bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Antiviral Efficacy of the Murine Alpha-1 Interferon Transgene against Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Requires the Presence of CD4+, α/β T-Cell Receptor-Positive T Lymphocytes with the Capacity To Produce Gamma Interferon
Authors: Carr Daniel J. J. , Noisakran Sansanee
Published: October 2002

Alpha/beta interferons (IFN-α/βs) are known to antagonize herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection by directly blocking viral replication and promoting additional innate and adaptive, antiviral immune responses. To further define the relationship between the adaptive immune response and IFN-α/β, the protective effect induced following the topical application of plasmid DNA containing the murine IFN-α1 transgene onto the corneas of wild-type and T-cell-deficient mice was evaluated. Mice homozygous for both the T-cell receptor (TCR) β- and δ-targeted mutations expressing no αβ or γδ TCR (αβ/γδ TCR double knockout [dKO]) treated with the IFN-α1 transgene succumbed to ocular HSV-1 infection at a rate similar to that of αβ/γδ TCR dKO mice treated with the plasmid vector DNA. Conversely, mice with targeted disruption of the TCR δ chain and expressing no γδ TCR+cells treated with the IFN-α1 transgene survived the infection to a greater extent than the plasmid vector-treated counterpart and at a level similar to that of wild-type controls treated with the IFN-α1 transgene. By comparison, mice with targeted disruption of the TCR β chain and expressing no αβ TCR+cells (αβ TCR knockout [KO]) showed no difference upon treatment with the IFN-α1 transgene or the plasmid vector control, with 0% survival following HSV-1 infection. Adoptively transferring CD4+but not CD8+T cells from wild-type but not IFN-γ-deficient mice reestablished the antiviral efficacy of the IFN-α1 transgene in αβ TCR KO mice. Collectively, the results indicate that the protective effect mediated by topical application of a plasmid construct containing the murine IFN-α1 transgene requires the presence of CD4+T cells capable of IFN-γ synthesis.
Is there a critical period for bone response to weight-bearing exercise in children and adolescents? a systematic review
Authors: MacKelvie K J , Khan K M , McKay H A
Published: October 2002

This systematic review examines and compares the bone mineral changes in children and adolescents, as measured by dual energyxray absorptiometry, reported in exercise intervention studies. The effects of hormonal factors and growth on bone mineral change during puberty are examined, and the possibility of a critical period during which bone is especially adaptable to exercise is discussed.
Are there differences in postural regulation according to the level of competition in judoists?
Authors: Paillard T , Costes-Salon C , Lafont C , Dupui P
Published: October 2002

The aim of this work was to study the posturokinetic capacities and use of visual information by judoists according to their level of competition. Twenty male judoists aged between 16 and 19 took part. They were separated into two groups: those that competed at regional level and those that competed at national and international level. Static balance was measured on a force platform. No difference was seen between the two groups. However, it seems that visual information is more important to the higher level judoists. Perhaps the level of competition influences the sensory canals involved in balance.
Seasonal variations in incidence of fractures among elderly people
Authors: Bulajic-Kopjar Marija
Published: October 2002

Objective—To investigate seasonal variations in the incidence of fall related fractures among people 65 years and older.

Population and methods—A prospective, population based cohort study was performed on people aged 65 years and older followed up from 1990 to 1997, a total of 459 904 person years. Cases were identified through a prospective registration system.

Results—There were 10 992 (2390 per 100 000 person years) fall related fractures. The risk was higher in the colder seasons (October through March) among people aged 65–79 years (relative risk (RR) = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32 to 1.47) and in people aged 80 years and older (RR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.22). For arm fractures, the RR was 1.69 (95% CI 1.56 to 1.83) among people aged 65–79 years and 1.30 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.43) among those aged 80 years and older. The RR for hip fractures was 1.27 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.37) among people aged 65–79 years and 1.08 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.15) for people aged 80 years and older. Slipping on ice and snow seems to entirely explain the excessive incidence of hip and arm fractures during winter months.

Conclusion—Season affects the incidence of all types of fractures in elderly people. Slipping on ice and snow seems to be a causal mechanism behind the seasonal effect. Preventive measures targeting this causal mechanism are likely to reduce the risk of fracture, but the size of the effect is difficult to estimate with certainty.
A multifaceted approach to improving motor vehicle restraint compliance
Authors: Hanfling Marcus J , Mangus Lorna G , Gill Anne C , Bailey Rick
Published: October 2002

Objectives—To increase proper use of seat belts and car seats, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality from motor vehicle collisions.

Setting—The Vehicle Injury Prevention program community intervention was implemented in Houston, Texas. Effectiveness data are limited to “target area one”, an impoverished neighborhood in northeast Harris County.

