bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF FORM-FOCUSED PRACTICE AND FEEDBACK ON CHINESE EFL LEARNERS’ ACQUISITION OF REGULAR AND IRREGULAR PAST TENSE FORMS
Authors: Yang Yingli , Lyster Roy
Published: April 2010

Conducted in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classrooms at the university level in China, this quasi-experimental study compared the effects of three different corrective feedback treatments on 72 Chinese learners’ use of regular and irregular English past tense. Three classes were randomly assigned to a prompt group, a recast group, or a control group and then participated in form-focused production activities that elicited the target forms. In the two feedback groups, teachers consistently provided one type of feedback (i.e., either recasts or prompts) in response to learners’ errors during the activities, whereas in the control group, the teacher provided feedback only on content. Pretests, immediate posttests, and delayed posttests administered 2 weeks after the treatment assessed participants’ acquisition of regular and irregular past tense forms in both oral and written production. Comparisons of group means across testing sessions using a repeated-measures ANOVA consistently revealed large effects for time. Post hoc within-group analyses of the eight immediate- and delayed-posttest measures revealed significant gains by the prompt group on all eight measures, the recast group on four, and the control group on three. The effects of prompts were larger than those of recasts for increasing accuracy in the use of regular past tense forms, whereas prompts and recasts had similar effects on improving accuracy in the use of irregular past tense forms.
ORAL FEEDBACK IN CLASSROOM SLA
Authors: Lyster Roy , Saito Kazuya
Published: April 2010

To investigate the pedagogical effectiveness of oral corrective feedback (CF) on target language development, we conducted a meta-analysis that focused exclusively on 15 classroom-based studies (N = 827). The analysis was designed to investigate whether CF was effective in classroom settings and, if so, whether its effectiveness varied according to (a) types of CF, (b) types and timing of outcome measures, (c) instructional setting (second vs. foreign language classroom), (d) treatment length, and (e) learners’ age. Results revealed that CF had significant and durable effects on target language development. The effects were larger for prompts than recasts and most apparent in measures that elicit free constructed responses. Whereas instructional setting was not identified as a contributing factor to CF effectiveness, effects of long treatments were larger than those of short-to-medium treatments but not distinguishable from those of brief treatments. A simple regression analysis revealed effects for age, with younger learners benefiting from CF more than older learners.
LEARNERS’ PROCESSING, UPTAKE, AND RETENTION OF CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK ON WRITING
Authors: Storch Neomy , Wigglesworth Gillian
Published: April 2010

The literature on corrective feedback (CF) that second language writers receive in response to their grammatical and lexical errors is plagued by controversies and conflicting findings about the merits of feedback. Although more recent studies suggest that CF is valuable (e.g., Bitchener, 2008; Sheen, 2007), it is still not clear whether direct or indirect feedback is the most effective, or why. This study explored the efficacy of two different forms of CF. The investigation focused on the nature of the learners’ engagement with the feedback received to gain a better understanding of why some feedback is taken up and retained and some is not. The study was composed of three sessions. In session 1, learners worked in pairs to compose a text based on a graphic prompt. Feedback was provided either in the form of reformulations (direct feedback) or editing symbols (indirect feedback). In session 2 (day 5), the learners reviewed the feedback they received and rewrote their text. All pair talk was audio-recorded. In session 3 (day 28), each of the learners composed a text individually using the same prompt as in session 1. The texts produced by the pairs after feedback were analyzed for evidence of uptake of the feedback given and texts produced individually in session 3 for evidence of retention. The learners’ transcribed pair talk proved a very rich source of data that showed not only how learners processed the feedback received but also their attitudes toward the feedback and their beliefs about language conventions and use. Closer analysis of four case study pairs suggests that uptake and retention may be affected by a host of linguistic and affective factors, including the type of errors the learners make in their writing and, more importantly, learners’ attitudes, beliefs, and goals. The findings suggest that, although often ignored in research on CF, these affective factors play an important role in uptake and retention of feedback.
Timeliness of MMR vaccination and barriers to vaccination in preschool children
Authors: JEONG Y. W. , PARK B. H. , KIM K. H. , HAN Y. R. , GO U. Y. , CHOI W. S. , KONG K. A. , PARK H.
Published: April 2010

The documented vaccine coverage rate of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination is almost 99% in Korea, but measles cases are constantly being reported. This study evaluated the vaccine coverage, timeliness, and barriers to immunization of measles vaccination in preschool children in Korea. We assessed 452 children aged 15–23 months and 300 children aged 4–6 years in September 2007. Questionnaires were administered in order to estimate measles vaccination rate, its timeliness and barriers to vaccine uptake. Being unaware of the necessity for vaccination and its schedule, child being sick during the recommended vaccination period, and recommended vaccination period not being over were significant preventive factors to timely vaccination (P<0·05). Children with working mothers, single parents, those not being cared for by their parents, and those younger among siblings were at a higher risk of not being vaccinated on time. In order to increase timely vaccination, accurate information should be delivered and a systematic approach should be targeted to high-risk groups.
Putative fossil life in a hydrothermal system of the Dellen impact structure, Sweden
Authors: Lindgren Paula , Ivarsson Magnus , Neubeck Anna , Broman Curt , Henkel Herbert , Holm Nils G.
Published: April 2010

