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Selected AbstractsAL01 SURGICAL AUDIT IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONSANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 2009A. J. Green Approved peer reviewed surgical audit activity is a necessary for annual and Triannual Professional Standards requirements. Surgeons working in large hospitals, usually as part of surgical teams have resources to facilitate this. There are situations where the surgeon or surgeons need to organise a process themselves and may need more assistance. Three problem areas that will be particularly discussed include: 1Audit for remote surgeons 2Audit for urban/suburban surgeons with no teaching hospital attachments (often in smaller private facilities with no audit programs) 3Regional surgeons particularly in the Specialities eg ENT, Urology, Plastics where there are small numbers (1,3) Practical ways to achieve successful audits will be addressed [source] Directable animation of elastic bodies with point-constraintsCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 3-4 2008Ryo Kondo Abstract We propose a simple framework for making elastic body animation with point constraints. In general, a physics-based approach for constraint animation offers a variety of animations with physically correct realism, which are achieved by solving the equations of motion. However, in the digital animation industry, solving the equations of motion is an indirect path to creating more art-directed animations that maintain a plausible realism. Our algorithms provide animators a practical way to make elastic body animation with plausible realism, while effectively using point-constraints to offer directatorial control. The animation examples illustrate that our framework creates a wide variety of point-constraint animations of elastic objects with greater directability than existing methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Limiting light-induced lipid peroxidation and vitamin loss in infant parenteral nutrition by adding multivitamin preparations to IntralipidACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2001KM Silvers Parenteral lipids are susceptible to light-induced peroxidation, particularly under phototherapy. Ascorbic acid is protective. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dark delivery tubing and/or coadministration of multivitamin preparations could prevent peroxidation of Intralipid without undue vitamin loss. In experiments carried out on the benchtop, lipid peroxidation occurred in ambient light and was more extensive under phototherapy. Dark tubing decreased peroxide formation, but only by about 65%. In simulated clinical conditions in which solutions were pumped through standard clear or dark minibore plastic tubing, Intralipid accumulated lipid peroxides as measured by the FOX assay (280 ,M) or as triglyceride hydroperoxides (52 ,M). Multivitamin preparations (MVIP or Soluvit/Vitlipid) inhibited peroxide formation almost completely, and were fully protective when used with dark tubing. There was loss of riboflavin (65% from Soluvit and 35% from MVIP) in clear tubing but this was decreased to 18% and 11%, respectively, in dark tubing. Ascorbate loss was 20% (MVIP) and 50% (Soluvit) and only slightly less in dark tubing. Ascorbate loss was also seen in the absence of Intralipid and is due to riboflavin-induced photo-oxidation. Conclusion: Multivitamin preparations protect Intralipid against light-induced formation of lipid hydroperoxides, and administering multivitamins with Intralipid via dark delivery tubing provides a practical way of preventing peroxidation of the lipid while limiting vitamin loss. This procedure should be considered for routine use as well as with phototherapy. [source] Conservation of Insect Diversity: a Habitat ApproachCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000Jennifer B. Hughes To explore the feasibility of basing conservation action on community-level biogeography, we sampled a montane insect community. We addressed three issues: (1) the appropriate scale for sampling insect communities; (2) the association of habitat specialization,perhaps a measure of extinction vulnerability,with other ecological or physical traits; and (3) the correlation of diversity across major insect groups. Using malaise traps in Gunnison County, Colorado, we captured 8847 Diptera (identified to family and morphospecies), 1822 Hymenoptera (identified to morphospecies), and 2107 other insects (identified to order). We sampled in three habitat types,meadow, aspen, and conifer,defined on the basis of the dominant vegetation at the scale of hundreds of meters. Dipteran communities were clearly differentiated by habitat type rather than geographic proximity. This result also holds true for hymenopteran communities. Body size and feeding habits were associated with habitat specialization at the family level. In particular, habitat generalists at the family level,taxa perhaps more likely to survive anthropogenic habitat alteration,tended to be trophic generalists. Dipteran species richness was marginally correlated with hymenopteran species richness and was significantly correlated with the total number of insect orders sampled by site. Because these correlations result from differences in richness among habitat types, insect taxa may be reasonable surrogates for one another when sampling is done across habitat types. In sum, community-wide studies appear to offer a practical way to gather information about the diversity and distribution of little-known taxa. Resumen:No existe ni el tiempo ni los recursos para diseñar planes de conservación para cada especie, particularmente para los