bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simulated Density Currents beneath Embedded Stratified Layers
Authors: Seigel Robert B. , van den Heever Susan C. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The goal of this research is to investigate the impacts of a stably stratified layer embedded within a neutrally stratified environment on the behavior of density currents in an effort to extend the environmental regimes examined by Liu and Moncrieff. Such environments frequently support severe weather events. To accomplish this goal, nonhydrostatic numerical model experiments are performed in which the strength and height of the embedded stably stratified layer within a neutrally stratified environment are varied. The 1-km-deep stable layer base is varied between 1, 2, and 3 km AGL. Additionally, the strength of the stable layer is systematically varied between Brunt–Väisälä frequencies of 0.006, 0.012, and 0.018 s−1, following the methodology of Liu and Moncrieff. The model and grid setup are also similar to that of Liu and Moncrieff, utilizing the Arakawa C grid, leapfrog advection, a Robert–Asselin filter, and grid spacing of 100 and 50 m in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. Results show that the height of the density current decreases and the propagation speed increases with stronger and lower stable layers, provided that the stable layer is sufficiently thin so as to not act as a gravity wave ducting layer. As the strength of the stable layer increases and the height of this layer decreases, the horizontal pressure gradient driving the density current increases, resulting in faster propagation speeds. Such results have implications for cold pool propagation into more stable environments.
European Hot Summers Associated with a Reduction of Cloudiness
Authors: Tang Qiuhong , Leng Guoyong , Groisman Pavel Ya. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
A pronounced summer warming is observed in Europe since the 1980s that has been accompanied by an increase in the occurrence of heat waves. Water deficit that strongly reduces surface latent cooling is a widely accepted explanation for the causes of hot summers. The authors show that the variance of European summer temperature is partly explained by changes in summer cloudiness. Using observation-based products of climate variables, satellite-derived cloud cover, and radiation products, the authors show that, during the 1984–2007 period, Europe has become less cloudy (except northeastern Europe) and the regions east of Europe have become cloudier in summer daytime. In response, the summer temperatures increased in the areas of total cloud cover decrease and stalled or declined in the areas of cloud cover increase. Trends in the surface shortwave radiation are generally positive (negative) in the regions with summer warming (cooling or stalled warming), whereas the signs of trends in top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflected shortwave radiation are reversed. The authors’ results suggest that total cloud cover is either the important local factor influencing the summer temperature changes in Europe or a major indicator of these changes.
Interannual Variations of Subsurface Spiciness in the Philippine Sea: Observations and Mechanism
Authors: Li Yuanlong , Wang Fan , Zhai Fangguo 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The Philippine Sea (PS) is a key region connecting North Pacific subtropics to the equator via western boundary currents. Using available measurements from Argo profiling floats, satellite altimeters, and research surveys, the authors investigate the characteristics and mechanism of subsurface spiciness variability (represented by salinity changes between 23.5 and 24.5 σθ) in the PS. During the past decade, low-frequency salinity variability was dominated by interannual signals characterized by out-of-phase changes between the southern and northern PS with peak-to-peak amplitudes exceeding 0.1 psu. These salinity anomalies are mainly generated locally by anomalous cross-front geostrophic advections. In 2003, an anomalous cyclonic circulation developed in the PS, which transported greater (less) than normal high-salinity North Pacific Tropical Water to the northern (southern) PS and produced positive (negative) salinity anomalies there. In 2009, an anomalous anticyclone emerged, which produced negative (positive) salinity anomalies in the northern (southern) PS. These year-to-year variations are closely associated with ENSO cycle. During strong El Niño (La Niña) episodes, positive (negative) wind stress curl anomalies between 8° and 18°N evoke westward-propagating upwelling (downwelling) Rossby waves in the central Pacific and positive (negative) anomalous Ekman pumping in the western Pacific, resulting in the observed current and salinity changes in the PS. Further analysis suggests that these locally generated spiciness anomalies disperse quickly while propagating to the equatorial Pacific in the Mindanao Current (MC). In the meantime, anomalies advected from higher latitudes are nearly diminished upon reaching the PS. The western boundary of the North Pacific seems quite efficient in damping extratropical signals.
Effects of Electronic Map Displays and Individual Differences in Ability on Navigation Performance
Authors: Rodes William , Gugerty Leo 
Published: March 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how strongly the performance of navigation tasks is affected by changing electronic map interfaces and by individual differences in spatial ability. Background: Electronic map interfaces have two common configurations, north up and track up. Research suggests that north-up maps benefit some navigational tasks and track-up maps benefit others. However, little research has investigated how map configuration affects the important navigation task of judging cardinal direction or how individual differences in spatial ability interact with map configuration in affecting navigation performance. Method: In an aerial reconnaissance task, 16 participants completed route-following, cardinal direction, and map reconstruction tasks. Participants also completed three spatial ability tests. Results: The track-up map led to better performance on the cardinal direction and route-following tasks. The north-up map led to better performance on the map reconstruction task. Effects of map configuration showed small to medium effect sizes. Spatial ability correlated positively with performance of each navigation task, showing medium to large effect sizes. For some tasks, a helpful map interface compensated for low ability. For other tasks, ability facilitated the performance of the helpful interface; optimal performance required a helpful interface and high ability. Conclusion: Achieving high performance at particular navigation subtasks requires two things: using the map configuration that optimizes subtask performance and having high spatial ability. Application: Some aspects of navigation performance can be improved primarily by using the optimal map configuration; other aspects require using the optimal configuration and having better spatial ability.
The effect of information on oversight: the European Parliament’s response to increasing information on comitology decision-making
Authors: Brandsma Gijs Jan 
Published: March 2012

