|
| ||
|
|
||
Certain Aspects (certain + aspect)
Selected AbstractsCertain Aspects of ACTH and Cortisone Therapy in Older Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 10 2002Max M. Montgomery MD First page of article [source] THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIA SETTINGS: A PSYCHOANALYTIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE INTERACTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETYBRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY, Issue 2 2005R.D. HinshelwoodArticle first published online: 17 NOV 200 ABSTRACT Psychoanalysis cannot explain social phenomena directly, but the human responses to social, economic and historical forces can be described. In this paper I want to look at the interaction between the underlying psychology of the unconscious of individuals in groups, and to theorize how that provides a basis upon which social forces may act. Certain aspects of racism and national identity serve as useful illustrations of how the social phenomena interact with the psychology of individuals. [source] Rogues of Modernity: Picaresque Variations in the Postcolonial Genre of the Enlightenment MissionaryORBIS LITERARUM, Issue 2 2006Ian Almond The article examines the representation of the ,Enlightenment missionary' in a number of postcolonial texts, both Indian and Turkish. Moments where the individual becomes so enamoured of a certain aspect of Western culture - Freud, Proust, Chopin - that he seeks, upon his return, to disseminate this ,new' knowledge to as many of his fellow villagers as possible. The figure of the picaro, traditionally understood as an alienated, roguish, rootless protagonist, thereby finds in postcolonial literature a new manifestation. This article examines not only how the arrival in India of ,enlightenment' thought created such picaresque figures, but also how novelists such as Upamanyu Chatterjee depict the failure of the Enlightenment project as producing a similar genre of disillusioned protagonist. [source] Literature, Pornography, and Libertine EducationORBIS LITERARUM, Issue 1 2004Jørgen Dines Johansen The objective of this article is not to write an apology for pornography, not because it is impossible to defend, but rather because it has been done so brilliantly by Susan Sontag in her seminal essay ,,The Pornographic Imagination''.1 The objective is to analyze a certain kind of literary pornography from both literary and psychological, here psychoanalytic, points of view. The term covers, basically, pictorial and literary representations of sexual activities. Literary pornography has been cultivated in drama, poetry, and prose fiction, whether short stories or novels. Furthermore, there are representations of sexual activities in the visual arts and literature considered great by any artistic standard, and then there is a tremendous lot of mere trash. Finally, pornography is not something given once and for all, but a designation used relative to the norms of a given group at a given time. Much of what our great-grandparents, grandparents, and even our parents considered pornographic, seems to most of us today endowed with a certain innocence and sentimentality. To encompass all the facets of this subject in a single article is impossible. This essay considers a certain aspect of genre convention: pornography presented in a framework of education. [source] Vascular anatomy of the developing medaka, Oryzias latipes: A complementary fish model for cardiovascular research on vertebratesDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2006Misato Fujita Abstract The zebrafish has become a very useful vertebrate model for cardiovascular research, but detailed morphogenetic studies have revealed that it differs from mammals in certain aspects of the primary circulatory system, in particular, the early vitelline circulation. We searched for another teleost species that might serve as a complementary model for the formation of these early primary vessels. Here (and online at http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/medaka/atlas/), we present a detailed characterization of the vascular anatomy of the developing medaka embryo from the stage 24 (1 day 20 hr) through stage 30 (3 days 10 hr). Three-dimensional images using confocal microangiography show that the medaka, Oryzias latipes, follows the common embryonic circulatory pattern consisting of ventral aorta, aortic arches, dorsal aorta, transverse vessels, vitelline capillary plexus, and marginal veins. The medaka, thus, may serve as a valuable model system for genetic analysis of the primary vasculature of vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 235:734,746, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Vascular gene expression and phenotypic correlation during differentiation of human embryonic stem cellsDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2005Sharon Gerecht-Nir Abstract The study of the cascade of events of induction and sequential gene activation that takes place during human embryonic development is hindered by the unavailability of postimplantation embryos at different stages of development. Spontaneous differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can occur by means of the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs), which resemble