Polygonal patches of high order continuity

A polygonal patch is defined to fill an n-sided hole within a rectangular Ck patch framework. First a reparameterization of the surface around the hole is constructed, that is defined outside a regular polygon. The polygonal patch is an interpolant, defined inside the polygon, that matches this parameterization up to order k along the boundary. Some modifications and handles to control the shape of the patch are described

A C-squared Polygonal Surface Patch

A polygonal patch is defined to fill an n-sided hole within a C2 parametric continuous rectangular patch complex

High order continuous polygonal patches

A polygonal patch method is described which can be used to fill a polygonal hole within a given k'th order continuous rectangular patch complex. The method is relatively easy to implement, since it only re- quires Ck extensions of the rectangular patch complex defined in terms of the rectangular patch parameterizations. The method is illustrated by reference to C2 bicubic B-spline surfaces

A refined model for the Earth’s global energy balance

A commonly-used model of the global radiative budget assumes that the radiative response to forcing, R, is proportional to global surface air temperature T, R= λT. Previous studies have highlighted two unresolved issues with this model: first, the feedback parameter λ depends on the forcing agent; second, λ varies with time. Here, we investigate the factors controlling R in two atmosphere–slab ocean climate models subjected to a wide range of abrupt climate forcings. It is found that R scales not only with T, but also with the large-scale tropospheric stability S (defined here as the estimated inversion strength area-averaged over ocean regions equatorward of 50∘). Positive S promotes negative R, mainly through shortwave cloud and lapse-rate changes. A refined model of the global energy balance is proposed that accounts for both temperature and stability effects. This refined model quantitatively explains (1) the dependence of climate feedbacks on forcing agent (or equivalently, differences in forcing efficacy), and (2) the time evolution of feedbacks in coupled climate model experiments. Furthermore, a similar relationship between R and S is found in observations compared with models, lending confidence that the refined energy balance model is applicable to the real world

Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS).

BackgroundThe Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) was developed in the United States to assess attitudes of mental health and welfare professionals toward evidence-based interventions. Although the EBPAS has been translated in different languages and is being used in several countries, all research on the psychometric properties of the EBPAS within youth care has been carried out in the United States. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the EBPAS.MethodsAfter translation into Dutch, the Dutch version of the EBPAS was examined in a diverse sample of 270 youth care professionals working in five institutions in the Netherlands. We examined the factor structure with both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and the internal consistency reliability. We also conducted multiple linear regression analyses to examine the association of EBPAS scores with professionals' characteristics. It was hypothesized that responses to the EBPAS items could be explained by one general factor plus four specific factors, good to excellent internal consistency reliability would be found, and EBPAS scores would vary by age, sex, and educational level.ResultsThe exploratory factor analysis suggested a four-factor solution according to the hypothesized dimensions: Requirements, Appeal, Openness, and Divergence. Cronbach's alphas ranged from 0.67 to 0.89, and the overall scale alpha was 0.72. The confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the factor structure and suggested that the lower order EBPAS factors are indicators of a higher order construct. However, Divergence was not significantly correlated with any of the subscales or the total score. The confirmatory bifactor analysis endorsed that variance was explained both by a general attitude towards evidence-based interventions and by four specific factors. The regression analyses showed an association between EBPAS scores and youth care professionals' age, sex, and educational level.ConclusionsThe present study provides strong support for a structure with a general factor plus four specific factors and internal consistency reliability of the Dutch version of the EBPAS in a diverse sample of youth care professionals. Hence, the factor structure and reliability of the original version of the EBPAS seem generalizable to the Dutch version of the EBPAS

Cloud adjustment and its role in CO 2 radiative forcing and climate sensitivity: a review

Understanding the role of clouds in climate change remains a considerable challenge. Traditionally, this challenge has been framed in terms of understanding cloud feedback. However, recent work suggests that under increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, clouds not only amplify or dampen climate change through global feedback processes, but also through rapid (days to weeks) tropospheric temperature and land surface adjustments. In this article, we use the Met Office Hadley Centre climate model HadGSM1 to review these recent developments and assess their impact on radiative forcing and equilibrium climate sensitivity. We estimate that cloud adjustment contributes ~0.8 K to the 4.4 K equilibrium climate sensitivity of this particular model. We discuss the methods used to evaluate cloud adjustments, highlight the mechanisms and processes involved and identify low level cloudiness as a key cloud type. Looking forward, we discuss the outstanding issues, such as the application to transient forcing scenarios. We suggest that the upcoming CMIP5 multi-model database will allow a comprehensive assessment of the significance of cloud adjustments in fully coupled atmosphere-ocean-general-circulation models for the first time, and that future research should exploit this opportunity to understand cloud adjustments/feedbacks in non-idealised transient climate change scenarios

