A First Timer’s Guide to the ACL Conference

This article provides planning tips, packing suggestions, and post-conference recommendations for people who may be attending the ACL conference for the first time. It also offers advice on what to do while at the conference

Combined VHF Dopplar radar and airborne (CV-990) measurements of atmospheric winds on the mesoscale

Hourly measurements of wind speed and direction obtained using two wind profiling Doppler radars during two prolonged jet stream occurrences over western Pennsylvania were analyzed. In particular, the time-variant characteristics of derived shear profiles were examined. To prevent a potential loss of structural detail and retain statistical significance, data from both radars were stratified into categories based on the location data from the Penn State radar were also compared to data from Pittsburgh radiosondes. Profiler data dropouts were studied in an attempt to determine possible reasons for the apparently reduced performance of profiling radars operating beneath a jet stream. Temperature profiles for the radar site were obtained using an interpolated temperature and dewpoint temperature sounding procedure developed at Penn State. The combination of measured wind and interpolated temperature profiles allowed Richardson number profiles to be generated for the profiler sounding volume. Both Richardson number and wind shear statistics were then examined along with pilot reports of turbulence in the vicinity of the profiler

The ELSA Project in Two Primary Schools: Reflections from Key Stakeholders on the Factors that Influence Implementation

This research examines the structure of the Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) project in two schools at different points in the implementation process. Implementation research is essential because the way interventions are implemented links to intervention outcomes. A mixed methods comparative multiple case study design was adopted, involving two mainstream primary schools at different stages of implementation. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in School 1 (n = 8) and School 2 (n = 7), including the ELSA, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Senior Leadership, teachers and Educational Psychologists (EP). Interview data were thematically analysed. A questionnaire was also circulated to wider school staff. Analyses were conducted separately for each school in order to retain the integrity of each case. Following this themes were examined across the two cases. The schools were found to implement the project in different ways, and some practices did not adhere to ELSA guidance. Intervention length was longer in School 1 than guidance outlines. In School 2, there was an absence of intervention endings, the ELSA supported pupils with complex behavioural needs as opposed to a wider range of needs, and ELSA support often operated in a reactive way. Factors found to facilitate implementation consistent with the espoused approach include: a mental health ethos, Link EP support, shared responsibility for mental health across school staff and practices in endings which acknowledge the ELSA-pupil attachment. Barriers to implementation included: lack of school-wide understanding and support of the ELSA project’s primary task, difficulties incorporating and distinguishing between the intervention and other SEMH provision, blurring of ELSA role boundaries, emotional impact on ELSAs, lack of equality of access in referrals and pupil overdependence on the ELSA. Results indicate that implementation barriers are more prominent in the earlier stages of implementation. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Atmosphere-Ocean Ozone Exchange – A Global Modeling Study of Biogeochemical, Atmospheric and Water-Side Turbulence Dependencies

The significance of the removal of tropospheric ozone by the oceans, covering ~2/3 of the Earth's surface, has only been addressed in a few studies involving water tank, aircraft, and tower flux measurements. On the basis of results from these few observations of the ozone dry deposition velocity (VdO3), atmospheric chemistry models generally apply an empirical, constant ocean uptake rate of 0.05 cm s-1. This value is substantially smaller than the atmospheric turbulent transport velocity for ozone. On the other hand, the uptake is higher than expected from the solubility of ozone in clean water alone, suggesting that there is an enhancement in oceanic ozone uptake, e.g., through a chemical destruction mechanism. We present an evaluation of a global-scale analysis with a new mechanistic representation of atmosphere-ocean ozone exchange. The applied atmosphere chemistry-climate model includes not only atmospheric but also waterside turbulence and the role of waterside chemical loss processes as a function of oceanic biogeochemistry. The simulations suggest a larger role of biogeochemistry in tropical and subtropical ozone oceanic uptake with a relative small temporal variability, whereas in midlatitude and high-latitude regions, highly variable ozone uptake rates are expected because of the stronger influence of waterside turbulence. Despite a relatively large range in the explicitly calculated ocean uptake rate, there is a surprisingly small sensitivity of simulated Marine Boundary Layer ozone concentrations compared to the sensitivity for the commonly applied constant ocean uptake approach. This small sensitivity points at compensating effects through inclusion of the process-based ocean uptake mechanisms to consider variability in oceanic O3 deposition consistent with that in atmospheric and oceanic physical, chemical, and biological processe

