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Increased Interest (increased + interest)
Selected AbstractsEpigenetic control of skeletal muscle fibre typeACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010K. Baar Abstract Adult muscle is extremely plastic. However, the muscle precursor cells associated with those fibres show stable and heritable differences in gene expression indicative of epigenetic imprinting. Epigenetic processes in the development of skeletal muscle have been appreciated for over a decade; however, there are a paucity of studies looking at whether epigenetics determines the phenotype of adult and/or ageing skeletal muscle. This review presents the evidence that epigenetics plays a role in determining adult muscle function and a series of unanswered questions that would greatly increase our understanding of how epigenetics works in adult muscle. With the increased interest in epigenetics, over the next few years this field will begin to unfold in unimaginable directions. [source] GLOBAL HEALTH ETHICS FOR STUDENTSDEVELOPING WORLD BIOETHICS, Issue 1 2009ANDREW D. PINTO ABSTRACT As a result of increased interest in global health, more and more medical students and trainees from the ,developed world' are working and studying in the ,developing world'. However, while opportunities to do this important work increase, there has been insufficient development of ethical guidelines for students. It is often assumed that ethics training in developed world situations is applicable to health experiences globally. However, fundamental differences in both clinical and research settings necessitate an alternative paradigm of analysis. This article is intended for teachers who are responsible for preparing students prior to such experiences. A review of major ethical issues is presented, how they pertain to students, and a framework is outlined to help guide students in their work. [source] Proteomic analysis of osteogenic differentiation of dental follicle precursor cellsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 7 2009Christian Morsczeck Abstract Recently, there has been an increased interest in unravelling the molecular mechanisms and cellular pathways controlling the differentiation and proliferation of human stem cell lines. Proteome analysis has proven to be an effective approach to comprehensive analysis of the regulatory network of differentiation. In the present study we applied 2-DE combined with capillary-LC-MS/MS analysis to profile differentially regulated proteins upon differentiation of dental follicle precursor cells (DFPCs). Out of 115 differentially regulated proteins, glutamine synthetase, lysosomal proteinase cathepsin B proteins, plastin 3 T-isoform, beta-actin, superoxide dismutases, and transgelin were found to be highly up-regulated, whereas cofilin-1, pro-alpha 1 collagen, destrin, prolyl 4-hydrolase and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase were found to be highly down-regulated. The group of up-regulated proteins is associated with actin-bundling and defence against oxidative cellular stress, whereas down-regulated proteins were associated with collagen biosynthesis. Bioinformatic analyses of the entire data set confirmed these findings that represent significant steps towards the understanding of DFPC differentiation. The bioinformatic analyses suggest that proteins associated with cell cycle progression and protein metabolism were down-regulated and proteins involved in catabolism, cell motility and biological quality were up-regulated. These results display the general physiological state of DFPCs before and after osteogenic differentiation. We also identified regulatory proteins, such as the transcription factors TP53 and Sp-1, associated with the differentiation process. Further studies will investigate the impact of identified regulatory proteins for cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in DFPCs. [source] Women's Early Modern Medical Almanacs in Historical ContextENGLISH LITERARY RENAISSANCE, Issue 3 2003A. S. Weber This article examines the prophetical and medical almanacs of two female authors of seventeenth century England, Sarah Jinner of London and Mary Holden of Sudbury. Their works do not resemble the writings of the ecstatic women prophets of the period, but should be contextualized within the increased interest in astrological prediction after mid-century, the increase in women's literacy, and the relaxation of censorship. The medical content of both almanac makers demonstrates a desire to preserve and transmit classically-based medical cures for women, and in the case of Jinner, possibly to inform women about abortefacient and emmenagogic drugs. Jinner's medicines are based on classical pharmacology, thus demonstrating that women's medicine of the period was not necessarily a distinct praxis from the Galenic and Hippocratic therapeutics of male university-trained physicians. [source] Potency and selectivity of inhibition of cathepsin K, L and S by their respective propeptidesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 20 2000Jocelyne Guay The prodomains of several cysteine proteases of the papain family have been shown to be potent inhibitors of their parent enzymes. An increased interest in cysteine proteases inhibitors has been generated with potential therapeutic targets such as cathepsin K for osteoporosis and cathepsin S for immune modulation. The propeptides of cathepsin S, L and K were expressed as glutathione S -transferase-fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The proteins were purified on glutathione affinity columns and the glutathione S -transferase was removed by thrombin cleavage. All three propeptides were tested for inhibitor potency and found to be selective within the cathepsin L subfamily (cathepsins K, L and S) compared with cathepsin B or papain. Inhibition of cathepsin K by either procathepsin K, L or S was time-dependent and occurred by an apparent one-step mechanism. The cathepsin K propeptide had a Ki of 3.6,6.3 nm for each of the three cathepsins K, L and S. The cathepsin L propeptide was at least a 240-fold selective inhibitor of cathepsin K (Ki = 0.27 nm) and cathepsin L (Ki = 0.12 nm) compared with cathepsin S (Ki = 65 nm). Interestingly, the cathepsin S propeptide was more selective for inhibition of cathepsin L (Ki = 0.46 nm) than cathepsin S (Ki = 7.6 nm) itself or cathepsin K (Ki = 7.0 nm). This is in sharp contrast to previously published data demonstrating that the cathepsin S propeptide is equipotent for inhibition of human cathepsin S and rat and paramecium cathepsin L [Maubach, G., Schilling, K., Rommerskirch, W., Wenz, I., Schultz, J.E., Weber, E. & Wiederanders, B. (1997), Eur J. Biochem. 250, 745,750]. These results demonstrate that limited selectivity of inhibition can be measured for the procathepsins K, L and S vs. the parent enzymes, but selective inhibition vs. cathepsin B and papain was obtained. [source] Exploiting the genetic and biochemical capacities of bacteria for the remediation of heavy metal pollutionFEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS, Issue 4 2002Marc Valls Abstract The threat of heavy metal pollution to public health and wildlife has led to an increased interest in developing systems that can remove or neutralise its toxic effects in soil, sediments and wastewater. Unlike organic contaminants, which can be degraded to harmless chemical species, heavy metals cannot be destroyed. Remediating the pollution they cause can therefore only be envisioned as their immobilisation in a non-bioavailable form, or their re-speciation into less toxic forms. While these approaches do not solve the problem altogether, they do help to protect afflicted sites from noxious effects and isolate the contaminants as a contained and sometimes recyclable residue. This review outlines the most important bacterial phenotypes and properties that are (or could be) instrumental in heavy metal bioremediation, along with what is known of their genetic and biochemical background. A variety of instances are discussed in which valuable properties already present in certain strains can be combined or improved through state-of-the-art genetic engineering. In other cases, knowledge of metal-related reactions catalysed by some bacteria allows optimisation of the desired process by altering the physicochemical conditions of the contaminated area. The combination of genetic engineering of the bacterial catalysts with judicious eco-engineering of the polluted sites will be of paramount importance in future bioremediation strategies. [source] From renewable energy to fire risk reduction: a synthesis of biomass harvesting and utilization case studies in US forestsGCB BIOENERGY, Issue 3 2009A. M. EVANS Abstract The volatile costs of fossil fuels, concerns about the associated greenhouse gas emissions from these fuels, and the threat of catastrophic wildfires in western North America have resulted in increased interest and activity in the removal and use of woody biomass from forests. However, significant economic and logistical challenges lie between the forests and the consumers of woody biomass. In this study, we provide a current snapshot of how biomass is being removed from forests and used across the United States to demonstrate the wide variety of successful strategies, funding sources, harvesting operations, utilization outlets, and silvicultural prescriptions. Through an analysis of 45 case studies, we identified three themes that consistently frame each biomass removal and utilization operation: management objectives, ecology, and economics. The variety and combination of project objectives exemplified by the case studies means biomass removals are complex and difficult to categorize for analysis. However, the combination of objectives allows projects to take advantage of unique opportunities such as multiple funding sources and multiparty collaboration. The case studies also provide insight into the importance of ecological considerations in biomass removal both because of the opportunity for forest restoration and the risk of site degradation. The national view of the economic aspects of biomass removal provided by this wide variety of case studies includes price and cost ranges. This study is an important first step that helps define woody biomass removals which are becoming an essential part of forestry in the 21st century. [source] Experience and meaning of user involvement: some explorations from a community mental health projectHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 3 2002Carole Truman Abstract With an increased interest in and policy commitment to involving service users in the planning and delivery of health service provision, there is a clear need to explore both the rhetoric and realities of what user involvement entails. In the present paper, by drawing upon an evaluation of a community-based exercise facility for people with mental health problems, the authors explore ways in which the reality of user involvement is subject to a range of configurations within health services. The paper describes a piece of qualitative research that was undertaken within a participatory framework to explore the nature of user involvement within the facility. The data have been analysed using a grounded theory approach to provide insights into: the organisational context in which user involvement takes place; factors which encourage meaningful participation on the part of service users; perceived barriers to user involvement; and issues of sustainability and continuity. This research approach has enabled the authors to explore the views and experiences of users, service providers and referral agencies in relation to the nature and potential for user involvement. The findings illustrate ways in which user involvement may take place under both flexible and formal arrangements across a variety of activities. The present paper provides an