bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resolving Convection in a Global Hypohydrostatic Model
Authors: Garner S. T. , Frierson D. M. W. , Held I. M. , Pauluis O. , Vallis G. K.
Published: June 2007

Convection cannot be explicitly resolved in general circulation models given their typical grid size of 50 km or larger. However, by multiplying the vertical acceleration in the equation of motion by a constant larger than unity, the horizontal scale of convection can be increased at will, without necessarily affecting the larger-scale flow. The resulting hypohydrostatic system has been recognized for some time as a way to improve numerical stability on grids that cannot well resolve nonhydrostatic gravity waves. More recent studies have explored its potential for better representing convection in relatively coarse models.

The recent studies have tested the rescaling idea in the context of regional models. Here the authors present global aquaplanet simulations with a low-resolution, nonhydrostatic model free of convective parameterization, and describe the effect on the global climate of very large rescaling of the vertical acceleration. As the convection expands to resolved scales, a deepening of the troposphere, a weakening of the Hadley cell, and a moistening of the lower troposphere is found, compared to solutions in which the moist convection is essentially hydrostatic. The growth rate of convective instability is reduced and the convective life cycle is lengthened relative to synoptic phenomena. This problematic side effect is noted in earlier studies and examined further here.
The Dynamics of Idealized Convection Schemes and Their Effect on the Zonally Averaged Tropical Circulation
Authors: Frierson Dargan M. W.
Published: June 2007

In this paper, the effect of a simple convection scheme on the zonally averaged tropical general circulation is examined within an idealized moist GCM to obtain broad classifications of the influence of convection on the Tropics. This is accomplished with a simplified convection scheme in the style of Betts and Miller. The scheme is utilized in a moist GCM with simplified physical parameterizations (gray radiation, with zonally symmetric, slab mixed layer ocean boundary conditions).

Comparisons are made with simulations without a convection scheme [i.e., with large-scale condensation (LSC) only], with the moist convective adjustment (MCA) parameterization, and with various formulations and parameter sets with a simplified Betts–Miller (SBM) scheme. With the control run using the SBM scheme, the Tropics become quieter and less dependent on horizontal resolution as compared with the LSC or MCA simulations. The Hadley circulation mass transport is significantly reduced with the SBM scheme, as is the ITCZ precipitation. An important factor determining this behavior is the parameterization of shallow convection: without shallow convection, the convection scheme is largely ineffective at preventing convection from occurring at the grid scale.

The sensitivities to convection scheme parameters are also examined. The simulations are remarkably insensitive to the convective relaxation time, and only mildly sensitive to the relative humidity of the reference profile, provided significant large-scale condensation is not allowed to occur. The changes in the zonally averaged tropical circulation that occur in all the simulations are understood based on the convective criteria of the schemes and the gross moist stability of the atmosphere.
Convectively Coupled Kelvin Waves in an Idealized Moist General Circulation Model
Authors: Frierson Dargan M. W.
Published: June 2007

The dynamics of convectively coupled Kelvin waves and their dependence on convection scheme parameters are studied within a simplified moist general circulation model. The model consists of the primitive equations on the sphere over zonally symmetric aquaplanet, slab mixed layer ocean boundary conditions, and idealized physical parameterizations including gray radiative transfer and a simplified Betts–Miller convection scheme. This framework allows the authors to study the dependence of Kelvin waves on quantities such as the gross moist stability in a clean manner.

A control simulation with the model produces convectively coupled Kelvin waves that are remarkably persistent and dominate the variability within the Tropics. These waves propagate with an equivalent depth of ≈40 m. Linear regression analysis with respect to a Kelvin-filtered time series shows that the waves are driven by evaporation–wind feedback and have structures broadly consistent with theoretical predictions for Kelvin waves.

Next, the determination of the speed and structure of the Kelvin waves is studied by examining the response of the waves to changes in convection scheme parameters. When the convective relaxation time is lengthened, the waves are damped and eventually are completely eliminated. The propagation speed additionally increases with longer relaxation time. Then changes to a convection scheme parameter that essentially controls the fraction of convective versus large-scale precipitation are examined. When some large-scale precipitation occurs, the waves increase in strength, propagate more slowly, and move to larger scales. However, when mostly large-scale precipitation occurs, the Kelvin wave disappears, and the Tropics are dominated by tropical storm–like variability. The decrease in speed is related here to the gross moist stability of the atmosphere, which is reduced with increased large-scale precipitation.
Measuring Global Ocean Wave Skewness by Retracking RA-2EnvisatWaveforms
Authors: Gómez-Enri J. , Gommenginger C. P. , Srokosz M. A. , Challenor P. G. , Benveniste J.
Published: June 2007

