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Potential Resource (potential + resource)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	33%
Life Sciences	16%

Selected Abstracts

Domestic Violence and Out-of-hospital ProvidersA Potential Resource to Protect Battered Women

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 3 2000
M. Elaine Husni MD
Abstract Objective: The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in a subset of women presenting to the Boston emergency medical services (EMS) system and to evaluate documentation. A secondary objective was to determine the rate of refusal of transport to the hospital for DV-positive patients, compared with the general population. Methods: A retrospective chart review of ambulance run sheets from a nonconsecutive, convenience sample between July and December 1995 was performed. Women presenting with injury, obstetric/gynecologic complaints, or psychiatric complaints were included. Records were reviewed, and labeled as positive, probable, suggestive, or negative for DV, based on a previously used classification system. A weighted kappa test was performed, and data were analyzed using chi-square and t-test. Results: Among 1,251 charts reviewed, 876 met criteria for inclusion. The percentage of positive cases was 5.4% (95% CI = 3.9% to 6.9%), probable 10.8% (8.8% to 12.9%), suggestive 2.6% (1.6% to 3.7%), and negative 81.2% (78.6% to 83.6%). Among DV-positive patients, the refusal to transport rate was 23.4% (11.3% to 35.5%), compared with a 7.1% (5.8% to 9.3%) rate for the entire study population (n= 876), and 4.7% for the general Boston EMS population during the same year. More DV patients presented during the night shift compared with other shifts. Conclusions: Domestic violence is common in this high-risk population. A substantial proportion of women in this population refuse transport to the hospital. Out-of-hospital personnel should be trained with the tools to identify and document DV, assess patient safety, offer timely resources, and empower victims to make choices. [source]

Alteration and Reformation of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Prediction of Remaining Potential Resources in Superimposed Basins

ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 5 2010
PANG Hong
Abstract: Complex hydrocarbon reservoirs developed widely in the superimposed basins of China formed from multiple structural alterations, reformation and destruction of hydrocarbon reservoirs formed at early stages. They are characterized currently by trap adjustment, component variation, phase conversion, and scale reformation. This is significant for guiding current hydrocarbon exploration by revealing evolution mechanisms after hydrocarbon reservoir formation and for predicting remaining potential resources. Based on the analysis of a number of complex hydrocarbon reservoirs, there are four geologic features controlling the degree of destruction of hydrocarbon reservoirs formed at early stages: tectonic event intensity, frequency, time and caprock sealing for oil and gas during tectonic evolution. Research shows that the larger the tectonic event intensity, the more frequent the tectonic event, the later the last tectonic event, the weaker the caprock sealing for oil and gas, and the greater the volume of destroyed hydrocarbons in the early stages. Based on research on the main controlling factors of hydrocarbon reservoir destruction mechanisms, a geological model of tectonic superimposition and a mathematical model evaluating potential remaining complex hydrocarbon reservoirs have been established. The predication method and technical procedures were applied in the Tazhong area of Tarim Basin, where four stages of hydrocarbon accumulation and three stages of hydrocarbon alteration occurred. Geohistorical hydrocarbon accumulation reached 3.184 billion tons, of which 1.271 billion tons were destroyed. The total volume of remaining resources available for exploration is ,1.9 billion tons. [source]

Corporate social performance: Creating resources to help organizations excel

GLOBAL BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE, Issue 2 2008
Bryan Dennis
The most commonly employed theories of corporate social performance (CSP) tend to ignore firm-level processes and structures as sources of competitive advantage. But, by taking a resource-based view (RBV), and by enhancing a firm's capability to engage in socially responsible activities, it can potentially create its own competitive advantages. We examine four major components of CSP,community relations, the environment, diversity, and employee relations. And we show that the ability of a firm to develop its knowledge and skills,as well as policies and implementation plans and procedures,in each of these areas is a potential resource that may in fact provide competitive advantages and higher organizational performance, bringing benefits to both society and the firm. The community dimension evaluates the firm's performance in relationship to philanthropic giving and community support. The environmental aspect considers such firm stewardship activities as pollution prevention, global warming, and recycling. The diversity component measures CSP considering such factors as board member diversity and a firm's hiring, evaluation, training, and promotion policies concerning women and minorities. The employee relations dimension examines such socially responsible human resource practices as innovative employee involvement programs and profit sharing. Together, these capabilities can provide tangible and intangible resources that can provide the firm with competitive advantages. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Measuring consumer perception of product creativity: Impact on satisfaction and purchasability

HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 3 2009
Diana Horn
In the current value-based economy, product creativity is a potential resource for organizations to compete, thus emphasizing the need for product creativity measurement. Two studies were performed to refine and validate a previously tested model and measurement of consumer perception of product creativity: one with web-based evaluations (N = 208) of chairs and lamps and one with paper-based evaluations (N = 105) of individually selected products. Results of exploratory factor analyses indicated three main product creativity factors: Affect, Importance, and Novelty, which explained 72% of the common variance. Results of stepwise regressions indicated that the Affect factor significantly predicts (65% of the explained variance) willingness to purchase creative consumer products. One major contribution of this research is the finding that affect is as equally (R2 = .28) important as novelty (R2 = .25) in consumer perception of product creativity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for the Affect, Importance, and Novelty product creativity factors, and general creativity guidelines are provided for consumer product design. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]