taxones poco estudiados, no carismáticas, pero ecológicamente importantes que componen la mayoría de la biodiversidad. Para explorar la factibilidad de basar acciones de conservación en biogegrafía a nivel comunitario, muestreamos una comunidad de insectos de montaña. Evaluamos tres aspectos: (1) la escala adecuada para el muestreo de comunidades de insectos; (2) la asociación de especialización de hábitat,quizá una medida de vulnerabilidad de extinción,con otras características ecológicas o físicas; y (3) la correlación de la diversidad a lo largo de los grupos principales de insectos. Mediante el uso de trampas en el condado Gunnison, en Colorado, capturamos 8847 dípteros (identificados a nivel de familia y morfoespecies), 1822 himenópteros (identificadas hasta morfoespecies) y 2107 otros insectos (identificados a nivel de orden). Muestreamos tres tipos de hábitats,vega, álamos temblones y coníferas,definidos en base a la vegetación dominante a escala de cientos de metros. Las comunidades de dípteros estuvieron claramente diferenciadas por tipos de hábitat y no por la proximidad geográfica. Este resultado también se mantiene para las comunidades de himenópteros. El tamaño del cuerpo y los hábitos alimenticios estuvieron asociados con la especialización del hábitat a nivel de familia. En particular, los generalistas de hábitat a nivel de familia,los taxones que posiblemente tengan mayor probabilidad de sobrevivir alteraciones antropogénicas del hábitat,tendieron a ser generalistas tróficos. La riqueza de las especies de dípteros estuvo marginalmente correlacionada con la riqueza de especies de himenópteros y estuvo significativamente correlacionada con el número total de órdenes de insectos muestreadas por sitio. Debido a que estas correlaciones resultaron de diferencias en la riqueza de especies entre tipos de hábitats, los taxones de insectos podrían ser substitutos mutuos razonables cuando se muestrea entre diferentes tipos de hábitats. En resumen, los estudios a lo largo de comunidades parecen ofrecer una forma práctica de recolectar información sobre la diversidad y distribución de los taxones poco estudiados. [source] A Delphi survey of the views of adult male patients with personality disorders on psychoeducation and social problem-solving therapyCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 5 2007Mary McMurran Background,Psychoeducation and social problem-solving therapy are treatment components that work well in tandem for offenders with personality disorders, hence it is worthwhile to maintain and improve their effectiveness. Aim,The aim was to seek patients' views of these therapies to contribute to their development. Method,A Delphi survey was conducted with all 12 male inpatients of a personality disorder hospital treatment unit. Results,Round 1 produced 30 statements for psychoeducation and 59 for social problem-solving therapy to be rated in Round 2. There was consensus at a level of 70% for all items. Both psychoeducation and social problem-solving therapies were viewed as useful by these patients. The men also suggested improvements in psychoeducation, including minimizing the delay between assessment and feedback, provision of reference material, preparation for the work and support afterwards. Areas identified for improvement in social problem-solving therapy included more frequent review of progress, greater consistency of delivery, eliciting problems more effectively, providing reference material, supporting patients in group work, and the development of an advanced therapy. Discussion,A Delphi approach to evaluation of therapies with the people receiving them is not only feasible but seems to offer a practical way of making useful clinical adjustments to the work. Further research with larger samples might usefully focus on whether such an approach enhances treatment compliance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Measures, perceptions and scaling patterns of aggregated species distributionsECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2010Cang Hui Non-random (aggregated) species distributions arise from habitat heterogeneity and nonlinear biotic processes. A comprehensive understanding of the concept of aggregation, as well as its measurement, is pivotal to our understanding of species distributions and macroecological patterns. Here, using an individual-based model, we analyzed opinions on the concept of aggregation from the public and experts (trained ecologists), in addition to those calculated from a variety of aggregation indices. Three forms of scaling patterns (logarithmic, power-law and lognormal) and four groups of scaling trajectories emerged. The experts showed no significant difference from the public, although with a much lower deviation. The public opinion was partially influenced by the abundance of individuals in the spatial map, which was not found in the experts. With the increase of resolution (decrease of grain), aggregation indices showed a general trend from significantly different to significantly similar to the expert opinion. The over-dispersion index (i.e. the clumping parameter k in the negative binomial distribution) performed, at certain scales, as the closest index to the expert opinion. Examining performance of aggregation measures from different groups of scaling patterns was proposed as a practical way of analyzing spatial structures. The categorization of the scaling patterns of aggregation measures, as well as their over- and in-sensitivity towards spatial structures, thus not only provides a potential solution to the modifiable areal unit problem, but also unveils the interrelationship among the concept, measures and perceptions of aggregated species