For early satellite altimeters, the retrieval of geophysical information (e.g., range, significant wave height) from altimeter ocean waveforms was performed on board the satellite, but this was restricted by computational constraints that limited how much processing could be performed. Today, ground-based retracking of averaged waveforms transmitted to the earth is less restrictive, especially with respect to assumptions about the statistics of ocean waves. In this paper, a theoretical maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) ocean waveform retracker is applied tothe Envisat Radar Altimeter system (RA-2) 18-Hz averaged waveforms under both linear (Gaussian) and nonlinear ocean wave statistics assumptions, to determine whether ocean wave skewness can be sensibly retrieved from Envisat RA-2 waveforms. Results from the MLE retracker used in nonlinear mode provide the first estimates of global ocean wave skewness based on RA-2 Envisat averaged waveforms. These results show for the first time geographically coherent skewness fields and confirm the notion that large values of skewness occur primarily in regions of large significant wave height. Results from the MLE retracker run in linear and nonlinear modes are compared with each other and with the RA-2 Level 2 Sensor Geophysical Data Records (SGDR) products to evaluate the impact of retrieving skewness on other geophysical parameters. Good agreement is obtained between the linear and nonlinear MLE results for both significant wave height and epoch (range), except in areas of high-wave-height conditions.
Sea Ice and Current Response to the Wind: A Vector Regressional Analysis Approach
Authors: Rabinovich Alexander B. , Shevchenko Georgy V. , Thomson Richard E.
Published: June 2007

The authors describe a two-dimensional (vector) regressional model for examining the anisotropic response of ice drift and ocean current velocity (“drift velocity”) to surface wind forcing. Illustration of the method is limited to sea ice response. The principal mathematical and physical properties of the model are outlined, together with estimates of the “response matrices” and the corresponding “response ellipses” (drift velocity response to a unity wind velocity forcing). For each direction, φ, of the wind vector the method describes a corresponding “wind factor” α(φ) (relative drift speed) and “turning angle” θ(φ) (the angle between the drift velocity and wind vector). The major ellipse axis corresponds to the direction of the “effective wind” (φ = φmax) and the minor axis to the direction of the “noneffective” wind. The eigenvectors of the response matrix define wind directions that are the same as the wind-induced drift velocity directions. Depending on the water depth and offshore distance, six analytical cases are possible, ranging from rectilinear response ellipses near the coast to purely circular response ellipses in the open ocean. The model is used to examine ice drift along the western shelf of Sakhalin Island (Sea of Okhotsk). Responses derived from the vector regression (four parameter) method are less constrained and therefore more representative of wind-induced surface motions than those derived using the traditional complex transfer function (two parameter) approach.
Finding Multiple Basin Modes in a Linear Ocean Model
Authors: Vikhliaev Yury , Schopf Paul , DelSole Tim , Kirtman Ben
Published: June 2007

A method for finding the most unstable eigenmodes in linear models using the breeding technique was developed. The breeding technique was extended to allow for the calculation of complex eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the linear model operator without involving computationally expensive matrix manipulations. While the breeding method finds the most unstable modes, multiple planetary basin modes may be found by removing the leading modes using the adjoint model. To test the sensitivity of basin modes to model formulation, the method was applied for the calculation of the gravest planetary basin modes in a reduced-gravity linear shallow water model with complex basin geometry and background circulation. It was found that the leading basin modes are not sensitive to the form of the dissipation or model resolution, suggesting that the decadal modes are robust. However, the properties of the low-frequency modes are strongly affected by the basin geometry and the mean flow.
A Comparative Assessment of Surface Wind Speed and Sea Surface Temperature over the Indian Ocean by TMI, MSMR, and ERA-40
Authors: Parekh Anant , Sharma Rashmi , Sarkar Abhijit
Published: June 2007

A 2-yr (June 1999–June 2001) observation of ocean surface wind speed (SWS) and sea surface temperature (SST) derived from microwave radiometer measurements made by a multifrequency scanning microwave radiometer (MSMR) and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) is compared with direct measurements by Indian Ocean buoys. Also, for the first time SWS and SST values of the same period obtained from 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40) have been evaluated with these buoy observations. The SWS and SST are shown to have standard deviations of 1.77 m s−1 and 0.60 K for TMI, 2.30 m s−1 and 2.0 K for MSMR, and 2.59 m s−1 and 0.68 K for ERA-40, respectively. Despite the fact that MSMR has a lower-frequency channel, larger values of bias and standard deviation (STD) are found compared to those of TMI. The performance of SST retrieval during the daytime is found to be better than that at nighttime. The analysis carried out for different seasons has raised an important question as to why one spaceborne instrument (TMI) yields retrievals with similar biases during both pre- and postmonsoon periods and the other (MSMR) yields drastically different results. The large bias at low wind speeds is believed to be due to the poorer sensitivity of microwave emissivity variations at low wind speeds. The extreme SWS case study (cyclonic condition) showed that satellite-retrieved SWS captured the trend and absolute magnitudes as reflected by in situ observations, while the model (ERA-40) failed to do so. This result has direct implications on the real-time application of satellite winds in monitoring extreme weather events.
The Use of New Parameterizations for Gaseous Absorption in the CLIRAD-SW Solar Radiation Code for Models
Authors: Tarasova T. A. , Fomin B. A.
Published: June 2007

