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External Factors (external + factor)
Selected AbstractsThe role of food supplementation in the treatment of the infertile couple and for assisted reproductionANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2010F. Comhaire Summary Couple infertility commonly results from the synergistic negative influence of several factors. External factors, related to life-style and environmental exposure, reinforce the effects of congenital or acquired damage through direct toxicity, hormone disruption and overload of reactive oxygen species. Combating obesity, correcting inappropriate diet, and banning the abuse of tobacco and alcohol are part of the integrated approach of the infertile couple. Nutraceuticals are judiciously formulated food supplements containing particular vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and plant extracts. There is strong evidence that complementary treatment with an appropriate nutraceutical improves the natural conception rate of infertile couples and increases the success rate of assisted reproductive techniques. [source] A diversity of beta diversities: straightening up a concept gone awry.ECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2010Part 1. The term beta diversity has been used to refer to a wide variety of phenomena. Although all of these encompass some kind of compositional heterogeneity between places, many are not related to each other in any predictable way. The present two-part review aims to put the different phenomena that have been called a beta component of diversity into a common conceptual framework, and to explain what each of them measures. In this first part, the focus is on defining beta diversity. This involves deciding what diversity is and how the observed total or gamma diversity (,) is partitioned into alpha (,) and beta (,) components. Several different definitions of "beta diversity" that result from these decisions have been used in the ecological literature. True beta diversity is obtained when the total effective number of species in a dataset (true gamma diversity,) is multiplicatively partitioned into the effective number of species per compositionally distinct virtual sampling unit (true alpha diversity,d) and the effective number of such compositional units (,Md=,/,d). All true diversities quantify the effective number of types of entities. Because the other variants of "beta diversity" that have been used by ecologists quantify other phenomena, an alternative nomenclature is proposed here for the seven most popular beta components: regional-to-local diversity ratio, two-way diversity ratio, absolute effective species turnover (=regional diversity excess), Whittaker's effective species turnover, proportional effective species turnover, regional entropy excess and regional variance excess. In the second part of the review, the focus will be on how to quantify these phenomena in practice. This involves deciding how the sampling units that contribute to total diversity are selected, and whether the entity that is quantified is all of "beta diversity", a specific part of "beta diversity", the rate of change in "beta diversity" in relation to a given external factor, or something else. [source] Species-Specific Growth Responses to Climate Variations in Understory Trees of a Central African Rain ForestBIOTROPICA, Issue 4 2010Camille Couralet ABSTRACT Basic knowledge of the relationships between tree growth and environmental variables is crucial for understanding forest dynamics and predicting vegetation responses to climate variations. Trees growing in tropical areas with a clear seasonality in rainfall often form annual growth rings. In the understory, however, tree growth is supposed to be mainly affected by interference for access to light and other resources. In the semi-deciduous Mayombe forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the evergreen species Aidia ochroleuca, Corynanthe paniculata and Xylopia wilwerthii dominate the understory. We studied their wood to determine whether they form annual growth rings in response to changing climate conditions. Distinct growth rings were proved to be annual and triggered by a common external factor for the three species. Species-specific site chronologies were thus constructed from the cross-dated individual growth-ring series. Correlation analysis with climatic variables revealed that annual radial stem growth is positively related to precipitation during the rainy season but at different months. The growth was found to associate with precipitation during the early rainy season for Aidia but at the end of the rainy season for Corynanthe and Xylopia. Our results suggest that a dendrochronological approach allows the understanding of climate,growth relationships in tropical forests, not only for canopy trees but also for evergreen understory species and thus arguably for the whole tree community. Global climate change influences climatic seasonality in tropical forest areas, which is likely to result in differential responses across species with a possible effect on forest composition over time. Abstract in French is available at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/btp [source] A multicriterion classification approach for assessing the impact of environmental policies on the competitiveness of firmsCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2007V. Hontou Abstract The key objective of the European Union's environmental policy is to successfully combine environmental protection with sustainable economic growth in the long term. Nowadays, it is increasingly recognized that environmental policies, besides increasing production cost, may at the same time give incentives to firms for undertaking innovative actions and/or developing and exploiting differentiation opportunities. Both differentiation capacity and cost increase are strongly dependent on a multiplicity of internal and external factors, such as energy intensity, type of technology used, characteristics of the competitive environment etc. The present paper presents a multicriterion approach for classifying firms into discrete categories of possible impact, according to their sensitivity to cost increases and their differentiation potential. The resulting environment,competitiveness matrix can be exploited for establishing sustainability strategies and designing effective policies in the industrial sector. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Pentecostals: The Power of the PowerlessDIALOG, Issue 1 2002Lene Sjørup Many researchers interpret Pentecostalism in terms of external factors such as European and North American history or economics. In this article Pentecostalism is examined from below, through qualitative interviews with women living in poverty in Santiago, Chile. The analysis shows how Pentecostalism led to a new theology where the believer became the subject of her own life. Social ascent was made through ecstatic experiences of the spirit in a caring community which directed the individual towards "a female ethos." This subjective change affected social changes in Chile under dictatorship but not in state politics because parts of the Pentecostal hierarchy collaborated with Pinochet. [source] Variable expression of CYP and Pgp genes in the human small intestineEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2003M. Lindell Abstract Background ,The small intestine is receiving increased attention for its importance in drug metabolism. However, knowledge of the intervariability and regulation of the enzymes involved, cytochrome P450 and P-Glycoproteins (CYP and Pgp), is poor when compared with the corresponding hepatic enzymes. Methods ,The expression of eight different CYP genes and the Pgp were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 51 human duodenum biopsies. And the variability and correlation of expression was analyzed. Results ,Extensive interindividual variability was found in the expression of most of the genes. Only CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and Pgp were found in all samples. CYP1A2, CYP2A6 and CYP2E1 exhibited the highest interindividual variability. No strong correlation of expression existed between the genes. But a highly significant correlation was found between CYP2D6/1A2, 2D6/2E1, 1A2/2E1 and 2B6/2C9. Acetylsalicylic acid and omeprazole significantly increased the expression of CYPs 2A6, 2E1 and 3A4, respectively. Conclusions ,Extensive interindividual variability is characteristic for the expression of drug-metabolizing CYP and Pgp genes in human duodenum, and external factors such as drugs may further increase the variability. It is possible that the large interindividual variability may lead to variable bioavailability of orally used drugs and hence complicate optimal drug therapy, especially for drugs with a small therapeutic window. Elucidation of factors contributing to clinically important variances warrants further investigation. [source] Temporal changes in replicated experimental stream fish assemblages: predictable or not?FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006WILLIAMJ. Summary 1.,Natural aquatic communities or habitats cannot be fully replicated in the wild, so little is known about how initially identical communities might change over time, or the extent to which observed changes in community structure are caused by internal factors (such as interspecific interactions or traits of individual species) versus factors external to the local community (such as abiotic disturbances or invasions of new species). 2.,We quantified changes in seven initially identical fish assemblages, in habitats that were as similar as possible, in seminatural artificial streams in a 388-day trial (May 1998 to May 1999), and compared the change to that in fish assemblages in small pools of a natural stream during a year. The experimental design excluded floods, droughts, immigration or emigration. The experimental fish communities diverged significantly in composition and exhibited dissimilar trajectories in multivariate species space. Divergence among the assemblages increased from May through August, but not thereafter. 3.,Differences among the experimental assemblages were influenced by differences that developed during the year in algae cover and in potential predation (due to differential survival of sunfish among units). 4.,In the natural stream, fish assemblages in small pools changed more than those in the experimental units, suggesting that in natural assemblages external factors exacerbated temporal variation. 