Showing papers by "Memorial University of Newfoundland published in 1980"

The measurement of happiness: development of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH).

Abstract: Items of the Affect Balance Scale, the Life Satisfaction Index-Z and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Scale together with 22 new items were used in the construction of a happiness scale for the elderly. Items were initially administered to 301 subjects from urban, rural, and institutional settings and correlated with ratings of happiness. A new scale consisting of 24 items was cross-validated on an additional 297 subjects. Test-retest reliability scores were obtained on 56 subjects. Results indicated that the new scale was a better predictor of "avowed happiness" in both validation and cross-validation samples than the existing scales used for comparison. Moreover, the new scale's test-rated reliability was within an acceptable range for this type of scale.

The megabenthic fauna in the deep sea south of New England, USA

Abstract: Data from 105 benthic trawls made in an area south of New England, USA between 40 and 5000 m show the fauna to be zoned with depth, areas of rapid faunal change separating regions of relative faunal homogeneity. Distinct faunal assemblages with characteristic catch rates, diversity, and dominant species are found on the shelf (40 to 264 m), upper continental slope (283 to 650 m), middle continental slope (653 to 1290 m), lower continental slope (1380 to 1947 m), the transitional region from slope to rise (2116 to 2481 m), the upper continental (2504 to 3113 m), the middle continental rise (3244 to 3470 m), and lower continental rise to abyssal plain (3879 to 4986 m). Catch rates and diversity are greatest on the lower continental slope and transition to the upper rise, and are lowest at the greatest depths. Dominance, particularly by echinoderms, is an important aspect of community structure. The 3 major taxa represented (decapod crustaccean, echinoderms, and fishes) do not always display the same patterns within and between assemblages. Generalities derived from study of a single group need not apply to all segments of the deep-ocean community. Overall patterns in the megafauna are similar to those described in other groups and areas, but species assemblages are not the same everywhere and perhaps too much has been made of the horizontal extent of zones. Trophic level is related to degree of zonation, but where predators are generalists their ranges may be wide rather than restricted. Diversity patterns can be understood in terms of the interrelationships of predation, competition, environmental heterogeneity, and trophic level. Faunal zones are of importance as the geographical units within which evolution, community development, and diversification take place.

Structure and metamorphism of rocks beneath the Semail ophiolite of Oman and their significance in ophiolite obduction

Abstract: Metamorphic rocks showing an inverted metamorphic zonation from upper amphibolite fades immediately beneath the peridotite to greenschist fades at lower levels, crop out discontinuously along the base of the Semail ophiolite thrust sheet in the Oman Mountains of eastern Arabia. These metamorphic rocks show polyphase deformation, mylonitic fabrics, and have been disrupted, folded and imbricated, and in places form tectonic inclusions in a serpentinite melange. In the more intact sequences, garnet-clinopyroxene amphibolites, with rare hornblende-bearing marbles and banded quartzites, occur at the higher levels, whilst a wide range of metasedimentary and metabasaltic rocks occur in the greenschist fades. Low glaucophane content of amphiboles and low jadeite content of clinopyroxenes suggest relatively low pressures of crystallisation. The distribution coefficient KD for co-existing garnet and clinopyroxene suggests a temperature range of 670 to 750°C. Residual heat from the recently formed ophiolite probably provided the dominant heat source for metamorphism, although frictional heating could have supplemented this. The metamorphic rocks were produced during Cenomanian-Turonian (late Cretaceous) times.The sub-ophiolite metamorphic rocks, together with basal serpentinite, Triassic alkaline and tholeiitic basalts (Haybi volcanic group), mountain-sized ‘exotic’ limestones and an upper Cretaceous sedimentary melange, comprise a distinct thrust slice termed the Haybi complex, which always overlies marine sediments of the allochthonous Hawasina complex and underlies the Semail ophiolite. The rocks of the Haybi complex are bounded by major thrust planes, the Semail thrust above and the Haybi thrust beneath, which truncate all schistosities, fold axes, imbricate thrusts and associated features. A model for ophiolite obducton is presented based on a palinspastic reconstruction of the allochthonous rocks on the Oman continental margin.

