle infiltration ( P < .05). Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a structural intact repair at follow-up in 28 shoulders (93%). Seventy-five percent of athletes returned to their previous competition level.

Conclusion: Early repair of isolated traumatic subscapularis tendon tears and associated biceps tendon lesions or HAGL lesions achieves good functional outcomes with a low rerupture rate and allows return to sports activity. Delay of surgery and higher degrees of preoperative fatty infiltration of the subscapularis muscle impair postoperative subscapularis function.
The Effect of Acculturation on Frailty Among Older Mexican Americans
Authors: Masel Meredith C. , Howrey Bret , Peek M. Kristen
Published: December 2010

Objective: To determine the effect of acculturation on becoming frail and prefrail over a 10-year period among older Mexican Americans. Method: A nationally representative sample of 2,049 Mexican Americans aged 67 to 108 was analyzed. Adjusted for sociodemographics and health, longitudinal multinomial mixed models examined the effects of English language and frequency of contact with Anglo-Americans on transitions among deceased, nonfrail, prefrail, and frail statuses. Results: Greater English language proficiency was associated with a 10% reduced likelihood of becoming prefrail ( p < .05) and marginally associated with a reduced likelihood of becoming frail (relative risk = 0.88; p = .07). Frequent contact with Anglos was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of becoming frail (relative risk = 0.87; p < .05). Discussion: Among older Mexican Americans, acculturation at baseline was protective of transitioning from a nonfrail or prefrail to a frail state. These findings suggest that increased acculturation may provide Mexican Americans with protection from health issues in old age.
Prepared for Anything?
Authors: Suschinsky Kelly D. , Lalumière Martin L.
Published: December 2010

Men’s genital arousal occurs in response to a limited number of sexual stimuli, whereas women’s genital arousal occurs in response to a wide range of sexual stimuli, including those depicting nonpreferred cues. Researchers have hypothesized that women’s nonspecific pattern of genital arousal prepares the body for sexual activity, thus functioning to protect the genital organs against injury. If this hypothesis is correct, women should show genital responses to any cues suggesting sexual activity, even unappealing cues that involve nonconsensual sex and extreme violence. Fifteen men and 15 women listened to fourteen 2-min audiotaped narratives that depicted an interaction between a man and a woman and that varied factorially according to the presence of consent, violence, and sexual activity. The results support the preparation hypothesis: Men showed the greatest genital arousal in response to narratives depicting consensual, nonviolent sex, whereas women showed similar responses to all the narratives involving sexual activities, including those describing a sexual assault.
Hispanic Women’s Experiences With Substance Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, and Risk for HIV
Authors: Gonzalez-Guarda Rosa Maria , Vasquez Elias P. , Urrutia Maria T. , Villarruel Antonia M. , Peragallo Nilda
Published: December 2010

Hispanic females are disproportionately affected by substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and HIV. Despite these disparities, research describing the cultural and gender-specific experiences of Hispanic women with regard to these conditions is lacking. The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences that Hispanic community-dwelling women have with regard to substance abuse, violence, and risky sexual behaviors. Eight focus groups with 81 women were conducted. A bilingual, bicultural moderator asked women open-ended questions regarding the experiences that Hispanic women have with these conditions. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, verified, and then analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants discussed substance abuse, violence, and risky sexual behaviors interchangeably, often identifying common risk factors associated with these. Nevertheless, intimate partner violence was the most salient of conditions discussed. Three major themes emerged from the analysis: Transplantadas en otro mundo (Uprooted in another world), El criador de abuso (The breeding ground of abuse), and Rompiendo el silencio (Breaking the silence). This study supports the importance of addressing substance abuse, violence, and risk for HIV in an integrated manner and stresses the importance of addressing associated cultural factors (e.g., acculturation, machismo ) in interventions targeting Hispanics.
Psychometric Assessment of the Emotional Reactions Instrument-Korean (ERI-K) to Measure Korean Children’s Emotional Reaction to Hospitalization
Authors: Kim Jin-Sun , Park Jeong-Hwan , Foster Roxie L. , Cheng Sufen
Published: December 2010