certain aspects of early embryos to some extent. Embryonic vascular formation, vasculogenesis, is a sequential process that involves complex regulatory cascades. In this study, changes of gene expression along the development of human EBs for 4 weeks were studied by large-scale gene screening. Two main clusters were identified,one of down-regulated genes such as POU5, NANOG, TDGF1/Cripto (TDGF, teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor-1), LIN28, CD24, TERF1 (telomeric repeat binding factor-1), LEFTB (left,right determination, factor B), and a second of up-regulated genes such as TWIST, WNT5A, WT1, AFP, ALB, NCAM1. Focusing on the vascular system development, genes known to be involved in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis were explored. Up-regulated genes include vasculogenic growth factors such as VEGFA, VEGFC, FIGF (VEGFD), ANG1, ANG2, TGF,3, and PDGFB, as well as the related receptors FLT1, FLT4, PDGFRB, TGF,R2, and TGF,R3, other markers such as CD34, VCAM1, PECAM1, VE-CAD, and transcription factors TAL1, GATA2, and GATA3. The reproducibility of the array data was verified independently and illustrated that many genes known to be involved in vascular development are activated during the differentiation of hESCs in culture. Hence, the analysis of the vascular system can be extended to other differentiation pathways, allocating human EBs as an in vitro model to study early human development. Developmental Dynamics 232:487,497, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effects of neonatal handling and maternal separation on rough-and-tumble play in the ratDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Jennifer L. Arnold Abstract The extent to which brief daily handling and longer periods of separation from the mother during the first 2 weeks of life can affect play behavior in juvenile rats was assessed. Rat pups were separated from the mother for either 15 min daily (handling) or for 3 hr daily (maternal separation), and play was observed as juveniles. Overall levels of playfulness were not affected by either manipulation, although certain aspects of playful responsiveness were affected in males, but not females. In particular, the pattern of responsiveness to playful contacts was feminized in both handled and separated male rats. Activity in a novel open field at 15 days of age was increased in both males and females from the separated group, but not in the handled animals, as were the number of rears exhibited during the play bouts. These data suggest that early rearing experiences can have subtle gender-dependent effects on some aspects of play in juvenile rats and that the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for these effects may differ from those associated with other effects reported for handling and maternal separation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 41: 205,215, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/dev.10069 [source] The association between depression and health-related quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes: a systematic literature reviewDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 2 2010Saima Ali Abstract The relationships between co-morbid depression in people with diabetes and adverse outcomes including poor HbA1c control, adherence to medication and mortality have been examined and confirmed. However, as the awareness of the decrement to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with diabetes and its clinical consequences grows, investigators have become increasingly interested in measuring HRQOL in clinical trials. Given that the psychological factors such as depression may contribute to diminished HRQOL, the present review sought to summarize the association between these variables in people with type 2 diabetes. Articles for a systematic review were obtained via a search performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO (1980,2007). Fourteen articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Studies indicated that self-reported depressive symptoms markedly impaired HRQOL on several domains. However, depression was not related to all sub-domains of HRQOL in all studies, suggesting that the effects of depression on certain aspects of HRQOL may vary between clinical and demographic subgroups. Although a number of shortcomings identified in the current literature should be taken into account for future research, the importance of this review lies in the possibility it raises that the improvements in HRQOL and clinical practice may potentially be achieved by placing greater attention on the identification and management of depression. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Mathematics anxiety in secondary students in EnglandDYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2009Steve Chinn Abstract Whatever the changes that are made to the mathematics curriculum in England, there will always remain a problem with mathematics anxiety. Maths anxiety is rarely facilitative. This study examined aspects of mathematics in secondary schools and how students rated them as sources of anxiety. Over 2000 students in independent and mainstream schools in England completed a 20-item questionnaire designed to investigate maths anxiety levels. The same questionnaire was given to over 440 dyslexic males in specialist schools within the same age range. The results showed that examinations and tests create high levels of anxiety in approximately 4% of students. The results suggest that certain aspects and topics in the maths curriculum, such as long division, cause similar levels of anxiety for students in all year groups in secondary schools. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dynamic centrifuge tests of concrete damEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2005Y. Uchita Abstract Dynamic tests of a concrete gravity dam are, for the first time, performed inside a centrifuge. Details of the experimental procedure, data interpretation, and results are presented. It is shown (in conjunction with a parallel paper) that these tests cannot only provide a direct assessment of certain aspects of dam safety, but more importantly provide a data base for possible non-linear finite element code validation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparing response of SDF systems to near-fault and far-fault earthquake motions in the context of spectral regionsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2001Anil K. Chopra Abstract In spite of important differences in structural response to near-fault and far-fault ground motions, this paper aims at extending well-known concepts and results, based on elastic and inelastic response spectra for far-fault motions, to near-fault motions. Compared are certain aspects of the response of elastic and inelastic SDF systems to the two types of motions in the context of the acceleration-, velocity-, and displacement-sensitive regions of the response spectrum, leading to the following conclusions. (1) The velocity-sensitive region for near-fault motions is much narrower, and the acceleration-sensitive and displacement-sensitive regions are much wider, compared to far-fault motions; the narrower velocity-sensitive region is shifted to longer periods. (2) Although, for the same ductility factor, near-fault ground motions impose a larger strength demand than far-fault motions,both demands expressed as a fraction of their respective elastic demands,the strength reduction factors Ry for the two types of motions are similar over corresponding spectral regions. (3) Similarly, the ratio um/u0 of deformations of inelastic and elastic systems are similar for the two types of motions over corresponding spectral regions. (4) Design equati ns for Ry (and for um/u0) should explicitly recognize spectral regions so that the same equations apply to various classes of ground motions as long as the appropriate values of Ta, Tb and Tc are used. (5) The Veletsos,Newmark design equations with Ta=0.04 s, Tb=0.35 s, and Tc=0.79 s are equally valid for the fault-normal component of near-fault ground motions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Strategic Entrepreneurship: Exploring Different Perspectives of an Emerging ConceptENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009Donald F. Kuratko Within the entrepreneurship and strategic management domains there has been a movement by scholars to combine certain aspects of both areas to create a new concept of strategic entrepreneurship. To date, however, there remains much to know about what constitutes this concept. This special issue is the result of a unique research conference in Germany where some of the world's most renowned scholars gathered to explore this concept in depth. The set of articles in this special issue examine different perspectives that relate to strategic entrepreneurship and we believe contribute to the growing body of knowledge on this concept by examining diverse scholarly topics. This introduction provides the overview of the perspectives contained in strategic entrepreneurship and argues for the importance of embracing diverse views at this stage rather than attempting to restrict the analysis of this emerging topic. [source] A Quantified Ethogram for Oviposition in Triturus Newts: Description and Comparison of T. helveticus and T. vulgarisETHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Karen M. Norris Female newts of the genus Triturus deposit and wrap their eggs individually in the submerged leaves of aquatic macrophytes. Although this behaviour has previously been described, the different elements of the oviposition process have not been fully characterized nor any attempt made to quantify the behavioural elements. The study examined the oviposition behaviour of the two similarly sized species, Triturus helveticus and T. vulgaris on a standardized substrate macrophyte, Rorippa nasturtium,aquaticum. Continuous focal sampling was used to develop a baseline of discrete behavioural elements enabling quantification and comparison of oviposition behaviour between the two species. The results showed that the same pattern of elements was followed for each egg laid and the same key elements of the process were present in each newt species. Although these are broadly similar in size, there were striking differences in certain aspects of the oviposition sequence between the two species. Key findings were that leaf sniffing and leaf flexing and a measure of the duration of ovipositing were all significantly greater in females of T. helveticus and females of T. vulgaris laid significantly