bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Modeled Stratocumulus-Capped Boundary Layer Turbulence with Shipborne Data
Authors: Yamaguchi Takanobu , Brewer W. Alan , Feingold Graham
Published: August 2013

Numerically modeled turbulence simulated by the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW) is evaluated with turbulence measurements from NOAA’s high-resolution Doppler lidar on the NOAA Research Vessel Ronald H. Brown during the Variability of the American Monsoon Systems (VAMOS) Ocean–Cloud–Atmosphere–Land Study—Regional Experiment (VOCALS-Rex) field program. A nonprecipitating nocturnal marine stratocumulus case is examined, and a nudging technique is applied to allow turbulence to spin up and come into a statistically stationary state with the initial observed cloud field. This “stationary” state is then used as the initial condition for the subsequent free-running simulation. The comparison shows that the modeled turbulence is consistently weaker than that observed. For the same resolution, the turbulence becomes stronger, especially for the horizontal component, as the length of the horizontal domain increases from 6.4 to 25.6 km. Analysis of the power spectral density shows that, even for the largest domain, the horizontal component of the turbulence is limited by the upper limit of the domain size; supporting evidence from past studies is provided. Results suggest that convergence is expected for (i) energy spectra of turbulence with a sufficiently large domain and (ii) liquid water path with an adequately large domain and fine resolution. Additional tests are performed by changing momentum advection and turning off subgrid-scale diffusion. These exhibit more significant changes in turbulence characteristics compared to the sensitivity to domain size and resolution, suggesting that the model behavior is essentially established by the configuration of the model dynamics and physics and that the simulation only gradually improves when domain size and resolution are increased.
Gravity Wave–Fine Structure Interactions. Part I: Influences of Fine Structure Form and Orientation on Flow Evolution and Instability
Authors: Fritts David C. , Wang Ling , Werne Joseph A.
Published: August 2013

Four idealized direct numerical simulations are performed to examine the dynamics arising from the superposition of a monochromatic gravity wave (GW) and sinusoidal linear and rotary fine structure in the velocity field. These simulations are motivated by the ubiquity of such multiscale superpositions throughout the atmosphere. Three simulations explore the effects of linear fine structure alignment along, orthogonal to, and at 45° to the plane of GW propagation. These reveal that fine structure alignment with the GW enables strong wave–wave interactions, strong deformations of the initial flow components, and rapid transitions to local instabilities and turbulence. Increasing departures of fine structure alignment from the GW yield increasingly less efficient wave–wave interactions and weaker or absent local instabilities. The simulation having rotary fine structure velocities yields wave–wave interactions that agree closely with the aligned linear fine structure case. Differences in the aligned GW fields are only seen following the onset of local instabilities, which are delayed by about 1–2 buoyancy periods for rotary fine structure compared to aligned, linear fine structure. In all cases, local instabilities and turbulence primarily accompany strong superposed shears or fluid “intrusions” within the rising, and least statically stable, phase of the GW. For rotary fine structure, local instabilities having preferred streamwise or spanwise orientations often arise independently, depending on the character of the larger-scale flow. Wave–wave interactions play the greatest role in reducing the initial GW amplitude whereas fine structure shears and intrusions are the major source of instability and turbulence energies.
Circulation, Moisture, and Precipitation Relationships along the South Pacific Convergence Zone in Reanalyses and CMIP5 Models
Authors: Niznik Matthew J. , Lintner Benjamin R.
Published: August 2013

One theorized control on the position of the South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ) is the amount of low-level inflow from the relatively dry southeastern Pacific basin. Building on an analysis of observed SPCZ region synoptic-scale variability by Lintner and Neelin, composite analysis is performed here on two reanalysis products as well as output from 17 models in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). Using low-level zonal wind as a compositing index, it is shown that the CMIP5 ensemble mean, as well as many of the individual models, captures patterns of wind, specific humidity, and precipitation anomalies resembling those obtained for reanalysis fields between weak- and strong-inflow phases. Lead–lag analysis of both the reanalyses and models is used to develop a conceptual model for the formation of each composite phase. This analysis indicates that an equatorward-displaced Southern Hemisphere storm track and an eastward-displaced equatorial eastern Pacific westerly (wind) duct are features of the weak-inflow phase although, as indicated by additional composite analyses based on these features, each appears to account weakly for the details of the low-level inflow composite anomalies. Despite the presence of well-known biases in the CMIP5 simulations of the SPCZ region climate, the models appear to have some fidelity in simulating synoptic-scale relationships between low-level winds, moisture, and precipitation, consistent with observations and simple theoretical understanding of interactions of dry air inflow with deep convection.
Gaussian Model Adaptive Processing in Time Domain (GMAP-TD) for Weather Radars
Authors: Nguyen Cuong M. , Chandrasekar V.
Published: August 2013