Methods—This multifaceted public health education campaign brought together six segments of the community: education, health, government, law enforcement, private industry, and the media, to improve restraint use. It was evaluated by observation of proper restraint use before and nine months after implementation. Trained, independent observers made observations of occupants in the target area and at two comparison sites. Pre-post differences in restraint compliance were calculated by a standard binomial proportion test.

Results—Motorists in target area one significantly improved their restraint use by 15% (p<0.05) from 39% pre-intervention to 54% post-intervention, whereas use in the comparison neighborhoods remained unchanged.

Conclusions—Implementation of a public health education program, combined with economic incentives to increase vehicle restraint use, can be successful with multifaceted community support.
Description of Missouri children who suffer burn injuries
Authors: Quayle K S , Wick N A , Gnauck K A , Schootman M , Jaffe D M
Published: October 2002

Objective—This study uses Missouri's inpatient and outpatient E code data system to describe the demographic characteristics of Missouri children who suffered burn injuries during 1994 and 1995.

Methods—Retrospective review of Missouri E code data.

Results—Altogether 8404 children aged 0–14 years were treated for burn injuries in Missouri hospitals during 1994 and 1995. The rate of burn injury in Missouri children was 339 per 100 000/year. African-American boys 0–4 years living in urban counties were at increased risk. In addition, African-American girls ages 0–4 years living in counties with a high poverty rate had raised burn injury rates. Burns from hot objects and scalds from hot liquids caused more than half of the burns.

Conclusions—Hospital based E coding has proven an invaluable tool for the study of burns and will, no doubt, prove equally useful for other injuries.
Toddler drowning in domestic swimming pools
Authors: Blum C , Shield J
Published: October 2002

Aims—To identify how toddlers who drowned gained access to private swimming pools; to recommend preventive strategies to reduce the incidence of toddler drowning and near drowning.

Method—The study reviewed critically all completed investigations into the drowning deaths of toddlers aged 1–4 years reported to the state coroner (n=33) as a result of unintentional submersion incidents in domestic swimming pools in Victoria, Australia, from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1997.

Results—There was a predominance of 1 year olds, and boys. Forty six per cent of the children drowned in the three summer months. The majority of pools were in-ground; most were located on the child's home property. Over half the pools lacked fencing of any kind; of those that did have fences, only three appear to have met Australian standards.

Conclusions—More than half of the children studied drowned in unfenced pools and spas. In not one case did a child gain unaided access to a pool fitted with a fully functional gate and fence that met the Australian standard. Where children gained access to fenced pools, the majority did so via faulty or inadequate gates, or through gates that were propped open. This finding highlights the need for pool owners to install Australian standard approved fences and gates, and to maintain existing fences and gates regularly. Door locks and supervision were inadequate primary prevention strategies.
Use of protective equipment by in-line skaters: an observational study: Table 1
Authors: Beirness D J , Foss R D , Desmond K J
Published: October 2002

Objective—To determine the extent of protective equipment use (that is, helmets, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads) in a representative sample of in-line skaters.

Setting—Fifteen municipalities throughout the province of British Columbia.

Method—A province-wide observational survey was conducted in the summer of 1999. Skaters were observed at four types of sites (commuter, recreational, neighbourhood, general community) in 15 municipalities to provide a representative sample of in-line skaters.

Results—The observed use of protective equipment by the 877 in-line skaters was relatively low: wrist guards 25%, helmets 13%, elbow pads 14%, and knee pads 10%.

Conclusion—Despite the availability of relatively inexpensive protective equipment, few in-line skaters take advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves from injury. Policies and programs that serve to increase the use of protective equipment by in-line skaters are needed to help reduce the frequency of skating related injuries.
Evaluation of the Latrobe Valley Better Health Injury Prevention Program
Authors: Day L M , Ozanne-Smith J , Cassell E , Li L
Published: October 2002

Objective—To evaluate the Latrobe Valley Better Health Injury Prevention Program, a regional community based intervention in south east Victoria, Australia.

Method—The evaluation design was quasiexperimental including pre-intervention and post-intervention observations in a predominately town dwelling population of approximately 76 000. There was no comparison community. Process measures included key informant interviews. Impact evaluation utilised self reported changes in injury risk and protective factors, gathered by a random household telephone survey. Outcome evaluation was based on five years of emergency department injury surveillance data for the Latrobe Valley.

Results—The program built strategic partnerships, increasing the emphasis on local safety. Activities were implemented in the targeted areas of home, sport, and playground injuries. Some 47 000 educational contacts were made with the community and at least 6000 resource items distributed. There were significant increases in home safety knowledge. Some changes in the areas of playground and sport safety were achieved after partnership development with relevant agencies. Poisson regression models showed significant decreases in the presentation rate for all home injury and for the more severe home injuries.

