3,688 research outputs found
The climate of eastern Tasmania indicated by its lichen flora
During a visit of five weeks to Tasmania, in February and
March, 1891, while exploring for lichens in the 'neighbourhoods
of Launceston, Mount Arthur, Ulverstone, Hobart,
Mount Wellington, the Huon River, and St. Mary's Pass, I
was struck with the general and unexpected poverty of the
lichen flora, and, on looking about for the cause of this, I
noted the evident frequency of bush fires, which are the most
destructive enemies of lichen growth. This, however, did
not wholly explain the matter, for, even where the plants
might be expected to recover from the action of the fire, their
vitality seemed to be checked by the dryness of the climate.
This was a discovery surprising to a Victorian, who had been
accustomed to consider the climate of Tasmania a humid one.
An examination of meteorological authorities, however,
showed that in the eastern portion of the island the rainfall
is rot only less than it is in the western, but less than it is in
Victoria. In the west and the highlands of Tasmania 75in. of
rain have been registered in one year, and the average of the
whole island is said to be 35in.; but the annual rainfall at
Hobart is only 21-52in
The psychological-type profile of lay church leaders in Australia
A sample of 845 lay church leaders (444 women and 401 men) from a range of 24 different denominations and movements (including house churches and independent churches) completed the Francis Psychological-Type Scales within the context of the 2006 Australian National Church Life Survey. The psychological-type profiles of these lay church leaders were almost identical to the type profiles of 1527 Australian churchgoers (936 women and 591 men) published in an earlier study by Robbins and Francis. The predominant types among female lay church leaders were ISFJ (21%), ESFJ (21%), and ISTJ (18%). The predominant types among male lay church leaders were ISTJ (28%), ISFJ (17%), ESTJ (13%), and ESFJ (12%). The SJ temperament accounted for 67% of the female lay church leaders and for 70% of the male lay church leaders. The strengths and weaknesses of the SJ leadership style are discussed
New Kadampa Buddhists and Jungian psychological type
Building on previous studies on Canadian Anglicans and Catholics, this study examines and discusses the psychological type profile of 31 adherents to New Kadampa Buddhism. Like Anglicans and Catholics, Buddhists preferred introversion (I). Like Anglicans who preferred intuition (N) and unlike Catholics who preferred sensing (S), Buddhists displayed a preference for intuition (N). Unlike Anglicans and Catholics who both preferred feeling (F), Buddhists displayed a balance between feeling (F) and thinking (T). Like Anglicans and unlike Catholics, Buddhists preferred the Apollonian temperament (NF) over the Epimethean temperament (SJ). These data are discussed to interpret the psychological appeal of New Kadampa Buddhism
The psychological-type profile of clergywomen in ordained local ministry in the Church of England : pioneers or custodians?
This study employs psychological-type theory to compare the psychological profile of 144 clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry in the Church of England alongside the established profile of 237 professional mobile clergywomen serving in the Church of England published by Francis, Craig, Whinney, Tilley, and Slater. The data found no significant differences between these two groups of clergywomen in terms of orientations (introversion and extraversion) or in terms of the judging process (thinking and feeling). In terms of the perceiving process, there was a significantly higher proportion of sensing types among those serving in ordained local ministry (70% compared with 35%). In terms of the attitudes, there was a significantly higher proportion of judging types among those serving in ordained local ministry (83% compared with 65%). The combined sensing judging (SJ) temperament accounted for 65% of the clergywomen serving in ordained local ministry, compared with 29% of the clergywomen serving in professional mobile ministry in the earlier study. It is argued that the SJ temperament characterises a custodian style of ministry
Tasmanian lichens - Part 1
There is no class of plants which ordinary people know or
notice so little as lichens. Yet this does not arise from their
rarity or the sparseness of their distribution, for they grow
almost everywhere on the globe, especially in the temperate
and polar zones ; and some species are very numerous. For
example, the " reindeer moss," as it is called, while it is found
in all cool climates, grows in the Arctic regions so profusely
that the individual specimens of it are said to greatly outnumber
those of any other species of plant throughout the
world. The range of altitude and position also is very
extensive. Some species are found on Alpine heights where
no other vegetation exists ; and some grow on the seaside,
between high and low water. Some thrive on hard rocks
exposed to the noonday sun ; and some delight in the shade
of caves and forests. The substrata on which they grow are
various. Sandy earth, clay and loam, sandstone, granitic,
basaltic, and calcareous rocks, dead wood, the bark and leaves
of trees, messes, etc., even dried bones, leather, iron, and glass
afford them foothold. But they seem to absorb very little
nutriment from any of these substrata ; and most of them
indeed live wholly on air and moisture.