The Gaussian model adaptive processing in the time domain (GMAP-TD) method for ground clutter suppression and signal spectral moment estimation for weather radars is presented. The technique transforms the clutter component of a weather radar return signal to noise. Additionally, an interpolation procedure has been developed to recover the portion of weather echoes that overlap clutter. It is shown that GMAP-TD improves the performance over the GMAP algorithm that operates in the frequency domain using both signal simulations and experimental observations. Furthermore, GMAP-TD can be directly extended for use with a staggered pulse repetition time (PRT) waveform. A detailed evaluation of GMAP-TD performance and comparison against the GMAP are done using simulated radar data and observations from the Colorado State University–University of Chicago–Illinois State Water Survey (CSU–CHILL) radar using uniform and staggered PRT waveform schemes.
A Statistical Method for Improving Continental Shelf and Nearshore Marine Climate Predictions
Authors: Oliver Eric C. J. , Holbrook Neil J.
Published: August 2013

Spatially and temporally homogeneous measurements of ocean temperature variability at high resolution on the continental shelf are scarce. Daily estimates of large-scale ocean properties are readily available from global ocean reanalysis products. However, the ocean models that underpin these reanalysis products tend not to have been designed for the simulation of complex coastal ocean variability. Hence, across-shelf values are often poorly represented. This study involved developing a statistical approach to more accurately and robustly represent SST on the continental shelf informed by large-scale satellite observations and reanalysis data or model output. Using the southeastern Australian shelf region as a case study, this paper demonstrates that this statistical model approach generates more accurate estimates of the inshore SST using (i) offshore SST from Bluelink Reanalysis (BRAN) and (ii) the statistical relationship between inshore and offshore SST in observations from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. SST is separated into the mean, seasonal cycle, and residual variability, and separate models are developed for each component. The offshore locations used to inform the model are determined by taking into account (i) the quality of BRAN at each location, (ii) the strength between the inshore and offshore variability, and (iii) the proximity of the inshore and offshore locations. Model predictions are made for the continental shelf around southeastern Australia. The role of the mean circulation in providing connectivity between the shelf and the offshore regions is discussed, and how this information can be used to better inform the choice of model predictor locations, leading to a hybrid statistical–connectivity model.
The Impact of Noisy Physics on the Stability and Accuracy of Physics–Dynamics Coupling
Authors: Hodyss Daniel , Viner Kevin C. , Reinecke Alex , Hansen James A.
Published: August 2013

The coupling of the dynamical core of a numerical weather prediction model to the physical parameterizations is an important component of model design. This coupling between the physics and the dynamics is explored here from the perspective of stochastic differential equations (SDEs). It will be shown that the basic properties of the impact of noisy physics on the stability and accuracy of common numerical methods may be obtained through the application of the basic principles of SDEs. A conceptual model setting is used that allows the study of the impact of noise whose character may be tuned to be either very red (smooth) or white (noisy). The change in the stability and accuracy of common numerical methods as the character of the noise changes is then studied. Distinct differences are found between the ability of multistage (Runge–Kutta) schemes as compared with multistep (Adams–Bashforth/leapfrog) schemes to handle noise of various characters. These differences will be shown to be attributable to the basic philosophy used to design the scheme. Additional experiments using the decentering of the noisy physics will also be shown to lead to strong sensitivity to the quality of the noise. As an example, the authors find the novel result that noise of a diffusive character may lead to instability when the scheme is decentered toward greater implicitness. These results are confirmed in a nonlinear shear layer simulation using a subgrid-scale mixing parameterization. This subgrid-scale mixing parameterization is modified stochastically and shown to reproduce the basic principles found here, including the notion that decentering toward implicitness may lead to instability.
The Seasonal Cycle of Blocking and Associated Physical Mechanisms in the Australian Region and Relationship with Rainfall
Authors: Pook M. J. , Risbey J. S. , McIntosh P. C. , Ummenhofer C. C. , Marshall A. G. , Meyers G. A.
Published: August 2013

The seasonal cycle of blocking in the Australian region is shown to be associated with major seasonal temperature changes over continental Antarctica (approximately 15°–35°C) and Australia (about 8°–17°C) and with minor changes over the surrounding oceans (below 5°C). These changes are superimposed on a favorable background state for blocking in the region resulting from a conjunction of physical influences. These include the geographical configuration and topography of the Australian and Antarctic continents and the positive west to east gradient of sea surface temperature in the Indo-Australian sector of the Southern Ocean. Blocking is represented by a blocking index (BI) developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The BI has a marked seasonal cycle that reflects seasonal changes in the strength of the westerly winds in the midtroposphere at selected latitudes. Significant correlations between the BI at Australian longitudes and rainfall have been demonstrated in southern and central Australia for the austral autumn, winter, and spring. Patchy positive correlations are evident in the south during summer but significant negative correlations are apparent in the central tropical north. By decomposing the rainfall into its contributions from identifiable synoptic types during the April–October growing season, it is shown that the high correlation between blocking and rainfall in southern Australia is explained by the component of rainfall associated with cutoff lows. These systems form the cyclonic components of blocking dipoles. In contrast, there is no significant correlation between the BI and rainfall from Southern Ocean fronts.
Design of a Dynamical Core Based on the Nonhydrostatic “Unified System” of Equations*
Authors: Konor Celal S.
Published: August 2013

