African Olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) as an environmental weed in eastern Australia: a review

African Olive, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G.Don) Cif. (family Oleaceae) is a dense-crowned tree introduced into Australia for horticulture in the mid 19th century. In recent decades, African Olive has become an aggressive woody weed, capable of forming a dense and permanent canopy in a wide range of vegetation types in south-west Sydney and beyond. Characteristics of African Olive invasion in south-west Sydney, and its seed dispersal by frugivorous birds are consistent with experience from Norfolk Island and Hawaii. We use records and aerial photographs from Mount Annan Botanic Garden and other bushland areas in south-west Sydney to describe the invasion stages and impacts of African Olive. The capacity for African Olive to establish in both temperate and subtropical zones, underlie the potential for spread well beyond current distribution in New South Wales. Research is now required to further develop control techniques and ecological restoration strategies for areas of heavy African Olive infestation. Mapping of current locations and a coordinated control strategy for African Olive is required to prevent future permanent loss of native plant diversity

Microwave apparatus for gravitational waves observation

In this report the theoretical and experimental activities for the development of superconducting microwave cavities for the detection of gravitational waves are presented.Comment: 42 pages, 28 figure

Comparison in Personality Profiles Between Child Abusers Versus Child Neglectors

Children who suffered parental abuse or neglect can be returned home if their safety can be ensured following offender treatment. However, some caregivers will continue to abuse or neglect their children upon return home, leading to additional treatment, state involvement, and harm to the child. This study assessed personality differences between child abusers and neglectors who were caregivers by applying a binary logistical regression analysis to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2) scores sampled from archival data for 215 caregivers. Analysis showed that the abusers had statistically significant higher scores on the F Scale (\u27Faking Bad\u27), but significantly lower scores on Scale 6 (Paranoia) than neglectors. While trait theory asserts that personality aspects are fundamentally fixed, there are treatment implications for differing personality defects. Even though caregivers who had their children removed for abuse or neglect are currently treated homogenously by the legal system, it was hypothesized that the two groups, abuse or neglect, would have different personality traits. Greater insights into the caregiver personalities can lead to more specific treatment, with separate components tailored to the individual, and improved case outcomes for caregivers reunited with their children after child protective services involvement. The social change implication of this study is the continued safety of children through improved treatment for the caregiver, a decrease in recidivism, and lowered child maltreatment rates in the community through a better psychological understanding of the offending caregiver

Study of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemias (AML) by cluster analysis

BACKGROUND. Cluster analysis is particularly effective in detecting homogeneous subgroups among large series of observations. We applied this relatively uncommon approach to the study of prognosis in 137 patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS AND RESULTS. Employing simple presentation parameters (age, WBC, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly) we used cluster analysis to define 3 groups with different overall survival (p = 0.0019). This classification was obtained following a rescaling of the variables and principal component analysis. Validation was performed through random definition of a control group. With the same variables, univariate analysis demonstrated age was the only prognostic factor, while Cox's model was not significant. CONCLUSIONS. In our series cluster analysis allowed a better definition of prognosis than Cox's analysis. Since the 3 groups are well identifiable, each patient can be rapidly classified and his allocation confirmed by discriminant functions. For cluster 2 we were able to project a possible myelodysplastic evolution, while cluster 3 was more frequently associated with a monocytic blastic component. We think that cluster analysis deserves consideration as an alternative statistical approach in the analysis of large series of data; its usefulness lies in its power to define homogeneous prognostic or biologic subgroups and to elaborate further hypotheses for new studies

The CD271 expression could be alone for establisher phenotypic marker in Bone Marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of great interest for their potential use in cellular therapies. To define the population more precisely, diverse surface markers have been used. We propose here to use CD271 as the sole marker for MSCs in fresh bone marrow. We compared CD271+ populations to the presence or absence of five defined markers for MSCs: CD90+, CD105+, CD45-, CD34- and CD79. The correlations between markers were evaluated and analyzed with a Pearson's correlation test. We found that the average percentage of cells expressing the combination of markers CD90+, CD105+, CD45-, CD34- and CD79- was 0.54%, and that the average percentage average of CD271+ cells was 0.53%. The results were significant (

Radio frequency plasma processing effects on the emission characteristics of a MeV electron beam cathode

Experiments have proven that surface contaminants on the cathode of an electron beam diode influence electron emission current and impedance collapse. This letter reports on an investigation to reduce parasitic cathode current loss and to increase high voltage hold off capabilities by reactive sputter cleaning of contaminants. Experiments have characterized effective radio frequency (rf) plasma processing protocols for high voltage anode–cathode (A–K) gaps using a two-stage argon/oxygen and argon rf plasma discharge. Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy measures contaminant (hydrogen) and bulk cathode (aluminum) plasma emission versus transported axial electron beam current turn on. Experiments were performed at accelerator parameters: V = −0.7V=−0.7 to −1.1 MV,−1.1MV, I(diode)=3–30 kA,I(diode)=3–30kA, and pulse length=0.4–1.0 μs.length=0.4–1.0μs. Experiments using a two-stage low power (100 W) argon/oxygen rf discharge followed by a higher power (200 W) pure argon rf discharge yielded an increase in cathode turn-on voltage required for axial current emission from 662±174 kV662±174kV to 981±97 kV.981±97kV. The turn-on time of axial current was increased from 100±22100±22 to 175±42 ns.175±42ns. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69353/2/APPLAB-75-1-31-1.pd