The new gaseous absorption parameterizations are incorporated in the CLIRAD-SW solar radiation code for models, openly distributed for the scientific community. In the new parameterizations, the magnitude of absorption coefficients in each homogeneous layer depends on both species concentrations in the layer and species amounts accumulated along the direct solar radiation path from the top of the atmosphere (TOA). The number of the k-distribution terms varies from 1 to 4 in each of the eight bands. The total number of pseudomonochromatic intervals in the new version of the code is 15, compared with 38 currently in CLIRAD-SW. This reduces computational time of the code by approximately 2 times and facilitates its using in the numerical models. The error of the new version of CLIRAD-SW is determined here as the difference between the flux or heating rate values calculated with the code and line-by-line model. The surface and top-of-the-atmosphere flux difference is less than 1.5 W m−2 in calculations for the standard gaseous atmospheres and less than 7 W m−2 in calculations for the standard gaseous atmosphere with aerosol or cloud scattering and absorption incorporated. The relative flux error is less than 1% for all cases of gaseous atmosphere with and without molecular scattering and aerosol extinction. This error is less than 1.5% for the cases with cloudiness. The errors of heating rate calculations in the clear-sky atmospheres are less than 6% up to the height of 70 km, while these errors in cloudy layers reach values of about 30%, which is typical for current broadband parameterizations. The method to reduce these errors is suggested.
Measurement of Scalar Variance Dissipation from Lagrangian Floats
Authors: D’Asaro Eric A. , Lien Ren-Chieh
Published: June 2007

Simultaneous measurements of temperature, salinity, their vertical gradients, and the vertical gradient of velocity across a 1.4-m-long Lagrangian float were used to investigate the accuracy with which the dissipation of scalar variance χ can be computed using inertial subrange methods from such a neutrally buoyant float. The float was deployed in a variety of environments in Puget Sound; χ varied by about 3.5 orders of magnitude. A previous study used an inertial subrange method to yield accurate measurements of ε, the rate of dissipation of kinetic energy, from this data. Kolmogorov scaling predicts a Lagrangian frequency spectrum for the rate of change of a scalar as ΦDσ/Dt(ω) = βsχ, where βs is a universal Kolmogorov constant. Measured spectra of the rate of change of potential density σ were nearly white at frequencies above N, the buoyancy frequency. Deviations at higher frequency could be modeled quantitatively using the measured deviations of the float from perfect Lagrangian behavior, yielding an empirical nondimensional form ΦDσ/Dt = βsχH(ω/ωL) for the measured spectra, where L is half the float length, ω3L = ε/L2, and H is a function describing the deviations of the spectrum from Kolmogorov scaling. Using this empirical form, estimates of χ were computed and compared with estimates derived from ε. The required mixing efficiency was computed from the turbulent Froude number ω0/N, where ω0 is the large-eddy frequency. The results are consistent over a range of ε from 10−8 to 3 × 10−5 W kg−1 implying that χ can be estimated from float data to an accuracy of least a factor of 2. These methods for estimating ε, χ, and the Froude number from Lagrangian floats appear to be unbiased and self-consistent for ε > 10−8 W kg−1. They are expected to fail in less energetic turbulence both for instrumental reasons and because the Reynolds number typically becomes too small to support an inertial subrange. The value of βs is estimated at 0.6 to within an uncertainty of less than a factor of 2.
Robert Henry Lightfoot (30th September 1883 — 24th November 1953)
Authors: Court John M.
Published: June 2007

R. H. Lightfoot championed the work of German scholars, both in Form and Redaction Criticism of the Gospels, and then produced significant volumes on the gospels of Mark and John. His 1934 Bampton Lectures were in turn acknowledged in German scholarship, but also demonstrate how easy it is to overestimate one's audience.
From stigma to self-assertion
Authors: Arun C. Joe
Published: June 2007

This article examines the process by which the Paraiyars, one of the Dalit communities of Tamil Nadu, South India, attempt to reconstruct their identity by revalorising the symbols of pollution that defined them as low and defiled into positive symbols of their culture. It argues that conflict, confrontation and radical rupture from the dominant community were essential for the formation of a new collective consciousness. Conflictual social relations between the Paraiyars and the Vanniyars, the dominant high-caste group in the village, became a resource and impetus that made the Paraiyars conscious of their stigmatised identity and persuaded them to form a new and positive self-identity that expressed aspirations for the future even as it memorialised past suffering. This article focuses on the resignification of the parai drum and the related symbols and myths that were used by the higher castes to define the Paraiyars as polluted and segregated.
The Role of TNFα in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Sands Bruce E. , Kaplan Gilaad G.
Published: June 2007