The purpose of this study was to test psychometric properties of the Emotional Reactions Instrument—Korean (ERI-K). A convenience sample of 170 hospitalized Korean children was recruited. Each child was asked to describe how she or he felt during hospitalization, through the ERI-K and the Facial Affective Scale. Surprisingly, children reported lower levels of negative emotions and physical discomfort and a moderate level of positive emotion ( Happy, Good). Internal consistency reliability of .88 for the 14-item scale provides strong support for reliability. Construct validity was supported by item-to-total correlations ranging between .42 and .65. Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors that explained 54% of the variance. Further testing of the ERI-K is recommended to provide additional evidence of psychometric adequacy across Korean populations.
The Integral Role of Food in Native Hawaiian Migrants’ Perceptions of Health and Well-Being
Authors: Lassetter Jane H.
Published: December 2010

Purpose: Obesity is prevalent among Native Hawaiians, but the relationship between food and perceptions of health and well-being is not well understood. The purpose was to explore the role of food in Native Hawaiians’ perceptions of health and well-being. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Twenty-seven Native Hawaiian participants in Las Vegas took part in semistructured interviews. Results: Participants expressed that food can be dangerous to health. However, eating Hawaiian food seems to relieve homesickness, and they occasionally indulge in binge overeating. Conclusions: Hawaiian food plays an important role in participants’ health and well-being. Participants’ concurrent attraction to Hawaiian-style food and desire to avoid unhealthy food create a challenging struggle. Implications for Practice: To support cultural connectedness, Native Hawaiians can be encouraged to expend consumed calories in physical activity as their ancestors did. Discussing nutrition from a family framework might be helpful to Native Hawaiians.
Social Energy Exchange Theory for Postpartum Depression
Authors: Posmontier Bobbie , Waite Roberta
Published: December 2010

Postpartum depression (PPD), a significant health problem affecting about 19.4% of postpartum women worldwide, may result in long-term cognitive and behavior problems in children, spousal depression, widespread family dysfunction, and chronic and increasingly severe maternal depression. Although current theoretical frameworks provide a rich context for studying PPD, none provides a framework that specifically addresses the dynamic relationship of the inner personal experience with the social and cultural context of PPD. The authors propose the social energy exchange theory for postpartum depression to understand how PPD impedes this dynamic relationship and suggest it as a theoretical framework for the study of interventions that would target intra- and interpersonal disturbance within the social and cultural context.
Fiscal Policy Responses to Oil Price Volatility in an Oil-Based Economy
Authors: Chemingui Mohamed Abdelbasset , Hajeeh Mohammed
Published: December 2010

Oil prices increased from 2004 to historic highs in mid-2008 but have fallen precipitously since then. What are the effects of this volatility on an oil-based economy like Kuwait? This article examines options for policy responses from an oil-based economy perspective. The impact of changes in domestic tax and subsidy policies on the Kuwaiti economy is estimated using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Results show that for a set of scenarios aimed at raising government savings via tax increases or subsidy cuts, the least negative impact on household welfare is for the subsidy-reducing scenario, a reflection of efficiency gains due to reduced price distortions. The most negative effects follow from raising government savings via increases in price-distorting import tariffs and the introduction of a nonuniform value-added tax (VAT). Given the small share of non-oil activities in Kuwait’s non-oil gross domestic product (GDP), the introduction of the VAT on non-oil activities does not generate a significant increase in government revenues.
Is There Salary Discrimination by Nationality in the NBA?
Authors: Yang Chih-Hai , Lin Hsuan-Yu
Published: December 2010

