Showing papers by "Colorado State University published in 1996"
14 Feb 1996
8,749 citations
TL;DR: Ecosystem management is management driven by explicit goals, executed by policies, protocols, and practices, and made adaptable by monitoring and research based on our best understanding of the ecological interactions and processes necessary to sustain ecosystem composition, structure, and function as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Ecosystem management is management driven by explicit goals, executed by policies, protocols, and practices, and made adaptable by monitoring and research based on our best understanding of the ecological interactions and processes necessary to sustain ecosystem composition, structure, and function. In recent years, sustainability has become an explicitly stated, even legislatively mandated, goal of natural resource management agencies. In practice, however, management approaches have often focused on maximizing short-term yield and economic gain rather than long-term sustainability. Several obstacles contribute to this disparity, including: (1) inadequate information on the biological diversity of environments; (2) widespread ignorance of the function and dynamics of ecosystems; (3) the openness and interconnectedness of ecosystems on scales that transcend management boundaries; (4) a prevailing public perception that the immediate economic and social value of supposedly renewable resources outweighs the risk of future ecosystem damage or the benefits of alternative management approaches. The goal of ecosystem management is to overcome these obstacles. Ecosystem management includes the following elements: (1) Sustainability. Ecosystem management does not focus primarily on deliverables" but rather regards intergenerational sustainability as a precondition. (2) Goals. Ecosystem management establishes measurable goals that specify future processes and outcomes necessary for sustainability. (3) Sound ecological models and understanding. Ecosystem management relies on research performed at all levels of ecological organization. (4) Complexity and connectedness. Ecosystem management recognizes that biological diversity and structural complexity strengthen ecosystems against disturbance and supply the genetic resources necessary to adapt to long-term change. (5) The dynamic character of ecosystems. Recognizing that change and evolution are inherent in ecosystem sustainability, ecosystem management avoids attempts to freeze" ecosystems in a particular state or configuration. (6) Context and scale. Ecosystem processes operate over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, and their behavior at any given location is greatly affected by surrounding systems. Thus, there is no single appropriate scale or time frame for management. (7) Humans as ecosystem components. Ecosystem management values the active role of humans in achieving sustainable management goals. (8) Adaptability and accountability. Ecosystem management acknowledges that current knowledge and paradigms of ecosystem function are provisional, incomplete, and subject to change. Management approaches must be viewed as hypotheses to be tested by research and monitoring programs. The following are fundamental scientific precepts for ecosystem management. (1) Spatial and temporal scale are critical. Ecosystem function includes inputs, outputs, cycling of materials and energy, and the interactions of organisms. Boundaries defined for the study or management of one process are often inappropriate for the study of others; thus, ecosystem management requires a broad view. (2) Ecosystem function depends on its structure, diversity, and integrity. Ecosystem management seeks to maintain biological diversity as a critical component in strengthening ecosystems against disturbance. Thus, management of biological diversity requires a broad perspective and recognition that the complexity and function of any particular location is influenced heavily by the surrounding system. (3) Ecosystems are dynamic in space and time. Ecosystem management is challenging in part because ecosystems are constantly changing. Over time scales of decades or centuries, many landscapes are altered by natural disturbances that lead to mosaics of successional patches of different ages. Such patch dynamics are critical to ecosystem structure and function. (4) Uncertainty, surprise, and limits to knowledge. Ecosystem management acknowledges that, given sufficient time and space, unlikely events are certain to occur. Adaptive management addresses this uncertainty by combining democratic principles, scientific analysis, education, and institutional learning to increase our understanding of ecosystem processes and the consequences of management interventions, and to improve the quality of data upon which decisions must be made. Ecosystem management requires application of ecological science to natural resource actions. Moving from concepts to practice is a daunting challenge and will require the following steps and actions. (1) Defining sustainable goals and objectives. Sustainable strategies for the provision of ecosystem goods and services cannot take as their starting points statements of need or want such as mandated timber supply, water demand, or arbitrarily set harvests of shrimp or fish. Rather, sustainability must