Conclusion—This study clearly demonstrates the difficulty of conducting robust evaluation in the absence of readily available and reliable data and adequate budgets. The Latrobe Valley Better Health Program activities contributed to structural, environmental, and organisational changes that have the potential to reduce injury. The extent of this contribution beyond that made by the statewide injury prevention strategy is not able to be determined.
Maternal use of baby walkers with young children: recent trends and possible alternatives: Table 1
Authors: DiLillo D , Damashek A , Peterson L
Published: October 2002

Objectives—To examine recent trends in baby walker and exersaucer use, and to assess maternal motivations for choosing to use or not use these devices with children.

Setting—Small, Midwestern city in the United States.

Methods—Retrospective telephone survey with a sample of 329 mothers who provided information about their use of walkers and exersaucers with 463 children born in Columbia, Missouri between January 1994 and April 1999.

Results—Baby walker use in the sample declined fairly steadily from 1994 to 1999, whereas exersaucer use increased during the same period. Altogether 88% of mothers were aware of the injury risks associated with walkers, and this knowledge was the most commonly reported reason for abstaining from walker use. Remarkably, 38% of participants with knowledge of walker risks nevertheless used these devices. Participants reported many reasons for using walkers and exersaucers, including child entertainment, perceived developmental benefit, easy availability, and improved safety of exersaucers.

Conclusions—Public knowledge of the hazards of walkers seems to be high, and this awareness is a likely factor in many caregivers' decisions not to use them. Future interventions should focus particular attention on those caregivers who continue to use walkers despite knowledge of the associated risks. In addition to persuasive interventions, alternatives to walkers should be encouraged. Exersaucers represent one viable alternative, and should be promoted as such by the media, pediatricians, and other child care professionals.
Use of narrative analysis for comparisons of the causes of fatal accidents in three countries: New Zealand, Australia, and the United States
Authors: Williamson A , Feyer A-M , Stout N , Driscoll T , Usher H
Published: October 2002

Objectives—To investigate the utility of narrative analysis of text information for describing the mechanism of injury and to compare the patterns of the mechanism of injury for work related fatalities in three countries.

Methods—Three national collections of data on work related fatalities were used in this study including those for New Zealand, 1985–94 (n=723), for Australia, 1989–92 (n=1220), and for the United States, 1989–92 (16 383). The New Zealand and Australian collections used the type of occurrence standard code for the mechanism of injury, however the United States collection did not. All three databases included a text description of the circumstances of the fatality so a text based analysis was developed to enable a comparison of the mechanisms of injury in each of the three countries. A test set of 200 cases from each country dataset was used to develop the narrative analysis and to allow comparison of the narrative and standard approaches to mechanism coding.

Results—The narrative coding was more useful for some types of injury than others. Differences in coding the narrative codes compared with the standard code were mainly due to lack of sensitivity in detecting cases for all three datasets, although specificity was always high. The pattern of causes was very similar between the two coding methods and between the countries. Hit by moving objects, falls, and rollovers were among the five most common mechanisms of workplace fatalities for all countries. More common mechanisms that distinguished the three countries were electrocutions for Australia, drowning for New Zealand, and gunshot for the United States.

Conclusion—Narrative analysis shows some promise as an alternative approach for investigating the causes of fatalities.
Preventing tractor rollover fatalities: performance of the NIOSH AutoROPS
Authors: Powers J R , Harris J R , Etherton J R , Ronaghi M , Snyder K A , Lutz T J , Newbraugh B H
Published: October 2002

Approximately 132 agricultural tractor overturn fatalities occur per year. The use of rollover protective structures (ROPS), along with seat belts, is the best known method for preventing these fatalities. One impediment to ROPS use, however, is low clearance situations, such as orchards and animal confinement buildings.

To address the need for ROPS that are easily adapted to low clearance situations, the Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), developed an automatically deploying, telescoping ROPS (AutoROPS). The NIOSH AutoROPS consists of two subsystems. The first is a retractable ROPS that is normally latched in its lowered position for day-to-day use. The second subsystem is a sensor that monitors the operating angle of the tractor. If a rollover condition is detected by the sensor, the retracted ROPS will deploy and lock in the full upright position before ground contact.

Static load testing and field upset tests of the NIOSH AutoROPS have been conducted in accordance with SAE standard J2194. Additionally, timed trials of the AutoROPS deployment mechanism were completed. The design of the retractable ROPS and sensor, as well as the results of the different testing phases are discussed.
Influence of safety gear on parental perceptions of injury risk and tolerance for children's risk taking
Authors: Morrongiello B A , Major K
Published: October 2002

Objectives: Risk compensation theory has been shown to relate to how individuals behave in areas such as traffic safety and consumer product safety. The present study examines whether risk compensation theory applies to parents' judgments about school age children's permissible risk taking under non-safety gear and safety gear conditions for seven common play situations. The extent of the child's experience with the activity and parental beliefs about safety gear efficacy were examined as possible moderators of extent of children's risk taking allowed by parents.

