bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender and coping: The dual‐axis model of coping
Authors: Hobfoll Stevan E. , Dunahoo Carla L. , Ben-Porath Yossef , Monnier Jeannine
Published: October 2006

Examined a dual‐axis model of coping that included both action (active vs. passive) and social dimensions (prosocial vs. antisocial) of coping strategies among a combined sample of students and community residents. We developed an assessment device to represent the model and allow investigation. Mixed support for the model and instrument were noted. Women were more prosocial than men in their coping, but no less active. Men were more likely to use antisocial and aggressive, but less assertive coping strategies than women. More prosocial, action coping strategies were also more likely to be related to greater sense of mastery and more liberal gender‐role orientation. Antisocial and passive strategies tended to be related to lower mastery and more traditional gender‐role orientation. Active coping was related to lower emotional distress for men and women, but both prosocial and antisocial coping were related to greater emotional distress for men, suggesting that men may have a narrower band of beneficial coping strategies than do women.
The enhancement of psychological wellness: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Cowen Emory L.
Published: October 2006

Developed the concept of psychological wellness and made the case that proportionally more resources should be directed to the pursuit of this goal. Five pathways to wellness are considered, implicating aspects of individual development and the impact of contexts, settings, and policies. The five pathways are: forming wholesome early attachments; acquiring age‐ and ability‐appropriate competencies; engineering settings that promote adaptive outcomes; fostering empowerment; and acquiring skills needed to cope effectively with life stressors. Although these noncompeting pathways have differential salience at different ages and for different groups and life conditions, each is an essential element in any comprehensive social plan to advance wellness. Examples of effective programs are cited in all five areas, including recent comprehensive, long‐term programs embodying multiple pathways to wellness.
Short versus longer term effectiveness of an outreach program for the homeless mentally Ill
Authors: Bybee Deborah , Mowbray Carol T. , Cohen Evan
Published: October 2006

Presents 12‐month follow‐up results from an outreach/linkage intervention with persons who are homeless and mentally ill, contrasting these with results obtained at 4 months. Both sets reflect the success of the program in placing individuals in independent housing. However, longer term data provide useful information regarding client movement patterns and increased tenure in nonhomeless living arrangements beyond the termination of specialized services. Analyses of 12‐month residential outcomes identified four variables as significant predictors: recruitment source, project service duration, CMH service duration, and client age. In contrast to 4‐month predictors, variables reflecting baseline client functioning were no longer significantly related to outcome, suggesting that the positive effects of the intervention may take longer to achieve with some clients. Discussion focuses on the implications of these effectiveness results for future research designs and measures as well as the utility and limitations of preexperimental approaches for evaluating innovative service models when implementation and efficacy experiences are lacking.
The continuity principle: A unified approach to disaster and trauma
Authors: Omer Haim , Alon Nahman
Published: October 2006

The continuity principle stipulates that through all stages of disaster, management and treatment should aim at preserving and restoring functional, historical, and interpersonal continuities, at the individual, family, organization, and community levels. Two misconceptions work against this principle and lead to decisional errors: the “abnormalcy bias” which results in underestimating victims' ability to cope with disaster, and the “normalcy bias” which results in underestimating the probability or extent of expected disruption. This article clarifies these biases and details the potential contributions of the continuity principle at the different stages of the disaster.
Social problem solving in unsafe situations: Implications for sexual abuse education programs
Authors: Grober Jacqueline S. , Bogat G. Anne
Published: October 2006

Examined the impact of two subject variables (age and gender) and two contextual factors (antagonist age and nature of the social dilemma) on children's social problem solving (SPS). Preschoolers (N=62) were individually presented with four stories that varied the antagonist age (peer vs. adult) and social dilemma (nonsexual vs. sexual). Responses were coded for three SPS variables: number of alternative solutions, solution content, and planfulness. Younger preschoolers were less competent problem solvers in all types of unsafe situations, and, compared to girls, some aspects of boys' problem solving were compromised in sexual encounters. Results also suggest that the nature of the social dilemma, but not the age of the antagonist, affects perschoolers' SPS. Children generated fewer alternative solutions and fewer effective strategies to the sexual encounters compared to the nonsexual dilemmas. Findings are discussed in relation to research on children's SPS and child sexual abuse prevention efforts.
Programmatic prevention of adolescent problem behaviors: The role of autonomy, relatedness, and volunteer service in the teen outreach program
Authors: Allen Joseph P. , Kuperminc Gabe , Philliber Susan , Herre Kathy
Published: October 2006

