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POP
Terms modified by POP Selected AbstractsPROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING IN PRACTICE,CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 2 2005GARY CORDNER Research Summary: Interviews and surveys were used to measure the extent of problem-oriented policing (POP) by individual police officers in the San Diego Police Department. Officers tended to engage in small-scale problem solving with little formal analysis or assessment. Responses generally included enforcement plus one or two more collaborative or nontraditional initiatives. Policy Implications: Despite 15 years of national promotion and a concerted effort at implementation within the San Diego Police Department, POP as practiced by ordinary police officers fell far short of the ideal model. It may be unreasonable to expect every police officer to continuously engage in full-fledged POP. [source] Optimization of activated carbon-based decontamination of fish oil by response surface methodologyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 7 2007Åge Oterhals Abstract The effect of activated carbon (AC) adsorption on the reduction of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in fish oil was studied based on response surface methodology at a 5-g/kg AC inclusion level. Pretreatment of the oil by alkali refining and bleaching increased the POP levels. The tested process variables (contact time and temperature) affected the AC adsorption rate and significant first- and second-order response models could be established. Polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) showed a very rapid adsorption behavior and the concentration and toxic equivalent (TEQ) level could be reduced by 99%. Adsorption of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB) was less effective and depended on ortho substitution, i.e. non- ortho PCB were adsorbed more effectively than mono- ortho PCB with a maximum of 87 and 21% reduction, respectively, corresponding to a DL-PCB-TEQ reduction of 73%. A common optimum for both PCDD/F and DL-PCB adsorption could not be identified. AC treatment had no effect on the level of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants. The differences in adsorption patterns may be explained based on molecular conformation. No change in oil quality could be observed based on oxidation parameters. Compliance with present PCDD/F and DL-PCB legislation levels in fish oil can be achieved based on AC adsorption. [source] Channel estimation methods for preamble-based OFDM/OQAM modulations,EUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 7 2008C. Lélé In this paper, OFDM/OQAM is proposed as an alternative to conventional OFDM with cyclic prefix (CP) for transmission over multi-path fading channels. Two typical features of the OFDM/OQAM modulation are the absence of a guard interval (GI) and the fact that the orthogonality property only holds in the real field and for a distortion-free channel. Thus, the classical channel estimation (CE) methods used for OFDM cannot be directly applied to OFDM/OQAM. Therefore, we propose an analysis of the transmission of an OFDM/OQAM signal through a time-varying multi-path channel and we derive two new CE methods. The first proposed method only requires the use of pair of real pilots (POP). In a second method, named interference approximation method (IAM), we show how the imaginary interference can be used to improve the CE quality. Several preamble variants of the IAM are compared with respect to the resulting instantaneous power. Finally, the performance results obtained for the transmission of an OFDM/OQAM signal through an IEEE 802.22 channel using the POP method and three variants of IAM are compared to those obtained with CP-OFDM. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Characterization of membrane-bound prolyl endopeptidase from brainFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 17 2008Jofre Tenorio-Laranga Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a serine protease that cleaves small peptides at the carboxyl side of an internal proline residue. Substance P, arginine,vasopressin, thyroliberin and gonadoliberin are proposed physiological substrates of this protease. POP has been implicated in a variety of brain processes, including learning, memory, and mood regulation, as well as in pathologies such as neurodegeneration, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders. Although POP has been considered to be a soluble cytoplasmic peptidase, significant levels of activity have been detected in membranes and in extracellular fluids such as serum, cerebrospinal fluid, seminal fluid, and urine, suggesting the existence of noncytoplasmic forms. Furthermore, a closely associated membrane prolyl endopeptidase (PE) activity has been previously detected in synaptosomes and shown to be different from the cytoplasmic POP activity. Here we isolated, purified and characterized this membrane-bound PE, herein referred to as mPOP. Although, when attached to membranes, mPOP presents certain features that distinguish it from the classical POP, our results indicate that this protein has the same amino acid sequence as POP except for the possible addition of a hydrophobic membrane anchor. The kinetic properties of detergent-soluble mPOP are fully comparable to those of POP; however, when attached to the membranes in its natural conformation, mPOP is significantly less active and, moreover, it migrates anomalously in SDS/PAGE. Our results are the first to show that membrane-bound and cytoplasmic POP are encoded by variants of the same gene. [source] Multifunctional Au-Coated TiO2 Nanotube Arrays as Recyclable SERS Substrates for Multifold Organic Pollutants DetectionADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Xuanhua Li Abstract A multifunctional Au-coated TiO2 nanotube array is made via synthesis of a TiO2 nanotube array through a ZnO template, followed by deposition of Au particles onto