Showing papers by "University of Windsor published in 1998"

The beneficial effects of volunteering for older volunteers and the people they serve: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: The current political-economic climate, which is generally supportive of both private and public sector down-sizing, increasingly demands that human service workers assess, engage, and creatively use consumer strengths and resources. This meta-analysis of thirty-seven independent studies provided the means of inferring not only that elder volunteers' sense of well-being seemed to be significantly bolstered through volunteering, but also that such relatively healthy older people represent a significant adjunct resource for meeting some of the service needs of more vulnerable elders, as well as those of other similarly vulnerable groups such as disabled children. Averaging across studies, 85 percent of the "clients" who received service from an older volunteer (e.g., peer-counseling of nursing home residents) scored better on dependent measures (e.g., diminished depression) than the average person in comparison conditions did (U3 = .847 [Cohen, 1988], combined p < .001). The policy implications of such beneficial effects among both older volunteers and the people they serve are discussed.

Business simulation games: current usage levels—an update

Abstract: A major survey involving more than 1,500 mail questionnaires was administered just over 10 years ago to determine the extent of business simulation game usage in academia and in business training p...

Deadlock prevention and avoidance in FMS : A Petri net based approach

Abstract: The use of structure theory of Petri nets to develop efficient deadlock prevention and deadlock avoidance methods for flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) modelled by S4R nets is demonstrated Major synchronisation patterns, such as generalised parallel and sequential mutual exclusion, frequently observed in FMS contexts can be represented by this class The liveness property of a given S4R net (deadlock-freeness in the context of FMSs) is characterised in terms of structural Petri net elements called siphons An efficient method for controlling minimal siphons of a given S4R net is developed where local control places are added to the net A sufficient condition for liveness of the augmented net is provided This constitutes a deadlock prevention approach When the net liveness condition is not satisfied, an on-line controller, using a dynamic resource allocation policy, is developed for the augmented net The performance of the proposed approaches is illustrated using several examples

A New Motif for the Self-Assembly of [2]Pseudorotaxanes; 1,2-Bis(pyridinium)ethane Axles and [24]Crown-8 Ether Wheels.

Abstract: Multiple intramolecular interactions help to stabilize the novel [2]pseudorotaxanes formed from 1,2-bis(pyridinium)ethane dications (which act as axles) and 24-membered crown ethers (which act as wheels; see structure). This is the first successful sythesis of [2]pseudorotaxanes with [24]crown-8 as the macrocycle.

Energies and oscillator strengths for lithiumlike ions

Abstract: The Hylleraas-type variational method is used to calculate the energies of the lithium ${1s}^{2}2s{}^{2}S$ and ${1s}^{2}2p{}^{2}P$ isoelectronic sequences up to $Z=20$. The oscillator strengths for the ${1s}^{2}2s{}^{2}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}{1s}^{2}2p{}^{2}P$ transitions are evaluated for $Z$ up to 20, including finite nuclear mass effects, and the corresponding lifetimes are determined. The $1/Z$ expansion method is used to extend the variational results to larger values of $Z$. Relativistic corrections to the dipole transition moment squared are estimated by comparison with the relativistic many-body perturbation theory results of Johnson et al. [At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 64, 279 (1996)]. The final lifetime for the ${1s}^{2}2p{}^{2}P$ state of lithium is in good agreement with recent high-precision measurements.

Feeding preferences of a generalist salt-marsh crab: relative importance of multiple plant traits

Abstract: Few studies have evaluated the relative importance of multiple plant traits to herbivore diet choice, especially with an experimental approach. Moreover, although circumstantial evidence points to plant toughness and silica content as important determinents of diet choice, few studies have experimentally demonstrated that these factors actually deter feeding by herbivores. We examined feeding preferences of a generalist salt-marsh crab, Armases cinereum, for all the common angiosperms in its habitat. We took an experimental approach to evaluating the importance of toughness, secondary chemistry, silica, salt, and protein in determining feeding preferences. Consumption of plants by Armases in two experiments was correlated with decreasing toughness. Consumption was more equitable when plants were ground up and reconstituted in agar discs, with reduced differences in toughness. In four pairwise choice tests, Armases always preferred the softer plant of the pair, but in three of four cases exhibited no prefe...

Casual sex on spring break: intentions and behaviors of Canadian students.

