Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Dominant Factor (dominant + factor)
Selected AbstractspH-Activated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Nanoprobe Imaging Tumors by Sensing the Acidic MicroenvironmentADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 14 2010Cong Li Abstract Imaging tumors in their early stages is crucial to increase the surviving rate of cancer patients. Currently most fluorescence probes visualize the neoplasia by targeting the tumor-associated receptor over-expressed on the cancer cell membrane. However, the expression level of these receptors in vivo is hard to predict, which limits their clinical translation. Furthermore, the signal output of these receptor-targeting probes usually stays at a high level, which leads to a strong background signal in normal tissue due to non-specific binding. In contrast to receptors, characteristics of the tumor microenvironment , such as acidosis , are pervasive in almost all solid tumors and can be easily accessed. In this work, a novel biodegradable nanoprobe InNP1 that demonstrates pH-activated near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence in both human glioblastoma U87MG cancer cells in vitro and the subcutaneous U87MG tumor xenografts in vivo is developed. Bio-distribution, in vivo optical imaging, and autoradiography studies demonstrate that the pH-activated NIR fluorescence is the dominant factor responsible for the high tumor/normal tissue (T/N) ratio of InNP1 in vivo. Overall, the work provides a nanoprobe prototype to visualize the solid tumor in vivo with high sensitivity and minimal systemic toxicity by sensing the tumor acidic microenvironment. [source] Influence of stream geomorphic condition on fish communities in Vermont, U.S.A.FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2006EIKA P. SULLIVAN, S. MA Summary 1. Evaluations of stream geomorphic condition may increase our understanding of the composite effects of human-induced habitat change on fish communities. Using systematic sampling of 44 reaches spread across 26 rivers in Vermont from 2002 through 2004, we tested the hypothesis that stream reaches in reference geomorphic condition would support fish assemblages that differed in diversity and productivity from fish communities found in reaches of poorer geomorphic condition. 2. At each study reach, we sampled the fish community, identified the morphological unit according to common stream classification systems and then evaluated the extent of deviation from reference geomorphic condition using a regionally adapted geomorphic assessment methodology. 3. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and linear regression to build exploratory models linking stream geomorphic condition to fish community characteristics. 4. Our results suggest that geomorphic condition significantly influences fish community diversity, productivity and condition. Geomorphic condition was a significant factor in all of our fish community models. In conjunction with additional reach characteristics, geomorphic condition explained up to 31% of the total variance observed in models for species diversity of fish communities, 44% of the variance in assemblage biomass and 45% of the variance in a regional index of biotic integrity. 5. Our work builds on single-species evidence that geomorphic characteristics represent important local-scale fish-habitat variables, showing that stream geomorphic condition is a dominant factor affecting entire fish communities. Our results enhance our understanding of the hierarchy of factors that influences fish community diversity and organisation and support the use of geomorphic condition assessments in stream management. [source] Effects of Land Use on Ground Water Quality in the Anoka Sand Plain Aquifer of MinnesotaGROUND WATER, Issue 4 2003Michael D. Trojan We began a study, in 1996, to compare ground water quality under irrigated and nonirrigated agriculture, sewered and nonsewered residential developments, industrial, and nondeveloped land uses. Twenty-three monitoring wells were completed in the upper meter of an unconfined sand aquifer. Between 1997 and 2000, sampling occurred quarterly for major ions, trace inorganic chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), herbicides, and herbicide degradates. On single occasions, we collected samples for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), perchlorate, and coliform bacteria. We observed significant differences in water chemistry beneath different land uses. Concentrations of several trace inorganic chemicals were greatest under sewered urban areas. VOC detection frequencies were 100% in commercial areas, 52% in sewered residential areas, and <10% for other land uses. Median nitrate concentrations were greatest under irrigated agriculture (15,350 ,g/L) and nonsewered residential areas (6080 ,g/L). Herbicides and degradates of acetanilide and triazine herbicides were detected in 86% of samples from irrigated agricultural areas, 68% of samples from nonirrigated areas, and <10% of samples from other land uses. Degradates accounted for 96% of the reported herbicide mass. We did not observe seasonal differences in water chemistry, but observed trends in water chemistry when land use changes occurred. Our results show land use is the dominant factor affecting shallow ground water quality. Trend monitoring programs should focus on areas where land use is changing, while resource managers and planners must consider potential impacts of land use changes on ground water quality. [source] A BTOP model to extend TOPMODEL for distributed hydrological simulation of large basinsHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 17 2008Kuniyoshi Takeuchi Abstract Topography is a dominant factor in hillslope hydrology. TOPMODEL, which uses a topographical index derived from a simplified steady state assumption of mass balance and empirical equations of motion over a hillslope, has many advantages in this respect. Its use has been demonstrated in many small basins (catchment areas of the order of 2,500 km2) but not in large basins (catchment areas of the order of 10 000,100 000 km2). The objective of this paper is to introduce the Block-wise TOPMODEL (BTOP) as an extension of the TOPMODEL concept in a grid based framework for distributed hydrological simulation of large river basins. This extension was made by redefining the topographical index by using an effective contributing area af(a) (0,f(a),1) per unit grid cell area instead of the upstream catchment