be the primary objective, and levels of commodity and amenity provision must be adjusted to meet that goal. (2) Reconciling spatial scales. Implementation of ecosystem management would be greatly simplified if management jurisdictions were spatially congruent with the behavior of ecosystem processes. Given the variation in spatial domain among processes, one perfect fit for all processes is virtually impossible; rather, ecosystem management must seek consensus among the various stakeholders within each ecosystem. (3) Reconciling temporal scales. Whereas management agencies are often forced to make decisions on a fiscal-year basis, ecosystem management must deal with time scales that transcend human lifetimes. Ecosystem management requires long-term planning and commitment. (4) Making the system adaptable and accountable. Successful ecosystem management requires institutions that are adaptable to changes in ecosystem characteristics and in our knowledge base. Adaptive management by definition requires the scientist's ongoing interaction with managers and the public. Communication must flow in both directions, and scientists must be willing to prioritize their research with regard to critical management needs. Scientists have much to offer in the development of monitoring programs, particularly in creating sampling approaches, statistical analyses, and scientific models. As our knowledge base evolves, scientists must develop new mechanisms to communicate research and management results. More professionals with an understanding of scientific, management, and social issues, and the ability to communicate with scientists, managers, and the public are needed. Ecosystem management is not a rejection of an anthropocentric for a totally biocentric worldview. Rather it is management that acknowledges the importance of human needs while at the same time confronting the reality that the capacity of our world to meet those needs in perpetuity has limits and depends on the functioning of ecosystems.
1,513 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the template method is used to synthesize nanotubules and fibrils of polymers, metals, semiconductors, carbons, and other materials.
Abstract: This paper reviews a relatively new method for preparing nanomaterials: membrane-based synthesis. This method entails the synthesis of the desired material within the pores of a nanoporous membrane. Because the membranes employed contain cylindrical pores of uniform diameter, monodisperse nanocylinders of the desired material, whose dimensions can be carefully controlled, are obtained. These nanocylinders may be either hollow (a tubule) or solid (a fibril or nanowire). We call this approach the “template” method because the pores in the nanoporous membranes are used as templates for forming the desired material. This template method is a very general approach; it has been used to prepare nanotubules and fibrils of polymers, metals, semiconductors, carbons, and other materials.
1,419 citations
TL;DR: The presence of two sulfur species was detected in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of thiol and disulfide molecules adsorbed onto gold surfaces as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The presence of two sulfur species was detected in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of thiol and disulfide molecules adsorbed onto gold surfaces. These species are assigned to bound thiolate (S2p3/2 binding energy of 162 eV) and unbound thiol/disulfide (S2p3/2 binding energy from 163.5 to 164 eV). These assignments are consistent with XPS data obtained from different thiols (C12, C16, C18, and C22 alkane thiols, a fluorinated thiol, and a cyclic polysiloxane thiol) and different adsorption conditions (solvent type, thiol concentration, temperature, and rinsing). In particular, the use of a poor solvent for thiol adsorption solutions (e.g., ethanol for long chain alkanethiols) and the lack of a rinsing step both resulted in unbound thiol molecules present at the surface of the bound thiolate monolayer. This has implications for recent studies asserting the presence of multiple binding sites for gold−thiolate species in organic monolayers.
1,224 citations
TL;DR: In this article, negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry with modified digestion and equilibration techniques was used to determine the rhenium and osmium concentrations and ratios of group IIA, IIIA, IVA, and IVB iron meteorites.
Abstract: Rhenium and osmium concentrations and osmium isotopic ratios of group IIA, IIIA, IVA, and IVB iron meteorites were determined by negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry with modified digestion and equilibration techniques. Precise isochrons are defined for all four groups. An absolute age of 4558 million years is assumed for group IIIA irons, leading to closure ages of 4537 ± 8, 4456 ± 25, and 4527 ± 29 million years for the group IIA, IVA, and IVB irons, respectively. The initial osmium-187/osmium-188 ratios of the IIA, IIIA, and IVA groups, as a function of crystallization age, suggest that the rhenium/osmium ratio of the parental materials to these asteroidal cores was similar to that of ordinary chondrites. Data for IVB irons, in contrast, indicate a different mode of formation and derivation from a distinctly nonchondritic osmium reservoir.