This work
containes a list of 151 species, based on Rev. Wilsons own
collections and those of earlier collectors, and
included a brief description of each species.
SEE ALSO: Ratkowsky - Macrolichens of Mount Wellington, Tasmania - UTAS ePrints
http://eprints.utas.edu.au/1380
The effects of feedwater degassing on the permeate flux of a small scale SWRO pilot plant
The effects of pressure release on feed water cavitation have been studied using a small pilot scale SWRO system. The presence of dissolved atmospheric gases in seawater leads to a potential for cavitation within the porous membranes used in high pressure processes. The rapid application and release of applied pressures in the range of 10–60 atm was found to cause visible cavitation throughout the bulk solution phase. This phenomenon was not related to increased gas solubility under the applied pressure, since no additional gases were allowed into the system. It was found that almost complete removal of the initial dissolved atmospheric gases prevented this cavitation. Earlier laboratory scale studies had reported that removal of cavitation by feed water de-gassing enhanced permeate flow rates by 3–5% but this level of improvement was not observed in the pilot scale study operating at an applied pressure of 38 atm with seawater feed. It is possible that larger effects may be observed with the use of more hydrophobic membranes and at higher working pressures. Pre-heating seawater feed to enhance RO efficiency may also lead to greater cavitation within the RO membrane. This study has also demonstrated that pre-treatment using hollow-fibre membranes with efficient vacuum pumping systems can readily produce a high flow rate of 99.5% de-gassed seawater. Feed water de-gassing at these high levels also has the advantage of reducing both inorganic and biological fouling and reduces oxidative degradation of the polymeric membranes
An intervention modelling experiment to change GP's intentions to implement evidence-based practice : using theory-based interventions to promote GP management of upper respiratory tract infection without prescribing antibiotics #2
Background: Psychological theories of behaviour may provide a framework to guide the design of interventions to change professional behaviour. Behaviour change interventions, designed using psychological theory and targeting important motivational beliefs, were experimentally evaluated for effects on the behavioural intention and simulated behaviour of GPs in the management of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Methods: The design was a 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled trial. A postal questionnaire was developed based on three theories of human behaviour: Theory of Planned Behaviour; Social Cognitive Theory and Operant Learning Theory. The beliefs and attitudes of GPs regarding the management of URTI without antibiotics and rates of prescribing on eight patient scenarios were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Two theory-based interventions, a "graded task" with "action planning" and a "persuasive communication", were incorporated into the post-intervention questionnaire. Trial groups were compared using co-variate analyses. Results: Post-intervention questionnaires were returned for 340/397 (86%) GPs who responded to the baseline survey. Each intervention had a significant effect on its targeted behavioural belief: compared to those not receiving the intervention GPs completing Intervention 1 reported stronger self-efficacy scores (Beta = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.64 to 2.25) and GPs completing Intervention 2 had more positive anticipated consequences scores (Beta = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.46 to 1.98). Intervention 2 had a significant effect on intention (Beta = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.41 to 1.38) and simulated behaviour (Beta = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.74). Conclusion: GPs' intended management of URTI was significantly influenced by their confidence in their ability to manage URTI without antibiotics and the consequences they anticipated as a result of doing so. Two targeted behaviour change interventions differentially affected these beliefs. One intervention also significantly enhanced GPs' intentions not to prescribe antibiotics for URTI and resulted in lower rates of prescribing on patient scenarios compared to a control group. The theoretical frameworks utilised provide a scientific rationale for understanding how and why the interventions had these effects, improving the reproducibility and generalisability of these findings and offering a sound basis for an intervention in a "real world" trial. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00376142This study is funded by the European Commission Research Directorate as part of a multi-partner program: Research Based Education and Quality Improvement (ReBEQI): A Framework and tools to develop effective quality improvement programs in European healthcare. (Proposal No: QLRT-2001-00657)
Does regional loss of bone density explain low trauma distal forearm fractures in men (The Mr F study)?