the TiO2 surface using photocatalytic deposition and a hydrothermal method, respectively. Such arrays exhibit superior detection sensitivity with high reproducibility and stability. In addition, due to possessing stable catalytic properties, the arrays can clean themselves by photocatalytic degradation of target molecules adsorbed to the substrate under irradiation with UV light into inorganic small molecules using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection, so that recycling can be achieved. Finally, by detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) dye, herbicide 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), persistent organic pollutant (POP) dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and organophosphate pesticide methyl-parathion (MP), the unique recyclable properties indicate a new route in eliminating the single-use problem of traditional SERS substrates and show promising applications for detecting other organic pollutants. [source] Clinical pathway for tension-free vaginal mesh procedure: Evaluation in 300 patients with pelvic organ prolapseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Kumiko Kato Objectives: To evaluate a clinical pathway of discharge on postoperative day 3 for the tension-free vaginal mesh (TVM) procedure in patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: Between May 2006 and December 2007, 305 consecutive women with POP quantification stage 3 or 4 were planned to undergo the TVM procedure in a single general hospital. Excluding five patients with concomitant hysterectomy, a pathway (removal of the indwelling urethral catheter on the next morning, discharge on postoperative day 3) was applied to the remaining 300 patients. The perioperative complications and postoperative hospitalization were prospectively evaluated in this case series. Results: Perioperative complications were: bladder injury (11 cases, 3.7%), vaginal wall hematoma (two cases, 0.7%), rectal injury (one case, 0.3%) and temporary hydronephrosis (one case, 0.3%). None needed blood transfusion. The indwelling urethral catheters were removed on the next morning as in the pathway in 287 cases (95.6%), and none required clean intermittent catheterization at home. Postoperative hospitalization was within 3 days in 280 cases (93.3%). The six cases (2.0%) with longer hospitalization were due to complications (two cases of bladder injury, one of rectal injury, one of blood loss over 200 mL, one of temporary urinary retention, and one of hydronephrosis). Two patients were re-hospitalized within one month due to vaginal bleeding or gluteal pain. Conclusions: Patients generally accepted the pathway of discharge on postoperative day 3 in spite of the Japanese culture preferring a longer hospital stay. [source] Transformation of 3DP gypsum model to HA by treating in ammonium phosphate solutionJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007Rungnapa Lowmunkong Abstract Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a CAD/CAM built-up using ink-jet printing technique. Commercially available 3DP system can form only gypsum model and not for bioceramics. On the other hand, transformation of hardened gypsum into hydroxyapatite (HA) by treatment in ammonium phosphate solution was found lately. In the present study, transformation of the 3DP gypsum block to HA was attempted. However, the fabricated 3DP block was soluble in water. To insolubilize, it was heated at 300°C for 10 min, and then, gypsum was transformed to calcium sulfate hemihydrate, CaSO4 · 0.5H2O. The 3D block was immersed in 1M (NH4)3PO4 · 3H2O solution at 80°C for 1,24 h, and the transformation into HA within 4 h was ascertained. A heat-treated plaster of Paris (POP) block was also investigated for comparison. The unheated POP block consisting of gypsum dihydrate took 24 h to complete the transformation, while the heat-treated POP consisting calcium sulfate hemihydrate promoted the transformation into HA; but the transformed thickness in the block was less than the 3DP block. This is probably due to higher solubility of the hemihydrate than gypsum dihydrate. Accelerated transformation of the 3DP block was also caused by its porous structure, which enabled an easy penetration of the phosphate solution. With the present method, it is possible to transform the fabricated gypsum by 3D printing that is adaptive to the osseous defect into HA prostheses or scaffold. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007 [source] Polypropylene mesh used for adjuvant reconstructive surgical treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapseJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 5 2010Tzu-Yin Lin Abstract Aim:, To elucidate the outcome of transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery using polypropylene mesh (Gynemesh; Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) for patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stage III or IV. Methods:, Thirty-nine patients who underwent transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery from September 2004 through December 2005 were collected and analyzed. All patients underwent pelvic reconstructive surgery with anterior and posterior colporrhaphy with Gynemesh reinforcement. Results:, The average age of the patients was 64.1 years and average parity was 3.9. Thirty-four patients had Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) stage 0, four patients had stage I, and one patient had stage II at a median follow-up time of 18 months postoperatively. The success rate was 97.4%. Only one patient (2.6%) had recurrent genital prolapse (stage II) postoperatively. Quality of life was evaluated before and after the operations. The mean scores on the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7) were 5.0 ± 4.6 and 8.7 ± 6.2 before the operation and 3.0 ± 4.7 and 3.2 ± 5.6 after the operation, respectively (P = 0.03 and 0.01). The complication rate was 10.3 %, including one vaginal mesh erosion (2.6%), one dyspareunia (2.6%) and two prolonged bladder drainage (longer than 14 days, 5.1%). The mean duration of postoperative bladder drainage was 2.4 days and mean postoperative hospital stay was 5.1 days. Neither long-term nor major complication was identified. Conclusion:, Transvaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery with polypropylene mesh reinforcement is a safe and effective procedure for POP on 1.5 years' follow- up. It also has positive influence on quality of life. [source] The role of M. popliteus in unpredictable and in self-initiated balance provocationsJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Ann-Katrin Stensdotter Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether m. popliteus (POP) activity would contribute to the control of knee joint position in unpredictable and in self-initiated provocations of standing balance. Ten healthy women (age 25.2,±,4.5 years, means and SD) without known knee pathology were tested for postural reactions (1) to unpredictable support surface translations in anterior and posterior directions, and (2) in self-initiated balance provocations in a reaction time (RT) forward reach-and-grip task. Electromyographic activity was recorded from POP and other leg muscles plus the deltoid muscle. Three-dimensional kinematics were captured for the knee joint and the body centre of mass was calculated. POP was active first of all the muscles recorded, regardless of translation direction, and knee joint movements elicited were either knee extension or external rotation of the tibia. In the RT task, the POP was active after initiation of reaching movement, and there was little consistency in the kinematic response. POP activity was not direction specific in response to support surface translation, but appeared triggered from reactive knee joint movement. The response to the support-surface translation suggests that POP served to control knee joint position rather than posture. In the RT task, we could not deduce whether POP activity was attributed to knee joint control or to postural control. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 24:524,530, 2006 [source] Synthesis and interfacial behaviors of amphiphilic poly(oxypropylene) amidoacidsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 1 2006Kuan-Liang Wei Abstract A series of hydrophobic poly(oxypropylene) (POP)-backboned and hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene)-backboned amidoacids and imidoacids were prepared through the reaction of poly(oxyalkylene) diamines and trimellitic anhydride (TMA) under mild conditions. The synthesized copolymers were characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared. Their ability to lower the water surface tension and toluene/water interfacial tension was measured and correlated with the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance with multiple sodium carboxylate functionalities. The specific POP2000/TMA copolymers, consisting of a 2000 g/mol POP segment and multiple amidoacid functionalities, enabled the demonstration of a strong surfactant tendency and a critical micelle concentration at 0.1 wt %. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 646,652, 2006 [source] Synthesis, optical properties, and electroluminescence of conjugated poly(p -phenylenevinylene) derivatives containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and pyridine rings in the main chainJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 13 2004John A. Mikroyannidis Abstract Three new poly(p -phenylenevinylene) derivatives,PO, POD, and POP,with oxadiazole and pyridine rings along the main chain were synthesized via Heck coupling. The polymers were amorphous and dissolved readily in common organic solvents. They showed relatively low glass-transition temperatures (up to 42 °C) and satisfactory thermal stability. Solutions of the polymers emitted blue-greenish light with photoluminescence (PL) emission maxima around 460 nm and PL quantum yields of 0.28,0.49. Thin films of the polymers displayed PL emission maxima at 461,521 nm, and their tendency to form aggregates was significantly influenced by the chemical structure. Light-emitting diodes with polymers PO and POP, with an indium tin oxide/poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/polymer/Ca configuration, emitted yellow and green light, respectively, and this could be attributed to excimer emission. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3212,3223, 2004 [source] Resolution of triacylglycerol positional isomers by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographyJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 12 2004Svetlana Momchilova Abstract The ability of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to separate some positionally isomeric disaturated and monounsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) as intact species is demonstrated for the first time. Mobile phases of acetonitrile modified with methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, acetone, or dichloromethane were tested for the separation of POP-PPO, PLP-PPL, PEP-PPE, and PDP-PPD (P , palmitic, O , oleic, L , linoleic, E , eicosapentaenoic, D , docosahexaenoic acid residue) on a single RP-HPLC column. The resolution improved with increasing number of double bonds in the acyl residues. While POP and PPO were only partially resolved, PDP and PPD were fully separated with all tested mobile phases, except those containing methanol. Also separated were the four TAGs having the same equivalent carbon number (ECN = 42), PEP, PPE, PDP, and PPD, on a single RP-HPLC column with mobile phase acetonitrile,2-propanol (70:30, v/v) at 0.8 mL/min. In all cases the isomer with the unsaturated acyl residue in either 1- or 3-position was retained more strongly than the respective 2-isomer. [source] Production of trans -free margarine stock by enzymatic interesterification of rice bran oil, palm stearin and coconut oilJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2010Prakash Adhikari Abstract BACKGROUND:Trans -free interesterified fat was produced for possible usage as a spreadable margarine stock. Rice bran oil, palm stearin and coconut oil were used as substrates for lipase-catalyzed reaction. RESULTS: After interesterification, 137,150 g kg,1 medium-chain fatty acid was incorporated into the triacylglycerol (TAG) of the interesterified fats. Solid fat contents at 25 °C were 15.5,34.2%, and slip melting point ranged from 27.5 to 34.3 °C. POP and PPP (,-tending TAG) in palm stearin decreased after interesterification. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the interesterified fats contained mostly ,, polymorphic forms, which is a desirable property for margarines. CONCLUSIONS: The interesterified fats showed desirable physical properties and suitable crystal form (,, polymorph) for possible use as a spreadable margarine stock. Therefore, our result suggested that the interesterified fat without trans fatty acid could be used as an alternative to partially hydrogenated fat. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition and thermal behaviour of fats from seeds of Brazilian Amazonian Theobroma speciesJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 13 2002M Victoria Gilabert-Escrivá Abstract Raw materials for cocoa butter substitutes, replacements or equivalents depend mostly on the unsteady supply from wild stands of plants, while there is no current supply of Neotropical origin. Seed fats from Theobroma species (T cacao, T bicolor, T grandiflorum, T obovatum, T subincanum, T speciosum, T sylvestre and T microcarpum, plus the closely related species Herrania mariae) were analysed for fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition by gas and liquid chromatography respectively, for iodine value, for melting point by open capillary tube and for solid fat content (SFC) by nuclear magnetic resonance. All Theobroma species had significantly lower palmitate levels than T cacao, except for T sylvestre and T speciosum, T microcarpum presented highly unsaturated fat (C18:2), while H mariae had high levels of arachidate. Fats from T sylvestre and T speciosum had a similar iodine value to T cacao and a higher melting point. No fat from the other species presented a similar melting profile to cocoa butter. T sylvestre and T bicolor were the most similar to T cacao but had a higher SFC at human body temperature. T sylvestre and T speciosum seed fats had more POP than cocoa butter. Fats from seeds of T speciosum, T sylvestre and T bicolor could be recommended as cocoa butter substitutes, while fats from species of the section Glossopetalum could be employed in products requiring fats with a lower melting point. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Two-point water-fat imaging with partially-opposed-phase (POP) acquisition: An asymmetric Dixon method,MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2006Qing-San Xiang Abstract A novel two-point water-fat imaging method is introduced. In addition to the in-phase acquisition, water and fat magnetization vectors are sampled at partially-opposed-phase (POP) rather than exactly antiparallel as in the original Dixon method. This asymmetric sampling encodes more valuable phase information for identifying water and fat. From the magnitudes of the two complex images, a big and a small chemical component are first robustly obtained pixel by pixel and then used to form two possible error phasor candidates. The true error phasor is extracted from the two error phasor candidates through a simple procedure of regional iterative phasor extraction (RIPE). Finally, least-squares solutions of water and fat are obtained after the extracted error phasor is smoothed and removed from the complex images. For noise behavior, the effective number of signal averages NSA* is typically in the range of 1.87,1.96, very close to the maximum possible value of 2. Compared to earlier approaches, the proposed method is more efficient in data acquisition and straightforward in processing, and the final results are more robust. At both 1.5T and 0.3T, well separated and identified in vivo water and fat images covering a broad range of anatomical regions have been obtained, supporting the clinical utility of the method. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Patient reported and anatomical outcomes after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse,,NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2009Ahmed S. El-Azab Abstract Aim Primary aim was to modify Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ) to assess pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in Arabic Muslim women. Secondary aim was to compare functional and anatomical outcomes of POP repair. Methods Questionnaire. A characteristic (prayer) was added to PFIQ. Linguistic validation of questionnaires was then done. Twenty cases were enrolled in a pilot study to test internal consistency and reliability. Subsequent study. Prospective study included women with symptomatic POP,,,stage II. History, examination by POP-Q, and administration of PFDI and PFIQ, were done before and 6 months after surgery. Results Questionnaire. Internal consistency of added question was good (Cronbach ,,=,0.78). Test,retest reliability of individual PFIQ items was variable. Subsequent Study. Between September 2004 and February 2007, 78 consecutive women were included. Cystocele, rectocele, and no site predominated in 74.4%, 17.9% and 7.7% of cases, respectively. Preoperatively 19.2%, 15.4% and 47.4% reported stress, urge, and mixed incontinence, respectively. Overall and individual urinary symptoms scores improved significantly after surgery. There were significant improvements in individual symptoms of constipation, splint to defecate and losing not well formed stools. Low self-esteem was most negative impact of prolapse on quality of life (QoL) followed by prayer. After surgery 90% of subjects had anatomical cure. After surgery, QoL issues are significantly related to anatomic location of prolapse as determined by POP-Q. Conclusions Modified PFIQ and PFDI are suitable to assess POP among Muslim women. Postoperatively, many prolapse-related symptoms and QoL significantly improve after surgery on the short term with an anatomic cure rate of 90%. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:219,224, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The correlation of voiding variables between non-instrumented uroflowmetery and pressure-flow studies in women with pelvic organ prolapseNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 6 2008Elizabeth Mueller Abstract Aims To (1) correlate peak and maximum flow rates from non-instrumented flow (NIF) and pressure-flow studies (PFS) in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP); (2) measure the impact of voided volume and degree of prolapse on correlations. Methods We compared four groups of women with stages II,IV POP. Groups 1 and 2 were symptomatically stress continent women participating in the colpopexy and urinary reduction efforts (CARE) trial; during prolapse reduction before sacrocolpopexy, Group 1 (n,=,67) did not have and Group 2 (n,=,84) had urodynamic stress incontinence (USI). Group 3 (n,=,74) and Group 4 participants (n,=,73), recruited specifically for this study, had stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms. Group 3 planned sacrocolpopexy. Group 4 planned a different treatment option. Participants completed standardized uroflowmetry and pressure voiding studies. Results Subjects' median age was 61 years; median parity 3% and 80% had stage III or IV POP. Based on the Blaivas,Groutz nomogram, 49% of all women were obstructed. NIF and PFS peak and average flow rates had low correlations with one another (0.31, P,<,0.001 and 0.35, P,<,0.001, respectively). When NIF and PFS voided volumes were within 25% of each other, the peak and average flow rate correlations improved (0.52, P,<,0.001 and 0.57, P,<,0.001, respectively). As vaginal prolapse increased, correlations between NIF and PFS peak and average flow rates decreased. Conclusion Peak and average flow rates are highly dependent on voided volume in women with prolapse. As the prolapse stage increases, correlations between NIF and PFS variables decrease. Neurourol. Urodynam. 27:515,521, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Urinary incontinence symptom scores and urodynamic diagnosesNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 1 2002Mary P. FitzGerald Abstract The aim of this study was to determine whether scores on two validated urinary incontinence symptom scales predicted eventual urodynamic diagnoses. Two hundred ninety-three patients undergoing multi-channel urodynamic testing rated their symptoms of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse (POP), using the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, the Urogenital Distress Inventory, and an obstructive symptom subscale from the long form of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. Among the 202 (69%) patients without advance-stage POP, increasing scores on scale items related to stress and urge incontinence predicted increasing frequency of the diagnoses of genuine stress incontinence (GSI) and detrusor instability, respectively. Among the 91 (31%) patients with advance-stage POP, there was no association. Among all patients with GSI, the presence of intrinsic sphincter deficiency could not be predicted by responses to the symptom scales. Scores on the symptom scales were inadequate predictors of eventual urodynamic diagnoses, especially among women with advance-stage POP. Neurourol. Urodynam. 21:30,35, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] LOOKING DIFFERENT, ACTING DIFFERENT: STRUGGLES FOR EQUALITY WITHIN THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICEPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 3 2008MONIQUE MARKS This descriptive paper tells the story of the daily difficulties that members of the Public Order Police (POP) unit in South Africa experienced in their attempts to create a more diverse (in terms of race and gender) and representative police organization. This story is told through recordings of observations and conversations that span a 4-year ethnographic journal. The paper demonstrates that despite affirmative action and equity legislation and programmes, Durban POP by the year 2001, six years after the transformation process within the unit began, was still plagued by deep racial and gender divisions. These divisions were reinforced by the structural make-up of the unit and the inability of middle management to challenge entrenched practices, as well as deep-seated assumptions, schemas and values associated with race, ethnicity and gender. By means of a ethnographic journal I was able to discover some of the daily dilemmas of the police in their change efforts and also the difficulties of getting police practice to meet new policy agendas. [source] Sexual behavior across ovarian cycles in wild black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra): male mate guarding and female mate choiceAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Sarie Van Belle Abstract We studied two multimale,multifemale groups of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) during a 14-month study (June 2006,July 2007) in Palenque National Park, Mexico to evaluate the ways in which their sexual behavior changes across ovarian cycles. We analyzed 231 fecal samples, collected every 2.2±1.4 days from five females. For four females, estradiol and progesterone profiles revealed an average (±SE) cycle length of 18.3±1.4 days. Copulations occurred significantly more frequently during the periovulatory period (POP), defined as the estimated day of ovulation ±3 days (N=18). This was largely the result of cycling females soliciting sexual interactions during their POPs. Females directed their solicitations significantly more often toward "central" males of their group, who had close spatial associations with females at other times, compared with "noncentral" males, who did not associate closely with females. Central males rarely solicited sexual interactions, but instead monitored the females' reproductive status by sniffing their genitals, and maintained significantly closer proximity to females during their POPs, suggesting male mate guarding when conceptions are most likely to occur. Our findings indicate that the reproductive strategies of black howler central males and females coincide, highly skewing mating opportunities toward central males. Black howler females, however, occasionally choose to copulate with noncentral resident males or extra-group males during their POPs, undermining the ability of central males to monopolize all reproductive opportunities. Am. J. Primatol. 