This paper presents the design of a dry dynamical core based on the nonhydrostatic “unified system” of equations. The unified system filters vertically propagating acoustic waves. The dynamical core predicts the potential temperature and horizontal momentum. It uses the predicted potential temperature to determine the quasi-hydrostatic components of the Exner pressure and density. The continuity equation is diagnostic (and used to determine the vertical mass flux) because the time derivative of the quasi-hydrostatic density is obtained from the predicted potential temperature. The nonhydrostatic component of the Exner pressure is obtained from an elliptic equation. The main focus of this paper is on the integration procedure used with this unique dynamical core. In the implementation described in this paper, height is used as the vertical coordinate, and the equations are vertically discretized on a Lorenz-type grid. Cartesian horizontal coordinates are used along with an Arakawa C grid. A detailed description of the discrete equations is presented in the supplementary material, along with the rationale behind the decisions made during the discretization process. Only a short description is given here. To demonstrate that the model is capable of simulating a wide range of dynamical scales, the results from cyclone- and cloud-scale simulations are presented. The solutions obtained for the selected cloud-scale simulations are compared to those from a fully compressible, anelastic, and pseudo-incompressible models that (as far as possible) uses the same schemes used in the unified dynamical core. The results show that the unified dynamical core performs reasonably well in all these experiments.
Analysis of the 18 July 2005 Tornadic Supercell over the Lake Geneva Region
Authors: Peyraud Lionel
Published: August 2013

On the afternoon of 18 July 2005, a particularly intense supercell thunderstorm struck the Lake Geneva region of Switzerland. The storm initiated just southwest of Lyon, France, and tracked over 300 km toward the northeast before losing its supercell characteristics in the Swiss Alpine foothills around the town of Interlaken. During its 3-h lifespan, the storm’s forward translation averaged 60–80 km h−1. At the height of its severity, this supercell was responsible for hail the size of golf balls, a microburst with measured wind gusts of up to 160 km h−1, and two confirmed tornadoes. Miraculously, nobody was killed nor seriously injured. However, the material losses were considerable, including ravaged vineyards, damage to buildings and vehicles, and sections of forests that were completely destroyed. A postevent analysis was undertaken utilizing radar imagery/algorithms, satellite images, lightning and surface data, eyewitness reports, and a damage survey. This case provides a unique look at a supercell evolving within an Alpine environment and helps confirm prior research concerning certain storm features and signatures that have been observed in North American Great Plains supercells and elsewhere. Concerning tornadogenesis, this paper helps confirm via observations and simulations hypotheses proposed in several previous papers that low-level wind flow modified through channeling by mountains can periodically provide a locally favorable wind shear environment for tornadogenesis. For this particular case, inflow winds that channeled around mountain features appear to have been instrumental in the formation of the second tornado, since important topographical obstacles prevented any significant low-level gradient wind shear from operating on the eastern end of Lake Geneva, where this tornado occurred.
Role conflict in recent wars: Danish and Dutch debates over Iraq and Afghanistan
Authors: Kaarbo Juliet , Cantir Cristian
Published: August 2013

Despite renewed interest in role theory and its promise to relate to agent–structure relationships, research in this area has underdeveloped notions of ‘agency’ and an incomplete understanding of the interaction between ‘agency’ and ‘structure’. This problem can be attributed, in part, to the fact that the theory frequently overlooks the centrality of domestic political agents in the process of role conflict. An analysis of Danish decision-making over the country’s involvement in Iraq and of Dutch decision-making over its involvement in Afghanistan illustrates the theoretical and empirical advantages of examining role conflicts with a focus on domestic politics. We conclude that studying role conflict as embedded in domestic political processes is important in the development of role theory in international relations research.
Biblical Studies – Between Academy and Church
Authors: Nicol George G.
Published: August 2013

The failure to engage academic biblical studies with sufficient seriousness involves great danger for the Church. Recent trends in biblical studies suggest that more attention needs to be given to the integration of biblical studies with theology than may be possible within the context of the divinity degree. Ministry and mission in an increasingly secular society may require the Church to invest heavily in ministerial development if its ministers are to properly relate the biblical story of Israel, Jesus and the early church to the critically reconstructed story in a way that is theologically relevant and allows both stories their necessary integrity.
Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: Ministering to Persons Living with Dementia
Authors: Ruthven Frances
Published: August 2013