The authority of the National Basketball Association (NBA) over the past decade has actively internationalized the game by recruiting potential international players and expanding overseas markets. This article examines the determinants of salaries for NBA players, aiming to identify the existence of nationality discrimination on players’ salary and whether the market size of international players’ home countries matters to their compensation. Based on an unbalanced panel data of 618 NBA players between the 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 seasons and employing the technique of two-stage double fixed-effect model, the empirical results suggest that international players seem to receive a lower salary than that of their U.S.-born counterparts, ceteris paribus, suggesting the existence of salary discrimination by nationality. However, international players who come from a large economy receive preferential labor market treatment, highlighting the importance of the home country market to their salaries. The player characteristics such as positions, height, draft, and a team’s local market size indeed play crucial roles in determining players’ salaries. The authors also find that U.S.-born White players tend to be paid less than U.S.-born Black players. It may reflect the fact that more WHITEs tend to be Bench players or the possibility of racial discrimination.
Is Accurate Prediction of Gait in Nonambulatory Stroke Patients Possible Within 72 Hours Poststroke?
Authors: Veerbeek J. M. , Van Wegen E. E. H. , Harmeling–Van der Wel B. C. , Kwakkel G. ,   for the EPOS Investigators
Published: December 2010

Background. Early prognosis, adequate goal setting, and referral are important for stroke management. Objective. To investigate if independent gait 6 months poststroke can be accurately predicted within the first 72 hours poststroke, based on simple clinical bedside tests. Reassessment on days 5 and 9 was used to check whether accuracy changed over time. Methods. In 154 first-ever ischemic stroke patients unable to walk independently, 19 demographic and clinical variables were assessed within 72 hours and again on days 5 and 9 poststroke. Multivariable logistic modeling was applied to identify early prognostic factors for regaining independent gait, defined as ≥4 points on the Functional Ambulation Categories. Results. Multivariable modeling showed that patients with an independent sitting balance (Trunk Control Test–sitting; 30 seconds) and strength of the hemiparetic leg (Motricity Index leg; eg, visible contraction for all 3 items, or movement against resistance but weaker for 1 item) on day 2 poststroke had a 98% probability of achieving independent gait at 6 months. Absence of these features in the first 72 hours was associated with a probability of 27%, declining to 10% by day 9. Conclusions. Accurate prediction of independent gait performance can be made soon after stroke, using 2 simple bedside tests: “sitting balance” and “strength of the hemiparetic leg.” This knowledge is useful for making early clinical decisions regarding treatment goals and discharge planning at hospital stroke units.
Abbreviated Environmental Enrichment Enhances Neurobehavioral Recovery Comparably to Continuous Exposure After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: de Witt Benjamin Wells , Ehrenberg Kathryn M. , McAloon Rose L. , Panos Amanda H. , Shaw Kaitlyn E. , Raghavan Priya V. , Skidmore Elizabeth R. , Kline Anthony E.
Published: December 2010

Background. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a complex living milieu that has been shown to enhance functional recovery versus standard (STD) housing after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) and therefore may be considered a rodent correlate of rehabilitation. However, the typical EE paradigm consists of continuous exposure to enrichment after TBI, which is inconsistent with the limited time frame in clinical rehabilitation. Objective. To determine whether abbreviated EE (ie, rehabilitation-relevant dose response) confers benefits similar to typical EE after TBI. Methods. Adult male rats received either a controlled cortical impact (2.8 mm depth at 4 m/s) or sham injury and were then randomly assigned to TBI + EE, TBI + EE (2 hours), TBI + EE (4 hours), TBI + EE (6 hours), TBI + STD, and respective sham controls. Motor (beam balance/beam walk) and cognitive (Morris water maze) performance was assessed on postoperative days 1 to 5 and 14 to 19, respectively. Results. The TBI + EE (2 hours) and TBI + EE (4 hours) groups were not statistically different from the TBI + STD group in any behavioral assessment. In contrast, the TBI + EE (6 hours) group exhibited significant enhancement of motor and cognitive performance when compared with the TBI + STD group, as well as the TBI + EE (2 hours) and TBI + EE (4 hours) groups ( P < .003), and did not differ from the TBI + EE (typical) group. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that abbreviated EE (6 hours) produces motor and cognitive benefits similar to continuous EE after TBI and thus may be considered a dose-relevant rehabilitation paradigm.
No Visible Scar (NVIS) Colectomy: A New Approach to Minimal Access Surgery to the Colon
Authors: Tung Vicrumdeep S. , Buchberg Brian , Masoomi Hossein , Reavis Kevin , Nguyen Ninh T. , Mills Steven , Stamos Michael J.
Published: December 2010

