Etiquette and the cultural diffusion of golf: globalization and emotional control in social relations

This article examines the cultural diffusion of golf and its etiquette code. In so doing it sheds light on the role of emotions and psychological life in broader debates about global-local interrelationships. Data collected from 38 interviews in England and Norway indicate that whilst the general ethos of golf etiquette has been broadly accepted in Norway, its reception (the perceived importance, mode of learning, and extent of conformity) has been contoured by ideologies which characterize Norwegian sport more generally; namely voluntarism, inclusiveness and collectivism. The study therefore shows both how emotional control is central to the regulation of social relations and the way in which local adaptation of this global cultural product is more characteristic of a process of glocalization than grobalization. The article argues that to fully understand global-local interrelations, research needs to be as cognisant of psychosocial effects as it is of media representations and corporate interventions

Estimation and Mapping of Wet and Dry Mercury Deposition Across Northeastern North America

Whereas many ecosystem characteristics and processes influence mercury accumulation in higher trophic-level organisms, the mercury flux from the atmosphere to a lake and its watershed is a likely factor in potential risk to biota. Atmospheric deposition clearly affects mercury accumulation in soils and lake sediments. Thus, knowledge of spatial patterns in atmospheric deposition may provide information for assessing the relative risk for ecosystems to exhibit excessive biotic mercury contamination. Atmospheric mercury concentrations in aerosol, vapor, and liquid phases from four observation networks were used to estimate regional surface concentration fields. Statistical models were developed to relate sparsely measured mercury vapor and aerosol concentrations to the more commonly measured mercury concentration in precipitation. High spatial resolution deposition velocities for different phases (precipitation, cloud droplets, aerosols, and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM)) were computed using inferential models. An empirical model was developed to estimate gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) deposition. Spatial patterns of estimated total mercury deposition were complex. Generally, deposition was higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast. Elevation, land cover, and proximity to urban areas modified the general pattern. The estimated net GEM and RGM fluxes were each greater than or equal to wet deposition in many areas. Mercury assimilation by plant foliage may provide a substantial input of methyl-mercury (MeHg) to ecosystems.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44443/1/10646_2004_Article_6259.pd

Mass balance of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets from 1992 to 2020

Ice losses from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have accelerated since the 1990s, accounting for a significant increase in the global mean sea level. Here, we present a new 29-year record of ice sheet mass balance from 1992 to 2020 from the Ice Sheet Mass Balance Inter-comparison Exercise (IMBIE). We compare and combine 50 independent estimates of ice sheet mass balance derived from satellite observations of temporal changes in ice sheet flow, in ice sheet volume, and in Earth's gravity field. Between 1992 and 2020, the ice sheets contributed 21.0±1.9g€¯mm to global mean sea level, with the rate of mass loss rising from 105g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1 between 1992 and 1996 to 372g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1 between 2016 and 2020. In Greenland, the rate of mass loss is 169±9g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1 between 1992 and 2020, but there are large inter-annual variations in mass balance, with mass loss ranging from 86g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1 in 2017 to 444g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1 in 2019 due to large variability in surface mass balance. In Antarctica, ice losses continue to be dominated by mass loss from West Antarctica (82±9g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1) and, to a lesser extent, from the Antarctic Peninsula (13±5g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1). East Antarctica remains close to a state of balance, with a small gain of 3±15g€¯Gtg€¯yr-1, but is the most uncertain component of Antarctica's mass balance. The dataset is publicly available at 10.5285/77B64C55-7166-4A06-9DEF-2E400398E452 (IMBIE Team, 2021)

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

Observations of the changes of inter-tidal bedforms over a neap-spring tidal cycle

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Lending Division - LD:4565.47(IOS--203) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Quality of Life in Patients With Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Data From a Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that CPAP has a substantial impact on daytime symptoms and quality of life (QOL). It remains unclear which outcome measures best identify real CPAP effects and carry independent information. METHODS: One hundred-two men with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea were randomized to either "real" or "sham" CPAP for one month. Outcome measures were subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) and QOL measures includiig SF-36/SF-12 and Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI). The bed partner's QOL and rating of patient's response to CPAP were assessed with the Dublin questionnaire. All data were standardized using effect sizes and expressed as real minus sham to remove the nonspecific effects of placebo. RESULTS: Real CPAP was superior to sham CPAP in almost all outcome measures. ESS, patient's component from Dublin, and social interactions from SAQLI showed the largest differences in effect sizes between real and sham (1.33, 0.98, and 0.92 respectively). ESS carried the highest predictive power of real CPAP response (P < 0.0001, r2 = 0.21). Question number 5 from Dublin (partner assessed patient's sleep quality) and question 6 from ESS (dozing while talking) were the best single item predictors of real CPAP response. CONCLUSIONS: Real CPAP reduces subjective sleepiness and improves QOL of both patients and bed partners. ESS is the best score; question number 5 from Dublin and question number 6 from ESS are the best single item predictors of real CPAP response. This information should allow the selection of appropriate questions in clinical practice and research protocols

The regulation of phospholipase D by inositol phospholipids and small GTPases

AbstractPhospholipase D1 and D2 (PLD1, PLD2) both have PX and PH domains in their N-terminal regions with these inositol lipid binding domains playing key roles in regulating PLD activity and localisation. The activity of PLD1 is also regulated by protein kinase C and members of the Rho and Arf families of GTPases. Each of these proteins binds to unique sites; however, there appears to be little in vitro discrimination between individual family members. In agonist-stimulated cells, however, there is specificity, with, for example in RBL-2H3 cells, antigen stimulating the activation of PLD1 by association with Arf6, Rac1 and protein kinase Cα. PLD2 appears to be less directly regulated by GTPases and rather is primarily controlled through interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase that generates the activating phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate