Showing papers by "University of Jyväskylä published in 1996"

MetaEdit+: A Fully Configurable Multi-User and Multi-Tool CASE and CAME Environment

Abstract: Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) environments have spread at a lower pace than expected. One reason for this is the immaturity of existing environments in supporting development in-the-large and by-many and their inability to address the varying needs of the software developers. In this paper we report on the development of a next generation CASE environment called MetaEdit+. The environment seeks to overcome all the above deficiencies, but in particular pays attention to catering for the varying needs of the software developers. MetaEdit+ is a multi-method, multi-tool platform for both CASE and Computer Aided Method Engineering (CAME). As a CASE tool it establishes a versatile and powerful multi-tool environment which enables flexible creation, maintenance, manipulation, retrieval and representation of design information among multiple developers. As a CAME environment it offers an easy-to-use yet powerful environment for method specification, integration, management and re-use. The paper explains the motivation for developing MetaEdit+, its design goals and philosophy and discusses the functionality of the CAME tools.

Tortuous flow in porous media

Abstract: The concept of tortuosity of fluid flow in porous media is discussed. A lattice-gas cellular automaton method is applied to solve the flow of a Newtonian uncompressible fluid in a two-dimensional porous substance constructed by randomly placed rectangles of equal size and with unrestricted overlap. A clear correlation between the average tortuosity of the flow paths and the porosity of the substance has been found. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

Effects of strength and endurance training on isometric muscle strength and walking speed in elderly women

Abstract: The separate effects of 18 weeks of intensive strength and endurance training on isometric knee extension (KE) and flexion (KF) strength and walking speed were studied in 76- to 78- year-old women. Maximal voluntary isometric force for both KE and KF was measured in a sitting position on a custom-made dynamometer chair at a knee angle of 60 degrees from full extension. Maximal walking speed was measured over a distance of 10 m. The endurance-trained women increased KE torque and KE torque/body mass after the first 9 weeks of training when compared with the controls. when comparing the baseline, 9 week and 18 week measurements within the groups separately, both the endurance- and strength-training groups increased KE torque, KE torque/body mass and walking speed. Individual changes in KE torque/body mass before and after 18 weeks of training averaged 19.1% in the strength group, 30.9% in the endurance group and 2.0% in the controls. This study indicates that in elderly women the effects of physical training on muscle strength and walking speed occur after endurance as well as strength training. The considerable interindividual variation in change of muscle performance is also worth noticing.

Efficient Peltier refrigeration by a pair of normal metal/insulator/superconductor junctions

Abstract: We suggest and demonstrate in experiment that two normal metal/insulator/superconductor (NIS) tunnel junctions combined in series to form a symmetric SINIS structure can operate as an efficient Peltier refrigerator. Specifically, it is shown that the SINIS structure with normal‐state junction resistances 1.0 and 1.1 kΩ is capable of reaching a temperature of about 100 mK starting from 300 mK. We estimate the corresponding cooling power to be 1.5 pW per total junction area of 0.8 μm2 at T=300 mK.

Tracking the evolution of warning signals

Abstract: EVOLUTIONARYstudies are hampered by a lack of experimental ways in which to test past events such as the origination of aposematism1–7, whereby unpalatable or poisonous prey signal their unprofitability, often by being warningly coloured. Inexperienced predators do learn to avoid unpalatable prey as a result of such signals8–10, but in addition there may be an inherited cautiousness about attacking when common or conspicuous warning signals are evident11–16. As current predators are not naive in the evolutionary sense, it is still not resolved3–7,17,18 whether aposematism originated only in aggregations of prey19,20 or among solitary prey as well21–23. Here we explore this controversy in evolutionarily naive predators by creating a novel world with warning signals not found in the environment. Initially, the aggregation of prey favoured the warning signals supporting Fisher's view24 of kin aggregations as the evolutionary starting point of aposematism. However, once predators had experienced warning signals, pre-existing avoidance seemed to facilitate evolution of Mullerian mimicry complexes25 with similar types of signals even among solitary prey.

Changes associated with aging and replicative senescence in the regulation of transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B.

