Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Major Aim (major + aim)
Selected AbstractsHarmonization of light scatter and fluorescence flow cytometry profiles obtained after staining peripheral blood leucocytes for cell surface-only versus intracellular antigens with the Fix & PermÔ reagent,,§CYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2010Elaine Sobral da Costa Abstract Staining for intracellular markers with the Fix & PermÔ reagent is associated with variations in the scatter properties of leucocytes, limiting automated analysis of flow cytometry (FCM) data. Here, we investigated those variables significantly contributing to changes in the light scatter, autofluorescence, and bcl2 staining characteristics of peripheral blood (PB) leucocytes, after fixation with Fix & PermTM. Our major aim was to evaluate a new mathematical approach for automated harmonization of FCM data from datafiles corresponding to aliquots of a sample treated with cell-surface-only versus Fix & Perm intracellular staining techniques. Overall, neither the anticoagulant used nor sample storage for <24 h showed significant impact on the light scatter and fluorescence properties of PB leucocytes; similarly, the duration of the fixation period (once >15 min were used) had a minimum impact on the FCM properties of PB leucocytes. Conversely, changes in cell/protein concentrations and the fixative/sample (vol/vol) ratio had a clear impact on the light scatter features of some populations of leucocytes. Accordingly, lower cell/protein concentrations were associated with lower scatter values, particularly for the neutrophils. Such changes could be partially corrected through the use of higher fixative to sample volume ratios. Despite the variable changes detected between aliquots of the same sample treated with cell surface-only versus intracellular staining procedures, the new mathematical approach here proposed and evaluated for automated harmonization of common parameters in both datafiles, could correct the FCM profiles of leucocytes derived from cells undergoing conventional fixation/permeabilization procedures, and made them indistinguishable from those corresponding to aliquots of the same sample treated with cell-surface-only staining techniques. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Randomized controlled multicentre trial of cognitive behaviour therapy in the early initial prodromal state: effects on social adjustment post treatmentEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2007Andreas Bechdolf Abstract Aim:, Improvement of social adjustment is a major aim of indicated prevention in young people at risk of developing psychosis. The present study explores the effect of specific cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as compared with supportive counselling (SC) on social adjustment in people in a potential early initial prodromal state of psychosis (EIPS) primarily defined by self-experienced cognitive thought and perception deficits (basic symptoms). Methods:, A total of 128 help-seeking outpatients in the EIPS were randomized to receive either specific CBT or SC for 12 months. Social adjustment was assessed with the Social Adjustment Scale II (SAS II) at baseline, time of transition or post treatment Results:, From 113 patients, who completed the SAS II at intake, 67 (59.3%) completed the SAS assessments at time of transition or post treatment. Both specific CBT and SC resulted in improvements in scales of SAS II, with no significant between-group differences post treatment. Conclusions:, Although treatment in specially designed early detection and intervention centres improves functioning of people in the EIPS, specific CBT was not superior to SC. One could hypothesize that additional vocational rehabilitation, case management and involvement of multidisciplinary teams are needed to further improve short-term outcome of specific interventions on this dimension. [source] A meta-analysis of trait differences between invasive and non-invasive plant speciesECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2010Mark Van Kleunen Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 235,245 Abstract A major aim in ecology is identifying determinants of invasiveness. We performed a meta-analysis of 117 field or experimental-garden studies that measured pair-wise trait differences of a total of 125 invasive and 196 non-invasive plant species in the invasive range of the invasive species. We tested whether invasiveness is associated with performance-related traits (physiology, leaf-area allocation, shoot allocation, growth rate, size and fitness), and whether such associations depend on type of study and on biogeographical or biological factors. Overall, invasive species had significantly higher values than non-invasive species for all six trait categories. More trait differences were significant for invasive vs. native comparisons than for invasive vs. non-invasive alien comparisons. Moreover, for comparisons between invasive species and native species that themselves are invasive elsewhere, no trait differences were significant. Differences in physiology and growth rate were larger in tropical regions than in temperate regions. Trait differences did not depend on whether the invasive alien species originates from Europe, nor did they depend on the test environment. We conclude that invasive alien species had higher values