1,206 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used satellite data to specify the time-varying phonological properties of FPAR, leaf area index, and canopy greenness fraction, and applied corrections to the source NDVI dataset to account for anomalies in the data time series, the effect of variations in solar zenith angle, data dropouts in cold regions where a temperature threshold procedure designed to screen for clouds also eliminated cold land surface points, and persistent cloud cover in the Tropics.
Abstract: The global parameter fields used in the revised Simple Biosphere Model (SiB2) of Sellers et al. are reviewed. The most important innovation over the earlier SiB1 parameter set of Dorman and Sellers is the use of satellite data to specify the time-varying phonological properties of FPAR, leaf area index. and canopy greenness fraction. This was done by processing a monthly 1° by 1° normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) dataset obtained farm Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer red and near-infrared data. Corrections were applied to the source NDVI dataset to account for (i) obvious anomalies in the data time series, (ii) the effect of variations in solar zenith angle, (iii) data dropouts in cold regions where a temperature threshold procedure designed to screen for clouds also eliminated cold land surface points, and (iv) persistent cloud cover in the Tropics. An outline of the procedures for calculating the land surface parameters from the corrected NDVI dataset is given, and a brief d...
1,174 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the Arctic temperature and humidity characteristics, cloud properties and processes, radiative characteristics of the atmosphere and surface, direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols, and the modeling and satellite remote sensing of cloud and radiative properties.
Abstract: To provide a background for ARM's activities at the North Slope of Alaska/Adjacent Arctic Ocean sites, an overview is given of our current state of knowledge of Arctic cloud and radiation properties and processes. The authors describe the Arctic temperature and humidity characteristics, cloud properties and processes, radiative characteristics of the atmosphere and surface, direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols, and the modeling and satellite remote sensing of cloud and radiative characteristics. An assessment is given of the current performance of satellite remote sensing and climate modeling in the Arctic as related to cloud and radiation issues. Radiation-climate feedback processes are discussed, and estimates are made of the sign and magnitude of the individual feedback components. Future plans to address these issues are described.
771 citations
TL;DR: Evidence for rhythmic entrainment of gait patterns was shown by the ability of the RAS group to reproduce the speed of the last training tape within a 2% margin of error without RAS.
Abstract: Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) was used as a pacemaker during a 3-week home-based gaittraining program for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (n = 15). Electromyogram (EMG) patterns and stride parameters were assessed before and after the test without RAS to evaluate changes in gait patterns. Data were compared with those of two control groups (n = 11), who either did not participate in any gait training or who participated in an internally self-paced training program. RAS consisted of audiotapes with metronome-pulse patterns embedded into the on/off beat structure of rhythmically accentuated instrumental music. Patients who trained with RAS significantly (p < 0.05) improved their gait velocity by 25%, stride length by 12%, and step cadence by 10% more than self-paced subjects who improved their velocity decreased by 7% and no-training subjects whose velocity decreased by 7%. In the RAS-group, timing of EMG patterns changed significantly (p < 0.05) in the anterior tibialis and vastus lateralis muscles. Evidence for rhythmic entrainment of gait patterns was shown by the ability of the RAS group to reproduce the speed of the last training tape within a 2% margin of error without RAS.
753 citations
Abstract: This paper develops a conceptual framework for studying human values toward wildlife. A measurement instrument for assessing basic wildlife beliefs and wildlife value orientations concerning issues of enduring relevance to wildlife management and planning was developed using the domain sampling approach. Results of confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis indicate that a reliable and internally consistent measurement tool for evaluating basic wildlife beliefs and wildlife value orientations was developed. Structural equation analyses conducted using LISREL 8 indicated the value orientations predicted attitudes well and that attitudes largely acted as a mediator in the relationship between wildlife value orientations and behavioral intention. These results provide support for the hierarchical model of social cognition that forms the foundation of the conceptual framework for studying wildlife value orientations.
663 citations
TL;DR: Results indicate that immunization with DNA encoding a mycobacterial antigen provides an efficient and simple method for generating protective immunity and that this technique may be useful for defining the protective antigens of M. tuberculosis, leading to the development of a more effective vaccine.
