Methods for Comparing Global Vegetation Maps

Objective statistical methods are presented for comparing global vegetation maps. The methods are illustrated by comparing maps resulting from applying a modified Holdridge plant/climate hypothesis to various global climate projections and to current vegetation (the baseline). Five general circulation model projections (GFDL, GFDL-Qflux, GISS, OSU, UKMO) of expected climate resulting from doubling current CO2 levels were used as input to the modified Holdridge model. The Kappa statistic proved to be a useful and straightforward measure of agreement between maps. Furthermore, individual kappa statistics for comparing a given vegetation zone between two maps clearly indicated differences and similarities between maps. Additional summary statistics compare the change in area, latitude, and longitude between maps for each vegetation zone, as well as the distance and direction that each vegetation zone has shifted

Methadone Dosage Levels and Borderline Personality Disorder

Objectives: Methadone is the most commonly prescribed medication treatment in the United States for the treatment of opioid dependence. Past research has found that people diagnosed with personality disorders require a higher level of methadone to satisfy their feelings of distress, emptiness and need to feel special. The researcher hypothesized that participants diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder would receive a higher level of methadone dose in milligrams than their other mentally disordered colleagues. Methods: This study examines the influence of Borderline Personality Disorder, gender, age and Major Depressive Disorder has on the dosage levels of 184 clients who both receive methadone at a large metropolitan methadone clinic in the twin city area of Minnesota and have participated in mental health services offered by the same clinic. Results: Results of the research indicate lower methadone dosage levels in participants with BPD and methadone dosage levels compared to methadone dosage levels of other mental disordered participants. Conclusion: The presence of BPD appears to be unrelated to methadone dosage levels

Methadone Dosage Levels and Borderline Personality Disorder

Objectives: Methadone is the most commonly prescribed medication treatment in the United States for the treatment of opioid dependence. Past research has found that people diagnosed with personality disorders require a higher level of methadone to satisfy their feelings of distress, emptiness and need to feel special. The researcher hypothesized that participants diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder would receive a higher level of methadone dose in milligrams than their other mentally disordered colleagues. Methods: This study examines the influence of Borderline Personality Disorder, gender, age and Major Depressive Disorder has on the dosage levels of 184 clients who both receive methadone at a large metropolitan methadone clinic in the twin city area of Minnesota and have participated in mental health services offered by the same clinic. Results: Results of the research indicate lower methadone dosage levels in participants with BPD and methadone dosage levels compared to methadone dosage levels of other mental disordered participants. Conclusion: The presence of BPD appears to be unrelated to methadone dosage levels

Blending the Law of Sales with the Common Law of Third Party Beneficiaries

In the majority of jurisdictions that have adopted Uniform Commercial Code section 2-318, certain plaintiffs are precluded from recovering for economic loss that is not related to personal injury. The author submits, after reviewing the common law of third party beneficiaries, that section 2-318 should be blended with third party beneficiary law. Consequently, according to the author, non-privity plaintiffs that suffer economic losses should be able to recover on the basis of those economic losses under certain circumstances

FLASH holographic microscopy using a compact extreme ultraviolet table top laser

2015 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Microscopes allow our eyes to visualize objects at micro- and nanoscales. But there application are not limited to static images. The visualization of dynamic processes is necessary to understand complex systems on the micro- and nanoscales, Thus the need for microscopes capable of visualizing nanoscale processes, to further extend the development on micro- and nano-electromechanical devices (MEMS and NEMS). Conventional microscopy will not be sufficient for this purpose for two reasons the first is the spatial resolution is not sufficient to capture nanoscale objects and secondly if the object is moving out of plane the image taken needs to be adjusted using methods of post processing. To this end Fourier transform holography using and EUV light source was utilized to provide us with a method recording sub-micron oscillators. We recorded the oscillation of sub-micron pillars using time resolved extreme ultraviolet (EUV) Fourier transform Holography. The source utilized was a 46.9 nm tabletop capillary discharge with an EUV wavelength of 46.9nm, which provided large flux of coherent illumination. The bright illumination allowed for a modified Fresnel Zone plate to be used as a beam splitter. The modified Fresnel zone plate was able to produce a reference and object beam. This reference and object beam interfered creating a hologram. The reference wave is created by the first order focus while a central opening in the zone plate illuminates the object. Single-shot holograms allowed for the composition of a movie featuring the fast oscillation. Three-dimensional displacements of the object were determined as well by numerical back-propagation, or "refocusing" of the electromagnetic fields during the reconstruction of a single holography