Standard of care for ulcerative colitis involves long‐term pharmacotherapy or colectomy. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients eventually require a colectomy because patients either do not respond or cannot tolerate the currently available pharmacotherapies. Advances in our knowledge of the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis have highlighted the importance of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the inflammatory process. TNFα is a proinflammatory mediator that plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, mounting evidence indicates a genetic association between TNFα and ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, increased TNFα levels have been demonstrated in studies of patients with ulcerative colitis. TNFα is likely an important component in the pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis, and thus agents targeting TNFα in ulcerative colitis have been studied. Recent randomized controlled trials have confirmed that biologic anti‐TNFα therapy is effective in ulcerative colitis. Soluble TNFα receptors or biologic agents that suppress or inhibit TNFα production may also show therapeutic promise.
The AADE National Diabetes Education Practice Survey: Diabetes Education in the United States—Who, What, Where, and How
Authors: Peeples Malinda , Austin Mary M.
Published: June 2007

This article describes the first comprehensive survey of diabetes self-management education programs and practice in the United States. The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), through environmental scanning of members and the external health care environment, identified significant changes in the practice of diabetes education in 2004. In an effort to more completely understand the current state of practice, the association administered the National Diabetes Education Practice Survey (NPS) to the membership in 2005 and 2006. The survey was structured to elicit information about the structure, process, and outcomes of diabetes education practice from both program managers and diabetes educators. Through this baseline description of diabetes education practice and program design, opportunities were identified for broadening the patient referral base, enhancing cost-effectiveness and educator productivity activities, improving program access to all populations, developing innovative delivery methods, improving patient outcomes, and striving for sustainable funding sources. The association will continue to administer the survey annually and report on changes and trends in diabetes education programs and practice.
Clinical Benefits of Training Patients to Voluntarily Increase Peripheral Blood Flow
Authors: Rice Birgitta I.
Published: June 2007

The purpose of this article is to introduce a training pro- gram that can help diabetes educators get a fresh approach to assist their clients with the diabetes complication of limited peripheral blood flow. Biofeedback-assisted relaxation training is an educational and integrative intervention that supplements traditional medical care. Biofeedback-assisted relaxation training can be taught to the patient in a single setting. The relaxation training allows peripheral blood vessels to widen, providing enhanced circulation to peripheral tissues, including nerves. The training includes an explanation of relaxation and its effects on the patient, after which the technique is practiced with the assistance of thermal biofeedback. Biofeedback is an effective physiological training modality that teaches the patient what is going on in his or her own body. As the patient relaxes correctly, peripheral blood vessels dilate and blood flow improves, resulting in increased skin temperature. The change in skin temperature is measured with a small alcohol thermometer. Consistent relaxation yields significant outcomes such as improved peripheral blood flow, a reduction in peripheral pain, enhanced healing, improved ambulation, and increased coping skills in the patient's life.
Killing Begets Killing: Evidence From a Bug-Killing Paradigm That Initial Killing Fuels Subsequent Killing
Authors: Martens Andy , Kosloff Spee , Greenberg Jeff , Landau Mark J. , Schmader Toni
Published: June 2007

Killing appears to perpetuate itself even in the absence of retaliation. This phenomenon may occur in part as a means to justify prior killing and so ease the threat of prior killing. In addition, this effect should arise particularly when a killer perceives similarity to the victims because similarity should exacerbate threat from killing. To examine these ideas, the authors developed a bug-killing paradigm in which they manipulated the degree of initial bug killing in a “practice task” to observe the effects on subsequent self-paced killing during a timed “extermination task.” In Studies 1 and 2, for participants reporting some similarity to bugs, inducing greater initial killing led to more subsequent self-paced killing. In Study 3, after greater initial killing, more subsequent self-paced killing led to more favorable affective change. Implications for understanding lethal human violence are discussed.
Investigating the Role of Time in Affective Forecasting: Temporal Influences on Forecasting Accuracy
Authors: Finkenauer Catrin , Gallucci Marcello , van Dijk Wilco W. , Pollmann Monique
Published: June 2007

Using extensive diary data from people taking their driver's license exam, the authors investigated the role of time in affective forecasting accuracy. Replicating existing findings, participants grossly overestimated the intensity and duration of their negative affect after failure and only slightly overestimated the intensity and duration of their positive affect after success. Extending existing findings, participants accurately predicted a decrease of their affective reactions over time but underestimated the speed with which this decrease would occur. In addition, they showed greater forecasting accuracy for positive affect than negative affect when the exam was distant and greater forecasting accuracy for negative affect than positive affect when the exam was close. The motivational processes underlying these findings are being discussed.
Decreased Pulsatile Blood Flow in the Patella in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Authors: Näslund Jan , Walden Markus , Lindberg Lars-Göran
Published: June 2007

Background

Anterior knee pain without clinical and radiologic abnormalities has primarily been explained from a purely structural view. A recently proposed biologic and homeostatic explanation questions the malalignment theory. No objective measurement of the pathophysiology responsible for changes in local homeostasis has been presented.