Abstract: Both the aging of animals and the senescence of cultured cells involve an altered pattern of gene expression, suggesting changes in transcription factor regulation. We studied age-related changes in transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B, activator protein factor-1 (AP-1) and Sp-1 by using electrophoretic mobility shift binding assays; we also analysed changes in the protein components of NF-kappa B complex with Western blot assays. Nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts were prepared from heart, liver, kidney and brain of young adult and old NMRI mice and Wistar rats as well as from presenescent, senescent and simian virus 40-immortalized human WI-38 fibroblasts. Aging of both mice and rats induced a strong and consistent increase in the nuclear binding activity of NF-kappa B factor in all tissues studied, whereas those of AP-1 and Sp-1 decreased, e.g. in liver. Protein levels of p50, p52 and p65 components of the NF-kappa B complex did not show any age-associated changes in the cytoplasmic fraction but in the nuclear fraction the level of p52 strongly increased in heart and liver during aging. The protein levels of inhibitory I kappa B-alpha and Bcl-3 components were not affected by aging in any of the tissues studied. Replicative cellular senescence of human WI-38 fibroblasts induced a strong decrease in nuclear NF-kappa B, AP-1 and Sp-1 binding activities. Protein levels of p50 and p52 components of NF-kappa B complex were decreased in the nuclear fraction of senescent WI-38 fibroblasts but in the cytoplasm of senescent fibroblasts the level of p65 protein was increased. Cellular senescence also slightly decreased the protein levels of I kappa B-alpha and Bcl-3. Transfection assays with NF-kappa B-enhancer-driven chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene showed a significant down-regulation of NF-kappa B promoter activity in senescent WI-38 fibroblasts. Results suggest that the aging process might be regulated differently in tissues and cultured fibroblasts, perhaps reflecting differences between mitotic and post-mitotic cells. In tissues, aging seems to involve specific changes in the regulation of NF-kappa B components and perhaps also changes in the DNA-binding affinities of the NF-kappa B complex.

Neuromuscular adaptations during bilateral versus unilateral strength training in middle-aged and elderly men and women

Abstract: Twelve middle-aged men and 12 middle-aged women in the 50-year-old age group (M50; range 44-57 years; W50; 43-57), and 12 elderly men and 12 elderly women in the 70-year-old age group (M70; 59-75; W70; 62-75) volunteered as subjects in order to examine effects of 12-week progressive heavy resistance strength training on electromyographic activity (EMG), muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris and maximal concentric force in a one repetition maximum (1 RM) test of the knee extensor muscles. One half of the subjects in each group performed the knee extension (and flexion) exercises only bilaterally (BIL), while another half performed the exercises only unilaterally (UNIL). None of the subject groups demonstrated statistically significant changes in any of the 1 RM values during the 2 week control period with no training (between week -2 and 0) preceding the actual experimental training. However, the 12-week training resulted in increases (P < 0.05-0.001) in 1 RM values in each group so that the average relative increase of 19 +/- 12% (P < 0.001) in bilateral 1 RM in all BIL trained subjects was greater (P < 0.05) than that of 13 +/- 8% (P < 0.001) recorded for all UNIL trained subjects. The average relative increases of 17 +/- 11% (P < 0.001) and 14 +/- 14% (P < 0.001) in unilateral 1 RM values of the right and left leg in all UNIL trained subjects were greater (P < 0.05) than those of 10 +/- 18% (P < 0.001) and 11 +/- 11% (P < 0.001) recorded for all BIL trained subjects, respectively. The relative average increase of 19 +/- 19% (P < 0.001) observed in the maximum averaged IEMG of both legs during the bilateral actions in all BIL trained subjects was greater (P < 0.05) than that of 10 +/- 17% (P < 0.05) recorded for all UNIL trained subjects. The relative increases of 14 +/- 12% (P < 0.001) and 11 +/- 6% (P < 0.001) recorded for the CSA in all BIL and UNIL trained subjects did not differ significantly from each others. The present findings suggest that progressive heavy resistance strength training leads to great increases in maximal dynamic strength of the trained subjects accompanied by both considerable neural adaptations and muscular hypertrophy not only in middle-aged but also in elderly men and women. Both bilateral and unilateral exercises are effective to produce functional and structural adaptations in the neuromuscular system, although the magnitude of functional strength increase seems to be specific to the type of exercise used, further supporting the principle of specificity in the design of strength programmes.