Genome-wide profiling of uncapped mRNA

Gene transcripts are under extensive posttranscriptional regulation, including the regulation of their stability. A major route for mRNA degradation produces uncapped mRNAs, which can be generated by decapping enzymes, endonucleases, and small RNAs. Profiling uncapped mRNA molecules is important for the understanding of the transcriptome, whose composition is determined by a balance between mRNA synthesis and degradation. In this chapter, we describe a method to profile these uncapped mRNAs at the genome scale

Countering Home-Grown Terrorists in Australia: An Overview of Legislation, Policy and Actors Since 2001

This article explores the impact of counter-terrorism legislation and policy in Australia. In particular it explores how legislation facilitated prosecution and conviction of persons involved in home-grown terrorism, including analysis of investigation and prosecution policy surrounding the ul-Haque and Haneef cases. Particular attention is given to the terrorism trials involving Benbrika & Ors and Elomar & Ors. What makes these trials intriguing is the fact that most of those convicted could be more easily described as more vulnerable than menacing. Sentencing of those convicted was cognate with no policies for rehabilitation. The small number of convictions under the legislation when considered against the increased funding of counter-terrorism, loss of traditional rights and privileges and Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq raises issues about adequate policy setting in this area

Small global-mean cooling due to volcanic radiative forcing

In both the observational record and atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) simulations of the last ∼∼ 150 years, short-lived negative radiative forcing due to volcanic aerosol, following explosive eruptions, causes sudden global-mean cooling of up to ∼∼ 0.3 K. This is about five times smaller than expected from the transient climate response parameter (TCRP, K of global-mean surface air temperature change per W m−2 of radiative forcing increase) evaluated under atmospheric CO2 concentration increasing at 1 % yr−1. Using the step model (Good et al. in Geophys Res Lett 38:L01703, 2011. doi:10.​1029/​2010GL045208), we confirm the previous finding (Held et al. in J Clim 23:2418–2427, 2010. doi:10.​1175/​2009JCLI3466.​1) that the main reason for the discrepancy is the damping of the response to short-lived forcing by the thermal inertia of the upper ocean. Although the step model includes this effect, it still overestimates the volcanic cooling simulated by AOGCMs by about 60 %. We show that this remaining discrepancy can be explained by the magnitude of the volcanic forcing, which may be smaller in AOGCMs (by 30 % for the HadCM3 AOGCM) than in off-line calculations that do not account for rapid cloud adjustment, and the climate sensitivity parameter, which may be smaller than for increasing CO2 (40 % smaller than for 4 × CO2 in HadCM3)

Helicobacter pylori

Resistance to antimicrobial agents is a major determinant of the efficacy of regimens to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Clarithromycin (CLA) has become one of the most commonly used antibiotics for treatment of H pylori infection. In this study, the rate of primary resistance to CLA in H pylori isolated from patients was determined. One hundred sixty-two strains were recovered from patients before treatment. Strains were grown and inoculated onto Mueller-Hinton agar with 7% sheep blood. CLA epsilometer gradient agar diffusion test (E test) strips were used to test for susceptibility. Appropriate control organisms were tested to validate the assay. Plates were incubated at 37°C in a microaerophilic atmosphere for up to five days. E test results were easy to interpret. Strains were considered resistant if the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 2 µg/mL or greater. Three strains were resistant (two strains with MIC 8 µg/mL and one strain with MIC 12 µg/mL), and 159 strains were sensitive (MICs ranged from less than 0.016 to 0.38 µg/mL). Ninety per cent of the strains had MICs of 0.023 µg/mL. Primary resistance was 1.8%. These susceptibility data support the use of CLA for the treatment of H pylori in the Nova Scotia population