area per unit contour length and introducing a concept of mean groundwater travel distance. Further the transmissivity parameter T0 was replaced by a groundwater dischargeability D which can provide a link between hill slope hydrology and macro hydrology. The BTOP model uses all the original TOPMODEL equations in their basic form. The BTOP model has been used as the core hydrological module of an integrated distributed hydrological model YHyM with advanced modules of precipitation, evapotranspiration, flow routing etc. Although the model has been successfully applied to many catchments around the world since 1999, there has not been a comprehensive theoretical basis presented in such applications. In this paper, an attempt is made to address this issue highlighted with an example application using the Mekong basin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Analysis of suspended sediment yields after low impact forest harvestingHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 26 2007Norifumi Hotta Abstract Disturbances to forest catchments have profound effects on the environment of headwater streams and have an impact on suspended sediment (SS) management. Forest harvesting is a dominant factor in increasing SS yields. Road construction, skidder activity and ploughing associated with harvesting cause serious soil disturbance that results in SS increases. However, few studies have shown whether harvesting itself increases SS yields. This study examined how harvesting influenced SS yields in a steep forested area. During harvesting, soil surface disturbance was prevented as much as possible by using skyline logging treatments and piling branches and leaves at selected locations in the watershed. Using these methods, the representative SS rating curve did not change significantly after harvesting. The results also show that the characteristics of SS transport were related to the SS source area, and reveal that the riparian zone/stream bank was a dominant SS source area at the study site. Annual SS yields did not increase despite increasing annual water yields after harvesting. The limited water capacity of the soil at the study site likely led to only slight differences in pre- and post-harvest water discharge from heavy rainfall events. Most SS was transported during heavy rainfall events, and increases in SS yields were not detected after harvesting. We concluded that it is possible to prevent post-harvest SS increases by performing careful, low-impact harvesting procedures. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Testing the impact of a promotional video on destination image change: application of China as a tourism destinationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010Amir Shani Abstract This study empirically examines the potential effects of a promotional video on the image change of China as a travel destination. The analysis is based on an experimental study conducted among young, international short-term employees in the USA. Despite positive changes in almost all the destination attributes as a result of watching the promotional video, the structure of the image constructs remains fairly stable, providing critical insights on the potential role of publicity campaigns in affecting destination images. Results of the study reveal that China's image consists of mixed and often contrasting representations, especially the polarity of modernisation and progress versus nature and history. It was found that the dominant factor affecting the respondents' behavioural intentions was the cultural and nature tourism dimension. Although other image dimensions exhibit influence as well, findings of this study suggest that perceived value should be a strategic focus in promoting China as a desirable travel destination, in addition to culture and nature tourism. This paper ends with conclusions and implications for both research on destination image and destination marketing in China. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Heritability of human cranial dimensions: comparing the evolvability of different cranial regionsJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1 2009Neus Martínez-Abadías Abstract Quantitative craniometrical traits have been successfully incorporated into population genetic methods to provide insight into human population structure. However, little is known about the degree of genetic and non-genetic influences on the phenotypic expression of functionally based traits. Many studies have assessed the heritability of craniofacial traits, but complex patterns of correlation among traits have been disregarded. This is a pitfall as the human skull is strongly integrated. Here we reconsider the evolutionary potential of craniometric traits by assessing their heritability values as well as their patterns of genetic and phenotypic correlation using a large pedigree-structured skull series from Hallstatt (Austria). The sample includes 355 complete adult skulls that have been analysed using 3D geometric morphometric techniques. Heritability estimates for 58 cranial linear distances were computed using maximum likelihood methods. These distances were assigned to the main functional and developmental regions of the skull. Results showed that the human skull has substantial amounts of genetic variation, and a t -test showed that there are no statistically significant differences among the heritabilities of facial, neurocranial and basal dimensions. However, skull evolvability is limited by complex patterns of genetic correlation. Phenotypic and genetic patterns of correlation are consistent but do not support traditional hypotheses of integration of the human shape, showing that the classification between brachy- and dolicephalic skulls is not grounded on the genetic level. Here we support previous findings in the mouse cranium and provide empirical evidence that covariation between the maximum widths of the main developmental regions of the skull is the dominant factor of integration in the human skull. [source] Recovery of lipase by adsorption at the n -hexadecane,water interfaceJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 11 2003Hui-Min Wang Abstract A novel separation process based on the hydrophobic adsorption at the n -hexadecane,water interface was developed for the recovery of Acinetobacter radioresistens lipase from a pre-treated fermentation broth. In a mixture containing water, lipase and n -hexadecane, a water-in-oil emulsion was formed when the n -hexadecane-to-water ratio (o/w ratio) was