The Role of Non-Market Valuation in Forest Management and Recreation Policy

Forests, and particularly those where native and mixed species are gown, provide a variety of non-wood values, important among which are recreation and environmental services. Substantial progress has been made in recent years in estimating economic values on these services. A considerable amount of research on forest values has been carried out recently in tropical and sub-tropical eastern Australia, some of which is reported in the following papers. The need for estimates of non-wood forest benefits is apparent, and it is clear that further development of techniques and a greater understanding of the way these values can be integrated into public-sector decision making is required.

Field quantization, photons and non-Hermitean modes

Field quantization in unstable optical systems is treated by expanding the vector potential in terms of non-Hermitean (Fox-Li) modes. We define non-Hermitean modes and their adjoints in both the cavity and external regions and make use of the important bi-orthogonality relationships that exist within each mode set. We employ a standard canonical quantization procedure involving the introduction of generalized coordinates and momenta for the electromagnetic (EM) field. Three-dimensional systems are treated, making use of the paraxial and monochromaticity approximations for the cavity non-Hermitean modes. We show that the quantum EM field is equivalent to a set of quantum harmonic oscillators (QHOs), associated with either the cavity or the external region non-Hermitean modes, and thus confirming the validity of the photon model in unstable optical systems. Unlike in the conventional (Hermitean mode) case, the annihilation and creation operators we define for each QHO are not Hermitean adjoints. It is shown that the quantum Hamiltonian for the EM field is the sum of non-commuting cavity and external region contributions, each of which can be expressed as a sum of independent QHO Hamiltonians for each non-Hermitean mode, except that the external field Hamiltonian also includes a coupling term responsible for external non-Hermitean mode photon exchange processes. The non-commutativity of certain cavity and external region annihilation and creation operators is associated with cavity energy gain and loss processes, and may be described in terms of surface integrals involving cavity and external region non-Hermitean mode functions on the cavity-external region boundary. Using the essential states approach and the rotating wave approximation, our results are applied to the spontaneous decay of a two-level atom inside an unstable cavity. We find that atomic transitions leading to cavity non-Hermitean mode photon absorption are associated with a different coupling constant to that for transitions leading to photon emission, a feature consequent on the use of non-Hermitean mode functions. We show that under certain conditions the spontaneous decay rate is enhanced by the Petermann factor.

Technical, allocative, cost and scale efficiencies in Bangladesh rice cultivation: A non-parametric approach

Applying programming techniques to detailed data for 406 rice farms in 21 villages, for 1997, produces inefficiency measures, which differ substantially from the results of simple yield and unit cost measures. For the Boro (dry) season, mean technical efficiency was efficiency was 56.2 per cent and 69.4 per cent, allocative efficiency was 81.3 per cent, cost efficiency was 56.2 per cent and scale efficiency 94.9 per cent. The Aman (wet) season results are similar, but a few points lower. Allocative inefficiency is due to overuse of labour, suggesting population pressure, and of fertiliser, where recommended rates may warrant revision. Second-stage regressions show that large families are more inefficient, whereas farmers with better access to input markets, and those who do less off-farm work, tend to be more efficient. The information on the sources of inter-farm performance differentials could be used by the extension agents to help inefficient farmers. There is little excuse for such sub-optimal use of survey data, which are often collected at substantial costs.

The non-existence of a utility function and the structure of non-representable preference relations

In this paper we investigate the structure of non-representable preference relations. While there is a vast literature on different kinds of preference relations that can be represented by a real-valued utility function, very little is known or understood about preference relations that cannot be represented by a real-valued utility function. There has been no systematic analysis of the non-representation problem. In this paper we give a complete description of non-representable preference relations which are total preorders or chains. We introduce and study the properties of four classes of non-representable chains: long chains, planar chains, Aronszajn-like chains and Souslin chains. In the main theorem of the paper we prove that a chain is non-representable if and only it is a long chain, a planar chain, an Aronszajn-like chain or a Souslin chain. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

The beliefs of nurses who were involved in a whistleblowing event

Background. Nursing codes of ethics bind nurses to the role of patient advocate and compel them to take action when the rights or safety of a patient are jeopardized. Reporting misconduct is known as whistleblowing and studies indicate that there are personal and professional risks involved in blowing the whistle. Aim. The aim of this study was to explore the beliefs of nurses who wrestled with this ethical dilemma. Design. A descriptive survey design was used to examine the beliefs of nurses in Western Australia who reported misconduct (whistleblowers) and of those who did not report misconduct (nonwhistleblowers). Methods. The instrument listed statements from current ethical codes, statements from traditional views on nursing and statements of beliefs related to the participant's whistleblowing experience. Respondents were asked to rate each item on a five-point Likert format which ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Data were analysed using a Pearson's correlation matrix and one-way ANOVA. To further explore the data, a factor analysis was run with varimax rotation. Results. Results indicated that whistleblowers supported the beliefs inherent in patient advocacy, while nonwhistleblowers retained a belief in the traditional role of nursing. Participants who reported misconduct (whistleblowers) supported the belief that nurses were primarily responsible to the patient and should protect a patient from incompetent or unethical people. Participants who did not report misconduct (nonwhistleblowers) supported the belief that nurses are obligated to follow a physician's order at all times and that nurses are equally responsible to the patient, the physician and the employer. Conclusion. These findings indicate that nurses may respond to ethical dilemmas based on different belief systems.