for those traits related to performance than non-invasive species. This suggests that it might become possible to predict future plant invasions from species traits. [source] From Adam Swift to Adam Smith: How the ,Invisible Hand' Overcomes Middle Class HypocrisyJOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION, Issue 4 2007JAMES TOOLEY This paper challenges Richard Pring's suggestion that parents using private education may be undermining the desire for social justice and equality, using recent arguments of Adam Swift as a springboard. Swift's position on the banning of private schools, which uses a Rawlsian ,veil of ignorance' argument, is explored, and it is suggested that, if equality of opportunity is a major aim, it does not go far enough by permitting parental partiality. If the only alternative is a Platonic state, then this may be acceptable. But a neglected third scenario, drawing on the insights of Adam Smith, shows ,self-love' to be a valuable social virtue, leading to a more favourable resolution of the ,paradox of the shipwreck' than that explored by Swift. Pointers are given to evidence from developing countries and a more detailed ,veil of ignorance' argument to support this case. [source] Autothermal reforming of methane with integrated CO2 capture in novel fluidized bed membrane reactorsASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2009F. Gallucci Abstract Hydrogen production with integrated CO2 capture by autothermal reforming of methane has been investigated in a novel fluidized bed membrane reactor configuration. With a phenomenological reactor model the reactor performance has been investigated over a wide range of operating conditions, viz. temperature, pressure, H2O/CH4 ratio, and membrane area. The results obtained show that pure hydrogen production with integrated CO2 capture is feasible, however, only with a relatively low load/surface ratio (L/S) (<1 m3/m2 h). On the other hand, if complete CO2 capture is not the major aim, the reactor can be operated in a much wider range of L/S (1,10 m3/m2 h) obtaining much higher conversions than achievable with a reactor without membranes, and H2 recoveries higher than 80%, which open up possibilities for industrial application of membrane reactors. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Burning mouth syndrome: Clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatmentAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Neil W Savage SUMMARY Burning mouth syndrome is an oral dysaesthesia presenting as a burning sensation of the tongue and less frequently other oral and peri-oral sites. There may be other coincident symptoms and signs, but the defining feature is the absence of any obvious organic cause. Because of this the condition frequently remains unrecognized for extended periods with a variable progression of symptoms. The current paper describes the complex presentation of burning mouth syndrome with the major aim of increasing recognition. [source] Developmental psychopathology in adolescence: findings from a Swiss study , the NAPE Lecture 2005ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2006H.-C. Steinhausen Objective:, Presentations of selective findings coming from the Zurich Adolescent Psychology and Psychopathology Study with two major aims: i) the study of the prevalence, course, and correlates of mental disorders in adolescence, and ii) the study of the determinants and processes of mental disorders in adolescence. Method:, A representative sample of n = 1964 children and adolescents was studied in the canton of Zurich in 1994. Additional waves of data collection took place in 1997 and 2000/2001. Mean ages at these three assessments were 13, 16, and 20 years. Each wave contained a two-stage procedure of assessment with screening by questionnaires and consecutive interviewing. The main constructs used were general and specific measures of psychopathology, life events, coping styles, self-related cognitions, and quality of the social network. Results:, Prevalence rates of any mental disorder in school-age at the time of assessment was 22.5% fitting into a transcultural range of 18,26% based on DSM-III-R criteria. Furthermore, the derivation and validation of a four-group adolescent drinker typology was demonstrated. Additionally, the prevalence and continuity of functional-somatic symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood was shown. Another piece of the research tested for the identification of risk, compensatory, vulnerability, and protective factors influencing behaviour problems and found remarkably different frequencies across the four types of moderating factors. Conclusion:, The presented findings provide further understanding of the developmental psychology and psychopathology of adolescence and the service, intervention, and prevention needs of this age-group. [source] Ecological fitting by phenotypically flexible genotypes: implications for species associations, community assembly and evolutionECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 11 2008Salvatore J. Agosta Abstract Ecological fitting is the process whereby organisms colonize and persist in novel environments, use novel resources or form novel associations with other species as a result of the suites of traits that they carry at the time they encounter the novel condition. This paper has four major aims. First, we review the original