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery continues to revolutionize surgical standards with trends toward further minimalization and improved cosmesis. Approaches such as laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) have thus emerged. The authors devised an alternative method for a more efficient approach to minimally invasive surgery called no visible scar (NVIS). This study describes NVIS and its ability to provide operative capacity and outcomes similar to other minimal access techniques, but with improved cosmesis and possibly decreased associated complications. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing colectomy between June 2009 and March 2010 to evaluate our outcomes with the NVIS technique (surgical approach via a 4-5 cm suprapubic site for inserting trocars/multiport and specimen extraction, with a 5-mm umbilical incision for a single trocar). Outcome measures included intraoperative complications, postoperative morbidity, and cosmetic outcome. Results: Ten patients with a mean age of 60.3 years underwent NVIS colectomy. The average operating time was 161.3 minutes with a mean blood loss of 56.5 mL. There were no conversions to open surgery. One patient required additional trocar placement. No perioperative complications were encountered. On follow-up, no wound complications were noted and all patients appeared satisfied with their cosmetic outcome. One patient was readmitted for a low-grade fever, but the NVIS technique was not identified as a contributor. Conclusion: NVIS is a safe and feasible minimal access alternative, which improves cosmesis and may decrease complications associated with other minimally invasive techniques. Further analysis in a larger patient population is warranted to support our findings.
“Gestational Gigantomastia”: A Review Article and Case Presentation of a New Surgical Management Option
Authors: Shoma Ashraf , Elbassiony Loai , Amin Mahmoud , Zalata Khaled , Megahed Nirmeen , Elkhiary Mostafa , Abdelhafez Hosam , Abdelaal Ibrahim
Published: December 2010

Background: Gestational gigantomastia is a nightmare to pregnant women. The currently available surgical intervention is either reduction mammoplasty or simple mastectomy. Reduction mammoplasty carries high risk of recurrence. Simple mastectomy is a mutilating option for a benign condition. Methods: A thorough literature research was performed for all reported gestational gigantomastia cases. In addition, this study presents a case that was diagnosed and treated at the authors’ center. Results: The patients’ age mean age was 26.8 years. Surgical intervention is the only currently available curative option. The authors were able to introduce an alternative surgical technique: bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy (BSCM) with latissimus dorsi muscle flaps (LDF) and free nipple areola complex grafting (FNAG). Conclusion: Despite being a benign condition, gestational gigantomastia could turn to be a catastrophe. BSCM with LDF and FNAG represents an excellent alternative breast saving surgical option. It offers the advantage of restoring normal breast shape with no fear of future recurrences.
Effect of heat treatment on mechanical properties of Co–29Cr–6Mo–0·33C superalloy
Authors: Zakeri M. , Lal-Avazpour Gh.
Published: December 2010

Investment cast Co–29Cr–6Mo–0·33C alloy tensile test specimens were subjected to heat treatment at 1230°C under argon atmosphere for different times to ascertain what enhancement of tensile properties could be achieved by such processing. Improvements in tensile properties were observed in the 2 h annealed specimen. Also, tempering of this specimen at different times shows that tensile properties and hardness increase and exceed those of the ASTM specification. However, elongation decreases during tempering. The annealed specimen has better corrosion resistance in comparison with as cast specimen.
Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity in SiCp based metal–matrix composites
Authors: Chu K. , Jia C. C. , Liang X. B. , Chen H.
Published: December 2010

The authors present a theoretical investigation of the thermal conductivity of SiCp based metal–matrix composites at various temperatures from a viewpoint of heat conduction mechanism across the SiCp/matrix interface. The interfacial thermal conductance associated with the electron–phonon (e–ph) coupling and the phonon–phonon (ph–ph) coupling is characterised using a simple calculational procedure. The predictions for the composite thermal conductivity obtained by a Hasselman and Johnson model incorporated into a Majumdar's relation reveal good correspondence with the experimental results and explore that the temperature dependent thermal conductivity is essentially governed by the competitive interaction of e–ph coupling and ph–ph coupling. This work also accounts for the temperature dependent thermal conductivity of SiCp based composites, which is sensitive to the particle size and volume fraction when these two materials properties lie within certain range.
Comparison of microstructures and tensile properties of pulse electrodeposited Ni on polycrystalline and amorphous substrates
Authors: Zheng Y. D. , Dai P. Q. , Xu W. C. , Wu B.
Published: December 2010