Hypothesis

Flexing the knee joint interferes with the perfusion of the patellar bone in patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Study Design

Case control study; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

Pulsatile blood flow in the patella was measured continuously and noninvasively using photoplethysmography. Measurements were made with the patient in a resting position with knee flexion of 20° and after passive knee flexion to 90°. In total, 22 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were examined bilaterally, and 33 subjects with healthy knees served as controls.

Results

The pulsatile blood flow in the patient group decreased after passive knee flexion from 20° to 90° (systematic change in position, or relative position [RP] = —0.32; 95% confidence interval for RP, —0.48 to —0.17), while the response in the control group showed no distinct pattern (RP = 0.17; 95% confidence interval for RP, —0.05 to 0.31). The difference between the groups was significant (P = .0002). The median change in patients was —26% (interquartile range, 37).

Conclusions

Pulsatile patellar blood flow in patellofemoral pain syndrome patients is markedly reduced when the knee is being flexed, which supports the previous notion of an ischemic mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of this pain syndrome.
Software Review: Scanning for Clusters in Space and Time
Authors: Block Richard
Published: June 2007

SaTScan was developed by Martin Kulldorff to scan for temporal, spatial, and spatial temporal clusters. It places circles or ellipses of continuously varying size over a spatial study area and can add time as a continuously varying third-dimension scan. The program offers a wide variety of scanning models. Paraphrasing Kulldorff, SaTScan calculates a Poisson-based model according to a known population at risk, a Bernoulli model which allows for cases and controls, a space-time permutation model that needs only case data, an ordinal model, an exponential model for survival analysis, and a normal model for continuous data. Either the data may be aggregated to a geographic region or each case may have unique coordinates. The end result is quite intuitive and includes the location of a cluster in space and time and the significance of the cluster based on a Monte Carlo simulation. Although analysis is easy to do and interpret, input and output are unnecessarily cumbersome. SaTScan has no direct interface with any statistical, database, or GIS program, but it requires their use.
Software Review: Crime Analysis and Mapping with GeoDa 0.9.5-i
Authors: Leitner Michael , Brecht Henrike
Published: June 2007

As a Windows-based application, GeoDa 0.9.5-i is now much more user-friendly compared to its predecessor, the SpaceStat package and its Arc View Extension, DynESDA. GeoDa provides some very useful tools for doing exploratory spatial data analysis, including dynamically linked windows and data brushing. As a stand-alone program, it has a variety of options for data manipulation and transformation, mapping, exploratory spatial data analysis, spatial weights construction, descriptive statistics, spatial autocorrelation statistics, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression with spatial diagnostics, and spatial regression modeling.
Software Review: Spatial Data Analysis of Crime
Authors: Heraux Cedrick G.
Published: June 2007

CrimeStat III is a spatial statistics program for the analysis of crime incident locations. The program has three main components: (1) the Spatial Description component allows the user to conduct analyses regarding spatial distribution of data, (2) the Spatial Modeling component allows the user to analyze the spatial behavior of data, and (3) the Crime Travel Demand Modeling component allows the user to analyze the behavior of potential serial offenders. Overall, CrimeStat III is fairly easy to use once an initial familiarity has been established with the software. This can be accomplished through the manual or the intuitive GUI. Currently, the only significant restriction to the utility of the software is its reliance on the Windows operating system. This review provides a discussion of technical utilization of the software, and a look at how this software is useful in a practical manner for the spatial data analysis of crime.
Integrating Distance Into Mobility Triangle Typologies
Authors: Groff Elizabeth R. , McEwen Tom
Published: June 2007

Achieving a more complete understanding of the behavioral aspects of homicide has great potential for developing more targeted intervention and prevention strategies. One avenue to increased understanding is through the study of the spatial behavior of the parties involved. Mobility triangles have been used to describe the spatial relationships and develop a spatial typology of crime events. Mobility triangles enable the classification of crimes into types based on the relative locations of offender home address, victim home address, and homicide location. This work focuses on the crime of homicide and examines the 2,773 mobility triangles developed from homicide events in Washington, D.C. The research extends the traditional mobility triangle by defining and analyzing the explanatory power of a new type of mobility triangles based on distances. The analysis compares the output of the area-based traditional mobility triangle typology with that of a distance-based mobility triangle typology.
Use of a “Microecologic Technique” to Study Crime Around Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
Authors: Boyd Susan J. , Armstrong Kevin M. , Li Juan Fang  , Medoff Deborah R. , Dixon Lisa B. , Gorelick David A.
Published: June 2007