Offering meaningful ministry to those affected by dementia provides a significant challenge to the Church. Those who would like to offer worship and pastoral care are often intimidated by their own fear, feelings of inadequacy or futility in the face of this devastating disease. The diminishment of cognitive abilities in those affected by dementia challenges our understanding of what it means to be a human person and raises questions about the basis of our faith. This article offers a theological reflection on the experience of ministering to those living with dementia and explores ways the Church might respond to this challenge.
The Great War and a ‘Proper’ Passport for the Colony: Border-Crossing in British India, c.1882–1922
Authors: Singha Radhika
Published: August 2013

Racial controls on Indian migration to the British Dominions can explain only some features of the compulsory passport regime as it crystallised in India during the Great War. The streaming of population movement across India’s borders was shaped by regional geo-political imperatives as well. While race issues certainly haunted the Indian intelligentsia’s stance on border management, its positions were also shaped by the class and gender parameters in which it cast citizenship. Both the colonial regime and the Indian intelligentsia conceived of the passport, for different reasons, not just as a document of identity and nationality but also as a civic testimonial which only some kinds of Indians were qualified to hold. Behind the seeming homogeneity of the ‘international’ form of the passport were accommodations to ‘local’ colonial protocols of recording and attesting identity, and keeping ‘undesirables’ under surveillance. However the new British Indian passport regime bore some trace also of the trans-national constituencies which intervened in the new order of travel being shaped by the Euro-American world.
Book Review: The Flaming Feet and Other Essays: The Dalit Movement in India
Authors: Rawat Ramnarayan S.
Published: August 2013

D.R. Nagaraj, The Flaming Feet and Other Essays: The Dalit Movement in India, ed. Prithvi Datta and Chandra Shobhi, Ranikhet: Permanent Black, 2010, pp. 254.
Book Review: Literature Culture and History in Mughal North India 1550–1800
Authors: Flatt Emma
Published: August 2013

Sandhya Sharma, Literature Culture and History in Mughal North India 1550–1800, New Delhi: Primus Books, 2011, pp. 241.
Book Review: Globalizing Labour: Indian Seafarers and World Shipping, c.1870–1945
Authors: Kerr Ian J.
Published: August 2013

G. Balachandran, Globalizing Labour: Indian Seafarers and World Shipping, c.1870–1945, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012, pp. 318.
Book Review: The Melodramatic Public: Film Form and Spectatorship in Indian Cinema
Authors: Raghavendra M.K.
Published: August 2013

Ravi Vasudevan, The Melodramatic Public: Film Form and Spectatorship in Indian Cinema, Ranikhet: Permanent Black, 2010, pp. 457.
Buddhism and Electoral Politics in Sri Lanka Politicization, tensions and de-politicization of Buddhism
Authors: Imtiyaz ARM
Published: August 2013

Organized religions often play a significant role in the political affairs of any country when political actors carefully employ them to pursue power. Buddhism is the major religion on the island of Sri Lanka, and often it becomes a powerful symbol for Sinhala-Buddhist politicians. This study examines the interaction between Buddhism and politics in Sri Lanka, and will attempt to examine the religious factors in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict between the two nations; namely, Tamil and Sinhala. It will examine how the politicization of Buddhism helped Sinhala political elites and leaders in their quest for power, reinforcing religious and ethnic tensions, and finally will discuss some solutions to de-religionize the state structure to help Sri Lanka enjoy the fruits of modernization and democracy.
Globalization and Sustainability of Japan’s Internal Labor Markets: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Wages at Japanese Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Nakamura Masao
Published: August 2013

Both inward and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) have implications for the wage rates of home-country workers. Such implications have been particularly noteworthy in Japan where the traditional internal labor-market practices, which value long-term sustainability of employment and wages, collide with the pressure for change in the globalizing Japanese economy on many fronts. In this paper we estimate the impacts of FDI on workers’ wages in Japanese manufacturing industries. We find that Japanese employees benefit, in the form of wage gains, from their employers’ association with both inward and outward FDI operations. These wage effects differ systematically depending on gender and worker ranks within their employer firms and are likely to weaken the mechanisms underlying the sustainability of Japanese firms’ traditional internal labor markets. The presence of FDI effects on worker wages also implies an increasing disparity between the incomes of workers who work for successfully globalizing firms and workers who do not, jeopardizing Japan’s traditional policy objective to sustain harmonious economic growth across all economic sectors. This would also deepen the structural divide including the wage gap of the Japanese economy that exists between large firms and small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) since firms which get involved in FDIs are mostly large firms.
Green Buyer Behavior: Evidence from Asia Consumers
Authors: Eze Uchenna Cyril , Ndubisi Nelson Oly
Published: August 2013

Green initiatives are fast becoming a catchphrase among societies and business entities as these entities strive to ensure more sustainable business operations and lifestyle. Research in green behaviors of consumers especially in Asia and Africa is only just emerging. The objective of this study, therefore, is to examine the factors that influence consumers’ green buying behavior. The conceptual framework and hypotheses development are grounded on related literature. We examined six independent variables (environmental attitude, pro-environmental behavior, values, eco-literacy, low price sensitivity and social influence) and the effects on consumer (green) buying behavior. The questionnaire was adapted from validated items from related prior works. The analysis was based on 227 valid responses from residents of a southern state in Malaysia. The findings reveal that four of the six hypotheses were supported. Managerial and research implications of the findings are discussed.
Power Sector Reform and Pricing of Electricity: The Odisha Experience
Authors: Meher Shibalal , Sahu Ajoy
Published: August 2013