account of some of the meanings and experiences of what ,successful' user participation may involve and the conditions which underpin ,success'. The authors conclude that successful and meaningful user involvement should enable and support users to recognise their existing skills, and to develop new ones, at a pace that suits their particular circumstances and personal resources. This process may require adaptation not only by organisations, but also by service providers and non-involved users. [source] A new mixed finite element method for poro-elasticityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 6 2008Maria Tchonkova Abstract Development of robust numerical solutions for poro-elasticity is an important and timely issue in modern computational geomechanics. Recently, research in this area has seen a surge in activity, not only because of increased interest in coupled problems relevant to the petroleum industry, but also due to emerging applications of poro-elasticity for modelling problems in biomedical engineering and materials science. In this paper, an original mixed least-squares method for solving Biot consolidation problems is developed. The solution is obtained via minimization of a least-squares functional, based upon the equations of equilibrium, the equations of continuity and weak forms of the constitutive relationships for elasticity and Darcy flow. The formulation involves four separate categories of unknowns: displacements, stresses, fluid pressures and velocities. Each of these unknowns is approximated by linear continuous functions. The mathematical formulation is implemented in an original computer program, written from scratch and using object-oriented logic. The performance of the method is tested on one- and two-dimensional classical problems in poro-elasticity. The numerical experiments suggest the same rates of convergence for all four types of variables, when the same interpolation spaces are used. The continuous linear triangles show the same rates of convergence for both compressible and entirely incompressible elastic solids. This mixed formulation results in non-oscillating fluid pressures over entire domain for different moments of time. The method appears to be naturally stable, without any need of additional stabilization terms with mesh-dependent parameters. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The new Quest for Healing: when Therapy and Spirituality Intermingle,INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF MISSION, Issue 380-381 2007Bernard Ugeux For some decades one has noted an increased interest in spirituality outside the traditional religions of the West, viz. the three monotheisms. New spiritual quests often develop on the fringes of the churches, and sometimes even as a reaction to the churches' vision of what it means to be human. In this regard, those interested in spirituality often see their spiritual search as something linked to a general care for wellbeing or health, and reproach Christianity for being too disembodied. The association of the spiritual with the therapeutical leads to a certain permeability between the spiritual and therapeutical in terms of the claims each makes. It also leads to the creation of new alternative proposals. This porousness runs the risk of bringing confusion to everything, and using the spiritual and religious to serve therapeutic needs. However, the way in which the claims of the spiritual and therapeutical realms evolve presents a challenge to Christianity. This can be put in terms of, ,What place does Christianity attribute to the body, affectivity, pleasure, and legitimate personal development?' Some individuals and groups in the Christian churches, rather than trying to justify existing approaches, propose more "incarnated" ones that will respond to the new audience in a Christian way. From a theological, pastoral and missiological viewpoint, Christian communities are thus intended to become communities of healing and reconciliation, although not at any price. If Christian spirituality also has to favour the empowering and development of a person , for Christ has assumed everything of humanity, except sin , one should not reduce salvation to healing or ignore the paschal mystery as a way of avoiding the element of pain that this mystery contains. In short, Christianity is invited to do a work of inculturation that not only keeps in mind contemporary developments but also is accompanied by an authentic interdisciplinary discernment. [source] REVIEW: The identification of priority policy options for UK nature conservationJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2010William J. Sutherland Summary 1.,The conservation of biodiversity depends upon both policy and regulatory frameworks. Here, we identify priority policy developments that would support conservation in the UK in the light of technological developments, changes in knowledge or environmental change. 2.,A team of seven representatives from governmental organizations, 17 from non-governmental organizations and six academics provided an assessment of the priority issues. The representatives consulted widely and identified a long-list of 117 issues. 3.,Following voting and discussion during a 2-day meeting, these were reduced to a final list of 25 issues and their potential policy options and research needs were identified. Many of the policies related to recent changes in approaches to conservation, such as increased interest in ecosystem services, adaptation to climate change and landscape ecology. 4.,We anticipate that this paper will be useful for policy makers, nature conservation delivery agencies, the research community and conservation policy advocates. 5.,Although many of the options have global significance, we suggest that other countries consider an equivalent exercise. We recommend that such an exercise be carried out in the UK at regular intervals, say every 5 years, to explore how biodiversity conservation can best be supported by linked policy development and research in a changing world. 