Impact-generated hydrothermal systems are commonly proposed as good candidates for hosting primitive life on early Earth and Mars. However, evidence of fossil microbial colonization in impact-generated hydrothermal systems is rarely reported in the literature. Here we present the occurrence of putative fossil microorganisms in a hydrothermal system of the 89 Ma Dellen impact structure, Sweden. We found the putative fossilized microorganisms hosted in a fine-grained matrix of hydrothermal alteration minerals set in interlinked fractures of an impact breccia. The putative fossils appear as semi-straight to twirled filaments, with a thickness of 1–2 μm, and a length between 10 and 100 μm. They have an internal structure with segmentation, and branching of filaments occurs frequently. Their composition varies between an outer and an inner layer of a filament, where the inner layer is more iron rich. Our results indicate that hydrothermal systems in impact craters could potentially be capable of supporting microbial life. This could have played an important role for the evolution of life on early Earth and Mars.
THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
Authors: Hyman John
Published: April 2010

Traditionally, the story that opens chapter three of Genesis is called The Fall. David Daube, who was the greatest authority on ancient law in his generation, and a biblical scholar of exceptional brilliance, said that it should be called The Rise. I shall explain why shortly, but first let me remind you of the orthodox interpretation of the story.
A NEW EUTHYPHRO
Authors: Peoples Glenn
Published: April 2010

It is my contention that what is generally construed as the Euthyphro Dilemma as a reason to deny that moral facts are based on theological facts is one of the worst arguments proposed in philosophy of religion or ethical theory, and that Socrates, the character of the dialogue who poses the dilemma, was both morally bankrupt in his challenge to Euthyphro, but more importantly here, ought to have lost the argument hands down. But in any dialogue, the author controls what people say. Plato was able to easily give Socrates the victory by writing the ending of the story himself, where Euthyphro, believing that piety is what the gods approve of, loses the argument abysmally. The version of events presented here is different. This time, Euthyphro is permitted to offer a reasonable defence of his position, and he has the benefit of having been able to read all that has been said on the Euthyphro dilemma over the last couple of millennia, and especially the last fifty years. Under such circumstances, Socrates does not stand a chance. We arrive at our scene, the steps of the Dunedin High Court, in Dunedin, New Zealand, on a cool mid-winter July morning.
A PARABLE OF TIME
Authors: Miles Tim
Published: April 2010

The following little parable about what counts as an accurate measure of time illustrates some of the complexities in the relation of language to the world.
What the D/O ratio tells us about the interstellar abundance of deuterium?
Authors: Hébrard Guillaume
Published: April 2010

The ionization balances for HI, OI and DI being locked together by charge exchange, the deuterium-to-oxygen ratio is considered to be a good proxy for the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio, in particular within the interstellar medium. As the DI and OI column densities are of similar orders of magnitude for a given sight line, comparisons of the two values are generally less subject to systematic errors than comparisons of DI and HI. Moreover, D/O is additionally sensitive to astration, because as stars destroy deuterium, they should produce oxygen. D/O measurements are now available for tens of lines of sight in the interstellar medium, most of them from FUSE observations. The D/H and D/O ratios show different pictures, D/H being clearly more dispersed than D/O. The low, homogeneous D/O ratio measured on distant lines of sight suggests a deuterium abundance representative of the present epoch that is about two times lower than this measured within the local interstellar medium.
Measurements of4He in metal-poor extragalactic Hiiregions: the primordial Helium abundance and the ΔY/ΔOratio
Authors: Peimbert Manuel , Peimbert A. , Carigi L. , Luridiana V.
Published: April 2010

We present a review on the determination of the primordial helium abundanceYp, based on the study of hydrogen and helium recombination lines in extragalactic Hiiregions. We also discuss the observational determinations of the increase of helium to the increase of oxygen by mass ΔY/ΔO, and compare them with predictions based on models of galactic chemical evolution.
The quite complex “Simple Stellar Populations” of globular clusters
Authors: Bragaglia Angela
Published: April 2010

There is compelling observational evidence that globular clusters (GCs) are quite complex objects. A growing body of photometric results indicate that the evolutionary sequences are not simply isochrones in the observational plane -as believed until a few years ago- from the main sequence, to the subgiant, giant, and horizontal branches. The strongest indication of complexity comes however from the chemistry, from internal dispersion in iron abundance in a few cases, and in light elements (C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, etc.) in all GCs. This universality means that the complexity is intrinsic to the GCs and is most probably related to their formation mechanisms. The extent of the variations in light elements abundances is dependent on the GC mass, but mass is not the only modulating factor; metallicity, age, and possibly orbit can play a role. Finally, one of the many consequences of this new way of looking at GCs is that their stars may show different He contents.
The Helium contribution from massive AGBs
Authors: Ventura Paolo
Published: April 2010