Physiological and biochemical aspects of the valve snap and valve closure responses in the giant scallopPlacopecten magellanicus

Abstract: 1. The giant scallopPlacopecten magellanicus responds to stimulation with starfish extract by snapping the valves in a series of rapid adductions. After approximately 25–35 adductions, the scallop does not respond to further stimulation, and usually closes the valves. 2. Snapping of the valves results in an accelerated heart rate, increased stroke volume and enhanced cardiac output. The supply of oxygen to the adductor muscle will be increased but must be insufficient, as blood\(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) decreases to 15 mm Hg and energy-producing anaerobic pathways are invoked (de Zwaan et al., 1980). There is an increase in the total carbon dioxide content of the blood and a fall in blood pH. When the scallop reopens, there is a transient increase in oxygen uptake. 3. The restoration of physiological functions to normal values takes several hours. 4. During valve closure, the\(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) of the mantle water decreases from 145 mm Hg to 80 mm Hg, blood\(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) from 85 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg. This is sufficient to maintain a degree of aerobic metabolism, and oxygen uptake continues. There is no change in heart rate, but blood pH decreases gradually.

Graves' disease and hla: clinical and epidemiologic associations

Abstract: Correlation between clinical and epidemiological features of Graves' disease and HLA were sought in 175 patients, eighty-three of whom were typed for HLA DR antigens. The relative risks (x) conferred by HLA-B8 and DR3 were 3.1 and 5.7 respectively (P less than 0.0005 uncorrected). The disease occurred at an earlier age in HLA-DR3 positive patients compared to negative patients (P less than 0.005 in females greater than and less than 30-years-old). Eighty-four out of ninety-two patients could specify the season of onset of hyperthyroidism; an excess of HLA-B8 positive patients in the summer and a lack of these in the spring and autumn was found. No association between B8 and exophthalmos and/or soft tissue eye changes were observed. However, significant associations between exophthalmos and either exophthalmos and/or soft tissue changes were found with DR3 (x = 3.6 and 3.8 respectively). HLA-DR3 positive patients were found to be more resistant to radioiodine therapy than patients negative for these antigens. No heterogeneity in the distribution of HLA antigens was found when the following indices were examined: sex, goitre size, severity of disease, pretibial myxoedema, antecedent psychological disorder, consumption of oral contraceptives, family history of Graves' disease or thyroid antibody titre. HLA does not appear to distinguish subvariants of Graves' disease, rather it influences the susceptibility to disease and its persistence once it becomes clinically manifest.

Immunocompetence in obesity.

Abstract: Thirty-eight % of obese children and adolescents showed a variable impairment of cell-mediated immune responses in vivo and in vitro and reduction of intracellular bacterial killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The obese group had a higher incidence of iron deficiency and moderately lower serum zinc concentrations. Levels of serum immunoglobulins, complement components C3 and C4, and numbers of T and B lymphocytes were comparable in the two groups. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoproteins were normal in all subjects. Immunologic changes correlated with the presence of subclinical deficiencies of iron and zinc. Therapy with these micronutrients for 4 weeks resulted in improvement in immunologic responses.

Interfacial tension from height and diameter of a single sessile drop or captive bubble

Abstract: The silhouette of a sessile drop submerged in a transparent bulk phase appears to possess a contact angle of 180° with a plane solid support, when the drop is separated from the solid surface by a thin film of surrounding fluid. A computer-aided analysis of the generalized sessile drop form leads to an explicit equation for interfacial tension dependent only on drop height (from apex to solid support) and the magnitude of the drop equatorial diameter. The equation is valid for a wide range of physically realizable drops. Measurements of drop profile coordinates or the location of the drop equator are not required for the use of the method, leading to improvements in accuracy relative to current practice. Le contour d'une goutte sessile, immergee dans une phase transparente, semble avoir un angle de contact de 180° avec un support solide plan, lorsqu'un film mince de fluide entourant cette goutte la separe de la surface solide. Une analyse numerique de la forme generalisee de la goutte sessile, fournit une relation explicite pour la tension superficielle, fonction unique de la hauteur de la goutte (distance de l'apex au support solide) et du diametre equatorial de la goutte. L'equation s'applique a une grande gamme de gouttes physiquement realisables. L'emploi de cette methode n'exige pas la determination precise du contour de la goutte ni la localisation de son equateur; cette methode est plus precise que celle couramment utilisee.