6.,Synthesis and applications. Opportunities for policy development were prioritized and for each of the top 25 we identified the current context, policy options and research questions. These largely addressed new issues relating to developing topics such as ecosystem services, landscape planning and nanotechnology. We envisage that this will largely be used by researchers wishing to make a contribution to potential policy debates. [source] EFFECT OF POLYGODIAL ON MECHANICAL, OPTICAL AND BARRIER PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN FILMSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 2 2010L. MORENO-OSORIO ABSTRACT The mechanical, optical and barrier properties of chitosan films containing polygodial (0.0, 2.7, 13.9, 25.0 mg/g of chitosan) were studied. Water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, CIELab color parameters, hue angle and chroma of films were determined. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was also performed to determine functional group interaction between the matrix and polygodial added. The use of polygodial resulted in stronger films without losing their extensibility and with low WVP. Films became darker with yellow-green coloration with increasing polygodial concentration. Polygodial added to chitosan films did not have any interaction with the amino groups of chitosan as measured by FTIR. Polygodial as a natural dialdehyde can effectively be applied to enhance some physical properties of edible films prepared with chitosan. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There has been an increased interest in the study of edible,biodegradable packaging films during the last decade, offering an alternative and partial solution to the problem of accumulation of solid waste composed of synthetic inert polymers, and chitosan films has been studied with this purpose. Furthermore, replacing synthetic additives by natural compounds such us polygodial can be a suitable manner to improve some physical properties of those chitosan films. [source] Family quality of life among families with a member who has an intellectual disability: an exploratory examination of key domains and dimensions of the revised FQOL SurveyJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009S. Werner Abstract Background The Family Quality of Life Survey (FQOLS-2006) was developed as the result of increased interest in family quality of life (FQOL) among families with a member who has an intellectual disability (ID). The instrument includes nine life domains and six dimensions reflecting the main areas and characteristics of FQOL. The aim of the current study was to provide a descriptive analysis of the domains and dimensions of the survey and to explore their relationship to one another and to global satisfaction. Method A convenience sample of 35 participants with a family member who had ID completed the FQOLS-2006 in a large urban centre in Canada. The data were analysed using descriptive analyses. Results The findings showed that although participants differentiated between different domains and dimensions, as reflected in their variability, stability was also found. For example, support from others was rated lowest across most dimensions, while family relationships and health of the family were generally rated higher. Conclusions The findings strengthen the importance of examining both the overall perception of FQOL as well as the perceptions in individual life domains. Moreover, they highlight the need to examine each life domain according to its various dimensions. In sum, the results call for further examination of the FQOLS-2006 as a useful tool for assessing FQOL and for implementing services based on it. [source] A review and discussion of prospective statistical surveillance in public healthJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES A (STATISTICS IN SOCIETY), Issue 1 2003Christian Sonesson Summary. A review of methods suggested in the literature for sequential detection of changes in public health surveillance data is presented. Many researchers have noted the need for prospective methods. In recent years there has been an increased interest in both the statistical and the epidemiological literature concerning this type of problem. However, most of the vast literature in public health monitoring deals with retrospective methods, especially spatial methods. Evaluations with respect to the statistical properties of interest for prospective surveillance are rare. The special aspects of prospective statistical surveillance and different ways of evaluating such methods are described. Attention is given to methods that include only the time domain as well as methods for detection where observations have a spatial structure. In the case of surveillance of a change in a Poisson process the likelihood ratio method and the Shiryaev,Roberts method are derived. [source] Mixed tree-vegetative barrier designs: experiences from project works in northern VietnamLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2002A. Fahlén Abstract There has been an increased interest in the use of vegetative barriers in acid-infertile upland management systems in Southeast Asia. This paper analyses the experimental designs and policies in early-1990s of using vetiver grass barriers (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) in microwatersheds with short-rotation tree plantations in Vinh Phu Province, Vietnam. Four different mixed tree-vetiver models on degraded Ferric-Plinthic Acrisols are discussed. It is concluded that the institutional approach of demonstrating vetiver barriers as a model had a poor cost-wise performance, and that the model itself did not address the underlying issues of land degradation due to uncontrolled harvest of organic matter from the forest floors. The institutional approach was tainted with price distortions and ,disbursement-oriented' actions. Alternative and more flexible on-farm approaches, using V. zizanioides or the indigenous leguminous shrub Tephrosia candida (Roxb.) DC as vegetative barriers, were found to be more cost-effective and likely to have a higher rate of adoption among farmers. The institutional changes in land allocation policies (securing long-term usufruct users and transfer rights of agricultural and forest land) that took place in Vietnam in the early 1990s, in combination with a reorientation of programme policies to support needs of individuals and farmers' households, are hypothesized to have contributed more to the ,regreening' of the hills, than any single approaches of technical barrier designs by the Swedish-Vietnamese Forestry Co-operation Programme (FCP) in northern Vietnam. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Training trauma teams in the Nordic countries: An overview and present statusACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 7 2005T. Wisborg Background:, During the last decade there has been an increased interest in the organisation and quality of trauma care in the Nordic countries. Still, most patients are initially cared for at hospitals with low caseloads of severe trauma. More than 200 hospitals offer initial care to trauma patients. Training of trauma teams using simulators or simulated patients has evolved in the same period, as one important factor to overcome lack of practical training. This overview describes the present state of trauma team training in the Nordic countries. Methods:, Members of a Nordic working group on the use of simulation in medicine reviewed present literature on training with simulation and described the present use of team training in their own countries during winter 2004. Results:, There is an increasing amount of evidence indicating that training of teams with simulation reduces treatment errors and improves performance. The training activities do not need to be complex, but skilled debriefing seems necessary. Few Nordic hospitals train their trauma teams. The training activities vary considerably between and within countries. Conclusion:, There is considerable evidence supporting an increased use of experience gained in other high-risk domains where training in communication, leadership and decision-making is the focus for safety and improvement efforts. There is a need for more widespread training of trauma teams. The different training activities actually undertaken should be scientifically evaluated. [source] Calcium signalling in bacteriaMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Delfina C. Dominguez Summary Whereas the importance of calcium as a cell regulator is well established in eukaryotes, the role of calcium in prokaryotes is still elusive. Over the past few years, there has been an increased interest in the role of calcium in bacteria. It has been demonstrated that as in eukaryotic organisms, the intracellular calcium concentration in prokaryotes is tightly regulated ranging from 100 to 300 nM. It has been found that calcium ions are involved in the maintenance of cell structure, motility, transport and cell differentiation processes such as sporulation, heterocyst formation and fruiting body development. In addition, a number of calcium-binding proteins have been isolated in several prokaryotic organisms. The characterization of these proteins and the identification of other factors suggest the possibility that calcium signal transduction exists in bacteria. This review presents recent developments of calcium in bacteria as it relates to signal transduction. [source] A mathematical and statistical framework for modelling dispersalOIKOS, Issue 6 2007Tord Snäll Mechanistic and phenomenological dispersal modelling of organisms has long been an area of intensive research. Recently, there has been an increased interest in intermediate models between the two. Intermediate models include major mechanisms that affect dispersal, in addition to the dispersal curve of a phenomenological model. Here we review and describe the mathematical and statistical framework for phenomenological dispersal modelling. In the mathematical development we describe modelling of dispersal in two dimensions from a point source, and in one dimension from a line or area source. In the statistical development we describe applicable observation distributions, and the procedures of model fitting, comparison, checking, and prediction. The procedures are also demonstrated using data from dispersal experiments. The data are hierarchically structured, and hence, we fit hierarchical models. The Bayesian modelling approach is applied, which allows us to show the uncertainty in the parameter estimates and in predictions. Finally, we show how to account for the effect of wind speed on the estimates of the dispersal parameters. This serves as an example of how to strengthen the coupling in the modelling between the phenomenon observed in an experiment and the underlying process , something that should be striven for in the statistical modelling of dispersal. [source] A novel wavelet-based thresholding method for the pre-processing of mass spectrometry data that accounts for heterogeneous noisePROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 15 2008Deukwoo Kwon Dr. Abstract In recent years there has been an increased interest in using protein mass spectroscopy to discriminate diseased from healthy individuals with the aim of discovering molecular markers for disease. A crucial step before any statistical analysis is the pre-processing of the mass spectrometry data. Statistical results are typically strongly affected by the specific pre-processing techniques used. One important pre-processing step is the removal of chemical and instrumental noise from the mass spectra. Wavelet denoising techniques are a standard method for denoising. Existing techniques, however, do not accommodate errors that vary across the mass spectrum, but instead assume a homogeneous error