Explored the mechanisms by which a well‐validated intervention to prevent school failure, suspension, and teenage pregnancy produces its effects, using site‐level data from 66 sites involving over 1,000 students participating in national replication of the Teen Outreach Program. Multiple informants provided data on operating characteristics of each site. These were then used to explain differences across sites in levels of success in reducing youth problem behaviors using a pre‐post design and a well‐matched comparison group. In accord with predictions from developmental theory, middle school sites that promoted student autonomy and relatedness with peers and with site facilitators achieved significantly greater levels of success in reducing problem behaviors. Offering volunteer experiences perceived as teaching middle school students new skills and leaving them real choices about the type of work they did was also linked to program success. Although the program was equally sucessful with students from a wide range of sociodemographic backgrounds, links of program factors to site‐level outcomes were found only for middle school but not high school sites. Implications of these findings for the development of programmatic interventions targeted at adolescents are discussed.
Helping homeless mentally Ill people: What variables mediate and moderate program effects?
Authors: Morse Gary A. , Calsyn Robert J. , Allen Gary , Kenny David A.
Published: October 2006

This process evaluation study examined what variables moderate and mediate treatment effects on days in stable housing and client satisfaction for homeless mentally ill clients. In general, demographic characteristics did not moderate either outcome variable. Housing contacts, entitlement contacts, mental health contacts, and supportive services were significant mediators of the treatment effect on days in stable housing. Program contacts, mental health contacts, and supportive services were significant mediators of client satisfaction.
Impact of the JOBS intervention on unemployed workers varying in risk for depression
Authors: Vinokur Amiram D. , Price Richard H. , Schul Yaacov
Published: October 2006

Reports the results of the JOBS II randomized field experiment that included a sample of 1,801 recent job losers, 671 of which participated in a modified version of the JOBS I intervention for unemployed workers (Caplan, Vinokur, Price, & van Ryn, 1989). The intervention focused on enhancing the sense of mastery through the acquisition of job‐search and problem‐solving skills, and on inoculation against setbacks. JOBS II was intended to prevent poor mental health and to promote high quality reemployment. The study tested whether the efficacy of the intervention could be increased by screening and oversampling respondents who were at higher risk for a significant increase in depressive symptoms. Results demonstrated that the intervention primarily benefited the reemployment and mental health outcomes of the high‐risk respondents. This suggests the feasibility of enhancing the efficacy of this preventive intervention by targeting, it for high‐risk unemployed workers who could be identified prospectively.
Sense of community in a remote mining town: Validating a Neighborhood Cohesion scale
Authors: Robinson David , Wilkinson Derek
Published: October 2006

Psychometric properties and determinants of Buckner's Neighborhood Cohesion Index (NCI) have previously been reported for 206 individuals from three Washington, DC suburbs. This study analyses the properties and determinants of the scale for 1182 mine workers in Elliot Lake, a remote Canadian single‐industry town. Data were collected through in‐person interviews. The scale in the Elliot Lake sample was highly reliable (α=.91) and the Elliot Lake and Washington NCI item‐total scale correlations were similar. Multiple regression found income and education related significantly negatively and years in neighborhood and home ownership significantly positively to NCI with coefficients comparable to those Buckner found in Washington. However, additional significant positive predictors of NCI were home equity, length of home ownership, and the presence of both pre‐school‐age and school‐age children in the home, whereas a significant negative predictor was poor health. The NCI thus appears to be stable across societies, and shows systematic relationships with background variables. Home equity, duration of home ownership, children and health were significant predictors of NCI in our larger Canadian sample.
Evaluation of a preventive intervention for a self‐selected subpopulation of children
Authors: Short Jerome L. , Roosa Mark W. , Sandler Irwin N. , Ayers Tim S. , Gensheimer Leah K. , Braver Sanford L. , Tein Jenn-Yun
Published: October 2006

Evaluated an experimental preventive intervention developed for children who perceived their parents as problem drinkers. The 8‐session program was designed to improve children's coping, self‐esteem, and social competence, and modify alcohol expectancies which were specified as mediators of the effects of parental alcohol abuse on child mental health. Participants were 271 self‐selected 4th‐, 5th‐, and 6th‐grade students in 13 schools. The children were randomly assigned to treatment or delayed treatment conditions and the program was given to three successive cohorts of students. A meta‐analysis across three different cohorts indicated significant program effects to improve knowledge of the program content and the use of support‐ and emotion‐focused coping behaviors for the full sample. A slightly stronger range of effects was found for a high‐risk subsample.
The role of work experience and individual beliefs in police officers' perceptions of date rape: An integration of quantitative and qualitative methods
Authors: Campbell Rebecca
Published: October 2006