Postural Balance and Its Sensory-Motor Correlates in 75-Year-Old Men and Women: A Cross-National Comparative Study

Abstract: Background. There are no earlier cross-national comparative studies analyzing the functioning of the posture control mechanisms and its sensory-motor correlates in elderly subjects. We investigated whether there are differences in balance between elderly subjects living in different geographical areas, and analyzed the sensory-motor associates of balance in men and women separately. Method. Using a force platform method, the functioning of the posture control system under three standardized conditions (normal standing, eyes open; normal standing, eyes closed; and tandem standing, eyes open) was studied among samples of 75-year-old residents in three Nordic localities, namely Glostrup in Denmark, Goteborg in Sweden, and Jyvaskyla in Finland. The associations of the variables describing performance in each test with other sensory and motor functions were studied using correlation analyses and multivariate regression models. Results. Differences between the populations were observed in both tests with visual control, favoring the participants from Glostrup and Jyvaskyla compared with those from Goteborg. However, only minor differences between the subjects from different localities were observed in the test performed with the eyes closed. In all localities there was a primary sex difference in favor of the women which, however, mainly disappeared when body height was taken into the analyses as a covariate. A good performance in the balance tests (body height-adjusted values) was associated with good visual acuity, low vibrotactile thresholds, and high psychomotor speed. Also, isometric muscle strength, especially hand grip and body extension, was positively associated with good performance in the balance tests. Among the women, a poorer balance was observed in women with a smaller body mass. The results of the multivariate analyses showed that among the men, the most important predictors of good performance in the balance tests were low vibrotactile threshold on the foot, high isometric hand grip strength, and low body stature. Among the women, the most important predictors were low body stature, high body mass, high isometric body extension strength, and high psychomotor speed. However, only a small proportion of the variance in balance (about 13% in the men and 11 % in the women) could be explained by the help of these factors. Conclusions. As the same procedure was applied to the analysis of postural balance, some differences between the populations living in different localities could be detected in some of the tests. The better performance of the women in the balance tests may partly be explained by anthropometric factors, especially differences in body height. There may also be differences in the sensory-motor associates of balance in elderly men and women. On the basis of the associations observed, it is difficult to explain the differences in balance between the sexes or subjects living in different localities. Within the sexes, only a small proportion (10-13%) of the variation in balance during normal standing with eyes open could be explained by the factors included in the study.

Nonverbal immediacy and cognitive learning: A cross‐cultural investigation

Abstract: The current research was based on data drawn from the cultures of Australia, Finland, and Puerto Rico as well as the dominant United States culture. The direction of the relationship between immediacy and perceived cognitive learning did not differ among the cultures studied (a very positive relationship exists within each culture). However, the magnitude of the relationships varied substantially. The results support the theory that in highly immediate cultures the expectations for immediate teacher behavior are very high and violations of those expectations by being less immediate may be very detrimental to cognitive learning. On the other hand, in less immediate cultures where expectations for immediacy are low, the violation of those expectations by being more immediate may have strong positive effects on cognitive learning.

Proactive and reactive aggression in early adolescence as precursors to anti- and prosocial behavior in young adults

Abstract: Three groups of adolescents who were 14 years old in 1974 were formed on the basis of peer nominations and teacher ratings in an ongoing longitudinal study: 1) reactively aggressive (REA) individuals who displayed reactive, that is, self-defensive aggression but not proactive aggression (43 boys, 35 girls); 2) proactively aggressive (PROA) individuals who attacked another person without a reason (56 boys, 35 girls); and 3) nonaggressive (NONA) individuals who were low in proactive and reactive aggression (48 boys, 45 girls). The groups were compared at ages 8, 14, and 27 in variables representing the constructs of a two-dimensional model of emotional and behavioral regulation. The REA Ss were characterized by higher self-control, especially constructiveness, at each age and better adult adjustment than the PROA Ss. The PROA males were prone to externalizing problems and criminality in adulthood, whereas the PROA females were prone to internalizing problems and neuroticism in adulthood. Both exhibited conduct problems in adolescence, and became heavy users of alcohol in adulthood. The PROA Ss had more children at age 27 than the other Ss..