Abstract: Using Triandis's theory of interpersonal behavior, we analyzed factors related to casual sex among Canadian university students on a spring break vacation. Two samples were obtained: 151 students completed a questionnaire before a spring break trip to Daytona Beach, Florida and 681 completed a questionnaire during or immediately following the vacation. More men than women intended to have casual sex but similar percentages of men (15%) and women (13%) had actually engaged in casual sex. In ordinary least squares regression, expectation of participation in spring break activities, social norms expressed through peer group influences, and personal attitudes explained 74% of the variance in the intentions to engage in casual sex. In logistic regression, intentions and participation in spring break activities correctly classified 80% of the men into those who did and did not engage in casual sex. Agreements formed with friends about casual sex and the proportion of friends who participated in coitus on spring...

Supramolecular Arrays of 4,7‐Phenanthroline Complexes: Self‐Assembly of Molecular Pd6 Hexagons

Abstract: Linear organopalladium complex fragmentsand 4,7-phenanthroline are the building blocks for supramolecular arrays containing a molecular Pd6 hexagon (depicted on the right). The X-ray structure analysis shows that the phenanthroline moieties form the “corners”, and the palladated aromatic units the “walls” of these rigid nanoscale molecules.

The Java Language

Abstract: The Java language is a general-purpose programming language for platform-independent software development As described in Java White Papers (Sun Microsystems, Inc), “Java is simple, object-oriented, distributed, interpreted, robust, secure, architecture-neutral, portable, high-performance, multithreaded and dynamic”

Appropriate spatial scales for studies of reef-fish ecology

Abstract: Coral-reef systems are conspicuously multi-scalar, with scales set by reef-fish biology, by ecological processes that act upon them and by the architectural patchiness of the coral-reef environment in which they reside. Empirical ecological studies cannot be executed in a way that is independent of spatial scale, and results are inextricably scale-dependent. Further, although the question asked and the measurements planned will suggest appropriate scales, it is often the case in these multi-scalar systems that there is no single correct scale at which to sample. Instead, there must be a process of compromise in designing projects, an awareness of scale in implementing them and careful consideration of the scale-dependence of the results. Some useful principles are presented to help with the process of project design and interpretation.

Moving average rules, volume and the predictability of security returns with feedforward networks

Abstract: This paper uses the daily Dow Jones Industrial Average Index from 1963 to 1988 to examine the linear and non-linear predictability of stock market returns with some simple technical trading rules. Some evidence of non-linear predictability in stock market returns is found by using the past buy and sell signals of the moving average rules. In addition, past information on volume improves the forecast accuracy of current returns. The technical trading rules used in this paper are very popular and very simple. The results here suggest that it is worth while to investigate more elaborate rules and the profitability of these rules after accounting for transaction costs and brokerage fees. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Body Image and Sociocultural Norms A Comparison of Heterosexual and Lesbian Women

Abstract: Internalization of sociocultural norms about the body has been theorized to be an important factor in fostering body dissatisfaction in women. Some theorists have suggested that a lesbian identity ...

Species richness patterns of amphibians in southwestern Ontario ponds

Abstract: In southwestern Ontario amphibian species richness (o-diversity) was investigated at 180 ponds from 1992 to 1994. Patterns of species richness were compared among regions and the relationship between species richness and local habitat and regional landscape variables was investigated. Patterns of incidence differed among regions, with species that use woodlands being rare in one of the regions. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated

Secular trends in the incidence of anorexia nervosa: Integrative review of population-based studies

Abstract: Objective and Method: Aggregating across retrospective cohort samples, this integrative review synthesizes the findings of 12 cumulative incidence studies (45 hypotheses) on anorexia nervosa secular trends. Results: (1) The female/male anorexia incidence rate ratio was estimated to be 8.20, 18.46 versus 2.25 cases per 100,000 per year, p < .05; (2) female teenagers experienced anorexia at a rate fivefold greater than other women, 50.82 versus 10.37 incident cases per 100,000 per year, p < .001; (3) no secular trend or change in the incidence of anorexia was observed among teenagers, while a near threefold increase was observed over the past 40 years among women in their 20s and 30s, 6.28 (1950–1964) versus 17.70 (1980–1992) cases per 100,000 per year, p < .05; and (4) the two cohort characteristics of age, and the age by year interaction accounted for nearly two thirds of the variability among anorexia incidence estimates, R2 = .614, F(2,27) = 21.49, p < .001. After the two factors of age and the Age × Year interaction were accounted for, none of the other study characteristics, including study year(s), were found to be significantly associated with anorexia incidence, that is, a main effect of time was not observed. Discussion: The integrative evidence across the population-based epidemiologic studies covering 40 years in this field suggests strongly that, overall, the incidence of anorexia nervosa, particularly among those very young women at greatest risk of experiencing it, has not increased significantly. However, the risk does seem to have increased significantly among women in their 20s and 30s. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 23: 347–352, 1998.