This paper has studied electricity pricing under a regulated structure during post power sector reform in Odisha, India. It is found that Odisha has adopted the average cost pricing principle for determining electricity price with the rate of return regulation. This process of tariff determination not only takes a long time but also involves huge cost. Further, actual tariffs levied by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) are at variance with the broad principles of rational pricing policy. This uneconomic pricing policy has adverse impact on the financial health of the distribution companies. However, the Electricity Act of 2003 has brought about a radical change in the power scenario across the country, including the state of Odisha, by introducing open access and trading of power.
Oppression Within Safe Spaces
Authors: Nnawulezi Nkiru A. , Sullivan Cris M.
Published: August 2013

Racial microaggressions are often unintentional and subtle forms of racism that manifest in interpersonal communications, behaviors, or environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the presence of racial microaggressions within domestic violence shelters and to understand how women respond to them. Using a phenomenological approach to data collection and analysis, 14 Black women from 3 different shelters were interviewed. Twelve women reported experiencing at least one racial microaggression, although few identified the experience as racist. Additional themes were also examined to understand why women did not identify their experiences of racial microaggressions as racist. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Kinect quality enhancement for triangular mesh reconstruction with applications in burn care
Authors: Ruchanurucks Miti , Khongma Amornrat , Rakprayoon Panjawee , Phatrapornnant Teera , Koanantakool Taweetong
Published: August 2013

This research presents a method to enhance the accuracy of Kinect’s depth data. The enhanced accuracy is especially useful for triangular mesh reconstruction. Performing such a reconstruction directly from Kinect’s data is erroneous. We show that using a spatial filtering technique can help to reduce such errors considerably. We further apply such a technique for human surface reconstruction in order to assist doctors in a hospital’s burn care unit. Body surface area is estimated by Heron’s formula. Kinect calibration is also documented in this work.
Problem-driven Research in Regional Science
Authors: Markusen Ann
Published: August 2013

This article, based on the inaugural Andrew Isserman lecture, explores whether regional science has lived up to its founder’s aspirations to create an interdisciplinary and international field to tackle key societal problems with reasoning, evidence, and sound policy recommendations. I distinguish methods-driven research from problem-driven research and illustrate the pitfalls of the former with the emergence and use of economic base multipliers from export base theory. Then, beginning with Walter Isard’s bold vision in the first issue of the International Regional Science Review, I follow the evolution of the Review under Andrew Isserman’s three decades of editorship, exploring the difference between methods-driven and descriptive research articles and those addressed to regional problem solving. Editor Isserman actively sought out scholars and special issue editors with an interest in policy and a willingness to work across disciplines and borders. He raised funding for themed conferences that would yield exciting new articles, a practice his coeditors and successors have continued. In his own research, despite his love of methods and facility with them, Isserman often chose to work on important regional problems such as whether the Appalachian program had produced real personal income gains, how the Soviet Union should pursue regional development under perestroika, and in recent years, rural poverty and agriculture and biotechnology. From work on deindustrialization and military industrial conversion, I argue that exposure to the intricacies of real-world policy making strengthens both theory and empirical research.
‘To be number one in someone’s eyes …’: Children’s introspections about close relationships in reading Harry Potter
Authors: Das Ranjana
Published: August 2013

Audience aesthetics and responses to popular culture genres which were once considered low brow have now long occupied the interests of the academy. This is a point to be taken seriously especially within children’s literature circles, where reading and reception is often generalised about under the theoretical umbrella of ‘the reader’ and ‘the spectator’ who is ‘drawn’ into a range of largely unproven pathways by the text. This article explores youthful perceptions of real-life, close relationships, the projection of these relationships onto those seen in the media text and the resulting mediation of relationship ideals, desires and wishes. Analysing data from fieldwork with teen audiences of the Harry Potter series, this article argues that there is more to the mediation of relationships than the undoubtedly rich discussions of the media bringing people together at the moment of reception/use, whether online or offline. The findings presented in the article reveal the intricate and often perplexing ways in which children continue to introspect long after the act of reception, drawing parallels between relationships in their own lives and those they read about or view. The article draws attention to the introspective depth with which children use screen/text relationships as raw material to ponder emotional questions, ones, for instance, on love, hate, detachment, attachment and friendship, and the many ways the media mediate real-life relationships not by setting unreachable ideals to emulate but by offering interpretive pathways.
Lymphoscintigraphy with peritumoral injection versus lymphoscintigraphy with subdermal periareolar injection of technetium-labeled human albumin to identify sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients
Authors: Caruso Giuseppe , Cipolla Calogero , Costa Renato , Morabito Alessandra , Latteri Stefania , Fricano Salvatore , Salerno Sergio , Latteri Mario Adelfio
Published: August 2013

Background

Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is without doubt a valid method for the detection of the sentinel lymph node (SLN). There has been considerable debate regarding the optimal site for the introduction of the tracer; various sites include peritumoral (PT), periareolar (PA), subdermal, and intradermal injection.