Surveying older people from minority ethnic groups: an evaluation of a primary care sampling method for UK African-Caribbean elders

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 4 2002
Dr Robert Stewart
Abstract There are substantial logistical difficulties in conducting community surveys of minority ethnic group populations. Primary care lists have been identified as an important potential resource but the representativeness of samples derived through this method has received little evaluation. In a community survey of psychiatric morbidity, African-Caribbean people aged 55,75 were identified by practice staff from registration lists for seven primary care teams in south London. The sensitivity of the process was evaluated by contacting a random sample of people whose ethnicity was not known. Participants aged 65,75 (n = 174) were also compared to a similarly aged group sampled through household enumeration (n = 34) with respect to demographic factors, risk factors for vascular disease, depression and cognitive function. For those with correct addresses, the identified group was estimated to include 72% of the potentially eligible population. Only 8% of contacted people were found not to be eligible in terms of ethnicity. Compared to the household enumeration sample, the primary care sample had marginally higher socio-economic status but was similar with respect to all other measured characteristics. Primary care list sampling with staff-assigned ethnicity therefore appeared highly specific, reasonably sensitive, and did not seem to introduce substantial bias for this population. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]

Catalytic conversion of waste plastics: focus on waste PVC

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2007
Mark A Keane
Abstract Effective waste management must address waste reduction, reuse, recovery/recycling and, as the least progressive option, waste treatment. The increase in plastic waste production is a serious environmental issue. Plastics consumption continues to grow and while plastic recycling has seen a significant increase since the early 1990s, consumption still far exceeds recycling. Waste plastic can, however, serve as a potential resource and, with the correct treatment, can be reused or serve as hydrocarbon raw material or as a fuel. PVC, highly versatile with many applications, is non-biodegradable and has a high Cl content (56% of the total weight). Waste PVC incineration is highly energy demanding and can result in the formation of toxic chloro-emissions with adverse ecological, environmental and public health impacts. The Cl component must be removed from any waste PVC derived gas or oil before it can be used. An overview of the existing waste plastic treatment technologies is provided with an analysis of the available literature on thermal and catalytic PVC degradation. Thermal degradation results in random scissioning of the polymer chains generating products with varying molecular weights and uncontrolled Cl content. There is a dearth of literature dealing with the catalytic dechlorination of PVC. A case study is presented to illustrate the role heterogeneous catalysis can play in PVC waste treatment. The efficacy of Pd/Al2O3 to promote PVC dechlorination is demonstrated, where a significant decrease (by up to a factor of 560) in the liquid fraction Cl content is recorded in addition to differences (relative to thermal degradation) in the gas phase product, i.e. higher C1C4 content with preferential alkane formation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Characterization of Bacillus subtilis strains in Thua nao, a traditional fermented soybean food in northern Thailand

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
Y. Inatsu
Abstract Aims:, To clarify the diversity of Bacillus subtilis strains in Thua nao that produce high concentrations of products useful in food manufacturing and in health-promoting compounds. Method and Results:, Production of amylase, protease, subtilisin NAT (nattokinase), and gamma-polyglutamic acid (PGA) by the Bacillus subtilis strains in Thua nao was measured. Productivity of protease NAT by these strains tended to be higher than by Japanese commercial natto-producing strains. Molecular diversity of isolated strains was analysed via randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR fingerprinting. The strains were divided into 19 types, including a type with the same pattern as a Japanese natto-producing strain. Conclusion:,B. subtilis strains that could be a resource for effective production of protease, amylase, subtilisin NAT, or PGA were evident in Thua nao produced in various regions in northern Thailand. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study clearly demonstrated the value of Thua nao as a potential resource of food-processing enzymes and health-promoting compounds. [source]

Atrial Evoked Response Integral for Automatic Capture Verification in Atrial Pacing

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1p2 2003
GIUSEPPE BORIANI
BORIANI, G.,et al.:Atrial Evoked Response Integral for Automatic Capture Verification in Atrial Pacing. Beat-by-beat Autocapture is currently limited to operation in the ventricle with bipolar leads. The authors investigated the integral of the negative-going portion of the atrial evoked response integral (AERI) as a potential resource for verification of atrial capture. Intracardiac electrogram signals were collected from 59 patients (ages 67.8 ± 15.1 years) with bipolar, low polarization atrial leads. The signals were collected over a mean period of 6.1 months (minimum 4 days) after lead implantation. St. Jude Medical Affinity pulse generators were used to perform automatic capture threshold tests while the electrogram signals were recorded by a Model 3510 programming device. These signals were transferred to a personal computer in digital form for later analysis. The AERI was calculated at each programmable pacing voltage until capture was lost. The difference between the polarization integral at loss of capture and evoked response integral with successful capture was sufficient to justify enabling the atrial Autocapture feature in 53 of 59 patients in whom bipolar pacing and unipolar sensing was performed. The authors developed a calibration routine to identify automatically those patients in whom atrial Autocapture could be programmed On, based on the polarization integral at loss of capture, the estimated maximum polarization integral, and the AERI. Preliminary analysis indicated that the AERI is a practical resource for beat-by-beat atrial capture detection when used with low polarization leads. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. II]:248,252) [source]