Whether substance abuse treatment centers affect neighborhood crime is hotly debated. Empirical evidence on this issue is lacking because of the difficulty of distinguishing the crime effect of treatment centers in high-crime areas, the inability to make before-and-after comparisons for clinics founded before computerized crime data, and the need for appropriate control sites. The authors present an innovative method (without an actual data analysis) to overcome these challenges. Clinic addresses and crime data are geocoded by street address. Crimes are counted within concentric-circular, 25-meter “buffers” around the clinics. Regression analyses are used to calculate the “crime slope” (β) among the buffers. A negative β indicates more crimes closer to the site. A similar process is used to evaluate crimes around control sites: convenience stores, hospitals, and residential points. This innovative technique provides valid empirical evidence on crime around substance abuse treatment centers.
Geographic Exclusion
Authors: Grubesic Tony H. , Mack Elizabeth , Murray Alan T.
Published: June 2007

In the state of Ohio, House Bill 180, Senate Bill 175 and Senate Bill 5 collectively form Megan's Law. This law requires individuals convicted of a sexually oriented offense to register with the local sheriff 's office at least twenty days prior to the move-in date of the offender. Beginning July 31, 2003, Megan's Law prohibited an offender of a sexually oriented offense from establishing or occupying a residence within 1,000 feet of any school-related properties. A major social concern with this law and its subsequent enforcement is the belief that the geographic constraints placed on registered sex offenders effectively eliminate nearly all residential housing options. The purpose of this paper is to explore issues of geographic exclusion by conducting a spatial analysis of registered sex offenders in Hamilton County, Ohio. Analysis using geographic information systems (GIS), proximity evaluation and basic statistical techniques enables the impacts of this law to be assessed.
Mapping Crime in Savannah
Authors: Lockwood Daniel
Published: June 2007

This article is an area study on the hypothesis that violent crime is linked to a subculture of violence, social disadvantage, or land uses such as rental, retail/office/commercial, or public/institutional property. Rates and types of reported violent crimes are related to neighborhood characteristics available through U.S. Census data and the county planning commission's geographical information office. The research design called for the geocoding of 26,467 violent reported crimes, which were aggregated by census block group. Variables in the analysis of these spatial units include frequency and characteristics of reported violent crimes, rates of violent crime, indicators of social disadvantage, housing types, housing values, and land use. Analysis employed multiple regression, with simple assault, aggravated assault, homicide, and robbery as the dependent variables. Variables helpful in the prediction of violent crime rates were also placed as map layers on data maps. Results indicate that assault in neighborhoods is associated with social disadvantage and the land uses of retail/office/commercial and public/institutional. Robbery is associated with recreational, retail/commercial/office, renter, and public/institutional land uses. Both percentage of renters and percentage of African Americans fail to predict violence when controlling for social disadvantage. Implications concern issues of theoretical criminology related to routine activities theory, the southern regional subculture of violence, and social disorganization theory. Land use planning and crime are also discussed.
The Impact of Software on Crime Mapping
Authors: Wilson Ronald E.
Published: June 2007

Criminology has been greatly affected by the field of crime mapping. This has mostly been because of advancements in geographic information systems (GIS) and other spatial analysis software programs. The field has gained prominence and acceptance by effectively using software to combine criminological theory and geographic analysis principles. This occurred due to the operationalizing of geographic analysis techniques and the progress of computers and software. However, it has not just been through these innovations that crime mapping has flourished; they were also facilitated by software development tools that allowed criminologists and geographers to write software for their needs. This introduction to the special edition of Social Science Computing Review on crime mapping traces the growth of crime mapping through the development of geographic software and its use in criminology for mapping out and spatially analyzing crime.
Wages and the Bargaining Regime under Multi-level Bargaining: Belgium, Denmark and Spain
Authors: Plasman Robert , Rusinek Michael , Rycx François
Published: June 2007

We use a harmonized matched employer—employee dataset to study the impact of the collective bargaining regime on wages in the manufacturing sector in three countries with a multi-level system of bargaining: Belgium, Denmark and Spain. Single-employer bargaining has a positive effect both on wage levels and on wage dispersion in Belgium and in Denmark. In Spain, it also increases wage levels but reduces wage dispersion. Our interpretation is that in Belgium and Denmark, single-employer bargaining is used to adapt pay to the specific needs of the firm while, in Spain it is mainly used by trade unions in order to compress the wage distribution.
A New Mode of European Regulation? The Implementation of the Autonomous Framework Agreement on Telework in Five Countries
Authors: Larsen Trine P. , Andersen Søren Kaj
Published: June 2007

This article examines the implementation of the first autonomous framework agreement signed by European social partners in a number of member states. Although the telework agreement states that it is to be implemented in accordance with national procedures and practices specific to management and labour, practice is often different. The approach adopted reflects the specific policy character of the telework agreement and the ongoing power struggle between unions, employers and the state.
Labour Standards and Migration in the New Europe: Post-Communist Legacies and Perspectives
Authors: Woolfson Charles
Published: June 2007

