Continued Growth (continued + growth)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Therapeutic human papillomavirus DNA vaccination strategies to control cervical cancer

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
T.-C. Wu
Abstract A persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is considered causal and necessary for the continued growth of cervical cancer. Thus, vaccination against HPV represents a plausible approach to prevent and treat cervical cancer. A report in the current issue of the European Journal of Immunology describes a therapeutic HPV DNA vaccination strategy using the HPV-16 E7 antigen fused to the invariant chain to enhance the E7-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell immune responses, resulting in a potent anti-tumor effect against E7-expressing tumors. Continued exploration of HPV therapeutic DNA vaccines may lead to eventual clinical application. See accompanying article http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200636233 [source]


Relay communications for Mars exploration

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING, Issue 2 2007
Charles D. Edwards
Telecommunication is an essential and challenging aspect of planetary exploration. For Mars landers, the constraints of mass, volume, power and energy typically limit their communications capabilities on the long-distance link back to Earth. By deploying relay spacecraft in Martian orbit, these landers can achieve much greater data return and can obtain contact opportunities at times when Earth is not in view. Currently, both NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) have pursued this strategy, deploying relay payloads on their Mars science orbiters. This relay infrastructure has significantly benefited the science return from the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers and is poised to support the Phoenix Lander and Mars Science Laboratory missions later this decade. Longer-term plans call for continued growth in relay capability, greatly increasing data return from the Martian surface to enable exciting new Mars exploration concepts and advance our understanding of our planetary neighbour. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


International price competitiveness of Australia's MICE industry

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 2 2001
Larry Dwyer
Abstract A special-interest tourist market that holds out great promise for continued growth well into the next century is that of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions). At the same time, changing prices in particular destinations relative to others are regarded as one of the most important economic influences on destination shares of total international tourism flows. The question arises as to the price competitiveness of major competing MICE destinations. Although earlier research has recognised that a destination's price competitiveness differs according to a visitor's country of origin there has been relatively little attention paid to tourism price competitiveness from the perspective of those having different motives for travel. This paper has four major aims: first, to provide a method by which price competitiveness of tourism by journey purpose can be estimated; second, to construct price competitiveness indices that measure, absolutely and relative to major competitors world-wide, the price competitiveness of Australia's MICE tourism industry; third, to compare Australia's price competitiveness as a MICE destination with its price competitiveness for total inbound tourism; fourth, to discuss the implications of the results for travel and tourism decision-makers in both the private and public sectors. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


WHY HAVE UK DISABILITY BENEFIT ROLLS GROWN SO MUCH?

JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 1 2008
Duncan McVicar
Abstract Over the last 30 years many countries , including the UK , have seen a dramatic rise in the share of the working age population receiving sickness and disability benefits (hereafter disability benefits). This is despite health levels that are generally thought to be slowly improving. This paper describes the time path of UK disability benefit rolls and explores the existing UK literature together with literature from the USA in search of potential explanations for it. Since the early 1990s, despite a number of detailed descriptive studies, surprisingly little attention has been paid to quantifying the importance of the different factors believed to be driving the UK benefit roll growth. This is all the more surprising given the continued growth and the level of policy attention recently and currently devoted to disability benefits in the UK. [source]


The importance of growth and mortality costs in the evolution of the optimal life history

JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
D. A. ROFF
Abstract A central assumption of life history theory is that the evolution of the component traits is determined in part by trade-offs between these traits. Whereas the existence of such trade-offs has been well demonstrated, the relative importance of these remains unclear. In this paper we use optimality theory to test the hypothesis that the trade-off between present and future fecundity induced by the costs of continued growth is a sufficient explanation for the optimal age at first reproduction, ,, and the optimal allocation to reproduction, G, in 38 populations of perch and Arctic char. This hypothesis is rejected for both traits and we conclude that this trade-off, by itself, is an insufficient explanation for the observed values of , and G. Similarly, a fitness function that assumes a mortality cost to reproduction but no growth cost cannot account for the observed values of ,. In contrast, under the assumption that fitness is maximized, the observed life histories can be accounted for by the joint action of trade-offs between growth and reproductive allocation and between mortality and reproductive allocation (Individual Juvenile Mortality model). Although the ability of the growth/mortality model to fit the data does not prove that this is the mechanism driving the evolution of the optimal age at first reproduction and allocation to reproduction, the fit does demonstrate that the hypothesis is consistent with the data and hence cannot at this time be rejected. We also examine two simpler versions of this model, one in which adult mortality is a constant proportion of juvenile mortality [Proportional Juvenile Mortality (PJM) model] and one in which the proportionality is constant within but not necessarily between species [Specific Juvenile Mortality (SSJM) model]. We find that the PJM model is unacceptable but that the SSJM model produces fits suggesting that, within the two species studied, juvenile mortality is proportional to adult mortality but the value differs between the two species. [source]


Health of the nation: an individual or a corporate social responsibility?

