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A considerable number of scientific journals have been launched recently. Evolutionary Ecology Research seeks to operate liberal dissemination rules and to publish as cheaply as possible. Animal Cognition covers cognitive issues across a broad range of species, but will have to compete with several journals already publishing papers on this subject. Pattern Analysis and Applications seeks to focus on unusual techniques and industrial applications of pattern recognition.

Historically, lands of recent settlement have had a thirst for immigrants, but one that has been procyclical (negatively related to unemployment rates). For a period in the early 1980s, Australia's major political parties supported high immigration in spite of rising unemployment. This article explores the long-run relationship between immigration and local unemployment, posing the question, 'Do migrants rob jobs?' It also seeks to apply long-run historical analysis to recent economic debate: would Australia's unemployment rate have been lower in very recent times without so many immigrants?

Ligaments are non-contracting tissues which restrict particular movements by joints. Experiments suggest that tension exerted on ligaments can trigger reflexes that result in muscle contraction. This would provide protection against the excessive joint motion signalled by the ligaments. Most studies of this proposed reflex have centered on the medial collateral ligament in the knee. The possibility of such reflex activity associated with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), another important stabilizing ligament in the knee, was studied in cats. Contraction in the muscles which straighten or bend the knee was easily evoked by standard reflex or other stimulation. However, no muscle contraction was observed following stretch of the ACL by moving the shin bone forward slightly. Placing strain on the ligament by another technique also caused no reflexive muscle contraction. The experiments differed from another study which found ACL-associated reflex contraction in the use of anesthesia, the amount of tension exerted on the ACL, and in positioning of the knee joint. It is likely that some modification of muscle activity results from tension on ligaments surrounding the knee joint, but the participation of the ACL in such activity is questionable. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Australia should monitor and quantify the beneficial effects of immigration on economic performance to develop effective policy. International migration produces a significant positive impact on gross domestic product growth and per capita income. Policies, however, should not be constructed to use immigration for short-term stabilization or to solve environmental objectives.