A sensitive image intensifier which uses inert gas

High gain optical image intensifier utilizes inert gas cavity with copper electrodes to form electron avalanches without excessive pulse voltages. Estimated optical gain for device is two times 10 to the power of seven

Consequences of Categorical Labeling of Preschool Children

The use of categorical diagnostic labels prescribed in P.L. 94--142 with children below school age is examined in this article. National practices relative to categorical labeling are reviewed, and questions are posed concerning the consequences of categorical labeling for children from 3 to 6 years old. Data from the state of New Hampshire concerning the frequency of usage for specific categorical labels are presented and are found to be consistent with national trends. Data are presented on the number of children who transition from non-categorical early intervention programs serving children birth to 3 years into categorical preschool programs for children 3 through 5 years. Almost one-third of all children served in early intervention are found not to be eligible for preschool services because of the requirement for a categorical label. The roles of demographic factors related to place of residence, age, and local school policies in deciding who is eligible for services and what diagnostic category is assigned, were considered. Finally, the consequences of categorical labeling for children, parents, and programs are discussed

Duress: A Perplexing Barrier to Relief from Joint and Several Liability

The majority of married taxpayers do not fully appreciate the legal ramifications of executing a joint tax return. Regardless of the actual division of combined income, upon filing a joint return, each spouse is responsible for the accuracy of the entire return and liable for the full amount of any tax deficiency arising from the return. To avoid joint and several liability, a couple could file separate returns; however, this often results in a greater total tax liability. Alternatively, a spouse who qualifies as innocent of the erroneous items reported by his or her spouse may claim relief under Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) § 6015. While relief from joint and several liability under I.R.C. § 6oi5 is an improvement on its predecessor, former § 6oi3(e), problems still remain that prevent many deserving taxpayers from obtaining relief. This Note focuses on two situations in which the requesting spouse had actual knowledge of the inaccuracy of the joint return, but signed the return anyway. The spouse in the first situation signed the return under duress. The spouse in the second situation signed the return to prevent retaliatory spousal abuse. Under current Treasury Regulations, § 6oi5 relief is only available to those who sign out of fear of retaliation by an abusive spouse. A spouse who signs under actual duress is required to suffer the tax consequences of a married-filing-separately return (a potentially debilitating outcome in community property states). This distinction between abuse and duress is an affront to common sense and in direct contradiction with both the text of the statute and the legislative intent

Positive and Negative Emotions and Coping as Mediators of Mother-Child Attachment and Peer Relationships

This study examined whether emotions and coping explain (mediate) the association between mother-child attachment and peer relationships. Attachment, positive and negative emotion experience, coping, and peer relationships were examined in 106 fourth-grade through sixth-grade girls attending a 6-day residential camp. Attachment, experience of positive and negative emotions, and coping were measured prior to camp with questionnaires completed by girls and their mothers. Girls reported the quality of their best friendship at camp, and camp counselors rated girls’ peer competence. Girls who perceived a more secure attachment to mother reported experiencing more positive and less negative emotions, were reported by mothers to use more social-support coping, reported more positive qualities in camp best friendships, and were rated by counselors as having enhanced peer relationships at camp. Further, the experience of positive emotions, problem-solving coping, and social-support coping mediated the links between attachment and peer relationships

Factors Determining Great Blue Heron Rookery Movement

The damaging effect of Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) excrement on nest trees was determined by observation and Hellige-Truog soil analysis methods. In large heronries high chemical concentrations kill nest trees and result in movement of heronry boundaries to o live tree area

A Community-Based Dental Program for Older Adults

The planning and implementation of a community-based outreach program for older adults is described. Objectives of the program were to provide dental health education to older persons at their place of residence, to improve access to dental care for that population, and to increase the number of older adults treated at a dental facility administered by the Department of Community Dentistry, University of Michigan. Data collected during encounters with participants are reported to supplement the description of the program. In the first year, 98 older adults (mean age 71.3 years)participated in the outreach program which was directed by a dental hygienist. Of those persons whose initial encounter was with the outreach program, 47 percent eventually contacted the dental care facility and 36 percent completed treatment. Persons who elected to seek treatment averaged 3.9 encounters with the hygienist during the program; persons who did not seek treatment averaged 2.2 encounters. Strengths and weaknesses of the program are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66221/1/j.1752-7325.1984.tb03075.x.pd

A cost-effective fluorescence detection system for pulsed laser analysis

A cost-effective fluorescence detection system has been developed using a National Instruments PCI-6251 data acquisition (DAQ) board that is driven by LabVIEW Signal Express. The signal is collected using a collimator and transported to the DAQ board using a fiber-coupled detector. The same detection system has been incorporated into an inverted microscope fitted with internal dichroic mirrors to provide a cost-effective alternative to commercial fluorescence microscopes. The detection system has been used to measure fluorescence intensity and generate a laser power curve that can be used for pulsed lasers. Different data analysis approaches have been compared and standard deviation and signal-to-noise ratios have been determined

Soil properties associated with vegetation patches in a pinus ponderosa bunchgrass mosaic.

Since Euro-American settlement, fire exclusion and other factors have dramatically altered interior western coniferous forests. Once open and parklike, present day structure in many southwestern Pinus ponderosa forests consists of dense stands of young, small-diameter trees, with small patches of larger, old trees, and relict open bunchgrass areas. Our objectives were to assess differences in soil properties associated with these different vegetation patches. We examined soil morphological characteristics, pH, organic C concentration, total N concentration C:N ratio, and phytolith concentration from profiles within 6 transects (18 soil pedons) crossing patches of dense stands of small-diameter trees, patchs of old-growth trees, and open grassy areas. Results indicate that old-growth plots had significantly lower A horizon pH and thicker 0 horizons than grass plots. In general, we found vegetation patches had statistically similar C and N concentrations and C:N ratios for A and B horizons; however, C in the A horizon was positively correlated with 0 horizon accumulation (r2 = 0.79). Greater accumulation of organic C in the A horizon of forested areas contrasts with commonly reported results from mesic, mid-continental prairie forest ecosystems but is typical for many arid semiarid, and humid savanna ecosystems. Phytolith concentration was similar among old-growth pine, dense younger pine, and open grassy plots; the lack of a spatial pattern in phytolith distribution could indicate that grass cover was more spatially continuous in the past. Additionally this interpretation is consistent with current theories regarding historical vegetation change in these forests