5.,Our finding that initially identical assemblages, isolated from most external factors, would diverge in the structure of fish assemblages over time suggests a lack of strong internal, deterministic controls in the assemblages, and that idiosyncratic or stochastic components (chance encounters among species; vagaries in changes in the local habitat) even within habitat patches can play an important role in assemblage structure in natural systems. [source] Altered motor activity, exploration and anxiety in heterozygous neuregulin 1 mutant mice: implications for understanding schizophreniaGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 7 2007T. Karl Human genetic studies have shown that neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a potential susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Nrg1 influences various neurodevelopmental processes, which are potentially related to schizophrenia. The neurodevelopmental theory of schizophrenia suggests that interactions between genetic and environmental factors are responsible for biochemical alterations leading to schizophrenia. To investigate these interactions and to match experimental design with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, we applied a comprehensive behavioural phenotyping strategy for motor activity, exploration and anxiety in a heterozygous Nrg1 transmembrane domain mutant mouse model (Nrg1 HET) using different housing conditions and age groups. We observed a locomotion- and exploration-related hyperactive phenotype in Nrg1 HETs. Increased age had a locomotion- and exploration-inhibiting effect, which was significantly attenuated in mutant mice. Environmental enrichment (EE) had a stimulating influence on locomotion and exploration. The impact of EE was more pronounced in Nrg1 hypomorphs. Our study also showed a moderate task-specific anxiolytic-like phenotype for Nrg1 HETs, which was influenced by external factors. The behavioural phenotype detected in heterozygous Nrg1 mutant mice is not specific to schizophrenia per se, but the increased sensitivity of mutant mice to exogenous factors is consistent with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the neurodevelopmental theory. Our findings reinforce the importance of carefully controlling experimental designs for external factors and of comprehensive, integrative phenotyping strategies. Thus, Nrg1 HETs may, in combination with other genetic and drug models, help to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms behind schizophrenia. [source] The Transformation of Higher Education in Israel since the 1990s: The Role of Ideas and Policy ParadigmsGOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2008GILA MENAHEMArticle first published online: 22 SEP 200 This article examines the transformation of Israel's higher education system since the 1990s. During that period, the system underwent expansion, diversification, privatization, and internationalization in a series of pathbreaking reforms. The main argument is that while external factors,such as demographic trends,exerted pressure for change, the trajectory and policy options preferred were shaped by ideational factors. Policy entrepreneurs played a crucial role in advancing pathbreaking institutional change when they reframed policies through linking cognitive ideas of "what has to be done" with the normative ideas that granted legitimacy to the proposals for reform. [source] Synthesis of Components for the Generation of Constitutional Dynamic Analogues of Nucleic AcidsHELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 1 2008David Abstract The introduction of dynamic covalent polymers, in which the monomer units are linked by reversible covalent bonds and can undergo component exchange, opens up new possibilities for the generation of functional materials. Extending this approach to the generation of dynamic biopolymers in aqueous media, which are able to adapt constitution (sequence, length) to external factors (e.g., environment, medium, template), would provide an alternative approach to the de novo design of functional dynamic bio-macromolecules. As a first step towards this goal, various mono- and bifunctionalised (hetero- and homotopic) nucleic acid-derived building blocks of type I,X have been synthesised for the generation of dynamic main-chain and side-chain reversible nucleic acid analogues. Hydrazide- and/or acetal (protected carbonyl)-functionalised components were selected, which differ in terms of flexibility, length, net formal charge, and hydrazide/acetal substituents, in order to explore how such factors may affect the properties (structure, solubility, molecular recognition features) of the polymer products that may be generated by polycondensation. [source] Holographic Method for Blood Cell ImagingIMAGING & MICROSCOPY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 20093D Morphology of Human Blood Erythrocytes Abstract Human blood cells (erythrocytes) were imaged by the digital holographic interference microscope (DHIM) without any preparation. DHIM represents an effective technique for 3D imaging of phase microscopic objects and measurement of their morphological parameters. It has been detected that, in addition to hematological diseases, the diseases of different genesis and external factors serve as the reason for the morphological modification of blood erythrocytes. [source] Wavelet analysis of the Lisbon and Gibraltar North Atlantic Oscillation winter indicesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2006S. Barbosa Abstract The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is one of the most important climatic patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. Indices based on the normalised pressure difference between Iceland and a southern station, such as Lisbon or Gibraltar, have been defined in order to describe NAO temporal evolution. Although exhibiting