The helium produced by AGB and super-AGB stars is a key quantity to understand whether these objects may have been the main polluters of the interstellar medium within globular clusters, and originate a second generation of stars with a chemistry showing the imprinting of their ejecta. Helium is the most important element for this topic, as any difference in the original helium between the two populations would determine clearly distinguishable features both in the morphology of the Horizontal Branches and in the Main Sequences. We present the helium yields from massive AGB stars, and show that the results are rather robust, being approximately independent of the various uncertainties that affect the description of the evolution of these stars. The implications for the self-enrichment scenario are discussed and commented.
Discussion A: On the abundance of deuterium in the local interstellar medium and in high-redshift systems
Authors: Tosi Monica
Published: April 2010

The first discussion session held at the IAU Symposium 268 focussed on the deuterium content in the local interstellar medium (LISM) and in high-redshift systems. There were two key questions proposed to the audience: 1) what should be taken as representative abundance of D in the LISM, and 2) how can we explain the dispersion of the D abundance measured in high-redshift, very low metallicity environments? While on the latter point people seem to agree that observational and data analyses uncertainties are the most likely explanation, on the former question no consensus was reached. The historical and observational background at the basis of these questions and the discussion are schematically reported here.
What is 4He from H II regions? What needs to be done to better understand the systematic errors?
Authors: Ferland Gary J. , Izotov Yuri , Peimbert Antonio , Peimbert Manuel , Porter Ryan L. , Skillman Evan , Steigman Gary
Published: April 2010

Here we summarize the discussion that took place after the presentation of papers discussing measurement of abundances from emission lines in H II regions. A cosmological test using 4He is harder than those using the other light elements due to the small dynamic range over which He/H varies for cosmologically interesting parameters. A precision of much better than 1% is needed. This precision challenges both observations and theory. Several of the major uncertainties were identified and methods of improving the accuracy were described.
On the total O/H abundance ratio in Galactic and extragalactic H ii regions
Authors: Peimbert Antonio , Peimbert Manuel
Published: April 2010

To determine the primordial helium abundance and to study the chemical evolution of galaxies it is necessary to derive the total O/H ratio in H ii regions. To determine the total O/H ratio in H ii regions it is necessary to add to the gas-phase component the dust-phase component of O atoms. Based on the Fe/O ratio and other considerations we estimate the dust-phase fraction as a function of O/H.
Beryllium and boron in metal-poor stars
Authors: Primas Francesca
Published: April 2010

Knowledge of lithium, beryllium, and boron abundances in stars of the Galactic halo and disk plays a major role in our understanding of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic-ray physics, and stellar interiors. 9Be and 10B are believed to originate entirely from spallation reactions in the interstellar medium (ISM) between α-particles and protons and heavy nuclei like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (CNO), whereas 11B may have an extra production channel via neutrino-spallation. Beryllium and boron are both observationally challenging, with their main resonant doublets falling respectively at 313 nm and at 250 nm. The advent of 8-10m class telescopes equipped with highly sensitive (in the near-UV/blue) spectrographs has opened up a new era of Be abundance studies. Here, I will review and discuss the most interesting results of recent observational campaigns in terms of formation and evolution of these two light elements.
New Beryllium results in halo stars from Keck/HIRES spectra
Authors: Boesgaard Ann Merchant , Rich Jeffrey A. , Levesque Emily M. , Bowler Brendan P.
Published: April 2010

We have obtained high-resolution, high signal-to-noise Keck spectra to determine Be abundances in over 100 stars in the Galactic halo. The stellar metallicities range from [Fe/H] = −0.50 to −3.50. Using this large sample, we have examined the trends of Be with Fe and Be with O. We find a real dispersion in Be at a given [O/H] that indicates that Be may not be a good cosmochronometer. Our results indicate that the dominant production mechanism for Be changes as the Galaxy ages. In the early eras of the Galaxy, when massive stars become supernovae, Be is produced from the acceleration of energetic CNO atoms which bombard protons in the vicinity of supernovae. Later spallation reactions occur as high energy protons bombard CNO atoms in the interstellar gas. The change occurs near [Fe/H] = −2.2. We have found that Be is deficient in Li-deficient halo stars, which favors the blue straggler analog hypothesis.
Boron abundances in the Galactic disk
Authors: Cunha Katia
Published: April 2010

When compared to lithium and beryllium, the absence of boron lines in the optical results in a relatively small data set of boron abundances measured in Galactic stars to date. In this paper we discuss boron abundances published in the literature and focus on the evolution of boron in the Galaxy as measured from pristine boron abundances in cool stars as well as early-type stars in the Galactic disk. The trend of B with Fe obtained from cool F-G dwarfs in the disk is found to have a slope of 0.87 ± 0.08 (in a log-log plot). This slope is similar to the slope of B with Fe found for the metal poor halo stars and there seems to be a smooth connection between the halo and disk in the chemical evolution of boron. The disk trend of boron with oxygen has a steeper slope of 1.5. This slope suggests an intermediate behavior between primary and secondary production of boron with respect to oxygen. The slope derived for oxygen is consistent with the slope obtained for Fe provided that [O/Fe] increases as [Fe/H] decreases, as observed in the disk.
Main-sequence and sub-giant stars in the globular cluster NGC 6397: The complex evolution of the lithium abundance
Authors: González Hernández J. I. , Bonifacio P. , Caffau E. , Steffen M. , Ludwig H.-G. , Behara N. , Sbordone L. , Cayrel R. , Zaggia S.
Published: April 2010

Thanks to the high multiplex and efficiency of Giraffe at the VLT we have been able for the first time to observe the Li I doublet in the Main Sequence stars of a globular cluster. At the same time we observed Li in a sample of Sub-Giant stars of the same B-V colour.

