1,071 research outputs found
Livestock paths on Namaqualand quartz fields: Will the endemic flora disappear?
AbstractQuartz fields are rare features that contribute significantly to vegetation diversity and endemism of South Africa's Succulent Karoo Biome. The Riethuis-Wallekraal quartz fields in the north-western Namaqualand area of South Africa contain 17 quartz field specialist species of which seven are endemic to this specific area. Hoof-action by livestock has formed paths of approximately 0.30m on these quartz fields. It would be important to conservationists to understand whether direct (e.g. trampling) and indirect effects (e.g. burial of flora by sediment movement) associated with the livestock paths holds any threat to the dwarf succulent (<0.05m) and micro-chamaephytes (0.06–0.15m) endemic to the quartz fields. We tested the hypotheses that the unique quartz field vegetation and biological soil crusts would be affected by loose soil particles transported downslope from the paths. The soil stability index, total vegetation cover, cover of specialized quartz field species and species diversity were lower on livestock paths but did not differ between upslope and downslope locations. Livestock paths also had lower cover and fewer quartz field specialist species. It is concluded that under conditions of intense and continuous grazing, livestock are likely to have an even stronger negative impact on the specialist quartz field flora
Human scotopic dark adaptation: Comparison of recoveries of psychophysical threshold and ERG b-wave sensitivity
We have compared the time course of dark adaptation of the human scotopic visual system, measured psychophysically and from the b-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG), for bleaches ranging from a few percent to near total. We also measured light adaptation, in order to apply a "Crawford transformation" to convert the raw measurements of dark adaptation into equivalent background intensities. For both the "psychophysical threshold equivalent" intensity and the "ERG b-wave sensitivity equivalent" intensity, the equivalent background declined over much of its range with an "S2" component, though with somewhat different slopes of -0.36 (psychophysical) and -0.22 (ERG) log10 unit min-1, respectively. In addition, the magnitude of the equivalent background was approximately 1 log10 unit lower in the psychophysical experiments than in the ERG experiments. Despite these differences, the two approaches extract a common time course for the decline in level of free opsin following moderately large bleaches. We conclude that the recovery of psychophysical scotopic visual threshold over the S2 region reflects events that are present by the stage of the first synapse of rod vision, stemming ultimately from the presence of unregenerated opsin in the rod outer segments
Acceptor state anchoring in gallium nitride
The dual nature of the magnesium acceptor in gallium nitride results in dynamic defect complexes. Europium spectator ions reveal switching between two spectrally unique metastable centres, each corresponding to a particular acceptor state. By ion co-implantation of europium and oxygen into GaN(Mg), we produce, in addition, an anchored state system. In doing so we create an abundance of previously unidentified stable centres which we denote as "Eu0(Ox)". We introduce a microscopic model for these centres with oxygen substituting for nitrogen in the bridging site
A method for isolating and culturing placental cells from failed early equine pregnancies
Early pregnancy loss occurs in 6–10% of equine pregnancies making it the main cause of reproductive wastage. Despite this, reasons for the losses are known in only 16% of cases. Lack of viable conceptus material has inhibited investigations of many potential genetic and pathological causes. We present a method for isolating and culturing placental cells from failed early equine pregnancies. Trophoblast cells from 18/30 (60%) failed equine pregnancies of gestational ages 14–65 days were successfully cultured in three different media, with the greatest growth achieved for cells cultured in AmnioChrome™ Plus. Genomic DNA of a suitable quality for molecular assays was also isolated from 29/30 of these cases. This method will enable future investigations determining pathologies causing EPL
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Risk-based systems analysis for emerging technologies: Applications of a technology risk assessment model to public decision making
The risk-based systems analysis model was designed to establish funding priorities among competing technologies for tank waste remediation. The model addresses a gap in the Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) ``toolkit`` for establishing funding priorities among emerging technologies by providing disciplined risk and cost assessments of candidate technologies within the context of a complete remediation system. The model is comprised of a risk and cost assessment and a decision interface. The former assesses the potential reductions in risk and cost offered by new technology relative to the baseline risk and cost of an entire system. The latter places this critical information in context of other values articulated by decision makers and stakeholders in the DOE system. The risk assessment portion of the model is demonstrated for two candidate technologies for tank waste retrieval (arm-based mechanical retrieval -- the ``long reach arm``) and subsurface barriers (close-coupled chemical barriers). Relative changes from the base case in cost and risk are presented for these two technologies to illustrate how the model works. The model and associated software build on previous work performed for DOE`s Office of Technology Development and the former Underground Storage Tank Integrated Demonstration, and complement a decision making tool presented at Waste Management 1994 for integrating technical judgements and non-technical (stakeholder) values when making technology funding decisions
Helioseismology of Sunspots: A Case Study of NOAA Region 9787
Various methods of helioseismology are used to study the subsurface