larger than 3, and a large amount of lipase was found to be adsorbed at the interface. Compared with the oil-in-water emulsion (occurring when o/w ratio < 3), the water-in-oil emulsion generated smaller droplets and larger interfacial area, and was more stable. The harvested emulsion phase could be centrifuged to give an aqueous, concentrated lipase solution. Adsorption of lipase at the interface could be described by the Langmuir isotherm. For lipase concentrations ranging from 8.4 to 87.2 U cm,3, a single-stage adsorption resulted in a six- to four-fold concentration and 16,45% activity recovery, where lipase concentration was the dominant factor. A method using data from a single-stage adsorption to predict multiple-stage operation was described, and the agreement between the experimental and the predicted results was good. To improve the enzyme recovery, a multiple-run adsorption process was proposed. The use of salts enhanced the hydrophobic interaction between lipase and n -hexadecane. Advantages of the proposed process include simple operation, low operational cost, environmentally friendly, no requirement for pre-concentration of the enzyme solution, and negligible enzyme denaturation. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Efficacy of ex vivo OPG gene therapy in preventing wear debris induced osteolysisJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002J. Jeffrey Goater Aseptic loosening of prosthetic implants remains a serious orthopaedic problem and the greatest limitation to total joint arthroplasty. Central to the etiology of aseptic loosening is periprosthetic osteolysis at the bone-implant interface, which is caused by wear debris-induced inflammation. This inflammation produces the critical osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL, which directly stimulates osteoclastogenesis and osteoclastic bone resorption. A dominant factor known to counteract this process is the natural RANKL receptor antagonist protein OPG. Here we explore the potential of ex vivo OPG gene therapy for aseptic loosening by evaluating the efficacy of stably transfected fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) expressing OPG in preventing wear debris-induced osteoclastogenesis, in a mouse calvaria model. Although the stably transfected fibroblasts produced small amounts of OPG (0.3 ng/ml/72 h/106 cells), this protein was very effective in preventing osteoclastic resorption as determined in a bone wafer assay. More importantly, implantation of 107 FLS,OPG, together with 30 mg of Ti wear debris, onto the calvaria of mice, completely inhibited osteoclastogenesis 3 days after surgery. Animals given FLS-LacZ control cells, which persisted for 3 days as determined by X-gal staining, together with the Ti particles, had a 6-fold increase in osteoclastogenesis compared to controls without Ti. This increased osteoclastogenesis was completely inhibited by the FLS-OPG, as osteoclast numbers in the calvaria of these animals were similar to that seen in the SHAM controls. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Prediction of onset of crystallization in amorphous pharmaceutical systems: Phenobarbital, nifedipine/PVP, and phenobarbital/PVPJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 9 2010Vincent Caron Abstract The aim of this work is to determine if a stability testing protocol based on the correlations between crystallization onset and relaxation time above the glass transition temperature (Tg) can be used to predict the crystallization onsets in amorphous pharmaceutical systems well below their Tg. This procedure assumes that the coupling between crystallization onset and molecular mobility is the same above and below Tg. The stability testing protocol has been applied to phenobarbital, phenobarbital/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (95/5, w/w), and nifedipine/PVP (95/5, w/w). Crystallization onsets have been detected by polarized light microscopy examination of amorphous films; molecular mobility has been determined by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy above Tg and by both isothermal calorimetry and modulated differential scanning calorimetry below Tg. We find that small amounts of PVP significantly retard re-crystallization. This dramatic effect of PVP is not related to mobility, so this approach applies, at best, to extrapolation of high temperature data on a given formulation to low temperatures. Variation in molecular mobility at these concentrations of PVP is not the dominant factor in determining variation in propensity for re-crystallization from glassy systems; we suggest surface interactions between PVP and nuclei and/or small crystals slowing growth control variation in crystallization kinetics between formulations. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:3887,3900, 2010 [source] Physical properties of rocks from the upper part of the Yaxcopoil-1 drill hole, Chicxulub craterMETEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Issue 6 2004Y. Popov Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, density, and porosity were measured on 120 dry and water-saturated rocks with a core sampling interval of 2,2.5 m. Nondestructive, non-contact optical scanning technology was used for thermal property measurements including thermal anisotropy and inhomogeneity. Supplementary petrophysical properties (acoustic velocities, formation resisitivity factor, internal surface, and hydraulic permeability) were determined on a selected subgroup of representative samples to derive correlations with the densely measured parameters, establishing estimated depth logs to provide calibration values for the interpretation of geophysical data. Significant short- and long-scale variations of porosity (1,37%) turned out to be the dominant factor influencing thermal, acoustic, and hydraulic properties of this post impact limestone formation. Correspondingly, large variations of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, acoustic velocities, and hydraulic permeability were found. These variations of physical properties allow us to subdivide the formation into several zones. A combination of experimental data on thermal conductivity for dry and water-saturated rocks and a theoretical model of effective thermal conductivity for heterogeneous media have been used to calculate thermal conductivity of mineral skeleton and pore aspect ratio for every core under study. The results on thermal parameters are the necessary basis for the determination of heat flow density, demonstrating