scholarly journals Synoptic Control of Mesoscale Precipitating Systems in the Pacific Northwest

2008 ◽  
Vol 136 (9) ◽  
pp. 3465-3476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Roebber ◽  
Kyle L. Swanson ◽  
Jugal K. Ghorai
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Modeling ◽  
The United States ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Buffer Size ◽  
Synoptic Type ◽  
High Level

Abstract This research examines whether an adequate representation of flow features on the synoptic scale allows for the skillful inference of mesoscale precipitating systems. The focus is on the specific problem of landfalling systems on the west coast of the United States for a variety of synoptic types that lead to significant rainfall. The methodology emphasizes rigorous hypothesis testing within a controlled hindcast setting to quantify the significance of the results. The role of lateral boundary conditions is explicitly accounted for by the study. The hypotheses that (a) uncertainty in the large-scale analysis and (b) upstream buffer size have no impact on the skill of precipitation simulations are each rejected at a high level of confidence, with the results showing that mean precipitation skill is higher where low analysis uncertainty exists and for small nested grids. This indicates that an important connection exists between the quality of the synoptic information and predictability at the mesoscale in this environment, despite the absence of such information in the initialization or boundary conditions. Further, the flow-through of synoptic information strongly constrains the evolution of the mesoscale such that a small upstream buffer produces superior results consistent with the higher quality of the information crossing the boundary. Some preliminary evidence that synoptic type has an influence on precipitation skill is also found. The implications of these results for data assimilation, forecasting, and climate modeling are discussed.

scholarly journals Qualitative research to explore the symptoms and impacts experienced by children with ulcerative colitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Randall ◽  
Aiste Guobyte ◽  
Laure Delbecque ◽  
Louise Newton ◽  
Tara Symonds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ulcerative Colitis ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
High Level

Abstract Background Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that often presents during one’s most productive years and is characterized by colon inflammation. Key symptoms and impacts in adults are well-known, however, experiences among pediatric populations have not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to understand the health-related quality of life and symptomatic experience of children (2–11 years) living with UC. Methods Qualitative, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted. Children aged 5–11 years were interviewed, as well as their parents/caregivers in matched dyads. Parents/caregivers of children aged2–4 years were interviewed within a parent/caregiver-only cohort. All participants were recruited from the United States. Interviews were coded using thematic analysis. Results Key symptoms and impacts reflecting the lived experience of UC were identified following thematic analysis, generating a conceptual model. A total of 32 participants (20 parents/caregivers and 12 children) were interviewed. Results identified a substantial burden of UC in children. All children and parents/caregivers reported that they/their child experienced stomach/abdominal pain. Other symptoms discussed by over 75% were blood in stool, diarrhea/loose stools, stool urgency, incomplete evacuation, stool frequency, and feeling gassy/passing gas. The most frequently discussed impacts by over 75% of participants were on emotional and practical aspects, seriously affecting quality of life. Conclusions Qualitative analysis of the interviews identified a substantial burden of UC on children, with a profound impact on their lives. The symptomatic experience is reflective of adults and adolescents. A high level of agreement between parents/caregivers and children was demonstrated regarding the perception of the presence or absence of symptoms. Children aged 8–11 years showed higher levels of agreement with parents/caregivers than did younger children, indicating appropriateness of self-report of symptom data in the 8–11 years age group.

scholarly journals Assessing species coverage and assembly quality of rapidly accumulating sequenced genomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romain Feron ◽  
Robert Michael Waterhouse
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Automated Analysis ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Resource ◽  
Assembly Quality ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Analysis Workflow ◽  
Genome Assemblies