Ultrafine grained nickel (UFG Ni) and microcrystalline nickel (MC Ni) were fabricated on two types of substrates, i.e. the amorphous (Ni–P) and polycrystalline (stainless steel) substrates by pulse electrodeposition without additives. This study demonstrates that when inhibiting the epitaxial growth by first depositing a thin amorphous layer on the polycrystalline substrates, the grain size of the subsequent Ni deposit decreases dramatically from microscale to the UFG regime, which depends on the deposition conditions. Compared with MC Ni, which has an ultimate tensile strength σUTS of 397 MPa and an elongation to failure εTEF of 11·98, UFG Ni with an average grain size of 120·72 nm exhibits an enhanced σUTS of 807 MPa and a comparable εTEF of 10·44. The electrodeposited method used in this study provides an effective and low cost way to produce UFG materials with both high strength and ductility, which can meet the demands for practical application as structural materials.
Precipitation behaviour of β and γ′ in high Al low thermal expansion superalloy
Authors: Yu L. X. , Sun X. F. , Sun W. R. , Guo S. R. , Hu Z. Q.
Published: December 2010

The precipitation behaviour of β and γ′ in a low thermal expansion superalloy IN783 was investigated. It was demonstrated that coarse γ′ precipitates do form during β aging at 845°C. During aging at lower temperatures, not only fine γ′ particles are formed, the coarse γ′ particles also change from spherical to cuboidal. Therefore, a bimodal distribution of γ′ is formed in the matrix after standard aging treatment. The formation of β consumes Al atoms, which constrains the formation of coarse γ′ in the zone around β during aging at 845°C. During γ′ aging, a fine γ′ precipitating zone is formed around β. Prolonging the β aging duration markedly promotes the formation of β at grain boundaries and in the matrix, significantly enlarges the fine γ′ precipitating zone and influences the precipitation of coarse γ′.
Neural networks for critical high temperature component life prediction
Authors: Johnston R. E.
Published: December 2010

The aim of the present research was to subject a well known parametric model and a neural network model to an acid test of extrapolation in order to determine which can produce improved long term creep rupture life predictions for 2·25Cr–1Mo steels. Linear, squared and cubic parametric models were used and the accuracy of the predictions assessed by calculating the mean percentage absolute error. Many different neural network geometries were developed and the accuracy of the predictions was assessed again by calculating the mean percentage absolute error. As the predictions are concerned with the long term rupture life of components, the accuracy below 60 MPa is of the greatest importance. A neural network model with a 2–5–5–1 architecture provided the lowest error for predictions below 60 MPa, compared to other neural networks and the parametric models, and is therefore the optimum model from this study for predictions of long term rupture creep life for a 2·25Cr–1Mo steel.
Solid state joining of metals by linear friction welding: A literature review
Authors: Bhamji I. , Preuss M. , Threadgill P. L. , Addison A. C.
Published: December 2010

Linear friction welding (LFW) is a solid state joining process in which a joint between two metals can be formed through the intimate contact of a plasticised layer at the interface of the adjoining specimens. This plasticised layer is created through a combination of frictional heating, which occurs as a result of pushing a stationary workpiece against one that is moving in a linear reciprocating manner, and applied force. The process is currently established as a niche technology for the fabrication of titanium alloy bladed disc (blisk) assemblies in aeroengines, and is being developed for nickel based superalloy assemblies. However, interest is growing in utilising the process in a wider range of applications that also employ non-aeroengine metallic materials. Therefore, it is the objective of this report to provide a broad view of the capabilities of the LFW process for joining metals. This review paper will cover relevant published work conducted to date on LFW. The basics of the process and the fundamental aspects of operating a LFW machine will first be described, followed by a description of the different materials that have been welded using the process. The review will then go on to describe the microstructural changes, including texture variations, and residual stresses that are produced as a result of the welding process.