Much is now known about the factors that influence the timing of sleep onset, such as the circadian rhythm and the length of time since a previous sleep1. There is also information about hormonal factors that influence sleeping and waking and the cerebral areas associated with them2. Less is known about the nerve fibres and cells involved in transferring the function of the brain and the body from a state of wakefulness to sleep and back again at least every twenty-four hours. This paper outlines what is known about these neural processes and suggests that information about them can be derived from the normal brain and also the damaged brain.

Recreational activities can have significant impacts on geomorphic and hydrologic processes in drainage basins, often out of proportion to their areal extent. With increased stress on hiking trails nationwide, there is a need to characterize the impacts of human trampling on soil properties. We examine an 810 m segment of Hawai'iloa Ridge Trail (O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA). Soil compaction and surface erosion on moderate to steeply sloping sites have degraded the trail environment. Bulk density, penetration resistance, and vane shear strength were significantly higher on the trail than in adjacent undisturbed areas, with median differences ranging from 29 to 120 per cent. With compaction and exposure of subsoil on the trail, void ratio, air-filled porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, effective and preferential porosity were significantly lower, with relative change values ranging from 23-93 per cent. No significant changes were noted in meso- or micro-porosity, but macropores with a radius of >110 mum decreased significantly by 58 per cent for on-trail locations. This comprehensive dataset indicates that hiking stress is deleterious to the soil-hydrologic system. Data point to a trail system that would be dominated by Hortonian overland flow and this was supported by field evidence during a storm event. Increased runoff has incised rills on some trail segments and there is evidence that run-on to adjacent side slopes has lead to accelerated erosion. Management on most trails in Hawai'i, including the one studied, is limited, but from our data it is apparent that on-trail sites directly influenced by an overhanging canopy of rapidly growing (aggressive) exotics were least impacted due to increased organic contributions to the surface and root network development. These data will allow land managers to more effectively address the potential geomorphic and hydrologic impacts of recreational land use. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recent increases in recreational activities throughout the U.S. have caused serious environmental degradation, particularly accelerated soil erosion. An 800 m section of a hiking trail near Honolulu was surveyed and the vegetation along the trail was characterized. A detailed, transect-oriented, systematic sampling design was used to characterize soil physical, chemical, and hydrologic properties on-trail and off-trail at 40 sites, 20 m apart. Mean bulk density, penetration resistance, and shear strength were greater on-trail, while mean soil water content, organic matter, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were lower on-trail. The robustness of these parameters as surrogates for erosion and compaction is discussed. Three anomalous on-trait sites had off-trail characteristics. Two of these sites were almost completely dominated by ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia) and the remaining site by guava trees (Psidium cattleianum). The introduction of these aggressive exotics is now generally regretted; however, trail managers must consider whether some kind of resistant/resilient vegetation should be propagated on trails to prevent accelerated erosion and compaction.

A patient appeared to be in coma following pneumococcal meningitis, an intracerebral haemorrhage, and a cardiac arrest. Late in the course of his illness neurophysiological investigations confirmed a proposal that he also had a fulminant acute demyelinating polyneuropathy which, for a period of five days, rendered the patient completely unresponsive. The patient recovered and is now working without any disability.

SUMMARYA prospective study of genital infection was conducted in four inner-city family–planning clinics. Fifteen per cent of routine attenders had symptoms and signs of vaginal infection and many more women attended primarily because of symptoms. Among the women with both signs and symptoms, 70% had positive laboratory findings, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans and bacterial vaginosis being equally prevalent. Measurement of vaginal pH in the clinic was the single most useful clinical finding for directing empirical therapy. Among patients with a discharge confirmed on examination and an abnormally high pH, 72% had either T. vaginalis or bacterial vaginosis. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated from 4% of women with, and 1% of those without, symptoms. We believe that it is worthwhile to investigate patients presenting to family-planning clinics with vaginal symptoms. No single specimen was found ideal for all pathogens, a cervical swab is better for gonococci and also for T. vaginalis but a vaginal swab is needed for Candida and bacterial vaginosis.

Keywords SIR BRUCE WHITE WOLFE BARRY, NORTH WESTERN GAS BOARD, CENTRAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING BOARD, GLASGOW UNI CONSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES PFA, PULVERISED, FUEL, ASH, EMBANKMENTS, MATERIALS, PROPERTIES, USE, FILL, LAGOONS, COARSE, PERMEABILITY, POZZOLANS, ACTION, POWER STATIONS... Show All