Important Degree (important + degree)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Managing very large distributed data sets on a data grid

CONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 11 2010
Miguel Branco
Abstract In this work we address the management of very large data sets, which need to be stored and processed across many computing sites. The motivation for our work is the ATLAS experiment for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where the authors have been involved in the development of the data management middleware. This middleware, called DQ2, has been used for the last several years by the ATLAS experiment for shipping petabytes of data to research centres and universities worldwide. We describe our experience in developing and deploying DQ2 on the Worldwide LHC computing Grid, a production Grid infrastructure formed of hundreds of computing sites. From this operational experience, we have identified an important degree of uncertainty that underlies the behaviour of large Grid infrastructures. This uncertainty is subjected to a detailed analysis, leading us to present novel modelling and simulation techniques for Data Grids. In addition, we discuss what we perceive as practical limits to the development of data distribution algorithms for Data Grids given the underlying infrastructure uncertainty, and propose future research directions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The use of self-expandable metallic stents for palliative treatment of inoperable esophageal cancer

DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 1 2010
A. Eroglu
SUMMARY Most patients with esophageal carcinoma present in the advanced stage die from tumor invasion and widespread metastases. Because radical regimens are not appropriate for the majority of patients, and their expected survivals are as short as to be measured by months, the main aim of therapy is palliation with minimum morbidity and mortality. Among the palliative modalities are surgery, external radiotherapy or brachytherapy, dilatation, laser, photodynamic therapy, bipolar electrocoagulation tumor probe, and chemical ablation. The placement of self-expandable metallic stents is another method that improves dysphagia for these patients. In this study, the aim was to evaluate retrospectively the effectiveness of metallic stents deployed because of inoperable malignant esophageal stenosis and esophagotracheal fistulas. The results of 170 patients with 202 stents administered because of inoperable malignant esophageal stenosis and esophagorespiratory fistula between January 2000 and October 2008 at the Ataturk University, Department of Thoracic Surgery, were investigated. Despite epidemiological and clinical data, information regarding relief of dysphagia and quality of life were also examined. One hundred seventy patients with stents were between 28 and 91 years old (mean age 63.7 years ± 11.4 years). Ninety-seven were male and 73 were female. Stent indications were advanced tumors with distant metastasis (82 cases, 48.2%), unresectable tumors (51 cases, 30%), patients who cannot tolerate surgery or chemoradiotherapy (18 cases, 10.5%), local recurrence after primary therapy (1 case, 0.5%), esophagorespiratory fistulas from tumor or therapy (14 cases, 8.2%), and refusal of surgery (4 cases, 2.3%). Dysphagia scores evaluated by a modified Takita's grading system improved from 3.4 before the procedure to 2.6 afterward. The overall complication rate without chest pain was 31.7% (occurring in 64 cases). Mean survival was 177.7 days ± 59.3 days (2,993 days). Quality-of-life scores (The European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ C30) improved from 73 ± 10.3 (57,85) to 112 ± 12.6 (90,125). In therapy of malignant esophageal obstructions, metallic stents provide a significant improvement in dysphagia and require less frequent re-intervention according to other methods of dysphagia palliation such as dilatation, laser, and photodynamic therapy, nearly completely relieve esophagotracheal fistulas and improve quality of life to an important degree. [source]


The First-Episode Psychosis Outcome Study: premorbid and baseline characteristics of an epidemiological cohort of 661 first-episode psychosis patients

EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2007
Philippe Conus
Abstract Aims:, Studies conducted in first-episode psychosis (FEP) samples avoid many biases. However, very few studies are based on epidemiological cohorts treated in specialized FEP services. The aim of this file audit study was to examine premorbid and baseline characteristics of a large epidemiological sample of FEP. Methods:, File audit study of all patients admitted to the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre between 1998 and 2000 using a specialized questionnaire. Results:, There were 661 patient files included in the study. Premorbid evaluation revealed high rates of substance use disorder (74.1%), history of psychiatric disorder (47.5%), past traumatic events (82.7%) suicide attempts (14.3%) and family history of psychiatric illness (55.6%). Baseline characteristics revealed high intensity of illness (mean CGI 5.5), high prevalence of lack of insight (62%) and high rate of comorbidity (70%). Conclusion:, High rates of traumatic events or episodes of mental illness before treatment for FEP must be considered when designing treatment approaches because a too narrow focus on positive psychotic symptoms will inevitably lead to incomplete treatment. Additionally, early intervention programmes need sufficient range of resources to address the multiple challenges presented by FEP patients such as high severity of illness, comorbidities and functional impairment. Finally, observation of an important degree of functional impairment despite short duration of untreated psychosis suggests that while early detection of FEP is a necessary step in early intervention, it may not be sufficient to improve functional recovery in psychosis and that efforts aimed at identifying people during the prodromal phase of psychotic disorders should be pursued. [source]