Summary The pathogenesis of low trauma wrist fractures in men is not fully understood. This study found that these men have lower bone mineral density at the forearm itself, as well as the hip and spine, and has shown that forearm bone mineral density is the best predictor of wrist fracture. Introduction Men with distal forearm fractures have reduced bone density at the lumbar spine and hip sites, an increased risk of osteoporosis and a higher incidence of further fractures. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether or not there is a regional loss of bone mineral density (BMD) at the forearm between men with and without distal forearm fractures. Methods Sixty-one men with low trauma distal forearm fracture and 59 age-matched bone healthy control subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent a DXA scan of forearm, hip and spine, biochemical investigations, health questionnaires, SF-36v2 and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX). The non-fractured arm was investigated in subjects with fracture and both forearms in control subjects. Results BMD was significantly lower at the ultradistal forearm in men with fracture compared to control subjects, in both the dominant (mean (SD) 0.386 g/cm2 (0.049) versus 0.436 g/cm2 (0.054), p < 0.001) and non-dominant arm (mean (SD) 0.387 g/cm2 (0.060) versus 0.432 g/cm2 (0.061), p = 0.001). Fracture subjects also had a significantly lower BMD at hip and spine sites compared with control subjects. Logistic regression analysis showed that the best predictor of forearm fracture was ultradistal forearm BMD (OR = 0.871 (0.805–0.943), p = 0.001), with the likelihood of fracture decreasing by 12.9% for every 0.01 g/cm2 increase in ultradistal forearm BMD. Conclusions Men with low trauma distal forearm fracture have significantly lower regional BMD at the ultradistal forearm, which contributes to an increased forearm fracture risk. They also have generalised reduction in BMD, so that low trauma forearm fractures in men should be considered as indicator fractures for osteoporosis
Performance of LED-Based Fluorescence Microscopy to Diagnose Tuberculosis in a Peripheral Health Centre in Nairobi.
Sputum microscopy is the only tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic available at peripheral levels of care in resource limited countries. Its sensitivity is low, particularly in high HIV prevalence settings. Fluorescence microscopy (FM) can improve performance of microscopy and with the new light emitting diode (LED) technologies could be appropriate for peripheral settings. The study aimed to compare the performance of LED-FM versus Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and to assess feasibility of LED-FM at a low level of care in a high HIV prevalence country
Distribution of raphespinal fibers in the mouse spinal cord
Background: Serotonergic raphespinal neurons and their fibers have been mapped in large mammals, but the non- serotonergic ones have not been studied, especially in the mouse. The present study aimed to investigate the termination pattern of fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei which also have serotonergic neurons by injecting the anterograde tracer BDA into them. Results: We found that raphespinal fibers terminate in both the dorsal and ventral horns in addition to lamina 10. There is a shift of the fibers in the ventral horn towards the dorsal and lateral part of the gray matter. Considerable variation in the termination pattern also exists between raphe nuclei with raphe magnus having more fibers terminating in the dorsal horn. Fibers from the adjacent gigantocellular reticular nucleus show similar termination pattern as those from the raphe nuclei with slight difference. Immunofluorescence staining showed that raphespinal fibers were heterogeneous and serotoninergic fibers were present in all laminae but mainly in laminae 1, 2, medial lamina 8, laminae 9 and 10. Surprisingly, immunofluorescence staining on clarified spinal cord tissue revealed that serotoninergic fibers formed bundles regularly in a short distance along the rostrocaudal axis in the medial part of the ventral horn and they extended towards the lateral motor neuron column area. Conclusion: Serotonergic and non-serotonergic fibers arising from the hindbrain raphe and reticular nuclei had similar termination pattern in the mouse spinal cord with subtle difference. The present study provides anatomical foundation for the multiple roles raphe and adjacent reticular nuclei play
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