Larval Ecology of Some Lower Michigan Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) With Keys to the Immature Stages

The species composition, succession, and seasonal abundance of -immature simuliids ocmrrhg in the Rose Lake Wildlife Research Area in lower Michigan are presented. Selected physical and chemical characteristics of streams in the above area were examined and compared in relation to faunal distributions. Comparisons of species differences between permanent and temporary streams were made utilizing the functional group concept based on feeding mechanisms. Keys and illustrations are presented for the identiiication of larvae and pupae of four genera (Prosimulium, Simulium, Stegopterna, Cnephia) and 19 species of Simuliidae known to occur in lower Michigan. Two species, Cnephia ornithophilia and Simulium vemum, were recorded for the first time in Michigan

Effects of Student Self-Management on Generalization of Student Performance to Regular Classes

The use of a student self-monitoring and self-rating/teacher matching strategy to assist generalization of social skills use and decrease off-task behavior of five inner-city at-risk middle school students was investigated. A multiple-baseline design was used to assess the effects of the intervention in up to six different class settings. Results indicated that the self-monitoring and self-rating/teacher matching intervention led to an increase in correct social skills use and a decrease in off-task behaviors with all five students. These data add to the existing literature, suggesting self-monitoring with self-rating/teacher matching is an effective procedure to promote generalization of behavior. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Human Trafficking and National Security - Policy Responses

Human trafficking poses a threat to national security and undermines global order. Trafficking exploits sovereign borders and undermines state legitimacy by highlighting failures of governance. This thesis seeks to understand policy responses to human trafficking, which are essential to providing resilient national security while upholding human rights. I conducted a mixed methods analysis to examine three levels of government response to trafficking: domestic, regional/international, and foreign domestic measures. I examined how the United States Senate develops anti-trafficking legislation, how human rights regimes are developing within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and how specific Southeast Asian nations have responded to the Department of State\u27s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. I examined the 112th and 113th Congresses and find that both conservative and liberal Senators support trafficking legislation, but with discernable differences in emphasis. I applied Oran Young\u27s framework for studying international regimes to examine ASEAN responses to human rights issues. I find surprisingly little hegemonic influence from either Indonesia or the United States, which correlates to China\u27s concurrent hegemony in the South China Sea. I find that Trafficking in Persons TIP Tier ratings correlate with corruption, as well as the robustness of state human rights regimes, with several surprising caveats. Finally, findings indicate that democratic governance and growth in defense spending as a percentage of GDP are predictors of TIP Tier ratings

Cognitive Task Enhancement Through Alpha Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback training has been a recent field of study in neuroscience, as a potential way to increase focus, and possibly boost cognitive performance. Most studies utilize a course of neurofeedback training sessions to find positive results in decreasing ADHD symptoms, depression symptoms, as well as further cognitive changes. In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy of a single session of neurofeedback training in increasing cognitive performance. To do so, we randomly separated 42 volunteers into either a control or experimental group. The experimental group participated in an n-back task both before and after an alpha neurofeedback training session, while the experimental group did a similar task, but utilized a sham neurofeedback training session rather than a real-time training session. Our results found minor differences in the performance of the two groups, with no significant differences. This suggests that while there is still potential that neurofeedback training can impact cognitive performance, and improve working memory, a single session may not be sufficient enough to provide any significant change

