Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Surrounding Areas (surrounding + area)
Selected AbstractsFolcwin of Rankweil: the world of a Carolingian local officialEARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE, Issue 1 2005Katherine Bullimore This article examines charters from the St Gall archive which are valuable for the light they throw on the secular society of the settlement of Rankweil in Rhaetia and the surrounding area. The centrepiece is the rare collection of early ninth-century grants and sales made to the centenarius Folcwin and the article uses these and other related documents to examine the workings of Carolingian local society, the activities of local officials, and the patterns of landholding and transfer amongst secular individuals of relatively modest standing. [source] Heteroduplex mobility assay for the identification of Listeria sp. and Listeria monocytogenes strains: application to characterisation of strains from sludge and food samplesFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003N Garrec Abstract One hundred and ten Listeria sp. isolates from sewage sludge were identified according to phenotypic and genotypic methods. The Listeria sp. strains isolated from five types of sludge from three sewage treatment plants in Angers (France) and the surrounding area included L. monocytogenes (55.5%), L. innocua (29.1%), L. seeligeri (13.6%) and L. welshimeri (1.8%). The majority of L. monocytogenes strains belonged to serotypes 4b, 1/2b and 1/2a. Moreover, a heteroduplex mobility assay based on the 16S rRNA sequences was tested for its ability to identify the six species of the genus Listeria. This study, performed on 283 Listeria sp. strains from human, food and sewage sludge samples, showed that all the species were distinguishable from one another. L. innocua and L. seeligeri showed respectively three and two distinct banding patterns. Within L. monocytogenes, four groups (I,IV) were defined. The majority of food and environmental isolates were clustered in group I and it is noteworthy that group IV clustered epidemiologic isolates and strains belonging to serotypes 4b, 1/2a and 1/2b. [source] Quantifying prehistoric soil erosion,A review of soil loss methods and their application to a Celtic square enclosure (Viereckschanze) in Southern GermanyGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 8 2007Matthias Leopold This paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of three different methods for quantifying prehistoric soil erosion. Method A estimates erosion by determining the amount of colluvium stored downhill. Method B involves reconstructing a former erosion surface using truncated soil horizons. Method C compares the elevation of a paleosol beneath an earthwork with the modern surface in the surrounding area. Each method was applied to a Celtic earthwork (Viereckschanze) at Poign (near Regensburg) in Southern Germany in order to cross-check the different results. For an erosion area of 3.6 ha and during 300 years of agricultural usage, Method A calculates a minimum erosion rate of 20.8 t/ha/a. Method B computes 10 t/ha/a of soil loss. Method C yields the highest rate of erosion with 24.2 t/ha/a. We have confidence in Method C, which implies an underassesment of soil loss in using methods A or B. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Thickness of the lithosphere east of the Dead Sea TransformGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2006Ayman Mohsen SUMMARY We use the S receiver function method to study the lithosphere at the Dead Sea Transform (DST). A temporary network of 22 seismic broad-band stations was operated on both sides of the DST from 2000 to 2001 as part of the DESERT project. We also used data from six additional permanent broad-band seismic stations at the DST and in the surrounding area, that is, in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Cyprus. Clear S -to- P converted phases from the crust,mantle boundary (Moho) and a deeper discontinuity, which we interpret as lithosphere,asthenosphere boundary (LAB) have been observed. The Moho depth (30,38 km) obtained from S receiver functions agrees well with the results from P receiver functions and other geophysical data. We observe thinning of the lithosphere on the eastern side of the DST from 80 km in the north of the Dead Sea to about 65 km at the Gulf of Aqaba. On the western side of the DST, the few data indicate a thin LAB of about 65 km. For comparison, we found a 90-km-thick lithosphere in eastern Turkey and a 160-km-thick lithosphere under the Arabian shield, respectively. These observations support previous suggestions, based on xenolith data, heat flow observations, regional uplift history and geodynamic modelling, that the lithosphere around DST has been significantly thinned in the Late Cenozoic, likely following rifting and spreading of the Red Sea. [source] Effect of N Fertilization Rate on Sugar Yield and Non-Sugar Impurities of Sugar Beets (Beta vulgaris) Grown Under Mediterranean ConditionsJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 5 2005J. T. Tsialtas Abstract For three successive growing seasons (1999,2001), a completely randomized block design experiment was established at the surrounding area of each of four sugar beet processing plants of Hellenic Sugar Industry SA, Greece (a total of 12 experiments). Nitrogen was applied at five rates (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha,1) and six replications per rate. Nitrogen fertilization had site-specific effects on quantitative (fresh root and sugar yields) and qualitative (sucrose content, K, Na, , -amino N) traits. When data were combined over years and sites, fresh root and sugar yields were maximized at high N rates (330.75 and 295 kg N ha,1 respectively), as derived from quadratic functions fitted to data. In three trials, increased N rates had negative effects on root and sugar yield. These sites were characterized by high yield in control plots, light soil texture (sand > 50 %) and low CEC values. When data were converted into relative values (the ratio of the trait values to the control mean of each experiment), root and sugar yield was found to be maximized at higher N rates (350 and 316 kg N ha,1, respectively). Sucrose content was strongly and linearly reduced by the increased N rates when data were combined but a significant reduction with increasing N rates was found in only two sites. Non-sugar impurities (K, Na, , -amino N) were positively related to the increased N rates when data were combined. Sodium and , -amino N showed to be most affected by N fertilization as positive relationships were found in six and eight of 12 locations, respectively. Increased N supply resulted in higher soil NO3 -N concentrations (0,90 cm depth) at harvest which were related with amino N contents in sugar beet roots (in 1999 and 2001). [source] Agreement Between Patient and Proxy Responses of Health-Related Quality of Life After Hip FractureJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 7 2005C. Allyson Jones PT Objectives: To examine agreement between patient and proxy respondents on health-related quality of life (HRQL) over time during the 6-month recovery after hip fracture. Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study. Setting: A healthcare region serving Edmonton, Alberta, and the surrounding area. Participants: Two hundred forty-five patients aged 65 and older, were treated for hip fracture, and had Mini-Mental State Examination scores greater than 17; 245 family caregivers participated as proxy respondents. Measurements: Primary outcome was HRQL (Health Utilities Mark 2 and Mark 3). Interviews were completed within 5 days after surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Agreement was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: Agreement was considered moderate to excellent for HRQL. ICC values ranged from 0.50 to 0.85 (P<.001) for physically based observable dimensions of health status and from 0.32 to 0.66 (P<.01) for less-observable dimensions. Agreement improved with time. Time and the number of days between patient and proxy interviews were significant factors in accounting for patient,proxy differences. Conclusion: Although proxy and patient responses are not interchangeable, proxy responses provide an option for assessing function and health status in patients who are unable to respond on their own behalf. [source] The effects of alcohol and the salience of aggressive cues on triggered displaced aggressionAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 1 2008Thomas F. Denson Abstract Alcohol increases the aggression-augmenting effects of provocation. Theories of alcohol and aggression suggest that impaired cognitive processing induced by acute intoxication leads individuals to process aggression-inducing social cues differently depending on whether they are high or low in salience. We examined the effects of intoxication and aggressive cue salience within the triggered displaced aggression paradigm. An ethnically diverse sample of 74 primarily young adult participants (40 men and 34 women; M=23.28, SD=3.14 years) were recruited from the university community and surrounding area. All participants were provoked by an experimenter, randomly assigned to a 2 (alcohol condition: alcohol vs. placebo) × 2 (trigger salience: high vs. low salience) between-subjects design, and then given the opportunity to aggress against the undeserving triggering agent. As expected, intoxication combined with a salient triggering cue elicited the most displaced aggression among all conditions. These results provide the first evidence that the effect of alcohol on triggered displaced aggression is moderated by the salience of the triggering event. Aggr. Behav. 34:25,33, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A SURVEY OF THE QUALITY OF SIX RETAIL BRANDS OF BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST FILLETS OBTAINED FROM RETAIL SUPERMARKETS IN THE ATHENS, GEORGIA AREA,JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 6 2007HONG ZHUANG ABSTRACT To assess the variation in quality of chicken breast fillets available from retail supermarkets, six brands of boneless, skinless fillets without additives were obtained from the fresh counter at grocery stores in Athens, GA, and the surrounding area during fall of 2005. The samples were stored at ,20C and subsequently cooked using a Henny Penny MCS-6 combi oven (Henny Penny Corp., Eaton, OH). Quality parameters of the fillets were measured on the cooked chicken breast fillets including cook yield, descriptive sensory flavor and texture profiling, and Warner,Bratzler (WB) shear force. Our results show that the average cook yield ranged from 78.1 to 80.9%, the average intensity of individual descriptive sensory characteristics was less than 5.4 in a 0,15 universal scale, and WB shear force values were less than 5.2 kg. There were no significant differences in the intensity among brands of all flavor attributes and the texture characteristics associated with moisture. However, significant differences were found among the brands for cook yield, mechanical properties of texture (including springiness, cohesiveness, hardness and chewiness) and WB shear force values. The variation of WB shear force measurements (coefficient of variation) depended on brand. These results indicate that differences exist in the quality and shear force consistency among market brands of boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets available in Athens, GA, and the surrounding area. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study is the first survey reported to evaluate the quality of boneless, skinless chicken breast products without additives in U.S. retail market. This study supplies the evidence that the intensity of sensory quality is mild of cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast products and there are the differences in the quality among the different retail brands obtained by consumers. [source] Polymorphism and drug-selected mutations in the reverse transcriptase gene of HIV-2 from patients living in southeastern FranceJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2005Philippe Colson Abstract Few data are available about the susceptibility and the genotypic resistance pattern of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). The HIV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT) gene from 25 HIV-2-infected patients followed-up in Marseilles and the surrounding area was analyzed. The aims of this study were to