The European Parliament, like any parliament, needs information for scrutinizing executive decision-making. But how does it process this information in practice? This article focuses on the European Parliament’s increasing grip on ‘comitology’ decision-making: committees composed of national civil servants, producing executive measures that are adopted by the European Commission. Two types of changes are addressed: organizational changes and changes in working methods of EP staff. The analysis shows that the European Parliament has effectively built up a system of decentralized police-patrol oversight, but not following more information rights as such but rather as a result of its increasing political powers. The article concludes that information only affects the behaviour of the European Parliament in combination with very specific as opposed to quite general or diffuse political rights. Points for practitioners This article traces the effects of information on the functioning of the European Parliament as an accountability forum. It concludes that information only makes a difference when coupled with very specific as opposed to very general or diffuse political rights.
Procedural transparency in rural Romania: linking implementation with administrative capacity?
Authors: Dragoş Dacian C. , Neamtţu Bogdana , Cobârzan Bianca V. 
Published: March 2012

The article discusses the concept of procedural administrative transparency and aims to investigate the extent to which the legal provisions of Law no. 52/2003 on transparency in decision-making are actually implemented by the local administrations from the rural communities in the Transylvania region, Romania. The main research questions are: Where are the weaknesses in the implementation of Law no. 52/2003 in the rural settings in Romania? Why do they occur? What could be changed to alleviate these weaknesses? Based on a mixed method approach – surveys followed by direct observation and informal interviews – we determined that the implementation of procedural transparency requirements is low and in many cases local public authorities comply only ‘for the record’ with the provisions of the law. The main challenge with regard to implementation is the existence of universal provisions for all local public authorities, irrespective of their administrative capacity, existing cultural and social characteristics of public participation and communication in rural communities as well as the relationship between central and local tiers of the government. In conclusion, the authors argue that the implementation level of these requirements could be enhanced by their inclusion in a general procedural administrative law. Points for practitioners Very often, countries from Eastern Europe adopt state-of-the-art legislation which is then difficult to implement due to factors such as limited administrative capacity at the local level coupled with differences between urban and rural areas, resistance to change within the bureaucratic machinery, passiveness on behalf of the citizens, etc. In 2003, Romania adopted the law on transparency in the decision-making process of public authorities in an attempt to create a more open, transparent, accountable, and predictable government. Since its adoption, studies conducted by NGOs have proved that the implementation level is relatively low. This research assesses how the legal provisions of Law no. 52/2003 are implemented in the rural areas of Transylvania, one of the most significant regions of the country from an economic and cultural standpoint. Based on their findings, the authors argue that implementation in rural areas could be enhanced provided that local authorities are given more discretion with regard to how to implement certain provisions (flexibility in the choice of policy tools); and more discretion should be complemented by increased sanctions for non-compliance and their enforcement. These two goals can be achieved by including the procedural transparency requirements in a general administrative procedure law/administrative code.
The relationship between transparent and participative government: A study of local governments in the United States
Authors: Welch Eric W. 
Published: March 2012