more eggs than those of T. helveticus in a standard observation period. The work presented here defines a baseline ethogram and shows how it can be used to reveal quantifiable differences in closely related species. This demonstrates its value in furthering our understanding of oviposition , a key aspect of female behaviour currently understudied in Triturus behavioural ecology, despite its intrinsic interest and value in understanding recruitment and maintenance of populations. [source] IRAK-4 kinase activity-dependent and -independent regulation of lipopolysaccharide-inducible genesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Magdalena Koziczak-Holbro Abstract IRAK-4 kinase inactive (IRAK-4 KD) knock-in mice display defects in TLR- and IL-1 receptor signaling and are resistant to LPS-induced shock. In the present study we examined the LPS-induced response in IRAK-4 KD mice in more detail. We show that IRAK-4 kinase activity is required for certain aspects of TLR-mediated signaling but not for others. We found that IRAK-4 KD cells displayed reduced JNK and p38 signaling, while NF-,B was activated to a normal level but with delayed kinetics compared to wild-type cells. TLR4-mediated IRF3 activation was intact in these cells. Comprehensive analysis of expression of LPS-inducible genes by microarray demonstrated that IRAK-4 KD cells were severely impaired in the expression of many pro-inflammatory genes, suggesting their dependence on IRAK-4 kinase activity. In contrast, the expression of a subset of LPS-induced genes of anti-viral response was not affected by IRAK-4 kinase deficiency. Additionally, we demonstrate that LPS-activated early expression and production of some cytokines, e.g., TNF-,, is partially induced in the absence of IRAK-4 kinase activity. This suggests that the partially unaffected TLR4-mediated signaling could still drive expression of these genes in early phases and that IRAK-4 kinase activity is important for a more sustained anti-bacterial response. See accompanying commentary http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838161 [source] Impact of common European tree species on the chemical and physicochemical properties of fine earth: an unusual patternEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010L. Mareschal Case studies are necessary to assess the effects of changes to tree species on the physicochemical and chemical properties of soils. To achieve this, the fine earth under five tree species was investigated. This study was performed in the Breuil-Chenue experimental forest site located in the Morvan Mountains (France). This site contains two adjacent blocks with replicated stands. The native forest (old beech and oak coppice with standards) was partially clear-felled and replaced in 1976 with mono-specific plantations of European beech, Norway spruce, Laricio pine and Douglas fir. The same changes in soil properties were revealed in both blocks, thus confirming the tree species effect. The percentage of exchangeable acidity on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) was greater under spruce, Douglas fir and pine than under the other species. Spruce stands, and to a lesser extent those of Douglas fir and pine, had a less acidic soil pH than hardwood stands (which was unusual in view of the data in the literature) and smaller CEC values. The small quantities of carbon added to the soil under these tree species provide an explanation for these effects through a partial control of both CEC and pH. This case study thus demonstrated that the tree species effect was not unequivocal and different criteria are necessary for its interpretation. Tree species significantly influenced certain aspects of the chemical properties of topsoil and have the potential to have an impact on current soil fertility. [source] The Equality Deficit: Protection against Discrimination on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation in EmploymentGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 4 2001Nicole Busby The provisions of UK law offer no specific protection to gay men and lesbians suffering discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation. Such discrimination may take many forms and can result in ,fair' dismissal in certain circumstances. This article considers the degree of legal protection available under current provisions and investigates possible sources for the development of specific anti-discrimination legislation. It is concluded that, despite the application of certain aspects of employment law, the level of protection afforded to this group of workers amounts to an equality deficit in comparison to the legal redress available to those discriminated against on other grounds. Although the development of human rights legislation may have some application in this context, the combination of institutionalized discrimination and wider public policy concerns suggest that the introduction of specific legislation aimed at eliminating such discrimination in the United Kingdom is still some way off. [source] Neurobehavioral abnormalities in the dysbindin-1 mutant, sandy, on a C57BL/6J genetic backgroundGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2009M. M. Cox Sandy mice have a deletion mutation in the gene encoding dysbindin-1, Dtnbp1, with consequent