Surveyed police officers from two police departments in the Midwest on their perceptions of date rape (N=91). The aim of this research was to examine the influence of officers' work experiences and general beliefs about women on their perceptions of date rape. Two approaches were utilized. First, using quantitative structural‐equation modeling, a model that integrated work experiences and individual beliefs was evaluated using LISREL VII. Results suggest a direct path from the work experience variables to perceptions of date rape: Officers with more experience with rape cases held more sympathetic beliefs about data rape and date rape victims. Officers who found their training on rape to be very helpful, and those who reported that their work environment was sexualized and sexual harassment was a problem, were also less victim blaming. An indirect influence of these variables was also supported. Officers with more experience, those who perceived their training as helpful, and those with heightened awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace also held more favorable attitudes toward women, which, in turn, predicted less victim‐blaming perceptions of date rape. Second, qualitative methods were used to have the police define and describe in their own words what has shaped their beliefs about date rape. These narratives were content analyzed by two raters. The qualitative results validated the quantitative findings as the officers were most likely to mention professional experience with rape cases and departmental trainings as important factors that changed their opinions. Work climate and personal experiences were also cited as influential. Implications for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in research, and training interventions with police are discussed.
Negative social interactions, distress, and depression among those caring for a seriously and persistently mentally III relative
Authors: Rauktis Mary Elizabeth , Koeske Gary F. , Tereshko Olga
Published: October 2006

Investigated both positive and negative social interactions and their effect on mental health for 106 individuals caring for a seriously mentally ill family member. Results from mixed‐model (hierarchial and stepwise) multiple regression analyses in which caregiver age, socioeconomic status, caregiving demand, and severity of patient symptoms was controlled showed that negative social interaction accounted for a significant portion of variance in the caregivers' feelings of distress and depression. Moderated multiple regression analyses showed that under conditions of high negative interaction, the relationship between demand and distress was intensified. Implications of these findings for the conceptualization and measurement of negative social interaction as well as its clinical implications were discussed.
Protective processes in adolescence: Matching stressors with social resources
Authors: Gore Susan , Aseltine H.
Published: October 2006

Working within the “matching theory” of social supports, this research focuses on depressed mood and examines how resilience to stress during adolescence is shaped by developmental constraints on the use of support for coping with problems in the family, peer, and personal arenas. The sample is 1,036 adolescents systematically drawn from 3 community high schools in the Boston area. Predictions center on the efficacy of peer and family supports, and two intraindividual protective factors: sense of mastery and sense of social integration. Findings indicate little evidence of cross‐domain stress buffering (where family support buffers the effects of peer stress on mood, and vice versa), suggesting that family and peer domains are more distinct during this stage of development. Protective effects for friendship stresses are evidenced, but boys are more able than girls to marshal their personal and support resources in managing friendship problems. Discussion centers on matching theory and the role of development in shaping coping responses to stress.
Social support and psychosocial competence: Explaining the adaptation to college of ethnically diverse students
Authors: Zea Maria Cecilia , Jarama S. Lisbeth , Bianchi Fernanda Trotta
Published: October 2006

Examined relationships among social support, psychosocial competence, and adaptation to college in a sample of 357 African American, Asian American, Latino, and white college students. Social support and active coping were significant predictors of adaptation to college, whereas locus of control was not. However, there was an interaction between ethnicity and locus of control indicating that although internal African American, Latino, and white students had higher adaptation‐to‐college scores than external students, the opposite was true for Asian Americans. The relationships among social support, internality, and active coping were also explored. Satisfaction with social support and internality were positively related to active coping, but locus of control and social support were unrelated. Active coping and internality were significantly related to each other for all groups except for African Americans. Although most relationships were the same across groups, these findings call attention to the role of ethnicity as a moderator of college adjustment processes.
Organizational characteristics of empowering community settings: A multiple case study approach
Authors: Maton Kenneth I. , Salem Deborah A.
Published: October 2006

Although empowerment is often cited as a major guiding construct for community psychology, relatively little is known about the characteristics of empowering community settings. The current paper uses a multiple case study methodology to generate a number of key organizational characteristics of empowering community settings to guide future work in the area. In‐depth, multilevel, longitudinal research was conducted on three empowering community settings: a religious fellowship, a mutual help organization for persons with severe mental illness, and an educational program for African American students. The organizational features found to characterize all three settings were (a) a belief system that inspires growth is strengths‐based, and is focused beyond the self; (b) an opportunity role structure that is pervasive, highly accessible, and multifunctional (c) a support system that is encompassing, peer‐based, and provides a sense of community; and (d) leadership that is inspiring, talented, shared, and committed to both setting and members. Limitations of the research are discussed, and directions for future research suggested.
Mobilizing positive reinforcement in communities to reduce youth access to tobacco
Authors: Biglan Anthony , Ary Dennis , Koehn Virginia , Levings Debra , Smith Sandra , Wright Zada , James Lisa , Henderson Jamye
Published: October 2006