Gambling Behavior and Pathology in Relation to Impulsivity, Sensation Seeking, and Risky Behavior in Male College Students

Abstract: Sensation seeking and impulsivity are two constructs of personality that are generally believed to be associated with risky behavior, including gambling. Despite the fact that pathological gambling is classified as an Impulsive Control Disorder in the DSM-IV, relatively little empirical research has investigated the relationship between gambling and impulsivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sensation seeking, impulsivity, risky behaviors and gambling. One hundred and forty-four male undergraduate university students completed several inventories measuring sensation seeking, impulsivity, gambling, and risky behaviors. Statistical analyses revealed a very high percentage of participants were classified in the pathological gambler range of scores. In addition, a significant difference was found between the relationships of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and risky behaviors with gambling scores in the pathological versus non-pathological groups. Pathological gambler's scores on measures of sensation seeking and impulsivity did not correlate with their degree of gambling pathology. In contrast, the sensation seeking and impulsivity scores of non-pathological gamblers did correlate with their scores of gambling pathology. These results have implications on Jacob's General Theory of Addiction. The findings of this study also suggest that the classification of gambling as an impulse control disorder rather than an addictive disorder needs to be reevaluated.

The Shadow of the Other

Abstract: Towards the end of his essay “Marxism and Philosophy” in Sense and Non-Sense, Merleau-Ponty embarks on a short and intriguing digression about Husserl. Tracing a short discussion of the evolution of Husserl’s thinking, Merleau-Ponty ends with this passage, heavy with insinuation: There is a story that in the last years of his life, when Husserl wanted to go to Belgrade to give the lectures he had been forbidden to give in Germany, the Gestapo was assigned the task of first reading his manuscripts. Are we in turn going to look at philosophy through the police chief’s glasses? Philosopher Husserl, we declare you suspected of anti-Hegelianism, and have consequently placed you under surveillance...1

Health promotion among immigrant women from India living in Canada.

Abstract: Purpose: To describe the health promoting practices of immigrant women from India and how cultural knowledge, norms, and values influence their behavior. Design: Descriptive using a small convenience sample. Method: Using ethnographic methodology, 20 women between the ages of 40 and 70 years living in Canada, 1995–1996, were interviewed individually using open-ended questions. Community get-togethers were also observed. Findings: The sample of women consistently reported that to remain healthy, a good diet, activity, and weight control were important. In addition, prayers, spiritual activities, and good relationships with families helped. Conclusions: Health professionals should be aware of the special needs of immigrant women to help them promote healthy lifestyles in their cultural context.

Internal Motion of Lysozyme Studied by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Depolarization of Tryptophan Residues

Abstract: The internal motion of lysozyme was described by the steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of its tryptophan residues. The fluorescence of mutant lysozymes W62Y- and W108Y-lysozyme, in which Trp62 or Trp108 of hen egg white lysozyme was replaced with a tyrosine residue, could be respectively assigned to Trp108 or Trp62 at the longer wavelength region of the total fluorescence spectrum. The segmental motion of Trp62 as shown by its fluorescence anisotropy decay was described with two components originating from the fluctuational rotation of an indole moiety about the Cα−Cβ bond and rotational wobble of the peptide segment adjacent to Trp62. Although Trp62 showed a high degree of motional freedom, its motion was significantly suppressed by the interaction of the mutant protein with a trimer of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. By contrast, the segmental motion of Trp108 is hindered by the local cage structure at temperatures below 30 °C, but Relief from restricted motion occurred on the formation of ...

Goodness-of-fit tests based on kernel density estimators with fixed smoothing parameters

Abstract: In this paper, we study the bias-corrected test developed in Fan (1994). It is based on the integrated squared difference between a kernel estimator of the unknown density function of a random vector and a kernel smoothed estimator of the parametric density function to be tested under the null hypothesis. We provide an alternative asymptotic approximation of the finite-sample distribution of this test by fixing the smoothing parameter. In contrast to the normal approximation obtained in Fan (1994) in which the smoothing parameter shrinks to zero as the sample size grows to infinity, we obtain a non-normal asymptotic distribution for the bias-corrected test. A parametric bootstrap procedure is proposed to approximate the critical values of this test. We show both analytically and by simulation that the proposed bootstrap procedure works. Consistency and local power properties of the bias-corrected test with a fixed smoothing parameter are also discussed.