A framework for extreme-event control in wastewater treatment

In this paper an approach to extreme event control in wastewater treatment plant operation by use of automatic supervisory control is discussed. The framework presented is based on the fact that different operational conditions manifest themselves as clusters in a multivariate measurement space. These clusters are identified and linked to specific and corresponding events by use of principal component analysis and fuzzy c-means clustering. A reduced system model is assigned to each type of extreme event and used to calculate appropriate local controller set points. In earlier work we have shown that this approach is applicable to wastewater treatment control using look-up tables to determine current set points. In this work we focus on the automatic determination of appropriate set points by use of steady state and dynamic predictions. The performance of a relatively simple steady-state supervisory controller is compared with that of a model predictive supervisory controller. Also, a look-up table approach is included in the comparison, as it provides a simple and robust alternative to the steady-state and model predictive controllers, The methodology is illustrated in a simulation study.

Complex language functions and subcortical mechanisms: evidence from Huntington's disease and patients with non-thalamic subcortical lesions

The neuropathological changes associated with Huntington's disease (HD) are most marked in the head of the caudate nucleus and, to a lesser extent, in the putamen and globus pallidus, suggesting that at least part of the language impairments found in patients with HD may result from non-thalamic subcortical (NTS) pathology. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that a signature profile of impaired language functions is found in patients who have sustained damage to the non-thalamic subcortex, either focally induced or resulting from neurodegenerative pathology. The language abilities of a group of patients with Huntington's disease (n=13) were compared with those of an age- and education-matched group of patients with chronic NTS lesions following stroke (n=13) and a non-neurologically impaired control group (n=13). The three groups were compared on language tasks that assessed both primary and more complex language abilities. The primary language battery consisted of The Western Aphasia Battery and The Boston Naming Test, whilst the more complex cognitive-linguistic battery employed selected subtests from The Test of Language Competence-Expanded, The Test of Word Knowledge and The Word Test-Revised. On many of the tests of primary language function from the Western Aphasia Battery, both the HD and NTS participants performed in a similar manner to the control participants. The language performances of the HD participants were significantly more impaired (p<0.05 using modified Bonferroni adjustments) than the control group, however, on various lexico-semantic tasks (e. g. the Boston Naming Test and providing definitions), on both single-word and sentence-level generative tasks (e. g. category fluency and formulating sentences), and on tasks which required interpretation of ambiguous, figurative and inferential meaning. The difficulties that patients with HD experienced with tasks assessing complex language abilities were strikingly similar, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to the language profile produced by NTS participants. The results provide evidence to suggest that a signature language profile is associated with damage to the non-thalamic subcortex resulting from either focal neurological insult or a degenerative disease.

Germline BRCA1 promoter deletions in UK and Australian familial breast cancer patients: Identification of a novel deletion consistent with BRCA1 :psi VBRCA1 recombination

Inherited susceptibility to breast cancer results from germline mutations in one of a number of genes including BRCA1. A significant number of BRCA1-linked familial breast cancer patients, however, have no detectable BRCA1 mutation. This could be due in part to the inability of commonly used mutation-detection techniques to identify mutations outside the BRCA1 coding region. This paper addresses the hypothesis that non coding region mutations, specifically in the BRCA1 promoter, account for some of these cases. We describe a new and detailed restriction map of the 5' region of the BRCA1 gene including the nearby NBR2, psiBRCA1, and NBR1 genes and the isolation of a number of new informative hybridization probes suitable for Southern analysis. Using this information we screened DNA from lymphoblastoid cell-lines made from 114 UK familial breast cancer patients and detected one large deletion in the 5' region of BRCA1. We show that the breakpoints for this deletion are in BRCA1 intron 2 and between NBR2 and exon 2 of psiBRCA1, raising the possibility that this deletion arose via a novel mechanism involving BRCA1:psiBRCA1 recombination. We have also screened 60 familial breast cancer patients from the Australian population, using an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) technique described previously by our group, and found one patient with a genotype consistent with a BRCA1 promoter deletion. These findings indicate that germline BRCA1 promoter deletions are a rare and yet significant mutation event and that they could arise via a novel genetic mechanism. Hum Mutat 19:435-442, 2002. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Apoptosis and cell proliferation in the development of gastric carcinomas: Associations with c-myc and p53 protein expression