Method: A telephone interview was used to obtain each parent's ratings of permissible risk taking by their child (for example, speed at which child is allowed to cycle, height allowed to climb to on a climber) under safety gear and no gear conditions, and ratings of child experience and gear efficacy.

Results: Results confirmed risk compensation operated under all seven play situations, resulting in parents reporting they would allow significantly greater risk taking by their children under safety gear than non-safety gear conditions. Children with more experience with the activities were to be allowed greater risk taking, even when not wearing safety gear. Parents who believed more strongly in the efficacy of the safety gear to prevent injuries showed greater risk compensation. No sex differences emerged in any analyses.

Conclusion: Results highlight the need to communicate to parents that safety gear moderates injury risk but does not necessarily guarantee the prevention of injury, particularly if children are allowed greater risk taking when wearing safety gear.
Effects of state helmet laws on bicycle helmet use by children and adolescents
Authors: Rodgers G B
Published: October 2002

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of state helmet laws in increasing the use of bicycle helmets by children and adolescents under age 16.

Setting: United States.

Methods: A cross sectional study of factors associated with the likelihood of helmet use by children and adolescents. Data were derived from a national random digit dial telephone survey of bicycle riders. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the independent effect of the state helmet laws on helmet use.

Results: Helmet use was systematically related to the presence of state helmet laws (odds ratio 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29 to 5.44). The increase in the average probability of helmet use attributable to state helmet laws was 18.4% (95% CI 17.8% to 19.0%).

Conclusions: State helmet laws significantly increase helmet use by children and play an important part in any comprehensive effort designed to achieve this goal.
Patterns of violence in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Chotani H A , Razzak J A , Luby S P
Published: October 2002

Objectives: Government reports on violence in developing countries are almost universally based upon police data, which are typically incomplete and unreliable. Violence in Karachi was evaluated using ambulance service, not police, records.

Setting: Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology: The study was based on a case series of persons suffering from intentional injuries and transported by Edhi, the largest emergency service in Karachi, between October 1993 and January 1996. Main outcome variables were injury and death rates.

Results: Edhi Ambulance Service transported 4091 intentionally injured persons during the 29 month period from October 1993 to January 1996. Ninety five per cent (n=3864) were males; 74% (n=2823) were 20 to 40 years of age, and 2400 (58%) died before reaching the hospital. Firearms were the most common mode of injury (n=3396, 83%). Forty six per cent (n=1828) of violent injuries occurred in four neighborhoods of Karachi—22% in Korangi (n= 884) and 8% each in Orangi (n=337), Malir Colony (n=307), and Nazimabad (n=300). On the 32 days when a political strike was called, more people were injured (mean = 10.4v5.0 persons, p=0.01) and killed (mean 6.6v3.9 persons, p<0.01) compared with days without a political strike.

Conclusion: Violence is a major public health problem in Karachi, affecting predominantly wage earners. At least some of the violence is rooted within the political system. Detailed study of the causes of violence that explains the role that political and ethnic tensions play, may suggest strategies to lessen the toll of violence.
Residential fire related deaths and injuries among children: fireplay, smoke alarms, and prevention
Authors: Istre G R , McCoy M , Carlin D K , McClain J
Published: October 2002

Background:The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiology of residential fire related deaths and injuries among children, and identify risk factors for these injuries through a linked dataset for the city of Dallas, Texas.

Methods:Data for all residential fires were linked with fire related injury data, using fire department records, ambulance transports, hospital admissions, and medical examiner records, for children 0–19 years of age. Causes of fires, including fireplay (children playing with fire or combustibles), arson and other causes, were determined by fire department investigation.

Results:From 1991–98, 76 children were injured in residential fires (39 deaths, 37 non-fatal). The highest rates occurred in the youngest children (<5 years) and in census tracts with lowest income. Fireplay accounted for 42% (32/76) of all injuries, 62% (15/24) of deaths in children 0–4 years, and 94% (13/14) of deaths from apartment and mobile home fires. Most of the fireplay related injuries (27/32, 84%) were from children playing with matches or lighters. Most started in a bedroom. Smoke alarms showed no protective efficacy in preventing deaths or injuries in fires started by fireplay or arson, but there was significant protective efficacy for a functional smoke alarm in fires started from all other causes (p<0.01).

Conclusions:Residential fire related injuries among children in Dallas occurred predominantly in the youngest ages (<5 years) and in poor neighborhoods. Most of the deaths, especially those in apartments and mobile homes, resulted from fireplay. Smoke alarms appeared to offer no protection against death or injury in fireplay associated fires, possibly from the nature of the child's behavior in these fires, or from the placement of the smoke alarm. Prevention of childhood residential fire related deaths may require interventions to prevent fireplay in order to be successful.
Are we blind to injuries in the visually impaired? A review of the literature
Authors: Legood R , Scuffham P , Cryer C
Published: October 2002

Objectives:To review the literature on the risks and types of injuries associated with visual impairment, and to identify pertinent areas for future research.