Purpose

To evaluate retrospectively the lymphoscintigraphic identification rate of peritumoral (PT) injection versus subdermal periareolar (PA) injection in the detection of SLNs in breast cancer.

Material and Methods

Between October 2002 and December 2011, a cohort of 906 consecutive patients with biopsy proven breast cancer underwent 914 SLN biopsy procedures. A total of 339 procedures (Group A) were performed using a PT deep injection of radiotracer while 575 procedures (Group B) adopted a subdermal PA injection of radiotracer towards the upper outer quadrant, regardless of the site of the carcinoma. All the patients underwent synchronous excision of the breast cancer and SLN biopsy.

Results

SLNs were identified in the lymphoscintigram in 308/339 cases (90.85%) of Group A (PT injection) and in 537/575 cases (93.39%) of Group B (PA injection). Furthermore, in 2/339 patients (0.58%) of Group A, internal mammary lymph nodes were found at lymphoscintigraphy, whereas no internal mammary sentinel nodes were found in the Group B patients. The intraoperative identification rate of axillary SLNs was 99.41% (337 of 339) in the Group A patients and 99.65% (573 of 575) in the Group B patients. There was no significant difference in the two groups between the incidence of the number of SLNs detected and the incidence of identification of positive SLNs.

Conclusion

PT versus PA injection of radiotracer showed comparable success rates for axillary SLN identification, and can be considered a rapid and reliable method.
Diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhagic lesions: comparison between 3D-SWAN (3D T2*-weighted imaging with multi-echo acquisition) and 2D-T2*-weighted imaging
Authors: Hayashida Yoshiko , Kakeda Shingo , Hiai Yasuhiro , Ide Satoshi , Ogasawara Atsushi , Ooki Hodaka , Watanabe Keita , Nishimura Joji , Ohnari Norihiro , Korogi Yukunori
Published: August 2013

Background

3D-susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) can produce high-resolution images that yield excellent susceptibility-weighted contrast at a relatively short acquisition time.

Purpose

To compare SWAN- and 2D-T2*-weighted gradient-echo images (T2*-WI) for their sensitivity in the depiction of cerebral hemorrhagic lesions.

Material and Methods

We subjected 75 patients with suspected cerebral hemorrhagic lesions to SWAN and T2*-WI at 3T. We first measured the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) using an agar phantom that contained different concentrations of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). The acquisition time for SWAN and T2*-WI was similar (182 vs. 196 s). Neuroradiologists compared the two imaging methods for lesion detectability and conspicuity.

Results

The CNR of the phantom was higher on SWAN images. Of the 75 patients, 50 were found to have a total of 278 cerebral hemorrhagic lesions (microbleeds, n = 229 [82.4%]; intracerebral hemorrhage, n = 18 [6.5%]; superficial siderosis, n = 13 [4.7%]; axonal injuries, n = 8 [2.9%]; subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] or brain contusion, n = 3 each [1.0%]; subdural hematoma, n = 2 [0.7%]; cavernous hemangioma or dural arterteriovenous fistula, n = 1 each [0.4%]). In none of the lesions was the SWAN sequence inferior to T2*-WI with respect to lesion detectability and conspicuity. In fact, SWAN yielded better lesion conspicuity in patients with superficial siderosis and SAH: it detected significantly more lesions than T2*-WI ( P < 0.01) and it was particularly useful for the detection of microbleeds and lesions near the skull base.

Conclusion

SWAN is equal or superior to standard T2*-WI for the diagnosis of various cerebral hemorrhagic lesions. Because its acquisition time is reasonable it may replace T2*-WI.
The effect of symptoms on prehospital delay time in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Gao Yu , Zhang Hui-jun
Published: August 2013

Objective

To improve time to treatment, the effects of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) symptoms on prehospital delay time (PDT) were investigated.

Methods

Patients with AMI completed a questionnaire on their AMI symptoms and their general knowledge of AMI symptoms.

Results

In total, 116 patients completed questionnaires. The mean PDT was 7.3 ± 2.4  h; the median PDT was 2.2 h. Each patient experienced a mean of 3.6 symptoms during their AMI. PDT was significantly shorter in the following groups: patients with chest compression pain/chest discomfort, profuse sweating or dyspnoea than in patients with other symptoms; patients presenting with typical rather than atypical symptoms; patients with pain scores >6 compared with scores ≤6; patients who were aware rather than unaware of AMI symptoms. Patients actually having AMI symptoms and patients being aware of AMI symptoms were inversely correlated with PDT. There was a linear relationship between pain scores and PDT.

