University of Rhode Island

About: University of Rhode Island is a education organization based out in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Bay. The organization has 11464 authors who have published 22770 publications receiving 841066 citations. The organization is also known as: URI & Rhode Island College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.

Teetering on the edge: a substantive theory of postpartum depression.

Abstract: Using the grounded theory method, a substantive theory of postpartum depression was developed. Data were obtained through participant observation in a postpartum depression support group over an 18-month period. In addition, 12 in-depth taped interviews were conducted with mothers who had attended the support group. Analysis of the data by the constant comparative method revealed loss of control as the basic social psychological problem. Women suffering from postpartum depression attempted to cope with the problem of loss of control through the four-stage process of teetering on the edge. The stages that emerged from the data included (a) encountering terror, (b) dying of self, (c) struggling to survive, and (d) regaining control.

Vertical distribution of dimethylsulfide, sulfur dioxide, aerosol ions, and radon over the northeast Pacific ocean

Abstract: Dimethylsulfide (DMS), sulfur dioxide (SO2), methanesulfonate (MSA), nonsea-salt sulfate (nss-SO4 2−), sodium (Na+), ammonium (NH4 +), and nitrate (NO3 −) were determined in samples collected by aircraft over the open ocean in postfrontal maritime air masses off the northwest coast of the United States (3–12 May 1985). Measurements of radon daughter concentrations and isentropic trajectory calculations suggested that these air masses had been over the Pacific for 4–8 days since leaving the Asian continent. The DMS and MSA profiles showed very similar structures, with typical concentrations of 0.3–1.2 and 0.25–0.31 nmol m−3 (STP) respectively in the mixed layer, decreasing to 0.01–0.12 and 0.03–0.13 nmol m−3 (STP) at 3.6 km. These low atmospheric DMS concentrations are consistent with low levels of DMS measured in the surface waters of the northeastern Pacific during the study period. The atmospheric SO2 concentrations always increased with altitude from <0.16–0.25 to 0.44–1.31 nmol m−3 (STP). The nonsea-salt sulfate (ns-SO4 2−) concentrations decreased with altitude in the boundary layer and increased again in the free troposphere. These data suggest that, at least under the conditions prevailing during our flights, the production of SO2 and nss-SO4 2− from DMS oxidation was significant only within the boundary layer and that transport from Asia dominated the sulfur cycle in the free troposphere. The existence of a ‘sea-salt inversion layer’ was reflected in the profiles of those aerosol components, e.g., Na+ and NO3 −, which were predominantly present as coarse particles. Our results show that long-range transport at mid-tropospheric levels plays an important role in determining the chemical composition of the atmosphere even in apparently ‘remote’ northern hemispheric regions.

The Operational GFDL Coupled Hurricane–Ocean Prediction System and a Summary of Its Performance

Abstract: The past decade has been marked by significant advancements in numerical weather prediction of hurricanes, which have greatly contributed to the steady decline in forecast track error. Since its operational implementation by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) in 1995, the best-track model performer has been NOAA’s regional hurricane model developed at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). The purpose of this paper is to summarize the major upgrades to the GFDL hurricane forecast system since 1998. These include coupling the atmospheric component with the Princeton Ocean Model, which became operational in 2001, major physics upgrades implemented in 2003 and 2006, and increases in both the vertical resolution in 2003 and the horizontal resolution in 2002 and 2005. The paper will also report on the GFDL model performance for both track and intensity, focusing particularly on the 2003 through 2006 hurricane seasons. During this period, the GFDL track errors were the lowest of all the...

Stable isotope ratio as a tracer of mangrove carbon in Malaysian ecosystems

Abstract: The ratio of stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) in plants and animals from Malaysian mangrove swamps, coastal inlets, and offshore waters was determined. Vascular plants of the swamps were isotopically distinct ( x±s.d.=-27.1±1.2‰) from plankton (-21.0±0.3‰) and other algae (-18.7±2.2‰). Animals from the swamps (-20.9±4.1‰) and inlets (-19.8±2.5‰) had a wide range of isotope ratios (-28.6 to-15.4‰), indicating consumption of both mangrove and algal carbon. Several commercially important species of bivalves, shrimp, crabs, and fish obtained carbon from mangrove trees. Mangrove carbon was carried offshore as detritus and was isotopically distinguishable in suspended particulate matter and sediments. Animals collected from 2 to 18 km offshore, however, showed no isotopic evidence of mangrove carbon assimilation, with ratios (-16.5±1.1‰, range-19.1 to-13.1‰) virtually identical to those reported for similar animals from other plankton-based ecosystems. Within groups of animals, isotope ratios reflected intergencric and interspecific differences in feeding and trophic position. In particular, there was a trend to less negative ratios with increasing trophic level.