A community intervention to mobilize positive reinforcement for not selling tobacco to young people was evaluated. The intervention had five components: (a) mobilization of community support, (b) merchant education, (c) changing consequences to clerks for selling or not selling to those under 18, (d) publicity about clerks’ refusals to sell, and (e) feedback to store owners or managers about the extent of their sales to adolescents. A multiple baseline design experiment was conducted, in which two small Oregon communities received the intervention, while two others continued in baseline. Outlets’ willingness to sell was assessed repeatedly by teenage volunteers. The intervention significantly reduced the proportion of stores willing to sell. Mobilizing socia and material reinforcement for stores not selling tobacco to young people is a viable means of reducing such sales. It may be especially valuable in communities where laws against sales to minors go unenforced.
Competing risks analysis in mountain pine beetle dynamics
Authors: Cole Walter E.
Published: October 2006

This paper presents an application and evaluation of competing risks analysis (Chiang, 1968) of mountain pine beetle life tables. Three known and one group of unknown risks are used. Interpretation of the results imply that only the crude probability of death from a specific cause is applicable to this situation; net and partial crude probabilities are yet incomplete. None of the risks (factors of mortality) exerted sufficient influence upon the population to be considered factors of regulation or reduction. Evidence remains that the mountain pine beetle is food‐regulated at optimum temperature conditions and temperature‐regulated at optimum food conditions.
Some interactions of two hymenopterous parasites of the chaff scale
Authors: Avidov Z. , Gerson U.
Published: October 2006

The development of single, as well as mixed, populations of Aphytis hispanicus and Prospaltella inquirenda, the two important parasites of the chaff scale, Parlatoria pergandii was studied in laboratory. After 24 months of rearing, neither parasite displaced the other, though P.inquirenda, after an initial lag, began to overtake A.hispanicus. The practical applications of these findings are discussed.
Use of the regression of mean crowding on mean density for estimating sample size and the transformation of data for the analysis of variance
Authors: Iwao Syun'iti , Kuno Eizi
Published: October 2006

An approximate method for estimating the sample size in simple random sampling and a systematic way of transformation of sample data are derived by using the parameters α and β of the regression of mean crowding on mean density in the spatial distribution per quadrat of animal populations (Iwao, 1968). If the values of α and β have been known for the species concerned, the sample size needed to attain a desired precision can be estimated by simply knowing the approximate level of mean density of the population to be sampled. Also, an appropriate variance stabilizing transformation of sample data can be obtained by the method given here without restrictions on the distribution pattern of the frequency counts.
Population studies of Cavelerius saccharivorus Okajima (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae): A few findings on population interchange
Authors: Murai Minoru
Published: October 2006

The change in population density of Cavelerius saccharivorus was studied in the sugar cane field and the Miscanthus habitats around it. This species spent 2 (or partly 3) generations a year. It was suggested that the density rose in the sugar cane field where the density had been low enough, when the population density increased in the nearby sugar cane fields. Likely, the density in the Miscanthus habitat increased with the density in the nearby sugar cane field. It seems that these are mainly due to flying movement of adults, and that the movement takes place in every season.

It was found through the investigation in the sugar cane field that the percentage of long‐winged adults increased with the population density. These adults seemed to emmigrate to the nearby sugar cane fields and Miscanthus habitats. The remarkable increase in the percentage of long‐winged adults in the sugar cane field was probably due to the immigration into there. In the Miscanthus habitat the adult population was consisted mainly of long‐winged ones. Through all the observations, it was suggested that the adult movement was associated with the population regulation and performed chiefly by long‐winged adults.
Protective factors and young adolescent tendency to abstain from alcohol use: A model using two waves of intervention study data
Authors: Spoth Richard , Redmond Cleve , Hockaday Cathy , Yoo Seongmo
Published: October 2006

Two waves of data from a family‐focused preventive intervention project were used to test a model of the influence of protective factors on young adolescents’ tendency toward alcohol abstinence. Prior theoretical and empirical work guided the specification of hypothesized effects of the protective factors affectional relationship with parents, affiliation with prosocial peers, and mastery‐esteem on tendency toward alcohol abstinence. The tested model controlled for preintervention measures and included specified interrelations of protective factors across time. Structural equation analysis indicated that the model fit the data. Two of the hypothesized cross‐time effects, however, were not supported.
Patterns of adolescent involvement in problem behaviors: Relationship to self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events
Authors: Chung HyunHee , Elias Maurice
Published: October 2006