Selective predation on an introduced zooplankter (Bythotrephes cederstroemi) by lake herring (Coregonus artedii) in Harp Lake, Ontario

Abstract: 1. Bythotrephes cederstroemi (Crustacea: Onychopoda: Cercopagidae) invaded Harp Lake, Ontario in 1993, since when the zooplankton community has shifted from dominance of small-bodied to large-bodied species. During 1995 diets of adult lake herring (Coregonus artedii), Harp Lake’s primary planktivorous fish, were examined to determine the extent to which this conspicuous zooplankter has become integrated into the lake’s foodweb and whether fish condition has been affected in consequence. 2. Bythotrephes and Daphnia galeata mendotae were strongly preferred prey, whilst Holopedium gibberum and calanoid and cyclopoid copepods were negatively selected by lake herring. Predation on Bythotrephes and Holopedium was not size-selective, although D. galeata mendotae and calanoid copepods (Leptodiaptomus minutus and L. sicilis) consumed by herring were significantly larger than co-occurring conspecifics in the lake. 3. Caudal spines of Bythotrephes may form boluses in lake herring stomachs. However, the number of caudal spines in fish digestive tracts did not differ significantly from the number of Bythotrephes’ mandible pairs, indicating that the former were not differentially retained. 4. Lake herring weight-at-length relationships in lakes in Muskoka, Ontario, invaded by Bythotrephes did not differ from those in adjacent non-invaded lakes, indicating that Bythotrephes invasion of lakes apparently has not affected condition of lake herring.

Decreased nitric oxide synthase activity in platelets from IDDM and NIDDM patients

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by platelet nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibits platelet activation by increased cytoplasmic cGMP levels. The aim of this study was to investigate platelet NOS activity in insulin-dependent (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), which are characterized by enhanced platelet activation. HbA1 c levels, platelet NOS and platelet membrane Na+/K+ ATPase activity were determined in 19 IDDM patients, 21 NIDDM patients and 31 healthy control subjects. NOS activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method based on NO-dependent oxidation of oxyhaemoglobin to met-haemoglobin. Na+/K+ ATPase activity was measured by the method of Kitao and Hattori. Both NOS and Na+/K+ ATPase activity were significantly reduced in diabetic subjects compared with control subjects. NOS showed a significant negative relation with HbA1 c levels and a positive relation with Na+/K+ ATPase activity in diabetic patients. It is hypothesized that the decreased NOS activity might play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 101–104]

Suicide and the Internalization of Culture: Three Questions

Abstract: Despite much writing and discussion on suicide that gives credence to the importance of a multidimensional perspective, the current view of suicide continues to be strongly person-centered. Examini...

Effects of Atorvastatin on the Intracellular Stability and Secretion of Apolipoprotein B in HepG2 Cells

Abstract: —We investigated the effects of atorvastatin, a new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, on the biogenesis of apolipoprotein B (apoB) in intact and permeabilized HepG2 cells. Intact cells were pretreated either with single or multiple doses of atorvastatin (0.1 to 20 μmol/L) for periods of 6 to 20 hours and pulsed with [ 35 S]methionine. In some cases the cells were permeabilized with digitonin. Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of atorvastatin on (1) the rates of lipid synthesis and secretion, (2) the synthesis and accumulation of apoB, (3) the intracellular stability of apoB, (4) the amount of apoB-containing lipoprotein particles assembled in HepG2 microsomes, and (5) the secretion and accumulation of apoB into the culture medium. ApoB synthesis, degradation, and secretion were measured by pulse-chase experiments with [ 35 S]methionine in both intact and permeabilized HepG2 cells. Lipid synthesis was assessed by pulse-labeling experiments with [ 3 H]acetate or [ 3 H]oleate bound to bovine serum albumin. Comparisons were made under basal conditions and in the presence of oleate (0.36 μmol/L). Atorvastatin acutely inhibited the synthesis of cholesterol and cholesterol ester but did not have a significant effect on triglyceride or phospholipid synthesis. Atorvastatin did not affect the uptake of [ 35 S]methionine by the cells nor did it influence the synthesis of apoB or a control protein, albumin. However, atorvastatin reduced the secretion of apoB into the culture medium, apparently by enhancing the degradation of apoB in the cell under basal and induced conditions with oleate. The stability of apoB associated with the lipoprotein particles was also significantly lowered by atorvastatin. The stimulated degradation of apoB in atorvastatin-treated cells was sensitive to MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. The net effect of atorvastatin was a reduction in the number of apoB-containing lipoprotein particles of different sizes isolated from microsomes and a reduction in apoB secretion into the culture medium. The data suggest that atorvastatin may impair the translocation of apoB into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, thus increasing the amount of apoB degraded intracellularly. It is hypothesized that atorvastatin alters these parameters primarily as a result of inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and limiting the availability of cholesterol and/or cholesterol ester for the normal assembly of apoB-containing lipoprotein particles.