Abstract: Tuberculosis is the most widespread and lethal infectious disease affecting humans. Immunization of mice with plasmid DNA constructs encoding one of the secreted components of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, antigen 85 (Ag85), induced substantial humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and conferred significant protection against challenge with live M. tuberculosis and M. bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). These results indicate that immunization with DNA encoding a mycobacterial antigen provides an efficient and simple method for generating protective immunity and that this technique may be useful for defining the protective antigens of M. tuberculosis, leading to the development of a more effective vaccine.
642 citations
TL;DR: One approach to studying the motivations for leisure is to focus on the desired goal States that can be attained through participation in leisure as discussed by the authors, and the Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scales wer...
Abstract: One approach to studying the motivations for leisure is to focus on the desired goal States that are attained through participation in leisure. The Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scales wer...
TL;DR: In this paper, the economic value of rare, threatened and endangered species to citizens of the USA has been measured using the contingent valuation method for 18 different species and the results show that the costs per household fall well below the benefits per household found in the literature.
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of forest cover reduction (or catchment area harvested) of less than 20% could not be determined by hydrometric or streamflow measurement methods.
University of Reading1, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory2, École Normale Supérieure3, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation4, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration5, University of Victoria6, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research7, National Center for Atmospheric Research8, Goddard Space Flight Center9, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts10, Colorado State University11, California Institute of Technology12
TL;DR: The ability of 15 atmospheric general circulation models (AGCM) to simulate the tropical intraseasonal oscillation has been studied as part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The ability of 15 atmospheric general circulation models (AGCM) to simulate the tropical intraseasonal oscillation has been studied as part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP). Time series of the daily upper tropospheric velocity poential and zonal wind, averaged over the equatorial belt, were provided from each AGCM simulation. These data were analyzed using a variety of techniques such as time filtering and space-time spectral analysis to identify eastward and westward moving waves. The results have been compared with an identical assessment of the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analyses for the period 1982–1991. The models display a wide range of skill in simulating the intraseasonal oscillation. Most models show evidence of an eastward propagating anomaly in the velocity potential field, although in some models there is a greater tendency for a standing oscillation, and in one or two the field is rather chaotic with no preferred direction of propagation. Where a model has a clear eastward propagating signal, typical periodicities seem quite reasonable although there is a tendency for the models to simulate shorter periods than in the ECMWF analyses, where it is near 50 days. The results of the space-time spectral analysis have shown that no model has captured the dominance of the intraseasonal oscillation found in the analyses. Several models have peaks at intraseasonal time scales, but nearly all have relatively more power at higher frequencies (< 30 days) than the analyses. Most models underestimate the strength of the intraseasonal variability. The observed intraseasonal oscillation shows a marked seasonality in its occurrence with greatest activity during northern winter and spring. Most models failed to capture this seasonality. The interannual variability in the activity of the intraseasonal oscillation has also been assessed, although the AMIP decade is too short to provide any conclusive results. There is a suggestion that the observed oscillation was suppressed during the strong El Nino of 1982/83, and this relationship has also been reproduced by some models. The relationship between a model's intraseasonal activity, its seasonal cycle and characteristics of its basic climate has been examined. It is clear that those models with weak intraseasonal activity tend also to have a weak seasonal cycle. It is becoming increasingly evident that an accurate description of the basic climate may be a prerequisite for producing a realistic intraseasonal oscillation. In particular, models with the most realistic intraseasonal oscillations appear to have precipitation distributions which are better correlated with warm sea surface temperatures. These models predominantly employ convective parameterizations which are closed on buoyancy rather than moisture convergence.
TL;DR: In this article, the physiological response of terrestrial vegetation when directly exposed to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration could result in warming over the continents in addition to that due to the conventional CO 2 “greenhouse effect.