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2007
A preliminary investigation into consumer perceptions
Britain is increasingly mirroring a number of nations in terms of the continued growth in prevailing levels of illnesses related potentially to human food consumption. As this issue fast becomes global, the question of whose responsibility it is, has come to the forefront of the debate. Other groups, apart from the Governments with direct involvement in this crisis are the Consumers and the Marketers. Using the food industry as the basis, the study primarily focuses on the consumers' perceptions of the nature and the extent of the problem. To investigate, three products used in the study are placed on a continuum; Chocolates represent one end and Genetically manufactured foods the other. Fast foods are represented in the middle. This framework highlights variations in consumer perceptions based on product differences: manufacturers have been held responsible for the provision of pertinent information in the case of genetically manufactured products; in the context of fast foods and Confectionery both manufacturers and consumers have been seen as responsible for consumers' existing consumption patterns. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The influence of density on post-weaning growth in roe deer Capreolus capreolus fawns

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
A. J. M. Hewison
Abstract In temperate ungulates, the body weight of juveniles at the onset of winter is a crucial determinant of survival and can also influence subsequent reproductive success. However, growth may be retarded post-weaning, during winter, as a result of resource restriction and/or the demands of thermoregulation in harsh climatic conditions. Post-weaning growth rates of juveniles were compared in relation to varying density in two populations of roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Chizé, Dourdan) monitored for 10 and 15 years, respectively. Body growth of fawns continued over the post-weaning stage of the juvenile period (October,March) at the rate of 0.017 kg/day at Chizé and 0.014 kg/day at Dourdan. Deer density had no influence on this post-weaning growth rate of juveniles in their first winter. However, deer born in years of high density weighed less at a given date than those born in years of low density because of their smaller body size at the onset of winter, indicating density-dependent rates of growth before weaning. At Chizé, the sexes grew at the same rate, but sexual dimorphism was apparent as males weighed about 1 kg (8%) more than females at a given date. At Dourdan, no significant sexual dimorphism was detected, although females tended to be heavier than males at a given date. We conclude that density influences juvenile body weight (through its effect on birth weight and/or post-natal growth rate) before weaning in this species and, despite continued growth after weaning, during winter, roe deer whose early growth is limited through interspecific competition cannot compensate for this early restriction. [source]


Barriers and Strategies to the Revision Process From an Editor's Perspective

NURSING FORUM, Issue 2 2009
Daniel D. Moos CRNA
Writing for publication is an important component of nursing scholarship. Navigation of the publication process can be challenging for both the novice and expert writer. Despite a number of published articles related to writing for publication, there is a paucity of research in barriers encountered after manuscript submission. Fourteen nurse editors participated in this qualitative descriptive study. The purpose of the study was to identify and describe actual or perceived barriers that nurse authors encounter during the revision process from the editor's perspective. In addition, editors described various strategies that are employed during the revision process. Seven categories were identified related to barriers encountered by the nurse author, which include novice author, revision request, author guidelines, academic integrity, motivation, time, and international submissions. Five strategies employed by editors were identified, and include their approach to the author, revision request, mentorship, time, and the peer reviewer. Approaches to minimize, reduce, or remove barriers included four key players: academic institutions, editor, author, and institutions. This study confirms much of what has been written in articles concerning writing for publication. The current study provides additional illumination of this subject and can be instrumental in allowing the editor, author, academia, and healthcare institutions to reflect on their role in reducing barriers and promoting nursing scholarship. To promote continued growth in nursing scholarship, it is important for authors, editors, academia, and healthcare institutions to seek ways to reduce barriers that may be encountered during the revision process. [source]


A convenient and versatile hydroponic cultivation system for Arabidopsis thaliana

PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 3 2004
Hanna Norén
A versatile two-step cultivation procedure for Arabidopsis thaliana is described for the production of large quantities of leaf material suitable for biochemical and biophysical analysis. The first step comprises a miniature greenhouse made out of a plastic pipette box to grow the seedlings to the six-leaf stage. For continued growth, the seedlings are transferred to hydroponic cultivation using an opaque container covered by a styrofoam lid. Transfer of the small seedlings to hydroponic culture is facilitated by growth in separate pipette tips, which protects vulnerable roots from damage. The hydroponic cultivation system is easy to scale-up and produces large amounts of relatively large leaves and roots. This hydroponic system produces enough plant material to make Arabidopsis a feasible model for biochemical and biophysical experiments, which can be combined with the available genetic information to address various aspects of plant functional genomics. [source]


Commentary: The federal ,Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act'

