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Large Market (large + market)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Rapid detection and identification of counterfeit of adulterated products of synthetic phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors with an atmospheric solids analysis probe

DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 2 2010
Marian Twohig
Abstract The market success of the three approved synthetic phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction has led to an explosion in counterfeit versions of these drugs. In parallel a large market has developed for herbal products claimed to be natural alternatives to these synthetic drugs. The herbal products are heavily advertised on the internet and are freely available to purchase without prescription. Furthermore, adulteration of these supposed natural medicines is a very common and serious phenomenon. Recent reports have shown that the adulteration has extended to the analogues of the three approved synthetic PDE-5 inhibitors. An Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) was used for the direct analysis of the counterfeit pharmaceuticals and herbal products. Using the ASAP combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) it was possible to detect fraudulent counterfeit tablets. The physical appearance of the pills resembled the pills from the original manufacturer but contained the wrong active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Detecting adulteration for five herbal supplements marketed as natural alternatives to PDE-5 inhibitors was also possible using the ASAP. Three types of adulteration were found in the five samples: adulteration with tadalafil or sildenafil, mixed adulteration (tadalafil and sildenafil), and adulteration with analogues of these drugs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Digitization and geo-referencing of botanical distribution maps

JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2002
Christian A. Schölzel
Aim In many fields of research, valuable information is stored in atlases and maps which are only available as printed media. Scientists who are interested in computational analysis often seek to digitize the data to make it accessible for numerical calculations. In this paper, an approach using the example of digitizing distribution maps taken from plant-taxonomic atlases is described. For this purpose, a software tool has been built for application in the Sonderforschungsbereich 350 `Interactions between and Modelling of Continental Geosystems' at the University of Bonn. Its functionality has to be simple in use and capable of transforming fields drawn on geographical maps into grid data even where the type of map projection is unknown. Location As an example, plant distributions over Europe and Asia have been digitized. Methods To achieve this aim through an objective statistical analysis, the local deterministic approximation has been used for geo-referencing. Results For this reason the development of a new software tool was required. Although there is a large market for related software from Geographical Information Systems (GIS), none of the available GIS-programs appeared to be capable of geo-referencing maps with unidentified projections. Rather than to give a product comparison, this paper aims on the methodology and mathematical formalism. Main conclusions The developed algorithm is a handy tool to capture data from maps based on obscure projections. Valuable historical maps, which are problematic for standard GIS-programs, can be made accessible for modern research work. [source]

Tuneable Femtosecond Fiber Lasers , Ultra-short laser pulses from green to IR

LASER TECHNIK JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005
Jan Posthumus Dr.
There is a wealth of applications for ultra-short, pulsed lasers in many areas of science and technology, material processing and also in medicine. However, their widespread use is severely hampered by the size and cost of these lasers, both in terms of acquisition and maintenance. This implies that there could be a large market for affordable, turn-key femtosecond lasers (1 fs = 10,15 s). A technical solution is now possible with a new generation of fiber lasers, which are made of standard telecom components. These fiber lasers are compact (A4 size) and scalable in cost and performance. They can also be produced in large volumes. They render water cooling methods and large power supplies obsolete. [source]

Potential Synergies and Challenges in Refining Cellulosic Biomass to Fuels, Chemicals, and Power

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2003
Charles E. Wyman
Lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural and forestry residues and dedicated crops provides a low-cost and uniquely sustainable resource for production of many organic fuels and chemicals that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, improve the economy, dispose of problematic solid wastes, and improve air quality. A technoeconomic analysis of biologically processing lignocellulosics to ethanol is adapted to project the cost of making sugar intermediates for producing a range of such products, and sugar costs are predicted to drop with plant size as a result of economies of scale that outweigh increased biomass transport costs for facilities processing less than about 10,000 dry tons per day. Criteria are then reviewed for identifying promising chemicals in addition to fuel ethanol to make from these low cost cellulosic sugars. It is found that the large market for ethanol makes it possible to achieve economies of scale that reduce sugar costs, and coproducing chemicals promises greater profit margins or lower production costs for a given return on investment. Additionally, power can be sold at low prices without a significant impact on the selling price of sugars. However, manufacture of multiple products introduces additional technical, marketing, risk, scale-up, and other challenges that must be considered in refining of lignocellulosics. [source]

Perceptions of child labour among working children in Ibadan, Nigeria

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2006
F. O. Omokhodion
Abstract Background The adverse effects of child labour on the children's psychological development continue to raise concerns about this public health problem worldwide. Several views have been presented by child health authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies. Few studies have focused on the children themselves. This study sought to determine working children's perspective of child labour, its benefits and disadvantages and the working children's perceptions of themselves, and their aspirations for the future. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among working children in a large market in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to all consenting children. Results A total of 225 children, 132 females and 93 males, participated in the survey. Their age range was 8,17 years. A total of 103 respondents (46%) were currently in school while 117 (52%) were out of school. Five respondents (2%) had never attended school. A total of 104 (46%) thought that children should not work. However, when asked about the benefits of working, 81 working children (36%) felt that work provided a source of income for them, 52 (23%) indicated that it was a way of helping their parents and 39 (17%) thought it was part of their training to be responsible adults. Bad company, ill health and road traffic accidents were the perceived ill effects of child labour. The majority of the children interviewed were aspiring towards artisan trades and very few towards professional or office jobs. A total of 106 (47%) children perceived themselves as less fortunate than their peers. Fifty-five children (24%) thought that child labour was a sign of deprivation. The perception that child labour is a sign of deprivation was more prevalent among child workers whose highest educational attainment was primary school, child workers who had worked for more than 6 months and those whose earnings were small. Conclusion We recommend that school education for children should be a priority even when the harsh economic realities in their families force parents to send them to work outside the home. [source]