Abstract: The physiological response of terrestrial vegetation when directly exposed to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration could result in warming over the continents in addition to that due to the conventional CO 2 “greenhouse effect.” Results from a coupled biosphere-atmosphere model (SiB2-GCM) indicate that, for doubled CO 2 conditions, evapotranspiration will drop and air temperature will increase over the tropical continents, amplifying the changes resulting from atmospheric radiative effects. The range of responses in surface air temperature and terrestrial carbon uptake due to increased CO 2 are projected to be inversely related in the tropics year-round and inversely related during the growing season elsewhere.
TL;DR: In this article, the geometric ergodicity of Markov chains has been studied for multidimensional Hastings and Metropolis algorithms, and sufficient conditions for moments and moment generating functions to converge at a geometric rate to a prescribed distribution π are given.
Abstract: We develop results on geometric ergodicity of Markov chains and apply these and other recent results in Markov chain theory to multidimensional Hastings and Metropolis algorithms. For those based on random walk candidate distributions, we find sufficient conditions for moments and moment generating functions to converge at a geometric rate to a prescribed distribution π. By phrasing the conditions in terms of the curvature of the densities we show that the results apply to all distributions with positive densities in a large class which encompasses many commonly-used statistical forms. From these results we develop central limit theorems for the Metropolis algorithm. Converse results, showing non-geometric convergence rates for chains where the rejection rate is not bounded away from unity, are also given ; these show that the negative-definiteness property is not redundant.
TL;DR: An Emb-sensitive cell-free assay for arabinan biosynthesis shows that overexpression of embAB is associated with high-level Emb-resistant arabinosyl transferase activity, and that embR appears to modulate the in vitro level of this activity.
Abstract: The antimycobacterial compound ethambutol [Emb; dextro-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)-di-1-butanol] is used to treat tuberculosis as well as disseminated infections caused by Mycobacterium avium. The critical target for Emb lies in the pathway for the biosynthesis of cell wall arabinogalactan, but the molecular mechanisms for drug action and resistance are unknown. The cellular target for Emb was sought using drug resistance, via target overexpression by a plasmid vector, as a selection tool. This strategy led to the cloning of the M. avium emb region which rendered the otherwise susceptible Mycobacterium smegmatis host resistant to Emb. This region contains three complete open reading frames (ORFs), embR, embA, and embB. The translationally coupled embA and embB genes are necessary and sufficient for an Emb-resistant phenotype which depends on gene copy number, and their putative novel membrane proteins are homologous to each other. The predicted protein encoded by embR, which is related to known transcriptional activators from Streptomyces, is expendable for the phenotypic expression of Emb resistance, but an intact divergent promoter region between embR and embAB is required. An Emb-sensitive cell-free assay for arabinan biosynthesis shows that overexpression of embAB is associated with high-level Emb-resistant arabinosyl transferase activity, and that embR appears to modulate the in vitro level of this activity. These data suggest that embAB encode the drug target of Emb, the arabinosyl transferase responsible for the polymerization of arabinose into the arabinan of arabinogalactan, and that overproduction of this Emb-sensitive target leads to Emb resistance.
TL;DR: The results support the possibility of a retrograde signal by which RyR-1 enhances the function of DHPRs as Ca2+ channels, and measurements of charge movement indicate that the density ofDHPRs is similar in dyspedic and Ry R-1-expressing myotubes.
Abstract: EXCITATION-CONTRACTION coupling in skeletal muscle involves a voltage sensor in the plasma membrane which, in response to depolarization, causes an intracellular calcium-release channel to open. The skeletal isoform of the ryanodine receptor (RyR-1) functions as the Ca2+-release channel1–3 and the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) functions as the voltage sensor and also as an L-type Ca2+ channel4,5. Here we examine the possibility that there is a retrograde signal from RyR-1 to the DHPR, using myotubes from mice homozygous for a disrupted RyR-1 gene (dyspedic mice)3. As expected, we find that there is no excitation–contraction coupling in dyspedic myotubes, but we also find that they have a roughly 30-fold reduction in L-type Ca2+-current density. Injection of dyspedic myotubes with RyR-1 complementary DNA restores excitation–contraction coupling and causes the density of L-type Ca2+ current to rise towards normal. Despite the differences in Ca2+-current magnitude, measurements of charge movement indicate that the density of DHPRs is similar in dyspedic and RyR-1-expressing myotubes. Our results support the possibility of a retrograde signal by which RyR-1 enhances the function of DHPRs as Ca2+ channels.
