Vascular plants of the Sapa Bog

The vascular plants occurring within an acidic black spruce bog and its surrounding moat in southeastern Wisconsin are listed with observational notes on abundance and habitat. Of the 156 species, at least 20 are at or near the southern extent of their range, and four are currently State designated species of Special Concern

A preliminary survey of the Bryophytes of the Sapa Bog

The Sapa Bog in Ozaukee County covers 5 hectares and is the southernmost black spruce bog in Wisconsin. Sedge meadow and swamp hardwoods surround an acidic center dominated by sphagnum mosses, black spruce and tamarack. Parker (1989) surveyed the fungi and Kline (1991) surveyed the vascular plants and described the water chemistry of the area. We report a total of 56 bryophyte taxa collected in the Sapa Bog from 1989 to 1990. An asterisk indicates an apparently new report for Ozaukee County (Bowers and Freckmann, 1979). Citation of moss names follows Anderson, et. al. (1990) and Crum (1984) for Sphagnum. The liverworts nomenclature follows Conard and Redfearn (1979). Voucher specimens were deposited at the UW-Stevens Point and UWM Field Station herbaria

Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), a threat to the vegetation of the Cedarburg Bog

Glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) is a shrub or small tree which is a native of Eurasia, introduced to North America about the mid-nineteenth century. Escaped from cultivation, Rhamnus frangula is rapidly becoming a serious pest in certain kinds of wetland habitats and has been in the Cedarburg Bog for at least the last thirty years. Glossy buckthorn is most dense in the string bog, the most unique vegetation type in the Bog. Since 1968, the string bog population of Rhamnus frangula has been growing logarithmically at a rate which doubles the population size in less than 4 years. Individual shoots also grow (accumulate woody biomass) logarithmically. The rate of growth of woody dry weight decreases, however, at 11 - 12 years of age, the age at which shoots attain the height of the string bog canopy. As they reach the canopy, shoots become more branched, allocate less biomass to wood, and allocate more biomass to leaves and probably to fruits. The estimated rate of accumulation of R. frangula woody biomass density has also been logarithmic, with a present density of 610 g/m2. If the current rate of woody biomass accumulation continues as expected, by 1993 the woody strings of the string bog will contain 2.2 kg/m2 of R. frangula wood. Light intensity in the strings will decrease markedly as shading by R. frangula increases. At present, there appears to be no hope of controlling the spread of glossy buckthorn on a Bog-wide basis, although it could be removed and then excluded from certain selected areas. A long term research project is required to document the effect of R. frangula on the native vegetation. Its effect on the string bog is expected to be catastrophic

Development of vegetation over nine years in a planted field station prairie

We studied the development of vegetation in a small area at the UWM Field Station planted with prairie species in 1986. The species and quantities of seed and seedlings planted in 1986 were recorded. We sampled the vegetation using permanent quadrats in 1988and 1994. Native prairie species were already well established in the area in 1988. There was, however, a dramatic change in the composition of the vegetation between 1988 and 1994. The number of native prairie species increased slightly and the number of non-prairie species decreased substantially, so that in 1988, 51% of species were native prairie plants and this figure increased to 62% in 1994. The sum of the mean cover of all plant species almost tripled between 1988 and 1994, primarily due to a large increase in cover of grass species. The relative dominance of several species changed markedly over the six years between samples

The Lantern Vol. 36, No. 2, Spring 1970

• On a Plane From Here to There • The Earth • A Cry • Starry-Eyed • Day • Ticking Clocks • Nadir • To---- • Mood • Frost • Island of Life • A Non-Poem • Cooky - Stillborn Like Mother Used to Make • Solar • Come Back • The Hand • Now • Free • Vision of the Action Scene • Potpourri • Confusions of a Stranger • In the Darknesshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1097/thumbnail.jp

Psychometric properties of three measures of “Facebook engagement and/or addiction” among a sample of English speaking Pakistani university students