characterize the polymorphism of HIV-2 RT in the absence of drug, to determine whether it naturally harbors codons associated with drug-resistance in HIV-1, and to identify mutations emerging under NRTI-selective pressure. Fourteen patients had never undergone antiretroviral therapy and 11 received NRTI. Seventy sequences were analyzed. In untreated patients, 12 spots of high natural polymorphism (at positions 10, 11, 20, 43, 104, 121, 135, 162, 176, 180, 200, and 227) were observed; 4 of them were specific of HIV-2 (10, 176, 180, 227). Moreover, results showed four positions that could be associated with natural resistance to NRTI (75I, 118I, 219E, and perhaps 215S), in addition to those described previously for non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) (181I, 188L, 190A). In HIV-2-infected patients receiving NRTI-containing therapies, specific genotypic patterns were observed with a high frequency of mutation Q151M (in 45% of patients) often associated with 70R, 115F, 214L, and/or 223R, which might compose an HIV-2 multi-NRTI resistance complex. Four newly or rarely described NRTI-selected mutations were observed: I5V, K35R, F214L, and K223R. As in HIV-1, substitution M184V was found in 3TC-treated patients. In conclusion, these findings highlight the need for specific guidelines for determining genotypic resistance and treatment of HIV-2. J. Med. Virol. 75:381,390, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Why do doctors attend traditional CME events if they don't change what they do in their surgeries?MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 10 2003Evaluation of doctors' reasons for attending a traditional CME programme Objective ,This study aimed to discover what the family doctors who attended an annual refresher course wished to obtain from participating in the event and what their response was to evidence that doctor behaviour is not changed by such programmes. Design ,The study used the qualitative method of in-depth interviews. Setting ,Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and the surrounding area. Participants The informants for the study were a sample of 6 family doctors who attended the 50th Annual Refresher Course for Family Physicians, held in April 2001 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Method ,In-depth interviews with the participants were conducted before and after they attended the annual refresher course. The doctors had pre-registered for the 3-day course. They were purposely selected to obtain diversity of gender, year of graduation from medical school and practice location. Results ,The doctors interviewed had 3 main reasons for attending the refresher course: to obtain information or to be updated; to be reassured that their practice behaviour was within accepted guidelines, and to hear from and interact with the specialists who gave presentations. All the participants in the study were able to name changes they had made as the result of attending a similar type of programme in the past and were sceptical of findings that practice behaviour did not change as a result of traditional continuing medical education (CME). Conclusions ,Despite current support for interactive and practice-linked educational activities, the doctors in this study valued the input of the experts who lectured at the course. These doctors were not prepared to accept the currently held precept that their behaviour did not change as a result of attendance at traditional CME programmes. [source] Inhibition of Leukocyte Adherence Enables Venular Control of Capillary Perfusion in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic RatsMICROCIRCULATION, Issue 8 2004KAVITHA NELLORE ABSTRACT Objective: Vasoactive molecules can diffuse from venules to dilate closely paired arterioles and enhance capillary perfusion. Venular control of capillary flow has been found to be dependent on nitric oxide (NO), which might be scavenged rapidly in diabetic microvasculature due to the presence of activated leukocytes. This study attempts to improve venular control of capillary flow using fucoidan, which inhibits venular leukocyte adhesion. Methods: Microvascular red blood cell velocity was measured in the mesentery of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, with and without fucoidan treatment, and in normal rats. Arteriolar pathways leading to branching capillaries were videotaped to measure the percent of the surrounding area occupied by a venule (% pairing). Microvascular wall NO was measured using fluorescent diaminofluorescein-2-diacetate in diabetic rats, with and without fucoidan treatment. Results: In normal rats, close pairing of venules to arterioles resulted in faster capillary flow. However, after 4,5 weeks of diabetes, the correlation between capillary velocity and % pairing was no longer significant. Capillary velocity and % pairing decreased , 50% in comparison to normal rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with fucoidan restored venular control of capillary flow and increased NO levels. Conclusion: Leukocyte-derived mediators that scavenge NO may lead to inadequate venular control of capillary flow in diabetes. [source] Some biological characteristics of transferred free flapsMICROSURGERY, Issue 5 2007Jefta V. Kozarski M.D., Ph.D. At the Clinic for plastic surgery and burns of the MMA, we examined 33 patients with transferred 5 cutaneous, 18 miocutaneous, and 10 osteocutaneous free flaps out of which 10 were done on foot, 13 on the lower leg, and 10 on the face. We analyzed the blood circulation (patency of arterial microanastomosis and perfusion) of transferred free flaps, recovery of sensitivity, functioning of the sebaceous and sweat glands as well as histomorphologic changes in the skin of the transferred free flaps during the period of 6 up to 36 months after the free flap transfer and compared with the same characteristics of the skin and tissue of the surrounding area of the recipient region. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2007. [source] Molecular analysis of natural populations of Populus nigra L. intermingled with cultivated hybridsMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 8 2003T. Fossati Abstract In this study six simple sequence repeats (SSR or microsatellites) were selected for their ability to fingerprint a total of 60 commercial clones of Populus deltoides Marsh. and Populus × canadensis Moench (typically derived from crosses between Populus nigra L and P. deltoides) and to characterize a natural population of P. nigra growing along the Ticino river in the North of Italy. Out of six SSRs used, four microsatellite loci were found to have alleles which were species-specific to P. deltoides and could therefore be used as markers for introgression of P. deltoides into P. nigra. In the studied region hybrid poplars and P. deltoides commercial clones are cultivated as monoclonal stands close to the area where black poplar has its natural habitat. SSR analysis was performed to investigate whether there was evidence of introgression between the natural population and the monoclonal plantations of hybrids and P. deltoides clones cultivated in the surrounding area. Three stages of the natural population were analysed: a group of old trees about a hundred years old, a younger population (aged 2,30 years) and the seedlings of three females of this population. Alleles specific to P. deltoides were detected only in the old cohort of the natural population, while no introgression was observed in the younger individuals and their progenies. These results were also confirmed by isozyme analysis of loci PGI-B, PGM and LAP-A, which were previously identified as diagnostic for P. nigra, P. deltoides and P.×canadensis. [source] Amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in glioblastoma: An analysis of the relationship between genotype and phenotype by CISH methodNEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Tomomi Miyanaga We examined epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression and EGFR gene amplification using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) in 109 glioblastomas, including 98 primary glioblastomas and 11 secondary glioblastomas. EGFR overexpression and EGFR gene amplification were found in 33% and 24% of glioblastoma, respectively, and all of those cases were primary glioblastoma. Large ischemic necrosis was significantly more frequent in primary glioblastomas than in secondary glioblastomas (54% vs. 18%), but pseudopalisading necrosis was not (65% vs. 54%). EGFR gene amplification was detected significantly more frequently in cases with both types of necrosis. Although glioblastomas with EGFR gene amplification invariably exhibited EGFR overexpression at the level of the whole tumor, tumor cells with EGFR gene amplification did not always show EGFR overexpression at the level of individual tumor cells. Cases of "strong" EGFR overexpression on IHC could be regarded as having EGFR gene amplification, and cases without EGFR overexpression could not. Cases of "weak" EGFR overexpression should be tested with CISH to confirm the presence of EGFR gene amplification. We found that 54% of glioblastomas with EGFR gene amplification were composed of areas with and without EGFR gene amplification; however, there were no obvious differences in morphology between tumor cells with and without EGFR gene amplification. Although small cell architecture might be associated with EGFR gene amplification at the level of the whole tumor, it did not always suggest amplification of the EGFR gene at the level of individual tumor cells. In one case, it seemed to suggest that a clone with EGFR gene amplification may arise in pre-existing tumor tissue and extend into the surrounding area. In cases of overall EGFR amplification, CISH would be a useful tool to decide the tumor border in areas infiltrated by tumor cells. [source] Effects of predation and habitat structure on the population dynamics of house mice in large outdoor enclosuresOIKOS, Issue 3 2005Anthony D. Arthur This paper examines the effect of different levels of protection from predation on feral house mice. Mice were contained in eight 50×50 m outdoor enclosures. Enclosures allowed access to a suite of freeliving vertebrate predators from the surrounding area, including feral foxes, feral cats and Australian raptors. A 10,15% cover of small, felled cypress pine trees was added in strips to low grassland to increase habitat complexity. Mice were not protected from predation when compared with low grassland pens, possibly because predators were able to focus their hunting activity in the strips. However, when felled trees were covered with wire netting, hence providing higher quality refuge, mouse populations achieved higher densities than in low grassland pens. A predator exclusion treatment was used to confirm the refuge effect was due to a reduction in the impact of predation. Survival rates under the different treatments were generally consistent with population level responses, with mice having lower survival in low grassland pens than in high refuge pens. This is the first study with mammals that confirms the importance of refuges from predators for prey populations. [source] Love of Nurse Plants is Not Enough for Restoring Oak Forests in a Seasonally Dry Tropical EnvironmentRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Ernesto I. Badano Abstract The highest concentration of oak species in the world occurs in Mexico, but human activities have strongly degraded these oak forests. Mexican oaks have high economic, social, and cultural value, and restoring these forests is of paramount importance for the people of Mexico. Here, we propose a method for restoring oak forests using native shrubs that colonize degraded areas as nurse plants for oak seedlings. To test the viability of this proposal, seedling transplant experiments were performed in a degraded area near a protected oak forest relict. Two pioneer shrubs were identified as potential nurse species: Mimosa luisana and Senecio sp. The target oak species was Quercus castanea. Oak seedlings were located beneath the canopies of both shrubs and in the surrounding area without shrub cover. Water is a limiting resource for oak establishment in seasonally dry environments; therefore, we included irrigation systems in our experimental design to determine whether the combination of nurse plants plus watering led to higher rate of survival than the presence of nurse species alone. Seedling survival without watering was less than 20% both beneath