Visual detection of a line target differing in orientation from a background of lines may be achieved speedily and effortlessly. Such performance is assumed to occur early in vision and to involve filter mechanisms acting in parallel over the visual field. This study establishes orientational limits on this performance and analytically derives some generic properties of the underlying filters. ...

The Pirate Bay. Three simple words. Such strong reactions. Proponents point to a vibrant forum for distributing files. Critics lament massive pirating of copyrighted works. The Swedish district court recently found The Pirate Bay (TPB) guilty of making copyrighted works available. This article explores the consequences of this decision. It first explains the technology underlying TPB and provid...

Several flatfish species, including southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) recruit to estuaries during early life. Therefore, evaluation of estuarine sites and habitats that serve as nurseries is critical to conservation and management. The present study used density data in conjunction with biochemical condition and growth measurements to evaluate settlement sites used by southern flound...

A large-scale study of Saginaw Bay was initiated in 1990 and continued through 1993 to examine the effects of the zebra mussel colonization which began in summerlfall 1991. Saginaw Bay responded quickly to the zebra mussel colonization, as fall 1991 values of chlorophyll were similar to 1992 and 1993 values. In inner Saginaw Bay, where most zebra mussels were found, chlorophyll, kPAR, and total...

Spatial changes in the dietary regime of Ruditapes philippinarum from intertidal sediments of Arcachon Bay were depicted by analyzing stable isotope ratios in both its adductor muscles and potential trophic sources. Manila clams were collected from 50 sites in May to June 2006. Dietary reconstruction was based on the IsoSource mixing model, considering trophic enrichments of 3.5‰ for carbon and...

To test the hypothesis that Na+ transport in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells is regulated by a protease-mediated mechanism, we investigated the effects of BAY 39-9437, a recombinant Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, on amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current of normal [non-cystic fibrosis (CF) cells] and CF HBE cells. Mucosal treatment of non-CF and CF HBE cells with BAY 39-9437 d...

Questions have been raised about the effects human activity in Hawai‘ian bays has on dolphins. Concerns about the effects of this activity have led the National Marine Fisheries Service to begin the process of enacting regulations to reduce the impacts of swimmers and vessels on Hawaiian spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). One step in evaluating potential effects is to determine if dolphi...

Port Phillip Bay, Australia, is a large semi-closed bay with over four million people living in its catchment basin. The Bay receives waters from the Yarra River which drains the city of Melbourne, as well as receiving the discharges of sewage treatment plants and petrochemical and agricultural chemicals. A 1999 study demonstrated that fish inhabiting Port Phillip Bay showed signs of effects re...