reduction of the protein in heterozygotes and its loss in homozygotes. The sandy mouse thus serves as an animal model of dysbindin-1 function. As this protein is concentrated in synaptic tissue and affects transmitter release, it may affect neuronal processes that mediate behavior. To investigate the neurobehavioral effects of the Dtnbp1 mutation, we studied littermate sandy and wild-type controls on a C57BL/6J genetic background. The three animal groups were indistinguishable in their external physical characteristics, sensorimotor skills and indices of anxiety-like behaviors. In the open field, however, homozygous animals were hyperactive and appeared to show less habituation to the initially novel environment. In the Morris water maze, homozygous animals displayed clear deficits in spatial learning and memory with marginal deficits in visual association learning. Apart from the last mentioned deficits, these abnormalities are consistent with hippocampal dysfunction and in some cases with elevated dopaminergic transmission via D2 dopamine receptors. As similar deficits in spatial learning and memory have been found in schizophrenia, where decreased dysbindin-1 has been found in the hippocampus, the sandy mouse may also model certain aspects of cognition and behavior relevant to schizophrenia. [source] The patient movement as an emancipation movementHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 2 2008Charlotte Williamson OBE MA PhD Abstract Objective, To suggest that the patient movement is an emancipation movement. Background, The patient movement is young and fragmented; and it can seem confusing because it lacks an explicit ideology with intellectual and theoretical underpinnings. Methods, Drawing mainly on the experiences and the published writings of patient activists, the author identified eight aspects of the patient movement that could be compared with aspects of recognized emancipation movements: the radicalization of activists; the creation of new knowledge; the identification of guiding principles; the sense of direction; the unmasking of new issues; schisms within the movement and allies outside it; and the gradual social acceptance of some of the ideas (here standards of health care) that activists work to promote. Results, Similarities between certain aspects of the patient movement and of the recognized emancipation movements were close. Conclusion, The patient movement can be regarded as an emancipation movement, albeit an immature one. [source] Cadherin-8 and N-cadherin differentially regulate pre- and postsynaptic development of the hippocampal mossy fiber pathwayHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 4 2008Iddil H. Bekirov Abstract Cells sort into regions and groups in part by their selective surface expression of particular classic cadherins during development. In the nervous system, cadherin-based sorting can define axon tracts, restrict axonal and dendritic arbors to particular regions or layers, and may encode certain aspects of synapse specificity. The underlying model has been that afferents and their targets hold in common the expression of a particular cadherin, thereby providing a recognition code of homophilic cadherin binding. However, most neurons express multiple cadherins, and it is not clear whether multiple cadherins all act similarly in shaping neural circuitry. Here we asked how two such cadherins, cadherin-8 and N-cadherin, influence the guidance and differentiation of hippocampal mossy fibers. Using organotypic hippocampal cultures, we find that cadherin-8 regulates mossy fiber fasciculation and targeting, but has little effect on CA3 dendrites. In contrast, N-cadherin regulates mossy fiber fasciculation, but has little impact on axonal growth and targeting. However, N-cadherin is essential for CA3 dendrite arborization. Both cadherins are required for formation of proper numbers of presynaptic terminals. Mechanistically, such differential actions of these two cadherins could, in theory, reflect coupling to distinct intracellular binding partners. However, we find that both cadherins bind ,-catenin in dentate gyrus (DG). This suggests that cadherins may engage different intracellular signaling cascades downstream of ,-catenin, coopt different extracellular binding partners, or target distinct subcellular domains. Together our findings demonstrate that cadherin-8 and N-cadherin are critical for generating the mossy fiber pathway, but that each contributes differentially to afferent and target differentiation, thereby complementing one another in the assembly of a synaptic circuit. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Negotiating Islam: Conservatism, Splintered Authority and Empowerment in Urban BangladeshIDS BULLETIN, Issue 2 2010Samia Huq Bangladesh has recently been seeing a rise in religiosity which has been treated as problematic, anti-secular and anti-progressive within the public sphere. Various writers describe this trend as having a disempowering effect on women and negating their self-expression. However, underlying these views is the assumption that the assertion of women's agency is not enough if it does not confront existing structures of relations. This article asks whether it is possible that in seeking changes in certain aspects of one's life, existing gender relations are not necessarily transformed, but indirectly challenged and reconfigured? The conclusion suggests that rather than a polarisation of the secular and religious ways of living most people are in fact in between, negotiating between the two camps, and borrowing ideas and ways from both. [source] The move from categories to process: Attachment phenomena and clinical evaluationINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Arietta Slade Despite the degree to which attachment theory and research have been embraced by clinicians in recent years, many remain unsure as to what this perspective adds to clinical understanding and psychodynamic thinking about the clinical process. In this article, I outline some ways that developments in the study of attachment have the potential to enrich our clinical work with children and families, and may be particularly illuminating with respect to certain aspects of evaluation, formulation, and diagnosis. This added value comes not from formally assessing patients' attachment classification but from sensitizing clinicians to observing the functioning of the attachment system and to the internal and interpersonal functions of attachment processes. Such awareness on the part of the therapist makes it possible for these dynamic regulatory, defense, and motivational systems to be addressed within the context of evaluation and ongoing psychotherapeutic work. Thinking about attachment processes within the clinical situation does not supplant other aspects of dynamically oriented assessment and evaluation, but rather is theoretically consistent with psychoanalytic models of development and offers new levels of richness and understanding to formulations and treatment planning. [source] Community engagement for counterterrorism: lessons from the United KingdomINTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, Issue 4 2010RACHEL BRIGGS This article explores the development of community engagement within the UK's strategy to tackle international terrorism linked to and inspired by Al-Qaeda, commonly known as CONTEST. It focuses mostly on the ,Prevent' strand of the strategy which seeks to prevent radicalization towards violence, reduce tacit support for violence, and increase the resilience of communities to tackle radicalization and extremist messages themselves. Community engagement for counterterrorism also relates to certain aspects of the ,Pursue' strand of CONTEST, and these are highlighted. The article outlines the case for a community-based approach to counterterrorism and outlines a number of the key developments in its emergence from 2005 onwards. It analyses the performance of this aspect of the counterterrorism strategy, pointing to a number of shortcomings in relation to the establishment of partnerships, the integration of the approach, capacity shortfalls at the local level, and the wider challenges of a hostile political and media environment. Written as the new UK coalition government announces a review of the ,Prevent' strategy, it offers a number of recommendations for the future direction of this area of policy. It calls for an overhaul in working styles, a focus on people rather than projects, and the need to draw a much clearer line between downstream and targeted ,Prevent' work and the broader and longer-term community development work, with the latter encapsulated within the government's Big Society Programme and aimed at all fragile communities, not just Muslims. [source] A comparison between clearing and radiographic techniques in the study of the root-canal anatomy of maxillary first and second molarsINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 5 2004O. E. Omer Abstract Aim, To compare a clearing technique with conventional radiography in studying certain features of the root-canal system of maxillary right first and second molars. A secondary aim was to assess interexaminer agreement for these features using radiographs. Methodology, Eighty-three recently extracted permanent maxillary right first molars and 40 recently extracted maxillary right second molars from an Irish population were included. Standard periapical radiographs were taken from a buccolingual and mesiodistal direction. The specimens were then decoronated, demineralized in 10% hydrochloric acid for 8 days and then cleared using methyl salicylate. The cleared teeth were examined using a dissecting microscope (×20), and data relating to number of roots, canal type following Vertucci's classification, presence of lateral canals, presence of transverse anastomoses and position/number of apical foramina were collected. The radiographs were examined by two independent trained endodontists using an X-ray viewer and a magnifying lens (×2) in a dark room for the same features studied using the clearing technique. Results, The Kappa values for the agreement between the radiographic examiners A and B and the clearing technique and between the two examiners for the number of roots were 0.60, 0.64 and 0.53; for the root-canal type, 0.37, 0.41 and 0.42; for the number of roots with lateral canals, 0.21, 0.18 and 0.14; and for the transverse anastomoses, 0.29 for radiographic Examiner A. Radiographic Examiner B did not feel capable of accurately recognizing transverse anastomoses from the radiographs. For the position/number