Use and non-use values of wild Asian elephants: A total economic valuation approach

The contingent valuation method is often used for valuing environmental goods possessing use as well as non-use values. This paper investigates the relative importance of these values in relation to the existence of the wild Asian elephant. It does so by analysing results from a contingent valuation survey of a sample of urban residents living in three selected housing schemes in Colombo. We find that the major proportion of the respondents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation of wild elephants is attributable to the non-use values of the elephant. However, differences in the relative importance of these values exist between those who visit national parks and those who do not. Differences in respondents’ WTP for conservation of elephants are found to be largely influenced by attitudinal and behavioural factors rather than socio-economic ones. We conclude that policymakers must recognise and take account of the importance of non-use values of the Asian elephant, if this endangered species is to survive in the long run. Nevertheless, the non-consumptive use value of elephants in Sri Lanka is also found to be substantial.

Prevalence of drug-resistance mutations and non-subtype B strains among HIV-infected infants from New York State

Summary: Prevalence studies indicate that transmission of drug-resistant HIV has been rising in the adult population, but data from the perinatally infected pediatric population are limited. In this retrospective study, we sequenced the pol region of HIV from perinatally infected infants diagnosed in New York State in 2001-2002. Analyses of drug resistance, subtype diversity, and perinatal antiretroviral exposure were conducted, and the results were compared with those from a previous study of HIV-infected infants identified in 1998-1999. Eight of 42 infants (19.1%) had provirus carrying at least 1 drug-resistance mutation, an increase of 58% over the 1998-1999 results. Mutations conferring resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors were detected in 7.1%, 11.9%, and 2.4% of specimens, respectively. Consistent with previous results, perinatal antiretroviral exposure was not associated with drug resistance (P = 0.70). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 16.7% of infants were infected with a non-subtype B strain of HIV. It seems that drug-resistant and non-subtype B strains of HIV are becoming increasingly common in the perinatally infected population. Our results highlight the value of resistance testing for all HIV-infected infants upon diagnosis and the need to consider subtype diversity in diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Using urea dilution to standardise cellular and non-cellular components of pleural and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids in the cat

A technique to standardise the analysis of cellular and non-cellular components in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) collected during saline lavage of pulmonary and pleural cavities was developed using the urea dilution method. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pleural lavage (PL) fluids were collected from 12 clinically healthy cats. Total and differential cell counts in BAL fluid were within normal ranges for the cat, while cell Counts in PL fluid were assumed to be normal based on clinical health during examination, auscultation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities being comparable with other species. The major clinical implication of this study was that nucleated cell counts within feline ELF could not be predicted from analysis of lavage fluid which suggests that calculation of the proportion of ELF in lavage fluid by the urea dilution method may be necessary to avoid misdiagnosis of health or disease in pulmonary or pleural cavities. (C) 2005 ESFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The attentional demands of preferred and non-preferred gait patterns

The purpose of this study was to determine the attentional demands of natural and imposed gait, as well as the attentional costs of transitions between the walking and running co-ordination patterns. Seven healthy young men and four healthy young women undertook an auditory probe reaction time task concurrently with self-selected gait (Experiment 1) and imposed walking and running (Experiment 2) at different speeds on a motor-driven treadmill. In Experiment 1, where participants were free to choose their own movement pattern to match the speed of travel of the treadmill, normal gait control was shown to have a significant attentional cost, and hence not be automatic in the classical sense. However, this attentional cost did not differ between the two gait modes or at the transition point. In Experiment 2, where participants were required to maintain specific gait modes regardless of the treadmill speed, the maintenance of walking at speeds normally associated with running was found to have an attentional cost whereas this was not the case for running at normal walking speeds. Collectively the findings support a model of gait control in which the normal switching between gait modes is determined with minimal attention demand and in which it is possible to sustain non-preferred gait modes although, in the case of walking, only at a significant attentional/cognitive cost. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative labor market performance of visaed and non-visaed migrants: Pacific islanders in Sydney

Using survey data for Tongan and Samoan migrants in Sydney the effects of visa restrictions on labor market performance of migrants are assessed. Univariate analysis suggests a positive association between unemployment and the unrestricted entry of Samoan step-migrants from New Zealand. A probit model of the determinants of unemployment is estimated with controls for human capital and demographic variables. While human capital endowments are important, visa restrictions do not have a significant effect on either group's employability. Implications for policy are discussed highlighting the complementarities between host country immigration policies and foreign aid programs.

T cell-mediated and non-specific inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the skin pathology of HPV 16 E6E7 transgenic mice

One of three lines of mice transgenic for the E6 and E7 genes of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) expressed from an alpha A-crystallin promoter also expresses the transgene ectopically in the skin. This line, designated alpha ACE6E7#19, develops skin disease from 3 months of age, characterised by epidermal hyperplasia and eventual skin loss. Administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) to alpha ACE6E7#19 mice, but not to nontransgenic littermate controls, induced local epidermal hyperplasia which was histologically similar to the spontaneously arising skin pathology. Local application of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to DNCB-sensitised aACE6E7#19 mice, but not DNCB-sensitised controls, also induced hyperplasia. Treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) or systemic depletion of CD4+ cells significantly reduced the incidence of skin disease. These data suggest that local inflammation, and cytokines produced by T helper cells, contribute to the induction of hyperplastic skin disease in alpha ACE6E7#19 mice. Spontaneous skin disease with similar histological appearance, frequency, age of onset and severity in alpha ACE6E7#19 mice was observed in scid-/- aACE6E7#19 mice, despite immune paresis. Antigen-specific immune responses and T-cell cytokines a re therefore not necessary for the induction of skin disease. We propose that epidermal hyperplasia associated with HPV16 E6 and E7 expression in skin is accelerated by local secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, whose production can be enhanced by activated CD4+ T cells.

Mesoionic pyridopyrimidinylium and pyridooxazinylium olates and non-mesoionic pyridopyrimidinones. Structures in the solid state, solution, and matrices

X-Ray crystal structures, C-13 NMR spectra and theoretical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*) are reported for the mesoionic (zwitterionic) pyridopyrimidinylium- and pyridooxazinyliumolates 2a, 3a and 5a,b as well as the enol ether 11b and the enamine 11c. The 1-NH compounds like 1a, 2a and 3a exist in the mesoionic form in the crystal and in solution, but the OH tautomers such as 1b and 2b dominate in the gas phase as revealed by the Ar matrix IR spectra in conjunction with DFT calculations. All data indicate that the mesoionic compounds can be regarded as intramolecular pyridine-ketene zwitterions (cf. 16 --> 17) with a high degree of positive charge on the pyridinium nitrogen, a long pyridinium N-CO bond (ca. 1.44-1.49 Angstrom), and normal C=O double bonds (ca. 1.22 Angstrom). All mesoionic compounds exhibit a pronounced tilting of the olate C=O groups (the C=O groups formally derived from a ketene) towards the pyridinium nitrogen, giving NCO angles of 110-118 degrees. Calculations reveal a hydrogen bond with 6-CH, analogous to what is found in ketene-pyridine zwitterions and the C3O2-pyridine complex. The 2-OH tautomers of type 1b, 2b, and 11 also show a high degree of zwitterionic character as indicated by the canonical structures 11 12.

Kinematic and non-linear analysis of foldable barrel vaults

Kinematic analysis is conducted to derive the geometric constraints for the geometric design of foldable barrel vaults (FBV) composed of polar or angulated scissor units. Non-linear structural analysis is followed to determine the structural response of FBVs in the fully deployed configuration under static loading. Two load cases are considered: cross wind and longitudinal wind. The effect of varying member sizes, depth-to-span ratio and geometric imperfections is examined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Youth suicide trends in Australian metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, 1988-1997

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine trends in suicide among 15-34-year-olds living in Australian metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas between 1988 and 1997. Method: Suicide and population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We calculated overall and method-specific suicide rates for 15-24 and 25-34-year-old males and females separately, according to area of residence defined as non-metropolitan (less than or equal to 20 000 people) or metropolitan. Results: Between 1988 and 1997 suicide rates in 15-24-year-old non-metropolitan males were consistently 50% higher than metropolitan 15-24-year-olds. In 1995-1997, for example, the rates were: 38.2 versus 25.1 per 100 000 respectively (p < 0.0001). The reverse pattern was seen in 25-34-year-old females with higher rates in metropolitan areas (7.5 per 100 000) compared with non-metropolitan areas (6.1 per 100 000, p = 0.21) in 1995-1997. There were no significant differences according to area of residence in 25-34-year-old males or 15-24-year-old females. Over the years studied we found no clear evidence that suicide rates increased to a greater extent in rural than urban areas. Rates of hanging suicide have approximately doubled in both sexes and age groups in both settings over this time. Despite an approximate halving in firearm suicide, rates remain 3-fold higher among non-metropolitan residents. Conclusion: Non-metropolitan males aged 15-24 years have disproportionately higher rates of suicide than their metropolitan counterparts. Reasons for this require further investigation. Hanging is now the most favoured method of non-metropolitan suicide replacing firearms from 10 years ago. Although legislation may reduce method-specific suicide the potential for method-substitution means that overall rates may not fall. More comprehensive interventions are therefore required.

AP-1 and Egr DNA-binding activities are increased in rat brain during ethanol withdrawal

The DNA-binding activities of AP-1 and Egr proteins were investigated in nuclear extracts of rat brain regions during ethanol withdrawal. Both DNA-binding activities were transiently elevated in the hippocampus and cerebellum 16 h after withdrawal. In the cerebral cortex, AP-1 and Egr DNA-binding activities increased at 16 h and persisted until 32 and 72 h, respectively. The AP-1 DNA-binding activities in all regions at all times after withdrawal were composed of FosB, c-Jun, JunB, and JunD. c-Fos was detected at all times in the cerebral cortex, at 16 h only in the hippocampus, and from 16 to 72 h in the cerebellum. Withdrawal severity did not affect the composition of the AP-1 DNA-binding activities. Two Egr DNA-binding activities were present in the cortex and hippocampus. The faster-migrating complex predominated in hippocampus, and only the slower-migrating complex (identified as Egr-1) was present in the cerebellum. The increase in DNA-binding activity of immediate early gene-encoded transcription factors supports their proposed role in initiating a cascade of altered gene expression underlying the long-term neuronal response to ethanol withdrawal.