Our final sample is composed of 84 SG stars and 79 MS stars. In spite of the fact that SG and MS span the same temperature range we find that the equivalent widths of the Li I doublet in SG stars are systematically larger than those in MS stars, suggesting a higher Li content among SG stars. This is confirmed by our quantitative analysis carried out making use of 1D hydrostatic plane-parallel models and 3D hydrodynamical simulations of the stellar atmospheres.

We derived the effective temperatures of stars in our the sample from Hα fitting. Theoretical profiles were computed using 3D hydrodynamical simulations and 1D ATLAS models. Therefore, we are able to determined 1D and 3D-based effective temperatures. We then infer Li abundances taking into account non-local thermodynamical equilibrium effects when using both 1D and 3D models.

We find that SG stars have a mean Li abundance higher by 0.1 dex than MS stars. This result is obtained using both 1D and 3D models. We also detect a positive slope of Li abundance with effective temperature, the higher the temperature the higher the Li abundance, both for SG and MS stars, although the slope is slightly steeper for MS stars. These results provide an unambiguous evidence that the Li abundance changes with evolutionary status.

The physical mechanisms responsible for this behaviour are not yet clear, and none of the existing models seems to describe accurately these observations. Based on these conclusions, we believe that the cosmological lithium problem still remains an open question.
Lithium abundances in Bulge-like SMR stars
Authors: Barbuy Beatriz , Trevisan M. , Gustafsson B. , Eriksson K. , Grenon M. , Pompéia L.
Published: April 2010

We analyze a sample of 21 super-metal-rich (SMR) stars, using high-resolution échelle spectra obtained with the FEROS Spectrograph at the 1.5m ESO telescope. The metallicities are in the range 0.15 < [Fe/H] < 0.5, 3 of them in common with Pompéia et al. (2002). Geneva photometry, astrometric data from Hipparcos, and radial velocities from CORAVEL are available for these stars. The peculiar kinematics suggests the thin disk close to the bulge as the probable birthplace of these stars (Grenon 1999). From Hipparcos data, it appears that the turnoff of this population indicates an age of 10-11 Gyr (Grenon 1999). Detailed analysis of the sample stars is carried out. Lithium abundances of these stars were derived, and their behaviour with effective temperature is shown.
Beryllium abundances in metal-rich stars
Authors: Peterson Ruth C.
Published: April 2010

In metal-rich stars as cool as the Sun, beryllium abundance determinations are difficult due to heavy line blanketing in the near-UV 3130 Å region where the accessible Be II lines reside. We can now attempt such determinations based on improved lists of atomic line identifications and gf-values in the near-UV. Here we report Be determinations for three metal-rich A, F, and G stars plus three solar-metallicity standards. All six stars have beryllium-to-hydrogen ratios at or below solar. More such determinations would provide stronger constraints on trends in Be abundance with temperature, metallicity, and age.
Beryllium abundances along the evolutionary sequence of the open cluster IC 4651
Authors: Smiljanic Rodolfo , Pasquini L. , Charbonnel C. , Lagarde N.
Published: April 2010

The simultaneous investigation of Li and Be in stars is a powerful tool in the study of the evolutionary mixing processes. Here, we present beryllium abundances in stars along the whole evolutionary sequence of the open cluster IC 4651. This cluster has a metallicity of [Fe/H] = +0.11 and an age of 1.2 or 1.7 Gyr. Abundances have been determined from high-resolution, high signal-to-noise UVES spectra using spectrum synthesis and model atmospheres. Lithium abundances for the same stars were determined in a previous work. Confirming previous results, we find that the Li dip is also a Be dip. For post-main-sequence stars, the Be dilution starts earlier within the Hertzsprung gap than expected from classical predictions, as does the Li dilution. Theoretical hydrodynamical models are able to reproduce well all the observed features.
Using lithium to estimate ages for solar-type stars
Authors: Soderblom David R.
Published: April 2010

Can observations of Li in F, G, and K stars be used to derive an age for an individual star or a group? This is a brief progress report on using Li for age estimation in PMS and ZAMS stars.
Lithium in metal-poor red giants
Authors: Začs Laimons , Barzdis Arturs
Published: April 2010

The lithium abundance was calculated for five metal-poor red giant stars from Li i doublet at 6707 Å by fitting the observed high-resolution spectra with synthetic spectra. The lithium abundance was found to be low in all stars, logϵ(Li) ≤ 1.8, confirming lithium depletion on the red giant and asymptotic giant branch.
Rotational mixing and Lithium depletion
Authors: Pinsonneault M. H.
Published: April 2010