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 9 2009
Philip R. Reilly
Abstract The recently enacted federal law, the ,Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act' (United States Public Law 110,374) seeks to improve opportunities for parents and pregnant women to anticipate and understand the likely life course of children born with Down syndrome and other (unspecified) conditions. The law is in part a response to the continued growth of prenatal screening and testing. For example, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Practice Bulletin 77 recommends that ,Screening and invasive diagnostic testing for aneuploidies be available to all women who present for prenatal care before 20 weeks of gestation regardless of maternal age.' Emerging technologies anticipate an era in which the scope of prenatal screening and testing will be much larger than it is today. Inevitably, more women will find themselves facing the hard question of whether to continue or end a pregnancy in which a fetus has been found to have a significant abnormality. While the new federal law is not likely to have a major impact on obstetric practice, it may be a harbinger of renewed wide-scale public debate concerning the ethics of prenatal screening. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


A role for caleosin in degradation of oil-body storage lipid during seed germination

THE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2006
Marianne Poxleitner
Summary Caleosin is a Ca2+ -binding oil-body surface protein. To assess its role in the degradation of oil-bodies, two independent insertion mutants lacking caleosin were studied. Both mutants demonstrated significant delay of breakdown of the 20:1 storage lipid at 48 and 60 h of germination. Additionally, although germination rates for seeds were not affected by the mutations, mutant seedlings grew more slowly than wild type when measured at 48 h of germination, a defect that was corrected with continued growth for 72 and 96 h in the light. After 48 h of germination, wild-type central vacuoles had smooth contours and demonstrated internalization of oil bodies and of membrane containing , - and , -tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs), markers for protein storage vacuoles. In contrast, mutant central vacuoles had distorted limiting membranes displaying domains with clumps of the two TIPs, and they contained fewer oil bodies. Thus, during germination caleosin plays a role in the degradation of storage lipid in oil bodies. Its role involves both the normal modification of storage vacuole membrane and the interaction of oil bodies with vacuoles. The results indicate that interaction of oil bodies with vacuoles is one mechanism that contributes to the degradation of storage lipid. [source]


International Emergency Medicine: A Review of the Literature from 2006

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2007
Adam C. Levine MD
The field of international emergency medicine (IEM) has grown rapidly over the past several decades, with a rise in the number of IEM fellowship positions, sustained growth in the international sections of major emergency medicine organizations, and an increase in the range of topics included under its rubric. One of the greatest obstacles to the continued growth of IEM remains the lack of a high-quality, consolidated, and easily accessible evidence base of literature. In response to this perceived need, members of the Emergency Medicine Residents' Association IEM Committee, in conjunction with members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine International Health Interest Group, embarked on the task of creating a recurring review of IEM literature. This article reviews 25 IEM research articles published in 2006. Research articles were selected for the review according to explicit, predetermined criteria that included both methodological quality and perceived impact of the research. It is the authors' hope that this annual review will act as a forum for disseminating best practices while also stimulating further research in the field of IEM. [source]


Adult growth hormone replacement therapy and neuroimaging surveillance in brain tumour survivors

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2005
Andreas Jostel
Summary Objective, Systematic collections of neuroimaging data are nonexistent in brain tumour survivors treated with adult growth hormone replacement therapy (AGHRT). We present our surveillance data. Design, In 1993, our unit implemented a policy of performing brain scans on every brain tumour survivor before starting AGHRT, with repeat neuroimaging at least once after 12,18 months' treatment. Reports for baseline scans and most recent scans were analysed for this retrospective study. Patients, All brain tumour survivors who received AGHRT (60 patients) were included in the analysis. Measurements, Evidence and extent of residual tumour, tumour progression, tumour recurrence, and secondary neoplasms (SN) on baseline scan and latest follow-up scan. Results, All patients had baseline scans performed. Follow-up scans were available in 41/45 (91%) patients who received AGHRT for more than 1 year (mean duration ± SD of GHRT was 6·7 ± 3·6 years). Sixteen patients had residual tumours, and SNs (all meningiomas) were demonstrated in three patients on baseline scans. Appearances remained stable in 34 (83%) patients during follow-up (extending to 17·4 ± 8·3 years after tumour diagnosis). Of the 16 residual primary tumours, an incurable ependymoma continued to grow, and one meningioma progressed slightly in size over 7·7 years. Follow-up scans also revealed continued growth of the SNs detected at baseline, and five additional meningiomas (two in patients with a previous SN, confirming an excess risk in this subgroup, P = 0·02). All SNs occurred on average 22·8 (range 17,37) years after radiotherapy. Conclusions, Our data do not suggest an increased rate of recurrence or progression of childhood brain tumours during AGHRT. Nonetheless, vigilance and long-term surveillance are needed in these patients in order to detect and monitor SNs, in particular in patients with a previous history of a SN. We endorse a proactive neuroimaging policy, preferably as part of a larger, controlled trial in the future. [source]