interannual and decadal variability, the signals are statistically rather featureless and therefore it is difficult to discriminate between different types of stochastic models. In this study, Lisbon and Gibraltar NAO winter indices are analysed using the discrete wavelet transform discrete wavelet transform(DWT). A multi-resolution analysis (MRA) is carried out for a scale-based description of the indices and the wavelet spectrum is used to identify and estimate long-range dependence. The degree of association of the two NAO indices is assessed by estimating the wavelet covariance for the two signals. The scale-based approach inherent to the discrete wavelet methodology allows a scale-by-scale comparison of the signals and shows that although the short-term temporal pattern is very similar for both indices, the long-term temporal structure is distinct. Furthermore, the degree of persistence or ,memory' is also distinct: the Lisbon index is best described by a long-range dependent (LRD) process, while the Gibraltar index is adequately described by a short-range process. Therefore, while trend features in the Lisbon NAO index may be explainable by long-range dependence alone, with no need to invoke external factors, for the Gibraltar index such features cannot be interpreted as resulting only from internal variability through long-range dependence. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Decubitus ulcers: A review of the literatureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2005Cheryl Bansal BA Decubitus ulcers are a worldwide health care concern affecting tens of thousands of patients and costing over a billion dollars a year. Susceptibility to pressure ulcers comes from a combination of external factors (pressure, friction, shear force, and moisture), and internal factors (e.g. fever, malnutrition, anaemia, and endothelial dysfunction). Often, enough damage is done to create the basis for a decubitus ulcer after as little as 2 h of immobility, a situation which may be difficult to avoid if the patient must undergo prolonged surgery or remain bedridden. Damage owing to pressure may also occur hours before the patient receives medical attention, especially if the patient falls or becomes immobilized owing to a vascular event. Several classification systems for decubitus ulcers have been described, based on where injury first occurs. The histologic progression of decubitus ulcers is a dynamic process involving several stages, each having characteristic histologic features. A team-focused approach integrating all aspects of care, including pressure relief, infection control, nutrition, and surgery, may improve healing rates. With accurate risk assessment and preventative care, we can hope to minimize complications and mortality owing to decubitus ulcers. [source] The contribution of domestic and external factors to emerging market currency crises: an early warning systems approach,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2007Steven B. Kamin Abstract In this paper, a modified ,early warning system' (EWS) approach is developed to identify the roles of domestic and external factors in emerging market crises. Several probit models of currency crises were estimated for 26 emerging market countries. These models were used to identify the separate contributions to the probabilities of crisis of domestic and external variables. We found that, relative to domestic factors, adverse external shocks and large external imbalances contributed little to the average estimated probability of crisis in emerging market countries, but accounted for much more of the spikes in the probability of crisis estimated to occur during actual crisis years. We interpret these results to suggest that while, on average over time, domestic factors have tended to contribute to much of the underlying vulnerability of emerging market countries, adverse swings in external factors may have been important in pushing economies ,over the edge' and into currency crisis. In consequence, the costs of giving up exchange rate flexibility through adoption of strongly fixed exchange rate regimes,e.g. currency boards or dollarization,may be quite high for some countries. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] DFT study of polymorphism of the DNA double helix at the level of dinucleoside monophosphatesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2010Valeri I. Poltev Abstract We apply DFT calculations to deoxydinucleoside monophosphates (dDMPs) which represent minimal fragments of the DNA chain to study the molecular basis of stability of the DNA duplex, the origin of its polymorphism and conformational heterogeneity. In this work, we continue our previous studies of dDMPs where we detected internal energy minima corresponding to the "classical" B conformation (BI-form), which is the dominant form in the crystals of oligonucleotide duplexes. We obtained BI local energy minima for all existing base sequences of dDMPs. In the present study, we extend our analysis to other families of DNA conformations, successfully identifying A, BI, and BII energy minima for all dDMP sequences. These conformations demonstrate distinct differences in sugar ring puckering, but similar sequence-dependent base arrangements. Internal energies of BI and BII conformers are close to each other for nearly all the base sequences. The dGpdG, dTpdG, and dCpdA dDMPs slightly favor the BII conformation, which agrees with these sequences being more frequently experimentally encountered in the BII form. We have found BII-like structures of dDMPs for the base sequences both existing in crystals in BII conformation and those not yet encountered in crystals till now. On the other hand, we failed to obtain dDMP energy minima corresponding to the Z family of DNA conformations, thus giving us the ground to conclude that these conformations are stabilized in both crystals and solutions by external factors, presumably by interactions with various components of the media. Overall the accumulated computational data demonstrate that the A, BI, and BII families of DNA conformations originate from the corresponding local energy minimum conformations of dDMPs, thus determining structural stability of a single DNA strand during the processes of unwinding and rewinding of DNA. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110:2548,2559, 2010 [source] Insecurity related to working life by age groups in Finland and Estonia in the 1990sINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 3 2000Raija Väisänen This article compares the reasons for insecurity related to working life in different age groups in Finland and Estonia, and the coping strategies evident in the two countries. Insecurity related to working life is more common in Finland than in Estonia. The differences between the two countries are more distinct with respect to experienced work-related insecurity than to an experienced lack of well-being linked to work. This shows that feelings of insecurity are affected not only by external factors, but also by internal factors linked to a person's earlier development. The most common causes of insecurity for people of working age are unemployment, mental strain and difficulties in interpersonal relationships at the work place. The individual's willingness to find means of coping at work is more clearly evident in Estonia than in Finland. People of working age in Finland are more likely to attempt to change the external conditions of work than are their Estonian counterparts. [source] The Increasing Political Power of Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union in Israel: From Passive Citizenship to Active CitizenshipINTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 1 2003Tamar Horowitz The immigrants in Israel from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) followed a different pattern of political growth than other immigrant groups. Their increased power began on the national level and moved down to the local level, rather than from the periphery toward the centre , the pattern followed by the Oriental Jewish immigrants. We can trace three stages in the development of their political power. The first stage was during the 1992 elections when the immigrants attempted to organize their own list. Though they failed, the results of the election strengthened them because they were given credit for the left's victory, giving them a sense of political effectiveness. The second stage came during the 1996 elections. It was a defining moment for the former Soviet immigrants' political power. In this stage external factors and internal factors reinforced each other. The change in the electoral system made it possible for the immigrants to vote for their community on the one hand and for a national figure on the other, thus resolving their identity dilemma. The local elections in 1998 marked the third stage in their political strength. They found the immigrant community better organized, with an improved understanding of its local interests, the capacity to put forward a strong local leadership, and a stronger link between the immigrant political centre and the local level. [source] Aftershocks: Postwar Leadership Survival, Rivalry, and Regime DynamicsINTERNATIONAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2004Michael Colaresi Under what conditions are leaders replaced after a war? Past research has reported that the outcome of the war and regime type affect postwar leadership tenure. Yet, this does not exhaust the conditions that could potentially influence political survival. In this article, I reexamine the links between regime type and leadership replacement after a war. I show that past research has failed to account for the dynamics of political leadership, and in the process has misrepresented the evidence supporting previous theories. I then show, using event history techniques, that both internal and external factors can alter leadership trajectories after a war. Specifically, war outcomes significantly affect the job security of a leader outside of international rivalry, but have less of an effect within rivalry. Additionally, relaxing various assumptions concerning the relationship between leadership survival and regime type leads to a richer understanding of the process of postwar leadership turnover. Finally, several propositions concerning the interaction between regime type and the costs of war are not supported in this analysis. [source] Readiness for Cognitive Therapy in People with Intellectual DisabilitiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 1 2006Paul Willner Aims, Cognitive therapies are increasingly being offered by clinical psychologists to people with intellectual disabilities. This paper reviews some of the factors that influence people's readiness to engage in cognitive therapy. Literature review, Limited verbal ability, psychological-mindedness (particularly in relation to the understanding of emotions and the mediating role of cognitions), and