I review basic observational features in Population I stars which strongly implicate rotation as a mixing agent; these include dispersion at fixed temperature in coeval populations and main sequence lithium depletion for a range of masses at a rate which decays with time. New developments related to the possible suppression of mixing at late ages, close binary mergers and their lithium signature, and an alternate origin for dispersion in young cool stars tied to radius anomalies observed in active young stars are discussed. I highlight uncertainties in models of Population II lithium depletion and dispersion related to the treatment of angular momentum loss. Finally, the origins of rotation are tied to conditions in the pre-main sequence, and there is thus some evidence that environment and planet formation could impact stellar rotational properties. This may be related to recent observational evidence for cluster to cluster variations in lithium depletion and a connection between the presence of planets and stellar lithium depletion.
Lithium factories in the Galaxy: novae and AGB stars
Authors: D'Antona Francesca , Ventura Paolo
Published: April 2010

We review the state of the art in modelling lithium production, through the Cameron–Fowler mechanism, in two stellar sites: during nova explosions and in the envelopes of massive asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We also show preliminary results concerning the computation of lithium yields from super–AGBs, and suggest that super–AGBs of metallicity close to solar may be the most important galactic lithium producers. Finally, we discuss how lithium abundances may help to understand the modalities of formation of the “second generation” stars in globular clusters.
Li and CNO isotopes from magnetically induced extra-mixing in evolved stars
Authors: Palmerini Sara , Busso Maurizio , Guandalini Roald , Maiorca Enrico
Published: April 2010

Evolved low mass stars (LMS) contribute not only to the synthesis of s-process nuclei, but also to modifications in the isotopic mix of light elements (Li and CNO especially), induced by proton captures. In particular, RGB and AGB stars show a wide range of Li abundances. This spread is currently attributed to deep phenomena of non-convective mixing. These processes can, in principle, either produce or destroy Li, depending on their velocity. This is due to the fact that Li production requires preserving the unstable 7Be, which has a half-life of only 53 days. Physical mechanisms devised so far to explain the existence of deep mixing in low mass stars generally fail in accounting for fast transport and in avoiding 7Be destruction; on the contrary, this is easily obtained in Intermediate Mass Stars, where Hot Bottom Burning can occur. However, as Li-rich low-mass red giants do exist, we propose here a scenario where both production and destruction of Li are possible in LMS, thanks to the buoyancy of magnetized parcels of processed matter, traveling from the H shell to the envelope at different speeds (depending on their size). Consequences of this transport for CNO nuclei are also discussed.
Galactic evolution of D, 3He and 4He
Authors: Romano Donatella
Published: April 2010

The uncertainties which still plague our understanding of the evolution of the light nuclides D, 3He and 4He in the Galaxy are described. Measurements of the local abundance of deuterium range over a factor of 3. The observed dispersion can be reconciled with the predictions on deuterium evolution from standard Galactic chemical evolution models, if the true local abundance of deuterium proves to be high, but not too high, and lower observed values are due to depletion onto dust grains. The nearly constancy of the 3He abundance with both time and position within the Galaxy implies a negligible production of this element in stars, at variance with predictions from standard stellar models which, however, do agree with the (few) measurements of 3He in planetary nebulae. Thermohaline mixing, inhibited by magnetic fields in a small fraction of low-mass stars, could in principle explain the complexity of the overall scenario. However, complete grids of stellar yields taking this mechanism into account are not available for use in chemical evolution models yet. Much effort has been devoted to unravel the origin of the extreme helium-rich stars which seem to inhabit the most massive Galactic globular clusters. Yet, the issue of 4He evolution is far from being fully settled even in the disc of the Milky Way.
Beryllium abundances and the formation of the halo and the thick disk
Authors: Smiljanic Rodolfo , Pasquini L. , Bonifacio P. , Galli D. , Barbuy B. , Gratton R. , Randich S.
Published: April 2010

The single stable isotope of beryllium is a pure product of cosmic-ray spallation in the ISM. Assuming that the cosmic-rays are globally transported across the Galaxy, the beryllium production should be a widespread process and its abundance should be roughly homogeneous in the early-Galaxy at a given time. Thus, it could be useful as a tracer of time. In an investigation of the use of Be as a cosmochronometer and of its evolution in the Galaxy, we found evidence that in a log(Be/H) vs. [α/Fe] diagram the halo stars separate into two components. One is consistent with predictions of evolutionary models while the other is chemically indistinguishable from the thick-disk stars. This is interpreted as a difference in the star formation history of the two components and suggests that the local halo is not a single uniform population where a clear age-metallicity relation can be defined. We also found evidence that the star formation rate was lower in the outer regions of the thick disk, pointing towards an inside-out formation.
DICUSSION C. The stellar yields in He-3, He-4 and Li-7: main sources, observational constraints, and problems
Authors: Maeder André
Published: April 2010

I am pleased to recall that the first determination of the Li–abundance in the Sun was made at the Geneva Observatory in 1975 by Edith Müller, Eric Peytremann and Ramiro de la Reza on the basis of spectra taken at Kitt Peak. The first Be determination was also made in Geneva the same year by Y. Chmielewski, J. Brault (Kitt Peak National Observatory) and E. Müller. These two outstanding works opened the door for all further investigations on these light elements.
Chemical evolution of D in the Local Disk
Authors: Tsujimoto Takuji , Bland-Hawthorn Joss
Published: April 2010