71:153,164, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,SURGERY: Short Term Impact on Female Sexual Function of Pelvic Floor Reconstruction with the Prolift ProcedureTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 11 2009Tsung-Hsien Su MD ABSTRACT Introduction., The Prolift system is an effective and safe procedure using mesh reinforcement for vaginal reconstruction of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but its effect on sexual function is unclear. Aim., To evaluate the impact of transvaginal pelvic reconstruction with Prolift on female sexual function at 6 months post-operatively. Methods., Thirty-three sexually active women who underwent Prolift mesh pelvic floor reconstruction for symptomatic POP were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery. Their sexual function was assessed by using the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) before and after surgery. The quality of life was also evaluated with the short forms of the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) as a control for efficacy of the procedure. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system was used to evaluate the degree of prolapse. Main Outcome Measures., PISQ-12 scores at 6 months post-operatively. Results., The total PISQ-12 score decreased from 29.5 ± 9.0 to 19.3 ± 14.7 (P < 0.001), indicating worsening of sexual function 6 months post-operatively. The behavioral, physical, and partner-related domains of PISQ-12 were each significantly reduced (5.2 ± 3.7 vs. 2.9 ± 3.7, P = 0.016; 15.4 ± 4.7 vs. 10.4 ± 8.6, P = 0.001; 8.9 ± 3.8 vs. 6.4 ± 5.5, P = 0.01, respectively). UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores were significantly improved at the 6-month follow-up, as was anatomic recovery. Of the 33 subjects, 24 (73%) had worse sexual function 6 months after the procedure. Conclusion., The Prolift procedure provided an effective anatomic cure of POP, but it had an adverse effect on sexual function at 6 months after surgery. Su TH, Lau HH, Huang WC, Chen SS, Lin TY, Hsieh CH, and Yeh CY. Short term impact on female sexual function of pelvic floor reconstruction with the Prolift procedure. J Sex Med 2009;6:3201,3207. [source] To POP or Not: Ossiculoplasty in Congenital Aural Atresia Surgery,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 8 2008Eric J. Dobratz MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To examine indications for ossiculoplasty (OP) in aural atresia surgery and to compare audiometric results and surgical revision rates between patients undergoing OP and those undergoing intact native chain reconstruction (INCR). Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Charts of patients undergoing surgery for congenital aural atresia were reviewed for demographic data, preoperative Jahrsdoerfer score, ossicular chain status, and audiometric data. Patients undergoing OP were compared with an equal number of age and Jahrsdoerfer grade-matched patients who had an INCR. The preoperative and postoperative average air-bone gap (ABG), speech reception thresholds (SRT), and rates of revision surgery were compared between the two groups. Results: Nineteen patients (20 ears) underwent OP during aural atresia repair and were compared with 20 matched patients who had INCR. Mean age, Jahrsdoerfer score, preoperative ABG, and SRT were similar for both groups. Mean postoperative audiometric follow-up was 33.1 months for the OP group and 20.4 months for the INC group (P = .24). Mean postoperative ABG was 33.8 dB HL for OP and 23.8 dB HL for INCR (P < .05). Mean improvement in ABG was 16.8 dB HL for OP and 29.9 dB HL for INCR (P < .001). Mean improvement in SRT was 24.6 dB HL for OP and 34.8 dB HL for INCR (P < .05). Nine ears (45%) in the OP group and four ears (20%) in the INCR group underwent revision surgery (P = .09). Conclusions: Patients reconstructed with their own intact native chain during aural atresia surgery have better audiometric outcomes than those undergoing OP and are less likely to undergo revision surgery. [source] Dynamical budgets of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current using ocean general-circulation modelsTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 607 2005A. Grezio Abstract Three general-circulation models (FRAM, OCCAM and POP) are used to investigate the dynamics of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) at the latitudes of the Drake Passage where the ACC is unbounded. In these general circulation models, bottom form stress balances the wind stress in the momentum budgets. In the vorticity budgets, the main balance is between wind curl and bottom pressure torque in FRAM, OCCAM and POP. Moreover, in the ACC belt all topographic features are regions of nonlinearity and bottom pressure torque variations, with the Drake Passage playing the largest role. Transient eddy Reynolds stresses (TERSs) play a different role in the three models. In the upper levels, TERSs accelerate the flow in the POP and FRAM models, but decelerate the flow in OCCAM. The behaviour of TERSs change throughout the whole water column in the ACC belt and Reynolds stresses have a dragging effect on the flow below the levels where the topography starts to obstruct the flow. The total volume transport in three models is very different. Additionally, the different spatial resolution, which results in a different level of eddy kinetic energy, has a significant influence on the transport. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Securities Regulation Reform and the Decline of Rights OfferingsCANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Issue 2 2001Nancy D. Ursel This paper develops the hypothesis that the decline in the use of rights offerings is due to reductions in issue costs brought about by changes in securities regulation. The hypothesis is tested in two jurisdictions: Canada and the United States. Time series analysis is used to determine if the decreased use of rights offerings in the 1970,1985 period is associated with regulatory changes designed to ease stock issues, such as short form registration and shelf registration in the U.S. and the Prompt Offer Qualification (POP) system in Canada. The findings are consistent with a significant decrease in rights usage concurrent with the earliest reform in each country. Résumé La présente étude avance l'hypothèse que la réduction de l'emploi des droits de souscription est due à la diminution des coûts d'émission permise par les réformes des lois sur les valeurs mobilières. L'hypothèse est testée dans deux juridictions: le Canada et les États-Unis. Nous faisons une analyse de données chronologiques pour déterminer si la réduction du nombre de droits de souscription entre 1970,1985 reflète les réformes des règlements conçues pour diminuer les coûts d'émission, par exemple, aux États-Unis, l'enregistrement simplifié et l'enregistrement préalable et, au Canada, le Régime du prospectus simplifié. Les résultats sont compatibles avec une diminution significative de l'emploi des droits de souscription, dans chaque pays, dès les premières réformes. [source] Simultaneous 19F NMR Screening of Prolyl Oligopeptidase and Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV InhibitorsCHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 8 2010Nessim Kichik Abstract Prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) are serine proteases that belong to the same family of enzymes. These peptidases are relevant because of their association with the pathophysiology of serious illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes (DPP IV), and those related to cognitive disorders (POP). Several NMR-based screening methods are being used to find and validate new hit scaffolds. In particular, 19F NMR-based screening methods have proven to be powerful tools for the discovery and development of new inhibitors. Here we present an accurate and reliable 19F NMR-based simultaneous assay that is used to screen for new selective POP and DPP IV inhibitors in compound mixtures. This activity assay consists of the simultaneous performance of POP and DPP-IV 19F NMR activity assays in the presence of their fluorine-containing substrates. Furthermore, the assays were conducted in the presence of 0.01,% v/v of Triton X-100, which is a detergent that disrupts micelle formation, thereby preventing unspecific aggregate-based inhibition. Finally, this 19F NMR methodology was applied to screen for ligands in plant extracts. Our results indicate that this method allows the simultaneous and accurate identification of selective POP and DPP IV inhibitors in these compound mixtures. [source] Can [M(H)2(H2)(PXP)] Pincer Complexes (M=Fe, Ru, Os; X=N, O, S) Serve as Catalyst Lead Structures for NH3 Synthesis from N2 and H2?CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 23 2007Markus Hölscher Dr. Abstract The potential of pincer complexes [M(H)2(H2)(PXP)] (M=Fe, Ru, Os; X=N, O, S) to coordinate, activate, and thus catalyze the reaction of N2 with classical or nonclassical hydrogen centers present at the metal center, with the aim of forming NH3 with H2 as the only other reagent, was explored by means of DF (density functional) calculations. Screening of various complexes for their ability to perform initial hydrogen transfer to coordinated N2 showed ruthenium pincer complexes to be more promising than the corresponding iron and osmium analogues. The ligand backbone influences the reaction dramatically: the presence of pyridine and thioether groups as backbones in the ligand result in inactive catalysts, whereas ether groups such as ,-pyran and furan enable the reaction and result in unprecedented low activation barriers (23.7 and 22.1,kcal,mol,1, respectively), low enough to be interesting for practical application. Catalytic cycles were calculated for [Ru(H)2(H2)(POP)] catalysts (POP=2,5-bis(dimethylphosphanylmethyl)furan and 2,6-bis(dimethylphosphanylmethyl)-,-pyran). The height of activation barriers for the furan system is somewhat more advantageous. Formation of inactive metal nitrides has not been observed. SCRF calculations were used to introduce solvent (toluene) effects. The Gibbs free energies of activation of the numerous single reaction steps do not change significantly when solvent is included. The reaction steps associated with the formation of the active catalyst from precursors [M(H)2(H2)(PXP)] were also calculated. The otherwise inactive pyridine ligand system allows for the generation of the active catalyst species, whereas the ether ligand systems show activation barriers that could prohibit practical application. Consequently the generation of the active catalyst species needs to be addressed in further studies. [source] PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY: CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE EXPECTATIONS USING NARROW BAND IMAGINGDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2007Yoshifumi Arisaka Peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) under duodenoscopic assistance provide direct visual assessment of the pancreatic duct, tissue sampling, and therapeutic interventions. Sometimes, pancreatoscopy can confirm accurate diagnosis, such as