nurse species and in the surrounding habitat. When water was supplied, survival rate beneath nurse species increased up to 58% while survival in the surrounding habitat did not differ from that observed in treatments without watering. Our results indicate that survival rate of oak seedlings is increased by the presence of nurse plants only when water is supplied. This suggests that restoration of oak forests in these degraded areas requires both nurse plants and watering. [source] Road Slope Revegetation in Semiarid Mediterranean Environments.RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Part I: Seed Dispersal, Spontaneous Colonization Abstract The importance of neighboring vegetation as a seed reservoir for spontaneous colonization of adjacent road slopes was analyzed in a semiarid region of east Spain. Two independent methodological approaches were used to examine the relative contribution of seed from neighboring vegetation and the efficiency of different seed dispersal strategies in plant colonization. We first used a randomization test to compare floristic similarity between road slopes, neighboring flora, and local flora (the regional species pool found in the same climate and soil conditions as the road slopes). Second, we compared seed dispersal mechanisms of road slope vegetation with those of the surrounding area using frequency analysis. Species composition of road slopes was more similar to that of the flora of adjacent surrounding areas than expected by chance. Anemochorous (wind-dispersed) plants were over-represented in road slopes 8 years after road slopes were built. We concluded that seed dispersal from neighboring vegetation is an important factor in the vegetative colonization of road slopes. However, this initial species pool was also strongly shaped by the harsh environmental conditions of roadcuts and southern aspect. These results have important implications in road slope restoration because they suggest that naturally vegetated areas should be maintained adjacent to road slopes to enhance seed immigration from species adapted to local site conditions, which will accelerate the successional process. The application of this single reclamation strategy and mixed strategies that combine the use of natural colonization and soil amendment for road slope restoration in Mediterranean environmental conditions is discussed. [source] Ground-penetrating radar investigations into the construction techniques of the Concordia Temple (Agrigento, Sicily, Italy)ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION, Issue 1 2007P. M. Barone Abstract Over the past decade, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been recognized as being particularly well adapted to the non-destructive survey of archaeological sites. The present work discusses such an application of the GPR to the study of the foundation geometry of the Concordia Temple in Agrigento (Sicily, southern Italy). Radar data were collected using a pulse EKKO 1000 unit (Sensors and Software, Inc.) with 225,MHz antennae. The GPR data show a regular sequence of short reflectors alternating with ,signal blanked' areas located at approximately 50,ns in the peristyle and a continuous horizontal reflector at approximately 30,ns within the inner part of the temple (the cell). These results may indicate that the construction technique used in the temple was not a compact and homogeneous retaining wall, consisting of an outside layer of bricks and various grouting materials, as was previously thought. The two-dimensional images indicate, instead, that the Greeks made use of the geomorphology of the surrounding area, which involved exploiting the surrounding landscape to obtain foundations (artificial and natural) capable of supporting such monumental and stately buildings. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates the validity of this technique to investigate the foundation geometry of an ancient temple, where it is undesirable to apply a destructive technique. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Application of magnetic and spectrometry methods in the detection of human activity in soils: a case study at the archaeological site of Kitros (Northern Greece)ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION, Issue 3 2001E. V. Aidona Abstract In the present study the archaeological site of (Louloudies,Kitros) (northern Greece) is investigated by the use of magnetic and spectrometry geophysical methods. Soil samples were collected from several trenches within the archaeological site, as well as from radial traverses around kilns, which were used for glass production. Moreover, samples were collected from a long traverse, starting from the middle of the archaeological site and extending outside the site, in order to identify the limits of the settlement. Measurements were successful in identifying the different occupation levels and the boundaries of the archaeological site. High values of magnetic susceptibility and iron oxide content correlated well with the periods of intense human activity. Around the kilns, the mean values of the magnetic susceptibility indicated the effect of the fire mechanism in the surrounding area and gave some first evidence concerning the use of the kilns. Comparison of the magnetic and chemical properties of the anthropogenic soils suggests that their enhancement may be used as an index for locating areas and features of archaeological interest. Additionally, archaeomagnetic data have been obtained from a pottery and a glass kiln of the site. The magnetic directions (D = 355°, I = 62°, a95 = 3.6 and D = 356°, I = 51°, a95 = 2.3) were correlated to the reference curves compiled for Bulgaria and showed a satisfactory consistency for the declination, but the inclination values of the recorded magnetic field were divergent by about 10°. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On Green Design (Part 2): The Basic Premises for Green DesignARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 6 2007Ken Yeang Abstract In the second part of his green design series, Ken Yeang highlights how a prospective site can provide the essential springboard for eco-masterplanning. A full survey of the site and its sensitive development allows the built environment not only to be designed analogously with existing ecological systems, but also to reach out beyond the immediate footprint and to have a restorative effect on the surrounding area. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Does pregnancy provide vaccine-like protection against rheumatoid arthritis?ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2010Katherine A. Guthrie Objective Previous studies have evaluated the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk and pregnancy history, with conflicting results. Fetal cells acquired during pregnancy provide a potential explanation for modulation of RA risk by pregnancy. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of parity on RA risk. Methods We examined parity and RA risk using results from a population-based prospective study in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding area and compared women who were recently diagnosed as having RA (n = 310) with controls (n = 1,418). We also evaluated the distribution of parity in cases according to HLA genotype. Results We found a significant reduction of RA risk associated with parity (relative risk [RR] 0.61 [95% confidence interval 0.43,0.86], P = 0.005). RA risk reduction in parous women was strongest among those who were younger. Most striking was that RA risk reduction correlated with the time that had elapsed since the last time a woman had given birth. RA risk was lowest among women whose last birth occurred 1,5 years previously (RR 0.29), with risk reduction lessening progressively as the time since the last birth increased (for those 5,15 years since last birth, RR 0.51; for those >15 years, RR 0.76), compared with nulliparous women (P for trend = 0.007). No correlation was observed between RA risk and either age at the time a woman first gave birth or a woman's total number of births. Among cases with the highest genetic risk of RA (i.e., those with 2 copies of RA-associated HLA alleles), a significant underrepresentation of parous women versus nulliparous women was observed (P = 0.02). Conclusion In the present study, there was a significantly lower risk of RA in parous women that was strongly correlated with the time elapsed since a woman had last given birth. While the explanation for our findings is not known, HLA-disparate fetal microchimerism can persist many years after a birth and could confer temporary protection against RA. [source] Cancelling magnetic feature and filament activationASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 7 2006L. Contarino Abstract We report in this paper the analysis of the evolution of a magnetic fragment observed in NOAA 9445 on 5 May, 2001. This magnetic fragment emerged laterally to a filament which later split into two parts. The bifurcation site coincided with the magnetic fragment location and the part of the filament which split was later destabilized and a flare occurred. The magnetic flux variations in the magnetic fragment and in the surrounding area were analyzed and, considering their trends and other observational signatures (H, brightenings and associated plasma motions), we could infer that it was a cancelling magnetic feature (CMF). We determined some geometrical and physical parameters of the CMF (area, magnetic flux variation, cancellation speed and flux cancellation rate) using high resolution magnetograms taken by BBSO. We compared the observed parameters of the CMF with the parameters of low-lying reconnection current sheets given in the model proposed by Litvinenko (1999) and found good agreement between observed and theoretical values. Therefore, we conclude that a low-lying magnetic reconnection process might be the cause of the filament activation. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Modelling the occurrence of rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) in MelbourneAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2006PAVLINA SHUKUROGLOU Abstract Over the previous three decades, the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus Family Psittacidae) has increased in urbanized areas of Australia. To help understand the nature of this increase, we investigated the influence of road density, tree cover and season on the occurrence of the rainbow lorikeet in the Melbourne region. Bayesian logistic regression was used to construct models to predict the occurrence of rainbow lorikeets, using Birds Australia atlas data at 207 2-ha sites. The results demonstrate a strong relationship between tree cover and urbanization and the distribution of the species. The best model incorporated quadratic terms for road density and tree cover, and interaction terms, as well as season as a categorical variable. Probability of occurrence of rainbow lorikeets was highest at medium tree cover (40% to 70% of the site covered) and medium road density (9% to 12% of the surrounding area covered by roads). There was a close correspondence between the predictions of the model and new observations from bird surveys conducted at randomly selected field sites. The increased abundance of the species in urban areas has occurred despite a paucity of hollows that would act as suitable nesting sites, suggesting that only a small proportion of the population is breeding in these areas. [source] Regional Spatial Modeling of Topsoil GeochemistryBIOMETRICS, Issue 1 2009C. A. Calder Summary Geographic information about the levels of toxics in environmental media is commonly used in regional environmental health studies when direct measurements of personal exposure is limited or unavailable. In this article, we propose a statistical framework for analyzing the spatial distribution of topsoil geochemical properties, including the concentrations of various toxicants. Due to the small-scale heterogeneity of most geochemical topsoil processes, direct measurements of the processes themselves only provide highly localized information; it is thus financially prohibitive to study the spatial patterns of these processes across a large region using traditional geostatistical analyses of point-referenced topsoil data. Instead, it is standard practice to assess geochemical patterns at a regional scale using point-referenced measurements collected in stream sediment because, unlike topsoil data, individual stream sediment geochemical