Chemical features of the local disk have firmly established the picture for the formation of the Galactic disk that the star formation has proceeded under the continuous accretion of low-metallicity gas from the halo. It sets two determinant processes for the evolution of deuterium (D), that is, the destruction of D in the interior of stars and the supply of new (nearly) primordial D associated with the gas infall. Conventional Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models predict that this scheme leads to a monotonic decrease in D/H with time and ends up in the present-day D/H abundance (D/H)0 which is severely lower than the recently observed estimates. These predicted features are the natural results of a construction of the metal-rich (~solar abundance) local star+gas system. Here we propose that the new GCE models, that incorporate large-scale winds form the Galactic bulge which entrain heavy elements and drop them on the disk with the recent tendency of star formation in tune with the observed implications, make the system rich in both metals and D. In addition, our finding of a gradual increase in D/H with time during the last several Gyr is observationally supported by the D/H abundance for the protosolar cloud lower than (D/H)0.
Does Religiosity Protect Against War-Related Distress? Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Ringdal Gerd Inger , Ringdal Kristen
Published: April 2010

The aim of this article is to test two hypotheses on the relationship between religiosity and war-related distress in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The article is based on a representative survey (n = 3,313) in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2003–2004. The questionnaire included 15 items on war-related distress and 13 items on war experiences. From these items we developed a war-related distress scale, a war experiences scale, and several measures of religiosity. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the war-related distress symptoms on the one hand, and religiosity and war experience on the other hand, controlling for a range of other variables. Religious beliefs and religious stability seem to protect against war-related distress, but religious activity works in the opposite direction to increase war-related distress. In conclusion, we found weak support for the first hypothesis, although the effects of religiosity on war-related distress seem more complex than expected. Our second hypotheses, that religiosity may work as a buffer to dampen the effects of war experiences on war-related distress, found no support.
Exekutive Funktionen: Zugrundeliegende kognitive Prozesse und deren Korrelate bei Kindern im späten Vorschulalter
Authors: Röthlisberger Marianne , Neuenschwander Regula , Michel Eva , Roebers Claudia Maria
Published: April 2010

Zusammenfassung. Die Bedeutung der Exekutiven Funktionen im Vorschulalter rückt zunehmend in den Fokus entwicklungspsychologischer Forschungsliteratur. Diese exekutiven Kontrollprozesse sind nicht nur zentral für die kognitive, soziale und motorische Entwicklung der Kinder im späten Vorschulalter, sondern gelten ebenso als bedeutsame Prädiktoren für den Schulerfolg. Die vorliegende Studie versucht auf der Grundlage der Daten von insgesamt 410 Kindern (61–88 Monate) die Frage von Entwicklungsveränderungen und Beziehungsmuster verschiedener Prozesse Exekutiver Funktionen zu klären. Die Befunde sprechen für eine wichtige Entwicklungsphase der Exekutiven Funktionen im späten Vorschulalter und bedeutsame Zusammenhänge zwischen den Exekutiven Funktionen und den Individualfaktoren Sprache, Intelligenz, Motorik und Selbstregulation sowie dem Umweltfaktor sozioökonomischer Status. Kein Zusammenhang wurde allerdings zwischen den Exekutiven Funktionen und der elterlichen Unterstützung bzw. Förderung gefunden. Die Ergebnisse werden bezüglich der Struktur des Konstrukts der Exekutiven Funktionen und hinsichtlich der Relevanz der Exekutiven Funktionen im Rahmen der Entwicklungsvoraussetzungen für die Schulbereitschaft diskutiert.
Moving Rorschach Scoring Forward
Authors: Grønnerød Cato , Hartmann Ellen
Published: April 2010

A new scoring system called RN-Rorschach was developed in Norway to provide a simple system focusing on clinical usefulness, with acceptable psychometric properties and with a high level of compatibility with the Comprehensive System (CS). The Rorschach method is a demanding method, and the CS may be too complex for learning the basic aspects of the Rorschach method, especially for students in introductory courses. Experience from teaching in introductory courses indicates that the goal of a simple and useful system has been achieved. Data on psychometric properties indicate that interscorer reliability is generally high. Two overall iota (ι) estimates were found to be .85 and .93. Future developments of Rorschach scoring are discussed.
It’s Brief But Is It Better? An Evaluation of the Brief Implicit Association Test
Authors: Rothermund Klaus , Wentura Dirk
Published: April 2010

Sriram and Greenwald (2009) introduced a new variant of the Implicit Association Test, which they termed the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT). The BIAT differs from a standard IAT by using less trials and by instructing participants to focus on only two of the four categories in each block. We argue that the focus manipulation of the BIAT does not suffice to fully control for focusing and recoding processes in the task. Compatibility effects in the BIAT are therefore still subject to influences that are unrelated to the conceptual relation between the target and attribute categories of the task (e.g., salience asymmetries and stimulus-based effects). Highlighting these nonassociative influences, findings with the BIAT revealed strong asymmetries in compatibility effects, reliability, and convergent validity, depending on which of the two attribute categories was selected as a focal category in the BIAT. To eliminate these problems, we recommend the use of other, recently developed variants of the IAT that prevent recoding effects by eliminating the dual-block structure of the task.
Experimental investigation of trapped oil clusters in a water‐wet bead pack using X‐ray microtomography
Authors: Karpyn Zuleima T. , Piri Mohammad , Singh Gurpreet
Published: April 2010