Macrocyclic Receptor Showing Improved PbII/ZnII and PbII/CaII Selectivities

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 17 2010
Raquel Ferreirós-Martínez
Abstract Herein we report on the macrocyclic receptor N,N,-bis[(6-carboxy-2-pyridyl)methyl]-1,10-diaza-15-crown-5 (H2bp15c5) and its coordination properties towards ZnII, CdII, PbII, and CaII. The stability constants of these complexes determined by pH-potentiometric titration at 25 °C in 0.1 M KNO3 vary in the following order: PbII > CdII >> ZnII > CaII. As a result, bp15c5 presents very important PbII/ZnII and PbII/CaII selectivities. These results are in contrast to those reported for the related receptor derived from 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4, which provides very similar complex stabilities for ZnII and PbII. The X-ray crystal structure of [Cd(Hbp15c5)]+ shows heptadentate binding of the ligand to the metal ion, with two oxygen atoms of the macrocyclic unit remaining uncoordinated. The 1H NMR spectra of the complexes formed with PbII, ZnII, and CaII (D2O) show very broad peaks in the region 2,5 ppm, indicating an important degree of flexibility of the crownmoiety in these complexes. On the contrary, the 1H and 13C NMR spectra recorded for the CdII complex are well resolved and could be fully assigned. A detailed conformational investigation using theoretical calculations performed at the DFT (B3LYP) level predict a minimum energy conformation for [Cd(bp15c5)] that is very similar to that observed in the solid state. Analogous calculations performed on the [M(bp15c5)] (M = Zn or Pb) systems predict hexadentate binding of the ligand to these metal ions. In the case of the PbII complex our calculations indicate that the 6s lone pair is stereochemically active, which results in a hemidirected coordination geometry around the metal ion. The minimum energy conformations calculated for the ZnII, CdII, and PbII complexes are compatible with the experimental NMR spectra obtained in D2O solution. [source]


Discrete Cyanide-Bridged Mixed-Valence Co/Fe Complexes: Outer-Sphere Redox Behaviour

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2003
Paul V. Bernhardt
Abstract The outer-sphere redox behaviour of a series of [LnCoIIINCFeII(CN)5], (Ln = n -membered pentadentate aza-macrocycle) complexes have been studied as a function of pH and oxidising agent. All the dinuclear complexes show a double protonation process at pH , 2 that produces a shift in their UV/Vis spectra. Oxidation of the different non-protonated and diprotonated complexes has been carried out with peroxodisulfate, and of the non-protonated complexes also with trisoxalatocobaltate(III). The results are in agreement with predictions from the Marcus theory. The oxidation of [Fe(phen)3]3+ and [IrCl6]2, is too fast to be measured, although for the latter the transient observation of the process has been achieved at pH = 0. The study of the kinetics of the outer-sphere redox process, with the S2O82, and [Co(ox)3]3, oxidants, has been carried out as a function of pH, temperature, and pressure. As a whole, the values found for the activation volumes, entropies, and enthalpies are in the following margins, for the diprotonated and non-protonated dinuclear complexes, respectively: ,V, from 11 to 13 and 15 to 20 cm3 mol,1; ,S, from 110 to 30 and ,60 to ,90 J K,1 mol,1; ,H, from 115 to 80 and 50 to 65 kJ·mol,1. The thermal activation parameters are clearly dominated by the electrostriction occurring on outer-sphere precursor formation, while the trends found for the values of the volume of activation indicate an important degree of tuning due to the charge distribution during the electron transfer process. The special arrangement on the amine ligands in the isomer trans -[L14CoIIINCFeII(CN)5], accounts for important differences in solvent-assisted hydrogen bonding occurring within the outer-sphere redox process, as has been established in redox reactions of similar compounds. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003) [source]


When Production and Consumption Meet: Cultural Contradictions and the Enchanting Myth of Customer Sovereignty

JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 4 2004
Marek Korczynski
ABSTRACT The central cultural contradiction of capitalism, argued Bell some 25 years ago, was the existence of rationalized, disciplined production alongside free and hedonistic consumption. This paper argues that this thesis, although overstated, has resonance within contemporary capitalism. The paper then considers the question of how this contradiction is managed when production and consumption meet directly within the service interaction. On the production-side rationalization is joined by customer-orientation, and on the consumption-side management promotes consumption of the enchanting myth of sovereignty. Here the customer is meant to experience a sense of being sovereign. At the same time the space is created for the customer to be, potentially, substantively directed and influenced to follow the requirements that flow from the rationalized elements of production. Key aspects of the service interaction, including the menu and its presentation, the display of empathy and aesthetic labour, and the use of naming within the service interaction, are analysed in terms of the promotion of the enchanting myth of sovereignty. Consumption, however, is a fragile process, and remains, to an important degree, ,unmanageable'. The analysis, therefore, also examines how the promotion of the enchanting myth of sovereignty systematically creates the conditions for the myth's negation. [source]


Multiculturalism and the Willingness of Citizens to Defer to Law and to Legal Authorities

LAW & SOCIAL INQUIRY, Issue 4 2000
Tom R. Tyler
A key problem in trying to manage diverse societies is finding social policies that will be acceptable to all individuals and groups. Studies suggest that this problem may not be as intractable as is often believed, since people's acceptance of policies is shaped to an important degree by the fairness of the procedures used by authorities to make policy. When policies are fairly made, they gain widespread support, even among those who may feel that the consequences of the policy for them or their group are undesirable or even unfair. These findings support an optimistic view of the ability of authorities to manage diverse societies. On the other hand, research suggests that the ability of procedural justice to bridge differences among individuals and groups may not be equally strong under all conditions. People's willingness to accept policies is more influenced by procedural justice judgments when they identify with the society that the authorities represent and view them as representing a group of which they are members. They are less influenced by procedural justice judgments when they identify more strongly with subgroups than with society and/or view the authorities as representatives of a group to which they do not belong. [source]


An asset-based approach to indigenous development in Taiwan

ASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 3 2009
William T. Hipwell
Abstract Numerous scholars studying community efforts to (re-)establish autonomy have begun to focus on the importance of empowerment in the economic, political and cultural spheres. There is a growing understanding that such empowerment can be hastened by affirmative development strategies that build on community assets and capacities rather than attempting to redress , and thereby emphasising , needs or lack. Such development work reflects intertwined currents in contemporary philosophy, influenced by the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche and of Gilles Deleuze. In Taiwan, a recent resurgence in identities among marginalised aboriginal or indigenous peoples (,Formosans') has been accompanied by novel approaches to development. This discussion heuristically employs a set of development theories that are essentially variants of ,asset-based community development' (ABCD) to suggest that a focus on affirmation and empowerment has been and can be a key to success in Formosan development initiatives. The paper presents the results of qualitative field research, illuminating three case studies of Formosan development , in Tsou, Tayal and Taroko territories. It argues that Formosan development will benefit from a focus on community capacity, political empowerment and social as well as physical assets, and that to an important degree this has already happened in some communities. [source]


Functional importance of the actin cytoskeleton in contraction of bovine iris sphincter muscle

AUTONOMIC & AUTACOID PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
J. A. C. Filipe
Summary 1 The contractile capacity of smooth muscle cells depends on the cytoskeletal framework of the cell. The aim of this study was to determine the functional importance of both the actin and the tubulin components of the cytoskeleton in contractile responses of the bovine isolated iris sphincter muscle. 2 In each preparation, two contractions to the muscarinic agonist carbachol were obtained. The maximum responses of the first contractions were taken as 100%. The second contractions to carbachol were elicited in the presence of either cytochalasin B (50 and 5 ,m), an inhibitor of the actin cytoskeleton, or colchicine (100 ,m), an inhibitor of the tubulin cytoskeleton (30 min incubation). 3 Cytochalasin B, at a concentration of 50 ,m, significantly decreased the contractions induced by carbachol, with the maximum response reduced to 21.8 ± 6.6% (n = 12) of the initial maximum. The maximal contractions to carbachol in the presence of colchicine reached 96.2 ± 7.9% (n = 9) of the initial contraction, which was not significantly different from control second responses to carbachol with neither drug present, which reached 113.3 ± 7.6% (n = 7). 4 The effect of cytochalasin B was dose-dependent, since at a lower concentration of 5 ,m, the drug decreased the maximum contraction to carbachol to 60.3 ± 8.8% (n = 6). The effect of cytochalasin B was at least partially reversible, since after the use of the higher concentration of 50 ,m, contractions to carbachol increased to 62.3 ± 15.5% (n = 4) of the maximal response, after 1 h repeated washing of the preparations. 5 Cytochalasin D, at a concentration of 50 ,m, completely abolished the contractions induced by carbachol (n = 4). 6 These findings suggest that in bovine iris sphincter muscle, contractions to carbachol are highly dependent, from a functional point of view, on actin polymerization, and not, to any important degree, on the polymerization of tubulin. [source]


An update on the first decade of the European centralized procedure: how many innovative drugs?