structure. In this paper we propose a novel wavelet denoising approach that deals with heterogeneous errors by incorporating a variance change point detection method in the thresholding procedure. We study our method on real and simulated mass specrometry data and show that it improves on performances of peak detection methods. [source] Sensual, material, and technological understanding: exploring prehistoric soundscapes in south IndiaTHE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Issue 2 2007Nicole Boivin Recent years have witnessed an increased interest within archaeology in the non-visual senses, and particularly sound. To date, however, most studies have focused on the evidence for musical instruments and the acoustic properties of special structures and spaces, like monuments and caves. This study reports on further evidence for special musical activities at the prehistoric site of Sanganakallu-Kupgal in south India, but then also moves on to a discussion of the acoustic dimension of more mundane Neolithic technological and productive activities, like flint-knapping, axe-grinding, and crop production. It focuses on the evidence for links between such activities at Sanganakallu-Kupgal, based on shared material, gestural, and acoustic properties, and argues that the hammering of ringing rocks to make music was only one aspect of a wider Southern Neolithic cultural propensity to address technological and ritual requirements by applying stone against stone. The article attempts to bring to recent discussions of the senses an awareness of the materiality of sensory experience, which, despite recent interest in the body, remains marginalized in theoretical accounts. [source] Overview of Guidelines for Establishing a Face Transplant Program: A Work in ProgressAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2010M. Siemionow Since 2005, nine face transplants have been performed in four countries: France, the United States (US), China and Spain. These encouraging short-term outcomes, with the longest survivor approaching 5 years, have led to an increased interest in establishing face transplant programs worldwide. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to facilitate the dissemination of relevant details as per our experience in an effort to assist those medical centers interested in establishing a face transplant program. In this article, we address the logistical challenges involved with face transplantation; including essential program requirements, protocol details, face transplant team assembly, project funding, the organ procurement organization and the coroner. It must be emphasized that face transplantation is still experimental and its therapeutic value remains to be validated. All surgical teams pursuing this endeavor must dedicate an attention to detail and should accept a responsibility to publish their outcomes in a transparent manner in order to contribute to the international field. However, due to its inherent complexity, facial transplantation should only be performed by university-affiliated medical institutions capable of orchestrating a specialized multidisciplinary team with a long-term commitment to its success. [source] Pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in a Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 7 2010SA Michael The health of captive Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) is currently of increased interest because wild populations are being decimated by the spread of devil facial tumour disease. This report describes the pathology of an aged captive Tasmanian devil that had a pulmonary mycobacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium intracellulare in addition to multiple neoplastic processes. [source] Economic Liberalization and the Antecedents of Top Management Teams: Evidence From Turkish ,Big' BusinessBRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2006Sibel Yamak There has been an increased interest in the last two decades in top management teams (TMTs) of business firms. Much of the research, however, has been US-based and concerned primarily with TMT effects on organizational outcomes. The present study aims to expand this literature by examining the antecedents of top team composition in the context of macro-level economic change in a late-industrializing country. The post-1980 trade and market reforms in Turkey provided the empirical setting. Drawing upon the literatures on TMT and chief executive characteristics together with punctuated equilibrium models of change and institutional theory, the article develops the argument that which firm-level factors affect which attributes of TMT formations varies across the early and late stages of economic liberalization. Results of the empirical investigation of 71 of the largest industrial firms in Turkey broadly supported the hypotheses derived from this premise. In the early stages of economic liberalization the average age and average organizational tenure of TMTs were related to the export orientation of firms, whereas in later stages, firm performance became a major predictor of these team attributes. Educational background characteristics of teams appeared to be under stronger institutional pressures, altering in different ways in the face of macro-level change. [source] Management of unwanted hair in femalesCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 8 2001S W. Lanigan The development of lasers as a treatment for unwanted hair has led to an increased interest in this field. Laser hair removal is frequently commercially led and there are few controlled studies to demonstrate efficacy. It is important to be aware of all treatment modalities for hair removal so that patients can be counselled adequately. This review covers all methods of hair removal from physical through hormonal to laser treatment and allows the reader to understand the pros and cons of each form of therapy. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||