Breaking down the tropospheric circulation response by forcing

pre-printThis study describes simulated changes in the general circulation during the twentieth and twenty -first centuries due to a number of individual direct radiat ive forcings and warming sea surface temperatures, by examining very long time-slice simulations created with an enhanced version of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratories Atmospheric Model AM 2.1. We examine the effects of changing stratospheric ozone, greenhouse gas concentrations, and sea surface temperatures individually and in combination over both hemispheres . Data reveal robust poleward shifts in zonal mean circulation features in present -day simulations compared to a pre-industrial control, and in future simulations compared to present -day. We document the seasonality and significance of these shifts, and find that the combined response is well approximated by the sum of the individual responses. In contrast with other recent studies, we find that circulation shifts due to changing sea surface temperatures - not ozone depletion or recovery - dominate the combined southern hemisphere response during all seasons, and accordingly project that the southern hemisphere jet will continue to shift poleward during the twenty -first century

Automating embedded analysis capabilities and managing software complexity in multiphysics simulation part II: application to partial differential equations

A template-based generic programming approach was presented in a previous paper that separates the development effort of programming a physical model from that of computing additional quantities, such as derivatives, needed for embedded analysis algorithms. In this paper, we describe the implementation details for using the template-based generic programming approach for simulation and analysis of partial differential equations (PDEs). We detail several of the hurdles that we have encountered, and some of the software infrastructure developed to overcome them. We end with a demonstration where we present shape optimization and uncertainty quantification results for a 3D PDE application

Do soldiers seek more mental health care after deployment? Analysis of mental health consultations in the Netherlands Armed Forces following deployment to Afghanistan

Background: Military deployment to combat zones puts military personnel to a number of physical and mental challenges that may adversely affect mental health. Until now, few studies have been performed in Europe on mental health utilization after military deployment. Objective: We compared the incidence of mental health consultations with the Military Mental Health Service (MMHS) of military deployed to Afghanistan to that of non-deployed military personnel. Method: We assessed utilization of the MMHS by the full cohort of the Netherlands Armed Forces enlisted between 2008 and 2010 through linkage of mental health and human resource information systems. Results: The total population consisted of 50,508 military (18,233 deployed, 32,275 non-deployed), who accounted for 1,906 new consultations with the MMHS. The follow-up was limited to the first 2 years following deployment. We observed higher mental health care utilization in deployed vs. non-deployed military personnel; hazard ratio (HR), adjusted for sex, military branch and time in service, 1.84 [95% CI 1.61–2.11] in the first and 1.28 [1.09–1.49] in the second year after deployment. An increased risk of adjustment disorders (HR 2.59 [2.02–3.32] and 1.74 [1.30–2.32]) and of anxiety disorders (2.22 [1.52–3.25] and 2.28 [1.50–3.45]) including posttraumatic stress disorder (5.15 [2.55–10.40] and 5.28 [2.42–11.50]), but not of mood disorders (1.33 [0.90–1.97] and 1.11 [0.68–1.82]), was observed in deployed personnel in the first- and second-year post-deployment, respectively. Military personnel deployed in a unit with a higher risk of confrontation with potentially traumatic events had a higher HR (2.13 [1.84–2.47] and 1.40 [1.18–1.67]). Conclusions: Though absolute risk was low, in the first and second year following deployment to Afghanistan there was an 80 and 30% higher risk for mental health problems resulting in a consultation with the Dutch MMHS compared to military never deployed to Afghanistan. These observations underscore the need for an adequate mental health infrastructure for those returning from deployment

Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Participants in the Pasos Adelante Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program, Arizona, 2005-2008