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2006
Domenico Motola
What is already known about this subject ,,We recently proposed an algorithm to assess the degree of therapeutic innovation of new therapeutic agents. It was based on the disease seriousness, the availability of previous treatments and the extent of the therapeutic effect, and was applied to all therapeutic agents approved by the EMEA in the period 1995,2003. ,,A low percentage (32%) of important therapeutic innovation was found. This figure may be an underestimate of the actual level of innovation, because common biotechnological products, such as recombinant human insulins, must follow the centralized procedure. What this study adds ,,Details for each agent, focusing on the comparison of the degree of therapeutic innovation between biotechnological and nonbiotechnological therapeutic agents approved by EMEA during the its first decade of activity (1995,2004). The underlying hypothesis was that the latter have a higher degree of innovation because they followed the centralized procedure on the assumption that they are innovative. ,,The percentage of important therapeutic innovation was low not only for biotechnological products (25%), as expected because they include many already known products such as insulins, but also for nonbiotechnological therapeutic agents (29%). Aims In a previous paper, we proposed an algorithm to assess the degree of therapeutic innovation of the agents approved by the European centralized procedure, which must be followed by biotechnological products and is optional for drugs claimed as innovative. A low overall degree of therapeutic innovation (about 30%) was found. This figure may be an underestimate of the actual level of innovation, because common biotechnological products, such as recombinant human insulins, must follow this procedure. To test the hypothesis that therapeutic innovation prevails among nonbiotechnological products, we evaluated separately the degree of therapeutic innovation of biotechnological vs. nonbiotechnological agents in the first decade of European Medicines Agency activity, also studying a possible time trend. Methods We assessed, for each drug: (i) the seriousness of the target disease, (ii) the availability of previous treatments, and (iii) the extent of therapeutic effect according to the previously proposed algorithm. Results Our analysis considered 251 medicinal products corresponding to 198 active substances, classified according to four main areas as therapeutic agents (88.9%), diagnostics (5.5%), vaccines (5.1%) and life-style drugs (0.5%). Among all therapeutic agents, 49 out of 176 agents (28%) were classified as having an important degree of therapeutic innovation. Fifteen out of 60 biotechnological therapeutic agents were considered important therapeutic innovations (25%), whereas this figure was 29% for nonbiotechnological agents. Conclusions Among active substances claimed as innovative by the manufacturers, only a minority deserve this definition according to our algorithm. [source]


Protonated Macrobicyclic Hosts Containing Pyridine Head Units for Anion Recognition

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 19 2008
David Esteban-Gómez Dr.
Abstract In this paper, we report two macrobicyclic receptors containing pyridine head units derived from 1,10-diaza-15-crown[5] (L1) or 4,13-diaza-18-crown[6] (L2) that can be protonated in MeCN and used for anion recognition. The interaction of these protonated lateral macrobicycles with different anions has been investigated by means of spectrophotometric titrations in MeCN. The association constants for the complexes of halide anions with the protonated macrobicycles follow the sequences Cl,>Br,>I,>F, (L1) and Cl,>F,>I,>Br, (L2), whereby an increase of more than two logarithmic units is observed from F, to Cl, for the binding constants of the receptor derived from L1. The association constants also indicate an important degree of selectivity of these macrobicyclic receptors for Cl, over Br, or I,. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of the chloride and bromide complexes confirms the formation of the envisaged supramolecular complexes. Moreover, the binding constants indicate that these receptors present a high sulfate-to-nitrate binding selectivity. The stability trend observed for the recognition of halide anions by the macrobicycles presented herein as well as the sulfate-to-nitrate binding selectivity have been rationalised by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ level. These studies indicate that the especially high binding selectivity for Cl, is the result of the optimum fit between the protonated macrobicyclic cavity and the size of the anion, whereas the sulfate-to-nitrate selectivity results from shape complementarity between the hydrogen-binding acceptor sites on sulfate and the hydrogen-bond donors of the macrobicycle. [source]