the necessity of dense sampling in the case of inhomogeneous rock formations. [source] Influence of inter-fiber spacing and interfacial adhesion on failure of multi-fiber model composites: Experiment and numerical analysisPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 9 2008Hongzhou Li The uniaxial tension experiments on glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites reveal that the fragmentations of fibers display vertically aligned fracture, clustered fracture, coordinated fracture, and random fracture with the increase of inter-fiber spacing. The finite element analysis indicates that the fragmentations of fibers displaying different phenomena are due to the stress concentration as well as the inherent randomness of fiber defects, which is the dominant factor. The experimental results show that matrices adjacent to the fiber breakpoints all exhibit birefringent-whitening patterns for the composites with different interfacial adhesion strengths. The larger the extent of the interfacial debonding, the less the domain of the birefringent-whitening patterns. The numerical analysis indicates that the orientation of the matrix adjacent to a fiber breakpoint is caused by the interfacial shear stress, resulting in the birefringent-whitening patterns. The area of shear stress concentrations decides on the domain of the birefringent-whitening patterns. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Food Price Surges: Possible Causes, Past Experience, and Longer Term RelevancePOPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 4 2008Nikos Alexandratos The food price surges of recent years have created much misery and raised once again the Malthusian specter. Increases in the demand for food in the emerging economies, particularly China and India, have frequently been identified as the dominant factor behind a perceived shock on the demand side. Use of crops for biofuels was listed as an additional, though less important, factor. Yet global cereals utilization without biofuels has been growing at slowly decelerating rates, as in the past. It is the addition of biofuels that has resulted in its growing faster than in the past. In parallel, global production had been falling behind utilization for several years, leading to declining stocks. Weather shocks, depreciation of the dollar, and turbulence in the financial markets were added to these fundamentals of the supply,demand balance to generate the price surges. If energy prices remain high and/or rising and pro-biofuel policies remain in place, the diversion of crops to biofuels is likely to continue. This could prevent the current commodity cycle from unfolding in the "normal" way over the short to medium term with prices trending back toward their pre-surge levels. Conclusions are drawn about how these developments should influence the way we assess long-term food and agriculture prospects. [source] Place, community education, gender and child mortality in North-east IndiaPOPULATION, SPACE AND PLACE (PREVIOUSLY:-INT JOURNAL OF POPULATION GEOGRAPHY), Issue 1 2006Laishram Ladusingh Abstract This article examines the relevance of socio-cultural and environmental factors in explaining child mortality in Northeast India, considered to be the most inaccessible region in the country. Using data from the Indian National Family Health Survey, we provide evidence that lack of hygiene in the household and poor women's engagement in physically demanding agriculture based work contributes to higher risk of child mortality. Unlike in other parts of India, female children have an edge over boys in childhood survival and living with paternal grandmother tends to lower the risk of child death in the first five years of life. Community education is found as the dominant factor outside the household to have a significant effect on child mortality. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] How Labour lost: Wrong policies or poor delivery?PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2010John Curtice Examining the waxing and waning of public opinion over the past decade, John Curtice provides an early analysis of why Labour lost so badly in 2010's general election. Was the dominant factor the party's ideological positioning or the public's loss of faith in its ability to govern? [source] Boreal winter predictions with the GEOS-2 GCM: The role of boundary forcing and initial conditionsTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 567 2000Yehui Chang Abstract Ensembles of atmospheric General Circulation Model (GCM) seasonal forecasts and long-term simulations are analysed to assess the controlling influences of boundary forcing and memory of the initial conditions. Both the forecasts and simulations are carried out with version 2 of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-2) GCM forced with observed sea surface temperatures (SSTs). While much of the focus is on the seasonal time-scale (January-March; 1981,95) and the Pacific North American (PNA) region, we also present results for other regions, shorter time-scales, and other known modes of variability in the northern hemisphere extratropics. Forecasts of indices of some of the key large-scale modes of variability show that there is considerable variability in skill between different regions of the northern hemisphere. The eastern North Atlantic region has the poorest long-lead forecast skill, showing no skill beyond about 10 days. Skilful seasonal forecasts are primarily confined to the wave-like El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) response emanating from the tropical Pacific. In the northern hemisphere, this is similar to the well-known PNA pattern. Memory of the initial conditions is the major factor leading to skilful extratropical forecasts of lead time less than one month, while boundary forcing is the dominant factor at the seasonal time-scale. Boundary forcing contributes to skilful forecasts at sub-seasonal time-scales only over the PNA region. The GEOS-2 GCM produces average signal-to-noise ratios which are less than 1.0 everywhere in the extra-tropics, except for the subtropical Pacific where they approach 1.5. An assessment of the sampling distribution of the forecasts suggests the model's ENSO response is very likely too weak. These results show some sensitivity to the uncertainties in the estimates of the SST forcing fields. In the North Pacific region, the sensitivity to SST forcing manifests itself primarily as changes in the variability of the PNA response, underscoring the need for an