Coconut water as a potential resource for cellulose acetate membrane preparation

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008
Cynthia Radiman
Abstract BACKGROUND: Cellulose acetate membranes are frequently used for pressure-driven membrane processes. The aim of this work was to prepare cellulose acetate membranes from nata-de-coco using coconut water as starting material. The use of this lignin-free material will certainly minimize the use of chemicals usually needed in the traditional pulps and substitute for the use of wood, which helps prevent global warming and preserves nature as well. RESULTS: Coconut water was fermented by Acetobacter xylinum for 6 days to produce nata-de-coco, which was then acetylated to produce cellulose diacetate with an acetyl content of 39.6%. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed characteristic peaks for the acetyl group at 1748 and 1236 cm,1. The resulting membranes made from the hydrolysis product showed a water flux of 210.5 L m,2 h,1 under an applied pressure of 2 kg cm,2 while the rejection coefficients of dextran T-500 and T-2000 solutions were 78 and 93.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Coconut water has a potential to be used in the fabrication of membranes by converting it to nata-de-coco and then to cellulose diacetate which gives an added value to its original nature. It is also highly competitive compared to the traditional pulps, by which acetylation decreases the degree of crystallinity of nata-de-coco resulting in higher membrane permeability. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Into Scarred Rabbit Vocal Folds Enhances Healing and Improves Viscoelasticity: Short-Term Results,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2007
Jessica Cedervall MSc
Abstract Objectives: Scarring caused by trauma, postcancer treatment, or inflammation in the vocal folds is associated with stiffness of the lamina propria and results in severe voice problems. Currently there is no effective treatment. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have been recognized as providing a potential resource for cell transplantations, but in the undifferentiated state, they are generally not considered for therapeutic use due to risk of inadvertent development. This study assesses the functional potential of hESC to prevent or diminish scarring and improve viscoelasticity following grafting into scarred rabbit vocal folds. Study Design: hESC were injected into 22 scarred vocal folds of New Zealand rabbits. After 1 month, the vocal folds were dissected and analyzed for persistence of hESC by fluorescence in situ hybridization using a human specific probe, and for differentiation by evaluation in hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissues. Parallel-plate rheometry was used to evaluate the functional effects, i.e., viscoelastic properties, after treatment with hESC. Results: The results revealed significantly improved viscoelasticity in the hESC-treated vs. non-treated vocal folds. An average of 5.1% engraftment of human cells was found 1 month after hESC injection. In the hESC-injected folds, development compatible with cartilage, muscle and epithelia in close proximity or inter-mixed with the appropriate native rabbit tissue was detected in combination with less scarring and improved viscoelasticity. Conclusions: The histology and location of the surviving hESC-derived cells strongly indicate that the functional improvement was caused by the injected cells, which were regenerating scarred tissue. The findings point toward a strong impact from the host microenvironment, resulting in a regional specific in vivo hESC differentiation and regeneration of three types of tissue in scarred vocal folds of adult rabbits. [source]

Characterization of exopolysaccharides produced by three moderately halophilic bacteria belonging to the family Alteromonadaceae

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008
J.A. Mata
Abstract Aims:, To study the exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by three novel moderately halophilic species belonging to the family Alteromonadaceae to optimize EPS yields, characterize their physical and chemical properties and evaluate possible biotechnological applications for these polymers. Methods and Results:, EPSs synthesized by Idiomarina fontislapidosi F32T, Idiomarina ramblicola R22T and Alteromonas hispanica F23T were collected and analysed under optimum conditions: MY medium supplemented with 7·5% (w/v) salts; 32°C; and 1% (w/v) glucose. Polymers were synthesized mainly during the early stationary growth phase with yields ranging from 1 to 1·5 g l,1. The Idiomarina species each produced an anionic EPS composed mainly of glucose, mannose and galactose. A. hispanica synthesized an anionic EPS composed mainly of glucose, mannose and xylose. Solutions of all the polymers were low in viscosity and pseudoplastic in their behaviour. They showed emulsifying activity and the capacity to bind some metals. Conclusions:, The Alteromonadaceae species studied in this work produced EPSs with physical and chemical properties different from those produced by other halophilic and nonhalophilic bacteria, suggesting that the wide diversity of micro-organisms being encountered nowadays in hypersaline environments offers enormous potential resources for biotechnological applications. Significance and Impact of the Study:, We have optimized the EPS production and analysed new biopolymers produced by some recently described, moderately halophilic bacteria. These biopolymers are chemically and physically different from others already in use in biotechnology and offer hopes for new applications, especially in the case of A. hispanica, which may prove to be a viable source of xylo-oligosaccharides. [source]