measurements are representative of the surrounding area. We propose a novel multiscale soils (MSS) model that formally synthesizes data collected in topsoil and stream sediment and allows the richer stream sediment information to inform about the topsoil process, which in environmental health studies is typically more relevant. Our model accommodates the small-scale heterogeneity of topsoil geochemical processes by modeling spatial dependence at an aggregate resolution corresponding to hydrologically similar regions known as watersheds. We present an analysis of the levels of arsenic, a toxic heavy metal, in topsoil across the midwestern United States using the MSS model and show that this model has better predictive abilities than alternative approaches using more conventional statistical models for point-referenced spatial data. [source] Late Quaternary history around Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden and Jøkelbugten, North-East GreenlandBOREAS, Issue 3 2001OLE BENNIKE Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden in North-East Greenland is at present covered by a floating glacier. Raised marine deposits in the surrounding area contain shells of marine molluscs, bones of marine mammals and pieces of driftwood. A fairly systematic sampling of such material has been conducted, followed by extensive radiocarbon dating. We suggest that the Greenland ice sheet extended onto the shelf offshore North-East Greenland during isotope stage 2, perhaps even reaching the shelf break. During the subsequent recession of the ice sheet, the entrance of Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden had become ice-free by 9.7 cal. ka BP. The recession culminated between 7.7 and 4.5 cal. ka BP, during which time the fjord was glacier-free along its entire 80 km length. No dates younger than 4.5 cal. ka BP are available on marine material from the fjord, and it seems probable that the fjord has been continuously covered by the floating glacier since this time. The maximum glaciation was attained around AD 1900, after which thinning and recession took place. The marine limit increases from c. 40 m above sea level near the present margin of the Inland Ice to c. 65 m above sea level at the outer coast. These figures fit into the regional pattern of the marine limit for areas both to the south and north. The marine fauna comprise two bivalves, Macoma calcarea and Serripes groenlandicus, that may represent a southern element present during the Holocene temperature optimum. Remains of three taxa of southern extralimital terrestrial and limnic plants were dated to 5.1 cal. ka BP, and remains of another extralimital plant were dated to 8.8 and 8.5 cal. ka BP. The known Holocene time ranges of the willow Salix arctica and the lemming Dicrostonyx torquatus have been extended back to 8.8 and 6.4 cal. ka BP, respectively, providing minimum dates for their immigration to Greenland. [source] Potential of Marine Reserves to Cause Community-Wide Changes beyond Their BoundariesCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007PAOLO GUIDETTI arrecifes rocosos templados; cambios a nivel comunitario; cascadas tróficas; estados comunitarios alternativos; exceso de pesca; reservas marinas Abstract:,Fishing and other human activities can alter the abundances, size structure, and behavior of species playing key roles in shaping marine communities (e.g., keystone predators), which may in turn cause ecosystem shifts. Despite extensive evidence that cascading trophic interactions can underlie community-wide recovery inside no-take marine reserves by protecting high-level predators, the spatial extent of these effects into adjacent fished areas is unknown. I examined the potential for community-wide changes (i.e., the transition from overgrazed coralline barrens to macroalgal beds) in temperate rocky reefs within and around a no-take marine reserve. For this purpose I assessed distribution patterns of predatory fishes, sea urchins, and barrens across the reserve boundaries. Predatory fishes were significantly more abundant within the reserve than in adjacent locations, with moderate spillover across the reserve edges. In contrast, community-wide changes of benthic assemblages were apparent well beyond the reserve boundaries, which is consistent with temporary movements of predatory fishes (e.g., foraging migration) from the reserve to surrounding areas. My results suggest that no-take marine reserves can promote community-wide changes beyond their boundaries. Resumen:,La pesca y otras actividades humanas pueden alterar la abundancia, tamaño, estructura y comportamiento de las especies que juegan papeles clave en el modelado de las comunidades marinas (e.g., depredadores clave), que a su vez pueden causar cambios en los ecosistemas. No obstante la evidencia extensiva de que las interacciones tróficas en cascada pueden subyacer en la recuperación de la comunidad dentro de reservas marinas que no permiten la pesca mediante la protección de depredadores de nivel alto, se desconoce la extensión espacial de estos efectos en áreas adyacentes. Examiné el potencial de los cambios a nivel comunidad (i.e., la transición de áreas coralinas sobre pastoreadas a lechos de microalgas) en arrecifes rocosos templados dentro y alrededor de una reserva marina sin pesca. Para este propósito, evalué los patrones de distribución de peces depredadores, erizos de mar y áreas sobre pastoreadas en los límites de la reserva. Los peces depredadores fueron significativamente más abundantes dentro de la reserva que en localidades adyacentes, con un excedente moderado en los bordes de la reserva. En contraste, los cambios a nivel de comunidad en los ensambles bénticos fueron aparentes más allá de los límites de la reserva, lo que es consistente con los movimientos temporales de los peces depredadores (e.g., migración de forrajeo) desde la reserva hacia las áreas circundantes. Mis resultados sugieren que las reservas que no permiten la pesca pueden promover cambios a nivel comunidad más allá de sus límites. [source] ESTIMATING INTERVENTION EFFECTS IN VARYING RISK SETTINGS: DO POLICE RAIDS REDUCE ILLEGAL DRUG DEALING AT NUISANCE BARS?,CRIMINOLOGY, Issue 2 2003JACQUELINE COHEN This paper investigates the effectiveness of police raids in reducing