properties of the sunspot in NOAA Active Region 9787. This sunspot was chosen
because it is axisymmetric, shows little evolution during 20-28 January 2002,
and was observed continuously by the MDI/SOHO instrument. (...) Wave travel
times and mode frequencies are affected by the sunspot. In most cases, wave
packets that propagate through the sunspot have reduced travel times. At short
travel distances, however, the sign of the travel-time shifts appears to depend
sensitively on how the data are processed and, in particular, on filtering in
frequency-wavenumber space. We carry out two linear inversions for wave speed:
one using travel-times and phase-speed filters and the other one using mode
frequencies from ring analysis. These two inversions give subsurface wave-speed
profiles with opposite signs and different amplitudes. (...) From this study of
AR9787, we conclude that we are currently unable to provide a unified
description of the subsurface structure and dynamics of the sunspot.Comment: 28 pages, 18 figure
A Review of Controlling Motivational Strategies from a Self-Determination Theory Perspective: Implications for Sports Coaches
The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary taxonomy of six controlling strategies, primarily based on the parental and educational literatures, which we believe are employed by coaches in sport contexts. Research in the sport and physical education literature has primarily focused on coaches’ autonomysupportive behaviours. Surprisingly, there has been very little research on the use of controlling strategies. A brief overview of the research which delineates each proposed strategy is presented, as are examples of the potential manifestation of the behaviours associated with each strategy in the context of sports coaching. In line with self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2002), we propose that coach behaviours employed to pressure or control athletes have the potential to thwart athletes’ feelings of autonomy, competence,and relatedness, which, in turn, undermine athletes’ self-determined motivation and contribute to the development of controlled motives. When athletes feel pressured to behave in a certain way, a variety of negative consequences are expected to ensue which are to the detriment of the athletes’ well-being. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness and interest in the darker side of sport participation and to offer suggestions for future research in this area
The coping strategies used over a two-year period by HIV-positive women who had been diagnosed during pregnancy
Structured interviews were conducted with 224 HIV-positive women diagnosed during pregnancy, at antenatal
clinics in Tshwane, South Africa, in order to investigate the use of coping strategies during the first two years after
diagnosis. Interviews were conducted between one and four weeks after diagnosis during pregnancy, with three
follow-up interviews conducted post-partum. Coping strategies were assessed with an adapted version of the Brief
COPE. It was found that active coping was used more often than avoidant coping throughout the study period.
Active coping increased over time, while avoidant coping decreased at first but increased again between 6 and 21
months after diagnosis. The most frequently used coping strategies included acceptance, direct action, positive
reframing, religion and distraction. At first, women coped through internalised strategies. Over time, outwardfocused
strategies developed. Avoidant coping patterns differed from previous research indicating that women
diagnosed during pregnancy deal with the consequences of HIV after the baby is born. Recommendations for
mental health services are made.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant R24HD43558http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/caic20hb201
Psychosocial variables associated with coping of HIV-positive women diagnosed during pregnancy
To identify psychosocial variables related to the use of coping strategies by HIV-positive
South African women diagnosed during pregnancy, structured interviews were conducted
with 224 HIV-positive women at antenatal clinics over a period of two years. Two coping
styles, active and avoidant coping, were assessed using an adapted version of the Brief COPE. Psychosocial variables associated with changes in coping over time were identified
with mixed linear analysis. Increases in active coping were associated with decreasing levels
of internalized stigma and depression, increasing self-esteem and positive social support,
knowing someone who is living with HIV, being physically healthy and living above the
poverty line. Increases in avoidant coping were associated with increasing internalized
stigma and depression, lower levels of self-esteem, HIV-knowledge and lower levels of
education. Recommendations are made for psychological support services to strengthen
women’s ability to cope and enhance their health and that of their infants.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD) grant R24HD43558http://www.springer.com/public+health/journal/10461gv201
Support group processes : perspectives from HIV-infected women in South Africa
This study examined the experiences and perceived benefits of support group participation among HIV-infected women in South Africa. From a qualitative analysis of responses, key psychological processes through which support groups are potentially beneficial were identified. These processes included identification, modelling, acceptance, and empowerment. The participants’ consequent life changes were explored in order to associate these processes with the positive outcomes of support group participation. Through understanding the relationship between the psychological processes within a support group setting and the potential benefits, and by targeting these processes in the development and implementation of future support group interventions, a framework is provided for achieving positive outcomes associated with support group participation.NICHD grant R24HD43558http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/uqrp20gv201
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