Using a sample of 556 adolescents from a suburban community, patterns of various adolescent problem behaviors (e.g., delinquent behavior, smoking, use of alcohol or drugs) and their links to self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events were examined. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify four subgroups of adolescents who showed distinct patterns of problem behaviors. These clusters were compared on the measures of self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events. Overall results suggest there are meaningful links between adolescents’ problem behavior patterns and self‐efficacy, the amount and quality of participation in various after school activities, and life events. For example, a subgroup of adolescents who showed uniformly low prevalence of all problem behaviors reported more positive academic self‐efficacy, more active participation in sports and nonsports activities, more positive life events, and fewer negative events than adolescents who were involved in multiple problem behaviors. Implications for prevention and future research on adolescent problem behaviors are discussed.
The effect of prey size and prey density on the functional response, survival, growth and development of a predatory pentatomid bug, Podisus maculiventris say
Authors: Hokyo Nobuhiko , Kawauchi Shunei
Published: October 2006

Two experiments on the nymphal predation of Podisus maculiventris were conducted using Spodoptera litura larvae as prey.

First experiment: The predator nymphs divided into three groups were reared individually from second instar to adult in a small vessel. Each nymph in the groups 1, 2 and 3 was allowed to attack the serially growing larvae (these were supplied at the rate of one per day) from 3‐, 5‐ and 7‐day old after hatching, respectively. The first prey used for the group 1 was so small that it was not only insufficient to satiate the predator but also was difficult to be searched out. But these disadvantages were soon recuperated due to the rapid growth of the prey and all nymphs could survive to adults. The survival rate of third and fourth instar nymphs in the group 3 was severely affected by vigorous counterattack of older prey larvae.

Second experiment: The predator nymphs were individually reared either in a small vessel or in a large one at various rates of food supply (the prey larvae of 7‐day old were used). The functional response curves obtained for each instar of the predator took a saturation type within a certain range of the prey density. The saturation level specific to each instar was generally higher for the predator reared in the large vessel than in the small one. The functional response of fourth and fifth instar nymphs was accelerated at a high prey density, viz. 16 larvae per vessel. Even at the low rate of food supply, viz. one larva per day per predator, the predator nymphs could survive to adults, but the size of resultant adults were abnormally small.
Experimental evaluation of a modular approach to mobilizing antitobacco influences of peers and parents
Authors: Biglan Anthony , Ary Dennis , Yudelson Howard , Duncan T. E. , Hood Donald , James Lisa , Koehn Virginia , Wright Zada , Black Carol , Levings Debra , Smith Sandy , Gaiser Elizabeth
Published: October 2006

The experimental evaluation of two components of a community intervention to prevent adolescent tobacco use are described. Youth antitobacco activities (e.g., peer quizzes, sidewalk art, poster and T‐shirt giveaways, etc.) and family communications activities (pamphlets to parents and student quizzes of parents) were evaluated in two time‐series experiments, each of which was conducted in two experimental and one control community. Students in Grades 6 and 8 and their parents were assessed in a series of four phone surveys in the first experiment and six phone surveys in the second. Implementation of the youth antitobacco and family communications activities led to significantly greater exposure of young people to antitobacco information. They led to increases in parent and youth knowledge about tobacco use and more negative attitudes toward tobacco. In Experiment 2, youths in intervention communities had significantly lower rated intentions to smoke. The findings suggest the value of a modular approach to community interventions for influencing the social context relevant to the onset of adolescent tobacco use.
Community psychology values and the culture of graduate training: A self‐study
Authors: Alcalde Judit , Walsh-Bowers Richard
Published: October 2006

In this self‐study of an M.A. program in community psychology, the authors focused on evaluation of training goals related to the values of collaboration, empowerment, and diversity. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, the evaluator, a thesis student in the program, cooperated with a stakeholder committee and other student, staff, and faculty members of the program to construct the methods and interpret the findings. Although the converging sources of data showed that the program was meeting its process goals to some extent, several key issues in the culture of training, such as the status of women, the psychological sense of community, and a supportive learning environment, needed improvement. The authors interpret the findings in terms of the impact of the university system and patriarchal norms on training in community psychology.
Flight activity and oviposition characteristics of the seasonal form of a migrant skipper, Parnara guttata guttata (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)
Authors: Nakasuji Fusao , Nakano Akio
Published: October 2006

The flight activity of adults of a migrant skipper (Parnara guttata guttata) was measured on the day of emergence, and at 4 and 7 days after emergence by a flight mill and the activity was compared among the three seasonal forms which emerged under 12, 14 and 16 hr photoperiods. The flight activity of adults reared under 12 and 14 hrs was higher than that under 16 hr especially on the day of emergence. The flight activity of males under 12 and 14 hrs was higher on the day of emergence and decreased at 4 and 7 days. The activity of males under 16 hr was maintained at a low and constant level. The activity of females under 12 and 14 hrs increased or was constant on the days after the emergence, on the other hand, the activity of females under 16 hr was highest at 4 days after the emergence. The wing size did not affect the flight activity.