ensemble approach to the seasonal-prediction problem. [source] The Impact of Spiritual Intelligence on the Health of the Elderly in MalaysiaASIAN SOCIAL WORK AND POLICY REVIEW, Issue 2 2010Zarina Mat Saad In an attempt to study the impact of spiritual intelligence on the health of the elderly, research has been carried out on 378 elderly people in Perlis, Malaysia. The primary objectives of the study were: (i) to identify the levels of spiritual intelligence and general health of the elderly; (ii) to examine the relationships between spiritual intelligence and health of elderly; (iii) to examine the differences in the level of spiritual intelligence and health based on selected demographic factors; and (iv) to predict the most dominant dimension of spiritual intelligence that affects health. Sets of questionnaires were distributed to gather data. The findings showed that the majority of respondents were in good health, and had excellent spiritual intelligence. It also suggested that spiritual intelligence was positively associated with general health. Those who had higher levels of spiritual intelligence tended to have higher levels of health. The ability to conduct daily life with sanctification based on one's spiritual belief was the most dominant factor of good health. The study suggested that spirituality is related to health and has a positive effect on participants' overall health. Based on our findings, we recommend that health practitioners introduce the biopsychosocial-spiritual model when assessing the health of the elderly. [source] Alginate/Aminopropyl,Silicate/Alginate Membrane Immunoisolatability and Insulin Secretion of Encapsulated IsletsBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2002Shinji Sakai We utilized the sol,gel reaction to prepare an immunoisolatable membrane for a microcapsule-shaped bioartificial pancreas. The membrane, derived from two precursors, 3-(aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTrMOS) and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), was formed onto calcium,alginate gel beads via electrostatic interaction. The molecular weight cutoff point of less than 150 000 required for immunoisolation was achieved at molar ratios ([APTrMOS]/[TMOS]) ranging from 0.60 to 2.40 with the amount of APTrMOS fixed at 3.40 mmol/(10 mL of calcium,alginate). When encapsulated in a membrane prepared at the molar ratio of 0.60, the islets contracted in volume and showed no response to stimulation by a high glucose concentration. However, islets in a membrane prepared at the molar ratio of 2.40 showed no contraction and responded to the glucose stimulation at almost the same level as free islets. These results demonstrated that the molar ratio of the precursors was a dominant factor affecting membrane permeability and the insulin secretion activity of the encapsulated islets. [source] Mixing in Sub-micron DuctsCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 3 2004E.B. Nauman Abstract This paper considers a class of fluidic devices, anticipated to become important in the near future, where characteristic channel dimensions are in the range 0.1 to 1.0 microns. Typical current applications of microfluidics have device sizes of 10 to 100 micron, this is sufficiently small to force laminar flow but not so small that molecular diffusion is a dominant factor. In the smaller devices contemplated here, diffusion is important and existing mixing strategies and correlations are no longer applicable. Novel results and interesting complexities are discussed for reactive, single and two phase flows in sub-micron channels. [source] Effect of Electronic Structures of Enantiomers of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes on DNA Binding BehaviorsCHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2010Haimei Luo Abstract A pair of Ru(II) complex enantiomers, , - and , -[Ru(bpy)2(p -mpip)]2+ {bpy=2,2,-bipyridine, p -mpip=2-(4-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline} have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Both experimental results from crystallography, NMR, electrochemistry and theoretical calculations applying the density functional theory (DFT) method based on their crystal structures show that small difference in geometric structure existed can cause a considerable difference in electronic structure between enantiomers. In addition, the binding of the two enantiomers to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been investigated with UV spectroscopy titration and viscosity measurements. It is very rare that the , enantiomer binds to DNA more strongly than the , enantiomer, which can be reasonably explained by their different electronic structures for the first time, suggesting that the dominant factor governing the stereoselectivity of DNA binding of Ru(II) complex may be the different electronic structures of its enantiomers. [source] PERINATAL AND CHILDHOOD PRECURSORS OF ADULT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASECLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2007Lawrence Beilin SUMMARY 1Longitudinal studies from the US, Australia and Europe have demonstrated tracking of childhood risk factors for cardiovascular disease from adolescence into adult life. These factors include obesity, blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure and measures of insulin resistance. Worldwide increases in childhood obesity and overweight are already resulting in increases in adolescent diabetes and are likely to translate into earlier onset hypertension and cardiovascular disease in adults. 2Low birth weight has also been associated with increased risk of adult cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, but there is considerable debate as to the relative importance of pre- and postnatal influences. 3These issues are discussed in the context of results of a longitudinal cohort study of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in Western Australia, the ,Raine' childhood cohort, which showed that in a well-nourished Australian population at age 8 there was a U-shaped relationship between birth weight and a cluster of factors predisposing to adult cardiovascular disease, with postnatal weight gain being the dominant factor. 