Methods:A search of bibliographic databases was conducted in April 2000 for studies published since 1980 and selected studies that met two or more of the following criteria: formal ophthalmic assessment was used; adjustment for confounding variables; large sample size including numbers of visually impaired; and clear definitions and outcomes.

Results:Thirty one studies were selected. The majority of these studies (20) assessed falls (including eight on hip fracture and four on multiple falls), eight studies reported traffic related injuries, and three studies assessed occupational injury. The evidence on falls, which relate predominantly to older people, suggests that those with reduced visual acuity are 1.7 times more likely to have a fall and 1.9 times more likely to have multiple falls compared with fully sighted populations. The odds of a hip fracture are between 1.3 and 1.9 times greater for those with reduced visual acuity. Studies of less severe injuries and other causes of injury were either poorly designed, underpowered, or did not exist.

Conclusions:There are substantial gaps in research on both injuries to which people with visual impairment are especially susceptible and in evaluating interventions to reduce these injuries. It is recommended that in future studies the minimum data captured includes: formal ophthalmic assessment of visual fields and visual acuity, outcome measurement, control for confounders, and the costs of health care resource use and any interventions.
The role of the church in developing the law
Authors: Skene L , Parker M
Published: October 2002

The church and other community organisations have a legitimate role to play in influencing public policy. However, intervention by the church and other religious bodies in recent litigation in Australia and the United Kingdom raises questions about the appropriateness of such bodies being permitted to intervene directly in the court process asamici curiae. We argue that there are dangers in such bodies insinuating their doctrine under the guise of legal argument in civil proceedings, but find it difficult to enunciate a principled distinction between doctrine and legal argument. We advise that judges should exercise caution in dealing withamicussubmissions.
The role of the church in developing the law: response to commentators
Authors: Skene L , Parker M
Published: October 2002

Three of the four commentators endorse our concerns about intervention by the Roman Catholic church as anamicus curiaein civil litigation, with few reservations. One commentary rejects our arguments in toto. We deal first with the three commentaries that support our arguments; secondly, with the reservations and qualifications in those commentaries, and thirdly, with the commentary that totally rejects our arguments.
Comment onRe B (Adult: Refusal of Medical Treatment)[2002] 2 All England Reports 449
Authors: Stauch M
Published: October 2002

The judgment handed down in the case of Ms B confirms the right of the competent patient to refuse medical treatment even if the result is death. The case does, however, raise some interesting legal points. The facility for conscientious objection by doctors has not previously been explicitly recognised in case law. More importantly perhaps is that the detailed inquiry by the court into Ms B’s reasons for refusing treatment, apparently as a precondition for finding her competent, seems to contradict earlier case law where it has been asserted that competent patients can refuse treatment for no reason at all.
A disability perspective from the United States on the case of Ms B
Authors: Coleman D , Drake S
Published: October 2002

This article will examine the case of Ms B, a woman with tetraplegia for a year, who, prior to rehabilitation or return to community life, sought a ruling that doctors may turn off her ventilator. The authors are people with disabilities. Their analysis focuses on the manner in which the High Court (a) framed the case in terms of mental capacity, (b) addressed the issue of suicide and ambivalence, and (c) resolved informed consent and treatment alternative issues. While the disability community in the US does not oppose the general right to refuse treatment, there is significant concern about lack of informed consent and denial of desired treatment alternatives, and the cavalier manner in which these factors have been dismissed.
Iatrogenic causes of falls in hospitalised elderly patients: a case-control study
Authors: Frels C , Williams P , Narayanan S , Gariballa S E
Published: October 2002

Objective

To explore risk factors associated with falls and to evaluate a strategy used by nurses to predict and prevent falls in a hospitalised cohort of elderly patients.

Design

A case-control study of risk factors for falls in hospital.

Setting

A district general hospital in the UK.

Subjects

Altogether 181 patients in an acute integrated medical unit who had fallen were matched for age with 181 patients in the next bed who had not fallen.

Results

It was found that 46% (84 of 181) of the fallers were taking one or more benzodiazepines compared with 27% (48 of 181) of the control patients (p<0.001). More fallers 20% (34 of 181) had their benzodiazepines prescribed during their current admission compared with 7% (13 of 181) of the control patients (p<0.001). Temazepam was the main benzodiazepine used by over 95% of cases and controls. Overall 25% (45 of 181) of the fallers had fallen before during the current admission. The logistic regression analysis showed that only a previous fall, benzodiazepine intake, and the need for maximum assistance were significant predictors of falling in hospital, odds ratios were 5.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7 to 11.6), 2.3 (95% CI 1.4 to 3.7), and 3.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.2) respectively. Most fallers had been identified at risk of falling (125; 69%) by ward staff and in 113 (90%) of those preventive measures had been undertaken. Falls were least likely to occur during visiting hours with a peak incidence during night-time.