The oviposition characteristics of females reared under the three photoperiods was compared. The female under 14 hr has a longer preoviposition period and lesser fecundity than that under 16 hr. The female under 12 hr has intermediate values of the former two. The size of eggs laid by females under 12 hr was also intermediate.
Lifetime reproductive success in reproductively suppressed female voles
Authors: Saitoh Takashi
Published: October 2006

A population of the grey red‐backed vole, Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae, was investigated on a 1 ha control grid and a 1 ha grid on which the voles were fed within a 2.1 ha outdoor enclosure in Hokkaido, Japan by live trapping from 1984 to 1986, for testing the Reproductive Suppression Model of Wasser and Barash (1983)‐females can optimize their lifetime reproductive success by suppressing reproduction when future conditions for the survival of offspring are likely to be sufficiently better than present ones as to exceed the costs of the suppression itself. Age at the first pregnancy more varied in a higher density population on the experimental grid and females could be classified into the early and the late reproductive type in two generations (A: females born from February to June 1985; B: females born from September to November 1985). Lifetime reproductive success (the number of pregnancies, the number of successful litters, and the number of offspring) was not different between the early and the late reproducing females. The late reproducing females lived for longer periods than the early reproducing females, so that the loss by delayed start of reproduction was compensated for by a longer life span. Life span was not different between offspring of the early and the late reproducing females. These facts supported the Reproductive Suppression Model.
Population dynamics of the phytophagous lady beetle, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata, in an eggplant field in Sumatra
Authors: Nakamura Koji , Abbas Idrus , Hasyim Ahsol
Published: October 2006

From December, 1981 to December 1982, the population dynamics of the phytophagous lady beetle Epilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) (Evp) was studied by mark‐recapture of adults and the construction of a life table in an eggplant field in Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia.

After planting of the host plants, adults of Evp soon colonized and oviposited massively, resulting in a rapid population growth for 1–2 months; thereafter, the population increase slowed due to defoliation. Three–four months thereafter the host plants recovered their leaves, but leaf quality was less suitable for Evp and, as a result, the population remained at a low level during the rest of the study period. Adult population size fluctuated 7–8 fold during the study period.

Adult Evp showed a 1∶1 sex ratio.

The daily rate of residence, ψi, derived by theJolly‐Seber formula fluctuated from 0.9 to 1.0.

The estimated mean length of residence of adults was 16.5 days (male) and 15.2 (female), but this was probably much shorter than the actual longevity, because the adults were so active that they flew away or dropped off the plants when they were approached or were slightly disturbed.

Adults showed a rich variation in elytral spot patterns. The average number of non‐persistent spots per elytron was 0.52 in males and 1.08 in females; 23.3% of males and 24.6% of females had confluence(s).

The life table shows that parasitism by wasps, which killed 9.7% of eggs and 35.0% of pupae, and starvation by overcrowding contributed most to the total mortality from egg to adult emergence (>98%).

The high dispersal power of adults, coupled with their prolonged lx−mx schedules was advantageous for exploiting food plants which were variable in space and time.
Aggregation pattern of individuals and the outcomes of competition within and between species: Differential equation models
Authors: Kuno Eizi
Published: October 2006

The influence of spatial distribution pattern on the outcomes of intra‐ and interspecific competition is studied theoretically. The models developed are the generalized logistic andVolterra equations, whereLloyd's indices of intra‐ and interspecies mean crowding were incorporated with their assumed linear relationship to mean density in order to express the intensity of crowding which is really effective to the existing individuals. It is shown that while the increasing patchiness of distribution has a pronounced effect of promoting the intraspecific competition and lowering the equilibrium density for individual populations, it generally relaxes the interspecific competition, making it easy for different species sharing the same niche, which would otherwise be incompatible, to coexist stably. These models thus provide a simplest theoretical basis to explain why many insect populations in nature are kept relatively rare in number and why a number of allied species often coexist freely sharing the same resource, against the “competitive exclusion principle” deduced from the originalVolterra equations.
Patterns of prey utilization in a web of orb‐weaving spider Araneus pinguis (Karsch)
Authors: Endo Tomoji
Published: October 2006

The pattern of prey utilization of the orb‐weaving spider Araneus pinguis was studies by comparing between arthropods restrained in the empty webs (spiders were removed) and those unattacked in the intact webs (spiders were not removed). The number of arthropods was larger in the empty webs than in the intact webs. In the empty webs, web area, mesh width, number of radii, and signal thread length were presumed to affect the number of arthropods left in a single web. As for the intact webs, web area, mesh width, and web‐exposure time were important factors. In the empty webs, the density of arthropods decreased away from the hub. On the other hand, the density of unattacked arthropods in the intact webs was the same throughout the web.