Ambitious initiatives to coordinate genome sequencing of Earth's biodiversity mean that the accumulation of genomic data is growing rapidly. In addition to cataloguing biodiversity, these data provide the basis for understanding biological function and evolution. Accurate and complete genome assemblies offer a comprehensive and reliable foundation upon which to advance our understanding of organismal biology at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. However, ever-changing sequencing technologies and analysis methods mean that available data are often heterogeneous in quality. In order to guide forthcoming genome generation efforts and promote efficient prioritisation of resources, it is thus essential to define and monitor taxonomic coverage and quality of the data. Here we present an automated analysis workflow that surveys genome assemblies from the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), assesses their completeness using the relevant Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologue (BUSCO) datasets, and collates the results into an interactively browsable resource. We apply our workflow to produce a community resource of available assemblies from the phylum Arthropoda, the Arthropoda Assembly Assessment Catalogue. Using this resource, we survey current taxonomic coverage and assembly quality at the NCBI, we examine how key assembly metrics relate to gene content completeness, and we compare results from using different BUSCO lineage datasets. These results demonstrate how the workflow can be used to build a community resource that enables large-scale assessments to survey species coverage and data quality of available genome assemblies, and to guide prioritisations for ongoing and future sampling, sequencing, and genome generation initiatives.

Documenting Earthquakes in the United States of the Ionian Islands, 1815–1864

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2554-2562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Albini
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ionian Islands ◽  
Documentary Sources ◽  
Seismic Scenarios ◽  
Few Data ◽  
Earthquake Effects ◽  
High Level

Abstract The seven islands of Corfu, Paxoi, Kephalonia, Ithaca, Lefkada, Zakynthos, and Cythera (Ionian Sea, offshore western Greece) were a British protectorate with the name of “United States of the Ionian Islands” between 1815 and 1864. Although many earthquake studies have already examined the past seismicity of this area, they contain only a few data for a handful of earthquakes, for an area known to be characterized by a high level of seismicity. Against this fragmentary seismological knowledge stands a 50 yr abundant production of local documentary sources of different types and in diverse languages. For this reason and because most of the available sources had not been yet nor systematically looked into in the search for testimonies of earthquake effects, an ad hoc and comprehensive investigation was carried out. The number of records on earthquake effects is huge as well as unexpected, and the quality of the collected records is high. The 147 new macroseismic European Macroseismic Scale 1998 intensity values, accurately assigned on the basis of independent contemporary records only, are presented in the form of timelines of earthquake effects for the main towns of the four islands of Corfu, Kephalonia, Lefkada, and Zakynthos. Besides partially amending the gaps of the knowledge of these 50 yr of seismicity in the Ionian Islands, the great amount of freshly collected data suggests that historical seismological research may effectively contribute to improving the seismic scenarios of past earthquakes in many areas of the world.

scholarly journals Upstream to downstream: a multiple-assessment-point approach for targeting non-point-source priority management areas at large watershed scale

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 14535-14555
Author(s):  
L. Chen ◽  
Y. Zhong ◽  
G. Wei ◽  
Z. Shen
Keyword(s):  
Point Source ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Watershed Scale ◽  
Nps Pollution ◽  
Specific Assessment ◽  
High Level ◽  
Multiple Assessment

Abstract. The identification of priority management areas (PMAs) is essential for the control of non-point source (NPS) pollution, especially for a large-scale watershed. However, previous studies have typically focused on small-scale catchments adjacent to specific assessment points; thus, the interactions between multiple river points remain poorly understood. In this study, a multiple-assessment-point PMA (MAP-PMA) framework was proposed by integrating the upstream sources and the downstream transport aspects of NPS pollution. Based on the results, the integration of the upstream input changes was vital for the final PMAs map, especially for downstream areas. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this research recommended that the NPS pollutants could be best controlled among the upstream high-level PMAs when protecting the water quality of the entire watershed. The MAP-PMA framework provided a more cost-effective tool for the establishment of conservation practices, especially for a large-scale watershed.