Conclusion

There is a need for evidenced based successful fall prevention strategies but our study also reinforces an urgent public health message that an alternative to benzodiazepines should be sought for night sedation for older patients.
Free gas in the peritoneal cavity: the final hazard of diathermy
Authors: Dhebri A R , Afify S E
Published: October 2002

Fires and explosions in the operating theatre are rare events, but are devastating in terms of structural damage to the equipment in theatres and to human lives. Fuel, oxygen, and source of ignition are the three factors causing explosion. Explosion during emergency laparotomy for perforated bowel has not been reported in the literature. In the case reported here, fuel in the form of free gas came from the perforated stomach, after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Oxygen used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation had entered the peritoneal cavity through the perforation. The source of ignition was diathermy. It was fatal.
Ectomycorrhizal community structure on western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) seedlings transplanted from forests into openings
Authors: Kranabetter J M , Friesen J
Published: October 2002

This study tested whether mature-forest ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities could be maintained in forest openings on seedlings. Naturally regenerated western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedlings were transplanted from mature forests into openings and the ECM fungal community was compared after 2 years with similar seedlings planted back into the forests or seedlings from openings planted back into openings. Fewer ECM morphotypes, lower average richness per seedling, and a steeper, less even species distribution curve were found, all of which suggest that the mature-forest ECM fungal community changed after transplanting forest seedlings into the openings. The increased abundance of pioneer fungi such as Thelephora terresteris suggested that many of the mature-forest ECM fungi were unable to maintain or continue root colonization in openings. Results suggest that many mature-forest ECM fungi require further stand development to maintain enough rooting density and hyphal contact to persist.Key words: ectomycorrhizal succession, disturbance, species-importance curves, multistage and late-stage fungi.
Regional patterns in periphyton accrual and diatom assemblage structure in a heterogeneous nutrient landscape
Authors: Snyder Eric B , Robinson Christopher T , Minshall G Wayne , Rushforth Samuel R
Published: October 2002

The effect of nutrient regime on periphyton community development in large rivers was examined (sites ranged from oligotrophic to eutrophic). Patterns in diatom community structure were examined at a large spatial scale (ultimate), whereas at the microhabitat scale (proximate), artificial nutrient-diffusing substrata were used to examine periphyton response to amendment with nitrogen, phosphorus, and N + P. Ratios of ambient dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total phosphorus were used to make predictions of nutrient limitation (molar total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) : total phosphorus (TP)), which matched experimental results in 8 of 12 sites. Two sites with highest ambient nutrient levels (mean NO3 + NO2 and TP, 1.49 and 0.081 mg·L1, respectively) possessed the highest diatom richness and diversity (mean richness = 42). Lowest diatom taxa richness (19) occurred in an impounded system with low TP (0.008 mg·L1). Principal components analysis (PCA) of diatom taxa structure among sites (control treatments only) and small-scale patterns among nutrient treatments using all sites and treatments combined indicated that sites were grouped according to drainage basin (r2 = 0.79) and that there was no unified response to enrichment (r2 = 0.43). Results suggest that large spatial scale factors are more important in determining the potential benthic diatom assemblage than small-scale, proximate variables provided by the diffusers.
Bomb dating and age determination of large pelagic sharks
Authors: Campana Steven E , Natanson Lisa J , Myklevoll Sigmund
Published: October 2002

Despite their notoriety and role as apex predators, the longevity of large pelagic sharks such as the porbeagle (Lamna nasus) and shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) is unknown. Vertebral growth bands provide an accurate indicator of age in young porbeagle, but age validation has never been reported for any large shark species past the age of sexual maturity. Here, we report the first application of bomb radiocarbon as an age validation method for long-lived sharks based on date-specific incorporation of radiocarbon into vertebral growth bands. Our results indicate that porbeagle vertebrae recorded and preserved a bomb radiocarbon pulse in growth bands formed during the 1960s. Through comparison of radiocarbon assays in young, known-age porbeagle collected in the 1960s with the corresponding growth bands in old porbeagle collected later, we confirm the validity of porbeagle vertebral growth band counts as accurate annual age indicators to an age of at least 26 years. The radiocarbon signatures of porbeagle vertebral growth bands appear to be temporally and metabolically stable and derived mainly from the radiocarbon content of their prey. Preliminary radiocarbon assays of shortfin mako vertebrae suggest that current methods for determining shortfin mako age are incorrect.
Effects of nutrient enrichment on recruitment of age-0 fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): potential impacts of environmental change on the Boreal Plains
Authors: Grant Susan C.H , Tonn William M
Published: October 2002