Arthropods in the empty webs were larger than those in the intact webs. The upper limit in size of unattacked arthropods increased along with the distance from the hub in the intact webs, but not in the empty webs. These results indicate increase in the minimum size of eaten arthropods increased in the former. This positive sizedistance relation may have resulted from the adaptive switching of spiders’ alternative foraging methods (i.e., the rapid attack at encounter and the later eating during web deconstruction) on the basis of the prey profitability.
Population dynamics of Telenomus fariai (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a parasite of Chagas' disease vectors IX. Larval competition and population size regulation under laboratory conditions
Authors: Escalante Gladys , Rabinovich Jorge E.
Published: October 2006

A series of experiments were carried out with the endophagous egg parasite Telenomus fariai on its host Triatoma phyllosoma pallidipennis to determine the possible role of intraspecific competition by the parasite progeny in population regulation of the parasite. Eight parasite densities (1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 individuals per vial) were used, and the design of sequentially sacrificed replicates applied. Survivorship curves for each density indicated smaller number of progeny per host at higher densities, and the shapes of the curves suggested a relatively early mortality process.Morris' linear regression technique for determining within‐generation density‐dependence was used, and the results showed that only larval mortality could be identified as density dependent. The same technique applied within the larval stage proved that only mortality of larvae in their second, third, and fourth day of development were responsible for population regulation. The applicability of the technique, as well as the relevance of the results for natural population, is discussed.
Ecological studies of collembolan populations in a pine forest soil IV. Comparison of distribution patterns
Authors: Takeda Hiroshi
Published: October 2006

The distribution pattern of ten species of Collembola was studied during the four years period from July 1971 to May 1975 in a pine forest soil.

The distribution patterns were analysed for two scales of distribution, i. e., the distribution over the plot of 10×10 m2 and the micro‐distribution within a block sample consisting of 36 contigious units each 2×2 cm2 in area, by applying the ‐m regression method.

The fundamental pattern which appeared was quite similar for the species examined and individuals were aggregated in response to the heterogeneity of habitat conditions. The causes of aggregations were discussed with regard to some environmental factors.

The relative abundances of 10 species within the collembolan community was examined in relation to the habitat utilization and the relative abundance was not related to the degree of aggregation but rather to the area occupied by individuals. This suggests that the more numerically abundant species tend to occupy broader micro‐habitat. Biological meaning of aggregation was discussed in connection with the population biology and community organization of collembola.
Differential activities in adhesion and neurite growth of fibronectin type III repeats in the PTP‐δ extracellular domain
Authors: Gonzalez‐Brito Manuel R. , Bixby John L.
Published: October 2006

The full‐length extracellular domain (ECD) of protein tyrosine phosphatase δ (PTP‐δ) functions as a ligand to promote cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth; this ECD contains three immunoglobulin (Ig) repeats and eight fibronectin type III (FN III) repeats. However, it is not known which regions of the ECD regulate its ligand functions. Therefore, we constructed and expressed a fusion protein of the PTP‐δ ECD lacking FN III repeats 4–8, and tested this protein for neuronal adhesion and neurite‐promoting ability. Compared to the full‐length isoform, the truncated ECD was poorer at promoting adhesion, but a more potent promoter of neurite growth. The results suggest that distal FN III repeats of PTP‐δ are important in adhesive functions, but dispensable for neurite outgrowth promotion. As the predominant isoform of PTP‐δ during neural development (type D) also lacks distal FN III repeats, the functional properties we observe may be relevant to periods of axon extension, suggesting that splice variants of receptor PTPs play distinct roles in neural development.
A comparison of the incidence of facial palsy following parotidectomy performed by ENT and non-ENT surgeons
Authors: Eng C Y , Evans A S , Quraishi M S , Harkness P A
Published: October 2006

Objective: To compare the complication rates of parotidectomy operations on benign histology performed by ENT and non-ENT surgeons.

Study design and setting: A seven-year (1994–2000) retrospective case notes review of patients undergoing parotidectomy in a United Kingdom district general hospital was performed. Patients with malignant histology were excluded.