A National Customer Satisfaction Barometer: The Swedish Experience

1992 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claes Fornell
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
National Level ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Total Consumption ◽  
Market Structures ◽  
Economic Climate ◽  
Swedish Experience ◽  
High Level

Many individual companies and some industries monitor customer satisfaction on a continual basis, but Sweden is the first country to do so on a national level. The annual Customer Satisfaction Barometer (CSB) measures customer satisfaction in more than 30 industries and for more than 100 corporations. The new index is intended to be complementary to productivity measures. Whereas productivity basically reflects quantity of output, CSB measures quality of output (as experienced by the buyer). The author reports the results of a large-scale Swedish effort to measure quality of the total consumption process as customer satisfaction. The significance of customer satisfaction and its place within the overall strategy of the firm are discussed. An implication from examining the relationship between market share and customer satisfaction by a location model is that satisfaction should be lower in industries where supply is homogeneous and demand heterogeneous. Satisfaction should be higher when the heterogeneity/homogeneity of demand is matched by the supply. Empirical support is found for that proposition in monopolies as well as in competitive market structures. Likewise, industries in general are found to have a high level of customer satisfaction if they are highly dependent on satisfaction for repeat business. The opposite is found for industries in which companies have more captive markets. For Sweden, the 1991 results show a slight increase in CSB, which should have a positive effect on the general economic climate.

No, the Sky Is Not Falling: Evidence of Accounting Student Characteristics at FSA Schools, 1995–2000

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irvin T. Nelson ◽  
Valaria P. Vendrzyk ◽  
Jeffrey J. Quirin ◽  
Robert D. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
College Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Student Characteristics ◽  
Accounting Education ◽  
Accounting Students ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Certified Public Accountant ◽  
High Level

This article presents the most recent results of an ongoing, longitudinal study of characteristics of accounting students conducted by the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA). Surveys were administered to seniors and Mastera^€™s students at FSA member schools in the United States in 1995 and again in 2000. Data regarding student characteristics in 1995 and 2000 are presented. Specifically, the study contains evidence pertaining to student quality, future educational plans, career plans, plans for professional certification, extracurricular involvement, attitude toward the 150-hour requirement, and various demographic dimensions. The results of the survey do not coincide with those of other studies that have reported a decline in the quality of accounting students. On the contrary, our findings suggest that the quality of accounting students is not decreasing. Further research is necessary to more fully understand these contradictory findings and the direction and magnitude of any changes in student quality. Other findings of this study include a reversal in the gender mix of graduate students, with females now comprising the majority. More graduate students are pursuing their studies full-time. The average age of students is declining. More accounting students are interested in taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and pursuing careers in public accounting, while interest in the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam and in pursuing careers in industry are declining. Both seniors and Master's students indicate a very high level of support for five or more years of college education for the CPA. Student involvement in internship programs has nearly doubled since 1995, while involvement in extracurricular organizations has dropped. These results are relevant to many currently debated topics in accounting education—including the effects of the implementation of the 150-hour rule in many states.

scholarly journals Validating Joint External Evaluation reports with the quality of outbreak response in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Madagascar

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Garfield ◽  
Maureen Bartee ◽  
Landry Ndriko Mayigane
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
External Evaluation ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Large Measure ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Public Health Infrastructure ◽  
High Level ◽  
Joint External Evaluation ◽  
Level Of Agreement

To date more than 100 countries have carried out a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) as part of their Global Health Security programme. The JEE is a detailed effort to assess a country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to population health threats in 19 programmatic areas. To date no attempt has been made to determine the validity of these measures. We compare scores and commentary from the JEE in three countries to the strengths and weaknesses identified in the response to a subsequent large-scale outbreak in each of those countries. Relevant indicators were compared qualitatively, and scored as low, medium or in a high level of agreement between the JEE and the outbreak review in each of these three countries. Three reviewers independently reviewed each of the three countries. A high level of correspondence existed between score and text in the JEE and strengths and weaknesses identified in the review of an outbreak. In general, countries responded somewhat better than JEE scores indicated, but this appears to be due in part to JEE-related identification of weaknesses in that area. The improved response in large measure was due to more rapid requests for international assistance in these areas. It thus appears that even before systematic improvements are made in public health infrastructure that the JEE process may assist in improving outcomes in response to major outbreaks.