Conclusion

Public awareness of AMI symptoms should be enhanced, in order to shorten PDT and improve AMI survival rates.
Another Contribution to the Succession Narrative Debate (2 Samuel 11–20; 1 Kings 1–2)
Authors: Blenkinsopp Joseph
Published: August 2013

The segment of the biblical history of the monarchy which narrates events leading to the succession of Solomon to the throne of David in 1 Kings 2, known as the Succession Narrative or Court History, continues to generate inconclusive debate as to its extent, its relation to the historical work of which it is a part, and its ideology. On this last point, its characterization of the principal actors and its realistic narration of events have led some commentators to conclude that its author is expressing a basically negative view of David, Solomon, and the institution of monarchy. After arguing for limiting the extent of the Succession Narrative to 2 Samuel 11–20 and 1 Kings 1–2, the present article disputes two of the most prominent interpretations of the text: that of W. Dietrich, who reads it as containing a basically negative Grundschrift of early date rewritten some two centuries later to present a favourable view of the principals; and that of J. Van Seters, for whom it is a late post-exilic composition, informed by an anti-messianic ideology and inserted into the Deuteronomistic History to present a decidedly negative view of David and Solomon. This article concludes that the Succession Narrative is a homogeneous and coherent text and that it is in no sense an indictment of David, Solomon, and monarchy in general.
Deborah and Moses
Authors: Herzberg Bruce
Published: August 2013

Deborah, a respected leader, judge, and prophet who gives orders to Barak, a military commander, is similar in many ways to Moses—indeed, far more similar than either traditional or modern commentators acknowledge. Moreover, the story of the battle at Mount Tabor has remarkable parallels with the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. Nonetheless, Deborah is typically linked with Miriam and her story regarded as at best an aberration in the predominantly patriarchal world of ancient Israel. A full examination of the parallels, however, yields a reading that significantly raises the status of Deborah and sees her as an avatar of Moses himself.
The Sayings Clusters in Proverbs: Towards an Associative Reading Strategy
Authors: Schwáb Zoltán
Published: August 2013

Some scholars argue that every proverb should be interpreted on its own, while others search for clusters of sayings and posit that such clusters should determine how one understands a proverb. The first half of this study argues that the solution lies somewhere in between: clusters are important for interpreting individual proverbs, but they do not completely fix the meaning of a saying. Instead, they allow for several possible meanings, and they invite the reader to construct creatively his/her own reading. The second half of this article seeks to demonstrate how this theory works in practice, by using the example of the first three verses of Proverbs 16. In accordance with the reading strategy advocated in this study, several possible readings of the section are proposed.
Why Does Joseph Wash his Face?
Authors: Yoo Philip Y.
Published: August 2013

Genesis 43.31a contains the only description of someone washing his or her face in the Hebrew Bible. Did the author purposefully select his words to signify a crucial junction in the narrative? Few examples from the biblical corpus and extra-biblical witnesses can be cited for comparison. Locating the narrative of Genesis 42–43 in its specific context, descriptions of face-washing from recovered Egyptian witnesses suggest that a foreign motif is the influence for the terse, yet precise, description of a Hebrew protagonist coping with his emotions in another part of the world.
Reading Polish peripheral Marxism politically
Authors: Marzec Wiktor
Published: August 2013

This article appraises the political writings of three Polish Marxists from the early 20th century, Kazimierz Kelles-Krauz, Stanisław Brzozowski and Rosa Luxemburg. In the specific peripheral conditions and because of the entanglement of different struggles in the Polish Kingdom under Tsarist rule around the 1905 Revolution, it was no longer possible for Marxists and political theorists to refer to any firm political ground: whether the organic unity of the nation, class antagonisms, or laws of history. The construction of revolutionary subjects in Luxemburg, the political rethinking of national community and the realistic ‘agonistic’ conception of democracy in Kelles-Krauz, and Brzozowski’s anti-essentialist Marxism, with its mobilizing power and politically constructed subjects of social change, are peculiar, peripheral forms of political Marxism, today worth looking at one more time.
How Does Independent Practice of Multiple-Criteria Text Influence the Reading Performance and Development of Second Graders?
Authors: Cheatham Jennifer P. , Allor Jill H. , Roberts J. Kyle
Published: August 2013

This study examined the impact of independent practice of multiple-criteria text that targeted high-frequency words, decodability, and meaningfulness. Second-grade students, including at-risk students, were randomly assigned within classroom to a treatment group that read multiple-criteria text ( n = 34), or contrast group that read authentic literature (i.e., children’s books without intentionally imbedded scaffolds; n = 28) during daily 30-min independent reading sessions for 10 weeks. Pre–post data analysis indicated no statistically significant group differences, though a moderate effect size of .67 was found for the word reading of developing decoders in the treatment group. HLM analyses also provided preliminary evidence that practice with multiple-criteria text may be more effective than practice with authentic literature for developing decoders but not advanced decoders.
Environmental Circadian Disruption Elevates the IL-6 Response to Lipopolysaccharide in Blood
Authors: Adams Kandis L. , Castanon-Cervantes Oscar , Evans Jennifer A. , Davidson Alec J.
Published: August 2013