self-efficacy, are all likely to present significant barriers. There may also be motivational barriers to treatment, including the functionality of some psychological presentations, maladaptive beliefs promoting resistance to change, the intellectually challenging nature of cognitive therapy, and external factors such as inappropriate settings. Engagement with therapy can be promoted by involving carers to support the therapy, but carers may themselves display a range of limitations of ability and motivation similar to those displayed by clients, which need to be recognized, and where possible addressed, in order for their involvement to be effective. Recommendations, If barriers to treatment are recognized, significant steps can be taken to increase accessibility. In addition to simplifying the delivery of therapy, there is also scope to simplify the model; this point is illustrated by case examples, and some principles for formalizing modifications to standard procedures are suggested. As barriers to treatment can often be surmounted, a decision whether or not to offer cognitive therapy should be derived from a comprehensive formulation, and should never be based solely on a client's performance on tests of cognitive ability. [source] Periodontal growth factors and tissue carriers: Biocompatibility and mitogenic efficacy in vitroJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Claudio Cesari Clinical research has long been testing techniques of integrating biomaterials with many external factors, such as simple proteins or more complicated devices, in order to achieve the restitutio ad integrum of periodontium. This study assessed the in vitro effectiveness of platelet derivate growth factor-BB (PDGF) and insulin growth factor I (IGF); the biocompatibility of materials like Paroguide, Oclastim membranes, Gingistat sponges, Surgiplaster, and Capset; and their efficacy as carriers for the platelet derivate growth factor-BB (PDGF) and insulin growth factor I (IGF). Fibroblasts from the human periodontal ligament were incubated with growth factors free or vehiculated. Mitogenic effect was evaluated by measuring the growth rate and biocompatibility by observing cell morphology at SEM. PDGF was the most effective in stimulating cell proliferation both in solution (p < 0.001) and vehiculated (p < 0.01). Surgiplaster and Capset were more biocompatible; however, final analysis to assess their efficacy as carriers failed to disclose significant differences between experimental findings and control. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source] An Organizational Framework for Conceptualizing Resilience in ChildrenJOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING, Issue 3 2000Barbara L. Mandleco PhD, J. Craig Peery TOPIC. An organizational framework for conceptualizing resilience in children. PURPOSE. To propose a framework based on relevant literature that clarifies, differentiates, organizes, and elaborates on pertinent factors associated with resilience in children. SOURCES. Relevant literature from developmental psychology, child psychiatry, and nursing CONCLUSIONS. Salient factors affecting resilience in children originate internally or externally to the individual. Internal factors include biological and psychological factors; external factors are reflected in the nature and quality of relationships established within or outside the family group. The influence and importance of each factor, however, may vary in individual situations. The framework can guide research efforts and facilitate interventions for practice. [source] Extremely prolonged neuromuscular blockade after rocuronium: a case reportACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 7 2009A. C. MORALES MARTÍN It is known that the duration of rocuronium action can be prolonged in elderly patients and that such action shows important interindividual variability. We report a case of prolonged neuromuscular block lasting 11 h, in a woman subjected to kidney transplantation. The possible causes of such prolonged action, inherent to the drug, or related to external factors, are commented. [source] Does diagnostic sonography alter thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels?JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 1 2008Erdinc Serin MD Abstract Purpose To investigate possible alterations in the levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones (PTHs) and thyroglobulin (TG) in healthy individuals following diagnostic sonographic examination of the thyroid gland. Methods Thirty healthy women with no pathologic findings underwent sonographic examination, followed 6 weeks later by a second examination involving a probe-only application (PA) with the ultrasound scanner switched off. Duration times were identical for both examinations. Blood was drawn before and after the 2 applications. Thyroid hormone, PTH, and TG levels before and after the 2 applications were compared, and the difference between the variations for each parameter in the first and second applications was assessed. Blood samples were taken before and after the sonographic examination and the PA, and the serum concentrations of sensitive thyrotropin, total and free thyroxine, total and free tri-iodothyronine, TG, and PTH were measured. The pre- and post-examination levels of the hormones for the 2 applications were then compared and the difference between the variations for each parameter in the first and second application was then assessed. Results The only significant variations observed were in the TG levels after PA and PTH levels after both sonographic examination and PA. The comparison between the 2 difference values revealed no significant difference except for PTH. Conclusion This preliminary report on the possible influence of sonographic examination of the thyroid on the serum levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones suggests that gland secretions such as PTH may be affected by external factors, including ultrasound. Clinicians should be aware of alterations in hormone levels by external factors. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008 [source] Study of Short- and Long-Term Storage of Teeth and Its Influence on DNAJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2009Leticia Rubio M.D. Abstract:, DNA degradation can interfere with the resolution of forensic cases. Allelic dropout often reduces the opportunity for adequate comparisons between degraded and reference samples. This study analyzed DNA degradation in 24 extracted teeth after storage at room temperature for 0, 2, 5, and 10 years. DNA concentration, quantified by dot-blot hybridization, declined significantly for the first 2 years, but there was no significant further degradation from the second to the tenth year of storage. COfilerÔ analysis was used and the allelic dropout ratio for the amelogenin locus relative to CSF1PO locus was also estimated. Statistically significant differences were found between fresh teeth and teeth from the 2- and 5-year groups but not from the 10-year group. Under our storage conditions most of the DNA degradation occurred during the first 2 years. Further research is needed to control for individual and external factors that could affect DNA. [source] Potential of umbilical cord blood cells for brain repairJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2002P. R. Sanberg Our laboratory is characterizing the mononuclear cells from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) for possible therapeutic value. Studies on HUCB cells demonstrated their ability to respond to growth factors by increased expression of neural markers and down regulation of several genes associated with development of blood lines. HUCB cells were also transplanted into the subventricular zone of the developing rat brain. It was found that some of the HUCB cells responded to external factors and were able to adopt neural fates similar to endogenous stem cells. We also tested whether intravenously infused HUCB cells enter brain, survive, differentiate and improve neurological functional recovery after stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. HUCB cells were injected into the tail vein at least 24 h after stroke or TBI. Behavioral impairments were significantly improved as early as 14 days in both TBI and stroke animals, compared to controls. Injected cells entered brain and migrated into the parenchyma of the injured brain. Some of these expressed neuronal, astrocytic, or endothelial markers. Our data suggest that intravenous administration of HUCB cells can provide neural stem cells, and may be a useful treatment for brain repair. Acknowledgements:, Supported by Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc. and a FL Hi-Tech Corridor Grant. [source] Quantitative EEG in Patients With Alcohol-Related SeizuresALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2010Trond Sand Background:, To investigate whether quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) recorded within a few days after a generalized seizure can improve the discrimination between alcohol-related seizures (ARSs), seizures in epilepsy and other seizures. In addition, we wanted to evaluate the influence of various external factors on QEEG, e.g., drug use, time from seizure occurrence, and alcohol intake. Methods:, An ARS was defined by (i) scores ,8 in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and (ii) no history of epilepsy. Twenty-two ARS patients, 21 epileptic patients with seizures (ES), 30 AUDIT-negative patients with seizures (OS), and 37 well-controlled epileptic outpatients (EPO) were included. EEG from 79 sciatica patients (SC) served as an additional control group. EEG was recorded in relaxed wakefulness with eyes closed. Spectral analysis of ongoing resting EEG activity was performed. For the main analysis, spectral band amplitudes were averaged across 14 electrodes. Results:, Major quantitative EEG abnormalities were mainly seen in the ES group. AUDIT score correlated negatively with QEEG band amplitudes in patients with seizures unrelated to alcohol, but not in the ARS group. Recent alcohol intake correlated negatively with delta and theta amplitude. We could not confirm that beta activity is increased in ARS subjects. Conclusions:, A QEEG with slightly reduced alpha amplitude supports a clinical diagnosis of ARS. An abnormally slow QEEG profile and asymmetry in the temporal regions indicates ES. QEEG predicted the clinical diagnosis better than standard EEG. [source] Business Growth and Performance and the FinancialReporting Practices of Australian Manufacturing SMEsJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001Richard G.P. McMahon This article describes an explanatory study of the impact of financial reporting practices upon business growth and performance outcomes amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in manufacturing in Australia. The study is able to establish some statistically significant bivariate associations