Viability costs of condition-dependent sexual male display in a drumming wolf spider

Abstract: According to the conditional handicap models females use male ornaments as honest signals of male viability. The assumptions for honest signalling are that the traits are costly and that they reflect male phenotypic condition, and hence optimal trait size is largest in the most viable males. However, experimental evidence for the costs of signalling are scarce. In this study we experimentally tested whether acoustic signalling, drumming, in a wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata is a condition dependent, costly trait, and thus offers an honest signal of quality to females. Males of this species court females by drumming dry leaves with their abdomen. Females prefer to mate with males of high drumming rate, but body mass of males does not affect female choice. We manipulated phenotypic condition of males by keeping them in high, intermediate and low food levels. Males in a high food level treatment maintained their drumming rate at a high level, while males with intermediate and low food levels exhibited a reduction in drumming rates. Thus, phenotypic condition of the males affects their sexual signalling. We induced another set of males to increase their drumming activity by presenting females in proximity. These males suffered higher mortality and lost significantly more weight than other males, confirming that drumming is costly. However, within the increased treatment group males that drummed most actively survived better than less active males. Thus, males vary in their ability to bear the costs of drumming, which suggests that drumming is an honest signal of male quality (= conditional handicap) for females.

An alternative view of relationship marketing: a framework for ethical analysis

Abstract: At present, a continuing widespread debate on the moral nature of business is widely recognized. However, it seems that the ethical evaluation of business practices is not very common in the area of relationship marketing. Analyses relationship marketing from the viewpoint of ethical theories. The theories applied are deontology, utilitarianism, virtue ethics, and emotivism. Reviews and analyses studies on relationship marketing issues in order to construct a framework for the ethical analysis of relationship marketing principles. Finally presents a framework for ethical analysis in the form of a constructive solution. Includes a model or code of business ethics for relationship marketers. The code will help make relationship marketing practices ethically longer lasting and, in this way, make the practices also more competitive and profitable.

Parents' Physical Activity, Socioeconomic Status and Education as Predictors of Physical Activity and Sport among Children and Youths - A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine parental influences on children's participation in sport and their later physical activity. The population for the study consisted of a random sample of 1881 9- to 15-year-old boys and girls who were exposed to the extensive research program called "Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns" in 1980. They and their parents have been followed up for twelve years at three-year intervals by means of a short questionnaire concerning physical activity and other factors. The results indicated that the fathers' physical activity in 1980 was related to their children's habitual physical activity in the same year, and gave in boys and girls a significant prediction of PAI values twelve years later when the starting point was the age of 9, and also among boys from 15 years of age to 27. During the three years follow-up period, the extent of participation in sport was higher in families with active parents than in families with passive parents and single parents. The relationship of...

The new element 112

Abstract: The new element 112 was produced and identified unambiguously in an experiment at SHIP, GSI Darmstadt. Two decay chains of the isotope277112 were observed in irradiations of208Pb targets with70Zn projectiles of 344 MeV kinetic energy. The isotope decays by emission of α particles with a half-life of (240 −90 +430 )µs. Two different α energies of (11,649±20) keV and (11,454±20) keV were measured for the two observed decays. The cross-section measured in three weeks of irradiations is (1.0 −0.4 +1.8 ) pb.