TL;DR: Some basic principles that can be used to develop test suites are discussed and the role of test suites as they have been used to evaluate evolutionary search algorithms are examined.
TL;DR: In this article, a wind tunnel study of car exhaust dispersion from street canyons in an urban environment to investigate how pollution dispersion is affected by street geometry was conducted.
TL;DR: The authors survey the existing literature regarding gender differences in investment and consider the policy implications of these differences and provide a summary and organization of the explanations for gender differences that have been offered in a variety of fields, including economics, sociology, education and gender studies.
Abstract: Several recent studies have found that women invest their pensions more conservatively than men (Bajtelsmit and VanDerhei, 1996; Hinz, McCarthy, and Turner, 1996) and that women are more risk averse (Jianakoplos and Bernasek, 1996). Although these findings have serious implications for the well-being of women in retirement, the reasons for observed gender differences are less well- defined. This paper surveys the existing literature regarding gender differences in investment and considers the policy implications of these differences. The authors provide a summary and organization of the explanations for gender differences that have been offered in a variety of fields, including economics, sociology, education and gender studies.
Washington University in St. Louis1, Research Triangle Park2, United States Environmental Protection Agency3, Parke-Davis4, Cornell University5, DuPont6, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health7, Eli Lilly and Company8, Food and Drug Administration9, Colorado State University10, United States Military Academy11
TL;DR: A working group was convened to discuss methods currently in use, share data, and reach consensus about optimal methods for assessing sperm parameters in rats, rabbits, and dogs, with the hope that optimized common methods will aid in the detection of reproductive effects and enhance interlaboratory comparisons.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived a minimum 187Os/188Os ratio for PUM of 0.1290 ± 0.0009, by using a correlation between 187Os and geochemical indices of fertility.
Abstract: THE elevated abundances of highly siderophile elements in the Earth's mantle, relative to what would be predicted from metal–silicate equilibrium, have often been cited as evidence for the accretion to the Earth of a 'late veneer' of chondritic material following core formation1. As rhenium and its decay-product osmium are both highly siderophile, the evolution of the Re–Os isotope system in a terrestrial reservoir provides a robust, time-averaged constraint on the siderophile abundances of the reservoir; thus, the broadly chondritic evolution of Os isotopes in the oceanic upper mantle provides strong support for the late accretion model2,3. But the Re–Os composition of the late veneer is still poorly defined, because the mantle has differentiated into 187Os-enriched and -depleted reservoirs4–7. Here we report a value for the Os isotopic composition of the modern 'primitive upper mantle' (PUM), a hypothetical undifferentiated upper-mantle reservoir. From suites of variably melt-depleted mantle xenoliths from three continents, we derive a minimum 187Os/188Os ratio for PUM of 0.1290 ± 0.0009, by using a correlation between 187Os/188Os and geochemical indices of 'fertility' to extrapolate to the Os isotope ratio of undepleted mantle. Comparing this value to the 187Os/188Os ratios measured in different classes of chrondritic meteorite, we infer that the late veneer had siderophile element abundances similar to those of enstatite or ordinary chondrites (187Os/188Os = 0.1286 ± 0.0010), rather than carbonaceous chondrites (0.1258 ± 0.0005).
TL;DR: The hypothesis that kainate-induced mossy fiber sprouting forms new excitatory connections between granule cells and can lead to increased seizure susceptibility in the dentate gyrus is supported.