concept of ecological fitting and relate it to the concept of exaptation and current ideas on the positive role of phenotypic plasticity in evolution. Second, we propose phenotypic plasticity, correlated trait evolution and phylogenetic conservatism as specific mechanisms behind ecological fitting. Third, we attempt to operationalize the concept of ecological fitting by providing explicit definitions for terms. From these definitions, we propose a simple conceptual model of ecological fitting. Using this model, we demonstrate the differences and similarities between ecological fitting and ecological resource tracking and illustrate the process in the context of species colonizing new areas and forming novel associations with other species. Finally, we discuss how ecological fitting can be both a precursor to evolutionary diversity or maintainer of evolutionary stasis, depending on conditions. We conclude that ecological fitting is an important concept for understanding topics ranging from the assembly of ecological communities and species associations, to biological invasions, to the evolution of biodiversity. [source] International price competitiveness of Australia's MICE industryINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 2 2001Larry Dwyer Abstract A special-interest tourist market that holds out great promise for continued growth well into the next century is that of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions). At the same time, changing prices in particular destinations relative to others are regarded as one of the most important economic influences on destination shares of total international tourism flows. The question arises as to the price competitiveness of major competing MICE destinations. Although earlier research has recognised that a destination's price competitiveness differs according to a visitor's country of origin there has been relatively little attention paid to tourism price competitiveness from the perspective of those having different motives for travel. This paper has four major aims: first, to provide a method by which price competitiveness of tourism by journey purpose can be estimated; second, to construct price competitiveness indices that measure, absolutely and relative to major competitors world-wide, the price competitiveness of Australia's MICE tourism industry; third, to compare Australia's price competitiveness as a MICE destination with its price competitiveness for total inbound tourism; fourth, to discuss the implications of the results for travel and tourism decision-makers in both the private and public sectors. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The genetic basis of early-life morphological traits and their relation to alternative male reproductive tactics in Atlantic salmonJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010D. J. PáEZ Abstract Although heritability estimates for traits potentially under natural selection are increasingly being reported, their estimation remains a challenge if we are to understand the patterns of adaptive phenotypic change in nature. Given the potentially important role of selection on the early life phenotype, and thereby on future life history events in many fish species, we conducted a common garden experiment, using the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), with two major aims. The first objective is to determine how the site of origin, the paternal sexual tactic and additive genetic effects influence phenotypic variation of several morphological traits at hatching and emergence. The second aim is to test whether a link exists between phenotypic characteristics early in life and the incidence of male alternative tactics later in life. We found no evidence of a site or paternal effect on any morphological trait at hatching or emergence, suggesting that the spatial phenotypic differences observed in the natural river system from which these fish originated are mainly environmentally driven. However, we do find significant heritabilities and maternal effects for several traits, including body size. No direct evidence was found correlating the incidence of precocious maturation with early life characteristics. We suggest that under good growing conditions, body size and other traits at early developmental stages are not reliable cues for the surpassing of the threshold values associated with male sexual development. [source] Modifier genes in cystic fibrosisPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 5 2005J.C. Davies MD Abstract Although over 1,000 disease-causing mutations in the CFTR gene have been described, the highly variable disease phenotype in cystic fibrosis (CF) cannot be explained on the basis of this gene alone. Both the environment and other non-CFTR genes are likely to be important. The increased understanding of pathophysiological processes in the CF lung has led to several studies on genes in these pathways, including those involved in host defense, mucin production, and airway responsiveness. Additionally, candidate modifiers of the gastrointestinal manifestations of CF have been explored. One of the major aims of such studies is to produce targets for novel drug developments. This review will summarize the field to date and discuss some of the methodological issues important in the design and interpretation of such studies. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||