Uncertainties in the quantification of transport properties associated with multiphase flow in porous systems often make the prediction of fluid residence and migration a difficult task. Movement and trapping of immiscible fluids in permeable formations depends upon a complex combination of fluid properties, rock properties, fluid‐solid interactions, and forcing conditions. This work consists of using X‐rays and visualization techniques to map the distribution of immiscible fluids, particularly trapped oil clusters, residing in a glass bead pack subject to different flow conditions. We analyze the effect of flowing conditions on the evolution of fluid microstructures using X‐ray microtomography. Spherical glass beads (0.425–0.600 mm in diameter), a water‐wet porous medium, were packed inside a specially designed core holder. High‐resolution imaging provides detailed mapping of pore structures resulting from bead packing, and characterization of fluid microstructures formed during sequential water and oil injections. We present spatial distribution of trapped oil clusters for the entire bead pack, as well as mechanistic explanations leading to the fluid configurations observed. We also present simple statistical analyses of blob size, shape, and surface area at the end of different fluid injection cycles. Trapped oil clusters appear in sizes that range from 5.923 × 10−5 mm3 to 3.119 × 103 mm3, where 0.01–0.50 mm3 clusters are most common. About 98% of the total trapped oil at the end of drainage and imbibition cycles corresponds to blobs that are smaller than 1 mm3. It is also shown that most blobs are larger than the mean pore size (0.03 mm3). The mean oil blob size is about 5 times larger than the average pore. A typical blob extends through various interconnected pores, exhibiting elongated of ramified shapes that include multiple voids and constrictions at the same time. The mean aspect ratio of these clusters is less than 2, and the surface area to volume ratio is constant for those larger than 0.1 mm3. Experimental methods and findings presented in this paper are expected to lead to powerful calibration mechanisms for multiphase flow models.
High‐resolution mapping of Bora winds in the northern Adriatic Sea using synthetic aperture radar
Authors: Signell Richard P. , Chiggiato Jacopo , Horstmann Jochen , Doyle James D. , Pullen Julie , Askari Farid
Published: April 2010

The Adriatic Sea is regularly subjected to strong Bora wind events from the northeast during winter. The events have a strong effect on the oceanography in the Adriatic, driving basin‐scale gyres that determine the transport of biogeochemical material and extracting large amounts of heat. The Bora is known to have multiple surface wind jets linked to the surrounding orography and have been the focus of many studies, but it has not been possible to describe the detailed spatial structure of these jets by in situ observations. Using high‐resolution spaceborne RADARSAT‐1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images collected during an active Bora period (23 January–16 February 2003), we created a series of high‐resolution (300 m) maps of the wind field. The obtained winds show reasonable agreement with several in situ wind observations, with an RMS wind speed error of 3.6 m/s, slightly higher than the 2–3 m/s errors reported in previous studies. These SAR images reveal the spatial structure of the Bora wind in unprecedented detail, showing several new features. In the Senj region of Croatia, several images show rhythmic structure with wavelengths of 2–3 km that may reflect Bora pulsation seen at fixed locations by previous investigators. Along the Italian coast, several images show a wide (20–30 km) band of northwesterly winds that abruptly change to the northeasterly Bora winds further offshore. Meteorological model results suggest that these northwesterly winds are consistent with those of a barrier jet forming along the Italian Apennine mountain chain.
Annual cycle in coastal sea level from tide gauges and altimetry
Authors: Vinogradov Sergey V. , Ponte Rui M.
Published: April 2010

Tide gauges provide a unique data set extending many decades back in time, but coverage is restricted to continental boundaries and a few oceanic islands and the extent to which the tide gauge records can be used to infer low‐frequency, large‐scale sea level behavior remains unclear. Since 1992, satellite altimetry provides near‐global coverage of sea level variability, including coastal regions. We compare variability at 345 continental and island tide gauge coastal locations and adjacent shallow and deep oceans, as inferred from altimetry. Initial focus is on the dominant annual cycle. On average, annual amplitudes in tide gauges are comparable to but larger than those in the nearby shallow ocean (<200 m). Substantial differences are found in areas adjacent to strong river outflows and narrow coastal currents. The annual cycle in shallow areas is usually enhanced relative to the open ocean, apart from areas with strong western boundary currents offshore. Differences of 1–2 months in annual phases for coastal, shallow, and deep ocean are typical. Our analysis points to the presence of considerable spatial variability in the annual cycle across deep, shallow, and coastal regions, and to the importance of both tide gauge and altimeter measurements for proper resolution and interpretation of such variability.
Remote sensing of precipitation over Indian land and oceanic regions by synergistic use of multisatellite sensors
Authors: Mishra Anoop , Gairola R. M. , Varma A. K. , Agarwal Vijay K.
Published: April 2010