Bilateral and Unilateral Neuromuscular Function and Muscle Cross-Sectional Area in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men and Women

Abstract: Forty-eight healthy men (M) and women (W), divided into two different age groups, i.e., M50 yrs (range 44-57; n = 12), W50 yrs (range 43-57; n = 12), M70 yrs (range 59-75; n = 12), and W70 yrs (range 62-75; n = 12), volunteered as subjects for examination of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), maximal voluntary forces, force-time curves, and electromyographic activity of the knee extensor muscles during bilateral and unilateral isometric contractions. The maximal bilateral knee extension force and the average CSA values in M50 were greater (p < .05) than in M70 and in W50 were greater (p < .05-.001) than those recorded for W70. The early forces in the force-time curve were greater (p < .05) for M50 than for M70 and in W50 were greater (p < .05) than in W70. The individual values of the CSA of the left and right quadriceps femoris (QF) correlated (p < .05-.001) with the individual values of maximal unilateral knee extension forces in M50 (r = .87 and r = .87), M70 (r = .61 and r = .80), W50 (r = .79 and r = .58), and W70 (r = .56 and r = .54). When the force values were related to the CSA of the muscle, W70 demonstrated a lower (p < .05) value than the other three groups. Maximal voluntary bilateral forces didn't differ from those of the summed unilateral forces, and the maximal integrated EMG values during the bilateral and unilateral contractions of the same leg were also the same. The results suggest that the decline in maximal strength with increasing age could be related to the decline in the CSA of the muscle, but in older people, especially women, strength decreases seemed to be multifactorial, including possibly a decrease in voluntary neural drive or changes in "qualitative" characteristics of the muscle tissue. Explosive strength may decrease with aging even more than maximal strength, suggesting that atrophying effects of aging may be greater on fast-twitch muscle fibers than on slow-twitch fibers and/or that the rate of neural activation of the muscles may also be influenced by aging. On the other hand, the central nervous system in a simple single joint isometric force production of the knee extensors seems to be capable of activation of the two bilateral QF muscle groups to the same degree in comparison to that of the unilateral activation only.

Stretch shortening cycle fatigue: interactions among joint stiness, reflex, and muscle mechanical performance in the drop jump

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of strenuous stretch-shortening cycle exercise on the relationship between reflex and stiffness regulation during the drop jump. Ten healthy male subjects performed submaximal stretch-shortening cycle exercise on a special sledge apparatus. Exhaustion occurred on average within 3 min. A drop jump test from a 50-cm height was performed immediately before and after the sledge exercise, as well as 2 h, 2 days and 4 days later. The fatigue exercise showed relatively high blood lactate concentrations 12.5 (SD 2.6) mmol·l−1 and a 2-day delayed increase of serum cretaine kinase concentration. In drop jumps, the short latency M1 component of the vastus lateralis muscle electromyogram (EMG) response showed a continuous decline throughout the entire follow-up period after fatigue (NS), whereas the medium latency EMG component increased 2 days after the postfatigue sessions (P < 0.05). Immediately after the fatigue exercise a positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between the changes in the short latency EMG response and in the amount of knee joint stiffness during the early post-landing phase of the drop jump. This suggests that the M1 response was closely related to the stiffness changes during the initial braking phase of the drop jump. Increase of creatine kinase concentration on the 2nd day correlated negatively with the changes in the drop jump performance (P < 0.05). Since the short latency EMG component has almost recovered on the 2nd day, impairment of the mechanical function of the muscle might have taken place. In conclusion, exhausting stretch-shortening cycle exercise induced local muscle impairment, which resulted in modulation of the reflex and stiffness interaction in the drop jump as well as compensation by central motor command.

Reduced stretch-reflex sensitivity after exhausting stretch-shortening cycle exercise