distributions. [source] Use of advanced red blood cell and reticulocyte indices improves the accuracy in diagnosing iron deficiency in pregnant women at termEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Mari Ervasti Abstract Objectives:, Detection of iron deficiency during pregnancy with hemoglobin (Hb) and serum measurements is insignificant as the measurements may be affected by e.g. hemodilution or accelerated erythropoiesis. This study tests whether cell indices will give a more reliable measure of iron deficiency in pregnant women at term. Methods:, The population was 202 pregnant women. Using the ADVIA 120 hematology system, Hb, mean cell volume (MCV), percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%HYPOm) and reticulocytes (%HYPOr), and cellular hemoglobin in reticulocytes (CHr) were tested. Additionally, transferrin saturation (TfSat), ferritin, and transferrin receptor (TfR) were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curves (AUC) were used as statistical methods. Results:, When TfSat (,11%) was used as the reference test for iron deficiency, %HYPOm and CHr had a sensitivity of 58.1% and 80.7%, while the specificities were 82.6% and 71.3%, respectively. Additionally, the AUC values were %HYPOr 0.80, CHr 0.79, ferritin 0.77, %HYPOm 0.75, TfR 0.67, MCV 0.63 and Hb 0.64. The results provided by the cell indices alone (%HYPOm or CHr) were in good agreement with the results based on the usage of a combination of three commonly used tests (Hb, MCV, ferritin). Conclusions:, This study suggests that the most practical way to diagnose iron deficiency in pregnant women at term is to use cell indices such as CHr and %HYPOm provided by the automated hematological analyzer. Further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of the cell indices in diagnosing iron deficiency longitudinally during the course of pregnancy. [source] Using focus groups to seek the views of patients dying from cancer about the care they receiveHEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2000Norma V. Raynes Purpose The prime purpose of the study was to investigate whether focus groups were a practical way of seeking the views of dying people and whether the information collected added to that collected by more established methods. Design A sample frame of Macmillan nurse patients was collated from which three cluster samples were randomly selected to participate in focus groups. The focus groups were structured with an experienced facilitator and recorder to answer three key questions. Setting and participants Patients of Macmillan nurses in three NHS Trusts in West Yorkshire who were living at home with incurable cancer. They were aware of their condition and were willing to participate. Main variables studied The three key questions were; what kind of help are you currently receiving? What sort of help do you want? Of the kind of help you are receiving what kind is most important to you? Results 17 patients participated in three focus groups. Participants were generally fairly able and living with spouses or relatives. They were of varying age with different types and duration of cancer. They were receiving a range of health and social services of varying importance to them. More help was particularly wanted with support for daily living, support from specialist cancer nurses, help getting out and with housework. Macmillan nurses and general practice services were highly rated in some but not all three trust areas. Conclusions We propose that focus groups are a practical way of collecting information about dying patients that can complement other sources of information in planning and auditing the provision of care. [source] Inter-relations between experimental and computational aspects of slope stability analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2003R. Baker Abstract Most conventional slope stability calculations are based on the linear Mohr,Coulomb failure criterion. However, a substantial amount of experimental evidence suggests that failure criteria of many soils are not linear particularly in the range of small normal stresses. This departure from linearity is significant for slope stability calculations since for a wide range of practical stability problems, critical slip surfaces are shallow and normal stresses acting on such surfaces are small. There exists a technical difficulty in performing strength measurements in the range of small normal stresses relevant to such slope stability problems. As a result, in many practical situations strength measurements are performed at much larger normal stresses then those relevant for the stability problem under consideration. When this is the case, use of the Mohr,Coulomb criterion amounts to a linear extrapolation of experimental information (obtained at large normal stresses), into the range of small normal stresses, which is relevant to the problem. This extrapolation results with very significant overestimation of calculated safety factors in cases when there is large mismatch between experimental and relevant ranges of normal stresses. The present work delineates the extent of this problem and suggests a practical way to overcome it. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Flow cytometric technique for determination of prostasomal quantity, size and expression of CD10, CD13, CD26 and CD59 in human seminal plasmaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 2 2006LENA CARLSSON Summary Prostasomes are prostate-derived organelles in seminal plasma exhibiting pluripotent properties to facilitate the fertilization process. Seminal prostasome concentration, size distribution and expression of the prostasomal surface antigens CD10, CD13, CD26 and CD59 were examined by flow cytometry. The study group consisted of 79 men with involuntary infertility. Very strong correlations existed between the prostasome expressions of the different CD markers. Significant correlations between prostasome concentration and CD molecules were weak or lacking. Further, no or weak relationships were observed between the prostasomal CD markers and sperm morphology, seminal fructose, neutral , -glucosidase activity, zinc and tumour necrosis factor , concentrations. Flow cytometry is a practical way to study prostasomes in seminal fluid without prior separation. This is a new technique for evaluation of the role of prostasomes and their functions in male reproductive physiology. [source] Project risk evaluation using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process: An application to information technology projectsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 6 2006Fatih Tüysüz Projects are critical to the realization of performing organization's strategies. Each project contains some degree of risk and it is required to be aware of these risks and to develop the necessary responses to get the desired level of project success. Because projects' risks are multidimensional, they must be evaluated by using multi-attribute decision-making methods. The aim of this article is to provide an analytic tool to evaluate the project risks under incomplete and vague information. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) as a suitable and practical way of evaluating project risks based on the heuristic knowledge of experts is used to evaluate the riskiness of an information technology (IT) project of a Turkish firm. The means of the triangular fuzzy numbers produced by the IT experts for each comparison are successfully used in the pairwise comparison matrices. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 21: 559,584, 2006. [source] Culling wildlife hosts to control disease: mountain hares, red grouse and louping ill virusJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Annabel Harrison Summary 1.,Culling wildlife hosts is often implemented as a management technique to control pathogen transmission from wildlife to domestic or other economically important animals. However, culling may have unexpected consequences, can be expensive and may have wider implications for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. 2.,We assess the evidence that culling mountain hares Lepus timidus is an effective and practical way to control louping ill virus in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. 3.,Evidence from the available literature is limited, restricting our ability to reliably assess the effectiveness of culling mountain hares to control ticks, louping ill virus, or increase red grouse densities. Furthermore, the information required to assess the cost-benefit of this management strategy is lacking. The population response of mountain hares to culling is not well understood and the possible effects on their conservation status and the upland ecosystem remain unexplored. 4.,We conclude that there is no compelling evidence base to suggest culling mountain hares might increase red grouse densities. 5.,Synthesis and applications. Widespread culling of wildlife is not necessarily effective in reducing disease or improving economic returns. The use of wildlife culls for disease control should be proposed only when: (i) the pathogen transmission cycle is fully understood with all host-vector interactions considered; (ii) the response of wildlife populations to culling is known; and (iii) cost-benefit analysis shows that increased revenue from reduced disease prevalence exceeds the cost of culling. [source] A practical way to manage IT costsJOURNAL OF CORPORATE ACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 5 2005Timothy Iijima Information technology (IT) consumes 4 percent of a typical large company's revenue. And these days, companies are under tremendous pressure to manage IT costs,while also handling new concerns about disaster recovery, security, and regulatory compliance. That's tough, concedes the author of this article. But he offers a tested, practical strategy to get the job done. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] DISTRIBUTION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF POLYPHENOLS IN RIPE AND UNRIPE TREE PEPPER (CAPSICUM PUBESCENS)JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2007G. OBOH ABSTRACT Capsicum pubescens, commonly known as tree pepper with its distinctive thick-fleshed pungent fruit (ripe and unripe), is used as a vegetable condiment or made into a sauce. The present study sought to determine the distribution of polyphenols and antioxidant activity in its thick flesh and seeds. Free, bound and total phenol content of each extract was subsequently determined, while reducing power, Fe (II)-chelating ability, OH radical-scavenging ability and ability of the extracts to inhibit lipid peroxidation in basal and Fe (II)-induced lipid peroxidation in brain was used for antioxidant capacity. Unripe pepper had higher total phenol content than ripe pepper; however, there was no significant difference ( P > 0.05) in the total phenol content of flesh for both peppers (unripe [110 mg/100g], ripe [95 mg/100 g]) and the seed (unripe [110.0 mg/100 g ], ripe [90 mg/100 g]). Nevertheless, the free polyphenols in flesh and seed of the peppers were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than the bound polyphenols. All the extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner, although free polyphenols from the flesh of ripe pepper caused the highest inhibition in malondialdehyde production