Introduction Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States and have been associated with depressive symptoms and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study examined whether depressive symptoms and HRQOL indicators changed among participants in Pasos Adelante, a chronic disease prevention and control program implemented in a US–Mexico border community. Methods Pasos Adelante was a 12-week promotora-led program that included educational sessions and walking groups. We used the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Center for Disease Control’s “Healthy Days” measures to measure depressive symptoms and HRQOL. We used linear mixed-effects models and general estimating equations to analyze changes in CES-D scores and HRQOL indicators from baseline to postprogram and from postprogram to 3-month follow-up. Results At baseline, participants had a mean of 7.1 physically unhealthy days, 7.4 mentally unhealthy days, and 3.9 days of activity limitation. The mean number of physically and mentally unhealthy days declined significantly from baseline to postprogram, but the mean number of activity limitation days did not. At baseline, 42.6% of participants reported their health as fair/poor; 20.8% of participants reported frequent mental distress, and 31.8% had a CES-D score of 16 or more. All 3 proportions declined from baseline to postprogram. No significant changes occurred between postprogram and follow-up. Conclusion Participants in Pasos Adelante showed improvement in depressive symptoms and several HRQOL indicators. Future studies should use an experimental design with a comparison group to determine whether these findings can be replicated and to examine potential mediators and moderators of program effects

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Effectiveness of the Pasos Adelante Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program in a US-Mexico Border Community, 2005-2008

Introducción "Pasos Adelante" es un programa de intervención sobre hábitos saludables facilitado por trabajadores de salud comunitaria o"promotores de salud" destinado a prevenir y controlar enfermedades crónicas en mexicoamericanos. Los estudios iniciales de"Pasos Adelante" mostraron mejoras significativas en la alimentación y la actividad física autorreportadas por los participantes.Este estudio evaluó si los habitantes de una comunidad en la frontera estadounidense que participaron en el programa mostraronmejorías en determinados valores fisiológicos y si los cambios se mantuvieron en el seguimiento a los 3 meses. Métodos El programa se llevó a cabo en sesiones de 12 semanas de enero del 2005 a mayo del 2008 e incluyó grupos de caminata y clases denutrición y actividad física. Se realizaron cuestionarios, mediciones antropométricas y pruebas de laboratorio al inicio delprograma (n = 305), al final (n = 254) y en el seguimiento a los 3 meses (n = 221). Resultados Al compararse los datos iniciales de referencia con los del final del programa, los participantes mostraron reducciones en su índicede masa corporal (P= .04), circunferencia de cintura y cadera (P< .001), presión arterial diastólica y sistólica (P< .001) y colesterol total (P= .008). Ningún valor empeoró significativamente entre la conclusión del programa y el seguimiento, aexcepción de la presión arterial sistólica. Los niveles de glucosa mejoraron entre la finalización y el seguimiento del programa (P=.01). Conclusión Estos resultados sustentan los hallazgos iniciales referidos a la mejoría autorreportada por los participantes en relación conpatrones de alimentación y actividad física al mostrar cambios en medidas objetivas. Este programa basado en la evidenciademuestra el potencial de los programas de control y prevención de enfermedades crónicas llevados a cabo por promotores desalud para mejorar la salud física abordando la prevención primaria y secundaria en organizaciones y comunidades hispanas

Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Participants in the Pasos Adelante Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Program, Arizona, 2005-2008

Introduction Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States and have been associated with depressive symptoms and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study examined whether depressive symptoms and HRQOL indicators changed among participants in Pasos Adelante, a chronic disease prevention and control program implemented in a US–Mexico border community. Methods Pasos Adelante was a 12-week promotora-led program that included educational sessions and walking groups. We used the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Center for Disease Control’s “Healthy Days” measures to measure depressive symptoms and HRQOL. We used linear mixed-effects models and general estimating equations to analyze changes in CES-D scores and HRQOL indicators from baseline to postprogram and from postprogram to 3-month follow-up. Results At baseline, participants had a mean of 7.1 physically unhealthy days, 7.4 mentally unhealthy days, and 3.9 days of activity limitation. The mean number of physically and mentally unhealthy days declined significantly from baseline to postprogram, but the mean number of activity limitation days did not. At baseline, 42.6% of participants reported their health as fair/poor; 20.8% of participants reported frequent mental distress, and 31.8% had a CES-D score of 16 or more. All 3 proportions declined from baseline to postprogram. No significant changes occurred between postprogram and follow-up. Conclusion Participants in Pasos Adelante showed improvement in depressive symptoms and several HRQOL indicators. Future studies should use an experimental design with a comparison group to determine whether these findings can be replicated and to examine potential mediators and moderators of program effects