The post-communist New Member States of Eastern Europe have experienced significant forms of labour exploitation, with deterioration in labour standards and the working environment. This is leading to increasing labour force `exit' on a scale not hitherto anticipated. Migrant workers from the Baltic states, paid lower wages and with poorer working conditions, have been at the centre of a number of high-profile labour disputes in the EU-15. This article uses Latvia as a case study in order to discuss the implications of increasing labour migration for the New Member States and for labour standards in the wider EU.
Tackling Undeclared Work in Europe: Lessons from a Study of Ukraine
Authors: Williams Colin C.
Published: June 2007

This article reports a 2005—6 survey that displays the variety of undeclared work in Ukraine, involving not only an array of `off-the-books' employees but also various types of informal self-employment as well as forms of undeclared work more akin to mutual aid. Governments pursuing a conventional deterrent approach towards undeclared work may thus eradicate precisely the entrepreneurship and active citizenship that they otherwise seek to nurture. A more nuanced approach to tackling this sphere is proposed.
Collective Bargaining in Eastern Europe: Case Study Evidence from Romania
Authors: Trif Aurora
Published: June 2007

This article compares collective bargaining practices in Romania after 1989 with those in continental Western Europe. It focuses on the structures, processes and outcomes of collective bargaining in four large chemical companies; comparisons are also made with other Eastern European countries. Unexpectedly, the findings point to an increase in state intervention in establishing terms and conditions of employment after 1989. The development of collective bargaining in Romania appears to follow a nation-specific path, with the continuance of certain pre-1989 features, such as unclear boundaries between trade unions and management.
Military Memoirs: A Historical Overview of the Genre from the Middle Ages to the Late Modern Era
Authors: Harari Yuval Noah
Published: June 2007

The article surveys the history of military memoirs in the west from the Middle Ages to the late modern era. It examines the relation of military memoirs to other literary and historiographical genres, such as conversion narratives, service records, and oral life-stories. It focuses in particular on the rising visibility of memoirs composed by common soldiers and junior officers. The article then analyses the historiographical importance of this genre, and the unique contributions it can make to the study of military history. It emphasizes the genre's relevance to the study of military command, of military culture, and of the experience of war.
Distinguishing between Shell-shocked Veterans and Pauper Lunatics: The Ex-Services' Welfare Society and Mentally Wounded Veterans after the Great War
Authors: Reid Fiona
Published: June 2007

This article sets out to contribute to the growing debate on the treatment of shell-shocked men after the Great War. So far, the work of the voluntary sector in this sphere has been neglected but the Ex-Services' Welfare Society (ESWS), the charity dedicated to caring for shell-shocked men and their families, ensured that the plight of mentally wounded veterans achieved a high public profile during the 1920s. Initially the ESWS attempted to link the needs of the mentally wounded soldier with the wider issue of lunacy reform. This ensured a high level of publicity but also resulted in political controversy and a loss of support. By the mid-1920s the ESWS wanted to disassociate itself from lunacy reform. This benefited mentally wounded veterans in the short term but unwittingly cemented a clear distinction between psychologically damaged servicemen and `ordinary lunatics', and so failed to dispel the widespread misapprehension and misunderstanding which clouded attitudes towards mental illness in general.
British Army Manoeuvres and the Development of Military Aviation, 1910—1913
Authors: Whitmarsh Andrew
Published: June 2007

Historians have generally considered that the British army dismissed the potential value of aircraft prior to the First World War, only realizing the implications of military aviation after its outbreak. Before 1914, however, many senior British army officers had begun to understand that air power would soon change the nature of warfare. They had reached this understanding as a result of demonstrations by aircraft during many of the manoeuvres and other training exercises carried out in the years 1910—13.
Enhancing Sterilisation Performance in Rajasthan
Authors: Sathyanarayana K.M. , Srinivasan Venkatesh , Jacob Sunil Thomas
Published: June 2007

In the beginning of the year 2004–5, the demographic cell at the state level in Rajasthan realised during routine introspection that sterilisation performance had not picked up in the past few years, and they decided to rework the goals outlined in the state population policy. Just advancing the policy goals would not yield results, but would instead depend on accessibility and availability of sterilisation services and a host of other factors centred round the clients. A quick and rapid review examining existing patterns of service provisions and utilisation of sterilisation services in the state was undertaken from the providers' perspective. The basic premise of the study was that sterilisation performance is a function of accessibility to sterilisation facilities, availability of trained providers, and seasonality in service provision and utilisation. In a nutshell, the study recommended that sound and systematic planning in line with the utilisation pattern of the districts, round-the-year services, availability of trained providers, evenness in providers' load, and close monitoring at different levels were critical dimension for enhancing sterilisation performance in the state.
Determinates of Throughput Times in the Emergency Department
Authors: Downey La Vonne A. , Zun Leslie S.
Published: June 2007