in rat's brain. Free and bound polyphenols from the flesh of unripe pepper had the highest Fe (II)-chelating and OH radical-scavenging ability. While the free polyphenols from the flesh of ripe pepper had the highest reducing power, this may have accounted for its ability to reduce Fe (II)-induced lipid peroxidation. Therefore, by removing the seed from pepper, a 50% loss in the total phenol content would result, which will substantially reduce antioxidant activity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Because many degenerative human diseases have been recognized as being a consequence of free radical damage, there have been many studies undertaken on how to delay or prevent the onset of these diseases. The most likely and practical way to fight against degenerative diseases is to improve body antioxidant status, which could be achieved by higher consumption of vegetables and fruits. Foods from plant origin usually contain natural antioxidants that can scavenge free radical. The inclusion of either ripe or unripe pepper in a diet is a common practice in Africa and some other parts of the world; our recent findings on the antioxidant properties of Capsicum pubescens clearly indicate that its inclusion in the diet will contribute greatly in the prevention of neuro-degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Moreover, removing the seeds of this pepper during food processing will reduce the total phenol content by 50%, and consequently reduce the antioxidant activity. [source] Redesigning alkylated diphenylamine antioxidants for modern lubricantsLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007Vincent J. Gatto This paper describes a new alkylation technology that is very effective at synthesizing structurally different alkylated diphenylamine chemistries relative to those currently available to lubricant formulators. Examples are provided showing how this technology can be used in a practical way to produce a variety of chemically modified nonylated diphenylamine types. One example is also provided illustrating the preparation of a higher molecular weight dodecylated diphenylamine. Engine oil performance data utilizing pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC), the thermo-oxidation engine oil simulation test, and a bulk oil oxidation test demonstrate that subtle changes in alkylated diphenylamine chemical composition can result in significant oxidation and deposit control performance enhancements or losses. Examples of similar performance responses in industrial oils are demonstrated utilizing PDSC and the rotating pressure vessel oxidation test. These performance changes are directly related to specific structural changes in the modified products. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Internal algorithm variability and among-algorithm discordance in statistical haplotype reconstructionMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 8 2009ZU-SHI HUANG The potential effectiveness of statistical haplotype inference makes it an area of active exploration over the last decade. There are several complications of statistical inference, including: the same algorithm can produce different solutions for the same data set, which reflects the internal algorithm variability; different algorithms can give different solutions for the same data set, reflecting the discordance among algorithms; and the algorithms per se are unable to evaluate the reliability of the solutions even if they are unique, this being a general limitation of all inference methods. With the aim of increasing the confidence of statistical inference results, consensus strategy appears to be an effective means to deal with these problems. Several authors have explored this with different emphases. Here we discuss two recent studies examining the internal algorithm variability and among-algorithm discordance, respectively, and evaluate the different outcomes of these analyses, in light of Orzack (2009) comment. Until other, better methods are developed, a combination of these two approaches should provide a practical way to increase the confidence of statistical haplotyping results. [source] Management of Pain in Addicted/Illicit and Legal Substance Abusing PatientsPAIN PRACTICE, Issue 1 2005Aaron B. Rosenblatt MD Abstract: Approximately one-third of the American population experiences chronic pain. This varies in origin and severity. It also has been documented that billions of dollars are lost yearly because of health care expenses and missed workdays for chronic pain. Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease with genetic, psychological and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. Addictive disorders occur in 3% to 26% of the general population, 19% to 255 of hospitalized patients and 40% to 60% in patients who sustained major trauma. More specifically 13.9 million of people living in USA over the age of 12 years are currently using illicit drugs. Although patients with chronic pain may be at an increased risk for addiction, the general population has demonstrated similar addiction rates. Unfortunately, patients who have chronic pain and addition will only have one of these aspects addressed. The purpose of this article is to clarify specific definition of substance use, abuse and addiction. As well as examining the role of pain physicians in evaluating and treating the chronic pain patients who have a history of substance abuse, and lastly outline strategy for assessing patients at risks and evaluating the most practical way of dealing with their chronic pain issues. [source] Childhood Psoriasis: A Clinical Review of 1262 CasesPEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Anne