Irrigation externalities: pricing and charges

Irrigation externalities: pricing and charges by Gavan Dwyer, Robert Douglas, Deb Peterson, Jo Chong and Kate Maddern was released on 14 March 2006. The paper discusses the nature and causes of environmental change related to rural water use, and provides a taxonomy of the many diverse types. It also examines the issues surrounding possible charges on water use for water related externalities. There have been few attempts by water utilities to incorporate externalities into full cost pricing of irrigation water. The aim of this Staff Working Paper was to: examine the extent to which charges imposed by irrigation water utilities could address externalities from irrigation water supply and use; and to develop a framework to identify and characterise changes in environmental conditions from the supply and use of irrigation water that may lead to environmental externalities. The authors found that many factors influence the extent to which charging for water would change water use. These include the volume of water available to irrigators, the extent to which trade can occur, the size of the charge or tax, the price responsiveness for irrigation water and the existing mechanisms to address externalities. A tax on water use may increase economic efficiency where external costs are related only to the level of water use. However, such a tax is an unsuitable instrument if the Government's policy objective is to reduce environmental damage to a predetermined level or to raise a target level of revenue to address the externalities. The views expressed in this paper are those of the staff involved and do not necessarily reflect those of the Productivity Commission.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A High-Precision and Low-Cost Dew Point Equipment with Fuzzy Control System

The control of environmental conditions in some sectors of the industry is essential since the variation of these parameters can influence the quality of the manufactured product. For this, it is necessary to use measuring equipment with high precision, and when referring to the measurement of relative humidity, the dew point meter is indispensable. The chilled mirror method for measure °Cdp is the one of the most accurate that exists in the market, but these devices typically are high cost, hampering access to small businesses. The chilled mirror method basically consists of a PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) control of the temperature of a Peltier module based on the reading of the light intensity generated from the reflection of a light source. In this context, the proposal of this work is to develop a high precision and low cost device, operating in the range of -20 to 20°Cdp, replacing the traditional PID control by a Fuzzy control system, providing better accuracy in control, thus making a viable product mainly for small and medium-sized companies. The results presented show the feasibility of the proposal of this work, obtaining 98.9% accurate readings when compared with a reference equipment, and a maximum deviation observed was of 0.02°Cdp, thus proving its precision. Another point to note is the low cost of the equipment, approximately US$ 120.00, thus reaching the proposed objective

Tree Trunk Arthropod Faunas as Food Resources for Birds

Author Institution: Department of Zoology, Miami UniversityThe composition, abundance, and relationship to trunk-surface characteristics of the tree-trunk surface arthropod fauna were studied from August, 1984 to January, 1985 in a beech-maple forest in southwestern Ohio. Samples of trunk-surface arthropods were taken monthly from American beech and sugar maple trees. Although resource levels on the two tree species did not differ significantly, arthropod resource levels were dynamic, changing monthly in magnitude and composition. Live arthropods became progressively less abundant as winter approached; non-living/dormant items did not. Results suggest that trunk surface characteristics offer foraging birds few reliable clues about arthropod resource levels

Investigating Habituation to Premonitory Urges in Behavior Therapy for Tic Disorders

Behavior therapy is effective for Persistent Tic Disorders (PTDs), but behavioral processes facilitating tic reduction are not well understood. One process, habituation, is thought to create tic reduction through decreases in premonitory urge severity. The current study tested whether premonitory urges decreased in youth with PTDs (N = 126) and adults with PTDs (N = 122) who participated in parallel randomized clinical trials comparing behavior therapy to psychoeducation and supportive therapy (PST). Trends in premonitory urges, tic severity, and treatment outcome were analyzed according to the predictions of a habituation model, whereby urge severity would be expected to decrease in those who responded to behavior therapy. Although adults who responded to behavior therapy showed a significant trend of declining premonitory urge severity across treatment, results failed to demonstrate that behavior therapy specifically caused changes in premonitory urge severity. In addition, reductions in premonitory urge severity in those who responded to behavior therapy were significant greater than those who did not respond to behavior therapy but no different than those who responded or did not respond to PST. Children with PTDs failed to show any significant changes in premonitory urges. Reductions in premonitory urge severity did not mediate the relationship between treatment and outcome in either adults or children. These results cast doubt on the notion that habituation is the therapeutic process underlying the effectiveness of behavior therapy, which has immediate implications for the psychoeducation and therapeutic rationale presented in clinical practice. Moreover, there may be important developmental changes in premonitory urges in PTDs, and alternative models of therapeutic change warrant investigation