of apical foramina, the Kappa values were 0.33 and 0.24, respectively. In general, the Kappa values were low to modest for all comparisons. Conclusions, It is concluded that the agreement between the two radiographic examiners and the agreement between either radiographic examiner and the clearing technique were poor to moderate, indicating the limited value of radiographs alone when studying certain aspects of the root-canal system. [source] The Electronic Prometheus and its Consequences for Art EducationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION, Issue 1 2001Johannes Kirschenmann This paper consists of three parts. First, a discussion of certain aspects of media art pedagogy, secondly, comments on computers from the view of art pedagogy, and finally, thoughts on a future art and media pedagogy. [source] Aspect graphs for three-dimensional object recognition machine vision systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 1 2005Tatiana Tambouratzis The purpose of this research is to seek evidence for viewer-centered (especially aspect-graph-based) visual processing in the elementary task of object understanding. Two homologous, bilaterally symmetrical three-dimensional (3-D) objects have been employed that differ in that one is based on parts with flat surfaces and the other on parts with curved surfaces. The following procedure has been followed, separately for each object. In the training (saturated free inspection and manipulation) phase, a location (identical for both objects) of the object is marked with a red strip and the subjects' task is to memorize the object structure as well as the position of the strip. In the test phase, two-dimensional views of the object without the strip are presented and the subjects' task is to determine whether the previously marked location should be visible or invisible in the particular view. Findings have been found consistent with an aspect-graph-based 3-D object representation: (a) the reaction times and errors show characteristic dependencies on viewpoint; (b) a number of views (corresponding to certain aspects and aspect transitions of the aspect graph) consistently produce faster and more accurate recognition; (c) the differences in the aspect graphs of the two objects are reflected in differing patterns of reaction times and errors; furthermore; (d) the subjects impose a standard orientation on the objects, whereby a strong inversion effect is observed; and (e) performance varies in a similar way for both objects as a function of tilt. It is concluded that object understanding is viewpoint dependent, that is, based on a number of views. The characteristics of the views found to be most important for object understanding can be employed for creating efficient 3-D object recognition machine vision systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 20: 47,72, 2005. [source] Comparative study of kinetics and reactivity indices of free radical polymerization reactions,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2005K. Van Cauter Abstract Density functional theory calculations are used to determine the kinetics and reactivity indices of the first propagation steps of the polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) polymerization. Transition state theory is applied to evaluate the rate coefficient from the microscopically determined energies and partition functions. A comparison with the experimental Arrhenius plots validates the level of theory. The ability of reactivity indices to predict certain aspects of the studied propagation reactions is tested. Global softnesses of the reactants give an indication of the relative energy barriers of subsequent monomer additions. The correlation between energy and hardness profiles along the reaction path confirm the principle of maximum hardness. Local indices predict the regioselectivity of the attack of the growing radical to vinyl chloride. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005 [source] Using cost-analysis techniques to measure the value of nurse practitioner careINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 4 2002D. Vincent PhD Abstract Nurse practitioners are in a unique position to deliver high-quality care to a variety of populations and are being utilized in many countries worldwide. Although certain aspects of the nurse practitioner role may differ from country to country, limited financial support and competition for access to patients make it incumbent on nurse practitioners to document the cost-effectiveness of their care. Cost analysis, a business tool that can be used by any practitioner in any health care system, was used to examine business practices of an academic-based nurse-managed centre. In order for this tool to be effective, nurse practitioners must become comfortable with using cost-analysis techniques in their practices. Linking outcome data with cost data was found to be one method for explicating the value of nurse practitioner practice. Nurse practitioners must also recognize that they are competing with primary-care physician practices and other primary health-care practices. It is vital for nurse practitioners to document both the quality and the costs of their care in order to compete with physicians and other health care providers, in order to influence