The immune system is regulated by circadian clocks within the brain and immune cells. Environmental circadian disruption (ECD), consisting of a 6-h phase advance of the light:dark cycle once a week for 4 weeks, elevates the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both in vivo and in vitro. This indicates that circadian disruption adversely affects immune function; however, it remains unclear how the circadian system regulates this response under ECD conditions. Here, we develop an assay using ex vivo whole-blood LPS challenge to investigate the circadian regulation of immune responses in mice and to determine the effects of ECD on these rhythms. LPS-induced IL-6 release in whole blood was regulated in a circadian manner, peaking during subjective day under both entrained and free-running conditions. This LPS-induced IL-6 release rhythm was associated with daily variation in both white blood cell counts and immune cell responsiveness. ECD increased the overall level of LPS-induced IL-6 release by increasing immune cell responsiveness and not by affecting immune cell number or the circadian regulation of this rhythm. This indicates that ECD produces pathological immune responses by increasing the proinflammatory responses of immune cells. Also, this newly developed whole blood assay can provide a noninvasive longitudinal method to quantify potential health consequences of circadian disruption in humans.
Period Gene Expression in the Brain of a Dual-Phasing Rodent, the Octodon degus
Authors: Otalora Beatriz B. , Hagenauer Megan H. , Rol Maria A. , Madrid Juan A. , Lee Theresa M.
Published: August 2013

Clock gene expression is not only confined to the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) but is also found in many other brain regions. The phase relationship between SCN and extra-SCN oscillators may contribute to known differences in chronotypes. The Octodon degus is a diurnal rodent that can shift its activity-phase preference from diurnal to nocturnal when running wheels become available. To understand better the relationship between brain clock gene activity and chronotype, we studied the day-night expression of the Period genes, Per1 and Per2, in the SCN and extra-SCN brain areas in diurnal and nocturnal degus. Since negative masking to light and entrainment to the dark phase are involved in the nocturnalism of this species, we also compare, for the first time, Per expression between entrained (EN) and masked nocturnal (MN) degus. The brains of diurnal, MN, and EN degus housed with wheels were collected during the light (ZT4) and dark (ZT16) phases. Per1 and Per2 mRNA levels were analyzed by in situ hybridization. Within the SCN, signals for Per1 and Per2 were higher at ZT4 irrespective of chronotype. However, outside of the SCN, Per1 expression in the hippocampus of EN degus was out of phase (higher values at ZT16) with SCN values. Although a similar trend was seen in MN animals, this day-night difference in Per1 expression was not significant. Interestingly, daily differences in Per1 expression were not seen in the hippocampus of diurnal degus. For other putative brain areas analyzed (cortices, striatum, arcuate, ventromedial hypothalamus), no differences in Per1 levels were found between chronotypes. Both in diurnal and nocturnal degus, Per2 levels in the hippocampus and in the cingulate and piriform cortices were in phase with their activity rhythms. Thus, diurnal degus showed higher Per2 levels at ZT4, whereas in both types of nocturnal degus, Per2 expression was reversed, peaking at ZT16. Together, the present study supports the hypothesis that the mechanisms underlying activity-phase preference in diurnal and nocturnal mammals reside downstream from the SCN, but our data also indicate that there are fundamental differences between nocturnal masked and entrained degus.
Photoperiod Can Entrain Circannual Rhythms in Pinealectomized European Hamsters
Authors: Monecke Stefanie , Sage-Ciocca Dominique , Wollnik Franziska , Pévet Paul
Published: August 2013

In mammals, the pineal hormone melatonin is thought to be essential to process environmental photoperiodic information. In this study, we demonstrate in a circannual species, the European hamster Cricetus cricetus, the existence of a melatonin-independent second pathway. In 4 physiological parameters (reproduction, body weight, activity pattern, body temperature), a large majority of pinealectomized European hamsters were entrained to an accelerated photoperiodic regime. It compressed the natural variations in the photoperiod to a 6-month cycle, which allowed us to record up to 6 complete physiological cycles during the life span of the individuals. We show further that whether a pinealectomized animal is able to entrain to changes in the photoperiod is influenced by the season of pinealectomy. The results do not disprove that melatonin is capable of entraining a circannual rhythm, but they show clearly that melatonin is not necessary, demonstrating another melatonin-independent pathway for circannual entrainment by the photoperiod. In view of these new insights, a revision of the original literature revealed that probably the melatonin-independent pathway plays an important role in most circannual mammals but only a minor role in photoperiodic species. Thus, the present work provides also the first evidence for different synchronization mechanisms in photoperiodic and circannual species.