Intercomparisons of GOES-derived cloud parameters and surface observations over San Nicolas Island

The spatial sampling limitations of surface measurement systems necessitate the use of satellite data for the investigation of large-scale cloud processes. Understanding the information contained in the satellite-observed radiances, however, requires a connection between the remotely sensed cloud properties and those more directly observed within the troposphere. Surface measurements taken during the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Marine Stratocumulus Intensive Field Observations (IFO) are compared here to cloud properties determined from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) data in order to determine how well the island measurements represent larger areas and to verify some of the satellite-measured parameters

Acute effects of self-myofascial release and static stretching on shoulder range of motion and performance in overhead athletes with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of a) self-myofascial release (SMR), b) static stretching (SS), and c) the combination of self-myofascial release and static stretching (SMR+SS) on glenohumeral internal rotation range of motion and markers of shoulder performance (i.e. glenohumeral external rotation isometric strength, motor unit recruitment, and throwing velocity) in male softball players with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). Methods: The sample consisted of 12 male amateur softball players (age: 36.92 ±11.17 years; height: 177.42 ±6.30cm; mass: 87.58 ±18.39kg) who exhibited ≥20° less internal rotation range of motion (ROM) in the throwing shoulder compared to the non-throwing shoulder. All participants performed each of the three conditions of SMR, SS, and SMR+SS on three separate sessions. Dependent variables of glenohumeral internal rotation ROM (deg), glenohumeral external rotation isometric strength (N), motor unit recruitment using surface electromyography (EMG) of infraspinatus (agonist), pectoralis major (antagonist), and latissimus dorsi (antagonist) during isometric strength testing (% of MVC), and overhead throwing velocity (m/sec) were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: Glenohumeral internal rotation ROM significantly increased in all three conditions of SMR (3.84° ± 1.42; p = .0001; d = .77), SS (8.58° ± 4.42; p = .0001; d = 1.40), and SMR+SS (10.15° ± 4.95; p = .0001; d = 1.62). The conditions of SS (p = .01; d = 1.19) and SMR (p = .001; d = 1.43) improved ROM significantly more than SMR alone. SMR+SS resulted in a slightly greater increase in ROM (1.57°) when compared to SS alone, but the difference was not statistically significant. None of the three conditions resulted in decreases in glenohumeral external rotation isometric strength, motor unit recruitment, or throwing velocity. However, SMR+SS resulted in the most significant increase in infraspinatus EMG magnitudes (7.52% ± 9.23; p = .02; d = 0.82) and decrease in pectoralis major (5.90% ± 7.98; p = .03; d = 0.62) and latissimus dorsi (11.88% ± 17.28; p = .04; d = 0.80) EMG magnitudes during glenohumeral external rotation isometric strength testing. Conclusions: According to the results, all three conditions significantly improved glenohumeral internal rotation ROM, in theory decreasing risk of injury without negatively affecting performance (i.e. isometric strength, motor unit recruitment, and throwing velocity). However, SS and SMR+SS improved ROM significantly more than SMR alone. There was no significant difference in improvements in ROM between SS and SMR+SS, Therefore, if the athlete has a limited amount of time to perform a pre-activity warm-up period (i.e. 3-4 min), it is recommended to use SS to improve ROM. However, if the athlete has more time available to warm up (i.e. 7-8 min), it is recommended to perform SMR+SS which may result in an even greater increase in ROM and possible improvements in motor unit recruitment