4Future public health programmes should focus on both pre- and early postnatal factors predisposing to obesity, hypertension and diabetes. [source] Recent channel adjustments in alluvial rivers of Tuscany, central ItalyEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 6 2003Massimo RinaldiArticle first published online: 19 JUN 200 Abstract Drastic channel adjustments have affected the main alluvial rivers of Tuscany (central Italy) during the 20th century. Bed-level adjustments were identified both by comparing available topographic longitudinal profiles of different years and through field observations. Changes in channel width were investigated by comparing available aerial photographs (1954 and 1993,98). Bed incision represents the dominant type of vertical adjustment, and is generalized along all the fluvial systems investigated. The Arno River system is the most affected by bed-level lowering (up to 9 m), whereas lower incision (generally less than 2 m) is observed along the rivers of the southern part of the region. Human disturbances appear to be the dominant factors of adjustments: the main phase of vertical change occurred during the period 1945,80, in concomitance with the phase of maximum sediment mining activity at the regional scale. The second dominant type of adjustment that involved most of the rivers in the region consists of a narrowing of the active channel. Based on measurements of channel width conducted on aerial photographs, 38% of the reaches analysed experienced a narrowing greater than 50% of the initial channel width. The largest values of channel narrowing were observed along initially braided or sinuous with alternate bars morphologies in the southern portion of the region. A regional scheme of channel adjustments is derived, based on initial channel morphology and on the amounts of incision and narrowing. Different styles of channel adjustments are described. Rivers that were originally sinuous with alternate bars to braided generally became adjusted by a moderate incision and a moderate to intense narrowing; in contrast, sinuous-meandering channels mainly adjusted vertically, with a minor amount of narrowing. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A simplified model of gas,liquid two-phase flow pattern transitionHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 7 2004Koji Ito Abstract An experiment of upward gas,liquid two-phase flow was conducted in an air,water isothermal system under atmospheric pressure. The differential pressure was measured at the fully developed section by using a variable reluctance type transducer to classify the flow patterns and their transitions. The flow behavior was observed with a high-speed video camera. The probability density function (PDF) of the differential pressure signal was employed to identify the flow pattern. A simplified one-dimensional flow model was proposed to clarify dominant factors affecting the formation and transitions of flow patterns. The model dealt with the gas-component advection based on the spatiotemporal void fraction behaviors by considering the gas compressibility, the wake, and the liquid phase redistribution mechanism. The simulation results of the model indicated four kinds of the void wave patterns (ripple-like, rectangular, distorted rectangular, and uniform wave patterns) depending on gas and liquid volumetric fluxes. These void wave patterns corresponded well to the experimentally observed flow patterns. The transitions among void wave patterns agree well with the Mishima,Ishii flow pattern map. The friction loss estimated by the present model coincides fairly well with Chisholm's empirical formula. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 33(7): 445,461, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20029 [source] Oral self-care habits of dental and healthcare providersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 4 2008Y Zadik Abstract:, Objective:, To evaluate the self-care level of dental and healthcare providers regarding prevention of oral diseases Methods:, Healthcare providers (dental assistants and surgeons, laboratory personnel, biologists, medics, paramedics, corpsmen, nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, speech therapists, X-ray technicians) and non-health care providing adults (the general population) were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding their routine measures for maintaining oral health Results:, Three hundred and twenty-six healthcare providers and 95 non-healthcare providers participated in the study. Regarding toothbrushing, flossing, undergoing periodic dental examinations and professional scaling/polishing, dental practitioners have better, but not perfect, maintenance habits than other healthcare providers. Non-dental healthcare providers have better dental habits than the general population, and nurses and medical practitioners have better dental habits than medics, paramedics, corpsmen and para-medical professionals. Among non-dental healthcare providers, nurses have a relatively high frequency of toothbrushing and flossing but a low frequency of periodic examinations and scaling/polishing. Generally, females reported significantly higher frequencies of toothbrushing and flossing than males did. The toothpaste selection of the participants was primarily influenced by dentists' recommendations, the flavour of the toothpaste, and its anti-malodour effect were the most dominant factors. Conclusion:, The compliance of health professionals, especially dental practitioners, with appropriate oral health measures is relatively high. However, the dental team cannot always assume that the dental patient, who also happens to be a healthcare provider, has meticulous oral habits. The dental hygienist and surgeon have to educate and motivate their patients, especially healthcare providers because of the influence of the latter on their own patients. [source] Prevalence and associated factors of pneumonia in patients with vegetative state in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2008Li-Chan Lin PhD Aims., The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate and influencing factors of pneumonia associated with long-term tube feeding in special care units for patients with persistent vegetative states (PVS) in Taiwan. Background., Pneumonia is a significant cause of morbidity, hospitalization and mortality in the nursing home population. Tube feeding has been found as a risk factor for the occurrence of pneumonia. Methods., Two hundred sixty subjects were chosen from three hospital-based special care units for patients with PVS and 10 nursing facilities for persons in PVS in Taiwan. All subjects, who were diagnosed with PVS, received either financial aid for institutional care or were means-tested from The Bureau of Social Welfare of cities and counties in