Eutrophication in lakes on the Canadian Boreal Plains is predicted to increase because of climate and land-use changes. The resulting increase in lake productivity might then increase recruitment of young fish via increased food availability, growth, and survival. To assess this hypothesis, we manipulated nutrient concentrations in experimental ponds and examined mechanisms influencing production and survival of age-0 fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Nutrient enrichment increased phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) sevenfold in treatment compared to reference systems. In response, fish laid more eggs and survival of age-0 fish was enhanced, both of which contributed to a more than fivefold increase in total number of age-0 fish that survived to the end of the growing season in treatment versus reference systems. A complementary enclosure experiment suggested that enhanced growth and decreased susceptibility to starvation contributes to the greater survival of age-0 fish when food resources are increased. Furthermore, overwinter mortality of age-0 fathead minnows in experimental ponds was strongly size-selective; no fish smaller than 20 mm survived winter. Because of these effects on egg production and growth and survival of age-0 fish, environmental changes predicted for the Boreal Plains could significantly alter the dynamics of fish populations.
Is the introduction of benthic species necessary for open-water chemical reconstruction in diatom-based transfer functions?
Authors: Philibert Aline , Prairie Yves T
Published: October 2002

Despite the overwhelming tendency in paleolimnology to use both planktonic and benthic diatoms when inferring open-water chemical conditions, it remains questionable whether all taxa are appropriate and necessary to construct useful inference models. We examined this question using a 75-lake training set from Quebec (Canada) to assess whether model performance is affected by the deletion of benthic species. Because benthic species are known to experience very different chemical conditions than their planktonic counterparts, we hypothesized that they would introduce undesirable noise in the calibration. Surprisingly, such important variables as pH, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were well predicted from weighted-averaging partial least square (WA-PLS) models based solely on benthic species. Similar results were obtained regardless of the depth of the lakes. Although the effective number of occurrence (N2) and the tolerance of species influenced the stability of the model residual error (jackknife), the number of species was the major factor responsible for the weaker inference models when based on planktonic diatoms alone. Indeed, when controlled for the number of species in WA-PLS models, individual planktonic diatom species showed superior predictive power over individual benthic species in inferring open-water chemical conditions.
A flexible maximum likelihood approach for fitting growth curves to tagrecapture data
Authors: Laslett Geoff M , Eveson J Paige , Polacheck Tom
Published: October 2002

We describe a novel maximum likelihood method for fitting general growth curves to tagrecapture data. The growth model allows for the asymptotic length and the time to tagging to vary from individual to individual, with other parameters being fixed. Unlike the Fabens approach, we do not take differences to fit the parameters, but instead model the joint density of the release and recapture lengths. We simulate data to examine the bias and precision of the estimated parameters obtained using our fitting method. We include simulations for which the time to tagging model is incorrect, but find that the growth curve is usually still fitted with small bias. Furthermore, we introduce a new growth curve that allows for different growth rates for juveniles and adults. The new growth curve needs sufficient data coverage before and after the transition from juvenile to adult for all parameters to be estimated precisely. We illustrate the method on real data by fitting this new growth curve to southern bluefin tuna tagrecapture data.
Dispersal and emerging ecological impacts of Ponto-Caspian species in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors: Vanderploeg Henry A , Nalepa Thomas F , Jude David J , Mills Edward L , Holeck Kristen T , Liebig James R , Grigorovich Igor A , Ojaveer Henn
Published: October 2002

We describe, explain, and "predict" dispersal and ecosystem impacts of six Ponto-Caspian endemic species that recently invaded the Great Lakes via ballast water. The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, and quagga mussel, Dreissena bugensis, continue to colonize hard and soft substrates of the Great Lakes and are changing ecosystem function through mechanisms of ecosystem engineering (increased water clarity and reef building), fouling native mussels, high particle filtration rate with selective rejection of colonial cyanobacteria in pseudofeces, alteration of nutrient ratios, and facilitation of the rapid spread of their Ponto-Caspian associates, the benthic amphipod Echinogammarus ischnus and the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, which feeds on zebra mussels. The tubenose goby,Proterorhinus marmoratus, which does not feed on zebra mussels, has not spread rapidly. Impacts of these benthic invaders vary with site: in some shallow areas, habitat changes and the Dreissena [Formula: see text] round goby [Formula: see text] piscivore food chain have improved conditions for certain native game fishes and waterfowl; in offshore waters, Dreissena is competing for settling algae with the native amphipod Diporeia spp., which are disappearing to the detriment of the native deep-water fish community. The predatory cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi may compete with small fishes for zooplankton and increase food-chain length.
Patterns and mechanisms of aquatic invertebrate introductions in the Ponto-Caspian region
Authors: Grigorovich Igor A , MacIsaac Hugh J , Shadrin Nikolai V , Mills Edward L
Published: October 2002