Morris M.B., B.S. A total of 1262 patients seen consecutively in the dermatology department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, Australia, between 1981 and 1995 are described and classified according to the pattern of psoriasis at the time of presentation. Additional information recorded included family history, facial involvement, and history of a psoriatic type of diaper rash in infancy. The ages of the children ranged from 1 month to 15 years. There was an equal gender distribution and a high rate of positive family history at 71%. Twenty-six percent of children had a history of a psoriatic diaper rash and facial involvement occurred in 38% of children. Plaque psoriasis was the most common type overall, affecting 430 patients (34%). Three hundred forty-five children were less than 2 years of age, and this is the largest series of children with psoriasis in this age group presented to date. An entity defined by us as psoriatic diaper rash with dissemination was the most common type of psoriasis in the less than 2-year age group, affecting 155 (45%) patients. This large series offers information on the manifestations of psoriasis in childhood, but is particularly useful in examining the previously less well-described infant age group. The classification used is proposed as a practical way to describe psoriasis in children, particularly with respect to future descriptive studies. [source] People must change before institutions can: a model addressing the challenge from administering to managing the maltese public servicePUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2005Vincent Cassar Abstract The Maltese public service is currently undergoing major organisational changes to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in its service delivery. The great majority of these changes have focussed on re-organising the macro-level, namely strategy, processes and structures. This is not an easy feat as local external power forces leave their impact in the process. It is argued, however, that one way to circumvent these resisting forces is to empower the real agents of change: the administrators of the public service. For some reason, the micro-level has been neglected and has been generally absent from the agenda of the major change programme with a few exceptions. This article throws light on this level by proposing an intrapersonal, psychological and pedagogical model for change that may complement and accompany the larger macro changes. The authors suggest that the model can be developed in a practical way to motivate change from within the person and not just push change around the person. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A review of forecast error covariance statistics in atmospheric variational data assimilation.THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 637 2008II: Modelling the forecast error covariance statistics Abstract This article reviews a range of leading methods to model the background error covariance matrix (the B -matrix) in modern variational data assimilation systems. Owing partly to its very large rank, the B -matrix is impossible to use in an explicit fashion in an operational setting and so methods have been sought to model its important properties in a practical way. Because the B -matrix is such an important component of a data assimilation system, a large effort has been made in recent years to improve its formulation. Operational variational assimilation systems use a form of control variable transform to model B. This transform relates variables that exist in the assimilation's ,control space' to variables in the forecast model's physical space. The mathematical basis on which the control variable transform allows the B-matrix to be modelled is reviewed from first principles, and examples of existing transforms are brought together from the literature. The method allows a large rank matrix to be represented by a relatively small number of parameters, and it is shown how information that is not provided explicitly is filled in. Methods use dynamical properties of the atmosphere (e.g. balance relationships) and make assumptions about the way that background errors are spatially correlated (e.g. homogeneity and isotropy in the horizontal). It is also common to assume that the B -matrix is static. The way that these, and other, assumptions are built into systems is shown. The article gives an example of how a current method performs. An important part of this article is a discussion of some new ideas that have been proposed to improve the method. Examples include how a more appropriate use of balance relations can be made, how errors in the moist variables can be treated and how assumptions of homogeneity/isotropy and the otherwise static property of the B -matrix can be relaxed. Key developments in the application of dynamics, wavelets, recursive filters and flow-dependent methods are reviewed. The article ends with a round up of the methods and a discussion of future challenges that the field will need to address. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Recursive direct phasing with reference-beam diffractionACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 5 2003Qun Shen The reference-beam diffraction technique provides a practical way to measure a large number of triplet phases in a standard oscillating-crystal diffraction experiment for protein crystals. The triplet-phase data set from such reference-beam measurements contains a unique phase-ocurrence pattern that leads to a new recursive phasing algorithm for the individual structure-factor phases. Application of the new algorithm is demonstrated for tetragonal lysozyme using 7360 triplet phases measured in a reference-beam experiment with a median phase discrepancy of 45°. An electron-density map obtained using this phasing algorithm and the measured triplet phases shows good agreement with the known protein structure. [source] Promoting peaceful death in the intensive care unit in ThailandINTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2009W. Kongsuwan rn Background:, Having a peaceful death is a common wish among Thai people. Thai culture and religious beliefs offer practical ways to enhance having a peaceful death. Dying in an intensive care unit (ICU) is unnatural and oftentimes painful for the patient and their loved ones. Promoting a peaceful death is one of the least understood yet critical roles of nurses who practise in ICUs. Purpose:, To explore the ways that ICU nurses in Thailand could promote peaceful death and to attempt a definition of the concept of ,peaceful death'. Method:, Data were generated from ICU nurses' descriptions of peaceful death. These were given during in-depth telephone interviews, tape-recorded and analysed using the grounded theory method of analysis. Findings:, ICU nurses promote peaceful death through a three-dimensional process: awareness of dying; creating a caring environment; and promoting end-of-life care. Conclusions:, The study provided opportunities for nurses to understand and influence the practice of promoting peaceful death in ICUs in Thailand. Further research is needed to enhance the practices and processes necessary for promoting peaceful death among ICU patients. It is anticipated that this will advance policy changes in nursing care processes in Thailand. [source] A critical view of how nursing has defined spiritualityJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 12 2009Janice Clarke Aims., To offer a detailed discussion of the issue of ,lack of critique' in the literature on spirituality in nursing. The discussion will include the limited use of sources from theology and religious studies and the demand to separate spirituality and religion and will go on to examine the consequences of the resulting approach. The drive for unique knowledge to further professionalisation and the demands of inclusiveness are suggested as possible reasons for the development of the current model. The dangers and pitfalls of definition are explored. The paper suggests that theology could provide insights into explaining spirituality. Background., The last four decades have seen a proliferation of definitions of spirituality in the nursing literature. Recently, in response to their own concerns and prompts from outside the ,spirituality' community authors have suggested that we revisit this literature with a more critical stance. This paper is in response to that suggestion. During the course of a PhD supervised from a department of practical theology I have critically analysed the literature from several perspectives and this paper is one result of that review. Design., Literature review. Methods., Critical reflection on how spirituality has been defined. Conclusion., The lack of critique has produced a bias in the literature towards broad, generic, existential definitions which, together with the intentional divorce from religion and theology have led to definitions which have the tendency to result in a type of spiritual care which is indistinguishable from psychosocial care, hard to explain to patients and difficult to put into practice. Relevance to clinical practice., The acceptance of a diverse range of understandings of spirituality and a greater focus on practical ways of using it in nursing care are the direction the profession should be moving into. [source] A Dynamic Integrated Analysis of Truck Tires in Western EuropeJOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2000Pieter J. H. van Beukering Summary By evaluating tires from a perspective of industrial metabolism, potential novel and practical ways to reduce their environmental impact can be found. This may be achieved by focusing on technological issues such as choosing materials, designing products, and recovering materials, or by looking at institutional and social barriers and incentives such as opening waste markets or changing consumer behavior. A model is presented for the life cycle of truck tires in Western Europe that is dynamic in nature and values both environmental and economic consequences. Various scenarios are simulated including longer tire lifetimes, better maintenance of tire pressure, increased use of less-expensive Asian tires, and increased use of fuel efficiency-enhancing tires ("eco-tires"). Tentative results indicate that, among other things, more than 95% of the overall environmental impact during the life of a tire occurs during the use of the tire, due to the impact of tires on automotive fuel efficiency. Better maintenance of tire pressure and use of eco-tires produce greater environmental and economics benefits than more-durable and/or less-expensive (Asian) tires. These results imply that the emphasis in environmental policies related to tires should shift from the production and the waste stages to the consumption stage. It also suggests that the focus on materials throughput and associated improvements through factor 4 or factor 10 advances in reduction in mass are less important than the quality of the tires and their management. [source] What Do Juvenile Offenders Know About Being Tried as Adults?JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004Implications for Deterrence ABSTRACT An underlying assumption in the nationwide policy shift toward transferring more juveniles to criminal court has been the belief that stricter, adult sentences will act as either a