Simple core undertones

Abstract: Summary. If undertones (internal gravity waves in the Earth's liquid outer core) exist then they occur at such long periods that the full theory of Earth dynamics in a rotating reference frame is required for their description. This theory has been so cumbersome to implement that very severe truncation of the traditional vector spherical harmonic expansions has been required, with the consequence that the results obtained have been noted less for their physical significance than for their technical achievement. By considering simplified models of the Earth's core it is first demonstrated that, at least for the case of a non-rotating Earth, the effects of mantle structure and boundary rigidity on the undertone periods are minimal. Further, the combined effects of core compressibility and self-gravitation in a real Earth model can to a good approximation be replaced by a single parameter, the Brunt–Vaisala buoyancy frequency, in a simple incompressible fluid model. On applying these simplifications to a rotating Earth model, the resulting equations of motion are then solved with a longer coupling chain than any used previously. This approach, based on the chain beginning with the spheroidal term S22, supports the hypothesis that the periods of the core undertones for a realistic rotating Earth model are crowded into a narrow band around 12 hr.

Issues Relating to the Usage and Conceptualization of Mental Health Constructs Employed by Gerontologists

Abstract: A major intention of the article was to delineate and clarify issues related to the usage and conceptualization of mental health constructs commonly utilized by gerontologists. Conclusions were drawn to the effect that (a) meanings of mental health constructs cluster differently depending on the type of analysis employed, (b) happiness may be considered the most apposite representative of the array of mental health constructs employed by gerontologists, (c) happiness has been conceptualized either as containing current affect and dispositional components or current affect components only, (d) contemporary models of happiness favour neither the expansionist nor contractionist positions as a means of attaining happiness and, (e) questions as to the relative contributions to happiness of the affective and dispositional components represents an important problem for future research. A final intention of the article was to provide a speculative reconceptualization of the happiness construct.

J.P. Gabler and the distinction between biblical and dogmatic theology: translation, commentary, and discussion of his originality

Abstract: Cabler's inaugural address De justo discrimine theologiae biblicae et dogmaticae regundisque racte utriusque finibus was written in a very complex, classically-based Latin, but the ideas he expressed were those of eighteenth-century Enlightenment theology. The responsibility for this translation was shared in that Dr Eldredge dealt with the philological and idiomatic sense of the Latin, and Dr Sandys-Wunsch filled in the theological background to Gabler's thought. Dr Sandys-Wunsch alone is responsible for the commentary and discussion.

Scanning electron microscopic observations on the inner ear of the skate, Raja ocellata.

Abstract: The inner ear of the skate, Raja ocellata, was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The otolithic membranes have a gelatinous component and an endogenous class of otoconia. Cupulae are reticulate in form. The morphology and polarization of sensory cell hair bundles are described for the various regions of the labyrinth, and are compared with published observations on other species. In the otolithic maculae, the more centrally located receptor cells generally have longer stereocilia than the peripheral cells. The hair bundles of the lacinia are similar to those of the central portion of the sacculus and differed from those of the rest of the utricular macula. Hair bundles in the peripheral regions of all maculae and cristae are similar. The polarization pattern of the utriculus is similar to that of teleosts, while that of the lagena is less clearly dichotomized. The receptor cells of most of the sacculus are oriented in a bivertical direction, with cells in the anterior portion, and a few in the posterior region, being aligned longitudinally. The significance of morphology and polarization with respect to the functions of the otolithic organs is discussed. The relationship of cell processes of the ampullary receptors to the cupula is briefly considered.

Parental Investments by Seabirds at the Breeding Area with Emphasis on Northern Gannets, Morus bassanus

Abstract: Present studies indicate that marine birds bond monogamously (e.g., Richdale, 1951; Austin and Austin, 1956; Coulson, 1966; cf. Chapter 5), are relatively long-lived, and generally exhibit delayed maturity (Lack, 1968). With the exception of murres (Tuck, 1961), razorbills, and some murrelets (Sealy, 1973), seabird hatchlings exhibit altricial through semiprecocial modes of development. All seabirds, except for some murrelets, are nidiculous during a considerable portion of posthatch development and therefore require extensive parental care at the breeding area. Parents provide offspring with body heat and food, and depending on the species, protection from weather and predators, and opportunities for learning (Nice, 1962).

Ankylosing spondylitis in African Blacks.

Abstract: Over a period of 4 years in a large African teaching hospital, only 8 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were seen. This small number supports the impression that the disease is rare in African blacks. Patients tended to be relatively old and to have severe disease. None had iritis or a positive family history. The HLA-B27 antigen was found in only 1 patient.

Serous papillary neoplasms arising in paramesonephric parovarian cysts. A report of eight cases.

Abstract: Eight cases of papillary serous cystadenoma arising in paramesonephric parovarian cysts are presented. None of these benign lesions were diagnosed preoperatively as such and were only detected pathologically. In only one case was the tumor-bearing cyst symptomatic owing to its large size. The etiology, pathogenesis, and evolution of this lesion are briefly discussed.