The relationship between transparency and participation of government is not well articulated in the literature. Transparency provides stakeholders with knowledge about the processes, structures and products of government. Participation refers to the quantity, quality and diversity of input of stakeholders into government decision-making. Greater transparency and participation are often considered to operate side by side. However, in the Internet age the change in the magnitude of information disclosure may outweigh the change in the level of participative government. This article uses data from a 2010 national survey of five US local government agencies to test hypotheses about the relationship between transparency and participation and the factors that affect them. Findings show that participation is positively associated with transparency, but transparency does not lead to participation. In addition, organizations that are under stronger influence from external stakeholders report higher levels of participation but in some cases higher levels of external influence dampen transparency. Points for practitioners For practitioners, the article provides a framework for understanding the relationship between transparency and participation as two dimensions of open government. While in some departments these two dimensions are present at similar levels, in others they are not. For example, among five departments, police report the lowest overall participation and transparency levels, while parks and recreation and the mayor’s office report the highest transparency and participation levels, respectively. In addition, police departments report significantly higher transparency than participation, while the reverse is true for community development departments. The article provides public administrators with greater insight into causes of and relationships between transparency and participation.
Preparation and properties of coir fiber-reinforced ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-based composite
Authors: Roy Juganta K , Akter Nousin , Zaman Haydar U , Ashraf KM , Sultana Sabrina , Shahruzzaman  , Khan Nuruzzaman , Rahman M Arifur , Islam Tuhidul , Khan MA , Khan Ruhul A 
Published: March 2012

The mechanical properties of the coir fibers were evaluated in this study. Tensile strength (TS), Young’s modulus (YM) and elongation at break (Eb%) of virgin coir fibers were found to be 152 MPa, 5.3 GPa and 36%, respectively. Coir fibers were treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation and were found to improve the mechanical properties significantly. Coir fiber-reinforced ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA)-based composite was prepared and characterized. The surface of the coir fibers was modified with monomer EGDMA under UV radiation. Soaking time, monomer (EGDMA) concentration and radiation intensities were optimized over mechanical properties. The highest values of TS, YM, Eb and polymer loading (PL) were found for 50% EGDMA at 125th pass of UV radiation for 7 min soaking time. Pretreatment with UV radiation on the coir fiber was found to be more effective for the increment of its mechanical properties. The surface of the fiber was also mercerized (alkali treatment) using aqueous NaOH solutions (5–50%) at varied time and temperature. It was found that TS of the mercerized composites increased with the increase in NaOH solutions (up to 10%) and then decreased. The composites made using mercerized fibers treated with EGDMA showed further increase in TS. Pretreatment with mercerization + UV treatment of coir fiber showed significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the coir fiber-based composites.
Research and the organisation of complex provision: conceptualising health visiting services and early years programmes
Authors: Cowley Sarah , Kemp Lynn , Day Crispin , Appleton Jane 
Published: March 2012

This paper developed from discussions about the possible implementation and trial of an Australian maternal and early childhood sustained home visiting programme (MECSH), into a United Kingdom (UK) context. There are many similarities in services in the two countries, but some differences. To summarise and illustrate the complex and interconnected way that early years and preventive health services are specified, a diagram was developed, which provides a framework for this paper. The paper describes a health visiting service that encompasses universal, indicated and selective forms of prevention, with some embedded evidence-based programmes, forming part of a proactive and preventive service that is, itself, embedded within a wider resource system. Policy-driven terms derived from the English Health Visitor Implementation Plan have been used, but translated into the generic language of prevention (universal, indicated and selective), as a basis for future research. The place for different types of practitioner and needs of families with different levels of personal capacity or resource are also considered. Increased understanding about how social determinants affect the whole population across a gradient has drawn attention to the need for more universal prevention, to tackle health inequalities. The components of successful early intervention programmes are well established, but more information is needed to support universal preventive services, which are delivered in a way that is proportionate to need. This paper, including the diagram that summarises its contents, is presented to stimulate discussion as well as guide future research and service development.
Bilateral Osteonecrosis of the Navicular and Medial Cuneiform in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Greenhagen Robert M. , Crim Brandon E. , Shinabarger Andrew B. , Burns Patrick R. 
Published: March 2012