drug dealing in and around nuisance bars. We examine effects of both dosage (number of raids) and duration (months) of the intervention, as well as the conditioning effects of land use and population characteristics in shaping the underlying risk levels of drug dealing in the target and surrounding areas. Results indicate that the police intervention suppresses levels of drug dealing during periods of active enforcement, but the effects largely disappear when the intervention is withdrawn. Also, the effects of the intervention are mediated by risk characteristics in target and surrounding areas. Target areas characterized by higher levels of risk are more resistant to intervention effects than those with lower levels of risk. Risk factors in nearby areas are also significant. Bars with high levels of risk arising from land uses in surrounding areas are easier to treat, while bars with high levels of population-based risk in surrounding areas are harder to treat. [source] Spatio-temporal distribution of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) catches in the northeastern Atlantic: relationship with the thermal environmentFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2010Y. SAGARMINAGA Abstract When the spring seasonal warming starts, North Atlantic albacore (Thunnus alalunga) juveniles and pre-adults perform a trophic migration to the northeastern Atlantic, to the Bay of Biscay and to the southeast of Ireland. During this migration, they are exploited by Spanish trolling and baitboat fleets. The present study analyzes the relationship between the albacore spatio-temporal distribution and the thermal environment. For this approach, several analyses have been performed on a database including fishing logbooks and sea surface temperature (SST) images, covering the period between 1987 and 2003. SST values and the SST gradients at the catch locations have been statistically compared to broader surrounding areas to test whether the thermal environment determines the spatial distribution of albacore. General additive models (GAM) have been used also to evaluate the relative importance of environmental variables and fleet behaviour. The results obtained show that, although juvenile albacore catch locations are affected by fleet dynamics, there is a close spatial and temporal relationship with the seasonal evolution of a statistically significant preferential SST window (16,18°C). However, differences have been identified between the relationship of albacore with SST within the Bay of Biscay in July and August (higher temperature). Such differences are found also in the spatial distribution of the catch locations; these reflect clearly the presence of two groups, differentiated after the third week of the fishing campaign at the end of June. The analysis undertaken relating the distribution of North Atlantic albacore juveniles with thermal gradients did not provide any evidence of a relationship between these catch locations and the nearby occurrence of thermal gradients. [source] Utilization of laser range finder and differential GPS for high-resolution topographic measurement at Hacitu,rul Tepe, TurkeyGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009Yuichi S. Hayakawa Topographic maps are fundamental for geoarchaeological field studies and archaeological excavations. However, traditional methods of topographic mapping, as well as modern high-tech methods such as airborne laser scanning and photogrammetry of high-resolution satellite images, are often cost-ineffective for field studies in terms of time, money, and labor. We here propose a method to measure topography for archaeological sites and surrounding areas quickly and accurately, using a laser range finder (LRF) and differential global positioning system DGPS. Three-dimensional coordinates of points on land surfaces are measured through the LRF, targeted from multiple measuring locations whose positions are acquired with the DGPS. The point data are then interpolated to produce a digital elevation model (DEM) using a geographic information system (GIS). High-resolution DEMs can be obtained with this method, with horizontal and vertical accuracies on the order of 10 cm. We here demonstrate the method for measuring detailed topography of the Hacitu,rul Tepe in central Turkey. Digital topography data incorporated in GIS can also be part of an archaeological database, providing opportunities for quantitative analyses of topography and archaeological materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Evaluating the adaptability of herbage species to environmental variation through a long-term grazing experimentGRASSLAND SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005Yiruhan Abstract Mixtures of orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, redtop, Kentucky bluegrass and white clover were sown in the autumn of 1973. Two 8-year grazing experiments were carried out at the National Grassland Research Institute (Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan) to determine the effects of grazing intensity and nitrogen levels on the pasture ecosystem: two different grazing intensities (1974,1981) and two different nitrogen levels (1982,1989). Large temporal and spatial variations in phytomass were observed in both experiments. To clarify the adaptability of the phytomass of the herbage species to environmental variations in year, season and treatments, we re-examined the data obtained in these two experiments using a Finlay-Wilkinson analysis. Orchard grass and tall fescue achieved significantly higher phytomass in a more fertile environment in that they showed a high adaptability to environmental variation. Redtop and Kentucky bluegrass showed an increase in phytomass proportional to environmental improvement. The phytomass performances of perennial ryegrass and white clover were almost independent of environmental variation in that their adaptability was low. Finally, Zoysia japonica and weeds such as Pennisetum alopecuroides and Digitaria adscendens, which were invaders from the surrounding areas to the experimental site, were not observed in the pasture during the first 8-year period; during the second 8-year period, they showed moderate adaptability. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||