Background and Aim: Patients with gastric carcinomas have a poor prognosis and low survival rates. The aim of the present paper was to characterize cellular and molecular properties to provide insight into aspects of tumor progression in early compared with advanced gastric cancers. Methods: One hundred and nine graded gastric carcinomas (early or advanced stage, undifferentiated or differentiated type) with paired non-cancer tissue were studied to define the correlation between apoptosis (morphology, terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labeling), cell proliferation (Ki-67 expression, morphology) and expression and localization of two proteins frequently having altered expression in cancers, namely p53 and c-myc. Results: Overall, apoptosis was lower in early stage, differentiated and undifferentiated gastric carcinomas compared with advanced-stage cancers. Cell proliferation was comparatively high in all stages. There was a high level of p53 positivity in all stages. Only the early- and advanced-stage undifferentiated cancers that were p53 positive had a significantly higher level of apoptosis (P< 0.05). Cell proliferation was significantly greater (P < 0.05) only in the early undifferentiated cancers that had either c-myc or p53-positivity. Conclusions: The results indicate that low apoptosis and high cell proliferation combine to drive gastric cancer development. The molecular controls for high cell proliferation of the early stage undifferentiated gastric cancers involve overexpression of both p53 and c-myc. Overexpression of p53 may also control cancer development in that its expression is associated with higher levels of apoptosis in early and late-stage undifferentiated, cancers. (C) 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Patterns of governance: The curious case of non-profit community services in Australia

Community has taken on a new significance in Australian social policy discourse. Seemingly sound and morally justifiable, in the context Of neo-liberalism the language of community positions non-profit delivery of services as superior to state-provided services. As a consequence, non-profit community services are being centrally positioned to mediate the relationship between the state and citizen subjects. In the first part of this paper we trace some of the key historical developments in Australia's welfare state and patterns of governance that are propelling the non-profit sector firm the margins to the centre. The second section examines the relationship between Australia's shifting political landscape and the emerging welfare regime. One key feature of this new regime is the attempt to relocate citizenship away from the domain of the state and into that of civil society. The article concludes by sketching out some research themes, focusing, for example, on the impact of devolution of governance in terms of client rights and public accountability.

Increase in prevalence of nosocomial non-Candida albicans candidaemia and the association of Candida krusei with fluconazole use

Candida is an important nosocomial pathogen. This study was undertaken to provide information on the rate of candidaemia, to define the risks for candidaemia and to describe and account for the epidemiology of candidaemia at our institution between 1992 and 1999. The overall rate was 0.052 per 1000 patient days and 0.27 per 1000 discharges. The major risks for candidaemia were colonization at a non-sterile site (OR 3.85, 95%CI 1.80-9.09), total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the absence of neutropenia (OR 11.8, 95%CI 4.5-35.4, P

The first non-turnover voltammetric response from a molybdenum enzyme: direct electroscopy of dimethylsulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus

The first direct voltammetric response from a molybdenum enzyme under non-turnover conditions is reported. Cyclic voltammetry of dimethylsulfoxide reductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus reveals a reversible Mo-VI/V response at + 161 mV followed by a reversible Mo-V/IV response at -102 mV versus NHE at pH 8. The higher potential couple exhibits a pH dependence consistent with protonation upon reduction to the Mo-V state and we have determined the pK(a) for this semi-reduced species to be 9.0. The lower potential couple is pH independent within the range 5 < pH < 10. The optical spectrum of the Mo chromophore has been investigated with spectroelectrochemistry. At high potential, in its resting state, the enzyme exhibits a spectrum characteristic of the Mo-VI form. This changes significantly following bulk electrolysis (-400 mV versus NHE) at an optically transparent, indium-doped tin oxide working electrode, where a single visible electronic maximum at 632 nm is observed, which is comparable with spectra reported previously for the dithionite-reduced enzyme. This two-electron process is chemically reversible by reoxidizing the enzyme at the electrode in the absence of mediators or promoters. The activity of the enzyme has been established by observation of a catalytic current in the presence of DMSO at pH 8, where a sigmoidal (steady state) voltammogram is seen. Electronic supplementary material to this paper (Fig. S 1) can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00775-002-0374-y.

Anticipation of a non-aversive reaction time task facilitates the blink startle reflex

The conditions under which blink startle facilitation can be found in anticipation of a reaction time task were investigated to resolve inconsistent findings across previous studies. Four groups of participants (n = 64) were presented with two visual stimuli, one predicting a reaction time task (S+) and the second presented alone (S-). Participants were asked to make a speeded response to the offset of the S+ (S1 paradigm) or were asked to respond to a tactile stimulus presented at the offset of the S+ (S1-S2 paradigm). Half of the participants in each paradigm condition received performance feedback. Overall, blink latency shortening and magnitude facilitation were larger during S+ than during S-. More detailed analyses, however, found these differences to be reliable only in the Feedback conditions. Ratings of S+ pleasantness did not change across the experiment. Electrodermal responses to S+ were larger than to S- in all groups with differential electrodermal responding emerging earlier in the S1 paradigm. Taken together, the data support the notion that startle facilitation can occur during non-aversive Pavlovian conditioning. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The development of a positive non-infectious control for the detection of Perkinsus using the Ray test

To establish a noncontagious control for the Ray thioglycollate test for the detection of Perkinsus in mollusks we evaluated nonviable stages of P. olseni for enlargement of hypnospores and blue/black iodine stain. Trophozoites made nonviable with formalin, irradiation or colchicine failed to swell in thioglycollate. They remained small and did not differentially stain in iodine. Trophozoites that had already developed into hypnospores in thioglycollate were rendered inactive by freezing, ethanol or formalin immersion. They retained their iodinophilic properties and thus could provide a partial control for the Ray Test.