The Black, Azov, and Caspian sea drainages (i.e., Ponto-Caspian region) have an extensive and long history of species introductions. Here we review patterns and mechanisms of introductions of aquatic invertebrate species into these ecosystems. Since the late 1800s, 136 free-living and 27 parasitic invertebrate species have been introduced outside their native ranges and have established reproducing populations in the Ponto-Caspian region. The bulk of these introductions are represented by crustaceans (53%), flatworms (15%), and molluscs (13%). Most of the introduced species are native to other areas within the Ponto-Caspian region (37%), with other sizable contributions from the AtlanticMediterranean (15%) and boreal EuropeanSiberian (14%) geographic regions. Mechanisms of introductions were dominated by deliberate releases (29%) and shipping activities (22%), with the former occurring principally in freshwater habitats and the latter in marine and estuarine ones. Other introductions resulted from unintentional release (21%) and hydrotechnical development (14%), notably the construction of reservoirs and canals. Global and regional trade, particularly that mediated by commercial ships, provides dispersal opportunities for nonindigenous invertebrates to and within the Ponto-Caspian region, rapidly changing the composition of its endemic fauna.
Corner loading and curling stress analysis for concrete pavements  an alternative approach
Authors: Lee Ying-Haur , Lee Ying-Ming , Yen Shao-Tang
Published: October 2002

Since corner breaks are one of the major structural distresses in jointed concrete pavements, this research study mainly focuses on the determination of the critical bending stresses at the corner of the slab due to the individual and combination effects of wheel loading and thermal curling. A well-known slab-on-grade finite element program (ILLI-SLAB) was used for the analysis. The structural response characteristics of a slab corner were first investigated. Based on the principles of dimensional analysis, the dominating mechanistic variables were carefully identified and verified. A series of finite element factorial runs over a wide range of pavement designs was carefully selected and conducted. The resulting ILLI-SLAB corner stresses were compared with the theoretical Westergaard solutions, and adjustment factors were introduced to account for this discrepancy. Prediction equations for stress adjustments were developed using a modern regression technique (Projection Pursuit Regression). A simplified stress analysis procedure was proposed and implemented in a user-friendly computer program (ILLISTRS) to facilitate instant stress estimations and practical trial applications.Key words: concrete (rigid) pavements, corner breaks, loading, thermal curling, corner stress.
Experimental parametric study on the in-plane stiffness of wood diaphragms
Authors: Filiatrault Andre , Fischer David , Folz Bryan , Uang Chia-Ming
Published: October 2002

This paper presents the results of in situ quasi-static tests on a full-scale wood floor diaphragm in a two-storey woodframe house. The main objective of the study was to investigate the in-plane flexibility/rigidity of the diaphragm. Fourteen different diaphragm and structural configurations were investigated. The main parameters considered in the study included the nail schedule, panel-edge blocking, sub-floor adhesive, perpendicular walls above and below the diaphragm, and wall finish materials. The results indicated that panel-edge blocking increased significantly the diaphragm shear stiffness, particularly for diaphragms without sub-floor adhesive. Also, the presence of perpendicular walls acting as additional chord members caused a significant increase in the flexural stiffness of the diaphragm. The design procedure included in the Uniform Building Code (UBC) to compute in-plane diaphragm deformations was assessed by comparing its predictions with the experimental results. The UBC predictions agreed well with the experimental results for some configurations, but the correlation was poor for others.Key words: diaphragms, floor, tests, wood, wooden structures.
Performance of embankments with and without reinforcement on soft subsoil
Authors: Chai Jin-Chun , Miura Norihiko , Shen Shui-Long
Published: October 2002

A case history of both reinforced and unreinforced embankments on soft subsoil built-to-failure is described and analyzed. The effect of geotextile reinforcements on embankment behavior is discussed by comparing the field and numerical analysis results of cases with and without reinforcement. The results of a laboratory model test on the behavior of embankments on soft subsoil are discussed. Both field and laboratory tests, as well as analysis results, indicate that the reinforcement had a positive effect on embankment stability. However, at a working state (for a factor of safety of FS = 1.2~1.3) the reinforcement did not have an obvious effect on the subsoil response. The effect of reinforcement on subsoil deformation could be noticed only when the unreinforced embankment was close to failure. The laboratory model test results indicated that if the reinforcement is stiff and strong enough, the effect of reinforcement is considerable. It is suggested that although the geotextile has a beneficial effect on embankment over soft subsoil due to its relative lower stiffness, to achieve a substantial improvement on embankment behavior, the stiffer and stronger reinforcements should be used. This case history also demonstrated that the rate of lateral displacement and excess pore pressure development are sensitive indicators of the stability of embankment on soft subsoil.Key words: embankment, reinforcement, soft ground, field tests, laboratory tests, FEM analysis.