Participants: Patients were identified from the hospital computer database. One hundred and fifty-nine patients underwent parotidectomy for both benign and malignant conditions over the seven-year period. One hundred and thirty-seven (86 per cent) patients had parotidectomy for benign conditions and were included in this study.

Main outcome measures: The presence or absence of facial palsy and other associated complications following parotidectomy surgery in both groups.

Results: The temporary facial palsy rates for ENT and non-ENT surgeons were 56 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively. The permanent facial palsy rates for ENT and non-ENT surgeons were 2 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively. Differences in facial palsy were not statistically significant. The difference in other complication rates such as Frey's syndrome, haematoma, salivary fistula, and neuroma were also not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our complication rates were comparable with published results. There was no significant difference in the observed rate of post-operative facial nerve palsy and other known complications following parotid surgery performed by ENT and non-ENT surgeons.
Actinomycetes colonization of tonsils: a comparative study between patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis
Authors: Toh S-T , Yuen H-W , Goh Y-H
Published: October 2006

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization in patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis and to study the association of this condition with recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.

Study design and setting:

A retrospective study of 834 patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (group A) and for sleep-disordered breathing without a history of recurrent tonsillitis (group B).

Results:

The prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization was higher in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing (44.1 per cent) than in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (33.3 per cent). The prevalence did not differ by sex or age of patient, although the occurrence rate was higher in the adult compared with the paediatric population. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean size of the tonsils removed in the two groups, and actinomycetes colonization did not affect tonsil size. Histopathological analysis of resected tonsils did not show active tissue infection.

Conclusion:

The presence of actinomyces does not indicate active disease. We are of the opinion that, although actinomyces colonization is more prevalent in patients with sleep-disordered breathing, it does not contribute to tonsillar hypertrophy nor to recurrent tonsillitis.
Simple epidemiological model predicts the relationships between prevalence and abundance in ixodid ticks
Authors: STANKO M. , KRASNOV B. R. , MIKLISOVA D. , MORAND S.
Published: October 2006

We tested whether the prevalence of ticks can be predicted reliably from a simple epidemiological model that takes into account only mean abundance and its variance. We used data on the abundance and distribution of larvae and nymphs of 2 ixodid ticks parasitic on small mammals (Apodemus agrarius,Apodemus flavicollis,Apodemus uralensis,Clethrionomys glareolusandMicrotus arvalis) in central Europe.Ixodes triangulicepsis active all year round, occurs in the study area in the mountain and sub-mountain habitats only and inhabits mainly host burrows and nests, whereasIxodes ricinusoccurs mainly during the warmer seasons, occupies a large variety of habitats and quests for hosts outside their shelters. InI. ricinus, the models withkvalues calculated from Taylor's power law overestimated prevalences. However, if moment estimates ofkcorrected for host number were used instead, expected prevalences of both larvae and nymphsI. ricinusin either host did not differ significantly from observed prevalences. In contrast, prevalences of larvae and nymphs ofI. triangulicepspredicted by models using parameters of Taylor's power law did not differ significantly from observed prevalences, whereas the models with moment estimates ofkcorrected for host number in some cases under-estimated relatively lower larval prevalences and over-estimated relatively higher larval prevalences, but predicted nymphal prevalences well.
Anthelmintic action of plant cysteine proteinases against the rodent stomach nematode,Protospirura muricola,in vitroandin vivo
Authors: STEPEK G. , LOWE A. E. , BUTTLE D. J. , DUCE I. R. , BEHNKE J. M.
Published: October 2006

Cysteine proteinases from the fruit and latex of plants, including papaya, pineapple and fig, were previously shown to have a rapid detrimental effect,in vitro, against the rodent gastrointestinal nematodes,Heligmosomoides polygyrus(which is found in the anterior small intestine) andTrichuris muris(which resides in the caecum). Proteinases in the crude latex of papaya also showed anthelmintic efficacy against both nematodesin vivo. In this paper, we describe thein vitroandin vivoeffects of these plant extracts against the rodent nematode,Protospirura muricola, which is found in the stomach. As in earlier work, all the plant cysteine proteinases examined, with the exception of actinidain from the juice of kiwi fruit, caused rapid loss of motility and digestion of the cuticle, leading to death of the nematodein vitro. In vivo, in contrast to the efficacy againstH. polygyrusandT. muris, papaya latex only showed efficacy againstP. muricolaadult female worms when the stomach acidity had been neutralized prior to administration of papaya latex. Therefore, collectively, our studies have demonstrated that, with the appropriate formulation, plant cysteine proteinases have efficacy against nematodes residing throughout the rodent gastrointestinal tract.