Abstract: The stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) is an effective and natural form of muscle function but, when repeated with sufficient intensity or duration, it may lead to muscle damage and functional defects. A reduced tolerance to impact has been reported, which may be partly attributed to a reduced stretch-reflex potentiation. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of SSC-induced metabolic fatigue and muscle damage on the efficacy of stretch reflexes, as judged by the electromyograph (EMG) response of two shank muscles (lateral gastrocnemius LG, soleus SOL) to controlled ramp stretches. These EMG responses were recorded before and immediately after exhausting SSC-type leg exercise and 2 h, 2 days and 4 days later. Serum concentrations of creatine kinase ([CK]), myoglobin and lactate were measured repetitively along the protocol. Two maximal vertical drop jumps and counter-movement jumps were performed after each reflex test. The exhausting SSC-type exercise induced an immediate reduction (P < 0.05) with a delayed short-term recovery of the LG peak-to-peak reflex amplitude. This was not accompanied by significant changes in the reflex latency. The drop jump performance remained slightly but significantly reduced (P < 0.05) until the 2nd day postexercise. Peak [CK] appeared for all the subjects on the 2nd day, suggesting the presence of muscle damage. The increase in [CK] between the 2nd h and the 2nd day postexercise was found to be negatively related (P < 0.001) to the relative changes in the drop jump height. Furthermore, a significant relationship (P < 0.05) was found between recovery of the stretch reflex in LG and the decrease of [CK] between the 2nd and the 4th day. These findings support the hypothesis of a reduced stretch-reflex sensitivity. While the exact mechanisms of the reflex inhibition remain unclear, it is emphasized that the delayed recovery of the reflex sensitivity could have resulted from the progressive inflammation that develops in cases of muscle damage.

Biogeographical comparison of winter bird assemblages in urban environments in Finland

Abstract: We studied biogeographical variation of urban bird assemblages in Finland. Winter birds were censused by single-visit study plot method from thirty-one centres of villages or towns along 950 km latitudinal extent. A total twenty-eight bird species was observed and the average density was 61.2 ind./10 ha. The number of dominant species in study areas varied between two and seven and their proportion of the whole assemblage was over 70%. Species richness, but not the density of birds, decreased northwards in pooled data. Higher species richness in south than in north was mainly due to the higher amount of delayed migratory birds (e.g. waterbirds, finches) and southerly distributed bird species. However, in heavily urbanized areas species richness did not decrease northwards. This observation disagreed with the hypothesis that species richness decreased northwards. Bird density, but not species richness, increased with urbanization. In particular, feral pigeon, hooded crow and house sparrow had highest densities in most urbanized areas. As only few bird species are adapted to live in urban areas, species composition and dominant bird species were almost the same in the south and in the north. These urban birds may effectively use energy rich food in feeding tables and overcome the problems of severe climate in the north. This may be the reason why bird species richness does not decrease northwards in urban areas.

Female and male personality styles: a typological and developmental analysis.

Abstract: The personality styles of 137 women and 138 men aged 27 years were examined in an ongoing Finnish longitudinal study in which the participants were first assessed at age 8. Data were collected by means of a mailed questionnaire, personality inventories, and a semistructured interview. Variables covered personality characteristics, life orientation, and behavioral activities. Both women and men fell into two major clusters, the adjusted (3/4) and the conflicted (1/4). Both clusters divided into subclusters; altogether, 7 were extracted for women and men replicating the personality types obtained by J. Block (1971) despite the use of a different methodology in a different culture. The clusters had roots in individuals' emotional and behavioral regulation from the early school years onward, and they also predicted personality characteristics over a period of 6 years when the Big Five personality factors were used as criteria.

Sexual selection in a wolf spider: male drumming activity, body size, and viability.

Abstract: Females are often believed to actively choose highly ornamented males (males with extravagant morphological signals or intense sexual display), and ornaments should be honest signals of male viability. However, this belief is relying only on some pieces of empirical evidence from birds. Our study reports active female choice on sexual display that indicates male viability in spiders. We established trials in which we studied female choice in relation to male courtship drumming activity and body size. Females chose the most actively drumming males as mating partners, but the body size of the males did not seem to be selected. Male drumming activity turned out to be a good predictor of male viability, whereas male viability was independent of male body mass. Our results suggest that by actively choosing mates according to male drumming performance, but independently of male body mass, females are preferring viable males as mates. Because Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata males do not provide obvious direct benefits to their offspring, females may gain some indirect benefits; offspring may have higher chance of survival, or the offspring may inherit the attractiveness of their father.

A framework for software risk management

Abstract: We present a simple, but powerful framework for software risk management. The framework synthesizes, refines, and extends current approaches to managing software risks. We illustrate its usefulness through an empirical analysis of two software development episodes involving high risks. The framework can be used as an analytical device to evaluate and improve risk management approaches and as a practical tool to shape the attention and guide the actions of risk managers.