For researchers interested in measuring the construct of “Facebook engagement and/or addiction,” there are a number of existing measures including the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the Facebook Intensity Scale, and the Addictive Tendencies Scale. Currently, there is limited data on the psychometric properties of these three scales, especially among South Asian samples. The present aim was to address this shortfall. A sample of 308 English-speaking Pakistani university students completed the scales, in their original English versions, on two occasions separated by four weeks. Results demonstrated that for each of the scales, across both administrations, satisfactory psychometric properties were found, including internal reliability, temporal stability, and construct validity. Moreover, for these three scales, using confirmatory factor analysis, a one-factor structure was generally found to be a good description of the data for both male and female samples. These data provide further evidence for the reliability and validity of three scales concerned with “Facebook engagement and/or addiction.

Characteristics of ascitic fluid in the alcoholic cirrhotic

A prospective study was conducted to define the characteristics of ascitic fluid in alcoholic cirrhotics with and without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP); to correlate these with findings in the peripheral blood; and to determine whether the use of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) for bacterial antigens will aid in the early diagnosis of SBP. Fifty-one alcoholic cirrhotics had simultaneous determination of their blood or serum and ascitic fluid for the following: WBC and differential count, RBC, LDH, amylase, glucose, total protein, and protein electrophoresis, CIE for pneumococcal and Klebsiella antigens, culture for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and mycobacteria, and cytology. Of the 51 patients, 2 had SBP (4%). In the other 49 patients (54 sera and ascitic fluids), CIE was positive for pneumococcal antigen in 4/54 sera and in 3/54 ascitic fluids. The mean WBC count in the ascitic fluid was 349. In 4% the count was above 1000, in 18% between 501–1000, and in 32% between 301–500; polymorphs were >30% in 19/54 (32%). Specific gravity was >1.020 in 10/54 (22%), and ascitic fluid total protein of 3.0g/100 ml or above was noted in 24% (12/54). Mean ascitic fluid/serum ratios of total protein, albumin, and globulin were 0.31, 0.33, and 0.30 respectively, and mean ascitic fluid/serum ratios of LDH, amylase, and glucose were 0.54, 0.79, and 1.04. All cultures (except those with SBP) and cytology were negative. Our study confirmed the observation of others, that a significant number of noninfected cirrhotics have increased ascitic fluid WBC, % polymorphs, specific gravity, and total protein concentration. CIE was not helpful in the early diagnosis of SBP.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44388/1/10620_2005_Article_BF01333710.pd

Patient empowerment in long-term conditions: development and preliminary testing of a new measure

BACKGROUND: Patient empowerment is viewed by policy makers and health care practitioners as a mechanism to help patients with long-term conditions better manage their health and achieve better outcomes. However, assessing the role of empowerment is dependent on effective measures of empowerment. Although many measures of empowerment exist, no measure has been developed specifically for patients with long-term conditions in the primary care setting. This study presents preliminary data on the development and validation of such a measure. METHODS: We conducted two empirical studies. Study one was an interview study to understand empowerment from the perspective of patients living with long-term conditions. Qualitative analysis identified dimensions of empowerment, and the qualitative data were used to generate items relating to these dimensions. Study two was a cross-sectional postal study involving patients with different types of long-term conditions recruited from general practices. The survey was conducted to test and validate our new measure of empowerment. Factor analysis and regression were performed to test scale structure, internal consistency and construct validity. RESULTS: Sixteen predominately elderly patients with different types of long-term conditions described empowerment in terms of 5 dimensions (identity, knowledge and understanding, personal control, personal decision-making, and enabling other patients). One hundred and ninety seven survey responses were received from mainly older white females, with relatively low levels of formal education, with the majority retired from paid work. Almost half of the sample reported cardiovascular, joint or diabetes long-term conditions. Factor analysis identified a three factor solution (positive attitude and sense of control, knowledge and confidence in decision making and enabling others), although the structure lacked clarity. A total empowerment score across all items showed acceptable levels of internal consistency and relationships with other measures were generally supportive of its construct validity. CONCLUSION: Initial analyses suggest that the new empowerment measure meets basic psychometric criteria. Reasons concerning the failure to confirm the hypothesized factor structure are discussed alongside further developments of the scale