between the extent and frequency of financial reporting undertaken and certain measures of SME growth and performance. However, the state of financial reporting practices becomes subsumed by other important influences in multivariate analysis. Management is a complex activity affected by a myriad of interacting internal and external factors, and must inevitably be undertaken in an holistic manner in SMEs. Particular practices make a contribution to the whole task without necessarily standing out as all-embracing solutions to problems generally encountered. Thus, it is argued that improved financial reporting should be realistically viewed as simply part of a broader competence in financial management which, taken together with other functional capabilities, is likely to lead to more effective and efficient management of SMEs and significantly improve their prospects. [source] Internal and external motivation in phonetic change: Dialect levelling outcomes for an English vowel shiftJOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 1 2004Eivind Torgersen This article is a contribution to the debate about the primacy of internal versus external factors in language change (Farrar and Jones 2002; Thomason and Kaufman 1988). Taking Labov's Principles of Vowel Shifting (Labov 1994) as representing internal factors, we examine a vowel shift in Ashford, south-east of London. F1 and F2 measurements of the short vowels suggest a classic chain shift, largely following Labov's Principles II and III (though Labov's assumption that London short front vowels are rising is shown to be wrong). However, corresponding data from Reading, west of London, evidence no signs of a chain shift. The two datasets show identical targets for the changes in each town. Thus, there has been convergence between the two short vowel systems , from different starting points. We argue that a dialect contact model is more explanatory than internal factors in ,this case of regional dialect levelling in the south-east of England. [source] Think really different: Continuity and specialization in the English dual form adverbsJOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS, Issue 2 2002Sali Tagliamonte This paper analyses variation between -ly and -ø in English dual form adverbs by examining conversational data from York, U.K. Using multivariate analysis and the comparative method we assess the constraint ranking, significance and relative importance of external factors (age, sex, education level) and internal factors (lexical identity, function and meaning). The results show that -ly is dominant and has increased dramatically in apparent time. However, cross-tabulations with individual lexical items reveal that this correlation with speaker age is restricted to a single item,really. In conjunction with evidence from the history of English, we suggest that this does not reflect ongoing developments in English adverb formation, but is the result of continuous renewal in the encoding of ,intensity'. In contrast, separate analysis of the other adverbs shows that variation between -ly and zero is retained in part as a socio-symbolic resource, in particular for marking less educated male speech. Underlying this social meaning however, is a linguistic constraint which operates across all speakers. The zero adverb encodes concrete, objective meaning,a tendency which can be traced back 650 years or more. This provides yet another example of the interface between social and historical developments in language variation and change. [source] Psoriasis: is the impairment to a patient's life cumulative?JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 9 2010AB Kimball Abstract Psoriasis is associated with significant physical and psychological burden affecting all facets of a patient's life , relationships, social activities, work and emotional wellbeing. The cumulative effect of this disability may be self-perpetuating social disconnection and failure to achieve a ,full life potential' in some patients. Health-related quality of life studies have quantified the burden of psoriasis providing predominantly cross-sectional data and point-in-time images of patients' lives rather than assessing the possible cumulative disability over a patient's lifetime. However, social and economic outcomes indicate there are likely negative impacts that accumulate over time. To capture the cumulative effect of psoriasis and its associated co-morbidities and stigma over a patient's life course, we propose the concept of ,Cumulative Life Course Impairment' (CLCI). CLCI results from an interaction between (A) the burden of stigmatization, and physical and psychological co-morbidities and (B) coping strategies and external factors. Several key aspects of the CLCI concept are supported by data similar to that used in health-related quality of life assessments. Future research should focus on (i) establishing key components of CLCI and determining the mechanisms of impairment through longitudinal or retrospective case,control studies, and (ii) assessing factors that put patients at increased risk of developing CLCI. In the future, this concept may lead to a better understanding of the overall impact of psoriasis, help identify more vulnerable patients, and facilitate more appropriate treatment decisions or earlier referrals. To our knowledge, this is a first attempt to apply and develop concepts from ,Life Course Epidemiology' to psoriasis research. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||