differential diagnosis of filling defects between intraductal tumors and stones. However, it is often difficult to differentiate malignant from benign strictures solely on pancreatoscopy. It is currently considered that intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) is the most suitable indication of POPS. POPS has several problems: image resolution, fragility and maneuverability. Concerning image resolution, the quality has been improved with the development of a video pancreatoscope. Moreover, the recently developed endoscopic optical technology of narrow band imaging (NBI) is now available to video pancreatoscopy. This will allow direct visual assessment. Although currently POPS has several problems, further improvement will assist POPS to become a useful modality in combination with NBI. [source] WHAT KIND OF BENEFIT DO WE EXPECT FOR PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS?DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2006Taketo Yamaguchi Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is characterized by slow growth and a relatively favorable prognosis, however, invasive cancer originating in an IPMT is associated with a poor prognosis. Although various parameters in imaging modalities have been advocated to differentiate between benign IPMN and malignant ones, it is not easy to obtain definite diagnosis based on these parameters. Peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) allows a clear and direct visualization of the pancreatic duct, providing useful information regarding tumor nature in IPMT. The authors have studied the usefulness of POPS in the diagnosis of IPMT. Nevertheless, its usefulness is not necessarily widely accepted and the significance of POPS is still controversial. In this review, the authors intended to address the diagnostic value of POPS and to clarify its role in the diagnosis of IPMT. The authors think treatment of IPMT can be improved by introducing POPS because the determination of surgical procedure as well as the area of resection based on the preoperative diagnosis of the involvement of the main pancreatic duct and branch duct is inevitable. [source] A comparison of single dose caudal tramadol, tramadol plus bupivacaine and bupivacaine administration for postoperative analgesia in childrenPEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA, Issue 3 2001M Gunduz Background:,Our aim was to compare the effect of single dose caudal tramadol, tramadol plus bupivacaine and bupivacaine on the management of postoperative pain in children. Methods:,Sixty-three children in ASA groups I,II, between the ages of 1 and 5 were evaluated for postoperative pain randomly divided into three groups as follows: In group T, only tramadol was given caudally; in group TB, tramadol,bupivacaine was given caudally; in group B, bupivacaine was given alone. Pain was evaluated by using the paediatric objective pain scale (POPS). Sedation was evaluated with a 5-point test. There were no differences with age, weight, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters between groups. Results:,For 24 h postoperatively, the POPS value showed no statistically significant difference among groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative analgesia was maintained for 24 h. Nausea and vomiting was found to be higher in the tramadol group than in the bupivacaine group and tramadol,bupivacaine group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion:,Tramadol used caudally is as effective as bupivacaine in the management of postoperative pain in children and the addition of tramadol to bupivacaine, when both drugs were administered caudally, did not prolong the duration of action of bupivacaine and is a safe agent in children. [source] Tissue-specific distribution and whole-body burden estimates of persistent organic pollutants in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2010Jennifer E. Yordy Abstract Most exposure assessments for free-ranging cetaceans focus on contaminant concentrations measured in blubber, and few data are available for other tissues or the factors governing contaminant distribution among tissues. The goal of this study was to provide a detailed description of the distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) within the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) body and assess the role of lipid dynamics in mediating contaminant distribution. Thirteen tissues (brain, blubber, heart, liver, lung, kidney, mammary gland, melon, skeletal muscle, spleen, thyroid, thymus, and testis/uterus) were sampled during necropsy from bottlenose dolphins (n,=,4) and analyzed for lipid and 85 POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Significant correlations between tissue POP concentrations and lipid suggest that distribution of POPs is generally related to tissue lipid content. However, blubber:tissue partition coefficients ranged widely from 0.753 to 6.25, suggesting that contaminant distribution is not entirely lipid-dependent. Tissue-specific and whole-body contaminant burdens confirmed that blubber, the primary site of metabolic lipid storage, is also the primary site for POP accumulation, contributing >90% to the whole-body burdens. Observations also suggest that as lipid mobilizes from blubber, contaminants may redistribute, leading to elevated tissue concentrations. These results suggest that individuals with reduced blubber lipid may be at increased risk for exposure-related health effects. However, this study also provides evidence that the melon, a metabolically inert lipid-rich structure, may serve as an alternate depot for POPs, thus preventing the bulk of blubber contaminants from being directly available to other tissues. This unique physiological adaptation should be taken into consideration when assessing contaminant-related health effects in wild cetacean populations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:1263,1273. © 2010 SETAC [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||