specific or general deterrent to juvenile crime. With respect to general deterrence,whether transfer laws deter would-be offenders from committing crimes,it is important to examine whether juveniles know about transfer laws, whether this knowledge deters criminal behavior, and whether juveniles believe the laws will be enforced against them. The current study is one of the first to examine juveniles' knowledge and perceptions of transfer laws and criminal sanctions. We interviewed 37 juveniles who had been transferred to criminal court in Georgia, obtaining quantitative as well as qualitative data based on structured interviewed questions. Four key findings emerged. First, juveniles were unaware of the transfer law. Second, juveniles felt that awareness of the law may have deterred them from committing the crime or may deter other juveniles from committing crimes, and they suggested practical ways to enhance juveniles' awareness of transfer laws. Third, the juveniles generally felt that it was unfair to try and sentence them as adults. Finally, the consequences of committing their crime were worse than most had imagined, and the harsh consequences of their incarceration in adult facilities may have had a brutalizing effect on some juveniles. The implications for general and specific deterrence are discussed. [source] ICCROM's Contribution to the Ethics of HeritageMUSEUM INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2009Isabelle Vinson As UNESCO commemorates the founding of ICCROM, this article looks at the effects of conservation practices on building an international ethical framework for protecting the cultural heritage. Starting from the conditions in which ICCROM was created, it reviews the role of non-European countries in particular in creating the international programme for the conservation of heritage. It also emphasizes the importance for the future of an analysis that considers both normative and deontological instruments and practical ways of protecting heritage. [source] A SUDDEN SURPRISE OF THE SOUL: THE PASSION OF WONDER IN HOBBES AND DESCARTESTHE HEYTHROP JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008MICHAEL FUNK DECKARD Philosophy begins in wonder, according to Plato and Aristotle. However, they did not expand a great deal on what precisely wonder is. Does this fact alone not raise curiosity in us as to why this passion is important? What is its role in our thinking except to end as soon as one begins conceptually delimiting its nature? The thinkers Thomas Hobbes and René Descartes both expanded upon earlier brief articulations of wonder in natural, supernatural and practical ways. By means of an historical and philosophical examination of these two early modern thinkers, this article hopes to begin to answer the question: ,What is wonder?' [source] Interruptions create prospective memory tasksAPPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Rahul M. Dodhia When the theory of prospective memory is brought to bear on the ubiquitous experience of failing to resume interrupted tasks, the cognitive reasons for these failures may be understood and addressed. We examine three features of interruptions that may account for these failures: (1) Interruptions often abruptly divert attention, which may prevent adequate encoding of an intention to resume and forming an implementation plan, (2) New task demands after an interruption's end reduce opportunity to interpret resumption cues, (3) The transition after an interruption to new ongoing task demands is not distinctive because it is defined conceptually, rather than by a single perceptual cue. Hypotheses based on these three features receive support from two experiments that respectively manipulate encoding and retrieval conditions. The data support our contention that interrupted tasks are a special case of prospective memory, and allow us to suggest practical ways of reducing vulnerability to resumption failure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Protein crystallization for genomics: towards high-throughput optimization techniquesACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 6-2 2002Naomi E. Chayen Protein crystallization has gained a new strategic and commercial relevance in the next phase of the genome projects, in which X-ray crystallography will play a major role. Considerable advances have been made in the automation of protein preparation and also in the X-ray analysis and bioinformatics stages once diffraction-quality crystals are available. These advances have not yet been matched by equally good methods for the crystallization process itself. In the area of crystallization, the main effort and resources are currently being invested into the automation of screening procedures to identify potential crystallization conditions. However, in spite of the ability to generate numerous trials, so far only a small percentage of the proteins produced have led to structure determinations. This is because screening in itself is not usually enough; it has to be complemented by an equally important procedure in crystal production, namely crystal optimization. In the rush towards structural genomics, optimization techniques have been somewhat neglected, mainly because it was hoped that large-scale screening alone would produce the desired results. In addition, optimization has relied on particular individual methods that are often difficult to automate and to adapt to high throughput. This article addresses a major gap in the field of structural genomics by describing practical ways of automating individual optimization methods in order to adapt them to high-throughput techniques. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||