policy and other health-care decision makers. [source] Life-long protein malnutrition in the rat (Rattus norvegicus) results in altered patterns of craniofacial growth and smaller individualsJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2006Shannon L. Lobe Abstract Dietary protein is a limiting factor in mammalian growth, significantly affecting the non-linear trajectories of skeletal growth. Young females may be particularly vulnerable to protein malnutrition if the restriction is not lifted before they become reproductive. With such early malnutrition, limited amino acids would be partitioned between two physiological objectives, successful reproduction vs. continued growth. Thus, the consequences of protein malnutrition could affect more than one generation. However, few studies have quantified these cross-generational effects. Our objective was to test for differences in skeletal growth in a second generation of malnourished rats compared with rats malnourished only post-weaning, the first generation and with controls. In this longitudinal study we modelled the growth of 22 craniofacial measurements with the logistic Gompertz equation, and tested for differences in the equation's parameters among the diet groups. The female offspring of post-weaning malnourished dams did not catch up in size to the first generation or to controls, although certain aspects of their craniofacial skeleton were less affected than others. The second generation's growth trajectories resembled the longer and slower growth of the first malnourished generation. There was a complex interaction between developmental processes and early nutritional environment, which affected variation of adult size. [source] Knowing , in MedicineJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2008Joachim P. Sturmberg MBBS DORACOG MFM PhD FRACGP Abstract In this paper we argue that knowledge in health care is a multidimensional dynamic construct, in contrast to the prevailing idea of knowledge being an objective state. Polanyi demonstrated that knowledge is personal, that knowledge is discovered, and that knowledge has explicit and tacit dimensions. Complex adaptive systems science views knowledge simultaneously as a thing and a flow, constructed as well as in constant flux. The Cynefin framework is one model to help our understanding of knowledge as a personal construct achieved through sense making. Specific knowledge aspects temporarily reside in either one of four domains , the known, knowable, complex or chaotic, but new knowledge can only be created by challenging the known by moving it in and looping it through the other domains. Medical knowledge is simultaneously explicit and implicit with certain aspects already well known and easily transferable, and others that are not yet fully known and must still be learned. At the same time certain knowledge aspects are predominantly concerned with content, whereas others deal with context. Though in clinical care we may operate predominately in one knowledge domain, we also will operate some of the time in the others. Medical knowledge is inherently uncertain, and we require a context-driven flexible approach to knowledge discovery and application, in clinical practice as well as in health service planning. [source] N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated ERK1/2 signaling and the transcriptional up-regulation of plasticity-related genes are developmentally regulated following in vitro neuronal maturationJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 12 2009Xianju Zhou Abstract The general features of neuroplasticity are developmentally regulated. Although it has been hypothesized that the loss of plasticity in mature neurons may be due to synaptic saturation and functional reduction of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. We examined the effects of NMDAR activation and KCl-mediated membrane depolarization on ERK1/2 signaling following in vitro maturation of cultured cortical neurons. Although NMDA stimulated a robust increase in intracellular calcium at both DIV (day in vitro) 3 and 14, the activation of ERK1/2 and cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) was impaired at DIV 14. Specifically, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was stimulated by both NMDA and KCl at DIV 3. However, at DIV 14, NMDA- but not KCl-stimulated ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation was significantly diminished. Consistently, the NMDA-induced transcription of ERK/CREB-regulated genes Bdnf exon 4, Arc, and zif268 was significantly attenuated at DIV 14. Moreover, in comparison with 3 DIV neurons, the phosphorylated-ERK1/2 in 14 DIV neurons displayed a tremendous increase following maturation and was more susceptible to dephosphorylation. Blocking calcium channels by nifedipine or NMDAR by APV caused a more dramatic ERK dephosphorylation in 14 DIV neurons. We further demonstrate that the loss of plasticity-related signaling is unrelated to NMDA-induced cell death of the 14 DIV neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that the attenuation of certain aspects of neuroplasticity following maturation may be due to the reduction of NMDAR-mediated gene transcription and a saturation of ERK1/2 activity. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||