scholarly journals Perceptions and Application of the Ecosystem Services Approach among Pacific Northwest National Forest Managers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1259
Author(s):  
Stephen ES Crook ◽  
Arielle Levine ◽  
David Lopez-Carr
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Core Element ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
High Level

The ecosystem services concept has emerged as a guiding principle in natural resource management over the past two decades, and an ecosystem services approach to management is currently mandated as a core element of United States National Forest planning. However, the concept of ecosystem services has been interpreted and operationalized in a variety of ways, leaving a pronounced knowledge gap regarding how it is understood and implemented in different contexts. To better understand the conceptualization and implementation of the concept within United States National Forests, semi-structured interviews with planners and managers of the Pacific Northwest Region were conducted at the region, forest, and ranger district levels, addressing the following topics: (1) how has the ecosystem services concept been perceived by managers and planners?; (2) what are the perceived key ecosystem services offered by National Forest lands?; (3) how has the concept been applied at multiple spatial scales?; and (4) what are perceived challenges or opportunities related to applying the concept in the National Forest context? Results indicate that although participants had a high level of understanding of the ecosystem services concept, there was not a clear, widely adopted approach to considering ecosystem services in management. Through qualitative analysis, three general perspectives arose: one employed the concept to fulfill regulatory requirements at the National Forest scale, a second engaged with ecosystem services to improve participatory planning at the project scale, and a third, business as usual perspective, considered ecosystem services as new language for describing longstanding National Forest priorities. These results draw attention to the challenges of implementing an ecosystem services-based approach in the United States National Forest context and the continued need for the development of management-relevant methods for describing and quantifying ecosystem services.

Political Responsiveness in a Patronage Democracy

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-70
Author(s):  
Jennifer Bussell
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Local Politicians ◽  
Village Council ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Citizen Interactions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

This chapter draws on accounts from sustained, in-depth shadowing of Indian politicians, as well as large-scale politician surveys, to characterize the nature of politicians’ engagement with their constituents. It highlights the importance these politicians place on making time for citizen interactions and responding to requests—to the extent that high-level politicians spend, on average, a quarter of their time interacting with individual citizens. Critically, the primary focus of these contacts is requests for assistance with the same types of goods and services that are typically also requested of local politicians such as village council presidents, providing preliminary evidence that demands may at least partially originate from individuals’ failure to acquire these benefits at the local level—a topic to which the book later turns. Chapter 2 also shows that the individual benefits directly provided to citizens by high-level politicians are substantial.

scholarly journals Students Engaging in Multiple-Source Inquiry Tasks: Capturing Dimensions of Collaborative Online Inquiry and Social Deliberation

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Coiro ◽  
Jesse R. Sparks ◽  
Carita Kiili ◽  
Jill Castek ◽  
Changhee Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Multiple Source ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Large Scale Assessment ◽  
Collaborative Processes ◽  
Product And Process ◽  
High Level ◽  
Integrated Performance

Multiple-source inquiry that involves collaboration and deliberation is a complex construct; accordingly, valid measurement of these related competencies should require students to demonstrate their collaborative inquiry and social deliberation skills as part of an integrated performance. In this article, we report findings from the first phase of an assessment project designed to develop and evaluate the use of a virtual world platform that simultaneously captures collaboration, online inquiry, and social deliberation in the context of a single scenario-based task. Mixed methods were employed to evaluate preliminary evidence of students’ (ages 14–16) competencies in both face-to-face ( n = 5 dyads) and remote ( n = 6 dyads) contexts. Results indicated the scenario-based virtual assessment platform successfully captured varying levels of cognitive and social performance (using both product and process data) on several dimensions of collaborative online inquiry and social deliberation. Illustrative examples of dyads demonstrating stronger or weaker collaborative processes and high-level themes that emerged are presented. Implications for classroom settings and large-scale assessment environments are discussed.

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