Eastern Antarctic Peninsula precipitation delivery mechanisms: Process studies and back trajectory evaluation

Copyright @ 2008 Royal Meteorological SocietyThe atmospheric circulation patterns that result in precipitation events at a site on the eastern Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are investigated using back trajectories (BTs) driven by ERA-40 data. Moisture delivery occurs from the east and west depending on the location of blocking events in the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Observations are sparse in this region, so our process studies compare the trajectories (and the ERA-40 fields from which they were derived) with advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) satellite images. It is found that the trajectories represent these transport mechanisms very well and that they are relatively insensitive to the initial trajectory elevation

340 years of atmospheric circulation characteristics reconstructed from an eastern Antarctic Peninsula ice core

Copyright @ 2006 American Geophysical Union (AGU)Precipitation delivery mechanisms for Dolleman Island (DI), located off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, are investigated using reanalysis and back trajectory data. The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and ENSO are both shown to influence precipitation delivery and event size. Precipitation delivery variability is compared against the interannual variation of chemical data from two DI ice cores. Nitrate concentration in the cores is strongly linked with the ratio of easterly to westerly back trajectories arriving at DI, as described by a Cross-Peninsula Index (CPI) defined in this paper. This CPI is used subsequently to reconstruct the atmospheric circulation characteristics for the 340-year ice core record. The analysis highlights a period of increased easterlies during 1720–1780 and an increase in westerlies for 1950–1980, the latter concomitant with a positive SAM trend and western Peninsula warming. The reconstruction also reveals periods when polynyas may have been present in the Weddell Sea

Achieving workplace inclusiveness by using ergonomics risk assessment

Traditional manufacturing work practices do not consider human variability issues during the design process. However, most manual assembly activities demand high levels of repetition and speed without compromising product quality and work productivity. Individual factors including age, gender, skill, experience and anthropometry cause variations in task strategies that lead to variations in individual and organizational work performance. The ergonomics-based risk assessment methods OWAS, REBA and RULA have been used to evaluate risk levels associated with working methods. This paper discusses the need for these methods to understand and highlight the key issues generated by these variations with the objective of minimizing these variations. Methods that can be used to promote working strategies that minimize the level of risk are described. The proposed research method potentially reduces work-related musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, pain, and promotes safe, healthy, productive and more inclusive working strategies suitable for a diverse working population

The limits of powerful states : international law's power to influence the behavior of strong states

While power has been thought to shape international law, we are seeing that international law itself has become a source of power for developing states. This occurs as developing states use international law as a means to affect regional change. Developing states’ reliance on international law, particularly as they form coherent foreign policy against a counter-colonial background, strengthens international law as a process by which developing states express their interests. Gradually, this strengthening snowballs to where it affects change in global international law processes and, at times, can act to constrain powerful states from acting in ways that directly reflect their personal interests. Indeed, the reliance on international law may reflect that the preservation of international law processes has become a shared, global interest. This imbues international law itself with an unexpected form of power.Global Policy Studie

The Development of an Objective Methodology for the Evaluation of Drivers’ Field of View

AbstractThis paper presents research into driver vision and methods to quantify the field of view afforded a driver through a combination of direct vision (through windows) and indirect vision (through mirrors). Focusing primarily on Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs) a 3D projection technique has been developed to allow the field of view to be projected to form a visible volume of space representing what can be seen by the driver. This projection technique has previously been used in a qualitative manner to assess the presence of blind spots in proximity to LGVs and the degree to which other road users may be visible to the driver. To supplement this qualitative assessment a new quantitative, objective measure of field of view has been developed and implemented in the digital human modelling system SAMMIE. The objective measure involves the projection of the field of view afforded from a window aperture or via a mirror onto the surface of a sphere centered at the driver's eye point. The area of the resulting spherical polygon is calculated to provide an assessment of field of view that allows comparison between different vehicle configurations

The breeding ecology of the painted redstart

The Painted Redstart (Setophaga picta) is a conspicuous bird of those southwestern riparian habitats with dense overstories, thick undergrowth, and permanent or semi-permanent water. Although the bird is easily observed because of its persistent calling, singing, and acrobatic tactics, its general behavior and breeding biology are not well known. Bent (1953) gives a brief account of the life history of this species, and Brandt (1951) and Marshall (1957) discuss the peculiar tail-fanning behavior that these birds so frequently exhibit. Verner and Willson (1969)) in their extensive review of reproductive patterns of North American passerines, indicate no references for the Painted Redstart. The purpose of this study is to provide information on the behavior, breeding habits, and life history of this species at the northern edge of its breeding range. Further, the taxonomic status of the Painted Redstart has not been totally resolved (Parkes 1961; Phillips et al. 1964)) and field studies may supply valuable information to help resolve this problem. The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticillu) is much better known than the Painted Redstart because of the studies by Hickey (1940) on territoriality, those of Baker (1944) and Sturm (1945) on nesting activities, and the varied works by Ficken (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965) and Ficken and Ficken ( 1965, 1967)

Older people's experiences of their kitchens: 2000 to 2010

Purpose – This paper aims to present the quantitative results based on a comparison and evaluation of older people's experiences, needs and wants from their current kitchens, combining and comparing the results obtained from two studies conducted in 2000 and 2010 to see what progress has been made. Design/methodology/approach – A study in 2010 investigated the life-long and contemporary experiences of kitchens of 48 people aged over 60 years of age. The research included detailed questionnaire interviews asking people about their experiences of living in their current kitchen. A previous study, conducted in 2000, asked many of the same questions of 22 people in the same age group. Findings – By combining and comparing the two sets of data it seems that only limited progress has been made in terms of kitchen design meeting the needs of older people between 2000 and 2010. Research limitations/implications – Owing to the small sizes of the samples it is not possible to compare the figures statistically or present them as fully representative of the British older population but while the two samples are limited both had similar characteristics of age and gender, so differences do show potential trends over time. Practical implications – The research refers to guidance and a computer based design tool and identifies a number of practical implications for design. Social implications – As people age their abilities and needs can change and their kitchen may no longer be as accessible or appropriate to their needs. Originality/value – This paper adds to the relevant guidance for designers, developers and managers of buildings where the continued personal use of a kitchen is important for continuing independence of older people

\u3cem\u3eAlsea Valley Alliance v. Evans\u3c/em\u3e and the Meaning of Species Under the Endangered Species Act: A Return to Congressional Intent

This article examines whether the Alsea decision\u27s definition of species is consistent with the Endangered Species Act by examining the language of the ESA and Congressional intent. This article then examines some of the implications of the Alsea decision in the Northwest. Counting hatchery salmon would likely result in the removal of most salmon ESUs from the endangered or threatened list, ending many of the costly restrictions imposed by the ESA. In particular, Part I discusses the ESA provisions and congressional intent regarding the definition of species that is pertinent to understanding Alsea. Part II describes some of the effects of salmon listings in the Northwest. Part III describes the Alsea case, including the history of the Oregon coastal coho ESU listing and the procedural history of the case. Part IV analyzes the court\u27s legal reasoning in Alsea. Finally, Part V considers the implications of the case and the potential structure and outcome of the current NMFS\u27s policy review

Drawing: an ambiguous practice

Is a lack of a definition, a position of ambiguity, desirable in response to the question: what is drawing? This paper presents a view taken from two traditionally distinct fields: art and design; design and technology. This view is formed through the research collaboration and co-editorship of TRACEY: the journal of contemporary drawing, and the pedagogical development of a Masters programme in visualisation by the authors. This view is that a lack of definition is not only desirable, it is also a necessity. Our position is that the ambiguity that inevitably stems from a lack of definition forms a strategy that enables and sustains drawing research. Our collaborative experience is that drawing research is framed by assumptions that are embedded within art and design; design and technology. Historically, these fields have developed particular views about what drawing is, or what drawing is not. This paper will attempt to break down these assumptions from the place and space that evolves through the authors’ ongoing experience of collaboration. From this place and space we will argue that there are a number of art / design categories of practice and research that ultimately describe something that is bounded (area / volume). These overlap, intersect, and perhaps like some long standing boundary war, vie for ownership of each other’s domains. Drawing could be seen as one of these domains. However, we will argue that drawing is unbounded, that there is no ‘expanded field’, and that drawing’s ubiquity necessitates a lack of definition, a position of ambiguity. A boundary can change over time for many reasons: a diverted water course, or a wooden fence that moves slightly every time it is replaced. The reason for such changes is rarely recorded and can lead to disputes (RICS, 2009)

Toward [hyper] drawing… through ambiguity

This article explores ambiguity in contemporary fine art drawing through the presentation of a proposal and subsequent response. Drawing within three figurations: Empson’s seven types of ambiguity in literary prose (first published in 1930), the logical fallacies of ambiguity, and grammatical prepositions (e.g. between, beyond, beside etc.) the article aims to investigate the opportunities that arise if we are ambivalent to, subvert, or challenge definitions of drawing. The article critiques the origins of hyperdrawing tracing from a point of retrieval, where a conceptual and practical view ‘point’ is set into motion (Hill 1966: 44) beginning with a revisiting of the author’s previous research into this hyper view (Sawdon and Marshall, 2009). This trace moves through the three figurations: mapping the seven ambiguities, overlaid and interwoven with five fallacies, drawing emergent prepositions, in advancing logical disorder. An example drawn response, titled Seventh (from a series of drawings titled First through to Seventh), is selectively unwoven in the context of the figurations. The article discusses the opportunities highlighted through this response, returning to the proposal that a position of ambiguity (a lack of definition) is desirable and presents a fallacious definition. Ultimately (drawing) ambiguity is left unresolved, however its opportunities are explored through an examination of the boundary between literary criticism and drawin