This article studies factors that affect throughput times in a level 1 inner city emergency department (ED) in Chicago, USA. Previous research has shown increased throughput times are related to non-urgent patient use of the ED and lack of coordination of auxiliary hospital departments. Knowledge of these factors will allow for an improvement in patient flow and a reduction in wait times. This is a retrospective study of all factors that contribute to throughput times. Data was collected on a monthly basis for a four-year period that included presenting illness, triage level, wait times, time taken for laboratory results, radiology, bed availability, admitted or sent home, Fast Track availability, age, gender and race. The results show that factors affecting throughput are influenced by numerous determinants often beyond the ED itself. The two most influential are: the numbers of presenting illnesses that require in-patient beds, and the ability of the hospital's auxiliary departments, such as the lab, to meet the needs of the ED in a timely fashion. Based on these findings, the way to reduce throughput times is to focus on auxiliary hospital systems, such as laboratory, psychiatry and medicine, which support the ED.
Benchmarking the Performance of Public Hospitals in Tamil Nadu
Authors: Dash, Umakant , Vaishnavi, S.D. , Muraleedharan V.R. , Acharya Debashish
Published: June 2007

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to investigate the efficiency of a set of district hospitals in the state of Tamil Nadu. These facilities naturally provide primary and secondary care, but are also expected to function as health centres, addressing mostly preventive medicine, hygiene and other public health issues. This study aimed to obtain insight on their technical efficiency in light of their particular role. We have considered all the 29 district hospitals in the state. Variables chosen to characterise production were numbers of assistant surgeons, civil surgeons, staff nurses and beds as inputs; and in-patient and outpatient visits, surgeries both major and minor, and deliveries performed as outputs. The DEA model was input-oriented, allowed for variable returns to scale, and units were ranked according to a benchmarking approach. Results indicate that eight of the 29 hospitals (27 per cent) are efficient, the DEA score being 1.0, while the remaining 21 hospitals (72 per cent) are relatively inefficient, needing to benchmark their performance with that of their peer group.
Health Care Costs in China
Authors: Dib Hassan H. , Hong Shen Yan , Bin Zhao , Hongliang Shen
Published: June 2007

Despite government's efforts in curbing prices, the health care cost in China remains high in comparison to its GDP due to the real absence of regulatory and supervisory mechanisms. We randomly studied patients who attended two different emergency rooms in two teaching hospitals, mainly complaining of TIA, stroke and CVA. From this study we found there is a significant difference in test fees, total fees and percentage of test fees. This difference in total cost of treatment is due to variation of loci lesions. There was no significant difference in drug fees or percentage of fees between two genders. Hence, the central and local governments need to implement further policies in order to reduce or stabilise the health care costs, such as gradual increase in doctors' wages to decrease the deliverance of unnecessary care, partial privatisation of medical insurance enterprises, placing representatives for insurance companies in the hospitals, encouraging generic pharmaceutical manufacturing, improved distribution of hi-tech medical equipment, and better control of medical bills.
New Developments Concerning Health Care Fitness
Authors: Singhal Vibhuti , Kleiner Brian
Published: June 2007

In this report we discuss some of the new developments in the health care fitness industry catering to the needs of a healthy lifestyle, and their pros and cons. Such solutions have become very popular among health-conscious people, and these developments help enhance one's appearance, make one feel good, and give more control over one's body and lifestyle. We have also covered various diet solutions available for weight reduction, their advantages and disadvantages, and results. In addition, we throw light on surgical health fitness procedures that help in changing one's appearance and body shape—for example, tummy tucks, gastric bypass surgery, Botox, LASIK eye surgery, hypnosis and stress management. It is found that the results of all these procedures differ for every person depending on their age and lifestyles. They are often expensive and may not have desirable results. Finally the idea behind this report is to emphasise that not all solutions are as good as they are projected in marketing campaigns. Every solution could have a different result on a different body type and, hence, people should be very careful in choosing one that suits them. Also, high expectations only lead to disappointment.
Does Intra-household Discrimination Account for the Bulk of India's ‘Missing Women’?
Authors: Dubey Amaresh , Verschoor Arjan
Published: June 2007

Are adverse sex ratios in India largely due to intra-household discrimination of females? Received wisdom holds that the answer is ‘yes’. We have two reasons to doubt this. First, we show that poverty is associated with better, not worse, sex ratios in India. Second, we quantify the number of missing women in India due to its actual sex ratio at birth and find that it is considerably larger than the number due to excess postnatal female mortality. We estimate that between 25 and 40 per cent of missing women as conventionally computed is due to excess postnatal female mortality. Our findings taken together suggest that the masculinity of the birth ratio is positively associated with socio-economic status. Factors that may account for this association include parental lifestyle and disease, a higher incidence of sex-selective abortions among richer groups, and a sex-neutral reduction in foetal wastage as maternal well-being improves. None of these factors reflect female discrimination within the household, and ‘missing women’ is, therefore, potentially seriously biased as an indicator of the lethal consequences of intra-household discrimination.