Taiwan. Data were collected through chart review and observations. Results., The prevalence rate of pneumonia in nursing facilities for patients with PVS was 14·2%. The prevalence rate of tube-feeding in nursing facilities for PVS was 91·2%. The mean duration of tube-feeding was 73·21 SD 55·33 months. A total of 90·4% was fed with a nasogastric (NG) tube. Having a lower intake of food and fluids daily and having been institutionalized for a shorter period were three dominant factors associated with the occurrence of pneumonia. Conclusion., Research findings reveal that the incidence of pneumonia is higher in patients who do not receive adequate food and water. Continuing in-service training to improve caregivers' knowledge and skill in providing care to patients in PVS and monitoring their skills in feeding is needed to decrease the occurrence of pneumonia in this population. Relevance to clinical practice., Staff needs to be taught to monitor laboratory data and signs and symptoms of malnutrition and hydration deficit, and also be alert to early indicators of pneumonia in patients with PVS. [source] Atomic Structures and Electrical Properties of ZnO Grain BoundariesJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007Yukio Sato Various properties of ceramics can be significantly influenced by the presence of grain boundaries. The influence on the properties is closely related to the grain-boundary atomic structures. As different grain boundaries have different atomic structure, different grain boundaries have different influence on the properties. It is difficult to examine the atomic structure and properties of individual grain boundaries in ceramics. In order to understand the atomic,structure,property relationships, well-defined single grain boundaries should be characterized. In the present paper, we review our recent results on the investigations of atomic structures and electrical properties of ZnO single grain boundaries. The relationships between the atomic structures and the electrical properties were investigated using ZnO bicrystals, whose grain-boundary orientation relationship and grain-boundary planes can be arbitrarily controlled. The discussion focuses on the microscopic origin of nonlinear current,voltage (I,V) characteristics across ZnO grain boundaries. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations and lattice-statics calculations revealed the atomic structures of the undoped ZnO [0001] ,7 and ,49 grain boundaries, enabling a comparison between coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries with small and large periodicity. These grain boundaries contained the common structural units (SUs) featuring atoms with coordination numbers that are unusual in ZnO. The ,49 boundary was found to have characteristic arrangement of the SUs, where two kinds of the SUs are alternatively formed. It is considered that the characteristic arrangement was formed to effectively relax the local strain in the vicinity of the boundary. Such a relaxation of local strain is considered to be one of dominant factors to determine the SU arrangements along grain boundaries. I,V measurements of the undoped ZnO bicrystals showed linear I,V characteristics. Although the coordination and bond lengths of atoms in the grain boundaries differ from those in the bulk crystal, this does apparently not generate deep unoccupied states in the band gap. This indicates that atomic structures of undoped ZnO grain boundaries are not responsible for the nonlinear I,V characteristics of ZnO ceramics. On the other hand, the nonlinear I,V characteristic appeared when doping the boundaries with Pr. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) image of Pr-doped boundaries revealed that Pr segregates to specific atomic columns, substituting Zn at the boundary. However, the Pr itself was not the direct origin of the nonlinear I,V characteristics, as the Pr existed in the three-plus state and would not produce acceptor states in the boundary. First-principles calculations revealed that Pr doping instead promotes the formations of acceptor-like native defects, such as Zn vacancies. We believe that such acceptor-like native defects are microscopic origin of the nonlinear I,V characteristics. Investigations of various types of grain boundaries in the Pr and Co-codoped ZnO bicrystals indicated that the amounts of Pr segregation and the nonlinear I,V characteristics significantly depend on the grain-boundary orientation relationship. Larger amount of Pr segregation and, as a result, higher nonlinearity in I,V characteristics was obtained for incoherent boundaries. This indicates that Pr doping to incoherent boundaries is one of the guidelines to design the single grain boundaries with highly nonlinear I,V characteristics. Finally, a Pr and Co-codoped bicrystal with an incoherent boundary was fabricated to demonstrate a highly nonlinear I,V characteristic. This result indicates that ZnO single-grain-boundary varistors can be designed by controlling grain-boundary atomic structures and fabrication processes. Summarizing, our work firstly enabled us to gain a deeper understanding for the atomic structure of ZnO grain boundaries. Secondly, we obtained important insight into the origin of nonlinear I,V characteristics across the ZnO grain boundaries. And, finally, based on these results, we demonstrated the potential of this knowledge for designing and fabricating ZnO single-grain-boundary varistors. [source] Relative Importance of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Anthropic Factors in the Geomorphic Zonation of the Trinity River, Texas,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2010Jonathan D. Phillips Phillips, Jonathan D., 2010. Relative Importance of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Anthropic Factors in the Geomorphic Zonation of the Trinity River, Texas. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 807-823. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00457.x Abstract:, The Trinity River, Texas, was characterized according to its geologic framework, valley width and confinement, slope, sinuosity, channel-floodplain connectivity, and flow regime, leading to the identification of 18 hinge points along the 638 km study area where major transitions in two or more criteria occur. These, and effects of human agency, avulsions, and sea level rise, delineate 21 river styles or zones. Each zone was evaluated with respect to dominant factors determining its geomorphological characteristics: geology/lithology, tectonics, Holocene sea level rise, meandering, cutoffs and other lateral channel changes, avulsions, valley constrictions by alluvial terraces, and paleomeander depressions. Direct human influences (a large impoundment and water withdrawals) are also evident. Entropy of the relationships between these controls and the geomorphological zones shows that all the controls are significant, and each accounts for 4-15% of the total entropy. Geologic controls, lateral channel changes, and constriction by terraces are the three most influential controls, illustrating that controls on river morphology include extrinsic boundary conditions, active process-form interrelationships, and inherited features. Extrinsic and intrinsic controls each account for about a third of the entropy, but the latter includes antecedent features as well as active channel dynamics, underscoring the importance of historical contingency even in alluvial rivers. [source] Coupling Short-Term Changes in Ambient UV-B levels with Induction of UV-Screening Compounds,PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Joe H. Sullivan ABSTRACT A substantial number of studies have been conducted over the last several decades to assess the potential impacts of long-term increases in ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B between 280 and 320 nm) that will result from continued depletion of stratospheric ozone. However, seasonal changes, tropospheric chemistry and cloudiness are the dominant factors controlling ambient UV-B levels on a short-term or daily basis. The effects of short-term changes in UV-B on plant growth, phytochemistry and physiological processes have received relatively little attention. The USDA UV-B Monitoring and Research Program provides an excellent network of stations that provide an opportunity to monitor long-term changes in solar UV-B radiation and evaluate the responses of plants to short-term variation in UV-B levels on a near-real-time basis. In this study barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L] Merr.) were used as model systems. Emerging seedlings of these species were grown under either near-ambient levels of UV-B or under reduced levels (ca 90% reduction) in the field. Periodic measurements of foliar UV-screening compounds were made on separate groups of seedlings planted at intervals over the growing season during contrasting periods of ambient levels of UV radiation. The levels of UV-screening compounds correlated with UV-B levels in both species and with UV-A in soybean but the sensitivity of the response differed between the two species and among the soybean cultivars. Response differences among species may be related to unique secondary chemistry of each species, so one response estimate or action spectrum may not be appropriate for all species. [source] Impact of organizational and project factors on acceptance and usage of project management software and perceived project successPROJECT MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008Abdullah Saeed Bani Ali Abstract This study surveyed 497 participants to determine the factors that affect project professionals' acceptance of project management software and the perceived impact of software usage on their performance. The study finds that greater information quality and higher project complexity are the dominant factors explaining higher levels of system utilization, that greater system functionality and ease of use have a significant positive relationship with increased software usage, and that a strong positive relationship exists between higher usage of project management software and perceived project managers' improved performance. Inconsistent with prior research, more training was not found to be associated with project management software usage. The study explains more than 40% of the variation in project management software acceptance and adds project management software usage to project success factors by empirically confirming for the first time that project management software enhances project professionals' perceived performance and provides a positive impact on the results of their projects. The study provides practical implications for project professionals, their organizations, senior management, decision makers, software developers, and vendors. These findings support the call for further research that investigates the diffusion of information technologies in the project management field and their impact on project success and competitive position. [source] Landscape metrics indicate differences in patterns and dominant controls of ribbon forests in the Rocky Mountains, USAAPPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009Matthew F. Bekker Abstract Question: Do landscape metrics reflect differences in dominant factors controlling ribbon forest patterns among sites? Location: West Flattop Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana (Flattop); Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming (Medicine Bow); Park Range, Colorado (Park Range). Methods: High-resolution aerial photography was used to delineate ribbon forest patches, and to calculate landscape metrics to distinguish between long, narrow, regular patterns expected from strong microtopographic control, and smaller, more compact, and variable patterns expected from wind-snowdrift interactions. Results: All but two metrics were significantly different (P<0.05) among the three sites. The rank and magnitude of differences indicated that ribbons at Flattop and Park Range are more similar to each other than to those at Medicine Bow. Flattop ribbons were also more elongated, narrower and less variable than those at Park Range, suggesting differences in the type and strength of structural control. Previous research showed that Flattop ribbons occupy regular lithologic ridges, while our observations of ribbons and analysis of geologic maps suggests weaker and less consistent microtopographic control at Park Range, and dominant wind-snowdrift interactions with little to no microtopographic influence at Medicine Bow. Conclusions: Landscape metrics indicate differences in pattern among sites that reflect differences in dominant factors influencing ribbon forest development and maintenance. Explanations of ribbon forest dynamics are site-specific and are more complex than is currently recognized. The sites vary in the level of endogenous versus exogenous control of ribbon patterns, and consequently in the sensitivity of this phenomenon to climate. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||