Introduction. Atraumatic avascular necrosis (AVN) is an unusual pathology to the foot. Risk factors include the use of corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol, rheumatologic disorders, hematologic disorders, and metabolic disorders. To the authors’ knowledge, this study presents the first case of bilateral atraumatic AVN to the navicular and medial cuneiform in a patient with systemic lupus erythamatosus (SLE). Case description. A 40-year-old man presented with a past medical history of SLE in which he developed AVN of the tarsal navicular and medial cuneiform. This occurred first on the subject’s right foot and then while recovering from surgical intervention, on his left foot. Talonaviculocuneiform arthrodesis was performed with the use of distal tibial autograft on both extremities. The subject’s American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society midfoot score improved from 34 to 80 at 21 months on the right and 37 to 90 at 15 months to the left. Discussion. Patients with SLE carry a significant risk of developing AVN. Comorbidities such as vasculitis, corticosteroid use, cytotoxic medication, and peripheral neuropathy are known risk factors in the development of AVN. Unusual features such as multifocal AVN and unusual anatomic locations can occur with SLE. AVN of the foot is generally treated with surgical intervention. Treatments such as core decompression, open reduction and internal fixation, and arthrodesis have been recommended based on the symptoms and presentation. Conclusion. The authors present a very rare presentation of bilateral osteonecrosis of the tarsal navicular and first cuneiform in a patient with SLE. The patient was treated with bilateral talonaviculocuneiform arthrodesis. The patient demonstrated considerable improvement to both extremities. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV
Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Knee in the Community Setting
Authors: Hardy Jolene C. , Evangelista Gregory T. , Grana William A. , Hunter Robert E. 
Published: March 2012

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in the diagnosis of sports-related knee injuries. Purpose: To determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of MRI compared with clinical evaluation in the diagnosis of meniscal pathology when the MRI facility and the radiologist are not preselected. Methods: A total of 288 knee arthroscopies were retrospectively compared. Patients were divided into 3 groups: those who had MRI performed and interpreted at a single institution, MRI performed and interpreted at community facilities, or a clinical evaluation by a senior orthopaedic surgeon. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the diagnosis of medial meniscal pathology at a single institution were 90%, 59%, 76%; in community facilities, 73%, 68%, 70%; and by a clinical evaluation, 93%, 55%, 73%, respectively. For lateral meniscal pathology, the results were as follows: single institution, 75%, 76%, 81%; community facilities, 60%, 88%, 79%; and clinical evaluation, 45%, 90%, 79%, respectively. Sensitivity for medial meniscus was greater than for lateral meniscus, but specificity of diagnosis was better for lateral meniscus by MRI and clinical evaluation. While not statistically significant, there was increased sensitivity in the diagnosis of medial meniscus and lateral meniscus at SIs, but they have less specificity than at community facilities. The number of false-positive diagnoses (ie, no intra-articular pathology) that resulted in surgery was 4 of 288 (1.39%). The overall accuracy for medial meniscus by MRI was 73% vs 73% for clinical evaluation. The overall accuracy for MRI for lateral meniscus was 78% vs 79% for clinical evaluation. Conclusion: Routine MRI may not be more beneficial than clinical evaluation when there is no preselection of MRI facility and interpreting radiologist. Clinical Relevance: The use of MRI for diagnosing meniscal pathology should be reserved for those cases where the orthopaedic clinical examination is ambiguous.
Opioids and endocrine dysfunction
Authors: Seyfried Oliver , Hester Joan 
Published: March 2012

The endocrine effects of opioids used for the management of persistent pain are poorly understood by clinicians and patients, and hormone levels are rarely measured. It is recognized that opioids exert this effect via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Additional effects on adrenal hormones, weight, blood pressure and bone density may also occur. Symptoms and signs of sex hormone deficiency occur in both men and women but are under-reported and are often clinically unrecognized. The potential effects of long term opioid therapy on the endocrine system should be explained to patients before opioid therapy is commenced. Monitoring of sex hormones is recommended; if there are deficiencies opioids should be tapered and withdrawn, if this is clinically acceptable. If opioid therapy has to continue, hormone replacement therapy should be initiated and monitored by an endocrinologist.
Neuraxial (epidural and intrathecal) opioids for intractable pain
Authors: Farquhar-Smith Paul , Chapman Suzanne 
Published: March 2012

Summary Points 1. Neuraxial opioids are considered for use in patients who have resistant intractable pain that fails to respond to other treatment options or pain that responds to analgesia but for which the doses required result in unacceptable side-effects. 2. Neuraxial opiods can be considered for both chronic non-malignant pain and chronic cancer-related pain. 3. Effectiveness in chronic non-malignant pain and cancer pain is exerted through the use of either single-agent drugs (opioids) or a combination of drugs: opioids, local anaesthetics and other drugs such as clonodine and ziconotide. 4. Complications of long-term continuous infusion therapy are related to the insertion process (haematoma), the mechanical device (both pump and catheter) and the long-term effects of the drugs. 5. Patients will require ongoing ambulatory monitoring and supportive care.