Abstract: Mossy fiber sprouting has been proposed to lead to new excitatory connections between dentate granule cells, which in turn cause electrographic seizures. We tested this hypothesis in hippocampal slices from rats made epileptic-by kainate injections. The Timm's histological method revealed intense staining of the inner molecular layer in slices from all kainate-treated rats. In bicuculline (10 microM) and 6 mM [K +]o, antidromic stimulation of the granule cells evoked bursts of population spikes superimposed on long-lasting negative shifts in all slices tested from all kainate-treated rats. Long-duration (2-47 sec), seizure-like bursts with tonic and clonic components occurred spontaneously (53%) or in response to antidromic stimulation (81%). Under identical conditions, prolonged bursts were never seen in slices from controls or from kainate-injected rats 2-4 d after treatment. Glutamate microdrops applied in the granule cell layer evoked abrupt increases in the frequency of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in two thirds of the cells tested. Glutamate microstimulation was effective at several sites in the granule cell layer but ineffective in the hilus. The proportion of granule cells responding to local application of glutamate by an increase in EPSPs was higher in slices with long bursts (80% with bursts of > 3 sec) than in slices with shorter bursts (33% with bursts of < 3 sec). Glutamate microstimulation did not affect EPSPs in granule cells from control preparations. These results support the hypothesis that kainate-induced mossy fiber sprouting forms new excitatory connections between granule cells and can lead to increased seizure susceptibility in the dentate gyrus.
TL;DR: For instance, the authors found that high-anger individuals suffered more frequent and intense anger consequences, and trait anger had higher correlations with dimensions of anger than with other emotions, cognitions, and behaviors.
Abstract: Eight studies present support for state-trait anger theory. In Studies 1-3, high-anger participants reported (a) greater anger in many different provocations, in their most angering ongoing situations, and in daily life, (b) greater anger-related physiological arousal, (c) greater state anger and dysfunctional coping in response to a visualized provocation, and (d) greater use of suppression and outward negative expression of anger. Only heart rate in the visualized provocation did not support predictions. In Studies 4-5, high-anger individuals suffered more frequent and intense anger consequences. In Studies 6-8, trait anger had higher correlations with dimensions of anger than with other emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Few gender differences were found across studies. Results were discussed in terms of state-trait theory, convergent and discriminant validity for the Trait Anger Scale, anger expression, gender, and the implications for counseling.
TL;DR: An analogy is drawn between the methodological problems associated with audience segmentation and those of multivariate classification and taxonomy in botany and zoology.
Abstract: Audience segmentation is widely regarded as essential to effective health communication campaign efforts. Nonetheless, its practice is typically ad hoc. The conceptual history and theoretical bases for audience segmentation are reviewed, and typical audience segmentation strategies for health communication efforts are described and critiqued. An analogy is drawn between the methodological problems associated with audience segmentation and those of multivariate classification and taxonomy in botany and zoology. Cluster analytic techniques responsive to these issues are described, as are applications of these techniques for analysis of health communication campaign audiences. Approaches that would permit widespread use of such segmentation strategies are discussed, and recommendations for such efforts are made.
TL;DR: In this paper, a semi-empirical cloudiness parameterization using the large-scale average condensate (cloud water and cloud ice) mixing ratio as the primary predictor was proposed.
Abstract: Data produced from explicit simulations of observed tropical cloud systems and subtropical stratocumuli are used to develop a “semiempirical” cloudiness parameterization for use in climate models. The semiempirical cloudiness parameterization uses the large-scale average condensate (cloud water and cloud ice) mixing ratio as the primary predictor. The large-scale relative humidity and cumulus mass flux are also used in the parameterization as secondary predictors. The cloud amount is assumed to vary exponentially with the large-scale average condensate mixing ratio. The rate of variation is, however, a function of large-scale relative humidity and the intensity of convective circulations. The validity of such EL semiempirical approach and its dependency on cloud regime and horizontal-averaging distance are explored with the simulated datasets.
TL;DR: The relationship quality literature is reviewed and an analysis of a survey of financial services consumers using a relatively new technique called artificial neural network analysis (ANNA) is presented, used to investigate the potential determinants of relationship quality.
TL;DR: The authors compared the climate sensitivity of 19 atmospheric general circulation models and found a roughly threefold variation among the models; most of this variation was attributed to differences in the models' depictions of cloud feedback.
Abstract: Six years ago, we compared the climate sensitivity of 19 atmospheric general circulation models and found a roughly threefold variation among the models; most of this variation was attributed to differences in the models' depictions of cloud feedback. In an update of this comparison, current models showed considerably smaller differences in net cloud feedback, with most producing modest values. There are, however, substantial differences in the feedback components, indicating that the models still have physical disagreements.