In the present study, an attempt was made to estimate rainfall by synergistically analyzing collocated thermal infrared (TIR) brightness temperatures from Meteosat along with rainfall estimates from active microwave precipitation radar (PR) on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) over Indian land and oceanic regions. In this study, we used broad and frequent TIR measurements from a geostationary satellite for rainfall estimation, calibrating them with sparse but more accurate PR rain rates. To make the algorithm robust, we used a two‐step procedure. First, a cloud classification scheme was applied to TIR measurements using the 6.7 μm water vapor channel and TIR radiances to delineate the rain‐bearing clouds. Next, the concurrent TIR and PR observations were used to establish a regression relation between them. The relationship thus established was used to estimate rainfall from TIR measurements by applying it to rain‐producing systems during southwest and northeast monsoons and tropical cyclones. Comparisons were made with TRMM‐merged (3B42 V6) data, Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) monthly rain rate data, ground‐based rain gauge observations from automatic weather stations, and Doppler weather radar over India. The results from combined infrared and microwave sensors were in very good agreement with the ground‐based measurements, TRMM‐3B42 V6, as well as GPCP.
Long‐term records of trace metal content of western Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadows: Natural and anthropogenic contributions
Authors: Tovar‐Sánchez Antonio , Serón Juan , Marbà Núria , Arrieta Jesús M. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: April 2010

We discuss Al, Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents in seagrass Posidonia oceanica rhizomes from the Balearic Archipelago for the last 3 decades. Time series of metal concentration in P. oceanica were measured by dating rhizomes using retrospective procedures. The highest concentrations of Al (174.73 μg g−1), Cd (3.56 μg g−1), Cr (1.34 μg g−1), Cu (32.15 μg g−1), Pb (8.51 μg g−1), and Zn (107.14 μg g−1) were measured in meadows located around the largest and most densely populated island (Mallorca Island). There was a general tendency for Ag concentration to decrease with time (up to 80% from 1990 to 2005 in sample from Mallorca Island), which could be attributed to a reduction of the anthropogenic sources. Nickel and Zn concentrations were the unique elements that showed a consistent temporal trend in all samples, increasing their concentrations since year 1996 at all studied stations; this trend matched with the time series of UV‐absorbing aerosols particles in the air (i.e., aerosols index) over the Mediterranean region (r2: 0.78, p < 0.001 for Cabrera Island), suggesting that P. oceanica could be an efficient recorder of dust events. A comparison of enrichment factors in rhizomes relative to average crustal material indicates that suspended aerosol is also the most likely source for Cr and Fe to P. oceanica.
Investigating the Global Impacts of the Agulhas Current
Authors: Zahn Rainer , Lutjeharms Johann , Biastoch Arne , Hall Ian , Knorr Gregor , Park Wonsun , Reason Chris
Published: April 2010

The Agulhas Current is the major western boundary current of the Southern Hemisphere [Lutjeharms, 2006] and a key component of the global ocean “conveyor” circulation controlling the return flow to the Atlantic Ocean [Gordon, 1986]. As such, it is increasingly recognized as a key player in ocean thermohaline circulation, with importance for the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) of the Atlantic Ocean.

Unusual dynamics pervade the motion of this warm‐water current—as it moves west around the southern tip of Africa, it is retroflected back east by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Not all waters are captured by this sudden diversion of course—parts of the Agulhas Current leak away into the South Atlantic Ocean (Figure 1).
Helicopter Gravity Survey in the Dead Sea Area
Authors: Götze H. ‐J. , Meyer Uwe , Choi Sungchan
Published: April 2010

Earthquakes have been reported in the Middle East since biblical times. Seismological studies demonstrate that many damaging earthquakes occurred along the Dead Sea Transform (DST), a long shear zone that extends from the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat through the Dead Sea into the Sea of Galilee. To better understand the behavior and dynamics of the Dead Sea Transform, the Dead Sea Integrated Research (DESIRE) interdisciplinary and international project was initiated in 2006.

The DST, which forms one of the world's largest pul‐apart basins (120 kilometers long, 20 kilometers wide, and about 10 kilometers deep), is a system of left‐lateral strike‐slip faults that accommodates about 105 kilometers of relative motion between the African and Arabian plates. To study the DST in places where it is easily accessible, the DESIRE project area focused on the Dead Sea basin (Figure 1).
A Catalyst for Ocean Acidification Research and Collaboration: Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Short Course on Ocean Acidification; Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 2–13 November 2009
Authors: Benway Heather M. , Cooley Sarah P. , Doney Scott C.
Published: April 2010

The Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program is a coordinating body for the U.S. research community that focuses on the ocean's role in the global Earth system, bringing together research in geochemistry, ocean physics, and ecology.

With support from its federal sponsors (U.S. National Science Foundation, NASA, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)) and the European Project on Ocean Acidification (EPOCA), the OCB Project Office coordinated and hosted a hands‐on ocean acidification short course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The OCB Ocean Acidification Subcommittee (http://www.us‐ocb.org/about.html), chaired by Joan Kleypas (National Center for Atmospheric Research) and Richard Feely (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, NOAA), provided critical guidance on the course scope, curriculum, and instructors.